POLITICS

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POLITICS

Ninth Assembly: Gbajabiamila Best Candidate For House Speaker – Jibrin

A member of the House of Representatives from Kano state and Chairman, House Committee on Transport, Abdulmumin Jibrin has said Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila remains the best qualified candidate for the House Speaker in the incoming 9th Assembly.

Jibrin, who also doubles as the Director General of Femi Gbajabiamila Campaign stated this on Sunday during the formal declaration by Leader of the House, Hon. Gbajabiamila for the House Speaker at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

According to him, the candidacy of Gbajabiamila was about democracy and bringing civility and global best practices into the legislature.

Jibrin said Gbajabiamila stands out as the best candidate describing him as a bridge builder and a man with experience and legislative knowledge.

He promised to respect other contestants, run issue-based campaigns and urged all members to join the project.

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POLITICS

Katsina PDP Files Petition Against Gov Masari’s Election

The katsina chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its governorship candidate senator Yakubu Lado have filed a petition before the governorship election petitions tribunal sitting in the state.

A member of the legal team and senior advocate of Nigeria Gordy Uche who led others to file the petition said, his clients are challenging the victory and educational qualifications of the governor-elect, Aminu Masari of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

With Monday, April 1, 2019, as the deadline for filing petitions challenging the conduct and results of the just concluded governorship elections before the tribunal, the PDP in Katsina state has complied by beating the time.

Speaking shortly after filing the petition on Saturday night, a member of the petitioner’s legal team, Gordy Uche said, they were able to beat the deadline due to the huge evidence on the ground.

He said more lawyers will be joining the team to solidify their grounds when the hearing commences.

For the PDP governorship candidate, Senator Yakubu Lado, he is hopeful of victory at the end of the day as the party has gathered a solid legal team.

Also speaking, the deputy governorship candidate and state chairman of the party, Salisu Majigiri, while calling on their teaming supporters to be law abiding, urged them to pray for the party to emerge victoriously.

The PDP is challenging the conduct of the March 9 governorship elections with governor-elect Aminu Masari, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the independent national electoral commission, INEC, as respondents before the tribunal headed by Justice H. Kereng.

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POLITICS

NASS Leadership: Lagos APYF Backs Femi Gbajabiamila For Speaker

The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressive Youth Forum (APYF), has declared its full support to the decision of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to adopt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The forum, in a press statement jointly signed by the State Coordinator, Dr. Sola Osindero, and Secretary, Lanre Oguntoyinbo, lauded the party leadership and stakeholders for zoning the speakership seat to the South-West, and adopting Hon. Gbajabiamila for the position, a decision that widely resonates across board.

According to the group, Hon. Gbajabiamila has always demonstrated his true passion for issues concerning Nigeria brilliantly through his Bills, motions and debates in the House.

 “Hon. Gbajabiamila is a true believer in qualitative representation; he has always taken an active part in debates on the floor of the House, and always on the side of truth and justice. Everyone could recall how he led a movement within the House in 2007 to end the “third term debate” agenda and machinations of the then President Olusegun Obasanjo to perpetuate his stay in office.

“As leader of the opposition in the House between 2011 and 2015, Hon. Gbajabiamila revived the role of the opposition in the House and continued to maintain a tough stance against the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was the first and only legislator to bring a motion on the floor of the House for the invocation of the doctrine of necessity, during the illness and absence of President Umar Musa Yar’adua, which led to the swearing-in of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as Acting President.

“Another landmark achievement of Hon. Gbajabiamila was when he Chaired House Adhoc Committee that investigated the claims by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) where about $1Bn was owed by Zenon Petroleum & Gas Limited and Forte Oil Plc which has been paid.

“Amongst his Bills and Motions in the House, Gbajabiamila has been very passionate about the Employee Rights Bill, Local content in Construction Industry Bill, Vocational Schools Bill, The Economic Stimulus Bill, Interest-Free Students Loan and Establishment of Nigeria Education Bank Bill etc. Gbajabiamila fought tirelessly on the floor of the House through motions to compel the National Assembly to recognize the newly created local governments in Lagos State.

“Gbajabiamila is the initiator of Lagos Job Fair, the first of its kind in SouthWest Nigeria, the job fair brought employers of labor drawn from public/private sectors and job seekers under one roof. Instant employments were given to meritorious candidates who are currently excelling in NAFDAC, SMEDAN, MIKANO, Lagos Inland Revenue Service and many others. After this remarkable success some states including Oyo adopted the Gbajabiamila model.”

The group however cautioned anti-party activities from lawmakers elected under the APC, saying it would resist any attempt to repeat the incidence of 2015 where some few individuals fraudulently rigged themselves into positions and delayed the 2017 budget for eight months where irregularities were satisfactorily inserted.

 “It is also important to note that the success of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration rest on the National Assembly. We advise lawmakers who may be aggrieved to comply with the party’s decision. APC elected legislators should understand that as a progressive party that operates on the principle of change, it is not a matter of choice to keep to the rules.

“We firmly hold the belief that this is the time for Nigerians to reap the dividends of democracy, and for this to manifest, returning lawmakers and newly elected legislators should back Hon. Gbajabiamila for Speaker of the House of Representatives in the interest of the country.

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POLITICS

Adamawa Gov-Elect Promises To Implement Proposed N30,000 Minimum Wage

Adamawa Governor-elect, Ahmadu Fintiri, has promised to implement the new minimum wage of N30, 000 when approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Fintiri, who emerged winner on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the promise on Friday while speaking with newsmen in Yola.

He defeated incumbent Gov. Muhammadu Bindow of All Progressives Congress (APC) and 28 other candidates in the just-concluded supplementary governorship election.

He said: “I will give civil service priority attention and make it more effective.

“As a matter of matter of priority, I will be first to implement it, so that we don’t experience any workers strike,” Fintiri said.

He also assured students that his administration would be committed to resuscitating scholarship scheme, youth empowerment and other programmes to move the state forward.

“We are also going to pay WAEC and NECO fees for students to reduce burden on parents,” Fintiri said.

He thanked the people of the state for electing him and promised not to disappoint them.

“The people have given us their mandate and God has actualised it today.

“We will ensure that we deliver on our campaign promises and manifesto to them.

“We urged them to remain calm, law-abiding as they celebrate and wait for our swearing-in ceremony,” Fintiri said.

Fintiri a former Speaker of Adamawa State House of Assembly and Acting Governor, emerged winner scoring 376,552 votes to beat his closest rival, Gov. Bindow who scored 336,386 votes.

NAN

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POLITICS

Ninth Assembly: APC Young Stakeholders Drum Support For Senator Lawan

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Young Stakeholders has congratulated Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan, following his adoption by the national leadership of the APC as the Senate President of the ninth National Assembly.

The group also pledged its support to the Senate Presidential aspiration of the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, representing Yobe North Constituency due to his belief in youths.

In a press statement by the Secretary-General, Barr Oscar Obi, KSM, he said Senator Lawan’s personal attributes of selflessness, maturity and friendliness have eased the race to contest the Senate Presidency seat.

According to the group, Senator Lawan’s simplicity and discipline has provided exceptional leadership for the upper chamber of the National Assembly for over two years by diligently bridging the gaps between the executive and legislature, and creating a harmonious atmosphere for debates and exchange of ideas for national development.

The group, while pledging its support for Senator Lawan, noted that the lawmaker shares the same vision with the agenda of the party and a firm believer in young people.

“Having studied critically, we observed that Senator Lawan have similar vision with the party in his ambition to become the Senate President.

“In realizing this dream, this youth group makes it a task to mobilize and rally other lawmakers across party lines to make this dream a reality”, Oscar said.

Barr Oscar further expressed the commitment of the youth group to work with Senator Lawan in realization of the Next Level programs and policies of President Buhari’s administration.

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POLITICS

Ndume Kicks Against APC’s Adoption of Lawan as Senate President

Ahead of the activities to form a new leadership for the ninth Senate, a member of the National Assembly, Senator Ali Ndume (APC Borno South), has  described as unconstitutional the adoption of the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, by the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the Senate President of the ninth National Assembly.

Ndume told newsmen on Tuesday morning that the APC leadership had on Monday night at a dinner with President Muhammadu Buhari at Aso Rock informed senators-elect that Lawan is the next Senate President.

Expressing shock over the party’s decision without recourse to the senators-elect, Ndume, a ranking senator and former Senate Leader, said the party leadership’s move to impose Lawan is contrary to Section 50 (1) (A) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) which gave the senators-elect the right to elect their leaders on the day of inauguration.

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POLITICS

Kwara APYF Lauds Oshiomhole’s Move To Unite Legislatures

The Kwara state chapter of All Progressive Youth Forum (APYF), has commended the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on the move to unite and prepare the members of the National Assembly elected on the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC) towards having an effective and productive 9th assembly.

This was contained in a release signed by its coordinator Comrade Tunde Salau, who said the interaction of the APC National Chairman with the incoming 9th APC National Assembly members of both chambers will adequately prepare them for the tasks ahead and ensure a robust and fruitful tenure, unlike the controversial and unproductive 8th assembly brought about by the self-centered and tyrannical leadership style of Bukola Saraki.

Comrade Salau added that this will also enable them (the APC national assembly members elect) to choose their leaders in a transparent and democratically acceptable manner as against the hypocritical, cunning and backdoor method adopted by Bukola Saraki at the beginning of the 8th assembly.

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POLITICS

Bauchi Gov Accepts Defeat, Congratulates Bala Mohammed

Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, has accepted defeat and congratulatrd Sen. Bala Mohammed, winner of the governorship election in the state.

A congratulatory message signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy , Mallam Ali M. Ali, and made available to newsmen in Bauchi Monday night, the governor said, “I congratulate my brother, Sen Bala on this victory at the polls”.

According to him, “I am delighted to note that in-spite of the intensity of the campaigns in our dear state, a peaceful election took place without bloodshed.”

He invited the governor-elect to join him in working out the process of a smooth transition.

Governor Abubakar added that “I sincerely thank the entire people of Bauchi state for their support to my administration and urge them to extend the same to the incoming administration.

“I also urge governor-elect to caution his supporters to be law abiding while celebrating since the period of campaign is now over”, he said.

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POLITICS

Atiku’s Suit Lacks Merit And Bound To Fail – BMO

Abubakar Atiku’s suit challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari is one that is bound to fail, as it lacks merit and is a waste of time of the Judiciary, according to the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO).

The group in a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, stated that Atiku knew that he had no chance of victory even before the elections and is only attempting this suit to hoodwink Nigerians and ultimately waste the time of the country’s judiciary.

“The loser of the 2019 Presidential Elections, Atiku Abubakar has yet to wake up from his hallucination that he can steal a chance to defeat President Buhari in an election. Mr Atiku never had a chance at victory and would never.”

“If the Presidential elections were to hold ten times, Atiku would lose ten times to President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Atiku knew it, even before the elections were held, that he never stood a chance at beating President Buhari at the polls. He continues to allow marabouts and his paid praise-singers to sing him tunes of chances which he never had.”

BMO noted that Atiku’s loss at the 2019 Presidential Polls was evidence of Nigerians rejecting the former Vice President. 

“The majority of Nigerians have rejected Atiku. And he must come to terms with that. While we are not against his exercise of his constitutional right to seek justice in a court of law, we are insisting that Nigerians are aware that his claim to seeking a mandate in the court is only a pipe-dream as the entirety of his observations lack merit, are false and only a waste of time.”

The group noted that what the courts would eventually do, would be to stamp the authority of victory on President Buhari at the end of the day, adding that Atiku’s loss started at his polling unit where President Buhari beat him.

“The signs were very clear before the elections, during the elections, and with the eventual victory that President Buhari was the victor and had the popular appeal across the country. 

“Atiku’s rejection by Nigerians started with his own household.”

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POLITICS

Rivers AAC Deputy Governorship Candidate Withdraws From Race, Defects To PDP

The Deputy Governorship Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Rivers State, Chief Akpo Bomba Yeeh has withdrawn from the ongoing 2019 Governorship Election in the state and announced his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP).

Addressing journalists at his home in Port Harcourt on Monday, Chief Yeeh said the reason for his decision is for him to support the state Governor and candidate of the PDP, Chief Nyesom Wike to move Rivers State forward.

In a three-page letter, Chief Yeeh alleged the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Ameachi of plotting to drag the state backwards and demanding monies for himself and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmud Yakubu.

He wrote, “After due consultations with my immediate family, friends and supporters, I Chief Akpo Bomba Yeeh, the Deputy Governorship of the AAC for the 2019 Governorship election hereby resign my membership of the AAC and announce my defection to the PDP to join hands with Governor Wike to move the state forward “.

“I was the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the AAC in Rivers State up till today 25th March, 2019 , when I decided to withdraw my candidature and resign from the party with immediate effect.

“The March 9 , Governorship election in Rivers State has been lost and won; lost by my party, African Action Congress (AAC) and its Candidate, Engineer Biokpomabo Awara and undoubtedly and overwhelmingly won by the Governor of Rivers State, the candidate of PDP, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike “.

He said that despite the interference of the security agencies, Rivers people stood their ground and voted for Governor Wike.

He said: “The collated results further showed that contrary to the false claim of fictitious lead by the AAC/APC alliance, the PDP overwhelmingly won all the elections in 18 out of the 19 LGAs, culminating in the declaration and return of the party 26 House of Assembly Constituencies by the Constituency Returning Officers.

“This fact was confirmed on the 13th of March 2019, when INEC stated, as a matter of fact, that it had in it’s safe custody collated results for 17 Local Government Areas as well as the declaration of the PDP Candidates for 21 State Constituencies.

“The outcome of the elections on March 9, 2019 clearly showed the preference of the people of Rivers State. Even the blind can see and the deaf can hear the echo that Rivers people overwhelmingly voted to stick with Governor Wike for the next four years to encourage him to continue with the good works”.

The Former Deputy Governorship Candidate of the AAC informed that the Minister of Transportation forced him to sign a post-dated letter of resignation to be effective after their expected inauguration.

“I was forced to sign an un-dated letter of resignation as the Deputy Governor of Rivers State to pave way for Rotimi Amaechi to nominate another person as Deputy Governor.

“These were slavish conditions for any rational politician worth his name to accept, but I pretended to play along because doing otherwise at that time would have been too dangerous for the safety of my life, given Rotimi Amaechi’s desperation to remove Governor Wike from office and install his stooge in the person of Engr Awara against all odds”.

He said that though the AAC Campaign was never serious and never campaigned for the office of the position of Governor of Rivers State, Amaechi during the adoption of the party, said that he would fund the elections and do everything under the sun to give AAC victory at the polls.

He said: “Amaechi disclosed to us that he had already assembled security personnel drawn from the Nigerian Army, the Police, DSS and FSARS to provide adequate security cover and enablement for members of the AAC and APC to effectively rig the Governorship election and have us declared as winners on March 9 , 2019”.

He stated that the adoption and promise to deliver AAC was with conditions that conferred de facto governance on the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

Chief Yeeh outlined the conditions: “First, he (Amaechi) must be the one to appoint 90 percent of all political office holders, including commissioners, Special Advisers, and chairmen and members of Government Agencies and parastatals.

“Second, he must be the one to nominate and produce all the 23 Local Government Council Chairmen and other principal officers of the councils.

“We, that is, Engr Awara and my humble self must consult and take instructions from him on all financial, policy and fiscal matters, as well as award and payment of all contracts and other financial transactions upon inauguration as Governor and Deputy Governor of the state”.

He added: “As a practicing Christian, I have come to the conclusion that the actions and desperate attempts by Amaechi and the AAC/APC alliance to rig the Governorship and State Assembly elections in Rivers State are both morally and legally wrong, reprehensible and inimical to the collective interest of the people of Rivers State.

“The Almighty God will not forgive me if I continue to lend my support to Rotimi Amaechi’s perfidy against the democratic rights of the people of Rivers State to freely elect their own leaders “.

He condemned the Minister of Transportation for unleashing violence on Rivers people in his failed attempt to rig the 2019 Rivers Governorship election.

In a swift reaction, Mr Martins Ibitamulo, a strong ally of the Ameachi-led caucus of the APC said the allegations of the former Deputy Governorship candidate are baseless and far from reality.

Speaking with InsightMedia on phone, he said Chief Yeeh withdrew from the race after being bribed by Wike.

“It’s true, he has resigned. He’s just doing the job of the money he received. He has been bribed by Wike and party of the agreement he has is to tarnish the image of Ameachi”, he said.

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POLITICS

El-Rufai: Atiku Could Only Win Kaduna In His Dreams

Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai on Friday said the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s claim that he won the presidential election in Kaduna State, could only happen in his dreams.

He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa to show that he was alive against the rumour of his involvement in car accident.

Reacting to the PDP’s claims of winning election in his state, he said: “Well, I heard about that. Initially, I thought it was a joke and when I checked I saw clearly that he said he won Kaduna. It must be in his dreams.

“Let me say this without any fear of contradiction, since President Buhari started contesting for the presidency since 2003, he has never lost Kaduna.

“So, PDP has never won elections in Kaduna from 2003, even with a sitting governor in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015.

“It has never happened. I don’t know what will happen that Atiku will win Kaduna in this election this time.

“He lost Kaduna, he lost very badly, even though about 100,000 votes he claimed to have got were added because elections conducted without card reader in some parts of the state, that’s how he even got up to the 400,000 that he got.

“He has lost Kaduna, he will always lose Kaduna. He will lose Kaduna 10 more times because he has never won Kaduna in any presidential elections.”

When reminded the results were said to have come from the INEC server, he said: “Well, I don’t know about INEC server, it must be Atiku’s server.

“I don’t know about INEC server, we don’t know how they had access to it. They will tell us during the tribunal proceedings what is this server and how they got access to it and how they got their numbers.

“You do not go to court in an election petition by quoting INEC server or any other server. Anyone can create a server, I can go and buy it, it is a piece of equipment and call it INEC server.

“But that does not mean that it amounts to anything, we are guided by the electoral act and the evidence act and other enabling legislation and he has to proof his case.

“But anyone can make claims, we live in the age of fake news and fake claims. Anyone can make claims but you have to proof it,” he said

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POLITICS

Just In: Tribunal Declares Ademola Adeleke Winner Of Osun Governorship Election

The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal has declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke, as the winner of the poll.

The tribunal, in its ruling, declared the Osun governorship election re-run illegal.

It stated that the exercise was borne out of an illegal cancellation of results in the polling units during the September 22, 2018 original poll.

The Returning Officers who declared the results cancelled, according to the Tribunal, lakced the power to do it.

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