PDP Crisis: BoT, governors urged to bar Atiku, Wike from NEC meeting
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Concerned groups of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have called on the Party’s Board of Trustees, BoT, PDP Governors Forum, and the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party to prevent Atiku Abubakar and Nyesom Wike from attending the meeting.
The groups made this call ahead of the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the party scheduled for Thursday in Abuja.
According to them, barring the two individuals would help restore sanity and political stability in the party, urging the BoT and PDP Governors Forum to take immediate action to address the ongoing political crisis threatening to undermine the unity and stability of the party.
The PDP Northern Professionals Movement and PDP Elders Support Group in a joint statement after a meeting with other stakeholders of the party from 22 States of the North in Kaduna, also kicked against the calls for the removal of Usman Iliya Damagum as acting chairman of the party, arguing that, the case of the suspended chairman, Iyorcha Ayu is still in court.
They added that Damagum as Deputy Chairman, North, came in an acting capacity and until the court determines Ayu’s matter or Ayu resigns, Damagum remains in that capacity.
Leaders of the two groups, Mr Isaac Samuel and Dr Muazzam Lawal Sadauki in a joint press statement, described the ongoing attacks on the personality of Damagum and the National Working Committee of the PDP by some youths in the social media as “unfortunate”.
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Cubana Gets N10m Bail
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Pascal Chibuike, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has been granted a N10m Bail after raising an objection in court to his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged naira abuse.
At Cubana’s arraignment on Wednesday, his Defence Counsel Chukosolo Ojukwu told the Ikoyi Federal High Court in Lagos an application opposing the trial had been filed.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge and also filed an application for bail.
The court later granted him bail in the sum of N10 million, with two sureties in like sum.
Cubana Chief Priest was arraigned before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on three counts bordering on abuse of naira by allegedly spraying and tampering with the nation’s currency at a social event.
According to the court, his actions were contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
He was alleged to have sprayed the naira on February 13, 2024, at Eko Hotel.
Prosecutors said Cubana Chief Priest committed the offences while dancing during a social event.
PDP NWC expresses confidence in Damagum amid calls for his removal
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Ahead of the 98th National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday, the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has passed a vote of confidence on the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, amidst calls for his removal.
The upcoming NEC meeting is poised to tackle whether Damagum should maintain his position or be replaced.
Damagum, previously serving as the PDP National Deputy Chairman (North), assumed the role of acting National Chairman after the court suspended the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, in March of last year.
The court’s action stemmed from a request filed by PDP member Terhide Utaan, based on an earlier vote of no confidence passed against Ayu by his ward executives in Igyorov ward, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.
Recently, 60 members of the House of Representatives demanded Damagum’s departure, advocating for the appointment of a substantive chairman from the North Central region.
However, shortly after this announcement, the House minority caucus, under the leadership of Kingsley Chinda, disassociated from the group, labelling it an unrecognized entity within the parliament.
The Tuesday gathering of the PDP Caucus in the House of Representatives concluded in turmoil, as lawmakers were starkly divided between those advocating for Damagun’s support and those opposing his continued tenure.
Edo poll: Imasuangbon seeks Akpata’s disqualification
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A governorship aspirant of the Labour Party, Kenneth Imasuangbon, has asked the court to disqualify the governorship candidate of the party in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, from the September 21 election.
In a suit No. FHC B/CS/26/2024 and filed at the Benin division of the Federal High Court by his counsel A.A. Malik & Co, Imasuangbon said that LP which is the second defendant in the suit erred by declaring Olumide Akpata the winner of the party’s primary election conducted on February 23, 2024.
Imasuangbon also filed another suit in the Abuja division of the Federal High Court where he alleged that Akpata lied under oath and supplied false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
In the Abuja suit filed on April 12, 2024, Akpata who is the first defendant, was joined in the suit by his running mate, Alufohai Faith, LP, and INEC as the second, third, and fourth defendants respectively.
Like in the suit filed in Benin, Akpata was only joined by LP and INEC as the first, second, and third defendants.
In the Benin suit, Imasuangbon said Akpata was not qualified to contest the primary having violated the provisions of section 222(c) of the Nigeria constitution as well as Article 28 of the party’s guidelines for the conduct of the primary.
Imasuangbon further averred that votes garnered by the first defendant in the primary be declared invalid.