Connect with us

Politics

Gbajabiamila, Faleke Battle Over Chief Of Staff, Speakership Positions

Published

on

Ahead of the inauguration of the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, there are indications that some of his allies are already at loggerheads over the offices of Chief of Staff and Speaker.

Femi Gbajabiamila, the current Speaker of the House of Representatives, and his fellow Lagos lawmaker, James Faleke, are said to be at war over the two important positions.

Faleke, who represents Ikeja Federal Constituency, is believed to be the original choice for the Chief of Staff office having worked closely with Tinubu over the last two decades and most recently as secretary of the presidential campaign council.

He is also said to be interested in the position of Speaker and has been desperately marketing his candidate to the President-elect as the most suitable candidate.

READ ALSO: Police Kill Suspected Kidnapper In Delta Hotel Raid

Advertisement

Gbajabiamila, on the other hand, is now tipped as the favourite for the Chief of Staff position having seriously intensified lobbying since Tinubu’s emergence.

And like Faleke, Gbajabiamila, who is a member-elect, also has his eyes on the job of the Speaker and intends to foist his loyalist on the House of Representatives.

However, a source who spoke to our correspondent but demanded anonymity, categorically confirmed that the President-elect is more comfortable with the choice of members and has refused to endorse any of the two candidates.

The source said: “Tinubu is ready to work with any member of the House that is a product of his colleague’s decisions after all the consultations.

“It is so shameful that in 2023, two politicians are at war over positions that they may ultimately not occupy,” a top government official said.

READ ALSO: 2023 Fiscal Policy Measures: New Taxes’ll Kill Industries — MAN

Advertisement

“Gbajabiamila and Faleke are probably the two most selfish individuals close to the President-elect. They are only interested in themselves and not what is best for Nigerians.

“Both men are fighting dirty over the Chief of Staff position. As if that is not bad enough, they want to still control the House of Representatives by planting their stooges. As crazy as it may seem, it is the reality.

“But thank God for His Excellency, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. Our President-elect is a Democrat who has given the members-elect the liberty to choose their leaders. By so doing, the wicked motives of Gbaja and Faleke are defeated.

“Nigerians must know that the President-elect is concerned about good governance. He is not ready to favour his so-called loyalists. In the end, he wants a robust team of competent, transparent, and result-driven Nigerians, especially as heads of the 10th National Assembly”.

He, however, advised the lawmakers-elect to vote for their independent choices and not get carried away by anyone presented by Gbajabiamila or Faleke.

READ ALSO: N30bn Suit: Court Grants ARCON Leave To Serve Summons On Facebook Owners

Advertisement

The insider added that none of them has the blessing of Tinubu and are out for their selfish interests.
VANGUARD

Advertisement
Comments

Politics

INEC Disowns LP’s National Convention

Published

on

By

The Independent National Electoral Commission has disowned Wednesday’s Labour Party‘s national convention held in Anambra.

The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, said this in Abuja on Thursday.

Oyekanmi said that the conduct of the convention was not monitored by INEC, declining to state further why it was not monitored.

The LP had on Tuesday shifted the national convention from Umuahia in Abia to Nnewi, Anambra State.

Speaking on the venue change, the LP National Legal Adviser, Mr Kehinde Edun, told newsmen that the party had duly informed INEC about the change in venue and date.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: [BREAKING] Edo Guber: Labour Party Aspirant Withdraws From Race, Cites Monetisation 

No, it is holding in Anambra. Nnewi, to be precise, not Umuahia in Abia State again. In fact, Umuahia was not even the first venue we chose. Benin was the first choice before we changed to Umuahia and now Nnewi.

“So, we are at liberty to pick any venue of our choice. We only need to inform INEC about the change in venue and the time,” Edun said.

Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 states that political parties shall give INEC at least 21 days’ notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting.

This includes the convention or meeting convened for “merger” and electing members of its executive committees and other governing bodies or nominating candidates.

(NAN)

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Politics

Labour Party Reserves 2027 Presidential Ticket For Peter Obi

Published

on

By

…Oti Gets automatic ticket for Abia Guber

The Labour Party’s highest decision making body, the National Convention, has announced it has reserved its 2027 ticket for the party’s leader, Mr. Peter Obi.

In the same breath, the party also announced a right of first refusal for the Abia State Governor, Alex Oti, should he decide to seek reelection on the party’s platform.

This decision was contained in a Communique issued after the party’s National Convention, held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Wednesday.

It was signed by the re-elected National Chairman of the party, Comrade Julius Abure, and National Secretary, Umar Faruk Ibrahim.

READ ALSO: Abure Re-elected Labour Party National Chairman; NLC Kicks

Advertisement

The communique read in part: “The Convention in session based on the antecedents of the Presidential candidate before, during and after the 2023 General Election recommend that the 2027 Presidential ticket of the party be solely reserved for His Excellency, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, the National leader of the party.

“Furthermore, the Convention in session reviewed ongoing development and performance of its Governor in Abia state, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti and pass a vote of confidence on him and recommend the 2027 Abia state Gubernatorial ticket of the party be reserved for His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti.”

Continue Reading

Politics

Edo Guber: 17 Parties Beat INEC Deadline For Candidates’ Nomination

Published

on

By

Seventeen out of 18 political parties who conducted primaries for the forthcoming Edo State Governorship Election have beaten the deadline for the nomination of their candidates on the special portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this in a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja.

He said, “Following the conclusion of party primaries, 27 political parties have uploaded their candidates’ nomination forms for the Edo State Governorship Election by the deadline of 6 p.m. on March 24, 2024, when the dedicated portal automatically shut down.”

According to him, the personal particulars of the governorship candidates and their running mates will be published on Saturday, March 30, 2024, a week from the last date for the submission of nominations as provided in Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.

READ ALSO: Edo 2024: Igbinedion Breaks Silence On Obaseki’s Handling Of PDP, Party’s Choice Of Running Mate

Advertisement

The Commission shall publish the personal particulars by displaying copies of Form EC9 along with all academic credentials and other documents submitted by each candidate at the state headquarters and the 18 local government offices across Edo State.

“We appeal to Nigerians to scrutinise the documents. Any aspirant who participated in his/her party primaries with reasonable grounds to believe that the information provided by the candidate is false can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court as provided in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.

“The Edo State Governorship Election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, September 21, 2024,” he stated.

 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending