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Category: Politics Lite

  • PDP Gets New Women Leader

    PDP Gets New Women Leader

    Amina Arong has emerged National 
    Women Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Her appointment is coming after the death of the former leader, Prof. Stella Effah-Attoe 

    Stella died on October 29, 2023.

    National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Debo Ologunagba described Arong as a prominent women mobilizer. 

    He expressed confidence that she would bring on board her intellectual capacity as well as experience as a women leader.

    Arong is from Cross River. She holds a Diploma in Banking and Finance and a B.Sc. in Accounting.

    “The PDP congratulates and tasks the new national women leader to deploy her capacity and experience in working with other members of the National Working Committee for the continuing stability, growth and success of our great Party”, the statement added.

  • Benue APC Chairman Suspended

    Benue APC Chairman Suspended

    The Benue State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Augustine Agada, has been suspended by the party’s leadership in Ehaje Ward 1 in Owukpa, Ogbadibo Local Government Area of the state.

    Agada and a ward member of the party were both passed votes of no confidence, effective immediately.

    The decision, made following the consideration of a petition by Comrade Dan Onjeh, the party’s 2023 Senatorial Candidate, accuses Agada of engaging in anti-party activities during the recent general elections.

    Citing provisions from the APC Constitution, the ward leadership listed seven grounds for Agada’s suspension. These included his failure to appear before the Ward Disciplinary Committee to address allegations, compelling evidence of working against the party’s interests, campaigning for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Sen. Abba Moro, and losing his polling unit in key elections.

    The Ehaje Ward 1 leadership also alleged Agada withheld funds provided by the APC at the national level for logistics and election day activities. Additionally, Agada faces accusations of tampering with the list of APC election agents to undermine the party at the polls.

    The suspension, based on irrefutable evidence presented in the petition, was endorsed by the Ward Disciplinary Committee and subsequently discussed by the APC Ehaje Ward 1 Expanded Exco. The expanded Exco, invoking Article 17 sub-sections V and Vi of the party constitution, passed a vote of no confidence on Agada, suspended him immediately, urged relevant party organs to acknowledge the decision, and advised Agada to refrain from presenting himself as a party member or holding the position of Benue State Party Chairman.

  • “Peter Obi playing politics with insecurity” – Buhari’s former aide

    “Peter Obi playing politics with insecurity” – Buhari’s former aide

    Bashir Ahmad, a former assistant on digital communications to ex-president Muhammadu Buhari, has reacted to Peter Obi’s visit to the Al-Kadriyar family.

    Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, had paid a condolence visit to the grieving family of Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar who was murdered by her abductors in the federal capital territory (FCT), Abuja recently.

    “May the memories of Nabeeha and all those who have lost their lives to such violent attacks inspire us, especially we the leaders, to take more decisive action against this ugly monster of insecurity,” Obi said vis his X handle on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.

    Ahmad questioned the motive of the visit by the former governor of Anambra State days after the safe return of the four girls.

    “Where were you when people were going the extra mile to see Najeebah and her sisters rescued from captivity?,” Ahmad said.

    “Yet now, you have taken photographers to visit the family, which was solely to serve your personal and political interests. Haba!”

    He urged the Al-Kadriyar family to stop giving access to politicians who bring along a contingent of journalists for a visit that is more about photo opportunities than genuine sympathy.

    Ahmad added that even the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami and his friends, who were the major contributors to the rescue effort, did not visit the family.

  • Supreme Court affirms Fintiri as Adamawa governor

    Supreme Court affirms Fintiri as Adamawa governor

    The Supreme Court of Nigeria, Wednesday, affirmed the election of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri as the authentic governor of Adamawa State.

    The apex court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel led by Justice Inyang Okoro, dismissed as lacking in merit the application of
    Senator Aisha Dahiru Banani, alongside her party, All Progressive Congress Party (APC), challenging the outcome of the governorship election that was held in the state on March 18, 2023.

    Senator Binani, has through her Counsel, Chief Akinolu Olujimi, SAN, prayed the court to nullify the declaration of Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)as the valid winner of the gubernatorial contest.

    Specifically, she asked the court to set aside the concurrent verdict of the courts below that dismissed their case and upheld Fintiri’s re-election.

    She insisted that she polled the majority of valid votes cast at the election and was validly declared the winner by the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC.

    She, among other things, prayed the court to determine who ought to be the bona fide Returning Officer in a gubernatorial election.

    However, Fintiri, through his lawyer, Mr Damian Dodo, SAN, urged the apex court to dismiss the appeal and validate his election victory.

    Fintiri argued that he emerged victorious, having secured the majority of lawful votes and fulfilled all the requirements of the law.

    Delivering judgement in the matter, the apex court panel, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, held that the action of the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, who declared Senator Dahiru as the winner of the poll, was an act of irresponsibility and criminality.

    The court held that only a Returning Officer has the duty to announce the results of an election to avert chaos and anarchy in the process.

    According to the Supreme Court, the Electoral Act, 2022, specified who should declare results, stressing that such power was exclusively donated to the Returning Officer.

    Consequently, it resolved all the issues that were raised in the appeal against the appellants.

  • No Vacancy  – APC Reacts As Yahaya Bello Moves To Unseat Ganduje As National Chairman

    No Vacancy  – APC Reacts As Yahaya Bello Moves To Unseat Ganduje As National Chairman

    APC has told the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, that there is no vacancy within the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

    APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, stated this Tuesday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the resolutions reached at the 141st meeting of the NWC.

    Bello had commenced the move to unseat Abdulahi Ganduje as the national chairman of the party after posters promoting him for the position of the chairman were seen at strategic places in the nation’s capital on Monday.

    Morka’s words: “There is no vacancy in the office of the national chairman. Our national chairman remains the chairman. This is democracy, people do what they want. We have total confidence in the leadership of the party. Those who are posting these papers around should desist from doing so.”

    Morka revealed that the ruling party would flag off the update of the party’s membership register in Niger State.

    According to him, “To flag off the update of membership registration nationally in Niger State, then flag off in one state in each of the other geo-political zones.”

    He also denounced the failure or refusal of the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly to swear in 16 APC House members adjudged by the Court of Appeal as the duly elected members of the Plateau State House of Assembly. 

    He said the stubbornness of the Speaker and the governor of the state in this matter was wrong, undemocratic and violently contemptuous of the authority of the Court of Appeal, the highest court for the determination of election petition matters as it concerns the House of Assembly.

  • President Tinubu’s Minister, Dele Alake Speaks On Contesting Governorship Election

    President Tinubu’s Minister, Dele Alake Speaks On Contesting Governorship Election

    Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, says he has no interest in contesting to become the governor of Ekiti state.

    In a statement on Monday, Segun Tomori, the minister’s media aide, said Alake has nothing to do with the campaign posters circulating on social media, describing them as fake.

    He said Alake is committed to his current national assignment as a minister.

    Tomori added that Alake supports the current administration of Biodun Oyebanji, the governor of Ekiti.

    The minister, an indigene of Ekiti, served as a commissioner of information and strategy in Lagos from 1999 to 2007.

    “The attention of the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Oladele Alake has been drawn to a poster that is circulating on social media and across WhatsApp groups where he is positioned as a gubernatorial aspirant in Ekiti State with the inscription ‘Take it Back’,” the statement reads.

    “The general public is hereby informed that Dr Alake has no interest in running for the governorship election in Ekiti State, either now or in the future. 

    “The poster in circulation does not have his approval as he does not know the people behind it. It is fake and should be discarded.

    “It is unconscionable that the Honourable Minister who is busy with the onerous task of reforming and revamping the Solid Minerals sector in Nigeria, a responsibility committed to him by President Bola Tinubu will leave that to be plotting for an election in Ekiti State. 

    “The Honourable Minister is a busy man, working tirelessly on how to make the solid minerals sector a major revenue earner for the country and for the sector to create thousands of high-paying jobs for Nigerians.”

  • Off-cycle Elelctions: INEC Chairman Seeks Air Force Support and Collaboration

    Off-cycle Elelctions: INEC Chairman Seeks Air Force Support and Collaboration

    Further to preparations towards a successful conduct of forthcoming off-cycle electuons nationwide, the Chairman of Independent National Elec5oral Commission, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu has solicited support of the Nigeria Airforce.

    The INEC Chairman disclosed that the Commission is set to conduct bye-elections and re-run elections in 26 states, covering various levels of representation.

    Speaking during a visit to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal H.B. Abubakar, Prof. Yakubu expressed gratitude for the warm reception and congratulated the Air Chief on his appointment. He also commended the Air Force for cooperating with election management body regarding election security and logistics, highlighting their professionalism and neutrality.

    With elections scheduled in nine states to fill vacancies in the national and state assemblies, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu emphasized the need for collaboration with national assets, including the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

    Addressing the upcoming electoral tasks, the Chairman outlined the extensive scale of the elections, involving 80 local government areas, 575 registration areas/wards, and 8,934 polling units. A total of 4,904,627 registered voters are expected to participate, with 4,613,291 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) already collected.

    Recognizing the enormity of the assignment, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stressed that the Commission cannot accomplish it alone. Referring to Section 27(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, he highlighted the legal provision empowering the Commission to seek support from security, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies for the efficient delivery of materials and protection of election officials.

    In preparation for the elections, the Chairman sought the support of the NAF in expeditiously delivering materials to specific locations in the North East, South East, and South West geopolitical zones. The Commission, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria, is handling the evacuation of materials from focal airports to states where elections will occur.

    Prof. Mahmood Yakubu assured transparency in the inspection and movement of materials, involving all stakeholders, including political parties’ agents, observers, and the media.

    In conclusion, the Chairman expressed gratitude to the Chief of the Air Staff for the audience and support, anticipating yet another seamless collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force.

    In his remarks, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal H.B. Abubakar expressed gratitude to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, for fostering democracy and strengthening collaboration between the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and INEC, emphasizing their shared commitment to good governance, stability, and the rule of law across Nigeria.

    He noted that there is an alternative aircraft for transporting sensitive materials, urging timely planning due to capacity limitations. Additionally, he reminded Prof. Yakubu of outstanding bills, emphasizing their settlement for enhanced service delivery.

    In closing, the CAS expressed gratitude for the visit, foreseeing increased cooperation and synergy between NAF and INEC as he anticipated positive impacts on Nigeria’s democratic processes, affirming their collective commitment to maintaining the country’s status as the giant of Africa.

  • Supreme Court Reserves Judgment On Binani’s Suit Challenging Fintiri’s Victory

    Supreme Court Reserves Judgment On Binani’s Suit Challenging Fintiri’s Victory

    The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the appeal by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Aisha Dahiru, popularly called Binani, against the governor of Adamawa state, Ahmadu Fintiri.

    The tribunal and Court of Appeal had dismissed Binani’s petition challenging the victory of Finitiri in the governorship election held last year.

    The five-member panel led by John Okoro adjourned the matter for judgment after listening to the arguments of the parties involved in the matter.

    The main contention of Binani, through her counsel, Akin Olujimi, at the day’s proceeding, is that the controversial declaration by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Ari, was lawful.

    Monday’s decision came months after the Court of Appeal affirmed the victory of Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as Governor of Adamawa State and dismissed Binani’s challenge as lacking in merit.

    It also awarded the cost of N500,000 in favour of Fintiri and the PDP against Binani.

    That judgment aligned with the verdict of the tribunal on October 28, which dismissed Binani’s petition for failing to prove her allegations of over-voting by not tendering documents to prove her case faulting the outcome of the election.

    Before the legal tussle, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Fintiri as the winner of a dramatic governorship poll.

    Fintiri polled 9,337 votes besting Senator ‘Binani’ who scored 6,513 votes.

    But in a controversial move, Ari, while collation was going on, prematurely declared Binani as the winner of the election. This was contrary to the provisions of Section 25 of the Electoral Act, 2022, which gives only the returning officer the right to declare election results for governorship polls.

    Immediately after the announcement, INEC declared the pronouncement as of no effect. It thereafter suspended the collation of results of the supplementary election in Adamawa and invited the REC, Returning Officer, and all officials involved to report to the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja.

    Later on, police authorities arrested Ari, confirming that the INEC REC was in their custody. He is still in court facing charges.

  • Kidnappers Release Abducted Lagos PDP Chairman 

    Kidnappers Release Abducted Lagos PDP Chairman 

    The chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Philip Aivoji, who some yet-to-be-identified gunmen abducted along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, has been released.

    The  Lagos State PDP Chairman had spent four days in captivity after he was abducted last Thursday.

    News of his release was disclosed by the State Publicity Secretary, Hakeem Amode, in a short statement issued around 1.15 am on Monday.

    Amode said, “Lagos State PDP Chairman released by the kidnappers.

    “Hon Philip Olabode Aivoji, the Lagos State PDP Chairman, is free at last after four days in the kidnappers’ den.

    “We use this opportunity to appreciate your prayers, most importantly because God’s mercies was visible all the way.

    “Thank you all for your concerns and prayers.”

    Recall that Aivoji and some other party chieftains were abducted at the Ogere area of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Thursday while returning from the party’s Stakeholders’ Zonal Caucus meeting convened by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and held in Ibadan, the state capital.

  • Lagos PDP Chairman Kidnapped 

    Lagos PDP Chairman Kidnapped 

    The Lagos State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Philip Aivoji, has been abducted.

    He was abducted along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway around 6 p.m on Thursday, according to sources.

    The state publicity secretary of the party, Hon. Hakeem Amode, confirmed the abduction.

    He called on security agencies and government authorities at all levels to intervene promptly and secure his release.

    Amode stated that the chairman was returning from a stakeholders’ meeting in Oyo State convened by Governors Seyi Makinde and Ademola Adeleke.

    He said, “It is disheartening that kidnapping has become a prevalent issue in our country, and the government’s inability to address this menace is deeply concerning.

    “The abduction of Aivoji underscores the pressing need for decisive actions from the government and stakeholders to eradicate this menace.

    “Aivoji’s abduction was a violent incident, and his current whereabouts or any communication from the abductors remain unknown.

    “We implore the governments of Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos States, alongside security agencies, to expedite efforts and secure his safe return to his family and well-wishers. We firmly believe that, with increased efforts from security agencies, Aivoji can be rescued from these criminals, and we call on the public to support initiatives aimed at ending this threat to innocent lives.”