Coalition Advises INEC To Release And Issue Certificate Of Return To Zamfara Governor-Elect

Alh Muktar Shehu

The Coalition of Democratic Watchdogs of Nigerua (CODWON) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to release and issue the certificate of return to the authentic candidates of Zamfara State APC and Governor-Elect, Muktar Shehu and 38 other APC lawmakers in Zamfara State.

At a media bruefimg on Friday, Inusah Tijani who spoke on behalf of the coalition, he said that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unfortunately and most regrettably arrogated to itself the powers of rule and divide and cash and carry policy to illegally withhold the Certificate of Return of the Governor-Elect of Zamfara State, Muktar Shehu and 38 other APC lawmakers in Zamfara State even when a competent High Court of Law sitting in Zamfara State had issued an order for INEC to recognize same persons as the only authentic candidates of the primaries conducted by the Zamfara APC.

The statement read, “it is with great regret we welcome you today because of the imminent collapse of an institution of Government which is created by law as a neutral and unbiased Commission.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unfortunately and most regrettably arrogated to itself the powers of rule and divide and cash and carry policy to illegally withhold the Certificate of Return of the Governor-Elect of Zamfara State, Muktar Shehu and 38 other APC lawmakers in Zamfara State even when a competent High Court of Law sitting in Zamfara State had issued an order for INEC to recognize same persons as the only authentic candidates of the primaries conducted by the Zamfara APC.

“Unfortunately, the Court of Appeal Judgment of 25th March, 2019 did not make any order affecting the status quo, neither did the court of Appeal judgment vacate the earlier order of the High Court in Zamfara. So, the order made earlier by the Zamfara High Court still subsists.

“Again, for INEC rely on the letter written by Mike Ozekhome (SAN), counsel to the other parties requesting the Commission to withhold the Certificate of Return is a sham and an aberration of the rule of law. This is most unfortunate and completely unbecoming of INEC as a commission saddled with the responsibility of neutrality to now rely on a mere letter rather than the order made by a High Court of law of competent Jurisdiction.

“We hereby call on INEC to stop disgracing the Nigerian Nation and the oat of neutrality and immediately release and issue the certificate of return to the authentic candidates of Zamfara State APC and Governor-Elect of Zamfara State, Muktar Shehu and 38 other law makers in the State without further delay

Inconclusive Election Is Not Peculiar To Kano State Alone – CCLCA

The Centre for Credible Leadership & Citizens Awareness has commended Independent National Electoral Commission for demonstrating a high capacity and consistent improvement in the overall conduct of elections in Nigeria.

At a media briefing on Saturday, 30^th March, 2019 in Abuja, the Director General, Centre for Credible Leadership & Citizens Awareness (CCLCA). Dr. Nwambu Gabriel said that INEC has put its best to ensure transparent, free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria but observed that some security agencies discharge their functions as contractors to some desperate politicians who deliberately violate the civic rights of millions of Nigerians.

It upheld INEC’s conduct of the supplementary elections in Kano State. He said that the election complies significantly with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as Amended) and the INEC’s regulations and guidelines as provided by the enabling laws of Nigeria.

Excerpt is the full text of his press statement:

INCONCLUSIVE ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA

PRELUDE

In the world over, it is necessary to ensure that elections comply with International Best Practice and Globally Accepted Standard in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act, hence, the essence of accrediting reputable Civil Society Organizations to observe any election is to assess the degree of compliance of the electoral management body (INEC), the Political Parties as well as their supporters to the relevant electoral laws as provided by the Electoral Act of 2010 as Amended, Federal Republic of Nigeria. This essentially is to serve as a parameter for measurement and a term of reference to improving future elections. Thus, election observation increases the level of credibility of a well ordered process of power transition in any defined democratic state.

Consequently, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as an electoral body saddled with the constitutional responsibility of conducting elections across Nigeria, after a thorough scrutiny accredited reputable Civil Society/Non Governmental Organizations as well as Foreign organizations to serve as election observers in the just concluded 2019 General Elections.

A LOOK AT INCONCLUSIVE ELECTIONS ACROSS NIGERIA

The term Inconclusive election is not only concise but it is very clear, unambiguous and well provided for in the extant laws that govern and guard electoral conducts in Nigeria.

But what really is supplementary election? It is a makeup election to a main election where the number of voters who were prevented by a combination of factors from voting outstrips the margin between the two leading candidates. If simply put, we can say that where the margin separating the first and second or even other opponents in an election falls far below the number of voters who couldn't vote on election day due to certain redeemable constraints, the election is declared inconclusive and plans put in place to organize a supplementary election where the disenfranchised voters will vote and decide who wins between the 2 highest scorers.

For a few examples, in 2011, the election between the then Imo state Governor Ikedi Ohakim and Rochas Okorocha was declared inconclusive and was resolved through a supplementary election.

Again in 2015, the re-election of the same Okorocha was declared inconclusive even when Okorocha was leading his main challenger by over 78,000 votes. It took a supplementary election to resolve this.

It is pertinent to recall that the election between Senator Chris Ngige and Late Professor Dora Akunyili for a senatorial seat in Anambra state was resolved in a supplementary election as was declared inconclusive.

A total of 30 Nigerians were murdered before, during and after the Presidential election consequent to election related issues. This figure we consider high when compared to the 11 deaths recorded in 2015 General election. These 11 people were reported to have died as a result of Boko Haram attack during the 2015 General Elections.

But a combination of deaths recorded in the 9th March Governorship and Houses of Assembly elections with the supplementary elections shows that over a hundred Nigerians lost their live. Most of who died during the supplementary elections.

What then could be responsible for this high level of deaths?

AN OBJECTIVE AND CLINICAL ANALYSIS

Now let's look at the Kano State supplementary elections and some reports released by some media establishments (online inclusive) and some Observer Groups as clinically examined by the Centre for Credible Leadership & Citizens Awareness (CCLCA).

Elections were conducted in

208 Polling Units,

29 L.G.As,

76 Wards or Collation Centres

Many observers and media could not mention more than 5 polling units where violence was perpetrated in Kano state supplementary election. Our question is using even a maximum of 10 polling units as possible units where violence were perpetrated out of 208 polling units and almost 300 Voting Points. Could that be enough to generalize and say that the election was marred with violence; the answer is NO.

Again, let's examine the total Permanent Voters Cards (PVCS) collected and the scores so far recorded.

Kano State has a record of 87% of PVCs Collected.

The Total number of Registered Voters in Areas where elections are cancelled is 128,324 registered Voters.

Using a collection rate of 87%

That is, about 111, 641 persons had collected their PVCs in cancelled polling units.

In the inconclusive election,

PDP Scored 10, 239 Votes, while

APC Scored 45, 876 Votes.

Adding the both scores is 56,115.

Now the total number of vote cast is less than 50% of the total PVCs collected and total number of registered voters.

However, this election does not have incidences of over-voting, thus is still in line with the rules of a transparent election as provided by the electoral Act of 2010 as Amended.

However, we observed massive vote buying and intimidation, pockets of violence in Chibia LGA, parts of Nasarawa town and Guma LGA.

But in all these, the Independent National Electoral Commission was very conscious and prudent in handling the situation and nullifying results where necessary.

For us, it is our firm belief that inconclusive election is not peculiar to Kano state alone but rather a process that demonstrates the resolute determination of INEC in ensuring the conduct of transparent, free, fair and credible elections en route positive sustainability of democracy in Nigeria.

It is evident that few violence were recorded in Chibia and Guma (especially in Nasarawa) during the supplementary election in Kano state, but the ratio is not enough to neither condemn the processes of the election nor discredit it.

Nigeria is an evolving democratic nation. Our democracy is deepening and maturing as INEC has demonstrated a high capacity and consistent improvement in the overall conduct of elections in Nigeria. Unlike in the time past when a few individuals sit in the comfort of their homes and determine election results. Greater participation in elections is observed because votes now count.

The Centre as INEC accredited observer organization hereby uphold INECs conduct of the supplementary elections in Kano state as the election complies significantly with the provisions of the electoral act, 2010 as amended, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as Amended) and the INECs regulations and guidelines as provided by the enabling laws of Nigera.

The challenges in the Nigerian electoral system are the inability of the political elites across party lines to abide to lay down fundamental rules and regulations. The desperation of some party bigwigs has grossly undermined the efforts of the electoral management body.

We also observed the indiscriminate use of certain INEC pronouncements as provided by law as demonstrated by some returning officers in Imo and Bauchi states respectively. Returning officers must be properly trained and guided on the appropriate diction to avoid embarrassment to the commission.

CONCLUSSION

While INEC has put its best to ensure transparent, free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, we observed that some security agencies discharge their functions as contractors to some desperate politicians who deliberately violate the civic rights of millions of Nigerians.

Regrettably, this is a lacuna that has taken our electoral system to an ELECTORAL RECESSION. If this issue bothering on the professionalism and impartiality of law enforcement agencies in Nigeria is not addressed urgently, proper conduct of credible elections in Nigeria would continue to elude the Giant of Africa.

Finally, to avert the huge expenditure and ensure transparent elections, we urge the 8th National Assembly to rectify the electoral amendment bill and send once again to Mr. President for urgent accent.

Thank you.

Signed:

Dr. Nwambu Gabriel,

DIRECTOR GENERAL

Centre for Credible Leadership & Citizens Awareness (CCLCA).

Another PDP Chieftain, Prof. Adedoja Defects To APC,‎ Defends Defection

‎........says relationship with Makinde remains cordial 

A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and former National Chairmanship Aspirant of the Party, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC

Prof Adedoja who was a one-time Minister of Sports and Special Duties in his letter of resignation to the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus dated March, 29th, 2019 and made available to news men in Abuja yesterday said that he was quiting the Party in the ‎ National interest as a Pan Nigerian. 

According to him, "I am aligning with the All Progressives Congress, APC,  at this period of  Nigeria’s political dispensation  is to contribute my best to the needed  unity of Nigeria

"As  dictated by   my pan Nigerian experience, having built bridges  of unity among various socio-political  groups in the country all through my life endevours ‎both in private and public sectors

"I want to align with the Federal government of Nigeria to contribute to the good governance the country deserves for our people and for my followers across the country”.

The resignation of Prof. Adedoja, a former Pro Chancellor of the Federal University in Dutse, Jigawa State  from the PDP has  brought to four the number of National Chairmanship aspirants that have resigned from the party.

The Former aspirants  are Otunba Gbenga Daniel the  former Director General of the Atku Abbar a Presidential Campaign Organisation,  Prof. Tunde Adeniran  a former BOT member of PDP and former minister of Education  and Sen. Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja , a one time governor of Oyo State and former BOT member of the Party.

Prof. Adedoja was the Governorship candidate the defunct Action Congress (AC)  in the 2007 Governorship election in Oyo State when the then Action Congress fielded Alh. Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate.

When asked about his relationship with the Oyo State governor- Elec Engr. Seyi Makade in a chat with news men,  Prof. Adedoja stated that Engr. Seyi Makade was  his brother whom he maintained cordial relationship with, saying that he had congratulated him to wish him God’s guidance in the newly onerous task of governing Oyo State.  

US Country report on Nigeria aimed at forcing homosexuality, sale of national assets on Buhari - Diaspora Group

United Kingdom Chapter of Arise Nigeria, a group of Nigerians in the diaspora, has reacted to the recent report by the United State through its State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour under the title “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018.” which accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government of abating corruption and extra-judicial killing.

The group said the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018 was aimed at forcing homosexuality and sale of national assets on the current government.

Arise Nigeria made this revelation in a communiqué issued after its extraordinary meeting held in London on Saturday.

A communique jointly signed by Dr. Philip Idaewor Chairman, AriseNigeria and Charles Eze, Secretary, called on  the Nigerian government to reject the report and make its stance known to the US without delay.

The statement reads in full.

Documents like this are equally cited as input for decision making by third party countries that could withhold economic, political, military and other critical co-operation from Nigeria based on the conclusions reached in the report, and similar documents.

The meeting of the United Kingdom Chapter of Arise Nigeria was therefore able to dispassionately deconstruct the content of the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018. It was found that there are areas where Nigeria has to shore up policies and their implementation in order to make progress. Unfortunately, however, the bulk of the content of the report were found to maliciously target Nigeria in a manner that confirmed racist stereotype as well as laying the foundation for manufacture of dissent, in which citizens were being emotionally manipulated to stage uprising against their government.

The observation about manufacture of dissent suggests that the United States might be at the early stage of engineering forceful regime change in new set of countries. Even though is recommended that the valuable strong points highlighted in the report should prompt the authorities to taking decisive steps aimed at improving Nigeria they must nonetheless focus on the more pressing issue of asking the international community to call the United States to order by way of discontinuing any of its subversive programs targeted at Nigeria.

PROCEDURE – The meeting dissolved into groups to consider the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018. Seven (7) groups considered the report under the corresponding sections it was partitioned into. These are:

Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person

Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties

Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process

Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government

Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights

Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons

Section 7. Worker Rights

Another group briefly reviewed trend of reports for selected countries across the regions of world. The countries were selected to reflect a mix to reflect nations that are considered allies of the US and those against which it is known to belligerent.

All the groups reconvened into plenary after they have concluded their assignment. Each group presented its observations.

OBSERVATIONS -- The observations and findings of the eight groups were aggregated to arrive at the consensus view of Nigeria Arise (United Kingdom Chapter). It was observed that:

1. The Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018 is a publication of the United States, which by default is intended to serve its interests in pursuit of global dominance. The relevance that is attached to the report comes from a misplaced relevance placed on it by other countries of the world, driven principally by aggressive media marketing that usually trail its release.

2. Nigerian authorities will have to set up a government team to study the report with the aim of further decoding it to get a fairer sense of the estimate in which the United States holds Nigeria. This exercise should be with a view to developing reciprocal measures that will ensure that the US will soft pedal on the promoting damaging content about Nigeria.

3. The Federal Government of Nigeria has to do more to counter the negativity that is reported about the country by promptly addressing the lies and inaccuracies compiled by organizations like Amnesty International, whose reports formed the major input for the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018. NGOs and CSOs that operate similar agenda to Amnesty International must be managed using similar approach.

4. The report, rather than commending the Nigerian Military for their feat in suppressing Boko haram, set out to make the war against terrorism appear like a criminal enterprise undertaken by the Nigerian state.  It even went to the low ebb of suggesting that disproportionate force was being used in the anti-terrorism war.

5. The misinformation contained in the report in its assessment of the anti-terrorism war against Boko Haram and ISIS-WA strongly suggest that the only interest the United States has in the matter is for Nigeria to come under more terrorist attacks. This is especially so as the report failed to acknowledge the role of the US in aggravating the crisis through its policy that caused instability in the Middle East and North Africa to strengthen ISIS and accelerate the flow of weapons to terrorists.

6. The unfair demonization of the Nigerian military was matched by attempts to exonerate terrorist sympathizers like those who hide under the cover of being aid workers to support terrorists.

7. The anti-corruption efforts, which Nigerians continue to be supportive of, was undermined by the report, which created the impression that enough was not being done to fight corruption. It was noted that the United States only disparage the anti-corruption efforts without acknowledging its role in promoting corruption in Nigeria either as being a receiving territory for proceeds of corruption or a tourist destination for persons that have been indicted on corruption charges.

8. The report is proving to be a decoy to reignite the issue of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) rights in pursuit of coercing Nigeria to repeal the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2014. The other areas in which Nigeria has made progress are being ignored to focus on an issue that the country legislated on based on democratic processes.

9. It also undermined the progress Nigeria has made in its democratic journey by presenting elections in the country as being flawed. It was apparent that this is being done by the US in its bid to empower the opposition as a fallback option for when it is interested in implementing forceful regime change in the country.

RECOMMENDATIONS – On the strength of the lies and disinformation contained in the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018 as published by the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour of the United States, Arise Nigeria recommends as follow:

1. The Federal Government must reject the fabrications contained in the report and make its stance know to the United States.

2. Efforts must be made to reassure commanders and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that their efforts and sacrifices in fighting terrorism are appreciated by government and citizens alike and that they must not be dissuaded by the neocon lies of the US.

3. Nigerians must remind the United States that the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2014 was the product of a National Assembly that was democratically elected such that blackmailing the military and security forces of the country to have the law repealed will be counterproductive.

CONCLUSION -- The United Kingdom Chapter of Arise Nigeria concluded the meeting by setting up a committee to interface with the Nigerian government in crafting continue responses to the disparaging submission about Nigeria in Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018.

It’s Wrong To Say Election Was Militarised, Says Gen Buratai, Chief Of Army Staff

The Nigerian Army has been in the eye of the storm over the conduct of soldiers deployed to provide security during the 2019 elections. The soldiers have been roundly accused in several quarters of committing infractions, including partisan interference in the electoral process, that seriously undermined the credibility and sanctity of the elections. In fact, in the estimation of many observers, both Federal Government and the Army stand condemned over the undue militarisation of the electoral process.

But it is an accusation that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, in this interview with pressmen, dismisses in its entirety.

The military was accused of aiding in election malpractices like snatching of ballot boxes. Your reaction?

Militarisation has to be defined. What do you mean by militarization? How exactly did the military take part in the elections? Generalisation is not the best. People just use the word Militarisation without defining it. Was the so-called Militarisation everywhere across the country? Why are people making so much noise about it? They are giving the impression that the military was involved in the entire process in the whole country. It is just probably a definition they only restricted to Lagos or where? ..Niger-Delta mostly People cannot just use the word Militarisation in general terms to say the security agencies were involved. Who are the people involved? What does the Constitution say about the role of the military? We have the constitutional provision. We have made it very clear; we are not part of these elections, we are only supporting the police. Anything we do there is helping the police who are representing the civil authority in law enforcement and it is very clear that we have been called out to support the civil authority. That does not mean Militarisation. And once we go out there, we are performing police role, it is not a military role, we are supporting the police essentially; that is very clear. The military was called out to come and support the police. So, they are just using the military in order to justify their failures, to justify their inadequacies, to justify their inability to rig because the security forces provided the needed security to prevent massive rigging, ballot box-snatching and so on. But strictly, the use of the word, Militarisation is misplaced, it is wrong. We were there to perform our responsibilities based on the invitation to support the police which is legitimate. There is no way you will say that the election was Militarized; it is misuse of the term. If really  the election was Militarized, I tell you, nobody would take the law into his hands the way they did brazenly and deliberately did, even attacking our men, killing our personnel. An officer was killed, policemen were killed so if we were to take drastic steps to really show we were involved, it would have been worse than this. We were able to maintain law and order; we were able to conduct ourselves within the rules of engagement which is legitimate. So there is a deliberate misconception or misinterpretation of the role of the military in order to malign the military and discredit it despite the stupendous efforts we have made to ensure security in support of the civil authority. And you know very well if the security agencies, including the military, had not come out to support the elections in providing security, the level of insecurity, the level of killings, arson, ballot box-snatching and so on, would have been worse than what was experienced. So many of the stakeholders, both at home and abroad, have commended the military for remaining neutral, impartial and conducting themselves professionally; but a few elements who felt they were not given the chance to rig and to disturb on a massive scale the election process, are the ones shouting that the whole process was Militarized. The military was not there to support any political party; we were there to provide adequate security as requested, in support of the electoral process. That was essentially what we did. So to say that the process was Militarized is a misplaced use of word; it is unfortunate. Over the years, from our historical experiences, the outcomes or results of elections have been the major cause of instability in our polity.  They have led to a lot of killings, arson, you name it: in Kaduna, Zangon-Kataf, Modakeke and so many other places. So historically, if you look at it, we had those unfortunate incidents because they were allowed to go out of control. We had so many underlying factors; even in the First Republic, we saw the underlying factors that led to the  civil war; it is the same outcome of elections that led to that, characterized by so many malpractices. So government doesn’t want the same thing to happen and that was why the military was called in to support the police. There is no way we would be partisan; the country’s stability, the country’s peace is our watchword, it is very, very fundamental. Some people just chose to blame different entities and bodies for their failures.

On the allegation that the soldiers caught snatching ballot boxes are fake

“Yes, that is another dimension because as I said, those people that did not want the election to go smoothly, created their own local militia, gave them military and police uniforms to be moving out here and there to misbehave, snatch ballot boxes, to disrupt the electoral process and so on. So anyone that sees them will automatically say it is the military and that is completely at variance with our code of conduct, with our ethics and the way we train our officers and men to ensure they behave professionally; that is very clear.  We arrested several of them and you must have seen our press releases with pictures of the fake soldiers, fake policemen, fake security operatives and so on. So once you see this, it is not the Army that created those ones and gave them uniforms; so instead of them to admit their shortcomings and misconduct, they are covering their heinous activities/crimes under the guise of militarisation. It is so painful, so terrible that they don’t have conscience and continue to blame the military for their own mischievous actions. This is where the Press needs to be objective, look at it critically. The Army cannot go and dress fake people or criminals to go and act on their behalf. We have seen the thugs, the militias; so where does the military come in?

These are very clear. So we have to be reasonable and objective; we are paid by the state to ensure that we defend our country and prevent breakdown of law and order for us to progress; there is no other way. It is very important.

Why I left PDP – Hon Salako

Honourable Dave Oladapo Salako

An erstwhile lawmaker, Honourable Dave Oladapo Salako who represented Remo Federal Constituency of Ogun state twice at the House of Representatives (2003- 2011) on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has left the party.

Hon. Salako who premised his decision to walk away from the PDP on the alleged injustices meted to him during the Ogun East Senatorial District primary election said despite the position of the Appeal Committee that he should be declared winner of the primary election; the party ignored same and instead, declared his co-contestant, Bola Kalejaiye, the party’s flag bearer.

In a letter of resignation addressed to PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, Honourable Salako accused the PDP Ogun governorship aspirant who was sacked as Governorship candidate by the Court  in the March 9 elections, Hon.Ladi Adebutu of wielding “great influence and inducements on some of the National Executive members,” a development he argued, culminated in his denial of the Senatorial ticket by the state chapter of the party.

In the letter addressed to the party chairman, Salako wrote: “As requested by the party, I completed the formalities for nomination as the candidate of the party for Ogun East Senatorial District. On 2nd October, 2018, the primary election came up according to the time-table earlier released by the party. My first shock was the demand by the committee in charge of the primary election for the sum of N750, 000 (Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) as my share for the cost of the venue and logistics. By tradition, it has always been the responsibility of the Party- PDP to bear the cost of venue and other incidental expenses relating to primary election.

Amidst other electoral irregularities that allegedly characterised the exercise, Hon. Salako also accused officials of skipping the accreditation of voters, stressing that staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Department of State Security, DSS “were conspicuously absent.”

He lamented the conduct of the primary election this way: “There was no introduction of aspirants for proper identification before the election. Total number of voters was not publicly announced. This is because there was no proper accreditation at the inception of the exercise.” He further stated that he has followed and fulfilled the requirements as stipulated by the Party’s Constitution to exhaust all avenues for redress of any injustice.

While noting that his request for the nullification of the exercise fell on deaf ears, Hon. Salako said he was left with no option but the quit the party he spent his resources and time to build, adding “The Appeal committee justified the reason why I should be declared the winner of the primary or at the worst scenario, cancel the primary and re-order a re-run. But instead, the party ignored my petition and even the report of the Appeal Panel.”

Ogun PDP Chieftain, Apostle Salako Quits For APC

Apostle Daves Salako

.....endorses Dapo Abiodun as next Gov.

Barely few hours to the Saturday's Governorship and State House of Assembly Election, a top notcher of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State, Apostle Daves Salako on Thursday defected the Part y for the ruling All Progressives Party, APC.

The Former National Assembly member confirmed to our Reporter that he had endorsed the Candidate of the APC in the State in the election, Prince Dapo Abiodun as the next governor of the State and consequently directed his teeming supporters in the state to cast their votes for APC candidates in the elections. 

Apostle Salako ‎who was a two term member of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2011 represented Remo Federal Constituency of Ogun State and vied for for the Ogun East Senatorial District under the PDP in the party's -s primaries.

Recalled that Hon Jelili Kayode Amusan another two term member of the House of Representatives and the Candidate of the Party in the Ogun central Senatorial District ‎of Ogun state in the just Concluded National Assembly Election, had dumped the Party on Wednesday for APC ahead of the saturday's Poll.

An aide of Apostle Salako told our Correspondent in Confidence that the former law maker was actually moving to the ruling party along with his thousands of supporters across the state following the lingering crisis that had been rocking the Party which had defiled all possible solutions .

When contacted , Apostle Salako confirmed the development, saying that his defection was with an immediate effect after due consultations with the members of his political family in the state and across the country .

Apostle Salako stated that he was moving to the APC with his political structures to rally support for the Governorshp Candidate of the Party in the Saturday's election, Prince Dapo Abiodun annd the candidates of the Party in State House of Assembly Election.

He therefore called on his supporters and the people of the State irrespective of their Political parties to rally supports for the APC in the elections for the even development and the Progress of the State.

Apostle Salako made it clear that he took the decision in the over all interest of the State based on his conviction that Prince Abiodun and other APC candidates Possessed what it required to take the State to a greater height.

Energy Group Congratulate President Buhari And Urge Him To Sign The FID For Zabazaba Deepwater Projects

CSOs, Niger-Delta groups,  BuhariYouth support groups under the auspices of Partners for Petroleum & Energy Sector Prosperity Initiative, P-PESPI an Energy group in Nigeria with a global network, have written to President Muhammadu Buhari on the Zabazaba Deepwater project urging him to sign the Final Investment Decision(FID) for the project as part of his goodwill for the trust and confidence Nigeria Youth have in him for voting enmass for his well deserved Victory at the February 23 Presidential Poll and Re-election for another 4 Year.

Sir,The Zabazaba Deepwater project being developed by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company has a proven reserve of 560 million barrels of oil as a stand-alone development in the eastern portion of the Niger Delta in water depths ranging from 1,200 to 2,400 metres.

In a letter addressed to His Excellency, Mr. PRESIDENT,  Lord Charles Ibiang, Chairman of P-PESPI, on behalf of the coalition, said the region of Niger Delta and Nigeria, in general, would benefit from the signing of the FID for the project. 

While Congratulating Mr. PRESIDENT for his Victory at the Poll and reelections for another wonderful 4 Years, we wish you the best and pledge our unflinching support and loyalty.

We also wish to commend You on the projects and programmes executed by your administration in the Niger Delta region particularly in the Oil&Gas sector through the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr.Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu. A great asset to your Administration.

They said the Zabazaba project would be a catalyst for development with the active participation of local companies in line with the local content policy of your administration.

The letter read in part: “Mr President, the immediate benefit of the signing of the FID includes the construction of the Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) units and subsea installations and drilling rigs. This will set an enviable record in local content with local companies set to fabricate 50% of the FSPO in the country, which will be a major boost to the country’s economy and the local content initiative being promoted and prioritised by your government.

"The Zabazaba Deepwater project is capable of generating millions of jobs, and by 2020, when Agip intends to produce the first oil, it would generate $8billion for Nigeria. Overall, the effect of the Zabazaba Deepwater project on the Nigerian economy would be unprecedented and the multiplier effect on the local economies of the catchment areas in the Niger Delta will be huge.

"Mr President, with the amazing package the Zabazaba Deepwater project has for the people of the Niger Delta region and the Nigerian economy, signing the FID would put your administration in great light with your Young supporters, who believes in your promises of Job Creations and Economic Development with the Zabazaba Deepwater project counted as one of the major projects you have in the Niger Delta region.

P-PESPI also reiterate that it would  demonstrate your administration major priority for  job creation.