INEC should deregister Tukur’s PDP – Aggrieved govs, others

PDP National Chairman, Dr Bamanga Tukur

The  parallel Peoples Democratic Party led by Abubakar Baraje has said the faction of the party led by Dr. Bamanga Tukur should be deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

It hinged its position on what it described as the failure of the faction to complying with Section 222(D) of the 1999 Constitution which requires a political party to notify INEC of any  alteration of its constitution.

The  PUNCH learnt of this on Tuesday shortly after the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenh,  said the seven  governors who aligned with a former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,  and others   to form the Baraje -led faction  had genuine grievances.

The position of the faction known as the ‘New PDP’ is part of the  statement of claims    before the Lagos High Court,Ikeja . The faction is also seeking the declaration of  Tukur as illegal chairman of the PDP on the grounds  that he was not properly accepted as a member of the PDP  after his expulsion by the National Executive Council  of the party  in 2001.

According to the statement of claims, “It will be recalled that the 2009 PDP Constitution was amended which brought about the 2012 PDP constitution.

“Evidence has surfaced to prove that strange clauses which were not part of the proposed amendment to the 2009 Constitution  was inserted into the originally  produced version of the 2012 Constitution and those alterations were not approved by the party’s  convention and the NEC, thereby making the document a forged document which is invalid.

“The forged 2012 Constitution was not equally filed before INEC as required by the  1999 Constitution, thereby making the PDP constitution upon which the 2013 convention was held an invalid document and the outcome of that convention invalid, as it was held with no valid constitution.

“The proof  of these evidences can be seen in the approved memo by the PDP NEC upon which the amendment was done in the 2012 and the original version of the PDP constitution filed with INEC will as well prove these violations.”

On why  Tukur was not capable of presiding over the PDP convention, the statement of claims  noted that, “exactly on  May 31, 2001, the PDP NEC, after its meeting  in Abuja, expelled eight members of the PDP   in accordance with the PDP constitution which gives the NEC the powers to discipline NEC members who breach  the constitution.

“They were expelled after NEC considered and adopted the report of the Iro Dan Musa-led PDP Disciplinary Committee. Alhaji   Tukur,  Chief Don Etiebet, Asheik Jarma,  Edwin Ume-Ezeoke (late), Emmanuel Ibeshi, Harry Marshal and Gbenga Olawepo, were the ones expelled from the PDP.

“Note that Article 10(b) iii of the PDP 2009 constitution and Article 8(17) of the 2012 amended constitution which holds that any member of the party who loses his membership by expulsion can only return to the party with the approval of the party executive at his ward, state and national levels, who shall give him a waiver.

“Since the expulsion of   Tukur in 2001, he has not complied with the above requirement  , meaning that his purported participation at the 2012 convention where he was elected was a fraud and invalid, as he is not yet a member of the party.”

The Baraje’s faction is also asking the court to declare the August 2013 convention   as illegal based on the  participation of “illegal delegates;”   the disqualification of duly elected delegates; and the failure of the party to comply with the provision of Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act.

Section 85(1) of the   Act states, “a registered political party shall give INEC at least 21 days notice of any convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for the purpose of electing members of its executive committees, and other governing bodies.”

Also on Tuesday,  a group,  the PDP Stakeholders Forum, filed a fresh law suit at the  Federal High Court in Abuja,  seeking the nullification of PDP  mini- convention  and the sacking  of  Tukur.

In the  suit, the forum  also asked  INEC to deregister the   Tukur-led PDP faction  for allegedly using a forged 2012 constitution to hold the convention.

The Chairman of the forum,  Chief Ikenga Ugochinyere,  said, “We insist that this act of brazen criminality must not go unpunished. The perpetrators of this heinous crime against the party and the law of the land should be arrested and charged to court.

“Tukur is ab-initio not a bonafide member of the PDP that is capable of being elected into the office he currently occupies. Alhaji  Tukur was expelled by the National Executive Committee of the party after being indicted for “high level anti-party activities” alongside five others in May 31, 2001.”

Tukur   however denied the allegation that he was not a member of the party.

Speaking through his aide, Mr. Oliver Okpala, he  asked  for  evidence that he was  no longer a member of the party.

 “Tukur is among the founding fathers of the PDP. He has paid his dues and the allegation that he has been suspended should be ignored. Let those making the allegation show evidence that he is no longer a member of the party,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PDP BoT Chairman,  Anenih, has  said  the seven  aggrieved  PDP  governors had  genuine grievances.

Anenih,   in   a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, also said that the Tuesday (yesterday) peace talks between President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP governors, including the aggrieved ones, had been postponed till next Tuesday.

He explained that the shift was at  the  instance  of the aggrieved governors, adding that   the peace talks   would continue next Tuesday after selected party leaders of the party would have met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday as part of the wider consultations demanded by parties to the crisis.

He said,  “I believe some of them have genuine grievances; but I have hope that, once the grievances are addressed, they will come back.  I am happy that the PDP has an internal mechanism for effective conflict resolution. At the end of the day, the problems will be addressed and the PDP will come out of the crisis stronger.

“Part of the wider consultations is the meeting of selected party leaders with Chief  Obasanjo on Friday morning and thereafter, we will meet with the governors on Tuesday, next week.”

He disclosed that the aggrieved governors told the Presidency and the PDP leadership that they needed more time to make wider consultations. Anenih  explained that the Presidency and the PDP leadership were taking advantage of the postponement to also consult widely on how to amicably resolve the crisis.

The BoT chairman, who read out the resolution of the marathon meeting that held in the Presidential Villa from Sunday night till the early hours of Monday, expressed optimism that the problems would be resolved.

Anenih had at  the end of the  meeting read  a short resolution   to the hearing of the  PDP governors.

Mikel, Moses land in Eagles camp •I missed football – Osaze

Victor Moses and Mikel Obi

The preparation for the Nigeria game against Malawi on Saturday is taking a full swing with the arrival of some key players of the Super Eagles in Calabar. Some of those who trained in Calabar on Tuesday were Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi; new Liverpool player Victor Moses, Efe Ambrose, Sunday Mba, Ahmed Musa and Obinna Nsofor and goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim.

In camp also are Lazio midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, Uche Nwofor, Godfrey Oboabona, James Okwuosa, who came in on Monday, Brown Ideye, Solomon Kwambe, Benjamin Francis and Azubuike Egwuekwue. In all, 12 of the players trained on Tuesday evening at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

Coach Stephen Keshi said he was happy with the response of the players and expects a good game against Malawi on Saturday.

Just as Eagles troop in, Osaze Odemwingie has confessed that he missed football following a long layoff. The estranged Eagles attacker said he was eager to prove his worth to Cardiff after signing from West Bromwich Albion for £2.5m.

The 32-year-old Nigeria international became surplus to requirements at the Hawthorns after the striker’s infamous drive to London in a bid to engineer a move to Queens Park Rangers at the end of the January transfer window.

“I missed football and I am delighted to come to a fast-progressing team,” he told Cardiff City Player.

“They have a young manager with a lot of ambition. He has done really well in a short period and I hope to help the team become better and I am grateful for the confidence they have shown in me.

“I am very motivated and ready for action. The last six months, coming on as a substitute for 10-15 minutes, was not what made me happy and I am a better player when I am happy. I am very hungry and I will show the same attitude I had when I was scoring a lot of goals in games in the Premier League.”

Odemwingie will use the international break to get acquainted with his team-mates before their Premier League trip to face Hull City on Saturday week.

Odemwingie’s Eagles teammates will play Malawi as he continues his absence from the team. The attacker has not featured for Nigeria since last year. His layoff from the game was all round as he neither played for country nor club for the period. His statements from his Twitter handle separated him and the Nigeria coach Keshi just as uncomplimentary tweets knocked him off finally from his Hawthorns base.

Father who beat to death man he caught raping his 5yr old daughter won't face charges

District Attorney Heather McMinn and Lavaca County Sheriff Mica Harmon appear at a news conference in Halletsville, Texas on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 in the aftermath of the killing

A Texas father who discovered a man raping his five-year-old daughter and beat him to death with his bare hands will not be charged with homicide under state law.

A Lavaca County grand jury decided not to press charges against the 23-year-old father in the June 9th death of Jesus Mora Flores, 47, who was killed inside a remote shack after he was caught molesting the young girl.

Under Texas state law, deadly force is authorized and indeed, justified in order to stop an aggravated sexual assault and coupled with the fact that the harrowing 911 calls made by the father back claims he even tried to save the pedophile's life led to the grand jury's decision.


Lavaca County sheriff's deputies said that the father, whose name has not been released to protect the little girl's identity, sent her and her brother to feed the family's chickens.

The boy rushed back to tell his dad that someone had grabbed his sister and taken her to a small secluded shack and the father rushed towards his daughter's screams and arrived to find them both with their underwear off.

Flying into a rage, the father beat Flores unconscious, but attempted to call 911 for the rapist after he had made sure his daughter was safe.

Sheriff Micah Harmon had said in June that he was not willing to press charges against the father, rather the case would be presented to a grand jury. At the time, Harmon said that the man was 'very remorseful' and didn't know at the time he had killed Flores.

'You have a right to defend your daughter,' Harmon told CNN at the time. 'The girl's father acted in defense of his third person. Once the investigation is completed we will submit it to the district attorney who then submits it to the grand jury, who will decide if they will indict him.'

Indeed, the father is heard profanely screaming at a dispatcher who couldn't locate the property. Becoming increasingly frazzled, the father at one point tells the dispatcher he's going to put the man in his truck and drive him to a hospital before sheriff's deputies finally arrive.
V'Anne Huser, the father's attorney, sternly told reporters several times during a news conference at the Lavaca County courthouse that neither the father nor the family will ever give interviews. 'He's a peaceable soul,' Huser said. 'He had no intention to kill anybody that day.'
The attack happened on the family's ranch off a quiet, two-lane county road between the farming towns of Shiner and Yoakum.

Authorities say a witness saw Flores 'forcibly carrying' the girl into a secluded area and then scrambled to find the father. Running toward his daughter's screams, investigators said, the father pulled Flores off his child and 'inflicted several blows to the man's head and neck area.'

Nigerian Army retires 10 generals

Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika

The authorities of the Nigerian Army have retired some top generals of the Army.

It was gathered that those retired were ten in number.

Among those affected were the former Director of Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Lawrence Ngugbane, the former Commander of Training, Doctrine and Command, Maj.-Gen. Babagana  Mungonu, and the former Chief of Research and Development, Maj.-Gen. Obinali Ariahu.

A top military source said on Wednesday that the generals were retired because they had put in the maximum years in service.

The source said that the retirement exercise was routine and not punitive.

The source added that the retirement exercise was expected to take place every quarter of the year.

The source couldn’t give the names of the others affected in the exercise.

“It is true that some of our generals have been retired. The exercise is a routine one. It is not a punitive retirement, they have reached their terminal level.

“Some of them were asked to proceed on the compulsory terminal leave in June this year,” the source said.

Our correspondent could not contact the Director of Defence Information, Brig.- Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, for comments as the calls placed to his mobile telephone line indicated that it was switched off or in an area outside network coverage.

JTF destroys two illegal refineries

Illegal refinery destroyed by JTF in Bayelsa State

Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta says it has destroyed two illegal oil refineries in Bayelsa State.

Spokesman for JTF, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu,  said troops of 5 Battalion of the outfit deployed in Sector 2 area in the Niger Delta impounded two barges laden with illegally sourced crude oil along the Kasabobo creek.

Nwachukwu said the feat was achieved after a weeklong intensive anti-oil theft patrol targeted at sanitising the creeks and waterways of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

This came even as the Bayelsa State Government  said the Governor Seriake Dickson administration would rid the state of kidnapping, pipeline vandalism and other crimes.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Lt.Col. Bernard  Kenebai (retd.), spoke on behalf of the government in an interview on Tuesday.

“In Bayelsa, the criminals will have to make a personal decision not to be involved in kidnapping, pipeline vandalism and other crimes. Our mandate and commitment is to ensure that we rid Bayelsa of criminals.

“We earnestly must empower security agencies and position them to be able to carry out their statutory responsibilities in such a way that meets the expectations of the citizens.”

Speaking on the impounded oil barges, the JTF spokesman said the Commander, Sector 2, Brig.-Gen. Osasogie Uzamere, ordered the operation  following reports that crude oil theft had continued despite JTF’s continuous clampdown on the activities of criminals.

Nwachukwu said, “The troops were ordered by the Commander, Sector 2 Brig.-Gen. Osasogie Uzamere, to embark on the operation following reports of recalcitrance of oil thieves in the area despite regular clampdown by the JTF.

“The barges, christened CWTC 16 and TIKORO 2 with eight compartments each, filled with stolen crude were intercepted by the troops while trying to make its way into the international waters through Forupa channels.”

“The troops also carried out raids on illegal crude oil distillers along Ogbenibiri, Kugbie and Forupa in Southern Ijaw LG where they dismantled eight illegal crude oil distillation sites.

“The troops also scuttled 7 steel reservoirs deceptively buried in the ground and concealed with canopies to prevent detection by troops.”

In a separate operation, Nwachukwu said the anti-oil theft patrol team of 146 Battalion carrying out surveillance along PPMC right-of-way arrested 4 suspects at an active illegal crude oil distillation site at George Kiri near Bonny Island.

He said 21 drums containing illegally distilled Automated Gas Oil loaded in four 75HP OBM speed boat were recovered from the suspects.

He said, “A cordon and search conducted around the illegal refinery site led to the discovery of a metal pipe connection welded on PPMC pipeline which would require the assistance of a technician to be disconnected. The suspects recovered items have been taken into custody pending further investigation

Davido has a word for Forbes ...lol

How dare Forbes Africa make a list of the Top Ten Most bankable and richest African artists and not include Davido's name? Lol. What does Balu mean?

Cocaine mess update: Redeemers' Univeristy re-admits students

In February 2013, 28 students of Redeemers University were expelled by the university for allegedly failing drug tests. The tests were conducted last November for 42 students during their exam. The expulsion generated a lot of criticisms causing the school to rescind its decision in April. The school wrote letters to the affected students asking them to face a panel to explain why they failed the test, after which the panel would make a new judgement.

Well, the school has reviewed the case and has decided to re-admit all 28 students on the condition that the students will miss a whole semester and go for five month rehabilitation at a rehab centre. A decision that didn't go down well with the affected students and their parents.

Photo: Actress Nse Ikpe Etim in intimate pose with husband

The actress shared the pic on her instagram page today. Now, that's one hot pose!

Photos: New mum Kim Kardashian goes blonde...

Motherhood really changes women.Queen Kim is no longer concerned about looking perfect in public. Good for her! Another pic after the cut...

Singer Kcee goes into oil business

Singer Kcee goes into oil business

The Limpopo crooner pictured aboard a friend's oil vessel here in Lagos yesterday. Heard he's going into the oil business with his multimillion brother, Emmy Okonkwo. They have already ordered oil lifting equipments which they plan to rent to companies...and I hear he plans to one day own an oil vessel. Igbo man and business. Lol. Smart man.

Celebs at the Channel O Nomination event...

 

Banky W, Chika Ike, Rukky Sanda, Denrele Edun, Kcee Okonkwo, and Audu Maikori at the Channel O nomination event that held in Lagos this afternoon. More pics after the cut..

 

Nigerian Stowaway boy handed over to Edo state officials

Daniel Oikhena, the 14 year old stowaway who flew an Arik flight from Benin to Lagos in the plane's Tyre compartment was Today September 3rd handed over to the Edo state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Benin by operatives of Eo state Command of the Department of State Security Services (DSS).

Journalists and family members, including his mother, Mrs Evelyn Oikhena were however denied access to the boy at the DSS office in Benin City. Also, efforts made by Mrs. Oikhena at the Ministry of Women Affairs to see her son were rebuffed by the Ministry officials.


At the premises of the Ministry, Mrs. Oikhena lamented, “I was not allowed to see my son at the SSS office when I was told he was there. I went there but they said they have taken him to the Ministry of Women Affairs. I was given a number to call but I have been calling the number but no response. I asked some body they told me he is not here but they told me he is here. So I am waiting to hear from them. I missed my son and I want to see him,”she said.


At the time of this report the Ministry was making arrangement for the boy to meet with Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev.David Ugolor, has commended the DSS for releasing the boy and appealed to good spirited Nigerians to assist him in his education. (PM News)

Who rocked the gown and cape: Rita, Queen Maxima or Gwyneth?

Rita Dominic wore her gown and cape by House of Nwocha on Sunday September 1st, while Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wore hers by Dutch designer Jan Taminiau in April 2013 to her husband's inauguration, and finally the fashionista who started it all, actress Gywneth Paltrow wore hers by Tom Ford to the 2012 Oscars. Who rocked the outfit?

Offa rerun: Protests rock Kwara over election result

Members of the All Progressives Party in Ilorin and Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State on Monday protested against the announcement on radio of the result of the rerun election held in Offa  LG on Saturday, in which the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Segun Olanipekun, was declared  the winner.

 According to the radio announcement and a statement from the Deputy Director, Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission, Mr. Dauda Nurudeen, the PDP’s Olanipekun  polled 35,937 votes against 20,161 reported votes scored by the APC candidate, Mr. Saheed Popoola.

But the APC protesters insisted that from the signed result sheet obtained at the collation centre, APC defeated the PDP in 11 of the 12 wards.

They stated that PDP won only in Igboodun Ward, adding that the APC scored 11,526 as against PDP’s 4,668.

The Labour Party in the state had earlier stated that it viewed the rerun election as a litmus test for  the KWASIEC for the local council polls in the state in October.

The APC protesters matched from one of their offices at Offa Road Ilorin to Flower Gardens and to the KWASIEC head office at Fate/Sola Saraki Road.

 A chief of the APC, Mr. Sola Iji, who was among the protesters,  said,  “We met with the Chairman of KWASIEC, Dr. Uthman Ajidagba, who feigned ignorance. He said he didn’t know where the electoral officer was and some of his junior officers. We met with the chairman and about three or four other officers of the commission on Saturday and they promised that the result would be announced. “They said we should return Sunday morning by 10am, but surprisingly by around 5am, we started hearing from Kwara Radio, the same KWA SIEC chairman, announcing the false results.”

Nobody from KWASIEC addressed the  protesters, as the gate of the commission was padlocked.  Also, stern-looking riot police officers and a police Armoured Personnel Carrier were stationed at the KWASIEC office.

Also at Offa, our correspondent learnt that numerous APC members matched around some of the streets, denouncing Olanipekun as the winners of the rerun election.

They were also said to have demanded the declaration of Popoola as the rightful winner of the election.

Meanwhile, speaking on the outcome of the rerun election,   the state Governor, AbdulFatah Ahmed, congratulated  Olanipekun on Monday.

In a statement  by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, the governor admonished the opposition members  to use appropriate channels to seek redress.

 “Rather than take laws into their hands, any legitimate grievance should be channelled through established procedure for redress,” Ahmed said.

Also, the National Association of Kwara State Students  protested in Ilorin on Monday.

The students matched from Maraba Junction, through Murtala Muhammed Road  to the Post Office  Round About and to the Government House.

The students said they were protesting against the alleged non-payment of the balance of their bursaries.

The students had, in a letter dated August 28, appealed to the state governor, to ensure the payment of the alleged balance of their bursaries, warning that they will embark on peaceful protest on Monday if the money was not paid.

"Marrying Ayo Adesanya was like boarding a 'one-chance' vehicle' ex says

When asked about the lessons he learnt from his relationship with his ex-wife actress Ayo Adesanya, movie producer/cum actor Omogoriola Hassan said marrying Ayo was like boarding a 'one-chance' vehicle. He tells Encomium magazine:

"The biggest lesson I learnt was not to trust anyone. The person you trust may eventually disappoint. Then I was the greatest fool but today I am the wisest and happiest. Marrying Ayo then was like boarding a 'one-chance' vehicle. It was like I could never come across a woman I can love like that not knowing I was just being foolish. If not that she had a baby for me, I would have revealed a lot about her. Will just keep them to myself in the interest of our son. But I was agitated when I read that she wants to remove the tattoo on her hand bearing our logo - No Fear. She is free to do but what about the one on her ass where my name was written bold, Omogoriola Hassan? How is she going to remove that? That is stupid of her. If at all you don't like someone again, that doesn't mean you need to go to that extent. But believe me she's still thinking about me because if she's not she wouldn't be thinking about removing my tattoos on her body.