Ajimobi ’ll discourage street begging - Disabled president

PRESIDENT of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disability, Prince Paul Adelabu, has unveiled what the incoming governor of Oyo State, Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi, has for the disabled persons in the state.

Prince Adelabu, who is the leader of Ajimobi Disability Support Group, said the Governor-elect has evolved welfarist programmes that will wipe out poverty from the lives of the disabled persons in Oyo State.

Adelabu who was the former principal of Rehabilitation Centre for the Disabled, Moniya, Ibadan said the incoming administration will execute certain programmes that will discourage disabled persons from begging for alms on the streets.

Speaking with Sunday Tribune in Ibadan on Tuesday, he said Ajimobi administration will appoint a disabled person as a commissioner and that each local government chairman will create a department for disabled persons, and a disabled person of special adviser status will head the department.

According to Adelabu who claimed that his group had concluded agreement with Ajimobi before the election, the welfarist programme shall include monthly allocation to the Disabled Persons Departments at the state and local government levels, creation of camps where disabled persons are to be settled and learning of trade and acquisition of skills, provision of fund for disabled persons to set up business and special welfare package for those who cannot do anything.

Adelabu also stated that bursary allowance and scholarship will be made available  to brilliant disabled persons, while each ministry shall grant employment to them.

He said within the first hundred days of Ajimobi’s administration, beggars would be flushed out from the streets of Ibadan and its environment and laws prohibiting giving of alms to the beggars on the street will be promulgated.

Jonathan to commission Kwara university

THE Vice Chancellor of  Kwara State University (KWASU),  Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, has said that the institution is set to receive President Goodluck Jonathan, who is expected to commission the newly established university next Tuesday.

Na’Allah,  who  stated this  during a press briefing in his office at  Malete Campus  of the university  in Moro Local Government Area of the state,  also noted that President Jonathan  would  be  amazed to  see a first class university   in the state.

According to him, the university’s rapid development will be showcased to tell Nigerians that such institutions can contribute to the growth and development of the country.

He said the university and all other universities alike had no option than to see   themselves  as an agent of change   in the country.

The Vice Chancellor,  who  attributed  lack  of fund  to be the impediment  that delayed  the smooth  take off of the other  campuses of the university in Kwara South  and Kwara North, respectively, also said  the university was exploring other  avenues  to  be able to raise fund to  begin  the other  campuses as soon as possible.

He said the university decided to take up gradually in order to ensure that the quality of their graduands is not compromised.

He  disclosed that  the main aim was to ensure that all  students  that  graduate from the university  are  up to standard  and can compete  favourably  in any part of the world they may find themselves.

Fulfill your electoral promises to the people, Alaafin charges new Oyo govt

THE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has charged the incoming government in Oyo State to fulfil its electoral promises to the people of the state when it takes over the reign of governance on May 29, 2011.

Oba Adeyemi, while receiving in his palace the deputy governor-elect, Chief Moses Adeyemo, noted that winning an election is one part of a two-part contract between the electorate and those in government, stressing “now that the electorate had fulfilled their part of the contract, the other leg is for those elected to do their own side of the contract by ensuring they do all those things promised the people that endeared them to you.”

The monarch particularly urged the new government to look into areas of unemployment, decayed infrastructure across the state, good road network, housing scheme and education for the people.

He also implored the incoming administration to always conduct the affairs of the state in strict adherence to the rule of law and with the fear of God, adding that political power could be so alluring and tempting to the extent of driving the holder against the people, if not well handled.

The new deputy governor thanked the monarch for his support to his party, the ACN, during the election and promised to always consult him for elderly wisdom in the running of the government from time to time.

Chief Adeyemo noted that despite  the seemingly unquestionable powers of political office holders, only those of them not deep enough in the arrangement of the Yoruba nation would think they hold the power of life and death and thus would refuse to pay due reverence to traditional rulers.

He said a paramount ruler like the Alaafin could not be toyed with by any government that wanted to enjoy large following among the people, saying first and foremost, “ our obas are our fathers who must be respected at all times.”

Lagos revs up work on Lagos rail system

Ahead of his inauguration for a second term in office, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, (SAN), has pressed forward to continue work on the state’s light rail programme as he undertakes a pre-shipment inspection of the trains in Canada to be used by Ekorail, the operators of the programme.

The 27 kilometre light metro rail line, christened Blue Line, will run from Okokomaiko in the west of Lagos to CMS in Central Lagos and is expected to provide alternative transportation for thousands of commuters moving from the western axis  of the city to the city centre everyday.

Already, substantial work has begun on the project between the National Theatre in Iganmu and Mile 2. 

According to a recent 2011 monthly progress report on the project, all the columns for the concourse at the Lagos end of the rail line have been completely cast to the Alaba station’s elevated level with the concretes currently being cast while the superstructure work on the station is still in progress.

The rail project, according to the report, will increase economic activities along the corridor, reduce traffic congestion and vehicular emission since owners would be encouraged to drop their vehicles and use public transport.

“Aside creating employment, both directly and indirectly, the project will help to build a crop of expertise in the construction of this magnitude, thus affording Nigerians the opportunity to be part of historical moments,” the report said.

Currently, even at its construction stage, over 4,000 workers are engaged at various skills level on the light rail project while over 8,000 Nigerians will be engaged to work on the system when it takes off. For now, thousands are also engaged in a secondary economy supplying raw material inputs, food and refreshments to those working at the sites.

Governor Fashola, who  said during the campaigns that the inspection would take place once the elections were over, is being accompanied on the inspection tour by the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze, his Science and Technology counterpart, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Special Adviser for Works, Engineer Ganiyu Johnson, the Managing Director of the Metropolitan Area and Transport Authority (LAMATA) and the Director General of the Public Private Partnership Office (PPPO), Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi.

Don’t appoint Ohakim minister - Kinsmen

President Goodluck Jonathan has been urged not to appoint outgoing governor of Imo State , Chief Ikedi Ohakim a cabinet Minister in order not to provoke the anger of the people.

The League of Okigwe Professionals in a statement in Owerri on Saturday argued that after the disgraceful ouster of Ohakim by Imo people as a result of non performance, the outgoing governor should for now, disappear from public domain.

Rev Fr Jerome Nwokere (Okigwe LGA), Pastor Jones Umunna (Onuimo), Chief Ohakim Jonas, (Isiala Mbano), Nze Odika Iwu (Ehime Mbano) Rev George Anyanwu (Ihitte-Uboma) and Dr Charles Ala (Obowo) signed the statement on behalf of the league.

They were angry that Ohakim was scheming to be a minister after he wasted the opportunity given to him by Imo people to write his name in gold, but failed.

They also averred that having failed to perform in Imo State as governor, there was no basis for Ohakim to aspire to  a higher service at the federal level.

According to them, “it was unfortunate that the governor, who allegedly pushed for the sack of the Interior Minister, Capt Emmanuel Iheanacho for losing his senatorial zone, now wants to be rewarded by President Jonathan and PDP for losing Imo State.”

Adducing reasons why Ohakim led PDP to a humiliating defeat at the Imo governorship election, the Okigwe League of Professionals blamed it on arrogance, non performance and betrayal of trust.

They noted that the governor showed disdain to Chief Achike Udenwa, Prof Maurice Iwu and Orji Uzor Kalu whom they described as the core people that facilitated Ohakim’s ascension to power in 2007

They declared, “Rather than continue to put Okigwe zone to shame, Ohakim should take a sabbatical so that his marry sins would be forgotten by Imo people with the passage of time.”

FG uncovers plot to derail Jonathan’s inauguration

 A plot to scuttle the inauguration of President Goodluck Jonathan on May 29 has been uncovered by some agencies of government said to be working on counter terrorism theories.
Sources in Abuja, the Federal Capita l Territory told the Sunday Tribune that a group(name withheld) close to a popular politician  were said to have met in Kaduna on May 6, where they unfolded the plan to scuttle the President’s inauguration on May 29.

Sources in the know told the Sunday Tribune that some top aides of the said politician were at the Kaduna meeting where the plot to undermine the presidential inauguration ceremony was debated.

It was gathered that some leaders of the group had perfected plans to initiate another round of confrontation between their supporters and security agents so as to paint a picture of insecurity in Nigeria.

Some of the plans adopted according to sources include instigating riots in states including Kaduna, Bauchi, Plateau, Borno and Kano. The plan, according to the source was aimed at precipitating reprisals from some Southern states  such that the security agencies would have their hands full.

A source also said that one of the action plan of the group discovered include the bid to infiltrate extremist religious groups to co-opt them in the plot to undermine security and attract international attention.

It was also gathered that the group plans to circulate some false but sensitive information about the government  through some foreign media outfits to cause disaffection.

The plan also include labeling some Northerners working in the federal government as anti-people and target them for attacks.

A source also said that the group plans to circulate some inciting messages, while some religious leaders have also been penciled down for engagement.

One of the points to be raised by those behind the plot according to one source, is the picture where President Jonathan knelt down before Pastor Enoch ADEBOYE, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Lagos. The picture, it was learnt was going to be circulated as evidence of religious bigotry by the leader.

The information contained in the blueprint for the plot also include the engagement of some sympathetic media houses. The essence it was gathered was aimed at recruiting the youth  in rural areas.

It was also gathered that some civil servants top in the hierarchy would be reached to sabotage projects of the administration and ensure nothing works.

A source said: “One of the plan is also to ensure that those involved would engage in aggressive campaign against the government through various social networks such as the Facebook;
“Text messages will also be utilized to portray the post-election violence and manifestation of antagonism between Christians and Muslims.”

The group, it was further learnt  plans to surreptitiously engineer violence in some Institutions of higher learning which would eventually take ethno-religious dimensions. It also plans to sustain its activities through propaganda and blackmail.

It was however confirmed on Saturday that  the authorities have placed some of those involved under close watch.

Ministerial appointment: Security reports indict 3 ex-govs •Jonathan to shock Nigerians

As lobbying for ministerial appointments gathers storm, security reports may have done damages to the ambitions of some former governors to secure ministerial posts in President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet. Exclusive details obtained by Sunday Tribune revealed that some of the governors jostling for appointments have indictments bordering on their role in the election of Mr President.

It was learnt that a former head of state had, in late April, submitted a list of ministerial nominees from his zone in which the former governors were included.

The list, according to Sunday Tribune’s sources was forwarded to the National Security Adviser for vetting by the president.

Sunday Tribune was told that the National Security Adviser‘s office prior to the president’s referral had already compiled dossiers on many nominees whose names were being bandied in the media.

It was learnt that three of the nominees had indictments hanging on their heads based on field reports filed by security agencies in the zone.

One of the nominees was alleged to have diverted funds meant for the presidential election to pursue his private agenda despite protests by party elders at a meeting held at the nominee’s house.

Another of the nominees, also an ex-governor, was alleged to have disobeyed a presidential advice to accommodate some factions within the state chapter leading to the failure of the party in the state during the elections.

Other indictments levelled against the nominees included pending cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as well as a new case an ACN governor  is about to file against the Federal Government.

The ACN governor was said to have accused the ex-governor of paying for contracts that were unexecuted while already inviting the EFCC to look into the cases.

In another state, reports indicated that the ex-governor actively opposed a deal meant to get an opposition governor to support Mr President during the polls.

A competent source within the presidency told Sunday Tribune that the nominees of the former leader would not even get on the list due to these negative and well established findings against him.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the states of the federation began submission of names of people expected to make President Goodluck Jonathan’s list of new ministers, there are indications that the president will surprise Nigerians with the final list.

President Jonathan indicated that he would soon dissolve his cabinet, a development upon which the Acting Chairman of the PDP, Mohammed Bello Haliru, mandated the party leadership and governors of the PDP-led states to forward 10 names each for consideration for ministerial and ambassadorial slots.

But feelers have it that despite Jonathan’s expectation of nominees to be compiled by the states’ party leadership, governors and ministers, where applicable, the president could shock those who think they can predict his choice of ministers, ambassadors and other cabinet positions.

Besides, President Jonathan’s antecedents are in support of the possibility of him proving bookmakers wrong. He had surprised Nigerians several times in his days as acting president and earlier in his days as substantive president.

In 2010, when he made his ministerial appointments, he surprised not a few Nigerians by submitting to the Senate names of some Nigerians least expected. These included those regarded as the new turks in government circles today.

Against the expectations of many, names Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah, Fidelia Njeze, Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed, Adetokunbo Kayode, Ruqayyatu Rufai, John Odey, Mohammed Bello Adoke, Musa Mohammed Sada, Godsday Orubebe, Aliyu Idi Hong, Suleiman Bello, Labaran Maku and Nuhu Wya found their ways into the president’s cabinet.

It will also be recalled that prior to this time, President Jonathan had shocked Nigerians in his choice of deputy. While the names of the governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and Senator Ahmed Makarfi were on the lips of many Nigerians as prospective vice president under Jonathan, the president went for the least expected former governor of Kaduna State, Namadi Sambo.

In a similar circumstance in October 2010, the expectation of many Nigerians was that former Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), Colonel Kayode Are, would be appointed as National Security Adviser (NSA).

But President Jonathan, in a rare show of independence, stunned Nigerians and appointed General Andrew Owoye Azazi.

Colonel Are had been in the same position, but in acting capacity, after the exit of former NSA, General Aliyu Gusau, and many had thought that he would be confirmed as substantive NSA. Jonathan, however, had his plan.

Yet another instance where President Jonathan surprised Nigerians was the appointment of Professor Attahiru Jega as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

While Nigerians were bandying the names of notables like former Director General of the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Dora Akunyili; former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; and popular lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba, Jonathan kept his plans close to his chest.

He was to later consider a list of three unexpected nominees, which included a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Nuhu Yakub; Barrister Bukhari Bello; and the then Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Professor Attahiru Jega, who was later announced as the president’s choice.

Jonathan was quoted to have said at a public forum that his choice of Jega was in tandem with his promise to hand the nation free, fair and credible elections earlier in the year.

“If I don’t have confidence in the people of Kebbi, I wouldn’t have appointed your own son, Professor Jega, to supervise elections in which I will participate and which we all want to be free and fair. I believe that he would do the right thing; he will not rig or manipulate any election to favour anybody,” the president was quoted to have told a gathering of Kebbi State indigenes shortly before the elections.

It is also in the light of the electoral promise that President Jonathan is seen to have surprised many Nigerians, particularly governors who got into office on the ticket of his party, the PDP.

It was learnt that many of the governors and National Assembly members, particularly in the South-West, had expected that the president would “intervene” in their bid to get re-elected, but Jonathan had made it clear that he would not even expect anybody to rig for him, meaning that he would leave the field level for all.

The president was to surprise all by even congratulating members of the opposition parties who won in the elections.

A source said, “it is, thus, unlikely that President Jonathan’s choice would be influenced by the state governors on the ticket of his party in his choice of ministers and ambassadors.”

Sources in the Presidency were only short of confirming this when they hinted that it appeared the president was, again, keeping his card close to his chest.

How South-East lost out in the power game

More revelations emerged on Saturday on why the South-East failed to clinch any of the coveted positions of power in the country as the Peoples Democratic Party retained its zoning formula.

SUNDAY PUNCH investigations showed that the latest twist has further dampened the spirit of the people of the zone and called to question the credibility of their leaders who had rallied support for President Goodluck Jonathan and the party in the just concluded April elections.

The electorate in the zone had voted massively for the PDP in the elections, just as they delivered over five million votes for Jonathan during the April 16 presidential poll in anticipation that some choice positions in the nation’s power hierarchy would be given to people from the zone.

Specifically, the South-East had predicated its support for Jonathan on the understanding that it would get the position of Senate President or the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the incoming administration.

Of the four governorship slots contested in the last elections in the zone, the PDP won three. The states are Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia. The party, however, lost Imo State to the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

The zoning formula announced by the PDP on Tuesday had given the South-East, the deputy senate president and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation slots, while the North Central would hold on to the seat of the Senate president, and the South-West would retain the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Already, the South- South occupies the nation’s number one position with Jonathan, who is from the zone, while the North West has the number two position. Vice-President Namadi Sambo is from the zone.

Reacting to the development, a former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, told our correspondent that anti-Igbo elements in the PDP had plotted to sever the Igbo from the Presidency.

He said, “Some people think the relationship with the president should be shaken. They are making all sorts of arguments about Christianity and all that, but they forget that once in this country we voted for a Muslim-Muslim ticket when Chief MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe were running.”

Ezeife said with the situation, it was obvious the South-East had no more representatives in government.

He said, “Although it is a PDP affair, this is not what we bargained for. It is not only the President that is making the decisions, but our people who voted for him are not party members.”

Ezeife said the zone had even pressed for the position of PDP Chairman after the ouster of its former helmsman, Dr. Okwesilezie Nwodo, but without success.

He added, “We don’t have anybody negotiating for us now. After picking their choice, they just give what is left to us.”

SUNDAY PUNCH findings reveal that the Igbo leaders who had insisted that the zone would settle for nothing less than the positions of Speaker or the Senate President had suddenly become quiet.

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, had demanded that the zone be fairly treated and given a position that was commensurate with the massive support its people gave the party.

Though the group’s President, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, was not available for comments, his aide told our correspondent the former envoy, now a member of the panel investigating the post election violence that rocked some states in April, was busy on national assignment.

The South-East Revival Group also said it was impossible to predict the reaction of the millions who voted for the PDP from the zone if their interests were not protected.

Its Co-ordinator-General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said the zone had again been marginalised.

He said, “If this does not happen, there is the danger of one not knowing what the reactions of the average person on the streets of the South-East will be. They have suffered enough humiliation of being turned into minorities.”

Ezugwu warned that any Igbo who agreed to serve as the SGF would have succeeded in killing the Igbo political class and the future of the geo-political zone.

Last Friday, governorship candidate of the opposition Congress for Progressive Change in Enugu State, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said the South-East was again the loser, particularly in the preparation for 2015.

However, the PDP said there were no misgivings over the zoning formula from the geopolitical zones.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Alkali, said, “The party will come up with a position that will not only satisfy our members, but will also stabilise the polity.’’

The party’s National Vice Chairman (South-East), Olisa Metuh, also said the zone was working out details within the party.

“The South-East leaders are addressing the issue, our people should be calm. They should be loyal and obedient and have confidence in us. The South-East zone may be allocated important ministries by the president,” he said.

Dapo Lam-Adesina savours victory

Dapo Lam-Adesina is one of the sons of former Oyo State governor and Action Congress chieftain, Alhaji Lam Adesina. The Youngman who has just been elected into the House of Representatives is distinctly pleased with his achievement.

Many years after his father quit office, the young man busied himself with the intricacies of politics and that included positioning himself to secure the mandate of the people.

In his 30s, the young man who obviously left no stone unturned in a bid to actualise his ambition set his political machinery in motion.

Oyo: Alao-Akala’s last-minute initiatives

Following fresh policies launched by Oyo State governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, at the twilight of his administration, AKINWALE ABOLUWADE writes that the new initiatives may create more problems for the incoming government in the state Arising from the struggles and toil of the just concluded elections, the citizens of Oyo State and, in fact, the key players in the political circle in the state are now contending with some new realities. Apart from the fact that the political clime is fast taking a new breath as the governor-elect, Abiola Ajimobi, and other elected office holders prepare for swearing-in this May 29, opinion leaders are wondering why the governor Adebayo Alao-Akala-led administration that has just two weeks to go, is rolling out new policies that may pitch the incoming government against the people.

For instance, Alao-Akala has rolled out some fresh initiatives and policies that have curiously left more questions and agitation in the minds of the majority of citizens. Among them are the abrupt change introduced into the chairmanship structure of the state traditional council of Obas and Chiefs, the alleged hurried employment of candidates who were believed to be supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party into civil service, approval of the earlier protracted minimum wage for civil servants and many more.

While the out-going administration claimed that its actions were logical and in line with the tenets of the law, some other stakeholders in the state, including the governor-elect, have condemned the actions as not only ill-conceived, but hurriedly taken. According to those who are opposed to the steps taken by the Alao-Akala-led administration, especially in the last three weeks, the actions portray the outgoing governor as one who wants to take undue recognition at the expense of the coming administration.

The state Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria, Chief Samuel Farinu, for example, noted that the government of Alao-Akala had for a long time been opposed to the payment of the new minimum wage to the civil servants. This, he said, had put his administration at loggerheads with the aggrieved workers.

He therefore asked, “Why has he suddenly reversed his steps to approve the new salary scale? I think he is up to some mischief. If he spent N1bn on anything at this time, he would collude with members of his clan to claim that they spent far higher amount. We all know that he refused to pay initially because he did not want to take responsibility. He did not want to pay it. He had said it clearly to workers sometimes ago that he would not pay. Why the sudden change?

“There is no sentiment attached to this; everybody in the state knows that Alao-Akala is anti workers. He is always having one trouble or the other with them. Let us face the reality. As a governor, Alao-Akala was bent on not paying the new salary. He approved the new salary just to claim his own glory and pass the liability to the succeeding government. It is a cheat and real nonsense.”

Farinu observed that the review of the chairmanship position of the traditional council of Obas and Chiefs in the state was also ill-conceived to spite the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, for not supporting his second term ambition as governor. He expressed concern that the issue if not carefully addressed could breed unhealthy rivalry and discord among the monarchs.

The Alaafin, while responding to the edict, had said that the court should decide on whether the seat should be rotated or not. Oba Adeyemi, who urged his subjects to remain calm and peaceful, said that he would not want to join issue with the outgoing administration and that history would justify his right to the position.

Meanwhile, the governor-elect, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has appealed to Alao-Akala to stop playing to the gallery and to stop passing the buck. Ajimobi, in a letter entitled “Re: The plan to approve a new minimum wage for Oyo State” dated May 8 and written to incumbent governor said, “I am writing to call the attention of Your Excellency to a matter of urgent state importance.

“While I am not averse to protecting the interests and welfare of workers in the state, it is my considered opinion that approving a new minimum wage in the twilight of your administration will not be in order. A new minimum wage will have significant impact on the finances of the state and may involve many considerations among which are ordering of priorities and commitments of the government. It is, therefore, a matter that requires extensive reflection and consultations by the government.”

The governor-elect, who reminded Alao-Akala that his days in the saddle were numbered, advised that the outgoing administration would not be in position “to undertake every step necessary to guarantee unhindered conduct of government business in the aftermath of the approval of a minimum wage.”

However, the state government in its reply stated, “The issue of minimum wage which you seek its reversal is a legal issue which cannot be changed by fiat.

“What is more, I publicly made the pledge, a clear one month before the election with the conviction that I was going to implement it and I will not be associated with policy inconsistency.”

The outgoing governor, who said he appreciated the fact that Ajimobi was passionate about the minimum wage, stressed that there was need to let the interest of the people prevail.

Also, the Senior Special Adviser, Media to Alao-Akala, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said those speaking against the administration’s policies were merely trying to discredit the government. In a text message sent to our correspondent, Oyelade said, “For the avoidance of doubt we owe no bank one kobo in spite of all our enviable achievements. We displayed uncommon fiscal discipline. We have said all to be said on the rotational chairmanship, the same with the minimum wage except to add that the minimum wage is also a product of law which the governor cannot change by fiat.”

Oyelade added, “It is amusing that the in-coming administration in Oyo State will make issue out of the minimum wage which the Akala administration promised to pay workers. We do not need to sign any further pact with the state NLC as being peddled by the Ajimobi people because Akala had pledged six weeks ago during the special prayers for peaceful election held at the parliament ground that he would pay it and that commitment is sacrosanct.”

But as Oyelade insists on this, some people have taken the issue with mixed feeling. Leading the pack is an Ibadan chief, Senator Lekan Balogun. For him, the actions of the out-going government were good but ill-conceived. He explained that whereas the incumbent governor had the opportunity and time to effect good policies, he failed to do so for obvious wrong reasons.

Balogun said, “I am happy that at last the governor acceded to the call for the approval of minimum wage for the state civil service, but I am not happy that he delayed it up to this time at the end of his administration. The question to ask is why the delay if he ever had the mind of doing it in the first place? Already, Governor Alao-Akala has defecated on the stool and he now wants to take his exit. It is a good decision taken ingloriously.

“And if one looks at it very well, one will notice that the action was taken with bad intention to build up liability for the incoming administration. Why didn’t he pay the workers two years back? As a result of his refusal to pay the minimum wage teachers in the state went on strike for a very long time leaving the public schools shut and the school pupils continued to waste away at home for so long while their counterparts in other states were doing well.

“Again, the rotation of the chairmanship position, for me, is a good development, but I see the timing as very wrong. Why should he do it now to make it look as if he was up to frustrating some interests or to retaliate on his foes? As an Ibadan chief, I like to see the position rotated among the selected Obas. Akala also approved the appointment of a new Head of Service barely two weeks to the end of his government. Though most people are happy about the appointment considering the experience of the man in question but the issue is; why this time?”

Balogun, who added that the governor had created an albatross for the coming administration, expressed hope that the governor-elect would take time to address the knotty issues so that the matter does not boomerang and have adverse effect on the state.

He said, “It is capable of straining the relationship between the newly elected governor and those who are affected by the policies.”

FG Gets One Year Extension for Greenfield Refinery Project

Deziani Alison-Madueke , Petroleum Resources Minister

By Chika Amanze-Nwachuku

China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) has extended by one year a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed last year with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for the construction of three Greenfield Refineries and a Petrochemical plant in Nigeria.

The renewal of the MoU followed NNPC’s inability to make the May 13, 2011 earlier set for the projects envisaged to boost Nigeria’s refining capacity by additional 750,000 barrels per day.

Conveying the board’s decision in a memo Friday to the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC,  Austin Oniwon, CSCEC’s Vice President Overseas Operations, Yu Zhende, noted that the extension was granted based on NNPC’s assurance that feasibility studies for the three refineries would be carried out in July.

The one paragraph memo, a copy of which was obtained by THISDAY, read: “Further to your request to extend the May 13, 2010 MoU between the NNPC and CSCEC for one year, we have held discussions with our board and advised (Detailed Feasibility Studies (DFS) will be ready in July. Although our board would have preferred a three-month extension (because of the need to commence loan negotiations, we accept your request to renew the MoU till May 13, 2012”.

The MoU signed by Nigeria and China in May last year was for the construction of three oil refineries in Lagos, Kogi and Bayelsa States under a $28 billion provisional deal. The start of the construction, according to the MoU, was dependent on the conclusion of negotiations, which had been slated for 5 July. Under the plan, each new refinery will be able to process around 250,000 barrels of oil a day, potentially meeting Nigeria’s estimated need of 750,000 barrels per day over the next ten years.

Under the terms of the agreement, 80 percent of the projects cost were meant to be funded with a term loan provided by China Export Credit Insurance Corpo-ration (SINOSURE) and a consortium of Chinese banks led by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the world’s largest bank.

The project was envisaged to add 750,000 barrels per day of extra refining capacity to Nigeria’s current 445,000 barrel per day refining capacity as well as stem the flood of imported refined products into Nigeria.

The parties had agreed to build two Greenfield 300,000 barrels per day refineries – one each in Lagos and Bayelsa – and a 150,000 b/d refining plant in Kogi and a gas refining/petrochemical plant based on the gas pipeline network envisaged under the Gas Master Plan. The estimated cost of all four projects had been put at $28.5 billion in which NNPC was to foot only 20 percent of the cost as equity contribution.

Initial request for the extension of the MoU was turned down by the CSCEC on condition that any such decision must be approved by its board.

The foreign firm had also categorically stated that securing the loans for all the projects would be difficult in view of numerous requests for project financing from the Chinese Government from other African countries.
The letter for extension of the MoU was signed by the Group General Manager, Greenfield Refineries Engineering and Technology Directorate, at the NNPC, Mr. Adebayo Ibirogba.

He gave the update of the feasibility studies for the three refineries as follows; that detailed feasibility study for Lagos refinery would take place in July, 2011, pre-feasibility study for Bayelsa refinery in July, 2011 and that of Kogi Refinery in July, 2011. He also stated that detailed feasibility studies for Bayelsa and Kogi refineries as well as executive summary report for all the 3 refineries would be ready in October this year. The corporation also stated that Wood Mackenzie and Foster Wheeler were working as joint Consultants on all 3 reports.

Currently, Nigeria’s four refineries located in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna, with combined capacity to refine 445,000 barrels a day, operate far below their capacity utilisation.

House Speaker: North, S’East Move to Scuttle PDP Zoning Formula

Hon. Dimeji Bankole ,House Speaker

By Kunle Akogun in Abuja and Imam Imam in Lagos

Strong indications emerged Friday night that many members-elect of the House of Representatives particularly those from the North and South-east are working round the clock to defy the Peoples Democratic Party over the choice of a new Speaker by discarding the zoning arrangement earlier agreed upon by the expanded national caucus of the party.

In the meantime, Senate President David Mark Friday inched closer to realising his ambition of again leading the next Senate as his colleagues (serving and incoming) from North-central, where the seat has been zoned, have unanimously endorsed him for the job.
The PDP national caucus had retained the speakership slot in the South-west but  the Northern and South-east members opposing the arrangement are of the view that the zone failed to deliver for the party. Only five of the elected House members from the zone are from PDP.

The South-west endorsed Hon Ajibola Muraina from Ibarapa Central/North, Oyo State for the speakership slot two day ago but that endorsement may pale into insignificance as the general feeling among the lawmakers is to decide the matter on the floor of the House when the seventh National Assembly is convened.

THISDAY learnt that the Northern caucus is of the view that even the election of President Goodluck Jonathan has shown that zoning is no longer sacrosanct in PDP.

The group is also irked by the fact that Muraina endorsed by the South-west was allegedly handpicked by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and may be his lackey.
Already, THISDAY learnt that the Northern caucus is pushing for a Northern candidate as speaker.

At a meeting  Friday night in Abuja  the caucus agreed to put forward a ranking member from the North-west, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwwal, for the exalted office.

Tambuwwal, who is at present deputy chief whip of the House, represents Kebbe/ Tambuwwal Federal Constituency of Sokoto State and has just been elected for a fourth term into the House.

The North-west boasts a strong numerical strength in the House.  Of the total 92 members elected from the North-west, 57 alone are from PDP.

“The Noth-west alone accounts for more than 25 per cent of the House,” a prominent Northern legislators in the House told THISDAY last night.

The position of the North has been strengthened by the feeling of lawmakers from the South-east who feel aggrieved with the zoning of the speaker to the South-west and are now said to be ready to back the North.

Again, the Action Congress of Nigeria which won a majority of the House seats in the South-west and its national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are said not to be enthusiastic about giving the speakership to the zone given its belief that a PDP man from the zone as speaker may dilute ACN’s strong grip of the South-West.

Sources said the choice of Muraina is also generating anger from senior legislators from the zone elected on the platform of both ACN and the Labour Party.

The choice of Muraina, according to some lawmakers who spoke to THISDAY, does not have the blessing of majority of the members and may force many to support another candidate.

A member representing Maradun/Bakura  federal constituency of Zamfara State, Hon Bello Matawalle, also told THISDAY that unlike what obtains in the past, the present lawmakers will ensure the emergence of credible leaders who will defend the interest of the country at all times.

He said what is of paramount concern to them is the unity, stability and progress of the House.
According to him, the cause of democracy will be better served if they are allowed to select leaders of their choice without any external interference.

Matawalle, who just won election back to the House for the third term, said the collective decision of all members should not be discountenanced on the alter of zoning, adding that external influence on choice of Speaker may likely endanger peace and stability of the House.

The protest launched against the choice of Muraina, according to some members, may help to bolster the chances of Honourable Mulikat Akande Adeola, another PDP member from Oyo State and Deputy Chairman of House Committee on Judiciary.
Speaking to THISDAY on condition of anonymity, a prominent member of the House said extensive consultations is going on with a view to seeking support for Adeola.

"She is the best choice as far as the South-west is concerned. What we need at this point is a leader who can reach out to all Nigerians and who can galvanise members of the House in the service of democracy and development,” he said.
Meanwhile, the senators backing Mark who cut across party lines told newsmen in Abuja yesterday that since Mark is from their zone, they felt obligated to champion his cause.

The senators at the press briefing included Smart Adeyemi (PDP, Kogi), Zainab Kure (PDP, Niger), Suleiman Adokwe (PDP, Nasarawa), Gyang Dantong (PDP, Plateau) as well as Senators-elect Victor Lar (PDP, Plateau), Abdullahi Adamu (PDP, Nasarawa), Joshua Dariye (Labour Party, Plateau) and Philip Aduda (PDP, FCT).

Leading the group at the briefing, Adeyemi submitted that  Mark is the best candidate for the position of president of the incoming Seventh Senate.

He added that so far, not less than 77 senators-elect have endorsed the incumbent for the nation’s No. 3 office.
Also speaking, Senator Kure enumerated Mark’s qualities that make him the best candidate for the post to include intelligence, patience, accommodating and gender sensitivity.

She said that the Sixth session over which Mark presided for four years has been the most peaceful in the country's legislative history.
"Mark's role in steering the ship of the chamber is such that we feel he is unequalled," Kure said, describing him as "a listening Senate President who carries everyone along".

She added that through his doggedness and commitment towards ensuring that Nigeria moves forward, Mark  was able to introduce the "Doctrine of Necessity" that practically took the nation from the brink to which it was pushed by an avoidable constitutional crisis.
On his part, Senator Dariye expressed the belief that Nigeria must go for the best, which Mark currently represents in the Senate.
Dariye, who is going to the Senate on the platform of the Labour Party, said, "if we want the best we must go beyond sentiment of party affiliation". Meanwhile, the inaugural meeting of the Forum of Senators-elect slated for Saturday in Abuja has been postponed.

According to the conveners of the forum, Senators-elect  Ita Enang and Philip Aduda, the postponement was occasioned by the Retreat/Induction programme organised for all elected legislators by the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly in the various geo-political zones of the federation.

The conveners said consultations would now be held at various venues where the retreat is being held as a prelude to the general meeting.

‘Call for Buhari’s Arrest, Strategy to Frustrate Tribunal’

 Muhammadu Buhari , CPC Presidential Candidate

By  Adebiyi Adedapo in Abuja

Congress for Progressive Change has described last Thursday’s call by the Northern Coalition for Democracy and Justice  for the arrest of its presidential candidate , Major- General Muhammadu Buhari[rtd], as an attempt to frustrate the investigation of the electoral fraud in the April 16 presidential election.

CPC National Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin  maintained that such thinking was unreasonable, and uncalled for. "It is a cheap blackmail," he said.

He added that the PDP led- government was scared of the forensic examination being insisted on by the CPC, which according to him would reveal the alleged electoral fraud perpetuated by the PDP in the April 16 election.
He maintained that the party was resolute and would not change its position on exposing the electoral fraud.

"As a party, we are not unaware that the PDP-led Federal Government is uncomfortable with our decision to use forensic examination on the ballot papers used for the Presidential elections in the South-east, South-south, Lagos, and parts of the North-east, North-central, North-western states; as a way to buttress our claims about the shambolic conduct of a massively rigged election. We remain undeterred in our resolve to evince the truth to all Nigerians, at home and abroad, and indeed the international monitors that, contrary to the shenanigans played up by the PDP-led Federal Government, the Presidential election result was not real."

Elections Results 2011

WINNERS OF  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEATS

Hon. Ofor Chukwuegbo	PDP	EnuguNorth/South Kingsley
Ebenyi	PDP	EnuguEast/Isiuzo
Hon. Patrick Asadu	PDP	Nsukka/Igboeze South
Tobias Okechukwu	PDP	Awgu/Aninri/Oji River
Hon. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi	PDP	Udi/Ezeagu
Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi	PDP	Igboeze North/Udenu
Hon. Peace Nnaji	PDP	Nkanu East/West
Mrs. Stella Ngwu	PDP	Uzo-Uwani/Igbo-Etiti

Lagos Federal Constituencies

Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency
ACN	42, 060
PDP	16, 270
SDMP	576
NCP	321

Lagos Island Federal Constituency I
ACN	17,803
PDP	6,244
SDMP	60
ANPP	185

Lagos Island Federal Constituency II
ACN	22,254
PDP	6,946
SDMP	118
DFPF	423
ANPP	185

Federal Constituencies

Eti-Osa Federal Constituency
ACN	32, 473
PDP	16, 219
SDMP	1,125
NCP	442

Ikeja Federal Constituency
ACN	32, 757
PDP	15,152
CPC	3,562
LP	1,299
ANPP	1,049

Kosofe Federal Constituency
ACN	63,070
PDP	18,744

Senatorial Election Results

Rivers State

Rivers South East Senatorial District
PDP	154,218
ACN	58,182
APGA	13,605
Winner - Magnus Abe of PDP

Rivers East Senatorial District
PDP	154,218
ACN	34,978
APGA	3,679
Winner - George Sekibo of PDP

Kaduna State

Kaduna North Senatorial District
CPC	103,094
PDP	30,604
Winner - Usman Bawa of CPC

Kaduna South Senatorial District
PDP	428,992
CPC	73,830
ACN	70,488
Winner - Nenadi Usman of PDP

Delta State

Delta North Senatorial District
PDP	98,204
DPP	67,548
Winner - Ifeanyi Okowa of PDP

Nasarawa State

Nasarawa North Senatorial District
CPC	62,815
PDP	31,602
Winner - Solomon Ewuga of CPC

Nasarawa South Senatorial District
PDP	108,844
CPC	103,320
Winner - Solomon Adokwe of PDP

Kogi State

Kogi Central Senatorial District
PDP	68,167
ANPP	26,959
ACN	4,051
Winner - Nurudeen Usman of PDP

Kogi West
PDP	84,511
CPC	35,281
ANPP	6,483
ACN	5,817
LP	582
APGA	455
Winner - Senator Smart Adeyemi of PDP

Ondo State

Ondo South Senatorial District
LP	88,319
PDP	80,319
Winner - Boluwaji Kunlere of LP

Ondo North
LP	84,290
PDP	51,112
Winner - Prof.Ajayi Borrofice of LP

Ondo Central
LP	113,292
PDP	41,783
Winner - Dr. Ayo Akinyelure of LP

Edo State

Edo Central Senatorial District
PDP	61,983
ACN	49,385
Winner - Odion Ugbesia of PDP

Lagos State

Lagos West Senatorial District
ACN	503,786
PDP	234,679
CPC	40,711
APGA	13,305
ANPP	9,011
ALP	5,198
SDMP	2,631
NPPP	1,525
DFPF	1,478
Winner - Senator Ganiyu Solomon of ACN

Lagos Central Senatorial District
ACN	202,506
PDP	75, 982
APGA	9, 302
SDMP	3, 499
NCP	3,073
Winner- Mrs. Remi Tinubu of ACN

Lagos East
ACN	222, 429
PDP	83, 133
SDMP	10, 100
CPC	7, 776
ANPP	2, 183
Winner - Gbenga Ashafa of ACN

Benue State

Benue South
PDP	147,923
ACN	79,433
Winner - Senator David Mark of PDP

 

Benue North Senatorial District
PDP	229,682
ACN	143,978
CPC	4,971
MPPP	571
LP	352
Winner - Barnabas Gemade of PDP

Oyo State

Oyo Central
ACN	105,975
AP	92,544
PDP	78,643
Winner - Hon. Ayo Adeseun of ACN

Oyo South
ACN	127,621
AP	118,256
PDP	92,359
Winner - Femi Lanlehin of ACN

Enugu State

Enugu East
PDP	67,330
PDC	32,005
APGA	8,175
LP	4,439
ACN	3,621
CPC	730
ANPP	525
Winner - Hon.Gilbert Nnaji of PDP

Enugu North
PDP	86,220
LP	27,139
PDC	25,731
ACN	3,099
Winner - Senator Ayogu Eze of PDP

Enugu West
PDP	112,806
PDC	7,522
LP	5,175
APGA	3,591
ACN	1,325
Winner - Senator Ike Ekweremadu of PDP

Imo State

Imo West
PDP	95,816
ACN	63,755
APGA	54,432
Winner - Senator Osita Izunaso of PDP

Imo South
PDP	60,449
ACN	47,258
APGA	2,782
APN	1,568
ANPP	1,125
Winner - Matthew Nwagwu of PDP

Gombe State

Gombe Central
PDP	84,347
ANPP	50,080
CPC	40,145
LP	1,462
Winner - Danjuma Goje of PDP

Osun State

Osun East
ACN	119,852
PDP	51,315
Winner - Hon. Babajide Omoworare of ACN

Osun West
ACN	121,971
PDP	49,001
AP	7,789
Winner - Prof. Sola Adeyeye of ACN

Ogun State

Ogun Central
ACN	102,389
PDP	56,312
PPN	27,182
Winner - Gbenga Obadara of  ACN

Ogun East
ACN	72,543
PDP	52,613
PPN	46,148
Winner - Gbenga Kaka of ACN

Ogun West
ACN	61,362
PDP	59,949
PPN	45,246
Winner - Akin Odunsi of ACN

Cross River State

Cross River North Senatorial District
PDP	91,123
ACN	11,056
ANPP	7,393
DFPF	1,721
Winner - Prof. Benedict Ayade of PDP

 

Niger State

Niger East Senatorial District
CPC	131,872
PDP	83,773
ACN	21,621
Winner - Ibrahim Musa of CPC

Sokoto

Sokoto East Senatorial District
PDP	138,397
CPC	57,643
DPP	41,113
ACN	38,947
Winner - Dr. Ibrahim Gobir of PDP

 

Sokoto South Senatorial District
PDP	112,585
CPC	36,682
DPP	32,029
ACN	19,3987
Winner - Dr. Ibrahim Gobir of PDP

INEC hammer falls

• 52 political parties to go
• PDP, ACN, CPC, 7 others to survive

By the time cases at election petitions tribunals are determined, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will invoke a section in the amended Electoral Act to deregister more than 50 political parties, Saturday Sun can authoritatively reveal. When this provision is invoked, only 10 political parties would survive.
Part V, Section 7 of the Electoral Act 2011, as amended, stipulates: “The Commission (INEC) shall have powers to de-register political parties on the following grounds: (i) breach of any of the requirements for registration, and (ii) for failure to win a seat in the National Assembly or state Assembly election.”
A very reliable source in INEC confirmed to Saturday Sun that the Electoral Act is clear on this. But INEC will not take a definite action on the deregistering of the parties until the pending petitions at the tribunals are handled.
The caution is to enable the party know the parties that would not make the survival list and those that would be weeded off.

In the last elections, 63 political parties participated and were expected to win at least one seat in the National Assembly or state Houses of Assembly or risk deregistration. Results of the elections showed that only 10 parties fulfilled the requirement. They include Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Labour Party (LP), Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Accord Party (AP), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and KOWA Party.

About 53 other parties did not meet the requirement and, therefore, maybe deregistered by the time cases at the election petitions tribunal are concluded in 180 day, as stipulated by the Electoral Act. The parties include Action Alliance (AA), Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), African Democratic Congress (ADC), African Liberation Party (ALP), African Political System (APS), African Renaissance Party (ARP), Alliance for Democracy (AD), Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP), Change Advocacy Party (CAP), Citizens Popular Party (CPP), Community Party of Nigeria (CPN), Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Democratic Alternative (DA), Democratic Front for Peoples Federation (DFPF) and Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA).

Others are Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Freedom Party of Nigeria (FPN), Fresh Democratic Party (FRESH), Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Justice Party (JP), Liberal Democratic Party of Nigeria (LDPN), Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP), Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJ), Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD), National Action Council (NAC), National Conscience Party (NCP), National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP), National Democratic Party (NDP), National Majority Democratic Party (NMDP), National Movement of Progressive Party (NMPP) and National Reformation Party (NRP).

Yet other parties that will be affected are National Solidarity Democratic Party (NSDP), National Transformation Party (NTP), National Unity Party (NUP), New Democrats (ND), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Nigeria Advance Party (NAP), Nigeria Elements Progressive Party (NEPP), Nigeria Peoples Congress (NPC), People for Democratic Change (PDC), Peoples Mandate Party (PMP), Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Peoples Salvation Party (PSP), Progressive Action Congress (PAC), Republican Party of Nigeria (RPN), Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP), United Democratic Party (UDP), United National Party for Development (UNPD) and United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP).
Investigation revealed that the realisation that INEC may wield the big stick has caused a division in the polity. While some sections ask INEC to bare its fangs and delist the erring political parties, others, especially the beneficiaries, urge INEC to cause no harm to the offending parties, in the interest of democracy. Those in the latter group have also threatened to drag INEC to court if it dares implement the law.
Barrister Sonnie Ekwowusi, who contested the 2011 election as the deputy governorship candidate of National Transformation Party in Lagos State, told Saturday Sun that his party will drag INEC to court if it goes ahead to implement the provision of the Electoral Act. He further said that democracy is not about winning elections but rather a forum for propagating developmental ideas.

His words: “The late Chief Gani Fawehinmi went to court over this issue and got a favourable judgment from the Supreme Court, which led to the opening of democratic space. We shall go to court again to test the validity of the new law. Democracy is not about winning elections. Democracy is about contributing ideas that nurture democratic culture. There are many political parties in US that have not won election and they still exist.”

He warned INEC not to play into the hands of PDP and ACN, which are agitating for two party-state. He said: “If INEC goes ahead to implement the law, it will lead to one or two party state, which does not augur well for our democracy. This is what PDP and ACN want, but we shall resist it.”
The NCP, which led the crusade for registration of more parties in 2002, has also declared the provisions of the Electoral Act on deregistration of political parties as illegal and threatened to go to court again. Speaking through its national chairman, Chief Femi Falana, the party argues: “The law is illegal. You cannot abort a child that has been born. Parties that are already in existence cannot be destroyed by the law because the interest of the members and their fundamental right to associate has accrued. You cannot wipe out such fundamental right.”

Other Nigerians disagree with some of the submissions of Ekwowusi and his group. They argue that the proliferation of political parties has given rise to an unintended evil of resort to primordial tendencies, as political parties are formed not on issues but religious and ethnic proclivities. According to Joe Igbokwe, Lagos State publicity secretary of ACN, INEC would be doing the polity well if it goes ahead to de-list these parties, as democracy will grow faster taking a cue from the era of NRC and SDP.

He said: “During the NRC and SDP period, both parties won almost equal number of governorship and legislative election. Such situation will create a ruling power but also an equally stronger opposition party.”
Igbokwe added: “All these me-and-my-wife parties should be allowed to go into oblivion, where they belong because they came into existence because INEC was giving them subventions. Now that INEC has stopped doing that, they have no business existing. The only thing they do is to endorse a candidate and PDP has been using them to win election by giving them money to cause division, while PDP run away with rigged victory.”
Other analysts are of the view that parties “without sustainable structures” should be allowed to die natural death, since INEC has stopped funding the parties.
On whether INEC will have the courage to implement the law, some analysts believe that the commission has no discretion in this matter, since it is the requirement of the law. However, they added that INEC’s power to deregister must be supported by an equal power to regulate registration of political parties, otherwise as you deregister, more parties will spring up based on the judgment of the Supreme Court in 2002.

At the dawn of civil democracy in 1999, the Electoral Commission registered only three political: PDP, All Peoples Party (APP) (which later became ANPP) and Alliance for Democracy AD. After the 1999 elections, politicians began agitations for the political space to be increased to accommodate more political parties. When INEC released the guidelines for the registration of parties on May17, 2002 these politicians were disappointed, as they claimed the guidelines were stifling. Some of the provisions of the guidelines demanded that a group seeking to be registered as a political party must have offices in at least 24 states of the federation. Also, the party must submit “the names, residential addresses, and states of origin respectively of the members of its national and state executive committees and the records of the proceedings of the meetings, where the officers were elected.”

Fawehimni and his unregistered party, NCP, headed to court to challenge some of the provisions of the 2002 Electoral Act that empowered INEC to issue such guidelines. The NCP was later joined by PRP led by Alhaji Balarabe Musa, M.D Yusuf’s MDJ, NPC and CP. The suit progressed from Federal High Court and eventually to the Supreme Court then headed by Justice Mohammadu Uwais. On November 8, 2002, Justice Uwais, in a lead judgment, held, among others, that the INEC power to issue the guidelines contravened the 1999 Constitution and thus pronounced the guidelines as invalid. This epochal judgment opened the democratic space, leading to 28 political parties contesting the 2003 elections.

Political analysts believe that as good as the judgment was, in terms of removal of restrictions on party registration, it gave room for mushrooming of parties for political showmanship and self-aggrandizement. The 2006 Electoral Act did not help matters, as it compelled INEC to give yearly subvention to registered political parties. The number of registered political parties moved from 28 to about 54, as parties were formed mainly on the pecuniary interest, with politicians interested only in the subvention doled out by INEC.

If INEC deregisters political parties, this would be the second time this is happening in the country. During the General Abdulsalami Abubakar government, parties were registered based on their ability to win local government elections, which were first conducted. The political associations that did not win any local government seat were not registered to contest the general elections of 1999. In the exercise, only PDP and APP met the provisions, but the government added AD, to appease the South West.

Likely victim parties

10. Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP)
11. Change Advocacy Party (CAP)
12. Citizens Popular Party (CPP)
13. Community Party of Nigeria (CPN)
14. Congress for Democratic Change (CDC)
15. Democratic Alternative (DA)
16. Democratic Front for Peoples
Federation (DFPF)
17. Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA)
18. Freedom Party of Nigeria (FPN)
19. Fresh Democratic Party (FRESH)
20. Hope Democratic Party (HDP)
21. Justice Party (JP)
22. Liberal Democratic
Party of Nigeria (LDPN)
23. Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN)
24. Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP)
25. Movement for Democracy
and Justice (MDJ)
26. Movement for the Restoration
and Defence of Democracy (MRDD)
27. National Action Council (NAC)
28. National Conscience Party (NCP)
29. National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP)
30. National Democratic Party (NDP)
31. National Majority Democratic
Party (NMDP)
32. National Movement of Progressive
Party (NMPP)
33. National Reformation Party (NRP)
34. National Solidarity Democratic
Party (NSDP)
35. National Transformation Party (NTP)
36. National Unity Party (NUP)
37. New Democrats (ND)
38. New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)
39. Nigeria Advance Party (NAP)
40. Nigeria Elements Progressive Party (NEPP)
41. Nigeria Peoples Congress (NPC)
42. People for Democratic Change (PDC)
43. Peoples Mandate Party (PMP)
44. Peoples Progressive Party (PPP)
45. Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)
46. Peoples Salvation Party (PSP)
47. Progressive Action Congress (PAC)
48. Republican Party of Nigeria (RPN)
49. Social Democratic Mega
Party (SDMP)
50. United Democratic Party (UDP)
51. United National Party for
Development (UNPD)
52. United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP)