APC Chairman has mismanaged the party – Timi Frank says

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank has accused the Chairman, John Oyegun of mismanaging the party.

He also alleged that a lot of thing has gone wrong in the APC, because of Oyegun’s leadership style.

Frank, in an interview with Punch, said for the party to move forward, it has to stop making the mistake that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made.

He said “I said that because I want my party to sit up. I want my party to get its act together; there are a lot of things that are wrong with my party as of today, because of the kind of leadership Chief John Odigie-Oyegun is providing. I say this without fear of contradiction; major political re-alignments are going on in this country.

“I don’t want a scenario whereby  my party will lose out at the end of the day. I don’t want Odigie-Oyegun to run this party aground, he has mismanaged this party; I don’t want us to lose our members to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party or any other political party for that matter. I am shouting today because I love this party we all laboured to bring  into existence, we cannot be repeating the same mistakes that the former ruling party made, lost members and eventually lost power.”

The APC spokesman also said the party will not achieve anything good as long as Oyegun remains at the helm of affairs.

Frank who described Oyegun as a political liability, said what APC needs is a leader who will add political value to the party.

He also slammed Oyegun saying he does not understand the constitution of the APC, adding that he will continue to fight to ensure that the party delivers its promises to Nigerians.

Frank said “…This is the reason why I will continue to fight to ensure that the APC takes Nigeria to the right place but as long as Odigie-Oyegun remains as national chairman, we cannot achieve anything. Now that I am calling for his resignation, some may think it is personal, but it is not. We need a national chairman that will add political value to our party, we need a national chairman that can lead the party to victory during elections and we do not need a national chairman who will clearly be a political liability to this party as we head towards elections.

“We need a national chairman that will understand and follow due process in carrying out functions within the party. We need a chairman who understands the constitution in words and indeed. As of today, my national chairman does not understand the rules of this party, he does not understand the constitution of this party otherwise he would not try to carry out the kind of impunity he is about to by appointing somebody as spokesman for the party.

“He knows that appointing anybody into a national office outside the constitution and outside the National Convention is illegal. How can he do that? He should know that this is not the civil service where he was a permanent secretary; no position in the party is permanent. He cannot run this party like the ministries where he was permanent secretary. I will continue to stand my ground, I will not be intimidated.”

Timi Frank also told the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to give Nigerians false hope.

EFCC goes after corrupt justices

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has finalised plans to probe the judges that were arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The DSS had earlier accused some senior judicial officers of corruption and professional misconduct.

According to Punch, the anti-graft agency swung into action following a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari.

An EFCC source said, “The commission has taken over the probe into the allegation of corruption against those judges whose residents were raided by operatives of the DSS.”

The source also revealed that some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) were arrested for allegedly paying money into the judges’ accounts.

The EFCC also decried the publicity that followed the arrest of the judges by the DSS, adding that it has made it impossible for them to investigate the matter secretly.

According to reports, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, expressed shock at the indictment of top lawyers in corruption cases.

Speaker urges his classmates to make sacrifices

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has said that there is no success or achievement without sacrifice.

Dogara said this at the inaugural reunion organised by the 1992 class of law graduates from the University of Jos, in Abuja on Saturday.

He recalled how they all met at the school and said with their successes and achievements, they should make sacrifices by contributing their quota to the system that moulded them.

“We came together looking timid and never knew what each one of us would be 24 years after graduation.

“We always believe that the Lord has a purpose for each one of us. You will never know the purpose why the Lord had assembled us at the same time as class mates.

“None of us knew what he or she could become in future and look at us all now, most of us are making successes  in our different endeavours.

“Remember nothing good comes without sacrifice we should use this occasion to reflect on what action we wish to take.

“Whatever we are today we cannot deny that we achieved them through what we got when we were in the University of Jos.

“Those achievements we have accumulated should be made available for the betterment of the society and much sacrifice is required of us,” he said.

The convener of the event, Mr Abdul Mahmud, represented by Mr. Emeka Onohwakpor, urged his fellow alumni to give thanks to the Lord.

Buhari to launch APC campaign in Akure

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State said on Saturday that President Muhammad Buhari would launch the campaign rally of its governorship candidate, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu.

In a statement signed by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, said the launch of the campaign was fixed for Thursday, November 3, 2016.

Adesanya added that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun, the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will accompany the President.

He also said the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and all the APC state governors would be present.

He noted that 30-man Local Organising committee for the campaign had been inaugurated and is chaired by Mr Agboola Ajayi, for the Nov.26 governorship election in the state.

Governor slams INEC for its inability to conduct rerun election in Rivers

The Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike has alleged that there is a negative plot by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against people of the state.

Wike said “The fact that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can successfully conduct elections in Sambisa forest, but not in Rivers State is an indication of the negative plot against the state.”

The Governor also alleged that the continued postponement of the rerun election by INEC shows that the elections body is plotting to rig the polls.

Wike said this on Friday, October 28, 2016, while meeting with members of the West African Architects.

According to Daily Post, the Governor said “Because people want to illegally seize power in Rivers State that is why you are hearing all this. All this plot is to take Rivers State. Why do you want to take Rivers State when it is not your own?

“Between March 19th and now, they planned to do elections so that they can get the number of seats to impeach me and put their own man. Since March, everyday they postpone the elections. From May to June to July, August then September. They said October ending, still no election. Now, they say 10th of December and when we get to 10th of December, they may shift it to next year.”

Adding that “Election took place in Borno , election took place in Yobe, election took place in Adamawa where you have deadly insurgency. They were able to conduct elections and votes were counted. They were able to conduct election in Sambisa forest and votes were counted, but they cannot conduct election here in Rivers State.”

Governor Wike also suggested the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution  (ADR) in settlement  of  political conflicts.

PDP supporters protest selection of Jimoh Ibrahim as guber candidate

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday, October 28, 2016, named Jimoh Ibrahim as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) guber candidate.

The Ahmed Makarfi faction of the PDP had presented Eyitayo Jegede as the party’s flag-bearer for the November 26, 2016 governorship election.

As a fall out of INEC’s action, resident of Ondo state took to the streets on Friday, October 28, 2016, to protest.

Ibrahim however dismissed the protests, and accused the Ondo Governor, Olusegun Mimiko of trying to create an impression of unrest.

On Saturday, October 29, 2016, supporters of the PDP marched on the streets of Ondo again, to express their displeasure over the choice of Ibrahim by INEC.

The Ondo PDP factional Chairman, Clement Faboyede, during the march, vowed never to allow the business mogul fly the flag of the party in the forthcoming governorship election.

He said “The APC is using Jimoh Ibrahim against us. Ibrahim is a member of the Accord Party; he is not our member. No court can impose any candidate on any political party.”

Jimoh Ibrahim also dismissed claims that Ondo people do not like him, saying he doesn’t need the help of Governor Mimiko to win the governorship election.

Governor suggests use of alternative dispute resolution for electoral issues

Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers state  has suggested the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution  (ADR) in settlement  of  political conflicts after major elections in the country.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, said the governor made the suggestion when the executive members of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, paid him a courtesy call in Port Harcourt.

Wike noted  that  ADR would reduce bickering, time and funds spent on cases at the election tribunals, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

“We as politicians have been discussing  on how we can introduce  Alternative Dispute Resolution in the settlement of election matters without  going to the tribunals .

“The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators  can play a role in the introduction  of  ADR  to election  dispute.

“It will reduce bickering , it will  reduce cost and time spent at the tribunal, Court of Appeal  and the Supreme Court.  In other words, there will  be more time for governance,” the governor said.

According to Wike, it is a major  issue that  we should put our heads together to see how it will be possible to introduce election  matters as issues to be resolved through ADR.

The governor also used the opportunity to restate that Rivers was safe for investments and tourism.

“The state in the last four months has played host to Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigerian Bar Association , Rotary International  and the West African Architects Fair.

“Check the crime index in the country, that of Rivers state is quite low. It is lower than other major states,” he said.

Wike commended the Nigeria Institute of Arbitrators  for bringing its conference to Rivers State .

Earlier, the Chairman of the Local  Organising Committee of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators ,Mrs Mmainnaya Essien (SAN), said that the institute  chose the state because it was safe and had modern amenities to host international events.

Essien said that Rivers state would be promoted  as a major destination  for  Alternative Dispute Resolution in the country  on the same standing with Lagos and Abuja.

The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators conference  will hold between Nov. 10 and Nov.11, 2016, in Port Harcourt.