Tag Archives: APC

Elections

Buhari, APC Say Atiku’s Final Address ‘Wild Goose Chase’, Urge Tribunal to Dismiss Petition on Technicalities

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President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC have urged the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Candidate Atiku Abubakar challenging the Feb.23 general election on technicalities and evidential grounds.

The prayers formed the gamut of other requests contained in both Buhari and APC final addresses to be adopted on Aug.23 made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

The respondents had described Abubakars address that urged the tribunal to sack Buhari and affirm him (Abubakar) president, as a “wild goose chase prayer’’.

They alleged that PDP erroneously allowed a candidate who was not a Nigerian by birth to contest the highest position, adding that such was an adventure that violated the provision of the Constitution.

The president and his party therefore prayed the tribunal to invoke Section 131 (a) of the constitution to dismiss the petition.

NAN reports that section 131 (a) of the constitution strictly holds that a person must be a citizen of Nigeria by birth to qualify to contest the office of the president

They noted that Atiku was born on Nov.25, 1946 in Jada, a former Adamawa Province of Northern Cameroon before a plebiscite was conducted in 1961 that now made the enclave part of Nigeria.

The parties therefore, alleged that Abubakar was not qualified to enter the contest as the constitution forbade him from canvassing for votes to become a president.

“We pray that the tribunal will see this constitutional reason and go ahead to uphold the election of the second respondent (Buhari) forthwith’’, they prayed.

On evidence admitted from the petitions, the two respondents said they were empty as none had substantially proven series of the allegations made against the conduct of the election.

They explained that none of the 75 witnesses and 31, 287 exhibits which included 48 video clips had not proved any of the petitioners’ allegations.

They said the petitioners had tried to mislead the tribunal and public that results from the election were transmitted electronically to a central server managed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The respondents noted that it was public knowledge that the Feb.23 general election was conduct with the Electoral Act of 2010 as amended.

“Moreover, the laws in Nigeria do not recognize but actually prohibit transmission of  results electronically.

“Sections 52 and 78 of the Electoral Act 2010 have categorically addressed the issue.

“The only means of transmitting election results under the law are through Forms EC8 series. Form EC8A conveys results from Polling Units.

“It is only through these approved forms that election results can be challenged or proven and not through server, imaginary or real,’’ they submitted.

The parties therefore submitted that the petitioners’ allegation on the use of server by INEC to transmit results was “criminal and misguided’’.

“Atiku Abubakar and the PDP have failed in their attempt to stridently prove their petition.

“The petitioners failed woefully to establish by credible evidence the existence of the imaginary server belonging to INEC,’’ they argued.

They argued that most of the witnesses presented by the petitioners attested to the fact that they signed all the Forms the contained the results of the election without coercion.

Buhari and APC therefore averred that such testimonies of truth from the petitioners’ witnesses further bestowed legitimacy on the outcome of the election.

On Buhari’s educational qualification, they said that the petitioners failed to adduce credible and reliable evidence to establish that he (Buhari) indeed forged his certificate.

“While it is appropriate to debunk such baseless, mendacious and spurious assertion, it suffices to bring to fore the unequivocal provision of the constitution.

“The constitution is clear on this as it states the requirement for a candidate to contest the presidential election and occupy the office of the president.

“Section 131(d) provided that a person shall be qualified for election into the office of the president if he or she has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.

“ More so, the consequence of submitting a forged document to INEC is grave.

“It therefore requires precise evidence and proof beyond reasonable doubt, which the petitioners have not been able to establish,’’ the respondents said.

Drawing reference from the constitution, the respondents defined a secondary school certificate or its equivalent to mean: secondary school certificate or its equivalent, or Grade II Teacher’s certificate.

They listed others to include: City and Guide certificate or Education up to secondary school certificate level or Primary Six Scholl Leaving Certificate or its equivalent and Service in the public or private sector in the Federation in any capacity acceptable to INEC for a minimum of 10 years.

“It is apparent that from the pleadings and evidence adduced led by the petitioners; there is no scintilla or iota of evidence to prove that the president was at the time of the election not qualified.

“It is trite that how who asserts must prove, we have clearly seen that the petitioners had failed woefully in this matter.

“In the circumstance, we urge the tribunal to dismiss the petition on the grounds of both technicalities and evidential failure and to affirm the election of the president,’’ they submitted.

NAN reports that the president, who contested the election on the platform of the APC, was announced winner having scored a total of 15 million votes as against Abubakar’s 11,262,978 votes.

NAN further reports that the Justice Mohammed Garba-led five man panel awaits the parties to adopt their final addresses on Aug.21 preparatory to judgment. (NAN)

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Nigeria

Nigerian Lawyer Petitions UK’s Metropolitan Police Over Buhari’s Cambridge Result ‘Forged’ by Abba Kyari [See Petition]

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The controversy surrounding the academic qualifications of president Muhammadu Buhari is yet to be over as a Nigerian Lawyer, Kalu Kalu Agu has petitioned the United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police over the Cambridge result of the president that was obtained recently by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Abba Kyari.

In a petition dated 14th August, 2019 addressed to the Metropolitan Police, a copy of which was obtained by SK Blog in London, the petitioner questioned the authenticity of the said result allegedly obtained from Cambridge Assessment International Education calling on the Police to investigate its origin.

Kalu among other things asked the Police to ascertain if an individual like Kyari can apply for the result, to produce evidence of the application made by the applicant and if the result can be delivered by hand to a third party as claimed by the chief of staff.

See letter

Nigeria

Forex Ban: PDP Slams Buhari, Says President Out to Punish Nigerians

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari for his directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop issuing forex to food importers in the country.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the party’s national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said the directive was a plot to punish Nigerians by further worsening the harsh economic conditions in the country.

See statement

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) describes President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to stifle food importation in the country as mean, ill-timed and completely against the wellbeing of Nigerians.

“The PDP states that this directive will worsen food scarcity, exacerbate the already harsh economic situation and the general depression, frustration, resentment and despair in our country under President Buhari’s watch.

“It is indeed appalling that instead of bringing solutions to the depreciating living conditions in our nation, President Buhari is rather imposing more suffering by ordering the removal of subsidy on food even when it is manifestly clear that he had failed on all fronts to achieve any level of food security despite the huge resources available to his administration.

“The party says by the directive, the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have again demonstrated their insensitivity towards millions of Nigerians who are already suffering acute hunger and starvation due to severe food shortage and high prices brought by President Buhari’s misrule.

“The PDP states strongly that Nigerians do not, in any way, deserve such suffering being foisted on them by such directive on food.

“Such situation will only breed further despondency among our citizens, heighten our security challenges and put more pressure on compatriots, many of who, in the face of suffering occasioned by APC misrule, are resorting to suicide and slavery mission as options.

“Instead of removing subsidy on food and putting more suffering on Nigerians, the PDP urges President Buhari to cut the billions of naira being wasted on luxuries in his Presidency and free the funds for the welfare of the masses.

“Furthermore, the PDP urges President Buhari to recover the over N14 trillion siphoned by APC interests under his administration including the stolen N9 trillion detailed in the leaked NNPC memo and channel the resources towards food security for Nigerians.

“The PDP states that it is a complete disservice to Nigerians for the government to place restrictive directives on food for the masses, while interests condoned by the same administration are frittering our common patrimony.

“The PDP wants to believe that while Mr. President enjoys the comfort, luxury, sufficiency and safety of the government house, he is barely aware of the sufferings of Nigerians.

“Our party therefore charges President Buhari to immediately rescind his directive before it inflicts more damage on the polity.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan

National Publicity Secretary

Politics

Probe: Borrow a Leaf From Oyo Governor, Makinde, Okorocha Tells Ihedioha

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The immediate past governor of Imo state, Senator Rochas Okorocha has told his successor in office, Emeka Ihedioha to borrow a leaf from his Oyo state counterpart, Engr. Seyi Makinde.

Okorocha in a statement issued on Thursday by his media aide, Sam Onwuemeodo said Makinde has said he will not scrap the good policies of his predecessor. Okorocha described Ihedioha as pursuing a vendetta mission against him with the several committees he has set up to investigate him since assuming office.

The statement read, “On Wednesday, August 14, 2019 Governor Emeka Ihedioha announced the Constitution of a 7-man Judicial Commission of Inquiry on lands’ allocations from June 2006 to May 2019

“Looking at the members of the panel, who are all card-carrying members of the PDP and their terms of reference, one would have no other option than to conclude that the governor as usual, has his target or mission, which is to continue his vendetta against the past APC government in the State and the man who headed it, Senator Rochas Okorocha.

“Governor Ihedioha has set up more than fourteen Committees and Panels since he became governor and each of the Committees or Panels has one or two specific assignments to carry out and all against the APC government which Senator Okorocha had led.

“For instance, the Prof. Jude Njoku’s education committee took no other action than to take over the PPP-oriented Eastern Palm University and also scrapped the six new Universities, four new Polytechnics and three new Colleges of Education built by Okorocha.

“We would only ask Governor Ihedioha to borrow a leaf from his fellow PDP governor, who also succeeded an APC governor in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, who said that he wouldn’t “Cancel APC Administration’s good policies”.

“That is how a governor who means well should reason or act, because at the end of the day, the overall interest of the State and her people should remain the ultimate goal

Security

Afenifere,Ohanaeze Tackle PDP BOT Chairman, Jibrin Over Call to Support Ruga

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Apex Yoruba and Igbo socio-cultural organisations, Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo respectively have rejected a call from the Chairman Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Walid Jibrin to support the federal government Ruga settlement programme.

Reacting to the comments by Jibrin, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin said the BOT chairman showed his allegiance to his Fulani ethnic group rather than to his party or nation.

He said, “It is very clear that the PDP, APC or whatever nomenclature you call it does not mean anything to the ethnic agenda. So, it is not a matter of the PDP or APC. It is an internal colonialist agenda and anybody that subscribes to that agenda based on ethnic affiliation does not care about his party. What the PDP BOT chair has shown is that when it is between his ethnic  affiliation, the party and the nation, he will take sides with his ethnic region.”

On his part, National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Uche Achi-okpaga said the South East has not said the programme is not good but maintained that the region does not have land for it.

“If they can pipe oil from the South to the North, they can as well pipe water from the South to the North” he said.

Jibrin,a leader of the Fulani in Nasarawa state, had on Tuesday while addressing journalists in his Nasarawa country home urged the Yorubas and IgboS to support the programme.

He said, “I am not in APC, I am a PDP chieftain. But when we talk of development and security, we should leave anything about politics, religion and tribe.

“Whoever is ruling in Nigeria, if he brings any programme that will do away with insecurity, killings and will take care of the welfare of the people, I will go by that. My politics is not a do or die and I play politics without bitterness.

“That is why I am and we Fulani commend the Federal Government for introducing the RUGA project in the country.

“I and our tribe (Fulani) had embraced the programme. RUGA project includes the provision of hospitals, schools, water supply and electricity, among other facilities, which will have a direct bearing on the lives of the herders.

“Apart from that, it will also tackle incessant farmers/herdsmen conflicts as well as boost food security in the country,” he said.

He added, “So, I am calling on the southerners, the Igbos, the Yorubas, among others, to embrace it, even though the project is not compulsory.

“The project will keep the herdsmen one, safe and will improve on their welfare as some states in the South East have already promised to donate land for the project.”

Politics

South West PDP Commends Makinde, Demands Probe of Ajimobi’s Administration

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The South West chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has commended the governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde for giving the state a new lease of life since he assumed office.

The party in a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesman, Mr. Ayo Fadaka demanded the probe of the administration of former governor Abiola Ajimobi.

The statement read: “We note with sadness a statement credited to the immediate past Governor of the State to the effect that the issues of missing Government vehicles is a “minor issue” and that such was not “worthy” of the attention of government.

 “We equally note that his attempt to whimsically dismiss fraudulent and sharp practices of this magnitude clearly underscore the levity with which the State’s resources were carelessly frittered under his watch.

 “The Oyo State Government continues to maintain that many of the cars procured in February 2019 by the Ajimobi administration remain missing and such vehicles, in view of their age, cannot be classified and described as unserviceable.

“We, therefore, demand of Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the former Oyo State Governor, to take due cognisance of what posterity will say concerning him and his tenure and immediately impress it on his appointees to return those vehicles to the new government.

“We also recall that the Ajimobi administration awarded a N7billion contract for a upstart contractor who is nowhere to be found after the sum of N2billion was paid to him.

“This is grand larceny and it is sad that this happened in Oyo State.

“In view of the foregoing, Governor Seyi Makinde must do a proper audit of what transpired in the Ajimobi years, as it will help the people of the State to realise how criminal actions were perpetrated under the guise of governance.

“We, however, congratulate Gov Makinde for bringing laughter back to the lips of Oyo State workers and especially pensioners through his administration’s payment of 100 per cent of their emoluments as against the inhuman 20 per cent paid under the APC administration of Senator Ajimobi.

“This action demonstrates Makinde’s respect for the people he governs and also an attestation of PDP’s genuine care for the people. The people of the State are certainly in for a dose of compassionate administration. We also ask the people of the South West region to take due cognisance of developments in Oyo and now resolve to ensure that they vote the PDP in the next round of elections across the Zone.

Politics

Osun Governor, Oyetola yet to Name Cabinet Nearly 9 Months After Inauguration

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Nearly nine months after his inauguration as the governor of Osun state, Adeboyega Oyetola is yet to name his cabinet.

Oyetola,however, said he will soon send the names of Commissioner-nominees to the state House of Assembly for screening. The governor disclosed this on Monday during a chat with journalists at his Iragbiji country home. He said only members of his All Progressives Congress (APC) will be considered for appointment into his cabinet.

He said,“I will run the all-inclusive government because my party will have a say. Bringing members of other parties may create a problem. I will listen to ideas from them. We have given the party the opportunity to pick the commissioners.”

“I will welcome ideas from other parties. The process has commenced. We will look at the list. I will also screen before I send it to the House of Assembly. The process had commenced. It will be completed”.

On the plans to address the security situation in the state and region, he said, “In the area of security, South West to launch new security outfit soon. Not less than 200 vehicles would be donated to the security agencies. We are also bringing into the security local people especially to monitor our forests”.

Oyetola was sworn in as the governor of the state on November 27, 2018 following his victory in the controversial gubernatorial election in September, an election that was condemned by local and international observers for irregularities and violence. His closest rival,Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenged the outcome up till the Supreme Court. The apex court dismissed Adeleke’s appeal on grounds of technicalities.