Anxiety as season of defections unsettles Presidency, APC

 

 It was a matter of when not if, as the signs had been ominous for quite a while. Their grouse made worse by what appeared an official eagerness to ignore same, left them with little options. Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus in the House of Representatives, addressing the National Assembly Press Corps shortly after the mass defection to the PDP at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. So after barely a few weeks of habitation in the Reformed All Progressives Congress (R-APC), lawmakers who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the build up to the 2015 general elections for the All Progressives Congress (APC) returned to the PDP; much to the surprise of the Presidency and the leadership of the party. Stunned for words, President Muhammadu Buhari issued a statement that paid tribute to the nation’s democratic ethos, insisting that the right to freedom of association must be upheld by any legitimate government at all times. He wished them well without a word on how well or bad he felt. On his part, national

Oshodi-Apapa gridlock: Tyranny of too many tank farms

Why they should be relocated—Ambode, Safety experts By Mike Ebonugwo, Udeme Akpan and Olasunkanmi Akoni THE opinion in many quarters is that traffic gridlock in Apapa and environs has persisted because government has not shown enough political will to enforce sanction against owners of tankers and trucks. File: Gridlock The argument is heightened by the evident reluctance by government to order the forceful removal of the tankers from the roads out of fear that the action could result in fuel shortage as 36 tank farms are currently located in the area. But while acknowledging the fact that tanker drivers have been on the receiving end of criticisms for the chaotic traffic situation in the area, Tokunbo Korodo, Chairman, Lagos Zone of Petroleum Tanker Drivers,

Enough is enough, Ekweremadu warns FG over intimidation

 Deputy President of the Senate, Prof Ike Ekweremadu has revealed that the security siege in his house and that of the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki was to prevent them from going to the National Assembly for plenary  so that both of them could be impeached, a development that was meant to prevent the All Progressives Congress, APC, senators from defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Ekweremadu Ekweremadu however said that he has refused to bulge to the tactics of intimidations on him and has sworn to be on the side of peace, restoration of true democracy and freedom of association. He also said that come 2019 general election, the Gestapo

2019: How Kwankwaso’s defection shook Kano

KANO State, a swing state in Nigeria’s electoral map, witnessed a flurry of political activity and debate as a result of the defection of Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. From the streets of Sabon Gari, to the Sabon Bakin Zuwo Road seat of government, actions and talks were centred on the exit of the former state governor from the All Progressives Congress, APC. *Kwankwaso Even the leadership of the state House of Assembly was caught in the web of words (apologies to James Murray and Oxford Dictionaries, who authored Web of Words) regarding the development. In Kano, Saturday Vanguard observed that the news of the 

I never felt bad killing people – Mariam Abiola, 20yr old gang hit girl

Charms make me see human beings as flies” By Evelyn Usman Her   facial disposition, wrapped in a haggard-looking   frame depicted innocence in all its ramification. And   the   hijab   which covers   her head, neck and shoulder, revealing only her oblong   shaped face,   elicits compassion   on anyone she approaches for help. But her startling revelation of being the hit girl of the dreaded Eiye confraternity confirmed that  facial disposition can indeed   be deceptive. Mariam   Abiola, was born 20 years ago in Lafenwa, Abeokuta, Ogun. As she grew up, her mother,   Mrs Morenikeji Abiola, repeatedly reminded her that she would grow up to be a wealthy woman of repute in the society,

Presidency, a citadel of “liars”- PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the Buhari presidency as a “citadel of liars where deceptive lies are churned out daily to beguile Nigerians.” The party stated this while reacting to a Presidency statement credited to the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, that members of the National Assembly, who defected to the PDP on Tuesday have agreed to work for the re-election of Buhari in the 2019 election. Dispelling the submission, the PDP said the Buhari presidency has become very jittery over its imminent loss of the 2019 election that it now recourse to bare-faced lies and childish blackmail. In a statement signed by the National

ORTOM: Benue people speak on defection, Buhari’s 2019 chances

 

 Finally, after much persuasion from majority of the stakeholders in the state, Governor Samuel Ortom midweek took a rather bold political step by defecting from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, after months of protracted face-off with the leader of the party in the state. Suffice it to state here that the governor’s defection did not come as a huge surprise to pundits who have been following developments in the state, particularly since the beginning of the year when the killing spree by herdsmen in parts of the state took a worrisome dimension leading to the gruesome murder of over 500 innocent villagers in close to 18 of the 23 local government areas of the state. Gov. Ortom of Benue State The overwhelmed governor and people of the state had no option but to cry out against the pogrom which saw blood of innocent

2019: Adopt anti-vote-buying measures, stakeholders tell INEC

Ahead of the 2019 General Elections, some stakeholders, including registered voters in Abuja have charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to develop strategy against vote-buying. Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) They told newsmen in separate interviews on Monday in Abuja, that such proactive measures had become expedient following complaints which the dimension of vote-buying in elections had assumed. According to them, years of commitment by the commission to deliver free and fair elections will amount to naught if vote-buying is now condoned. Dr Chidi Amadi, the Executive Director, Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group, who expressed concern over the

NDLEA Promises To Stamp Out Illicit Drug Abuse

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Anambra commend said it has instituted a frontal attack to tackle the issue drug abuse in the state .
It expresses regret over the rising spate of illicit drug abuse among the youths, reveals that the command has unearth the proliferation of dangerous drug known as meant among children of youth ages in the state.

The Anambra state commandant of NDLEA, Sule Momodu made this public while on advocacy visit to the Secretary to Anambra state government Professor Solomon Chukwulobelum, to drum up support on the work of the state Drug Control Committee.

Anambra Central: dismisses petition against Umeh

The Anambra Central Senatorial Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka has struck out a petition challenging the victory of Sen. Victor Umeh in the Jan. 13 Anambra senatorial rerun election.

The Tribunal made up of Justices H. A. Olusiyi, chairman; A. O. Ayoola, member 1 and A. U. Birnin Kudu, member 2 dismissed the five reliefs sought by the petitioner as lacking merit and his inability to proof his case.
The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were joined in the petition as second and third respondents.