Politics
Group Condemns Candidates’ Imposition In Bayelsa
Peeved by the imposition of candidates in the concluded primaries in Bayelsa State, a non-partisan group, G24 Embasara Foundation, has raised an alarm over the practice, particularly as most candidates were allegedly forced on the people by godfathers.
The practice, according to them, would continue to weaken democracy, as the choice of the people is often subverted to allow for mediocrity.
Contained in a statement by Co-conveners, Iniruo Wills and Geoffrey Kwale, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Denzel Kentebe and Lead, Media Committee, Ayakeme Whiskey the group said the alleged imposition led to the exclusion of other aspirants, thus depriving Bayelsa people the benefit of a robust engagement.
The foundation frowned on indiscriminate, lawless and unfair practice where during the conduct of party primaries by some political parties, delegates of well-favoured aspirants were reportedly given preferential treatment over and above other delegates, thus breeding distrust, rancour and acrimony among hitherto loyal party men and women.
The group said, “We note that the gale of defection sweeping across the two dominant parties in the state lately is perhaps not unconnected with the growing number of disgruntled party faithful who have been denied their legitimate right to participate in primaries free from manipulation, imposition, harassment and intimidation.
“It is particularly irksome that whereas political parties raked in hundreds of millions of naira from aspirants, some of whom perhaps had to sell personal effects to be able to purchase the exorbitant nomination and intent forms, the parties on their part, failed to provide the required level-playing field to test their popularity.
“Since the Independent National Electoral Commission is by law empowered to supervise party primaries and ensure strict compliance with approved prudential guidelines and extant laws, the commission must share in the blame and take responsibility for ensuring that future primaries are well monitored.”
The foundation noted that as the political tempo heightened, it was calling on the Bayelsa State Government and the Bayelsa State Police Command to swing into action and play the role of an impartial arbiter by creating the enabling environment for the smooth conduct of election that would not only be credible, but free and fair.
It noted that with the open rascality, and non-adherence to the rule of law during the primaries, the foundation of the 2019 elections was already greatly weakened.
The group added, “We are equally shocked at the fewer number of female aspirants offering themselves for elective offices going by the INEC list even when nomination forms were offered freely to female contenders.
“The global trend is that more and more women are beginning to take active interest in political leadership and Bayelsa cannot afford to be an exception.
“We note that economic prosperity and sustainable development of the state can only come about when the right candidates, not the right parties, are voted into power.
“We strongly advocate that emergent political leaders must commit to abide by a code of good governance stipulating minimum thresholds of service delivery and quality assurance.
“Those political gladiators whose stock in trade is to hold the political economy and convert the commonwealth to their private estate should be ready for disgrace as they would be shown the way out.
To this end, the Group urged the youths to be wary of politicians out there bent on using them as political thugs and abandon them when they get into power.
By: Austin Pade, Yenagoa
The Rivers contest is expected to draw heightened attention in the oil-rich state, as political actors position for influence in a district long regarded as strategic to the balance of power in Rivers State.
INEC disclosed that the by-elections will hold concurrently with the Ekiti State governorship election, underscoring what promises to be a politically charged day across several parts of the country.
Beyond Rivers, the electoral body listed other affected constituencies to include Nasarawa North Senatorial District, Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in Kano State, Ondo South Senatorial District, and Enugu North Senatorial District.
The vacancies, according to INEC, arose from a combination of deaths, resignation, and other constitutional developments. In Nasarawa, the demise of Senator Godiya Akwashika has left a gap in a district considered a stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In Enugu, the passing of Senator Okey Ezea has set the stage for a competitive race in the South-East.
Similarly, the Ondo South seat became vacant following the resignation of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who now serves as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, while the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa seat in Kano opened up after the death of Hon. Muhammad Danjuma Hassan.
Analysts say the Rivers South-East by-election, in particular, could reshape political alignments in the state, as parties jostle to fill the void left by Sen. Mpigi and consolidate their foothold ahead of future electoral contests.
Stakeholder from Bayelsa East Senatorial District, on Monday, endorsed the incumbent Senator representing them to run for a second term.
Leading the stakeholders, the former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism and Special Adviser to Governor Douye Diri on Political Affairs (iii), Dr Iti Orugbani, said the reason for the endorsement was based on the federal lawmaker’s trajectory of good deeds and massive execution of projects across communities of the Senatorial district.
Dr Orugbani highlighted some of the projects to include landing jetties, telecommunication masts and town halls amongst others, noting that Sen. Agadaga’s performance has exceeded those of others who hitherto represented the oil rich area.
Bayelsa East Senatorial District comprises Ogbia, Brass and Nembe Local Government Areas of the State.
The Governor’s aide who called on the State’s Eastern political enclave to respect the 2022 new zoning agreement, which guaranteed second term for Senators from the District, stressed the need for political tolerance and peace in the forthcoming 2027 polls.
“In 2022 the leaders and stakeholders across party lines from Bayelsa East held a meeting and altered the old single term for Senators from the district’s agreement and signed that begining from 2023 any Senator emerging from the district must serve for a minimum of two terms.
“In 2023, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, then an incumbent Senator representing the Senatorial district under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was given a second term ticket by the party. Though he lost to the PDP.
“Now that the entire state is now APC and the District has an APC Senator in the person of Benson Agadaga from Ogbia LGA, why not also give him a second tenure?
“The stakeholders in 2022 changed the old political agreement because they saw that it wasn’t beneficial to the district any longer. And so, because it was Ogbia Local Government Area that started the old zoning arrangement by producing the first Senator in 1999, I want to plead that let Ogbia also begin the new two terms zoning agreement”, he said.
Also speaking, the duo of woman leader of a support group, ‘Agadema Women’, Mrs. Owadaba Jokori and the Information Officer of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Central Zone, Comrade Ikio, stated that the incumbent Senator has done well for the district in the past three years that he has been in office.
They lauded the federal lawmaker for his infrastructure projects, especially the construction of landing jetties in select communities of the three local government areas of the district, commending stakeholders for supporting the lawmaker in his second term bid.
In his remarks, Senator Agadaga thanked the stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him and the endorsements he has received lately from constituents and admirers across political parties.
The lawmaker noted that within the past three years that he has been Senator, he has delivered dividends of democracy to his constituents across the Senatorial District, emphasizing that the call for him to be senator from the Brass Senatorial District came to him as a surprise, noting that he accepted the clarion call when the clamour became so loud.
“I was Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, when various groups from the zone came calling on me to contest the 2023 Senatorial polls.
“Ever since winning the elections as a senator, I’ve continued to deliver on my mandate in both representation, lawmaking, oversight, project execution and support for constituents when called upon. And I shall continue to do more if elected for a second term”, the Senator said.
By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has set May 15 as deadline for definite hearing in a suit filed by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The judge on Monday shifted the hearing date following the absence of the plaintiff, Mr Jideobi, and his lawyer in court without any information.
Apart from the absence of the plaintiff, who is a legal practitioner, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, who are 2nd and 3rd defendants in the matter, were also not in court.
Following the absence of the plaintiff and the two defendants, Chris Uche, SAN, representing Dr Jonathan, applied to the court to strike out the suit for lack of diligent prosecution.
Having joined issues with each other, Mr Uche said, the suit is liable for dismissal with a N5 million cost to be awarded against the plaintiff and payable to Dr Jonathan.
He argued that from all indications, the plaintiff has abandoned the suit and ran away upon sighting the preliminary objections raised against the suit, adding that the court is a busy place and not for unserious matters.
Justice Lifu, however, noted that there was no evidence of service of hearing notice on INEC and AGF to appear in court for the suit, adding that lack of service of hearing notice is fundamental.
The judge said rather than striking out the suit, he prefers to bend backward to accommodate the plaintiff and the two defendants for the last time.
While adjourning the matter to May 15, Justice Lifu ordered that hearing notice be served on the plaintiff and the 2nd and 3rd defendants who were not in court on Monday.
The plaintiff, Mr Jideobi, had filed the case seeking an order to restrain Dr Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as an aspirant for the 2027 election.
He is also asking the court to stop INEC from accepting, processing or publishing Dr Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
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