The Eagle Gate

Tag: Election 2019

  • I have not, will not and will never abandon Atiku – OGD

    I have not, will not and will never abandon Atiku – OGD

    Atiku is different from PDP. I have resigned from PDP and lost interest in partisan politics having put in about 20 years of my life in a thankless process. I will commit my God given resources to help the less privileged through my Foundation and will contribute sharing the body of knowledge through our not for profit Political Academy. That will be a thankful process. I will continue to support the political process in a non partisan manner. I am clear with my position, without any ambiguity.

    There is no need to insinuate, speculate, extrapolate, anticipate or draw conclusions on my behalf. I did not expect such a simple personal decision can generate such national discourse and for that I remain grateful to God. I am however most grateful to all my friends and well wishers. The phones have not stopped ringing. All the advice are well taken. My very deep appreciation.

    Otunba Gbenga Daniels

  • The Peoples Mandate 2019: Atiku’s Battle to save our Democracy- Segun Showunmi

    The Peoples Mandate 2019: Atiku’s Battle to save our Democracy- Segun Showunmi

    A time comes in the life of a nation when men of valour have to stand up and be counted at epochal moments to stop the ship of state from either drowning or derailing. The history of mankind is replete with the exploits of great men and women who rose to become something out of nothing and selflessly shaped the future and destiny of their societies. These men and women make all the sacrifices and at the risk of their personal safety and resources take the difficult road to put their nations on the map of development and progress.

    In China, they keep talking about Mao Zedong (Chairman Mao), in Singapore, it is Lee Kuan Yew, and in South Africa, it is Nelson Mandela. But it is not only presidents or leaders of countries who have had this immense impact in shaping the history of their respective nations’ politics and polity. The history of the United States will not be complete without the sacrifices and advocacy of great men like Martin Luther King (Jr.) and Malcolm X, both of whom paid the ultimate price for their conviction. In Nigeria, we have had the benefit of seeing great statesmen like the eloquent Nnamdi Azikwe, the visionary and selfless Ahmadu Bello, the philosopher-statesman, Obafemi Awolowo, the foremost masses advocate, Aminu Kano among several others.

    These great men used different methods and ways to define the destiny of their respective peoples. They put their resources and talents to use in building virile nations that their future generations have always been proud of.  

    The PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has made an immeasurable success out of his life. From lonely, challenging poverty-stricken childhood, he has through a dint of hard work, diligence and grace of God, risen to become a fulfilled father and husband, a celebrated entrepreneur, cheerful philanthropist and a conscientious nation builder. He has however never failed to acknowledge that in addition to his business acumen and sheer brilliancy, it is the Nigerian society that has made it possible for him to excel in all he has laid his hands on. He has therefore over the years insisted that the society must also give upcoming generations the same platform to succeed as well. That was why since 1992 he has sought to serve the country at the highest level of governance. That was why on the February 23 2019, Nigerian voters who had bought into his vision of a properly structured, economically-sound and prosperous nation voted for him en masse before the enemies of the nation changed the result overnight.  

    Those who are cajoling, begging, intimidating, harassing and blackmailing Atiku not to go to court to challenge the curious figures that INEC boss, Professor Mahmud Yakubu, allocated to President Muhammadu Buhari, are indeed not fair to Nigerians. This is because INEC cannot set a rule and break the rule by itself and be allowed to get away with the grave injustice. The most shocking aspect of the electoral malfeasance put together by INEC which must be of significant interest to our learned justices must be the issue of card readers. The INEC boss emphasized that it must be used for accreditation or an entire polling unit will be cancelled. But when he was presented with the evidence that card readers were not used in most of the places they allocated huge numbers to APC, he threw integrity to the wind by seeking to change the rule in the middle of the game. He said the rule on card readers could be by-passed in the case of any ‘circumvention’ of the machines. Circumvention? How? Why? Where? By Who? And who should suffer the consequences of the so-called ‘circumvention of the card readers?

    Secondly, many of the figures reeled out by the inconsistent INEC boss did not add up and even though he promised to provide clarifications after the announcement, he has not done so nearly two weeks after the polls. There is no better way to detect dishonesty.

    While declaring Buhari as the winner, saying he polled a total of 15,191,847 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who scored 11,262,978 votes, Yakubu said 29,364,209 voters were accredited, while the total number of valid votes cast were 27,324,583 with total rejected votes of 1,289,607, putting total votes cast at 28,614,190. This means that a total of 1.6 million people were missing in the voter register, considering the fact that the number of registered voters was over 84 million, while the number of collated voters, according to the INEC chairman, was over 82 million.

    Thirdly, we have seen hundreds of videos which came out of Borno, Zamfara, Yobe, Kano, Katsina Sokoto etc where people gather in strange places and thumb printed massively for the APC. The ballot papers used for the election in these selected places must be subjected to thorough forensic checks. If this is done, it will shock Nigerians that in many cases, one person thumb printed hundreds of ballot papers. Why should such disservice to the electoral process be allowed to stand in the name of a narrow definition of peace? There can’t possibly be any real peace without justice and without real peace; we can’t make progress as a nation.    

    Having budgeted N27 billion for technology alone in the 2018 budget, every right thinking Nigerian interested in the credibility of the electoral process expected INEC to for the purpose of transparency and law, display the card reader details to party agents to show how many voters went through the machines. But they did not and this will continue to be a serious dent on the integrity of the election. The difference between the accredited voters and the votes cast, which came to about 750,000 votes is also very suspicious and INEC has some explanations to make.  The cancellations that took place in PDP strongholds impacting 2.7 million voters are also fraud-laden.

    The people who are mocking Atiku and saying his court case is a wild goose chase are not good students of history. These ignoramuses claim that because no presidential election has either been annulled or upturned in the history of the country, Atiku is wasting his time and energy. But we must inform them that the world does not revolve around Nigeria’s history, after all, we have not practised democracy consistently beyond 20 years. That was why some other obsessive historians said the change of guard of 2015 was impossible because it was unprecedented. The fact that that jinx or myth was broken in 2015 should open the minds of people to the reality of the moment that another jinx could be broken in 2019 even if it means Atiku would be the hero once again. But when this happens, would that be the first time Atiku would be setting records and breaking new grounds in the country’s judiciary? The answer is no.

    It is on record that Atiku insisted on testing the Nigerian law in court when his ambition to run for President in 2007 was threatened by EFCC and other government agencies which sought to disqualify him on account of some phony indictments. Atiku went up to the apex court which agreed with him that it was only the judiciary that could find someone guilty of corruption and also disqualify any aspirant from seeking a political office. The landmark cases he won have been sources of references for scholars, Law students and politicians ever since. Since then no governor or President has been able to use state agencies to stop their political rivals from aspiring for any office of their choice.

    If Nigeria is truly a democratic nation, there is no way such malfeasance should be allowed to stand. It is actually easier and cheaper to operate a monarchical system and let a few households rule forever instead of spending billions of naira and losing lives just to conduct what will end up as a charade.           

    Again, Nigeria will not be the first to annul a badly conducted presidential election as there are precedents seen in Europe and even Africa. Ukraine annulled its presidential elections in 2004 after Victor Yanukovych, who had lost to Victor Yuchchenko after the second round, went to court seeking to annul the results over sundry irregularities.

    In Maldives, the country’s Supreme Court invalidated the results of 2013 first round presidential elections pitting former President Mohamed Nasheed and Abdulla Yameen against each other. The later had won the election but the court described the poll as a sham which cannot stand in the sight of the law.

    Similarly, the Constitutional Court of Austria ordered a repeat vote after ruling that Austria electoral law was disregarded in 14 of 117 administrative districts in the 2016 election. In the polls, Alexander Van der Bellen had been declared the winner after beating Norbert Hoffer. It also ruled that 77,900 absentee ballots had been improperly counted too early. They ordered a repeat vote to be conducted in October 2016 but it was postponed to December 2016.

    More recently and closer home in Kenya; the Supreme Court in September 2017 nullified reelection of President Uhuru Kenyatta saying the polls were “neither transparent nor verifiable” and blamed the country’s electoral commission for the shortcomings. Kenyatta, the incumbent president, had won a second term by a margin of 9%, defeating his long-term rival, Raila Odinga before the polls were annulled.  

    Now that Atiku Abubakar has chosen a patriotic battle not only to reclaim his mandate but also expand the horizon of the country’s jurisprudence and improve the electoral process, all Nigerians of good conscience must irrespective of political affiliations rally round him and encourage him. Atiku’s ambition is not just to be President and rescue Nigeria from poverty and insecurity but to also place the country on map of civilized, democratic and progressive nations.

  • POLICE PRESS RELEASE – VERIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION OF 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS SENSITIVE MATERIALS

    POLICE PRESS RELEASE – VERIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION OF 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS SENSITIVE MATERIALS

    AZ:5250/EDS/PRD/VOL.23/212

    19/02/2019

    No. 004

    POLICE PRESS RELEASE

    VERIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION OF 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS SENSITIVE MATERIALS

         The Command wishes to inform the general public following the appeal of the Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), that the Nigeria Police Force, Heads of other sister security agencies, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) member of the various registered political parties, the branch Controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Benin City met today 19/02/2019 at the CBN for the verification and confirmation of the 2019 General Elections sensitive materials that was safe kept at the CBN office Benin 

         The Commissioner of Police in charge Election duty in the State, CP DanMallam Mohammed Psc, fdc, who had earlier met with all the Heads of other sister security agencies in his office at the Police Headquarters, Benin City where they further brainstorm on 2019 General Elections strategies, moved with the officers to the Central Bank of Nigeria Benin for the verification and confirmation exercise.

         On arrival, the CP and other sister security agencies in company of the members of the registered political parties in the State moved to the office of the branch Controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Benin City, whence all stakeholders moved to the CBN leading Bay room where all the INEC sensitive materials for 2019 General Elections were kept. The materials were inspected, verified and confirmed to be well secured by the CBN, Benin.

          Thereafter, it was unanimously agreed by the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner Benin, the Commissioner of Police, other Heads of sister security agencies, members of registered political parties and the branch Controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Benin that all the 2019 General Elections sensitive materials would on Thursday 21st February, 2019 leave the CBN for Local Government Areas of the State in readiness for the conduct of the General Elections on Saturday the 23rd February, 2019.    

          Commissioner of Police DanMallam Mohammed Psc, fdc assures the INEC REC and the members of registered political parties the protection of lives and the sensitive materials to the designated areas, stating that adequate security measures have been put in place. The Commander 4 Brigade Headquarters of the Nigeria Army, Benin Brig. Gen. J.O. Omorogbe supporting the Commissioner of Police stated that his men at the various L.G.A in the State will join force with other security agencies in beefing up security where the Election sensitive materials will be kept.        

    DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, Police Public Relations Officer

    FOR: Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command

  • CUPP DECRIES FOUL PLAY BY APC LED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

    CUPP DECRIES FOUL PLAY BY APC LED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

    FROM CUPP

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

    February 19, 2019 at 9 am

    • Buhari orders DSS to arrest INEC Federal Commissioner in charge of Operations today.
    • Buhari planning to sabotage and shift Saturday election with instruction to DSS to massively arrest all INEC top leadership who refused to be compromised. 
    • DSS acting Buhari script to detain Prof. Ibeanu INEC commissioner in charge of operations to give room for his sister Amina Zakari to take charge of operations or emerge acting INEC chairman if Buhari APC succeeds in sabotaging Saturday election and forcing INEC chairman out.

    Buhari is planning to sabotage and shift rescheduled Feb 23rd Saturday Election and have directed DSS invite and detain the Federal Commissioner of INEC in charge of Operations Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu for refusing to help Buhari APC sabotage distribution and compromise of sensitive election materials. 

    The Refusal of INEC to proceed with staggered election during the aborted Feb 16 election which ruined Buhari APC rigging plan is the reason for the new offensive action against INEC to intimidate them into submission. The idea to detain the Federal Commissioner today was on the sole instigation of the former DG of the DSS Lawal Daura who still runs the agency by proxy and convinced Buhari to allow the use of the DSS to clampdown on INEC to force them to do their Bidding or sabotage the rescheduled election and stop it from holding.

    We call on all Nigerians to rise up on against this ongoing leadership abuse and madness which have the potentiality to throw Nigeria into an electoral violence that will enable Buhari execute his lawless order that Security agencies should publicly start killing people under the guise of Ballot box snatching. 

    Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere  CUPP Spokesperson

  • PRESS BRIEFING BY RT. HON. YAKUBU DOGARA, SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

    PRESS BRIEFING BY RT. HON. YAKUBU DOGARA, SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

    February 18, 2019

    1. This press briefing is to call the attention of well meaning Nigerians and the international community to the incendiary statements made by President Muhammadu Buhari, and Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national caucus of their party, earlier today.  

    2. At the meeting the President said: “Anybody who decides to snatch boxes or lead thugs to disturb the election, may be that would be the last unlawful action you would take. I have given the military and police the order to be ruthless. I am going to warn anybody who thinks he would lead a body of thugs in his locality to snatch boxes or to disturb the voting system; he would do it at the expense of his/her own life.”

    3. Mr. Oshiomole also claims that the PDP was given prior notice of the postponement of the elections. 

    4. In this context, we categorically deny these false claims and unnecessary blackmail and regard the President’s statement as a call for extra-judicial killings considering the fact that there are adequate provisions in our laws to address electoral offenses. 

    5. These statements clearly indicate that our democracy has become the victim of a full blown dictatorship, when one considers that a democratically elected President would give a directive that is in clear violation of the laws of the land which by his oath of office he is to defend and protect.

    6. Inview of this statement by the president, it is obvious that the military has been given a central role and coopted into the conduct of the election despite the fact that they have no constitutional role in our electoral process.

    7. It should be noted that our party chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, was the first to call for an inquiry into why the elections were postponed last Saturday.  In reality, we support a genuine and transparent probe into why the presidential and National Assembly elections could not hold. We also hope that the president’s inflammatory statement is not a threat aimed at intimidating the electoral commission. 

    8. We also strongly condemn Mr. Oshiomole’s false, mischievous and inflammatory claims against our party, when he said INEC colluded with PDP to abort last week’s elections. This is a very surprising statement considering the fact  that the Federal government controls every institution and agency involved  in the electoral process, including the CBN, Nigerian Airforce, Aviation authorities amongst others.

    9. From our position, we strongly believe that the deliberate delivery of election materials to the wrong electoral centers, cancellation of flights, and other actions that undermined the logistics arrangement of INEC were deliberately done to sabotage and manipulate the process.

    10.  We are also very familiar with the pressure brought on INEC by top government officials and APC leaders to go ahead with the elections despite not being adequately prepared for the election. We are also aware the APC wanted the INEC chairman to conduct elections in some states and postpone in other states so as to have staggered elections. It should also be noted that the areas that would have been affected by inadequate delivery of materials were PDP strongholds.

    11. It is important to note that  the APC in its usual manipulative style is now shifting the blame on INEC leadership while absolving itself and the other institutions of government under its control of any blame.That is the common strategy that super villains always employ.

    12. Obvioulsy, we know they are doing everything humanly possible to discredit INEC, remove the chairman and stall the process conscious of the fact that they cannot win this election. 

    13. Embarrasingly, this is the first time that we have witnessed a ruling party play victim, which is a clear indication that they have lost the plot. Evidently, their recent actions and statements clearly show they are panicking and desperate to cling onto power, even when the people have rejected them.

    14. Also, opinion polls conducted by the APC, and other international agencies clearly indicate that the APC will lose this election, anytime it is conducted; we believe that is why they are resorting to desperate measures of arm-twisting the electoral commission,  undermining the entire process and planning to unleash terror on the country.

    15. Finally, let it be known that the PDP, with the support of every well meaning Nigerian, will employ every legitimate means to resist  attempts by the APC and the Federal government to undermine and compromise the electoral process and truncate our democracy. 

    16.  The PDP believes in a united and democratic Nigeria and will continue to do all within its means to protect the country, her people and constitution from undemocratic elements. 

    17. We call on all Nigerians not to despair, but turn out en mass on Saturday to vote and defend their votes. We also urge the international community and their observers that are in the country to monitor the election and be vigilant because their presence as impartial arbiters is important in ensuring we have peaceful, credible, free, fair and transparent elections. The security agencies are also enjoined to be impartial and remain loquat to the constitution of the Federal Republic.

    Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker, House of Representives Federal Republic of Nigeria

  • OSHIOMHOLE’S CALL FOR INEC CHAIRMAN’S RESIGNATION: A BLACKENED POT CALLS KETTLE BLACK!

    OSHIOMHOLE’S CALL FOR INEC CHAIRMAN’S RESIGNATION: A BLACKENED POT CALLS KETTLE BLACK!

    In the last couple of days, I’ve battled the urge to join issues with the erstwhile Governor of my home-state, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, on his alleged call for the resignation of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. As a well-brought up son of Edo land, and one schooled in the nuances of my culture and tradition that frowns at the unedifying pursuit of hurling insults at elders, I am indeed constrained. But as a Nigerian, a Midwesterner, and one who has in recent past, tasked our (mis)leaders to be more forthright and accountable to our people, it has become too difficult to keep quiet.

    It is no longer news that the National Chairman of the APC, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, has called for the resignation of the INEC Chairman. Mr. Oshiomhole is not ignorant of the fact that such action will further heat up the polity, while throwing the entire election process into needless disarray, and avoidable crisis. 

    While not defending the inexcusable failings of INEC, and the attendant postponement of last Saturday’s election, I must plead with the perennially loquacious ex-Governor to elevate his pronouncements and diatribes, at least for once! It is shameful that Mr. Oshiomhole of all people should be the one voicing such gross demands. We all don’t have short memories. Barely a few months ago, he superintended over what was generally alleged to be the worst intra-party Election Primaries in recent history; one that prompted no less a person than the wife of the nation’s President (who is the Leader of his party) to chastise him publicly in a 6-paged tweet on her official Twitter handle! To refresh the memory of the diminutive ex-labour leader, Dr. (Mrs) Aisha Buhari berated the self-styled Comrade for duping hundreds of APC aspirants in the Primaries and she wondered why “such impunity could take place under his watch”! 

    It is baffling that Mr. Oshiomhole, who failed to conduct a transparent intra-party selection process within the APC, and whose monumental failure midwifed the largest ‘decamping’ exercise in the nation’s political history, could call for the INEC Chairman’s resignation. It is akin to a charred and blackened, ugly-looking and weather-beaten pot calling a kettle black!  It is on record that Oshiomhole’s monumental failure robbed the APC the chance to field candidates at all levels in both Zamfara and Rivers States! 

    As an Edo man, I am ashamed of the continued, albeit unchecked, boisterous and Mephistophelean disposition of a man who had the rare privilege to be Governor of my home State. All Edos are a proud people with a distinguished heritage that reverberates along concave shores of the world. It beats me: what peculiar strain constitutes the ex Comrade’s DNA?

    My dear Comrade Sir, since the APC continues to harbor and accommodate you as its National Chairman, please do well to remember the proud and dignified mien of the Edo people from whence you supposedly descended. Maybe (Just MAYBE) that will guard and guide your public pronouncements and vituperations going forward. I wish you a more dignifying comportment during the coming elections. 

    Ògbòo Sir.- Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

  • INEC IS RIGHT; IT IS END OF THE ROAD FOR RIVERS APC IN THE 2019 ELECTIONS

    INEC IS RIGHT; IT IS END OF THE ROAD FOR RIVERS APC IN THE 2019 ELECTIONS

    A few days ago, INEC categorically and publicly said that it will not change its decision to exclude Rivers State chapter of APC from participation in the 2019 general elections for the offices of Governor, National and Assembly membership. From the state of existing Court judgments, INEC was on firm ground.

    A good point to start would be the first of the legal fireworks initiated by relevant parties.

    1.     Suit No: BHC/78/2018

            Ibrahim Umah vs. APC & Ords.

    This suit was commenced at the Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt. The Plaintiffs therein sought several reliefs. They include that Magnus Abe’s group were entitled to participate in the APC primaries, a declaration setting aside the purported primaries by the Ameachi group, injunction restraining APC from conducting any Local Government Congress based on the ward congress election purportedly conducted on May 5, 2018, declaration that the purported ward and Local Government and State congress conducted by APC in Rivers State on May 12th, 19th, 20th and 21st 2018 respectively and anything done there under are entitled to be set aside etc.

    INTERLOCUTORY ORDER

    While this case was pending, the Plaintiffs secured an interlocutory/interim order to restrain APC from proceeding with the scheduled congresses pending the determination of the matter. In spite of this order the APC went ahead with the primaries but appealed against the said interlocutory order in Appeal No: CA/PH/198/2018 to the Court of Appeal. In the cause of prosecuting this Appeal, APC applied through one of its Counsel to withdraw the Appeal by filing a Notice of withdrawal. Another Counsel of APC approached the Court of Appeal to continue with the Appeal. The Counsel to the Magnus Abe group opposed this strongly and argued that the Appeal ought to be dismissed. The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt allowed and overruled the Abe group and continued with the Appeal. Abe’s group then appealed to the Supreme Court in Appeal No. SC. 1070/2018.

    CONTINUATION OF RIVERS STATE HIGH COURT TRIAL

    While this appeal was pending in the Supreme Court, the Rivers State High Court presided over by Hon. Nwogu delivered judgment on 10th October, 2018 in suit No: BHC/78/2018; Ibrahim Uma &Ords v. APC. The Court decided in favour of Ibrahim Uma & Ords restrained APC from conducting any primaries upon the ward congress which the Court found to have been conducted in contravention of extant laws and party Guidelines. The Court nullified all the nominations for election to the offices of Governor, National and State Assemblies on the ground that they were conducted in breach of extant court order restraining the conduct of same

    It would appear that the only appeal lodged against the Rivers State High Court judgment is the one against the order of interlocutory injunction made by that Court. No appeal was lodged against the substantive judgment itself. For all intents and purposes the Rivers State High Court judgment remains valid and unchallenged.

    SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT IN SC. 1070/2018

    On 8th February, 2019, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment in the Appeal filed by the Abe group against the failure of the Court of Appeal to dismiss the Appeal filed by the Ameachi group, same having been withdrawn by the filing of Notice of withdrawal at the Registry of the Appeal Court. The Supreme Court held as follows at page 19 of its judgment

    It is my considered opinion that this appeal must be given a decent burial. The appeal having been withdrawn is deemed to have been dismissed. This is what the lower Court failed or evaded for reasons stated above.

    The Supreme Court’s judgment therefore strongly protected the interlocutory orders of the Rivers State High Court restraining the conduct of primaries by APC on the basis of a flawed ward congress. In any case, the said High Court gave its final judgment which eventually nullified any purported primaries for contravening valid court orders.

    2.      SUIT NO: FHC/PH/CS/149/2018

            PDP vs. INEC & APC

    Once PDP found out that the Rivers State High Courts had given judgment nullifying any purported primaries, by APC and further restraining the party from conducting any upon the flawed ward congress, PDP quickly approached the Federal High Court and sought several reliefs. They include; a declaration that all primaries conducted in Rivers State by APC, having been set aside by a competent Court, APC was not entitled to nominate or sponsor any candidate for 2019 General Elections. They sought injunction against INEC from according any recognition to purported APC candidates.

    The Federal High Court, in a judgment delivered by Justice J.K Omotosho, found for PDP and granted the reliefs sought. The Court pointed out that it was important to obey Court orders and that the defect of non-compliance was fatal.

    3.      APPEAL NO: CA/PII/38/2019

            PDP vs. INEC & APC  

    APC filed an appeal against the said judgment of the Federal High Court in the Court of Appeal. It also filed an application for stay of execution of the judgment of the Federal High Court. The said application is still pending but has been fixed for hearing same in February, 2019.

    4.      SUIT NO: FHC/PH/CS/144/2018

             Magnus Abe & Ords vs. APC & Ords

    Magnus Abe and Ords instituted the above suit against APC and Ords seeking amongst others an order of Court that they have been duly nominated to contest the various elections in 2019 general election. They also sought an order to nullify the nomination of the candidates of Ameachi’s group and an order for INEC to recognize them as the nominated candidates. In the end, the Federal High Court declared that Magnus Abe’s group were not validly nominated by APC, having failed to prove that the primaries that produced them were validly conducted. The Court held that the primaries that produced them were conducted during the pendency of Suit No BHC/78/2018, between Ibrahim Umah & Ords vs APC. The Court also held that the Magnus Abe’s group failed to show that their primaries were conducted by the national body of APC.

    The Federal High Court went further to restrain INEC from recognizing any candidate of APC contesting for the various offices in the 2019 general elections. The Court nullified the nomination of any candidate by APC for election into the said offices as earlier nullified by Nwogu .J, on 10thOctobetr, 2018 in Suit No: BHC/78/2018, Ibrahim Umah & Ords vs APC.

    5.      APPEAL NO: CA/PH/39/2019

            APC V. SEN. MAGNUS ABE & ORDS

    APC appealed against the said Federal High Court judgment in Suit No: FHC/PH/CS/144/2018. It also filed an application for stay of execution against the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered on 7th January, 2019.

    TWIST IN THE APPLICATION

    In what appears to be a costly mix-up, APC’s counsel in their prayers for stay of execution filed on 5th February, 2019, directed their relief against the judgment of the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/PH/149/2018; PDP v. INEC & APC which was not the subject of this appeal. The subject of this appeal was Suit NO: FHC/PH/CS/144/2018, Sen. Magnus Abe & Ords v. APC & Ords. In spite of this costly mix-up which should have led to the striking out of such application, the Court of Appeal granted the application for “Stay of Execution as Prayed”. What the Court of Appeal granted in reality were prayers in connection with another appeal between APC and PDP.

    REACTION TO COURT OF APPEAL’S MIXED-UP ORDERS

    In reaction the mixed up order of the Court of Appeal, PDP filed an application before the Court of Appeal in Appeal NO: CA/PH/38/2019; APC V. PDP & INEC praying that the Hon. Justices should recuse themselves from further hearing the appeal or participate in the hearing and determination of the said Appeal on the basis of the mixed-up order of stay of execution and a previous application made to the president of the Court of Appeal on 30th January, 2019 for the re-constitution of a fresh panel of Appeal. The said application filed on 6th February, 2019 is pending before the Court.

    CONCLUSION

    In conclusion the judgment in suit No: BHC/78/2018; Ibrahim Umah & Ords vs. APC delivered on 10th October, 2018 by the High Court of Rivers State nullifying the nominations by APC for 2019 elections remains valid and unchanged. The judgment of the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/CS/149/2018, PDP vs. INEC & APC delivered on 7th January, 2019 restraining INEC from recognizing any APC candidate and also nullifying all APC nominations remain valid as it has not been set aside on appeal. In addition, no valid stay of execution has been granted to warrant INEC to act on it. The judgment in Suit No: FHC/PH/CS/144/2018; Sen. Magnus Abe & Ords vs. APC & Ords which restrained INEC from recognizing any candidate of APC for 2019 elections remains valid. No valid order for stay of execution has been made against it. In any case, for INEC to validly recognize APC candidates for all positions in 2019 elections, all existing judgments must be set aside on Appeal or validly stayed.

    So far, this has not been so. It appears that nothing can be done about the Rivers State High Court judgment in Suit No: BHC/78/2018 Ibrahim Umah & Ords vs. APC which has no appeal against it and there cannot be one anymore having regards to the period allowed by law to appeal against same. It can therefore be safely concluded that the iron curtain has been closed on APC with respect to fielding candidates for 2019 general elections with respect to Rivers State.

    My humble opinion

    Dr. Ehiogie WEST-Idahosa

  • Throw PMB’s Candidacy Away

    Throw PMB’s Candidacy Away

    Dr. Bolaji Akinyemi

    Aree! Abeokuta ilu Egba, Nigeria oni gba gbe re!! “Abeokuta the home of Egba people Nigeria will never forget you.

    Here in Abeokuta the defeat of PDP was spiritually sealed by the decision of one of illustrious sons of the soil, Balogun Owu, Aremu Okikiolu, Olusegun omo Obasanjo by tearing his party membership card a symbol of his bond to the party, with that action every nation loving Nigerian was shown what to do and that they indeed did.

    Yesterday it was NEXT LEVEL indeed, as Asiwaju gbogbo omo Odua, the only National leader of APC, led by national example what all nation loving Nigerian must do. His Excellency, Senator, Bola Hamed Tinubu threw the party flag away. The collective symbol of the party was thrown to the ground by no person other than the Jagaban himself.

    If you still don’t know what to do with PMB’S candidacy on Saturday 16th February 2019, then you are not a free born, bona fide son or daughter of Odua. The very man who led us into the APC alliance and brought APC to repute. Has shown us what to do. Leadership is premised more on actions than in words. On Saturday, it is do as I did, throw him away and embrace another. May wisdom be given to all nation loving APC members particularly Yoruba sons and daughters. PMB’S defeat is sealed and waiting for delivery on Saturday. Congratulations Nigeria! Make it good riddance to bad rubbish. Jagaban has spoken, we all must show our loyalty to The Leader. Your fellow Egba son and lover of the nation.

  • The APC’s Chaotic Rally; Buhari’s Gross Incompetence & Sheer Cluelessness

    The APC’s Chaotic Rally; Buhari’s Gross Incompetence & Sheer Cluelessness

    By Chidiebere Nwobodo 

    The day of reckoning is here. The die is cast. The stage is set. The much-awaited judgment day has arrived. Those who thought that hiding Buhari in the Villa; shielding him from Nigerians could cover his incompetence to provide leadership, have been finally disgraced, stripped naked before the daylight. They have been caught in their own web of conspiracies. Buhari’s cluelessness has been laid bare to see. There’s no where to hid again. The world can see that Nigeria has been left without adequate political leadership in the last three and half years. If the APC is in tatters, imagine what the entire nation has been through. 

    What happened in Ogun State APC Presidential Rally yesterday, was not only ignoble, perfidious, shameful but pathetic. It put to rest all the speculation why the nation has been struggling heavily since the emergence of Buhari as president. That President Buhari was blatantly stoned together with the leadership of the ruling party in a live event, is not even the real jist here. The bone of the contention at the rally, was Buhari’s inability to show leadership to his party—in crisis, and his insufferable hypocrisy cum acute selfish disposition in abandoning those who brought him to power in political winter. Anyone still searching for the reason why Buhari’s government failed to deliver as promised, please look no further. Here is the answer: An irresponsible father who is playing ostrich when his children are fighting each other with dangerous weapons, the entire house is thrown into a state of chaos and pandemonium, can not be expected to provide leadership to the entire community as a king. 

    President Buhari has displayed unprecedented level of incompetence as national leader of the APC. How then do we Nigerians expect him to give what he does not have as president of the country? A president who failed woefully to stabilize his party, can never revive the economy, provide security, create jobs, unite the country, empathize with the impoverished and sympathize with the beleaguered. He simply cannot lead—not because he does not want to, but he is bereft of the willpower to show visionary leadership and be father to all. This explains why Nigeria under Buhari is like a rudderless ship that has lost its compass; things are simply falling apart because everything rises and falls on leadership. From the economy to security, it is the same story of an airplane on autopilot. Nature abhors vacuum. Even before the polls, the APC has lost two states of Rivers, Zamfara and now Cross River. It will take political miracle for the ruling party to retain Imo, Ogun States, Oyo and Kano, Bauchi—all thanks to the excesses of the mafias in the party and Buhari’s indecision cum cluelessness. 

    Many discerning Nigerians have wondered in the past why President Buhari is so parochial and lopsided in his appointments and method of governance. Look no further again. Just take a look at how he has handled the protracted crisis of the APC. President Buhari is an extremely selfish personality. Everyone can go to hell provided his own interests are served. Imagine a sitting president of a party telling his aggrieved party faithfuls, who are looking up to him to bring the party together, to vote for him on Feb. 16 and “vote across party lines on March 2”; the day for governorship election, of which is tantamount to encouraging anti-party activities. He said it in Imo State recently and disgustingly repeated the show of shame in Ogun yesterday. 

    President Buhari is the first president since the advent of fourth republic to endorse the governorship candidate of another party (APM) in the Villa. Ironically, he later raised the hand of the APC governorship candidate in Ogun State for the same position—in the same Aso Villa. Arguably, he was playing chase game using Tinubu and Gov. Ibikunle Amosu of Ogun State as pawns. The same flawed tactics he is using on Gov. Okorocha and Sen. Hope Uzodinma in Imo State. It has backfired. Who does that? President Buhari was trying to avoid the problem instead of solving it, thereby postponing the evil day, which has finally arrived. What else do one expect party loyalists to do when the supposed leader of the APC has thrown his two hands into the air in utter confusion cum cluelessness? Resort to self help? Yes! Where there is no hierarchy, there is bound to be anarchy. 

    President Buhari subtly told the APC members that he is only interested in his own election, that you guys “can stab yourselves to death for all I care”. This is the height of recklessness and irresponsibility on the part of the president. He abdicated his fatherly role as an arbiter in the party, thereby outsourcing his responsibilities to the cabal. Adams Oshiomhole as national chairman, did not help matters at all. His desperation to satisfy Tinubu at all costs, has set the fractured party on the infamous path of destruction. President Buhari has shown himself as an insufferable hypocrite and irredeemable egocentric personality, who is ready to throw any leader of the APC under the bus hence his own selfish proclivities are preserved, even if it is at the detriment of the cohesiveness of the APC. I was not surprised when Buhari was stoned together with Oshiomhole, Tinubu yesterday, because he brought it upon himself. You can’t sow irresponsibility and reap respect and honor. 

    If aggrieved the APC members could be this outraged and enraged to stone President Buhari at a live program, imagine the tempo of anger burning in the hearts of non-partisan Nigerians; let alone the opposition, who have bore the consequences of Buhari’s clueless and gross incompetent leadership that has cost thousands of Nigerian lives, businesses and millions of jobs both in the formal and informal sectors. What happened yesterday climaxed the beginning of the end of Buhari’s ill-fated presidency. Millions of Nigerians who have lost their jobs and loved ones under this administration due to clueless economic policies and ineffective security strategies, will not go to the APC rally to display their rage. They’re waiting in the works. The real ambush, protest and proper “stoning” will happen coming Saturday when we will “stone” a failed president with our highly “charged” PVCs. Never again shall we reinforce failure as a nation. Someone who cannot manage his political party has nothing to do in Aso Villa as Nigerian president. Never again!

  • SHALL WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY? – Jude Idehen

    SHALL WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY? – Jude Idehen

    Hon. Jude Idehen is contesting for the seat of House of Representatives Ikpoba-Okha/Egor Federal Constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

    We have consulted widely across all 20 wards of Egor and Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Areas and analyzed the challenges facing our nation and constituencies. We have a robust blueprint based on the PDP manifesto to serve as a springboard for our constituency, placing her on a sunlit path of holistic development and material prosperity, and our Nigeria into a land where truth, justice and liberty reigns. These ingredients will satisfy our thirst and quest for unity and progress that for far too long have eluded us.

    I shall be part of those that will use the chambers of the Nigerian National Assembly to prepare a new bed for our country. 

    Ours is a genuine road map, within which are enshrined precise foundational, yet indispensable principles that are key to peace and progress in a pluralistic society like Nigeria. 

    We must transform our constituency and protect her citizens from the present unacceptable condition.My cardinal principles are enshrined in an agenda code-named the “RESCUE” mission. The “RESCUE” mission offers measurable commitments that will be implemented with passion, single-mindedness, incisive competence and experience. The RESCUE mission is an acronym for:

    R– Rule of Law

    E– Exact True Federalism

    S– Secularity

    C– Constitutionalism

    U– Unity

    E– Empowerment and Constituency projects

    Rule of Law 

    It is no news that successive administrations have made attempts to forcefully unite Nigerians employing centralism and coercion. It is also true that the repeated failure to do so implies the necessity of a new strategy to unite our nation. Justice is the most potent instrument with which a nation can stay glued and in perfect harmony and co-existence. Unfortunately, we are citizens of a country where justice is often denied, sacrificed, continually perverted and habitually mocked. It is almost only in Nigeria that because of the lack of accountability, nepotism, and gross impunity, giant camels, even if they are carrying hippopotamuses on their backs, easily pass through the eye of a needle. There can be no lasting peace or progress in any nation until its public officials are fully accountable to the people and answerable to the law. 

    Hence, we must wage a peaceful revolution for the supremacy of the rule of law in all facet of our polity. I will be one of the arrowheads of this peaceful revolution.

    Exact True Federalism

    As dictated by our constitution, the Federal Government is a monstrous octopus; its tentacles will continue to be a clog on the progress and unity of our people. Our constitution must devolve far greater power from the central government to the federating units of Nigeria. Dispersing power will help secure our freedom, increase citizens’ participation as well as structural, functional and institutional effectiveness. We must wake up and summon that uncommon courage and creativity to err on the side of subversion and on the compulsion to rule a multi-ethnic country in a militarist unitary fashion. Restructuring is key.

    Secularity

    Theology is the mother of all philosophy; people ultimately become whatever they theologize. Nigeria is a heterogeneous nation and Nigerians must be free to believe or not believe in God. Those who choose to believe in God must be free to worship Him or Her in whatever way they choose so long as their own freedom does not impinge on the freedom of others. Religion should not become a contrivance for heating the polity and sowing strife as it has for far too long strained our politics and divided our people. Nigeria is a secular nation and I will work hard to enforce this.

    Constitutionalism

    Forged and foisted on us by a cabal of military adventurers, our present constitution is incoherent and inapplicable in several regards. Conscious effort must be made and deliberate steps taken to replace it with a testament that emanates from the sovereign wishes of our people. The present arrangement, having been sown on the winds of certified fraud, has had us embroiled in endless controversies and turmoil. We must summon the courage and ingenuity to provide for ourselves a constitution that will reflect our hopes, assuage our fears, and minimize our conflicts. Such a constitution must be freely negotiated. Hence, I will work hard for a freely negotiated constitution emerging via a Sovereign Conference like that of 2014 and any other. 

    Unity

    Truly, Nigerians are trapped in ethno-religious sentiments. In addition, a ‘them-versus-us’ dichotomy is a nagging thorn in the Nigerian flesh. We often fail to listen to and empathize with the anguish of one another. Why is it so difficult for all of us to see the flagrant injustice inflicted on our oil-producing areas, the incessant terror and killings in many parts of the country? We must not all be Bini, Ogoni, Ijaw, Yoruba or Fulani before we can identify with a just cause. Let us stop perishing or stagnating together in the floods of needless conflicts. Let us bring down fences of segregation and invest in constructing bridges of understanding. We can collaborate to hasten the infrastructural development of our Northeast; we can terminate the injustices meted to our south-south, and accelerate the educational development of our Northwest. Southwest and the Southeast can be structurally unchained and thus, develop at whatever pace that suits them. As a legislator, I will work hard to sober reflection, gentle persuasion, robust analysis and essential compromise in the National Assembly.

    Empowerment and Constituency projects

    Youth empowerment is a process where young people are encouraged to take charge of their lives. They do this by addressing their situation and then act to improve their access to resources and transform their consciousness through their beliefs, values, and attitudes.

    Achievements of Hon. Jude Ise-Idehen as member, Edo State House of Assembly Representing Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area 2007-2015

    EDUCATION:

    He renovated over 6 blocks of classrooms in Oregbeni Primary School in ward 2 

    He provided tables and chairs in Ogbesun primary school in ward 3 

    He built 3 blocks of classrooms with headmaster’s office in Ewomodu Primary School in ward 4

    He built 3 classroom blocks for Umelu Secondary School, Umelu in ward 5 

    He built 3 classroom blocks at Evboriaria Primary School in ward 6 

    He renovated 6 classroom blocks in Enikaro Primary School in ward 7

    He provided tables and chairs for Urura Secondary School in ward 4

    SECURITY:

    He renovated the Police Station in Ologbo. Over the years, Ologbo has been the bedrock of crime and violence, and this made the community volatile and insecure. By renovating the police station, he motivated the police officers and spurred their enthusiasm to discharge their responsibilities effectively.

    ELECTRICITY:

    He provided over 10 transformers across the 10 wards in Ikpoba-Okha constituency.

    At Evbomoma Village in ward 9, the indigenes sought his intervention in assisting them with street lights, which he promptly provided.

    SOCIAL WAREFARE:

    While at the state house of assembly, he sponsored a bill for hospitals to always treat bullet wound victims without prior requirement of a police report. 

    He also renovated several health centres in Ikpoba-okha Local Government Area.

    He also supported orphanages and the homeless indigenes with shelter, books, clothes and finance, powered by an NGO (IYOBOSA HELPING HAND) that was overseen by his wife, Mrs. Gabina Ise-Idehen.

    He has managed to create a relationship with the Muslims and Christians alike by providing beverages, food stuffs such as yam, rice, and rams for the Muslims during their fasting seasons.

    He gave small scale business grants to the women in Ikpoba-okha Local Government Area. 

    He also empowered the youths by giving them resources like cell phones and recharge cards to start call centre businesses as well as capital for other start-ups.

    WATER:

    During his first and second year in the state house of assembly, all the wards were provided with borehole facilities, from ward 1 to ward 10. 

    Over 25 boreholes were sank in the various communities

    BILLS OPPOSED:

    Land Use Bill: As member Edo State House of Assembly, he strongly opposed the passage of the Land Use bill introduced by the then state government to oppress the poor.

    Iyamho University: He also opposed the establishment of the Edo state University Iyamho stressing the need to first upgrade and standardize the current tertiary institutions in Edo State such as the College of Education Ekiadolor, College of Agriculture Iguoriakhi, Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma, and the Michael Imodu College of Physical and Health Education, Afuze.