Defection: Saraki, Ahmed Quit APC for PDP

Nigeria Senate President announced his defection through his twitter account from APC to PDP and also defected along with Saraki is Governor Ahmed Abdulfatah of Kwara state.

Ortom’s impeachment: Senators, Reps members berate Police, DSS for aiding eight Benue lawmakers.

Executive Governor of Benue State

National Assembly members from Benue state have condemned the actions of the Police and the DSS who they accused of aiding eight members of the Benue State House of Assembly led by the impeached Speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange, take over the floor of the Assembly to make sensitive pronouncement of impeaching Governor Samuel Ortom despite a Makurdi High court order restraining him.

Speaking through Senator Barnabas Gemade, the Federal Lawmakers also frowned at the action of the state lawmakers whom said claimed to have raised a motion of impeachment on the Governor despite their failure to form a quorum.

According to the Federal Lawmakers “Seeing us here during our recess is as a result of the event that took place here this morning. “We are on vacation, we heard this and so we rushed here to see for ourselves what has happened “And we have learnt with great shock and disbelief with what had taken place here today, where in a commando style, the Nigerian security forces made up of Police and DSS would storm the state and cause the minority group of the legislators to meet, loyal to one political party and allow them to make pronouncement on issues which are supposed to be deliberated by every member of the 8th Assembly. “This is an illegal action and we are extremely surprised that under democracy, a minority group can be given this kind of unimpeded access with security to cause illegally. “And we members of the National Assembly frown against this extremely and we came here to pay our solidarity to the governor and the people of Benue state. “Defection from a political party is not a crime and therefore those of us who have left one political party to the other have not done anything wrong therefore nobody should be vilified for the step we have taken because democracy is about freedom of choice. “People have made their choices, they should be left with their choices. When we stood election we chose the party we stood election in and when we operate we also operate for the people who elected us. “The prime duty of a legislator is to represent his people and therefore he should never be stopped from representing his people. “So 22 members that formed the majority, because they belong to a particular political party were stopped from exercising their fundamental rights in attending Assembly and doing what they should do. “It’s absolutely wrong and we condemn it with all seriousness. And we will ensure that when we go back to Abuja, we will inform the National Assembly, leadership and members and where possible they will take action as is expected of them following the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.” they stated. The eight lawmakers had earlier in the day sat in the House with Police protection, suspended 15 members of the House and and raised a motion of impeachment of the Governor with the impeached speaker promising to serve the Governor the notice within seven days. Meanwhile a Makurdi High Court, presided over by Justice Adam Onum had on the July 27, 2018 issued an ex parte interim order restraining the impeached speaker from parading himself as the speaker of the House pending the hearing of the substantive suit brought before the court by 22 members of the House of Assembly the day he was impeached.

Source: Vanguard news

APC Woe: Era of Defections in the National Assembly

Many members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the national assembly defected to other political parties yesterday during the plenaries at the national assembly, 13 senators defected to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while 37 House of representatives members defected to other political party 32 of them defected PDP, 4 defected to ADC and one member from Benue yet to indicate the new party is defecting too. And there is more indication more APC more may stil defect on Thursday. But as it stands now APC stil remain majority in the House of Representatives but is now minority in the Senate.

Atiku Declares Presidential Bid, Pledges to Restore Economy

Thousands thronged Ribadu Square, Yola, Adamawa State, on Saturday, as former Vice-President Atyiku Abubakar Formerlly decleared his ambition to run for presidency in 2019.

According to a statement by Atiku’s media office, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Parties from all the geopolitical zones of the country and the National Working Committee of the PDP, led by its National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, attended the PDP mage rally.

While making his declaration to contest the presidency, Atiku said the ruling government of the All Progressives Congress had performed below par on managing the economy, keeping the country united and stemming the trend of wanton loss of lives in the country.

Atiku said, “Fellow Nigerians, the government of APC has failed, it has failed to unite Nigerians. Today we are more divided than at any other time in the history of this country. The APC government has destroyed our economy. They took over an economy with a growth of seven percent and brought it down to less than two percent. Today, we are witnessing the most insecure situation in Nigeria ever since APC took over.

“Today, we have the highest unemployment rate in this country. More than 10million of our people have been made unemployed under the watch of the APC administration.”

The former vice president stated that more than Nigerians had died under APC than in Iraq and Afghanistan, adding that the Nigerian economy continued to flounder.

He said he was poised to work with other compatriots in the PDP to secure the party’s nomination for next year election with a mission to rebuild the economy and reunite the country.

“What the PDP is going to do is restore our economy hope of a greater Nigeria and ensure that we have security of lives and property.

“I therefore appeal to all of you, wherever you may be, that it is time to now re-embrace the party that has given us unity, prosperity and security in this country,” he added.

Secondus said the party would crush the APC in the 2019 elections. Secondus said, “We believe God has finished with the APC , and the PDP is coming like a moving train that will crush the APC  government. The leaders of the APC are corrupt; they are in the valley of corruption. They could not allocate revenue to states in the last two months. The government has collapsed; the economy has collapsed, and security has collapsed. Everything has collapsed.

“We are on a rescue mission. And so, I charged the people of Adamawa and the north-East tio brace themselves for the elections of 2019. We are not afraid; we are strong. We are coming like a moving train and the APC will be crushed in the name of the Lord Almighty. We believe that God has finished with the APC.

“What they are doing now is to frame Nigerians and leaders of their own party. Only this morning, we learnt that the Reformed APC, the authentic APC headed by Buba Galadima that his life is being threatened by the APC.”

Secondus also received several members who defected from APC and other political parties to the PDP. Among them were three commissioners, three state legislators and a female legislator of the Social Democratic Party in the Adamawa State House of Assembly and some chairmen of local government from APC.

The rally was attended by PDP stalwarts, including Abubakar Mustapha, Obi Nwodo, Adamu Mu’azu and the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Charles Iliya.

According to governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe , who was represented by his deputy, the country will be safe in the hands of the PDP.

ISIAKA Won APC Gubernatorial Primary Election

Osun StateAPC Governorship Candidate

Oyetola Adegboyega Isiaka won the APC gubernatorial primary election conducted yesterday by APC for Osun State Governorship election that will hold on September 22, 2018.

Arsenal transfer news: David Ospina allowed to leave despite Petr Cech rumours

David Ospina

Ospina was No 2 behind Petr Cech last season with Unai Emery also signing Bernd Leno this summer.

There is doubt over Cech’s future though with former club Chelsea linked to a surprise move for the Czech keeper.

Leno is expected to be Emery’s No 1 but with Cech potentially leaving, it could leave Arsenal short on goalkeepers.

Even so, the Evening Standard report that the Gunners will allow Ospina to leave if he finds a new club.

Besiktas have been strongly linked with the Colombian as the Turkish club could lose their current keeper.

Fulham are in the hunt for Fabri but Besiktas aren’t alone in their chase for Ospina.

Boca Juniors could lure him back to South America while Fenerbahce are also believed to be interested.

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour believes there will be no issue with Ospina leaving the club as he insists Cech will remain.

“I’m very happy with the signing of Bernd Leno, though I think Petr Cech will still be the first-choice goalkeeper,” he said.

“Leno is a young goalkeeper with great potential who’ll be looking to put as much pressure on Cech as possible.

“Goalkeeper is a vital position and Arsenal need a fantastic goalkeeper to be successful, so we need to hope Cech can pass on the torch to Leno for the years to come.

“Cech won’t be looking to leave this summer and Arsenal will be counting on him being No 1.

“I think Ospina will leave the club this summer, rather than Cech.”

Santi Cazorla plays for Villarreal after nearly two years out with Achilles injury

Santi Cazorla

The 33-year-old midfielder's last appearance came in October 2016 for Arsenal in the Champions League against Bulgarian side Ludogorets.

He then suffered a serious Achilles injury, which kept him out of action for 21 months.

Cazorla's spell on the sidelines was ended on Tuesday, though, when he came on as a substitute for Villarreal in their pre-season friendly against Hercules.

Following the match - which ended in a 1-1 draw - Cazorla posted on Instagram, saying: "Very happy to go back to do what I like most.

"There is a lot of work ahead of me but it is the first step. Eternally grateful to the people. It has been worth it to get here THANK YOU."

Cazorla bought his six year spell at Arsenal to an end when his contract at the Emirates expired this summer.

He opted to move back to Spain with Villarreal for a third spell with the club that he originally joined as a teenager in 2003.

Source: Skysport