Adeleke: Why Police Re-Arraigned Osun Guber Candidate

The Nigerian police, on Tuesday, re-arraigned the Osun State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ademola Adeleke, on allegations of examination malpractice.

Adeleke, who was first arraigned on a four-count charge brought against him in September, for alleged conspiracy and impersonation among other offences, was re-arraigned on Tuesday, with the charges increased from four to seven-counts, still bordering on similar offences. The police have accused him of conspiring to procure illegal examination results with workers at the Ojo-Aro community grammar school and arraigned him along with a principal and three others accused of conspiring to commit the alleged crime. The police force also accused Adeleke, a serving senator, of making false documents, regarding his age and violating the exam malpractice act, CAP E15, 2004. Meanwhile, Adeleke, who contested closely with his counterpart from the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Adegboyega Oyetola, is challenging the outcome of the election which saw Oyetola emerge winner. He is accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC of colluding to ensure the candidate of the APC emerges winner in the September elections in the state.

Appeal Court Sacks Kashamu As Ogun Gubernatorial PDP Candidate

The Ibadan Division of the Appeal Court, on Tuesday, sacked Senator Buruji Kashamu and other ‘candidates’ in the Adebayo Dayo-led faction of the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). With this judgement, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu and others who emerged through the party’s primaries are now the authentic candidates of the party in the 2019 election. The three-man appeal panel set aside the judgment of a Federal High Court in Abeokuta which threw up Kashamu and his factional members as the authentic PDP candidates. The panel headed by Justice A. B. Bada, resolved the four issues raised for determination in the appeal in favour of the PDP, saying the appellants were not properly served in the case at the lower court which breached their rights to fair hearing. Both Justices Bada and N. Okoronkwo agreed with Justice H. S. Samani who read the lead judgment. The PDP had dragged the Adedayo Bayo-led faction to the appellate court to challenge the lower court judgment which threw up its candidates. They prayed the court to set aside the judgment on the grounds that they were not properly served before judgment was delivered and that the lower court judge was wrong in his judgment.

Jubilation As Fayemi Defeats Oni in Court

Jubilations broke out in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Monday as the Ado Ekiti Division of the Federal High Court dismissed the suit filed by former Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni, to challenge the eligibility of Governor Kayode Fayemi to contest in the July 14 governorship election in the state. Fayemi’s supporters and well-wishers gathered at the pavilion and Fajuyi Park to celebrate the court victory amid drumming and dancing. Oni, who was an All Progressives Congress aspirant in the election, in the suit, challenged Fayemi’s eligibility on the grounds that the governor did not resign his appointment as a minister 30 days before the party primaries and as well that he was indicted by the Justice Silas Oyewole-led commission of inquiry last year. The commission of inquiry was set up by the former Governor Ayodele Fayose to probe the finances of the state government when Fayemi was governor of the state between 2010 and 2014. Among others, Oni, through his counsel, Chief Anthony Adeniyi, prayed the court to void the votes cast for Fayemi in the primaries for refusing to resign and the indictment, withdraw the certificate of return issued to Fayemi, declaring Oni as duly nominated APC candidate and as well duly elected governor in the July 14 election. But Fayemi, though his lawyer, Chief Rafiu Balogun, who urged the court to strike out Oni’s suit for lack of merit, said Fayemi was not a public servant nor an official of the APC hence the resignation clause was not binding just as he said an Abuja court had quashed the decision of the commission of inquiry. The case, which had earlier begun at an Abuja Division of Federal High Court was transferred to Ado Ekiti last month. Security was beefed up in the court area as no fewer than 17 police pick up vans were stationed around the court in addition to an armour personnel carrier stationed at the pavilion area. Justice Uche Agomoh, while delivering her two-hour judgment on Monday, dismissed the suit for lacking in merit, saying, “I am of the firm view that the originating summons is hereby dismissed.” Agomoh, who resolved the issues for determination in favour of Fayemi, said the governor could not be disqualified on the basis of the report of the Commission of Inquiry whereby an Abuja court had quashed the indictment. The judge said: “Indictment does not satisfy the definition of conviction. He cannot be disqualified”. Agomoh also said: “The issue of 30 days resignation before election does not apply in this case,” saying the applicant’s claim that Fayemi was an official of the APC and a public servant could not be proved. According to the judge, Fayemi, as a minister of the federation was not a public servant but a political office holder and an appointee of the President, hence the 30 days resignation stipulation did not apply. Counsel to Oni in his response, said, “We are going to study this judgment to determine the next cause of action”, The Punch reports

How I Spent N400m Per State To Campaign For Buhari In 2015 – Saraki

Nigeria’s Senate President, Bukola Saraki has said the people of Kwara would not have been suffering today if they had been given enough federal appointments after he allegedly spent N400 million per state to campaign for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
Saraki said had Kwara people been given appointments, they would have been able to approve money for party supporters which would have eased their sufferings.
The Senate President was heard saying this in an audio clip while addressing Peoples Democratic Party members recently.
The audio was first posted by blogger, Kayode Ogundamisi, on his verified Twitter handle.
Saraki said during the run-up to the 2015 general elections, he campaigned for President Muhammadu Buhari in every state of the country except the six South-West states.
He said he spent between N200m and N400m per state with the hope that when the All Progressives Congress got into office, party faithful would be rewarded either financially or through appointments.
The Senate President, however, said Buhari decided to punish the people of the state by starving them of appointments.
Saraki said, “What is the benefit of people that are campaigning for the APC? What is their track record? Use me as an example. When I left the PDP for the APC in 2014 and was campaigning for the APC like never before, we went to every state to campaign with Buhari up until the election time.
“Out of the 36 states, I paid election money in 30. Some collected N300m while some collected N400m, some collected N200m. The only states, where I had nothing to do with was in the South-West.
“Even on the phone I was calling and giving banks instructions. Our thinking was that when we get elected, we would get the majority of appointments. I even told majority of you then that we shall all be going to Abuja together after the election.
“I thought some of you will be appointed to head federal agencies like road maintenance, like FERMA, NITDA, NPA and others. Because I know that if any Kwara son becomes even just the ED of UBEC, I know what he can approve from his desk. Whether N1m or N2m.
“But for the first time, since we joined politics, you have a President of the Senate or even speaker that cannot appoint a cleaner. I am not referring to board appointments like board appointment which just collect money per sitting. If you look at the agencies they appoint executive positions, what do you want me to say?”
–Punch

Buruji Kashamu Picks Reuben Abati As Running Mate

Senator Buruji Kashamu has emerged as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the Ogun State governorship election following the withdrawal of Adeleke Shittu from the race.
Shittu emerged as the governorship candidate of PDP via the primary conducted by the Bayo Dayo faction of the party in the state
However, he has allegedly withdrawn from race voluntarily for Kashamu, who represents Ogun East at the Senate.
Confirming the development, Kashamu’s media aide, Austin Oniyokor, said the leaders of the party prevailed on Kashamu to replace Shittu to brighten the party’s chances of winning the governorship poll.
However, it was gathered that the party retained former presidential spokesman Reuben Abati as the party’s deputy governorship candidate.
“The party’s stakeholders, leaders and elders met and decided that it would be better for Senator Buruji Kashamu to run if the PDP wants to win,” Oniyokor said.
“Mr Adeleke Shittu, who was at the meeting, also saw reason with them.
“I can confirm to you that Mr Shittu last week Friday signed the withdrawal letter and at the Senate he has informed INEC of his withdrawal from the race.”

David Mark’s Daughter Dumps PDP, Defects With 15K PDP Supporters To APGA

Daughter of the former Senate President, Mrs. Blessing Onuh has officially dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, after securing the ticket to run for Otukpo/Ohimini federal constituency of Benue state.
Mrs. Onuh, who moved from the PDP with over 15,000 members was received by a large crowd of supporters at the brick-wall and later drove to the Ochi’ Idoma’s palace to seek the blessings of the traditional ruler.
While in the palace with other APGA’s candidates for the forthcoming 2019 general elections, the Ochi’ Idoma, HRM, Elias Obekpa described Onuh as the favourite candidate for Otukpo/Ohimini federal constituency of Benue state irrespective of the political platform.
According to the paramount ruler, “Blessing Onuh is my respected daughter in whom I am well pleased”.
Addressing a mammoth crowd at the palace sport arena in Otukpo, the APGA candidate described the just concluded primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party as the climax of injustice and impunity.
“We all know the circumstances that drove us from the Peoples Democratic Party. It is a story of pains and regret. The so called primaries of the PDP in Otukpo/Ohimini federal constituency and other parts of the state and that of the entire Benue South senatorial district was a mirage.
“But we thank God that a truly progressive party like APGA gave us a platform to prove our worth. I can assure you that the good people of Otukpo/Ohimini will not cast their votes on the basis of political parties, but on performance and character.
“Our character and performance will speak for us on election day and no mega party will stop our moving train because we will crushed them if they dare us,” Onuh affirmed.
While interacting with journalists on the political implications of her decision to dump a political party that brought her father to limelight, Onuh said; “My family still remain my family and I love them all, but what you are witnessing today is a clarion call from my people who have stories to tell.
“The story of my people is that of neglect and deprivation. A story of dejection and lack of infrastructural development. They are beckoning on me to go and represent them in Abuja and bring back those dividends of democracy”.
Earlier in his remarks, the Zone C chairman of APGA, Hon. Joseph Ogli, expressed gratitude that the party conducted a peaceful primaries that produced what he described as “eligible candidates” for both federal House of Representatives and State Assembly.
Ogli, therefore pledged the support of the party to all candidates, assuring that his party will go into the elections in a peaceful manner, while calling on other political parties to caution their supporters.
Some of Onuh’s supporters who spoke to our correspondent stated that with the enormous support she has gotten from all quarters, the APGA candidate is coasting to victory come 2019.
One of the supporters who volunteered his name as Prince Mark Audu, affirmed that the election into Otukpo/Ohimini federal constituency of Benue state is done and dusted.
“We all gathered to show our support and appreciate her for her good gesture towards the needy and less privileged in our society. For over a decade, Blessing Onuh has embarked on meaningful projects that have impact on the life of the less privileged.
“Her projects are not newspaper projects, but reality projects that you can see, touch and feel. You can see the skill acquisition center built and equip by her, and you can equally see the number of children on her scholarship scheme,” Audu stated.
Another supporter, Mrs. Roseline Egba, described Blessing Onuh as a personification of blessings to Otukpo, noting that the traditional title bestowed on her as the “Ofianya Ki’doma” “The most highly honoured woman of Idoma land” by the Ochi’ Idoma was well deserved.

Tambuwal Now PDP Sokoto Governorship Candidate

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says incumbent Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, is the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 elections.
Tambuwal finished second behind Atiku Abubakar, who emerged the party presidential candidate at its Convention held in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State on Oct. 6.
Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, who confirmed the substitution said Tambuwal now replaces the name of Manir Dan’Iya, earlier submitted as the party flag bearer.
It was believed that Dan’Iya, who was Tambuwal’s Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, had only held the PDP governorship ticket for Tambuwal in case he (Tambuwal) lost the party’s presidential ticket.
Dan’Iya had emerged as PDP consensus candidate.
Okoye also noted that Dan’Iya, by the substitution, automatically becomes the deputy governorship candidate of the party for Sokoto state.

Cross Rivers APC Chairman Dies In Fatal Crash

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, Dr Matthew Achigbe has died in a ghastly motor accident.
Achigbe died in the accident while traveling from Ebonyi State to Obubra Local Government area in Cross River.
Sen. John Owan-Enoh, the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Cross River has described as “shocking” the death of Achigbe.
Owan-Enoh, who spoke in a telephone interview with NAN, said that Achigbe was a fine gentleman who united the party in the state.
“I am very shock at the death of Dr Achigbe. He was such a fine gentleman who worked tirelessly to unite the party in the state.
“It is regrettable for Dr Achigbe to die at this critical point in time.
“His death is a loss to his family, the state and the entire APC family. May his gentle soul rest in peace,” he said.
Also Mr Hilliard Eta, the National Vice Chairman of APC, South South, described Achigbe’s death as devastating.
“I am in a state of shock. I am completely devastated. This is a lost too much. I am not completely in charge of the right words to use now,” he said.
Also, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Hafiz Inuwa, also described the death as a big lost to the state.
“His demise is very pathetic. He was such a fine gentleman who was down to earth,” he said.

Buruji Kashamu Now Ogun State PDP Governorship Candidate

Senator representing Ogun East senatorial district at the National Assembly, Buruji Kashamu has emerged the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Ogun State in the forthcoming 2019 elections.
Kshamu will be replacing Adeleke Shittu, who emerged winner in the party primaries, to run in the coming elections. Shittu announced his voluntary withdrawal from the race.
Confirming the development, Kashamu’s  media aide, Mr. Austin Oniyokor, said the leaders of the party prevailed on Kashamu to replace Shittu to brighten the party’s chances of winning the governorship election.
Oniyokor said, “The party’s stakeholders, leaders and elders met and decided that it would be better for Senator Buruji Kashamu to run if the PDP wants to win.
“Mr Adeleke Shittu, who was at the meeting,  also saw reason with them.
“I can confirm to you that Mr Shittu  last week Friday signed the withdrawal  letter and at the Senate he has informed INEC of his withdrawal from the race.”