Politics
Yari “yari”, but Akpabio is Senate President
Yari “yari”, but Akpabio is Senate President.
By Bolaji O. Akinyemi.
Ahead of today’s inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, the political intrigues to make Akpabio the Senate President in order to deliver the deal he brokered with Mr President for stepping down for him during APC primary saw all arsenals deployed; moral and immoral. The battle was fierce.
Sensitively to its role as the leading opposition and the direction it provided, the PDP stood with Yari to emerge as the choice of the Senate against the decision of Mr President and the leadership of APC his party.
Before the contest, the Peoples Democratic Party accused the ruling APC of plotting to intimidate and arrest lawmakers-elect seen as championing the independence of the legislature.
The party stated this barely 24 hours after boasting that it would leverage the number of lawmakers elected on the platform of opposition parties to determine the leadership of both houses.
Yari, a former Governor of Zamfara State and top contender for the Senate Presidency, was speculated to be one of those being targeted for arrest.
Yari therefore on the information approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to seek an order of court restraining security agencies from arresting him. The court on Monday, 5th of June, granted his prayers and restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission and the Department of State Services from detaining the former governor, pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice.
The Justice Donatus Okorowo led Federal High Court, extended the order on Thursday, 8th June after Yari’s counsel, Michael Aondoaka, made an oral application to the effect.
The information of this planned political bullying against the background of how Okorocha was taken out of APC primary was all that was need to take APC’s threat serious by Yari as an insider.
Being in the company of the “Fada of the Senate”; Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi,
I was privileged to be admitted into some of the caucus meetings before the election to observe their sessions, in one of such 58 Senators were in attendance to give their backing to Yari’s ambition, the mood of the meeting was suggestive of persons who had more than political reason not to vote for Akpabio. I could therefore conclude that all form of intimidation and inducement will be needed to swing the pendulum in Akpabio’s favour.
Details of the refusal of PDP to support Akpabio, who had been announced as the choice of both the President and the ruling party was given in address made to journalists at the party’s national secretariat by, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba who said, “Information at our disposal which is verifiable and some of which we got from reports, is that there are attempts by some APC elements to intimidate, harass and threaten lawmakers-elect with a view to influencing the outcome of the election on the floor of both chambers as to who emerges the Speaker and the President of the Senate.
“There are reports of harassment to arrest those people who are considered to be strong proponents of the independence of the legislature and who are at the forefront of the need to respect those standing rules that provide that members-elect should elect their leadership without any external influence.
“We have these reported actions and plots to arrest such individuals. We as a party that believes in democracy and had the privilege of ‘mid-wifing’ this democracy of ours for 16 years, recognises the fact that the legislature is an ingredient that is very important and key to the sustenance of democracy. So, we need to raise an alarm.”
That alarm, like the sound of a pendulum clock today couldn’t announce Yari’s time as the President of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It went the the way of Former Akwa Ibom State Governor and ex-Minister for the Niger Delta, Senator Akpabio who emerged victorious after he polled 63 votes while Yari scored 46 votes.
It’s indeed a tall fight to take on the President and his man Akpabio, all said and done, now that the battle is over, the dust created in the Chambers by the politics of leadership has to settle for serious work of legislation to begin.
Let me say a big congratulations to the Senate President, His Excellency, Godswill Obot Akpabio.
Please, don’t ever forget that you are privileged by this to be the Captain of a class of 107 others, who equally have right to the position you hold in trust for them.
May the dynamism that greeted my 3rd year class at Lagos Baptist Secondary School, Orile Agege be the Spirit of the 10th Senate.
Please, watch out for; My class and the 10th Senate, a lesson for Akpabio the Class Captain.
*Go out and vote, it’s your right – Ogun APC charges electorate*
As the party campaigns for the 2024 Local Government election in Ogun State draws to a close midnight of today (Thursday), the All Progressives Congress, APC, has charged registered voters in Ogun State to go out and exercise their fundamentals rights on Saturday “without any fear whatsoever”.
Addressing the grand finale of APC in Odogbolu Local Government, the Publicity Secretary of the party in Ogun State, Tunde Oladunjoye said, “APC has done very well under the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun, and we are poised to win the chairmanship and councilorship elections overwhelmingly come Saturday”.
Oladunjoye, who is also Senior Media Consultant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Media, thanked the Odogbolu people for showing massive support to the APC in the local government.
“With what I have seen here, victory is sure. I want to thank you on behalf of the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON and the Chairman of APC in Ogun State, Chief Yemi Sanusi. “Come out and vote peacefully on Saturday. It is your constitutional duty and obligation.”
Oladunjoye added that people should learn from the chairmanship candidate of the party in Odogbolu local government, Dr. Babatunde Oyetola Diya, who vied for the office about three and half years ago and did not get it, but remained faithful in the party and continued to reach out to people with his humanitarian efforts.”
Anthony Ojo congratulates Gov Okpebholo, confirms Edo Central Senate aspiration
Influential Edo State politician, Anthony Ojo has congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo after being sworn-in as the new Governor of the State.
In his congratulatory message, Ojo expressed confidence in the abilities of Gov Okpebholo to bring the dividends of democracy close to the people of Edo State.
“The people of Edo State have total trust in your five-point agenda, capacity as a leader, and this is evident with their immense show of love. We have no single doubt that under you, this state will progress to the promised land,” the statement reads.
Meanwhile, Anthony Ojo has confirmed his aspiration to contest the Edo Central senatorial seat under the flagship of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a position previously held by Senator Okpebholo before he was elected governor.
He cited that sharing the same leadership ideologies with Governor Okpebholo, and the keen desire for transformative human and capacity developments in Edo State are the reasons behind his ambition.
He promised to work closely with the Governor to provide succour to Edo citizens.
Appeal Court Further Affirms Udeze-led NEC Of Action Alliance As Valid, Authentic
ABUJA – The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has further affirmed Chief Barr. Kenneth Udeze-led National Executive Committee (NEC) of Action Alliance (AA) elected on 14th March 2021 National Convention of the party as valid and authentic.
Action Alliance, in a statement by its National Secretary, Vernimbe A James said, “the court of appeal Abuja Division today in Appeal Number; CA/ABJ/CV/1163/2024 in a lead Judgement delivered by Hon.Justics Abba Mohammed which was concord by the other two Justices dismissed the appeal filed by Adekunle Omoaje faction through one Miller C.Orgwu ( on behalf of himself and all NEC Members Elected at Action Alliance Elective National Convention of 7th of October,2023, held at OOPL Abeokuta, Ogun State ) against 1, INEC, 2, Kenneth Udeze,3, James Vernimbe, 4, Akinuli Fred Omolere.
“The Court also awarded N400,000 cost against the appellants in favor of the Respondents.
The appeal was about the validity of the powers of Action Alliance NEC under Chief Kenneth Udeze led executive to conduct the party Governorship primary in Ondo State for the upcoming Saturday 16th November 2024, Governorship Election.
“The Federal High Court Abuja Division had earlier In Suit Number; FHC/ABJ/ CS/626/2024 Between Miller Orgwu and others (Omoaje faction) claiming to be authentic NEC of the party against 1, INEC, 2, KENNETH UDEZE,3, JAMES VERNIMBE, 4, AKINULI FRED OMOLERE presided by HON. JUSTICE JOYCE O.ABDULMALIK on 24th, September 2024 dismissed their Claim and validated the Ondo State Governorship Primary Election Conducted by Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance NEC as valid and authentic, thereby Confirming the Ondo State Governorship Candidate of the party AKINULI FRED OMOLERE as the valid Candidate of the party for the 16th, November 2024 Governorship Election in Ondo State.”
The statement further said: “On 28 March 2022, the FCT High Court Abuja had affirmed and validated the Action Alliance National Convention held on 14th, March 2021 wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led NEC of the party were elected.
“Dissatisfied with the said Judgement, one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others were granted leave of the court of appeal to appeal same Judgement.
“On the 26th, January 2024, the Court of Appeal Abuja Division in Appeal Number; CA/ ABJ/ CV/ 955/22 Between Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others and Chief Uzewuru Nwachukwu and others further Affirmed the FCT High Court Judgement that earlier validated the Action Alliance National Convention of 14th March,2021 wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance (AA) NEC of the party was elected.
“Dissatisfied with the appeal court Judgement one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others have appealed the Judgement to the Supreme Court of Nigeria in appeal Number: SC/ CV/162/2024 Between Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others and Chief Uzewuru Nwachukwu and others, the matter is still pending at the Supreme Court of Nigeria which he has abandoned but desperately looking for how to come through the back door to claim the leadership of Action Alliance.”
The statement also explained that “INEC has since Complied with the Judgements validating the 14th, March 2021 National Convention of the party wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance NEC of the party was elected and uploaded on its website the Name of Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze- National Chairman, Vernimbe A James -National Secretary and other Elected NEC of the party as authentic.
“There is no court ruling or Judgement that Affirmed or validated any other National Convention of Action Alliance (AA) held on any other date apart from the 14th, March 2021 National Convention of the party which Courts have already and variously validated.”
Ezenwa Ibegbunam, who is the Counsel to Chief Fred Omolere, the governorship candidate of the party affirmed by the Court, noted that the judgment has further restated the correct position of the law and a vindication of the previous decision of the Court of Appeal which had earlier affirmed Chief Udeze led executive as the authentic leadership of the Action Alliance.
On his part, Chief Kenneth Udeze has praised the Court of Appeal as a citadel of justice and urged the party members across the country to remain focused.
He further noted that the Judgment has cleared the way for the victory of the party in the Ondo State gubernatorial election.
Source: Daily Independent
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