IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

A major political realignment took place in Akwa Ibom State on Saturday when 14 former chapter chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declared their support for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking on behalf of the former leaders of the PDP at the grassroots, former PDP chapter chairman of Uruan, Pastor Benedict Effiong, said “after a careful assessment of all the candidates running for the office of governor of the state, we have all come as a group to declare our support for the APC and Obong Nsima Ekere because the APC governorship candidate is the only one who is capable of leading the state to its destined place in the nation.”

On hand to receive the former chapter chairmen of the PDP were from 2nd right, Umana Okon Umana, MD OGFZA; Sen. Ita Enang, SSA to President on NASS (Senate); Nsima Ekere, APC guber candidate, Bishop Samuel Akpan and others

Pastor Effiong said the remaining former chapter chairmen have already agreed to move to the APC and would soon declare their support publicly too. “With this development today,” Pastor Effiong said, “PDP is dead in the state.”

The mass defection, which took place in the residence of Mr Umana Okon Umana in Uyo on Saturday was witnessed by Mr Umana, managing director of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority; Obong Nsima Ekere, governorship candidate of the APC in Akwa Ibom State for the 2019 election; Senator Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on the National Assembly Affairs (Senate); Bishop Samuel Akpan, APC a political chieftain and leader of the party in Onna, home local government of the PDP incumbent governor of the state.

Unending spate of defections has hit the PDP in the state since the beginning of the year. In August the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Godswill Akpabio defected from the PDP to the APC in a most crippling blow to the PDP. Senator Akpabio told the Vanguard newspaper at the time that he was dumping the PDP for a party that would give him the platform to “emancipate my people because the PDP has no vision.” The former deputy governor of the state, Lady Valerie Ebe and former Senator Eme Ekaette defected from the PDP to the APC last month.

Since September, a succession of political aides to the state governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, has resigned their positions and joined the APC. Each of them cited poor leadership as reason for leaving.

Source: Vanguard. 

There was palpable tension at the national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday as aspirants for the Senate and House of Representatives elections stormed the secretariat to have a knowledge of the outcome of the screening and probably the list of candidates sent to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the party.

The APC Director of Organisation, Alhaji Abubakar Kari, who led some officials of the party to submit the list to INEC was seen at about 2p.m. cuddling the list of candidates which has been kept secret. Ameborave Media gathered that the former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Senator representing Rivers East, Magnus Abe, and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani lost out in the tussle for the governorship ticket of their states. Others who also lost out in the governorship race in accordance with the committee report include brother to the wife of the President (Aisha Buhari), Dr. Mahmoud Halilu; President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Bala Bobboi Kaigama; Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and Ikechi Emenike of Abia State.

It was, however, gathered that many members of the party across the country who were not sure of whether the decision of the appeal panel was in their favour have been making frantic calls to the secretariat to know their faith, while some other aspirants came in person. Among those that stormed the party secretariat were Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta) and three senatorial aspirants from Niger State who won the first senatorial primaries before it was cancelled. However, they could not achieve much in terms of information as no national officer was handy. It was learnt that several of the petitions submitted to the Appeal Panel headed by Prof. Oseriehem Osunbor were either not entertained or dismissed for lacking in substance.

A source at the secretariat revealed that the two petitions against the governorship primaries in Rivers by Senator Abe and Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs were not upheld, while the only petition from Delta submitted by Prof. Pat Utomi was dismissed and tagged “overtaken by event”.

Also in Borno State, there were four petitions against the conduct of the governorship primary, with the committee recommending that a consensus option be explored to be driven by the National Chairman in consultation with the President. For the petitions against the conduct of the Senate and House of Representatives primaries it was gathered that they were not upheld for various reasons ranging from lack of merit, lack of proof to lack of time for fresh primaries while no reasons were adduced for not upholding some others.

Similarly, some petitions were upheld and some of the petitioners declared as candidates of the party either because they actually won the primaries and were substituted or for other reasons ranging from lack of clearance and others that were not adduced by the committee. A summary of the report indicated that all petitions against the Senate and House of Representatives primaries were rejected by the panel, the same position with Bayelsa, Rivers and Cross Rivers states.

The report also showed that in Delta State, eight petitions were upheld for winning the primaries and having their names substituted, while seven were rejected, while the three petitions against the conduct of the governorship primary in Akwa Ibom State was rejected alongside eight House of Representatives seat, while five were upheld. From Kaduna, six petitions were treated for the senatorial primaries with five of them rejected while one (Shehu Sani) was upheld. Nine of the 10 petitions received for the House of Representatives were rejected. Similarly, two petitions each were received against the governorship primaries in Sokoto and Jigawa and were rejected, while three House of Representatives and three Senatorial petitions were rejected from the two states.

In Kebbi and Katsina states, the petitions were also rejected while the two against the conduct of the governorship primary were referred to the National Working Committee (NWC) for decision, while the petitions from Kano were either upheld or referred to the party national secretariat for action. From Taraba State, it was gathered that 10 petitions were received against the conduct of the governorship primary, four against the Senate primary and nine against the House of Representatives primaries, with all petitions rejected. A similar situation was witnessed in Adamawa and Bauchi states, with only one Senatorial and one House of Representatives seat in Bauchi upheld.

Igbo leaders in Lagos APC said on Wednesday that voting for President Muhammadu Buhari in the upcoming presidential elections would hasten the chances of the Igbo, clinching the presidency in the near future.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the group, led by the Lagos APC Spokesman, Joe Igbokwe, made the declaration at an interactive session with political correspondents in Lagos.

Mr Igbokwe said there was need for Igbos not to allow the sentiments of a vice-presidential slot to becloud their sense of reasoning over an anticipated Igbo presidency in 2023.

“We should support PMB, instead of Atiku and there is need for the Igbos to key in so as not to lose out in the scheme for power.

“Politics is a game of numbers. Igbos must demonstrate commitment through their support and key in with a political party that would guarantee the realisation of their aspirations.”

According to Igbokwe, there is need for Igbos to strategise to win the trust and friendship of other geo-political zones, to guarantee their support for an Igbo president in 2023.

“The president has even said so that he will support an Igbo presidency in 2023. It is wise that we also support him in 2019.’’

The APC chieftain argued that the Buhari administration had achieved so much in infrastructure development in the South East and had broken grounds that should guarantee his return.

“Apart from being members of the APC, as Nigerians we believe that the president has integrity; is hardworking, intelligent, dependable and is also not corrupt. But sentiments will not allow some people to see it,” Mr Igbokwe added.

On issues of endorsement of candidates in Lagos, the spokesman urged politicians to be wary of fake Igbo groups in Lagos.

“We have noticed that all manner of people gather themselves every election year to extort money from the state, promising to deliver Igbo votes to our party in Lagos.

“Over the years, we have noticed that these political entrepreneurs whose aim is to make money and nothing more continue to swindle leaders every election year.

“It is our wish, therefore, that all matters pertaining to Ndigbo in APC Lagos will be routed through this body that is set up to provide synergy that will galvanise our people into action.

“This will lead to more votes for the APC in Lagos State, given the Igbo numerical strength in the state.”

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Bwari, Abuja has consolidated two suits filed by Mr. Uche Nwosu and Senator Hope Uzodinma in the dispute arising from the Imo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship election primary.

It declined to substitute Nwosu’s name as pleaded by Uzodinma. Nwosu won the primary conducted by APC-approved panel while Uzodinma was proclaimed winner of the primary conducted by a faction.

Justice Othman Musa adjourned to October 23 for the APC and INEC to show cause why the reliefs sought by Uzodinma in a motion ex-parte, which the court heard on October 9, but declined to grant, should not be granted.

The reliefs include an order directing the APC to forward his name (Uzodimma) to INEC as the party’s governorship candidate for Imo State, and an order restraining INEC from continuing to process or publish any other person’s name, except the name of Uzodimma, as Imo State governorship candidate of the APC in the 2019 election.

The judge also directed that parties in the suit should amend their documents to reflect the names of those make parties yesterday. He also directed that all necessary documents should be filed before the next date.

In his suit, Nwosu sought to compel APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept him as the party’s governorship candidate while Uzodinma is seeking a similar request in his suit.

The consolidation, Nwosu’s lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN) said, was directed by the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello, upon the request by his (Ogunwumiju’s) client to avoid conflicting judgments, because the cases are on the same issue. Ogunwumiju said his client;s case was earlier before Justice Valentine Ashi before Justice Bello’s directive.

Justice Musa, after consolidating both suits, also granted Nwosu’s application to be made a party in the suit by Uzodinma. Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) argued the application for Nwosu, which wwas not opposed by Uzodinma’s lawyer, Joe Agi (SAN).

Justice Musa also granted another application filed by Okere Uzochukwu and Alozie Okechukwu (for themselves and on behalf of APC members, who voted for Owerri zone candidates at the APC’s governorship election conducted by the Alhaji Ahmed Gulak-led panel).

Lawyer to Uzochukwu and Okechukwu, Mr. Okere Nnamdi, while arguing the application, said his clients were necessary parties to the case because its outcome would affect them.

He said his client’s grouse was that APC’s decision to select its governorship candidate from the same Orlu zone, where Governor Okorocha comes from, violates the constitutional provisions of section 14(4) and 224, which direct that political parties must conduct their affairs to reflect equity and fairness among all.

The judge however rejected the application by and Chitex Ventures limited and Chima Akuzie, whose lawyer, Oluwatosin Ojaomo told the court that Uzodinma was indebted to his clients to the tune of N200million.

Ojaomo, who noted that there was a subsisting arrest warrant issued by an Abuja court against Uzodinma, said he (Uzodinma) was planning to use the N200m owed his clients to contest the forthcoming governorship election.

The lawyer added that a criminal matter had been instituted against Uzodinma for allegedly issuing a dud cheque of N200m to his clients. The proceedings were held up for about one hour owning to a major disagreement between Akintola and Agi.

At a point, both lawyers were standing and speaking at the same time, thereby occasioning rowdy proceedings. The hot exchange between the lawyers lasted for some minuites and created a rowdy atmosphere, in the midst of which the judge stood up and went into his chambers.

Other senior lawyers in court, including Damian Dodo, Kenneth Njemanze and Ogunwumiju (all SANs) later intervened and appealed to the feuding lawyers to allow peace to reign.

After successfully reconciling both warring lawyers, the senior lawyers, seven in all, later went to apologise to the judge in his Chambers. When proceedings resumed about one hour later, Dodo apologised to the judge in the open court.

Dodo said: “My Lord, I apologise for the incident that led to the abrupt rising of the court. I undertake that we will not to allow this to happen again. ”The judge accepted the apology and proceeded with the court’s business.

The Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, has expressed shock over the choice of former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi as the running mate to the presidential candidate of PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar without consulting with the leaders of the zone.

Umahi said the earlier statement quoting him as congratulating Peter Obi was never with his knowledge and dissociated himself from the statement, saying that the position of the entire South East zone has always been that any position zoned to the South East must be deliberated upon by the leaders of the zone.

He said in the case of the appointment of Mr. Obi as Atiku's running mate, neither the governors, nor Igbo leaders were consulted, a situation he said was a great departure from the earlier agreement.

The governor appologized to Nigerians and Ndigbo for the statement, adding that his Chief Press Secretary acted without his knowledge and wish to state categorically that he has nothing personally against Peter Obi or any other person emerging as the running mate to the presidential candidate of PDP.

He said that any position zoned to Ndigbo must be discussed and agreement reached so that the right thing is done in line with the perculiar nature of Igbo politics and their quest for politics of inclusiveness.

Remarks By Chief Olusegun Obasanjo

On The Visit of PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to Abeokuta October 11, 2018

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I am happy to welcome the distinguished leaders of goodwill who have led the PDP Presidential Candidate and my former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, to my humble abode and I welcome the Presidential Candidate himself.

Let me start by congratulating President-to-be, Atiku Abubakar, for his success at the recent PDP Primary and I took note of his gracious remarks in his acceptance speech that it all started here.

Yes, when it started, it was meant for Atiku to succeed Obasanjo.  In the presence of these distinguished leaders of goodwill today, let me say it openly that we have reviewed what went wrong on the side of Atiku.  And in all honesty, my former Vice-President has re-discovered and re-positioned himself.  As I have repeatedly said, it is not so much what you did against me that was the issue but what you did against the Party, the Government and the country.

I took the stand I had taken based on the character and attributes you exhibited in the position you found yourself.  I strongly believe that I was right. It was in the overall interest of everyone and everything to take such a position.

From what transpired in the last couple of hours or so, you have shown remorse; you have asked for forgiveness and you have indicated that you have learnt some good lessons and you will mend fences and make amends as necessary and as desirable.

Whenever or wherever you might have offended me, as a Christian who asks for God’s forgiveness of my sins and inadequacies on daily basis, I forgive and I sincerely advise you to learn from the past and do what is right and it will be well with you. 

Obviously, you have mended fences with the Party and fully reconciled with the Party.  That’s why today, you are the Presidential Candidate of the Party.  In addition to appreciating all that the Party has done for you, may I advise you to work together with all those who contested for the Party’s flag with you as a team for your campaign.

There are still areas, nationally and internationally, where you have to mend fences and make amends.  You will know how to handle what is already out and what may yet be put out by the opposition.  But, I am convinced that if you continue with the attitude that brought you here with these distinguished leaders of goodwill, with remorse and contrite heart, the rest of the coast within and outside the country can be cleared.  And if there is anything I can do and you want me to do in that respect, I will do. 

I am sure with the right attitude for change where necessary, and by putting lessons learned by you to work, you will get the understanding, cooperation, support and mandate -  all at the national level.  With Nigerians voting for you, it will mean that you secure their forgiveness and regain their confidence. It will be with the hope or assurance of a Paul on the road to Damascus Conversion. After all, change and conversion are of man. I believe that with a contrite heart, change is possible in everybody’s life and situation.

For me, relatively and of all the aspirants in the PDP, you have the widest and greatest exposure, experience, outreach and possibly the best machinery and preparation for seeing the tough and likely dirty campaign ahead through. From what I personally know of you, you have capacity to perform better than the incumbent. You surely understand the economy better; you have business experience, which can make your administration business-friendly and boost the economy and provide jobs.

You have better outreach nationally and internationally and that can translate to better management of foreign affairs.  You are more accessible and less inflexible and more open to all parts of the country in many ways.  As Pastor Bakare, one-time running mate of the incumbent President said, “You are a wazobia man.”  And that should help you in confronting the confrontable and shunning nepotism.

As you know, along the road to where you are today, many leaders and ordinary people cooperated and overtly and covertly worked hard.  On your behalf, I thank them all.  May their coast continue to be expanded.  And when you become Nigerian President which, insha-Allah, you will be, remember what we did together in government – we ran an administration by Nigerians for all Nigerians where merit and performance count more than blood relationship, friendship or kith and kin.  Although some time and ground have been lost, you should endeavour to start from where we stopped and recover some lost ground, if not time. 

Please uphold truth, integrity, principles, morality and fight corruption, crimes and insurgency.  The fundamental law of the land, our constitution must be scrupulously defended. I make one demand and one demand on you today, I need you to say before God and man that you will always remain irrevocably committed to upholding ALL the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the whole country will remain your single indivisible constituency. 

Constitutionalism, popular participation and inclusiveness are pre-conditions for reversing the deficits of the past three and half years. They will ensure abiding faith in our indivisibility, oneness and faith in the survival of all against none.

The fundamentals for our development, economic growth and progress are hard and soft infrastructure.  Remember to always give adequate places in your administration to our youth and women.

All the authorities involved with the preparation, all processes and conduct of the election must ensure that the election is free, fair and credible.

Once again, congratulations and I wish you well.  My distinguished brothers and leaders of goodwill, thank you for making this happen.  I will now count on you to encourage all hands to be on the deck to take Nigeria to the level God has created it to be – autopilot level.

God bless you all and God bless Nigeria.