POLITICS
LG Administration Central to Democracy in Nigeria -Nwoko
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Sen. Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta) says that Local Government Administration is central to democracy in Nigeria as it ensures grassroots governance and service delivery at the local level.
This is contained in a statement signed by Dr Michael Nwoko, the Chief of Staff to the lawmaker in Abuja on Monday. Nwoko said this on the occasion of the presentation of an award “Icon of Hope” to him by the Association of Local Government Vice Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGOVC). He was represented by his Chief of Staff.He said that the importance of local government administration in the country could not be overemphasised, as it was the bedrock of democracy.According to him, local governments in Nigeria play key roles in the country’s democracy by promoting participatory democracy, providing services, and representing citizens.“Local Governments help determine local needs and how to meet them. They also act as a link between the centre, state, and local people.“They are created to decentralise power and bring the government closer to the people. They perform both mandatory and concurrent functions.“It is in view of this that I took it upon myself to enhance the viability of local governments through the Paris and London club loan refunds,”he said.Dr Folashade Olabanji-Oba, ALGOVC National Chairman, while presenting the award at its 7th Annual National Conference, said the award was in recognition of the lawmaker’s significant contributions to strengthening local government administration.She highlighted Nwoko’s critical role in ensuring the Paris and London Club loan refunds, a financial breakthrough she said enhanced the capacity of local governments nationwide.(NAN)POLITICS
Prove Your Innocence in Court, INEC Tells Suspended Adamawa REC
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Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has advised the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa, Mr Hudu Yunusa-Ari, to prove his innocence in court rather than through a news conference.
Chief Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, gave the advice in an interview on Monday in Abuja.
Oyekanmi said that now that Yunusa-Ari was back in the country, he should avail himself the opportunity of exploiting a legal process om his alleged involvement in irregularities in the conduct of the 2023 governorship election in Adamawa.
Report says that Yunusa-Ari is facing a six-count charge of unlawful roles in the Adamawa governorship election held on March 18, 2023.
Report says that Yunusa-Ari was suspended in April 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari for declaring Aisha Dahiru (popularly known as Binani) of All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the governorship election when collation of results was still ongoing.
INEC, however, declared the announcement null and void and summoned the REC to its headquarters in Abuja, after which he was suspended.
The suspended REC had, at a news conference on Saturday in Bauchi State, faulted his suspension, saying that he was not given fair hearing, while also insisting that Bianani won the election.
Oyekanmi, while reacting to the claims, advised Yunusa-Ari to go and defend himself in the court, not through a news conference.
“In response to your request, our attention has also been drawn to the interview granted by the former REC of Adamawa State, Yunusa-Ari. There is nothing new in what he said.
“In any case, the substantive matter of the 2023 Adamawa State governorship election has been determined through the appropriate judicial process from the trial tribunal to the appeal tribunal and finally settled by the Supreme Court.
“The commission will not comment on the propriety or otherwise of his conduct during the concluding part of the election, as the matter is right now the subject of litigation at the High Court sitting in Yola and, therefore, subjudice
“Now that he is back in the country, the right place to prove his innocence and the propriety of his action is by availing himself for the due process of law and not a press conference,” Oyekanmi said.
Yunusa-Ari had, at the news conference in Bauchi, claimed that he tried multiple times to explain his actions to INEC through letters.
The former REC, who claimed officials were pressured to declare Ahmadu Fintiri of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the election, argued that he deserved to be heard.
The Federal High Court in Abuja had, in February 2024, dismissed a suit filed by Yunusa-Ari, seeking protection against arrest, detention or prosecution by the police and others.
The presiding judge of the court, James Omotosho, in his judgment, dismissed the suit for lacking merit.
Omotosho held that Yunusa-Ari, in his fundamental rights enforcement suit, made an elaborate show by trying to shield himself from being arrested, detained or prosecuted by security agencies, but that there was no ground where such immunity could have been granted by the court.
In January 2025, Yunusa-Ari also pleaded with the Adamawa High Court to adjourn the case against him sine die (indefinitely).
Recently, the Senate had approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to fire Yunusa-Ari and the RECs of Abia and Sokoto states over alleged misconduct. (NAN)
POLITICS
PDP Crisis: Anyanwu Loses Again as BoT Recognizes Ude-Okoye as National Secretary
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By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday formally recognized Hon.
Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary of the party.This decision was contained in a communique issued at the end of the BoT emergency meeting held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja. The embattled former National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, who was sacked by a High Court, Enough, also lost his case at the Court of Appeal and has already approached the Supreme Court to nullify his removal. Anyanwu’s also suffered another setback when the Court of Appeal refused to grant him stay of execution.Last weeks the PDP Governors Forum aligned with the verdict of the Court of Appeal when they recognized Ude-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the party during their meeting in Asaba, Delta State.The decision of the BoT is premised on the report of a committee led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) on the issue of the National Secretary of the PDP, especially with regard to the declarative judgment of the High Court of Enugu as upheld by the Court of Appeal.The committee submitted its report to the BoT on Wednesday.On the issue of National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that has suffered several postponements, the BoT aligned with the Thursday, March 13th date fixed by the PDP Governors Forum.The PDP BoT also passed a Vote of Confidence on the Chairman of the Board, Senator Adolphus Wabara and Secretary of the Board, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.Part of the communique which was signed by Wabara and Makarfi reads: “The Board of Trustees of the PDP at its emergency meeting today, Wednesday February 5, 2025 thoroughly considered critical issues in the Party and resolved as follows:”The Board of Trustees asserts its position as a prominent ORGAN of the PDP as enshrined under Section 13 (1)(r) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).”The BoT also asserts its inherent authority under Section 32 (5)(a) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) which empowers it to “ensure highest standards of morality in all the activities of the Party by acting as the conscience of the Party, with powers to call to order any officer of the Party, whose conduct falls below the norms.””The BoT in exercise of its constitutional powers received, exhaustively considered and hereby adopt the report of its committee led by Barr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) on the issue of the National Secretary of the PDP especially with regard to the declarative judgment of the High Court of Enugu as upheld by the Court of Appeal.”Consequently, the BoT by adopting the report recognizes Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP in full obedience to the declaratory Judgment of the High Court of Enugu as also upheld by the Court of Appeal there being no contrary or overriding judgment from any Court of superior jurisdiction. “The BoT charges the National Working Committee (NWC) to recognize and immediately swear in Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary of the PDP in obedience to the Judgment of the Court of Appeal.”The BoT urges all party organs, critical stakeholders, leaders and members across the country as well as all democracy development partners and institutions to be guided by the judgment of the Court of Appeal with regard to the position of the National Secretary of the PDP.”The BoT commends the PDP Governors’ Forum, the National Working Committee, South East Executive Committee and all other organs of the Party for their steadfastness in upholding the provisions of the Constitution and operational Guidelines of the PDP.”The BoT expresses satisfaction with the PDP Governors’ Forum and the National Working Committee (NWC) for their concerted efforts in finally setting Thursday, March 13th, 2025 as the date for the much-anticipated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of our Party especially bearing in mind that the NEC meeting is the platform for critical deliberations that will shape the future of our party and by extension, the future of Nigeria.”The BoT unanimously passed a Vote of Confidence on the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara and Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Senator Ahmed Makarfi for their outstanding leadership in piloting the affairs of the BoT and stabilizing the Party”The BoT urges all members of the Party to remain united and continue to work together to strengthen our party to reclaim its rightful place in the leadership of our country.”POLITICS
PDP’s choice of Ude-Okoye still Valid – Zamfara Gov.
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Gov. Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, has declared that the decision of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to back Mr Sunday Ude-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary remained valid.
Lawal stated this on Sunday in Ibadan, when he paid a condolence visit to Gov. Seyi Makinde, over the demise of his brother, Sunday Makinde.
He noted that the resolution of the PDP governors during their meeting recently in Asaba showed that the party was making efforts to come out stronger.
The governor maintained that PDP needed to learn lessons from certain mistakes, assuring that the party would come out stronger from its crisis.
“We, PDP governors are the leaders of the party, we have a say and whatever we say is what would be implemented.
“There is nothing really wrong with the PDP, the ongoing crisis is normal and it happens like that in other political parties too,” he said.
The Zamfara governor who led some members of his cabinet, to Makinde’s residence, said it was an obligation for him to come and commiserate with his Oyo counterpart.
He described Makinde as his very good friend, adding that he came “to comfort and tell him that we are with him in this trying moment.”
The President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina and the Minister of Livestock Development, Dr Idi Maiha, on Sunday, equally paid condolence visit to Gov. Makinde.
Adesina noted that late Sunday Makinde passed away at a tender age, saying: “Therefore, I came here to be with the governor and I pray that God would give him the strength and fortitude to bear the loss over the tragic loss.
“I also conveyed the condolences of my wife and Africa Development Bank (AfDB) because he is a partner. May the soul of his brother rest in perfect peace,” he said.(NAN)