Politics

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Zamfara State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the Federal High Court decision that nullified the state gubernatorial primary election, which produced Alh. Dauda Lawal as its flag bearer in the forthcoming general election.

The Daily Reality reported Friday that the court, preceded by Justice Aminu, has invalidated the PDP’s primary election and ordered that a fresh primary election must be conducted to ensure just and fairness.

Alh. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, a former federal lawmaker, who contested against Dare in the primary election, took the case to the court seeking justice, adding that there had been many irregularities in the election.

However, reacting in a statement by the state it secretary, Faruk Ahmad, the party said we “wish to acknowledge the Federal High Court Gusau Judgement which ruled that, the Primary election conducted by our noble party is null and ordered for fresh primaries.

“We in the PDP are known to be law-abiding and grassroots politicians who respect and believe in the supremacy of law and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that of our party as well as the guidelines enshrined to guide us in the party affairs.

“As defendant in suit failed by some of our aggrieved members concerning the Governorship primary election which produced Dr Dauda Lawal as the flag bearer of the PDP in Zamfara State, we received the court’s decision in good faith, and a team of our lawyers are studying the judgment with a view to coming up with the next line of action within the ambit of the law.

“The PDP in Zamfara state did well in conducting the primary election in a well manner for fairness and justice, but the Federal High Court, Gusau, after intense debates, ruled against our party and other defendants in the suit.

“Meanwhile, we remain committed and determined to reclaim Zamfara State and bring it back to life and make it work again for the betterment of our people who are now living under abject tension, restlessness, fairness, hunger and other atrocities. We shall (Insha Allah) cross these hurdles and ensure the solid unity of our members.

“Our decision as regards the judgment will be made available after our lawyers conclude the study of the judgment and present to us their recommendations which the PDP leadership will decide on.

“We are therefore calling on our members to be calm and remind resolute in ensuring the success of the PDP in Zamfara State and county in General. We employ you to continue giving support and cooperation to party leaders at all levels,” the statement added.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

There was a clash between the men of the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, and the supporters of former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Saturday. 

According to reports, the police dispersed the supporters of the former governor who gathered at the Pastoral Centre in Abakaliki on Saturday morning for a solidarity march for the Labour Party presidential candidate.

Some of the supporters who spoke to newsmen disclosed that they were harassed and some of their members have been illegally detained by the police. 

However, all efforts to reach the State Police Commissioner, Aliyu Garba, for comments have been futile.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A Federal High Court in Zamfara State has invalidated the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) primary election that produced Alh. Dauda Lawal as the state gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 general election.

Alh. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, former federal lawmaker, who contested against Dare in the primary election, took the case to the court seeking justice, adding that there had been many irregularities in the election.

However, the court, preceded by Justice Aminu, invalidated the election and ordered that fresh primary election must be conducted to ensure justice and fairness to all parties.

Barrister Ibrahim Ali, counsel for the plaintiff, while speaking to journalists shortly after the judgement, said, “The court looked at the merit of the matter and decided the case in favour of the plaintiffs.”

He added, “Our prayers were that the primary elections conducted by a committee led by Adamu Maina Waziri be nullified by the court and order be given by the court for the conduct of a fresh election in line with the PDP’s constitution and guidelines. All our prayers have been granted.

“The judgment was well evaluated because we proved our case beyond reasonable doubts and we are happy with the decision of the court.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Board of Trustees (BoT), Send. Adolphus Wabara has vowed to resolve the internal crisis in the party.

The Acting Chairman assured this when he led some members who called on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State at his country home in Umuobiakwa.
Wabara added that the board would visit state governors and other stakeholders with view to restore peace in the party.

He was quoted as saying, “Our ineptitude in the things we did not do well led this country to where we are heading now; otherwise we will have not gone into the hands of APC in the first place.

“We are not in the same place we were in 2015. We need to look at the variables that have changed and respond to these variables and dynamics accordingly.

“We need to remain hungry for power so that our adrenaline level will remain optimum and drive us towards attaining that goal.

“All countries in this world that have risen from the ashes of civil war, quarrels, and bitter clashes are countries that did genuine truth and reconciliation. I pray that we would realise that there is no half measure to victory in politics,” he said.

The Daily Reality recalls that PDP has been in a long crisis since it’s presidential primary election in Abuja whereby former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, emerged a winner.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Walid Jibrin has resigned his position in the opposition party.

According to reports, Jibrin resigned at the National Executives Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
He said he resigned to make things easier for the party.

“I am stepping down as the chairman of BoT. I am stepping down to make it easier for all of us,” he said at the party’s NEC meeting on Thursday

This is coming amidst internal crisis that has bedevil the opposition party.

Many southern stakeholders in the party are also calling for the resignation of the chairman of the party, Ayorchia Ayu.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

A former minister of sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has blamed the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) for the mess and hardship in the country.

Abdullahi tackled the party, saying only persons with love for suffering will vote for APC in the forthcoming elections of 2023.

The former minister is the PDP senatorial candidate for Kwara Central. He said this while speaking with journalists in Ilorin.

He stated, “You have to have a love for suffering to even consider voting for APC again after how they have ruined this country.

“If not for the way things are, nobody should even be talking about APC again after the mess they have brought to the country. The next election is going to be the PDP and any other party but APC.”

According to him, the party has failed the country in all development indices. Meanwhile, Nigerians must be careful not to return it to power across all levels.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has disassociated the association from reports that it has reached a truce with the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmad Tinubu, on his choice of a Muslim as his running mate.

In a statement released by CAN on Monday, September 5, 2022, CAN distanced itself from the reports that they have endorsed same-faith ticket.

CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, in a statement released on his behalf by his spokesperson, Luminous Jannamike, described the reports as untrue.

Part of the statement reads, “For the records, CAN took a position against the same-faith ticket imbroglio under the leadership of Rev. Dr Samson Ayokunle, its immediate past national president, and as a matter of fact, His Eminence Archbishop Daniel Okoh, stands on that same position.”

“While CAN may not agree with every decision taken by politicians and political parties, it respects their rights to reach conclusions on issues that affect their electoral fortunes so long as they accord with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Electoral Act (2022).”

Tinubu, a Muslim presidential candidate of the ruling party had chosen Senator Kashim Shettima, also a Muslim, as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election. This political decision has earned CAN’s outrage and multiple criticisms.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Reports from Lagos have disclosed that Dr Idris Salako, the state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, has resigned.

At the time of filing this report, the reason for his resignation was not known as he did not mention it in a letter to the Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.

However, some people believed that Saloko’s resignation must not be unconnected with the recurring collapse of buildings in the state.

The Daily Really gathered several buildings have collapsed in the state, including a 21-storey building on Gérard road in Ikoyi, Ikoyi, that collapsed last year in November.

It was learned that the traumatic incidents had led to the deaths of a number of innocent souls, including the owners, as of last year November in Ikoyi.

On Sunday, 4th September 2022, the seven-storey building under construction on Oba Idowu Oniru Street, Lagos, collapsed, killing four persons and leaving four others injured.

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has, however, accepted the resignation of Dr Salako.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Federal Government has said that the current incessant security problem has been the greatest challenge bedevilling the country since the civil war.

Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, stated this on Monday, 5th September, 2022 in Abuja during a joint security conference.

He said the security challenges “have been daunting, from terrorism to banditry to kidnapping to separatist violence to crude oil theft to armed robbery and sundry crimes.

“It’s undoubtedly the greatest challenge to the peace and security of our great nation since the civil war from 1967 to 1970.”

“But thanks to the purposeful leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, we can say, I want to repeat, that the worst is over and peace and security are gradually returning to the land.

“Please don’t misunderstand or misrepresent this assertion. We may still witness isolated cases of security challenges here and there, but it will not be on the scale that we have witnessed in the past.

“We want to use this opportunity to salute Mr President for his leadership. When many threw their arms up in the air and felt it was all over, President Buhari remained resolute.

“When many called for the use of foreign mercenaries to tackle the challenges, especially terrorism and banditry, President Buhari never wavered in his belief in the ability of our gallant men and women in uniform to rise to the occasion, and rise to the occasion they did.

“Some said the security challenges have overwhelmed the military, but the military has now demonstrated that no group of ragtag criminals can ever overwhelm them.

“Terrorists and bandits and co can run but cannot hide, and this has been demonstrated by the arrest of those who attacked a church in Owo. These criminals can run but cannot hide, as we have seen in the decimation of the cowards who ambushed the Brigade of Guards troops in Abuja.

“I am sure you will hear from my colleagues how our military and other security agencies have been decimating the top echelon of ISWAP and Boko Haram, how armed bandits camps and resources have been destroyed, and how the capacity of IPOB/ESN has been substantially degraded,” he stated.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Kano State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, has urged the state gubernatorial candidates to put their differences aside and work towards the development of Kano.

Gawuna, who is the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), said the interest of the state should supercede any individual’s ambition.

This, however, was disclosed in a statement signed Sunday, 4th September, 2022 by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Hassan Musa Fagge.

The statement disclosed that Gawuna made the charge during a ‘One Day Colloquium for Kano and Jigawa States Candidates’ across political parties contesting for various elective offices in the 2023 general elections.

The event was organised by the Kano-Jigawa Professionals Forum (KJPF) held at the Aminu Kano Center for Democratic Research, Mambayya House.

The statement reads: “As stakeholders it is our duty to enhance peace, unity, cohesion and progress among our people. Therefore, we should cooperate with each another and advise should be given to those in government even if you are in the opposition.

“I am delighted you organised this event to give your contribution towards promoting the development of Kano State.

“Even though everyone of us has his own programmes but this 10 years strategic plan report was made by professionals of diverse background therefore I wish to call on all contestants to use it as a platform for guide when elected during governance.”

In attendance during the event were the APC Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate Alh. Murtala Sule Garo and other candidates from other various political parties.