Headlines
PDP Plans NEC Meeting If Appeal Court Halts Convention
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may summon an emergency meeting of its National Executive Committee, depending on the judgment of the Court of Appeal on Thursday on the appeal filed by its sacked National Chairman, Uche Secondus.
The Governor of Adamawa State and Chairman of the PDP National Convention Planning Committee, Ahmadu Fintiri, made this known on Tuesday.
Fintiri also disclosed that a former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun, Mimiko, will on Thursday officially join the PDP.
He made these known while featuring on Politics Today, a current affairs programme on Channels Television, which our correspondent monitored.
When asked if the PDP was worried that the Thursday judgment might impact of the party’s convention, Fintiri said, “Not at all because, like my colleague from Delta (Ifeanyi Okowa) said, we have mechanism internally to always take up issues and you know that the PDP strives better in turbulent periods.”
He added, “I don’t think that we will expect something that would put us in a serious jeopardy at the court. If you look at the prayers of the suspended chairman, he is praying that the convention be suspended. At the same time, he is also asking for him to come and preside over the convention. So, it tells you that the convention is not tied around one individual.”
When asked what would happen if the judgment was against the PDP and the convention, the governor said, “We will go back to the drawing board and call NEC and take our decision. If we are told not to have the convention, the next thing remains the highest decision body of the party. But if we eventually get into the convention, I think the convention also has the superior power to take decisions on behalf of the party.”
The Punch
Headlines
Abiola Cannot Be Recognised As Former President; He Was Never Sworn-in – Gen Ishola Williams
By Eric Elezuo
One of the prime actors of the June 12, 1993 incidents, General Ishola Williams, has said that much as Chief MKO Abiola wrong was created having won the election, and denied victory, he cannot be recognized as a former President of Nigeria.
Gen Williams made his revelation while speaking as a guest on Channels television socio-political programme, Inside Source.
He maintained that only those who were sworn in that recognised as former presidents, and Abiola was never sworn in.
“Abiola cannot be recognised as former president because he was never sworn in.
The General, who said that he resigned from the army as a result of the wholesome reception given to General Sani Abacha, when he overthrew Chief Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government, contrary to expectation, also picked flaws in the narratives given by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, in his recently launched book, A Journey In Service.
Williams rose in the army to become the Commandant of Army Signals, Commander of Training and Doctrine (TRADOC) and Chief of Defence Training and Planning, from where he resigned.
Headlines
Breaking: Supreme Court Recognises Martin Amaewhule As Rivers Assembly Speaker, Orders CBN to Stop Releasing Funds to State
By Eric Elezuo
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has in its ruling on Friday recognised Hon Martins Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, mandating him to urgently resume sitting with elected members of the assembly.
The apex court also ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to stop releasing to the Rivers State government until a proper assembly is constituted.
Details soon…
Tension escalated at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday as impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa made a dramatic return to reclaim his position.
Accompanied by heavily armed men, Obasa stormed the Assembly complex in a bold move that has thrown the State’s legislature into turmoil.
In a stunning turn of events, security details assigned to the substantive Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, were abruptly withdrawn on Thursday morning, clearing the path for Obasa’s controversial comeback.
Sources revealed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) ordered the withdrawal of all security operatives attached to Meranda, leaving her exposed in the midst of an intensifying power struggle.
The Speaker’s Special Adviser on Information, Mr. Victor Ganzallo, expressed concern over the security vacuum created by the withdrawal of personnel.
“In the early hours of Thursday, we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn.
This includes the police and DSS officers, leaving her exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis,” Ganzallo stated.
He further called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the State’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene urgently to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order within the Assembly.
“The withdrawal of security personnel has left the Assembly naked and vulnerable at a critical time. Urgent action is needed to restore order,” he pleaded.
With the speakership battle taking a dramatic new turn, political watchers are keenly observing how the crisis will unfold in the coming days.
