Anti-Saraki group seeks speedy probe of alleged forgery

The Senate Unity Forum on Wednesday expressed concern over the slow pace of investigation into the forgery allegations against some senators and management of the National Assembly, which was contained in its petition to the Inspector-General of Police,  three weeks ago.

It has therefore called on well meaning Nigerians to, as a matter of urgency, prevail on authorities concerned to commence necessary investigation that would unravel the alleged forgery scandal.

The amendments made to the 2015 Senate Standing Rule by yet to be identified individuals had generated a serious crisis recently when the SUF petitioned the police over the controversial document.

The petition, written by the SUF Secretary,  Senator Suleiman Hunkunyi,  reads in part,  “We write to bring to your attention, the existence of the fraudulent introduction of a 2015 Senate Standing Rules as amended.

“We wish to attach the original and authentic Standing Order for 2011 that was used by the 7th Senate, Annexure A.

“We again attached the annex, a purported amended Standing Orders 2015, which was used by the Clerk to the National Assembly (along with the Clerk of the Senate) in inaugurating the 8th Senate on June 9, 2015.

“The so called new Standing Orders purports to allow for secret instead of the open ballot system that has been prevalent in all Senate elections as permitted by the extant rules.

“This infraction, among others, arise from the fraudulent production of the Rules without an approved consideration by the 7th Senate.

“At no time was the Standing Orders of the Senate amended during the entire life of the 7th Senate, neither has the 8th Senate sat for long enough to produce the rules now being circulated and in use.”

The police, on the strength of the petition,  subsequently quizzed the leadership of the 7th Senate, including Senators David Mark; his deputy,  Ike Ekweremadu; Former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba; and the Former Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang.

But the SUF, in a statement by its spokesperson,  Senator Kabir Marafa, in Abuja on Wednesday, lamented that the police action on the issue was becoming too slow.

Marafa said, “The problem is that the senate was inaugurated using a forged document. Who forged that document? We can’t gloss over or sweep that criminality under the carpet, Nigeria is not a banana Republic!

“The standing order is an upshot of the  constitution, it spelt out clearly in order 110 (1-5) how it can be amended just like the constitution spelt out how it can be amended  in section 9 (1-4).

“The insertion of order 3 (2 iv) & 3 (3e i-iiii) in the 2015 edition is a deliberate act perpetrated by 5th columnist operating within the National Assembly to sabotage the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“It was done to cause friction, disaffection and generate bad blood among senators from different zones and provoke a confusion in the Senate with the sole aim of stagnating government business to give them time to perfect their agenda!!”

He lamented, for instance, that the insertion of order 3 (2 iv ), was done to favour the Peoples Democratic Party caucus in the Senate who supported Senator Bukola Saraki to become the Senate President.

He said, “For 16 years of PDP leadership, the presiding officers and committee headship was skewed in favour of the zones that produces more PDP senators but suddenly they introduce equality of zones in the distribution of these offices because they lost out, this is unacceptable by APC senators.

“Let me use this medium to call on all well meaning Nigerians to, as a matter of urgency, call on all the authorities concern to commence investigation into this illegality before it overwhelm us as a nation.”

Marafa added that there is no  law that sets time frame within which to clear the service chiefs, adding that the president has the powers to appoint them on acting capacity, which he had done already.

Anti-Saraki group seeks speedy probe of alleged forgery

Breaking: Court restates 22 sack LG chairmen, councilors in Rivers State

By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News

A court in Bayelsa has ordered the reinstatement of the 22 local government councillors and chairmen who were sacked last week.

The court directed the Inspector general of police to provide security for them.

The chairmen and Councillors were elected on the 23 of May, 2015 by the end Rotimi Amaechi’s administration.

The state governor, Nyesom Wike had few days ago sworn in caretaker chairmen after the a judge of the federal high court in Port Harcourt, ordered the dismissal of t he APC men.

The caretaker chairmen sworn in by Wike were not able to assume office as police suddenly took over all local government secretariats in the state.

Details to follow…

Breaking: Court restates 22 sack LG chairmen, councilors in Rivers State

Edo lost N10 billion under Jonathan"s administration - Oshiomhole

By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News

The Executive Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has alleged that the past President, Goodluck Jonathan and his Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala denied Edo State the sum of N10 billion in four years.

Oshiomhole said “Imagine what Edo State got from this renewed transparency and total compliance to the spirit and letter of the constitution. If what we got last week, courtesy of this renewed commitment to transparency, if we had gotten this in the past four years consecutively, we would have made about N10bn.

“So, by the same token, Edo State Government had lost N10bn under Jonathan.”

Governor Oshiomhole

The governor disclosed this while addressing State House correspondent after he and a former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi met with President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock.

 

Oshiomhole said that if the amount $1.6bn NLNG tax that Buhari shared as bailout fund had come during Jonathan’s administration, it would have disappeared without states benefiting from it.

Oshiomhole said, “All the noise that have been generated over what happened last week, there was nothing extraordinary. What was extraordinary is that the NLNG has over the years been remitting funds to the Federal Government but the government illegally refused to transfer these funds to the Consolidated Revenue Fund which belongs to the three tiers of government.

“All that President Buhari has done is to, in line with his commitments to ensuring that all funds and money accruing to the Federation Account are remitted, that he has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to transfer the funds to the consolidated funds. “Our commissioners along with federal officials met last week to share those funds in line with the revenue allocation formula. If this money had come under the last administration, it will have gone the same way as in previous years.”

The governor expressed happiness towards Buhari because of his effort and promise to stop impunity and fragrant disobedient of law and order.

 

“The NLNG is not starting fresh to remit. It has been doing that every year plus taxes paid by, I think Shell, amounting to about $500m added to the amount of $1.6bn from the NLNG that total to the amount of $2.1bn. That was the money that was shared.” The governor added.

 

Edo lost N10 billion under Jonathan"s administration - Oshiomhole

Tinubu Behind Plan To Remove Ekweremadu - Ndigbo

The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ohanaeze Youth Council, has said that the All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is behind the plot to remove Ike Ekweremadu as the deputy senate president.

In a statement issued in Umuahia, the OYC National President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, asked Tinubu and other “anti- Igbo forces in APC” to retrace their steps or face the wrath of Igbo youths.

Isiguzoro said the plot to remove Ekweremadu was an affront on the Igbo nation which would not be tolerated.

He said, “Being fully aware that the present plot is being orchestrated by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, we ask him to re-trace his steps forthwith or we shall declare him an enemy of Ndigbo.”

Isiguzoro, however, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to caution Tinubu and other anti-Ekweremadu forces in order to avoid actions that might further overheat the polity.

He said, “We are aware that Buhari is under intense pressure to endorse the ‘Ekweremadu must go plot.’ This is the time for the President to prove that he belongs to nobody, Tinubu inclusive, but that he belongs to everybody, Ndigbo inclusive.”

Also, another Igbo group, Izu-Umunna Cultural Association, asked the APC to accept the election of Ekweremadu as the deputy senate president as the will of God.

The association also asked the Federal Government to relocate the Boko Haram detainees from Ekwulobia prison facilities in the South-East because their presence had been creating tension in the region.

According to him, the presence of the Boko Haram detainees is like spreading the virus of terrorism to a region not known to such a trend.

In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Ugo Ihekuna, and Secretary-General, Chief Elvis Chukwu, the association attributed the crisis in the senate to the handiwork of politicians who wanted things to always go their own way.

Tinubu Behind Plan To Remove Ekweremadu - Ndigbo

President Buhari, Osinbajo slash salary by 50 percent

By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News.

President Muhammadu Buhari in the process of keeping one of his campaign promises has decided to slash his salary and that of his Vice President Prof. Osinbajo by 50 percent.

Buhari and Osinbajo

Buhari has sworn to do everything possible to reducing the cost of governance to free funds for the delivery of democracy dividends.

It could be recalled that the President also rejected  a proposal from the Aso Rock bureaucracy to approve the purchase of four armoured cars at the cost of N400 million on Thursday, saying that it was too expensive, plus the vehicles used by the former President, Goodluck Jonathan were still in good shapes for him.

 

According to the publication by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, Buhari’s annual salary is N14, 058,820.00.

With the decision taken by the President, Buhari and his vice will earn half the salaries of the Goodluck Jonathan and former vice President, Namadi Sambo.

 

That means, Buhari annual salary will be N7, 029, 410 a year or N28, 117, 640 in his first term.

The leaders have written to the Secretary of the Government of the Federation to inform them of the new development in order to formalize the process.

The Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu disclosed that a detailed letter has been delivered by the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr. Nebolisa Emodi with reference number PRES81/SGF/17.

The leader reads ” “I write to forward the completed IPPIS registration form of Mr. President and to draw your kind attention to Mr. President’s directive that only 50 per cent of his salary be paid to him”.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, penultimate week slashed his remunerations by 50 per cent in view of the dwindling economic fortunes of the country.

Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, last Thursday ordered that the salaries of political office holders in the state should be suspended until civil servants have been paid.

 

 

 

President Buhari, Osinbajo slash salary by 50 percent

Bola Tinubu may emerge BOT chairman

To further placate the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, most forces in the party may have decided to influence his emergence as the chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT of the party, Saturday Vanguard gathered yesterday.

The party is due for the constitution of its BoT on June 20, 2015 following the rectification of the process by the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, last week.

Tinubu who is a big brain behind the formation of APC by the four defunct political parties- Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, All Nigerian People’s Party, ANPP, and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA- now known as legacy parties, apparently lost out in the power game when his candidates for the Senate Presidency and the Speakership of the House of Representatives were defeated at the National Assembly leadership election.

Speaking in confidence to Saturday Vanguard in Abuja, a party source revealed that the odds favour Tinubu even though a former Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku is said to be angling for the portfolio.

“He is not likely to contest the position with anyone else. Many people want him for the office”, the source said.

But even with this, it was also learnt that many people may not be comfortable with Tinubu occupying the office.

They fear that he may use the office to attack most members of the NWC among whom are the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Barrister Yakubu Dogara whose relationship with him has gone awry following the National Assembly leadership election.

 

Bola Tinubu may emerge BOT chairman

Peterside vs Wike Tribunal Judgement: Start Packing Your Bags - APC Tells Wike

..Decries verdict on Council Polls

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has advised the  Governor of the State, Chief Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike, to start packing his bags with a view to vacating the Brick House Government House in Port Harcourt as there is no way he could avoid being removed by the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

The party gave the advice while welcoming the judgment of the tribunal which during Thursday’s sitting in Abuja ordered that APC be allowed to inspect materials used for the shambolic April 11, 2015 governorship election, and that forensic analysis be conducted on any materials used for the polls found to have been tampered with. The judge also overruled Wike’s application on jurisdiction.

Nyesom Wike

“We wish to echo the words of Chief Akin Olunjinmi, leading counsel to our distinguished gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, that Chief Wike’s prayer and motion on jurisdiction is a deliberate attempt and ‘game-plan’ to delay the tribunal’s sitting. We are happy that the honourable tribunal saw through Wike’s tricks and justifiably dismissed his objections, thus paving the way for the hearing of the substantive suit,” Rivers APC said in the statement signed by the Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya.

The party repeated its claim that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) erred in declaring Wike, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winner of the violence-marred election globally acknowledged to be a charade.

“While Wike continues to enjoy the dividends of his stolen mandate, we wish to advise him to start to gradually pack his bags because he is a temporary tenant in the Rivers State Government House. The mountain of evidence against the declaration of Wike as governor is so high that his ouster by the tribunal is a foregone conclusion,” Rivers APC said.

It described as a minor setback the judgment, also on Thursday, by a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt presided over by Justice Lambo Akambi, which nullified the election of the 22 local Government council chairmen and councilors organised by the Professor Augustine Ahiazu-led Rivers State Independent Election Commission (RSIEC), during the administration of Chibuike Amaechi.

“It is our considered opinion that His Lordship erred in his judgment and we are confident of getting a favourable verdict on appeal,” Dr. Ikanya said. He urged APC’s teeming members and supporters in the State to remain calm and vigilant as the party leadership is determined to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion.

Peterside vs Wike Tribunal Judgement: Start Packing Your Bags - APC Tells Wike

PDP asks police to unseal LG council in Rivers

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has demanded the immediate unsealing of local government councils in Rivers State by the Police.

Olisah Metuh

The party described as unconstitutional, reprehensible abuse of power and brazen show of partisanship, the action of the APC-led Federal Government-controlled police in barring caretaker committees appointed by the state government from taking charge of the councils.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement in Abuja on Friday, said the action of the police was an affront to the ruling of the High Court, which on Thursday dissolved the 22 local government councils.

The sacking of the councils made the State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, to appoint caretaker committees to administer them.

Metuh said, “It was curious that the police allowed the dissolution of local government councils and appointment of caretaker committees in APC-controlled Plateau and Kaduna States, even when they were without the orders of the court but elected to clamp down on that of Rivers State, which came as a result of judicial pronouncement.”

He, therefore, charged the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to come out clean on the matter and assure the nation of the non-partisanship of the police by ordering the immediate unsealing of the councils.

Metuh said Nigerians and the international community should note the development which “is yet another clear indication that the Nigerian police may have become a partisan and compromised instrument in the hands of the APC-Federal Government to destabilise PDP-controlled states, particularly Rivers State.”

 

PDP asks police to unseal LG council in Rivers

PDP Chieftain risk suspension over comment on INEC boss

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abudullahi Jalo, risks being suspended for a statement credited to him on the appointment of Mrs. Amina Zakari as acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Olisah Metuh

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, had in a statement on Saturday said the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) had resolved to reject Zakari’s appointment, alleging a hidden agenda and plot to undermine the integrity of the electoral body.

But Jalo allegedly made a statement considered to be at variance with the decision of the NWC in which he dismissed the rejection of Zakari as Metuh’s opinion and not that of PDP.

In a letter dated July 8, 2015 and signed by National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo, PDP NWC asked Jalo to appear before it next Wednesday based on what it termed “unguarded utterances in some of Nigerian newspapers.”

The letter titled: ‘Zakari’s Appointment: Jalo Dissociates PDP from Mutuh’s Commentary,’ the NWC said its  attention “has been brought to your recent unguarded utterances in some of the national newspapers.

“The NWC has therefore requested you to appear at its meeting for preliminary investigation on the charge of bringing the party into disrepute among others.”

Professor Oladipo said the invitation was part of the resolution at the 404th of the NWC meeting of the party.

PDP Chieftain risk suspension over comment on INEC boss

Ekweremadu under attack over comment on Boko Haram, Buhari

The Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Solomon Adeola,  said on Friday that the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, was wrong in his comparison of the activities of Boko Haram insurgency during the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and the bomb blasts recorded in some parts of the country recently.

Adeola, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Chief Kayode Odunaro, in Abuja, also said Ekweremadu should not play partisan politics with the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in recent times.

The deputy president of the Senate, had, on Thursday, expressed concern over the current spate of Boko Haram attacks in the country at a “time  that government should be talking of a redevelopment plan to rebuild the North-East since the last administration had almost rolled back the insurgency before handing over on May 29.”

But Adeola described Ekweremadu’s comparative narrative on the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks as reported in some newspapers on Friday, as a partisan mindset of one playing politics with  insurgency.

He said, “It is very worrisome that Senator Ekweremadu, who has been a presiding officer of the Senate under the PDP administration since the inception of Boko Haram about six years ago, will expect the insurgency that his party and PDP administration could not resolve to be eradicated by Buhari in six weeks.

“I believe his comparison of recent attacks under Buhari with that of outgone Peoples Democratic Party administration is informed by partisan considerations of exonerating the PDP from the mess left behind by 16 years of PDP rule.

“It is regrettable that Senator Ekweremadu could come to the conclusion that Boko Haram insurgency has worsen in the last few weeks in comparison to thousands of civilians and military lives lost, destruction of communities as well as the national agony and ordeal of the yet to be resolved missing Chibok girls under the PDP administration.”

Adeola noted that what should be paramount on the minds of all Nigerians now is how to put an end to the insurgency permanently which, according to him, was not going to be an overnight assignment.

He added that Buhari and the security agencies were already working out strategies to curtail the focus of Boko Haram attacks on “soft targets” in recent times.

The senator said the insurgents resorted into bombing when it was obvious  that the military had weakened them in the battle field where they hitherto had territorial control.

 

Ekweremadu under attack over comment on Boko Haram, Buhari

Election tribunal okays Peterside"s request to inspect election materials

The Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Thursday reaffirmed its ex parte order made on June 11, 2015, granting permission to the All Progressives Congress and its candidate in the April 11, 2015 governorship election in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, to inspect the electoral materials used for the poll.

Hon. Dakuku Peterside

Peterside and the APC had on May 3, 2015, filed their petition before the tribunal to challenge the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Nyemson Wike, in the poll.

The Justice Mu’azu Pindiga-led tribunal, in a ruling on Thursday, dismissed Wike’s application asking for the setting aside of the June 11, 2015 order.

Wike had argued that the tribunal’s order was wrongly made and asked that the tribunal could alternatively allow its agent to participate in the inspection to be undertaken by the petitioners.

He also asked the tribunal to vary the order in such a manner that the petitioners would not be allowed to make copies of some of the materials.

The PDP supported Wike’s application, while the Independent National Electoral Commission said it would await the outcome of the application to decide whether or not to obey the order for inspection.

Ruling on Thursday, Justice Pindiga rejected Wike’s application on the grounds that it lacked merit.

The judge noted that the order made on June 11 was in accordance with the provision of Section 151 of the Electoral Act and was directed at INEC, and not Wike.

The judge ruled, “There is the need for us to clarify the order we made on June 11. The order was made against INEC to allow the petitioners access, inspect and obtain the certified true copies of election materials in respect of the governorship election in the state.

“The order was made in accordance with the provision of Section 151 of the Electoral Act. The order still stands.”

He adjourned till July 22 for the commencement of the pre-hearing session in the petition.

During the hearing of Wike’s application on July 6, 2015, Peterside and the APC had accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of frustrating their bid to inspect the electoral materials used for the poll.

The petitioners’ lawyer, Akin Olujinmi (SAN) told the tribunal that INEC had continued to refuse his clients’ agents to inspect the election materials, a development which he described as a manifestation of an alliance between INEC, Wike and the PDP to frustrate the hearing of the petition.

But INEC, Wike and PDP, while justifying the refusal of INEC to allow the petitioners to inspect the electoral materials, argued that it would have been wrong for the electoral umpire to allow the inspection when Wike’s applications challenging the tribunal’s jurisdiction and the propriety of the June 11 order, were pending.

Olujinmi, in a counter-argument to Wike’s application, urged the tribunal to, among others, urged the tribunal to dismiss the application on the grounds that the order allowing the inspection of the electoral materials was not directed at him (Wike), but at INEC.

He said, “We have shown that INEC has not objected to the tribunal’s order and today, they have confessed before the tribunal that they disobeyed the order for inspection because the 2nd respondent (Wike) filed a motion seeking the setting aside of the order.

“Even the order for inspection was obtained and directed at INEC, but INEC has not formally complained to the tribunal with regard to that order. But they chose, on their own, to decide not to obey the order. This again shows the Shenanigan underlying this application to set aside the order for inspection.

“It is designed to legalise the conspiracy between the 1st and 2nd respondents (INEC and Wike) to frustrate the tribunal’s order. The law is that if the court is told that the order it made is being disparaged, dishonoured, disobeyed and disrespected, the court has a duty to take firm and decisive steps to ensure the order is obeyed.”

He also said Wike’s opposition to the tribunal’s order was fraught with contradiction as he (Wike), in one breath, argued that the order for the inspection poses threat to national security, he on the other hand, urged the tribunal to allow his agents participate in the inspection.

Olujinmi urged the tribunal to disregard Wike’s prayers on the ground that it acted within its powers under Section 151 of the Electoral Act, which empowered it to order INEC to allow any party to election petition to inspect materials used during the election being challenged.

 

Election tribunal okays Peterside"s request to inspect election materials

Rivers LG Council: This is travesty of justice - APC laments

 

The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC is saddened that despite his earlier ruling to stand down the matter until the appeal questioning the jurisdiction of his court is determined by the Appeal Court from October 12, Justice Lambo Akanbi, this morning, handed out ruling on a matter that was awaiting a decision of the

Appeal Court.

Without any hearing notice to parties except, perhaps, to the PDP, Justice Akanbi presiding over Federal High Court 1 in Port Harcourt commenced sitting this morning and quickly handed down a ruling in respect of a matter between PDP and other parties including the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission [RSIEC] voiding the election of 22 Local Council Chairmen and Councillors in Rivers State. He claimed to have earlier ordered that the elections should not hold.

However, that position by Justice Akanbi is far from what transpired in the matter.

The truth of the matter remains that there is a pending appeal on the substantive case in which same Justice Akanbi on the 29th of April gave as reason for adjourning the matter sine die until the appeal is dispensed with beginning from 12th October. How come Justice Akanbi decided to bring forward the matter without even serving hearing notices to the parties? Why does Justice Akanbi want to ambush and foist on the Court of Appeal a situation of hopelessness? What business does Justice Akanbi have in reopening the matter other than fragrant display of judicial rascality?

It is important to re-iterate here that APC applied to join in the matter which the Judge turned down and APC immediately proceeded to appeal that refusal to be joined and that appeal is also pending. Why has Justice Akanbi acted in a manner aimed at frustrating that appeal?

As a law-abiding party, the APC would like to appeal to the elected Chairmen, Councillors and its numerous members across Rivers State to disregard any ruling of any court other than that of the Court of Appeal which will sit on October 12, 2015 of which notice of hearing has been served on all parties.

More so, APC is not bound by the court ruling handed down today by Justice Akanbi because APC duly applied to join in the matter and when the learned Justice refused the joiner application, the party proceeded to appeal that refusal, an appeal that is still pending at the Court of Appeal. Why did Justice Akanbi not wait for the Court of

Appeal ruling on the APC application before proceeding with the matter? Therefore, the APC will wait and abide by the decision of the Court of Appeal, in line with the earlier Order of Justice Akanbi himself that the matter can only be reopened after it has been dispensed with by the Court of Appeal which has already served all parties notice of hearing.

The APC would like to advise Governor Nyesom Wike against misleading himself through curious court rulings to act outside the rule of law. The Governor should be reminded that the Order of the Nigerian Industrial Court sitting in Yenagoa restraining him and other parties from tampering with the elected Local Government Chairmen and Councils is still subsisting. Let him hold himself responsible for any action that may result from any ill-advised foray into the hallowed arena of justice on this matter.

The APC would also like to advise the Governor to put to good use the loans he has so far collected from banks and not running around courtrooms and chambers with it in search of judicial officers to compromise. The Governor should quickly discard the toga of a governor who goes about compromising and distracting judges and destabilising

the judicial system. It does not matter whether his tenure will be for only 2 or 3 months, Rivers people deserve value for every of their kobo.

Rivers LG Council: This is travesty of justice - APC laments

Senate: PDP criteria knocks Akpabio out of minority race

Senator Godswill Akpabio has said all senators in the National Assembly are equal.

The former Governor of Akwa-Ibom State said this when asked about his desire to vie for the position of Minority Leader in the Senate.

The party had said certain criteria must be met in choosing members of the party who would lead its members in the Senate.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, who reeled out the criteria on behalf of members of the National Working Committee of the party, listed ranking, region and gender among such criteria.

Though the party zoned the position of Senate Minority Leader to the South-South, where Akpabio hails from, he is however a first timer in the Senate.

This criteria knocks him out of the race.

“We have directed them to note that in accordance with the practice and convention of our party. The nomination process should take into consideration ranking, gender and religious sensitivities,” Metuh had said,

But after his meeting with members of the NWC in Abuja on Wednesday evening, the former governor said it was not the question of whether he had interest in the race, but his capacity to do the job.

Akpabio said, “I came (to see the NWC members) in my usual consultation with the party on national issues.

“(Interest in minority leader position) It is not a question of interest, it is a question of capacity. So if I have the capacity, my colleagues will decide.

“In the Senate, everybody is equal but some have been there for a long time like the ranking senators and all that. So, when you have the opportunity to be in the red chamber, you have equal rights to aspire to any position but you first have to be sure that your colleagues will be interested in you.

“If my name has been mentioned, probably by my colleagues, and I consult, and at the end of my consultations with stakeholders of our party across the nation, I will be able to make appropriate statement.”

He said the election of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, was supported by embers of the ruling party in the Senate, the All Progressives Congress.

Senate: PDP criteria knocks Akpabio out of minority race

Edo guber hopeful commends Oshiomhole

Governorship hopeful in the 2016 governorship in Edo State, Pharm. Chris Iyare has commended Comrade Adams oshiomhole in taking the state to a new height in infrastructure development.

Iyare, who said Oshiomhole’s government had done well in building roads in the state, however, noted that if given the opportunity to govern the state, he would work hard to sustain the developmental strides of  the present government and improve upon them.

Iyare made this assertion during a lunch interactive session in his honour in Benin City, weekend.

According to him: “We know there are other challenges in our state such as youth unemployment, road and other infrastructural decay, but I will strive to improve upon them. This government led by Comrade Adams Oshiohmole had done tremendously well in the area of infrastructure”

Pharm. Iyare, who declared his intention for the governorship race recently, said his dream of becoming the governor of Edo State started in 2012, saying it was borne out of his passion for the service of the people of Edo State.

 

Edo guber hopeful commends Oshiomhole

Ekweremadu: Boko Haram Worsens After Buhari"s Inauguration

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, avoided comments on his current ordeal concerning his alleged role in the amendments made to the Senate Rules during an interaction with journalists in Abuja on Thursday.

Ekweremadu

Ekweremadu, who had yet to make public comments on his alleged involvement in the alterations imputed in the document which was used to conduct the election that led to his emergence as the DSP on June 9, however, expressed worry over the frightening spate of insurgency in the country.

He noted with dismay that the unfortunate development had attained a worrisome dimension since President Muhammadu Buhari took over power on May 29, 2015.

He said, “I am worried about the insurgence of the Boko Haram activities in Nigeria. Shortly before the inauguration of the present government, the country had almost rolled back Boko Haram and its activities in every part of Nigeria – from Adamawa to Borno to Yobe.

“I was hoping that when we come back in the 8th Assembly, that I will work with our colleagues from the North-East to develop a plan of action that will help to rehabilitate that part of Nigeria. I feel so concerned about the suffering of our people from the North-East of Nigeria.

“I had hoped that by now we would be tasking ourselves on how best to rebuild that part of Nigeria. Regrettably the actions of Boko Haram seems to have resurfaced now not only in Borno, they have carried out their activities also in Plateau, they have gone to Adamawa, Kaduna.

“I am worried that if nothing is done, the next target would be Abuja. Maybe they start going to South. It is important for us as those in government, whether Executive or Legislature, to come together to find solutions to these problems.”

He therefore appealed to neighbouring countries and the international community to support the country to roll back the activities of Boko Haram, stressing that there was no way the nation could achieve progress in the country when there were security problems.

He said the Buhari administration should, as a matter of urgency, “deal with this security challenge no matter what it would cost us.”

He also called for a collaboration between the Executive and the Legislature in order to deal with the scourge.

Ekweremadu said, “We must be on the same page on this matter. I believe that it is time for us to have meetings with the Executive as well as the security agencies in order to find out exactly what has happened – why the resurgence of these Boko Haram activities and what we can do as a people to ensure that this matter is dealt with decisively.”

He expressed sympathy with the Boko Haram victims and called for an immediate action to stop the menace.

Ekweremadu: Boko Haram Worsens After Buhari"s Inauguration

Rivers State: PDP Chairman Applauds Dissolution of LG Council Chairmen

… Commends Court For Upholding Rule of Law

The chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bro Felix Obuah says the nullification of the illegal Local Government Council election in the State by the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt is a welcome development.

The PDP chairman said by this impartial judgement, the Court has once more strengthened the confidence and trust of the people in the Nigerian judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

Reacting to the double court victory recorded by the striking out of the All Progressives Congress, APC’s application of withdrawal by Honourable Justice Bello Quadri in one of the suits and the dissolution of the illegal Council Chairmen and Councilors by Honourable Justice Lambo Akanbi, all of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt through a statement issued on his behalf by his Special Adviser on Media, Jerry Needam, the PDP State Chairman thanked the leadership and members of the party for their calm disposition while the litigation lasted despite all acts of intimidation and brigandage by the APC to provoke them.

Thanking God for vindicating the party’s position that there was no council election in the State, Bro Obuah noted that the court victory is not only for the PDP but also the entire Rivers people who are the beneficiaries of the sanity and rules of law that have been ushered in by the council election nullification

He however appealed for calm and co-operation from all, saying that the Nyesom Wike led-government is humane and capable of instituting a legacy that will serve the general good of all Rivers people being the Governor of Rivers State and not Governor of PDP.

Bro Obuah also wishes to congratulate the PDP leadership, all the members and supporters of the party across the 23 Local Government Areas for their patience, support and prayers throughout the trying period, stressing that the PDP will pay them back by being considerate, magnanimous and God-fearing in victory

Rivers State: PDP Chairman Applauds Dissolution of LG Council Chairmen

Video: Buhari disappointing Nigerians now - Femi Aborisade

By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News

Nigerian human right activist, Femi Aborisade has said that the President, Muhammadu Buhari is beginning to disappoint Nigerians now.

He disclosed this during an interview with Sahara Reporters.

According to the activist, Buhari was voted into power because of several promises he made to Nigerians.

Aborisade stressed that since Buhari came into office, fuel scarcity, which Nigerians thought would be resolved few days after assumption of office still lingering.

Watch video below:

video source: Sahara

Video: Buhari disappointing Nigerians now - Femi Aborisade

Breaking: Court nullify Amaechi"s LG election, sack 22 council chairmen, councillors

By pmnews

A federal high court in Port Harcourt presided over by Justice Lambo Akambi, this morning nullified the election of the 22 local Government council chairmen and councillors organized by the Professor Augustine Ahiazu led Rivers State Independent Election Commission, RSIEC, during the administration of Chibuike Amaechi.

Nyesom Wike and Romiti Amaechi

Justice Akambi averred that the conduct of the election that produced the 22 local government council chairmen is not only illegal but an affront on the court because the matter was pending in court. He noted that RSIEC and the state government was directed not to go ahead with the election but the order of court was fragrantly disobeyed.

With the judgement, the 22 local government council chairmen who are all members of the All Progressives Congress have been sacked.

It would be recalled that when RSIEC planned to conduct the election at the twilight of the immediate past administration in May, the state PDP challenged the election through a court injunction but RSIEC claimed the order of court did not affect it, so PDP boycotted it.

RSIEC led by Prof Ahiazu had earlier been sacked by Governor Nyesom Wike and reconstituted it.

The Federal High court in its judgement said it had to defend and protect democracy by nullifying the election.

Wike, a lawyer, had vowed to sack the council chairmen and councillors because they were elected illegally but would wait for case to run its full course.

More to follow…

Breaking: Court nullify Amaechi"s LG election, sack 22 council chairmen, councillors

APC loyalists insist on Gbajabiamila as Majority Leader

By Adebayo Hassan

The Femi Gbajabiamila-led faction of the All Progressives Congress members in the House of Representatives, has said it is prepared for an election to determine the Majority Leader of House, to end weeks of bickering over leadership positions.

The group said it has made its position clear to a peace committee headed by Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, that its members will only accept an offer that guarantees the emergence of Mr. Gbajabiamila as the leader of APC in the House.

Femi Gbajabiamila

“However, as a group that wants peace and quick solution to the logjam in the House, the APC loyalists group would equally subscribe to an election among entire members of the APC House Caucus where all members irrespective of zones would exercise their right to elect their principal officers,” the group said in a statement Wednesday.

The opposing faction of APC lawmakers in the House, led by the speaker, Yakubu Dogara, had told PREMIUM TIMES that it was willing to concede the Majority Leader position to the Gbajabiamila group, on the condition that the candidate for the slot must be from any zone other than North East or South West, since both zones produced the Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.

The group cited the federal character, and warned that it will call for an election if its offer failed to resolve the crisis.

Mr. Gbajabiamila, backed by the APC leadership to be named the Majority Leader, is from the South West.

The party had initially adopted him for the position of speaker, but later settled for the Majority leader — the third most senior position after the deputy speaker — after he lost the election to the seat to Mr. Dogara.

The House of Representatives has since its inauguration been rocked by crisis over key leadership positions.

The Gbajabiamila group said Wednesday it was unaware of the offer by the Dogara group, as the mediator, Mr. Tambuwal, was yet to brief its members after their initial meeting.

In a statement signed by Rufai Chachangi, from Niger State, the group said “We the 174 APC Loyalists group of the House are aware that there was a private discussion between Gov. Aminu Tambuwal and President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday evening at the State House. Also aware that Gov. Tambuwal briefed the press that there would be a meeting between him and Speaker Dogara’s group same day.

“To the best of our knowledge, no counter-offer has been made to the APC loyalists group after her first meeting with Tambuwal peace committee wherein the APC loyalists clearly stated that in line with party supremacy, resolution reached at last APC NEC meeting, the position of the party on Femi Gbajabiamila as the House Leader is non-negotiable.”

Against the background of the Federal Character principle cited by Dogara group, the Gbajabiamila group said, “Interestingly the six geopolitical zones in the country are not recognised by the constitution. But if they wish to play the zoning card then the Senate and House cannot be headed by the North.”

They alleged that the Dogara group had rejected zoning formula proposed by the party before the June 6 election, but now plays the “zoning card”.

Mr. Dogara says he wants to ensure no zone is excluded from the principal offices.

But the APC-backed Gbajabiamila group said, “For avoidance of doubt, the issue of South East being denied a principal officer’s seat in the House is hogwash. We have respect for people of South East but we cannot hold brief for a zone that produced only two “new” APC members.

“The issue of exclusion of South East does not exist rather they are not qualified to be principal officers of the House. For emphasis and clarity the provision of standing rules of the House, Order 7 Rule 37 states that ”Only members with cognate legislative experience as members of the national assembly shall be eligible for appointment as principal officers.

“We are also surprised that a group led by Speaker Dogara who is a lawyer is talking about a court action presumably instigated by him based on federal character, when a fresh law school graduate knows that the issue of federal character as enshrined in S.14 of the constitution is non-justiciable and of no legal consequence.”

The group continued, “In playing his mediatory role, the former House Speaker, Gov. Tambuwal agreed to take our position to Dogara group for consideration and convene a joint meeting of both groups, which is yet to be convened as at Wednesday evening. So any purported decision reeled out to the public in the name of the National Assembly peace pact before such joint meeting is lopsided and not acceptable to the APC Loyalists group”.

APC loyalists insist on Gbajabiamila as Majority Leader

We won’t accept Gbajabiamila as Majority Leader, Dogara faction insists

By Sani Tukur

Members of the House of Representatives loyal to the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, have said they will ensure federal character as enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution is adhered to in the appointment of Principal Officers of the House.

Yakubu Dogara

The group said it stands by its offer that south west and north east cannot produce the majority leader of the House. The major contender for the slot is Femi Gbajabiamila, who is from the south west.

The Dogara group said this in a statement signed by Abdulmumini Jibrin, representing Kano, in reaction to an earlier statement released by members loyal to Mr. Gbajabiamila, who is the ruling All Progressives Congress’ preferred candidate for the position of Majority Leader.

The APC had initially adopted Mr. Gbajabiamila to become speaker. He lost the seat to Mr. Dogara.

Mr. Dogara rejects Mr. Gbajabiamila as the leader of the APC caucus in the house. He cites federal character since the deputy speaker, Yusuf Lasun, like Mr. Gbajabiamila, is from the south west.

The Dogara faction said Wednesday it was offering the Gbajabiamila faction the majority leader, but said the slot must be occupied by a lawmaker from any region except south west and north east, where Mr. Dogara comes from.

The group said it was making the offer to end weeks of bickering that has stalled legislative functions.

The Gbajabiamila group said Wednesday while it was yet to formally be given the offer, its stance that Gbajabiamila be made the Majority Leader was not negotiable.

The Dogara group has reacted to the demand, insisting on respect for federal character in distribution of appointments.

In its statement early Thursday, the group said every geopolitical zone in Nigeria be given representation in the principal officers of the House.

They also faulted the argument by the Gbajabiamila group that the South East Zone produced only two “new” members, who do not have cognate legislative experience and therefore not entitled to be represented in the principal officers’ cadre.

“In the first place, any person acquainted with the Rules and practice of the House knows that a new member is regarded as having “cognate legislative experience” immediately he is sworn in as a Member as it is only new members- elect that are affected by the Rule,” they said.

They also said established precedents in the Senate and House of Representatives had shown consistent respect for zonal representation in the election of principal officers, even when there were only a few from a zone.

“It is as a result of this, that the 7th Senate, elected Senator Ayoola Hosea Agboola, Deputy Chief Whip, even though he was the only Member from his party from the South West.

“Furthermore, in the 7th House of Representatives, Hon Mulikat Akande, was made House Leader even though she was one of only five members from her party from her Zone.

“Even only recently, in the 8th Senate, Senator Francis Alimikhena, from the South South has been made Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, a principal officer , even though he is a “new” member and the only member of APC from the South South,” they said.

The Dogara group also faulted the decision of the APC leadership on the matter, saying if adhered to, the party position would completely shut out the North Central zone which has 33 members in the House from the APC.

“This so called party position, if allowed to stand, would result in the South West producing the Deputy Speaker and Leader of the House and North East would produce Speaker and Chief Whip of the House. This is most unfair and inequitable.

“In fact, there is no evidence that any of the Organs of the Party, APC, such as the National Working Committee, the National Caucus or National Executive Committee, approved such an unjust outcome. We insist that this is not even the Party position,” the group said.

The Dogara group also said it was “erroneous” to assert that there was a resolution at the recent meeting of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the APC on Party supremacy that recognized any one as House Leader or any other principal officer of the House.

“The matter was not an item on the Agenda of the APC NEC meeting and no such resolution or decision was taken,” they said.

The group insisted that the way out of the logjam, is for the aggrieved APC members who lost election for the Presiding Officers of the House, to accept the offer extended to them to produce the House Leader from among themselves, but excluding any member from the South West or North East.

“If this magnanimity is not accepted, then the generally accepted method of choosing Principal Officers in the House over the years by Caucuses would be activated,” they said.

We won’t accept Gbajabiamila as Majority Leader, Dogara faction insists