News
Democracy Day: NTAC DG Commends Nigerians, Calls for Active Electoral Engagement
Joel Ajayi
Director General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps,Rt.Hon.Yusuf Buba Yakub has said that it is a proven fact that participatory governance, otherwise known as democracy, remains the best form of leadership in the nations of the world.
In a Statement Issued by the Special Assistant to the NTAC DG Media and Publicity Nkem Anyata-Lafia on Thursday in Abuja.
While identifying roles for both the leaders and the led,the NTAC boss called on Nigerians to recommit themselves to the fine tenets of democracy, stressing that no laws and prescription of punitive measures were required to coarse Nigerians to get actively involved in the democratic process.
Rt.Hon.Buba,who stated the above today, Thursday,in Yola, during the official opening of the newly-built Adamawa APC State Secretariat and the celebration of Democracy Day in the State,used the occasion to salute President Tinubu,his lieutenants and all the leaders across the nation and Nigerians whose very commitments and contributions have ensured that the nation’s current democratic experience has continued unbroken for 26 solid years.
He said Nigerians had every reason to celebrate this long era of freedom from interference in the democratic order and expressed optimism that democracy has come to stay for good.While urging the citizenry,the civil society groups and , indeed,other agencies of government and faith-based organizations to always use their many platforms to preach the importance of democratic governance and the need to participate in it as a basis for sustainable peace, progress and, particularly ,development in all its ramifications,Buba said it was the only way to continue to pay glowing tribute to the memories of those who participated in the democratic struggles of the past,some of whom made the supreme sacrifice.
“Across the world, military incursions in national leadership have since been considered an aberration.It is an unfashionable means of power change without the consent of the majority in a nation,which ultimately limits the kind of development and progress that democracy engenders.Participatorydemocracy, famously defined by Lincoln as ‘Government of the people,by the people and for the people’is the best form of government and every effort to preserve what we currently enjoy must be supported by all.
“It is, therefore,no wonder that His Excellency,our dear President,a former battle-weary crusader for the concept ,has made “Democracy ” one of the cardinal points of his 4-D Foreign Policy Initiative,knowing full well that Democracy remains the bastion of civil leadership upon which every form of development, national liberty, freedom of association and free speech,is hoisted.
“What this entails is that for Nigeria and Nigerians to continue to enjoy the exemplary leadership that is currently being witnessed across the nation,the positive competition in the States of the Federation and the Local Councils in the areas of both human and development in infrastructure,leaders and followers alike must daily resolve to commit totally to the requirements of democracy.
“Some of these requirements are characterised by periodic elections and participation therein,presence of the legislature and the necessity of setting constant agenda for its members, existence of an independent judicial system and the maintenance of rule of law amid the presence of a free and vibrant press,which acts as a watchdog on society,”the DG emphasised.
The former federal lawmaker,who noted President Tinubu’s credentials as a renowned democratic activist during the dark days of the military juntas that had kept democracy at bay for so long,said he considered Nigerians lucky to be led currently by a man who understands the importance of free speech and all that democracy entails.
He used the occasion of today’s celebration to sue for support for Mr.President’s Renewed Hope Agenda and for other elected representatives across the entire rungs of our democratic ladder in order to aid the delivery of Mr.President’s vision for a New Nigeria.
The DG ,who finally called on Nigerians to spare a thought and a prayer for all who lost anything in the struggles for the democratic experience we currently enjoy,also conveyed his congratulations to all Nigerians and prayed for the sustenance of continuous democratic rule across the country.
Politics
Wike’s Loyalists in PDP Suspend Acting Chairman Damagum, Spokesman Ologunagba, Others
Cyril Ogar
The Peoples Democratic Party has plunged deeper into crisis as fresh divisions emerged within its leadership, with a faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announcing the suspension of the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and five other members of the National Working Committee.
Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday on behalf of the factional NWC, the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, announced the party’s National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, as the Acting National Chairman.
He stated, “First of all, we want to commend the judiciary over the judgment of yesterday, which is a victory for the entire PDP members all over. Nobody can claim victory over the judgment of the court. It is a judgment against impunity, against illegality. We promote unity, peace, and cohesion in the party.
“Having said that, the party did not overlook the activities of some members of the NWC who have already decided to cause disaffection in the party, which has made most of our leaders and governors leave the party in droves. I would say that this is the time to arrest such a situation and call it to order.
“On this note, after the emergency meeting, we decided, as a party, to suspend Ambassador Damagum, the National Chairman of the party, for incompetence, misappropriation of party funds, and flagrant disobedience of court judgments. We decided that we should suspend him for one month, and we will send him to the Disciplinary Committee for him to be able to answer questions.
“Secondly, we have overwhelming evidence against the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba. We have seen the frequent press releases by the National Publicity Secretary which was confirmed that even at a point, the then National Vice Chairman suspended him for appearing or defending the party because of the unapproved frequent press releases. For us to have sanity in the party, we have suspended him.”
Anyanwu also announced the suspension of the National Deputy Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, accusing him of failing to properly advise Damagum against engaging in anti-party activities and reckless behavior.
He continued, “On that note, he is also suspended for 30 days. Now, we talk about the National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyenguikoro. We have discovered that in the last few days and months, there have been congresses and sales of forms meant for our congresses, which were bought and paid into two different accounts controlled by the National Financial Secretary. So, on this note, he has been suspended, and we are sending him to the Disciplinary Committee. We are also going to involve the financial agencies to look into those activities.
“Again, the Youth Leader, Sulaiman Kadade, PDP Youth all over, if you watched yesterday, the youth leaders all over the country met and said that they don’t want Mohammed Kandede to be their youth leader again because he has never activated the youth wing of our party, and that wing has been abandoned. For that reason, he has also been suspended for one month.
“Finally, the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo who is supposed to be my deputy, is also suspended for one month. He resumed the office of the National Secretary illegally, signed all kinds of letters, especially to some states, where he has caused disaffection among our party members in those states. For that reason, he has also been suspended for 30 days.
“All of them are sent to the Disciplinary Committee to show cause why they should not be expelled from the party. The judgment of yesterday confirmed the reason why this suspension should be effective. In their place, especially the National Chairman, we are asking the National Vice Chairman (North-Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman to act as National Chairman. In the place of the National Publicity Secretary, we are going to ask the Director of Publicity of our party, Chinwen Nnorom, to take over all the activities of the party in terms of information.”
According to Anyanwu, ten members of the NWC were in attendance.
Earlier, the NWC under Damagum’s leadership announced the suspension of Senator Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and two other members.
Despite the scheduled National Elective Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, internal strife continues to grip the party.
Supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, remain dissatisfied with the leadership of the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum.
Their grievances revolve around unresolved disputes concerning the South-South zonal leadership and control of party structures in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau States. In addition, disagreements over the micro-zoning arrangement ahead of the convention have further deepened divisions within the PDP.
These ongoing conflicts eventually escalated into a legal confrontation aimed at halting the planned convention. On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an interim injunction restraining the PDP from proceeding with the convention until further notice.
In case number FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, the court ruled that the PDP must suspend its convention pending full compliance with its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act of 2022.
The case was filed by three aggrieved PDP members Austin Nwachukwu, the Imo State PDP Chairman; Amah Abraham Nnanna, the Abia State PDP Chairman; and Turnah Alabh George, the PDP Secretary for the South-South zone.
They argued that the planned convention violated both the Electoral Act and the party’s internal regulations, citing the PDP’s failure to conduct valid congresses in 14 states before issuing the convention notice.
Justice Omotosho upheld their arguments, ruling that the PDP had indeed breached its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and INEC’s guidelines by neglecting to conduct proper state congresses and failing to provide the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC.
Consequently, the court ordered the suspension of the planned convention until all internal irregularities are corrected in accordance with the law.
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