He said: “It would be unfair before the Almighty God to say that Patience Jonathan never supported me, it will be unfair. I don’t have the blood to say somebody who supported me did not, no, I would not
Politics
APC expels Eta, extends caretaker committee tenure by six months
- Dissolves party’s structure nationwide
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has announced the expulsion of the former acting national chairman of the party, Hillard Eta, for pressing ahead with his court case against the party.
It also extended the tenure of its National Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee by additional six months.
The committee led by Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, was set up on June 25, 2020, following the dissolution of the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC).
This is coming as President Muhammadu Buhari called on the party stakeholders to return to the era where it respected informal and formal agreements reached before the formation of the APC.
Eta, who was the National Vice Chairman, South-South in the Comrade Oshiomhole’s dissolved NWC of the party, had continued to claim that he remained acting national chairman of the party despite the dissolution of the NWC.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja on Tuesday, Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai joined by his Imo and Ondo counterparts, Hope Uzodinma and Rotimi Akeredolu, disclosed the party’s decisions.
He explained that the tenure extension was to enable the committee to complete its assignment.
He said the six months period was makeup to the time lost to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NEC has also approved the dissolution of the party organs at the polling units, wards, local government, states and zonal levels as well as the non-NWC component of the NEC.
The highest decision-making body of the ruling party approved their immediate reconstitution and composition of the dissolved Excos to serve in their respective offices in a caretaker committee capacity but excluding the non-NWC members of NEC.
The party granted a blanket waiver for new members and potential members who may wish to contest for any elective position on its platform.
Reading the five-point resolution of the NEC, el-Rufai said, “National Executive Committee of the party approves the extension of the tenure of Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee led by Mai Mala Buni, which expires on December 25, 2020, for another six months period, to terminate on 30th of June, 2021. This is to enable the Caretaker and Convention Planning Committee to conclude its assignment as laid before NEC.
“NEC has also donated its powers as enshrined in Articles 13.3 Subsection 5 and 13.3 Subsection 6 of the APC Constitution to the Caretaker and Convention Planning Committee.
“The second resolution is that NEC has approved the granting of waivers to persons who have recently joined the party members and those desirous of joining the party in the nearest future. By this, such new members will enjoy all the benefits and privileges accruable by virtue of their membership of the party. So, they will be able to contest for positions in the party, they will be able to contest elections without any requirement of being members for a number of years or period of time.
“The third resolution, NEC approved the expulsion of Ntufam Hilliard Eta from the party for flaunting the directives of NEC to discontinue all litigation against the party and its members.
“The fourth resolution, NEC approved the immediate dissolution of the party organs at the polling units, wards, local government, states and zonal levels as well as the non-National Working Committee component of the National Executive Committee as well as their immediate reconstitution and composition of the dissolved Excos to serve in their respective offices in a caretaker committee capacity but excluding the non-NWC members of NEC.
“Finally, the NEC condemns in very strong terms, the call by the PDP leadership and some of their cheerleaders for the resignation of Mr President. NEC observes that security challenges though regrettable can only be addressed when all interest, civil and military, governments and opposition, security forces and indeed all citizens collaborate irrespective of party affiliation. This is not the time to politicize security.”
In his opening remarks at the meeting, President Buhari recalled that the APC was used to respecting agreements reached whether formally or informally and urged its members to return to that era.
He said, “I want to appeal to all our party members and leaders at all levels, to try and make the required sacrifices so that we are able to collectively restore our progressive and democratic political party, which can nurture and give expression to our collective dream of building a strong, united and developed Nigeria.
“May I use this opportunity to remind all of us of the need to recreate our negotiation secret of 2012, 2013 under our legacy parties. What guided our success to achieve the merger that produced the APC was the respect we were able to have for each other. In those times, decisions reached both at formal and informal consultations were respected with trusted initiatives taken and believed that they were needed to produce the required political platform that could guarantee electoral victory. Every one of us as leaders ensured that those decisions were respected.
“I have, through consultations of the caretaker committee and other leaders of the party, agree that our challenges in the party require that we take steps to rebuild the party from wards to national levels. The initiative to carry out membership registration revalidation is, therefore, necessary, membership registration revalidation will lay the foundation for reorganizing our membership from ward to local government, state and national levels.”
Chairman of the APC National Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee and Governor of Yobe State, Buni, recalled that at his assumption of office, the APC was like a theatre of war at many levels.
He said, “Conflicts reconciliation within the party: on the assumption of office at the end of June 2020, our party was a theatre of infighting both at the national level and in many states.
“Reconciliation of all the warring factions and individuals was, therefore, an important consideration for us to be able to commence the process of reconstituting the party’s leadership.”
“To achieve that, we set up a reconciliation committee across the country. Issues such as Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Enugu, Zamfara, Edo, Ondo Anambra and Oyo were either referred to one of the committees to handle directly or handled directly by the national caretaker committee.
“Tempers within our party have substantially come down although the works of our various reconciliation committees are yet to be concluded. While progress is being recorded by our respective reconciliation committees, the task of reconciliation should be continuous.”
Politics
Jonathan, wife not responsible for my success in politics – Wike
Jonathan, wife not responsible for my success in politics – Wike
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike has declared that he did not owe his successful political career to former president Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience.
Wike, who spoke on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Tuesday, said the nation’s former first couple played little or no role in his upward political tragedy.
He stated that Patience Jonathan supported him but asserted the ex-first family did not make him politically
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Wike commended Jonathan for appointing him Minister of State for Education from July 2011 to April 2014.
Politics
PDP crisis: Party leaders disagree over Atiku, Wike
PDP crisis: Party leaders disagree over Atiku, Wike
Leaders of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clashed in Abuja over those responsible for the lingering crisis in the party.
The PDP has been engulfed in crisis since the conduct of the Presidential primary of the last election won.
The crisis also contributed to the defeat of the party by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last election.
Speaking at a conference entitled “Fix PDP To Fix Nigeria” on Tuesday in Abuja, a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, blamed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as been responsible for the impasse in the party.
But the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ibrahim Abdullahi who disagreed with Ugochinyere, blamed the former Vice President Atiku for the crisis in the party.
Ugochinyere blamed the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum and the former governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike as the problem of the party.
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Ugochinyere said, “When I was coming, I saw Fix PDP to Fix Nigeria. Very fantastic. But before you fix PDP you have to fix everything that is internal. And that starts with the issue of leadership struggle. We can’t wave it aside. And let me tell you, as long as we don’t resolve these issues, the people out there are just laughing at us.
“Like basic constitutional responsibility, Article 45 and 47, a tradition that we have maintained over the years. We find it difficult to speak the truth. What is Damagum still doing? And I ask you here now, as the national chairman of the party. So let’s leave Wike out of it. Wike has taken a job to run an errand for APC. So we already know where he belongs.” He said
While blaming Atiku for the problems in the party, Abdullahi said the NWC led by Damagum is not in the pocket of Wike as alleged.
adding that Atiku should be blamed.
“We inherited the problems we are facing today. We are not in the pocket of Wike. Atiku Abubakar succeed in foisted the worse government in the person Buhari on us. Atiku left the party with all the effort many other people have done And then he surfaced again and got the ticket.
“We all rallied behind this same Atiku and we went to that election. There’s no way at the eve of that election five governors would be threatening this party and Atiku Abubakar would play that kind of levity and carelessness to say that they can go to hell.
“Aided by an Ayu, who was clearly working for something different from what we are, the problem that this present NWC is contended with Is a problem we inherited.”
PDP crisis: Party leaders disagree over Atiku, Wike
Politics
Abure remains Labour Party chairman, court tells INEC
Abure remains Labour Party chairman, court tells INEC
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja has affirmed Barrister Julius Abure as the Chairman of the Labour Party.
In a ruling on Tuesday, Justice Nwite ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Abure-led National Working Committee of the party.
Justice Nwite also validated the March 27 National convention of the party, at Nnewi, which returned Abure and other executives into office.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite said, “I am of the view and so hold that the basis of these cogent verifiable documents, the defendants’ attempt to impeach the validity of the leadership of the plaintiff fails.
The plaintiff has proved his case
“I hereby make an order compelling the defendant to accord the plaintiff’s political party under the leadership of Barrister Julius Abure all the rights and privileges accorded a political party duly registered in Nigeria.” Justice Nwite held.
The Abure-led leadership of the party had on Sept 18 accused the party’s presidential candidate in the last election and Abia state governor, Alex. Otii of betrayal, by brushing aside the leadership, and proceeding to appoint a caretaker committee, led by Senator Nenadi Usman.
Meanwhile, INEC had disowned Abure in a counter-affidavit filed at the Federal High Court Abuja in response to the party’s suit challenging its exclusion from INEC’s refresher training for uploading party agents in the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
The electoral body told the court that the exclusion was because the LP did not have a recognised leadership, as Abure’s tenure as National Chairman expired in June 2024.
According to INEC, “it only speaks to Chairmen and Secretaries of political parties,” and the party had failed to meet the standard requirements.
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Shortly after the court judgment, Abure said the court had demonstrated its stand for the rule of law, restoring him as chairman, despite pressures from the opposition.
He said “This victory is not just mine, but a victory for justice and democracy. It confirms that the rule of law prevails and that our party’s leadership remains legitimate. For this, I must first and foremost thank Almighty God for guiding us through this challenging period.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the judiciary, particularly Justice Emeka Nwite, for his courage and integrity in delivering a judgment that upheld justice and resisted external pressures. His well-articulated
judgment has restored our faith in the judiciary and given us hope for democracy in Nigeria.
“I must also appreciate Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court, who had earlier validated the Labour Party’s convention held in Nnewi. His judgment became the foundation for other rulings, reflecting the strength and fairness of our judicial system.
“Additionally, Justice C. K. Nwankwo of the Abia High Court also deserves recognition for resisting pressure and avoiding granting a kangaroo interim and interlocutory orders against me and the party. Some individuals, whose names I choose not to mention, attempted to secure these orders but failed. These judges have set an admirable precedent for upholding justice in the face of adversity and huge inducement
“They sought to restrain us, as National Executive Committee members of the party, from even speaking to the press. Thankfully, the courts technically avoided granting such orders and justice prevailed.
“Now that the court has spoken, I offer my forgiveness to those who attempted to undermine our party, engaged in character assassination and blackmail, especially of my person.
“However, in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ, I say, “I forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” Forgiveness must be accompanied by repentance and restitution.
“It is my sincere hope that those involved in these actions will reflect on their mistakes, come forward with a repentant heart, and reconcile themselves with the party. In doing so, they should also consider restitution for the damages they have caused us. Only then can we truly move forward, heal our party, and work for the common good of Nigeria.
“Be that as it may, I call on Peter Obi, the former Presidential candidate of our party to help unite the party.
“This judgment marks the beginning of a new era for the Labour Party in Nigeria.” “There is no question that the party will need restructuring and healing, but I assure you that our doors are open to all. In the coming days, we will focus on rebuilding our structures, reconnecting with our grassroots, and uniting our members. We will heal old wounds and emerge stronger than ever before. With the collective efforts of all members, we will continue to fight for the interests of the common man and the betterment of Nigeria.” he said.
Abure remains Labour Party chairman, court tells INEC
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