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MC Oluomo Will Face Wrath Of Law If Found Culpable Of Breaking Law During Election – Hamzat, Deputy Governor, Lagos

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Obafemi Hamzat and MC Oluomo

By Akinwale Kasali

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has stated that the Chairman of Lagos Parks and Gardens, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly as MC Oluomo, would face the wrath of the law if found guilty of breaking law and order during the just concluded Governorship and State House of Assembly Election in Lagos State.

To that promise by Hamzat, many people have chorused ‘Amen’, and others, ‘that will be the day’, considering Oluomo’s power and influence in tye State. As a number of videos confirmed, Oluomo was seen in a couple of places, making hate speeches, and threatening a breach of the law in his efforts to scare non- indigenes away from voting.

MC Oluomo, a staunch supporter of All Progressives Congress, APC, and the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was seen in viral video threatening Igbos not to come out to vote if they were not ready to cast their votes for the APC, else, they will be dealt with appropriately.

Hamzat, while fielding questions against alleged violence that played out during the Governorship and State House of Assembly Election in the State   during a Live appearance on Channels Television Sunrise Daily Programme Tuesday morning, said he was not calling for the arrest of anybody, he said the facts should be examined and “if in truth he (MC Oluomo) has broken the law, he must pay for it.”

The Deputy Governor was reacting to a video that made the rounds on social media during the governorship elections in the state, where MC Oluomo, who is also the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Works for Lagos State Council, was said to be threatening people of Igbo extraction residing in the State.

Hamzat said, “Well, I am not calling for the arrest of anybody, I am not a Police Officer, I am not a prosecutor, but people will look at the evidence.

“And in the case of MC Oluomo he has actually come out to say that he was referring to a woman, who also came out to say that she has known MC Oluomo for years and that he was referring to her, so I don’t know the facts. But people should examine the facts and if in truth he has broken the law, he must pay for it.

“But my point which I want to make is that we all diminish this country when we actually exaggerate what happens. We have an election where you have this number of polling units and you have less than one per cent that had a problem and we now make it look like that one per cent is more important than the 99 per cent.

“I think that it is just outrageous and we should not diminish our country by saying the election is bad. No, this was a great election. Atrocities were committed an people should pay for that.”

Hamzat said the State Government has been accommodating  all tribes and religions in the State, adding that Lagos is the only sta3te that has other tribes in its State Assembly.

Hamzat, however, added, “There will be people that will always try to break the rules and we must punish them. When you punish them they serve as deterrent to others so they know that is not the way to go.”

Former Minister Maku: “APC, PDP, Underestimated ‘Obidients’ Movement”; Says Obi Has Shaken Nigeria

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Labran Maku

By Akinwale Kasali

Former Minister of Information and Orientation, Labaran Maku, has said that the Labour Party, LP, performance in the just concluded Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections should applauded.

According to Maku, many in the camps of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, underestimated the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and his supporters known as the ‘Obidients’.

Maku, a PDP chieftain from Nasarawa State, further said that the two main parties underestimated Obi and his supporters because they thought he lacked political structure and would not be able to do much, but were surprised by the outcome of the 2023 Presidential Election, which showed that “the youths were not joking.”

The former Minister said this while fielding questions on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme about the outcome of the 2023 elections.

According to him, “What happened in the presidential election, as you could see, was that there was this wave of young people, the ‘Obidients’ that we all took for granted and we were thinking Peter Obi was a joke. Where would he go?

So, both PDP and the APC, we were thinking ‘This man does not have structure. He will not be able to do so much’.

“But the young people seized the initiative from the politicians. And for the first time – what we saw in Nasarawa, Edo, several other places, and in Delta State where the PDP vice presidential candidate comes from – we saw that young people were serious about what they were doing and they took advantage of social media to project a programme which has shaken the nation.”

While admitting that his party lost the Presidential election in the state to the Labour Party, he claimed that the ruling All Progressives Congress’s win in the Governorship poll was faulty.

Ayu’s Suspension: Factional Ward Exco Disowns Those Behind Vote Of No Confidence

By
Ayodele Oni
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Iyorcha Ayu

By Ayodele Oni

With an order by a High Court hanging on his head, the national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Dr Iyorcha Ayu who is still battling to vacate the order got a morale booster from his Ward as another faction of the party executives passed a Vote Of Confidence On him.

The faction, led by the Deputy Chairman, Mrs. Ortese Hellen and 15 others, disowned the earlier resolution describing those behind its passage as mischief-makers.

Addressing the media on Sunday, on behalf of Kashi Philip, the Ward Chairman, the Ward Secretary Mr. Vangeryina Dooyum explained that Dr. Ayu was suspended by the Executive for alleged anti party activities.

Reading from a text signed by 12 out of the 17 member Ward Executive, the Secretary stated that the decision to suspend the National Chairman was reached after the leadership reviewed his conduct at the end of the just concluded general elections.

Reacting to his suspension on Monday, the Embattled chairman described those behind his suspension as illiterate members of the the executive.

The statement came before a High Court in Benue state restrained Dr Ayu from parading himself  as national chairman of the PDP.

The Executives Committee members of Igyorov Ward in Ipav, Gboko local government area of Benue state, again on Tuesday passed a vote of confidence on the PDP National Chairman.

The Ward Executive, led by Deputy Chairman and 15 others, also disclaimed the purported suspension of the national chairman, saying at no time did the members meet to discuss any matter concerning the national chairman.

In a  press statement issued on Tuesday, the Ward Executives said they have no knowledge of the letter or its contents, and have never authorized anyone to “generate such a mischievous letter.”

The letter signed by the  16 Exco members reads in part: “The Executive Committee have never discussed in any of our meetings prior to election or post-2023 general election about the conduct of the national chairman.

“The Executive Committee members have stated clearly that they have no knowledge about the letter and have not authoriszed anybody whatsoever to generate such a mischievous letter on behalf of the Executive Committee.”

“The purported signatures on the letter are forged and no member of PDP Committee of Igyorov Council Ward have signed that letter nor caused to be signed on his or her behalf.

“The names of the Executive Committee members are wrongly written and spelt which show the desperation of the mischief-makers.”

On the letter’s error that all the elections were held in March 2023, the statement explained that this was proof that the letter was written in advance, and only given to some people to sign.

The Executives then passed on vote of confidence on Ayu and urged the public to disregard the so-called letter purporting to suspend him.

Those who signed the letter include: Deputy Ward Chairperson, Mrs. Ortese Hellen; Treasurer, Saawuan Terlumun; Organizing Secretary, Atema Iorde and Legal Adviser, Uko Injabo.

Others are: Woman Leader, Mrs. Tse Nguveren; Jooji John, Elected Councillor and former Ward Chairman, David Atime.

A copy of the letter has been copied the Benue state Governor, the State Chairman, the national chairman, the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Caucus, among others.

PDP Gets Acting National Chairman

By
The Source
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By Ayodele Oni

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national working committee (NWC) has named Iliya Umar Damagum as the acting national chairman.

Until his appointment, Damagum was the PDP national deputy chairman (north).

Debo Ologunagba, the PDP spokesperson, made the announcement on Tuesday at a press conference in Abuja.

The appointment follows a high court order restraining Ayu from parading himself as the party’s national chairman

Breaking: Ayu Steps Aside As PDP Chairman

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Iyorchia Ayu - PDP Chairman

By Akinwale Kasali

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, has stepped aside from his position.

He made the announcement at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, the Nation’s Capital.

This is coming hours after a Makurdi High Court presided over by Justice Wilfred Kpochi issued an interim order restraining  Ayu from “parading himself as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.”

The order of the Court issued Monday followed an ex-parte motion brought before the Court by a PDP stalwart, Conrad Utaan against Ayu and the PDP in a suit No MHC/85/2023.

The application was supported by a-15 paragraph affidavit and three exhibits including the applicant’s PDP membership card, receipt of payment of dues and a copy of the resolution of the PDP Executive of the Igyorov Council Ward of Gboko Local Government Area, LGA,  suspending Dr. Ayu.

The plaintiff in the application argued that the National Chairman should cease to operate in that capacity “having lost membership of the party, pending the hearng and determination of Motion on Notice already filed.”

In his ruling, Justice Kpochi held that the court, after listening to the plaintiff’s counsel move the application “and upon a dispassionate consideration of the facts placed before me in the pool of the affidavit evidence, and again, upon the consideration of the issues distilled in the written address by the plaintiff’s counsel, it is my candid view that this is a proper case to grant the interim injunction as craved. Consequently, this application Is hereby granted in terms of the reliefs captured in the motion papers as herein before reproduced. It is so ordered.”

Justice Ikpochi adjourned the matter to April 17, 2023 for hearing.

Speaking shortly after the ruling, Utaan explained that he approached the court to have Ayu removed from office because “we naturally expected that out of the performance that we have just recorded as a party in Benue we expected Dr. Ayu, like it is done in saner climes, to step aside honourably because he was not able to lead the party to victory; and allow the party to move on without him.

“Unfortunately he has refused to show or display that kind of honour and I thought it wise to approach the court to to see how to agree with the position of his ward who only 24 hours ago, suspended him from the party.

“Our expectation is that you cannot be the National Chairman of a party that you are not a member of”.

It would be recalled that last Sunday, 12 out of the 17 member Executive of Igyorov Council Ward of the PDP in Gboko LGA Sunday suspended the National Chairman from the party after passing a vote of no confidence on him over alleged anti party activities.

Details Later…..

Can CBN Stop NLC?

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Barely 24 hours to the deadline set by the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, to embark on a nationwide strike, not a few Nigerians are watching whether their demand will be met.

The Chris Ajaero led NLC, last week, directed it members to abandon work if the CBN failed to resolve the cash scarcity affecting the country by the middle of this week.

Within the period of the strike, all CBN offices across the country will also be picketed the union said.

The workers’ union had urged Nigerians to join them in the strike slated for Wednesday to protest the suffering of Nigerians due to the Naira crisis that arose from the CBN cash swap policy.

Businesses have suffered due to unavailability of cash, while many Nigerians are finding it hard to purchase essential commodities for the welfare of the families.

As the strike deadline approaches, the CBN, on Monday, took what some have described as a critical step to stop NLC from embarking on the strike.

Godwin Emefiele , the CBN Governor begged the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige to intervened on the issue during a meeting he held with the minister and the NLC representatives led by its president, Chris Ajaero.

The CBN warned that if the workers are allowed to go on strike it will affect the country economically, apart from the effects such strike will have on the operation of the apex bank.

Daily Trust quoted some sources who attended the meeting to have said that the CBN Governor promised to make more cash available before the first week of April.

More cash will be released to commercial bank across the country, Emefiele was quoted to have said in his last ditch effort to stop the strike.

The source said, “You would notice that the CBN had since last Friday directed commercial banks to open during weekends so as to ease the issue of cash crunch. The governor (Emefiele) was here to talk to the Minister in order to prevail on the labour leaders.

“He (Emefiele) said the protest will disrupt a lot of things in the bank, hence his reasons to heed the minister’s call who is a Chief conciliator.”

The NLC president is expected to brief the media today on the outcome of the meeting, according to sources in the union who spoke on condition of anonymity.

AFCON 2023: Super Eagles Redeem Image, Record Slim Win Over Guinea Bissau

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Super Eagles vs Djurtus of Guinea Bissau

By Akinwale Kasali

A 30th minute strike from the Penalty Spot by Moses Simon was all the Super Eagles needed to register a 1-0 win against the Djurtus of Guinea Bissau in the return leg of the 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifier.

Guinea Bissau had shocked the Super Eagles three days ago at the Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola Stadium, Abuja, by the same score line, to go top of the Group.

But the victory by the West African giant has changed the table as the Nigeria team has retaken the top spot with nine points from four matches.

The Djurtus are second with seven points while Sierra Leone has five points and São Tomé and Principe with one point from the same number of matches respectively.

Coach Jose Peseiro made five changes from the team that started the first leg with Kenneth Omeruo, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Moses Simon, Frank Onyeka and Terem Moffi starting the match.

Frank Uzoho retained his position in goal , with Bright Osayi, Zaidu Sanusi retaining their positions in the defense line.

Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen leading the attack.

The Super Eagles took the game to their host from the blast of the whistle making several attempts to register a goal.

These did not result to any leap for the Super Eagles, until in the 28th minute when Osayi was fouled in the 18 Yard Box to give Nigeria a deserved penalty that was coolly converted by Simon.

Osimhen’s shot hit the bar, while Joe Aribo forced the Guinea Bissau goalkeeper to make some brilliant saves.

Nigeria has two matches to play against Sierra Leone in Agadir, Morocco and a home game against São Tomé and Principe.

Benue Court Sacks Ayu As PDP National Chairman

By
The Source
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Iyorchia Ayu - PDP Chairman

By Gideon Njoku

A Benue State High Court, on Monday, 27th March, 2023, sacked the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, from office.

The Court stopped Ayu from  parading himself as the National Chairman pending the  determination of the substantive suit which was adjourned to April 17, 2023, for hearing.

In a repeat of the process which led to the sack of Ayu’s predecessor in office, Prince Uche Secondus, Ayu was first suspended by his ward for alleged anti-party activities on Sunday.

The suit to sack Ayu was filed by a PDP member, Terhide Utaan. The Judge, the Honourable Justice W.I. Kochi, granted Utaan’s request, and stopped Ayu from parading himself as National Chairman, pending the substantive case.

In reaction to the ruling, Nyesom Wike, Rivers State Governor, the mastermind of Secondus’ sack, and an arch political enemy of Ayu, lauded the Court ruling.

He said: “I am not from Benue State, but I am happy. And now that Benue State has done it, we would now come out and say we are in support of this.”

Wike had asked Ayu to vacate from office as a condition to support the PDP and its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

When that was not done, he and his G5 Governors – Samuel Ortom, Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu, Seyi Makinde, Oyo – worked against the PDP.

For the first time, the PDP lost Rivers State to APC. It also lost Oyo and Benue States.

Not a few people allege that Wike is behind the suspension of Ayu by his ward in Benue State, which has now led to the Court stopping him from parading himself as the National Chairman of the PDP.  “It is the same Secondus’ story”, they chorus.

PDP Accuses APC Of Colluding With INEC To Alter Adamawa Governorship Election Results

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is making undercurrent moves to tinker with the result of the governorship election in Adamawa state with a view to declare its candidate winner.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) had declared the Adamawa state governorship election inconclusive since there was no clear winner.

The commission has fixed a date for all outstanding supplementary elections.

According to INEC, all outstanding Governorship, National and State Assembly supplementary elections will take place on Saturday 15th April 2023

PDP spokesman, Debo Ologunagba said in Abuja on Monday that “the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been made aware of fresh plots by the defeated All Progressives Congress (APC) and certain compromised officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Adamawa State to further manipulate the outcome of the March 18, 2023 Governorship election in the State.

“As already declared by INEC, the final tabulation of results from the Polling Units across Adamawa State, the PDP Candidate, His Excellency, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, is in clear lead with 31,299 lawful votes above the defeated candidate of the APC, Senator Aisha Binani, who has been desperate to compromise the election against the expressed Will of the good people of Adamawa State.

“It would be recalled that the PDP had earlier alerted Nigerians of how the APC and some compromised INEC officials attempted to move the collation of results of the Adamawa State Governorship election from Yola to Abuja to enable the INEC Returning Officer declare the defeated APC candidate the winner; a move which was firmly resisted by the people of Adamawa State.

“When that plot failed, the APC pressured INEC to cancel results in 69 Polling Units citing over voting, but with the clandestine intention of manipulating the re-run election in favour of the APC candidate.

“The APC candidate has been allegedly boasting that she has the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and Returning Officer for the election, who she reportedly claims are willing to manipulate the election results in her favour notwithstanding the votes by the people of Adamawa State.

“Such reported boasting by the APC candidate is in complete effrontery to the democratic right and Will of the people of Adamawa State to choose their leaders.

“This is evident of the arrogance, contempt and disdain to which the APC holds the people of the Adamawa State.

“It has come to the knowledge of our Party that the APC and its candidate, having realized that they cannot defeat Governor Fintiri in the 69 Polling Units, given his popularity and determination of the people, are now putting pressure on INEC to alter already collated and declared results in other Polling Units where no cases of malpractice or disruption of election took place.

“The PDP alerts the people of Adamawa of fresh plots by the APC, its hired agents and compromised officials of INEC to alter and cancel the already declared results in 21 Local Government Areas where elections have been concluded and declared.

“This is part of APC’s plot to facilitate the manipulation and/or alteration of the already declared results in favour of the APC candidate against the expressed Will of the people.

“The PDP has evidence of reported complicity of the Adamawa State REC Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari, in which he was allegedly caught on tape directing the Electoral Officer of Fufore Local Government Area in Hausa Language to alter results in favour of the APC governorship candidate.

“This action by the Adamawa REC is reprehensible, sacrilegious, profane and unbecoming of an Electoral Officer.

“INEC should therefore immediately relieve Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari as the State Resident Electoral Commissioner and hand him over to the Police for a thorough investigation and prosecution.

“The PDP in very strong terms cautions INEC and the APC not to, under any circumstance or guise whatsoever, tamper with the results already announced and declared at the Polling Units where election has been concluded and Returns made by the Returning Officers without any reported case of disruption or cancellation.

“The people of Adamawa State already know the figures from the Polling Units as announced by INEC. Any attempt by the APC and INEC officials to tamper with the results already declared is a clear recipe for crisis.

“The PDP is firmly on ground in Adamawa State. Our Party and Candidate, Governor Fintiri are in clear lead and we are ready for the re-run election in the 69 Polling Units already announced to the whole world by the INEC Returning Officer.

“INEC should note its responsibility under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022 and INEC issued Guidelines, that elections are conducted at the Polling Units where results are required by law to be counted, declared and directly transmitted onto the INEC Server/IReV.

“Adamawa State is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious State which is known for its peaceful coexistence. INEC must therefore not do anything that can disrupt the peace existing in the State.

“INEC should be conscious of its duty and obligation to ensure the development of our democracy and not allow itself to be coerced by the APC and its agents by whatever name called to disrupt democracy and corporate existence of our nation.

“The PDP calls on the people of Adamawa State, our teeming members and supporters to remain calm but very vigilant in resisting the APC and its candidate who are desperate to steal the people’s mandate for their parochial personal interests against the Will of the people.”

Election Offenders: Nigerian Police To Collaborate With INEC For Quick Justice – IGP

By
Ayodele Oni
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Usman Baba Alkali - IGP

By Ayodele Oni

The Inspector-General of Police, (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba has assured  effective collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prosecute 781 electoral offenders apprehended during last elections.

According to the IG, the suspects are from a total of 489 major electoral infractions across the nation.

Alkali presided over the meeting of the upper echelon of the Nigeria Police Force comprising Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) and members of the Force Management Team, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police (CPs) and other Tactical Commanders in Abuja on Monday.

Force PRO, Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, a Chief Superintendent of Police,  who disclosed this in a statement, noted that the meeting was convened to assess the performance of the police during the 2023 General election, highlight lessons and strengths, and dissect complex dynamics for subsequent optimal performance.

The IGP seized the opportunity to commend the Senior Police Officers and Commanders and other ranks for their resilience, sacrifices, and professionalism, which ensured the containment of the pockets of election security breaches across the country.

He tasked commands to submitt case files centrally at the Electoral Offences Desk, Office of the IGP, Force Headquarters, Abuja, to ensure a ‘coordinated process’ and forward such to INEC’s Legal department.

The IGP  urged Police Managers to readjust strategies and operations towards ensuring a stable post-election security order and refocus policing attention on routine law enforcement duties.

He admonished political actors and their supporters to submit to democratic norms, peaceful means, and legal procedures in advancing their interests as the Police and other security agencies shall not tolerate the resort to incitement or any act designed to threaten national security.

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