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Fubara Faces Impeachment Threat as Damagun Allegedly Files Suit to Reinstate Rivers Lawmakers Loyal to Wike

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Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s tenure is under threat as allegations emerge against Umar Damagun, the acting National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)

Damagun is accused of secretly filing a lawsuit to reinstate 27 state lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, the former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

These lawmakers had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and subsequently had their seats declared vacant.

The coalition of opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives, known as G60, led by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo), has brought these allegations to light. During a press conference, Ugochinyere revealed documents allegedly proving the party’s involvement in a lawsuit aimed at reinstating the ousted Assembly members.

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The reinstatement is perceived as an attempt to impeach Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The lawmakers claimed that the suit aims to reinstate these members, whose seats were declared vacant, and to revive a plan to illegally impeach Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

he group’s spokesman, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo), displayed copies of the suit allegedly filed by the party.

He described the party’s actions as a shameful betrayal and evidence of a compromised NWC that must be dissolved immediately.

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In suit no: FHC/PH/CS/90/2024 dated 14th May 2024, the party is seeking an order joining the PDP as 30 defendants in the suit, and an order for the amendment of all processes in the suit to reflect the name of the People’s Democratic Party as the defendant in the suit, and for any other orders as the honourable court may seem fit to make in the circumstances.”

In the affidavit in support of the motion, the PDP said it has not received any notice of resignation from the wards of the 1st -27th defendants yet and consequently cannot say that they have defected.

Paragraph 10 states of the affidavit in support said: “In further response to paragraph 20(1) of the affidavit in support of the originating summons, the 30th defendant is not aware that the 1st – 27th defendants renounced their membership of the People’s Democratic Party or defected to the APC aside the rumours being peddled on social media.”

Ugochinyere who said the National Legal Adviser of the party earlier denied the existence of the suit by the party said Damagun is set to destroy the party and allow APC sacked lawmakers to come back and impeach the governor.

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He said: “Recall that the PDP through the legal adviser deliberately misled the public and party members when he denied the allegations of the existence of such a legal process where PDP Headquarters gave authorisation for the sacked APC Lawmakers to be reinstated using one Dr.Musa Joshua SAN.

“Fellow Party men, the party headquarters lied and here today, we have the hard evidence and copy of the documents to show what those we left in Wadata house are capable of doing to their own party which is the reason we insisted we can’t leave those already in bed with APC as our party’s Officials.

“We can confirm to you that the Peoples Democratic Party PDP has filed a Motion for joinder in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/90/2024 filed by the remaining members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to declare the seats of the 27 defected members of the Assembly vacant.

“We can also confirm that the PDP led by Umar Damagun and his legal adviser Ajibade using a personal lawyer of FCT Minister Wike also filed a Counter Affidavit to the said suit and a written address opposing the prayers to declare the seats vacant and insisting that the sacked APC lawmakers are still PDP members and should be left alone to continue the activities against the PDP led govt in Rivers State.

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“The position of the PDP was that it was the only party that could say who its members are and that the 27 members are still members of the Party.

“We can also confirm to you that the processes were filed by Dr. Joshua Musa, SAN who is a well-known lawyer of the Minister of FCT Nyesom Wike and his interests.

“The legal adviser with permission of the PDP Chairman deliberately assigned and authorised the FCT Minister lawyer to take the case knowing fully well that PDP Interest will be butchered. So we can say for a fact that Wike’s lawyer is representing the PDP and is pushing Wike’s interest which is clearly against that of the PDP as these defected lawmakers are seeking ways to illegally impeach the PDP Governor of Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

“Again whether money exchanged hands to allow this type of absurd situation cannot be confirmed but that information by Mallam Abubakar Isa who alleged that there was financial inducement pushed us into the field to ascertain the true position and these are our findings.

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We are aware that the Federal High Court in Abuja counter-claimed and asked the Court to declare the seats of the defected lawmakers vacant for the sole reason of their defection is still the same party that is now purporting to stop another court from doing the same thing they are asking another court to do.

“The PDP is now approbating and reprobating at the same time. So what happened? When was this new alliance forged? When did the PDP start defending the defected lawmakers? What are the terms of that negotiation? Are the terms in the interest of PDP or APC, the new party of the now former Assembly members?

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Politics

Tinubu presides as APC national caucus holds meeting in Aso Rock

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President Bola Tinubu is presiding over the National Caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking the first of such gathering since he assumed office on May 29, 2023.

The high-level meeting is holding at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja with key party leaders in attendance.

The Caucus meeting is preceding the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) scheduled to hold at the party secretariat at Wuse 2, Abuja, tomorrow.

The meeting commenced by 07:20pm with the arrival of the President, who is the leader of the ruling party.

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Among those in attendance are Vice President Kashim Shettima; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje.

Ganduje was accompanied by nine other members of the National Working Committee (NWC), including the deputy national chairmen (North and South), national secretary, legal adviser, treasurer, organizing secretary, women leader, youth leader, and leader of persons living with disabilities.

Also present are APC Governors, Imo’s Hope Uzodinma, who serves as Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum.

Among the key issues on the agenda is the scheduling of a non-elective convention, in line with the party’s constitution.

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The caucus is also expected to deliberate on the formation of party standing committees, a presentation on the establishment of The Progressive Institute (TPI), and the implementation of a membership e-registration exercise.

Additionally, the meeting will review a report from the national legal adviser concerning ongoing litigations involving the party in various courts.

Other attendees at the meeting include members of the Nigeria Governors Forum led by Governor of Lagos State,

Other Governors in attendance are Babajide Sanwoolu (Lagos); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Babagana Zulum (Borno);  Uba Sani (Kaduna);  Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto (Sokoto) and  Hyacinth Alia (Benue) among others.

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Also present are South-South leaders of the ruling party, led by Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Silva.

Notable leaders of the governing party from the northern present at the meeting include Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Former Governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al Makura and Senator Aliyu Wammako

Founding National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande; Chief Iyiola Omisore, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Senator Lola Ashiru and few others from South-West are also present.

Also at the maiden caucus meeting are the former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara; former Cross River Governor Ben Ayade and Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

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Ex-Delta Reps member Ossai dumps PDP for APC

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A former member of the House of Representatives from Delta State, Hon. Dr. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, has dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ossai, who represented the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency of Delta State for three consecutive terms from 2011 to 2023, cited the need to align with a party he believes is better positioned to serve his constituents, Delta State, and Nigeria as a whole.

During his tenure in the National Assembly, Ossai held key leadership positions, including Chairman of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges in the 8th Assembly and Chairman of the House Committee on Treaties, Protocols, and Agreements in the 9th Assembly.

However, his political career faced a major setback when he was blocked from securing a return ticket in the 2022 PDP primary elections—an outcome he attributes to internal party politics allegedly driven by former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and other influential stakeholders.

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In his resignation statement, Ossai expressed deep dissatisfaction with the direction of the PDP, describing it as “rudderless, cantankerous, envious, and lacking vision.”

He stated: “After deep reflection and wide consultations with my family, political leaders, supporters, and associates, I have decided to resign from the PDP and heed the patriotic call to join the largest progressive family in Africa, the APC.”

Ossai emphasised that his move was driven by a commitment to good governance and national development.

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Wike excited as Orbih is re-elected PDP S/South Chairman

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The re-elected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-South Zonal Vice Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, has described the ongoing crisis within the party as self-inflicted.

He noted that the party’s constitution had been disregarded in favour of personal interests by a few members.

Speaking at the South-South Zonal Congress of the PDP in Calabar on Saturday, Orbih urged party faithful to make the necessary sacrifices to revive and strengthen the party.

He called for the election of officers who would uphold the party’s constitution in the zone, emphasising that such individuals must also have the fear of God.

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Orbih said: “We must follow the party’s guidelines if we are to revive it. These guidelines are subject to the constitution.

“The power to elect new officers of the party is not subject to anything but the constitution.

“We must start rebuilding the party from here. The party cannot dictate who an individual should associate with, nor determine their friends or enemies.”

Similarly, Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, noted that, by all indications, the party remained strong in the zone.

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He commended Orbih and his re-elected executive members for maintaining the party’s stability in spite of its challenges.

He, however, urged the party’s leadership to speak truth to power if it truly sought to regain its lost glory.

Wike added that the zonal congress held in Calabar would be the last to elect the Zonal Working Committee.

“Presently, we have leaders who can’t speak the truth and are full of betrayal.

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“No part of the constitution says that congress should not be held when some persons are indisposed. No any other congress will hold after this.

“This is our job. This is our terrain. We are not new to this. The constitution didn’t say national working commitee shall conduct the zonal congress.

“This is the final congress in the South South. We don’t need quantity but quality,” he said.

In his address, former Governor of Cross River, Mr Donald Duke, urged PDP members in the zone to remain focused and fully committed to the party.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Orbih and all the immediate past zonal officers, who were elected four years ago in Port Harcourt, were re-elected during the congress in Calabar.

They were all returned unopposed, but an election was conducted to reaffirm their positions.

The zonal executive consists of 10 members, in addition to six ex-officio members.

The congress was attended by former governors, former and serving members of the National Assembly, among others.

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GWG.ng however, reports that the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said the outcome of the Calabar purported congress was null and void.

Ologunagba said that the party NWC’s attention was drawn to a reported social gathering in Calabar, Cross River where the organisers falsely claimed same to be the PDP South South zonal congress .

He recalled that the NWC at its meeting on Thursday, in exercise of its powers under Section 29 (2)(b), pursuant to Section 31 (2) (c) and (j) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) postponed the conduct of the South South zonal congress from the earlier scheduled date of Feb. 22.

Ologunagba said that the postponement was to allow for further consultation on critical issues relating to the smooth conduct of the congress in the Zone.

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He had earlier been tackled by Orbih who claimed that the NWC of which he is a member never met to give directives on the zonal congress.

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