Category: Edo 2020

 Bisi Olaniyi, Benin

 

EDO State Media Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the triumphant entry into Edo by the former national chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has left members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) demoralised.

The council, through its Chairman, Prince John Mayaki, noted that PDP members had refused to read the handwriting on the wall, resorting to empty gossips and character assassination.

It said: “The triumphant entry of Comrade Oshiomhole to Edo State last week and the sea of people that dotted the streets and poured out to open spaces to welcome their leader home, have inflicted trauma on members of PDP and demoralised them, thereby shattering whatever hope they nurture of rigging their way to victory on September 19.

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“The people’s message was clear: ‘we stand wholeheartedly on this side of the divide, and with the might of our population, we will resist any kind of underhanded attempt to subvert our will’.

“PDP members’ resort to belligerent attacks and mendacious propaganda betray a hollowness that has deepened itself over the years in a party lying about without vision. Obaseki was the man PDP sued, seeking to nail him for presenting fake and doctored certificates, as the output of an academic history mired in irrational inconsistencies.

“Edo PDP, at present, is a chapter that its incompetence and irrelevance continue to stink, despite the national organ’s relentless attempt to rinse and bleach it with rainy dollars.

By Jide Orintunsin, Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Monitoring Sub-committee of the National Campaign Council for Edo State Governorship Election met on Friday to strategise on the September 10 governorship election.

The meeting, held behind closed doors at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, lasted for about 45 minutes before it was moved to an undisclosed venue in the capital city.

In attendance was the Chairman of the sub-committee and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, who is also the deputy chairman of the National Campaign Council; Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, among others.

The party’s standard-bearer, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and his running mate, Gani Audu, were also in attendance.

Efforts by reporters to speak to the committee members and the governorship candidate met a brick wall, as none was ready to speak after the meeting before relocating to an unknown venue.

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It was, however, gathered that the meeting, which essentially was to discuss among other things the campaign budget, had to relocate to enable it meet stakeholders to further strategise on how to reclaim the state from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

It was learnt that the committee was scheduled to meet the former national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, for his inputs, to enable the committee factor it into a report that was to be submitted to the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) at a crucial meeting last night at an undisclosed venue in Asokoro, Abuja.

By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council for the Edo Governorship Election has rejected the request by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to transfer a court case in the Federal High Court from the Benin Division to the Abuja jurisdiction.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP National Campaign Council, Raymond Dokpesi, identified the case number of the matter as Suit No: FHC/B/C569/2020 PDP V. INEC & 2 Ords.

He said they were shocked by the sudden demand by APC “to seek the transfer of our matter in Benin jurisdiction to Abuja.”

Dokpesi said: “The request by the APC violates the circular of the chief judge of the Federal High Court dated August 6, 2018 and June 24, 2020, which cautioned against entertaining matters of the cause of action arose from outside judicial divisions.

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“On this particular matter, our party could have sued in Abuja jurisdiction, but for the policy direction of the chief judge of hearing matters only within jurisdictions.

“The petition of the APC therefore, contradicts the policy directive of the chief judge of the Federal High Court and we therefore, expect the court to ignore same. More so, as the matter has not been heard in Benin jurisdiction. The PDP has nothing to fear as we are confident in the judiciary to do justice.”

By Jide Orintunsin, Abuja

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will reclaim Edo State at the September governorship election.

Sylva, the chairman of the Contact and Mobilisation Committee of the All Progressives Congress National Governorship Election Council, said the power of incumbency of Godwin Obaseki cannot retain him at the Government House, as he will be defeated.

He spoke with reporters at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja after his sub-committee’s meeting.

Our Reporter

 

MEMBERS of civil society groups under the aegis of Joint Forces for the Defence of Democracy (JOFDES), yesterday protested in Benin and its environs against Governor Godwin Obaseki’s alleged move to obtain N20billion loan for his re-election campaign.

JOFDES, through its leaders, Osewmengie Isere, a lawyer; and Kola Edokpayi, said the Obaseki administration had no justification to obtain another N20billion loan that would become a burden to Edo people and the unborn generations.

JOFDES said: “Just some weeks to the September 19 governorship election, Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is making a desperate attempt to secure another loan from the stock market.

“The most shocking part of it is that Obaseki is about taking the loan, when Edo State currently services the $150 million facility his administration obtained from the World Bank.

Read Also: ‘Obaseki will face defeat on Sept 19’

“Edo State’s domestic debt profile stands at N84.76billion. Edo State has the highest domestic debt in Nigeria, second only to Lagos State. Edo State has the highest external debt in the entire Southsouth, with an external debt of $257.92 million, as at March 2020.

The Edo governor, reacting through his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, accused the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, of sponsoring the protest.

He said such action would not distract the electorate.

The APC standard-bearer, responding to Obaseki’s allegation through the Chairman, Edo State APC Media Campaign Council, Prince John Mayaki, said it was ludicrous and insulting to the people of Edo State known for their independence of thought, for the governor to suggest that the anger the protesters expressed on the streets of Benin over the N20billion loan he was trying to obtain for his collapsing campaigns was done at his behest.

 

By Bisi Olaniyi, Benin

Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will face defeat on September 19.

The party, through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Azebamwan, said yesterday that its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, would emerge victorious at the polls.

It condemned the lies and propaganda of Edo PDP, through its spokesman, Chris Nehikhare, who alleged that the National Campaign Council of the APC approached NEXIM Bank for $500million loan, allegedly to fund the governorship campaign.

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APC said: “The irresponsible, senseless and reckless allegations of the PDP would have been ignored, if the issues involved are not so weighty. Any person familiar with the rudiments of financial transactions by banks knows that no bank worth its operating licence will provide a facility of that magnitude, without documentation and a long paper trail.

“We challenge Nehikhare and his paymasters to publish evidence in their possession to substantiate their claim or shut up. “

By Sanni Onogu, Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is working to win the coming Edo and Ondo governorship elections, it has been learnt.

The party is determined to regain the seven states it lost during the 2019 general election and win even more.

A member of the Caretaker/Extra-ordinary National Convention Planning Committee of the APC, Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf (Taraba Central), made this known at the weekend while answering questions from reporters.

Yusuf, who represents the Senate at the panel, said the committee is working with the leadership and members of the APC in the two states to attain unity and cohesion required before the elections.

He said: “You know, in politics, 24 hours is a very long time. Anything can happen. You know, we are in the process of reconciliation. The governor of Niger State is working on the reconciliation in Ondo State.

“It’s an issue on the table of the stakeholders in Ondo, and I’m sure things are going to be sorted out.

“Even the issue of deputy speaker that was impeached will also be addressed as regards why he was impeached. It’s not something I can say at this point in time, it’s democracy at work.

“We will wait and see how it will go. But we know that such an issue should not affect the chances of the party in the coming election in Ondo State, the same way efforts are being made to ensure oneness and victory of the party in the coming governorship election in Edo State.

“The Caretaker Committee has been working towards making reconciliation with our members and also working to see that we retain Edo and Ondo states in the coming elections.”

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Yusuf added that the National Caretaker Committee is making progress in achieving unity among groups in the party.

This, he explained, is being achieved through visitation to national stakeholders and phone conversation with others.

Yusuf said: “We have extended our hands of fellowship to every member of APC and work as a family for the progress and stability of the party. I’m not aware that any dissenting voice has gone to court.

“We have agreed, as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari that we should have our cases withdrawn from courts and move for full blown reconciliation.

“Our team had met Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and you have heard what he said. As far as he’s concerned, there is no division in the party. It is democracy.

“There must be one or two, who will say he or she doesn’t feel happy the way he is treated or the way the party is being managed, who the committee is ready to pacify.”

He admitted that the committee is facing challenges in its peace mission, but is sure of overcoming them.

“When you are dealing with a challenging issue in the house, you will not say you have overcome them.

“We are in the process of overcoming the challenges. We are in the process of talking to people we know are very important.

“We are not saying the road ahead is going to be easy. It is a challenge we will work hard to overcome.

“The caucuses are working together to make sure that the party retains or brings back the glory it has lost.

“We lost about seven states in the last general election and we will work to get them back and even add more in the spirit of togetherness.

“APC is a ruling party. Whatever happens to the party will affect other parties. Every party has its challenge, but the magnitude differs.

“The bigger the party, the bigger the challenge. But we believe in the coming months, we will sort out the challenges,” Yusuf said.

 Bisi Olaniyi, Benin

 

THE standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has announced the beginning of an online series on his campaign manifesto, the SIMPLE agenda, to be streamed daily across his social media accounts, starting from today.

The governorship candidate, yesterday in a statement by the Director of Communication and Media of his campaign organisation, Prince John Mayaki, described the streaming as an open conversation that would outline his manifesto to the people, particularly youths.

He said it was part of the campaign’s adaptations to accommodate the changes occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Ize-Iyamu said: “As we intensify pressure on the Edo State Government to take responsible actions to protect our people against COVID-19, we, the APC, know that campaigns for this election season must be different.

“Before now, our internal party processes have been adapted to accommodate health and regulatory guidelines and ensure that we do not compromise the health of our people or present them a choice between exercising their franchise and safety. That must continue even as we begin open campaigns across the state.

“As part of our adaptations, we are starting an online series focused on my SIMPLE agenda. This series will be streamed live weekly on my social media platforms and specifically targeted at the teeming youth at home and in the diaspora.

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“What we intend to achieve with this is to further acquaint the people with my manifesto and policy initiatives designed to tackle the challenges neglected and incompetently managed by the failed incumbent administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki. It will also offer a platform for open conversations in a safe and responsible manner.

“Although, we have decided that this be driven by the youth wing of the campaign, I will be featuring weekly to explain the agenda and engage our people.”

He said he knew that the September 19 election held special importance for youths and the result would be largely determined by them.

Ize-Iyamu encouraged everyone to participate in the conversation, saying he would highlight his plans to create real jobs, unlike the unfulfilled 200,000 jobs promise of Obaseki.

He stressed that he would ensure true empowerment, a safe and conducive environment for youths’ creativity to thrive and attract global investments.