Connect with us

Politics

Stalemate: Aggrieved PDP govs weigh fresh options

Published

on

The five aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party governors on Sunday met with other party heavyweights where they discussed fresh options as the hopes of reconciling with the camp of the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, seems to be fading.

This is happening as the camps of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, expressed willingness to seek the support of the governors to actualise their aspirations.

However, speaking after their closed-door meeting in Lagos, the governors said the window of reconciliation with Atiku was still open.

At the meeting were governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Samuel Ortom (Benue); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); former deputy national chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George; former governors Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti); Donald Duke (Cross River), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), and Jonah Jang (Plateau).

Advertisement

Also present were a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke; Deputy National Chairman, South of the PDP, Taofeek Arapaja; Senator Nasif Suleiman; Senator Sandy Onor and Senator Sam Ohabunwa.

The meeting was held days after the governors unveiled the PDP governorship candidate in Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.

They had earlier held meetings in Enugu, Benue and outside the country.

The governors are at loggerheads with Atiku over the refusal of the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to resign.

Speaking at the meeting, Makinde said though he and his colleagues were the face of their struggle, it had the backing of the leaders and elders of the party who were present.

Advertisement
ALSO READ  You are a man, no matter the surgeries you do, your DNA speaks volume – Solomon Buchi tells Bobrisky

He stated, “We are here this morning to hold a meeting of the Integrity Group within our party, the PDP. We have been of the G5 – that is, the five PDP governors. The G5 is all about the Integrity Group.

 “You can see us, five serving governors, as the face of this struggle, both the leaders and elders of the party that you see here are the people behind those faces. We are in the South-West to review the situation within our party, to review where we are and to also look at what is going to happen in the coming elections.’’

Shortly after the closed-door meeting, Jang reiterated that they were still maintaining the stand they took at their last meeting in Port Harcourt.

 “After a careful review of developments in our party, we have decided to stand on the decisions we took in our Port Harcourt meeting. And we hereby reiterate that the window for reconciliation in our great party, PDP, remains open,” he said.

The governors then proceeded to George’s house in Ikoyi where Wike addressed the party faithful with promises of support for the candidates in the coming election.

Advertisement

Our correspondent gathered that the Integrity Group would soon take a decision on the presidential candidate they intended to support if the expected truce with Atiku fails. Already, sources at the meeting said the group had reached a point where a major decision would be taken

Tinubu, Obi camps

Meanwhile, the Chief Spokesman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, has said hat Tinubu is focused on consolidating his stronghold but will not mind exploiting the festering crisis in the PDP.

ALSO READ  Makinde suspends Oyo monarch

This is even as Emeka Obasi, the media aide to the LP candidate says there is a chance that his principal could work with the PDP Integrity Group.

Keyamo and Obasi spoke in separate interviews with The PUNCH.

Advertisement

Keyamo said, “I don’t know of any talks between APC and the G-5. At least, not to my knowledge. However, despite their quarrel with the PDP, as of today, they are still members of the party.

“Let me repeat it for the umpteenth time. For us, we are proceeding from the position of calculating our strength, without thinking of the quarrel or weakness of the PDP. We are not depending on it

“If after calculating our strength and the implosion continues in the PDP by the end of the day, we can then consider it as an added advantage, but not a factor to tilt the scale to our victory. It may make victory easier if they come through the door we have opened for them. Anything can happen. But we are not looking out for that possibility. We are just saying in politics, anything can happen.”

In the same vein, Obasi told The PUNCH that there is a chance Obi may be willing to work with the PDP governors if it will benefit the Nigerian people.

He noted, “There is nothing stopping that. It is a possibility. They can work together only if they are willing to work for the Nigerian people. But if it is not for the benefit of the Nigerian people, you will see him not aligning with it.

Advertisement
ALSO READ  Fresh protest over Shaibu’s impeachment plan, cleric warns Obaseki

“It is still three months to the election for anybody who wants to support him to do so. It is a democratic process. Nothing stops somebody from jumping camps any time anywhere. So they are free.

“There are things we don’t force. If somebody will support you, he is going to support you wholeheartedly. These are not anyhow politicians. They are governors who have their say, they are not people you force to support you. That is something that ought to be done wholeheartedly in line with their conscience.’’

“If you know my principal, he is somebody who likes to be open. He won’t promise you skyscrapers when he already knows what he can offer. For him, he can only offer what is good for the Nigerian people.

“Whoever wants to join him based on that principle is free. But to go and start doing political lobbying for somebody to him is a promise he can’t fulfil. It is not his style,” he maintained.

Advertisement

Politics

APGA knocks Ganduje over comment on Anambra state

Published

on

The All Progressives Grand Alliance has replied to the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, over his comments that Anambra State has remained politically dislocated from the centre by remaining in APGA.

The National Publicity Secretary of APGA, Ejimofor Opara, who reacted to the comment by Ganduje said Anambra, though a minority party, has remained better than most states which claim to have connected to the centre.

Ganduje, during the South-East APC colloquium held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Friday, said Anambra is not making the expected progress because it has remained in APGA and has also refused to connect to the centre.

The APC chairman also noted that former governors who ruled Anambra State under APGA ended up leaving the APGA after ruling the state, which, according to him, further demonstrated that the party had no bearing in national importance.

Advertisement

The colloquium was organised by the Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.

But in a response on Saturday, Opara berated Ganduje, saying that his activities in Kano as governor were some of the reasons Kano chose a governor from the New Nigeria People’s Party.

Opara said, “First, I wonder the level of progress Kano State made under Ganduje’s APC that resulted in a revolutionary and historic rejection of the party by the people in 2023 as the people opted instead to vote for the NNPP and were ready to stake their lives to defend their votes.

ALSO READ  AAUA NIFES Relaunches Bethel radio

“Ganduje should understand that the South-East and Ndi Anambra in particular are more interested in why Kano State, after him, decided en masse to disconnect from the APC-controlled centre.

“Well, the APC is non-existent in Anambra, I am sure Ganduje himself knows this for a fact. Again, the continued existence of APGA in Anambra is performance-based.

Advertisement

“Anambra, and indeed the South-East is APGA land. There is no doubt about this, and even where the region decides to negotiate a handshake with the Centre, the APC has proven not to be such a viable alternative. I sincerely hope that Ganduje will seek to see that which is not hidden than opting for deliberate ignorance.”

He added, “From Peter Obi to Willie Obiano and now Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Anambra has remained on a trajectory of progressive growth, and it is for this reason even a political neophyte would state without double checking that Ganduje was either speaking to impress his host or he is sincerely ignorant of the facts.

“Anambra under APGA has remained a state of many firsts, and in recent times the state under the Soludo government has won many awards.

“Recall that Anambra has won the award as the state with best deployed ICT, and Anambra State ICT Agency under Mr Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata won that award. Anambra has also been named as the state with the least out-of-school children record.

“If all these awards are what it takes to be disconnected from the centre, then Anambra will gladly remain disconnected.”

Advertisement
ALSO READ  Edo PDP primary: Tight security as accreditation begins

Opara added that it is appalling that a political party that proposed a colloquium turned it into a political rally and ended up conducting a primary election, where the host senator, Ifeanyi Ubah was declared the candidate of the party in the next election.

Continue Reading

Politics

Impeachment: Shaibu to paste court papers on Obaseki’s office

Published

on

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, declined to halt the impeachment proceedings activated by the Edo State House of Assembly against the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

Justice James Omotosho declined an oral application by Shaibu’s lawyer, Prof. Olawoyin Awoyale, (SAN), asking the court to order parties in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024, to maintain the status quo.

In declining the prayer, the judge noted that “The Governor of Edo State and the Edo State House of Assembly, who are the principal actors in the matter, have not been served with the Originating Summons of the suit as required by law.’’

He subsequently granted Shaibu’s prayer to serve the court papers on Obaseki and the state House of Assembly by substituted means.

Advertisement

Justice Omotoso ordered that the court process be pasted at the entrance gate of the Edo State Government House and the gate of the state House of Assembly Complex in Benin.

The Judge also directed that all court papers be served on parties in the matter with the use of a registered courier company.

Justice Omotoso adjourned further proceedings till April 15.

The Edo State House of Assembly had on March 5, 2024, commenced impeachment proceedings against Shaibu over allegations of leaking of government’s secrets.

On Tuesday, the Assembly wrote to the Chief Judge of the state to constitute a seven-man panel to probe the allegations against Shaibu.

Advertisement

To stop the impeachment Shaibu filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024 before Justice Omotoso.

ALSO READ  Red Line Rail: Lagos Assembly praise Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, Obasa, others

He is praying for an order restraining the defendants from proceeding with his impeachment.

However, for the second time on Wednesday, the judge refused to grant Shaibu a temporary relief to halt the impeachment move.

The judge had earlier in a ruling on March 13 turned down Shaibu’s ex parte application seeking an interim order to halt the proceedings pending the final determination of the suit.

“The motion ex parte for interim injunction dated and filed 8th day of March 2024 is hereby refused,” the judge held.

Advertisement

He adjourned till Wednesday for hearing in another motion ex parte brought by Shaibu seeking substituted service on the defendants due to his inability to serve them.

The impeachment move is believed to be the latest development in the rift between Shaibu and his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki. There had been an uneasy calm between the deputy governor and his principal since last year when Shaibu declared his interest to join this year’s Edo governorship race.

Continue Reading

Politics

Edo assembly directs CJ to probe allegations against Shaibu

Published

on

The Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution directing the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to set up a seven-man committee to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu.

At the plenary, 19 members out of the 24 members voted in favour of the resolution.

The House of Assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against Shaibu on March 5, accusing him of perjury and leaking of government’s secrets.

However, all efforts to get the impeachment notice to him proved abortive as he was said to be out of the state.

Advertisement

After it became clear that the notice could not be served physically, the House served him the notice on March 12 through substitution (by publishing the letter in three national dailies).

The impeachment move is believed to be the latest development in the rift between Shaibu and his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

There had been an uneasy calm between the deputy governor and his principal since last year when Shaibu declared his interest to join this year’s Edo governorship race.

Earlier, Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, had notified his colleagues that the seven-day ultimatum granted the deputy governor to respond to the impeachment notice served on him has expired.

Agbebaku said the impeachment notice was earlier served on the deputy governor on March 6, 2024, but due to the alleged evasion of service, the House ordered substituted service.

Advertisement
ALSO READ  Nigeria comedy awards: Sanwo-Olu wins award for Best Governor

He said the notice was published in the Vanguard newspaper on March 12, 2024, noting that March 19, 2024 (Tuesday) made it seven days.

In his motion, the Majority Leader of the House, Charity Aiguobarueghan, and seconded by Nicholas Asonsere, representing Ikpoba Okha constituency, moved that the chief judge be directed to set up a seven- man committee to investigate the petition against the deputy governor.

Aiguobarueghan averred that the motion was in line with Section 188 Subsections 3 and 4 of the constitution.

He noted that failure of the deputy to respond to the petition at the stipulated times was also in conformity with the provision of Section 188 sub section 3, where it was clearly stated that “whether he respond or not the House has a duty to perform”.

He added, “That duty as bestowed by Section 188 Subsection 3 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that a motion be moved when it will be resolved and that if this allegation is not denied, it is worthy of investigation.

Advertisement

“I am, therefore, moving a motion in pursuant to Section 188 Subsection 3 and 4 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is designed not to be argued.

“That the notice serves on the deputy governor alleging gross misconduct to be sent for investigations and that the speaker caused the Chief Judge of the state to set up a seven-man committee to look at the allegations and report its findings to this House as soon as possible.”

Nineteen members of the House voted in support of the motion.

ALSO READ  TikTok venture into e-commerce paying off

In his remarks, the Speaker of the House directed the chief judge to set up a seven-man committee to investigate the petition against the deputy governor.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2022 TheHeute.