Tukur declares war on Baraje, 7 nPDP govs

By HENRY UMORU, DEMOLA AKINYEMI & JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU
ABUJA — The crisis rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, took another turn yesterday as the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur vowed to declare vacant the seats of senators, House of Representatives members and other elected officers who identified with the seven governors that formed a parallel executive of the party.

Some of the affected lawmakers and other stakeholders of the party have, however, dismissed Tukur’s threat as an empty boast that has no legal basis and advised him to go and read the Electoral Act on the issue and be properly guided. This came as the Kwara State chapter of the party aligned itself with the Baraje-led faction, saying the Tukur-led executive no longer exists.

Also yesterday, the Tukur-led PDP approached an Abuja High Court, asking it to commit new PDP Chairman, Baraje and other officilas of the nPDP to one year in prison, even as it emerged yesterday that Tukur's confidence might have taken root from the presidency..

Addressing journalists in Abuja, yesterday, Tukur, who claimed that he was fully in charge as the National Chairman of PDP, stressed that there was no faction in the party and there was no room for such a claim under any guise.

Tukur who threatened to send men of the Department of State Service, DSS; the Police and other security agencies after the rebellious governors and their sympathiszers for operating illegally, however vowed that the party will not hesitate to declare vacant, seats of the 26 senators and the 102 members of  the House of Representatives, as well as other elected officers of the party that have dclared for the new PDP (nPDP).

But in a swift reaction, the chairman of  nPDP and former Acting National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje described Bamanga Tukur and others who might not understand how party politics works, as jokers.

[caption id="attachment_412340" align="alignnone" width="412"] Baraje and Tukur[/caption]

He said: “They are all jokers, they don’t know what party politics is. We are not surprised because he (Tukur) is ignorant of party politics. In any case, the process of declaring a seat vacant or recalling members of the National Assembly is well known in the constitution; to wake up and say he is going to recall people or declare their seats vacant is sheer ignorance. He is not fit to be called the National Chairman of the PDP.”

Speaking in a similar vein, spokesman of the House of Representatives, Rep. Zakari Mohammed said: “The man should go and read the Electoral Act and be guided as that will guide his utterances. This is about the law. What he does not understand is that when a party is factionalised, I can decide to say that I belong to PPA today, it doesn’t matter because it is public knowledge today that we have two factions of the PDP and nobody can pretend about it”.

Tukur's statement

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur who simply read a two-page statement that was made up of eight paragraphs without taking any further questions from journalists said: “Gentlemen of the press, you are aware of the current developments in our great party. Our reason for being here is to inform you without any iota of doubt that the Peoples Democratic Party has no faction and there is neither room nor reason whatsoever for such a claim under any guise.

“The PDP has only one duly elected National Executive Committee (NEC) under my chairmanship. I wish therefore to state with all emphasis that any group of persons parading themselves as leaders of NEC or any other organ of our party are impostors and I urge all Nigerians, especially the security agencies and other institutions of democracy to regard them as such.

“Let me state categorically that the PDP as the sole custodian of the sacred mandate of over 160 million Nigerians and which in the last 14 years has lifted high the banner of democracy will not fold its arms while some undemocratic and unpatriotic elements destroy our common destiny by causing divisions and confusion among the people.

“Consequently, we shall ensure that any person who is not duly elected into any leadership position in our great party and has not been duly assigned any role but goes ahead to arrogate such to himself will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

“Similarly, all persons elected on the platform of our great party at all levels who identify with these enemies of the oneness and greatness of our party shall have their seats declared vacant as required by law.

“We shall leave no stone unturned to ensure that such persons and indeed any other individual who attempts to subvert the leadership of the PDP shall reap in full, the consequences of such actions.

“I wish to emphasize that the PDP has adequate mechanism for internal conflict resolution. All party members are, therefore, advised to ventilate their grievances through this medium. There is only one lawfully recognized PDP and I am firmly in charge. I thank you and may God bless you."

Tukur’s confidence, it was learnt, followed President Goodluck Jonathan’s apparent rejection of the demands of the rebel governors at the Tuesday night meeting he had with loyalist governors.

At the meeting, President Jonathan was said to have flatly rejected the requests of the rebel governors that he should among others not contest the 2015 presidential contest.

Sources close to the presidency disclosed that the president was quoted as saying that he would not lose sleep over the matter saying “those who ignited the fire should go and quench it.”

A presidency source privy to the development was quoted as saying: “What is happening in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has nothing to do with the president; it is not his headache at all and he is not losing sleep over it.

"The president believes that those who ignited the crisis should also look for ways to put it off. And from security reports, former President Olusegun Obasanjo is behind it; he cannot start a crisis and now pretending to be finding a solution to it."

Presidential aides it was learnt, are worried that former President Obasanjo and his associates may be determined to use the crisis to stop President Jonathan from seeking reelection using the opportunity offered by the crisis.

PDP urges court to commit Baraje, others to prison

The Bamanga Tukur-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also urged a Federal High Court, Abuja, to commit to prison for alleged contempt of court, factional chairman of the party Alhaji Kawu Baraje, the faction’s National Secretary Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Dr Sam Jaja.

The party wants the court to jail the three for a minimum of one year each for allegedly violating a judgment of the Federal High Court, delivered on January 11.

In the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court, which was said to have been violated by the alleged contemnors, the court had nullified Oyinlola’s candidacy as a nominee of the Southwest Zonal Chapter of the PDP.

The Tukur-led party however argued that Oyinlola, “with guilty knowledge” “appointed and declared” himself as the National Secretary of the PDP “for the purpose of rendering the judgment of this Honourable Court nugatory and of no effect.”

The motion on notice for committal of the alleged contemnors, filed yesterday, was brought pursuant to Order 35 of the Federal High Court Rules 2009.

Counsel to the PDP, Mr Ajibola Oluyede, who made the court processes available to newsmen at briefing in Lagos, said he was directed by the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led PDP to file the action.

He said they have also filed a Preliminary Objection against the suit filed by Oyinlola, Baraje and Jaja at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.

Kwara PDP backs Baraje

Meantime, Kwara State chapter of PDP, yesterday, aligned itself with the Kawu Baraje-led executive of the party, saying the PDP under the chairmanship of  the Tukur-led executive council no longer exist.

The party leadership in the state expressed its resolve to back the Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje nPDP because of his sterling leadership qualities which brought the party to its peak when he held sway as the acting national chairman of the now troubled party.

The state chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ishola Balogun Fulani speaking at a press conference at the party secretariat in Ilorin, recalled that Baraje was able to maturely handle all the crisis in the party to a minimal level and even won more electoral victories for the party.

According to Fulani, who was represented by his secretary, Prince Yemi Afolayan,”the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP has violated the constitutional breaches and its national working committee should vacate office in the interest of the growth of the PDP.

“It was under Bamanga Tukur-led national leadership that leaders of the party have been treating members without following due process, causing disaffection among members of the party.

“As far as the PDP is concerned now in Nigeria, Abubakar Kawu Baraje remains the only leader that can salvage the PDP from its present predicament and so Bamanga Tukur has gone”, he added.

According to him,”we are authentic PDP in Kwara and no one group can lay claim to it any where”. While describing the politicians  behind the claim to PDP in the state as "hungry people", the chairman stressed that,” Baraje remains our national chairman of new PDP and Senator Bukola Saraki is also our leader and no one can lay claim to the PDP leadership except the affected leaders”.

Tukur’s not in tune with realities—Ugochinyere

Also, a Chieftain of the New Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, has likened the purported threat by the embattled Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur to suspend lawmakers that have given support to Alhaji Kawu Baraje-led faction as a desperate crying speech of a reckless fisherman that had lost control of his boat.

Ikenga Ugochinyere who is the Convener of the New PDP Stakeholders Forum in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, said that Tukur was not in tune with realities on ground, accusing him of destroying a party that was once united.

The statement which was titled, “reaction to Bamanga Tukur’s drowning fisherman press conference" read: “The attention of the PDP Stakeholders Forum and die-hard supporters of the New PDP which is on a rescue mission has been drawn to the ranting and impotent statement made by the drowning PDP factional chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur to the emergence of the popular new leadership of the party.

“I want the press to know that the statement made by Tukur at his today’s (yesterday) press conference is nothing but a desperate crying speech of a reckless fisherman who has lost control of his boat as a result of recklessness and is fast sinking.

“We urge members of the party to ignore the speech like they have ignored the ranting of the impostor Chairman in the past.

“Tukur is not in tune with realities on the ground. We urge him to stop crying and bow his head in shame for destroying a united party. We dare him to use his impotent childish suspension option which has faded away with his dislodged rotten reign.

“As Tukur continues to hallucinate, more National Assembly members, members of the State Assemblies elected on the party’s platform, members at all levels, Governors, BoT (Board of Trustees) etc continue to join the new PDP rescue mission.

“Let nobody listen to a man who is not even a member of the party. Let him face the legal battle fired on him and forget noise making as he lacks the power to declare anybody’s seat vacant as such power is with us now,” he stated.

How it all started

It will be recalled that last week Saturday at the Special National Convention of PDP, there was crisis when the party split into two parallel National Working Committees, NWCs,  with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and seven northern governors staging a walk out to later address a press conference on the formation of a new PDP with governor Chibuike Amaechi in attendance.

Baraje had named himself the National Chairman and announced Sam Sam Jaja as Deputy National Chairman and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as National Secretary.

The governors who were at the venue of the convention until 2.45 pm last saturday when the names of candidates to be voted for were read and discovered that the name of the immediate past Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja was removed leaving only the former National Organising Secretary, Prince Uche Secondus as the sole candidate, with others screened out had to immediately leave for Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre to address the media.

They were governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa; Abdulfatah  Ahmed of Kwara; Aliyu Babangida of Niger; Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto State; Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers; Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano; and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa.

Others were deputy governors of Sokoto, Murktar Shagari; Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano; Ahmed Musa Ibeto of Niger state; former governor of Kwara State, Senator Shaaba Lafiagi; former Acting National Chairman of PDP, Abubakar Kawu Baraje; former governor of Nasarawa state, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; immediate past National Secretary of PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; immediate past Deputy National Chairman, Sam Sam Jaja; Senator Magnus Abe; chairman, House Committee on finance, Honourable Abdumumini Jibrin; Honourable Farouk Lawan, other members of the national assembly, state houses of assembly, among others.

It will also be recalled that Bamanga Tukur’s vexed address to members of the new party was coming barely twenty four hours after the leaders and Stakeholders of the party postponed the meeting earlier scheduled for Tuesday, just as the meeting was designed to brainstorm with the aggrieved governors as a way of nipping in the bud, the political quagmire.

The meeting was fixed to hold with President Goodluck Jonathan; Vice President Namadi Sambo; chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the aggrieved governors of Kano, Rivers;  Sokoto; Niger; Kwara; Adamawa and Jigawa.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of PDP,  Chief Tony Anenih who noted that some if aggrieved governors have genuine grievances, however explained that  the peace talks, scheduled to continue in Abuja were postponed at the request of the governors of the party who stormed out of the venue of the party’s special national convention on Saturday.

According to Anenih, the  peace talks with the aggrieved governors would now continue on Tuesday, next week, after selected party leaders would have met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday as part of wider consultations demanded by parties to the crisis.

He disclosed that the aggrieved governors told the Presidency and the PDP leadership that they needed more time to make wider consultations, just as he said the Presidency and the PDP leadership were not averse to wider consultations.

He had explained that the Presidency and PDP leadership were taking advantage of the postponement to also consult widely on how to amicably resolve the crisis, adding, “Part of the wider consultations is the meeting of selected party leaders with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday morning and thereafter, we will meet with the governors on Tuesday, next week.”

58 Reps, more senators back Baraje's nPDP

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Henry Umoru & Levinus Nwabughiogu
LAGOS — The Bamanga Tukur-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was on the precipice, yesterday, after 58 members of the House of Representatives publicly switched sides to the Kawu Baraje New PDP (nPDP). Four more senators have also joined the earlier 22 senators on the side of Baraje, swelling the number to 26 pro-nPDP senators.

However at press time last night, President Goodluck Jonathan was said to have begun a meeting with 10 governors of the PDP.

Besides, the Baraje faction also moved yesterday for the de-registration of the Tukur faction by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

[caption id="attachment_412192" align="alignnone" width="412"] Kawu Baraje[/caption]

The Baraje faction in court seeking to legitimize itself also claimed that Tukur was not a valid member of the party and as such not in position to lead the ruling party.

The sense of panic among Presidency and party officials was exacerbated after the chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Tony Anenih announced the postponement till next Tuesday, of the scheduled peace parley between the aggrieved seven governors and President Goodluck Jonathan. The anxiety was also not helped by comments by Anenih that “some of the governors have genuine grievances.”

Six governors elected on the platform of the party had walked away from the special national convention of the party and proceeded to establish a parallel faction of the party on the basis of alleged multiple infringements of the rules of the party and hostility against some of the leading officials.

The six governors: Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Sule Lamido, (Jigawa), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Ahmed Abdulfatah (Kwara) were joined in the walkout by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. They were to reconnect with Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State who was three months ago suspended from the party by the Tukur leadership and proclaim the establishment of the Baraje faction.

The peace parley summoned by the president with 16 governors in attendance last Sunday which was expected to resume yesterday failed to hold.

Anenih who was at the head of the peace efforts on behalf of the president said the postponement was to give room for the two parties to further consult on the issues earlier raised at the preliminary meeting.

Some rebel govs have genuine grievances — Anenih

Anenih, nevertheless, said that some of the governors have genuine grievances.

“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, and at the end of the day, the problems will be addressed and the PDP will come out of the crisis stronger,” Anenih stated.

Anenih said that the peace talks will continue next Tuesday after some party elders would have first met to discuss the issues raised at the first meeting.

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

Anenih, however, did not articulate the grievances of the governors though several issues have surfaced in the media. Among them are that Tukur should be removed from office, the return of the party structure in the states to the governors, that the president should commit himself to serving only one term in office and the restoration of Amaechi’s full membership of the party.

There were also assertions that part of the reasons for the failure of the meeting to hold yesterday was the President’s reluctance to meet the alleged request by the governors that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, should be stopped from further investigations of the states.

It was being alleged, yesterday, that the President’s failure to make a commitment on the requests by the governors may have influenced them into seeking further consultations and thus the failure to hold the meeting as scheduled, yesterday.

The claim of persecution of the governors also reverberated in a statement issued by the 58 members of the House of Representatives in which they cautioned the security agencies to work within the ambit of the law in their dealings with defectors from the Tukur-led PDP.

58 Reps back Baraje

The 58 members of the House of Representatives in a statement switching loyalty to the Baraje faction, yesterday, said the members of the faction doing so are patriots.

In the statement issued in Abuja, the members said they also strongly condemned attempts by some agents of the Federal Government to use state apparatus to witch-hunt some of the patriots for taking the step.

The statement reads:

“We, the members of the House of Representatives under the platform of the New PDP, hereby congratulate our leaders on the emergence of the new party.

“Although a sizeable number of our members who could not append their signatures because of their unavailability in the country will do so immediately on arrival, we the under-signed salute and appreciate the courage, sacrifice, resilience and patriotism of our leaders namely: former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the governors — Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano); Aliyu Wamakko, (Sokoto); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Mu'Azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Abdul Fatah Ahmed (Kwara), and Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), and other well-meaning and eminent Nigerians for leading the way for the emergence of the New PDP.

“We are also using this opportunity to condemn in strong terms attempts by some agents of the Federal Government to use state apparatus to witch-hunt some of these patriots for taking this bold and courageous step.

“As members of the House of Representatives, we call on the security agencies and other anti-graft bodies to be professional in their activities and not allow themselves to be used by anybody no matter how highly placed for their political ambitions. Remember how you want history to judge your tenures.

“We won’t hesitate, however, to use all instruments of law within our powers as provided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), to stop this and bring anybody found wanting to book.

“We wish to state that by this statement, we pledge our loyalty and support to the New PDP under the able chairmanship of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, the Deputy Chairman, Dr Sam Sam Jaja, National secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinola and other members of the National Executive Committee.

“We congratulate them and wish them the very best as they steer the affairs of our party to provide level-playing field for all Nigerians.”

Members who signed the statement include:

Abdullahi Balarabe, Abdulmumin Jibrin, Ali Ahmad, Abdullahi Muhammad Wamako, Abdullahi Muhammed Rico, Abdulmalik Usman Cheche, Adamu Bashir, Ahman-Patigi Aliyu, Ahmed Zerew,  Aishatu Ahmed Binani, Aiyedun Akeem Olayinka, Alhassan Ado Garba, Aliyu Madaki, Aliyu Shehu, Aminu Shagari, Aminu Sulyman, Aminu Tukur, Andrew Uchendu, Asita Honourable, Bashir Baballe, Blessing Nsiegbe.

Others were: Dakuku Peterside, Dawari George, Faruq Muhammed Lawan, Gibson Nathaniel, Gogo Bright Tamunu, Haliru Zakari Jikantoro, Hassan Adamu,  Hussain Namadi, Ibrahim Ebbo, Ibrahim Tijjani Kivawa, Issa Bashir, Kabiru Achida, Khabeeb Mustapha, Maurice Pronen, Mohammed Sabo, Mpigi Barinada, Muhammad Ahmed Mukhtar, Muhammad Ibrahim, Muhammad Sani Kutigi, Mukhtari Muhammad, Musa Ado, Musa Sarkin-Adar, Mustapha Bala Dawaki, Mustapha Mashood, Ogbonna Nwuke, Rafiu Ibrahim, Sa’ad Nabunkari, Sani Muhammed Aliyu, Shuaibu Gobir, Sokonte Davies, Sufiyanu Ubale, Umar Bature, Usman Wada, Yusuph Dunari Sule, Yusuph Galambi, and Zakari Muhammed.

 

nPDP wants PDP de-registered

Meanwhile, court papers filed by the Baraje faction seeking recognition as the de facto leadership of the party obtained by Vanguard yesterday indicate that the faction is INEC to deregister the Tukur faction for allegedly infringing Section 222 (d) of the Constitution.

The provision requires any political party making changes to its constitution to notify INEC at least 30 days before the amendments.

The Baraje faction is alleging that changes made in the 2009 constitution of the party were never submitted to the commission and that subsequent changes made in the 2012 constitution upon which the 2013 convention was held were also not submitted to INEC.

The provision states thus:

222. No association by whatever name called shall function as a party, unless

(d) any alteration in its registered constitution is also registered in the principal office of the Independent National Electoral Commission within thirty days of the making of such alteration;

In its statement of claims in its case against the Tukur leadership filed at an Ikeja, Lagos High Court, the Baraje faction deposed thus:

“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 amendments were inserted into the original produced version of the 2012 constitution and those alterations were not approved by the party convention and the National Executive Committee thereby making the document a forged document which is invalid.

“The forged 2012 constitution was not equally filled before INEC as required by the 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 evidence 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.”

The Baraje faction is also claiming that Tukur is not a valid member of the party and as such not in a position to hold the office of chairman or preside over the national convention of the party as he did last Saturday. According to the claims, Tukur was expelled from the party in 2001 and after that was neither formally readmitted nor given a waiver to allow him hold office in the party.

“Exactly on the 31 May, 2001, the PDP NEC after its meeting held 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 breaches the constitution.

“They were expelled after NEC considered and adopted the report of the Iro Dan Musa-led PDP Disciplinary Committee. Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Don Etiebet, Aishek Jarma, Ume-Ezeoke, 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 Bamanga Tukur in 2001, he has not complied with the above requirements of the PDP constitution, 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.”

Wants convention declared illegal

The faction is also asking for last Saturday’s convention to be declared illegal on the claim that illegal delegates voted in the convention, a claim compounded by another claim that the Tukur executive failed to give the requisite 21 days notice to INEC for the conduct of a national convention.

The claims filed by the Baraje faction were also made at a press conference in Abuja yesterday by the PDP Stakeholders Forum. Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, Chairman, of the forum, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere said he was already heading to the court to challenge the validity of the last convention just as he also accused Tukur of serially violating PDP constitution and usurping the powers of the National Executive Committee.

He also reiterated the claim that Tukur is not a valid member of the PDP.

Standoff, as PDP factions hold grounds

JONATHAN RESUMES PEACE MEETING....

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North; Abdulwahab Abdulah, Henry Umoru & Ben Agande
ABUJA—President Goodluck Jonathan and senior party officials are today, set to resume their peace talks with the breakaway governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The move for peace nonetheless, the two factions in the party also sustained judicial and extra-judicial moves to get the advantage over one another. The Kawu Baraje-led faction, yesterday, moved to assert its influence in the leadership of the party when it filed an action before a Lagos High Court in Ikeja, Lagos to restrain the factional executive led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur from parading itself as the authentic executive of the party.

[caption id="attachment_412041" align="alignnone" width="412"] PDP Special National Convention: Delegates casting their votes at 2013 PDP Special National Convention . Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.[/caption]

Today’s meeting notwithstanding, national chairman of the breakaway faction of the PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje stuck to his guns, insisting that the rebellion against the Bamanga Tukur-led leadership will go its length till justice and fairness were restored to the party.

There was also concern in the Presidency and party circles, yesterday, that the crisis could worsen with fresh revelations of irregularities in the election of new officers by the Tukur-led executive last Saturday.

There was particular mention of some non-delegates including a very prominent presidency official from Edo State voting in the convention despite not being an accredited delegate to the convention. Today’s meeting follows the first talks between the president and the governors in the Presidential Villa on Sunday night which ran till 2.30 am yesterday.

That meeting took a break for the two factions to assess options laid before them at the preliminary talks during which the governors reportedly tabled conditions for peace. In the meantime a number of peace missions initiated by concerned party men and associates of the President were afoot at press time yesterday.

Among the peacemakers was a prominent Ijaw leader who it was learnt met with Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, one of the rebel seven. Besides, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has summoned a meeting of party elders for Thursday. Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu was also among those who have intervened in the crisis with pleas for settlement.

The meeting with Jonathan

The Sunday night meeting between the governors and Tukur, Vanguard learnt, was held under a sincere atmosphere as the governors reportedly poured out their grievances against the party leadership and the Presidency.

Among grievances allegedly tabled by the governors at the meeting were that Tukur should be removed as National Chairman; that the President should give up on his second term agenda; the re-run of congresses in some of the states, the reverse of the suspension of Governor Amaechi from the party among others.

The governors were also reported to have complained about the witch-hunt against perceived enemies of the administration by anti-corruption agencies, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Two of the governors were alleged to have pointedly told the president to get the EFCC off the backs of the governors.

Speaking at the end of the meeting which ended around 2.30 a.m. yesterday, Chief Anthony Anenih, Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, BoT said:

“Mr. President, the leadership of the party and the PDP Governors met today, September 1, 2013, to discuss the incident that occurred during the PDP special convention of August 31, 2013, whereby some state delegations broke out of the convention ground to announce a faction of the PDP.

“The meeting was encouraging and smooth and the discussions will continue on Tuesday (today) with all the aggrieved governors in attendance,” Anenih said.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, it emerged yesterday, had spread the peace deal across the country towards major stakeholders who he has invited for a peace parley on Thursday.

Among those invited, Vanguard learnt yesterday, are former military president, Ibrahim Babangida; former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme; former national chairmen like Chief Solomon Lar, Senator Barnabas Gemade, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, former National Security Adviser, Aliyu Gusau; among others.

Baraje to unveil faction's officers tomorrow

Meanwhile, parallel chairman of PDP, Abubakar Kawu Baraje failed to open a secretariat for the parallel PDP and also failed to name the other members of the National Working Committee of the parallel faction as had been promised last Saturday.

But speaking yesterday, Baraje who reiterated that he is the authentic chairman of the PDP said the other officers of the party will be unveiled tomorrow. He gave no reason for the delay. In a separate statement, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, National Secretary of the Baraje-led faction of the PDP welcomed the solidarity from stakeholders and notes of concern from party elders.

He, nevertheless, pledged that the New PDP will not drop the ideals of justice and fairness that led to the break away last Saturday as he disclosed that leaders and members of the party have continued to pay solidarity visits to the party leaders.

Oyinlola who noted that the group will not relent in its mission of rescuing the party, said: “Alhaji Baraje and other leaders of the party appreciate the overwhelming outpouring of support and encouragement from genuine members and leaders of the party across the country. We assure them that we will not disappoint them in the mission to make the PDP work again in the interest of Nigeria and its people.

“We also appreciate the efforts of leaders of the party, particularly President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo who, we note, have scheduled a meeting of the party elders for this week. We respect the elders and will be guided by them even as we stress that we will not abandon the ideals of justice and fairness that gave birth to the new party leadership under Alhaji Baraje.

“We equally call on all party members across the country to remain peaceful and law abiding as the PDP rescue process is being pursued with vigour. We owe the coming generation of Nigerians a duty of ensuring that impunity and dictatorship do not take any root in our democracy and, indeed, in our nation.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC was quiet on the development yesterday, saying that the commission’s monitors at the convention were yet to submit their observations at the convention.

Click here to read Why Atiku, others broke away

Convention shocker: PDP Splits!

By Soni Daniel, Emma Ujah and Henry Umoru

Atiku, 6 govs form faction
*Baraje, Oyinlola, Jaja lead faction
*Other national officers to emerge soon

Exactly 15 years after its formal launch, the lingering crisis in the ruling People's Democratic Party, PDP, degenerated, yesterday, when
former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and seven governors broke away, formed  a faction and named  new national officers for it.

The governors are: Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, Abdulfatah Ahmed   of Kwara, and Babangida Aliyu of Niger.

The governors and their teeming supporters had earlier stormed out of the Eagle Square, venue of the PDP Special Convention, after they alleged  that the list of delegates for the election  of national officers of the party, scheduled to be conducted at the convention, and the contestants had been manipulated by the leadership to usher in their preferred candidates.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the PDP incurred the wrath of the governors when it also became clear that the party was not ready to adhere to the guidelines released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the conduct of the convention and remove the impediments that led to the cancellation of the previous convention.

Agenda

The embittered governors,  some senators and House of Representatives members as well as other statutory delegates from their respective states later converged at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, where they unfolded the agenda and the names of the national officers of their faction. Some former national officers of the party made the list of new officers of the new PDP. They were, Abubakar Baraje, who was named the new National Chairman, Olagunsoye Oyinyola, National Secretary and Sam Sam Jaja, who emerged the New Deputy National Chairman of the faction.

Shortly after being proclaimed the new National Chairman of the party, Baraje said he was ready to make the PDP the party that would give adequate attention to all members and give them a level -playing field to achieve their political ambitions.

[caption id="attachment_411747" align="alignnone" width="412"] President Goodluck Jonathan addressing at 2013 PDP Special National Convention . Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.[/caption]

Baraje said the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP had destroyed the core values, which the founding fathers of the PDP bequeathed to Nigeria and frustrated many key members out of the party, while those who knew nothing about the philosophy of the party were now the leading lights. He also denounced the tendency by the Tukur administration to breathe down on the neck of members, who do not do the bidding of the Presidency and its lackeys, saying that such a practice was undemocratic and retrogressive.

Baraje said, “While we have done everything humanly possible to bring to the attention of critical stakeholders within the party the dangers inherent in the course   being charted by that leadership, it has become very clear that the desperate permutations towards 2015 general elections have blinded certain people from the consequences of their actions.

Violations

“Not only has the Constitution of the party been serially violated by Alhaji Tukur and fellow travellers, but all the organs of the party have been rendered virtually ineffectual by a few people who act as though they  are above the law. “Unfortunately, it is obvious that that they get encouragement from the Presidency whose   calculations are geared towards shutting out any real or imagined opposition ahead of the party’s presidential primaries for the 2015 elections.

“As leaders of our great party, we consider it a sacred responsibility to save the PDP from the antics of a few desperadoes, who have no democratic temperament and are therefore bent on hijacking the party for selfish ends. While the list of their violations of the tenets of our great party is long, we will highlight just a few:

*The National Executive Committee of the PDP, at its belated meeting of 20 June 2013, approved 20 July2013 for the conduct of a Special National Convention. However, that date was changed to August 31 without reverting to NEC (the only authority vested with such powers) by a few people, apparently acting on the authority of the Presidency.

*Notwithstanding the fact that INEC had noted that the PDP congresses in  nine states were not properly conducted, the illegal delegates from such states are being paraded at the so-called convention being held today in a cynical attempt to circumvent the law and further bring the name of the party to disrepute

*In gross violation of the PDP constitution, which stipulates that the NEC meeting must hold at least once in a quarter, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and a few people have been running the party like a personal fiefdom without recourse to that important decision-making organ of the party.

*The NEC of the party accepted the resignation of the former members of the NWC whose offices were affected by INEC observations based principally on the agreement that the affected officers would be returned to their respective offices at the convention

*Notwithstanding INEC insistence   that Senator Andy Uba is the duly elected candidate of the party in Anambra State and against the background that he is so recognized by majority of our party members, the Bamanga Tukur-led Executives announced a purported suspension of Senator Uba and some other members close to him in defiance of subsisting court orders.

*Despite that the PDP Constitution is very clear that the state chapter of the party cannot discipline a national officer, the Deputy National       Chairman, Mr. Sam Jaja, has reportedly been dismissed by some renegades, who have hijacked the Rivers State chapter of our party with the connivance of the Bamanga Tukur leadership.

*The persistent change in the list of the party’s delegates in many states as part of a deliberate attempt to rig the party’s nomination of       candidates, especially at the Presidential and gubernatorial levels, with a view to foisting on the PDP some unpopular candidates who are bound to lose at the polls.

*The suspension without due process of the Governors of Rivers and Sokoto states even when the illegal suspension on Sokoto State Governor has been lifted, the Rivers Governor remains purportedly suspended for no just cause.

*The illegal dissolution of the Adamawa State chapter of the party is a clear abuse of power by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, thus causing confusion in his home state.

“Given the foregoing, it is very clear that the Bamanga Tukur leadership cannot guarantee for our millions of party members democracy anchored on  free choice and the rule of law. We have therefore, taken it upon ourselves to rescue the party from their inept and dictatorial leadership.

“It is indeed noteworthy that from 1999 to date, Nigerians have constantly voted the presidential candidates presented by our great party but not only does   such trust come with enormous responsibility, we recognize that we cannot continue to take the people for   granted.

From now, the new leadership of the party under us will strive to build a fairer as well as a more transparent and accountable PDP that will put the   interest of members and indeed all the people of Nigeria above that of one single individual.

“For all the members of our great party who may have become disillusioned by the anti-democratic tendencies of the Bamanga Tukur leadership, there is  a new lease of life in the horizon. It is a new dawn for the Peoples  Democratic Party.

“As we take over the leadership of the PDP, our immediate priority is to revive the culture of robust debate of all contending issues while providing a level-playing field for all our members. These were the ideals  that differentiated our party from others and endeared us to Nigerians. ‘We are not, and have never been, a political party where one man would be taking decisions for all members and where once you do not kowtow before the Presidency, you are deemed a rebel that must be crushed. That is not the PDP bequeathed to us by our founding fathers. That, I dare say, is no longer what PDP under our leadership will represent from today.”

‘Party brought down’

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, in his remarks, lamented that the PDP,   which started in 1998, had been brought down by those who knew nothing about it. “Let us see how we can reform PDP for those lofty goals to be achieved. They can never be achieved by the Presidency and the current PDP leadership,” Atiku said. “I’m sad to see this. I will, therefore, want to appeal to the rest of our members who are still sitting on the fence to join the new PDP. I want to assure you the new party will restore the fading values of the founding fathers of the party. By the grace of God and with your support the change will come.”

Show respect, Tukur tells 5 Northern govs; You don't deserve respect, says Nyako

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North; Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Henry Umoru & Tina Akannam
ABUJA — NATIONAL Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday took a swipe at five governors from the North elected on the platform of the party, warning them to show decorum, humility and respect him.

One of the governors, Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, however, fired back, saying Alhaji Tukur does not deserve his respect because he lacks capacity and competence to handle PDP.

The other governors are Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Mu'Azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State and Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State.

The PDP chairman in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Prince Oliver Okpala bluntly told the governors that they must embrace peace and stop dramatizing the country’s few problems, saying it could send wrong signals to Nigerians and the international community.

[caption id="attachment_406281" align="alignnone" width="412"] Wammako, Aliyu, Lamido, Kwankwaso and Nyako[/caption]

According to him, unguarded utterances and calls by the governors were causing unnecessary political tension and overheating the polity. He added that as leaders, they were expected to show respect to him as an elder. Tukur also warned that as governors and leaders, they must desist from any action that could truncate the nation’s democracy.

It will be recalled that  a week after a meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo; ex-Military President Ibrahim Babangida and former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, the governors had visited President Goodluck Jonathan last Saturday at State House, Abuja.

Tukur’s reply to the governors came on the heels of Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson’s reconciliation committee that was last week inaugurated when all the problems confronting the party were expected to be resolved.

Tukur said: "The recent visit by some governors from the North to the President has raised furore, although the discussions between the President and the governors was held behind closed doors, the media has been awash with news of the meeting and the issues discussed.

“Media reports have it that the four governors who had earlier visited former president, Chief Obasanjo and two former military Heads of State demanded the removal of Dr. Bamanga Tukur as National Chairman of the PDP.”

Tukur's caution

Lampooning the governors for the visit to the former leaders without using the available internal mechanism of the party to air their views , Tukur said:  "We do not know the veracity of this claim. Suffice it to say, however, that the governors have the fundamental right to meet and discuss with each other and whomsoever they like and may also have the fundamental right to freedom of speech and to air their views on any issue of national importance.

“However, in so doing, one would expect them to make comments with decorum, humility and caution. As leaders who the general public looks upon as role models, they are expected to show respect to constituted authority and the elders, which include Dr. Bamanga Tukur, who have contributed immensely to the peace, progress, development and advancement of this country.

“Much as the constitution guarantees certain fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of speech and assembly, there are constitutional limitations to this freedom and the leaders should show wisdom, caution, prudence and good counsel in their comments on national issues as their unguarded utterances and calls can cause unnecessary political tension.

“It is also important to emphasize that the PDP, as a political platform upon which the governors were elected, have avenues and internal mechanisms for resolution of conflicts and grievances. The governors are, therefore, advised as party men to avail themselves of these avenues before seeking audience or making public utterances capable of overheating the polity.

“More importantly, the PDP has a reconciliation committee entrusted with the task of conflict resolution in the party.  The governors, by their action and utterances, have shown contempt to this committee by not deeming it necessary or worthy to take their grievances to the reconciliation committee.

“One would have expected the governors to express their grievances privately to the party leadership or the reconciliation committee instead of going public with their grievances before seeking audience with other Nigerian leaders.

“There is no doubt that the governors’ peripatetic vision has contributed in no small measure to overheating the polity. The National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, has tried all in his powers to bring peace, tranquility and love to the PDP. His three cardinal policies of reconciliation, reformation and rebuilding are aimed at giving all members of the party a sense of belonging.

“The National Chairman also has an open door policy and accommodation for all shades of opinion within the party. It is unfortunate that these governors are demanding Tukur’s removal when Tukur has made immense sacrifices for the peace and progress of the PDP and had extended his peculiar kind of brotherly love to all party men and women.

“The governors are hereby advised to embrace peace and desist from dramatizing the few problems within our democracy as these can send a wrong signal to Nigerians and the international community.

“The governors, as party faithfuls and responsible citizens of this country holding exalted positions, should desist from any action that tend to overheat the polity and truncate our nascent democratic structure.

“Be it known that Bamanga Tukur is a true and committed democratic, patriotic Nigerian, a first-class nationalist and an elder statesman of international repute, whose cardinal aim is to protect our nascent democracy, protect the indivisibility of our country and ensure the progress of our great party, the PDP.”

Tukur does not deserve respect; he lacks capacity and competence to handle PDP— Nyako

Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, however, dismissed the assertion of Tukur, insisting that Tukur by his comportment and conduct does not deserve respect.

Besides, he accused Tukur of diverting attention from the core issues of his lack of competence and capacity which he said were at the root of the problems in the party. Nyako was one of the first PDP governors to oppose Tukur’s nomination for the position of PDP National Chairman and grudgingly gave in only after he was personally persuaded by the President few days to the convention last year.

“Bamanga Tukur is trying to divert attention from the core issues. It is not the issue of respect for each other, it is not the issue of age or status or international standing. The matter in question is his competence and ability to run the party, his ability to provide fairness and justice to everybody,” Nyako said in a reaction signed by his Director of Press, Sajoh Ahmad.

“He cannot come here to sponsor a group of impostors and call them executives who will disenfranchise us, disrespect us, kick us aside and he turns around and tells us about respect and status. In actual fact, if he thinks his status is not respected, Murtala Nyako has had higher attainments nationally than him,” he said in reference to Nyako who had been the country’s Chief of Naval Staff in the mid-eighties.

Continuing, he said: “If he can bring in impostors and impose them on the state PDP and cause them to disrespect Nyako, he should not be talking about respect, but that is not the issue at stake.

“The issue at stake is his competence, capacity, ability as the National Chairman of the PDP. Is he running the PDP competently enough? Is he providing level playing field? Is he fair and just to everybody concerned? That his media office will continue to remind people that he is running the PDP with peace, concord, and understanding when he knows that in the last four months now, they have had four reconciliation committees?

“A group that has peace and concord cannot definitely have four reconciliation committees in four months. I don’t think that the two tally.

“We are not arguing about respect, about age, about status or whatever, we are talking about competence to run the PDP as an inclusive party that accommodates everybody’s interests.”

 

Jigawa PDP defends govs

The Jigawa State PDP chairman, Alhaji Salisu Mamuda also defended the governors, saying that “it is not out of place for the PDP governors to seek advice from other party elders because of the present crisis within the party,” adding that the party chairman’s wisdom was not enough to solve the problems rocking the party.

According to him, Alhaji Tukur should remember that most of the party governors were elected during the tenure of former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and they still have good rapport with him. “Personally, I don’t think that the governors’ decision to meet with him for elderly advice as party stalwart is wrong. Why should our national party chairman take offence?

"Nobody is disrespecting the National Chairman, every action of some of our patriotic governors is in the interest of the party. My governor has been very loyal to the party, that is why I respect all his political moves."

2015: Northern governors report Jonathan to Shagari

….We discussed state of the nation— Nyako

Meanwhile four of the Northern governors, who are still aggrieved over certain political developments in the PDP, on Tuesday, took their grievances to the doorsteps of former President Shehu Shagari, pleading with him to intervene.

The governors, who began their meeting with Shagari at about 11:45 am, were led by Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko. The others were Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State.

Vanguard learnt that the fifth governor, Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, who would have been part of the delegation, had travelled to Saudi Arabia.

The governors were said to have pleaded with Shagari to prevail on President Goodluck Jonathan to take urgent steps to salvage the party and the nation from certain perilous individuals and agencies bent on derailing the democratic gains already attained by the nation.

The governors, who were summoned for crucial talks with President Jonathan at the weekend, appeared to still be upset by the rumoured ambition of Jonathan to run for a second term in 2015.

The northern governors are said to be angry that Jonathan is trying to repudiate a gentleman's agreement he had with them in 2010 to serve only one term after completing the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua.

But addressing journalists after the meeting, Adamawa Governor, Murtala Nyako, explained that they were in Sokoto to brief the former President on the state of affairs in the country and to seek his advice on how to move the nation forward.

INEC loses power to de-register parties

By Okey Ndiribe & Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA— The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, held that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has no powers to de-register any political party in the country without recourse to the 1999 Constitution as amended.

In a five-hour judgment he delivered in a suit filed before the high court by the Fresh Democratic Party, FDP, Justice Gabriel Kolawole nullified a directive the electoral commission issued on December 6, 2012, wherein it de-registered 28 political parties including the plaintiff.

Besides, the court, yesterday, declared Section 78(7) (ii) of the Electoral Act as unconstitutional, invalid, null and void, saying it is offensive to the provisions of Section 40 and Sections 221-229 of the constitution.



The court stressed that even though Section 228 of the Constitution vested the National Assembly with the powers to enact the Electoral Act, it said the legislature has no power to direct INEC to de-register any political party that failed to win a seat in either the state or National Assembly elections.

Strange concept

According to the judge, “the concept of de-registering a political party is strange and alien to the Constitution. When Section 78(7) (ii) of the Electoral Act, 2011, is construed together with Section 222 of the Constitution, it will appear that the legislative decision of the National Assembly to limit political parties to only those that won state and national elections is nothing but an arbitrary rule of the tongue.

“I am worried that Section 78(7) (ii) of the Electoral Act, 2011, does not appear from my understanding to have any constitutional precedence. It was a product of legislative despotism which will only encourage political parties to become desperate to win election at all cost.

“The section is from all intent and purposes inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution. To that extent of inconsistency and in line with Section 1(3) of the constitution, it is hereby declared unconstitutional and shall cease forthwith to be part of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2011, as amended.”

The court, which faulted INEC for not according the political parties fair hearing before de-registering them, maintained that the electoral body, failed to prove through preponderance of evidence that the plaintiff failed to live up to expectation or acted in breach of Section 223 of the Constitution.

“The 1st defendant has not by any scintilla of admissible evidence been able to justify its decision. The preponderance of evidence and burden of proof tilts in favour of the plaintiffs.

“I ask myself whether the 1st defendant, INEC, would have lost anything if it had issued a query to the plaintiff, asking it to adduce reason why it should not be sanctioned in line with Section 78(7) (ii) of the Electoral Act, 2011. Wouldn’t that have enhanced the validity of the decision it took on December 6, 2012?

“The action the 1st defendant took against the plaintiffs was quasi-judicial in nature. It was not an administrative decision as it claimed before this court. It clearly sought to divest the plaintiff of its vested legal right.

“It is my considered view that it was an adverse decision that affects the 1st plaintiff's civil rights and obligation. Moreso, the right to fair hearing has universal application. The plaintiff was entitled to be heard before the 1st defendant took the decision.

“Consequently, I am of the view that the plaintiffs are entitled to all the reliefs they sought before this court except relief nine which is asking for a cost of N10 million to be awarded against the 1st defendant.

“Our democracy is still at its nascent stage, there is bound to be mistakes. Moreover, should this court order the defendant to pay the cost, it will still be paid with the tax payers money. Therefore I make no order as to cost,” the Judge added.

Meantime, the high court has also reserved judgment in a similar suit that was filed before it by 52 political parties also fighting for survival.

We will appeal the judgement—INEC

In response to the judgement by the court which declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission lacked the power to de-register political parties, the commission has indicated its readiness to appeal the verdict.

This was disclosed by Mr Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the commission, Professor Attahiru Jega.

In a telephone interview with Vanguard, yesterday, he said there had been three previous judgments affirming the correctness of INEC’s action with regard to the decision to de-register the affected parties.

He said: “This is the fourth judgment on this matter and it is different. So we would file an appeal against it.”

Okotie's FDP's  demands

Specifically, FDP had alongside its presidential candidate and founder of the Household of God Church, Reverend Chris Okotie, dragged INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation before the court, contending that de-registration of the party was unconstitutional.

Okotie, who equally cited the National General Secretary of the party, Mr Adefela Binutu, as the 3rd plaintiff, also joined the National Assembly and the Inspector-General of Police as co-defendants in the suit.

In their originating summons, the plaintiffs, urged the court to determine “whether the purported de-regulation is not wholly violative of the very underlying constitutional philosophy as loudly proclaimed in the preamble of the 1999 Constitution as it relates to good governance, welfare of all persons, freedom, equality, justice and above all, the principles of democracy/ franchise and social justice as envisaged in Section 14, 15 and 17(10) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Whether the 1st defendant (INEC) established under Section 153 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 is bound to observe the conditions stipulated under section 221-229 of the Constitution relating to restriction on formation of political parties.

“Whether INEC’s letter dated December 6, 2012, addressed to the Chairman of the 1st plaintiff, purportedly de-registering the 1st plaintiff is valid and legitimate in view of the provisions of section 221-229 of the constitution."

As well as, “whether the 3rd defendant (National Assembly) is competent to enact section 78 (7) (ii) of the Electoral Act, 2010 in relation to de-registration of political parties when the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has made provisions covering the field in the area.”

Arguing through their counsel, Mr. Fred Agbaje, the plaintiffs, urged the court to declare that “the plaintiff has satisfied all the conditions and requirement of a political party as stipulated under the constitution and under the Electoral Act 2010 and therefore is an extant political party in Nigeria.

 

“That INEC cannot de-register the plaintiffs’ party except in accordance with the provisions of the constitution. A declaration that section 78(7) (ii) of the Electoral Act is unconstitutional, invalid, null and void to the extent that it offends the provisions of section 40 and sections 221-229 of the constitution.

“An order nullifying the so-called re-registration as announced by the 1st defendant on Thursday, December 5, 2012 and conveyed in the 1st defendant’s letter dated December 6, 2012 purportedly de-registering the 1st plaintiff as same is illegal, unconstitutional and wholly violative of democratic tenets and the principle of electoral/ political franchise.

“An order directing the 1st defendant to restore the 1st plaintiff as a political party in Nigeria as well as directing the 1st defendant, its agents, officers, assigns and or privies to continue to recognize the 1st plaintiff as a political party in Nigeria.

“An order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from attempting to implement or implementing and enforcing the so-called de-registration pronouncement of the defendants against the 1st plaintiff”. They also asked for “general damages in the sum of N10million only.”

The court granted all their prayers yesterday except the issue of cost.

£3,000 UK Visa bond takes off Nov

LAGOS —The proposed new United Kingdom visa policy requesting visitors from Nigeria and five other countries to deposit a 3,000 pounds bond before entering the UK will commence in November, despite British Prime Minister, David Cameron’s assurance that he would not sanction the controversial policy.

The policy is to restrict some visitors from India, Nigeria, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. They will have to pay the refundable cash in return for visitor visas that allow them to stay in the UK for up to six months.

At the height of the controversy, Mr David Cameron had assured that he would not sanction the policy.

[caption id="attachment_297651" align="alignnone" width="412"] Dancers perform with the Briti. AFP PHOTO[/caption]

But last weekend, Financial Times said: “Britain is pressing ahead with its trial of a scheme to make visitors from six countries pay a £3,000 bond, despite an international backlash and complaints from businesses. The government said it would begin a trial of the scheme in November to impose visa restrictions on six Commonwealth nations, including India and Nigeria, even though David Cameron poured cold water on the scheme in June after it provoked uproar in Delhi.”

Targets "high risk" applicants

The British government has reportedly decided to go ahead with it though the Home Office insisted that it was meant to target only “high-risk” applicants.

An official told the media that the scheme would be “highly selective,” targeting only “suspicious” applicants.

Under a “pilot” scheme to be introduced in November, first-time visitors from six non-white Commonwealth countries, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, will be required to deposit a cash bond of £3,000 for a British visa. According to the government, these six countries pose the “most significant risk of abuse” of visas by their citizens.

“In the long run, we are interested in a system of bonds that deters overstaying and recovers costs if a foreign national has used our public services,” the Home Office said.

The move comes barely weeks after Mr. Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg were reported to have refused to clear the scheme in its present form, fearing that the backlash in India and Nigeria threatened to damage bilateral relations at a time Britain is desperately trying to woo Indian investors and tourists.

Cameron was reported as saying that he would “not sanction” any policy that was likely to undermine his push for investment.

The Financial Times said that the u-turn had provoked anger in Britain’s business circles, who described the plan as an “insulting deterrent” to wealthy tourists from countries like India and Nigeria.

“They are urging the government to drop the pilot, saying the restrictions will damage their business if Commonwealth tourists, particularly Nigerians, now the sixth biggest spenders on luxury goods in Britain, are put off,” it said.

How FG  reacted

When the story of the visa bond broke last month, the Federal Government in its reaction described it as discriminatory and capable of undermining the spirit of the Commonwealth. The Jonathan administration therefore asked the British Government to reconsider the proposed policy saying it has a responsibility to take appropriate measures to protect the interest of Nigerians who might be affected by the proposed policy if finally introduced.

Following public outcry against the visa policy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru summoned the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Andrew Pocok to express Nigeria’s displeasure over the proposed visa policy.

At the end of the closed-door meeting, which lasted several hours in the ministry, the British envoy clarified that the policy had not reached the stage of implementation.

Policy’ll negate joint commitment

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed by its spokesman, Ogbole Ode said: “The minister recalled with nostalgia, the times when nationals of the Commonwealth travelled freely to the UK and to other member states. This, no doubt, deepened the strong historical bonds among the peoples of the various countries who were all regarded at that time as Commonwealth citizens. He further recalled that this time-honoured practice was unilaterally jettisoned by the UK government in 1986, thereby weakening the bonds of the Commonwealth family.

“The minister further noted that the proposed policy would definitely negate the joint commitment by Prime Minister David Cameron and President Goodluck Jonathan to double the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries by 2014, just as it would hinder people-to-people contact, which is one of the cardinal principles of the Commonwealth.

“Ambassador Ashiru said the decision of the UK Government is coming at a time the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers have unanimously recommended for adoption at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, CHOGM, holding in Colombo, Sri Lanka in November, a proposal to remove visa requirements for holders of official and diplomatic passports from member states.

“The minister, therefore, called on the UK Government to reconsider the proposed policy, which is incompatible with the strong and cordial relations built over the years between the UK and Nigeria."

"He, however, informed the British High Commissioner that the Federal Government  has a responsibility to take appropriate measures to protect the interest of Nigerians who may be affected by the proposed policy, if finally introduced.”

No decision yet —British High Commissioner

Clarifying the visa policy, the British High Commissioner in a statement signed by Head of Press and Public Affairs Section, Rob Fitzpatrick, explained the position of his government.

According to him, “the details of the pilot scheme are still being worked out. No final decision has been made. If the pilot were to go ahead in Nigeria it would affect only a very small number of the highest risk visitors. The vast majority would not be required to pay for a bond. Those paying bonds would receive the bond back, if they abided by the terms of their visa.

“Let me put this in perspective. Over 180,000 Nigerians apply to visit the UK each year. About 70 per cent or around 125,000 of those applicants are successful. Travel between our two countries is a key part of our strong cultural and business relationships. Financial bonds would be focused on only a tiny minority of potential abusers. It would not be a ‘£3,000 visa charge’ as some media reporting has alleged.

“As soon as more details of the policy have been decided, we will inform the Nigerian government and public fully and officially."

Five Northern Govs to Jonathan: 'Our condition for peace'

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North, Levinus Nwabughiogu

The five northern governors: Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), and Muritala Nyako (Adamawa), critical of the purported move by President Goodluck Jonathan to seek re-election in 2015, yesterday met with the President at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

The meeting, described by sources as private, lasted several hours.

Details of what was discussed at the parley were unclear at press time, although it was learnt that it was not unconnected with the crisis plaguing their party – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that the five governors insisted on the removal of the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, as their condition to be at peace with the party and the Presidency.

The President and the governors held the crucial talks just as sources said the Presidency was banking on the seeming popularity of recently freed ex-Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, in his home region of the North to initiate subtle moves to recruit him into Jonathan’s re-election  campaign.

The sources said case was also being made for a  role for the ex-CSO in the Jonathan government.

The overture to Al-Mustapha by the pro-Jonathan elements was, however, causing a row among some northern  leaders.

Appeasement

Sunday Vanguard sources said the Aso Rock meeting with the five northern governors was initiated by the President to enable him  listen to their grievances with a view to appeasing them and preventing them from joining the opposition.
The crucial meeting, said to have started around noon, was held under closed doors and the outcome not made known to journalists.

During the meeting, Jonathan was said to have pleaded with the governors to sheath their sword and promised to personally look into the sources of their anger.

[caption id="attachment_406281" align="alignnone" width="412"] Wammako, Aliyu, Lamido, Kwankwaso and Nyako[/caption]

Jonathan reportedly assured the governors that he was aware of their face-off with some influential people close to him and the PDP and was poised to address them in the interest of the party and the country.

But the governors allegedly gave the President the condition under which they would support him and the PDP in the 2015 contest, which is that he must sack the PDP National Chairman, Tukur, with immediate effect.
The governors, according to the sources, said Tukur was their major headache and  they did not see how they could continue to work with him.

They allegedly insisted that they would never have anything to do with the PDP as long as Tukur continued to preside over it’s affairs.

Dictatorship

One of the sources said,”The clear message delivered to the President was that the National Chairman of the PDP, Bamanga Tukur, must be sacked urgently.

”The governors made it clear to Mr. President that the leadership of Tukur has brought an era of dictatorship to the party and alienated the major stakeholders, leaving those who do not have the interest of the party to hold sway.

”It is either the President sacks him to appease the governors and others who are with them or keeps the Chairman and loses them”.
Sunday Vanguard learnt that the governors had earlier met for 45 minutes at the Sokoto State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro to take a common position on what to discuss with Jonathan.

After the  meeting, they proceeded to the Villa at about noon.
The governors had, last week, expressed anger with the Presidency and the PDP  leadership over the way things were going in the party and the country.

They met with three former heads of state - Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar – in Abeokuta, Ogun State and Minna, Niger State, and complained to them about how they were being alienated and maltreated by the Presidency and the PDP despite their enormous contributions to the party. Although the outcome of their deliberations with the former leaders was not made public, IBB lauded the five governors and described them as ‘real patriots’.

Lamido is said to have been singled out by the Presidency for isolation for daring to declare to contest against Jonathan in 2015 while Aliyu is seen as being penalised for saying that Jonathan signed a deal with northern governors to run for only a term.
Nyako   is being castigated and kept at bay for trying to contest the control of PDP structures of Adamawa  with Tukur.

The Political Adviser to the President, Ahmed Gulak, described the five governors as agents of the opposition and warned them to stop heating up the polity.

Wooing Al-Mustapha

Meanwhile, banking on the seeming popularity of  Al-Mustapha,  especially in his home region of the North, the Presidency  was said to have  initiated subtle moves to recruit him into the re-election campaign of  Jonathan.
Sunday Vanguard investigations revealed that political strategists have, however, cautioned the President not to be directly involved in the effort to woo the former CSO to the late Abacha  to his side but to use sundry northern and southern groups to do the job.

It was learnt that, based on a well-coordinated strategy to draw the Abacha era  strong man into the Jonathan’s campaign, several northern groups, which had hitherto voiced opposition to the re-election of Jonathan in 2015, had been approached by top government officials and asked to work with Al-Mustapha, who is now seen as a hero in the region.

As part of the innocuous campaign, the erstwhile CSO is said to have been encouraged to meet with top government officials in the country, particularly governors, ministers and leaders of ethnic groups, whose support is considered relevant to the attainment of the set political target in the 2015 presidential poll. The government, it was learnt, has facilitated the meetings of  Al-Mustapha  with top government officials in the North and the military high command in Abuja with a view to quickening his return to the army and promotion.

A military source said that the former CSO was scheduled to meet with the Chief of  the Army Staff on Friday but did not say whether the two men actually met and what transpired between them. The plan, according to a source, is to return to the army, retire him full benefits and give him a  role in the government of Jonathan.

The kite

Apparently acting the script, the Presidency is reported to have made the first move to test the water by mobilising some northern groups to fly the kite that it was the active support of key government officials that enabled the former CSO to regain his freedom.
As a first step, former Abacha Minister of Education, Dauda Birmah, on Friday, led some groups to the National Chairman of the PDP, Bamanga Tukur, in Abuja and adopted Jonathan as their choice for the Presidency in 2015.

The groups said that they were grateful to the Presidency for ensuring the release of the former CSO from prison after 15 years, adding that they were convinced that the release would not have been possible without the support of the President and the PDP Chairman.

Among the groups that went with Birmah to see Tukur were the Northern Elders Forum, North/ South New Nigeria and Fresh Air Continuity Group.

Coincidentally, while the Birmah-led groups were meeting with Tukur, some other groups opposed to the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) issued a strong statement in Abuja condemning any attempt by some northern leaders to work against the return of Jonathan in 2015.

Another group, believed to have been recruited into the 2015 campaign-Coalition of Concerned Northern Youths, CNY- carpeted NEF  for daring to insist that power must return to the region in 2015, asking the protagonists to apologise over their failure in the past.

A top northern politician, who pleaded anonymity, supported a role for  Al-Mustapha  in the Jonathan  government, saying the involvement of the former CSO could bring the current security challenge in the North to an end.
The politician said that he was aware of the clout  Al-Mustapha has among northern youths and how he could use same to help the administration to overcome the crisis in the North.

‘North never united in elections’

But the spokesman for the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Sani, said that it was wrong for anybody or group in the North to insist that the area should vote for a particular candidate in any election, arguing that the region has never been united in elections.

He cited the case of President Shehu Shagari contesting against Mallam  Aminu Kano in the 1979 elections and winning against all calculations of the North.

Sani said, “I’ve never seen the North united politically and don’t even see the basis of such unity.  ”We don’t want the North to be divided along political lines. What I know is that we must work together for the progress of Nigeria because neither all the votes of the North alone nor that of the South alone can make Jonathan to win the next election”.

The ACF spokesperson  said the North supported  Al-Mustapha’s  release because of the monumental injustice of his incarceration for about 15 years.

Word of caution for Abacha’s CSO

The Secretary General of  NEF, Prof Ango Abdullahi, took a swipe at Birmah, saying that he was speaking for himself and not the North as he was not mandated to do so.

Abdullahi, a former VC of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, told Sunday Vanguard that while the former minister was entitled to his opinion as a northerner and Nigerian, he should avoid the temptation of acting any role not assigned him by the North.

The NEF scribe also warned Al-Mustapha to be wary of the carrots being dangled before him by  government and individuals so as not to burn his fingers and run into avoidable disaster.

”Al-Mustapha should be careful so as not to be used as a pawn by the political predators in the land and dumped at the end of the day. If I were him, I would have been very prayerful to God and take time to acquaint myself with issues in the country after 15 years of isolation,” Abdullahi said. ”It is up to him to accept that his popularity is principally borne by the sympathy that Nigerians have for him for being unduly incarcerated”.

A top government official in Kano also warned the former Abacha CSO not to mistake the sympathy of Nigerians over his unjust imprisonment for political popularity.

”Al-Mustspha does not have what it takes to be a politician and those who are goading him to replace some government officials should watch out for the consequence,” the official said.
Although the Presidency has not reacted to the development, the PDP National Chairman, Tukur, on Friday, asked  northern groups to stand solidly behind Jonathan to develop the country.
Tukur said,”Don’t  be intimidated by anybody in speaking out your mind because Nigeria is your only country. It is a thing of joy for us that you have come to openly identify with the solid achievements of President Jonathan when others in the North are giving the erroneous impression that all is not well.”

RIVERS CRISIS: Chidi Lloyd brought back to P/Harcourt blindfolded

By Jimitota Onoyyme P/Harcourt

THE Department of State Services, DSS yesterday raised a preliminary objection to the application filed by the Majority leader of the Rivers state House of Assembly, Hon Chidi Lloyd challenging his invitation by the Police over his alleged role in the recent fracas in the hallowed chambers of the Assembly.

The Majority leader in his application on matter of fundamental rights filed by his Counsel, Bello Olisa Nwafor, SAN, had among other things sought an order of the court to set aside the “declaration made by the Police on 17/7/2013 with the authority/connivance of the respondents declaring the applicant as a wanted person by the police, the said declaration being unlawful, ultra vires, unwarranted, illegal and unconstitutional, null and void.

“A declaration that whatever that happened or transpired on the floor of the Rivers state House of Assembly on the  09-07-2013 with respect to the illegal taking over of the House by the  five members of the Rivers state House of Assembly through the use of thugs, hoodlums, and ex militants armed with AK47 assault rifles and actively backed by the men of the Nigeria Police was done in defence  of the applicant’s right to life under section 33(1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended”

“A declaration that the applicant has the constitutional right of immunity in anything said or done on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly and in particular  as the Leader of the House in a bid to restore  sanity, peace and order in the hallowed chambers of the Rivers state House of Assembly on the 09-07-2013 and therefore cannot be invited, arrested, interrogated , investigated and or prosecuted by the respondents or anybody whatsoever”

His counsel had argued in court that the police violated the immunity of his client by inviting him and subsequently declaring him wanted. According to his Counsel, Nwafor,  the police allegedly stormed the residence of his client with lorry loads of Policemen, an act he sought the court to declare as a violation of the rights to privacy of his client.   He argued that his client was entitled to immunity from the Legislative House Act.

[caption id="attachment_405771" align="alignnone" width="412"] Chidi Lloyd[/caption]

Meantime, in the preliminary objection filed by the DSS, its Counsel, Mr Dike Udena among other things argued that a State High Court lacked jurisdiction on the relief sought by the applicant.  The principal relief sought by the applicant do not relate to rules of this court, so they are matters for a Federal High Court”, he said

He further argued that the immunity claimed by the applicant was not a fundamental right, adding that even if it was available to him, the immunity does not cover acts of violence and crime committed on the floor of the House and outside.

“Also there is a difference between investigation and institution of proceedings. According to the Supreme Court on Fawehinmi in a case involving Bola Tinubu, “a person who has immunity can be investigated. Immunity only covers prosecution . So whichever way, the case is incompetent. The court should dismiss it”, he pleaded.

On his part, Donald Wigwe, SAN, Counsel of the first to fourth respondent which is the Police argued that the applicant has no immunity for crimes, adding that legislative immunity only covers words spoken and written while functioning as a law maker.

Earlier, Counsel to Lloyd had challenged the preliminary objection filed by the DSS, ie the 5th respondent, arguing that it should be thrown out since it did not come as motion on notice.

The trial Judge, E. Teetito adjourned the matter to 6th August for ruling.

Chidi Lloyd brought into the state blindfolded

Meantime, Hon Chidi Lloyd was brought into the state yesterday by security men. At press time, Saturday Vanguard could not establish contact with him.  His Counsel, Nwafor, SAN,  said he was worried over the safety of  his client because  of the way the Police  was allegedly treating him.  He said  Hon Lloyd was driven in, blind folded and driven in a Black Maria from the Port Harcourt International Airport.

“Because of my client’s information  to me that he was detained at the Force Headquarters above the one-day that  was allowed, Chidi Lloyd was flown into Port Harcourt yesterday, and instead of bringing him to court to defend himself ,  we found, he was blindfolded and we  don’t know what is happening to him. There is genuine fear for his life.

“If the Police have nothing to hide, they would have brought Chidi Lloyd to court this morning.  He is still not brought to court till about 5pm. Even an armed robber is brought to court in a Black Maria, so why won’t  he (Chidi) be brought to court.  If he is brought to court, then, we will know  that he  is alive.

“The Chief Justice of the Federation has made rules that we are following at the Federal High Court and the High Court and both have concurrent jurisdiction to hear fundamental rights application”  Nwafor said.

Emenike Ebete  who is also one of his lawyers said it was sad that the Police was yet to arraign the lawmaker  twenty four hours after he went to the  Force  Headquarters, Abuja . Continuing, he  corroborated claim by Nwafor,  that  his client was blindfolded when he arrived Port Harcourt, adding that  at the moment, he could not say where he was. He further expressed deep worries over his security.

“We arrived Port Harcourt at 8.45am this morning and over 500 policemen escorted Chidi Lloyd from the Port Harcourt Airport to the office of the Commissioner of Police.  He was blindfolded when he  alighted from the Black Maria as if he was a common criminal.  He walked into the CP’s office and spent about three minutes. After that, we don’t  know his where about.”

Saturday Vanguard gathered that there were plans to prosecute Hon Lloyd  over the  fracas on the floor of the House of Assembly recently.

On his part, the member representing Andoni/Opobo Nkoro Federal Constituency, Rivers State in the House of Representatives, Hon Dakuku Peterside condemned the  alleged torture of Hon Lloyd by Police in the state  yesterday.

“This is not only condemnable but regrettable. Rivers State Police Command under Mbu seems not to be  bothered by the fact that any evidence that is obtained by force, torture, intimidation or by any form of abuse is not admissible in the court of law, and this is unfortunate.

“This inhuman conduct by Rivers State Police Command is not only a gross abuse of the fundamental human rights of the accused but further confirms our fears that Mbu is out to eliminate Lloyd who has been subjected to horrific ordeal since his return to Rivers State.

“This ugly development in our country today is anti-thetical to the Geneva Convention which expressly demands that countries take  effective measures to prevent torture within  their borders. Other international laws also confirm that torture and other mistreatment of persons in custody are also prohibited in all circumstances under international human rights law.

This, no doubt, is diminishing and a major setback to our nascent democracy.

“The Police High Command should do the needful and stop subjecting the accused to this inhumanity until full investigation into the crisis is concluded. He has neither been convicted of any offence nor condemned to perpetual incarceration in police custody by any court of law,” Peterside said in a statement by his media aide,  Sylvester Asoya.

The statement further lauded the Inspector General of Police, for the way Hon Lloyd was allegedly treated while at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

On his part, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Leyii Kwanee also expressed worry over  the whereabout of Lloyd.

“ There are dangers of his where about.  You can recall the case of Abiola, when he was arrested and held in custody, few days after he was released, he  died.  So, we  don’t know  what the police authorities are doing with Chidi Lloyd.  I gathered few hours ago that he was at the Police Officers’ Mess, but now it is about 5pm, Chidi Lloyd is not in court and nobody knows what might happen to him. I was told that he was handcuffed and tortured.  Even if there are assumptions that he committed any crime, he deserves an opportunity to express himself before he can be charged to court.  Nobody has the  right to torture Chidi Lloyd, not to talk of any Nigerian”, Kwanee said

“If you’ll  recall what happened, Chidi Lloyd was invited by the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja for alleged conspiracy.  It is not possible to conspire with oneself.  Who are the conspirators? I have spoken severally that there is a grand plan, a design to undermine democracy in Rivers State.  There are elements that  are anti-democratic, working to undermine  the developmental efforts of Governor Amaechi.  It is the grand plan by those who are against the progress of the current administration.  There is development everywhere, but, the enemies are at work”, he said.

NASS takes over Rivers Assembly

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke
ABUJA—THE Senate, yesterday, ordered the National Assembly, which comprises the House of Representatives and the Senate to, as a matter of urgency, take over the legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The Senate in its findings and observations after investigation into the crisis in Rivers State, however, fingered President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan in the  crisis following their perceived undue interference with the political security structure of the state as well as what the Senate committee described as alleged high-handedness of Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

According to the Senate yesterday, the take-over of the Rivers House of Assembly was pursuant to Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution(as amended) pending resolution of the lingering political logjam and restoration of peace in the state.



Deliberating on the report of the Senate Committee on States and Local Governments Administration on the Investigation of Crisis in the  state House of Assembly, led by Senator Kabiru Gaya, ANPP, Kano South, the Senate, yesterday, urged the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar to urgently redeploy the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu given the fact that his relationship with Governor Chibuike Amaechi has broken down irretrievably.

Approved Senate committee Report

The prayers of the committee which were approved by the senators read thus:

* That the Inspector-General of Police should as a matter of urgency redeploy the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu since his relationship with the Governor has broken down irretrievably.

* That the National Assembly should as a matter of urgency take over the functions and duties of the Rivers State House of Assembly, pursuant to Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution(as amended) pending the resolution of the crisis and restoration  of peace in Rivers State.”

Meanwhile, Senate President, David Mark while speaking after the prayers were taken by the senators warned that minority members of the Rivers State House of Assembly cannot remove the speaker, just as he said that they should not even contemplate his impeachment, adding that the present National Assembly would resist impunity and unconstitutionality.

According to him, “all we want is for peace to return to Rivers State. Let me add that the National Assembly will uphold and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as we all individually swore to do. This we will do at all times and at all cost. Let me leave no one in doubt that the impunity of the past remains in the past, and the past is gone for good.”

Senator Mark who urged all warring persons involved in the Rivers State crisis to sheathe their swords and embrace peace in the interest of the state and the country, said: "All that is left is for the proper lessons to be learnt from the past. Minority members of the Rivers State House of Assembly cannot remove and should therefore, never contemplate the impeachment of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly or anyone else for that matter and should perish the thought if they ever harboured it. Our institutions of state must also uphold the Constitution at all times and must not in any way encourage the impression that impunity of the past is possible today.

"This National Assembly, for the avoidance of doubt, would resist impunity and unconstitutionality. This is the stand of the Senate. And once more I must emphasise that we remain neutral and we want to see an end to the crisis in Rivers State."

The Committee’s report also stated that the purported impeachment of the Speaker, Otelemaba Daniel Amachree by the five members of the State House of Assembly led by Hon. Evans Bipi was not in compliance with the provisions of Section 92(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and also not in compliance with Orders 12 and 28 of the Rivers State House of Assembly Standing Orders, 1999.

The report stated: "The Committee finds no evidence to support the claim by the five members of the Rivers State House of Assembly that the Speaker was properly impeached and Hon. Evans Bipi elected Speaker.

"Governor Amaechi’s insistence to run for a second term as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF did not go down well with the PDP and the Presidency. The suspension of the Governor of Rivers State by the PDP National Working Committee in Abuja on May 27, 2013 did not go down well with the supporters.”

Senate remains neutral — Mark

Earlier, the senators at a a closed-door meeting  discussed the crisis in Rivers State for over four hours and when they reconvened at the end of the meeting, Senate President, David Mark said: "We spent several hours this morning discussing in great detail the situation in Rivers State. We devoted so many hours because we believe it is important that we look at it from the prism of our own committee that went there to find out exactly what happened. And we are happy we sent our own team to go and investigate and report back to us.

"Our final objective, throughout our discussion, was to ensure that peace returned to Rivers State. That was the focus of the discussion this morning. Our appeal to all the principal actors involved is that unless there is peace in Rivers State they cannot ensure development in the state. We want development across the length and breadth of this country.

Therefore, we use the opportunity once more before we go to the prayers to appeal that all those involved sheathe their swords so that peace can reign in Rivers State. The Committee has not indicted any particular group of people. It has not indicted any section and I don’t think it has indicted any individual. The reason is because we want to ensure that there is peace. The Senate as a body wants to be an integral part of the solution to the problem in Rivers State. We remain neutral.

"We have not taken sides with the groups and we are not going to take sides, but we will stand on facts. When we eventually approve our prayers, those prayers will be based on the facts that are known to us and our neutral position. And we hope that all the parties involved would appreciate that what we want to ensure is peace in Rivers State.”

It's good decision — Abe

Reacting to the decision of the Senate, Senator Magnus Abe, PDP, Rivers South/East while speaking to journalists noted that the Senate acted in a manner that was consistent with its mandate, just as he stressed the need for all to leverage on what the Senate did, adding that the senators acted from an informed position.

Some of the recommendations made by the Committee include:

*That the Senate President should intervene and mediate in the Rivers State political crisis and see to its amicable resolution;

*That all security agencies in Rivers State should complement each other and ensure greater cooperation and inter-dependence in addressing the security situation in the state;

*Urge all heads of security agencies in the state to demonstrate high level of professionalism and ensure full co-operation with the State Governor, who is the Chief Security Officer of the State;

*That the Court of Appeal and the Rivers State High Court be allowed to respectively, determine cases of the removal of the Party Executive and the suspension of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council pending before them in the absence of any resolution to settle out of Court.

*That the Commissioner of Police should comply with the subsisting Court Order directing the Police to vacate Obio/Akpor Local Government Secretariat to enable the workers resume work until the Order is set aside by a Court of competent jurisdiction.

*That the Director- General of State Services(DSS) investigate and cause the prosecution of Hon. Chidi Llyod and all those found to be actively involved in the brutality of Hon. Michael Chinda and other members.

*That Hon. Evans Bipi be investigated and if found culpable, prosecuted for bringing armed thugs into the Chambers and for the assault on the Speaker and other members which precipitated the crisis.

*That the Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi should review and improve on his relationship with stakeholders in the crisis for peace to reign.

*That Governor should revisit all those that claimed their houses were demolished and hotels acquired and if necessary restitution be made where necessary.

*That the Honourable Speaker, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Daniel Amachree should reunite the warring members of the House of Assembly.”