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Tag: Cross River

  • Defection: Cross River gov, Ayade to know fate Friday

    Defection: Cross River gov, Ayade to know fate Friday

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, will on Friday, deliver judgment in a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River.

    The PDP, through its counsel Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, had filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021 before Justice Taiwo Taiwo to seek for an order sacking the governor and his deputy over their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), among others.

    On Tuesday from Court 7, where Justice Taiwo presides that the judgment in suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021 filed by the PDP against Cross River governor and his deputy will come up on Friday, March 25.

    Taiwo had, on Monday, ordered two House of Representatives members representing Cross River and 18 lawmakers from the state’s House of Assembly to vacate their seats over their defection to APC.

    The judge gave the order following a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/971/2021 filed on Aug. 27, 2021, by the PDP to challenge the 20 lawmakers’ defection to APC, alongside the governor on May 20, 2021.

    Justice Taiwo, in the judgment, dismissed the defence argument that the PDP (plaintiff) had no locus standi (legal rights) to institute the case.

    He also dismissed other preliminary objections raised by the sacked lawmakers.

    Taiwo ruled that the argument of the lawmakers that there was rancour in the PDP which necessitated their defection to APC was a ploy to mislead the court.

    The judge, who granted all the reliefs sought by the PDP, held that it was disheartening that politicians in the country treat citizens as if they do not matter once they get into office.

    “A day must surely come when elected officials, must either resign from their office or ask the people who voted for them before defecting to other political parties, instead of defecting to another party without recourse to the law and the citizens, ” he said.

    According to him, we cannot continue in sin and expect grace to abound.

    The affected two members of the House of Representatives from the state are Michael Etaba and Legor Idagbor.

    The 18 state’s lawmakers include the Speaker, House of Assembly, Eteng Williams; Mich Etaba, Legor Idagbor, Joseph Bassey, Odey Agbe and Okon Ephraim.

    Others are: Regina Anyogo, Matthew Olory, Ekpo Bassey, Ogbor Udop, Ekpe Okon, Hillary Bisong, Francis Asuquo, Elvert Ayambem, Davis Etta, Sunday Achunekan, Cynthia Nkasi, Edward Ajang, Chris Ogar and Maria Akwaji.

    While Mr Etaba represents Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency of Cross River, Mr Idagbor represents Obudu/Obaliku/Bekwarra Federal Constituency of the state.

  • See full list of Cross River lawmakers sacked for defection

    See full list of Cross River lawmakers sacked for defection

    A Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Monday, ordered 20 lawmakers from Cross River to vacate their seats over their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in a judgment, dismissed the defence argument that the PDP (plaintiff) had no locus standi (legal rights) to institute the case.

    According to reports,PDP had filed the suit to challenge the lawmakers’ defection to another party.

    Two members of the House of Representatives from the state; Michael Etaba and Legor Idagbor, and 18 other lawmakers from the House of Assembly, including the Speaker, Eteng Williams, were sacked in the judgment.

    Justice Taiwo dismissed all the preliminary objections raised by the sacked lawmakers.

    Justice Taiwo ruled that the argument of the lawmakers that there was rancour in the PDP which necessitated their defection to APC was a ploy to mislead the court.

    The judge, who granted all the reliefs sought by the PDP, held that it was disheartening that politicians in the country treat citizens as if they do not matter once they get into office.

    “A day must surely come when elected officials, must ask the people who voted for them before defecting to other political parties, instead of defecting to another party without recourse to the law and the citizens.

    “We cannot continue in sin and expect grace to abound,” he held.

    He noted that “the lawmakers wined and dined under the umbrella of the PDP,” but later pitched their tent with the APC, even when there was no justification for their action.

    “The defendants’ documents were contrived and filed with loopholes. The papers are manifestly defective,” the judge said while granting all the reliefs sought by the PDP.

    Taiwo held that despite the fact that major cause of action arose in Calabar, it had both “territorial and subject matter” jurisdictions to entertain the suit.

    The defendants in the suit were the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Speaker, House of Representatives, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Cross River House of Assembly, the Clerk of the State Assembly, the 20 lawmakers and the APC as 1st to 26th defendants respectively.

    The PDP filed the suit on Aug. 27, 2021, following the lawmakers’ defection alongside the Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade, on May 20, 2021 to APC.

    The affected lawmakers include Michael Etaba, Legor Idagbor, Eteng Williams, Joseph Bassey, Odey Agbe and Okon Ephraim.

    Others are: Regina Anyogo, Matthew Olory, Ekpo Bassey, Ogbor Udop, Ekpe Okon, Hillary Bisong, Francis Asuquo, Elvert Ayambem, Davis Etta, Sunday Achunekan, Cynthia Nkasi, Edward Ajang, Chris Ogar and Maria Akwaji.

    While Mr Etaba represents Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency of Cross River, Mr Idagbor represents Obudu/Obaliku/Bekwarra Federal Constituency of the state.

    In arguing its case, PDP’s lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, sought the court’s interpretation of the provisions of Section 109(1)(g) of the constitution, which prohibits a lawmaker from defecting to another political party without justifiable reasons.

    Ukala also drew the court’s attention to the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Abegunde versus Ondo State House of Assembly (2015).

    He contended that the lawmakers being persons whose election to the parliament was sponsored by the PDP and having become members of another political party, their seats should be declared vacant.

    In the originating summons filed before the judge, the PDP prayed for “an order of injunction restraining the lawmakers from acting as members of parliament both in Abuja and Calabar, the Cross River capital.

    The plaintiff also sought “an order of injunction restraining INEC, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, clerk of the National Assembly, the House of Assembly for Cross River State and the clerk of the State Assembly from according recognition to the dismissed lawmakers.”

    In addition, the party urged the court to make “an order of mandatory injunction compelling INEC to accept from the PDP the list of candidates for the purpose of filling the vacancies created by the exit of the lawmakers from the parliament on account of their defections.”

    Meanwhile, counsel to the sacked lawmakers, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, in an interview shortly after the judgment, said the court decision would be challenged at the Court of Appeal.

  • Defection: We are not aware of court judgment sacking us – C’River Speaker

    Defection: We are not aware of court judgment sacking us – C’River Speaker

    The Speaker, Cross River House of Assembly, Mr Eteng Jonah-Williams, has said that he is not aware of any court judgment sacking him or any member of the house.

    Jonah-Williams disclosed this in an interview with NAN in Calabar on Monday.

    He said the affected members had not been served with any court order.

    “As far as I am concerned, I am not aware of any court judgment sacking me or any member because we have not been served with any court order as we speak,” he said.

    Recall that a Federal High Court in Abuja has declared the seats of 20 lawmakers from Cross River vacant over their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo dismissed the defence argument that PDP (plaintiff) had no locus standi to institute the case.

    Meanwhile, Mr Francis Ovat (PDP), representing Obubra 2 State Constituency, has hailed the judgment as sound.

    “If you are elected into a political party and you hold the people’s mandate, it is wrong for you to jump from one party to the other.

    “Elected officials should learn to stay in one party.

    “If there is any rancour or crisis in their party, they should stay in the party and resolve it.

    “Jumping from one party to the other kills democracy.

    “The judgment is a good one and it came right on time,” Ovat said.

  • Ebonyi: Cross River, Zamfara Govs may suffer same fate too like Umahi

    Ebonyi: Cross River, Zamfara Govs may suffer same fate too like Umahi

    …also Anambra deputy Gov

    …state and federal lawmakers not spared

    Going by the Abuja Federal High Court judgment that sent Ebonyi Governor, Dave Umahi packing, Cross River and Zamfara Governors may lose their positions soon.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) in a chat with some constitutional lawyers can authoritatively reveal that Governor Ben Ayade and his Zamfara counterpart, Bello Matawalle who defected from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP may soon pack their loads from their Government Houses.

    According to one of the legal experts from Ebonyi State who spoke to TNG under the condition of anonymity, Ben Ayade and Matawalle and even the Anambra deputy Governor, Nkem Okeke who defected last year commited same offence so their fate is hanging in the balance.

    “As far as I am concerned the judgment has substance and it is a watertight one that cannot be easily jettisoned by the upper courts.

    “Judgments like this bring sanity to the political and judicial systems of Nigeria because once this judgment sails through other courts it becomes a precedent.

    Another legal expert from Anambra State who spoke in a similar vein said” our deputy Governor here in Anambra who defected too is not spared and the miracle working Zamfara lawmakers too have a case to answer.

    He explained that:”If the judgement stands and survives the required appeals process,then it would become a precedent to decide subsequent, similar cases and even federal lawmakers that defected with their Governors too will lose their seats.

    “The crux of the matter is that the votes are PDP votes so as an individual you can’t unilaterally transfer another party’s votes to another, so Matawalle, Ayade and his Assembly members that defected including the federal lawmakers are all goners if this judgment sails through.

    “I think in the case of Ayade, his Federal lawmakers abandoned him except for one Legor who has followed Ayade into the grave like the proverbial fly.

  • Hard work gave APC victory at Cross River bye-election – Party chieftain

    Hard work gave APC victory at Cross River bye-election – Party chieftain

    Mr Higgins Peters, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Cross River says the party’s victory at the Feb. 26 Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency bye-election was a product of hard work.

    Peters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Thursday that the party did not assume that it was in power in Calabar to sit back and not work for the victory.

    He said the party reached out to the people at the grassroots, just as the empowerment programmes of Gov. Ben Ayade endeared the electorate to the party.

    “The state under the watch of Ayade has more than 6,000 appointees; you think it is a joke? No, we campaigned vigorously reaching out to those that matter; the electorate and we won.

    “As I speak with you, we have started restructuring and planning ahead of the forthcoming primaries and other very important elections; we don’t stay at the state capital to make noise.

    “We go to the grassroots where we have our stronghold; I can tell you that going forward we will not take things for granted anymore,’’ he said.

    INEC declared APC’s candidate at the election, Mr Jude Ngaji, winner with a total of 22,778 votes and the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Mr Mike Usibe, as runner-up with 20,590 votes.

    This result is, however being contested by the PDP with claims that the election was marred by irregularities.

    Peters debunked allegations that the election was marred by irregularities, violence and the use of security agents to intimidate voters.

    “This was an election that we expected a landslide victory; unfortunately the PDP being an old party was on ground too.

    “We won at the end of the day with just about 2,000 votes showing that the election was keenly contested and not an extermination of the opposition as we had thought.

    “This is one of the best elections conducted by INEC; anyone contesting that election is just being dubious,’’ Peters charged.

  • Ogoja/Yala by-election: PDP to challenge Jude Ngaji’s victory in court

    Ogoja/Yala by-election: PDP to challenge Jude Ngaji’s victory in court

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it plans to challenge the result of the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency by-election in Cross River in court.

    Mr Venatius Ikem, the state PDP Chairman, said this on Tuesday, in Calabar when he briefed newsmen on the outcome of the election.

    Nkem said that the result did not represent the people’s wish.

    “We reject in totality the results announced by the Returning Officer in the last Saturday Ogoja/Yala federal constituency election in which the APC candidate was wrongfully declared winner.

    “This is because he did not score the majority of valid votes cast in that election,” he said.

    He alleged that the election was characterised by massive irregularities including violence and snatching of ballot boxes.

    The chairman charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be ready to produce all the BVAS machines used for the election at the tribunal for proper verification.

    Ikem said that the PDP has enough evidence to tender in court to prove its allegation of irregularities at the election.

    “We will reclaim our victory at the appropriate quarters. We are not relenting,” he said.

    INEC had declared Mr Jude Ngaji of APC as the winner of by-election.

    Mr John Edor, the INEC Returning Officer for the election, said that Ngaji scored 22,778 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Mike Usibe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 20,590 votes.

  • Drama in Cross River as Police seal PDP venue for rally

    Drama in Cross River as Police seal PDP venue for rally

    Drama in Calabar, the Cross River State capital as heavily armed operatives sealed off the Calabar Sport Club venue of PDP flag off campaign rally in the state.

    The cordon by the police have upstaged the inauguration of the PDP campaign committee, who are made up of over 1, 000 members, that are supposed to be deployed to their various wards and polling units to embark on aggressive campaigns to sell their candidates – Chief Mike Usibe for Ogoja/Yala federal constituency and Dr Effiom Ekeng Edet for Akpabuyo State House of Assembly.

    Expected dignitaries at the rally are Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Governor Udom Emanuel of Akwa-Ibom and Samuel Ortom of Benue State. While Senators Gershom Bassey, Sen. Sandy Onor, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Rt Hons Essien Ayi, Eta Mbora and Daniel Asuquo were also expected to grace the event.

    Other party stalwarts that would be at the rally, tagged ‘operation-deliver-PDP’ include former governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke, zonal leaders, chapter and ward leaders.

    It was gathered that as early as 7:00am, a team of security operatives numbering about one hundred and comprising of the army, civil defence and policemen stormed Calabar Sports Club, in 25 Hilux vans and one Armoured Personnel Carrier

    The leader of the team on arrival threatened hundreds of PDP faithful to vacate the premises or face the wrath of the law, but they resisted the order to leave, stressing that they were given due approval by the police authority in the state.

    Despite the order, hundreds of PDP supporters were still trooping into the place through the emergency gates, while some were seen erecting banners and pasting posters of their various candidates for the by-election and the three expected governors.

    The party’s supporters were shouting “leave us alone to hold our event. This is democracy”.

    But some of the security operatives who spoke under condition of anonymity, condemned the clampdown, describing it as capable of causing political tension in the state.

    In a telephone interview, the Cross River State Police Commissioner, Aminu Alhassan, confirmed that he deployed his men to cardon off the venue of PDP rally, saying it is because of security report.

    He said: “I sent the security to avoid breakdown of law and order in the state. Two big parties cannot hold events the same day, so that they wont cause problem”.

    “So, I had to stop the PDP own and allow APC own. PDP can hold their own tomorrow please.”

    When asked which of the parties first applied for approval to hold event today, the police boss said “both applied and he gave them all approval but that the APC Youth Summit has been having their activities and today is the main day”.

  • Cross River gov, Ayade speaks on Tinubu’s presidential ambition

    Cross River gov, Ayade speaks on Tinubu’s presidential ambition

    Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade says All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is qualified to be president.

    “He worked and fought hard for Muhammadu Buhari’s victory, so, if the slot is zoned to the South, Tinubu deserves to contest,” Ayade told BBC Pidgin Service.

    “I stand with the party and will support anyone who wins the candidacy of our party.

    “If Tinubu is not the one, the APC needs to respect him and dialogue with him. I know he’s a human being too and would follow peace.

    “I’ll gladly lead any delegation to plead with him in case the party goes for another presidential candidate in 2023,” Ayade said.

  • FRSC warns against selling vehicles with number plates

    FRSC warns against selling vehicles with number plates

    Mrs Elizabeth Akinlade, the new Federal Road Safety Commission’s (FRSC) Sector Commander in Cross River has warned Nigerians against selling their vehicles with number plates.

    Akinlade gave the warning when she paid a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River Council in Calabar.

    The sector commander said the warning became necessary to protect unsuspecting members of the public against selling their vehicles to people of questionable character.

    According to her, the original owner of the vehicle will be held responsible if the vehicle is used to perpetuate a crime after it had been sold.

    She said the corps had a data bank of the original owners of all vehicles in the country, adding that when a car is sold a new buyer ought to do change of ownership.

    “Don’t sell your vehicle with the plate number because in our data bank, the name of the original owner of the vehicle including his address is stored.

    “If the vehicle is used to carryout a crime, with the information in our data bank, the original owner may be arrested even if he knows nothing about the crime but sold the car with the plate number.

    “One of our strategic goals is to have a robust data-bank because without data you may not be able to do much,” she said.

    Akinlade said the main goal of the corps in Cross River in 2022 would be to reduce road crashes by 15 per cent, adding that it could only be possible with a cordial relationship with the media.

    “We have lost a lot of people especially breadwinners, some of whom have been rendered incapacitated, that is why we continue to urge the media to help us push the message of defensive driving to the public,” she said.

    In his remarks, Mr Victor Udu, Chairman of the NUJ, Cross River Council, thanked the sector commander for her visit, and urged the command to make the process of getting vehicle licence easy.

    He, however, appealed to members of the public to ensure that their papers were up-to-date and their vehicles in good condition, especially their tyres, side mirrors, rear glasses to minimise altercations with FRSC officials.

    “If we do what the law says, we will have less frictions with FRSC and whenever they stop you for breaking the law, be gentle enough to appeal to them and not claim right,” he said.

    Akinlade took over from Mr Ocheja Ameh at the the Cross River Command.

  • 2023: Cross River gov, Ben Ayade insists on zoning

    2023: Cross River gov, Ben Ayade insists on zoning

    Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has reiterated his commitment to ensuring that power return to the Southern Senatorial District of the state come 2023.

    Ayade, while Addressing some stakeholders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the Governor’s Lodge on Sunday in Calabar, said his decision to return power to the south was based on morality.

    The governor insisted that the south had credible people with capacity to be governor.

    “During my campaign for second term, I went to the South and asked them to support my second term bid and that when I win, I will support the south to take over from me because by natural process, they are next senatorial district to produce the governor,” he said.

    Ayade, who decried the nature of democracy as currently being practiced, noted that there was need to infuse the “sensitivity of the African culture”.

    “We inherited a brand of democracy which is not afrocentric, neither does it have the sensitivity of the African culture and morality.

    “Democracy is so primitively blind that it reduces itself to numbers.

    “The higher your population, the more you win. So there is nothing like balancing, there is no equity in democracy.

    “There is no moral conscience. Democracy is blind to ethnicity, it is blind to religion, it is blind to fairness, it is repugnant to natural justice,” he said.

    Ayade, however, dispelled speculations that he is backtracking on his commitment to return power to the south.

    “So, to be able to balance that, as governor, I still uphold my declaration that my successor will come from the south and indeed, he would come from the south,” he maintained.

    The governor, who said that he could not and would not play God by being specific on who his successor will be, added that his role is to be fair.

    “The South had taken turn to produce a governor in Donald Duke, the Central had also produced a governor in Sen. Liyel Imoke and the North has produced one in me.

    “So, it is common sense that we must go back to the South for equity. Every zone should know that their turn would come one day.

    “But to be blind and leave it to crude democracy which was not customised to reflect African sensitivity, that if l have had it, and no matter the circumstance, let another too have it,” he added.