How PDP can dethrone APC in 2019 – Nnamani

Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, has expressed optimism that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will return to power in 2019.

He, however, said internal democracy must be practiced.

PDP lost to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March presidential election.

Nnamani called for the abolition of delegate system to conduct primaries in the selection of candidates, as well as review of the PDP constitution to facilitate open congress, empowering all registered PDP members to vote and select their candidates.

Nnamani in a statement released in Abuja on Monday, urged members to stop the blame game over the party’s loss of last election.

He said: “Many of the people who are very pained that we lost the presidential election have needlessly been blaming ourselves. This blame game should not continue. We lost the elec­tion because we deserved to lose. We had run out of policy gas. We worked hard to lose the election.

“Now it is time for renewal and renewal requires strategic thinking and bold actions. Many years ago, I worked with some of my colleagues in the PDP and we foresaw this moment.

“We predicted that the PDP needed to keep faith with its cardinal prin­ciples and values to sustain its leadership of Nigerian politics. How I wished our other colleagues listened to us in those days. We would have averted the disaster of the 2015 electoral defeat.

“Some of those who contributed immensely to the PDP electoral defeat shouted us down and refused to hear our voice of wisdom. This is past now. There is no time for recrimination and self-adulation. It is time for clarity and effective action.

“It is time for genuine embrace of internal democracy. The new PDP should become the symbol of in­ternal democracy. Our rebranding should first start with a real commitment to internal democracy.

“I suggest that before we go fur­ther on this journey let all those who desire to lead PDP in formal or informal positions of authority pub­licly declare a new code of conduct. The heart of this code of conduct will be an oath to always promote and protect internal democracy.

“Beyond the code, the new PDP must put in its constitution expulsion for any party official at all lev­els who deliberately sub­verts the process of internal democracy. Impunity must end now. Impunity does not end with mere words or declarations.

“It includes clear sanctions for violation of core tenets of party sys­tems. It is common knowl­edge that we lost many states to the APC because we deliberately refused to conduct primaries that al­low our party members to vote for the candidate of their choice.

“If we have been less reckless in man­agement of party politics we would have gained at least four more states and perhaps won the presiden­tial election. But we shot ourselves on the foot.”

“I think we should go the full hog and write into the new consti­tution that all primaries in the new PDP will be conducted in open congresses where all registered party members have equal votes. This is very radical.

“But we need radical responses to a terrible situation. Some­one may say that even in United States, the symbol of democracy, primaries are sometimes based on del­egates. But we can do bet­ter than the United States. We can deepen democracy by making primaries fully democratic.

“As a leader of the pro­scribed PDP Reform Fo­rum, I took the clear posi­tion that we must be a party ruled by law not by men. I have long known that a rule-based system is supe­rior to a discretion-based system. Godfatherism is a weak framework to build a system that can deliver its mandate.

“The weight of contradiction of reckless abandonment of our core values and rules is what has drowned the ship of PDP in the waters of Nigerian politics,” Nnamani concluded.

Youths attempt killing prophet who could not resurrect Audu

The burial of the late governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in last Saturday’s election, Prince Abubakar Audu, came with a mild drama on Monday afternoon.

This was as a prophet, who had earlier promised to revive Audu to life, was denied by members of the mourning family and security agents, from gaining access to the room where the remains of the former Kogi governor was laid.

This reportedly led youths of Ogbonicha, Audu’s home town, to break the door of the room to allow the prophet gain access as they all joined in the prayers for the resurrection of Audu with Holy Ghost fire renting the air as well as shouts of Allahu Akbar.

But when the prophet could not resurrect the deceased governorship candidate, the youths went berserk, threatening to kill the prophet. With the intervention of Senator Dino Melaye and some family members who came out through the back door, the angry crowd was pacified

Abubakar Audu: I’m happy the monster died – Sugabelly narrates ‘torment’ with family

Following the death of the Kogi gubernatorial candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, a certain lady, identified as Empress, has expressed joy over the sad event.

The lady, on her twitter handle @Empress Sugabelly, recounted her ordeal with the family of the late politician, where she claimed that his son had raped her and how she was also drowned.

In her tweets, she said, “The Prince Audu I knew was a monster. I am glad he is dead, and I spit and dance on his grave.

“I’m so happy he died. God please hurry up and take Mustapha, Kabir and Bashir too, and that their animal of a cousin called Jibrin.

As if addressing one of the sons Mustapha directly, she penned down, “Your daddy is dead Mustapha.”

She also went on to say those who think she is happy the Prince died because of politics are unserious people.

The said Empress went further to allege that the deceased’s son molested her sexually. She said she was just 17 years old when she graduated from a certain school, Loyola and decided to take one year to make ends meet.

According to her, “I lived in Abuja and had just finished my first ever real world job as an intern in this tech company called Alteq. I met Mustapha there. His father, Audu, was the governor of Kogi state then.

“I was the youngest person in the company and he sort of took me under his wings and he was nice to me.

She went further to claim that one thing led to another and Mustapha allegedly started having canal knowledge of her.

Empress added that at that point, there was no one she could ask for help.

According to her, “He will choke me while f***ing me. I cried and begged him but he will get angry and say I was ruining his flow. Whenever I did not do what he or his friends wanted, he would hit me and drag me by my hair. So I learnt to be obedient.

“He used to bring new friends every time. He did other unpleasant things like burn me and hold my head under water while his friends f***ed me, but that was only once or twice.

“I was in love with him and inside, I kept hoping he didn’t mean it and if I was obedient enough, he would go back to being the sweet guy I met,” Empress tweeted.

Audu remains APC’s candidate, but… – INEC

ABUJA — The anti-climax arising from the death of Prince Abubakar Audu in the Kogi State governorship election continued yesterday after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC affirmed that the dead Audu remained the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The assertion came as a meeting of senior INEC officials in Abuja called to ponder possible options on the issue was temporarily aborted after news emerged that Audu had ‘resurrected’.

Abubakar Audu

The dispersal of the meeting coincided with jubilations in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital that Audu had been revived.

The news of Audu’s ‘revival’ about midday followed insistence of some prophets who stormed the late Audu’s country home in Ogbonicha, that they would revive him. The prophets, who were initially rebuffed by Audu’s family members, however, got passage into the room where the corpse was kept after desperate sympathisers overwhelmed the family members and broke the door to the room.

While they prayed, the grave diggers who all along had been busy at one section of Audu’s expansive country home relaxed. The relaxation in part gave fillip to rumours that Audu was being revived, a development that spread far and wide, even to INEC headquarters.

When they reconvened after the initial disruption, senior INEC officials affirmed that the commission was ignorant of Audu’s death.

INEC, however, said although it heard the news of Audu’s passing just like most other Nigerians, it was nevertheless meticulously studying the situation with a view to coming up with an appropriate position that would be fair, lawful and acceptable to all. Director of Voter Education, Publicity, Civil Society and Gender Liaison at the Commission, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzi  told Vanguard yesterday that INEC would make its position public as soon as it was addressed by APC on the issue.

Last night APC officials were still contemplating the nature of address to be presented to the electoral commission. Contacted on assertions by INEC, APC deputy national publicity secretary, Timi Frank promised to call back after further consultations. He, however, did not call back or respond to calls to his mobile phone at press time.

It is expected that whenever the APC addresses the commission that the principal officials of the body would meet with its consortium of lawyers and its in-house legal team to decide on the issue.

APC has to notify us  — INEC

Also speaking, Deputy Director, Publicity at the commission, Mr Nick Dazang, said yesterday: “APC has to do proper notification, and accompany it with the certificate of death issued by a medical doctor.

“When something like this happens, the party on which platform the candidate contested will need to notify the commission; of course, we have heard and read like everyone else but we need to be notified.

“Once the commission is notified, it will look at relevant clauses of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the Electoral Act 2010 as amended and also the Constitution of APC itself.

“All these relevant laws will be looked at with a view to determining what to be done to ensure that whatever is done subsequently is done within the ambit of the law.

“INEC as a law-abiding body will do everything prescribed by the law.

“Thankfully we have a consortium of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) that provide counsel to the commission. We also have a very vibrant legal service department, headed by a SAN,” Dazang said.

The Electoral Act prescribes 14 days for the conduct of a supplementary poll. INEC was, however, silent on whether it would go ahead with the supplementary polls but said it would not rely on mere opinions of people or sentiments to take a position. INEC added that the situation in Kogi would not affect the conduct of the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa state.

We’ll be within the law — APC

Meanwhile, the APC has promised to act within the confines of the law in resolving issues concerning the replacement of its governorship candidate in the election and the pursuit of the supplementary elections as announced by INEC. In a statement issued by its national secretary, Mai Mala Buni, the party said:

“On INEC’s position that the November 21, 2015, governorship poll in Kogi State was inconclusive, APC is studying the declaration of the Returning Officer, Prof. Emmanuel Kucha, who is the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, based on Section M, Paragraph 4(Page 22) of INEC Approved Guidelines and Regulations for the Conduct of the 2015 General Elections.

“APC believes in the rule of law, strict adherence to 1999 Constitution and Electoral Act 2010(as Amended).

“Our government is a product of the rule of law. We have absolute faith in the nation’s law, and we will not in any manner undermine the law. Our observations and position will be within the laws of the land.

“The situation in Kogi State is a test case for the rule of law and our growing democracy. APC is committed to its pledge to ensure a sustainable democracy in the country”, it said.

The declaration to explore all options available to it on the matter was contained in a press statement issued by the party’s deputy national publicity secretary, Mr. Timi Frank.

He said: “We are exploring all known choices and alternatives to us in line with our party’s dictates and respect of the rule of law as is in conformity with laid down laws and rules of our country.

“To say that we are shocked and dumbfounded at Audu’s death is to scratch our pains on the surface as the Kogi Prince typified what a real democrat radiates. A politician who chose to remain in opposition after losing his governorship in 2003 despite the intimidations on him but rather chose to see the nation get its deserved change in leadership”, Frank said.

Audu buried

Ogbonicha in Ofu Local government area of Kogi State, where Audu died in his country home was an unusual place as people flooded the community from all walks of life. Associates of the late political icon  were among the mammoth crowd that witnessed the burial. Among others present were his former colleagues including Senator Rabiu Kwankwanso, former governor Lucky Igbinedion and Senator Saminu Turaki.

The state government delegation to the burial was led by the Deputy Governor of the state, Arc. Abayomi Awoniyi. Senator Dino Melaye, a strong associate of the late politician and Rep. James Faleke, his running mate in the inconclusive election, were very visible at the burial yesterday.

The burial ceremony commenced about 1.50 p.m. yesterday after the prophets failed to revive the dead Audu. The burial was supervised by Islamic religious leaders from all over Igala land.

Following the burial, Faleke declined to speak with Vanguard, saying he was too devastated to speak on his late boss. Senator Melaye, however, described late Audu as an irreplaceable hero who was a dogged fighter and a lover of his people. He said the progressive community would miss its icon.

At about 2:00 pm, the body of Prince Abubakar Audu was finally laid to mother earth amid uncontrollable wailing by people who have come to mourn with Audu’s family. Earlier in the day, the governor of Kogi State declared a three-day public holiday and seven-day mourning period to honour “the man who laid the foundation for the development of Kogi State”.

Prince Abubakar Audu was on the verge of emerging as the next democratically elected governor of Kogi State as his party, having polled 240,827 votes to top the election with Wada, the incumbent governor scoring 199, 514 votes.

The election was, however, declared inconclusive upon the fact that the number of cancelled votes was more than the difference in the votes between the late Audu and Wada.

Biafra: Transfer me to prison custody, Kanu begs court

…Protesters besiege court, demands his unconditional release
DSS secures fresh order to detain him for 90 days
More protests sweep Abuja, Onitsha, Aba as IPOB members ground vehicular movements
Hoist Kanu’s portraits, Biafra emblems in Aba
We are not in support of any violence – Anglican Church

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Dapo Akinrefon, Caleb Ayansina,  Okonkwo Nwabueze, Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Nnewi & Ugochukwu Alaribe

Hundreds of agitators for the creation of Biafra Republic, yesterday, besieged an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse Zone 2, demanding the unconditional release of the self-declared leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

The placard carrying protesters, who wore T-shirts and caps with inscriptions like “Biafra Now or Never”, “Buhari Release Kanu For Us”, “On Biafra We Stand”, yesterday, sang and danced outside the court premises, while hearing was going on in the criminal case that was entered  against Kanu by the federal government.

Meantime, following an order of the court, the Department of State Security, DSS, yesterday, produced the detained Director of Radio Biafra and Television, Kanu.

Chief Magistrate Shauibu Usman had at the last adjourned date, berated the DSS over its failure to produce Kanu in court on two consecutive times the matter came up  before the court.

Magistrate Usman said he was disappointed that the security agency refused to produce Kanu despite an express order of the court.

Consequently, he directed that the accused person must be brought before the court yesterday.

Meanwhile, at the resumed hearing on the matter yesterday, Kanu, who the government accused  of engaging in  criminal conspiracy, managing and belonging to an unlawful society, as well as indulging in criminal intimidation, contrary  to section 97 (a)&(b) and section 397 of the Penal Code, begged to be transferred to prison custody.

His lawyer, Mr.  Vincent Egechukwu Obeta, insisted that transferring his client to prison would enable him to have easy access  to his legal team.

Obeta made the application shortly after the DSS, yesterday, urged the Magistrate  Court to hands-off Kanu’s trial.

The DSS, through its lawyer, Mr Moses Idakwo, told the court that it has already secured an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja to further detain Kanu for another 90 days.

It said that the order which was granted by Justice Ademola Adeniyi, was to enable the government to conclude investigation into an allegation that Kanu was involved in terrorism financing.

Consequently, the DSS, yesterday, applied to withdraw the initial First Information Report, FIR, it lodged against Kanu before the Chief Magistrate Court.

The agency maintained that the government would file a fresh charge against Kanu before a higher court, once its ongoing investigation is concluded.

Idakwo therefore asked Magistrate Usman to  step down from the trial on the ground that his court lacks the power and jurisdiction to prosecute terrorism charges.

The application was vehemently opposed by Kanu’s lawyer Obeta, who  insisted that the bail earlier granted the accused person must firstly be complied with before any application for transfer of the case to a federal high court could be entertained.

Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, sandwiched between security operaives, leaving the court yesterday in Abuja.

After listening to both parties, Magistrate Usman adjourned the case till December 1 for ruling.

Kanu who was brought to  court yesterday under heavy security, was on October 17, picked up in Lagos by security operatives, shortly after he arrived Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom.

He had On October 19,  pleaded not guilty to the FIR that was filed against him by the Nigerian government, and was subsequently granted him bail to the tune of N2million.

The court further directed the defendant to produce a civil servant of Grade Level 16, to stand as his surety.

However, following allegation that the DSS, refused to release the accused person after he had perfected the bail conditions, the Magistrate, in a ruling on October 23, ordered that he should be brought to court on November 18, an order that was not complied with.

Magistrate Usman insisted that no trial could  continue in a criminal case in the absence of the accused, saying the only condition that could make a court to excuse the absence of an accused had not arisen.

He therefore ordered the DSS to ensure the presence of the defendant in court yesterday.

Specifically,  Kanu, is standing trial on criminal conspiracy, managing and belonging to an unlawful society and criminal intimidation contrary to Section 97, 97B and 397 of the penal code.

The fact of the case, according to DSS report was that the accused formed an unlawful society with the purpose of bringing into being a Republic of Biafra.

He was alleged to have proclaimed himself as the leader of the Republic of Biafra and established a radio of Biafra.

Kanu was also alleged to have appointed himself Commander of the Loyal Forces of Biafra and was broadcasting to the whole world the dire consequences of the government and people of Nigeria will surfer should they attempt hinder the actualization of the Republic of Biafra.

IPOB members ground vehicular movements

In  the South East states, the agitation for the release of  the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal Government continued yesterday as members of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, numbering over 15,000, dared the military and protested in Onitsha the commercial city of Anambra State, marching in over 18 batches of about two thousand people per batch, and grounding vehicular movements in the ever busy Onitsha Enugu express way for over one and half hours.

Supporters of Nnamdi Kanu stormed Abuja on Monday, November 23, 2015, in a solidarity protest for their leader who was arraigned in Wuse Zone 2 Magistrate Court, Abuja

Known for their peaceful and non violence agitation, the protesting IPOB members marched from Niger Bridge head entry into Anambra State, where the plaque of former Biafran warlord, late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was built, to Naval outpost, Atani Road Ogbaru Local Government Area, and back to Uga Junction, where they again joined the Onitsha, Asaba Enugu Express way, down to Upper Iweka flyover.

At the Upper Iweka flyover bridge, they danced for about 30minutes and grounded vehicular movements  before their leaders directed that they should allow the vehicles to move but slowly.

Wielding placards with inscriptions as “Nigeria is a lawless land, and a terrorist state,” “Biafra is a Nation not a society,” “Free innocent man, Nnamdi Kanu or there will be no peace” “Freeinnocent man Nnamdi Kanu, he did not do anything wrong”, “No Biafra no peace”, including others derogatory inscriptions on their placards against the government, the protesting IPOB members marched towards Zik’s roundabout and military cantonment Onitsha.

On their march towards Zik’s roundabout, they stopped in front of the Onitsha military cantonment along the Onitsha Enugu Express way, danced for about 20 minutes, chanting anti Federal and Anambra state government    and military songs, demanding for the release of the incarcerated Kanu who they warn that if anything happens to him, they will make Nigeria ungovernable, before they left for Ziks Roundabout.

At Ziks roundabout named after the late Owelle of Onitsha, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, which is incidentally directly opposite the Onosi Onira retreat, home of the late first Nigerian president, they stopped and paid homage to Ziks plaque built at the roundabout, and addressed newsmen.

According to their spokesmen, who gave his name as Emma Powerful and  Sunday  Igbokaenyi, from Okija, IPOB wondered why Mr. Kanu should still be in detention after the court has granted him bail, they alleged that ban has been place on all the imported goods the Igbo are major importers to humilate them, adding that IPOB is a non violent group and should not be treated like criminals, when Federal Government is petting the Boko Haram members.

While Mr. Powerful said their protest is in continuation of their agitation for the Sovereign State of Biafra and release of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, and to tell the Federal Government that no amount of threat from the Military will stop them until their objectives are achieved.

Hoist Kanu’s portraits, Biafra emblems in Aba

While the Onitsha protest was still ongoing, over 20,000 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, also yesterday embarked on another protest march in Aba, Abia state, where they hoisted Biafra emblems and Nnamdi Kanu’s portraits across billboards and other high-rise structures across the city.

As the protesters grew in number, it was a major difference from past protests as all the markets in the city including the Ariaria International, Cemetery and Ahia Ohuu markets were open for business. Vanguard observed that shop owners along Azikiwe road hurriedly shut their shops to avoid the wrath of the protesters.

Recall that the Police in Aba led by the Area Commander, ACP Peter Wagbara, had last week, went round the city and removed Biafra emblems mounted at strategic points and high rise.