Politics

Why PDP Atiku Abubakar Said Nigeria’s Democracy Should Not Be Undermined

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2 months ago

July 23, 2023

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PDP Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

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On Saturday, 22nd July, 2023, the Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, has cautioned against any attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democracy.

This is contained in a statement in Abuja by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, alleging plot to intimidate the judges into delivering favourable judgments for the ruling party at the election tribunal. adsbygoogle || []).push({});

He also alleged harassment of judiciary officers to subvert justice in the ongoing litigation on the 2023 presidential election.

He said that reports in the media about some heinous plots to harass justices sitting on the petition would not be good for the nation.

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Abubakar said that Nigeria’s democracy should not be undermined by using the judiciary to serve the interest of the ruling party.

“Our laws are very clear about the prerequisite of separation of powers as a guarantee of an independent judiciary.

“The idea behind that concept of an independent judiciary is to insulate that branch of government from unholy fraternity between its hallowed members and the rest of the society – especially the political actors.

“Our democracy gives the people of Nigeria the powers to choose their leaders, and our laws demand that our judiciary must be allowed to act independently without harassment and intimidation by the government or powerful interests.

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“To compromise the workings of our democracy and seeking to compromise the workings of our judiciary is an open call for anarchy.

“As a party in the litigation that is currently reviewing the outcome of the last presidential election, we wish to express our intentions to do all that is within the law in resisting any attempt to undermine our fragile democracy,” he said.

Abubakar urged Nigerians to abide by the golden rule of eternal vigilance.

He also appealed to all security agencies in the country to remain professional in the discharge of their duties and resist being used as an instrument of oppression and intimidation against the judiciary.

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He also called on the international community to watch what is happening in Nigeria with keen interest.

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PEPC: PDP Atiku Appears As Parties Set To Adopt Written Addresses

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2 months ago

August 1, 2023

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PDP Atiku at the Presidential Election Petition Court

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As the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and other parties were set to adopt their final written addresses, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, was at the Presidential Election Petition Court, (PEPC) on Tuesday 1st August 2023 . adsbygoogle || []).push({}); adsbygoogle || []).push({});

The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel of the court had on the last adjourned date directed parties to prepare their final briefs of argument and appear before it to adopt .

The adoption of final addresses is the precursor to fixing a date for judgment in the petition of Atiku and the PDP challenging the outcome of the Feb. 25 presidential election.

The court, in a notice to the parties, invited them to adopt their written address with respect to the petition filed against President Bola Tinubu and Vice -President Kashim Shettima, praying the court to nullify their election.

recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had on March 1, announced that Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), won the presidential election ahead of 17 other candidates that participated in the contest.

It declared that Tinubu scored 8,794,726 votes to defeat the two major contenders, Atiku of the PDP, who came second with 6,984,520 votes, and Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party, who came third with 6,101,533 votes.

However, dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, both Atiku and Obi approached the court to invalidate the result.

The duo, in their separate petitions, claimed that they won the presidential poll, even as they challenged Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the election.

The petitioners are praying the court to nullify the election and order a fresh presidential election, with the exclusion of President Tinubu whom they argued was ab-initio, not qualified to participate.

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Oyo LG Poll: APC Confirms Readiness To Participate

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2 months ago

July 30, 2023

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The Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed readiness to participate in the forthcoming local government council election in the state.

This was disclosed by the publicity secretary of Oyo APC, Olawale Sadare, to newsmen on Saturday 29th, July 2023 in Ibadan. adsbygoogle || []).push({}); adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Sadare noted that the decision was reached at the weekend when its leadership conveyed a stakeholders meeting, where majority opinion was in support of the party fielding candidates for the council poll.

“The unanimous decision at the stakeholder meeting held at our state secretariat was that we would participate in the election with a view to winning most of the available seats in the local government areas and local council development areas.

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“I can assure you that by the time we are done with our final round of consultation on or before Monday, we would roll out schedule of activities since OYSIEC has written to us about the extension of the deadline for the conduct of primary which is now Aug. 31, 2023.

“We are progressives in politics and we are always ready to play our part as democrats. Don’t forget that the main duty of political parties is to field candidates in major elections.

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“We have had to face serious pressure from party faithful who want to contest and serve the masses at the grassroots as council chairmen and councilors, “he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission has announced the time table for the council election slated for April 2024.

OYSEIC in the announcement also gave political parties permission to begin electioneering activities including party primaries to produce their respective chairmanship and councilorship candidates.

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Kogi Governorship Election: Court Confirms APC Candidate Ododo’s

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2 months ago

July 18, 2023

Abdulrahman Obaje

Kogi APC Governorship Candidate Mr Ahmed Ododo

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The Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday 18th July, 2023, affirmed Mr Ahmed Ododo as the lawful candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Kogi having validly resigned his appointment from Kogi civil service before contesting the primary election. adsbygoogle || []).push({}); adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Justice Obiora Egwuatu affirmed Ododo as the APC candidate while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Mr Abubakar Achimugu, also of the APC challenging the candidature of Ododo.

Achimugu anchored his suit on the grounds that Ododo, as at the time he contested the primary election to fly the flag of APC in the Nov. 11 election in Kogi, were still public servants in the state civil service.

In the judgment, Justice Egwuatu held that contrary to the claim of Achimugu, evidence showed that Ododo resigned his appointment more than 30 days before participating in the APC primary.

The judge said that exhibits tendered by the defendants showed that while Ododo’s resignation letter was received by the Office of the Kogi governor on March 8, that of the 3rd defendant, Mr Salami Deedat, was received on March 9.

“I have examined the letters of resignation filed by the defendants, they were addressed to the Kogi governor and were duly received and signed.

“A resignation letter becomes effective once it is received and accepted by the relevant authority. It is not when the authority replies the letter that it becomes effective.”

The judge held that where a letter of resignation has been received and duly signed, it takes effect and the employee would not be held responsible if the employer continues with the payment of salary.

The court said it was convinced that the defendant resigned his appointments as Auditor-General for Local Governments and Deedat as Commissioner for Local Governments respectively before contesting the primary election.

“I am satisfied that they resigned their appointments from Kogi government on March 8 and 9 respectively more than 30 days before the April 14 primary election.

“I hold that this suit is bereft of any merit and accordingly dismissed,” the judge said.

Earlier, the court dismissed the preliminary objection of the defendants claiming that the suit was statute barred having not filed it within 14 days as required by law.

The judge agreed with the plaintiff that the cause of action actually occurred on April 14, when Ododo and Deedat contested the primary and not when they purchased the expression of interest and nomination form.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) had on April 15, declared Ododo winner of APC primary election to elect a candidate for the party’s for the Nov.11 governorship election in the state.

Miffed by this, Achimugu approached the court asking that the primary election be nullified and Ododo be disqualified from contesting the governorship election on grounds that he was still an employee of the Kogi government when he contested.

The plaintiff in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/584/2023, claimed that Ododo breached Section 182 of the Constitution, Section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022, and Article 7 of the APC’s Constitution in participating in the April 14 governorship primary of the APC.

Achimugu argued that Ododo’s failure to resign his appointment with the Kogi government, 30 days to the primary, made him ineligible for the Nov. 11guber poll.

Listed in the suit as defendants were the APC, Ododo, Deedat and INEC as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants.

Amongst the issues brought before the court for determination was whether Ododo was eligible to participate in the governorship election slated for Nov. 11.

This was in view of the fact that both at the time of submitting their nomination and expression of interest forms, were still civil/ public servants and employees of Kogi government.

This they said was contrary to the provisions of Section 182 (2), Section 84 (10) and (11) of the Electoral Act, 2022 Guidelines for the nomination of candidates.

The plaintiff said that if the answer was in the affirmative, the court should amongst others declare that Ododo and Deedat were not qualified or eligible to have participated in the primary election.

This was on the grounds of being persons both employed in public service of Kogi, having failed and neglected to resign, withdraw or retire from employment at least 30 days to the April 14 when the primary election was conducted.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining Ododo from parading himself as gubernatorial candidate of the APC.

“An order restraining APC and INEC from dealing with Ododo as the governorship candidate of the APC.

“In the event Ododo was declared winner of the Nov.11 gubernatorial election before the case was fully determined, the certificate of return issued to him by INEC should be withdrawn.”

Mr Josiah Daniel-Ebune, counsel to Achimugu, told newsmen after the court proceedings that he would brief his client on the judgment to know the next line of action.

Source: NAN

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Abdulrahman Obaje

Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media and ICT Consultant, Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.

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