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Tag: Oshiomhole

  • Bayelsa: We Are Going To Court – Oshiomhole

    Bayelsa: We Are Going To Court – Oshiomhole

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole says the party is going to court to challenge the issuing of Certificate of Return to Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for having won the Bayelsa governorship election.

    The Supreme Court had nullified the election of the APC governor-elect, David Lyon and declared Diri winner of the poll.

    In line with this, INEC on Friday declared Diri winner of the poll, having polled overwhelming majority of votes.

    Oshiomhole, at a news conference in Abuja said the APC would explore every available legal means to ensure that the will of the people of Bayelsa State was upheld.

    According to him APC is going to court, saying that the PDP should not celebrate yet.

    Details later…

  • Bayelsa: Be careful of your utterances, PDP warns Oshiomhole

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday fired back at the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, over the comments he made on the ruling of the Supreme Court on the Bayelsa State Governorship election.

    Oshiomhole, earlier on Thursday while reacting to the sacking of APC’s David Lyon by the apex court, had insisted that Lyon was democratically elected and vowed that “Nobody will be sworn in on Friday as the new governor in Bayelsa State.”

    However, in a statement signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity Secretary, PDP described Oshiomhole’s comment as an empty and inconsequential ranting.

    The party warned Oshiomhole, to steer clear of Bayelsa State as his apparent plots to trigger violence in the state has failed.

    The PDP further counseled Oshiomhole to be careful with his utterances and not use any forms of venomous garrulity and clear misuse of language to destabilize our nation and truncate our hard-earned democracy.

    “The people of Bayelsa state knows as a fact that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under our laws, cannot take instructions from any individual, let alone a factional national chairman of a dysfunctional political party like the APC.

    “The PDP, as a law-abiding party, counsels Oshiomhole to rein in himself and desist from all odious designs against Bayelsa state, her people and government.

    “The PDP also calls on the people of Bayelsa state to remain calm as their mandate has been restored and cannot be taken away by the ranting of any individual who has no stake whatsoever in the wellbeing of his own home state.”

  • PDP’s candidate can’t be sworn in as Bayelsa Gov – Oshiomhole

    PDP’s candidate can’t be sworn in as Bayelsa Gov – Oshiomhole

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has declared candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Douye Diri cannot be sworn in on Friday as Bayelsa Governor because he did not meet the requirements of the Supreme Court.

    Oshiomhole pointed out the judgement of the Supreme Court said the certificate of return should be issued to the candidate, who has the required spread in the election aside from David Lyon.

    He said there was no candidate in the election that met the requirement apart from Lyon, adding that the implication is that from Friday Bayelsa will be without a Governor.

    Details soon…

  • Edo demolishes popular hotel owned by Oshiomhole’s man

    The Edo State Government on Wednesday made good its threat when it demolished Latifa Hotel belonging to Mr. Tony Adun, a former aide of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

    The government of Godwin Obaseki had threatened to demolish the property for allegedly violating building laws of the state.

    It said the structure sits across a road in the Ugbor-Amagba axis of Oredo Local Government Area of the state.

    The hotel building was reduced to rubble on Wednesday afternoon, after an injunction secured by Adun against the exercise was vacated by the state government.

    The government penciled the structure for demolition, as it was illegal, without an approved building plan for a hotel and sitting across a road.

    According to a statement issued and signed by the Special Adviser to Governor Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, the deed of transfer being paraded by Adun was also not registered with the state government, according to court papers filed by Solicitor-General of Edo State, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN.

    Bulldozers and caterpillars were mobilized to the site for the exercise while security operatives mounted guard to ensure the process was not disrupted by thugs in the area loyal to Adun.

    The leader of the security team cordoned off the area and urged residents and shop owners around the area not to panic while the exercise lasted.

  • BREAKING: Obaseki writes IG, DSS, demands Oshiomhole’s arrest, prosecution

    BREAKING: Obaseki writes IG, DSS, demands Oshiomhole’s arrest, prosecution

    The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has written to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to seek the immediate arrest and prosecution of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole over fueling of political violence in the state.

    The Deputy Governor, Philip Shuaibu, who made this known to journalists in Abuja , on Monday, said a copy of the petition would also be sent to the Department of State Services.

    Shuaibu accused the APC’s national chairman of fuelling violence in the state by serially going against the state government order banning political rally in the state.

    ”I am in Abuja to meet with the IG. I have a petition to the IG and the Director of DSS to the effect that Mr Oshiomhole be arrested by the police and DSS for the breakdown of law and order, that he has consistently perpetrated in Edo state.

    “We banned rallies, the IG in a letter also suspended rallies. Oshiomhole disobeyed the orders of the state government. He disobeyed the orders of the IG and feels that he is above the law.

    “For us, we have officially come now to drop our petition with the IG, to the effect that Oshiomhole is not above the law; he should be arrested for violating the state government’s order,” Shuaibu said.

    He said that nobody violated Oshiomhole’s orders when he was a governor.

  • Imo verdict: Uzodinma boasts after closed-door meeting with Buhari, Oshiomhole [Photo]

    Imo verdict: Uzodinma boasts after closed-door meeting with Buhari, Oshiomhole [Photo]

    Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has expressed assurance that the Supreme Court would not reverse its judgement that sacked his predecessor, Emeka Ihedioha, and declared him the winner of the March 19, 2019 governorship election.

    The apex court had, on January 14, removed Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party on the ground that he did not score the lawful majority votes in the Imo governorship race.

    The court said it arrived at that decision after adding votes scored by Uzodinma in 388 polling units, which showed that he won the race.

    It subsequently declared him the winner of the election and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to give him a Certificate of Return as elected Imo governor.

    Ihedioha has, however, vowed to return to the Supreme Court with a view to seeking a review of the judgement that removed him from office.

    Uzodinma, who spoke with State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with the President, Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday in Abuja, said the matter was already “a concluded case”.

    “I am not disturbed by the PDP’s move to seek a review of the judgment. I am not concerned because I believe they are going back to the Supreme Court based on falsehood because the number of accredited votes outside the excluded votes is what they are talking about.

    “But, if you are going to court, you must go to court to discuss or talk about the number of accredited votes including the excluded polling units. If you compute the number of accredited votes inclusive of the excluded voters, the figures are correct.

    “We went to court with an issue of exclusion; we didn’t go to court complaining about election malpractices, violence and all of that. So, it is a peculiar case.

    “My case can be likened to that of Jim Nwobodo vs Onoh and Omoboriowo vs Ajasin – It is the position of the Supreme Court that where an election has been announced at a polling unit, INEC is bound to collect the result and enter the results into the Form EC 8B.

    “So, let INEC tell us what happened; I’m a lawmaker and I participated in the amendment of the Electoral Act. Election petitions are timed.

    “As far as I’m concerned, the 60 days left for Supreme Court to look into that matter has expired. I’m not a lawyer but with my little knowledge of law-making, I understand what is in the Electoral Act.”

    Uzodinma added that “I was at the state house on a courtesy visit with our party leader to see the president. We talked about plans I have for Imo. And the president assured me of FG support.”

    Oshiomhole, who also spoke to the correspondents, explained that they were in the presidential villa to introduce Hope Uzodinma as the Governor of Imo to the president.

    He said, “The Governor of Imo, Hope Uzodinma, is not a stranger to the president. He has been part of the APC family; he has played very decisive roles when it mattered in the affairs of the party.

    “So, the purpose of today’s meeting is just to introduce him as the new executive governor of Imo.

    “President Buhari is very excited that we have established our foothold in the heart of the South-East. And it coincides with the president’s vision of uniting the country.

    “Now, we can truly say that we not only control the centre, we have governors in each of the six groups-political zones and I believe that is good for our party and for the government.’’

  • Edo 2020: Obaseki talks rough, vows to ‘deal’ with Oshiomhole if…

    Edo 2020: Obaseki talks rough, vows to ‘deal’ with Oshiomhole if…

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has vowed to deal with his predecessor and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole if he (Oshiomhole) continues to disrupt activities in the state and in the Edo APC.

    Governor Obaseki said Oshiomhole as a Governor would not tolerate a fraction of the misdemeanour and misbehaviour he (Oshiomhole) is undertaking today.

    Obaseki who spoke when he attended a meeting of the 18 APC local government Chairmen in the state said he would show Oshiomhole that he (Obaseki) is the governor of the state.

    The Edo Governor said the regret of the Edo APC was the elevation of Oshiomhole without knowing the kind of a person he is.

    He directed the party chairmen to seriously deal with any persons or group carrying out activities outside what the party hierarchy has agreed to do.

    Governor Obaseki stated that Oshiomhole did not build the APC as there was no party structure in place when he became Governor.

    According to him, “This is not a party man. Look at the dump he kept the party as a Secretariat. With all the resources we had he could not support the party until the landlord evicted us. You are Governor or chairman based on the platform that elevated you. That is why I looked for one of the most beautiful building along Airport Road and said this is the secretariat of the party.

    “All these non-sense they are doing. If anybody in the name of our party tries to do anything contrary to what we have agreed as a party we will deal with that person ruthlessly no matter who he is.

    “If you are elected a chairman, your attitude should show if you believe in the party. Party supremacy means the leadership of the party must respect the membership. It is the members that make the party supreme because the members subscribed to a constitution which governs the conduct of the party. One man cannot be the party.

    “I am the Governor of Edo State and I so authorise it. If anyone comes to your ward or local government to do things outside what the party has agreed I hereby authorise you to deal with that person seriously.

    “We are warning the suspended National Chairman. If he continues his activities in Edo State, I will show him that I am the Governor of Edo State. Why he was Governor, he will not tolerate a fraction of the misdemeanour and misbehaviour he is undertaking today. I have declared that if Oshiomhole comes here to Edo to say he wants to disrupt the activities of the state and the party we will deal with him the way we know how best to do it.

    “Comrade Oshiomhole stands suspended from the party. In due course, we will expel him if he does not behave. The party does not belong to him, it belongs to all of us. We are following the wish of our people. Our next step is to make sure we convince more people to join our party so that all of us can move this state to the next level. I will give you all the support to strengthen the party at the local government. Monthly meetings must hold. Monthly wards meetings must hold. Attendance must be taken. Wherever there are issues, you sit down and discuss it.”

  • Edo APC crisis: Abuja Court dismisses suit querying Oshiomhole’s eligibility as APC National Chair

    Edo APC crisis: Abuja Court dismisses suit querying Oshiomhole’s eligibility as APC National Chair

    THE plot by the Governor Godwin Obaseki faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state to outs Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, as National Chairman of the APC, failed yesterday, after a High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice S.O.Oriji, has dismissed the suit filed by one Steven Oshawo and others who were seeking to remove Oshiomhole from office.

    Recall that Oshawo and others from ward 10, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, (Oshiomhole constituency), had gone to court asking it to stop Oshiomhole from parading himself as National Chairman of APC while alleging that Oshiomhole has been suspended from the party.

    But Oshiomhole in his defence, argued that the appellants do not have the powers to suspend him according to the constitution of the APC, besides all the plaintiffs in the suit were earlier suspended in their respective units in ward 10. Therefore, at the time they purported to have suspended the National Chairman, they have no such powers anymore since they were earlier on suspension.

    Oshiomhole also noted before the court that article 21 of the APC constitution automatically expels any party member who ran to court without exhausting the provisions of the APC constitution, therefore described the suit as lacking merit and should be dismissed.

    However, on the 20th of January, 2020, upon being served with all the processes by the Defendant, the Plaintiffs filed a motion seeking to withdraw the suit filed against Oshiomhole. But Counsel to Oshiomhole, Ikhide Ehighelua Esq. opposed the application through a counter-affidavit and urged the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.

    Ehighelua stressed that “My Lord, this matter should be dismissed because discontinuance is not directed at any peace. The Plaintiffs have gone to file another matter with similar reliefs in the FCT High Court so the issue of discontinuance in this matter does not hold water because they knew already they have no case here, so the suit should be dismissed in its entirety my Lord and award damages to the Defendant”.

    Counsel to Oshawo and others, Abang Peter, said the plaintiff were no longer interested in the suit against the National Chairman, adding that “upon deep reflection, the Claimants thought it wise to instruct that we discontinue the suit against the APC National Chairman”.

    However, in his ruling, Justice S.O.Oriji, strike out the matter and awarded N100,000 cost against the plaintiffs.

  • Why I ordered probe of Oshiomhole’s projects as Edo governor

    Why I ordered probe of Oshiomhole’s projects as Edo governor

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has explained why he ordered probe of the new five star Bénin Specialist hospital.

    The five star Bénin Specialist hospital was built during the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and commissioned by President Mohammadu Buhari in November, 2016.

    It took several protests before the hospital was opened last year but operated through a consultancy firm.

    Governor Obaseki had on Monday constituted a Commission of Inquiry headed by Hon. Justice J.U. Oyomire (rtd) to conduct a detailed inquiry into the process leading to the conceptualization, design, construction and equipping of the hospital.

    The commission would also determine if there was a breach of the Edo State Procurement Law and other extant laws and procedures.

    Other members of the Prof. Emmanuel E. Obaseiki-Ebor, Mrs. Elizabeth Uwaifo, Enemaku Hilary Igemoh Esq., as members. Mr. Anthony Izevbekhale Esq. is to serve as the commission’s secretary.

    Speaking in a chat with reporters, Governor Obaseki said he ordered the probe because he was beginning to see many things he didn’t understand about the hospital.

    His words, “We have opened that hospital. We had consultant there working. So much has been said about the hospital. I am beginning to see many things I don’t understand. Oshiomhole did a video that went viral.

    “It is only fair for Edo taxpayers to understand what happened and why they decided to build the hospital. How much was spent to build the hospital, the state of the hospital today. I cannot be held liable for something I didn’t do. I want to make sure that at the end of my tenure I can explain everything that has happened.”

    On the crisis rocking the Edo APC, Governor said President Buhari should be left out of the crisis.

    “It is party matter. We have a party chairman who has been suspended in his Ward. He has no legitimate business to act in the capacity. We will not accept any decisions from him.

    “This is the party, I have the 18 local government chairmen of the party behind me. The entire party structure in Edo is one. They are solidly behind the President and behind me as a governor.”

  • Why I can’t abandon local politics – Oshiomhole

    Why I can’t abandon local politics – Oshiomhole

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has explained why being national chairman of the party should not preclude him from local politics in his home state. And he said he was following President Muhammadu Buhari’s advice to all APC leaders to connect with the grassroots.

    Oshiomhole who stated this on Saturday in Auchi, Etsako West local government of the state, during a unification rally to receive members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the APC, said he does not want to be a national chairman who cannot win any election in his own state.

    The rally was held at the Auchi public fields after the venue previously planned for use was attacked and burned down last night by suspected thugs.

    He said the rally has reinforced his confidence that he will win the forthcoming governorship election in the state for the APC.

    The former State Governor added that with the defectors, no one is left in PDP in Edo North.

    “Some people asked me why I am playing local politics as a national chairman and I told them that every politics is local. I don’t want to be an Abuja politician who cannot win his poling unit, local government and state in election.

    “I don’t want to be an Abuja politician because I am a national chairman and on the day of election, I can’t win my unit. I don’t want to be a chairman who campaign and win election in other states and on election day I cannot win my unit, ward, house of assembly member and national assembly member. If I don’t win my place, how will I deliver the president and how will I be a useful national chairman,” he said

    The APC national chairman disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari has told them during NEC meeting to connect to the unit level of politics and listen to the views of all members so as to deliver the party at the grassroots.

    He noted that the only permanent position in politics is grassroots while all other positions are tenured, adding that by the time his tenure elapses, he is still coming back to the local politics.

    Speaking on the electoral laws, Oshiomhole said President Buhari has said that he will take some steps to correct the lapses observed in the electoral process before before he leaves office, so that the next election will be free and fair and there will be no need to go to the court.

    “What that means is that anybody who wants to rig election is not in Buhari’s country and APC’s Buhari said he will not rig election for anybody and he wants electoral process where votes count in the country,” he disclosed.

    Earlier, the leader of the decamping PDP members, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, said they were joining the APC to work with the Oshiomhole and Governor Godwin Obaseki to succeed in the development of the state.

    He said: “A minimum of 30,000 members are leaving the PDP to the APC today. There is nobody left in the PDP in Edo North because aside those who left the APC and are coming back, those who had not left the PDP since 1999 are also joining us,” Abubakar said.

    Other dignitaries at the unification rally include former Deputy Governor, Pius Odubu, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Chris Ogiewonmyi, Lucky Imasuen, Deputy Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Peter Akpatanson, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere.