Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has commended the conduct of the presidential election in Ghana saying it should serve as an eye-opener for Nigeria. Atiku said this in a tweet on Thursday, December 10, 2020, while congratulating, Ghana President, Nana Akufo-Addo, who won the country’s presidential election for the second time. Atiku said, “Congratulations to President @NAkufoAddo on his reelection. The smooth conduct of the Ghana elections should be an eye-opener to our nation. “We must undertake far-reaching electoral reforms that address the shortcomings of our previous experiences and strengthen our electoral process.” Akufo Addo was announced as the…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has berated President Muhammadu Buhari over his refusal to appear before members of the House of Representatives. Fayose said the president showed the sign of a dictator by shunning the invitation extended to him by the lawmakers. Reacting to the issue on Twitter, Fayose tweeted, “I said it on December 1, that President Buhari won’t honour the House of Reps’ invitation on the worsening security situation in the country. Truly he didn’t. “With a democratically elected President who does not have regard for other arms of government, how else do you describe a…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has yet to decide on zoning for 2023 election, saying it would only take the decision after reviewing its performance at the 2019 general elections. The PDP National Chairman, Mr Uche Secondus said this in Abuja on Thursday, while briefing newsmen on Thursday. Secondus said that the party has a methodology of doing things and that would be followed in taking decision for the 2023 elections. “After the general election, we set up a panel to study and appraise our performance and make necessary recommendations. “The Governor of Bauchi state, Alhaji Bala Mohammed…
Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Special Adviser on Political Matters to the President, Office of the Vice President, has decried attempt by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to twist a 2015 tweet by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Ojudu, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, also described the call by PDP Caucus’ of the House of Representatives for commencement of impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari as mischief. “Equally suspect is the PDP Caucus’ disingenuous attempt to misrepresent a 2015 tweet by the Vice President and completely but deliberately change its import and meaning. “The vice presidential candidate of the APC tweeted…
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has urged residents to look at the records of his administration and vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming Local Government Area elections. Ikpeazu said this while presenting the PDP flag to candidates at the forthcoming December 18 Local Government election. He said PDP candidates have been working and are hopeful of victory come that day. ”Let me state that this is the 2nd LG elections my administration will be organising in just 5 years. This is unprecedented in the history of our dear State. It is obvious that with the level of work…
A High Court in Abia State, Thursday, vacated the order restraining the Abia State Independent National Electoral Commission, ABSIEC, from conducting December 18th local government election across the wards in the seventeen LGA of the state. Recall that Justice Agwu Umah Kalu-led High Court in Aba division had issued a a restraining order against the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, ABSIEC, from continuing to demand N480,000 from all Chairmanship candidates and N145,000 from all Councillorship candidates for forms pending the determination of the motion on notice. The court also restrained ABSIEC from excluding candidates of the All Progressive Congress, APC,…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has postponed the nationwide membership registration exercise scheduled to begin on Saturday. The secretary of the caretaker convention planning committee (CECPC) of the party, John James Akpanudoedehe, made this known during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday. He said the decision was made due to “the fast-approaching Christmas and End of Year celebrations”. “As you are all aware, the Membership Registration, Update and revalidation Exercise of our Great Party, was supposed to commence on Saturday, December 12, 2020. “However in the interest of our Christian members and the objective of ensuring maximum participation, the…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said former Nigeria president, Goodluck Jonathan, would be free to contest for the presidency in 2023 on its platform. However, the party has insisted that the presidential ticket has not been zoned to any region of the country yet. The National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, stated this during a media parley on Thursday in Abuja. Secondus revealed a committee has been set up to review the party’s performance in the 2019 general elections. On whether former Jonathan would be brought to run on the platform of the party, Secondus said once…
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, yesterday, declared that he will not allow godfather syndrome to thrive again in the state, assuring that only competent persons with character and proven integrity will be elected chairmen and councilors in the forthcoming council poll. Obaseki stated this while declaring open a one-day workshop on “Igniting the Economic Development and Viability of Local Government Areas in Edo,” in Benin City, stressing that the country’s electoral process could affect governance. “The electoral process affects governance and the way I was elected will definitely affect the way we are going to govern Edo. I realised that…
Presidential candidate of Peoples Trust (PT) in the 2019 general elections, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has said that rotation of the presidency in 2023 would be counter-productive to the polity. To him, Nigeria needs a good president from any region, who is prepared and capable of promoting the nation’s socio-economic development. Addressing the media in Lagos, yesterday, Olawepo-Hashim said rotation would not foster national unity and development, adding that those who want power must construct a national platform and build a national consensus behind their programme. According to the businessman, Nigeria needs a president that will unite the country, secure it…
Imo State has once again found itself in a unique political situation after last weekend’s Imo North Senatorial District bye-election. First, the necessity for the bye-election, which was conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was occasioned by the death of the erstwhile occupant of the seat, Benjamin Uwajumogu, last December, after the former Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly from Ihitteuboma Local Government Area of the state, slumped and died in Abuja. Political parties in the exercise included the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), among 15…
As the leadership of the All Progressives Congress moves to reorganise the party, some members of the APC have filed a fresh suit in court to stop the planned membership revalidation/registration in Rivers State. This comes despite warnings by the National Executive Committee of the APC to members to withdraw all litigations against the party. The applicants; Sunday Hawkings, Julius Nbugere, Lucky Nweke, Florence Deigh and Anthony Nwauche, said there should be no registration of new members into the APC until the matters in court have been disposed of. Presiding Judge, Justice L. Ngbor Abina therefore ordered the applicants to…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday declared Mr Ibrahim Tudu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the Bakura State constituency supplementary election in Zamfara State. Prof. Yahaya Tanko , INEC Returning Officer for the election who made the announcement said Tudu polled 23,874 votes to win the election, NAN reports. Recall that the APC had on Tuesday announced that it was boycotting the election. APC in a statement by its state Publicity Secretary, Mr Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji said that the party was pulling out because it had lost confidence on INEC and security agencies in the…
The attorney general says the right of the president to engage the national assembly is at the behest of the president. Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, says the national assembly has no constitutional powers to summon President Muhammadu Buhari. The president was scheduled to address a joint session of the federal legislature on the insecurity challenge bedeviling the country, on Thursday, December 10, 2020, after lawmakers reached that resolution during plenary on December 1. An overwhelming majority of lawmakers had also asked the president to fire his security chiefs in the wake of the beheading of over 43…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) said on Tuesday, that Nigeria’s democracy was in desperate need of a viable and coherent opposition political party. Mr Yekini Nabena, APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary said this in a statement, stressing that the PDP had failed as an opposition party. According to him, the PDP as an opposition party lacked the capacity to provide rigorous and intelligent interrogation of the policies and programmes of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration. Nabena was reacting to the PDP’s call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister APC and declare vacant seats of its lawmakers.…
A non-partisan group, Nigeria Equity Group (NEG) has called on political parties to ensure that a Christian is considered for the position of the president to further ensure balance and equity. The group on Tuesday in a press release signed by its convener, Dr Emeka Nwosu and Secretary, Alh. Muhammed Mubarak said geopolitical consideration should be a factor also. NEG stated in the statement that following 8 years of President Muhammadu Buhari, it will be fair to have a Christian for another 8 years. The group vowed to mobilize Nigerians to ensure the emergence of any candidate that fits the…
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has been sworn in for a second term. Yakubu was sworn-in at the Council Chambers of the State House, on Wednesday. Speaking at the event, Yakubu said elections in Nigeria were getting better. “We have demonstrated in recent elections that elections are getting better and better and elections will continue to get better and better,” he said. On his confirmation by the senate, the INEC boss described it as a “privilege.” He promised to carry out his duties in line with the “oath of office” he swore. “It…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented Certificate of Return to Mr. Obafemi Saheed, the APC candidate, who won the Saturday by-election in Kosofe Constituency II in Lagos. Mr. Sam Olumekun, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), while presenting the certificate on Wednesday, urged Saheed to fulfill all promises he made to the people. Olumekun said that INEC had done its best in conducting a free, fair and credible election into the vacant seat without fear or favour. According to him, the commission has continued to improve in the conduct of elections across the country and will not lower the…
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has admitted supporting President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2019 general election, even as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Umahi said this at the foundation laying ceremony of a housing project in his hometown, Uburu on Monday. The governor said that his former party should not waste time in accusing him of giving the president 25 per cent votes during the election. “I preached it in the entire south east zone of the country, that the person who supports us is whom we will support. “I joined the APC for the president’s love…
Rep. Herman Hembe, representing Konshisha/Vandeikya Federal Constituency in Benue has defected from All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to All Progressives Congress (APC). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Hembe announced his defection at Tuesday’s plenary, declining to state reasons for his action. Reacting, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu, Minority Leader of the House said that Hembe’s defection was unconstitutional. Elumelu said that there was no crisis in APGA to warrant the lawmaker’s defection, adding that his action was not in the best interest of democracy in Nigeria. According to him, leaving APGA for APC without crisis in APGA is a…