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Tag: bayelsa

  • Defection: Bayelsa PDP disowns Sen. Amange

    Defection: Bayelsa PDP disowns Sen. Amange

    The Bayelsa chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disowned the former senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Sen. Nimi Amange, following his recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Amange was a PDP senator from 2007 to 2011 and represented former President Goodluck Jonathan’s constituency.

    But reacting to Amange’s defection in a statement issued in Yenagoa, the state Chairman of PDP, Mr Moses Cleopas, stated that the former lawmaker did not defect directly from PDP.

    Cleopas said that Amange ceased to be a member of PDP before the February National Assembly (NASS) elections when he defected from PDP to African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    Amange had on Thursday claimed that he left PDP because of Gov. Seriake Dickson’s “unilateral style of leadership,” which he likened to an emperor.

    However, Cleopas, while defending Dickson, described Amange’s stance as “unfortunate and mischievous attempt to create false impression of an implosion within a party that is stable.”

    According to Cleopas, the PDP family in Bayelsa does not see Amange as a member of the party after he defected to ADC early this year.

    “There is a misleading report that Amange has defected from PDP to APC.

    “The fact is that Amange is not a member of our party. He defected from PDP to ADC to contest against us in the February NASS election and lost.

    “Sen. Amange is not a PDP leader and the public should discountenance this misleading claim. “This unfortunate claim is part of a calculated attempt to create an erroneous impression of an implosion in a party that is stable.

    “PDP in the state knows those who are genuine members. Amange is not one of us and he should desist from misinforming the public with the intent to cause mischief,” the statement further read.

    Amange had in a letter to the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, made available to newsmen, stated that he had resigned his membership of his former party to join APC, ahead of the Nov. 16 governorship poll in Bayelsa.

    He also predicted bright chances for APC in the Nov. 16 governorship poll in the state.

    He said: “APC governorship candidate, David Lyon, hails from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA), with the highest voting strength.

    “I come from Nembe LGA and by my joining APC, Nembe has fallen into the hands of APC.

    “Brass LGA is Chief Timipre Sylva’s area and therefore an APC stronghold.

    “So, those three LGs are gone and we can give Kolokuma/Opokuma, the smallest LGA, to PDP because their candidate is from there.

    “Then Sagbama LGA, where the governor comes from, will be donated to him because PDP’s running mate is from Sagbama.

    “The question is, what will other LGAs do? So, we are taking three, they are taking two. The remaining three LGAs is 50/50,” Amange said.

  • Gunmen kidnap rescuers of Bayelsa accident victims in Rivers

    Gunmen at the weekend abducted four travelers, who rushed to an accident scene in Elele, Rivers State, to rescue the victims.

    It was learnt that victims of the accident were persons from Bayelsa State, who were returning from a traditional wedding in Mbaise, Imo State.

    They were reportedly traveling on a Toyota Sienna car when the vehicle crashed into another in a head on collision.

    A popular Ijaw youth and social media activist Prince Elayo Ekete and the driver of the Sienna car were said to have died on the spot.

    Other travelers from Bayelsa, who witnessed the accident were said to have rushed to the scene to rescue the victims, when kidnappers seized them and took them away.

    But another source said the kidnapped victims were abducted after they had successfully rushed other victims of the accident to a hospital.

    A source, who witnessed the incidents said the youth community in Bayelsa was thrown into mourning and wondered why the kidnappers worsened the situation in the state.

    The source, who spoke in confidence said: “The wedding was attended by most social media activists from Bayelsa across political party lines. Ekete and seven others were returning from the occasion and they got to Elele when their vehicle had a head-on collision.

    “Ekete and the driver died on the spot. But five others were rushed to a hospital in the area. But four of the rescuers were abducted by kidnappers.

    “The kidnappers went to the accident scene, recovered personal effects of some of the victims and called one of the rescuers asking him to come to a particular place to collect them. When they got there, the gunmen seized them”.

    One of the injured victims of the accident, Dina Adiva, confirmed that some persons, who came to rescue them were kidnapped by unknown gunmen and prayed for their freedom.

    Adiva, who was said to be recuperating in an unknown hospital said: “I also pray for those that were kidnapped while trying to make arrangements to moves us from Madonna University, Elele to Yenagoa, that they come out unhurt.

    “This is a trying time for me and I know it will pass. I appreciate all your love and support, I’m yet to seat upright and walk, it will take me some time. Ebinebo Stample and others too are recuperating well”.

    In honour of Ekete, the social media activists in Bayelsa decided to suspend posting of all political materials on social media for 24 hours.

  • Bayelsa guber: Alaibe approaches court over PDP primary, demands cancellation

    Bayelsa guber: Alaibe approaches court over PDP primary, demands cancellation

    A former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, has asked the court to invalidate the primary election that produced Senator Douye Diri as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November governorship election I Bayelsa State.

    Alaibe, who participated as an aspirant in the primary poll, complained that he was brazenly robbed of victory through flawed electoral processes.

    Defendants in the suit are the PDP, Diri, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Embeleakpo Alale for himself and representing the elected local government chairmen, vice-chairmen and councillors of the PDP allowed to be delegates at the elective state congress of the party held on September 3.

    Also joined in the suit as defendant is Doubra Kumokou, for himself and on behalf of the three Ad-Hoc Delegates allowed to be delegates at the elective State Congress.

    Alaibe in the suit filed at the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, the state capital, demanded the cancellation of the result of the primary election based on procedural flaws.

    The suit sought answers to questions bordering on alleged non-adherence to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act 2010, the PDP Constitution and Election Guidelines, by the State Chapter of the party in the conduct of the ward congresses, inclusion of local government council officials in the delegates list and the procedure for inclusion of three ad-hoc delegates.

    Citing specific sections of relevant laws and guidelines, Alaibe asked the court to examine the entire processes that resulted in the primaries and rule in his favour.

    Prior to the conduct of the primaries, the Timi Alaibe Campaign Organisation raised objections against what it described as gross disrespect for legal procedures and party guidelines.

    Specifically, the Campaign Organisation protested the inclusion of the newly-elected council chairmen, vice-chairmen and councillors in the delegates list contrary to the provisions of the PDP Constitution.

    It also objected to the manner in which electoral and returning officers were picked to allegedly favour aspirants endorsed by the leadership of the party in the state and the manner the 315 ad-hoc delegates were directed to vote contrary to already established judicial precedents, among other issues.

    Alaibe in the suit wants the court to determine whether the pre-election actions and inactions of the defendants satisfied conditions specified in relevant sections of Nigeria’s Constitution, the Electoral Acts and certain sections of the PDP Constitution.

    He prayers that the entire processes be declared unconstitutional and the declaration of Senator Diri as the winner be invalidated having failed to comply with relevant sections of the laws governing such processes.

    He also sought an order setting aside the purported submission of Senator Diri’s name to INEC by the PDP as its candidate in the governorship election coming up on November 16, 2019 in view of the several legal and procedural infractions cited.

    He asked the court order the conduct of fresh primary elections for the nomination and sponsorship of the candidate for the governorship election in Bayelsa.

  • Bayelsa, Kogi guber candidates face disqualification

    Bayelsa, Kogi guber candidates face disqualification

    Some governorship and deputy-governorship candidates in the November 16 elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States might get disqualified by the Independent and National Electoral Commission (INEC) over their age.

    It is expected that the personal particulars of candidates nominated by political parties for the elections would be published on Friday (today) September 13, as INEC’s chairman on Information and Voter Education Committee Festus Okoye said on Thursday, September 12, that the affected parties will be notified soon.

    Okoye said, “The personal particulars of the nominees will be published on the notice boards of our offices in Yenagoa and Lokoja. As required by law, the commission monitored the primaries of the political parties and the list of candidates who emerged has since been published on our website and other platforms.

    “From our records, 64 political parties conducted primaries in Bayelsa State as against 59 in Kogi State. Out of these, 52 political parties for Bayelsa and 49 for Kogi, respectively, submitted the list of candidates and their personal particulars at the close of nomination at 6pm on Monday, September 9, 2019.

    “While some of the political parties that conducted primaries did not submit any list and personal particulars of candidates, a few failed to submit within the time limit prescribed by the commission.”

    There are 52 Governorship candidates in Bayelsa state of which six are female and 46 are male. In Kogi, there are 49 governorship candidates of which four are female and 45 are male.

    Some of the Governorship candidates, however, risk disqualification as their ages are below the constitutional age for the office.

    He added, “The commission has observed from a preliminary review of the list and personal particulars submitted by the political parties that some of the governorship and deputy-governorship candidates are below the minimum age prescribed by the constitution for these positions.

    “The commission will notify the concerned parties soon and subsequently consider further action.

    “As we continue to prepare for the Bayelsa and Kogi governorship elections scheduled for Saturday, November 16, 2019, the commission once more reminds the political parties of the timelines in the timetable and schedule of activities and requests strict compliance with them.”

  • INEC to publish names, particulars of candidates for Bayelsa, Kogi polls Friday

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to publish names of candidates and their particulars for Bayelsa and Kogi governorship polls on Friday 13th September 2019, it was learnt.

    52 parties submitted list of nominated candidates for Bayelsa State while 49 parties submitted for Kogi.

    INEC monitored Sixty-four political party primaries in Bayelsa and 59 in Kogi.

    The publication of the list and particulars according to Mr. Festus Okoye, National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee is in accordance “with the Electoral Act and in line with the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Bayelsa State and Kogi State Governorship elections”.

    Okoye also stated in a statement that the personal particulars of the nominees ” will be published on the notice boards of our offices in Yenagoa and Lokoja.”

    He also urged the parties to comply with the guideline and schedule activities.

    “As we continue to prepare for the Bayelsa and Kogi Governorship elections scheduled for Saturday 16th November 2019, the Commission once more reminds the political parties of the timelines in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities and requests strict compliance with them. We look forward to working with the parties and all stakeholders to make the forthcoming elections in the two States free, fair and credible,” he stated.

    The National Commissioner also explained that as required by law, the Commission monitored the primaries of the political parties and the list of aspirants who emerged has since been published

    “From our records, 64 political parties conducted primaries in Bayelsa State as against 59 in Kogi State. Out of these, 52 political parties for Bayelsa State and 49 for Kogi state respectively submitted the list of candidates and their personal particulars at the close of nomination at 6 pm on Monday 9th September 2019. While some of the political parties that conducted primaries did not submit any list and personal particulars of candidates, a few failed to submit within the time limit prescribed by the Commission. Out of the 101 nominees for the two States, 91 are male, representing 90%, while 10 are female, representing 10% of all the nominees. Of the 52 nominees for Bayelsa State, 6 are female, while 46 are male. The corresponding figures for Kogi State are 4 female and 45 male nominees.

    “The publication of the personal particulars of nominees is for members of the public to make any claims and objections regarding these candidates, as required by law. Similarly, the Commission has observed from a preliminary review of the list and personal particulars submitted by the political parties that some of the Governorship and Deputy-Governorship candidates are below the minimum age prescribed by the Constitution for these positions. The Commission will notify the concerned parties soon and subsequently consider further action,” he said.

  • JUST IN: APC names Appeal Committees for Kogi, Bayelsa gov primaries

    JUST IN: APC names Appeal Committees for Kogi, Bayelsa gov primaries

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has named three-member Appeal Committees for the recently conducted primaries for the Kogi and Bayelsa Governorship elections.

    A statement on Thursday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, disclosed the appeal committee for the Kogi indirect primary consists of Senator Abdulahi Umar Yandoma (Chairman), Hajia Amina Muhammed (Secretary) and Tony McFoy (Member).

    For Bayelsa, it said the membership of the committee includes: Barrister Shuaibu Aruwa (Chairman), Edith Newman Amadi (Secretary) and Hon. Abdul Malik El-Yakub (member).

  • David Lyon wins Bayelsa APC governorship ticket

    David Lyon wins Bayelsa APC governorship ticket

    …As Lokpobiri rejects results

    Oil magnate and businessman David Lyon has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in Bayelsa State.

    The results, announced by Senator Emmanuel Ocheja, the Collation officer, showed that Lyon polled 42,138 votes to defeat five aspirants.

    Mrs. Desiye Nsirim came second with 1,533 votes, while Ebitimi Amgbare was third with 633 votes.

    Senator Heineken Lokpobiri scored 571 votes to come fourth while Prof. Ongoebi Etebu and Preye Aganaba got 564 and 354 votes.

    Ocheja said he was standing in for the Returning officer and Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, who was absent.

    He said six aspirants contested the election conducted through direct primaries, and ratified by the National Executive Committee (NEC).

    Meanwhile, a former Minister of State for Agriculture Lokpobiri has rejected the result. The senator said he would get details of what transpired, insisting he and his team never participated in any primaries.

    Lokpobiri said there was no way he would be defeated by Lyon, adding that many members supported him.

    He wondered why the primary was held in a hotel, saying members gathered at the secretariat in Yenagoa waiting for the committee members to arrive.

    The aspirant queried why a result was purportedly declared by someone other than the Returning officer, who chaired the committee.

    He hoped the national leadership would look into the development and ensure a credible process to throw up a popular candidate for APC.

  • Senator Diri emerges PDP governorship candidate in Bayelsa

    Senator Diri emerges PDP governorship candidate in Bayelsa

    The Senator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Douye Diri, has emerged the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

    Out of the the 1,244 accredited voters, Diri scored 561 votes to defeat his closest rival and former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, who polled 365 votes.

    Keniebi Okoko, a businessman and philanthropist came third after scoring 142 votes in the election, which was contested by 21 aspirants.

    About 16 votes were declared invalid following multiple voting and other unrecognised patterns of casting ballots.

    Diri emerged from the Restoration Caucus of the PDP led by Governor, Seriake Dickson, who presented him as the preferred aspirant of the caucus a day before the election.

    The election of Diri as PDP’s flag bearer further reinforced Dickson’s repeated assertion that his caucus remained a dominant force in the PDP and the state.

    The election was adjudged free, fair and credible apart from pockets of violence that occurred during the accreditation, which was repelled by security operatives.

    Declaring him winner of the election, the Returning Officer and Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishiaku, said Diri satisfied all conditions contained in the constitution of the PDP having scored the highest number of the vote cast.

    A breakdown of the accredited delegates according to their local government areas showed that 196 were from Southern Ijaw; 169, Yenagoa; 164, Sagbama and 150, Ogbia.

    Others were Nembe, 151; Ekeremor, 148; Kolokuma-Opokuma, 141 and Brass 125.

    Arrangements for actual voting commenced at about 11pm following the arrival of the Returning Officer and Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, his committee members and observers from the National Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Ishaku invited the agents of the parties to come forward to be guided through the process and read the Riot Act to the delegates and aspirants.

    A former Chairman of Southern Ijaw, Chief Tiwe Oruminighe, who was an agent of one of the aspirants and former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) observed that the state party officials should stop identifying with the committee since they were delegates and interested parties.

    Ishaku ordered the Chairman of the party, Cleopas Moses and the party secretary, Keku Godspower to be at the rows allocated to their local government areas.

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan arrived the Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, the venue of the governorship primaries.

    Jonathan, who arrived at about 11:20pm, was given thunderous ovation by the delegates and was also recognised by the Governor of Taraba State and Returning Officer, Darius Ishaku

    The former President after exchanging pleasantries with the electoral committee went to sit at the row allocated to Ogbia, his Local Government Area.

    The Darius Ishaku-led electoral committee distorted the alphabetical order of voting to allow former President Goodluck Jonathan the privilege of voting first in the primaries.

    Jonathan was asked to lead delegates from Ogbia, his Local Government Area, to cast their votes first instead of Brass local government area, which should have come first by alphabetical order.

    Dickson was also given a privileged treatment after Jonathan as he was asked to lead the Sagbama delegates followed by his Deputy, who led the Nembe delegates.

  • Court sets aside order stopping APC primaries in Bayelsa

    Court sets aside order stopping APC primaries in Bayelsa

    The Sagbama High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has set aside an interim order stopping the All Progresives Congress (APC) from conducting its governorship primaries in the state using direct method.

    The court presided by E.G. Umukoro, said the interim order, which he initially granted could no longer stand following argument against contained in application on notice filed by the applicant respondent.

    Reviewing the interim order against the position of the respondent, Umukoro said the kernel of the application was that the interim order was made without jurisdiction and was at variance with the electoral act, constitutions of the APC and the country.

    He said the respondent applicant quoted some judicial precedent including the case of Sylva vs PDP 2012 and posited that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain pre-primary matter of any political party.

    Quoting the position of the Supreme Court, he said: “The interim order is not sustainable and is hereby set aside as the court acted without jurisdiction”.

  • Bayelsa PDP primaries turn violent as thugs detonate explosive, engage police in shootout

    Bayelsa PDP primaries turn violent as thugs detonate explosive, engage police in shootout

    Thugs wearing campaign vests of an aspirant have engaged security operatives in a shootout at the accreditation venue of the ongoing governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The miscreants, chanting the name of the aspirant, were said to have attempted in vain to breach the security at Ijaw House

    They detonated an explosive close to the venue and shot continually at the Ijaw House.

    An innocent teenager, who was said to be running errands, was reportedly hit by a bullet and seen bleeding from his private parts.

    It was gathered that the shooting caused heightened tension around the venue, where a large number of security operatives were deployed to prevent breakdown of law and order.

    Journalists and other observers including some policemen were said to have run to safety as the sound of the gunshots fired by thugs rented the air.

    There were fears of a plot by some aspirants to disrupt the internal election and forced the relocation of the primaries’ to another state.

    Security operatives were said to have received intelligence a few days ago that some aspirants hatched a sinister motive to stop the internal poll.

    Sources said the thugs were brought from Rivers, Delta and other neighbouring states to ferment violence.

    It was gathered that the thugs reinforced and made a second attempt to take over the venue by detonating the explosive but they were repelled by security operatives.

    The explosive was reportedly detonated at the old assembly quarters close to the venue of the primaries.

    The Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku is the Returning Officer for the primaries.

    Ishaku assured all aspirants of level-playing ground saying the process would be transparent and credible.

    One of the 21 aspirants from the Restoraton Caucus of the PDP, Mr. Talford Onglo, was said to have stepped down to support the caucus’ adopted aspirant, Senator Douye Diri.