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VOL. 7, NO. 1944 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011
TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH
N150.00
Governor Sylva: I didn’t threaten to kill Jonathan PDP disqualifies Bayelsa Governor, Alaibe, Ben Bruce, Igali
T
HE drama over the Bayelsa Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary took a strange turn yesterday, with Govenror Timipre Sylva alleging plans to frame him up on false charges. Shortly after the PDP disqualified Sylva, his spokesman, Dofie Ola, issued a statement, saying: “There are attempts to arrest him on trumped-up treasonable
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Governor Sylva wishes to bring to the attention of the public reports alleging that there are attempts to arrest him on trumped-up treasonable felony charges. The story is that there is a tape in which he threatened to kill President Goodluck Jonathan. This is completely false.
From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja
felony charges. “The story is that there is a tape in which he threatened to kill President Goodluck Jonathan. This is completely
Tribunal sacks Kebbi Governor
false. At no time did Sylva threaten to kill President Jonathan. He has no reason whatsoever to wish the President or any other person dead.”
Sylva accused the PDP of infringing on his right to vote and be voted for. The statement, entitled “Bayelsa State people shall prevail, said:
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“The attention of H.E. Chief Timipre Sylva, Governor of Bayelsa State, has been drawn to a statement by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), disallowing him from participating in the Bayelsa State PDP gubernatorial primaries scheduled for Saturday, 19 November 2011. “Governor Sylva considers it disturbing that his full membership of the PDP is being abridged. In particular, his fundamental right to vote and be voted for has been trampled upon by his Continued on page 2
A DEAL ...
•Yar’Adua’s son in-law loses seat
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HE Kebbi State Governorship Election Tribunal yesterday nullified the election of Governor Saidu Dakingari. He was elected on April 26 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His election was challenged by Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) candidate Alhaji Abubakari Garimallam. The tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh governorship election within 90 days. The nullification of the election of Dakingari, the late President Umaru
From Yusuf Alli, Abuja and Khadijat Saidu, Birnin Kebbi
Yar’Adua’s son in-law, was greeted with wild jubilation in Birnin Kebbi. Tribunal Chairman Justice Mairo Laraba Yusuf said INEC could not defend the results of the April 26 governorship poll. She said the results “allocated” by INEC affected the outcome of the poll. Justice Yusuf expressed regrets that INEC could “not produce the list of ballot papers allocated to all the 21 local governments. She said the election was “not conducted in line with 2011 Electoral Act (as Continued on page 2
•Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) Managing Director Mr. Abiye H. Membere (left) shaking hands with the Chairman of the Nestoil-led Consortium, Neconde Enegry, Dr. Ernest Azudialu during the Sign-off/Sign-on ceremony for the 45 per cent equity formerly held by SPDC/Total/Agip in OML 42 to Neconde Energy, the new partner in the new joint-venture, the NPDC/Neconde JV at the NNPC Towers in Abuja ... at the weekend. Watching is Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company Mr. Mutiu Sonmonu.