Court Jails 2 PDP Chieftains Over N142 Million Elections Bribe Scam

March 11, 2023

A Federal High Court in Bauchi has convicted two chieftains of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State, Saleh Hussaini Gamawa and Aminu Umar Gadiya, and sentenced them to two years imprisonment.

They were convicted for offences that bordered on conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N142,460,000.00.

The spokesman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Wilson Uwujeren made this known in a statement today, March 11.

He wrote: “Justice Hassan Dikko convicted the duo on March 2, while ruling on the two-count charge brought against the defendants by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

“The defendants were first arraigned on June 4, 2018, and re-arraigned on October 16, 2018, on a two-count charge for allegedly receiving over N142 million to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential elections in Bauchi State.”

INEC To PDP: We Did Not Rig Presidential Poll, Stop Making Spurious Allegations

Editorial staff

March 11, 2023

“To be sure, the commission (Independent National Electoral Commission) does not rig elections. Rather, the BVAS has, since its introduction, among other innovations, ensured the integrity of the electoral process by ensuring that only properly registered voters are allowed to vote on Election Day.”

This was contained in a statement by Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu yesterday night, March10.

Rotimi Oyekanmi said that the latest call by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), just like it did previously for the resignation of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as INEC Chairman, is misplaced.

“Interestingly, the PDP did not provide any convincing evidence to back up all the spurious allegations it listed as Prof. Yakubu’s ‘infractions’.

“To be sure, the PDP failed to provide any evidence to substantiate the allegations of Yakubu’s ‘brazen violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines, and criminal manipulation and alteration of election results.’”

According to him, the PDP also did not give the evidence to prove its claims that Prof. Yakubu ‘sabotaged the uploading and transmission of results from polling units’.

“Besides, the ‘several pieces of evidence’ that the PDP claimed ‘abound in the six geo-political zones of the country where winning figures scored by the PDP were switched in favour of the APC’ were also not laid bare.”

The INEC boss spokesman said that it is common knowledge that the PDP had rejected the outcome of the presidential election and has vowed to challenge it in court.

“The path of honour for the party, therefore, is to pursue its case in court, armed with all the evidence at its disposal and wait for the court’s decision.

“But going about canvassing the same issues the party intends to plead in court on the pages of newspapers and calling for the resignation of the INEC Chairman is like putting the cart before the horse.

“More importantly, the PDP is hereby reminded that making libelous allegations against the person of the INEC Chairman is actionable. The party should henceforth desist from the practice.”

The PDP had earlier yesterday, at a press conference in Abuja, accused Professor Yakubu of rigging the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

He said that the INEC boss is also planning to rig the March 18 governorship and state assembly elections starting with the re-configuration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

Source: Daily Trust.

Igbokwe, Igbo Man In Lagos Govt, Swears Igbo Cannot Be Nigeria’s Presidency Till 2039

Editorial staff

March 11, 2023

Joe Igbokwe | Photo credit: The Sun Newspapers

The Lagos State Special Adviser on Drainages, Joe Ibokwe, has sworn that his tribe had no chance of succeeding the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who he said would complete two terms in office and exit by 2031.

Igbokwe accused his fellow Igbo of not “playing the right politics,” saying that Tinubu will return for second term and hand over to a Northerner, who he said would rule from 2031 to 2039.

He described Tinubu as a good friend of the Igbo and that he did his best for prominent Igbo businessmen and women in Lagos, including him.

According to him, it is therefore payback time by voting for the re-election of Sanwo-Olu en-mass on March 18.

Igbokwe was responding to a troll who challenged him for supporting the re-election of Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu .

In a statement today, March 11, Igbokwe said: “President-Elect ASIWAJU BAT is a good friend of the Igbo and he did his best for prominent Igbo businessmen and women in Lagos including me.

“This is payback time and we should do this by voting for GOV SANWO OLU en-mass on March 18.”

Replying, the troll, a certain Ejike wrote: “Dash him your wife and daughters and enthrone him as your family deity. That’ll be adequate payback”.

Igbokwe, who was clearly angry over the statement, said: “When I see the level of despicable abuses and calling of names coming from the South East young people I run away with the thinking that we did not do our duties as parents. Shame has enveloped me from head to toes.

“Ejike Akunna jisieike, mark my words here: Asiwaju from 2023 to 2031 and another Northerner from 2031 to 2039.

“We will still be children of anger and children of hate and life goes on. We will be onlookers because we refused to play politics. Dazzol!!!”

Source: Persecondnews.

NADECO Warns Atiku, Obi: Perish The Thought Of Upturning Tinubu’s Electoral Victory

Editorial staff

March 11, 2023

The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) Renewal Group has warned the opposition parties agitating against the declaration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as president-elect to perish the thought of upturning his victory in the February 25 Presidential election in the country.

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti today, March 11, the group described Tinubu’s emergence as the best that had ever happened to Nigeria in recent times.

Its National Leader, Professor Atilade Adeeyo described the action of the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to upturn Tinubu’s victory through the tribunal as an exercise in futility.

He said that efforts by the two runners-up at the presidential election of Feb. 25, Mr Peter Obi of the LP and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, challenging Tinubu’s victory would not yield any positive result.

He advised the duo to accept defeat honourably so the country could move forward.

Adeeyo described Tinubu as a strategic and patriotic leader whose strong political structure spread across the six geo-political zones of the country.

He said Tinubu won the elections partly because “he is a beautiful bride that all Nigerians love.

“President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu has an impressive track record as a great, patriotic leader.

“He displayed this uncommon leadership trait when he served as the governor of Lagos State.

“He deployed competence and enduring capacities of a pan-Nigeria cabinet in his government to achieve giant strides in Lagos State and we all are witnesses to the awesome development that state has got,’’ he said.

Adeeyo said also that Tinubu is loved by most patriotic Nigerians because he is a builder of men and not one who pulls others down.

“This is the more reason why Nigerians will experience the best of governance under his watch as president.

“We can also assure our teeming youths to be rest assured that Tinubu will ensure that their yearnings for a greater future is taken care of when he mounts the saddle of power.

“We are standing up for our nation and Nigeria will work again. The families of those that died in the post-annulment of the 1993 presidential election will wish the annulment never happened.

“I speak for thousands of members in the NADECO Renewal Group, and urge Nigerians to allow peace to reign so that we can enjoy the renewed hope promised by the president-elect.”

Source: Vanguard.

Presidency: Tinubu Would Have Lost, Thanks To Obi’s Intervention – Keyamo

Editorial staff

March 11, 2023

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has expressed gratitude to the Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, for his entry into the contest thereby saving the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu from losing that election.

According to Keyamo, God raised Peter Obi to make Tinubu the President, saying that Obi turned out to be a means to an end for Tinubu’s emergence.

In a tweet, Keyamo wrote: “Indeed, God Almighty raised Peter Obi for a purpose: that purpose was to make @officialABAT President.

“Peter Obi was the means to an end, but not the end itself. Many Men of God, with the greatest respect to them, obviously missed this part of the visions that they saw about 2023.”

Peter Obi came third behind Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the eventual winner of the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu.

Source: Daily Post.

Gov Soludo Accuses Peter Obi Of Setting Booby Trap For His Impeachment

Editorial staff

March 11, 2023

The Anambra Governor, Charles Soludo has accused the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in th recently concluded Presidential election, Peter Obi of setting a booby trap for his eventual impeachment.

He said that for Peter Obi to called on the electorate in his state for vote massively for the LP means that with majority legislature being LP, would either work on their own or be cajoled to impeach him.

Governor Soludo spoke against the background of Peter Obi’s call last night, March 10, when he met with National and state Assembly candidates of the Labour Party in Anambra, on the assembly candidates to work with Soludo if elected into power.

The LP Presidential candidate said that Soludo should not fear being impeached by Labour Party-dominated assembly, as they would be working together to move the state forward.

But, Governor Soludo, in a reaction through his Press secretary, Chris Aburime said that the move by Obi could be deceptive.

He said: “That call was meant to deceive Anambra people. Obi can not be talking about development in Anambra and also be talking about asking Anambra people to elect lawmakers from the opposition party to work with Soludo.

“He worked with a legislature that was dominated by lawmakers from the PDP, when he first came in as governor, and he knows that it was not easy for him.

“He even suffered impeachment because of that, and we hope it is not the same thing he wants to set Soludo up for.

“Anambra people should go all out next Saturday and vote for APGA, if they want the developmental strides of Mr Governor to continue.

“You can not be talking of development and at the same time talking of electing opposition politicians into the House of Assembly, it is not done. It is deceit.

“Anambra people supported Obi during the presidential election, and besides, Soludo refused to interfere as the people trooped out to vote for Labour Party, and that was even before Soludo made the environment conducive for people to come out and vote.

“We have voted Labour Party in the presidential election, but for the House of Assembly election, we are voting for APGA, and we want Anambra people to know so.”

Though there won’t be a governorship election in Anambra on March 18 but Soludo, who belongs to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) would be fighting to have control of the state assembly amidst the Obi-influenced tsunami in Anambra State which may tilt votes in favour of Laboir Party legislative candidates.

It would be recalled Obi won 92 percent of Anambra votes in the presidential election held two weeks ago.

Source: Naija News.

Real Madrid Turn Down UEFA’s Compensation For Chaos In Champions League Final

Editorial staff

March 10, 2023

Real Madrid has turned down UEFA’s offer of compensation for supporters affected by trouble outside the Stade de France in Paris at last season’s Champions League final yesterday, March 10, describing it as “insufficient” and “restricted.”

The European champions, who won the trophy in the chaos-hit final against Liverpool on May 28, 2022, which saw fans funnelled by police into overcrowded bottlenecks and hit with tear gas, said they would not cooperate with the European football governing body’s plan.

UEFA said yesterday that they would reimburse all Liverpool supporters, as well as other spectators who were affected by trouble, with the game kicking off 37 minutes late in the French capital as fans struggled to enter the stadium.

Madrid in a statement said: “Regrettably, our club believes that UEFA’s proposal, officially announced last Tuesday, is insufficient

“It merely consists of the reimbursement of the ticket price, which is also subject to the fulfilment of a series of requirements, including providing proof of the time of access to the stadium.”

Madrid said “given the conclusiveness of the experts’ findings” they had expected compensation in line with the seriousness of the events and UEFA’s culpability.

PDP Has No Moral Right To Accuse INEC When It Violated Party’s Constitution – Gov Wike

Editorial staff

March 10, 2023

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has asked the leadership of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to stop accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of not following election guidelines.

According to him, the leaders of the party have no moral right to complain about INEC’s activities when “they blatantly refused to follow the party’s constitution.”

Governor Wike, who spoke today, March 10, at the launch of a road project in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the State, mocked the PDP leaders for staging the protest against INEC in Abuja, describing them as “student unions.”

He said that the real owners of the party will soon chase away those who made it to lose the February 25, 2023 Presidential election, describing them as “those who disobeyed the party’s Constitution.

“These people left our party in 2014-2015, our party lost; again they came back, our party has lost again.

“They have destroyed our party. We are going to chase them away from our party. They have no role to play for our party.”

Buhari Govt Will Not Annul Tinubu’s Election Like June 12 – Presidency

Editorial staff

March 10, 2023

The Presidency has said that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has no intention of annulling the February 25, 2023 Presidential election in which the Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was declared winner by the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a piece chronicling key takeaways from the President’s recently-concluded trip to Doha, Qatar, ruled out any possibility of annulling the presidential elections as was done on June 12, 1993.

He advised aggrieved candidates of the opposition parties to pursue redress in court instead of waiting for the impossible to happen.

President Buhari was in Quatar to attend the 5th United Nations summit on Least Developed Countries.

Supreme Court Renders Ex-Kano Gov Shekarau Jobless In Senate

Editorial staff

March 10, 2023

The Supreme Court has sacked by disqualification, the former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, after being re-elected as Senator.

Shekarau was declared winner of the February 25 on the platform of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

But a five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Inyang Okoro, today, March 10, ruled in a unanimous judgment disqualifying the senator-elect. The court recognized Senator Rufa’i Hanga as the party’s candidate for the 2023 general election.

Before the elections, the former Kano governor had announced his defection from the NNPP to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The apex court faulted INEC for refusing to replace Hanga with Shekarau as the NNPP candidate after he decamped to PDP.

Following Shekarau’s withdrawal as a party member and senatorial candidate, the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal had, in an earlier ruling recognized Hanga as the NNPP’s candidate for Kano Central.

However, instead of complying with the federal high court’s ruling, INEC appealed the judgment at the Appellate Court and lost.

The INEC’s appeal was dismissed, according to Justice Emmanuel Agim, who delivered the lead ruling on behalf of the supreme court, saying it “lacked merit and substance.”

Not satisfied with the judgments of the lower courts, the electoral body proceeded to the apex court to challenge the judgments which upheld Hanga as the lawful candidate of the NNPP for the Kano Central Senatorial District.

Source: Persecondnews.

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