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Last weekend’s senatorial primaries of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State were marred by violence and chaos.

The primaries,
which were supposed to take place in one venue, ended up taking place
in three different venues with conflicting results; and consequently
three candidates are claiming victory in the exercise. The three
candidates are Annie Okonkwo, a serving senator; Chukwudi Offodile, a
former member of the federal house; and another former federal
lawmaker, Jerry Ugokwe. Two of the gladiators would later confront each
other at Emmaus House in Awka which was designated as the official
venue for the primaries, a venue which remained deserted for most of
the day as the candidates were apparently conducting their own
primaries at different venues. When action finally shifted to the main
venue Messrs Okonkwo and Offodile almost engaged each other in a brawl
following the insistence by the latter that the electoral panel must
produce the list of delegates.

Before then, Mr
Offodile and his group were reported to have forced their way into the
venue by firing gunshots into the air despite the presence of police
officers when they discovered the gate was locked. “They didn’t want to
produce the delegates list but had to when we insisted,” said Mr
Offodile. He later told journalists that he was the winner of the
primaries and brandished a result sheet which he said proved he won. “I
have the result here,” he said. “The election was successful and I won
convincingly and I hope to represent Anambra Central senatorial zone in
the next National Assembly.”

Dora Akunyili’s shortcut

Mr Offodile also
warned that Dora Akunyili, former Information Minister and senate
candidate under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), would have
an easy ride to the senate if Mr Okonkwo was fielded by the PDP as its
nominee. According to him, every other candidate was qualified except
Mr Okonkwo.

Reacting, Mr
Okonkwo said he was the winner of the primaries for Anambra Central and
that it was not surprising as he controlled the highest number of
delegates. He described the claims and actions of Mr Offodile as
rascally and said he was never prepared for the election. “I control
70% of the delegates and none of the other people making noise was
prepared for the election,” he said. “I won the election overwhelmingly
by more than 80 to 85%. Anybody who claims he won it is a fraudster.”

He also warned that any attempt to replace him with any other
candidate would result in defeat for the party, even as he expressed no
fear for Mrs Akunyili’s candidacy, describing her choice as “a minus
for APGA and its greatest mistake.”

Attahiru Jega,
chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission says INEC’s request
for the closure of schools during voter registration is to ensure
greater security for students. Mr Jega told journalists in Abuja on
Monday that there was a likelihood of complications if schools were
allowed to be on during the exercise.

“Initially, we
thought we could manage under the circumstances but it became very
clear that the way we are mobilising for the voter registration and the
way people are responding, we need to take extra measures in order to
secure the pupils,” he said.

Mr Jega added that
the move was also to ensure that there was no breach in terms of
security and movement of INEC personnel and equipment for the conduct
of the exercise. According to him, 70 per cent of primary and secondary
schools to be used across the country for the exercise will also serve
as stores for the equipment and camps for INEC personnel. He explained
that with about three to 10 polling units in each school, where the
exercise would take place, “there may be possible disruption of school
activities because thousands of people will be going in to be
registered. So we felt that in order to avoid this disruption, it is
better that schools are closed during this period,” he said.

The INEC boss
pleaded with state governors and parents to see reasons with the
commission’s request, adding that it was in the interest of the nation
and the security of the students.

“We have written to
all state governors explaining reasons for the request and urging them
to facilitate compliance,” Mr Jega said.

He further
explained that there would be a difference if private schools were
allowed to remain open and “it does not allow for equity.” He also said
that “closing the school system does not mean that the students will
lose the period. That is why we think it is easier to close all the
schools the same time and re-open them about the same time so that they
can all catch up in terms of the curriculum and the syllabus.”

He added that in
order to ensure that there was no disequilibrium, it stood to reason
that if INEC was advising for the closure of 70 per cent of the
schools, “we may as well close all the schools for the duration.”

The INEC boss,
however, noted that the commission was working closely with security
agencies to ensure that the exercise was successful. The minister of
state for education, Kenneth Gbagi, said that the move was taken as a
preemptive measure to safeguard pupils and ensure that none of them
were involved in any accident.

“Their safety was the basis of government acceding to INEC’s request that schools be closed for the exercise,” Mr Gbagi added.

Voter registration is to commence on Jan. 15 and end on Jan. 29.

A Federal High
Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, ordered that the planned election
into the Nigerian Premier League (NPL) Board, scheduled for January 12,
2011, be put on hold, and parties to maintain the status quo pending
the hearing of the motion.

The presiding
Judge, Okechukwu Okeke, gave the order following a motion filed by
sacked Chairman of the league, Davidson Owumi, on his removal during
the Annual General Assembly of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF),
held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on December 29, 2010. The motion, dated
January 4, 2011, was borne out of an earlier suit filed by a
Lagos-based lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, against the NFF and 10 others. Mr
Owumi is praying the court for an order of interlocutory injunction
restraining the NFF and other defendants, whether by themselves, their
servants, agents and or privies, from implementing and/or enforcing the
Akin Ibidapo-Obe Arbitration Panel report.

The applicant
further prayed the court for an interlocutory injunction restraining
the two organizations from implementing the decision reached at their
General Assembly in Uyo annulling his election as chairman of the
league. Mr Owumi, in an affidavit deposed by his counsel, Yomi Obafemi,
urged the court to determine whether members of the NFF Board and its
chairman can carry out and or discharge the duties and functions of
that office by merit of the election of August 26, 2010, which was
annulled by Okon Abang, of the Federal High Court. He is also asking
the court to determine whether the decision of the NFF and its chairman
during its general assembly, to annul his election as chairman of the
league, as well as directing the Board to conduct a fresh election
within 14 days, while the suit is pending, is an affront to the majesty
and integrity of the court.

‘Don’t recognise them’

In the substantive
suit, Mr Ogunye is asking the court to grant him six orders, among
which include an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the
officers and members of NFF and Aminu Magari, its Chairman, and other
executive members from “further conducting, parading, addressing or
describing themselves as duly elected members and officers of the
Governing Board (Executive Committee) and Congress of NFF pending the
hearing and determination of the substantive Originating Summons
herein.” According to him, this is necessary due to the elections
purportedly conducted into the said committee and congress on August
26, 2010, which he regards as illegal.

Mr Ogunye argued
that the order, made on September 6, 2010, by Mr Abang of the Federal
High Court, Lagos, in Suit No FHC/L/CS/962/10 (The Registered Trustees
of the National Association of Nigeria Footballers, NANF v Nigerian
Football Association, NFA & 7 Ors), which annulled the elections on
NFF conducted on August 26, 2010, is upon the discontinuance of the
suit, “being impudently disobeyed by the board and congress of the NFF.”

He averred that the
members have reinstated themselves into office and are now discharging
the functions and duties of the offices, pursuant to the purported
mandate they obtained in the said annulled election. He argued that the
actions of the NFF violate the provisions of the Constitution of
Nigeria; are an assault on the integrity of the Federal High Court and
the sanctity of its orders; subvert the rule of law; negate the orderly
administration of justice in the country; impact negatively on its law
practice; and adversely affect the faith of his clients and prospective
clients in the inviolability of the orders of courts.

The matter has been adjourned till January 17, 2011.

Lawmakers who were
elected back in November officially entered Congress, with the new
Republican majority in the House of Representatives gunning immediately
for President Barack Obama’s signal achievement — the overhaul of the
U.S. healthcare system.

“I and a lot of my
fellow freshmen ran on repealing Obamacare,” said Republican
Congressman Joe Walsh. “The folks in my district told me month after
month they wanted this thing repealed.” The health plan aims to provide
medical insurance to nearly all Americans. Republicans consider it a
complicated and costly burden on the country — but their battle to kill
it probably won’t draw blood.

They do control
the House and have scheduled a repeal vote for Wednesday. But the Senate
and White House remain in Democratic hands. No law can be passed or
repealed without their approval.

Obama suggests
that the Republicans will simply try to impress their supporters with
the effort and then abandon it “I think that there’s going to be
politics,” he said. “That’s what happens in Washington.” But the
Republicans have other ways to oppose and annoy the administration. In
the weeks to come, they plan a wide range of investigations, exercising
American lawmakers’ traditional role of overseeing government
operations, with the traditional accompanying opportunities to embarrass
the party in power.

One committee of
House lawmakers has already announced plans for public hearings on no
less than six separate issues. There’s no telling how many more
committees will come forward with their own ambitious agenda.

But the biggest
minefield of all could be a vote on whether the U.S. government can keep
borrowing money above its currently approved “debt ceiling.” The
Congress has only authorized total borrowing of up to $14.3 trillion.

The government’s mounting debts are already approaching $14 trillion and will grow more in the months to come.

Republicans who want to shrink the government and reduce its spending have suggested they’d vote against additional borrowing.

Administration officials say the unprecedented prospect of Washington
running out of money would rattle financial markets worldwide. The
Republicans and Democrats can obviously avoid conflict if they want to.
But the prospects aren’t entirely promising. It does look like war — and
the shooting is about to begin.

Uche Chukwumerije, a senator and former
information minister, said in Ohafia, Abia State, that the cost of the
election on aspirants was assuming an alarming dimension.

“I have said it before and I am
reiterating it again. The cost of election on aspirants must be
addressed if our democracy must remain relevant. No meaningful election
and democracy can stand if the aspirant cannot bear the cost of
presenting himself and contesting the poll,” he said.

Mr. Chukwumerije, who was speaking after winning the Abia PDP
senatorial primaries, noted that no poor man can contest election in the
country.

Following the
recent bomb blasts at Mogadishu Barracks in Abuja on January 1,
security at the Army Barracks Mammy Market in Onitsha has been beefed
up. The 302 Artillery Regiment and 14 Field Engineers, Onitsha, is the
only military barracks in Anambra.

A correspondent of
the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the Mammy Market on
Saturday learnt that new security measures had been put in place to
monitor movements at night. According to a trader who pleaded
anonymity, the market now closes at 9pm as against 10pm and “there has
been increased patrol in the market after the 9pm deadline. The ongoing
perimeter fencing of the barracks has been fastened to ensure quick
completion and comprehensive policing of the entire barracks.”

When NAN contacted the acting commander of the 302 Artillery
Regiment, I. Akpan, a Lieutenant, he said he could only talk on the
directive from the Army headquarters.

Twelve of the 32
members of the Rivers House of Assembly sailed through the PDP
primaries held on Jan. 5 in the 23 local government areas of the state.
The state chairman of the party, Godspower Ake, told the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that the remaining tickets were won by
other members of the party elected by their constituents. He said that
in spite of little misunderstandings and arguments at the polling
centres, the primaries were successfully held and candidates for the
party elected for the April election. He said the exercise in some
areas was cancelled and later held again. Returning officers for the
National Assembly primaries had been told not to favour anybody or rig
elections in their areas.

Isyaku Maigoro, the
Independent National Electoral Commission Resident Commissioner in
Ekiti State, revealed that the Commission had received 1,576 Direct
Data Capture Machines for the voter registration.

Mr Maigoro while
speaking in Ado-Ekiti said that the commission is still expecting 784
machines, he also informed that ,177 electric generators will be
purchased by the commission, and distributed to each of the 177
political wards before the beginning of the registration on January 15.

He said that the commission had begun the training for 4,390 NYSC
members to be used as Assistant Registration Officers and Registration
Area Centre Officers.He charged the corps members to be committed to
the exercise and warned that any staff of the commission who engaged in
sharp practice, would be punished.

Babayo Gamawa,
deputy governor of Bauchi State, has been elected the PDP candidate for
the Bauchi North senatorial district. Announcing the results of the
primary elections in Azare, the returning officer, Sambo Raja, said
that Mr. Gamawa polled 1,862 votes to defeat his opponent, Aminu
Ahmed-Yapeco, with 37 votes.

“I declare Alhaji Babayo Garba Gamawa, who scored 1,862 votes, the winner of the election,” he said.

Reacting to his
victory, Mr. Gamawa thanked the voters for conducting themselves
peacefully during the election. The three other aspirants, former
members of the House of Representatives – Hamisu Shira, Modibbo Ahmed,
and Faruk Mustapha – boycotted the election.

The mininster of
transport, Yusuf Suleiman, has expressed optimism that people would
vote massively for President Goodluck Jonathan in the elections. The
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Yusuf who made this known
in Gwadabawa on Saturday said that Nigerians were satisfied with the
performance of Mr Jonathan.

As the PDP
presidential primaries draw near, the minister urged PDP supporters to
remain committed to the ideals of the party. He said the PDP would
continue to lay emphasis on social development and peace in the
country. The minister also expressed his confidence in the ability of
the INEC chairman, Altahiru Jega, to conduct a free, fair and
transparent election.