Politics

I shunned Obiano’s assignment for denying me bullet proof car –Deputy

Published

3 years ago

October 30, 2021

Dr Nkem Okeke

Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr Nkem Okeke, has said he will not resign from office despite his recent defection to the All Progressives Congress from the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

Okeke also accused the governor of treating him unfairly.

The deputy governor, who visited his office at Government House, Awka, for the first time after his defection, told journalists that he would continue to hold office until March 17, 2022 when his joint ticket with Governor Willie Obiano, would expire.

He disclosed that he was under pressure to resign but would not do so because his defection was in the overall interest of the state.

“Some people have asked me to resign, but I will not resign. The decision I made to join the APC is in my interest, the interest of my family and also in the best interest of members of the constituency I represent.

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“I was elected on the same ticket with the governor of Anambra State, and I did not beg him to choose me as his running mate for a second time. He came to me and said I would run with him for a second term and we won. I’m the only deputy governor in the state that did a second term.”

Okeke said he joined APC because he saw a brighter future for himself, the state and the Igbo in a political party that belonged to the centre.

He further noted that he decided to leave APGA because he was sidelined from the state affairs to extent that he didn’t know of anything happening in a government where he held the number two position.

While thanking the governor for giving him some exposure politically, Okeke said, “Within the period I have been deputy governor, I have been very loyal to my boss, but I was unfairly treated, so I decided to leave the party.

“For four years, I drove one Prado Jeep. At a stage, I was the only deputy governor in the country who drove a Prado. I was loyal to him and represented him in a lot of places. The only time I refused to represent him was when Dr Chike Akunyili was killed. And when he sent me to Enugu, I told him I needed security and also a bullet proof , and when he didn’t provide that, I decided not to go.”

Speaking on allegations that he was lured with a huge sum of money to join the APC, Okeke said, “I was already thinking of joining the APC after my tenure as deputy governor, but when APC members came to me and I told them so, they said it was better for me to join now, as I could add value . I gave them three conditions and they accepted.”

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Politics

Court reinstates members of dissolved Benue APC executive

Published

22 hours ago

November 29, 2024

Trends Admin

Court reinstates members of dissolved Benue APC executive

A Makurdi High Court has ordered the reinstatement of Austin Agada and other elected executives of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Benue chapter, whose tenures were terminated by the party’s national working committee.

The presiding judge, Justice Tertsegha Kume, gave the order on Thursday in his verdict in a suit filed by Agada and eight others against APC.

Mr Agada and the eight others challenged the abrupt termination of their tenure in office as Benue executives of the party.

They dragged the party to court to determine whether it was right to terminate their tenures midway without giving them a fair hearing.

The plaintiff’s counsel, M. T. Alyebo, told the court that the party’s NWC was wrong to disregard the provisions of Articles 12(11), 17(i), and 21.1 of the Constitution of the APC 2022 (as amended).

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Mr Alyebo argued that the NWC decision was also in contravention of Section 223(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) by not giving them a fair hearing before unlawfully terminating their tenures.

He therefore urged the court to make an order reinstating his clients until the expiration of their tenures on February 2, 2026.

However, counsel for APC, Matthew Burkaa, urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the court had no jurisdiction over the matter as it was an internal affairs of the party.

The presiding judge, however, dismissed the argument of the respondents’ counsel and granted the reliefs sought by the applicants.

He declared that the tenure of office of Agada and other elected executives of the APC in Benue is still valid and subsisting till the completion of four years.

Court reinstates members of dissolved Benue APC executive
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Politics

PDP suspends lawmaker over alleged insubordination

Published

2 days ago

November 28, 2024

Trends Admin

PDP suspends lawmaker over alleged insubordination

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State has suspended Habibu Umar, the lawmaker representing Kirfi Constituency in the State House of Assembly, for alleged insubordination.

In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, PDP State Chairman Samaila Burga confirmed Umar’s suspension, barring him from all party activities until further notice.

The decision was based on findings that Umar violated sections 58 (9) (1) and (f) of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended).

According to the letter, Umar was issued a query on November 5, 2024, following accusations of misconduct. A disciplinary committee was subsequently established on November 11 to investigate the matter.

After a thorough review, the committee found Umar guilty and recommended his immediate suspension under sections 59 (4) and (5) of the party’s constitution.

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The suspension, which was signed by members of the Beni Ward EXCO, highlights the party’s commitment to enforcing discipline and upholding its internal regulations.

“Effective from today, November 25, 2024, Hon. Habibu Umar is barred from participating in any party activities until further notice,” the chairman stated.

In another development, a former member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Adamu Bello, has officially rejoined the PDP after leaving the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Bello, a founding member of the APC in Bauchi State and a key figure in the Bauchi North Senatorial District, served as the Sole Administrator of Giade Local Government Area.

The former APC leader, who played a crucial role in securing a victory for the APC in Giade LGA during the last general elections, cited the ongoing support of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, for his people as the primary reason for his decision to return to the PDP.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Adamu Bello explained that his constituents urged him to join the PDP in order to better advocate for the community’s interests.

“I have always been a voice for my people, and they have asked me to take this step so that we can continue to progress,” Bello remarked.

PDP suspends lawmaker over alleged insubordination

Politics

Breaking: Supreme Court affirms Sly Ezeokenwa as APGA National Chairman

Published

3 days ago

November 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Sly Ezeokenwa

Breaking: Supreme Court affirms Sly Ezeokenwa as APGA National Chairman

The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, affirmed Mr. Sly Ezeokenwa as the authentic National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

A five-member panel of the apex court, in two unanimous judgements, invalidated Chief Edozie Njoku’s claim to the national leadership position in the party.

It held that its earlier verdict on the appeal marked: SC/CV/687/2021, delivered on October 14, 2021 and corrected on March 24, 2023, which Chief Njoku purportedly relied on to lay claim to APGA Chairmanship, did not confer any enforceable rights on him.

In the lead decision that was read by Justice Stephen Adah, the apex court stressed that the reliefs it granted on the protracted APGA leadership tussle, in 2021, were only declaratory and not executory.

The court noted that it particularly held that that issue of leadership or who becomes the Chairman of a political party, was an internal matter that is not justiciable.

Justice Adah held that it was wrong for Njoku to have gone before the lower court to enforce a judgement that had nothing to be enforced as no executory relief was granted to him.

He faulted the lower courts for wrongly relying on the previous decision of the Supreme Court to declare Njoku as the National Chairman of APGA.

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Consequently, Justice Adah vacated the judgement the Court of Appeal in Abuja delivered on June 28, 2024, which upheld the verdict of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory that declared Njoku as the National Chairman of APGA.

Besides, the Supreme Court awarded a fine of N20million each, against two members of the Njoku-led faction of APGA that were listed as 1st and 2nd respondents in the matter.