Kanu-Agabi Leads PDP’s Legal Team in Bid to Oust Matawalle, Others Gusau agog as PDP supporters welcome deputy governor Chuks Okocha in Abuja main opposition Peoples Attorney General of the Governor Mahdi Gusau, who challenge the legality of the (SAN), when the suit and Innocent Onuminya in Democratic Party (PDP) to Federation and Minister of remained in the party, to a defection of members of the challenging the defections Zamfara the ruling All Progressives Justice, Godwin Kanu-Agabi, tumultuous welcome in the national and state assemblies would be filed at the Federal Congress (APC), the National to challenge the defection. state capital, Gusau. from Zamfara State. High Court in Abuja this week. Following last week’s defection Working Committee (NWC) But a massive crowd of The legal action, THISDAY Kanu-Agabi would lead a A PDP source said, "A of Zamfara State Governor of the former has approved PDP supporters yesterday gathered, was not limited to team of lawyers, including Bello Matawalle from the a legal team led by a former treated Zamfara State Deputy Matawalle, as it would also Senior Advocates of Nigeria Continued on page 8 Negotiate Your Way to Power, Imoke, Saraki, Others Charge Nigerian Youths… Page 5 Sunday 11 July, 2021 Vol 26. No 9589 www.thisdaylive.com T N400 RU N TH & REASO APC Writes INEC, Demands Indefinite Postponement of Party Congresses Earlier date wasn't sacrosanct, says Akpanudoedehe Tinubu, other presidential hopefuls now in suspense Chuks Okocha and Adedayo scheduled to commence immediate postponement addressed to Chairman of the of APC, Senator John date was not sacrosanct. Akinwale in Abuja July 10, may not hold, as the of the exercise electoral body, the ruling party Akpanudoedehe, said Unfortunately, by the leadership of the party has In the letter dated July did not state any reason for the party did not intend development, the 2023 The much-awaited congresses written to the Independent 6, 2021, with reference the indefinite postponement a postponement of the permutations by one of the of the ruling All Progressives National Electoral Commission number APC/NHDQ/ of the congresses. congresses but to cure legal Congress (APC), earlier (INEC) demanding the INEC/19/021/39, and But National Secretary landmines since the earlier Continued on page 5 Diplomatic Community Meets, Writes N’Assembly over Draft Electoral Law Urges caution, need to deepen democracy Lawmaker alleges 20 illegal insertions to rig 2023 election Chuks Okocha and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja A recent alleged attempt to tamper with the country's draft electoral law might have attracted the attention of the diplomatic community, which met last week with the leadership of the National Assembly and followed up with a private letter appealing to the lawmakers to do all within their powers to deepen democracy through the current effort at amending the Electoral Act. This development followed an uproar generated by reports that there was an attempt by a section of the National Assembly leadership to ENTER AURA HOSPITALITY... smuggle certain clauses into the draft electoral law banning L-R: President/CEO, Transcorp Plc, Mrs. Owen Omogiafo; Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN; Group Chairman, Transcorp Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu, CON; Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo; Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila; and Managing Director/CEO, Transcorp Hotels Plc, Mrs. Dupe Continued on page 6 Olusola, at the inauguration of Aura, by Transcorp Hotels, Abuja ...recently Buhari Orders Military to Go After Bandits in Zamfara, Kaduna States... Page 8 2 SUNDAY JULY 11, 2021 • THISDAY SUNDAY JULY 11, 2021 • THISDAY 3 4 SUNDAY JULY 11, 2021 • THISDAY ͹͹˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER 5 PAGE FIVE Negotiate Your Way to Power, Imoke, Saraki, Others Charge Nigerian Youths As Wike blasts Secondus, says he lacks character and quality of a leader Rivers gov, Oshiomhole engage in verbal brickbats Emameh Gabriel in Abuja enough to be "a member of never influence change! You to, 2023 provides you with Other dignitaries at the event things is to build people with an organisation but to also can make all the noise, you an opportunity to be in the also took their turns to extol character. Character to be able Ahead of 2023, a former be a member of the board, can have all the activity, you boardroom, provides you with the virtues of the former Cross to know what you stand for. Governor Cross River State, because that is where things can have all the followers, but, an opportunity to take control River State governor, saying Having an ambition is not a Liyel Imoke, has charged happen, unless you are in the you will not change the policy. and to take charge. But, it's a he laid the foundation, where bad thing, because it is the Nigeria youths to leverage board, you will remain where "This is the time for a new lot of work. Are you ready to the next generation of leaders ambition that will drive you their influence and negotiate you are. generation to get into the deliver? Are you ready to do would emerge from. to become a leader. their way into power. "Whenever you think you boardroom, it is time for a new what it takes? Saraki, while speaking, "The youths must be ready This is as River State Governor, have such a power of influence generation to appreciate the "The time has come for you described Imoke as a man of to use their voting strength to Nyesom Wike went hard on for any activity, it must be for a importance of being audacious. to make those decisions”, he character and commended him make the change. They must the National Chairman of purpose. It must be towards an No one, not anyone of us in said recounting how one of for the feat the foundation had not only engage in complaining the Peoples Democratic Party objective. And until you become front, or anyone there is going the keynote speakers, Nelson attained in the last decade. but be fully involved. Please, (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, part of that decision-making to shift! No one is going to shift Chamisa, an opposition leader The former senate president be bold, be focused and be describing him as a serial liar process, your effort will remain by you saying, please make in Zimbabwe challenged the said character was what makes audacious”, he added. and one that could not be taken just an effort. space for me, I am young, it government in Zimbabwe, and a good leader not age even The PDP national chairman, for his words. "Next time, before you finish is my time. to the surprise of everyone else, as he charged the youth to be Secondus, in his tribute, thanked Imoke made the call your influences, make sure you “Nobody gave me space. At he got 45% of the popular actively involved in politics the organisers of the event for yesterday in his opening negotiate your way into the 30, nobody gave me space. It vote in the election. It was and to also leverage their using the occasion of Imoke’s remarks at his 60th birthday boardroom. When you get to was hard work. But, the good unprecedented and the most population advantage to change 60th birthday to organise a and 10th anniversary of his the boardroom, there you can fortune was that I wanted to recent is Bobi Wine, a Ugandan the leadership narrative in the platform for national leadership foundation, Bridge Leadership influence policy. Until you get be in the boardroom. The politician, who challenged the country. dialogue aimed at transforming Foundation (TBLF) as well as into the boardroom, you can generation that we are talking status quo. He said: "One of the important the country. 11th Career Day Conference of the foundation. He said despite the influence the Nigeria youths commanded both in and outside of the social media, they have not been able to annex such influence to break into what he described as the 'boardroom' so as to provide a fertile ground for them to influence policies in the polity. He identified the failure of the youths to set out their objectives before going into politics as one of the reasons they have been constantly sidelined by the current generation of leaders in the country. He noted that social media seemed to be the place, where the young people thought they had influence but added it was not enough, given the fact that government across Africa always had certain influence over the operation of social media. He advised that the current crop of leaders in the country would not be ready to shift except and unless the youths broke their ways in and be actively involved in politics. He, however, reminded them that just as 2023 was around the corner, it provided them another ample opportunity to get into the business of political leadership. He said they must be audacious to make the change they yearned for. IMOKE AT 60... He noted that it was not Former Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke (left) and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal during Imoke’s 60th birthday anniversary celebration in Abuja yesterday APC WRITES INEC, DEMANDS INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT OF PARTY CONGRESSES national leaders of the party, receive your cooperation, please taking delivery of the materials revalidation and update for the exercise." issue a statement on the new Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as well accept the assurances of my for the congresses in batches, as exercise in Imo, Kwara, Ogun, A group, Concerned APC date. However, Buni and co as other contenders, may have highest esteem." of the close of work on Friday, and Rivers states.