Gunmen attack Benue A C N guber candidate’s convoy

Party faithful were thrown into mourning yesterday as unknown gunmen shot and killed a key member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Benue State, Charles Ayede at Kadarko on Lafia-Makurdi Road in Nassarawa State.

A stalwart of the party in the state, Senator J.K.N Waku, told our correspondent that another member of the ACN governorship campaign team, Adam Maagbe, was with the late Ayede in the same vehicle, heading to Makurdi from Abuja ahead of the ACN governorship candidate in the April 26 governorship poll, Prof. Torkuma Ugba.

After the killing of Ayede, Ugba, who was also coming from Abuja, was quickly alerted and he aborted his journey to Makurdi for safety reasons.

The journey from Abuja was said to have been smooth until they got to Kardako in Nasarawa State, where a car overtook them and sprayed their vehicle with bullets and killing Ayede on the spot, while Maagbe, a former NITEL Director sustained serious injuries and was receiving treatment in a private hospital.

The late Ayede worked with the Nigerian Television Authority (HTA) and the National Orientation Aagency (NOA) before joining Ugba’s campaign team in the last general election.

Okorocha shocks Ohakim, imposes embargo on Imo govt accounts

The out-going Imo State administration has expressed shock that the governor-elect, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has written to banks placing embargo on the state government’s accounts until he is sworn in.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Nze Elvis Agukwe, who made government’s stand known at a press conference in Owerri, also said that Governor IKedi Ohakim was not afraid of any inquiries that may be made about his activities during his tenure.

“You can imagine the level of shock with which the Governor received reports that the governor-elect, acting through his Chief of Staff, Prince Eze Madumere, has written to banks, holding the state government’s accounts,placing embargo on the accounts until Chief Okorocha is sworn in on May 29, 2011”, Agukwe fumed.

While saying that Okorocha’s action was illegal and unconstitutional, adding that there is nothing like the office of the governor elect and the Nigerian Constitution does not recognize two governors at a time.

“The action of Chief Okorocha is already grinding government machinery to a halt. As I talk to you, civil servants in the state are bcomin restive because banks, evidently acting under the instruction of Chief Okorocha, have refused to release cheques for their April salaries”, Agukwe said.

The Commissioner wondered why Okorocha was in a haste to frustrate Ohakim, even after he (Ohakim) has shown faith in the collective interest and aspiration of Imo people.

Ministerial list tears Osun PDP apart

The Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State is far from being on top of the crisis bedevilling it, as aggrieved members under the aegis of Osun PDP Rebirth are mobilising supporters against a list of potential ministers and other nominees for federal appointments purportedly forwarded by the party executive in the state.

The group, which has leaders and members across the 30 local government councils, have lately held several meetings, where they clamoured for immediate dissolution of the present EXCO.

The group wants an interim state working committee to be formed to oversee the affairs of the party before congresses are held and to also inaugurate a Truth and Reconciliation Committee which will rebuild the party from the ward to the state level in order to rekindle public confidence in the Osun PDP.

Since the the ruling PDP in the state was sacked in last November Appeal Court judgement, the party’s popularity has waned tremendously.

Senate presidency: Mark’s support swells up to 77 senators

Support for the re-election of Senator David Mark swelled further at the weekend as a total of 77 senators across the geo-political zones, political parties and senators from the North-Central yesterday threw their weight behind his re-election.

Addressing senate correspondents at the NationalAssembly yesterday , Senator Zainab Kure who highlighted the achievements of the Senate President David Mark in the last four years said Mark remains the only candidate who has the ability and experience to steer the leadership of the National Assembly for the next four years.

According to Senator Kure from Niger state, the mature way senator Mark handled proceedings and his outstanding leadership qualities made the amendment of the electoral reform possible.

She also said the ‘doctrine of necessity’, which saved the country from a political logjam occasioned by the ill health of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was achieved through the very vast experience of the Senate president David Mark.

“We believe that it’s our responsibility to support him because, we feel he is the best man for that position, he has done an excellent job as the senate president.

Reps Speaker: South West PDP Caucus Endorses -Ajibola

The Southwest Caucus of the PDP has endorsed the candidature of Muraina Ajibola for Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Reports say that the endorsement was made at a meeting held at the hill-top residence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo by the caucus in Abeokuta on Thursday.

It was learned that the meeting also deliberated on the petitions, filed by the party before various tribunals, challenging the outcome of the just-concluded general elections.

Sources close to the meeting told newsmen that Ajibola, a second-term member of the House of Representatives, hails from Ibarapa in Oyo State.

“With an experienced legislator like Ajibola, he is sure to hold all the members of the house together; he will not just be learning to climb the rope,” the source said.

Although none of those who attended the meeting was ready to volunteer information, it was, however, learnt that there was no strong opposition to the choice of Ajibola.

Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo, the PDP National Vice-Chairman, Southwest, declined comments when approached by newsmen, advising reporters to seek audience with Obasanjo.

Jonathan , PDP governors in cold war over cabinet

Determined to put in place an efficient cabinet, President Goodluck Jonathan has decided to put all recommended nominees on equal footing.

He has directed the governors of the Peoples Democratic Party governors to submit their nominees through the National Secretariat of the party, a decision many governors are uncomfortable with. Until now, governors sent the list of nominees for ministers to the President-elect without any input from either the states or national executives of the PDP.

Investigation by our correspondent showed that many governors trying to forward the list of their ministerial nominees directly to the Presidential Villa were shocked when directed to route same through the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It was learnt that the President took the step to avoid undue pressure from the governors and place all nominees on the same benchmark.