NNPP deputy governorship candidate sold his ticket, abandoned party - Prof. Alkali – Newstrends
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NNPP deputy governorship candidate sold his ticket, abandoned party – Prof. Alkali

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1 year ago

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National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Prof. Ahmed Rufai Alkali

The National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Prof. Ahmed Rufai Alkali, yesterday alleged that the party’s deputy governorship candidate in Yobe State sold his ticket and abandoned the race for the March 11 election.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja on why the party took the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court and obtained judgment to substitute some of its candidates, Alkali said the candidate, who he did not name, reportedly collected N500 million to abandon the ticket.

 The national chairman said the NNPP had to approach the courts when INEC refused to substitute some of its candidates who left the party and abandoned the ticket.
 He said the Federal High Court had directed the commission to substitute the candidates with new ones the party forwarded to the INEC.

Alkali said: “Our party has reasons to take INEC to court over disagreements on the issue of uploading and submission of names of some of our candidates.”

 The national chairman hailed the Judiciary for being the last bastion of hope for the people and a pillar of democracy and democratic processes, particularly in its duties towards this year’s general election.

 He said the NNPP had benefitted immensely from the sound judgments of the Federal High Court and the Appeal Court, which were delivered with dispatch, despite the court’s overcrowded schedules.

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Alkali said: “We also wish to use this medium to most especially appreciate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the able leadership of amiable patriotic Prof. Mahmood Yakubu for its high sense of responsibility to the promotion of rule of law and commitment to conducting the most credible election in 2023.

 “In the same spirit, we most humbly urge the commission to urgently comply with the court orders expeditiously delivered by the courts so as to further build up confidence of the political parties and general public in the commission’s unflinching and unwavering commitment to conducting free, fair and credible elections in 2023.

 “We appreciate the enormity of the assignments before INEC. We, however, believe the commission should continue to implement court rulings, the better for our country. We want to use this opportunity to assure Prof. Mahmood Yakubu of our confidence in him and his commission to deliver a sound election that will stand the test of time. We, therefore, pledge our unflinching support for him and INEC.”

 The NNPP national chairman also said the lower court directed INEC to substitute about 80 National Assembly candidates of the party’s canmidates.

 He added: “The position of the court was that even though INEC has its own guidelines, the Electoral Act provision supersedes that, in terms of the timeline for final submission of candidates.

 “We also had a separate case of two senatorial candidates who purchased the forms and were screened and nominated after the primaries.

 “One was Senator Ibrahim Shekarau from Kano and the other one from Taraba State. Also, one of our deputy governorship candidates – from Yobe State – who suddenly sold the position. I understand he collected N500 million.

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 “There is another House of Assembly candidate from Potiskum, Yobe State. You know the place of a deputy governor. No governor can run without a deputy. So, when somebody is withdrawn, he has to be substituted.

 “In the case of the senators, Shekarau wrote to INEC, telling them that he had withdrawn, while the one from Taraba State went to court to swear to an affidavit that he had left the party and the ticket.

 “We approached INEC about the situation and they said as far as they were concerned, the people were not dead and that they were still on the list of candidates for our party. So, we decided to approach the court to interpret the Electoral Act and the court gave a judgment in our favour and we forwarded the correspondence to INEC. But INEC said no; instead, they went to appeal the matter and we also won.

 “We have already written a letter to INEC and we are waiting for them to respond so that we can validly nominate candidates from the party. We also have another case, which came up about two or three days ago, concerning about 300 House of Assembly candidates. On such issue, you have to substitute them.”

The Nation

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Senate in rowdy session as lawmakers quarrel over sitting arrangement

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3 days ago

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April 30, 2024

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Senate in rowdy session as lawmakers quarrel over sitting arrangement

The Senate broke into a rowdy session on Tuesday after three senators engaged in a heated argument over arrangement of seats.

Danjuma Goje, senator representing Gombe Central, and Sahabi Yau, senator representing Zamfara North, expressed displeasure over the seats assigned to them.

They complained to Opeyemi Bamidele, the majority leader.

The Senate is currently using its refurbished chamber, two years after renovation began on it.

According to the standing rules of the upper legislative chamber, senators should sit in order of rank.

The Easter and Sallah recess was postponed to accommodate the completion of the renovation of both chambers of the national assembly.

However, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio read his welcome address, the heated argument among the three senators began.

It was learnt that Goje and Yau, sitting on the second row on the right side of the aisle, did not like the seats allocated to them by the senate committee on services.

Sunday Karimi, senator representing Kogi west, is chair of the senate services committee.

The four-term senators subsequently insisted that they should have been assigned seats on the front row on the extreme right — opposite the row of the majority leader and the deputy senate president.

After the argument, Kawu Sumaila, senator representing Kano South, called for a “point of order” which was ignored.

Thereafter, Bamidele moved a motion for a closed-session.

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Ganduje drums support for Tinubu, says no vacancy in Aso Rock 2027

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3 days ago

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April 30, 2024

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Ganduje drums support for Tinubu, says no vacancy in Aso Rock 2027

National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, says members of the opposition are trying to discredit the Bola Tinubu-led administration in their desperation for Aso Rock in 2027.
He however declares that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2027.

Ganduje said the administration of President Tinubu had been contending with accumulation of many years of neglect, policy summersaults and other disjointed decisions by previous administrations.

The APC national chairman gave the position while addressing supporters and support groups at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja.

Ganduje urged the APC supporters and groups to be committed to the party so that it could continue to forge ahead.

He said the leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and its chieftains were afraid, having been defeated in the last general election and already foreseeing another defeat.

Ganduje said the NNPP elements were now engaged in a propaganda campaign against the leadership of APC.

He said, “They are so afraid because we are consolidating. They are so afraid all over the country because we are receiving new entrants into our party. That is creating fears in their minds.

“They are already eyeing 2027, but at that time, there is no vacancy. Only our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will, Insha Allah, continue as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Ganduje claimed the leadership of NNPP and its chieftains in Kano State were sponsoring protests and campaigning for his removal as APC national chairman.

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Another PDP bigwig dumps party

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4 days ago

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April 29, 2024

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Dr Cosmos Ndukwe

Another PDP bigwig dumps party

Dr Cosmos Ndukwe, one of the key opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidates for 2023, has resigned from the party.

This is stated in a letter written by the former Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly to the Chairman of his Item C Ward in Bende Local Government Area, which was copied to the party’s State Chairman, Hon. Asiforo Okere, and the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.

The former Chief of Staff to the Governor and Commissioner for Works under ex-Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu claimed “personal reasons, current commitments, and aspirations” in his decision to leave the PDP.

He praised the party for providing him with the opportunity to enter the political spotlight and wished it success in the state.

The letter posted on his Facebook page on Monday morning read, “I hope this letter finds you well. It is with a heavy heart that I compose this correspondence to tender my resignation as a member and stakeholder in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Abia State, effective immediately.

“My decision to resign as a member within the party stems from personal reasons and reflections on my current commitments and aspirations.

“After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that potting out of PDP is the best course of action for me at this time.

“I am immensely grateful for the opportunities that the PDP has afforded me during my tenure as a Councillor, Deputy Chairman Local Government, Chief of Staff to Executive Governor of Abia State, Deputy Speaker Abia 6th House of Assembly and Presidential Aspirant PDP 2023.

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“Serving within the party has been a privilege, and I have valued the relationships I have built with fellow members, as well as the chance to contribute to the party’s objectives and ideals.

” I want to express my appreciation to you, the Ward Executive Committee, and all members of the PDP Abia State for the support and camaraderie extended to me throughout my association with the party.

“While I may be stepping away from my formal role, I remain committed to the principles of democracy and the progress of our great state Abia.

“Please consider this letter as my formal resignation from all duties and responsibilities associated with my position as a member and stakeholder in the PDP Abia State.

“I wish the PDP Abia State continued success in all its endeavors, and I extend my best wishes for the future. Thank you once again for the opportunities and experiences.”

The former Deputy Speaker had in an introductory post to the letter written:

“Good morning friends and well wishers. In life, we all have the past. We all made choices that maybe, weren’t the best ones. None of us is completely a saint,
but we all get a fresh start some day.

“Eccl 3:1-5 summary is on time for everything. To me, this is time to leave PDP family. I am potting out for good, new destination to be announced soon.

“My letter has started its journey to the ward chairman, LG chairman, State Chairman and Ag National chairman”.

Platinumpost reports that, the PDP has been hit by the wind of resignation following the exit of former Governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, and over 20 key members of the party in Imo State including a member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), and zonal officers.

Although the supremacy tussle between former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, is believed to be at the centre of crisis rocking the PDP, funding by Vanguard show that Ndukwe may be on his way to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to assist his kinsman, and the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu.

Another PDP bigwig dumps party

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