Politics

Bayelsa Guber: APC Members Call For Sylva’s Disqualification

Published

2 months ago

March 27, 2023

For allegedly not resigning his position as the Minister of Petroleum Resources, some card-carrying members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bayelsa State, have called for the disqualification of Timipre Sylva from contesting the governorship primaries of the party.

The party faithful drawn from over forty wards in Ekeremor, Ogbia, Sagbama, Kolokuma/Opokuma and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas of the State, in a petition to the party’s national leadership, pointed out that as at the time the minister was screened, he had not resigned his ministerial position which is a clear violation of the party’s constitution.

The petition which was addressed to the national chairman, national secretary, legal adviser and national organising secretary of the party, was signed by Doubra Kpoku, Nelson Gbeinbo, Charles Fyneman, Ogbel Joseph, Dressman Isowo, among others.

They vowed to approach the court to seek the disqualification of Sylva if the party hierarchy fails to disqualify the Minister who is also a former governor of the state adding that it is the same scenario that played out during the nomination and expression of interest for the presidential ticket of the party by political office holders.

The petition reads: “The grounds for our objection are as follows: as at 25th March 2023 when the Honourable Minister, Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva presented himself for screening at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja International Hotel, Abuja in his bid to contest the primaries which is expected to be conducted any time soon, the Minister had failed, refused and or neglected to resign his ministerial position as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

“This is against the extant provisions of Article 31 paragraph (iii) APC Constitution, as amended; the minister and now aspirant for Governor of Bayelsa State is a member of the APC, holding political office by virtue of his membership of the APC and as leader of the party in Bayelsa State.

“It is only reasonable that he should respect the party Constitution by resigning 30 (thirty) days before the primaries (scheduled for April 14, 2023). It is clear that as at 25th of March, 2023 when the Minister presented himself for the screening, it is already less than 30 days to 14th of April, 2023 being the date schedule for the APC Governorship Primaries in Bayelsa State for which the Honourable Minister is an aspirant.

“In our opinion, the Honourable Minister cannot and should not be encouraged to eat his cake and have it. This was the same scenario that played out during the nomination and expression of interest for the Presidential ticket of the party by political office holders in the Government of President Muhamadu Buhari as all political office holders as Ministers in the Federal Executive Council resigned before the APC Presidential Primaries: Cases in point are Chief Rotimi Amaechi and Chief Godswill Akpabio all resigned as Ministers of Transport and that of Niger Delta Affairs respectively ahead of the Presidential primaries.

“Of more fundamental import is the implication of the Honourable Minister who has been sworn in twice as Governor of Bayelsa State in 2007 and 2008 bearing in mind the clear provision of section 180 (2A) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended. The Honourable Minister’s ambition in the circumstance is one likely to be mired in controversy and ultimately cause the party in Bayelsa State to lose its fortunes at the polls in November 2023,

“It is in view of the above that we now request that the aspiration of Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva to partake in the primaries be refused and he be disqualified by the Screening Panel set up by our beloved party.

“Take notice that where this Petition is not considered in its merits and the Honourable Minister is not disqualified as requested, we shall have no other option than to approach the court for redress.The APC in Bayelsa State must get it right this time around.”
VANGUARD

Politics

I Would Have Slapped Kwankwaso If I Met Him In Aso Rock – Ganduje Fumes

Published

1 hour ago

June 10, 2023

Editor

Infuriated by the ongoing demolition by the governor of Kano State, Abba Kabiir Yusuf, the immediate past governor of the state, Dr Umar Ganduje, on Friday, said he could have slapped his predecessor, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, if he saw him in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Ganduje was the immediate past governor of Kano while Kwankwaso was the Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, in the February 25 election and the two have become like cat and dog in recent years.

Briefing State House correspondents after meeting behind closed doors with President Bola Tinubu, the visibly enraged Ganduje accused Kwankwaso of being behind the demolition of property in the state.

Fuming while speaking with state house journalists, Ganduje said if he had met Kwankwaso, at the Villa, he would have slapped him.

The former governor said he met with President Tinubu to brief him on the security situation in Kano State following the demolition exercise embarked upon by the administration of Governor Yusuf.

Fielding a question on whether he met Kwankwaso who is equally around in the Villa with the president, he said, “I know he is in the building but we have not met. Probably if we met, maybe I could have slapped him.”

Ganduje said the demolition exercise was done without carrying out any investigation or giving due notice in line with the provisions of the Land Use Act.

The former governor said he spoke at length on the issue while reporting the matter to the president and had petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba with video evidence of the looting and vandalisation that trailed the demolition.

Ganduje said he had briefed the president adequately on the demolition exercise that even affected the supporters of Kwankwaso whom he accused of ordering the action.

He said the governor who he described as a “stooge” of Kwankwaso was no longer happy because of the condemnation that greeted the move.

Asked to give figures to properties lost to the demolition exercise, he said some human rights organizations were working on the level of damage.

He, however, said one of the developers who was affected had sued the government demanding over N10billion.

He said the state government had said the demolition exercise was part of the fulfilment of his campaign promise to “restore” the urban development master plan of the city.

He had also insisted that the exercise was not a vendetta against the past administration of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and that many more demolitions would follow.

Politics

UPDATED: Ex-Edo Guber Aspirant Defects To LP, Says ‘My Sojourn In APC, PDP Full Of Pain, Deciet’

Published

15 hours ago

June 9, 2023

Editor

A former governorship on the platform of the PDP, Barrister Ken Imansuangbon, has described his over 20 years sojourn in the PDP and APC as full of pain and deceit.

Imansuangbon expressed this feelings on Friday while formally defecting to the Labour Party in Abuja.

Imansuangbon had on Tuesday in a letter addressed to the Edo State chairman of the party and copied his ward, Esan South East Local Government Area chairman of the party respectively, resigned his membership of the PDP.

Imansugbon who was received by the Julius Abure-led executives of the Labour Party, showered praises on the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his Vice, Ahmed Datti for championing the course of new and better Nigeria.

Noting that Obi and Datti remain president and vice respectively in minds and hearts of Nigerians, the Edo-born politician said the Labour Party has come to stay and will continue to give fresh hope and leadership to Nigerians whom he noted have been pauperised by the APC and PDP.

“I want to thank the Labour party for this opportunity and for giving Nigerians fresh hope. My political history is well known. I ran to PDP little did I know that I was running from frying pan to fire, PDP and APC are birds of the same feathers, they don’t love Nigerians but their pockets.

“I must also thank the youths of Nigerians who supported the Labour Party for what I failed to see in the Obidient and Datti movement. Today, we know who the president is and he is in the minds of Nigerians. The world is watching the courts and to see what they will do. This is the party for the Nigerian people, students and the very weak.

He assured the leadership of the party that more people in the 192 wards in Edo State are ready to join the Labour Party.

Speaking, the National Chairman of the party, Barrister Julius Abure, while welcoming Imansuangbon into the party, called on those who are still sitting on the fence to join the Labour Party in the movement to rescue Nigeria.

He said, “On behalf of the national leaders of the party, I heartily welcome you to the national secretariat. We are happy you joined the party to rescue Nigeria and Edo state.

“In the general election our party provided the most viable alternative and our candidates are the best and that is why the people came out in their numbers to support the party. Just like what Ken said it is clear to every Nigerians that we won the election.”

He promised that the party will offer equal opportunity to all irrespective of when they join the party adding that there is no godfather in the Labour Party.

Politics

JUST IN: Imansuangbon Defects To Labour Party, Received By Abure-led Leadership

Published

18 hours ago

June 9, 2023

Editor

The opposition Labour Party, (LP), Friday received former Edo state Peoples Democratic Party’s, PDP, Governorship Aspirant, Barrister Ken Imansuangbon into its fold amidst jubilation.

Imansuangbon had on Tuesday in a letter addressed to the Edo state chairman of the party and copied his ward, Esan South East Local Government Area chairman of the party respectively, resigned his membership of the PDP.

The Edo politician in company of his wife, Mrs Kate Imansuangbon and large supporters, stormed the national secretariat of the Labour Party in Abuja where he was received by the national leadership of the party.

Imansugbon who was received into the party by the Julius Abure’s led executives of the Labour Party, showered praises on the party’s presidential candidate , Peter Obi and his Vice, Ahmed Datti for championing the course of new and better Nigeria, noting they remain president and vice in minds and hearts of Nigerians.

He said the Labour Party has come to stay and will continue to give fresh hope and leadership to Nigerians whom he noted have been pauperised by the APC and PDP.

The philanthropist popularly referred as the ‘riceman’ in Edo State and across described his 20 years sojourn in the APC and PDP as full of pain and deceit.

He assured the leadership of the party that more people in Edo State are ready in the 192 political wards to join the Labour Party.

The National Chairman of the party, Barrister Julius Abure, while welcoming Imansuangbon into the party, called on those who are still sitting on the fence to join the Labour Party now in the movement to rescue Nigeria.

He said, “On behalf of the national leaders of the party, I heartily welcome you to the national secretariat. We are happy you joined the party to rescue Nigeria and Edo state.

He promised that the party will offer equal opportunity to all irrespective of when they join the party adding that there is no godfather in the Labour Party.