The Lumine News

Tag: #PDP

  • Converting Our Secretariat To APC Is Illegal, Immature Politicking – PDP

    By Admin

    STATEMENT ISSUED AT THE WORLD PRESS CONFERENCE HELD BY THE PDP CARETAKER COMMITTEE, CROSS RIVER STATE, IN REACTION TO EVENTS FOLLOWING THE DEFECTION OF GOVERNOR BEN AYADE TO THE APC

    1. On Thursday, the 20th of May, 2021, Senator Ben Ayade, Governor of Cross River State elected on the platform of our party the PDP, defected to the APC. His defection was unprovoked. The reason given by the governor for his action being his admiration for the way President Buhari is running the affairs of the country with absolute integrity. It is Buhari’s sterling management of the Nigerian economy and the affairs of the country in general, especially the handling of herdsmen farmers crisis, that so impressed Governor Ben Ayade that he feels drawn to support the President by decamping to the APC.

    2. Members of the PDP in Cross River State, even nationally, are not in the least surprised by Governor Ayade’s decision to decamp; he openly admitted that he has been sitting on the fence and dancing. We are relieved that the Governor has finally, we hope, come down from the fence on the side of the APC. This will allow our party some space to regenerate the internal peace and cohesion that existed in the Cross River PDP family before Governor Ayade happened upon us. We respect Governor Ayade’s choice and wish him and the APC peace and equanimity.

    3. On 22nd May, 2021, two days after defecting from our party, Governor Ayade, now a full-fledged APC member, invaded the state secretariat of PDP at 42A Murtala Mohamed Highway, Calabar, with thugs under the cover of armed men of the Nigerian Police force, Cross River Command. Governor Ayade forcefully took over the secretariat and on his instructions the building has now been repainted in the colours of the APC. We understand that the building now serves as one of the several state secretariats of the APC in Calabar. The building currently stands, under guard by the police, painted in APC colours, flying the APC flags, as monumental signpost of impunity, political rascality and absolute disregard for law and order.

    4. We had earlier raised alarm that vital documents, sensitive party membership registers and other facilities are being carted away or destroyed. That situation has not abated.

    5. This building has served as the state secretariat of PDP for over 22 years; it was the secretariat of the PDP even before Governor Ayade joined PDP. The current rent for the property has been paid and the tenancy of PDP subsists. The rent receipts issued to our party, in the name of PDP, are available in proof. The Lessor who rented the property to the PDP, has issued a statement to the effect that PDP is the lawful tenant, and there is not arrangement to have APC as tenant on the property. Clearly the invasion and occupation of the building is immature politics, unnecessary provocation and outrightly illegal.

    6. In an official statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Governor Ayade defended his invasion of the PDP secretariat on the ground that he paid the rent for the current year. We do not know who governor Ayade gave money to; he can ask for his refund because PDP paid the rents and we have the rent receipts to show. Governor Ayade can bring his own proof of payment. Neither Governor Ayade nor the APC are privy to the tenancy agreement between the PDP and the Lessor.

    7. Even if PDP were in breach of any term of the tenancy (which we are not), there are laid down processes and procedure for ejection of tenants and recovery of premises which need to be followed. A third party has no right to forcefully move in and occupy a building with a sitting tenant still in lawful possession. It may be necessary for Governor Ayade to seek some education in this elementary area of law so he may mitigate his embarrassment.

    8. Upon decamping to APC Governor Ayade declared pompously that in Cross River once the Governor moves everyone follows. To Governor Ayade’s consternation and embarrassment, nobody followed. Governor Ayade has now adopted unconstitutional methods to compel his cabinet and appointees, and other public office holders to follow him to the APC against their choice of remaining in PDP. Members of the House of Assembly have been offered 2 million naira and an SUV each if they agree to decamp. Commissioners in Ayade’s cabinet are being offered 3 million naira and a car each to defect to the APC. Local government chairmen and councillors are under threat of removal from office unless they defect. All appointees of the governor have been instructed to produce their APC membership cards before they can receive salaries.

    9. The defection of Governor Ayade to APC is to cost Cross Riverians 2 Billion naira. This is what Ayade needs to buy defectors from even his cabinet to follow him to the APC. Even this filthy lucre put forward by Governor Ayade is not enough to compel obedience as several commissioners from his cabinet, and majority of members of the House of Assembly and other political office holders have elected to reject the Greek gift and stay with the people of Cross River State in PDP.

    10. Governor Ayade can readily expend 2 billion naira to fund his defection to APC because he has ready cash from the almost 19 Billion naira recently paid to Cross River state as refund for federal road maintenance undertaken by the PDP administrations of Governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke. Governor Ayade has refused to declare this money to the people of Cross River state and is frittering it away on purposes other than the common good of Cross Riverians.

    11. We call on Governor Ayade to declare this 19 billion which is the single largest revenue flow to Cross River State since the creation of the state, and to apply same in infrastructure like rural roads, urban road network and water which benefits the common man. We are all embarrassed that governor Ayade inherited the best public water supply systems developed by the PDP administrations of Governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke across the state, and has allowed them today to all fall into disrepair. Our people have gone back to streams and wells for water.

    12. Magistrates in Cross River state have been demonstrating at the gate of Governor Ayade’s office demanding 2 years unpaid salaries. Two days ago teachers were on the streets of Calabar demonstrating in demand for 5 years of unpaid salaries. Pensioners in their old age were forced to block the Murtala Mohamed Highway in protest for non payment of pensions. This is at a time that Governor Ayade received almost 19 billion windfall from the federal government.

    13. Governor Ayade’s exuberance to impress the APC leadership has led him down this path of impunity, illegality and flagrant abuse of the mandate of the people of Cross River state. But as Governor Ayade plunders the state ostensibly to please the APC, we notice the deafening silence from the state and national leadership of the APC. Silence means acquiescence; an endorsement of the shenanigans being perpetrated on behalf of the APC by Governor Ayade. The people of Cross River State now know how the APC intends to run the affairs of the state and are getting ready for the worst.

    14. We again appeal to the APC leadership to call Governor Ayade to order and remind him that Nigeria is a country governed by laws in spite of nation’s experience in the last 6 years. While we continue to appeal to our teeming party members to remain calm in the face of extreme provocation, this should not be interpreted as a sign of weakness or cowardice. We are acutely aware of all the legal remedies available to us in the circumstances, and we intend to engage the appropriate processes to propagate the rights and interest of our party.

    15. The Cross River State police command provided cover for thugs sent by Governor Ayade to invade the PDP secretariat and forcefully occupy same. Currently the police have stationed an armoured personnel carrier (APC) at the gate of the PDP secretariat. In an official statement, the police command explained their actions; that the police were merely giving cover to the owners of the building to carry our renovation works on the building.

    16. Certainly, the Cross River state police command know that the building has been the secretariat of PDP for 22 years. The police have also received letters of protest from the PDP; the police now know that they were hired to give cover while the crimes of unlawful entry, criminal trespass, malicious damage to property, theft and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, were being committed at the PDP secretariat. It tells badly on police intelligence gathering if as at today police claim to still be ignorant of the fact that they have been misused to aid criminality. The continuous presence of the police till date at the PDP secretariat signifies active mischief, rather than honest mistake, on the part of the police.

    17. We therefore call on the police authorities to call their officers and men to order, and focus attention on the apolitical responsibilities of the police.

    18. We thank the people of Cross River state, and Nigerians in general, for overwhelmingly standing by the PDP, and for pledging continuous support to the party. We are particularly elated at the show of solidarity with the party and assure fellow Cross Riverians that the development agenda which the PDP pursued under Governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke will be restored after the Ben Ayade era.

    LONG LIVE THE PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC PARTY
    LONG LIVE CROSS RIVER STATE

    Signed:
    Mr Effiok Cobham
    Chairman, PDP Caretaker Committee
    Cross River State

  • Ayade’s Defection: PDP Dissolves, Replaces Cross River State Caretaker Committee

    By Admin
    The National Working Committee of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, has dissolved the State Caretaker Committee for the Cross River State Chapter of the party.
    In a release signed by the National Publicity of the Party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, and sighted by TheLumineNews, named a ten man committee headed by the immediate past Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Effiok Cobham to oversea the affairs of the party.

    The release reads in full “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC), has approved the dissolution of the State Caretaker Committee for the Cross River state chapter of the party

    “The decision is in pursuant to the powers conferred on the NWC by the PDP Constitution.

    “Consequently, the NWC has constituted a new State Caretaker Committee to pilot the affairs of the chapter of the party at the state level

    “The members of the new State Caretaker Committee for Cross River state are as follows:

    “Barr. Efiok Cobham (Chairman)
    Barr. Attah Ochinke
    Dr. Uke Enun
    Prof. Walter Mboto
    Hon. Rita Ayim (Publicity Secretary)
    Hon. Mike Usibe
    Hon. Christopher Ekpo
    Mr. Victor Effiom Okon
    Prince K.J. Agba
    Hon. Eko Atu (Secretary)

    “All other structure of the party at the local government and ward levels in the state remain intact.

    Signed:

    “Kola Ologbondiyan
    National Publicity Secretary”

     

  • Directorates Of Legal Services, CNA Advises Senate President To Swear-In Jarigbe Agom

    By Admin

    The Directorates of Legal Services, the Deputy Clerk as well as the Clerk of the National Assembly has advised the President of the Nigerian Senate, Sen. Ahmed Lawn to swear-in Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom as the senator representing Cross River Northern Senatorial District.

    In a memo addressed to the Senate President and sighted by The Lumine News, indicates that the President of the Senate is invited to see from page 1 of the file, paying particular attention to paragraphs 2 and 3 and is humbly advised to swear in Hon. Jarigbe.

    The advise as addressed to the Clerk of National Assembly, by the Directorates of Legal Services reads in parts “from pp. 44 – 45 is the legal opinion of the Directorate of legal services addressing that since the Supreme Court by a majority decision on the 25th day of February, 2021 struck out the notice of appeal filed by Senator (Dr) S. A. Odey, then the Court of Appeal decision recognising Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe should be given effect to, by the National Assembly as evidenced in certificate issued by INEC.

    “Accordingly, you may wish to call upon the Distinguished President of the Senate to swear in Hon. Jarigbe please”

    Acting on the legal advice, the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly and the Clerk of the National Assembly, has advised the President of the Senate as seen in the attached memo to swear in Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom.

    “The President of the Senate, you are please invited to see from page 1 of file, paying particular attention to paragraphs 2 and 3 and be humbly advised to swear in Hon. Jarigbe”.

    It is unclear why the Senate President has remained silent as regards the memos on his table recommending Jarigbe for swearing-in.

  • Governorship Zoning Process In Cross River State Politics: The True Position From Our Institution Library And Archives – Joe Bisong

     

    From the fits and starts of intervening Civilian and Military rule of decades past, democracy finally settled and stabilised in Nigeria in I999. Since then, to present day it has been unbroken civilian rule. It is therefore a given and common sense that when Cross Riverians talk of ZONING OF THE GOVERNORSHIP OF THE STATE, such dates back to 1999.

    1.ZONING in Cross River State has neither been a FORMALISED NOR INSTITUTIONALISED ARRANGEMENT. Although the three Senatorial Districts of the State have each produced a Governor dating back to Mr Donald Duke (South), Sen Liyel Imoke(Central),
    Sen Prof Ben Ayade(North), at no time has the political class of Cross River State, either intra Party or inter Party, institutionalised or enacted on the modus operandi or modus vivendi of the Rotational Governorship basis for the three Senatorial Districts! This is why in virtually all Gubernatorial elections, both intra Party and inter Party, ALL SENATORIAL DISTRICTS HAD CONTESTED!

    2.Rather, ROTATION HAS BEEN THE TREND BASED ON THE SIMPLE AND CONVENTIONAL PROCESS OF SELF ELIMINATION! Once a given Senatorial District got the Governorship for eight years, it eliminated itself from eligibility from the succeeding contest that followed. Such has the wily nilly process of ROTATION BY SELF ELIMINATION evolved that has seen all three Senatorial Districts get the Governorship and accordingly,all have been duly placated!

    3.This first circle of Rotation by self elimination ends in May 2023; and a new circle of same Rotation by self elimination commences . Accordingly, we shall provide proof to our assertion that conventionally, IT HAS BEEN AN ALL COMERS AFFAIR FOR ALL THREE SENATORIAL DISTRICTS IN ANY GIVEN GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION and that Rotation has been based on self elimination of the immediate Senatorial District that just left office after eight years; but not on any formal or institutionalised process!

    4. In 1999 intra Party Primaries in PDP, Mr Donald Duke from the South ran the Governorship Primaries with Barr Kanu Agabi from the North, while Prof Eyo Etim Nyong from the South ran with Mr Mark Ukpo from the North in APP.

    The Governorship election of 1999 was ultimately between Donald Duke from the South and Mark Ukpo from the North.

    5.In 2003,the Governorship election was between Mr Donald Duke of the PDP from the South and Chief John Okpa of the APP from Central.

    6.In 2007, the PDP Governorship Primaries was between Sen Liyel Imoke from Central and Mr Walter Eneji and Dr Julius Okputu from the North. The Governorship election proper of 2007 was between Sen Liyel Imoke of PDP from Central versus Prof Eyo Etim Nyong from South and Paul Ukpo from the North

    7. In fact, it is worth mentioning in retrospect, that even after Sen Liyel Imoke of Central had won the Governorship election in 2007, the North in Ukpo, engaged the Central in prolonged and convoluted litigation at the Election Tribunal that saw
    Imoke’s victory annulled twice.
    8. In 2011,Imoke from Central ran again for his second term against Eyo Etim Nyong, Ima Isa Adegoke(Labour Party),both from the South and Dr Onyuike(Accord Party), Mary Ekpre(CPC), Goddy Akpama (PPA) and Usani Usani(ACN)from the Central.

    9.Then, finally came the present tenure which dated back to 2019. The Governorship election was between Sen Prof Ben Ayade from the North, Sen John Owan Enoh from Central and BARR EYO EKPO FROM SOUTH! In fact, it is instructive to note that Barr Eyo Ekpo, then a renowned stalwart of PDP, decamped from PDP to Social Democratic Party (SDP) only for the purpose of running the 2019 Governorship election.

    10.Conclusively therefore, as it was in the beginning, and now is, so shall it be in 2023 Cross River State Governorship Election! To whom God wills, let the power fall, then the conventional or normative process of ZONING BY SELF ELIMINATION FOR THE THREE SENATORIAL DISTRICTS starts from there and then again in this new circle.

    Chief Joe Obi Bisong is the former State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Cross River State Chapter

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are strictly that of the author, Joe Obi Bisong and did not represent The Lumine News or the organization the author works for.

  • Breaking: Supreme Court Declares Rt. Hon Jarigbe Agom, Winner of The PDP CR North Senatorial Bye-election Primaries..

    By Elijah Ugani

    The apex court in the land, the Supreme Court has declared Rt. Hon Jarigbe Agom, Winner of the PDP CRnorth Senatorial bye-election primary.

    The judgment was delivered today, February 25th, 2021.

    This has put to permanent rest the controversy of who is the authentic senator representing Cross River Northern senatorial district.

    The FCT High Court and the Court of Appeal had declared Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom winner of the CR North primary election.

    Dissatisfied with the ruling of the court of Appeal and the trial court, Dr. Stephen Odey approached the Supreme claiming that he was the legitimate winner of the primaries.

    Delivering the judgment, four out the seven man panel, gave judgement in favour of Sen. Jarigbe Agom while three backed Dr. Stephen Odey.

    In telephone chat with The Lumine News, Prince K J Agba congratulated Sen. Jarigbe Agom for his dogged disposition to resit the attempt of foisting someone on the good people of northern senatorial district and described the ruling as victory for the people.

  • PDP Reconciliation And Steering Committee Committed To Rebuilding The Party Ahead Of 2023

    By Elijah Ugani

    The reconciliation and steering committee of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, headed by the former Senate President and two terms governor of Kwara state, senator Bukola Saraki is poised to rebrand the party ahead of 2023 general elections.

    Senator Bukola Saraki is seen lately spearheading the reconciliation of aggrieved party members as well as stakeholders within the party with the view to resolving all pending issues.

    He has visited the former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, where the former president restated his commitment to the ideals and rebuilding the party.

    Dr. Bukola Saraki took to his verified Facebook page where averred that his committee met with former governors elected under the platform of the PDP.

    He said “This afternoon, members of the #PDPReconciliation & Strategy Committee and I, are at Legacy House in Abuja, meeting with a cross-section of former Governors elected under the platform of our great party, the PDP”.

  • PDP Rejects Ambassadorial Nomination Of Ex-service Chiefs

    By Admin

    The People’s Democratic Party PDP, has rejected the Ambassadorial nomination of ex-service chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The party in a release sighted by The Lumine News and signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, accused the Buhari’s and APC administration of using the decoy of ambassadorial nomination to shield the ex-service chiefs from investigation of alleged killings of innocent Nigerians and crimes against humanity under their inglorious watch.

    The release reads in full “Ambassadorial Nomination:
    PDP Rejects Moves To Shield Ex-Service Chiefs From Investigation.

    “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) firmly rejects plots by the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use the decoy of ambassadorial appointments to shield the immediate past service chiefs from investigation over alleged killing of innocent Nigerians and crimes against humanity under their inglorious watch.

    “The PDP charges the Senate to eschew all partisan considerations and stand on the side of the people, particularly the victims of atrocious regime of the ex-service chiefs by outrightly rejecting the demand by President Muhammadu Buhari to confirm them as ambassadors.

    “It is indeed sacrilegious and a horrible assault on the sensibility of Nigerians that the APC government is seeking to use ambassadorial appointments as desperate measure to secure diplomatic immunity for the former commanders and protect them from investigation, arrest and possible prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the atrocities committed against innocent Nigerians under their command.

    “The PDP asserts that appointing the former service chiefs as ambassadors would confer diplomatic immunity on them and provide them a route for escape.

    “The party further stated that taking such actions at a time the ICC has declared its readiness to commence full investigation on their alleged involvement in the crime against humanity in our country, appears to further validate the allegations against them.

    “Moreover, the frenzy by officials of the Buhari Presidency in mounting pressure on the Senate to confirm such abominable ambassadorial nominations has further raised public apprehensions of a desperate attempt to cover the culpability of some other individuals connected to the APC administration.

    “It is shocking that instead of allowing the former service chiefs to answer for the alleged crime against humanity under their command including reported cases of extra-judicial execution, killing of unarmed protesters at Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos, rape, illegal arrest as well as detention and torture of innocent Nigerians, the APC administration is rather plotting their escape.

    “The accused service chiefs must not be allowed to use diplomatic immunity to escape investigation and possible prosecution for the killing of unarmed EndSARS protester at Lekki Toll gate and other parts of the country as well as the hundreds of civilians reportedly killed by soldiers in the Zaria massacre.

    “This is in addition to series of reported military invasions and mass shooting in communities in Borno, Yobe, Rivers, Abia, Anambra among other states across the six geo-political zones of our country, where soldiers reportedly razed communities and massacred unarmed civilians under the command of the ex-service chiefs.

    “Our party therefore calls on Nigerians, across board, to unite in rejecting these ambassadorial nominations for the accused former commanders and demand that President Buhari should immediately withdraw their nominations from the Senate.

    “The least that is expected of President Buhari is to direct the former service chiefs to answer for the alleged crimes”.

  • Ebonyi PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman Addressed Press At Wadata House, Abuja

    By PDP Press

    Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen of the Press and welcome to the Press conference of the Ebonyi State Chapter of the PDP. This Press conference is going on in Wadata House partly because, as you all know, the Ebonyi State PDP leadership is a caretaker committee created by the National Executive Committee of our great Party to superintend the affairs of the Party in Ebonyi State, until a formal congress is conducted to elect competent men and women who will lead the Party in Ebonyi State.

    Ever since our inauguration in this same hall on the 23rd day of November 2020, we have steered the affairs of our great Party in Ebonyi State with dedication and commitment. With the support and collaboration of our stakeholders, we have stabilised the Party, given a sense of hope and direction to our teeming members, and for the first time in a long time, members are having a breath of fresh air. I am, therefore, very proud to announce to you that it is a new dawn for the Peoples Democratic Party in Ebonyi State.

    STATE SPONSORED LITIGATIONS AGAINST THE PDP IN EBONYI STATE

    Ever since Governor Dave Umahi’s solo defection from the PDP to the APC, our great Party has been inundated with a slew of state sponsored court actions all aimed at derailing the Caretaker Committee set up by the NEC of our great Party. As we all know, Governor Dave Umahi’s illusion had been that Ebonyi people would defect with him to the APC. He had boasted that PDP stakeholders and members of the National Assembly would defect with him. When this failed, the reaction from Governor Umahi has been to derail and destroy the Caretaker Committee by filing a suit at the State High Court, asking the Court not to recognise this Caretaker Committee. A summary of the history of this suit, No. HAB/161/2020 is that three Ebonyi State High Court judges have recused themselves from handling the case. However, the latest recusal by Justice Vincent Nwanchor on Wednesday, the 20th January 2021, did not go down well with Governor Dave Umahi. Apparently believing that Ebonyi State Judges must do his bidding no matter the frivolity or unconstitutional nature of their claim, Governor Umahi instigated his “Akubaraoha” mob to attack the High Court premises. In an attack reminiscent of the Trump-inspired storming of the US Capitol, Governor Umahi instigated a mob to take over the High Court premises at Abakaliki. Lives of lawyers and judges were put at risk. Property belonging to Ebonyi State judiciary was destroyed. It took the efforts of the Ebonyi State Police Command and other security Agencies to restore calm and prevent the complete burning down of the Ebonyi State High Court complex.

    VICTORY FOR PDP AND THE URGENT NEED FOR GOVERNOR DAVE UMAHI AND HIS APC THUGS TO VACANT THE EABONYI STATE PDP SECRETARIAT.

    I am proud to inform you that in a twist of fate, as Governor Dave Umahi unleashed his mob to burn down the Ebonyi State High Court complex, here in Abuja, it was victory for the PDP in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1609/2020, HON. FRED UDOGU and 10 others V Barr Onyekachi Nwebonyi and 4 others. In that suit, Justice I. E. EKWO of the Abuja Federal High Court gave an order restraining Dave Umahi’s faction of the PDP led by Barr Onyekachi Nwebonyi from parading themselves as officers of the Party.

    With this legitimate order of a court of competent jurisdiction, it is hoped that Governor Dave Umahi will step back a bit and have a deep reflection and discontinue fanning the embers of crisis in Ebonyi State.

    We wish to use this opportunity to call on the Inspector General of Police, the Director of State Security Services to protect the members and legitimate officers of the PDP in Ebonyi State, and hold Governor Dave Umahi accountable for any break down of law and order in Ebonyi State. Governor Dave Umahi’s goal is to control PDP and APC in Ebonyi State by sheer brute force. But the good people of Ebonyi State who are predominantly members of the PDP, are not prepared to be victims of brute force and dictatorship, and will continue to fight for their political freedom. Thank you for honouring our Press conference and may God continued to bless our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party.

    Chief Fred Udeogu,
    Chairman, PDP Ebonyi State.

  • Tension Heightens As Supreme Court Delivers Judgement On PDP C’River Ward and Chapter Exco List Tomorrow

    Supreme Court To Deliver Judgement On PDP C’River Ward and Chapter Exco List Tomorrow

    All is set for the apex court (Supreme Court) to deliver judgment on the ward and chapter exco list of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, tomorrow Wednesday, January 6th 2021.

    Recall that the PDP in the state has been fractionalized after two lists emanated from the party congresses held to elect ward and chapter exco.

    The two factions had the governor, Sen. Ben Ayade as leader while the other faction is led by National Assembly members from the state.

    The National Working Committee NWC, had ratified the list that favoured National Assembly members and the exco sworn in virtually.

    The faction of the governor had insisted that the governor being the leader of the party in the state must be the one to produce the ward and chapter exco list.

    This however led to litigation. The matter was however decided in favour of the National Assembly members at both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Dissatisfied with both the judgment of the two courts, the governor’s faction approached the supreme court.

    The Lumine News can authoritative report that there seemed to be tension in both camps with many insinuating that the governor may decamp should he lost the ward and chapter exco list to the National Assembly members.

    As the supreme delivers judgment tomorrow, it lay to rest which faction will handle the affairs of the party in the state.

  • Court Of Appeal Declares Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe PDP Senatorial Candidate For Cross River North

     

    The battle for the Cross River North Senatorial seat which was won by the Peoples Democratic Party at the December 5, rescheduled elections has taken a different twit 24 hours after Dr. Stephen Odey was sworn in by the Clerk of the Senate.

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has just declared Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe as the duly nominated candidate of the PDP and the rightful winner of the election against Dr. Odey who was declared by INEC and sworn in by the Senate.

    The Court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to immediately issue a Certificate of Return to Hon. Jarigbe and withdraw the one earlier issued to Dr. Stephen Odey.

    In its unanimous judgment, the court of Appeal upheld the judgment of the trial court that the primaries which produced Jarigbe was conducted with the correct and authentic list of delegates and that Hon Jarigbe having scored the highest number of valid votes in the primary election is the validly nominated candidate of the PDP.

    The Appeal Court also upheld the position of the Federal High Court that the primary election was duly monitored by the INEC in line with the law hence was a valid primary election of the PDP.

    This judgment has abruptly halted the seeming advantage Dr. Stephen Odey got yesterday when he was invited by the Clerk of the Senate to take his oath of office and allegiance. This is despite another order of the FCT High Court which restrained the Senate from swearing Dr. Odey in as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    By this judgment and until the Supreme Court gives its final judgment, Hon. Jarigbe is expected to be sworn in immediately to sit to represent the good people of Cross River North Senatorial District.