Politics

Kano Guber: APC Attempting To Blackmail Supreme Court Ahead Judgement, NNPP Raises Alarm

Published

1 year ago

January 11, 2024

The New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP), has alleged the All Progressives Congress, (APC) of attempts to blackmail the Supreme Court over the Kano governorship petition ahead of the judgement in the appeal filed by the NNPP and the elected Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf.

While reiterating its unflinching confidence in the ability of the Supreme Court to dispense justice, the party noted that all the issues before the court are matters that had been at various times decided in favour of the NNPP position

Asking why the APC is heating up the polity, the party assured that all attempts by the Kano State chapter of the APC to blackmail the Supreme Court will fail.

According to a release signed by its Acting National Chairman, Abba Kawu Ali, the NNPP said reports from Kano State show that leaders of the APC in the state have been distributing souvenirs like clothes, T- shirts, among others which according to them is in anticipation of their “victory” at the apex court.

NNPP said it is the standard norm all over the world that when a matter is before the judiciary, no party in the suit should do anything to influence the outcome by whatever means.

The release reads in part: “Without doubt, this action by the APC is tantamounts to harassment and blackmail of the juduciary. And this act should be roundly condemned by all lovers of democracy and the rule of law.

“It is the view of the NNPP that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the leader of the APC in Nigeria should call his party leaders in Kano state to order. As a matter of fact, the desperation of the APC leaders in Kano state has reached a crescendo and if not checked could plunge the state, Northern Nigeria and the entire country into a crisis of monumental proportion.

“It is very visible, even to the blind, that the APC was roundly defeated by the NNPP in Kano state in the last general elections and that the APC was only trying to get through the back door what it failed to get through the ballot box. The facts are there for all to see. It is on record that NNPP trounced the APC in all the five elections conducted in Kano state in the 2023 general elections. So why are they so particular about the governorship seat?

“We are using this medium to reiterate our unflinching confidence in the ability of the Supreme Court to dispense justice. All the issues before the Supreme Court are matters that have at various times been decided in favour of the NNPP position. So, why is the APC heating up the polity.

“From our findings, the Justices in the Supreme Court are men and women of courage and impeccable character that have the fear of God in their hearts, and are focussed on dispensing justice and upholding the rule of law. Perhaps it has become pertinent to remind the APC in Kano that if the former party in Government had behaved the way APC in Kano is behaving, democracy would have long been dead and buried in Nigeria.

“We assure the vast majority of Kano people who are in love with the man to whom they feely gave their mandate, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Executive Governor of Kano State, that nothing will happen to the mandate they freely gave to him on March 18, 2023. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf will continue to discharge the duties and responsibilities of his office to the best of his abilities and for the maximum benefit to the good people of Kano State”.

Politics

Worst Of PDP Defections Yet To Come – Saraki Warns

Published

12 minutes ago

June 28, 2025

Editor

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Reconciliation Committee, and former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has warned that more defections from the party may still occur, even as efforts continue to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Saraki made this known during an interview on Arise TV on Friday.

He said: “PDP would likely see one or two more defections, and we should prepare ourselves for that; there is a possibility.

“We haven’t seen the worst of the defections for PDP. We would probably see maybe one or two governors who will defect, and we might see some senators who will defect.”

He, however, described the timing of the crisis as an advantage, arguing that it gives the PDP time to recover and rebuild before the election cycle begins in full swing.

“For some of us, this happening early in PDP is an advantage. We are lucky that this is not happening, let’s say, late 2026; we would not even have had time to recover and regroup,” he said.

“We have just under two years to the election, and we are lucky to have that. I think, with a lot of commitment and understanding, it is not a lost cause.

“A party with over 26 years of history that has been around, the largest party, we will definitely have low times like this.”

Despite the turbulence at the national level, Saraki said the PDP remains strong at the grassroots and across state structures.

He said: “When you go round the country, the state chapters, the local government chapters, the party is still very strong in the grassroots. In some areas in the country, they are not even aware of what is happening at our level, in Abuja.

“The reactions we are seeing at the grassroots give us a lot of encouragement. But what we need to do is to get to the bottom and start to build.”

He added that the party is already laying the groundwork for the 2027 elections but warned that the stakes go beyond just party survival.

“This is not just about resolving today’s issues. It’s about building for the future. The next convention must not be business as usual. We must bring in new, younger faces who represent the future of this party.

“If PDP fails, Nigeria edges closer to a one-party state. And that would be a disaster for democracy.”

Politics

CSO, PDP Bicker Over Fagbemi’s Stand On Osun LG Crisis

Published

23 hours ago

June 27, 2025

Editor

An Osun-based civil society group, The Osun Masterminds, has urged the State Government to respect the opinion of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, regarding the leadership crisis rocking local government areas in the state.

The group said Fagbemi, being the number one law officer of the federation, his opinions on issues relating to law are not just official, but are also binding.

This was disclosed by the Executive Director of the group, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, while speaking with journalists at the monthly media briefing of the organisation held in Osogbo on Friday.

Oyedokun-Alli, who said accused the state government of disregard for, not just the Appeal Court, but also the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, adding that the group has studied several legal positions on the Osun local government disputes and came to the conclusion that the government was swimming against the tide of clear court pronouncements.

“We are to point out, however, that the utter disregard for, not just the Appeal Court, but also the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, by the Osun State Government is a matter of grave concern. Where we understand that the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, is the number one Law Officer of the Federation, we must realise that his opinions are not just official, they are also binding.

“We have studied several legal positions on this matter, especially from highly revered silks who have dissected the pronouncements of the Court, and one thing remains obvious – the Osun State Government is swimming against the tide of clear Court pronouncements.

“The question that begs answers, however, is why the Osun State Government is so unwilling to work with Local Government Chairmen elected under a different political platform. Where we respect the principles of separation of powers, should we not be willing to work together even if the political parties are not the same? Has the APC-led Federal Government refused to work with the Adeleke Government because it is of the PDP?”, Oyedokun-Alli said.

Calling on the stakeholders to prevail on the Osun State Government to end the LG crisis, Oyedokun-Alli, however, urged the residents, regardless of party affiliation, to cohabitate in peace.

Responding to issues raised by the group, the spokesperson for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Oladele Bamiji, said TOM was a partisan organisation that has consistently supported the All Progressives Congress in the state.

Bamiji further said, “Their so-called ‘civil society’ posturing has long collapsed under the weight of its hypocrisy and shameless servitude to the dictates of APC in Osun and beyond, and it is sad they are dead to their dented image out there.

“TOM has again confirmed to the people of Osun that it is nothing but a busy body propaganda irritant of the APC, issuing monthly rankings, not out of civic concern but to earn its monthly stipend from its political sponsors.

“We find it laughable and frankly disturbing that any group claiming to possess civic literacy would hold binding the personal opinion of a political appointee like the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, over and above the ruling of a competent court of law.”
(PUNCH)

Politics

BREAKING: Confusion As APC Chair, Ganduje Resigns

Published

1 day ago

June 27, 2025

Editor

National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has resigned from his position, Saturday Vanguard has learned.

Although the exact circumstances surrounding his resignation remain unclear as of press time, a senior party official confirmed the development, stating simply, “Yes, it is true. He has resigned.”

Sources revealed that Ganduje’s personal belongings were earlier moved from his office at the APC national secretariat, further fueling speculation.

The development has thrown the party’s headquarters into confusion, with staff and visitors visibly shocked by the unexpected news.