Stories from Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, National Judicial Council(NJC), and the Attorney -General of the federation over what it called unethical conduct and criminal conspiracy to subvert the course of justice in the suit bordering on its candidate in the November 26 election.
In two separate petitions against Justice E.O Abang of the Federal
High Court, Abuja, Mr Olagoke Fakunle (SAN) and Mr R.A Oluyede, the party accused Justice Abang of unethical conducts in his handling of the suit before him originated by Prince Biyi Poroye and eight others against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP.
The PDP also accused Abang, Fakunle and Oluyede of unethical conducts in the handling of the suit before the court.
In the petition against Justice Abang signed by the state chairman of the Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi faction of the party, Mr Clement Faboyede, the party said: “we believe that His Lordship, Justice Abang is complicit in the political scheming against the PDP.”
The party insisted that the entire proceedings of the suit being handled by Abang amount to a properly crafted conspiracy to subvert the internal working of the PDP.
“We observe that the entire process was recklessly contrived , planned and executed by Justice Abang, Fakunle and Oluyede, and on behalf of forces working in concert against the interest of the PDP.”
Also, the petitioner reported that: “in his judgement of 29th June 2016 on the originating summons, Justice Abang granted some restraining orders in favour of the plaintiff. The said judgement of 29th June 2016 relates to 2019 general election. It has nothing to do with the 2016 governorship election of Ondo state.
“As a matter of fact, no reference was made to the 2016 governorship election in the said judgement,” the party added.
Explaining that the Ondo PDP held its primary election where Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) emerged winner, the petitioner said he was taken aback when “towards the evening of 14th October 2016, the social media was awash with the information that Justice Abang granted an order directing the INEC to substitute the name of Mr Eyitayo Jegede with Barr. Jimoh Ibrahim as the candidate of the PDP in respect of the 2016 governorship election in Ondo State.
“On further enquiry, we found out that there was a motion on notice dated 29th of September 2016 and signed by one Clarissa Adaugo Ebuzeme (Miss) of TRLPLAW law firm brought on behalf of the plaintiffs ostensibly for the enforcement of the ruling of 29th June 2016.”
The party insisted that Jegede’s name had been forwarded to the INEC by the PDP as its candidate and urged the judiciary not to cause any confusion which may lead to crisis in the state.
Nobody can stop me from leading my people –Akeredolu
From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has said that no individual can stop him from ruling the state.
Akeredolu who spoke with newsmen in Akure at the weekend said “though the election will be tough, we are sure of victory.”
He said: “I am unstoppable in my desire to become the next governor of Ondo State and with the support of the masses which I enjoy, nothing can stop me from becoming the governor of the state.”
Akeredolu whose emergence as the candidate of the APC spurred crisis in the party, insisted that he was the genuine winner of the September 3 governorship primary election of the APC in the state.
He noted that many of the aspirants who contested the primary election have teamed up with him, adding that one of them, Victor Olabimtan was made the Director General of his campaign organization.
Akeredolu who expressed surprise at the defection of one of the aspirants to the PDP, said the development would not have any effect on the APC in the coming election.
He urged all members of the party to forget their differences and support him in his desire to turn the state around, stressing that his decision to contest the election was borne out of his desire to transform the state.
He assured that the welfare of workers in the state would be adequately taken care of if he emerges the next governor of the state.
…Canvasses reconciliation among APC members
The standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming election, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has said that no hope is lost in the effort to reconcile with aggrieved members of the party who fell out with the party after the primary election.
According to Akeredolu, reconciliation can take place even a day before the election with an exception of those who have given up on the party and joined other political parties to contest for the governorship position.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights crusader identified jobn creation through agriculture, entrepreneurship and industrialization, massive infrastructural development and maintenance, promotion of functional education and technological growth, provision of accessible and qualitative healthcare cum social services delivery and rural development and community extension as his creed for the state.
Akeredolu also carpeted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), as representing the interest of his principal, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.
He said: “Jegede is nothing but a surrogate pursuing a third term agenda of the present administration which has not done well for the people of the state in almost eight years.” Akeredolu also confirmed the kick off of his campaign to emerge the next governor of Ondo State. He said the mega rally will commence soon in all the 18 local government areas in the state, noting that there is no other thing driving him but service to the people of the State.
“As an oil-producing state, the people are not feeling the impact of the revenue accruing to the state in terms of infrastructure development and programmes targeted to human empowerment,” he lamented.
I won’t leave APC –Abraham
The people of Akoko land in Ondo State, trooped out enmasse at the weekend to receive Dr. Olusegun Abraham, a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last primary election of the party. Addressing his supporters from the four local government areas in Akoko land, Abraham said the visit was necessary and timely as a way of appreciating the people who stood by him during the last APC primary election, declaring that he would not leave the party He said: “the visit was aimed at appreciating the selfless and unflinching support of the people and to also reassure them about his decision to reclaim his mandate through legal means.”
His words: “It is unfortunate that some people within the APC employed fraudulent means to rob us of our right by colluding with elements outside our state. But I assure you that by the grace of God, we will get back our mandate.
“Don’t listen to the naysayers and liars, I am not leaving this party; our National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is not leaving the party. We are already in court to seek redress, and we are still in talk within the party’s ranks to get back our stolen mandate.
“Fact and figures don’t lie; a fraud was committed, some people connived to pad our delegates’ lists, disenfranchise close to 200 delegates and substituted them with fake ones; that is a fact that was established by the Electoral Appeal committee but wrongfully vetoed by Chief John Oyegun. But be rest assured my dear people, victory is coming and our mandate will be reclaimed.”
Abraham also debunked the rumour that his associates are working for Chief Olusola Oke and Alliance for Democracy (AD), stating that he would not form any alliance with people who were instrumental in thwarting the clear chance of Akoko land to produce the next governor of the state.
He added that such people, who were even new in the APC at the time, could not be trusted to represent the interest of the people as it was clear they are only interested in lying their way to fulfil their own political ambitions.
Stop intimidating our members, PDP warns police, DSS, others
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has warned the Department of State Security (DSS), the Police and other security agencies in the state against intimidating and harassing members of the party.
In a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Mr. Banji Okunomo, the party noted that intimidation and harassment against its members would discomfit people as the party prepares for the governorship poll. He noted that such development would make people feel politically unsafe to associate with the PDP in Ondo State.
Okunomo who described the arrest of party faithful as ill-timed said the state was preparing for election, hence the need to avoid issues that could further destabilize it
He said: “election is around the corner and everybody is tightening their belts to ensure victory at the polls. Much as we are not saying that security agencies should not perform their duties, if they find anybody wanting in conduct or behaviour, we also want to say that any act on the part of these security agents should be properly channelled at this period where what is rampant in Nigeria now is that anybody, no matter how highly placed could be harassed and democratic norms not respected and there is much of intimidation.
“All we are saying as a party is that if things are allowed to go on the way they are, and some of these acts are left unchecked, it would spell doom for our democracy. Things should not be done by arrestingnor intimidating anybody especially when it is believed that such has political motives.”
He posited that the PDP would always encourage peace and tranquillity, saying development can only thrive under such an atmosphere.
“We do not indulge in violence or any act of criminality in our party.
Even when we were having our internal intrigues in the party, we have always comported ourselves. Everyone knows that this party and Ondo
State have been peace-loving and everybody admires the state,” Okunomo stressed. He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to use his good offices to call the police and other security agencies to order.