APC rejects election of Saraki, Dogara as Senate President, House Speaker

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as totally unacceptable and the highest level of indiscipline and treachery the conduct of Tuesday’s inauguration of the National Assembly that led to the emergence of Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively.
”Senator Bukola and Hon. Dogara are not the candidates of the APC and a majority of its National Assembly members-elect for the positions of Senate President and House Speaker. The party duly met and conducted a straw poll and clear candidates emerged for the posts of Senate President, Deputy Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, supported by a majority of all Senators-elect and members-elect of the House of Representatives. All National Assembly members-elect who emerged on the platform of the party are bound by that decision.
”The party is supreme and its interest is superior to that of its individual members,” the party said in a statement issued in Abuja Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed.
”Consequently, the APC leadership is meeting in a bid to re-establish discipline in the party and to mete out the necessary sanctions to all those involved in what is nothing but a monumental act of indiscipline and betrayal to subject the party to ridicule and create obstacles for the new administration,” it said.

FUNSHO WILLIAMS’ MURDER: COURT GRANTS MOTION TO RELIST SUIT AGAINST TINUBU, OTHERS

The last may not have been heard about the murder of the former governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Funsho Williams, as Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court in Lagosmonday granted a motion by one Bashir Junaid, a detainee over the murder, seeking to relist a suit against the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu and ten others.
Junaid had gone to the court to seek an order of mandamus to compel the Inspector-General of Police (IG) to re-open investigations into Funsho Williams’ murder.
However, the case suffered a set back when it was struck out by the judge on April 29, 2015, for want of diligent prosecution.
Dissatisfied with the ruling of the court, Junaid, through his lawyer, Tunji Adesheye, filed a motion seeking to relist the matter.
The motion was brought pursuant to Order 26, Rules 1, 2(1), (2), 3, 4, 6, 7(1), 18 and 20 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure Rules) 2009 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
Arguing the motion, Adesheye informed the court that his client had effected personal service of the concurrent writ of summons on the defendants that are outside the jurisdiction.
Justice Ajumogobia, had earlier granted leave to the plaintiff to effect personal service of the concurrent writ of summons in the suit on the IG by substituted means.
Other defendants affected by the court’s order are: Former IG, Sunday Ehindero, Attorney General of the Federation and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They are the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 6th defendants in the suit.

RIBADU POISONED OVER ANTI-GRAFT WAR – OBASANJO

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has said that the ex-chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was once poisoned in the course of his duties as anti-corruption czar.
Obasanjo disclosed this at an international forum on Third Tana High Level Forum on Security in Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He also revealed that Ribadu created enemies for him because of the ruthlessness with which he carried out his responsibilities of tackling corruption in Nigeria.
Obasanjo, who spoke from the floor following a presentation on Illicit Financial Flow and Governance of Natural Resources made by Ribadu, affirmed that he had known from experience that the fight against corruption attracts a lot of enemies.
The former president declared that he has no fear of anyone still living in Nigeria, adding, “it is rather them that fear me.”
Saying that Ribadu took on a lot of highly connected persons in his fight against corruption, Obasanjo said that the former anti-corruption chief was once poisoned, causing a scare among concerned quarters.
“It was a matter of life and death,” the former president said, though further details of the incident were not given.

GOVERNOR OKOROCHA PUSHES IN-LAW, ANWUKA, FOR SGF

Former National Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, may lose out in the race for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). Onu was rumoured to have been favoured by President Muhammadu Buhari to occupy the plum position.
A source, however, revealed that the delay in announcing the SGF by the president might not be unconnected with the position of Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha. Although, the Imo State governor was said to have submitted three names – Onu, Senator Chris Ngige and Professor Anthony Anwuka, to the president, since the position was zoned to South-East, he is reportedly pushing for his in-law, Anwuka. Anwuka is the immediate past Secretary to the Imo State Government.
His son, Uzo, is married to Okorocha’s daughter, Uju. The governor was said to have argued that out of the parties that formed the All Progressives Congress (APC), it was only the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) that has not been represented in the new government. According to him, the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has been given the presidency, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) got the vice presidency while the ANPP was rewarded with the position of the APC National Chairman.

FG BAN THE CONSUMPTION OF OGOGORO NATIONWIDE

The Federal Government on Monday banned the consumption of local gin, popularly called Ogogoro in all parts of the country.
The decision was as a result of deaths that trailed the consumption of the local gin in Rivers and Ondo states.
The government however confirmed that the death toll in Rivers State had risen to 38 while 18 people had died in Ode-Irele, Ondo State, following the consumption of the local gin.
The Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, Dr. Paul Orhii, in his reaction to the death of 38 persons in Rivers State, told journalists that the recent incidents in Rivers and Ondo states were associated with the consumption of locally made gin.
According to him, considering the risk in the consumption of locally made gin, it has become imperative to “warn the public to desist from the consumption of unregistered locally made spirits (Ogogoro) and other unregistered bitters.”
He also warned that the government “would confiscate all illegally brewed alcoholic beverages” across the country.

Breaking News: Senator Bukola Saraki Emerges As Senate President For 8th Senate

Bukola Saraki, a former governor of Kwara State, has been elected the president of the eighth Senate.
Mr. Saraki of the All Progressives Congress, APC, defeated his party’s preferred candidate, Ahmed Lawan, to emerge the Senate president.
He was nominated by Sani Yerima and seconded by Dino Melaye.
Mr. Saraki has been sworn into office.
The election for the office of Senate Deputy President is still ongoing. Immediate past deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, is contesting against Ali Ndume from Borno State.
He is expected to win the race following a power sharing deal that had the minority but influential PDP back the new senate president, Bukola Saraki.
Our earlier update indicating Mr. Ekweremadu had been elected unopposed was in error and is regretted.

How Amaechi failed to settle me with parting gifts after our tenure — Former Rivers Deputy Governor

The immediate past deputy governor of Rivers State, Tele Ikuru, has accused his former boss and state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, of maltreating him despite his contributions to the government.
Mr. Ikuru, who quit the ruling All Progressives Congress in Rivers State at the twilight of the administration, said Mr. Amaechi denied him parting gifts and money when the government finally came to a close in May.
He said this happened despite his contributions to the state, part of which was returning state funds and saving an estimated N100 billion for the state.
Speaking during a Thanksgiving Service at St. Simons Anglican Church, Ikuru-Town in Andoni Local Government Area, Sunday, Mr. Ikuru said the thanksgiving service was to thank God for his grace and faithfulness to him, his family, and friends during the eight years of service to the state.
“I served this government for seven years and seven months under Amaechi, because I was with Omehia for 5 months,” Mr. Ikuru said.
“At the end of the seven years and seven months Amaechi did not think that I deserved any parting gift in spite of the fact that in the course of this administration, by reason of the office I occupied, I returned several monies to him valued over two billion Naira cash at different times during one work or the other.”

Inter-agency rivalry rocks Aso Villa

A cold war is currently brewing among sister security agencies ahead of the relocation of President Muhammadu Buhari to the Presidential Villa, Abuja,
Since their inauguration on May 29, Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are yet to relocate to the State House, because renovation works going on in their official residences had not been completed.
While the President currently operates from Defence House, the official residence of the President-elect, Osinbajo is said to be residing in a private residence.
Ahead of their relocation, however, our ashiwju.org learnt that there is currently an ongoing inter-agency row on who will be in charge of the President’s security.

Nigerian Leading Opposition Party PDP Endorses Saraki, Dogara For NASS Leadership as Buhari meets APC lawmakers

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has endorsed Senator Bukola Saraki for the position of Senate President and Honourable Yakubu Dogara as House of Representatives Speaker respectively.
This was the resolution of the party exco made public in a statement issued on Tuesday morning, urged its senators and members-elect in the National Assembly to vote the two lawmakers.
The party move in the direction of t=a party that commands the minority population of both chambers of the National Assembly , with the hope to install caandidate that will be PDP friendly even from the ruling party.
Its an onslaught to counters the position of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, whose adopted candidates are Femi Gbajabiamila for the position of Speaker, and Ahmed Lawan for the position of Senate President.
Meanwhile, just hours before the election at the National Assembly principal officers election to be held, President Muhammadu Buhari will meet with all Senators  and House of Representatives elect of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Tuesday  at 9 am at the International Conference Centre Abuja.
Mr. Buhari returned to the country at about 1a.m. from Germany where he attended the meeting of the G7 countries.

Professor Jega Bid To Leave Office On June 30 — INEC

Contrary to speculations, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, will quit office June 30.
There have been speculations, notably on social media, that the INEC chairman would quit office June 8 at the end of his five year tenure.
He was appointed in June 2010 by former President Goodluck Jonathan, succeeding Professor  Maurice Iwu.
However, INEC spokesperson, Nick Dazang said Jega would be in office until the end of the month.
“The chairman’s tenure would end on June 30 and he is still in office,” he said.
Mr. Dazang also said Mr. Jega was not in his office Monday because he had travelled out of Nigeria on official assignment.
Mr. Jega, shortly after the last general election which held on March 28 and April 11, said he would not be seeking for a fresh term in office.
He also said he would decline the offer of renewal if granted.
Mr. Jega is the only chairman of the electoral body to conduct two general elections in Nigeria’s electoral history