Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has announced the re-scheduling of the party’s governorship primary to a date that has not been made known, for the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa
Odigie-Oyegun told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview in Abuja that the primary earlier scheduled on Tuesday was cancelled due to security challenges.
“The primary has been rescheduled; it had to be called off due to security challenges,” he said, adding that leadership of the party would meet to choose a new date for the exercise.
Earlier, attempt by the party to conduct the primary at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, on Tuesday was frustrated by fracas, involving supporters of most of the 19 aspirants.
The situation led to the walk-out of 14 aspirants, including Chief Timi Alaibe, from the venue after Chairman of the Primaries Committee, Adams Oshiomhole, was reportedly whisked out of the place to avoid being attacked.
Confirming the postponement of the primaries, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Timi Frank, said the primary did not hold in Bayelsa on Tuesday.
According to Frank, fracas marred the exercise but one of the aspirants and former governor of the state, Timipre Sylva, held a member of the committee under duress to declare him winner of the exercise.
Frank said that neither the chairman of the primary committee nor the secretary was part of the purported primary, which he described as ‘’kangaroo primary’’. He said that the party would soon come up with a position on the primary and a new date for it.
“I am speaking as a concerned citizen of Bayelsa that the purported primary is not acceptable anywhere.
“In a situation where all other aspirants walked out of the venue and a particular aspirant put a member of the primary election committee under duress to declare him winner is unacceptable.
“I believe the party will soon come up with a position on that fraud called primary and schedule a date when an acceptable primary will hold,’’ Frank said.
Results of the purported primary indicated that Sylva polled 726 votes to defeat his closest rival, Timi Alaibe, a former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, who got four votes.
A total of 1,502 delegates were expected to participate in the primary to elect the party’s candidate for the December election. [myad]
Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has narrated the story of his escape from the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, venue of the 2015 governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress where he was reportedly held hostage for several hours during the exercise, which was marred by violence.
Oshiomhole, who spoke to news men today in Benin, the Edo state capital, accused a former governor of Bayelsa State and chieftain of the APC, Mr. Timipriye Sylva, of hijacking the primary even as he dismissed media reports that the party’s primary was held, wherein Sylva, who is also an aspirant, emerged as the party’s candidate.
Oshiomhole, who said Sylva threatened his life and that of other members of the committee, challenged the Bayelsa ex-governor to produce his Certificate of Return presented to him by the party if he truly won in a free and fair primary.
The governor alleged that the electoral process was hijacked by thugs, acting on the instruction of the former governor, who he said had insisted that the exercise be conducted without accreditation.
He added that he had to call for help from Abuja, leading to the intervention of the Joint Task Force, who rescued him out of the venue, after several hours of being at the mercy of the hoodlums.
“I was appointed with six other members from the APC to conduct the primary election of the governorship election in Bayelsa State. The exercise took place yesterday (Tuesday) and somehow, thugs took over the sports complex, where the exercise was to take place.
“They practically prevented the actual delegates from participating and as a result, we could not proceed with the exercise. The committee was virtually held hostage, including my humble self. This time, they were supervised unfortunately by one of the aspirants, the former governor of the state, Timipriye Sylva, who said to my face and to the committee that we could not leave the venue of the conference unless we conduct the exercise without accreditation, as prescribed by the national secretariat.
“It is important that we state clearly that the national secretariat has adopted a standard guideline for the conduct of governorship primary and this guideline were used effectively in Kogi State and it produced a candidate in which all the aspirants were quite happy with.
“The key issues in this guideline, as handed down by the party, is that delegates, as contained in the list, have to be identified either though the Permanent Voter Card or the National Identity Card or international passport.
“This was to ensure that proper accreditation was done because the integrity of an election rests primarily on the integrity of the accreditation process; once the accreditation suffers any defect, it affects the entire exercise. As they say, you cannot build something on nothing.”
Oshiomhole, who wondered why the former governor insisted on having his way other than that prescribed by the national leadership of the APC, said: “whereas all the aspirants agreed with this guideline, it is only Sylva that did not agree with it. He rejected this mode of accreditation and chose to accuse the national secretariat of formulating the guideline to frustrate his ambition.
“Every effort made to reassure him and direct his attention to the fact that same guidelines have been used and that they are standard guidelines that will be used in future elections fell on deaf ears.
“He insisted that we cannot leave the place unless we are ready to conduct the election without recourse to accreditation, as stipulated by the party and, of course, I was not in a position to amend the guideline, nor was I ready to submit to his intimidation.”
He said that when it became clear that he (Sylva) had mobilized thugs in connivance with the police, the thugs found their way into the stadium, without accreditation, “and insisted that we must conduct the election based on their own rules.
“Sylva insisted that it is the State Secretariat and not the national body that should conduct the primary and that it was wrong for the national body to conduct primaries without involving the state leadership of the party and therefore, as far as he was concerned, we must proceed with the election without complying with the guidelines of the national secretariat.
“When it became clear that our lives were under threat, I had to call Abuja to prevail on the Joint Task Force to provide me with security to enable me to leave the venue of the primary because thugs had effectively blocked the gates under the instructions of Sylva.
“I have since forwarded our report to the National Secretariat namely that the primary could not be conducted because of these and several other malpractices.”
Oshiomhole said that many people were apprehended with fake or cloned Permanent Voter Card, which they wanted to use to replace the actual delegates and they were handed over to the Police.
He said that it was curious that the Police released those who were so arrested and allowed them to continue to harass and intimidate, not only the committee members but other aspirants. [myad]
Suspected armed robbers today, struck at a popular bank in Ogaminana, Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State, carted away the sum of N25 Million meant for the salaries of the local government workers, killed two police men and two bank staff.
Report reaching Greenbarge Reporters showed that the attack took place at about 10am.
It was gathered that the robbers were heavily armed and on arrival at the premises of the bank, began to shoot sporadically to scare people.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Williams Aya, confirmed the incident, saying that no arrest had been made.
Aya vowed that the command would ensure that the perpetrators were brought to book.
This was even as the residents have pointed accusing fingers at the police who have now become easy prey to criminals who they are supposed to be their target of policing.
They said that whenever such thing happened, the police would now turn their searchlight on innocent people from whom they extort monies in the name of bail, whereas the real armed robbers are allowed to go Scot free. [myad] .
A Police Inspector, the District Head of Allawa in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, his brother and about 33 others were reportedly killed yesterday night, by unidentified gunmen who invaded the village.
According to reports, the attackers, who were said to be armed with sophisticated weapons, also set more than 25 houses on fire and injured several other villagers before fleeing into the bush. The attack was said to have lasted about two hours, leaving scores of the villagers displaced.
Unconfirmed report indicated that the attackers may be Fulani herdsmen who might be members of Boko Haram allegedly fleeing from their hideout in Sambisa Forest in Borno state.
Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elikana, reportedly confirmed the incident and expressed shock and sadness over the loss of innocent lives. He said that the command had not been able to confirm the number of casualty.
He, however, admitted that a policeman was among those killed.
He said that a distress call could not reach security agencies on time because the incident happened at night and as a result, there was no means of communication between Allawa and other parts of the state.
Elikana said that the Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Marafa had dispatched the Divisional Police Officer in Kagara and the Police Area Commander in Minna to the troubled village to assess the situation. [myad]
Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has pardoned jailed Al Jazeera journalists, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, women activists, Sana Seif and Yara Sallam as well as 100 other prisoners.
Presidency spokesman, Alaa Youssef confirmed that the two Al-Jazeera journalists were among those that were pardoned group.
Fahmy, Mohamed and their Australian colleague, Peter Greste were sentenced in a retrial last month for broadcasting “false” news that harmed Egypt and aiding the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Fahmy and Mohamed were released from prison within hours of their presidential pardon being announced.
Greste was deported in February through a presidential decree and his name did not appear on the list of those pardoned. It is not clear whether the pardon will also apply to him.
The pardons came on the eve of the Muslim holidays of Eid-el-Kabir, when prisoner releases often take place in Muslim countries.
“This comes in the framework of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s initiative to release a number of youth which he launched … in December,” local media quoted presidential sources as saying.
In a tweet, Fahmy confirmed the news, writing “AJ Staff is Free!”
Fahmy, who had abandoned his Egyptian citizenship to qualify for deportation, is expected to leave Egypt for Canada.
A spokesperson for the Canadian government said that Canada was pleased with the pardon and it would help arrange Fahmy’s departure from Egypt.
“I am so happy. Mohamed is so happy,” Fahmy’s wife Marwa Omran said.
She said following his release, her husband “wants to pursue getting his nationality back.” [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Armed Forces and national security agencies to provide maximum security across the nation during Eid-El-Kabir prayers and celebrations, especially in areas most vulnerable to terrorist attacks across the country.
In a message to felicitate with Nigerian Muslims as they celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Kabir, Buhari again assured all Nigerians that the days of Boko Haram are numbered.
“Boko Haram’s reign of terror in parts of the country will be finally over very soon as the ongoing military onslaught against the terrorist sect will continue relentlessly until total victory is achieved.”
The President commiserated with families in Maiduguri and North-Eastern Nigeria who have lost beloved relatives in recent terrorist attacks. He said that his thoughts and prayers for divine solace were with all those who had been callously plunged into mourning by mindless terrorists, when others are celebrating this year’s Eid-El-Kabir.
The President also congratulated all Nigerian Muslims who are currently in the Saudi Arabia to participate in the rites of the Hajj, urging them and other Nigerians to rededicate themselves to a greater acceptance and internalization of its lessons of piety, faithfulness, dedication, fortitude, obedience, sacrifice and selfless service which are for the benefit of all mankind.
“The President calls for more patience, fortitude, tolerance, endurance, patriotism and a greater willingness to make personal sacrifices for the good of all as his administration strives to lead the nation towards rapidly overcoming its current security, economic and developmental challenges.
“President Buhari assures all Nigerians that their safety, well-being and progress remain uppermost in his thoughts and actions, and that he will continue to work with all his might to deliver the positive changes in national life which they expect after his election and inauguration as Head of the Government of the Federation.” [myad]
A former Minister of State for Education, Chief Kenneth Gbagi, has called on the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to step down, saying that the mere fact that he has been docked on alleged corruption has put dark spots on the Senate he is now presiding over.
He said the present trial, whether it is justified or not, has already put a question mark on his integrity to lead the upper legislate chamber.
Gbagi said with what is going on, there is no way Nigerians and the international community would respect motions and bills that would emanate from the Senate under the leadership of Saraki.
The former minister, who spoke with some journalists in Abuja today, said the trial of Saraki by the CCT was enough reason for the former governor of Kwara State to step down and allow another person to take over leadership of the Senate.
“We have a problem in Nigeria where we don’t have people of honor, dignity and integrity as leaders. The mere fact that the Senate President is undergoing criminal trial is an indication that he has no business being a Senate president living with tax payers’ money.
“First, Nigerians will not have faith in anything that comes out of his Senate that is chaired or presented by that kind of person.
“Again, the entire international community will not believe in the passage of any Bill or motion under his leadership.
“So if you ask me, that is the end of him. He is gone. And like several other government where you think you get in and it will be business as usual, it is not true.”
He regretted that Saraki would not learn from advanced countries where someone like him, who is undergoing such trial, would have resigned from office, adding that this was one of the reasons why countries like the United States of America is still being respected. [myad]
Pope Francis has given assurance that he is ready to listen to the “hopes and dreams of the American people” and to offer guidance to those charged with shaping the nation’s political future “in fidelity to its founding principles.”
Pope Francis, who is on a six-day official visit to America, endorsed President Barack Obama’s efforts on climate change and rebuilding ties with Cuba after more than half a century of estrangement.
The pontiff, speaking before 11,000 ticketed guests at an elaborate welcoming ceremony on South Lawn of the White House, used his first direct address to the nation to weigh in on deeply divisive issues, including climate change, Cuba, marriage and immigration.
Pope Francis, who spoke today atop an open-sided Popemobile before tens of thousands of cheering people lining the streets around the White House, gave a clear indication that he would not steer clear of controversial issues during his six-day visit.
President Barack Obama hosts Pope Francis in the Oval Office of the White House today. Francis is expected to visit Washington, New York and Philadelphia during his will six days in the United States. It is his first trip to the country. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies to take all necessary action to ensure the safe and speedy rescue of Chief Olu Falae who was kidnapped from his farm on Monday. A statement by special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said that Buhari condemned what he called “the callous and reprehensible kidnapping” of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and elder statesman. The President assured Chief Falae’s family, friends and other concerned Nigerians that the Federal Government will do all within its powers to ensure his swift release. President Buhari, who has requested constant updates from the police and security agencies on efforts to find and rescue Chief Falae, also denounced the recurring incidents of criminal abductions across the country. He assured all Nigerians that ongoing efforts to significantly enhance the security of lives and property in the country will continue apace and that under his leadership, Nigerians, irrespective of their status, will no longer be left at the mercy of criminal elements. [myad]
Six select group of West African leaders have been scheduled to meet today in Quagadougou, capital of troubled Burkina Faso in efforts to resolve the political logjam in that country. The meeting today is said to be a follow-up to yesterday’s extra-ordinary session of ECOWAS leaders in Abuja in respect of the situation in Burkina Faso. President Muhammadu Buhari, who hosted the Abuja summit would be represented at the meeting by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The ECOWAS six leaders are expected to have talks with the leaders of last Thursday’s military coup in Burkina Faso. Meanwhile, Vice President Osinbajo is expected to return to Nigeria later in the day.
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