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
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…..
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
“My daughter is very happily married to a Yoruba, and they have given me four adorable grandchildren. Those my grandchildren are Yoruba, not Igbo.” – Iwuanyanwu.
The Chairman of Elders Council of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu says he never said the Yoruba are political rascals. He described the report as wicked and handiwork of enemies of peace.
Chief Iwuanyanwu, in a statement in Owerri, issued by his Special Adviser, Media, Ben Osuagwu, said that all the people who attended the First Anniversary of Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s administration as Governor of Anambra State including the Channels TV, Arise TV, and all other electronic and print media houses that covered the event could testify that he never made such a statement as he was quoted to have said, or generalised that Yorubas are political rascals.
Rather, what he said was that Igbos should go about their businesses in Lagos as there was no war between Igbos and Yorubas. He stated that he only said that those who are instigating crises between Yorubas and Igbos, destroying properties of Igbos , killing, burning, intimidating and harassing Igbos in Lagos are political rascals
Chief Iwuanyanwu made it abundantly clear that at no time did he make the statement credited to him by blackmail circulating on the social media that Yorubas are political rascals. He said his speech was fraudulently manipulated to cause disaffection.
Chief Iwuanyanwu said that over the years, the relationship between the Igbos and Yorubas has been very cordial even before the amalgamation of Nigeria.
Chief Iwuanyanwu warned the perpetrators of the malicious and wicked fake news and propaganda that it is a criminal offence to circulate such against a peace loving Nigerian.
Chief Iwuanyanwu has received many chieftaincy titles in Yoruba land including the BALOGUN BABAGUWA OF IBADAN. One wonders how such a personality would be quoted by some mischievous elements to have made such a statement.
Chief Iwuanyanwu said that he has many personal friends and Staff of Yoruba tribe in his various companies who played major roles in shaping his economic destiny and, therefore, do not have any reason whatsoever to insult the Yoruba tribe who he regards with great respect.
The Elder Statesman felt sad that a Nigerian could be denied his democratic right to vote any candidate of his choice because of his tribe.
He noted that what happened to Igbos was in the Press and pointed out that Igbos are very grateful to those distinguished Yorubas who rose to speak against the killings, injuries, and destruction of properties of Igbos in Lagos only because they voted the candidates of their choice.
The Chairman of Elders Council of Ohanaeze Ndigbo further noted that some of the Igbos who lost their properties and were wounded were not only members of the Labour Party but also members of other Political Parties. He stated that most Igbos in Lagos voted for the incumbent Governor because they said that he did well in his first four year term and deserved to be reelected.
The Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo restated that Ohanaeze Ndigbo does not own a political party and does not control any political party where their members belong. In effect he said, people are free to choose, work for and vote for any political party of their choice and that is why Igbos are in all the political parties of their choice in the country.
Chief Iwuanyanwu observed that the peddlers of this fake news are part of the syndicate that brought misery and sadness to the Igbos resident in Lagos. He appealed to the Yorubas to fish them out as they are portraying the Yorubas in bad light.
Chief Iwuanyanwu on a personal note pointed out that one of his daughters is married to a prominent Yoruba family in Ibadan, Oyo State for over twenty years and the marriage is blessed with four adorable children. He expressed happiness and pride in his son-in law-and maintained that the children of the marriage are Yorubas and not Igbos by the culture of Igboland. He said that he will not be happy if at anytime any group of people discriminate against them in Yorubaland because their mother is Igbo.
Chief Iwuanyanwu called on all men of goodwill to arrest the present situation which if not nipped in the bud may cause social unrest.
By Ayodele Oni
Embattled National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Dr Iyorcha Ayu, has declared that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) can suspend him.
Ayu’s suspension was announced on Sunday by the Ward Executive of the party in Igyorov Ward of Gboko Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state.
Addressing the Media, 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.
But in a reaction on Monday, through his Special Adviser on Media, Simon Imobo-Tswam, Ayu stated that those goading Ward Executive are ignorant
The statement reads: ”Our attention has been drawn to rumours that the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has been suspended by the Executive Committee of his Ward.
“We wish to state categorically and with all emphasis at our disposal thus:
“The PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has not been suspended by his Ward. Some members of the Exco are only being teleguided by political gamblers to cause mischief and nothing more.
“For starters, Article 57(7) of the PDP Constitution as Amended in 2017 expressly prohibits any organ of the party or executive committee of the party at the Ward or State Level from taking any disciplinary measure against any member of the party’s National Executive Committee.
“The purported suspension is, therefore, an exercise in futility as it derives its strength majorly from gross illiteracy, ignorance, gambling and desperation. It has only mischief, drama and propaganda value.
“But more than this, the so-called suspension letter was written by an illiterate before hand, and only given to the coerced members to sign somewhere in Makurdi.
“This is why the original date is typed and 24 March imposed on it. And this is also why it states that the Presidential/NASS and Governorship/State Assembly elections held on 25th and 18th March, 2023 respectively.
“From what we know, the document itself is fraudulent as the signatures of the Ward Executives were forged or obtained under duress.
“The Chairman, his Deputy and Legal Adviser didn’t sign. The 14th person on the list didn’t sign too. She was at NKST Ambighir for the Holy Communion.
“In fact, the same applies for Nos. 5, 8 and 16. At the time they were supposed to be in Makurdi with the other coerced, intimidated and induced members of the Exco, they were actually in their villages, going about their normal businesses.
“Up till now, about nine members of the Ward Exco are still being held hostage in a location in Makurdi for obvious reasons. And expectedly, their mobile numbers have been switched off. It is instructive.
“The general public is hereby advised to ignore rumours to this heinous effect. Those behind the plot are only investing in expensive illusions.”
However, not a few people are telling Ayu to watch his back. They remind him of the fate of his predecessor, Prince Uche Secondus whose sack, as National Chairman, was instigated and backed by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
It started same way as Ayu’s. And before Secondus could say jack, he was sacked from office.
For the records, Wike has already backed Ayu’s suspension and applauded those who suspended him.
The next few days will be interesting.
Four commercial banks have been summoned by a federal high court in Abuja over an ongoing garnishe proceeding against the Oyo State government.
The court in its ruling also attached funds belonging to the state government and its agenceis in the four deposit money banks.
The banks are Zenith Bank, First Bank, UBA and Wema Bank.
The order was issued following the refusal of the Governor Seyi Makinde- led government to carry out a Supreme Court order to pay former local government chairmen in the state, who were sacked by the state government after the incumbent came to office in 1999.
The sacked council officials had dragged the state government to court for wrongful removal, demanding also that they be paid for the period of their tenure as chairmen.
On May 27, 2021, the apex court ruled that the former council chairmen be paid their withheld emoluments to the tune of N3,334,889, 425.60.
So far, the state government has not carried out the judgement, prompting the former chairmen to go to court to demand that a garnishe order be issued on the state government accounts.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Justice A. O. Ebong issued the order while ruling on a motion ex-parte for garnishee order filed by the former council officials.
The ruling, the agency report said is on the motion marked: FCT/HC/BW/M/238/2023, and delivered by Justice Ebong on March 2 and a certified true copy, CTC seen last weekend.
Justice Ebong said “A garnishee order nisi is hereby granted to attach the judgment debtors’ accounts with garnishees Nos. 1 to 4 in the motion ex-parte, for the purpose of settling the judgment debt outstanding in the sum of N3,374,889,425.60 as awarded by the Supreme Court and conceded by the judgment debtors in Exhibit 11 attached to the applicant’s motion.
“The garnishees (1st to 4th) shall file affidavits and attend court on the next adjourned date to show cause why the order nisi should not be made absolute.
“A copy of this order nisi shall be served on the judgment debtors as required by law. This matter is hereby adjourned to the 4/4/2023 for continuation.”
It was gathered that the judgment creditors have since effected service of copies of the order on the judgment debtors as ordered by the court.
According to NAN. listed as judgment debtors with the Oyo State Governor is the state’s Attorney General, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Accountant General, the House of Assembly, it’s Speaker and the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC.
