President Mohammadu Buhari and Chief Victor Giadom, Acting APC National Chairman
Idowu Sowunmi
President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday recognised Victor Giadom as Acting National Chairman, saying he has received very convincing advice on the position of the law as far as the situation in the party is concerned.
“The President has received very convincing advice on the position of the law as far as the situation in the party is concerned and has determined that the law is on the side of Victor Giadom as Acting National Chairman. Because he will always act in accordance with the law, the President will be attending the virtual meeting Giadom called for tomorrow afternoon.
“We urge the media to stop promoting manufactured controversies and to not give any further room for mischievous interpretations of the law on this matter.
“In addition to the President, the Giadom meeting will, hopefully, be attended by our Governors and the leaders of the National Assembly,” said a statement by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in response to enquiry by some journalists.
As the political standoff within the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State unfolds, there is indication that embattled Governor Godwin Obaseki may finally participate without hindrance, in the party’s governorship primary election scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday.
This comes after the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt granted the request by one of the governorship aspirants, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, to have the matter stood down to enable an out of court settlement.
Ogbeide-ihama had filed a suit seeking the court to bar any member of the party that has purchased forms but not screened within the time stipulated to contest the PDP primary.
Ogbeide-ihama’s suit was granted accelerated hearing by the court yesterday. However, before the hearing on the application today, Wednesday, Ogbeide-Ihama’s counsel requested that the court stood down the case for some time.
The presiding judge, Justice Emmanuel Obile, granted the prayers after the counsel to all the defendants aligned with the request.
Governor Obaseki, having defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) got a waiver of the PDP to join the race under its party.
Meanwhile, a High Court of Justice in the Ekpoma judicial division on Tuesday restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from excluding Governor Godwin Obaseki and the other cleared aspirants from participating in the Edo State governorship primary.
The court ordered that the PDP and the electoral umpire should not exempt any of the aspirants who have been cleared by the party from participating in the gubernatorial primary slated for the 25th June 2020.
Suspected armed robbers who on Tuesday night attacked a petrol station in Akure, Ondo State have killed an attendant.
The identity of the deceased attendant who worked in the filling station which is located along the Oba-Ile Road area of the city could not be ascertained due to the pandemonium that resulted in people scampering for safety.
According to the Public Relations Officer of Ondo State Police Command, ASP Tee-Leo Ikoro who confirmed the incident, the suspects did not, however, succeed in robbing the filling station.
Ikoro disclosed that two suspects have been arrested not far from the scene of the incident in connection with the crime, while police are on the trail of two other suspects who fled.
The State Police PRO revealed that a rifle, a Dane gun, some cartridges and live ammunition were recovered from the two arrested suspects.
The Police spokesperson added that the command will ensure all criminals in the state are apprehended and made to face the wrath of the law.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has been given a reprieve after a High Court of Justice in the Ekpoma judicial division today restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from excluding Governor Godwin Obaseki and the other cleared aspirants from participating in the Edo State governorship primary.
According to the court order, the PDP and the electoral umpire should not exempt any of the aspirants who have been cleared by the party from participating in the gubernatorial primary election scheduled to hold on the 25th June 2020.
This decision as of now guarantees the participation of Governor Godwin Obaseki in the gubernatorial primary.
Recall that earlier today, there were reports in the media that indicated a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State had on Monday stopped Obaseki from participating in the June 25 governorship primary of the party in the state.
A PDP member, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, had filed an ex parte motion, praying the court to bar Obaseki from taking part in the primary.
Nigerian world-renowned musician and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, 2Baba
Tobiloba Kolawole
The United Nation Refugee Agency, UNHCR has appointed Nigerian born world-renowned musician, Innocent Ujah Idibia popularly known by the stage name 2Baba, as its Goodwill Ambassador.
The appointment of 2Baba, who is also a music producer and philanthropist was announced in a statement by the UN Refugee agency today, Tuesday 23, 2020.
The agency stated that for the past three years, 2Baba has been a committed High-Level Supporter of UNHCR’s LuQuLuQu campaign – a pan-African movement of people from all walks of life investing in a better future for forcibly displaced people across the continent.
The International agency noted that the talented musician has over the years dedicated his time to uplift the narrative of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDP) in Africa.
In 2017, during a visit to IDP camps in Borno State, north-east Nigeria, 2Baba remarked that: “These families shared heart-breaking stories of watching loved ones being kidnapped or killed, forced to flee the comfort of their homes and leave everything they knew behind. I saw how they struggled to access basic things that we take for granted – like food, water, education and healthcare.
“I witnessed UNHCR’s work firsthand during my visits and commend the organization for being on the frontlines, providing emergency relief and support to forcibly displaced families. I believe in this organization and I’m proud to be associated with UNHCR”, 2Baba the first Nigerian to be appointed as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador stated.
Reacting to the appointment, the UNHCR Representative in Nigeria, Chansa Kapaya, expressed optimism about the positive impact 2Baba’s appointment will bring to the organization and refugees.
“Nigeria hosts 60,239 refugees in south east Nigeria and over 2.6 million internally displaced persons in north east Nigeria. With such staggering numbers of people forced to flee in Africa, 2Baba’s support and advocacy is instrumental for Nigeria and the continent.
“We look forward to his continued incredible commitment”, Kapaya said.
As an Afropop music legend, 2Baba has given his voice to refugee and IDP causes. In 2017 he wrote and recorded, Hold My Hand, a song dedication to internally displaced persons, which helped raise funds for UNHCR’s humanitarian response.
Apart from his time, physical presence at the refugee/IDP camps and song dedication, 2Baba has also generously contributed personal funds to support refugee and IDP families in Africa, while continuing to use his celebrity status to raise awareness and support for UNHCR’s work.
In his welcome statement to the new Goodwill Ambassador, UNHCR’s Director of External Relations, Dominique Hyde noted that: “At a time when one percent of humanity has been forced to flee, we welcome 2Baba’s help in raising awareness and support for refugees and our cause.
“We welcome 2Baba to the UNHCR family as a Goodwill Ambassador and commend him for being part of the movement challenging the narrative of the African refugee”, Hyde said.
The appointment of 2Baba comes as the world is facing unprecedented levels of forced displacement globally, with 79.5 million people forcibly displaced.
More than 26.4 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa have been forced to flee their home, the largest number of displaced people in the world.
National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja
The Nigeria Police Force has sealed the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress in Abuja on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
According to information gathered by Channels Television, the seal-off was aimed at ensuring peace around the secretariat.
Members of the NWC who showed up at the party secretariat were prevented from gaining access to the party house while members of staff and journalists were allowed to walk in without their cars.
This development comes as the party’s leadership has been divided over who takes over as the Acting National Chairman, following the suspension of the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.
The party’s National Working Committee had affirmed former Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, as the Acting National Chairman.
However, due to Mr Ajimobi’s unavoidable absence, the NWC appointed the National Vice Chairman, South-South, Hilliard Etta to act on his behalf.
Meanwhile, the APC Deputy National Secretary, Mr Victor Giadom also declared himself as the acting National Chairman, on the strength of a Federal Capital Territory High Court order obtained on March 16.
In his reaction, embattled National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, said he has accepted the verdict of the Court of Appeal which upheld his suspension.
He noted that his next line of action will be determined by his lawyers.
“We thank their lordships, they have given their judgement. In our democracy, the court is an independent arm of government.
“When they hand that judgment, it is not for you to pick whether you will obey or not. I accept their judgement in good fate.
“My lawyers will advise having studied the judgement, what the next line of action will be. So at this point, I will just thank their Lordships for their judgment and look forward to my lawyers on what should be the next line if there should be another next line of action,” he said.
The Deputy Governor, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, who has been having irreconcilable differences with his principal, Governor Akeredolu on Sunday finally resigned from the All Progressives Congress and joined the People’s Democratic Party.
Ajayi, however, maintained that he remains the deputy governor of the state in spite of his leaving the All Progressives Congress. He explained that the APC has “become a poisoned space” with one man “kneeling on its neck”.
The statement, which conveyed the sack of the Deputy Governor’s aide advised Sowore to submit all government properties in his possession to the Chief of Staff to the Governor.
The Federal Government has reconstituted the Board of Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company, the managing and administrative agency of the electricity pool in the Nigerian electricity supply industry.
A statement from the Federal Ministry of Finance indicated that the prevalent challenges in the power sector made it necessary to re-constitute the Board.
During the inauguration of the board, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, charged the members to come up with strategies that will facilitate the speedy resolution of challenges in the power sector.
Members of the board are Mr. Alexander Okoh, Ms. Patience Oniha, Mr Ben Akabueze, Suleyman Ndanusa, Engr. Mustapha Balarabe Shehu, Mr. Adeyeye Adepegba and Dr. Marilyn Amobi, as Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer.
Mrs. Ahmed, who is the Chairman of the Board, said: “The reconstitution of the board therefore took consideration of the current stage of evolution of the restructured electricity sector, the complexities the sector currently faces, multi-disciplinary skills of prospective Board members especially in finance and investment, electricity generation, system operations of deregulated electricity markets, administrative law, as well as economic regulation of network utilities, amongst other factors.
“It is important that we bring our skills and experiences to bear in this critical assignment.
“It is important that we build NBET to become that defensive wall against potential payment defaults, till generation companies and distribution companies are able to enter into power purchase agreements on bilateral basis.”
She said NBET should be able to successfully fulfill its role in the management and administration of financial flows in the sector, adding that it was vital for the agency to promote a contract-based market that allocates risks efficiently to parties responsible for them.
Recall that the reinstated Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer NBET, Dr. Marilyn Amobi, has been enmeshed in controversies including an alleged N517 million graft and violation of the country’s code of conduct for public officials.
Premium Times had on June 10 exposed how Ms. Amobi continued to run a private firm, ESL Economics and Management Limited, registered in the United Kingdom, while being a public officer in Nigeria in violation of the country’s code of conduct for public officials.
She also continued to run a foreign account in violation of Nigeria’s law, Premium Times reported.
File photo of a Nigerian Air Force helicopter helicopteroto of ephoto
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has foiled an attack by armed bandits along the Kwauya-Tsamiya village axis in Kaduna State.
This is according to a statement issued on Monday by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Major General, John Enenche.
According to the statement, the personnel of the 404 Force Protection Group (404 FPG) NAF Base Kaduna thwarted the planned attack in the early hours of Sunday.
Major General Enenche explained that this followed “reports that some cattle rustlers/armed bandits had raided the Fulani settlements adjacent to the NAF Base and seized some heads of cattle from some herders at gun point.”
The statement further noted that a Rapid Response Force (RRF) Team was dispatched to pursue and recover the rustled cattle.
“The RRF Team, supported by NAF Special Forces deployed to Operation BADAMAMAKI, in conjunction with the local vigilantes, quickly located the bandits and engaged them in a firefight causing them to retreat in multiple directions abandoning 40 cattle in the process,” the statement added.
“While there were no casualties to any civilian or NAF personnel in the encounter, some of the bandits managed to escape with gunshot wounds.”
This is as the statement commended the officers for their gallantry and urged them “to sustain their efforts to curb the activities of bandits and all other criminal elements threatening the peace and security of our beloved country.”
Governor of Edo State and PDP Governorship Aspirant, Godwin Obaseki
Idowu Sowunmi
A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Monday stopped Edo State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant, Godwin Obaseki, from participating in the June 25 governorship primary of the party in the state.
A PDP member, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, had filed an ex parte motion, praying the court to bar Obaseki from taking part in the primary.
The applicant also sought a court order to restrain the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, and the party from allowing Obaseki to buy the forms for the primary, other than those who bought the forms within the party’s timetable initially published for the election.
Joined in the suit are: Secondus, PDP, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), chairman of the party screening committee, Kingsley Chinda, and other members of the committee.
Ruling on the motion, Justice E. A. Obile of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt granted the applicant’s prayers and ordered the interim injunction as requested.
All the parties in the case were to be served via substituted means.
Substantive hearing in the case has, however, been adjourned to June 24.
PDP had announced a waiver for Obaseki to enable him participate in the primary election, even though he joined the party only on June 19.
The party also reconvened the Chinda screening committee which had ended its assignment on June 5 to screen Obaseki on June 20.
It would be recalled that one of the PDP aspirants, Gideon Ikhine, had stepped down for Obaseki on June 22 and handed over his campaign office to him.
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