Court Refuses To Hear Binani’s Motion, Orders Her To Address Court On Jurisdiction

 The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, declined to hear an ex-parte application the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Aisha Dahiru Ahmed, filed for an order to halt further action on the ongoing governorship election in Adamawa State.

Rather, the court, in a ruling that was delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, ordered the counsel that appeared for the Applicant, Mr Mohammed Sheriff, to address it whether or not it has the requisite jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

Justice Ekwo thereafter adjourned the suit till April 26 for counsel to the Applicant to address the court on the issue of jurisdiction.

Even though a lawyer, Afeez Matanmi, announced his appearance for the incumbent governor of Adamawa state, Ahmadu Fintiri, he was however not allowed to address the court since the APC candidate brought the action through an ex-parte application.

Senator Aisha had in the ex-parte application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/510/2023, applied for leave of the court to allow her to seek, “an order of prohibition and certiorari removing to this court for the purpose of being set aside the administrative decision of the 1st Respondent made on 16th April 2023 in respect of the declaration of the winner from the gubernatorial election of Adamawa State held on the 18th of March, 2023 and the supplementary election held on 15th April 2023.”

As well as, an order of the court, “preventing the 1st Respondent, its agent, assign or any person acting on its behalf from taking any further steps towards the declaration of the winner from the gubernatorial election of Adamawa State held on the 18th of March and the supplementary election held on 15th April 2023, pending the determination of the application for judicial review”.

Whereas the APC was listed as the 2nd Applicant in the suit, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate/incumbent governor of the state, Fintiri, were cited as 1st to 3rd Respondents.

It will be recalled that INEC had declared that the Adamawa state governorship election was inconclusive, even as it ordered a supplementary election.

However, midway into the collation of results of the supplementary poll that was held last Saturday, the Adamawa state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, announced the APC candidate, Aisha, as the winner.

The action elicited instant reactions, with the electoral body not only voiding Yunusa-Ari’s action but equally placing him on an indefinite suspension.


In her suit, the APC candidate insisted that she was declared winner of the governorship election after the collation process was completed.

“Pursuant to the declaration of Senator Aisha Dahiru Ahmed as the winner of the gubernatorial election, any dissatisfied candidate is to resort to the tribunal for redress if any.

“The 2nd Respondent, PDP, and the 3rd Respondent Ahmadu Fintiri, who lost in the election resorted to fighting and causing a public disturbance which led to the beating and manhandling of one of the 1st Respondent staff.

“The crisis caused by the 2nd and 3rd Respondents led the 1st Respondent to announce that it had cancelled the initial declaration made by it on 16tu April 2023”.

She argued that INEC had no powers to cancel or declare a declaration which has been made as null and void.

“The only court with the power on a declaration made from the conduct of an election is only the Election Petition Tribunal set up by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended)”, the Applicants averred.

JUST IN: I hold Oshiomhole in high esteem – DG PGF

The Director General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Moh’ Lukmam on Tuesday said he holds the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in high esteem and will not join issues with him.

Reacting to the comments of the former APC chairman against his (Lukman) constant attacks on Oshiomhole and the ruling party, the DG PGF said he should be held accountable for all the comments made stressing that he was not a voice for any Governor.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, Lukman said, “You are all aware of the statement attributed to the former National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. I want to make two brief statements as a rider to what I will call an appeal. The first statement is to say very unequivocally that I hold Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in a very high esteem.

“I respect him, not just as a leader of APC, but as a person. I have had very good relationship with him and my relationship with him is special. My relationship with him is not in the way people imagined. The question of agreeing or disagreeing has been part of our relationship. I respect him and I respect every leader of the party.

“My prayer and hope is that our leaders will be able to have the needed large heart to tolerate one another and tolerate all of us because as human beings, God has created us differently. And it is the basis of the test of leadership – to be able to show an open, accommodating disposition to each one of us.

“The second statement I want to make is that I grew up in a very complex extended family set up and one of the things it has done in terms of my personal make up is that it imposes on me to be accountable at every point in time.

“When I commit an offence, based on my upbringing in that environment, I never transfer any of my offences to my parents or to any of my senior ones. I was always made to account and where there is the need as part of that accountability for me to be punished, I get punished. Having said that, I am open and ready to account for whatever I had said to the party and the leadership; if in the end the process of accountability requires that I get sanctioned, I will accept and I will remain in this party and continue to contribute in whatever way I can to help the development of the party.

“I account for my ‘offence’. Nobody should transfer my offence to any other leader of the party. That is the reason why I said I don’t think it is a matter that we should belabour. I take responsibility and all that I have said, you all have it. It is written in ink. It is not verbal communication that I can dispute. They are written documents.

He then appealed to party leaders to show some respect for resolving all the challenges facing the party for the sustenance of the party ethics.

“I have said it over and over again and I will repeat it- I am a proud member of the APC and my membership of APC supersedes any other responsibility that I may be called to discharge. I believe today in Nigeria, APC is about the only political party where internal contestation is permissible and to some extent, people like me are enjoying that privilege on account of availability of such a space.

“I have said it before that people can call President Muhammadu Buhari by any name, but I think the liberal environment we have in APC should be attributed to him because if he had conducted his affairs as the President of this country and being the leader of the party in the way, for instance, one of the former Presidents had conducted himself under PDP, we would not have had this freedom.”

When asked if he is under threat of sack following calls for his sanction by some party chieftains, Lukman said, “No. I have said it before and even in the last statement in the submission to Gov. Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee, I am very proud to work for Progressive Governors and no doubt people would have individual positions on the position that I have taken but as far as I know, I think it encourages me that our leaders are truly disposed to engagement when it comes to issues of ideas on how to develop this party.

“So, it is not a matter of running away from certain issues that I had raised. I talked about the dangers of a single story as espoused by Chimamanda and I did not want the story that is all over the air now around what Comrade Oshiomhole said to be the only or single story. I want people to hear from me. I mean, I respect him and that is it.”

But when asked if the six months period given the Governor Buni led Caretaker Committee would be enough to accomplish its assignment and some of the DG’s recommendations in his letter to the committee, Lukman said he has confidence in the committee to deliver.

“That is why I said that I have absolute confidence in the Gov. Mai Mala Buni Caretaker Committee. We are not God, so leave that, only God that is perfect. He has set out from the beginning and has an unhindered and problem free exercise. Especially on issues that will be contextual, it is going to be contested, so anything could happen. At the moment, I am confident about the Caretaker Committee. They are working and I am absolutely sure they will begin to address the issues in no distance time.

“Whether they will have problem of time? We will cross the bridge when we get there. I think it is better to have that approach than to set out with the mindset that there will be problem, we will continue to be-labour the matter and that will distract them from focusing on getting initiated. That is my position.”

No plans to return as APC chair – Oshiomhole

 

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has denied plotting to return to the position.

Oshiomhole spoke on Monday while addressing State House Correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

The former Edo Governor was reacting to a recent allegation by Director-General of the Progressives Congress Forum (PGF) Salihu Lukman that he was scheming to return as national chairman of the party.

Oshiomhole wondered why anyone would imagine he would like to ‘resit’ a class he had passed, saying only ‘an empty brain’ would suggest that he was plotting a comeback.

He however alleged the PGF DG was being used by some elements within the party, whom he described as “cowards” to attack him.

He said Lukman was allegedly foisted on the PGF as DG by the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) Kayode Fayemi.

He, however, said he would not engage in brickbats with Lukman, saying doing so would lower his standard as a gentleman.

“You want me to engage in a fight with a pig? If you engage in a fight with a pig, the pig already is stained by its nature and you will wear your white garment, and in my own case, khaki to go and wrestle with a pig? I will not.

“You see, what I want the media to interrogate, how does winning Edo…when I was removed as national chairman, Edo was APC…So do I have to win Edo to become the chairman? Do I look so unemployed? I’m 68.

“So, what they don’t understand is that it is not the office of chairman that made me who I am.”

He added: “So, it takes an empty brain to suggest that Oshiomhole wants to stage a comeback to become the national chairman. For what? To go and do a resit?

“So, my attitude is not to reply the noise and it is coming from somebody who says he is an employee and appointee of Progressives Governors Forum.

“He is just like the cowards that are using him that are not able to come out. Otherwise, you should ask this guy, who is now an election expert.

“He contested for Senate against Makarfi, he lost. He even contested against Governor el-Rufai during the primaries and he lost before Fayemi unilaterally appointed him the DG.

“So, if he is now the spokesman abusing me and all of that, you want to drag me to his level? No!

“A gentleman does not wrestle with a pig, if you do you will always be stained and I don’t want to get into that,” Oshiomhole said.

On why he was at the State House, Oshiomhole said he visited Buhari to express appreciation for his leadership and reassure him of his absolute loyalty as a party member.

He also said he used the opportunity to brief the President on APC activities in Edo State, saying “from my evaluation, shared with him, I’m very confident that we will win the election hands down because Edo is basically an APC state.

“Some of the things that have made out campaign easier is the fact that we’ve established a tradition in Edo State that don’t believe any politician until you have seen the action, particularly if that politician is already in office,” he said.

BREAKING: Ondo lawmakers serve Deputy Governor impeachment notice

Lawmakers in the Ondo State House of Assembly have served impeachment notice on the state Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi.

Ajayi was accused of gross misconduct.

He resigned from the the ruling APC and defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party but insisted on remaining in office.

It was gathered that 14 lawmakers supported the impeachment of Ajayi.

There were however heavy security presence at the Ondo State House as the lawmakers were holding plenary.

The lawmakers had resumed from recess on June 6th and placed an advertorial calling on members to resume sitting.

To however stall any impeachment move, Ajayi rushed to an Abuja High Court where he filed seeking to stop the impeachment proceeding and enforced his fundamental right of association.

Other defendants in the suit were the Inspector General of Police, State Commissioner Of Police, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr David Oleyeloogun.

APC shall regain Edo back come Sept. 19 – Osagie

Former Miniority Whip Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Samson Osagie has expressed optimism that All Progressives Congress ( APC) will regain Edo State back come September 19

He also predicted an over whelming victory for the APC candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu at the polls.

Osagie who spoke with newsmen at the APC National Secretariat, Abuja said the defection of Governor Godwin Obaseki to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot stop APC from regaining the state.

“As at today, the clamor for change of government in Edo state is very high and we are very confident that come September 19, APC and it’s candidate will win the election”.

He said that Obaseki’s victory at the polls in 2016 was not based on his political antecedent but for the outstanding performance of his predessesor.

“Obaseki became Governor not because of whatever special thing he personally have contributed or done but because of the performance of the former Governor, former National Chairman who practically put him on his back, campaigned through the nooks and crannies of the state, invested his goodwill, his time, his energy, his resources to make that happen.

“Unfortunately he has not learnt anything, that is the current governor and that will be his greatest albatross.Ize Iyamu is set to clinch the Governorship of Edo state,” he said emphatically.

When told that the immediate past National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomole may have burnt his credit in Edo State for mis-managing Obaseki’s candidacy, the former lawmaker said that Oshiomole remain a factor in the politics of the state

“I think at best, that is the view of a very subjective analyst. If Oshiomhole enters Edo today. In 48 hours the Edo people will troop to his residence because he is loved by Edo people. He has an open door policy. Oshiomhole did not missmanage anything.

“The only offence Oshiomhole committed against Obaseki is that he did not join Obaseki to decimate the party. We have concrete evidence that even as governor, midway into his tenure, he has started working clandestinely with the PDP. That he went to the PDP did not come as a surprise for us.

“So he hated members of his own political party. Even those who worked for him very seriously during the primaries and those who did not support him, people like us never supported him during his primaries, but we voted for the party elections because we are party men this is because I know him through and through And those who know, predicted that his candidature will be a disaster, I mean members of his family.

“So, Oshiomhole hasn’t burnt any credit giving the extent to which he has risen as National Chairman of a party of this nature. It only natural that you will have this kind of darts fired at him and that is what has happened”.

Senate adjourns plenary in honour of Osinowo

The Senate on Tuesday held a minute silence in honour of Senator representing Lagos East in the National Assembly, Senator Adebayo Sikiru Osinowo.

The lawmaker died on June 15, 2020, following a brief illness at the age of 64.

The upper chamber which was presided over by the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, thereafter, adjourned plenary till Wednesday, July 1, 2020 in accordance with its tradition.

The motion for adjournment was moved by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (APC – Kebbi North), immediately after the adoption of the Votes and Proceedings by the Senate.

“In accordance with our tradition, I hereby move that the Senate observe a minute silence, adjourn plenary in his honour and suspend all legislative activities till Wednesday, the 1st of July, 2020”, Yahaya Abdullahi moved.

The motion for adjournment was seconded by the Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP – Abia South)

Drama as lawmakers, Keyamo engage in shouting match

There was drama on Tuesday following a shouting match between members of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Labour and the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN.

Kayamo had appeared before the joint committee to brief the lawmakers on the Federal Government’s Special Public Works Programme designed to employ 1,000 persons from each of the 774 Local Government Areas of the federation.

The programme is expected to gulp N52billion, which is already appropriated in the revised 2020 budget.

The public works 20-man selection Committee is being chaired by the Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Nasir Ladan Argungu and supervised by Keyamo.

Trouble started when Argungu could not explain the modality for choosing the 20-man national selection Committee for the programme.

He said he could only account for eight statutory members of the selection Committee and that it is only the Minister of State that can account for the remaining 12 persons.

The lawmakers insisted Kayamo should tell them how the remaining 12 members of the Committee were chosen.

Some members of the committee complained that the representatives of their states in the selection Committee for the Programme were not known to them.

They also wanted the Minister to explain how a programme he included representatives of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), youth groups and market women on the selection Committee meant to select the public workers.

The lawmakers frowned at a situation where a Federal Government programme expected to gulp N52billion is being shrouded in secrecy.

At this point, a co-chairman of the Committee, Senator Godiya Akwashiki said the session would resolve into closed door to thrash out salient issues about the programms.

However, the Minister insisted since the questions were asked and allegations were made in the full glare of television cameras, closed door was not necessary as he wants his Defence to be captured by the press as well.

His insistence the session should continue in the open to enable him respond to queries angered the lawmakers who insisted that Keyamo cannot direct how a session by a National Assembly Committee should be conducted.

The members of the committee asked Keyamo to apologise for attempting to disobey directives on how the sitting should be conducted.

Keyamo insisted that he would not apologise, saying he had done nothing wrong.

The Minister threatened that he would walk out on the committee if they will not allow him to speak in the presence of the press.

The committee said he can go if he was not ready to abide by the Committee’s decision to go into closed door.

This disagreement by the lawmakers and the insistence by the Minister led to raised voices, flared tempers, banging on tables and eventual storming out of the session by Keyamo.

The uproar brought the session to an abrupt end.

Ondo Deputy Governor under pressure to resign

Ondo Deputy Governor, Hon Agboola Ajayi, on Tuesday, came under pressure to resign from office.

Ajayi resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress and defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) where he intends to contest the October governorship elections.

Zonal Publicity Secretary(Southwest)of the PDP, Mr. Ayo Fadaka, urged Hon Ajayi to toe the path of honor and resign from office honorably.

Fadaka, who spoke on a Channels TV Sunrise daily, said there must be level of standard people must keep even in politics.

He however wondered if the defection of Ajayi could it be construed to be high crime against the state that would necessitate impeachment.

The PDP zonal spokesman noted the manner some politicians played politics suggested to the world that politicians in Nigeria lacked conscience.

According to him: “Impeachment is expected to be initiated if it is considered that person to be impeached has committed high crimes against the system. But again, with the decamping of Agboola can it be construed to be high crime against the state?

“The constitution says that for every Governor that will contest, he should have a running mate and that’s why there is always a deputy governor to assist the Governor. The Governor picked Agboola Ajayi, the PDP was not part of whatever they were doing when they decided to run with each other.

” And if they still feel comfortable running with each other, we do not want to have an input into it. Ordinary, it is up to Agboola Ajayi to do what I think is honorable by resigning himself if he feel he could no longer cooperate with the man who placed a level of trust in him to assist him in doing his job. ”

Also, the Grassroots Movement Youth Wing of the Ondo PDP and loyal to a governorship aspirant, Eyitayo Jegede, ssid it would be disastrous for the party’s leadership to give its ticket to a man, who it said brought calamity to the party.

Ondo Coordinator of the group, Comrade Taiwo Akinfehinwa, hailed Fadaka for joining voices calling for the Deputy Governor’s resignation.

According to him: “While, it’s Ajayi’s inalienable right to defect to the PDP, he must be fair to his conscience by resigning his position as the Deputy Governor of the state.

“Ajayi cannot wash himself clean from the maladministration of Akeredolu. He engineered the dissolution of the 18 elected local government chairmen and 203 councillors immediately Akeredolu’s governmemt was sworn-in February 2017.

“PDP is a party of morals and our advice for Agboola Ajayi is that he should stop using government machinery to intimidate other PDP contestants.”

But spokesman for the Ondo PDP, Zadok Akintoye, dissociated the party from the statements of Fadaka.

Akintoye stated Agboola remained the Deputy Governor and was not under any moral or legal obligations to resign his position.

He said the statement does not reflect the position of the party on the matter.

Wike attacks police for allegedly harassing Ondo deputy governor

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has lambasted the police for the alleged harassment of the Ondo Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi.

Wike in a statement signed by his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim said it was wrong for the Commissioner of Police, Ondo state to dabble into politics by denying Ajayi access to his residence based on his defection to another political party.

He described the act as unfortunate and condemnable in a democratically elected government.

He said: “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum should rise to the occasion and  demand that  those behind actions that  bother on the infringement of constitutional rights be brought  to book.

“I will continue to say the truth,  it does not matter which political party is erring. Look at the police reducing themselves to a level where politicians will now send them to infringe on the right of a deputy governor without regards to the fact that he has immunity.

“They removed a Commissioner of Police in Rivers state because of the Calverton Helicopter saga which had to do with persons whose COVID-19 statuswere not known during the lockdown in the State.  So, what should happen to commissioner of police who stopped a democratically elected deputy governor from entering his house simply because of the rumour that he wanted to defect to another political party.

“If that Commissioner of Police was in Rivers State, he would have been removed. This is part of the reasons people say I criticise the Governors Forum. It is not created for any political party, it should speak against constitutional infractions.

“A deputy governor linked to the purported rumour of defection has the right of freedom of association. What is the business of a commissioner of police?

“Nobody knows where we are headed in this country.  It is unfortunate that we have different laws and rules for different people,” he said.

The governor wondered why Femi Falana was not quick to condemn the role played by the police in breaching the provisions of the Nigerian constitution in Ondo State, the same way he condemned actions taken by the Rivers State Government to save the lives of Rivers people from COVID-19 pandemic.

He said: “Human rights activists and   people like Femi Falana are silent. Falana will not talk because the matter has to do with Ondo State governor who is his friend.

“There is no human rights issue in the Ondo State incident but when it concerns Rivers State, he will be quick to act on issues he doesn’t even have the facts.  That is when you will see him come out and begin to recite constitutional provisions.

“Today, I call on Femi Falana to speak out about the violation of the fundamental human rights of the deputy governor of Ondo State.

“People think that we can be deceived when they play ethnic politics always. People should not play this game as if Nigerians are fools.  When it suits them, they say one thing, when it does not suit them, they say another thing.  Falana should come out and tell Nigerians his view on this issue as the world human rights defender”.

BREAKING: Ize-Iyamu emerges Edo APC guber candidate

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu on Monday emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the September 2020 election.

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Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma declared Ize-Iyamu winner of the direct primary election with a total of 27,838 votes to defeat Dr. Pius Odubu who scored 3,776 and Osaro Obazee who got 2,751 votes.

Details shortly

Only NEC can resolve APC crisis – Giadom

Former National Deputy Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Victor Gaidom on Monday said the only way out of the on-going leadership crisis in the party is convocation of National Executive Council (NEC).

Speaking with newsmen at the National Secretariat of the party, the embattled APC leader said it was high time the party was handed over to higher organ since the lingering issus are beyond the National Working Committee (NWC).

Asked what will be the way forward for the party, Gaidom said: “I have always insisted at the beginning of this crisis that the only way to resolve this issue is to surrender this party to a higher organ which is the best.

“And I am still insisting that the only way to get ourselves out of this mess is to convoke a NEC meeting. That is the only route out, I have the feeling that there is no other route to have peace and justice in this party except through a NEC meeting that has been my decision.

“There has to be a NEC meeting. NEC is the higher organ above the NWC, I do not see why they are afraid. You have to surrender this organ so that the right would be done and every other decision that has been taken by the leadership would be ratified by NEC.

“So if we do not have NEC meeting, it would be difficult to resolve this crisis,” Giadom insisted.

In another development, a group, Concerned APC Members stormed the secretariat, asking President Muhammad Buhari and the governors to urgently dissolve the National Working Committee (NWC).

The placard carrying party members complained that the NWC failed to manage the fortunes of the party.

Addressing newsmen the leader of the group, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi said: “This present National Working Committee has caused us to loose seven (7) States to the opposition. APC had twenty four (24) Governors before the present National Working Committee, today, we have eighteen (18) Governors. Just yesterday, the Deputy Governor of Ondo state has just left us and joined the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Are we making progress or going backwardness?

“Today, we have four individuals who are members of the National Working Committee parading themselves as Acting National Chairmen of our Party, what a dance of shame! We are being ridicule on daily bases. The same Working Committee caused the Party not to feature candidates in Zamfara and Rivers states in the 2019 general elections.”

While calling on the highest decision making body, the National Executive Committee (NEC) to immediately call for a meeting, Ogenyi also demanded that the NWC should be dissolve.

“We also call on President Muhammadu Buhari whose integrity the Party is still surviving, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu the National Leader of our great Party, the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajablamila to support the dissolution of the present National Working Committee if we must move on as a party.

“We wish to unequivocally state that, any attempt to further keep this National Working Committee as the Working Committee of the Party is to send the APC into it’s early grave. We shall not continue to fold our arms and allow our collective efforts being ruined.”