2015: Igbo presidency can’t be realised under PDP – Okonkwo

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Senator Annie Okonkwo

by OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOLOJU

Senator Annie Okonkwo is the chairman of Committee 21 (C21), a pressure group fighting for the rights of South-East. In this interview with OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOLOJU, he speaks on the quest by Ndigbo to produce the president in 2015 and other issues.

Excerpts:

You were known to be a staunch member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but recently, you defected to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). What informed your decision?
First of all, if you are in this country, you would know what has been happening in the PDP. But to answer your question directly, the need to protect our collective interest informed the decision to move to a platform where our collective interest would be adequately protected. In the PDP today, you will realise that the Igbo do not even occupy the fourth or even fifth position in the arrangement and that is not acceptable to a lot of us.

We also have a lot of other challenges. We believe that the Igbo man is not occupying his rightful place in this country; we are not even anywhere and people are not even thinking about this. Despite our commitment to the Nigerian state, despite that the Igbo is the only tribe you can find living everywhere in this country; after the majority tribe in any state, the second largest population are the Igbo. But people are now taking us for granted.

So, we decided to reposition the Igbo nation in the country called Nigeria and this informed the berthing of the Committee 21 (C21), a socio-political and economic organisation, which is now a vehicle we intend to use to actualise our dreams and vision. We have to look at the social, political and economic situation of the Igbo man in the Nigerian polity, in terms of our state and our economic situation. The C21 has been able to look at the situation on ground and we felt that the political imbalance must be redressed and the C21 adopted APGA as the platform to achieve our political dreams, because we don’t want to move into where we are not recognised or reckoned with.

In 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan would have completed his first term and some Igbo leaders in Anambra State have endorsed him for a second term. Don’t you think this would affect the desire of the Igbo to take a shot at the presidency in 2015?
I think the situation is very clear. Jonathan is the president of Nigeria under the PDP platform. If the PDP chooses to adopt him for 2015, what is our own business with that? But what we are saying is that Ndigbo want to field their own candidate for the presidency come 2015 and we are soliciting for the support of the other zones to realise this dream and we are going to field our own candidate under the APGA platform. The national chairman of the APGA has already mentioned this and that is exactly what we are saying. So, if anybody is in the PDP and endorses Jonathan, he is on his own; he is not for the Igbo. I can tell you categorically that those people are not speaking for the Igbo. I can tell you that the Igbo would be more united in 2015 and they are more determined to achieve the Igbo presidency in 2015 and they believe that they would be given the opportunity.

But there is this fear that the Igbo presidency project may not be realised under APGA given the scope and spread of the party. It is believed that the Igbo would have a better chance under the PDP.
I disagree with that. Look at it this way; many Igbo people have tried to attain that level under the PDP, but what became of it? Dr. Alex Ekwueme tried it in 1999 when he was the founding chairman of the PDP and when he was supposedly the best candidate, they sabotaged him. What happened then is still fresh in our memories and this time around, our people do not want to take chances.

We have also realised that to make any headway, we need to consult with the other zones and other political parties to make sure that we get it right this time around. Our best chance is 2015, especially with the way the country is today. There is no question of anybody not getting the opportunity, but we have realised the opportunity and we are pleading with the other zones to support the Igbo quest for the presidency in 2015.

There has always been the problem of unity among Ndigbo when it comes to political alignment, as the people have always failed to speak with one voice. How do you intend to deal with this problem?
We appreciate that fact and we know that it is a problem and that is why we are kick-starting with the C21, which is like a vehicle that is going to be used and which is being used today to unite all the political groups in Igbo land, because this quest for the presidency by Ndigbo is the project of all the political groups in Igbo land; and for us to achieve this vision, we need to carry everybody along.

But we also recognise that in everything one does in life, there are always saboteurs, who would want to throw spanners in the works, but the truth of the matter is that we have already put in place mechanisms and strategies to take care of those saboteurs and when the time comes, we will take care of them. We are not going to reveal our strategies on the pages of the newspapers; we have realised that there may be a lot of people who would work to scuttle our aspiration amongst our people, but we are ready to make sure that at the appropriate time, we would stop those people from continuing their trade.

In view of the ongoing constitutional amendment, what is your take on the creation of an additional state in the South-East and revenue sharing?
We are of the belief today that if states are not created in other zones, the South-East deserves an additional state. But we have also come to the realisation that as the question of state creation comes to the front burner, other zones are also agitating for their own states. What exactly are we talking about? We are talking about imbalance. We are talking of imbalance of the states, imbalance of local governments, because these are bases on which revenue allocations are made. In the state creation process by the military, the Igbo were completely marginalised. When we talk of constitutional amendment, it is clear that we cannot continue the way we have been going. Today, we are talking of Boko Haram, yesterday, it was militancy, nobody knows what it would be next.

So, for equity and justice, let us return to regionalism. Let the allocation be shared according to the zones and let the zones now share according to the number of states and local governments in each zone. In that situation, any zone that want to have nine states would be free to do that; any zone that want to create 1,000 local governments can do so, as long as each zone has equal share of the allocation from the federation.

But a situation where deliberately, some zones are cheated in the creation of states and local governments, where we are not having equality of states and local governments is not accepted. We are making it very clear and boldly that in the process of constitutional amendment, these are issues to be looked at critically.

The Northern governors are agitating for a review of the present revenue formula because it does not favour the North while the South-South is agitating for an increase in the derivation. As a former lawmaker, how do you strike a balance in these agitations?
The issue is that if we want to practice true federalism, we should practice it to the latter. Today, the emphasis is on oil, tomorrow it could be agriculture, it may be coal in another time; but, unfortunately, we have put too much emphasis on oil and these are things that create problems, especially among the Northern states, with the believe that revenue must be shared equally.

But we must come to a time when we must practice true federalism and the people would be taxed according to what they produce and if possible, let each zone or each state control what they produce and don’t be surprised that some states can go into tourism as their main source of revenue, rather than this total dependence on oil and prepare their states and make so much money from tourism, even more than states that have oil.

In a state like California in the United States of America, revenue from tourism alone is over $70 billion every year. So, it is not just oil; there are other sources that are yet to be tapped in this country. If our leaders can start thinking with vision, they can find out ways of generating revenues outside oil that we all depended on. I support the practice of true federalism.

What is your take on the clamour for a sovereign national conference, engendered by the present spate of violence perpetuated by Boko Haram and other sundry security challenges across the country, considering that the National Assembly is kicking against it?
As far as I am concerned, it will be difficult for the National Assembly to accede to the convocation of a sovereign national conference. But the truth of the matter is that if you look at Nigeria today, it is better for us to sit down and decide on how we move forward and the terms of our continuous living together as a nation. Don’t forget like I said earlier, today, we are battling with Boko Haram, tomorrow it could be the turn of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and we are yet to get out of the militancy in the Niger Delta, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) is agitating in the South-East and there are other groups like the Bakassi and the rest.

From your own point of view and given the fact that next week, Nigeria would be celebrating 52 years of nationhood; would you say that as a nation, we are where we are supposed to be?
It all depends on the angle from which an individual looks at it. But honestly, the truth of the matter, which everybody would agree with, is that the country is not moving forward the way it is supposed to be. The high rate of insecurity is there; the high rate of corruption is there, poverty is endemic, the infrastructure is not there, the integrity of the nation is dwindling by the day, so as a country, we are not moving forward.

I think there is supposed to be more and proper orientation of the people. The way things are going, if these issues are not properly addressed, it would not augur well for anybody. I strongly believe that something must be done to start addressing the situation of this country.

You were the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment in the last Senate, what were you able to do about the erosion scourge devastating the South- East?
Erosion is one of the major challenges we have in this country, not only in the South-East, in view of the global climate change. We found it very challenging when we were in the Senate and what we did then was to put erosion issues on the front burner and the Federal Government then declared the South-East erosion disaster area, but the truth of the matter is that nothing much has been done about this scourge. We have not seen any improvement; rather the situation is getting worse by the day.

What we are now trying to do is to float a non-governmental organisation (NGO), where we can access funds from other developed countries, to combat the erosion menace; because we believe that probably, the government alone would not be able to tackle the erosion problem in this country alone. But honestly, the erosion situation in the South-East is frightening and mind you, if something is not done quickly, in few years time, there may be no state left standing in the South-East. The way things are today, year in year out, many houses are being submerged by the erosion scourge in the South-East and flooding too is taking its own toil, so something must be urgently done to arrest the situation before it completely gets out of hand.

You earlier mentioned the high level of corruption in the country. What do you think is the panacea to this recurring decimal, as it seems the government is not doing enough to fight this cankerworm?
The major problem in this area is the problem of orientation. Today, people can go to Ghana and invest because in Nigeria, from the gateman to the topmost person in any organisation, are corrupt and unfortunately for us in Nigeria, a lot of Nigerians have taken corruption as a way of life. So, we must return to re-inventing our values, especially family values of the old days.

You can see that within a short time, Ghanaians were able to change their country. For corruption to be adequately tackled, there must be re-orientation. It is not about building infrastructure, neither is it about improving power, because if we build all the infrastructure and power and our people lack the proper orientation, we would be retrogressing rather than progressing. So, the leadership of this country must try as much as possible to avoid celebrating corruption.

What we have today is that you see people involved in corruption one way or another on the pages of newspapers and on television being celebrated and honoured with different awards here and there, dining and wining with the president , which is not good for the image of the country and our development as a nation. To discourage people from corrupt tendencies and acts, those found to be involved in corrupt practices and acts must not only been punished severely, but must be seen to be so punished for their crime.

There are speculations that you are angling for Anambra State governorship in 2014.
First of all, my focus right now is to try and see how we can position the Igbo nation in the entity called Nigeria. As the president of C21, the responsibility lies on my head to reposition APGA to the level where our interest is adequately accommodated. For me, I have not decided exactly what my next line of action is politically and of course you will agree with me that whatever next step I will be taking in my political career would require a lot of consultations with different strata of our people.

I am a politician and I am still playing politics and by God’s grace, I will continue to be an active player in the political firmament, so whatever would be my next political step, I think my constituency should be the one to decide. There is no political office that I cannot handle, as a senator, because once a senator, always a senator forever. In whatever capacity my people require my service; I will always be ready to make myself available.

Do you think that APGA can win Anambra State governorship come 2014?
By the grace of God, definitely. APGA is now stronger than it used to be. There is no other political party that can win Anambra State.

How would you assess President Goodluck Jonathan in almost 18 months of his first tenure?
From my own point of view, I think President Jonathan has a lot of good intentions and plans for this country but the greatest challenge is the execution of these lofty intentions, especially on the part of the people working with him. He made a lot of promises and it is just one and a half years and I wouldn’t want to assess him within the short time he has been in office.

But we can see that the intentions are there, but what is lacking is the implementation. So, we believe we should give the president another one year before we can make far-reaching assessment of his governance, to see what he could do for this country and see a change in the situation of this country. As of now, there is nothing to celebrate as the situation is not favourable.

What is the relationship between APGA and other opposition political parties in terms of forging an alliance to confront the PDP in 2015?
APGA is in good relationship with other opposition parties and I think that the possibility of an alliance for 2015 is very high. We don’t have any issue with forming alliances, as long as the other parties share the vision we have. It is just that for now, we are coming out strongly, with high determination to pursue and achieve our vision. We don’t have any problem forming alliance with any party that would help us achieve our aim, but our focus is to effect a change in the way the country is being run.

 

Kwankwaso Eyes Presidency 2015, Another Party

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Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Kano State

Information recently made available to 247ureports.com through sources close to the governor of Kano, Malam Rabiu Kwankwaso indicates that the governor may have concluded plans on going against President Goodluck Jonathan for the presidential elections of 2015.

Our information indicates that the governor of Kano had previously set up a closed-committee to make inquires into the fesibilities of contesting and winning the presidential elections. The committee is said to have remained active since its formation – and has drafted a plan – including the modalities involved. The committee is said to also have submitted recommendations to the governor.

The governor accepted the findings and recommendations of the committee.

One of the findings and/or recommendations concerned party platform. The Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], of which the governor is a member, was ruled out as a possible party platform. Other party platforms were highly recommended. The committee was convinced the President will go for re-election.

For this reason, the governor had become interested in the outcome of the proposed merger of the Congress for Progressive Change [CPC] and the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN]. The merger of the two parties which has been in the works for over a year, has yet to produce results.

The governor appears unsure of the ACN/CPC merger but has opened other channels to achieve his ambition.

The governor’s recent visit to the Imo State governor, an All Progressive Grand Alliance [APGA], governor, Rochas Okorocha, according to inside sources, was to discuss matters concerning partnerships against the 2015 presidential race. Governor Kwankwo impressed on Governor Okorocha the need to partner together to produce a joint presidential ticket in 2015. It is uncertain what Okorocha’s response was to the proposal but it is certain he did not out-rightly reject it.

It was following the meeting with the Kano State governor that the Imo State governor publicly began his abrupt distancing from the embattled factional chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh. Both the Imo state governor and the embattled factional chairmen had been bed-mates in the battle for control of APGA away from the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi.

But following the meeting, the two had since gone their separate ways. The Imo State governor has since changed his colors towards the APGA chairman – and has gradually begun to pull away from APGA as a party. This is confirmed by APGA party chieftains, off the record, that the governor has become ‘aloof’ on matters concerning APGA.

Informed speculators point to the visit of Kwankwaso to Okorocha as responsible for the change of colors by Okorocha. Okorocha is suspected to have reached soft agreements with Kwankwaso – regarding party platforms for 2015- and may have traded off his membership of the APGA in return for a vice presidential slot behind a Kwankwaso candidacy. It remains speculative but sources near the Imo State governor indicate that the governor’s activities has morphed into another kind of activities – “it is now about 2015 presidency“.

Meanwhile, political watchers in Kano tell 247ureports.com that the governor of Kano State has begun work on amassing resources.  Particularly, sources within one of the more lucrative ministries stated that the governor has put his hands in every money venture in the State government. In his words, “who handles all contracts in Kano? Both in disguise and reality? Was the situation the same as before? These are questions I want you to find answers to. From there you can know how he can finance the perceived ambition“.

The source continues to explain that Kano State governor’s ambition appears stuck between a rock and a hard place following a blow from the former Board of Trustees chairman and strongman of the PDP, General Obasanjo in his choice of the governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido – a political rival of the Kano State governor – as the the likely PDP presidential candidate.

Madonna calls President Obama a ‘black Muslim,’ says she’ll strip onstage if he wins second term

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Madonna asked everyone in the audience of her Washington,  DC performance Monday night to vote for President Obama because he is a “black  Muslim.”

“Y’all better vote for f**king Obama, OK? For better or for  worse, all right?” the shouted from stage while sipping from a bottle of water  with a straw. “”We have a black Muslim in the White House! Now that’s some  amazing s**t.”

Madonna, 54, also stripped down to her bra to reveal  “Obama” stenciled in big letters on her back, before promising (or warning?): “When Obama is in the White House for a second term I’ll take it all  off.”

President Obama is not a Muslim.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/09/25/madonna-calls-president-obama-black-muslim-says-shell-strip-onstage-if-wins/#ixzz27WORsarz

Obama meets (briefly) with Yemeni president, UN chief

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President Barack Obama, who’s under fire from Republicans and some in the press for failing to schedule the usual leader-to-leader meetings during his United Nations visit this week, did meet briefly on Tuesday with the president of Yemen and the secretary-general of the United Nations, according to the White House.

Obama dropped in on a meeting Deputy National Security Adviser John Brennan was having with Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi at the U.N., Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters on Air Force One as Obama returned to Washington Tuesday afternoon.

“President Obama stopped by that meeting to thank him for steps taken to secure our embassy and diplomats in that country,” Rhodes said, alluding to protests against U.S. diplomatic posts across the Muslim world over an anti-Muslim video posted online.

Obama also had “courtesy call” meetings with Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and the current president of the U.N. General Assembly, Vuk Jeremic of Serbia. (Obama’s visit with Ban was on a schedule released by the State Department, but was absent from Obama’s public schedule released late Monday by the White House.)

Asked why Obama thought countries that don’t respect free speech rights would respond to his forceful defense of freedom of expression, Rhodes didn’t answer directly but said the president wanted to explain to world leaders how critical those protections have been to the development of the United States.

“He wanted to give the clearest affirmation that he could of why free speech is so important to the United States,” Rhodes said. “Different countries don’t share the same legal protections we have for free speech, the same traditions of free speech, but people need to understand that’s a core American value and it’s been essential to the progress of our democracy throughout our history.”

Republicans have faulted Obama for not being vocal enough in defense of free speech when the anti-Muslim video controversy first broke out.

Rhodes also noted Obama remarks about the ubiquitous nature of the Internet and how, these days, speech was going to get around roadblocks governments try to set up.

“People need to be able to deal with those types of challenges without resorting to violence, without resorting to this pattern of outrage that we’ve seen in recent years.”

During the gaggle on AF1, Rhodes also brushed aside a reporter’s question about a possible meeting between Obama and Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday. The White House aide said he had no scheduling announcements to make on that front.

Muslim cleric harps on quality education for children

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Education has been described as a platform for development in any society or nation.
Professor of Religious and Cultural Studies in the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Abdulrazaq Kilani made this known in a forum with Islamic Parents in Port Harcourt.

Professor Kilani who also described education as an integral part of the Islam religion stated it cannot not be separated from qualitative and modern education.

He advised Parents not to deprive their children from modern education and also ensure to take part in impacting quality education in them.

A cross section of Parents who spoke to our correspondent after the forum also identified with the importance of quality modern education and called on other Parents to adopt and sponsor a less privileged child in the society

Egypt reopens ancient tombs following 10-year renovation

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Two ancient Egyptian tombs have been reopened following a 10-year renovation costing an estimated $2m.

Officials say the economic climate in Egypt is hampering efforts to reopen more revamped tombs – as the country struggles to revive its flagging tourism industry following the overthrow of former President Hosni Mubarak last year.

James Kelly reports.

Contempt: Anyim, Sports Minister, Maigari, others in court‏

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Senator Anyimn Pius Anyim

by Olajide Ayodeji Fashikun

Contrary to the prescriptions and what the Nigerian public had been made to believe that all legal matters in the administration of football had been settled, we are back in the court room.

This time around, the National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF) at a Federal High Court, Abuja has filed contempt proceedings against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Sports, the Director General of the Federal Ministry of Sports, the Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari and 33 others.

The NANF in its matter, NANF vs. AGF and 5 others in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/86/2012 went on to file the fresh twist through its counsel, Belo Aideloje Esq.,.

The contempt proceedings are hinged on incessant violations of two previous judgments, processes and proceedings of the current matter in court.

The matter is fixed for 25th October 2012 for further hearing before Justice Adamu Bello.

Delta Moves to mitigate effects of flood

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  • Assures victims of shelter, food

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has taken concrete measures aimed at alleviating the sufferings and pains of persons affected by the flood that is ravaging communities along the bank of the River Niger.
Uduaghan has consequently raised a high-powered committee chaired by his Deputy Prof. Amos Utuama and comprising other relevant government ministries and agencies to visit the affected parts of the state and provide necessary measures to mitigate the effect of the flood on the victims.
The committee which immediately swung into action on Tuesday visited Anwai, Cable Point, Nigeria Immigration Service Office and other areas affected by the flood with Utuama assuring the victims that the state government was touched by their plight hence his committee was set up.
He explained that the terms of reference of the committee were to provide immediate, medium and long term measures and solutions to the flood that has displaced communities in different parts of the country.
The Deputy Governor informed that the flood was occasioned by the opening up of the Kanji Dam but said:  “We want to assure you that you will not walk alone,” stating that the state government was committed to providing them the needed relief.
Utuama assured the persons displaced that they would be relocated to schools and provided  with food items, mattresses, water and other basic necessities that they would need for the period of their temporary displacement.
He then directed the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare to get schools that would provide temporary accommodation for the displaced persons.
At the Cable Point, Utuama, while lamenting the loss of a little girl to the flood, asked that a minute silence be observed in honour of her.
He observed that, although the current flood was occasioned by water from Kanji Dam, it was however a clear signal that climate change was a reality, adding that   the administration of Uduaghan has been in the vanguard of campaign aimed at mitigating the effects.
The committee is expected to visit other parts of the state affected by the flood.

Press Release: CAN Condenms Assassination of the Borno State Attorney General, Others

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Northern Sates & Abuja CAN Communiqué Issued At the End of Quarterly NEC Meeting Held in Kaduna

Rising from the said NEC meeting, the following resolutions were passed and adopted

  1. The federal government is commended for the noticeable improvement in electricity generation and distribution.
  2. The ongoing deregulation in the petroleum sector has also witnessed increased availability of products and the effort by the federal government is commendable. However, conscious measures should be put in place to ensure that these laudable achievements are not undermined.
  3. We commend the president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan for identifying with the yearnings of the masses by laying to rest the introduction of the Five thousand (N 5000) naira note by the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN)
  4. We condemn in the strongest terms, the assassination of the Borno State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and the daily barbaric killing of other citizens in Borno and Yobe States. We especially condemn the recent killing of innocent Christians in Bauchi by the enemies of the Nigerian nation.
  5. The meeting noted with displeasure the lopsided composition of the Northern States Committee on Reconciliation, Healing and security, in which Christians are only 11 out of the 41 man committee. We therefore call that if the committee is meant for the purpose which we are being made to believe, then, there should be an equitable representation so that its findings and recommendations will be accepted to all concerned.
  6. The meeting viewed with great concern, the practices by governments of taking over lands from peasant and designating them as grazing reserves for Fulani herdsmen who, more often than not, turn out to be a menace to the local communities within which such reserves are carved. In some states, such reserves are reported to have provided safe havens for foreign armed bandits and election riggers.
  7. We call on Mr. President to further demonstrate enough political will in stamping out corruption in public offices, particularly government parastatals and agencies. Corruption has hindered the development and sustenance of many promised projects which would have provided gainful employment for our teeming youths.
  8. We congratulate the leadership of the 17 Southern States of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for their inauguration and pray that we will cooperate in ensuring the protection of the interest of the church in Nigeria and democratic yearnings of the Nigerian people.
  9. We commend the CAN president, Pastor Ayo Oritseajafor, for all personal and corporate steps taken so far to curb the menace of Boko Haram in the country. Boko Haram is a product of a fanatical theology of hatred and intolerance. We have been living with the poor since the fall of man. Let it be clearly emphasized that the church in the North will continue to march on, no matter the rage against her and the gates of hell shall never prevail.

SIGNED

Bro. Sunday Oibe

Public Relations Officer

 

Suit to Sack Chime – Appeal Court Begins Hearing

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Abuja — The Abuja Division of the Appeal Court, will today, commence hearing on a suit seeking to sack Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State from office.

The appeal which was lodged before the court by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Chief Alexander Chukwuemeka Obiechina, is challenging the refusal of a Federal High Court in Abuja to void the nomination process that saw the emergence of Governor Chime on April 26, 2011.

The high court presided by Justice Adamu Bello had on May 21, 2012, declined to sack Chime from office, saying it lacked the jurisdiction to nullify his candidacy in the last general elections.

Justice Bello had maintained that the issue of nomination and sponsorship of a candidate for any given election was within the realm of the domestic affairs of a political party.

Consequently, the case was dismissed even as the trial court stressed that the plaintiff, having failed to participate in any of the primary elections conducted in Enugu state by the PDP, lacked the locus-standi to seek the nullification of the said electoral processes.

Though the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in a written address tendered before the court, queried the legal propriety of the January 12, 2011, primary election that produced Governor Chime as the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Enugu state, insisting that it was conducted in substantial non-compliance with the provision of section 85(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, however, the Court in its judgment, noted that “aspirant who did not participate in the primaries of a political party, does not have the right to challenge the outcome of such primaries.”

The high court further relied on the case of the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, and held that PDP had the right to bar the plaintiff or any other aspirant from participating in its primary election.

However, dissatisfied with the judgment, Obiechina has taken the matter before the appellate court, praying it to go ahead and determine whether there was a valid special congress or primary election held in Enugu State on January 12, 2011, in which Chime was nominated as the PDP candidate.

He is contending that the laid down condition precedent for nominating a candidate for the governorship position, as enshrined in sections 85(1) and 87(1)(4)(b) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) was not fulfilled in the case of governor Chime.

Insisting that Chime was handpicked through a kangaroo process, the litigant, through his lawyer, Mr Oba Maduabuchi, is urging the court to nullify the said illegal primary election and order the Governor to forthwith vacate the office, arguing that January 9, 2011, was the validly set date for the gubernatorial primaries in Enugu State.

Obiechina told the court that as a governorship aspirant in the state, he met all the requirements and was duly cleared to contest the primaries alongside the Governor and other aspirants.

He said while he was busy soliciting the support of the electorates, he heard over the State radio that Chime had won the gubernatorial ticket to fly the party’s flag in the election.

The appellant averred that upon enquiry, he discovered that the party did not fix any primaries for January 12 and it did not also notify INEC at least 21 days to the primaries as required by section 85 (1) of the Electoral Act before such primaries could be held.

He further placed reliance on 13 separate exhibits he tendered before the trial court, to contend that Chime was not validly nominated ab-initio and as such, was not validly elected and should therefore vacate the office.

Meantime, INEC had in a written address it filed before the lower court, washed its hands off the said controversial primary election.

According to the Commission, “with respect to primary elections said to be conducted on January 11 and 12, 2011, it can be said that what was passed as the “Notice’ was the plaintiff’s exhibit addresses to the Resident Electoral Commissioner at Enugu, which most certainly is not the same as the 1st defendant, who by the clear terms of section 85(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 must be the Commission itself.

“This apart, the letter is dated January 10, 2011 and apparently was received on January 11, 2011, the very next day.

“It gave notice of primaries scheduled for the same day. Certainly, no one should be left in doubt that the envisaged notice of 21 days was not complied with in obvious violation of section 85(1]) Added to the foregoing is the fact that the resident Electoral Commissioner cannot be regarded as the Commission, which presents a further violation.

“It stands to reason that a notice of primary election dated January 10, 2011 for the events to be held on January 11 and 12, 2011 has the potential of violating the right to equal opportunity to be voted for. Be that as it may, what really transpired within the party can best be considered intra party, which must be ventilated by affected members of the party.

“Having said that, the 1st defendant, (INEC) reiterates that there was clear non-compliance with section 85(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010”, the Commission submitted.

Nevertheless, Governor Chime and the PDP had adduced reasons why the suit should be dismissed in its entirety.

Both the party which was represented in court by its former National legal adviser, Chief Olusola Oke, and the embattled Governor, earlier filed separate preliminary objections against the suit.

The respondents challenged the jurisdiction of the high court to entertain the matter, maintaining that the plaintiff was bereft of the locus-standi to seek the sack of the governor from office.

According to Oke, “my lord, we wish to draw your attention to a judgment the Supreme Court delivered on December 16, in a case involving Senator Lado Vs the CPC, which we believe has fortified our objection to the jurisdiction of this court to entertain the instant suit.

“The apex court has made it clear that where a suit invites a court to determine which of two primary elections of a political party is valid; such issue goes beyond the jurisdiction conferred to courts under section 87(9) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

“A look at the process before this court will reveal that the case bothers on which of the two primary elections of the PDP in Enugu state is valid. Is it that of January 9, or that of January 12, and it is our humble submission that such issues are outside the jurisdiction of either this court of INEC.

“As a political party, we urge this court to strike out this suit for want of jurisdiction or alternatively, dismiss same for lacking in merit” he added.

Counsel to Governor Chime, Chief Mrs Justina Offiah, SAN, had equally adopted the prayers of the party, insisting that he (Chime) was validly nominated for the Enugu state gubernatorial election.

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Source: Vanguard

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