The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Category: Politics

  • Court dismisses suit to void Enugu State Ad-Hoc Delegate List, as Ikeoha Campaign group says judgement will be appealed

    Court dismisses suit to void Enugu State Ad-Hoc Delegate List, as Ikeoha Campaign group says judgement will be appealed

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Tuesday, dismissed Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s bid to nullify the three-man ad-hoc delegate list submitted by the Peoples Democratic Party, Enugu State, after its party primaries held April 30, 2022.

    The suit was instituted by Ekweremadu’s loyalists making a case that the congress conducted by the state arm of the party did not follow the normal process.

    Ekweremadu, a former deputy president of the Senate, and his faction of the PDP in the state, had conducted their own parallel congress, which they want the court to declare as authentic.

    Although the details of the judgement are not yet out, the Ekweremadu camp has reacted to the judgement.

    In a release by Hon Charles Ogbo Asogwa, Director General, Ikeoha Campaign Organisation, sighted by our correspondent in Enugu, the group said it would appeal the ruling.

    It read in part, “The Ikeoha Campaign Organisation received with shock the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, dismissing the suit seeking to uphold the list of three-man ad-hoc that truly emanated in compliance to the PDP Constitution and Guidelines for the Election of Three-Man Delegates and National Delegates in the 30th April 2022 Ward Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State.

    “However, we appeal to our supporters to remain calm, as this is just the court of first instance. Our lawyers have been directed to immediately file a Notice of Appeal against the judgment and we will surely pursue the matter to a logical conclusion.

    “We trust God and believe that victory will be ours eventually, for no matter how fast falsehood and injustice appear to travel, truth and justice will ultimately overtake both in the fullness of time.”

  • PDP State Assembly, Reps primaries in Enugu peaceful, transparent’

    The Electoral Committees from the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party for the conduct of the State House of Assembly (SHOA) and Federal House of Representatives (FHORs) Primary Elections in Enugu State have expressed satisfaction with the exercises, describing them as peaceful, transparent and orderly.

    The two electoral committees which gave their separate verdicts when they supervised the conduct of the primaries in the state, on Sunday, commended the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi-led leadership of the PDP in Enugu State for galvanizing the delegates in displaying utmost commitment, discipline and comportment during the peaceful exercises.

    Speaking at Udenu Local Government Area, where Solomon Onah was unanimously elected for the House of Assembly, the Chairman of PDP National Electoral Committee, Uche Igbokwe, lauded the electoral process of the primary election, expressing delight at the presence of the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the event.

    In Nsukka LGA, where the primary elections for Nsukka East and Nsukka West constituencies were conducted, Igbokwe, on behalf of other members of the electoral committee, also commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

    Led to the venue of the primary election by the dtate Deputy Chairman, Innocent Ezeoha and the Organising Secretary, Dr. Christian Iyiani, the Committee applauded the delegates for their sincerity of purpose and decorum, expressing satisfaction with the electoral processes put in place by the State Working Committee. In Enugu East LGA, the SHOA Primary Election Committee, pointed out that “everything is going on peacefully” stressing that “we have gone to several LGAs and we have seen that everything is going on perfectly well in Enugu State”.

    They thanked Ugwuanyi for his uncommon leadership role in Enugu State in particular and the PDP South East zone in general, revealing that the governor is the one that has kept state chapters of the party in the zone going.

    Supervising the Federal House of Representatives Primary Elections, the National Electoral Committee led by Aminu Koko equally described the exercise in the state as peaceful, transparent and credible, maintaining that they were satisfied with the electoral process and convivial atmosphere.

    (Sun)

  • Presidency: I’m in race to win, says Lawan

    Presidency: I’m in race to win, says Lawan

    Senate President and APC presidential aspirant, Ahmad Lawan, has refuted reports that he had withdraw from the presidential race to pursue another term in the Senate

    This is even as he encouraged his supporters not to entertain fear as he is working tirelessly to emerge the candidate of the APC.

    In a statement, yesterday, by the spokesperson of Ahmad Lawan Presidential Campaign Organisation, Iyke Ekeoma, Lawan clearly dismissed the possibility of running for another term in Yobe East senatorial district

    He described as mischief report that he has withdrawn from the race, noting that those who planted the report were jittery of his political popularity, regional acceptance and dominance in political space hence, they cooked the fake report to create confusion

    “Nigerians should ignore the sponsored lies by some aspirants to distract Lawan from his quest to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in the next presidential election.

    “Contrary to their unnecessary fabrications against the nationally accepted presidential ambition of Lawan, we restate for the pleasure of progressive Nigerians that the falsehood trending currently on social media that Lawan has dropped his ambition to run for another term in Yobe East senatorial zone is false.

    dable that Lawan’s entrance into the presidential race to compete against 25 other aspirants has become the major discussion as his entrance has changed the political dynamics of the nation.

    “The withdrawal report is mere handiwork of politicians who are intimidated by the experience of the Senate president and his massive gains in the last few days.

    “The ambition to become the president of Nigeria after President Buhari is alive and Nigerians should be rest assured he is in the race to win and not just to answer aspirant.

    All supporters of Lawan should not entertain fear as he is working tirelessly to emerge as APC candidate,” he said.

    (Sun)

  • Claims of President having assented Electoral Act amendment bill, news to me too- Garba Shehu 

    Claims of President having assented Electoral Act amendment bill, news to me too- Garba Shehu 

    Electoral Act: Claims of President having assented, news to me too- Garba Shehu 

    There are conflicting stories on the position of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent.

    It was earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari may have appended his signature to the piece of legislation.

    Some online platforms on Saturday claimed that the President had already signed the bill, which was transmitted to him last Friday.

    However, more than one official sources have written the report off as untrue, pointing out the fact the bill could not have been signed in secret.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, who just returned from Abu Dhabi with the President, said the news of the signing, which had already gone viral on social media, was not known to him, saying “it is news to me too”.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, House of Representatives, Hon Umar El-Yakub, told The Nation the viral news could not be true, citing reasons for his conclusion.

    According to El-Yakub: “He couldn’t have signed it yesterday because he was out of the country and he couldn’t have signed already because he’s just entering the country.

    “I also cannot tell you that he will still not sign it or will not sign it. He’s the President. But if it will be signed later, we will all know.”

  • Electoral Act: Uncertainty trails assent, as President’s aide says “Buhari MAY have signed Electoral Act amendment bill”

    Electoral Act: Uncertainty trails assent, as President’s aide says “Buhari MAY have signed Electoral Act amendment bill”

    Electoral Act: Uncertainty trails assent, as President’s aide says “Buhari MAY have signed Electoral Act amendment bill”

    Indications emerged on Saturday that President Muhammadu Buhari may have assented to the Electoral Act amendment Bill recently transmitted to him by the National Assembly.

    The amendment is crucial to the participation of statutory delegates at the primaries and national convention of political parties.

    They have been excluded from voting and being voted for during the exercises in the previous amendment signed into law by the President.

    The statutory delegates of political parties stand the risk of exclusion from the exercises if the President does not sign the amendment Bill by Sunday.

    Since they are required by the Electoral Act to submit the lists of their delegates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seven days to the national convention, the parties can only make do with elected delegates.

    This may have been averted going by the assertion of the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (Senate), Senator Jide Omoworare, had hinted that the President “should have signed.”

    He had been asked to confirm whether or not President Buhari had indeed assented the the latest amendment.

    However, to avoid running foul of the Electoral Act should the President not sign the bill, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has now decided that only democratically elected delegates can vote in its primaries and national convention, which it will use the indirect mode to conduct.

    Therefore, only the three ad-hoc delegates elected per ward and one national delegate elected at the local government areas across the country are eligible to vote at the exercises.

    The main opposition party made the clarification on Saturday in a statement by Hon. Umar M. Bature, the National Organizing Secretary.

    The party also announced the shifting of its primaries to elect State House of Assembly candidates.

    The State Assembly primaries was moved from Saturday, May 21, 2022 to Sunday, May 22, 2022, the same day that of the House of Representatives will take place.

    The PDP’s position is not unconnected with the delay by President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the fresh amendment to the Electoral Act into law.

    (Vanguard)

  • Presidential primaries: APC, PDP narrow race to 9

    Presidential primaries: APC, PDP narrow race to 9

    As the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic party (PDP) draw nearer, there are indications that both parties might have narrowed the race down to about nine aspirants.

    In the PDP, there are indications that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike and former Anambra State governor has emerged top contenders for the presidential primary.

    A total of 17 aspirants obtained the PDP nomination forms for the May 28/29 presidential primary of the party. They include Atiku, Wike, Saraki, Obi as well as Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal,and former Secretary to Government of the Federation ( SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim,

    Others are Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, Akwa Ibom governor, Emmanuel Udom, former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose and publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, former president, Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), Sam Ohuabunwa; investment banker, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; Cosmos Ndukwe;Charles Ugwu; Chikwendu Kalu; Tareila Diana and Nwachukwu Anakwenze. However, Ndukwe and Anakwenze were not cleared to participate in the exercise.

    Atiku, a two term vice president in the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration, is known to have deep contacts across the various state chapters of the opposition party. The former vice president, who is contesting for the sixth time, was the PDP 2019 presidential candidate. Inside sources said his long preparation for the office is a added advantage.

    Besides, he has a number of the members of the PDP Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee ( NEC) working for the actualization of his ambition. In a contest that would likely be determined by how much a candidate is able to give to delegates, Atiku’s wealth is an added advantage..

    Wike is more or less the face of opposition politics in the country. The Rivers State governor, who is well known for doggedness and for being outspoken has traversed the length and breadth of the country to canvass for the support of party leaders and delegates. Wike is known to enjoy the support of four of the PDP governors, including Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Okezie Ikpeazu, Samuel Ortom and Seyi Makinde of Enugu, Abia, Benue and Oyo respectively.

    His deep pocket is also an advantage. Saraki at the moment has some endorsement already tucked in in his belt, beginning from his endorsement as one of the Northern consensus aspirants by a group of northern leaders led by former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida. He has also been endorsed by some of the PDP chapters in the North Central.

    Peter Obi has a lot going for him in the PDP presidential primary. His achievements as a two time governor of Anambra State and his reputation as a good manager of resources has endeared to a lot of party men and women as well as voters across the country.

    The former Anambra governor, who was the PDP vice presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections, is generally considered as a breath of fresh and a politician without baggage. So far, he is the only aspirant whose supporters outside the PDP are mobilizing fund to support his presidential campaign in the event that he emerges the opposition party candidate for the 2023 polls.

    Meanwhile barely one week to the presidential primary of the APC, the race has gradually gone down to the wire with only five aspirants consolidating hold on the ticket of the governing party.

    The party’s national leadership this week confirmed that 25 out of the 28 aspirants that purchased the form to contest the presidential ticket of the party returned their completed forms ahead of the party’s primary scheduled for Abuja on May 29 and 30, 2022.

    However, despite the heavyweight party chieftains jostling for the ticket, the coast is becoming clearer that five aspirants, comprising the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, and his Science and Technology counterpart, Dr Ogbonnia Onu, have emerged the real contenders for the ticket.

    Sources close to the party told Saturday Sun that baring last minute change in arrangements, especially the speculated President Muhammadu Buhari’s proposed endorsement of one of the aspirants, the race has been gradually narrowed to the five aspirants to square it up during the primary.

    Already, the source further argued, the five aspirants have been unrelenting in travelling from one state to the other across the country to consult with the party leaders in states and campaign to the delegates.

    Confirming the situation, the source said: “There is truth in the impression that the five aspirants are the real contenders to jostle for the ticket during the primary. Those that have been following the build-up to the party’s primary can testify that the five have better political structures across the country among the 25 aspirants and it is reflecting in their consultations from both Northern and Southern part of the country.

    “Perhaps, with the exception of Onu, others are not relenting, travelling from state to state on a nationwide consultation to meet with the delegates and chieftains that would smoothen their chances of winning,” the source said

    (Sun)

  • 2023 Presidency: Lawan in South-South to woo party delegates

    2023 Presidency: Lawan in South-South to woo party delegates

    AHEAD of the primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC to pick its Presidential candidate for the 2023 Presidential election, the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan as part of his campaign tour across the states, yesterday stormed the South-South, this time Calabar, the Cross River State Capital and Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital

    Lawan’s visit to the two states in the South-South region of the country was in continuation of his consultations and campaign to solicit more support for his presidential bid ahead of the upcoming primaries of the APC

    The President of the Senate who met with the party leaders and delegates in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, urged them to consider his impeccable credentials for the job and what he has to offer if given the ticket of his party.

    According to a statement by his Special Adviser, Media, Ola Awoniyi, at the two locations, Lawan who told the delegates that he was confident, as a true Nigerian, of winning the election if APC should give him the mandate, said, “I have not only Parliamentary experience but experience in governance as well.

    “Having served very closely with the executive arm of government, I have acquired a great deal of experience in governance.

    “I know the issues. I know those issues that concern Nigerians. The issues are Security. Security of our people, security for our people across the country. The Economy. We need to create employment opportunities. Create wealth for our people.

    “We need to diversify our economy. The youth in this country need to be full participants in the economy of our country. We need Education because education is the foundation for the development of any society.

    “We need to have a knowldge-based economy. Education opens many doors and many opportunities. We have to invest reasonably and sustainably. In Agriculture, we find more opportunities even than in the oil industry. But we should modernise our agriculture.

    “We have acquired experience to be able to continue with what we think will make Nigeria better. I believe in teamwork because no matter how experienced you are, you need supporting hands. People who have acquired experiences, skills and expertise that you can always depend upon to work with dealing with some of these challenges.

    “I believe we fight criminals until they submit. Fight them with all the powers that you can garner but I also believe that we must deal with the causes for which people find themselves on the wrong side of the road.

    “That is to say that: give people education. Create employment opportunities. Deal with that on one hand so as to prevent people from becoming criminals. But those who turn to criminals must never be given any space.

    “In the last seven years as an administrator, so many empowerment programmes especially youth empowerment programmes have been introduced by this administration.

    “I believe that we should continue with the empowerment programmes but ensure that we are able to always refocus, retool, to see that we get the kind of outcome that we expect. That is, to take people away from poverty but the surest way is to give people education, education and education.

    “Our party, the All Progressives Congress is giving every aspirant an opportunity to run. And I’m taking that opportunity because I believe that if I have the opportunity to be the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, by the Grace of God, I will win the election for us.

    “I will get the support of every part of Nigeria. Every part of Nigeria will elect me because I’m a true Nigerian. Someone who believes in Nigeria.”

    Responding, the Deputy Chairman of APC in Cross River State, Prince Eka Williams who hailed Lawan for being a stabiliser and for a job well done at the National Assembly, said: “The delegates have asked me to tell you that because you are a stabiliser of the Assembly and because you have been able to handle the Senate in such a way that everybody in Nigeria has come to say the Senate President of this ninth Assembly is a very thorough politician.

    “We have not heard of impeachment here and there. We have not heard of a delay in the passage of bills. So we say you have done well.

    “You are already in the corridor of power. You will not need to learn. We only want to give you our blessings that as you go round, may God be with you.”

    In a similar vein, the Chairman of APC in Akwa Ibom state, Obong Stephen Leo Ntuekpo too described Lawan as one of the outstanding aspirants.

    “Akwa Ibom state APC is proud to have you as one of the outstanding aspirants in the race. Your coming into the race is not a threat to the party but a demonstration of the passion which you have along with other aspirants.”

    Lawan’s entourage to the two States included former Governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, and Senator John Eno and the Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Senate President, Abdullahi Gumel.

    (Vanguard)

  • PDP Primaries: Only democratically elected delegates will vote in the primaries- PDP

    PDP Primaries: Only democratically elected delegates will vote in the primaries- PDP

    PDP Primaries: Only democratically elected delegates will vote in the primaries- PDP

    …primaries rescheduled for Sunday

    Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu

    As the Peoples Democratic Party gets set to commence her primary elections and following the delay of President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the amended Section 84(8) of the 2022 Electoral Act, the National Organizing Secretary of the PDP, Umar Bature, in a statement released in the early hours of today on the PDP’s verified Twitter account, has said that only democratically elected delegates will vote in the primaries.

    He stated that this became imperative following the provisions of Section 84(8) of the 2022 Electoral Act.

    “By virtue of Section 84(8) of the Electoral Act, 2022, delegates to vote at the Indirect Primaries and National Convention of political parties to elect candidates for elections shall be those democratically elected for that purpose only.

    “Consequently those qualified and eligible to vote as delegates in the forthcoming Primaries and National Convention of our great Party, the PDP are the three (3) AD-HOC Delegates per ward, elected at the Ward Congresses and one (1) National Delegate per Local Government, elected at the Local Government Area Congresses.

    “Furthermore, the NWC wishes to inform our Party members that the State Houses of Assembly Primaries to elect our State House of Assembly candidates, earlier scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 2022 will now hold on Sunday, May 22, 2022 from 8:00am to 12 noon; while the House of Representatives Primaries to elect our House of Representatives candidates will also hold on Sunday, May 22, 2022 from 2:00 pm.

    “All aspirants, critical stakeholders, leaders and teeming members of our Party should please take note”.

    Recall that both chambers of the National Assembly had hurriedly seen to the amendment of Section 84(8) of the Act which did not hitherto allow statutory delegates to participate in political parties’ congresses and conventions.

    The statutory delegates include president, governors, National and State Assembly members, local government chairmen and councillors.

    Others include the Vice President of the country, Deputy Governors of states and executives of political parties at the state and federal levels as well as chairmen of parties at the local government level.

    The current version, which was assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari in February this year, prevents statutory delegates from taking part in party primaries.

    However, despite the accelerated hearing and passage of the bill by both chambers of the National Assembly, in the hope that President Buhari would assent to it before the commencement of the primary election for both the ruling APC and the opposition PDP, the President is yet to, leaving both parties with no other option than to use democratically elected delegates alone.

    It is not yet clear what this entails for some states, especially those states that couldn’t elect the 3-man delegates during the PDP ward congresses and had hoped to make use of the statutory delegates in the primaries.

    An analyst who did not want his name in print was of the opinion that the President’s refusal to assent to the amended Act was a means of getting back at the legislators for refusing to drop the part of the bill that barred political appointees from voting or being voted for in the congress of any political party.

    At the moment, it is uncertain whether the there would be attempts to override the President’s veto.

  • Deconstructing Enugu State Primaries [1]

    Deconstructing Enugu State Primaries [1]

    Deconstructing Enugu State Primaries [1]

    By M.O Ene

    The political peace in Enugu State is shaky, specifically in PDP. In “A Piece on Peace” last July, I wrote that “seeking the sustenance of peace … is romantic; formulating realistic management of political problems is more realistic.” The pursuit of power is war without bloodshed. The issue to address is containing surprising movements politically and legally.

    Little politicking is taking place. Political pundits ignore ravaging rashes and rap on cysts of calumny. So-called stakeholders during the day turn parochial pharaohs at night, stroking divisive dogmas and gaslighting settled matters. We read no reviews of profiles, no crafting or critiquing of policies to move us to the next level, especially our educational edifices and grassroots governments. If the shenanigans blow up, we will remember elders who watch the tethered goat labour to deliver its kid.

    The new game in town is PHD: pull him down. Cell phones capable of taking gory photos transmit lies like termites on a nuptial flight. Uninformed people share. Those in the know peruse, ponder, and disregard. Yet, no one should sleep with sand in an eye, especially those whose good names are disparaged. Still, “olileanya dị!” There is hope—a strong optimism that something good will happen.

    The major problem is the failure of focused and organized oppositions. I have preached the gospel since Y2K, when Uche Anya (APP, Oji River) was in the House. Despite personal pleas with then deputy speaker, Uche was suspended and, as I had warned, schism surfaced in PDP. The deputy speaker led the refuseniks against then governor. Interestingly, the same brother leads the recent rupture as DG of NOES (‘Ndị Ọganiru Enugu State’), a pro-Ekweremadu, anti-zoning PDP faction.

    Difference in doctrine is desirable. The current rumbling is fanned by those who agree on zoning; the same people who handed Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Gburugburu) the decision to choose from Enugu East. In what world do you send someone to buy salt and then make rainfall! PDP aspirants should be praying and waiting for him to be divine-inspired, not berating fellow aspirants under the cover of digital darkness.

    On gubernatorial politics proper, contenders show in three main political parties: APC, APGA, and PDP. Appraising aspirants in a delegates-only primary is difficult, but we do not shy away from fights for fear of being shot!

    APC

    Two aspirants are shaking body: Uche Nnaji (East) and Mrs. Ginika Tor (West). State APC gave East the nod. Nwakaibie sleeps easy on his 50-million-naira nomination form. “O jebego na APC”!

    APGA

    Three are aspiring: ex-PDP minister Frank Nweke, Jeff Nnamani, and Donatus Udeh—a townsman of Frank. Enugu APGA may be waiting for PDP to fall apart. As in 2015, it may not happen. Whoever emerges should be ready to contest or crumble like a dry Melina leaf on Iva Valley Road.

    PDP

    About 17 pretenders are waiting for Gburugburu to exhale—just as Senator Chimaroke Nnamani posited. Those who lit the social media with kneejerk retorts and radical rudeness owe him an apology.

    A brief review of four aspirants will suffice:

    1. Ike Ekweremadu: DSPIE Ikeọha needs no introduction. The big buzz, “Ike is coming,” is calm. His manifesto is public. The incumbent may not hand him the keys of Lion Building, but Ikeọha is no stranger to political permutations. 2015 refers: Who knows better about the ways of witches and wizards than a woman whose child was killed by witches! If the unthinkable happens, APGA becomes the political beautiful bride.

    2. Barth Nnaji: An erudite Enuguite and two-time minister, Brother Barth is super-qualified for Lion Building. This is a repeat of his 2003 quest. Will Nkanu East considerations make a difference? We wait and watch. Head or tail, Nigeria will benefit better from his electrical energy endeavours.

    3. CJ Edeoga: Chijioke caused a stir when he gallantly resigned his commissioner post and bought a nomination form. Pundits watch to see if Isi Ụzọ factor and blood bonds with Enugu North political royalty are buoyant enough to sail him through a sea of shells. Sadly, sowing seeds of dichotomy in his primary pursuit of power may leave a lingering palate of parochialism.

    4. Peter Mbah: Okwute, as he is now known, has been hanging high like a mystery mango up in the clear clouds, as was Gburugburu in 2014. He made a super splash heard across the state and beyond. The echo endures and outshines other aspirants. Peter has what it takes to make a great governor: chief of staff, commissioner, attorney, urbane, soft, successful oil magnate, eye-candy, and easy-going. He is not mired in mundane matters and petty parochial politics.

    This piece is not about any aspirant, including those who did not make the cut in Part I. (I apologize: the mind is like a bag; I carry mine!) The pelting of Peter since he became the PDP primary frontrunner must come from fear of losing to him. The pillars around him are not spared. It is normal. No one runs after a man who has nothing to offer. Traducers do not pull down a man face-flat on the floor! Even the dog knows to follow a potbellied drunk. Aspirants should rein in their disciples of demolition. Politicians who fight dirty to serve are “liars” (1 John 4:20).

    Analysing primaries is shooting the breeze. Except for APC, others have moving parts. For PDP, the incumbent will decide; the party has agreed. So, I will risk a little bundle and bet, as of today, that #4 is good for the fourth PDP gubernatorial candidate in the 4th Republic. In the absence of litigations, we may say this May at every four-way junction: “The peace at last!”

    ©MOE, 5.20.22

    @aladimma

  • Party asks judge to hands-off suit against presidential primary

    Party asks judge to hands-off suit against presidential primary

    To ensure a successful primary on May 28, the National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, on Thursday, asked Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, to hands-off the suit seeking to halt the scheduled presidential primary election of the party.

    Anyanwu, in a petition he forwarded to the Chief Judge of the Court, Justice John Tsoho, accused Justice Okorowo of bias.

    The PDP scribe, through his lawyer, Mr. Kalu Agu, urged the CJ to transfer the case to another judge of the high court for fair adjudication.

    He alleged that Justice Okorowo granted ex-parte orders against the party, notwithstanding the fact that PDP has a legal representative before the court.

    Anyanwu, listed as the 3rd defendant in the suit lodged by an aggrieved pesidential aspirant of the party, Mr. Cosmas Ndukwe, contended that processes the trial judge relied on to summon PDP to appear before him to show cause why reliefs sought by the plaintiff should not be granted, was not ripe for hearing as at the time the order was made.

    He, therefore, maintained that the judge had, by his actions, exhibited “manifest bias”, adding that allowing him to continue with the case, will lead “to a breach of fair hearing.”

    Alternatively, he applied for stay of further proceedings in the case, pending the outcome of the petition before the CJ.

    Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Paul Erokoro, SAN, opposed the application which he described as an abuse of court process.

    In his bench ruling, Justice Okorowo declined to halt proceedings in the matter which he adjourned till May 25 for hearing.

    The court equally granted an application that another presidential aspirant of the party, Mr. Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, filed to be joined as the 5th defendant in the matter.

    The plaintiff, Ndukwe, a former Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, had in an application he brought before the court, sought an order of injunction to restrain his party from proceeding with its scheduled primary election, pending the hearing and determination of his suit challenging the position of the party on the issue of zoning its presidential ticket.

    Though the court declined to grant the restraining order, it directed the plaintiff to put all the Defendants on notice to enable them to appear before it to show cause.

    In its swift objection to the suit, PDP, aside from challenging jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/508/2022, argued that the case had become status barred.

    According to the defendants, “the cause of action in the suit relates to the internal affairs of a political party and therefore falls within the doctrine of political questions which are non-justiciable” and as such,, the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain it.

    PDP, noted that the cause of action arose from a communique its National Zoning Committee issued on April 5, whereas the plaintiff’s suit, was filed on April 19, 15 days after, in violation of Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which provides for 14 days for filing of such cases.

    The party maintained that the court lacked the vires to delve into its internal affairs, stressing that the subject matter of the case, which borders on whether to zone its presidential ticket to any part of the country or not, was not an issue that the court was constitutionally empowered to adjudicate upon.

    It, therefore, urged the court to vacate its earlier order that directed it to show why reliefs the plaintiff is seeking in the suit should not be granted.

    (Vanguard)

  • PDP Delegates List: Court case threatens party’s primaries

    PDP Delegates List: Court case threatens party’s primaries

    About 24 hours to commencement of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primaries, disputes over the authentic delegates list and litigation are threatening the exercises.

    Vanguard gathered that the Senator Iyorchia Ayu-led National Working Committee, NWC, spent a considerable amount of time deliberating on the issue at its regular meeting, yesterday.

    The party’s primaries for the election of state houses of assembly, governorship, National Assembly and presidential candidates are scheduled to begin with state assembly congresses on Saturday, May 21.

    A member of the party is also in court seeking an order to stop the May 28 presidential primaries over refusal of the party to zone its presidential ticket as stipulated in its constitution. The party, last week, threw the ticket open to all parts of the country. Hearing in the suit will continue on May 25.

    On Wednesday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, criticised President Muhammadu Buhari over his reluctance to sign the amended version of the Electoral Act, section 84 (8), which provides for elected officials to take part in primaries .

    He said the delay is part of the ruling party’s plot to disrupt preparations by opposition political parties in order to disenfranchise Nigerians.

    The PDP spokesman said “It is not surprising but disappointing and dislocating.

    “As at today, parties do not know for certain who the delegates are and democracy thrives on certainty.

    “The APC is not a political party. It was cobbled together as a Special Purpose Vehicle to grab power. Now it is in power, look at where it has led us.”

    Apart from the super delegates, the PDP is also having issues with some state’s delegates, especially Anambra.

    (Vanguard)

  • I changed Lagos; I can change Nigeria- Tinubu

    I changed Lagos; I can change Nigeria- Tinubu

    All Progressives Congress national leader Bola Tinubu and a presidential hopeful of the party has told Bauchi delegates that he is capable of changing Nigeria for the better, using Lagos as an example of what he can achieve nationally.

    “I’ve demonstrated my capacity, quality and brilliance in governance in Lagos state. I’ve been a very successful private sector person and joining politics is not a joke in an experience, it’s not a small thing,” said Mr Tinubu. “I want to serve my country, I want Nigeria to change, help those who are extremely poor, give priority to education, give priority to power generation so that we can have industrial growth.”

    He told the Bauchi delegates that with their support he would clinch the APC presidential ticket.

    “I am a serious-minded man. Those who rule Lagos now will testify that it’s a different nation within the country,” Mr Tinubu said.

    He stated this in Bauchi on Wednesday when he met with the delegates of the party. The former governor of Lagos also said he wanted to serve Nigeria and make it change for the better.

    “Let me greet and appreciate all of you who have been waiting here for a long time while we were parambulating the city of Bauchi. I am one of those running to become the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I am very sure, with your support, I will win,” stated the APC presidential hopeful.

    He, however, called on all members of the party in the state to be united and shun any form of animosity or differences for the success of the party.

    The APC presidential aspirant added that he had observed that members of the party were not as united as he had anticipated but promised to do anything possible to unite them.

    “If you decide to work together, nobody can beat you in Bauchi,” he assured the delegates.

    (NAN)