2015: INEC bars Delta governorship candidate plus six others from standing for elections

INEC disclosed that its decision was in line with section 187 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended)

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday rejected the submission of governorship candidates by seven political parties in different states of the federation.
According to INEC bulletin made available to newsmen in Abuja on Monday, the names of the parties and states affected as follow: Peoples Party of Nigeria in Delta State; Labour Party in Niger State; New Nigeria Peoples Party in Ogun State; Unity Party of Nigeria in Oyo State; United Democratic Party in Rivers State and the Peoples Democratic Movement in Sokoto and Zamfara States.
In a decision extract issued and signed by the Director (Commission’s Secretariat), Ishiaku Gali, the commission also approved that the House of Representatives election in Ado/Opoku/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, being uncontested, the nominated candidate should be declared elected on the day of the election by the Returning Officer.
INEC disclosed that its decision was in line with section 187 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), which “provides that a candidate to the office of a governor shall not be deemed to be validly nominated for such office, unless he appoints another candidate as his running mate who shall occupy the office of deputy governor.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, on Monday, warned Resident Electoral Commissioners to remain non-partisan and ensure credible elections next month.
Jega, who handed the warning to the RECs at his quarterly meeting with them, declared that there was the need to ensure that “they conduct, free fair and credible elections in the forthcoming general election.”
According to him: “We have to have this meeting, because it is important as we approach 2015 elections that we put head together and review where we are and so that we can take stock as we prepare adequately for the very daunting and challenging task ahead.”

Via; Nigerian Tribune.

2015: More crack in Elechi's camp as SSG and others resigns

A few weeks to the general elections in Nigeria, some prominent members of Ebonyi State, Governor Martin Elechi’s cabinet, including Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Fidelis Mbam, Commissioner for Grants and

Donor Agencies, Fred Udeogu, prominent members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and council bosses have resigned their appointments.

The resignations, Daily Independent gathered, were in sympathy to the governorship ambition of the PDP governorship candidate, Dave Umahi.

Whereas Uddeogu explained that he resigned for the reason of strange political outings of the government, Mbam kept close to his heart his reason for the action.

The commissioner in his resignation letter explained that he had watched the political situation in the state, saying that hence his advice was not needed to tackle the situation it was morally better for him to resign from the cabinet.

Udeogu who had served as Commissioner in the both Dr. Sam Ewgu and Elechi-led administrations said it would smear his integrity and standing to pretend to be in two political parties, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party at a the same time hence he had to leave the government and participate fully in the affairs of the PDP.

Two coordinators of development centres who resigned, Mr. Ogbonnaya Odi and Dr. Emma Kanadu, said they resigned their appointments so that they could freely campaign for the PDP in the elections.

In their reaction, they stated that: “We decided to resign so that we can freely support our great party, PDP. We are not members of the Labour Party but PDP. We believe that it is necessary that power should go the South senatorial district of the state and Dave Umahi is our candidate. We are with him and will support him till he becomes the next Governor of Ebonyi state”.

Feelers in some quarters revealed that by this week, about five more commissioners are likely to resign their appointments in solidarity with the PDP governorship candidate, who last week begun his campaign to the 13 local government areas in the state.

Reacting to the development, the state supervising Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Ike, described their resignations as ennobling, adding that their decision was in line with constitutional provisions for those occupying public offices.

Via; D.I

2015: PDP will end Saraki’s dynasty in Kwara – Oyedepo

 Chief Iyiola Oyedepo, the Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kwara State chapter in this interview with NEWS EDITOR (Saturday), AJIBOLA ABAYOMI, takes on the leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Senator Bukola Saraki and vowed that his party will ensure that the incumbent governor of the state, Abdulfatah Ahmed is defeated during the general elections. Excerpts…

With political giant, like Senator Bukola Saraki leading Kwara APC, do you think your party can reclaim power during the general election?


I am happy that you talked about giant and not giants in APC. Bukola Saraki’s leadership in APC is a fake one. You cannot compare him with his dad, late Chief Abubukar Olusola Saraki. In a democratic setting, no leader rules forever. With time, what you call dynasty will expire and another one will come to being. When Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu was alive in Ibadan, he was dictating the pace of Oyo State politics. When Joseph Takar was there, he was in charge of Benue State . When both of them died, their leadership died with them. Even when Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe and Tafawa Balewa died, none of their family members occupied the same political space they had. By February this year, we shall show the whole world that Bukola cannot wear that over size shoe left behind by his father except you are saying those of us in Kwara State are not human beings anymore. It was the PDP that made Bukola governor in 2003. Could he or his father have won the poll, if they had joined another party?   In 2011, when Chief Olusola Saraki was alive, he was defeated by the PDP when he chose to join another party. Don’t forget that it was the PDP that helped Bukola to defeat his dad who was the original owner of the dynasty. Even in 2011, Bukola was almost defeated before votes from the suburb rescued him during the senatorial election. Of course, he was lucky to have used the benefit of his office as governor to control the security and the electoral process. That was a sigh that the end of Saraki’s dynasty is in the offing. The current crop of politicians holding sway in Kwara State government took away the mandate given to them on the platform of the PDP to APC. However, they were not able to take away the people of the state with them to their party. To that extent, we are confident that we are going to reclaim the state during the election. The people are not happy that their mandate has been taken to the APC.

Where did the Kwara PDP get it wrong that made all the elective office holders in state except a Senator to decamp with Bukola to the APC?

The mistake was that the PDP under the leadership of Bukola was not democratic. Candidates without clout and political relevance were the ones imposed on the party.  Those types of politicians had no choice than to follow him because they were not even accepted by their own people. There is nothing on ground since Bukola became governor that will make the people of Kwara State to be so fanatical to support him and his stooge, Governor Ahmed Abdulfatal during the general election.

But how come that the big wigs in the PDP folded their arms and allowed Bukola to choose all the candidates while he was in PDP?

To be honest, when the PDP was in the hands of Bukola, the party was not democratic. When he joined the PDP, he drove those he met in the party and became an octopus. He began to take decisions alone. That was his undoing. Power intoxicates a lot such that when some people become governor, they will be behaving as if they are God onto themselves.

The APC is so confident that those of you in the PDP are just remnants of the power block in the state as such you are not a threat to the party?

They are not being honest. The only set of people that left the PDP with Bukola were commissioners and the handpicked political office holders he appointed like the Local Government chairmen, House of Assembly members, councilors and the those chopping from him. The real power brokers are still with the PDP. Immediately Bukola joined the APC, more than 80% of those that left the PDP and more 80% of those that were with him refused to defect to the APC. So the PDP is now stronger.

But how do you intend to blend all the stakeholders in the PDP given the picture you painted?

To those who are used to one man command structure, our party now is strange to them. There is strength and unity in diversity of interest. We are going to do away with the one man political culture.


But Kwarans are used to one man leadership style in politics as shown by late Olusola Saraki?

That is not the culture of Kwara people at all. We are not made to be subservient to one man. The slogan of the PDP is now freedom to the people. The reliance on one man knowledge is inimical to societal progress. That is why there has not been progress in Kwara State for years.

What will the PDP do differently if you are able to regain power?

Let me start with agriculture that has not been truly tapped into. The present governor and Bukola brought 15 Zimbabweans farmers and wasted several billion of naira on them without any meaningful achievement. We are going to ensure mechanised farming by empowering the farmers. We also have plans for the health sector. In the area of education, for over 10 years now Kwara has been scoring less than 10% in West African Examination Council (WAEC) in terms of aggregate pass mark for both English and Mathematics. The primary schools are in comatose. We shall provide for quality and affordable education and open up the rural roads. Again, we are going to ensure that there is provision of portable water in the state. In all the areas, I have mentioned the present government in Kwara State under Governor Ahmed Abdulfatal has failed.

The governor is almost four years in office, are you saying he has nothing to show for that?

You can ask anybody in the state to tell you when last they had water except through their own borehole. The governor said he renovated Omu-aran Hospital. Some people were involved in an accident and were taken to the hospital; you cannot believe that it was the relatives of the victims that bought fuel to power the generator in the hospital.  To make the matter worst, the people had to be moved to a teaching hospital in Ilorin. You can imagine the lies they tell the people. Unemployment under the present governor is on the increase. When he was building stadium, Aviation College and faking agriculture development, the people of the state were never with him or Bukola, I was in the APC. I defected to the PDP because Bukola joined the APC. If he joins the PDP today, I will run away from the party. I had written petition against him to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and other agencies, so people like us with different political ideology can never work with him.

Since the man is yet to be convicted or indicted on any of the allegations you raised against him that shows that he is innocent, why don’t you let him be?

There are lots of criminals working along the streets that the law is yet to catch up with. Governor Ahmed is from Kwara South like my humble self but he won’t win second term in office because his government made no meaning to the people in terms of infrastructure, health, education and employment. By the time we release score card on him, you will shed tears for the state. The allocation he has collected for over three and half years shows that he has underperformed just like Bukola, his predecessor whom for eight years also failed the state. It is not in the interest of the people of Kwara to vote for the APC at any level. Anybody that even leaves PDP to join the APC will be devaluing he or herself. Those with Bukola are only following him because they are chopping from him.

Some have alleged that elections have never been free in Kwara State, how are you looking forward to the poll this time around?

The machinery of rigging formerly in the hands of Bukola is no longer there. Police, Department of State Security (DSS) and other security agents will no longer give him cover. All we are asking for is a level playing ground. If the people voted APC in a free and fair manner, we will congratulate them. But by the grace of God, they will not win. There is nothing strange beaten an incumbent governor or party. That has been demonstrated in Ekiti State last year. Kwara State has depended on monthly dash from Abuja for long. If the state is unable to If the state is unable to get statutory allocation for one month, then the state government will collapse. We have a governor that cannot make the state to be financial independent after 12 years he and his masters have been in power, he is a failure. We have more than 2.5 million people to motivate for productivity in Kwara State but the governor is not creative at all. If the state government is organised, they can even live on tax. In Kwara State, government has failed in all ramifications that is why people beat up tax collectors because there is no presence of government anywhere. I am both the local government and state government where I live in Ilorin, the state capital because I provide my own water and the security called olode myself. In fact, whenever people sighted tax collectors, their thought is always that maybe the governments are not even contended with the money they are making and as such they still want to milk their pockets. You can’t blame the people because the state government is not responsive at any level.



An interview by Daily Independent.

NAPS to Fayose: Don't discriminate against HND holders

The leadership of National Association of Polytechnic Students, NAPS handed down a note of warning to the Governor of Ekiti State; H.E Ayo Fayose over his recent discrimating directive on polytechnic alumuni of which he is one.
The warning by NAPS was contained in a press release sent to our publisher by the organisation.
The full text read:
"The leadership of National Association of Polytechnic Students L, NAPS  has come out boldly to caution his excellency Gov. AYODELE FAYOSE of Ekiti State to stop any attempt to stop recognizing any certificate from the northern Nigeria institutions, this was contained in a statement issued by the association outgoing Senate President/National President Elect Comr. Salahudeen A Lukman, the association stress that such attempt can affect admission quota of the Ekiti State indigenes also stating that northern institution are the best in NIGERIAN in terms  of facilities, personnel and access to admission while reminding the governor that ekiti state has only 7 institutions which can not produce all work forces required by ekiti state only talk more of the nation, ekiti is fountain of knowledge as well land of honor the need for the Governor to jealously protect this title can not be over emphasis said Lukman. We appeal to his excellency to use his intimacy with president GOODLUCK JONATHAN to speed up the total removal of dichotomy between HND/BSC certificate in nigeria not engaging in comments and actions that is capable of distarbilising the system or rise tension in the polity as an HND certificate holder. We are much concern about Mr. AYODELE FAYOSE because he is our alumuni, haven graduated from The Polytechnic Ibadan.

Signed: Comr. Lukman Salahudeen,
NAPS outgoing Senate President/National President elect.

UNILAG Lifts ban on Students' Unionism as new students matriculates

Authorities of the University of Lagos on Friday said they had lifted the ban on students’ unionism.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon Bello, made the announcement at the institution’s 2014/2015 matriculation in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the students union was proscribed in 2005 under the former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, sequel to a violent students’ unrest.
NAN reports that the vice-chancellor’s lodge was attacked during the mayhem.
According to Bello, university education should offer opportunity for well-rounded development.
He said: “You are leaders of tomorrow and as such, opportunity for leadership development should be unrestricted.
“With the recent endorsement of the University of Lagos Students’ Union Constitution, the authority of the institution has approved the unbanning of full students’ union activities at the university.”
Bello directed the Dean, Students’ Affairs, to immediately commence arrangements for the election of the Students’ Union executives, in line with the new constitution.
He, however, urged the students to guard against anything that was capable of bringing back “the dark days”.
The vice-chancellor said that of the 61,931 candidates who applied during the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, and 4,361, from the Direct Entry platform, only 26,641 scored 200 and above.
He said that 15,597 candidates wrote post-UTME of the university.
Bello said 5,796 candidates were offered provisional admission in the UTME category and 2,805 in the direct entry category, making a total of 8,601.
The vice chancellor, however, said that after a thorough screening exercise, only 6,644, representing 10 per cent of the total number of applicants, scaled the registration procedures.
He advised the students to be good ambassadors of their families, alma maters, departments, faculties and the university at large.

Finally Buhari's WAEC Result is Out, fails Mathematics

PREMIUM TIMES has obtained a copy of secondary school certificate examination results belonging to Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The media house obtained the computer printout from Cambridge University as well as a statement of result, signed by the current principal of Katsina College, dated January 21, 2015.

Congratulations to all APC supporters as we believe this exposure will finally put a stop to the media war between PDP and APC, occassioned by the result controversy.

Nekede Polytechnic Inaugurates SUG Executives 2014/2015 (+PHOTOS)

The entire management and students of Federal Polytechnic Nekede gathered today at the ETF 500 seating capacity hall to witness yet another inauguration of the Student Union Government Executives of the institution for the 2014/2015 session.
The outgoing President; Comr. D'jenere Emmanuel charged the incoming executives to shun material benefits and always stand by the Nigerian Students at all time. Responding, the newly inaugurated President; Comr. Iwulu Ugochukwu assured the students of improved welfare. The management of the institution, speaking through the Rector, as represented by the Registrar assured the executives of continuous cooperation from the management end.
The outgoing executives were presented with merit certificates.
NANS was represented in the inauguration ceremony by NANS National PRO; Comr. Nwankwo Ezekiel, NANS Zone B Coordinator; Comr. Okorie Ikechukwu, NANS Zone B PRO; Comr. Pedro Chibuzo Obi and NANS Zone B Director of Mobilization; Comr. Victor Nwagwu and others.

 Dean of Students Affair

 Registrar Representing the Rector

Cross-section new executives

SUG Executives taking oath of Office

Outgoing Executives

SUG Parliamentarian (SRC) taking oath of Office

 SUG Judicial Arm taking Oath of Office

Outgoing President (D'jenere Emmanuel)

Certificate of Merit

Newly inaugurated President

Pedro Chibuzo, Okorie Ikechukwu and Nwankwo Ezekiel (NANS Officials)

DELTA 2015: Izeze dedicate victory to God (+PHOTOS)

Comr. Izeze Rume Reuben, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP House of Assembly candidate for Ughelli South constituency, on sunday dedicated his victory as the party standard flag bearer. Appreciating God for his victory in the party primaries and subsequent presentation of party flag as standard flag bearer of the People's Democratic Party PDP to represent the good people of Ughelli-South Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly in the 28th February 2015 General Elections. The thanksgiving service was held at the Christ Missionary Crusaders Church, Oginibo Town, Local Government Area of Delta State.

The thanksgiving which was tagged ‘God's Own Time Is Now Thanksgiving’ saw several clergy men, party leaders, community leader, men, women, youths across the local government and beyond turn out en mass to celebrate with their son and brother because before now there had been rumor of name changing by one Mr Despirado.

The occasion was also graced by different bodies, among them are, the Ughievwen Council of Chiefs, Team Izeze, Izeze Grassroot Movement, Concern Ughievwen Women In Politice, Ughievwen Political Assembly, Believer's Council, National Association of Delta State Students, National Association of Nigeria Students.
Comr. Izeze, in his thanks to God told the congregation that it has been God all the way and all power belongs to God. He dedicated the party flag to God.

He said “Ughelli-South under my leadership will be more united as I am putting everything in place to see more united and better Ughelli-South as I promise to run an open door administration. With unity and cooperation whatever Ughelli-South demands for can be achieved, but in disunity we cannot succeed.”

Comr. Izeze who was overwhelmed by the large turnout commended all the people who came to thank God with With him especially those who came from far as he prayed to God to grant them journey mercy to their various destination.

On his part, Rev. Ogheneruemu Okoro, the residing Pastor of Christ Missionary Crusaders Church In't admonished Izeze to lead by example when elected, by living a life worthy of emulation as to encourage the entire Delta State. He further urged congregation to have the spirit of humility charging them to always humble and respect everyone.

Speaking to newsmen, the Public Relations Officer of NANS Zone B; Comr. Pedro Chibuzo Obi, posited that the emergence of Comr. Izeze who once occupied this office as the Zonal PRO of NANS, has once again rekindled the hope of the youths of this country who for years has been wickedly pampered as the leaders of tomorrow, yet the tomorrow refuse to come, Izeze haven broken the barrier, we can now say that the tomorrow is here with us. Continuing, Comr. Pedro called on all Nigerian Students/Youths in Ughelli South to go get their PVC and rally round Izeze in order to deliver him come 28th February 2015 as his victory is non-negotiable.

In a chat with journalist, Comr. Izeze in his word “I will bring to the good people of Ughelli-South whatever is due for them, I will make laws the will better the lives of my people”

The thanksgiving was attended by dignities across the state, among whom were Dr & Mrs. Chris Ogehenchiovwen, Chief Francis Aguonigho, Prof. G.G Darah, Chief (Dr) A.P Fovie, Chief Moses Orhokpor, Comr. Ologe Elijah, Prince Okiemute Oviri, Evang & Mrs Johnson Baro, Barr. Edewor Omonemu, Comr. Michael Akpobire Olorogun & Olorogun(Mrs) Itietie Benson, Sir (Engr) & Mrs Isaiah Kekej, Hon. Eunice Okoh-Oguma, Elder Dan Pel and of course the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Students Matters; Comr. Ohwofarador Oghenewegba.

2015: Submit your PVC, Bishop Oyedepo orders Church members

We read that members of Winners Chapel arrived church on Sunday armed with their Permanent Voters Cards on the orders of their pastor, Bishop David Oyedepo.

Oyedepo reportedly told them during a mid-week service to bring their PVCs to church for prayers ahead of the forthcoming elections in February.

PM news reports that at the end of the service, Oyedepo asked his congregation to bring out their voters cards and drop it on the floor.

They were then asked to pray against election violence.

His prayer: “It shall be crisis-free, no bloodletting and war…No angel of the devil shall be elected into power at all levels…Enough is enough!

“All perpetrators of war must go into silence. No agent of the devil shall find its way. Every seed of stagnation is declared broken.”

PDP to INEC: Disqualify Ambode Now

The PDP has called for the disqualification of the APC's governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode for flauting the electoral act, spending well above the governorship ceiling.

                                                                            Akinwunmi Ambode

According to the PDP, Ambode is breaching Section 91 of the Electoral Act 2010 (amended), which stipulates a maximum amount of N200,000,000 as the fund permitted for governorship candidates to spend in an election.

The PDP says their intelligence report shows that Ambode has spent more than N6.7 billion in campaigns.

The party also stated that incumbent Governor Babatunde Fashola flouted the Electoral Act and INEC's civil campaigning rules with his incessant attacks on its candidate, Jimi Agbaje.
The party also accused the incumbent Governor Babatunde Fashola of flouting the Electoral Act and INEC rules on civil campaigns by always attacking its governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje, at APC rallies.

“Consequently," said the party, "the PDP has called on EFCC to interrogate Ambode whilst demanding that INEC should summarily disqualify him from contesting at the polls."

“These, we assert, have been made possible by the over N32 billion local government funds for three months now diverted into the Ambode campaigns.”

“We are not worried that Ambode’s campaign is aggressive. It in fact suggests that the APC has nothing to be comfortable about in their governance for 16 years.

“We are, however, uncomfortable because Ambode has spent over N6.7 billion on his campaigns and this fund is made available by Fashola, who is now starving the local government councils”

“Fashola is very unfair to Lagosians. He has abandoned governance and is now attending rallies with Ambode. Laughably, he does not see any achievement to mention at such rallies but to cast aspersions on our candidate, Jimi Agbaje. He has deployed all state advantages to support Ambode. We call on well meaning Lagosians to condemn this actions.”