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How Ortom Begged Governors To Make Ayu PDP Chairman – Governor’s Aide

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Why Peter Obi Is Nigerians' Best Option - Ortom

The leadership crisis in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) is far from being resolved as how Dr Iyorcha Ayu allegedly became the chairman of the party was disclosed on Wednesday.

The disclosure came from the Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Terver Akase.

Akase revealed how his principal, Governor Samuel Ortom begged stakeholders of the PDP to elect Ayu as the party’s National Chairman.

Akase who was on Wednesday’s Arise TV breakfast programme, “The Morning Show” said prior to the emergence of Ayu as Chairman of the party, Governor Ortom met with other governors begging them to give his state the position.

 READ ALSO: Wike Dares Ayu To Stop Elections Of Ortom, Others

Reacting to the current face-off between Ayu and Ortom, Akase claimed his principal has no personal issue with Ayu but was only insisting on equity, fairness and justice in the party.

According to him, Ortom remains committed to the amicable resolution of PDP’s internal wranglings at the national level.

He pointed out that “It was Governor Ortom who met with other governors and persuaded them that the national chairman should come to his state and that he will take responsibility. He convinced them and when they agreed, he brought Senator Ayu,” stating that Ortom is only committed to seeing the right thing done by the leadership of the party at the national level.

Reacting to comments credited to Ayu where he was quoted as saying he had the powers to stop anyone including Governor Ortom from contesting elections on the platform of the party, Akase said “the comments of Dr Ayu were needless as the constitution of the party and the Electoral Act does not permit such an action” stressing that Governor Ortom remains the PDP senatorial candidate for the Benue North-West Senatorial district for next year’s general election.

“The blocs in the seven local governments that make up the senatorial district have unanimously endorsed him. On several occasions, they have come to say he is the man they need to represent and speak for them and other Nigerians at the National Assembly,” Akase stated.

He maintained that the national leadership of the party has failed to use the conflict resolution mechanism to address the problems that arose from the national convention of the party as well as the circumstances surrounding the choice of a running mate for the presidential candidate.

READ  ALSO: How Ayu Defrauded PDP, Governor Of N200m – Wike

Akase pointed out that it was Ayu who willingly promised PDP stakeholders that if the presidential candidate of the party emerged from the northern part of the country, he would resign from his position, saying that the aggrieved governors were only asking the national chairman to keep to his words and honourably resign.

The governor’s spokesperson, however, expressed optimism that the crisis could still be resolved as the five aggrieved governors were open to peace talks, stating that “It is not too late for the national leadership of the party to correct the wrongs and make amends. As a party that is seeking to rescue the country from the APC misrule, the PDP needs internal peace and unity more than any other party.”

According to Akase, the five governors are critical stakeholders of the party who he noted: “have contributed greatly in building the party over the years … they cannot suddenly turn around to destroy the party they have built over the years.”

On the comments made by the PDP Presidential candidate about the recent killing of Benue people in Gbeji by armed Fulani herdsmen that the herders be integrated into Benue communities, Akase described the statements as unfortunate and unacceptable.

“Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is a former vice president and we expect him to be the nationalist, patriot and unifier that he says he is. So for him to make such comments when people were killed in Benue State by the Fulanis, it is unacceptable,” he said.

Akase further stated that neither Governor Ortom nor the people of Benue State have any issue with the Fulani, adding, however, that what the people will continue to resist is the attempt by the marauding herdsmen to take over the land which is the heritage of the people.

 

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BREAKING:Chicago State University Unable To Grant One Request By Atiku As It Releases Tinubu’s Academic Records

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Senator Withdraws Support For Tinubu Over Choice Of Muslim Running Mate
President Bola Tinubu

The Chicago State University (CSU) was unable to meet one request by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar as it finally released to him the academic records of President Bola Tinubu.

Atiku requested the documents to back his allegation of forgery of CSU certificate against Tinubu. It would mean Tinubu was not qualified to run for the election, which he won, if the allegation is successfully proved against him.

The university, on Monday, presented to Atiku’s legal team, a cache of documents connected to Tinubu’s education at the institution and copies of certificates with redacted names issued to other persons about the same time the Nigerian president finished from the school in 1979.

It also contained Tinubu’s admission records, and a letter dated 27 June 2022 confirming that he attended the university from August 1977 and June 1979 majoring in accounting. The letter said Tinubu was awarded Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with Honours on 22 June 1979.

The District Court in Northern Illinois, had in its judgement delivered on Saturday, given the university up till 12 noon on Monday to deliver the documents to Atiku.

The judge, Nancy Maldonado, gave the other after dismissing Tinubu’s objection in the judgement.

Ms Maldonando dismissed Tinubu’s objection to the 20 September decision of a magistrate judge of the court, Jeffery Gilbert.

The judge fully affirmed Gilbert’s ruling, ordering the CSU to release Tinubu’s academic records as requested by Atiku. She insisted Atiku had the right to have access to the records.

Complying with the court order on Monday, the university produced four sets of documents copies which went viral online on Monday.

In a deposition detailing its compliance with the court order, the university confirmed it was able to grant three of Atiku’s four requests.

Responding to one of the requests it granted, the university said, “after diligent search”. it was able to locate and produce seven different certificates for Bachelor of Science degree it issued in 1979.

Atiku had apparently requested the documents to compare and contrast them with the one presented by Tinubu as his for the 2023 presidential election.

The university also handed to Atiku’s team, documents relating to Tinubu and certified by an official of CSU, Jamar C. Orr, a lawyer.

The university similarly produced, “after diligent search”, copies of three other diploma certificates issued to other students other than Tinubu in 1979.

This was in response to Atiku’s request for “true and correct copies of any diplomas issued by CSU (other than to Tinubu) that contain the same font, seal, signatures, and wording (other than the name of the recipient and the specific degree awarded)”. Atiku sought these documents to compare and contrast them with the one Tinubu claimed to have obtained on or about 22 June 1979.

But the university said it was unable to locate “a copy of the original diploma it prepared for Tinubu in 1979” as requested by Atiku.

This was the kernel of Atiku’s request which is at the heart of the issue he intends to use the documents for in his legal challenge of Tinubu’s victory at the 25 February presidential election.

The university said it “does not in the ordinary course keep copies of student diplomas, and after diligent search cannot locate a copy of the original diploma it prepared for Mr. Tinubu in 1979, hence has no documents responsive to this request.”

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Group Commends Ogun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal’s Verdict

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Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun

A Civil Society Organization, Advocacy for Peace and Good Governance, has commended the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal for its verdict on  the March 18, governorship election in the State.

It would be recalled that the tribunal, on Saturday, unanimously validated the victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun, as it dismissed all the grounds canvassed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Ladi Adebutu in their petitions.

The group stated that the verdict was a victory for democracy and affirmation of the people’s choice.

The group, in a statement signed by it’s National Coordinator, Waheed Sulaimon, on Saturday in Abuja, described the judgement as explicit without any ambiguity, saying it was a true reflection of what happened across Ogun State on March 18, 2023.

The group noted that the tribunal delivered its verdict based on the facts and evidence presented before it, as well as the credibility of the electoral process.

It lauded the judiciary for its impartiality in the ongoing election petition-related cases across the country, adding that Nigerians have always reposed their confidence in that arm of government.

The group, therefore, urged all parties involved to accept the decision of the tribunal and join hands with Governor Dapo Abiodun, to work towards the development of the state.

It also called on all stakeholders in the Ogun State project to rally round the governor to make the Gateway State among the best in Nigeria in terms of economic prosperity, political stability and social cohesion.

The group also lauded Governor Abiodun for his commitment to good governance and efforts at ensuring the security of lives and property, as well as his unwavering political will to speedily develop the state.

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BREAKING: Tribunal Sacks Nasarawa Governor Sule, Declares PDP’s Ombugadu Winner

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Nasarawa State Governor Abudullahi Sule

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Monday declared David Ombugadu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the state’s last election.

This was after the tribunal nullified  the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Delivering the judgment virtually, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, declared Ombugadu as the lawfully elected governor of Nasarawa State.

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