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The national chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), John Oyegun, on Monday denied claims he instigated the tenure extension for selfish reasons. He said the near-unanimous decision was made to stave off the possibility of rancour within the ranks as the 2019 election draws near. He said the claims were “quite unfortunate because nothing could be further from the truth.” He said during the national executive council (NEC) meeting that held today in Abuja.

Read his full speech below:
“Mr President, Your Excellencies, it is my pleasure to welcome you and all members of the National Executive Committee of our party to this important meeting.

Members will recall that at the meeting of February 27, we requested the NEC to approve a timetable for congresses and the convention ahead of the expiration of tenure of the current executive. However, rather than approve the timetable, members expressed concern that if we embarked on the congresses as planned, the process could precipitate a series of rancour, which might be difficult for the party to manage ahead of the coming general elections. It was therefore resolved with a near unanimous votes of 104 to 4 that the current executives of the party at all levels be allowed to continue in acting capacity for a period not exceeding twelve months starting from June 2018.

However, at the subsequent meeting held on March 27, Mr. President informed NEC that he had had the opportunity to review the decision of February 27 and had become convinced that the decision taken by NEC, to the effect that party executives at all levels be allowed to continue in acting capacity at the expiration of their tenure was neither supported by the constitution of our party nor that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Even as he canvassed this position, Mr. President graciously announced that he was open to alternative viewpoints and refused to foreclose further debate on the matter. Given this opportunity, NEC unanimously agreed that a committee be inaugurated to further examine the issue and advise the party on the way forward so as to ensure that whatever decision that we take will not only be in the best interest of the party, but will also be seen to comply with extant provisions of our laws. The committee was duly constituted under the leadership of His Excellency, Simon Lalong, Governor of Plateau State. I am happy to inform NEC that the committee has concluded its assignment and we are now in a position to report back to NEC.

Your Excellencies, distinguished members of NEC, let me seize this opportunity to thank Mr. President for his rare act of graciousness and humility. By allowing further consideration of the subject matter even after announcing his preference, Mr. President has proven to be a true democrat and a genuine party man indeed. Where he could have imposed his will, Mr. President has exhibited true leadership by allowing himself to be open to alternative opinion, regardless of his personal interest, so far as they are consistent with the rule of law. Mr. President, we thank you.

In the past days, I have read news reports and all manner of comments and opinions that have tried to frame the majority decision of NEC as an attempt to primarily secure “tenure elongation” for Oyegun and the NWC. This is quite unfortunate because nothing could be further from the truth.

We are looking for ways to minimize rancor in the party ahead of the next general elections, and we are looking for ways to save the party from potential legal booby traps. These are both valid considerations. The challenge that we have faced has been how to reconcile the two in the best interest of the party.

On a personal note, I have had to endure virulent media attacks, malicious insinuations and outright character assassination. However, the responsibility imposed on me by my position as the National Chairman of the party, demand that I rise above my personal pains and refuse to yield to the temptation to react in a manner that potentially complicates the situation for our party. However, I will like to urge everyone else to remember that regardless of our ambitions and personal interests, the party is greater than all of us.

Mr. President, Your Excellencies, distinguished members of NEC. The experience of the last few days has made clear to us the enormous task in our hands as we go into the elections next year. If the progressive ideology that we stand for must be an enduring political order in Nigeria, we who occupy this space now, as founding fathers, must be willing to make real sacrifices to lay a solid foundation for generations to come.

These sacrifices require of us to discipline our personal ambitions and selfish interests. If we do this, it would be easier for us to forge consensus and reach compromise, even on issues that appear to divide us.

I must say that disagreements, debates and contentions are the hallmarks of progressive politics. Therefore, let no one tell you that our party was about to collapse only because we disagree. Our strength however will continue to rest on our ability to forge consensus even from apparently irreconcilable issues. If anything, what our experience in the last few days has confirmed is that we can disagree without being disagreeable; and that our party may be young, but we remain the bastion of progressive politics in Nigeria.

Therefore, as we settle down for the business of today, we should bear in mind these principles and be ready to accept alternative viewpoints, just as Mr. President has done, even when these viewpoints do not immediately reflect our preferences.”

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JUST IN: Chaos At PDP Caucus Meeting As Security Operatives Forcefully Eject Members [VIDEO]

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The caucus meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) turned chaotic on Monday after security operatives forcefully removed some members from the national executive committee (NEC) hall.

The meeting was scheduled to take place at the NEC hall of the party’s headquarters in Abuja, with members already arriving at the venue.

Two individuals were ejected by security personnel following claims by some protocol officers that they had no authorization to be present at the meeting.

During the confrontation, a glass door was broken while the members were being dragged out.

“Are you NWC member?” shouted Chinwe Nnorom, national director of publicity, before the individuals were taken out of the venue.

Earlier in the day, security personnel had taken control of the PDP headquarters and stopped members of the board of trustees (BoT) from accessing the NEC hall for their scheduled meeting.

As a result, the BoT moved their meeting to the Yar’Adua Centre located in the central business district of Abuja.

In recent weeks, the PDP has been embroiled in increasing drama and new developments amid its internal crisis.

Watch VIDEO HERE

 

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BREAKING: Security Operatives Block PDP BoT From Meeting At Party Headquarters

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Security operatives have barred members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) from holding their meeting at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

The security personnel stopped the BoT members from accessing the National Executive Committee (NEC) hall where the meeting was scheduled to take place on Monday morning.

The BoT has subsequently relocated the meeting to the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja’s Central Business District.

 

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Rivers Truce: Wike Has Triumphed, ‘Scored A Hat-Trick’ — Analyst Majeed Dahiru

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Columnist and political commentator Majeed Dahiru has described the resolution of the Rivers State political crisis as a rare victory for a political godfather, asserting that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has “triumphed” over Governor Siminalayi Fubara, once his political protégé.

“This is a classic case of a hat-trick in football. Wike has emerged victorious. He came out on top, and Fubara has found his level. That game-changer was indeed the declaration of a state of emergency. It was declared—got Fubara to surrender and handed over victory in favour of Wike. So Wike has triumphed,” Dahiru stated during Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

He argued that the declaration of a state of emergency in the oil-producing state compelled Fubara to concede, resulting in a clear win for Wike. According to him, it’s uncommon in Nigerian politics for a political mentor to outmaneuver a sitting governor they helped into office, citing President Tinubu’s clash with former Lagos governor Ambode as a rare precedent.

Despite the perceived political success, Dahiru questioned the legal justification of the emergency measure. He described it as unconstitutional and illegal, saying it should have been handled in a way that upheld the Nigerian constitution. He maintained that a state of emergency does not permit the removal of a democratically elected government.

The analyst added that neither side in the Fubara-Wike conflict could be considered blameless. He emphasized that both actors belong to the same political circle and that the general public should not take sides in what was essentially an internal disagreement. He argued that “you didn’t vote for Fubara” because campaign resources had been deployed on his behalf, making the votes influenced rather than independent.

Responding to whether it would have been better to remove the governor through impeachment, Dahiru said the political compromise benefited Fubara, but constitutionally, impeachment would have been more appropriate than using a state of emergency as a fallback option.

The analyst’s comments followed a Thursday night meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, involving President Bola Tinubu, Wike, Fubara, and members of the Rivers State Assembly, which resulted in a peace agreement. Following the meeting, Wike confirmed that all parties had agreed to work together, describing them as members of the same political family.

Fubara also addressed his supporters in Port Harcourt on Saturday, declaring that there is no sacrifice too great for peace and that every decision, including his reconciliation with Wike, was made in the interest of the people. He acknowledged the disappointment of some supporters but explained that key stakeholders were consulted before any decision was reached.

In March, Tinubu had suspended Fubara and his deputy, citing insecurity and political unrest in the state. He declared a state of emergency and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas to temporarily oversee governance using powers granted under Section 305 of the Constitution.

This move drew criticism nationwide, as civil society groups and opposition voices condemned the suspension of a duly elected governor. Tinubu, however, defended the action as necessary for the stability of both Rivers State and Nigeria.

Signs of reconciliation grew over the weekend as Wike, Fubara, and suspended Speaker Martin Amaewhule made a joint appearance at a funeral in Wike’s hometown—their first public outing since the peace deal.

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