Hate campaign: Push APC into Atlantic Ocean, Agbaje tells Igbo

The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has urged Igbo across the state to push the All Progressives Congress ‘into the lagoon’ by voting for him on Saturday.

Agbaje said this while addressing Igbo traders at the Alaba International Market on Thursday.

The PDP candidate urged them to ignore the threats made by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, that if they do not vote for the APC governorship candidate on Saturday, they would die in the lagoon.

“Nobody can push you into the Atlantic Ocean. Rather, you should use your votes to push the APC into the Atlantic Ocean by voting massively for the PDP on Saturday,” Agbaje said.

He urged the people to ignore the scare tactics being marshalled by the APC, saying, it was the antics of a drowning party.

Agbaje said, “Election is like a snake. You have to make sure you win by killing the snake completely by using your votes to drive the APC out of power. The reason why they are harassing you is because they fear Igbo votes. They will try to do ‘shakara’ for you but you must vote massively for the PDP and protect your votes.”

Agbaje, who was accompanied by his running mate, Alhaja Safuratu Abdulkarim; and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, said the APC had become arrogant because the party had been in power for too long.

He said, “In the last 16 years, the APC has been full of arrogance. This arrogance must end once and for all. Saturday is the time to say enough is enough.”

Counselling the audience to eschew violence and refuse to be intimidated at the polling venue, Agbaje urged them to guard their votes.

He said, “God is on our side and power will change hands on Saturday and life will be better for you and your businesses. There will be no oppression again because this election is about freedom from bondage.”

Ekiti APC lawmakers to CJ: Raise probe panel for governor Fayose, deputy

The 19 All Progressives Congress members of   the Ekiti State House of Assembly have written to the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, asking him to set up a panel to investigate the allegations contained in their impeachment notice to Governor Ayodele Fayose.

The seven-member panel which should be constituted   within seven days of the receipt of the letter is to investigate allegations of impunity, violence, stalking and other constitutional breaches the lawmakers levelled against Fayose and his deputy,   Kolapo Olusola.

The legislators reached the resolution at a special sitting presided over by their   Speaker,   Adewale Omirin, at the Mary Hills Boys’ High School, Ado Ekiti.

According to a statement by Omirin’s media aide,   Wole Olujobi, the lawmakers, in a unanimous vote, supported the motion directing the chief judge to set up the panel.

The Majority Leader, Churchill Adedipe, who explained on Thursday that the sitting ought to have taken place in the hallowed chamber on April 7, 2015, said they were waylaid by political thugs who mounted roadblocks and threatened their lives.

Due to the violence, he said, they jettisoned the plan to go to the assembly.

He said, “Relying on Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Adedipe moved the motion empowering the CJ to set up the panel.

“His motion was seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Adetunji Orisalade, representing Ido/Osi Constituency II.

“The Assembly adjourned to the next legislative day.”

The lawmakers relied on Section 101 of the 1999 Constitution as amended which empowers the Assembly to regulate its sittings, including sitting in a public building within the state capital if the lives of members are not safe.

The CJ could not be reached by our correspondent in the state but the Chief Registrar of the state High Court, Obafemi Fasanmi, said he was not aware of the lawmakers’ letter.

Journalists, who   visited the school, were told by students that they saw no strange faces in their school on Thursday.

However, Fayose has argued that no sitting of the   assembly took place on Thursday as claimed by the APC lawmakers.

The governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said, “The State House of Assembly is on recess. No sitting   took place in the House of Assembly.

“Kindly disregard information being circulated by the APC that their lawmakers are sitting somewhere in Ado Ekiti.

“Of course, members of the House of Assembly can gather anywhere in the world to have social or political meetings.

“Parliamentary business is done in the hallowed chamber of the House of Assembly.

“Besides,   Omirin, who claimed to be the speaker of the   assembly was impeached on November 20, 2014 and he is in court, challenging his impeachment.”

Fayose and   Olusola had during the week raced to a Federal High Court in Abuja to stop   the APC legislators from going ahead with the impeachment process.

But they met a brick wall as the judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, turned down their request and granted only the prayers contained in their ex parte application relating to the service of the court processes on the defendants.

Fayose and Olusola, in the ex parte application, asked for an interim order stopping   the impeachment notice served on them and the moves to remove them from office.

Rather than granting the prayers for interim injunction, Justice Mohammed ordered the defendants in the suit, including   Omirin, and the CJ,   to appear in his court on April 16.

The APC has however   reacted to the rejection of Fayose’s request to stop   impeachment proceedings against him, saying that it was laughable that the governor who once desecrated the judiciary could approach the same institution to protect him from his “illegal acts.”

It also expressed surprise that the governor could approach the FHC in Abuja for protection over a matter that happened in Ekiti after lampooning the party. It recalled that Fayose once ridiculed it for approaching the same court in Jos, Plateau State, while seeking protection from his harassment and attacks.

The APC added in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, that the governor was confused on how to handle his cases in court, having desecrated the state judiciary and instigated its workers to refuse to resume   duties.

It said, “Fayose didn’t allow Ekiti courts to function and he declared the state Chairman of the APC, Olajide Awe, wanted over a phantom murder charge.   Awe obtained an injunction against his arrest from a FHC in Jos, which the governor referred to as a ‘‘black market injunction.’’

“He has now run to Abuja to get an injunction to restrain the 19 lawmakers from impeaching him but the court in its wisdom has turned this request down.”

Also, the APC Elders Forum,   declared that there was no escape route for Fayose beacuse he had “serially breached the constitution, desecrated the esteemed office he occupies and should be ready to face the consequences of his actions.”

The Publicity Secretary of Ekiti APC Elders Forum, Bayo Orire,   therefore warned the military and the police against being used to hinder the lawmakers from carrying out their constitutional functions.

The forum also congratulated   Buhari on his victory in the March 28 presidential poll.

Also on Thusday,   the Ekiti Justice Forum   urged Fayose to respond to the impeachment notice served on him by the lawmakers with maturity and all sense of responsibility.

The forum which   called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the House of Assembly election, accused the governor of worsening the political crisis in the state.

In a statement by its Chairman, Sesan Fatoba; Secretary, Dare Owotomobi; and Director of Publicity, Ojo Andrews, the group advised the governor to know that no amount of impunity could solve any constitutional crisis.

It said, “The political tension created in the last few days by the move of the 19 Ekiti State House of Assembly members to commence impeachment process against Governor Fayose has been made worse by the negative response of the governor.

“The majority of the Ekiti State House of Assembly members being hunted by Governor Fayose are candidates in the April 11, 2015 election.’’

Letter to the Chief Judge

Ekiti monarchs urge peace

The state Council of Traditional Rulers has also advised Fayose and the APC lawmakers to sheathe their swords for peace to be restored in the state.

The monarchs, in a communique read by their   Chairman and the Onitaji of Itaji Ekiti, Oba Adamo Babalola, lamented that their troubleshooting efforts   were frustrated by both parties.

They advised that since the parties were in court, any discussion or action by   them would be subjudice.

The communiqué read in part,   “This position stalled all further deliberations and efforts to find an amicable settlement of the matter.

“The recent development in our dear state is a source of concern and embarrassment to all well-meaning people of Ekiti State.

“It is unfortunate that the incident which resulted in the death of one Mr Modupe Olaiya of Efon Alaaye could have been avoided.

“Council appreciates the representations from various individual groups, and associations such as, the Ekiti State Council of Elders, the labour unions, both serving and retired, religious leaders, business and professional bodies for their concerns and suggestions.

“Council hereby appeals to all political gladiators to sheathe their swords, eschew violence and give peace a chance, as we believe that violence cannot solve the problems at hand.”

The monarchs called on the law enforcement agencies to ensure the security   of lives and property during and after the April 11   elections.

The council said it would soon convoke an expanded meeting of stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the face-off.

Police commissioner redeployed

The state Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, has however been redeployed.

He has been replaced with   Emmanuel Ibine.

Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, disclosed this in an interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja on Thursday.

Ojukwu, an acting commissioner of police, said the redeployment is with immediate effect.

The PUNCH had earlier learnt on Thursday that an   Assistant Inspector-General of Police, M. J. Gana, was directed to take charge of the state during the elections and until violence in the state abated.

When contacted on the redeployment of Lakanu, the Peoples Democratic Party Publicity Secretary in the state, Joseph Adaraniwon, said, “We have no problem with the deployment. The power to redeploy is with the Police authorities.”

Adaraniwon’s APC counterpart, Taiwo Olatubosun, could not be reached for comments.

Ekiti State has been embroiled in crisis since the declaration of Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) of the APC as the winner of the March 28 election.

Gunmen had   attacked the APC secretariat and some members of the party in the state.

The APC members had just returned from Ado Ekiti where they had gone to celebrate the victory of   Buhari when thugs attacked them.

The party petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, over attacks.

The petition   by the state Secretary of the party, Paul Omotoso, was also sent to the National Human Rights Commission;   the AIG in charge of   Zone Eight in Lokoja;   Lakanu and the State Director of the Department of State Services, Samuel Tamuno.

Fayose also sent a   petition to the IG , accusing an APC   lawmaker of firing the shot that killed Olaiya in Efon Alaye on Tuesday.

Fayose, in the petition, urged Abbah to investigate the role of policemen in the killing.

Jonathan's wife desperate to rig rivers poll says Amaechi

AHEAD of the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections, the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has accused the wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, of pressurising the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to rig the governorship election in the state.

Amaechi, who observed that President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife was in Okrika, her hometown, for the governorship election, hoped that there would not be a repeat of alleged electoral malpractices that happened on March 28 in the state.

The governor, who spoke during a stakeholders’ meeting on Thursday in Port Harcourt, said the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mrs. Gesila Khan, already had a mindset of delivering the state to the Peoples Democratic Party.

He said the governorship candidate of the PDP, Chief Nyesom Wike, must answer for the killings in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

Amaechi insisted that INEC must make available original result sheets at all polling units and called on the people of the state not to allow the election to hold without result sheets.

“The reason for this meeting is to let you know that what happened on the 28th of March, 2015 may or may not repeat itself. Few days ago, I said it would not repeat itself. But as at this morning, there are enormous pressures on the security operatives by the wife of the President.

“There is also enormous pressure on INEC by the wife of the President. I hope that they will not repeat the hijacking of results that we witnessed on March 28. In most of the local government areas, if not all, there were no result sheets. This time around, I hope they will bring the result sheets to the different units. I hope they will not forget the result sheets at the collation centre.

“For me as the governor of Rivers State, what is material to me is that we want to see the result sheets. We want to ensure that as we vote, our votes will count. Most of you have been asking this question; who will take over from me? I told you that we don’t want anybody to force a candidate on us.

“We don’t want people to be made governor because they want to share our resources. That is not what we want. We want to be allowed to vote and let our votes be counted. Let the wife of the President stay in her house. She should not force a candidate on us.

“They should tell her that security agencies have assured us that they will allow votes to count. I assure you that the security agencies will not be biased and I hope that the security agencies will keep to that. I hope that the woman posted here as the Resident Electoral Commission would know that her responsibility is not to allow anybody to see the result sheets,” Amaechi said.

Calling on the electorates not to allow anybody to intimidate them, Amaechi explained that communities should use the Ubima (his community) formula by locking down their villages to ensure that nobody would steal their votes.

He warned that INEC should not endanger the lives of its members of staff by deliberately withholding the results sheets or failing to do what was expected of them according to the law.

Amaechi urged communities not to allow any INEC official to leave until the right actions were taken in order to ensure a free and fair election.

“Anywhere there is no result sheets, don’t allow the election to hold. Basically, I don’t mind the fact that almost all those employed by INEC in the state; collation officers, electoral officers, are PDP members.

“There will be no boycotting, there will be no refusal to vote. I hope only the right persons will be there to do the job and the result sheets will be available. If not, the Rivers State Government cannot determine what happens in the communities,” he added.

The governor, however, announced the ban on the use of commercial motorcycles in areas such as Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Abua/Odual, Ahoada East and Ahoada West, described as hot spots until after the elections.

Cautioning those in the habit of fomenting trouble in the state to know that power had changed hands at the centre, Amaechi restated that those involved in politically- motivated killings in the state would face the law before the end of his administration.

He disclosed that three persons had been arrested in connection with politically- motivated killings in the state, adding that about 400 All Progressives Congress members that were arrested on trumped-up charges had been released.

PDP workers on strike for unpaid salary

Things appear to be working in the wrong direction for the Peoples Democratic Party as cleaners working at its national headquarters in Abuja have embarked on indefinite strike over unpaid salaries.

The cleaners had been complaining that the national leadership of the party refused to pay them their salaries in the last four months.

The cleaners said they had hoped that the leadership of the party would use part of the billions of naira it raked from the sale of expression of interest forms to its candidates to settle their arrears of salaries.

However, when the party paid some of those it owed on Wednesday and refused to settle the cleaners whose salaries were in the range of N14, 000 per month, they decided to embark on a strike.

It was observed on a visit to the national headquarters of the party located at Wuse Zone 5, Abuja on Thursday,that the building and its surroundings were unkempt.

One of the cleaners, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “We have decided to boycott the cleaning activities of both the offices and the premises of this secretariat until we are paid the three months salaries the party owes us.

“We need to take this action because since the party lost the presidential election to the All Progressives Congress, we have not been seeing majority of the members of its National Working Committee.

“We don’t even know if the party will continue to function as it used to be due to the loss.”

When contacted, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, said he was in the South-East for the Saturday’s governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.

“Because of this, I may not know what you are saying,” he said, adding that he was in the zone to ensure success for the party.

Meanwhile, Metuh has said that the PDP is poised to win more states on Saturday despite the fallout of the presidential election.

AIGs, CPs redeployed to provide security during govenorship poll

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, has deployed Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to supervise the April 11 governorship election in some states of the federation.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, on Thursday explained that six Deputy Inspectors-General of Police had also been redeployed to coordinate police activities in the six geo-political zones.

The redeployed AIGs are, Aigusman Gwary (Abia); Olufemi Adenaike, (Kwara); Mbu. J. Mbu (Ogun); Patrick Dokumor (Kaduna); Tambari Mohammed (Jigawa); Mohammed Abubakar (Gombe); Ikemefuna Okoye (Oyo); Tunde Ogunsakin (Rivers); and Jubril Adeniji (Bauchi).

Others are, Yerima Irimiya (Imo); Adisa Bolanta (Akwa Ibom); Lawal Tanko (Lagos); Ballah Nasarawa (Benue); Musa Daura (Edo); Aderele Shinaba (Plateau ); and Bala Hassan (Sokoto).

The Commissioners of Police redeployed for election duties to states are,   Sam Okaula (Anambra); E. J. Ibine (Ekiti); Adamu Mohammed (Enugu); and Valentine Ntomchukwu (Osun).

The statement added that the IGP had also deployed a Commissioner of Police to command each of the senatorial districts of Gombe, Bauchi, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Benue, Edo, Plateau and Sokoto states.

For Rivers State, the IGP had redeployed the 32 Units of Police Mobile Force; 4 Units of Counter terrorism Units; 4 Units of Special Protection Units and 6 Crack Teams of Detectives from Force Criminal Investigation Department and complements of intelligence officers, to beef up security in Rivers State.

Meanwhile, Abba, has ordered restriction of vehicular movement in 36 states from 8am to 5pm during the elections on Saturday.

A statement by Ojukwu on Thursday in Abuja explained that the measure was to ensure safety and security during the polls.

According to the statement, “There is no restriction of vehicular movement in the Federal Capital Territory as there is no election taking place there on the said date.”

It added that the restriction excluded “vehicles on essential duty such as Fire Service, ambulances and vehicles used by the Independent National Electoral Commission and law enforcement/security agencies.’’

The statement assured members of the public that adequate security logistics and manpower had been deployed to achieve conducive atmosphere for the polls.

It said that policemen on election duty had been properly briefed on their roles as stipulated in the Electoral Act.

It said, “They are expected to be professional, non-partisan, civil but firm in their approach and relation to the public.’’

It called on the citizens to remain vigilant and report all suspicious movements or dealings to appropriate police authority.

Governor Akpabio refused APC use of stadium for campaign

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, has refused the All Progressives Congress the use of Uyo Township Stadium for the hosting of President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

Buhari was scheduled to visit Akwa Ibom on Thursday, but as the state government denied the APC use of the Uyo Township Stadium, the visit had to be postponed till after the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.

The letter denying the APC the use of the stadium emanated from the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Youth and Sports, dated April 7, with ref. No. MYS/AD/146/VOL. 11/142 and made available on Thursday.

The letter, which was signed by Mr. Nse Edem, on behalf of the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Akan Uko, stated that the request to use the stadium was denied because the Peoples Democratic Party in the state had applied to use it earlier.

“I am directed to refer to your letter of April 6, 2015 on the request for the use of Uyo Township Stadium and to inform you that the ministry had already approved the use of the stadium to the Peoples Democratic Party on April 9.

“You are by this letter please requested to look for any other alternative venue since the stadium had already been booked and would not be free for April 9.”

Reacting to the development, the Head of Media and Publicity, Umana Okon Umana Campaign Organisation, Mr. Iboro Otongaran, said the President-elect would not visit the state as scheduled due to the denial of the APC the use of the venue.

He said that efforts to get alternative venue had proved abortive as the party was so confident that the Uyo township stadium would be approved.

He called on the APC supporters not to worry, but to go out en masse on Saturday to vote for Umana as Akwa Ibom governor and all other APC candidates in the state House of Assembly.

Governor sabotaging the use of card readers for saturday poll says INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission has accused a governor from the North-Central geo-political zone of working against the use of card readers for Saturday elections.

The commission in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the chairman of the commission, Mr. Kayode Idowu, in Abuja on Thursday, asked the unnamed governor to stop the misleading act.

Idowu said the action of the governor could amount to electoral offence.

Apart from the governor, he said some political leaders were also in the habit of telling voters that card reader would not be used for Saturday’s polls.

Idowu said that only those with the Permanent Voter Card would be attended to by officials of the commission during the elections on Saturday.

The statement said, “INEC has received reports that some political leaders are asking members of the public to disregard its stated resolve to use PVCs and Smart Card Readers for the April 11, 2015 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.

“A particular state governor in the North-Central geo-political zone is reported to have assured voters in the state that they could come out to vote on election day with Temporary Voter Cards if they do not have the PVC, and that INEC will not be allowed to insist on the use of SCRs for voter accreditation.

“Members of the public are strongly advised to disregard false assurances that contradict the regulations INEC has outlined for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.

“The commission reaffirms that only voters with genuine PVCs should come out to the polling units on election day, and that guidelines issued on the use of SCRs for the April 11 elections will be strictly applied.”