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Category: Politics Lite

  • Peter Obi and I never believed in Labour Party ideologies — Doyin Okupe

    Peter Obi and I never believed in Labour Party ideologies — Doyin Okupe

    Former director-general of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, DDr. Doyin Okupe has said that he and the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, never believed in the ideologies of the party.

    Okupe made the claim during an interview on Arise Television.

    He said the Labour Party was just a special purpose vehicle for the presidential election.

    In January, Okupe resigned his membership of the Labour Party, citing ideological differences.

    He said his membership of the party ended the moment Obi lost the election.

    “The LP for us — for Peter Obi and I — and those in the leadership of the movement, the party was a special purpose vehicle.

    “I have never been a Labour person, I have never operated on the left before but we needed a platform and this was the only platform readily available to us.

    “We thought that if we won the election, there are no fast and hard rules about ideologies. You can always find a shade between the left and the right. You can always move to the centre.

    “We were hoping and praying that if we won we would find a way to come to some consensus with the Labour.

    “Peter Obi is not a Labour person. He is not a leftist person, he is a trader, he is a businessman just like me. I am a liberal democrat, I believe in liberal democracy, I believe in free enterprise,” he added.

  • Bayelsa Guber: Tribunal reserves judgment in petition against Diri

    Bayelsa Guber: Tribunal reserves judgment in petition against Diri

    The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has reserved judgment in a petition filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timipre Sylvia against the declaration of Douye Diri as the governor of the state in the November 2023 election.

    Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, on Monday in Abuja, announced that the judgment would be delivered within the 180 days statutorily allowed by law.

    The chairman said that all the parties in the petition would be communicated as soon as the judgment delivery date is fixed.

    At Monday’s proceedings, the petitioners, Sylvia and APC, adopted their final written address, praying the tribunal to annul the declaration of Diri as the winner of the election.

    Their lead counsel, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, told the tribunal that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, embarked on wrongful exclusion of results before arriving at the declaration of Diri as winner.

    The petitioners’ lawyer stated that the electoral body did not debunk the allegation of wrongful exclusion of results by not calling the state election result collation officer to testify.

    He therefore urged the tribunal to objectively decide the petition on the strength of the evidence adduced by the petitioners, especially because INEC did not call a single witness to challenge all the allegations.

    However, Diri’s counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, informed the tribunal that the petition by Sylvia died on arrival because it is grossly deficient in quantity and quality of evidence.

    He said that the petition was baseless, frivolous and vexatious, and grossly lacking in merit because the two petitioners did not discharge the burden placed on them by law

    Among others, Uche said that Sylva predicated his petition on alleged refusal of INEC to collate results in three local governments areas- Southern Ijaw, Nembe and Ogbia but failed to call a single collation officer to back up its claim

    Besides, Uche said that Sylvia did not tender voter register, BVAS machines, and form EC8A used for the purported election in the three local governments to establish his allegations.

    The senior lawyer also said that the petitioner himself, despite having a witness statement on oath, refused to give evidence before the tribunal to substantiate his allegations.

    The senior lawyer also said that the petitioner himself, despite having a witness statement on oath, refused to give evidence before the tribunal to substantiate his allegations.

    Uche pleaded with the tribunal to discountenance the evidence of a former Police Commissioner in the state on the ground that the police officer admitted before the tribunal that he had issues with Diri when the Prado Jeep earlier given to him was withdrawn.

    Uche also urged the tribunal not to invoke the spirit of the judgment that brought Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, into office, adding that INEC has established beyond doubt that election did not hold in the three local governments due to resistance by some hoodlums to the use of BVAS machines.

    Similarly, INEC, represented by Charles Edosomwan, SAN, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, represented by Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, canvassed for dismissal of the petition on the ground that the two petitioners failed and neglected to discharge the burden of establishing their allegations against the election beyond reasonable doubt as required by law.

    They asserted that they did not call witnesses because the witnesses of petitioners killed and buried the petition while being cross examined during the proceedings.

    It will be recalled that INEC had declared Diri winner of the gubernatorial election on the ground that he scored the majority of lawful votes cast in the poll.

  • After Sacking El-Rufai’s Ally, Kaduna APC Appoints New Woman Leader

    After Sacking El-Rufai’s Ally, Kaduna APC Appoints New Woman Leader

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State has announced the appointment of Naymarie Musa as the new Acting Woman Leader of the party, following the suspension of the previous office holder, Maryam Sulaiman.

    The change in leadership comes amid a backdrop of political controversy surrounding the state’s debt profile, which had been defended by Sulaiman in support of the immediate-past Governor Nasir El-Rufai administration.

    Musa steps into her new role with a wealth of experience from her previous position as Assistant Woman Leader of the ruling party in the State.

    Speaking to journalists at the party’s secretariat in Kaduna on Thursday, Musa expressed her eagerness to foster unity and strengthen the party’s position ahead of upcoming general elections.

    “I am deeply committed to serving the women of Kaduna State with dedication, integrity, and passion,” Musa stated. She outlined her vision for an inclusive administration, focusing on the interests of women and ensuring accountability and participation within the party’s ranks.

    “My duty and commitment is to consolidate on the ‘Sustain Agenda’ of Governor Uba Sani and to deliver effective leadership to achieve new developmental heights,” she added, emphasising the importance of prioritising women’s interests under her leadership.

  • Details Of PDP NEC Meeting Emerge

    Details Of PDP NEC Meeting Emerge

    The details of the 98th Meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have emerged.

    The NEC expressed concern over the ill-implemented policies of the insensitive APC administration, leading to worsening insecurity, harrowing economic hardship, soaring unemployment rate, high cost of food and other necessities of life with pervading misery and despondency across the country. 

    It also expressed serious apprehensions over the spate of acts of terrorism and violence including the escalated cases of mindless killings, mass abduction of innocent Nigerians and marauding of communities in various parts of the country.

    It condemned the insensitivity, nonchalance, incompetence and arrogance in failure of the APC administration which continues to conduct itself in a manner that shows that it has no iota of interest or commitment towards the wellbeing of Nigerians. 

    It also kicked against the creeping totalitarianism and tendencies towards a One-Party State which is inimical to the peace, stability and corporate existence of our nation as well as the development of Democracy and good governance in the country.

    The PDP after due consideration demanded that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should urgently convene a special National Security Council meeting to proffer a holistic solution and measures to curb the disturbing insecurity with its attendant negative consequences on our national life.  

    It also appealed that President Tinubu should immediately rejig his Economic Team to bring in persons of proven integrity and competence without bias and vested interest to assist in repositioning the economy.

  • PDP To Elect New Chairman In August

    PDP To Elect New Chairman In August

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to elect a new national chairman in August 2024.

    This announcement follows the 98th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja yesterday, at which party stakeholders decided to extend Umar Damagum’s tenure as the party’s acting national chairman.

    Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who serves as the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, shared this information with journalists during a press briefing held in Abuja yesterday.

    He said: “In the next two months we will see a lot of activities, leadership is a responsibility. We said in September that we would have come out from our congresses.

    “We will look at the issue of leadership and look at the issue of our constitution where it will be and we will do it without rancour.”

    Mohammed emphasized that the smooth execution of the party’s NEC gathering demonstrated the absence of any disagreement or hostility within the leadership.

    “It was planned that the party will have an explosion. PDP is more than that, we have gone beyond all these idiosyncrasies. This party is a united party that is guided by experience and constitutionality.

    “There were a lot of permutations and mischievous thinking outside there. But we looked at all the issues and we worked along our guidelines and constitution. There is no problem or dissension and problem among members,” Premiumtimes quoted the PDP chieftain saying.

    In his remark, the acting national chairman, Damagum, said that the leadership of the party was not a do-or-die affair.

    “This is not a matter of life and death. I am still an elected member of this NEC. Even if I revert to deputy national chairman I’m still a member of NWC. The issue of surviving or not does not emerge,” he said.

  • Why PDP failed to suspend Wike, Makinde, others over anti-party activities – George

    Why PDP failed to suspend Wike, Makinde, others over anti-party activities – George

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has reacted to calls for the the suspension of FCT minister, Nyesom Wike and other members of the G-5 group.

    According to George, the PDP is more focused on reconciling its members than punishing them over previous actions against the party.

    The PDP chieftain stated this during an interview with ChannelsTV on Thursday, April 18.

    Wike, now the minister of the FCT under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), fell out with the PDP hierarchy in the lead-up to the presidential election of last year.

    He and a group called G-5 including then-governors, worked against the PDP in the presidential election, insisting the southern part of Nigeria ought to produce the party’s flagbearer.

    While many have questioned Wike’s membership of the party with others calling for sanctions against him, Bode George says the PDP is working to settle its matters.

    “There is a standing committee. They are going to add more members to do a post-mortem analysis,” he said.

    “We don’t want to start firing because there are one or two people that are still thinking about the past. The party must move on.”

    “It is an issue in the party. It should not be resolved in the marketplace,” the PDP chieftain said, insisting “We are going to settle our own matters like a family.”

    The PDP was the runner-up in the 2023 presidential election, losing to the ruling APC.

    Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, was its flagbearer in that exercise and also in 2019.

  • Protesters storm PDP secretariat, demand Wike’s suspension

    Protesters storm PDP secretariat, demand Wike’s suspension

    Some protesters, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reform Vanguard, have besieged the party’s secretariat in Abuja to demand the suspension of FCT minister, Nyesom Wike.

    The protesters also called for the resignation of Umar Damagun as acting national chairman of the PDP.

    The group arrived the headquarters on Thursday morning ahead of the scheduled national executive council (NEC) meeting of the PDP, while demanding that Wike should be suspended for alleged anti-party activities.

    Speaking with reporters, Usman Seidu, convener of the group, said Damagun and Wike have “undermined our collective efforts and jeopardised our very existence as a formidable opposition force”.

    “We commend our former National Chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu for his demonstration of unwavering loyalty and love for our party by withdrawing all pending suits against the party in the court,” Seidu said.

    “His actions have paved the way for our great party to move forward, to cleanse our ranks and restore integrity to our leadership.

    However, the presence of individuals like Amb. Iliya Damagun and Mr. Nyesom Wike within our midst remains a cancerous growth on the body of our party.

    Their actions, tantamount to betrayal, have undermined our collective efforts and jeopardised our very existence as a formidable opposition force.

    “The time has come for the NEC to act decisively. Amb. Iliya Damagun must be removed from his position as acting national chairman, in accordance with the provisions of our party’s constitution.

    “He must be replaced with a loyal member from the north-central, someone who embodies the spirit of our party and will work tirelessly for the advancement of its course.

    “Furthermore, we cannot turn a blind eye to the continuous presence of Mr. Nyesom Wike within our ranks. His romance with the APC has been handsomely rewarded with his appointment as minister of the FCT and as such, his stay is a slap in the face of every loyal member of our party.

    ”If the party fails to take decisive action against those who have betrayed our trust, then it risks losing the faith and support of it’s loyal members across the country.”

    Wike attended the national caucus meeting of the PDP on Wednesday.

  • Kogi Governor to chair committee for Ondo APC primary poll

    Kogi Governor to chair committee for Ondo APC primary poll

    Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi state, has been appointed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to lead a seven-member committee that will conduct the party’s governorship primary election in Ondo state.

    The Ondo APC primary poll has been slated for April 20.

    The committee is expected to conduct direct primary elections in the 18 LGAs of the state.

    The five-man primary election appeal committee will be headed by Mohammed Abubakar, former governor of Bauchi.

    Abubakar’s committee will be inaugurated by Suleiman Argungu, APC national organising secretary; with Ovie Omo-Agege, former deputy senate president, serving as the secretary of the primary election committee.

    Obiocha Israel will serve as secretary to the five-man election appeal committee, with Jamilu Gwamna, Patrick Obahiagbon and Onyeka Okafor as members.

  • Another Judge Halts Ganduje’s Suspension From APC

    Another Judge Halts Ganduje’s Suspension From APC

    A Kano high court has issued an order halting the suspension of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, from his party.

    Justice A.M Liman gave this interim ruling in response to an ex parte motion filed by Ganduje, wherein he sought to enforce his fundamental right to a fair hearing.

    The suspension, initially enforced on April 15 by APC executives in Dawakin ward, Tofa LGA of Kano, came after Ganduje was accused of corruption.

    The Kano State APC working committee quickly overturned this local party action, which also disciplined the ward executives involved in Ganduje’s suspension.

    However, to complicate matters further, Justice Usman Na’Abba of the Kano High Court previously upheld the suspension, deepening the legal and political intrigue surrounding the case.

    The respondents named in Ganduje’s application included not only local party officials but also major national security agencies like the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    Justice Liman’s order temporarily stops any enforcement of Ganduje’s suspension, stipulating that no action should be taken until the case is fully heard and a determination is made.

    “That all the parties are hereby mandated to maintain status quo before the purported emergency meeting of the alleged executive members of APC Ganduje Ward, and to stay action in respect of this matter pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application,” Liman said.

    The judge subsequently fixed April 30 to hear Ganduje’s appeal.

  • Police Invite Edo Labour Party’s Guber Candidate, Akpata Over UNIBEN Assault Incident

    Police Invite Edo Labour Party’s Guber Candidate, Akpata Over UNIBEN Assault Incident

    The Edo State Police Command has summoned the Labour Party’s governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata, to discuss alleged security breaches, particularly the incidents of gunfire reported at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) last Friday.

    The Public Relations Officer for the Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, disclosed this development to the media in Benin City.

    Nwabuzor stated that the LP gubernatorial candidate was served the invitation by investigators during the Political Desk Session at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

    Recall that during an investiture ceremony hosted by the UNIBEN Staff Club, the candidate of the Labour Party for the forthcoming September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State was allegedly assaulted by suspected political thugs.

    Olumide Akpata, on the other hand, has claimed that the attack was orchestrated by both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and the State Government to assassinate him.

    The Command’s spokesperson elaborated that the invitation extended to Olumide Akpata was a component of the investigation launched by the police Command into the crisis.

    In response to inquiries, the State Chairman of the Labour Party, Kelly Ogbaloi, verified the reception of the police invitation, mentioning his absence in Benin during the letter’s arrival, but he affirmed his intention to honour the invitation.

    “The police ought to have done their background investigations, his being honoured by UNIBEN had nothing to do with our party secretariat. So, I don’t know why I am being asked to come along with him to the Police Command Headquarters in Benin, however, I will honour the invitation,” he said.