Politics
Baseless Defection: Wike Seeks Judicial Pronouncement
Last week, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, initiated a move towards checking baseless defections as he called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to challenge in court, the defection of the Governors of Ebonyi and Cross River States, David Umahi and Ben Ayade, respectively, who defected from PDP to APC.
The Governor also stated that same action should be taken against state and Federal lawmakers from the two states who left PDP with their state governors , stressing that time has come for the nation’s judiciary to make a pronouncement on defection.
Wike who made the call last Saturday in Port Harcourt expressed fear that if the trend was not properly checked it could push the country to a one Party state.
“ The time has come that the judiciary must have to rise to the occasion to make a final Pronouncement on the issue of defection and that will go a long way to strengthen our democracy. Because if we do not take action, you will find a situation where you will have a one Party state and that will not be good for our democracy.
“ And so, I have encouraged the PDP, they must file a suit against the Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, and the Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, for defecting to the APC without any reason provided in the constitution or any other enabling law “ , Gov Wike said.
Also last week, the Rivers State Governor inaugurated some fire fighting facilities of the Federal Fire Service at the Government House, Port Harcourt. The facilities were; one truck, one water tanker and basic life support ambulance.
Speaking at the event, Gov Wike stressed the need for allocation of social basic amenities by the Federal Government to states to be devoid of politics.
He said that the distribution of basic infrastructural projects and social amenities to states by the central government on the basis of political affiliation has become the bane of development in the country.
He commended the Minister of Interior , Rauf Aregbesola, for rising above petty politics to identify with the state, noting that deployment of the fire fighting facilities would further help in protection of lives and property in the state.
Gov Wike announced a donation of two utility vehicles and N5million monthly subvention to the Federal Fire Service in the state to enhance their operational capability.
The Minister of Interior , Rauf Aregbesola who was represented at the event by his Special Assistant, Mr Bola Ilori, urged states to consider the issue of fire prevention and safety as matter of serious concern. He said the deployment of the equipment to Rivers State was in recognition of the state’s strategic importance to the country.
Another major event last week in Brick House was the litigation victory recorded by Rivers State against the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) over who has the constitutional rights to collect Value Added Tax and other related taxes in the state.
A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt declared that it is Rivers State instead of FIRS that should collect Value Added Tax (VAT) and Personal Income Tax (PIT) in the state.
The court presided over by Justice Stephen Dalyop Pam, also issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Attorney General of the Federation, both first and second defendants in the suit, from collecting, demanding, threatening and intimidating residents of Rivers State to pay to FIRS, Personal Income Tax (PIT) and Value Added Tax (VAT) .
Justice Pam made the assertion while delivering judgement in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/149/2020, filed by the Attorney General for Rivers State (plaintiff) , against the FIRS ( first defendant) and the Attorney General of the Federation ( second defendant).
The court granted all the eleven reliefs sought by the Rivers State Government and declared that there is no constitutional basis for the FIRS to demand for and collect VAT, Withholding Tax, Education Tax and Technology Levy in Rivers State or any other state of the federation, .
According to Pam, after a deligent review of the issues raised by both the plaintiff and the defendants, the plaintiff has proven beyond doubt that it is entitled to all the eleven reliefs it sought in the suit.
Also within the week under review, Gov Wike accused the Imo State Government of masterminding a plot to take over some oil wells belonging to Rivers State.
Gov Wike made the allegation while speaking as guest on the Africa Independent Television’s programme, FOCUS Nigeria in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said Imo State Governor made an attempt to compromise the National Boundary Commission to cede Rivers State oil Wells to Imo State.
“ We filed a suit at the Supreme Court in 2020 believing that Imo State Government will file their defence, but as I speak to you, they have not filed their defence. I have never seen a very corrupt Commission like the boundary Commission. Unknown to us, instead of the Imo State Government to file their defence, they went to the boundary Commission, met with them to adjust the boundary, but we got the information”, Gov Wike said.
By: Chris Oluoh
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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