Politics

Rivers Crisis: Clark Asks PDP, APC Chairmen To Caution Wike

Published

2 months ago

May 20, 2024

Elder statesman and national leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Chief Edwin Clark, has asked the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Umar Damagum, and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdulahi Ganduje, to dissociate themselves from the alleged attempt by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to bring down the government of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

Clark made the call in a letter dated May 20, 2024 and addressed to both party chairmen.

The letter was made available to The PUNCH on Monday

According to him, the letter was in the interest of peace and stability in the country, adding that the support given to Wike by both men resulted in the attempt to topple the Fubara-led administration.

“I am therefore appealing to you, in the interest of peace and stability in Nigeria to disassociate yourselves from plan by Wike for no just cause to bring down the government of his successor, Governor Fubara.

“I strongly advise both of you to retrace your steps and take charge of your political parties in Rivers State and not leave it for Wike who is neither PDP nor APC.

“The support given to Nyesom Wike by both party’s chairmen has made him courageous enough to intimidate and anger the Rivers State Governor and government and this is seen as an act to overthrow the duly elected Governor, which is criminal”, the letter read.

He faulted the Chairman of the APC for relating with the Caretaker Committee in the state, whom he alleged Wike appointed under the former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Tony Okocha, after the legitimate Chairman, Emeka Beke, was suspended.

“One may be tempted to ask the National Chairman of the APC why he chose to deal with a caretaker committee of APC which the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, had earlier presented the committee to him in the APC secretariat in Abuja, before constituting it as a caretaker committee.

“But curiously, you now deal with a caretaker committee instead of the elected Chairman. I hope you are aware of the court action filed against you and APC by the elected Chairman of APC in Rivers State, Emeka Beke. The old APC members by law are the APC leaders because they were never removed before the illegal caretaker committee was imposed on Rivers State, who are loyalists to Wike.”

The Ijaw leader similarly questioned the PDP Chairman’s knowledge of the FCT Minister’s anti-party activities, by seeking court injunctions against certain party chieftains, to prevent them from attending the National Executive Council meeting of April 18, 2024.

“Ambassador Damagum cannot honestly claim to be unaware of the grave anti-party activities being executed by Wike when he (Wike) secretly took court injunction against founding and senior members of PDP and senior officials from Rivers State like the former National Chairman of PDP Prince Uche Secondus, His Excellency Celestine Omehia, former Governor of Rivers State, Austin Okpara who was Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in Abuja, Dr Abiye Sekibo, former Minister of Transportation, Sen Lee Maeba, etc to prevent them from attending the PDP NEC meeting of 18th April 2024.”

Clark therefore asked the party chairmen to caution Wike and to withdraw from what he described as the “madness of politics” of Rivers State while alleging that both men were equally involved in the crisis.

“As a patriotic old statesman, I strongly believe that I should address this letter to you to call to order FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike because he is dancing naked in the open market in the politics of madness in Rivers State with one leg each in the two parties.

“I know both of you are fully aware of and involved in the political crisis in Rivers State, which is caused by Wike, who is controlling the two parties in Rivers State, particularly the PDP. I strongly advise both of you to withdraw from the madness of politics of Rivers State to avoid the dangerous crisis facing Rivers State, one of the most important states producing the resources used to sustain the economy of this country,” he added.

Politics

Edo Guber: Shaibu Reacts To Court Ruling Voiding PDP Primary

Published

3 days ago

July 4, 2024

Editor

Former deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has said the Abuja Federal High Court ruling voiding the governorship primary of the PDP in the state vindicated his earlier statement that the party did not conduct a proper primary election.

He said: “I said it from day one that I have the authentic delegates and they voted for me on the day of the primary.

“I said that what happened that day at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was a like a birthday party or a wedding reception because the real people that were supposed to vote were not there but with the court now I have been vindicated.

“I have been vindicated and I salute the judiciary. This is victory is for Edo people, it is for democracy and by the grace of God, we will take our state back from outsiders.”

Politics

Court Judgement: Join Okpebholo To Build A Formidable Force, APC Mocks PDP’s Ighodalo

Published

3 days ago

July 4, 2024

Editor

The Edo State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to a Federal High Court judgement voiding the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary that produced Asue Ighodalo as the party’s candidate.

The Federal Court Abuja presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, voided the party’s governorship primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as the governorship candidate of the party.

In a statement signed by Comrade Orobosa Omo-Ojo JP, Director of the APC Governorship Campaign Council’s Publicity Committee, the APC urged Ighodalo to join the party’s candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.

“The APC, as a progressive party, is calling on Mr. Ighodalo to join hands with Senator Monday Okpebholo to retake the state and reset it for prosperity,” the statement read.

The APC emphasized that the primary concern now is the welfare of the Edo people.

The party outlined its commitment to addressing key issues such as food security, accessible and affordable healthcare, and fostering a thriving economy.

“The court’s ruling underscores the judiciary’s role in maintaining democratic principles and ensuring fair electoral processes.

“As Edo State prepares for the upcoming governorship election, the APC aims to leverage this momentum to end what it terms as the “eight locust years of PDP misgovernance,” the statement added.

Politics

Edo Guber: Why Court Voided PDP Primary, Ighodalo’s Candidacy

Published

3 days ago

July 4, 2024

Editor

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Edo State, which produced Asue Ighodalo as the candidate of the party in the September 21st governorship election in the state.

The PDP’s primary election was nullified by the court in a judgement that was delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo on Thursday.

Here are some of the reasons the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja nullified the primary election of the PDP in Edo State.

The court held that the primary poll the PDP held in the state on February 22, failed to meet the requirements of the Electoral Act 2022, guidelines for the conduct of the poll as well as the Constitution of the party.

Justice Ekwo held that evidence that was adduced before the court established that Ighodalo did not emerge through a valid process.

He held that exhibit that was presented by the PDP showed that the returning officers that prepared the result sheets merely sat at a place to manufacture the outcome of the poll.

The court held that the outcome of the said primary poll amounted to a nullity.

The judgement followed a suit that was brought before the court by three aggrieved plaintiffs, on behalf of 378 ad-hoc delegates that ought to have participated in the primary election.

Cited as 1st to 4th defendants in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024, were the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the PDP, its National Secretary and the Vice Chairman, South South.

Justice Ekwo, who held that he found merit in the case of the plaintiffs, noted that INEC failed to file any process in the matter, saying it would abide by the judgement of the court