Politics

Akinterinwa, others petition Appeal Committee over Ondo APC primary

The Appeal Committee set up for the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primary in Ondo State says it has received three petitions from aspirants who participated in the exercise.

Mohammed Abubakar, the Chairman of the five-member Appeal Committee, disclosed this at a briefing with journalists in Akure.

Abubakar, former Governor of Bauchi State, said the petitions were received from Olugbenga Edema, Jimi Odimayo and Adewale Akinterinwa.

He explained that the three aggrieved aspirants complained that the primary did not hold in their various wards and the process was marred by irregularities.

“So far, we have received three petitions; one from Olugbenga Edema, Omoba Jimmy Odimayo and the last one from Adewale Akinterinwa after the conclusion of the primary and declaration of the candidate of the party,” Abubakar said.

Flanked by other members of the Appeal Committee, Abubakar said the committee would be expecting more petitions from any other aggrieved aspirants between Monday and Tuesday afternoon.

According to him, the secretary of the committee, Obiocha Israel, would be available at the temporary office in Akure within two days to receive the petition.

While promising to be fair in treating the petitions, the Appeal Committee chairman said his team would only work with facts and figures brought before it.

“The committee intends to be thorough. So, within the space of two days, we will sit down and deprive ourselves of sleep to attend to any issues arising from the primary. The committee intends to do a thorough job and we will be fair,” he said.

Recall that the APC primary was held at the weekend in the 203 wards of the state amid protests by aggrieved aspirants.

After the primary, the incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was declared winner and candidate of the APC in the November 16 guber poll.

Politics

APC suspends Rep member, Jaji over alleged anti-party activities

The Zamfara Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has suspended Rep. Aminu Jaji over some alleged anti-party activities and the factionalisation of the party’s organs, among other irregularities.

The State APC Publicity Secretary, Malam Yusuf Idris, announced the suspension at a press briefing in Gusau on Friday.

Jaji represents the Kaura-Namoda/Birnin-Magaji Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives on the platform of the APC.

Idris said other allegations against Jaji include the engagement in dishonest practices and habitual absenteeism from the party’s meetings and other activities.

He said the sanction was sequel to the notice of confirmation of suspension of Jaji from the Birnin-Magaji ward APC executives over the alleged anti-party activities, among other irregularities.

Idris said, “The suspension notice was forwarded to the state APC headquarters by the APC executive committee of Birnin Magaji Local Government.

“The state executive committee of the APC held an emergency meeting at the State Party Secretariat, Gusau today, Friday 17th May 2024, where Jaji’s suspension matter was tabled to the state executive members.

“The state APC executive committee resolved and approved the suspension of Aminu Jaji from the party.

”This is based on the recommendations of the State disciplinary committee in line with his earlier suspension by the APC Birnin Magaji Ward Executive Committee and affirmed by APC Birnin Magaji LG Executive Committee.”

Reacting to his suspension, Jaji told NAN in a telephone interview that all the allegations against him were baseless and untrue.

Jaji said the state APC leadership has not followed the constitutional provisions of the party.

He said, “This is a clear indication that the party in the state has no focus and leadership.”

Politics

Akwa Ibom PDP begins registration, targets 6.9m new members

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Akwa Ibom State said it has begun registration of new members and a reassessment campaign in the state.

In a statement by the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Borono Bassey on Thursday, the party said the exercise which started on Thursday, May 16, is expected to get at least (6.9M) six million, nine hundred thousand Akwa Ibom people as members.

He said the State Chairman of PDP, Elder Aniekan Akpan while flagging off the Membership Registration and Reassessment Campaign at an emergency expanded Exco meeting of the Party said the exercise, apart from being a directive of the National body, was a way of opening their doors for new members and updating the membership status of old members.

According to him, “Every week, thousands of Akwa Ibom people continue to reach out to members of our party across the different strata, expressing their genuine desire to register as bona fide members of the PDP. Also, every day, we have people who turn 18 and want to belong to our party.

So we have distributed Membership Registers and Cards which will be in the Custody of the Ward Chairmen across the 369 Wards in Akwa Ibom State with the Directive that the Ward Chairmen should register new members and reassess and update the membership status of old members at no cost to anyone.

His Excellency, the Governor of our State and Leader of the PDP in Akwa Ibom has cautioned that no Chairman should demand a dime from anyone as a condition for registration and reassessment of membership, and I am sure that the Ward Chairmen in their usual manner will heed this directive”

The State PDP Chairman also re-echoed the call to the remaining members of other political parties to use the opportunity offered by this exercise to return to the PDP fold.

Other Officers of the Party who spoke at the meeting expressed optimism that the exercise would be hugely successful as it received the total support and commitment from existing members of the Party.

Politics

Alleged misappropriation: Kano CJ transfers Ganduje’s case to new judge

The Kano State Chief Judge, Justice Dije Abdu-Aboki, has transferred the case of alleged misappropriation and diversion of funds filed against All Progressives Congress, APC, National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and seven others to a new judge.

NAN reports that the case, earlier filed before Kano High Court 4, presided by Justice Usman Na’abba, has now been transferred to Kano High Court 7 sitting at Miller Road, presided by Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu.

The Kano State Judiciary Public Relations Officer, Baba Jibo-Ibrahim, confirmed the development in an interview on Thursday in Kano.

He said the office of the CJ has the power to transfer a case at any stage so far it has not reached the level of judgment.

Ganduje was charged alongside his wife, Hafsat Umar, and others including Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.

NAN reports that the state government instituted an eight count charge bordering on bribery allegations, misappropriation and diversion of public funds running into billions of Naira against the defendants.

However, no date has been fixed for the case before Justice Adamu-Aliyu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Na’abba had on April 29, fixed May 16 for ruling in an application by the State Government, seeking a substituted service on the re