Politics
SDP Leaders To Meet Over Appeal Court Judgement
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) National Working Committee is to meet and review the Court of Appeal judgement that recognised former Governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke as the the presidential candidate of the party in the forthcoming general elections.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Alfa Mohammed, disclosed this in Abuja while reacting to the Court of Appeal judgment recognising Duke at the party’s presidential candidate as against the claim by Prof. Jerry Gana that he is the authentic candidate of the party.
The Court of Appeal, Abuja division, yesterday in a unanimous decision returned Duke as the SDP presidential candidate.
The three-man panel of the appellate court in a judgment delivered on the appeal filed by Duke reversed the earlier judgment of an Abuja High Court which upheld Gana as the party’s candidate.
Duke had emerged SDP candidate at the presidential primaries held on Oct. 7, 2018 but Gana,who contested the ticket with Duke instituted a case against the result at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
On Dec. 14, 2018 the court presided over by Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf delivered judgment in favour of Gana, declaring him as the right SDP candidate and directed the party to forward his name to INEC.
However, when the commission published the full list of cleared presidential and vice presidential candidates of parties on Jan. 17, the column of SDP was blank, with remarks “court order’’ and “party yet to submit name of candidate”.
Mohammed, while reacting to the Court of Appeal judgement on Thursday in Abuja said that the right to appeal the ruling at a higher court belonged to Gana and not the party.
“The right to appeal belongs to the candidate like Duke exercised his right to appeal when the first judgment was pronounced.
“So, the right to appeal the case lies with Gana and he will make some pronouncement in the next few hours.”
The national publicity secretary said that though there was an attempt by the party to commit the two claimants to the presidential ticket to an agreement against appealing the outcome of the the judgment of the court of appeal, Gana did not sign the said agreement.
“According to him, he found it suspicious that the party which did not find it necessary to initiate similar agreement when the matter was at the lower court.
“He questioned why the party should be asking for commitment at the court of appeal stage.
“Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the party is expected to summon a National Working Committee meeting within the next 24 hours to review the situation,” he said.
NAN reports that the Gana Presidential Campaign Team led by its Director-General, Mr Ike Neliaku, had on Tuesday decried an alleged bias by the leadership of the SDP against its principal in favour of Duke.
Neliaku frowned at the party’s refusal to submit Gana’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its presidential candidate as directed by a Federal High Court.
He specifically blamed the SDP National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae, and the National Secretary, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, for Gana’s travails.
The youth wing of the party also on Tuesday issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Falae to submit Gana’s name to INEC.(NAN)
Accordingg to the statement, the Board and National Executive Committee of PANDEF, noted with very grave concern the recent spate of political developments in Rivers State.
“Regrettably, these developments have now degenerated into the decision of the Rivers State House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor and deputy governor.
“This is a deeply disturbing situation that demands urgent attention in order to forestall further escalation and breakdown of law and order.
“This concern is heightened by the critical importance and strategic centrality of Rivers to the Niger Delta region and to the broader socio-political stability and economic wellbeing of Nigeria as a whole”, the statement said.
The Forum called on all parties involved in the resurgent political imbroglio to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.
“This should be guided by the principles of give-and-take, dialogue, tolerance, and political equanimity.
“All stakeholders must place paramount importance on peace, development and the welfare of the people of Rivers.
“We must now focus squarely on good governance and development of the state,” the Forum said.
PANDEF commended President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), respected elders of Rivers State, and other well-meaning Nigerians for their previous and ongoing efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the state.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, January 10, Chief Sara-Igbe alleged that the minister had flouted regulations governing the commencement of electioneering campaigns by moving from one local government area to another to galvanise political support.
According to him, the action amounted to a clear breach of electoral guidelines being carried out with a troubling sense of impunity that could undermine the rule of law.
“Wike has violated the electoral laws of campaigning by going from local government to local government to talk to the people. He travelled from one local government to another. As a result of his visits to local government areas, he has broken election regulations and continues to do all these things without fear of repercussions”, Chief Sara-Igbe said.
The remarks came as Chief Wike was set to round off a state-wide “thank-you” tour that covered all 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
Although the minister had described the tour as an appreciation visit following support for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general elections, critics say the engagements have assumed an overtly political character.
Observers note that during several stops, including recent visits to Andoni and Bonny local government areas, the minister rallied supporters across party lines under what he termed a “Rainbow Coalition,” a move widely interpreted as part of a broader political strategy.
During these engagements, Chief Wike was also reported to have made remarks perceived as a veiled challenge to the authority of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, while repeatedly referencing the 2027 elections and urging supporters to prepare to “correct the mistake” of 2023.
Chief Sara-Igbe warned that allowing such activities to continue unchecked could erode public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process and called on relevant authorities to enforce existing laws without fear or favour.
The Commission, in a statement on Wednesday, claimed that there were plans by the same group to escalate a smear campaign against its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, to frustrate ongoing investigations and prosecutions involving prominent individuals.
The statement endorsed by the agency’s spokesman, Mr Dele Oyewale, claimed that the action was intended to distract the Commission through unfounded allegations of political bias in the discharge of its duties.
The EFCC warned that it would not stand by and watch “those recruited into this ignoble enterprise” or allow any attempt to derail it from “the patriotic task of improving public accountability in Nigeria.”
The Commission made it clear that those recruited into this venture were under close watch, adding that it would not tolerate any attempt to distract it from the patriotic task of improving public accountability in Nigeria.
“The EFCC reiterates its non-political stance in all its activities. Facts on the ground clearly show that any political actor belonging to the ruling party or opposition party, with corruption baggage, has no hiding place from the operational radar and dynamics of the Commission.
“As a matter of fact, several strong members of the ruling and opposition parties are either facing trial before the courts or being investigated by the Commission.
“It is needful that Nigerians appreciate the fact that the Commission is keeping faith with its Establishment Act in all its operations.
“Therefore, the Commission reiterates its commitment to justice, without fear or favour, in the fulfilment of its mandate,” the statement pointed out.
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