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PDP demands details of remittances into TSA

By Saawua Terzungwe

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday took a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari, saying it should come out clear on the remittances and operations of the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

The party said there were discordant tunes between the Senate, the Presidency and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over remittances into the account.

Addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, PDP national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, claimed that whereas the Senate has ordered its committee on finance and public accounts to investigate the remitting and handling of N2.5 trillion into the TSA, the executive, through the minister of information, had earlier informed the nation that the sum of N1.4 trillion had been remitted.

The party said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) put its figure at below a trillion naira and announced an estimated collectable amount of N1.2 trillion.

The PDP said it found the discordant tunes and “Monday’s brazen attack by the minister of information on whistle blowers” as completely unacceptable and contradictory of a government that rode to power on the garb of “Mr.

Clean.”

Appeal court upholds sacking of PDP senator

From Kabiru R. Anwar, Yola

The Court of Appeal sitting in Yola, Adamawa State, has upheld the verdict of the Taraba Elections Petition Tribunal that sacked Senator Bashir Marafa Abba of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Marafa is representing Taraba Central Senatorial District.

Three judges, Justice Jummai Hanatu Sankey, Justice Duobele Abraham and Justice Maiwada, in their respective judgments threw out the appeal lodged by Marafa for lack of merit.

They therefore upheld the ruling of the elections tribunal that sacked Marafa and declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Yusuf A. Yusuf as senator representing Taraba Central Senatorial District.

Responding to the judgment, the Taraba State Chairman of APC, Hassan Jika Ardo, commended the judiciary for living up to expectation.

Bayelsa poll: PDP decries planned rigging

From Chris Eze, Yenagoa

The Bayelsa Restoration Campaign Organisation of the PDP for the December 5 governorship election has raised alarm over alleged plot by the APC to rig the forthcoming election in the state.

Addressing a press conference yesterday in Yenagoa, the director of publicity of the campaign organisation, Jonathan Obuebite, said that efforts were on by the APC to compromise INEC officials and security agencies to give APC victory in the election.

“We have unearthed a dubious plan to compromise INEC Bayelsa office to give authentic result sheets to APC leadership during the election which will then be used to rig the election.

“However, we can confirm that this plan has been rebuffed by INEC officials since it bothers on criminality; hence we conclude that this was why the APC has been chorusing ‘lack of cooperation’ by INEC in the state. If we may ask, what manner of cooperation do they want from INEC in Bayelsa State?” he asked.

The APC in the state had last week raised similar alarm that the PDP-led state government was planning to rig the election.

2019: PPA chair calls for national consensus on Igbo presidency

By Saawua Terzungwe

National chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Chief Peter Ameh, has said there should be a national consensus that the Igbos in the South-east geo-political zone would be allowed to produce the next president of Nigeria in 2019.

Chief Ameh, an indigene of Kogi State, in an interview with Daily Trust yesterday said the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari does not have the prospects of fulfilling its campaign promises to Nigerians, adding that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had made too many promises than it can deliver.

He said in order for unity and equity to prevail, the Igbos should be given the opportunity and benefit of doubt to govern the nation.

“The Igbo tribe is the third leg; the tripod upon which Nigeria was built. We have the Hausa, Yoruba and Igbos, so within the tripod, Hausa and Yoruba have been having it. What stops an Igbo man from having it?” he asked.

Kwara gov swears in 9 more commissioners

From Romoke W. Ahmad, Ilorin

Kwara State governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, has sworn in the second batch of commissioners for the state.

The governor has also called on the political class in the state not to politicise the N20 billion bond his administration wants to secure from the capital market.

He urged all stakeholders to focus on the capability of the bond facility to turn around the fortunes of the state.

According to the governor, the bond, if approved, will ensure the completion of infrastructural projects which will attract investors to the state, ensure growth of the economy and provide social and economic development for the state.

He told the new commissioners that their appointments were based on their commitment and dedication to the growth of the state.