2019: 3 Igbo PDP Govs Set To Join APC, Ken Nnamani Appointed Southeast Leader, Adopt Buhari's 2nd Term Presidency

Three governors of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in the Southeastern region of Nigeria are prepared to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

This revelation was made by the Imo State Governor, Rochas Owelle Okorocha shortly after the Southeast frontier leaders and politicians held a meeting where it was agreed to back President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term come 2019.

They said they will only gun for the plum office after expiration of the president’s second term.

These were the highpoints after a brainstorming session in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

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The decisions came on the heels of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s clamour for Igbo Presidency in 2019.

At the well attended meeting, a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, emerged leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southeast.

It was also disclosed that three current governors in the zone will be joining the APC soon.

Those in attendance at the meeting held at the Imo International Convention Centre (IICC) were: Ken Nnamani, Emeka Offor, Ifeanyi Araraume,  George Moughalu, Tony Eze, Ebuka Onunkwo, Jombo Offor, Eze Madumere, members of the National Working Committee of APC, as well as other prominent politicians from the zone.

Speaking after a closed door meeting, the host governor, Rochas Okorocha, said: “Now that Igbo leaders are together in APC, Nigerians will hear us.

“There is a vaccum of leadership in the South-East APC. I am a Governor. My brothers Chris Ngige and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu are ministers.

“Hence the importance of Ken Nnamani coming at this time. I declined leadership of Ndi-Igbo in APC.

“With Ken Nnamani, the question of who is the leader of APC in the Southeast has been answered. Ken Nnamani is the leader of APC in the South-East.”

He went on: “Senator Nnamani should then work with other leaders like Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Jim Nwobodo and a host of others to give Ndi-Igbo Political direction.

“Those who have joined the Party or who want to join should do so to build the Party and not to cause Confusion. APC is the right Party for the Igbo and the only Party that can guarantee Igbo Presidency”.

He went: “We are going to support President Muhammadu Buhari for the eight years he is going to lead the nation.

“This is the time for Ndi-Igbo to come and work together. We are also going to use the Anambra election to show that APC has arrived Southeast.

“The Igbo played bad politics in 2015. Today we have lost a lot. We are not anywhere because of our bad politics.”

Okorocha also disclosed three governors in the zone were in touch with him to join the APC soon.

He added that being the only APC governor in the Southeast does not give him joy and advised that other political leaders in the geopolitical zone should take “advantage of the moment and come into APC.”

Nnamani said the Igbo need more of their leaders at the National leadership of the APC where decisions are taken and at the National Assembly and other strategic areas.

The former Senate President stressed: “Some of us going into APC are not doing so because of hunger but in the interest of the Igbos.

“We should play politics of ideas and avoid abusive words. Ndi-Igbo do not have the ingredients for opposition politics.

“We do not have the media or business or money to play opposition politics but we won’t ask for handouts.”

He continued: “How the Yorubas voted in 2015 should be an eye-opener. They voted both sides but the South-East put their eggs in one basket.

“I am not of the view that everybody should be in APC but those have seen the need should do so.

“If Governor Okorocha has realised that he needs more hands in APC, he should be commended. We are worst enemies of ourselves.

“If we work together we will go very very far. This is the time to play national politics.”

Nnamani said: “Some people could say we have the Deputy Senate President but he does not attend the meeting of APC caucus where important decisions are taken.

“We must think ahead. The benefit of that office is therefore personal and does not enhance the political fortunes of the South-East people”.

Former Senate President, PDP Chieftain, Ken Nnamani Join APC; See Photo

Former Senate President Ken Nnamani has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Nnamani registered as a member of the APC in Amechi-Uwani, Enugu south local government area of Enugu state, on Sunday.

He became a member of the ruling party a day after Rochas Okorocha, governor of Imo state, told south-east politicians that there is “no future outside the APC”.

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Ben Nwoye, chairman of the Enugu chapter of the ruling party, had earlier advised politicians in the state to take advantage of the three weeks set aside for the registration of APC members in the south-east.

Nwoye also told journalists that his party was expecting the influx of old and new politicians from PDP.

“We have worked tirelessly since 2016 to build our structure, as well as convince these politicians to join us for a better Nigerian,” he had said.

“As it stands, we want the world to know that the PDP is in comatose in Enugu state, and we are fully prepared to wrestle power from them in 2019, because we have the structure.

“You will quite agree with me that all those politicians that made PDP tick in Enugu state in the past, including former governor of old Anambara state and ex- senator, Ifeanyichukwu Jim Nwobodo have all dumped the opposition party, for APC.”

Elected to the upper chamber of the national assembly in 2003, Nnamani emerged senate president in 2005, and held the position until 2007.

In October, the federal government named him head of a 24-man electoral reform committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari.

New Robust Electoral Act Ready Soon As FG Inaugurates Constitution And Electoral Reform C'ttee, See Full List Of Members

The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has charged members of the Committee on Constitution and Electoral Reform to look into the possible  amendments to the Constitution and Electoral Act , as well as other legal instruments concerning elections to facilitate the attainment of a more robust and generally acceptable electoral system.

According to a press release from the Office of the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and issued by Comrade Salihu Othman Isah, the Minister gave this charge while inaugurating members of the Committee on Constitution and Electoral Reform in his office last Tuesday in Abuja.

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Isah disclosed that the AGF emphasized that the committee would leverage on their combined wealth of experience to review the electoral environment, relevant laws and also experiences from the recent elections conducted in Nigeria and make recommendations to strengthen and achieve the conduct of free and fair elections in the country.

He affirmed that it is obligatory on the part of the committee “to take a holistic and critical look of the recommendations of Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee.”

“The committee must consult far and wide, across all spectra of the society and in particular with the National Assembly and the Judiciary in order to make recommendations that would stand the test of times”.

“It is our expectation that the committee would turn in a report which dept and quality should resound for years to come and would facilitate the re-engineering of our electoral practice” he added.

The AGF also stressed that the committee is expected to come up with a draft executive memo for Federal Executive Council vetting, pledging to back it up with draft Executive Bill that may ultimately place our electoral system on a good pedestal enough to accommodate progressive reforms in future elections and electoral space.

The committee has the following terms of reference:

i.      Review of the laws impacting elections in Nigeria, including relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution(as amended) and the Electoral Act 2012 (as amended) to assess their impact and adequacy for the administration of elections in Nigeria.

ii.     Review and recommend the jurisdictional mandates of the proposed Electoral Tribunal.

iii.    Review of recent judicial decisions on election petitions as they relate to:

a.      Conflicting judgments.

b.      Absence of consequential orders.

c.      Delays in the issuance of Certified True Copies of Judgments.

d.      Harmonise the Electoral Act in view of these judgments with a view to enhancing the electoral process.

iv.     Review of the lessons learnt from the 2015 general elections and make recommendations for the improvement of the electoral system.

v.      Identify and assess international best practices on elections and electoral systems relevant to Nigeria’s experience and identify best practices that would impact positively on the quality and credibility of the nation’s electoral process.

vi.     Review the extent of implementation of the recommendations of the 2008 Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) headed by Justice Mohammad Uwais  and advise on outstanding issues for implementation.

vii.    Identify areas of the constitution impacting on the conduct of the elections that needed reform.

viii.   Recommend the best approach to effective prosecution of electoral offences.

ix.     Consolidate the recommendations for Electoral Reforms into a single Electoral Act Bill to achieve the repeal of the 2010 Electoral Act and re-enactment of a new Electoral Act for the country.

x.      Prepare and recommend a draft bill for approval of the President for submission to the National Assembly for enactment.

xi.     Coordinate with the National Assembly to achieve timely passage into law of the proposed bill.

xii.    Make any recommendations deemed necessary for the realization of these terms of reference and

xiii.   Submit a report of its recommendations for reforms and draft clauses and provisions to be proposed for legislative action within (10) weeks.

Full list of members of the committee, carefully selected based on their experience, maturity and resourcefulness and drawn from all walks of life include, Senator Ken Nnamani, Chairman, Dr. Muiz Banire, SAN, Mr. Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, Mrs Babalola O. O., Mr. Duruaku Chima, Mrs. Musa I. Maryam, Mr. H.A Tahir, Mr. Ike Udunni, Ibrahim S. O., Esther Uzoma, Mr. Eze Philip and Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim.

Others are Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi , Mr. Utum Eteng, Mr. Ejike Eze, Chief A.C. Ude, Mrs. E. Ifendu, Dr. Francis Abang Bullen, Mr. Anike Nwoga, Mrs. Cecilia Adams, Mr. Clement Nwankwo, Mr. C. Jude, Mr. Mohammed Bello Tukur, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku while Dr. Mamman Lawalill serve as Secretary,.

In his acceptance speech, former Senate President who is chairman of the Committee, Senator Ken Nnamani disclosed that his willingness to serve in the committee was driven by his conviction that Mr. President has the political will to implement its report.

Nnamani promised to work tirelessly with other members to produce a document that would amongst other things reduce the tendency of getting electoral victory through the courts other than the ballot boxes.

He therefore on behalf of other members expressed gratitude to President Buhari for counting them worthy to play a role in this regards.

Buhari Appoints Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani To Head Electoral Reform Committee

President Muhammadu Buhari, has constituted a 24-man Electoral Reform Committee to be headed by a former Senate President, Dr. Ken Nnamani.

The Committee, whose members were drawn from the Civil Society Organisations, academia, legal profession, traditional institutions, as well as former legislators, will be inaugurated on Tuesday by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.

The AGF, in a press statement he issued through his media aide, Mr. Salisu Isah, on Sunday, said the Constitutional/ Electoral Reform Committee was set-up as part of concerted effort by the President Buhari-led administration, “to ensure an electoral process that would meet the global standard and satisfy the desire of the electorates”.

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He said the Committee would be specifically mandated to re-jig the current process.

“The Committee is expected to Review Electoral environment, laws and experiences from recent elections conducted in Nigeria and make Recommendations to strengthen and achieve the conduct of free and fair elections in Nigeria”, the AGF stated.

Malami, maintained that the former Senate President, Nnamani was okayed to head the Committee, with an expectation that he would “bring his wealth of experience to bear on the reform process”.

Whereas a don from Ado Bayero University, Kano, Dr. Mamman Lawal was appointed to serve as Secretary of the Committee, among its members included Dr. Muiz Banire, SAN, Dr. Clement Nwankwo, Chief A.C Ude and Mr. Tahir, the Director, Legal Drafting, Federal Ministry of Justice.

Nigerians have in recent times expressed concern over the spate of inconclusive elections in the country, urging the federal government to take urgent steps towards nipping the recurring electoral anomaly in the bud

David Mark, Buhari, Others In Secret Meeting At Aso Rock

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with some ex- leaders of the National Assembly.

Two separate meetings were said to have been held at the President’s office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Those spotted at the Villa included former Senate Presidents, David Mark and Ken Nnamani, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Bello Masari and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang.

While Nnamani and Masari arrived the same time, Mark, who is still a current Senator approached the President’s office together with Enang about one hour later.

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But it was not clear whether Mark and Enang actually met Nnamani and Masari at the President’s office as Nnamani and Masari were said to have been taken out from the President’s office’s entrance in a vehicle.

Nnamani and Masari, who had earlier trekked by the Council Chamber in the clear view of journalists when going to the President’s office, have not been spotted to go out through the same way they came in at the time of filing this report.

The agenda of the meetings was unknown but may not be unconnected with the soured relationship between the Presidency and the current Senate.

Mark, who came out after about thirty minutes in the President’s office, did not speak to journalists as he walked through the corridor with one protocol officer.

His visit to the Villa was the first since he stepped down as the Senate President in the last dispensation.

No official statement, at the time of this report, has been issued concerning the meetings.

The current Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who is facing Senate Standing rules forgery trial along with is deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, had recently declared that there was cabal in the Presidency.

REVEALED: What Igbo Leaders, Buhari Discussed Yesterday At Secret Meeting; Their Demands, The President's Reply

News Punch has now been privy to what some Igbo leaders led by a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani under the auspices of South-East Group for Change discussed yesterday at a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari as the Aso Rock Presidential villa.

None of those in the delegation agreed to field questions when approached by State House correspondents after they emerged from the meeting. Nnamani calmly waved off attempt to interview him, saying: “No, no, not now!”

It was gathered that  the delegation told President Buhari that Igbo do not believe the allegation that he does not like them, as he had, in the past, picked a vice presidential candidate from the South-East, The Daily Sun Newspaper confirmed

Also, the delegation told the president that the fact that the second Niger Bridge was accommodated in the 2016 budget was an indication that he loves Ndigbo. 

The delegation, however, asked him to extend more appointments to Igbo in order to help the APC gain a better foothold in the region.

The delegation also demanded that Buhari visits South East and personally receive Igbo who would defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

On the pro-Biafra agitation, the delegation told President Buhari that the detention of Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, is fuelling it, while suggesting that his release would douse the tension.

In his reply, Buhari reportedly told the delegation that the notion that he hates Igbo is not true. He was said to have told the visitors that children of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, are his friends.He told the delegation also that if he does not like Igbo he would not have received them, while promising that he will continue to work with South easterners.

The Southeast group had visited the President twenty-four hours after a bloody clash between security agencies and pro-Biafran groups in the region, where about 30 people dead, including three policemen.

The 18-man delegation arrived the Presidential Villa in a bus belonging to the Ken Nnamani Leadership Institute. They included the National Auditor of the APC, George Moghalu;  former Senators Ifeanyi Ararume and Osita Izunaso;  former Executive Vice-Chairman of Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Ernest Ndukwe, APC National Vice Chairman (South-East),  Emma Eneukwu; member of the APC Board of Trustees, Chief Austin Edeze; Dr. Uzoma Obiyo, Chris Akomas among others.

BIAFRA: Igbo Leaders In Closed Door Meeting With Buhari At Aso Rock, See Photos

Some Igbo leaders under the aegis of Southeast Group for Change this afternoon held a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at Aso Rock Presidential villa.

The South East politicians led by former Senate President, Ken Nnamani held the meeting with the President a day after members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) held demonstrations in the South East and South-South parts of the country.

‎The 18-member delegation, which arrived in a bus belonging to the Ken Nnamani Leadership Institute, came under the aegis of Southeast Group for Change, The Nation Newspaper reports

They comprised mainly members of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

The delegation included  ‎the National Auditor of APC, George Moghalu; former Senators ‎Ifeanyi Ararume and Osita Izunaso;  former House of Representatives member, Sharon Ikeazor and  former Executive Vice-Chairman of Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Ernest Ndukwe.

Also in the team were the APC National Vice-Chairman (South East), Hon. Emma Eneukwu; member of the APC Board of Trustees, Chief Austin Edeze; Dr. Uzoma Obiyo ‎and Chris Akomas.

Nnamani and other member of the delegation ‎declined to speak with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

As he walked past the journalists, Nnamani only replied the question from journalists on whether the issue of Biafra came up ‎for discussion during the meeting with: “No, no, not now.”

No official statement has been issued on the meeting at the time of filing this report.

More Photos:

Obasanjo, Atiku, Duke, Others Linked To New Political Party; Tinubu's Name Too Filters Ahead 2019

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, an unconfirmed report says is leading a pack of top politicians including his former Vice President. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former senate president Ken Nnamani and former Cross River State Governor Mr. Donald Duke, among others, to float a new political party ahead of the 2019 general elections apparently in dissatisfaction with the performance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, Frontier News reports

It gathered authoritatively, Frontier News says that the new party formation, which is billed for lunch in November 2016 also has Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and his predecessor Senator Aliyu Wamako as coordinator of Sokoto state while Senator Musa Kwakwaso is to oversee Kano state.

Other coordinators of the yet to be named mega party our correspondent gathered are Senator Adamu Aliero who is to coordinate Kebbi state, MrsAll Progressives Congress  who is to coordinate Akwa Ibom, the current secretary to the Edo State government Professor Julius Ihonvbere is to coordinate Edo State while Mr. Jimi Agbaje is to coordinate Lagos state. The name of Ogun born politician Mr. Bode Mustapha also featured in the new political arrangement.

Some governors of the South-South and South-East, who are serving their second terms in office our correspondent gathered are also deeply involved in the political arrangement but with the promise of vice presidential slot while  present and former governors of the North have also been linked to the new party.

Though the name of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was linked to the new party, an insider told Frontiersnews that Obasanjo is strongly opposed to the inclusion of his former deputy in the party.

A source, who spoke to our correspondent, on condition of anonymity said ” Obasanjo is blocking the inclusion of Atiku Abubakar because of their old quarrel. We are beginning to see the former VP returning to the PDP before 2019 because the APC will certainly not give him the ticket in 2019″.

Top political leaders in both the ruling APC, the PDP and other political parties in the country have also been linked with the new party as consultation intensifies.

An inside source told our correspondent on Monday that key members of the National Assembly, some serving ministers, former governors and a host of other powerful individuals in the country swell the rank of the new political group.

The source stated that in the months ahead, “you are going to see alignment and realignment of political interests. As for the APC and the PDP, there survival will be dependent on their ability to manage their crisis”.

Our correspondent’s investigations revealed that APC strongman Senator Bola Tinubu is already mobilising his supporters to consolidate their hold on the South West bloc and possibly reawaken “his old political bloc”.

Tinubu’s key allies and diehard loyalists who the source said are very unhappy in APC and with the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government are already mobilising to recreate the old Alliance for Democracy (AD) platform ahead of the 2019 general elections, another top politician confirmed.

The source said this development is also applicable to the Atiku Abubakar and the Bukola Saraki’s blocs.

The promoters of the yet to be named political party, the online medium said were undecided wether to create a completely new political platform or leverage on an already registered party and build it into a mega party to form a formidable opposition party to the APC and the PDP in the political landscape.