Politics
NASS Polls: We’ll Reclaim Our Mandate In Kaura, PDP Declares
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that it will reclaim it mandate for the Kaura federal constituency at the tribunal.
According to the PDP the Labour Party (LP) was declared winner because there was malpractices of over voting.
According to the PDP, their candidate Hon Gideon Lukas Gwani have been approached to withdraw the case at the tribunal adding that they will ensure they reclaim their mandate because there was massive over voting in favour of the labour party candidate, Mathew Donatus.
Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna, the Kaura Local Government PDP chairman, Donatus Shamang, said all political parties have a good number of youths supporting there ideologies and their candidates
“Therefore, any party or person who assume that he has the monopoly of support of youths should have a rethink.
As law abiding citizens of Nigeria, we are calling on all the security agents to take note of the threats by Kaura wing of LP. The task of reclaiming our mandate is a party affair and not Hon Gideon Gwani’s.
“PDP have conceded defeat before in Kaura LG because the process was fair and credible. PDP declined to concede defeat after the 25th February, 2023 election because of over-voting and ballot stuffing in some wards. We are urging all PDP faithful to be calm because we have started the process of reclaiming the stolen mandate,” the party said.
“We are here to address the press on a mundane issue that borders on emotion and blackmail rather than fact and reality by the Kaura LGA wing of the Labour Party. It is in public domain that the party in question recently organized a press conference urging people in Kaura LGA to call on our amiable PDP stalwart, Hon. Gideon Lucas Gwani and the party to withdraw the case filed at the post-election tribunal which is about to commence in kaduna any time soon.
“To put the record straight, by virtue of the Nigerian Constitution the mandate belongs to the party and not the candidate. The candidate, Hon. Gwani in context, has used the party as a platform to contest and win elections in multiple political dispensations. In furtherance, this is why the constitution is explicit when it says that, when a candidate decamps to another party, he has to leave the mandate for the party he used to contest and win the election. In this light, it behooves on PDP and not squarely on Hon. Gideon Gwani to pursue and reclaim our mandate, which was stolen through over-voting, ballot stuffing and electoral malfeasance. Why PDP approached the tribunal is because of the countless illegalities and discrepancies by LP agents that eclipsed the 25th February, 2023 House of Representatives election in Kaura LGA.
“If LP and its candidate have no skeleton in their cardboard, why are they scared? If they won the election without tinkering with the process, why are they losing sleep over litigation? A guilty man is often jittery before the law. I feel at this point, it is a moral responsibility for LP to act within the ambit of the law.
“We find it awful to ask PDP and Hon. Gideon Gwani not to seek redress at the court when the election that LP candidate won was maimed by fraudulent activities in some wards. We wish to state further that the call for our candidate to withdraw the suit against LP and its candidate is dead on arrival. The call lacks basis, it is empty as it is devoid of constitutional backing. Moreover, LP in Kaura has a dual tendency, begging for PDP and its candidate to withdraw suit and at the same time insulting and blackmailing our candidate and threatening everyone.
“Worst off is threatening the legal luminary, Samuel Atung SAN (son of the soil) not to defend his client (PDP) in this matter, which shows how naïve, ignorant and airheaded they are. It is foolhardy for LP urchins to think they can threaten anyone into giving up on this matter. For their consumption, anyone that breaches the law or is being recalcitrant against the law, will face the full wrath of the law. He will be dealt with accordingly.
“In their press conference, they presented their “case” as if it is a crime for Gwani to seek justice. For their benefit, the judiciary is part of the electoral process that is why if a party or its candidate is not satisfied with the electoral process or the outcome of an election, the party and the candidate can approach the court. What our party and candidate have done is within the ambit of the Electoral Act and does not need the Kaura wing of LP’s approval to exercise our constitutional right.
“PDP expects that what is good for the goose should be good for the gander. Relatively, if urging our party and its candidate to withdraw the suit filed against Mathew Donatus is good, Kaura LGA wing of LP should have urged their presidential candidate and senatorial candidate, Peter Obi and Mike Ayuba Auta, respectively, to withdraw their suits. You can’t prescribe different drugs to patients suffering the same disease. If it is morally wrong for PDP and Hon. Gwani to reclaim their mandate, it should be morally wrong for the LP duo to do the same.
“As a matter of urgency, we urge the Kaura LGA wing of LP to call on Peter Obi and Mike Ayuba Auta to withdraw their suits just as they did to our party and its candidate, this will go a long way to show how honest they are on peaceful resolution of disputes.
“Again, reclaiming mandates through the court process is not alien to Kaura LG politics. Meanwhile, we can understand that some people are not conversant with the political history of Kaura LGA nor in tune with the prevailing and evolving political issues. Over the years, mandates have been reclaimed and lost at the tribunal by politicians of Kaura extractions. Just 4 years ago, Nehemiah Aso of APC, in 2019, filed a suit challenging the outcome of the House of Representatives election where INEC declared Hon. Gideon Gwani was the winner. In 1991, William Swanta of SDP who won the Chairmanship election in Kaura was removed by the court. Musa Nickaf, Yahaya Silas and Kumai Gwaza in 1991 also saw their mandates won and lost through court verdicts,” the party added.
…Says your defection must be transformative
Ned Nwoko, the senator representing Delta north, has asked Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta state, to leave behind the “old habits” of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as he begins a new political journey in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement addressed to the governor following his recent defection, Nwoko warned that the move must not just be symbolic but transformative, urging Oborevwori to “leave behind the politics of survival and step into the politics of legacy”.
“No one pours new wine into old wineskins. Old habits, old politics, and the old deals that led to the gradual decline of the PDP in Delta must be left behind,” Nwoko said.
He praised the governor’s decision to join the APC, describing it as a bold step that opens new possibilities for Delta state and Nigeria’s political future.
The lawmaker noted that the APC, “reenergised and focused,” had already begun laying the groundwork for constitutional amendments, including the creation of Anioma and New Delta states.
“Chief among these is the creation of two new viable states: Anioma and New Delta,” he said.
“Let me remind you, this agenda was declared a done deal by the party leadership long before your defection, a testament to the APC’s commitment to correcting historical imbalances and ending regional marginalisation.”
The senator asked the governor to lead the charge for constitutional reforms and demonstrate renewed dedication to fairness, inclusive development, and progressive governance.
“Your defection must not be symbolic; it must be transformative. This is your opportunity to embrace a new sense of purpose and demonstrate renewed dedication to progressive governance, fairness, and inclusive development,” Nwoko said.
“The creation of Anioma state will finally give voice, identity, and institutional power to the aspirations of Delta North. It is a long overdue recognition of a people who have sought parity with their kinsmen.
“The proposed New Delta will address the deep internal asymmetries within the current Delta state structure. It will empower neglected communities, bring government closer to the people, and unlock new paths for economic growth.
“For the first time, the APC is armed with the numbers to amend the constitution. This time, we can fulfill these promises without demanding painful trade-offs from the South. We are not lobbying from a place of weakness; we are standing firmly in a position of strength.
“These changes are more than political. They are economic necessities. They are about focused governance, better infrastructure, increased federal allocation, and grassroots democracy. Two new states will mean two new engines of development.”
The Lagos Society for Good Governance, a non-partisan civic organisation, has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and halt what it describes as unconstitutional tenure elongation schemes in several Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State.
The group also urged the President to direct the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, to issue clear guidance on constitutional term limits for local government administrations.
In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, the group’s coordinator, Ademola Gafar, appealed to President Tinubu to demonstrate moral leadership by rejecting attempts to extend tenures beyond constitutional limits.
“As a leader of our democracy and a true son of Lagos, we urge the President to engage with the leadership of Lagos State to ensure that forthcoming local government elections adhere strictly to constitutional norms and best democratic practices,” Gafar said.
The group highlighted specific cases in three LCDAs where chairpersons are allegedly seeking unconstitutional third terms.
In Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA, Vice Chairman Famuyiwa assumed the chairmanship in 2019 following the death of Chairman Arologun.
He won re-election in 2021, and his current bid for another term is deemed a violation of term limits. Similarly, in Onigbongbo LCDA, Vice Chairman Dotun Adekanye became chairman in 2020 after Chairman Dayo Oke’s death, won re-election in 2021, and died in November 2024.
His successor, the current vice chairman, remains eligible for the 2025 elections but cannot seek further terms. In Ikosi Isheri LCDA, Vice Chairman Abolanle Bada took over in 2020 after Chairman Abdulfatai Oyesanya’s death, won re-election in 2021, and is now pursuing an unconstitutional third term.
The group argued that these actions contravene the Fourth Alteration Bill No. 16 of the 1999 Constitution, signed into law in 2018 by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the group, the amendment limits individuals who succeed to an office following an incumbent’s death to one additional term. This principle, the group noted, extends to local governments under Section 7 of the Constitution, which mandates democratically elected councils.
“Lagos State, as Nigeria’s centre of excellence, must not set dangerous precedents that undermine constitutional governance,” Gafar stated, calling on the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission to implement reforms that strengthen local government autonomy and disqualify candidates seeking unconstitutional terms.
The group praised recent council elections in Ondo, Akwa-Ibom, and northwest states for adhering to electoral laws, resulting in free, fair, and credible outcomes.
The organisation also recalled President Tinubu’s opposition to tenure elongation during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, expressing confidence that he would not support undemocratic practices.
It urged the implicated LCDA chairpersons to withdraw from the electoral contest in recognition of constitutional limits, warning that normalising such violations threatens Nigeria’s democracy.
It vowed to pursue all legal and peaceful means to resist attempts to subvert the constitutional order, reaffirming its commitment to democratic principles and good governance.
Politics
Ned Nwoko Urges Oborevwori to Leave Behind PDP’s Old Ways in His New APC Journey — Emphasizing the Need for Transformative Change
Ned Nwoko, the senator for Delta North, has called on Sheriff Oborevwori, the governor of Delta State, to abandon the “old habits” associated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as he embarks on a new political chapter within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement directed at the governor following his recent defection, Nwoko emphasized that this transition should not merely be a symbolic gesture but rather a transformative process. He urged Oborevwori to “move beyond politics of survival and embrace the politics of legacy.”
“No one pours new wine into old wineskins. It is essential to leave behind outdated practices, old political dynamics, and the arrangements that have contributed to the PDP’s gradual decline in Delta,” Nwoko remarked.
He commended the governor for his decision to join the APC, labeling it as a courageous move that could open up new avenues for both Delta State and the broader political landscape of Nigeria.
The senator pointed out that the APC, now “reenergized and focused,” has already initiated efforts for constitutional amendments, which include the establishment of Anioma and New Delta states.
“Foremost among these initiatives is the creation of two viable new states: Anioma and New Delta,” he stated.
“Let me remind you that this agenda was endorsed by the party leadership long before your defection, highlighting the APC’s commitment to rectifying historical imbalances and addressing regional marginalization.”
Nwoko urged the governor to take the lead in advocating for constitutional reforms, showcasing a renewed commitment to equity, inclusive development, and progressive governance.
“Your defection must transcend mere symbolism; it must be a catalyst for transformation. This is your moment to adopt a renewed sense of purpose and showcase your commitment to progressive governance, equity, and inclusive development,” Nwoko asserted.
“The establishment of Anioma state will finally provide a voice, identity, and institutional power to the aspirations of Delta North, representing a long-overdue acknowledgment of a community seeking parity with its counterparts.
“The proposed New Delta will rectify significant internal disparities within the existing Delta state framework. It will empower marginalized communities, bring government closer to the populace, and pave the way for new economic opportunities.”
“For the first time, the APC possesses the numbers necessary to amend the constitution. This time, we can honor these commitments without imposing burdensome trade-offs on the South. We are not negotiating from a position of weakness; we stand resolutely in a position of strength.
“These proposed changes are not merely political; they are economic imperatives. They concern targeted governance, improved infrastructure, enhanced federal allocations, and grassroots democracy. The creation of two new states will serve as two new engines for development.”