Politics

Benue APC crisis worsens as Agada, Omakolo factions rekindle rivalry

Published

2 months ago

May 15, 2024

There seems to be no end to the ongoing internal crisis tearing the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, apart.

This is as the Austin Agada-led faction and that of Benjamin Omakolo, rekindled their bitter battle of legitimacy and supremacy on Monday in Makurdi.

The free for all verbal war started after the Agada-led faction, backed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Dr George Akume, went to an unknown location in Makurdi and inaugurated members of an Ad Hoc Zoning Committee ahead of the local government election in the state.

The Publicity Secretary of the party in Benue State, Hon Daniel Ihonmu, in a press statement after the inauguration of the committee, said Agada in his address, mandated the committee to carry out a thorough job and make sure that party stakeholders are included in the Zoning process in each zone of the state.

He added that the State Working Committee of the party has also approved and begun sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms with Chairmanship forms going for N100,000 and N250,000, respectively, while that of Councillorship goes for N50,000 and N100,000, respectively

The statement also said women would obtain both forms free of charge, directing that all payments should be made through Zenith Bank account Number 1223095804.

But in a counter press statement a few minutes later, Hon Benjamin Omakolo-led faction, backed by the Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia through the factional Organizing Secretary of the party, Hon James Ornguga, warned APC members in the state against what he called “Diaspora Yahoo Arrangements”.

He advised party members to disregard any notice concerning local government elections emanating from one Daniel Ihomun, saying all elections correspondences would always come from him as empowered by the constitution of the party.

“Do not be a victim of their Abuja Yahoo Yahoo arrangements cooked in a foreign wine bar, away from the state to hoodwink unsuspecting party members.

“The party cannot begin sale of forms without the due approval of the State Executive Council and His Excellency, Gov. Hyacinth Alia who is the State Leader of the party.

“Therefore, all guidelines regarding the forthcoming elections would be originally unveiled at the appropriate time.

“Anyone who pays money into any account made available by the Benue APC diaspora group does so at their personal risk”, Ornguga said.

Recall that Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, few months ago, ordered security agencies to lock up the state Secretariat of APC.

He banned all party activities in the state, citing worsening insecurity.

But a month later, the Governor directed Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) to prepare and conduct local Government elections.

The ongoing wrangling is a battle of supremacy between the SGF, Sen. Akume and Gov Alia over who should be the leader of the party and control its structures in the state.

Politics

PDP postpones congresses in Abia, Ebonyi, writes INEC

Published

4 hours ago

July 27, 2024

Admin

National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has announced the postponement of its ward and Local Government Area congresses in Abia and Ebonyi States, which were earlier scheduled for Saturday, July 27.

This is contained in a letter written by the party to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The postponement, according to the letter, jointly signed by the acting national chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, was due to operational challenges.

It read in part: “Please refer to our earlier letter on the above subject matter with ref: PDP/DOM/GF.2/VOL.1F/24-069 dated Friday, April 19, 2024, in which we informed the Commission of our timetable and schedule of activities for the conduct of our Year 2024 planned congresses in 24 (twenty-four) state chapters of our party.

“Due to operational challenges, we are compelled to postpone the congresses in Abia and Ebonyi States.

“We will notify the Commission once new dates are fixed for these aforementioned states.

“What this means invariably is that ward, LGA and state congresses will not hold in these states as earlier scheduled. Please note for implementation purposes.

“We will continue to update the Commission on this issue. While thanking you for your usual cooperation, kindly acknowledge the receipt of this letter. Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”

This is contained in a letter written by the party to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

“Due to operational challenges, we are compelled to postpone the congresses in Abia and Ebonyi States.

“We will notify the Commission once new dates are fixed for these aforementioned states.

“What this means invariably is that ward, LGA and state congresses will not hold in these states as earlier scheduled. Please note for implementation purposes.

Politics

Breaking! LP crisis takes fresh twist as ‘new’ chairman emergesl

Published

16 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Austin Ojomah

The crisis within the Labour Party (LP) has taken a new twist as Callistus Okafor, a former Deputy National Chairman, has laid claim to the National Chairmanship position.

Mr Okafor has announced his decision to “take over” the party, citing a 2018 consent judgment from the Federal High Court.

The politician made the declaration at a press conference in Abuja on Friday.

Okafor explained that the court ruling, delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, resolved a leadership dispute between the late National Chairman, Abdulkadir Salam, and a rival faction led by Salisu Mohammed. The judgment declared that separate national conventions held by both parties were “inclusive.”

Okafor argued that this ruling was ignored, allowing Julius Abure to inherit and build on a faulty structure to become National Chairman.

As a member of the 2018 National Working Committee, Okafor claimed that he and others are beneficiaries of the court judgment.

Okafor announced plans to hold an all-inclusive convention within six months to reconcile aggrieved members and unite the party.

He said, “The owner of the house has taken the house. When I mean owner, I am not contesting Labour Party leadership with NLC, no.”

“I’m talking about the process. The midwifing of this process (fresh convention).

“The 2014 convention is the right avenue to midwife it. For that reason Callistus Okafor is now the acting chairman of Labour Party.

“Sequel to the above development, members of the 2014 National Working Committee who are beneficiaries of the consent judgment have agreed to midwife an all-inclusive and expansive convention in compliance with the Consent Judgment delivered by Hon Justice G.O. Kolawole, and further agree to within six months embark on a purposeful reconciliation of all aggrieved members and groups to achieve a united, focused Labour Party that will redefine political leadership in Nigeria’s quest for a better nation.”

Politics

Edo: Appeal Court upholds Ighodalo’s candidacy, fines Shaibu N1m

Published

4 days ago

July 23, 2024

Admin

The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Monday, upheld the emergence of Asue Igbodalo as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

The appellate court, in a lead judgment by Justice A. M. Lamido, dismissed the appeal, marked CA/ABJ/CV/642/2024, filed by the reinstated Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

The appellate court, which described Shaibu’s appeal as incompetent, awarded N1m against him in favour of Ighodalo.

The appellate court affirmed the May 27 judgment of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which earlier dismissed Shaibu’s suit challenging Ighodalo’s candidacy.

Justice Omotosho had held that Shaibu’s suit was premature, having not exhausted the PDP internal dispute resolution mechanisms before heading to court.

The Court of Appeal agreed with the lower court’s verdict.

“The conduct of an election as well as results are presumed regular until the contrary is proved and there was no evidence from the affidavit of the appellant to show votes were allocated to the 4th respondent. The suit is premature and the position of the lower court is unassailable.

“The appellant failed to prove his case as held by the trial court. The issue is resolved against the appellant and in favour of the respondents.

“Judgment of trial court is hereby affirmed. A cost of 1,000,000 is awarded against the appellant and in favour of the respective respondents,” the appellate court held.

Last week, the Federal High Court in Abuja also dismissed the second suit filed by Shaibu’s seeking Ighodalo’s candidacy.