Politics

Edo APC Primary: Those Faulting Uzodinma’s Announcement Are Myopic, Party Chieftain

Published

2 years ago

February 20, 2024

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Dr. Washington Osifo, has described as myopic those faulting the announcement made by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State on the party governorship primary held last Saturday in the state.

Governor Uzodinma who was the Chairman of the Edo APC governorship primary held on Saturday February 17, had announced Hon. Dennis Idahosa as winner of the primary, an act that has attracted controversy and debate in the state polity, as some have argued that only the returning officer is constitutionally empowered to announce the winner of the election and not the chairman.

But addressing newsmen at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Edo State council, on the outcome of the primary and its consequent controversy, Osifo said the same announcement being faulted by some persons was made four years ago by this same Uzodinma.

The former governorship aspirant who noted that the APC national headquarters will not accept any result announced by anyone not designated to do so, added that the “governorship primary election result has been received and accepted by the National Headquarters. It is a settled matter.”

He added: “At the end of the election, the committee charged with the responsibility of organizing the election, led by the Chairman, HE, Hope Uzodima, Governor of IMO State announced Hon. Dennis Idahosa as the winner and flag bearer of the party in the forthcoming election.

“The argument about who has the responsibility to announce result is clearly myopic and casuistic. Only four years ago, the same Governor Hope Uzodima played exactly the same role in 2019, and no one raised any questions. Similar committees have been constituted to conduct primaries across the country where the Chairmen announced results. “

Osifo who said the governorship primary was not flawed as painted in some quarters, called on party members “to maintain sanity.”

“The exercise of Saturday, 17th February, 2023, was not so flawed as painted, and no major party has the capacity to conduct a free and fair primary election without leadership interference. That is integral to the party system, whose main focus is how to present a candidate who is well entrenched in the party and could muster the political muscle to win the election.

“My call to all persons at this moment is to let sanity prevail and let us be frank with each other. The party whose flag all of us sought to fly has the sole responsibility to nominate her flag bearer by whatever democratic mode she chooses,” he added.

Politics

Court Stops 2025 PDP National Convention

Published

6 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday halted the planned 2025 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until the party complied with the statutory requirements of the party, the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

The suit was filed by three aggrieved members of the party namely, Hon Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Hon Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman) and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South) seeking to stop the convention on the ground of violation to the Electoral law.

Delivering the judgment, the Judge also restrained INEC from accepting report on the outcome of any national convention of the party without following the due process of the law as well as its guidelines and regulations.

The Judge held that INEC is not entitled to give effect to the convention a party not done in accordance with the Constitution, Electoral Act and the guidelines/regulations of political parties.

The plaintiffs instituted the suit seeking to stop the planned November 15 and 16, 2025 National Convention of the PDP scheduled for Ibadan in Oyo State where new National Officers are expected to be elected on the ground of breach of the party’s Constitution.

The nine defendants are, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); PDP; Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the party; Umar Bature, National Organizing Secretary of the party; National Working Committee (NWC); and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party; Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum; Ali Odefa; and Emmanuel Ogidi.

Politics

2027: Why Jonathan Can’t Run For President – Appeal Court Ex-President

Published

7 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

Former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, has clarified why former President Goodluck Jonathan cannot contest the 2027 presidential election.

According to Salami, the Nigerian Constitution explicitly bars any individual from holding the office of President for more than eight years, making Jonathan ineligible to run again.

He explained that Jonathan had already completed the tenure of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua before serving his own full term, which constitutionally disqualifies him from seeking another.

In an opinion piece, Salami argued that any attempt by Jonathan to contest and win in 2027 would amount to a violation of the law, stressing that such a victory would be nullified by the courts.

“It is painstakingly and dispassionately demonstrated that the ambition of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to contest for the office of the president in the 2027 general election is effectively and undoubtedly shot down,” Salami stated.

Politics

PDP Reacts To Court Ruling On Planned Convention

Published

7 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made a formal reaction on Friday to the judgment of the Abuja High Court, which stopped its planned November 15 Ibadan National Elective Convention, saying that the judgment didn’t affect its preparations for the event.

While describing the action of the court as “an assault on Nigeria’s democratic process”, the party called on its members to remain focused on going to Ibadan for the convention.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is appalled by the judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja, presided over by Honorable Justice Kolawole Omotosho today, describing it as an assault on Nigeria’s democratic process.

“However, the PDP states that the judgment of the court does not vitiate its ability to proceed with the processes and activities towards the National Convention to elect new National Officers to pilot the affairs of the Party for the next four years”, the National Publicity Secretary, Honourable Debo Ologunagba, said in a reaction to the judgment.

The party referenced the April 4 judgment of the Supreme Court, which empowered political parties to regulate its internal affairs, noting that the party would go ahead to host the convention.

However, Ologunagba clarified that as a law-abiding organisation, the PDP had also directed its lawyers to appeal the judgment.

The stated further, “Our Party notes the recent judgement of the Supreme Court which affirms the supremacy of a political party in the management of its internal affairs.

“The PDP therefore charges its members, Chapter and Organs to remain steadfast and focused on preparations towards the holding of the National Convention of our Party.

“Nevertheless, the PDP as the leading opposition Party in Nigeria committed to the Rule of Law has accordingly directed its lawyers to take immediate action to appeal this judgment in our unwavering determination to uphold, defend and promote multi-party democracy in our country.”

Three aggrieved members of the party namely, Honourable Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman); Honourable Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman); and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South), had dragged the PDP to court, asking to to stop the convention on the grounds of violation of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, 2022 and the PDP’s constitution.

Specifically, they had cited alleged exclusion of some key stakeholders from the preparations for the convention among other concerns.