Tribunal orders service of documents on PDP candidate

The Lagos State House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal has ordered service of court papers by substituted means on the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for Ojo Constituency 1,  Mr. Victor Akande.

Akande, having polled 24,848 votes in the Lagos House of Assembly election which held on April 11, 2015, had been declared winner of Ojo Constituency  1 and issued with the certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

However, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the constituency, Muhibat Rufai-Adeyemi, who polled 21,160 votes, had approached the tribunal to challenge Akande’s victory.

Rufai-Adeyemi, who alleged that the electoral process leading to Akande’s victory was fraught with malpractices, had through her lawyer, Mr. Dele Adeogun, secured the leave of the court to serve court papers on Akande by substituted means.

The Justice S.C. Oriji-led tribunal had ordered that the originating processes and all other processes filed by Rufai-Adeyemi should “be pasted on a conspicuous part of Akande’s last known place of abode or delivered to any adult found at the office/secretariat of the PDP at Adekunle Fajuyi Way, Ikeja G.R.A.”

According to the panel, the court papers to be served on Akande include the petition by Rufai-Adeyemi, the petitioner’s statement on oath, list of documents the petitioner wishes to rely upon, and the petitioner’s list of witnesses.

Rufai-Adeyemi is seeking a declaration that “Akande was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes cast in the Lagos State House of Assembly election for Ojo Constituency 1, held on April 11, 2015.”

The petitioner is further seeking “an order of the court restraining Akande from parading himself as the winner of the said election and a further order directing INEC to recognise Rufai-Adeyemi as the winner of the said election.”

Tribunal orders service of documents on PDP candidate

NigeriaDecides: PDP Is Winning In 23 States, Fani-Kayode Claims

The spokesperson of President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organisation has claimed that based on the current tally of results by the party, the incumbent and his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are leading the presidential elections.

“As we speak now, we are winning in 23 states and we have 64 per cent while the APC is winning in14 states and has 36 per cent,” Femi Fani-Kayode said in a press statement sent to media houses on Sunday evening.

The spokesperson also accused the media of spreading false results about a loss for the president in the ongoing elections.

INEC is yet to officially announce the final results although collated results from various state INEC officials show the major candidates winning in different parts of the country.

Read Mr. Fani-Kayode’s full statement below:

TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDIA AND PUBLICITY, PDP PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION, CHIEF FEMI FANI-KAYODE, ON SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2015

We are deeply concerned by the level of disinformation and falsehood that is being peddled around by the friends of the opposition in the media and particularly their paid agents and associates on the social media about the results of Saturdays elections. Since yesterday afternoon, they have been releasing fake results and they have been attempting to mislead the Nigerian people and our friends in the international community. The public have been inundated with lie after lie about the APC’s so-called victories in virtually every single polling booth, ward, local government area and state in the country. This is not only nonsensical but it is also far-fetched, absurd and childish.

Two opposition media houses and their associates in the social media went as far as to shamelessly claim that President Goodluck Jonathan lost in my polling unit and in my ward in Ile-Ife, when in actual fact the President not only won in my polling booth and ward but he also won in virtually every other ward in the four local government areas of Ile-IIfe in Osun state where I come from.

The dirty lies that these two media houses have told is just one example of the gross and irresponsible mendacities and falsehood that the agents and associates of the APC habitually enjoy peddling. As we have always said, they are a party of liars that are led and inspired by a small cabalistic cult of shameful deceivers, liars and cheap propaganda merchants. In them there is no truth and lying is their second nature and natural habitat.

The APC, through their agents in the media, also indulged in many other fanciful and vain mendacities about many other PDP leaders. For example they claimed that Musiliu Obanikoro who is presently the Honorable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Iyiola Omisore, the leader of our party in Osun State, Olusegun Mimiko, the Governor of Ondo state, David Mark, the Senate President, and so many other of our highly esteemed and respected leaders also lost their polling units and wards to General Muhammadu Buhari and the APC candidates for the various elections.

Needless to say these claims by the APC are not only false but they are also absurd and nauseating. Such mendacities are indicative of the fact that they have lost touch with reality as we have always suspected. As a matter of fact we are surprised that they didn’t claim that the President himself also lost in his polling unit and ward and that he in fact voted for Buhari rather than for himself. Such is their level of depravity and deceit that they will manufacture any lie and assert any falsehood just to gain an edge and feed their vain delusions.

The lies they have told about the so-called victory of Buhari in Ile-Ife, Osun state is particularly distasteful because not only has Jonathan appeared to have won in Ile-Ife but our PDP candidate for the Federal House of Representatives in that constituency, Mr. Albert Adeogun, appears to have won the election hands down and defeated Mr. Rotimi Makinde of the APC, who is the sitting member of the Federal House of Representatives. Our candidate for the House of Representatives in Ilesa in the same senatorial district, Mr. Wole Oke, appears to have won his election as well which is another major blow for the APC in Osun state.

Instead of acknowledging these monumental and devastating losses of some of their leading members, the APC, in their habitual manner simply continue to bury their small heads in the ground like the proverbial ostrich, live in denial and peddle lies and falsehood. It is time that they were called to order. The lies of the APC must be ignored and treated with the contempt and disdain that they deserve.

The reports that we are getting from the field is that our candidate is doing very well in the south and north central and that we are making very strong inroads into various states in the core north. The motive for the lies and disinformation of the APC is to create high expectations for their supporters so that when the real results come out and they are announced by INEC, and when those real results do not tally with the fake results that the APC have told their agents and friends to release, they will begin to run riot, create havoc and kill people.

This is irresponsible and dangerous and we hereby warn the APC and their agents in the media to stop spreading falsehood and telling dangerous lies. We also call on the security agencies to be vigilant because when the truth of their defeat finally dawns on them the APC and Buhari will not take it very lightly. We should all patiently wait for INEC to release the official results of all the elections and until then we call on our supporters and party members to hold their heads up high, to remain confident and strong and to hold their peace.

Though it is undoubtedly a close race, we at the PDPCO are cautiously confident and we are very optimistic of total victory despite the desperation, lies and disinformation of the APC. At the end of the day we have no doubt that President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP shall prevail.

We are constrained to conclude this short briefing by commenting on two issues that are also a matter of grave concern to us. First of all it has been brought to our attention that hundreds of thousands of underage voters were allowed to vote by INEC officials in many parts of the north during Saturdays elections.

The pictures of these underage voters, who are APC supporters and many of whom are not even Nigerians but were drafted across our northern borders just to vote, are all over the internet. These pictures show the children actually giving their thumb prints and voting in the elections on Saturday. This is unacceptable to us and it needs to be explained by INEC. We await further clarification from them about it and failing that we shall revisit the issue in a very forceful and precise manner at a later stage.

The other area that needs clarification and an explanation from INEC and which gives us deep concern is the situation that we have found ourselves in when it comes to the issue of card readers. We warned about this right from the outset and we expressed our reservations about their usage but we were ignored and even criticised by many at the time for doing so. With the shameful and abysmal performance of the card readers during Saturday’s polls we believe that we have been vindicated and that our earlier concerns have proved to be legitimate and valid. Sadly the damage that the failure of the card readers has caused to the fortunes of our supporters and party is immense.

Many of our supporters were disenfranchised and were unable to get accreditation or to vote as a consequence of the card reader situation and it is curious that most of the problems associated with card readers only took place in areas and states that are the traditional strongholds of President Jonathan and the PDP. Was this a mere coincidence or was it contrived? That is the million dollar question. We shall speak more about this and other matters after the final results have been announced by INEC. Until then we shall hold our peace.

We use this medium to call on our friends in the social media, the party faithful and all President Goodluck Jonathan Support Groups not to remain silent in the face of these shenanigans. They should speak out on what they know about the propaganda and falsehood of the opposition APC. They should not be intimidated at all by the opposition’s desperate and reprehensible antics. They should set the record straight and not allow themselves to be robbed of a well-earned victory.

As we speak now, we are winning in 23 states and we have 64 percent while the APC is winning in14 states and has 36 percent. These results are subject to confirmation by the Independent National Electoral Commission. However, we are certain of what we are saying because we have information from our agents in every polling unit nationwide. No one must test our will by attempting to change these results and the APC should desist from pushing this nation to the brink of fire, chaos and destruction with their dirty lies and propaganda.

Thank you.

NigeriaDecides: PDP Is Winning In 23 States, Fani-Kayode Claims

Elections: FG approves 2,564 vehicles for police

1

The Federal Government has given approval for the police to acquire 2,564 vehicles to enhance security operations during the forthcoming general elections in the country.

Elections: FG approves 2,564 vehicles for police

Vice President Namadi Sambo, who spoke while launching 263 patrol vehicles for the police at the Eagle Square, Abuja on Sunday appealed to party supporters to shun violence during the polls.

Sambo, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan, said the procurement of the vehicles was aimed at boosting the capacity of the Nigerian Police Force to deliver on its mandate effectively.

He said, “A well equipped and adequately motivated police force, will assist in no small measure in ensuring the security needed in the drive to economic growth and development of Nigeria.

“This is in view of the strong commitment of government to provide for the NPF within available resources, and it is my hope that the gesture by government will be reciprocated by assisting INEC in ensuring they conduct free and fair elections this month.

Vehicles for Police

“It is also expected that the deployment of these operational vehicles will translate to enhanced surveillance of our communities in order to improve security.”

While further highlighting the efforts of government in enhancing peace and security of all Nigerians, Sambo emphasised the need for all citizens to see themselves as Nigerians and work for the unity of the country, despite their political leanings.

“I call on the politicians, the aspirants, their supporters and their sympathisers, to eschew all forms of violence and unlawful practices, both in words and conduct, before and after elections, let us eschew any form of violence, we should condemn any form of violence before, during and after elections. we should know that elections will come and go but Nigeria will remain as one nation and one people,” he said.

Sambo and IGP on a police vehicle

Speaking earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, said approval for 2,564 operational vehicles was given by the President, but the first batch of the patrol cars comprising 170 Nissan NP300 hard body patrol pick-up vans, 129 Nissan Frontier Double Cabin Patrol Vehicles, 50 Nissan Patrol 4WD Jeeps, 10 Toyota double cabin Armoured Patrol Vans and four Ford 550 model 4X4 state of the art Armoured Personnel Carriers were ready for commissioning.

When asked if the remaining bulk would be available before the elections, Abba said he did not know, but noted that “the important thing is that the contract has been signed and the supply is coming from an indigenous company.”

“We are certain that the multiplier effect of the contract would affect the countrymen very well;This is an addition to the vehicles we have in our stock,” he added.

Abba also made references to other utility projects embarked upon by government to enhance the performance of the Force in providing security to citizens.

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Elections: FG approves 2,564 vehicles for police

Defection in Ogun shocking, but won’t affect our electoral chances – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed shock over the defection of some of its members in Ogun State to another party, but said the defection will not affect the overall chances of the party in the forthcoming polls

Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun and his deputy, Segun Adesegun

In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the shock stemmed from the fact that efforts are ongoing to reconcile the aggrieved members in the Ogun State Chapter, hence it was expected that they will give room for the efforts to yield fruits.

It expressed the hope that the defecting party members will reconsider their decision and beat a quick retreat.

”Yes, the defection of some our members will create some challenges for our party, but we will go back to the drawing board to re-strategize and redouble our efforts to retain the state in 2015.

”Every member of our party is important to its overall success, but none is more important than the party. Against this background, no member can hold the party into ransom,” it said.

APC said it is a mere fallacy for anyone to conclude that the defection of some members, irrespective of their self importance, will dramatically alter the chances of the party in 2015, and therefore urged its members in Ogun State not to lose any sleep over the latest development.

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Defection in Ogun shocking, but won’t affect our electoral chances – APC

Oyinlola defects to APC

The estranged National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party and a former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has said that he will defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress in Osogbo today.

Oyinlola

When contacted on the telephone by our correspondent, on Monday, Oyinlola, who confirmed that he would join the APC, said: “So it is. I am joining the APC.”

Sources within the APC told our correspondent that Oyinlola would join the APC today at the mega rally of the ruling party which is scheduled to hold in Osogbo.

The development has generated excitement in the camp of the APC because the former governor is considered to be very influential in the politics of the state just as his defection is seen as a boost to Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s chances of securing a second term in office in the election holding on Saturday.

It became obvious that Oyinlola’s crisis with the PDP was far from being over as he stayed away from the PDP mega rally which was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu; and the leaders of the party last Saturday.

If Oyinlola defects to the APC as scheduled, then all former governors in the state would be members of the ruling party.

Aregbesola had disclosed recently at a campaign in Iwo that Oyinlola had become a member of the APC.

Aregbesola said, “When the PDP was united as one party, we defeated them. Now the good ones among them have left and are now with us. All former elected governors in the state are now with Aregbesola.

“The first elected governor, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke, is with us; the second governor, Baba (Bisi) Akande is with us. The third governor Omo’ba (Prince), is also with us. I can say this but they cannot say it.

“But a former deputy governor, who was chased away from office is the one they are banking on to win the election, they are joking.

“Their candidate has never won any election and he cannot win this one. The only election he won was a gift to him from the prince and he did not win but the election was manipulated for him.”

The National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Chief Bisi Akande and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had immediately after the defeat of Governor Kayode Fayemi by Mr. Ayo Fayose in Ekiti State, visited Oyinlola at his residence in Okuku to woo him to join the party.

Oyinlola is expected to be received by the national leaders of the APC at the mega rally.

The Chairman of the PDP in Osun State, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, when contacted, wished Oyinlola well in his new party.

Olaoluwa said, “There is neither a permanent friend nor a permanent enemy in politics. We wish Oyinlola well in his new party. But we are expecting him to congratulate us on August 10. We are expecting his congratulatory message after we might have been declared the winner of the election.

“The people of the state are against Aregbesola. So, no matter the number of former governors teaming up with him, he will fail. Aregbesola will soon become a former governor because Senator Iyiola Omisore is winning the election by the grace of God.

“The APC is now the party of former governors in Osun State. Aregbesola should be preparing to join the league of former governors.”

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Oyinlola defects to APC

Edo Lawmaker Saga: APC accuses police of bias

BENIN—The 15 All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmakers in Edo State, yesterday, held a parallel plenary at the old House of Assembly complex, Government House Benin City and accused the Police in the state of bias.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, nine lawmakers had earlier held theirs at the Anthony Enahoro Assembly Complex, in front of the entrance to the chambers.

However, the 15 APC lawmakers led by the Speaker, Mr Uyi Igbe and other administrative staff of the Assembly, including the Clerk of the House, Sergeant at Arms and others, held plenary at the former Assembly quarters in Government House, where they had relocated last week due to the on-going renovation work at the Ring Road Assembly complex.

At the sitting, they called on President Goodluck Jonathan to direct the Inspector General of Police, IG, Mr. Muhammed Abubakar, to call the police in the state to order, alleging that they were being used by some politicians.

Moving a motion under matters of urgent public importance, the member representing Akoko-Edo constituency I, Kabiru Adjoto, said the police have abdicated their responsibility of protecting the public and constituted themselves into “protégé of the PDP with their supervision of the destruction of government property.”

The motion was seconded by Mr Sunday Aghedo, representing Ovia South-West constituency. The Speaker directed that copies of the resolution be sent to the President, IG, Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, Zone 5, Commissioner of Police, ECOWAS and United Nations Security Councils Secretariats in Abuja for action.

 

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Edo Lawmaker Saga: APC accuses police of bias

Kogi APC suspends members for going to court over congress

KOGI State chapter of the All Peoples Congress (APC), on Wednesday, suspended some members of the party for having the audacity to challenge the state congress held in April in the court of law.

A faction of the party, last Monday, went to court, challenging the state and local government congresses of the party held in April, calling for cancellation.

Speaking during the  inauguration of the state chairman of the APC, Alhaji Hardy Ametuo, who made this known, said their suspension was in line with the party’s constitution, which stipulated penalties for any one or group of person, who challenged the party in court.

“Immediately after the congress, this group of people, who did not take part  in the congress raised issues. The party immediately set up a reconciliatory committee to look into their grievances. The reconciliatory committee called for a meeting, which some of these people did not attend. My believe is  that these people are agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), specifically sent to destabilise the party” he said.

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Kogi APC suspends members for going to court over congress

They want me out of the governorship race - Fayose cries

CANDIDATE of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, Mr Ayo Fayose, has accused the state government of planning to use the judiciary to truncate his ambition.

Fayose

Fayose, addressing journalists through the Legal Adviser of the Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation (AFCO), Mr Kolapo Adekola, said the state government had gone to court “with frivolous allegations to distract” him and prevent him from contesting the election.

According to him, the PDP had it on good authority that personalities sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC) had filed three suits in the state high court with alleged intention to embarrass Fayose and frustrate his ambition.

He said part of the plot to stop Fayose from contesting the election was a petition written by the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wale Fapohunda, to the Kogi State judiciary, seeking the transfer of a case involving one Charles Ovie on the kidnap of the Attah of Ayede, Oba Joseph Orisagbemi and the late provost of the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Dr Gabriel Olowoyo, in 2009, to Ekiti State for fresh prosecution.

Kolapo said that another chieftain of the party and former chairman of the caretaker committee of Ekiti West Local Government Area, Mr Tajudeen Akingbolu, had filed a suit in an Ado-Ekiti high court, seeking N10 million as compensation for allegedly being denied free movement while Fayose campaigned in Igede-Ekiti; that the campaign train created a traffic bottleneck.

They want me out of the governorship race - Fayose cries

PDP suspends Sir Hon. Elemchukwu Obowu over comments on Rhyth fm

The Rivers State Chapter of the People Democratic Party, PDP, has announced the suspension of Hon Sir Elemchukwu Obowu over his comment on a news and current affair programme “view point” of Rhythm fm.

This was contained in a statement made available to Naija Center News by the state secretary, Chief Ibibia O. Walter.

The party said the comment made was culpable of causing disunity, hatred among party members.

The Statement reads:

SUSPENSION OF SIR HON. ELEMCHUKWU OBOWU

The state working committee of the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, has unanimously endorsed the suspension of Hon Sir. Elemchukwu Obowu from the party in the meeting of Friday 4th April 2014 held at the state party secretariat on account of his recent diversionary derogary comment on a news and current affairs programme, “view point” of Rhythm 93.7 (8:15-9:30am) on Saturday 29th March, 2014.

This suspension is in line with the provision of the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) 2012 (as amended), section 58(1) articles b, h and part of i; as he is culpable in causing disaffection among the rank and file of our party’s code of conduct as stipulated in the same constitution, chapter 3 part 1, 10(1) g and 10, (4).

It is a common knowledge that he made avarice of obstinate cantankerous remarks on the 2015 governorship issue in the state, a matter not presently on the stable of the state PDP, thus bringing the party into disrepute and these statements of his to say the least contemptuous.

Sir Hon. Obowu’s misconduct shall be referred to the party disciplinary committee which will ascertain why he should not be expelled from the Peoples Democratic Party.

To this end, Sir Elemchukwu shall lose all rights and privileges accorded him as a member of the party pending the recommendation of the disciplinary committee.

 

PDP suspends Sir Hon. Elemchukwu Obowu over comments on Rhyth fm

2015: Presidency, APC throw verbal punch in America

WASHINGTON—The Presidency and opposition parties led by the All Progressives Congress, yesterday, took their battle for the 2015 elections to far away Washington D.C., in the United States of America.

A forum on Nigeria’s preparations for the 2015 elections, degenerated to a war of words, after opposition leaders in the country pointed at alleged failings of President Goodluck Jonathan in governance and his sincerity towards free and fair elections.

The forum held under the auspices of the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, CSIS nearly boiled over after Dr. Doyin Okupe who led the presidency and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, delegation warned opposition politicians not to bring the personality of the president into the forum.

Okupe: Mind my roar

Dr. Okupe who had started by claiming that he would not wash the country’s dirty linen in public, however, expploded when Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the All Progressives Congress, APC, spokesman hinted at the administration’s failure to address transparency issues including the alleged missing $20 billion oil revenue and indiscretions by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as failings of the government.

“Alhaji Lai Mohammed should not cast aspersions on the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because if he does that, he knows me and what I can do,” Okupe said as he went on to project the 2011 elections as the best in the country’s history which he said, were only dented by violence inspired by opposition politicians.

Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States, Prof. Ade Adefuye in his summary of the discussions, however, praised the two sides saying that the articulation of the two parties was reflective of the high level of political discourse in Nigeria. He nevertheless warned the two sides not to wash the country’s image in public even as he raised questions about Nigerians coming to discuss their country in the United States.

Okupe had a Senior Special Assistant to the President, Sanya Awosan and Fred Majemite, Political Adviser to the Governor of Delta State on the panel. Besides Mohammed, the APC was represented by Senator Babafemi Ojodu, APC, Ekiti Central. The event was attended by Nigerian professionals, American specialists on Africa and state department officials among others. Among others present at the event were Dr. Usman Bugaje, former senior aide to the vice-president in the Olusegun Obasanjo administration; Mr. Oma Djebah, senior adviser to the governor of Delta State on foreign relations.

The PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu‘azu was excused on the basis of a caucus meeting in Abuja and Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State was similarly excused following the killing of more than 100 persons in the state, last weekend.

Noting the APC’s preparations for the 2015 election, Mohammed pointed at ongoing congresses to choose party officials and the roll out of a road map to lead Nigeria out of the malaise of unemployment, insecurity among other issues bothering on lack of transparency in the management of the economy and the electoral process.

Mohammed

Okupe responding, immediately faulted Mohammed as he said that he did not come to discuss the president’s performance, noting that he had “reservations about discussing our internal problems abroad,” and warned Mohammed, who he had earlier embraced before the commencement of the discussions not to comment on the personality of the president.

Ms Jenniefer Cooke, Director of the CSIS Africa programme who moderated the discussions from that point intervened as both sides tried to showcase the failings of one another. Senator Ojudu was specifically cited the unwillingness of the PDP majority in the legislature to project good bills to consolidate democracy and  faulted President Jonathan’s refusal to give assent to the State of the Nation address.

Faulting Okupe’s assertion that the problems of Nigeria should be internalised, Ojudu said: “We cannot be an island of our own”.

Okupe from time to time teased the APC team on what he called the lack of internal democracy, saying that the party was quick to suppress the mandate of parties who won in the last local government elections in Lagos State.

Ms Cooke was forced to intervene after Okupe raised issues on Mohammed’s assertion of the administration’s failures to address the spate of insecurity inspired by the Boko Haram Islamic group.

Noting words of advice from the party to the government, he said:

“Insurgency is not a matter that can be politicised but unfortunately the government of the day has not been able to distinguish between the message and the messenger,” as the opposition politicians faulted the president’s failure to visit the war ravaged sections of the Northeast.

Okupe intervening hollered, “I do not expect you to come to this forum to raise these issues, it is nonsense,” he said.

The CSIS forum continued last night with sessions between the Nigerian politicians and state department officials.

Sessions would also be held today with other democracy building institutions based in America and meetings with senior officials of the Barack Obama administration.

2015 elections would be better than 2011 —Jonathan

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has said that he would ensure that no other Nigerian leader suffers international humiliation which the late president, Umaru Yaradua and himself suffered, saying that as long as he remains the president, he would ensure the conduct of a credible and acceptable election in 2015.

He spoke, yesterday , when he received the outcome of the National Stakeholders Forum on Electoral Reform from former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, the Chairman of Ken Nnamani Centre for Leadership  and Development.

According to President Jonathan, “there is a lot of noise in the air but definitely the elections will be better because we must put our legs down and make sure that the right things are done.”

While commending the Ken Nnamani foundation for its ‘painstaking commitment’ to examining  relevant department of government to strengthen the electoral process, the president assured that he would do everything to ensure that there was credibility in the conduct of election, promising that the 2015 election would be better conducted and more credible than those of 2011.

“Anything about elections, I’m totally committed. And I used my personal experience when I came on board in 2007 as a vice president, and I promised myself that if I have the privilege to oversee elections in Nigeria, we will do better.  Bayelsa State is totally a PDP State and I didn’t see how anybody could win election outside the PDP. I had to go to my ward to vote, because everything about politics is local, but at the end of that election I was embarrassed when the international observers complained that there were certain breaches.

“Even though after taking oath of office and the Supreme Court declared us winners, each time one travelled abroad, people ask all kinds of questions that even gets one angry. That was when I promised myself that if I have an opportunity to oversee elections in Nigeria, no other president or vice president should suffer that  kind of harassment by the international community.

“That was why the 2011 elections, even though I was candidate, I said nobody should manipulate elections for me that my ambition and the fate of the country are two different things. The interest of the nation is much more superior than any other ambition and I kept faith with that. At least, at the end of that election, it was accepted by observers locally and internationally. And I promise that 2015 elections will be better,” he said.

On the recommendations by the Ken Nnamani Foundation which include the establishment of electoral offences  commission, funding of INEC and support for constitutional/electoral reform,  the President noted that they were in tandem with  government’s thinking and policy.

On the establishment of electoral offences  commission,  the president agreed that there must be a dedicated body “so that people who commit electoral  offences will not get away with it.

“After elections, the matter goes to the tribunal, the only person who loses, is the person who contested that election. Other people who committed all kinds of atrocities get away with them and nobody punishes them. And that is why we continue to have that kind of impunity. That was why my committee at a time recommended this election offences commission, where we stated that whether elections are annulled or not, there must be process of bringing those who have done one thing or the other contrary to expectations to book.

2015: Presidency, APC throw verbal punch in America

APC will defeat Jonathan easily in 2015 - Yobe commissioner

By Ehi Ekhator

The Commissioner for Water Resources in Yobe State, Alhaji Sidi Yakubu Karasuwa has declared that All Progressives Congress (APC) will win President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 general election.

Jonathan Banner

He said : “Actually as far as we are concerned, personally I will prefer Jonathan to contest. Why? Because, he is the one we can easily beat because he has done so many things that he cannot be marketable.

“There are a lot of things under this administration of Jonathan that one can tell Nigerians and it is not something hidden. See the corruption in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and all over the place. Today, hundreds of billions of dollars are gone; tomorrow is the same; next tomorrow is still the same? Look at his Petroleum Minister who is spending over N10billion just for charttering aircraft. What about the tragedy recently at the Immigration recruitment? The list is endless.

“So, politically talking, politics is about presenting the score card of the present administration for you to criticise or support; so, we in APC have so many things now at hand that we can present to Nigerians and tell them that Jonathan is not competent to rule this country.

“I heard some time that PDP wants to make him a consensus candidate and if that happens, we will have an upper hand. As far as APC is concerned, the contest will be a walk-over for us.” (0)

APC will defeat Jonathan easily in 2015 - Yobe commissioner

Borno group okays Imam to run for governor

The People’s Vanguard, a non political group has on Friday endorsed Honourable Mamman Imam for the 2015 gubernatorial race in Borno state.

The group said, “Honourable Imam meets our criteria for the calibre of a governor required to represent the troubled state in 2015, following the inability of the present administration of Governor Kashim Shettima to address or rather bring to an end the security challenges bedevilling the state”.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Coordinator, People’s Vanguard, (Borno State Projects 2015), Mr. Ijudical Fali and made available to Journalists in Maiduguri over the weekend.

Both are members of the newly registered/formed APC in the state, although they seem to be from different camps, as Imam is in former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff’s camp, while the other camp is being controlled by the incumbent, governor Kashim Shettima.

Honourable Mamman Imam, popularly known as Mamman millionaire and also a strong political loyalist of former Governor Ali Sheriff, our Correspondent learnt, was a one time Chairman of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), a commissioner and state Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, (ANPP) during the former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, now the leader of the APC in the north east.

The coordinator while commending governor Shettima for his giant stride in managing the Boko Haram crisis which had claimed many innocent lives and property worth billions of naira destroyed in the last three years of the present administration, however said, “Borno has been known to be the home of peace, but because of the selfish interest of some individuals who had resulted in covering and disguising under some motives to instigate the people against themselves, has aggravated the insurgency issue which has eaten up the entire state, giving room to those in positions to selfishly enrich themselves at the expense of the majority of the poor people of the state”. Ijudical said in the statement.

“We reasoned that Honourable Imam is somebody who does not stir controversy and has proved himself worthy of understanding our values, aspirations and desires especially as it relates to our political challenges. We believe that he understands our pulse, knowing that Borno land which was a “Home of Peace” has not had its fair, as it is now known to be a theater of war, in which only Imam will confidently and genuinely address the situation by God grace. “ Ijudical insists.

He noted that, the group, ‘ Peoples Vanguard’ which he coordinates is a non -political, but indeed, an interest and pressure group that will always stand by the truth and give support to whom the cap fits, irrespective of sentiments, and therefore called on the people of the state to rally round Honourable Imam in the forthcoming 2015 gubernatorial elections in the state, adding that, Imam is the only person who has a vision to take Borno to its promised land. End

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Borno group okays Imam to run for governor