Politics

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

Published

4 months ago

May 25, 2024

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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?

Politics

US issues voting guide for citizens in Nigeria ahead of elections

Published

3 hours ago

September 23, 2024

Naijablitznews

By Francesca Hangeior

The United States Mission in Nigeria has issued a comprehensive guide to assist American citizens residing in Nigeria in voting in the upcoming November 5, 2024 elections.

In a statement shared by the mission on its X handle on Monday, It outlined the steps U.S. citizens must take to ensure their votes are counted.

The statement reads, “Attention U.S. citizens residing in Nigeria! To vote in the November 2024 elections, U.S. citizens overseas must complete three steps:
“(1) Request a ballot. Visit http://FVAP.gov for instructions. (2) Receive and complete your ballot. (3) Return your ballot.

“You may drop off your completed ballot in a postage-paid envelope at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or the Consulate General in Lagos, or you may mail it yourself.”
According to the guide, the voting process for Us citizens living in Nigeria involves three key steps:
1. Request a Ballot: U.S. citizens must first request their ballots by visiting the Federal Voting Assistance Program website at [FVAP.gov](http://FVAP.gov). The site provides detailed instructions on how to request a ballot and other resources for overseas voters.

2. Complete the Ballot: Once the ballot is received, voters should fill it out according to the provided instructions.
3. Return the Ballot: Completed ballots can be returned in two ways—either dropped off in a postage-paid envelope at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos or mailed directly by the voter.
The US Mission advised citizens to complete these steps promptly to avoid delays that could affect their ability to participate in the election.
The U.S. general elections, set for Tuesday, November 5, 2024, will feature the presidential race, congressional elections, and numerous state and local contests.

The presidential race is a key battle between former president Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

Meanwhile, the first early voters began casting their ballots on Friday for the closely contested U.S. presidential election in November, as Democratic candidate Kamala Harris attended a campaign event focused on the controversial issue of abortion.

Early voting kicked off in three states—Virginia, Minnesota, and South Dakota—a practice that Republican nominee Donald Trump has previously criticized, following his false claims of victory in the 2020 election.

Politics

Edo: APC’s victory is a vote of confidence on President Tinubu – Sen Barau

Published

6 hours ago

September 23, 2024

Naijablitznews

By Mario Deepromoter

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, has hailed the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, describing it as a vote of confidence on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Senator Barau, who is also the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, said that the people’s say remains the most potent force in any democracy.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC as the winner of last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State after polling 291,667 votes against Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 247,274 votes to place second while the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Olumide Akpata, garnered 22,763 votes to place third.

Senator Barau, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, commended INEC for upholding the people’s will as expressed by their votes.

He also applauded the visionary leadership of the national chairman of the APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, which, according to him, has given the party more cohesion and ultimately led to the party’s victory in the election.

“The victory of our great party, the All Progresives Congress in last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State is well-deserved. I congratulate the governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo and all our supporters for this victory. It is not just a victory for the APC but for our democracy and the people of Edo State.

“This victory is a further expression of the confidence of the people of the state in the exemplary leadership and performance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since his assumption of office in May last year.

” It is also a result of the visionary leadership of our national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who has made the party more cohesive and paved the way for its victory in this election,” he said.

Senator Barau, while calling on the governor-elect to be magnanimous in victory, urged all those who contested the elections but lost to lend their support in moving Edo State forward.

“ I, therefore, implore my friend, the governor-elect, Senator Okpebholo, to be magnanimous in victory and equally call on all others who contested against him but lost to lend their hands of support in moving Edo State forward,” he said.

Politics

APC wins all chairmanship, councillorship positions in Imo LG elections

Published

8 hours ago

September 23, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The ruling-All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo has won Saturday’s elections for all the 305 councillorship and 27 chairmanship positions in the 27 local government areas of the state.

The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) has declared the results of the elections at its collation centre located at its headquarters in Owerri on Sunday.

The ISIEC chairman, Charles Ejiogu, declared the results without announcing the figures polled by the parties that participated in the exercise.

He said that “all the details of the results will be made available accordingly”.

He said: “Out of the 19 registered political parties, 17 participated in the election, which took place in 305 electoral wards, 27 LGAs, and 4,758 polling units.

“I wish to announce to Imo people and the general public that after a peaceful, credible election, the All Progressives Congress emerged winner across board.”

The ISIEC boss thanked all the political parties and their candidates “for exhibiting decorum throughout the process”.

He also commended all the stakeholders, including security agencies, political actors and the media for their conduct and cooperation during the process.

He, however, urged all the aggrieved persons and parties “to channel their grievances accordingly, in line with the extant laws”.

See also Senator Doguwa Defects from APC to PDP, Cites Lack of Direction and Anti-People Policies

In a brief remark, thereafter, the Aboh Mbaise chairman-elect, Iheukwumere Alaribe, promised to be transparent, all-inclusive and pilot the affairs of the council with the fear of God.

Although peaceful, the elections were grossly marred by voter apathy and voting did not take place in almost all the local government areas.

It would be recalled that the Inter-Party Advisory Council in the state had, on Tuesday, September 17, declared its members resolve to boycott the exercise.

(NAN)