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Crisis Hits Lagos PDP As Jimi Agbaje Allegedly Sidelines Party

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With about six weeks to the conduct of the governorship elections, crisis is currently rocking the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje, and the state executive members, led by Dr. Adegbola Dominic, are believed to be working at cross-purposes instead of uniting to forge a common front against the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A chieftain of the party, who spoke with Daily Independent on Wednesday on condition of anonymity, said since his emergence as the party’s flag bearer, Agbaje had been running a one-man show, believing that he could do without the leadership of the Lagos PDP or party elders in the state, such as Chief Olabode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the party.

He said while Agbaje had been running his governorship campaign with the team he set up without carrying the state PDP along, he also picked his running mate, Mrs. Haleemat Busari, without consulting the party leaders.

According to him, many party leaders who only heard of Busari’s choice in the media were angry and made attempts to kick against the decision but were prevailed upon by the party’s leadership to refrain from doing so in order not to create the impression that the party was disunited.

The source said: “The reality is that there is no unity in Lagos PDP and this may mar our chances in the forthcoming governorship election. Jimi Agbaje and the state exco of the party are not working as a team.

“If you remember, majority of the state exco members are loyalists of Chief Bode George and, as such, they don’t like Agbaje whom they see as a traitor for daring to contest against his benefactor for the national chairmanship of the PDP.

“Agbaje himself has not helped matters. Since becoming the governorship candidate of the party, he has constituted his campaign team and neglected the leadership of the party who are the key drivers of the party.

“Can you imagine Agbaje never consulted the party before picking his running mate, Mrs. Busari? Many of our party members and leaders were shocked when they heard about the news in the media.

“You can imagine the anger of many party members on account of this. The issue would have gone out of hand but for the appeal by the leaders of the party such as Chief Bode George who implored them not to make the issue public so that the APC will not capitalise on it.”

When our correspondent contacted Adegbola Dominic, the state chairman, on the allegations that Jimi Agbaje was not carrying the party along in his campaigns, he said: “That is not exactly correct. It is true that there may be some intra-party differences, but we are resolving that. We are working together and we will achieve victory in 2019.”

Similarly, Agbaje denied the allegations, saying he enjoyed a harmonious working relationship with the Dominic-led executives.

Speaking through Felix Oboagwina, his spokesman, Agbaje said he notified all the party leaders before choosing his running mate but added that what some complained against was that she was not a prominent member of the party who was known to all.

“It is not true that party leaders and state exco have not been carried along. When the deputy governorship candidate, Haleema Busari, was chosen, all stakeholders were carried along.

“Before the announcement was made, everybody who was a chieftain of the party knew about her. All they can complain about is the fact that she is not a frontline member of the party.

“Before her announcement and final selection was made, several names had been bandied and then she was zeroed in upon. Of course, it is normal that it is only one person that will be picked at the end of the day.

“From the day she was picked, she became a product of the entire party. On the issue of party excos and leaders not being carried along, we don’t know where that is coming from.

“There is a structure that the national leadership of the party has put in place in all the states that are holding elections in 2019. The structure is called the Campaign Council and the instruction is that it should be headed by the governorship candidate of the PDP in the state while the state PDP chairman will serve as the vice-chairman.

“In Lagos, the PDP Chairman, Dr. Adegbola Dominic, fills that role and he is doing it very well. He is being carried along and they hold regular meetings.

“There are about 10 people in the Campaign Council in Lagos State and because of the structure that was in place somebody like Rahman Owokoniran, a very close lieutenant and confidant of Jimi Agbaje, who was the last Director-General of the campaign, had to drop from the council to accommodate every other member of the party who are part of the structure.

“According to the structure that PDP is using, the campaign structure is also duplicated at the local government area level where a prominent member of the party in the local government area heads the council in the local government area.

“The same is also replicated at the ward level. At all these levels, the candidates for Senate, House of Reps, and House of Assembly are part of these structures. So, all these talk about disunity is the handiwork of mischief makers who want a divided party before the elections,” he said.

BIG STORY

President Tinubu Returns To Abuja One Week After UNGA

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Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has returned to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, one week after he attended the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States.

The 78th UNGA session was held from September 18 to 26.

Tinubu, during one of the sessions, voiced concerns about foreign exploitation in Africa and rising insecurity, and asked other nations to offer solutions of mutual benefit. The UNGA session was his first as Nigeria’s president.

After delivering the national statement and holding several meetings on the sidelines of the global assembly, Tinubu also rang the closing bell at the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ).

Although there was no official statement, multiple reports said the president departed New York for Paris, France for a short vacation.

Tinubu’s return to Nigeria comes amid threats by labour unions to commence an indefinite strike from October 3, if he fails to address the rising cost of living.

The president’s arrival also comes a few days before Nigeria’s 63rd independence anniversary on October 1.

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BIG STORY

Tension In Ogun As Tribunal Determines Abiodun, Adebutu’s Fate

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There’s anxiety and tension in the premises of Isabo Magistrate Court, Abeokuta, the state capital as Ogun State Governorship Election Tribunal is set to deliver judgement in the petition filed by Hon. Ladi Adebutu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the election victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

After three month, long sitting and conclusion of hearing, the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal reserved  judgement for today in the petition filed by PDP’s Adebutu against Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Adebutu is praying the tribunal headed by Hamidu Kunaza to nullify Governor Abiodun’s victory and declare him winner of March 18 Governorship election in Ogun State.

Adebutu, among things, is also seeking an order of the Tribunal to upturn the election of Governor Abiodun, alleging that the election that brought him into office for the second time, was riddled with violence, irregularities and rigging.

In the final oral and written address through his counsel, Mr Chris Uche, SAN, Hon Ladi Adebutu who is not in the country at the moment, prayed the tribunal to grant all the reliefs, including the disqualification of Abiodun as a candidate in the March 18 election.

He also asked the tribunal to sack Abiodun and declare him as winner of the poll instead, declaring that heavens would not fall if the Governor was thrown out by the Tribunal.

He alleged non-compliance by INEC with the Electoral Act and corrupt practices by the governor and his All Progressives Congress(APC) during the election even as former lawmaker claimed the process was sabotaged by thugs who allegedly deployed violence in over 99 polling units to disenfranchise over 40,000 voters.

But countering in his written address through his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Governor Dapo Abiodun urged the Tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by Adebutu and his party against his victory.

Also, in their separate submissions counsels to the 1st respondent (INEC), Mr Remi Olatubora (SAN), and the APC, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), told the tribunal that the petitioners failed to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Counsel to INEC, Olatubora, specifically asked the tribunal to dismiss the petition for absolutely lacking in merit and being a waste of the tribunal’s precious time.

He posited that the allegations of corrupt practices, non-compliance, multiple thumb printing of ballot papers, ballot stuffing, and forgery as alleged by Adebutu and his party were not proved beyond any reasonable doubt.

He also described the testimony of the witnesses brought by the petitioners as heresy, which is not admissible in law.

Counsel for Abiodun, Chief Wole Olanipekun, (SAN) in his final address, described Adebutu’s petition as a mere academic exercise.

Olanipekun submitted that the soul of the petition was not duly signed or stamped and, therefore, lacked merit to be adopted.

He urged the Tribunal to strike it out.

“The document is not signed, not dated, no heading, no title, no identity, no signature, no stamp. The CTC has no signature,” Olanipekun alleged.

However, in his counter-argument, Counsel to Adebutu, Chris Uche, SAN, told the tribunal that all documents presented by the petitioners were obtained from INEC.

He urged the tribunal to declare Adebutu the winner of the governorship election or, in the alternative, order a rerun of the election in 99 polling units where he alleged that there were disruptions.

Counsel to APC, Tayo Oyetubo, who spoke to reporters at the time of trial, said the respondents have presented a good case, even as he expressed confidence that the verdict would be in their favour.

However, The Nation’s bid to access the Court was prevented by a security operative who stated the newspaper was not listed to cover the court matters today.

He also pulled a list, showing that the media organisation was not authorised to cover it.

It is not yet clear how the list was generated.

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BIG STORY

FCC Staff, Commissioners Pass Vote Of Confidence On Dankaka; Blast Those Seeking Her Removal, Say They’re Agents Of Darkness

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Some staff and Commissioners of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) have passed vote of confidence on the Chairman of the Commission, Dr Muheeba Dankaka.

Some of the staff and Commissioners who spoke with our correspondent on Monday, 25 September, 2023 described the administration of Dr Dankaka as the best ever in the Commission.

“She has brought innovation into the running of the administration and she has made staff welfare one of her major priorities. I’ve been here for years and I can testify that she’s the best Chairman I’ve worked with,” a junior staff at the headquarters of the Commission said.

According to another staff, Dr Dankaka has instill discipline on the staff and gave them sense of belonging which has lifted the morale of the staff.

“She’s not only our Chairman but also a mother who protects and encourages us,” the staff said.

One of the Commissioners who spoke with this reporter described those calling for the removal of the Chairman as agents of darkness.

According to him, those fighting Dr Dankaka are doing so because she has stopped them from selling job slots.

“These are the cabals selling job slots in the Commission. They’re attacking her because she dismantled their gang,” another Commissioner said.

According to a female Commissioner, those who allegedly wrote petition to the President are afraid of their shadow. “They’re the same people that sent petition to the House of Representatives, but they can’t even wait for the House report before allegedly sending petition to the President. What are they afraid of? They’re liars, just looking for anything to hang on,” she said.

Our correspondent observed general contentment among staff and Commissioners at the FCC and their general chorus was: “Dr Dankaka, we’re proud of what you’re doing. You’ve our support”.

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