…fault Ayade’s sole candidacy
Protesters stormed the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Abuja, on Thursday demanding the outright cancellation of the primary election held to choose the governorship candidate for Cross River State in the forthcoming 2019 general election.
The protesters demanded that the primary election, which had Governor Ben Ayade of the state, as the sole candidate, be annulled as the second candidate who was cleared and issued a certificate of clearance to run for the primary election, Hon. Emmanuel Ibeshi, was curiously excluded from the exercise 24 hours to the election.
Wielding several placards with inscriptions such as “Who sold PDP mandate to Ayade should step aside,” “Let the people choose their leader through transparent primaries,” “Don’t impose Ayade on Cross River State,” and “Give us Ibeshi or lose Cross River State,” among others, the protesters under the aegis of Cross River State PDP Support Group, in a protest letter addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, condemned the exclusion of Ibeshi from the primaries.
In the letter, the group described the exclusion of Ibeshi from the primaries as an “unfortunate development”, which they said “has caused a lot of anxiety and disappointment amongst party members, supporters and electorate” in the state, who view the action as a return to “the culture of impunity and imposition,” being “undemocratic tendencies” they advised the party to move away from completely, as according to them:
“This is capable of causing the party to lose a state it has held for 20 years of our current democracy. Whatever the consideration is it worth losing Cross River State? the group asked, in the letter.
The group, in the letter signed by its coordinator, Comrade Ken Bassey, Publicity Secretary, Efiom Atoe and Secretary, Cletus Agbor respectively, called on the PDP National Working Committee to order a fresh primary election immediately to correct the “anomaly.”
“We are calling on the NWC to urgently correct this anomaly by cancelling the recently conducted gubernatorial primaries in Cross River State and ordering a fresh inclusive primaries as was the case in the just concluded PDP presidential primaries in Port Harcourt.”
Tag: Protesters
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Protesters storm PDP Headquarters, demand annulment of C’River governorship primaries
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BREAKING: Protesters besiege APC secretariat, demand Oshiomhole’s resignation
Reports reaching TNG now has it that angry protesters in their numbers on Monday evening stormed the National Headquarters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) calling for the immediate resignation of the party chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.
The protesters chanted war songs and carried placards to press home their demand for Oshiomhole’s resolution.
TNG gathered that the protest might not be unconnected with the recent conduct of the primaries across the country.
Recall that the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha also condemned the primaries.
Details later… -
[PHOTOS] Protesters storm APC headquarters, demand sack of Saraki from party
Some protesters stormed the headquarters of Nigeria’s ruling party, APC, on Tuesday demanding the sack of Senate President Bukola Saraki from the party.
The protesters, who said they were members of the APC in Kwara, also commended the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to dissolve the Kwara party executive.
It would be recalled we reported earlier the decision of the NWC to dissolve the Kwara executive which had pledged total loyalty to Mr Saraki. However, the executives rejected the dissolution, saying the NWC acted illegally.
Although Mr Saraki is still officially a member of the APC, he is expected to decamp to the opposition PDP soon. The other federal lawmakers from Kwara were among the over two scores federal lawmakers who defected from the APC last week.
The protesters on Tuesday are however unwilling to wait for Mr Saraki’s defection; instead, they want him expelled from the party.
Addressing journalists during their peaceful rally at the national secretariat, Tayo Awodiji called for the expulsion of Mr Saraki for anti-party activities.
“The dissolution of the Balogun APC executives in Kwara State by Adams Oshiomhole and the National Working Committee is highly commendable as it is long awaited,” Mr Awodiji said.
He said the dissolution will pave way for proper repositioning of the party ahead of the 2019 election.
The protesters also called for the conduct of fresh membership registration in the state and the recall of the Kwara lawmakers who defected from APC.
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![Shiites protesters storm Tinubu’s residence, demand release of El-Zakzaky [Photos]](https://thenewsguru.ng/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Zakkk.jpg)
Shiites protesters storm Tinubu’s residence, demand release of El-Zakzaky [Photos]
Some members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), on Wednesday, stormed the residence of a national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to protest the release of their leader, Ibrahim Zakzaky who has been in detention since 2015.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that El-Zakzaky and his wife are currently detained by the federal government.
Recall that the El-Zakzaky’s supporters have been protesting in demand for his release.
El-Zakzaky and his wife have been held by the Nigerian government since December 2015 despite court rulings authorising his release.
The government claims he is held in a “protective custody”, but his supporters have recently intensified protests demanding his freedom.
The protesters are currently at the Bourdillion, Ikoyi home of the APC leader. It is not clear as at the time of filing this report if the APC leader is around to address the protesters
Details soon…
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JUST IN: Biafra protesters storm Westminster, demand release of Nnamdi Kanu from Buhari [Photos]
Some Biafran protesters are currently demonstrating at the Pall Mall Street, Westminster as President Muhammadu Buhari prepares to meet Queen Elizabeth II, British Prime minister Theresa May and other heads of government.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that Westminster is 650 metres from Buckingham Palace venue of the meeting.
The protesters are, among other things, requesting the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) and a referendum on the fate of Biafra.
As the protest is ongoing, the president and other heads of states are currently being received by May, the British PM and Patricia Scotland, the secretary-general of the Commonwealth, at the official opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2018)
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NIM set to confront Buhari’s government over murder of Shi’ites protesters
…NIM Grand Coalition accuses Buhari’s Government of brutal force and murder of Shiite peaceful protesters
…Plans solidarity for the Shi’ites movement
The Nigeria Intervention Movement, NIM has said it will confront the President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government over the alleged murder of some Shi’ites who were protesting in Abuja on Monday.
Recall that TheNewsGuru.com had earlier reported of a clash between the police and the Shi’ites members protesting the continuous detention of their leader Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
NIM said this in a statement sent to TheNewsGuru.com on Monday.
The statement read thus:
The grand national coalition of Nigeria Intervention Movement, NIM wish to condemn the Federal Government in the strongest terms for using operatives of the Nigeria police to inflict brute force against the peaceful protest organized by members of the Shi’ites movement of Nigeria, leading to the reported murder of scores of Shiite peaceful protesters today.
We find the killings of defenceless citizens by the Nigerian police during a peaceful protest as inhuman and mindless, something that has further accentuated the reputation of the Nigerian government as irresponsible, reckless and anti democratic. NIM as the emergent alternative political leadership of the Nigerian peoples, shall however, not stand aloof, fold its arm and watch the country turned into a police state, where defenceless are terrorised and murdered by the incompetent cabalistic government of General Muhammadu Buhari
We hereby demand that indicted happy trigger police operatives involved in this unfortunate cruelty and criminality be immediately brought to book and withdrawn from further confronting the peaceful protest of the Shi’ites movement. Finally, NIM demands a strong apology and compensation to the Shiite movement from General Muhammadu Buhari’s drowning government as we shall not hesitate to provide fraternal solidarity to the peace loving Shi’ites movement in their legitimate cause and protest for an injustice to one is an injustice to all.
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Presidency denies hiring pro-Buhari protesters, says ‘it is not our tradition’
The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu, has dismissed the assertion that the presidency sponsored a group of Nigerians that embarked on solidarity protests in Abuja support of the President Muhammdu Buhari-led government.
Ojudu said this while fielding questions from State House correspondents shortly after addressing the pro-President Buhari protesters at the Federal Secretariat/Supreme Court Junction of main entrance of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.
He said the presidency was not in the habit of hiring people for protest marches, saying that all those who participated in the pro-Buhari protest were die-hard supporters of the president.
“I was working in my office when I was called to go and receive them, just the way we also received the BringBackOurGirls’ protesters last time.
“This presidency does not give money to anybody. This is not our tradition, it’s not our culture to buy protest or induce people to do any.
“You will be surprised the day President Buhari is coming back to see the millions of people that will go to the airport to welcome him,’’ he said.
Ojudu denied that the presidency deliberately shunned the coalition of civil society organisations demanding that Mr. Buhari “resumes duty or resigns.
The presidential aide, however, expressed the readiness of the presidency to talk to the coalition if they indicated interest to do so.
“If they decide to talk to us we talk to them. This group has a special message for the acting president and they wrote to us that they were coming and we received them.
“Those ones never informed us of anything. They were just doing their own protests and that was it,” he said.
Ojudu charged the pro-Buhari protesters to join hands with other well meaning Nigerians to stand up against those elements who are bent on frustrating the ongoing developmental efforts of the federal government.
“President Buhari stands for anti-corruption. Buhari is not selfish, is not fighting for himself and the elements who are selfish; who are greedy and corrupt they are standing up and are coming together against him.
“You have to mobilise and educate people across Nigeria to stand up against these people,” he said.
Ojudu, however, challenged members of the pro-Buhari group on the need to conduct themselves peacefully and shun any act capable of causing social unrest.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that the protesters, who were in their hundreds, presented a letter of solidarity to the acting president through Ojudu.
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90 days after: Buhari has committed no offence, stop the noisemaking, Senate blasts protesters
The Senate on Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari has committed no offence in his medical vacation which is now in its 94th day.
It added that the president would soon return “to continue to provide leadership to our people and the rest of Africa.”
TheNewsGuru.com reports that President Buhari traveled for medical check-up in London on Sunday, May 7, more than a month he came back into the country from a previous medical vacation.
The Senate made this known in a statement by its spokesman, Dr. Aliyu Abdullahi, in Abuja.
It was reacting to protests by a coalition of civil society organisations operating under the aegis of “OurMumuDonDo,” and demanding Buhari’s resignation due to his long medical vacation in London.
Senate urged the protesters to stop heating up the polity, saying that it was creating unnecessary tension in the country.
The upper chamber said the protest was an attempt to divert the attention of the Presidency from the economic and security issues, which were already being tackled.
It explained that Buhari had complied with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulated that he must hand over to the vice president and duly inform the legislature about his medical vacation.
“The President has broken no law and therefore we do not see any justification for this diversion and noise-making.
”The sponsors are merely seeking cheap publicity at the expense of the peace of Nigeria.
”We, in the National Assembly, are satisfied that there is no vacuum. The Federal Government is working.
“Acting President Yemi Osinbajo is providing the required leadership. So, there is no reason for the protests.
”All Nigerians now should focus on praying for the safe return of the President.
‘We in the Senate are happy about the report by the governors and party leaders who recently visited President Buhari in London and we know he will soon return to continue to provide leadership to our people and the rest of Africa.
”We, therefore, call on the protesters to stop all these demonstrations and let their sense of patriotism overshadow the zeal for activism by joining other Nigerians to pray for the president.
“We should also pray for the acting president and Nigeria as a country at this critical period,’’ it stated.
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Police fire tear gas at protesters demanding fair vote in Zimbabwe
Police in Zimbabwe fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse scores of opposition supporters demanding fair elections next year.
Around 100 young supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) took to the streets of Harare on Wednesday to protest against what they say are plans by the country’s electoral body to ensure a victory for 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe.
Riot police attempted to stop protesters from marching in the city centre, firing tear gas canisters and water at activists and shoppers from police trucks.
Some young people set fire to cardboard on the streets but police quickly doused the flames with water.
“Heavily armed police officers brutally crushed our peaceful demonstration,” MDC youth secretary general Lovemore Chinoputsa said in a statement.
Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa, reporting from Harare, said: “There is a nationwide ban on protesting. People are not allowed to come out to the streets and show that they are angry.”
A truck spraying water cannon fired towards our correspondent as she was reporting.
“Riot police and water cannon trucks are driving around the city trying to disperse people. People are running for cover,” Mutasa said.
Police spokesman Paul Nyathi said “some people” who had been “causing disturbances” were arrested.
The MDC wants the electoral commission to create a new voters’ roll and increase the number of locations where voters can register in urban strongholds.
Morgan Tsvangiri, the opposition leader, says he is worried Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party wants to rig the elections.
“People went out there to fight for one person, one vote to empower Zimbabweans,” he said. “Over the last 37 years [Zanu PF has] denied Zimbabweans the right to vote. They have put all efforts at preventing Zimbabweans from voting.”
According to the constitution adopted in 2013, Mugabe is allowed to run for a final five-year term next year. He has been in power since independence in 1980.
Mugabe denies allegations of vote rigging.
Tsvangiri’s plans to stage a fourth attempt to try and remove Mugabe from power next year, but some analysts say his party needs a new strategy.
“The MDC has not been able to fully utilise the capital they have, popular support and the critical numbers of masses following them,” Earnest Mudzengi, director of the Media Centre, a training organisation for journalists, told Al Jazeera.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that Mugabe is currently in Singapore for medical treatment.
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JUST IN: Protesters clash with police outside G-20 summit in Hamburg
German riot police have clashed with protesters in Hamburg on Thursday evening as world leaders arrived ahead of Friday’s G20 summit.
Police fired water cannon and pepper spray at the protesters in Hamburg after a group of black-clad demonstrators threw bottles and other objects at riot police.
Police expected around 100,000 protesters from around Europe, who say the G-20 has failed to solve many of the issues threatening world peace, to gather for the demonstration dubbed “Welcome to Hell” by the anti-capitalist groups behind it.
The demonstration is taking place approximately two miles from where the G20 summit is taking place.
US President Donald Trump arrived in Hamburg earlier Thursday following a visit to Warsaw, Poland.
Demonstrators have promised massive protests against three of the more contentious leaders – US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
ThenewsGuru.com reports that Trump faces the possibility of isolation over his withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, and his “America First” policy.
Details later…