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Tag: 2015 polls

  • Mu’azu fires back at Fayose

    Mu’azu fires back at Fayose

    … Says, Governor’s allegations baseless, unfounded

    The National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adamu Mu’azu, on Thursday took a swipe on Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, for alleging that he betrayed the party during the March 28 presidential poll.

    Fayose while calling for the sack of all PDP leaders who failed to deliver their territories for President Goodluck Jonathan in the last election, had claimed that he had evidence Mu’azu worked for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Embittered by the Governor’s outburst, the Chairman who recalled Fayose’s pre-election claim that he had evidence Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, was dying, said hopes Fayose wasn’t telling another lie.

    In the messages posted on his twitter handle, @muazuaa, the PDP chairman challenged Fayose to provide the evidence that he (Mu’azu) worked against his party.

    The PDP chief described Fayose’s claim as baseless and unfounded, noting that he did his best for President Jonathan.

    According to him, those clamouring for change in the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) were the same people who contributed to the party’s defeat through their insincerity and praise-singing.

    He said: ” Fayose: I have evidence that Mu’azu worked for APC. We hope it’s not the kind of evidence he once said he had that Buhari was dying?

    “We challenge Governor Fayose to come out with the evidence that shows that the National Chairman worked for APC during the elections.

    “On Governor Fayose’s allegations, they are baseless and unfounded. We will continue to support him and the good people of Ekiti State.

    “We must provide a responsible and credible opposition to the incoming government. Together Nigeria will be great.

    “I am willing to work with all members and organs of our great party to begin a new journey of trust and sincerity with the Nigerian people.

    “In our desire to correct all wrongs and negative impressions about our party, I am calling on Nigerians to partner with us.

    “But things will change now. Power truly belongs to the people and we are giving it back to them.”

    Debunking speculations that he may dump the PDP for the APC, Muazu said the incoming ruling party has nothing to offer him, adding “I am too principled to betray my party. I have been here since 1999.”

    He explained that the PDP lost in the north because the perception about President Jonathan and the PDP had been at all time low.

     

  • Internal wrangling caused by post election trauma – PDP

    Internal wrangling caused by post election trauma – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that post election trauma arising from defeat in the last general election was responsible for the ongoing internal bickering among leaders and key stakeholders in the party.

    A statement issued on Wednesday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, however said the party has overcome the trauma, with the mature and timely intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    President Jonathan had, on Tuesday, handed down a directive, ordering all combative parties to sheathe their swords to save the future of the party.

    Metuh said: “The National Working Committee will absolutely abide by the counsel and has instructed all the executives of the party at all levels to comply accordingly.

    “The leadership of the PDP regrets any embarrassment the avoidable skirmishes may have caused the members of our great party, especially our founding fathers and teeming supporters across the country.

    “We are aware that this unfortunate development is a consequence of post election trauma arising from our first ever defeat. We however note with relief that we have now overcome this challenge.

    “The National Working Committee assures that in the new spirit of harmony in the PDP family, the reengineering process which began on Tuesday with the inauguration of the Post Election Review Committee will be vigorously sustained to restore the lost glory of our great party.

    “We therefore urge all our members to ensure that they henceforth guard their utterances and actions no matter the provocation and distortions in some section of the media while channeling their energies and ideas towards the rebuilding process.

    “In this regard, all members who have reports, grievances and suggestions on the way forward should transmit same to the Post-Election Review Committee for an all inclusive roadmap in the overall effort to regain power in 2019.”

    Metuh urged members to be wary of the activities of some “mischievous persons” within and outside the PDP family who are bent on frustrating the party’s peace efforts.

  • PDP heading for self-destruction – Mark

    PDP heading for self-destruction – Mark

    Senate President, David Mark, on Wednesday sounded a note of warning to warring factions in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to sheathe their swords to prevent the party from a looming collapse.

    Mark further warned that unless the severe in-fighting in the PDP is put to an immediate end, the party may be heading for final destruction.

    This is contained in a strongly warded statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh.

    Mumeh said that Mark spoke when the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu who heads the PDP Post-election assessment committee visited him in Abuja.

    It said that Mark was worried over the continued acrimony between factions in the party and frowned at a situation where “the PDP is already hemorrhaging.”

    The statement quoted Mark to have warned that “unless we halt the bleeding and find the necessary therapy, we may be heading for the final burial of the party.”

    “The party (PDP) is already comatose and we should do all we can to resuscitate the party rather than this unnecessary rancor and bulk passing.

    “The emerging factions (in PDP) are absolutely unnecessary.  The combatants must sheathe their swords and embrace dialogue.  My appeal is that we should not do anything further that would damage the already fragmented house.

    “Everybody should come together and rebuild the party.  We have gotten enough bruises.  We need not inflict further pains on ourselves, with continuous bickering.

    “Enough of this blame-game.  We should return to the drawing board and need not wash our dirty linen in the public, anymore.

    “I believe a useful lesson has been learnt from the PDP electoral misfortune.  As for me, it is time to put on our thinking caps and chart a new course.

    “I trust Senator Ekweremadu that he and his team will do a good job and unearth the remote and immediate causes of our misfortune and make recommendations that will enhance the future of the party.

    “I have worked closely with the Deputy President of the Senate over the years and I know his capability and capacity to handle issues.”

    He urged PDP stakeholders to rise above the present circumstances and work hard to rejuvenate the party.

    He said the new status of the party as an opposition is a challenge which “we must face with all honesty, sincerity of purpose and dedication to duty.”

     

  • Mu’azu, others must go – Fayose

    Mu’azu, others must go – Fayose

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has launched an attack on the Peoples Democratic Party National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), insisting that they must go.

    The governor in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, accused Mu’azu of selling out to the opposition at the last general election.

    Fayose wondered why PDP heavyweights like Mu’azu, Federal Capital Territory Minister, Bala Mohammed and Governor Isa Yuguda failed to deliver their home state of Bauchi to the party despite the enormous resources at their disposal.

    He argued that Mu’azu must quit his position as the National Chairman on account of the crushing defeat suffered by the party at the general election, likening the party chairman to a war commander who lost a battle and must give way to another commander.

    While demanding evidence of the funds the national leadership of the party claimed he collected, the governor said he only received N30 million for last general election which he delivered to the party.

    Fayose maintained that his demand for Mu’azu and others’ resignation was done in good faith and in the overall interest of the party saying, “I have no apology on my position on the NWC because their responsibility as a party does not take away their failure in the last general election.”

     

  • 2015 polls: Nigerians owe Jonathan debt of gratitude – Anyaoku

    2015 polls: Nigerians owe Jonathan debt of gratitude – Anyaoku

    The former Commonwealth Secretary-General and Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku on Tuesday maintained that Nigerians owed President Goodluck Jonathan a debt of gratitude for the successful conclusion of the 2015 elections.

    He spoke with State House correspondence after a breakfast meeting with the President.

    According to him, the gesture of Jonathan picking up the telephone and congratulating the President-elect, Gen. Mohmammadu Buhari, even before the final results of the elections were announced was commendable.

    According to him, that singular act earned the country a great deal of admiration and respect abroad.

    Stressing that the meeting would be the last Jonathan would hold with members of the council, he said: “We had an excellent valedictory meeting. It is the last for our council, it is the last we are meeting with the outgoing President.”

    “We told him that our nation Nigeria owes him a huge debt of gratitude for what he has done in terms of the success of the elections and above all the gesture of picking up the telephone and congratulating the President-elect even before the final results of the elections were announced.

    “That singular act has earned our country a great deal of admiration and respect abroad. We thanked him and congratulated him and wished him well in his future endeavour.”

  • AU commends Nigeria on peaceful 2015 polls

    The African Union (AU) and its affiliate, Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) on Monday commended Nigeria on the peaceful conduct of the 2015 general election in the country.

    The Chairperson, Social Affairs, Health and Nigerian representative at the Council, Dr. Tunji Asaolu, said this in Abuja over the weekend

    He said, “Let me sincerely thank Nigerians and Nigerian Civil Society Organisation (CSO) for the successful conduct of the 2015 general election, a development that led to relative peace in Nigeria different from what the world envisaged.”

    Asaolu said the position he was elected in the AU ECOSOCC is to work and team up with all Nigerian CSO to come up with laudable ideas that will reshape the country and Africa as a whole.

    “The unique character of the African Union ECOSOCC is that it is an opportunity for African civil society to play an active role in charting the future of the continent, organizing itself in partnership with African governments to contribute to the principles, policies and programmes of the Union. Nigeria is now a role model to the international community when it comes to elections,” he stated.

    The Presiding Officer of AU ECOSOCC, Hon. Joseph Chelingi, in his remarks condemned the xenophobic attacks in South Africa and the killing of four Nigerians in Indonesia, adding that the AU condemn the act of impunity that is taking place in South Africa where other Africans were been killed.

     

  • DIG, four AIGs, seven CPs for polls in Abia, Imo, Taraba

    DIG, four AIGs, seven CPs for polls in Abia, Imo, Taraba

    The Nigeria Police have deployed Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), four Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), and seven Commissioners of Police for Saturday’s election in Abia, Imo and Taraba States.

    A statement Friday by the Force spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu said a DIG, an AIG and two Commissioners of Police had been deployed in Abia State.

    Similarly, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police and three Commissioners of Police are to oversee the election in Imo State.

    Two Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and two Deputy Commissioners of Police had been deployed in Taraba State for the same purpose.

    The police authorities however, did not disclose the identities of the officers so deployed.

    The police enjoined citizens in the affected states to remain vigilant and report all suspicious movements or dealings to appropriate the police authorities.

    The statement added: “As part of efforts to ensure adequate security, the Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Solomon E. Arase, has ordered restriction on vehicular movements in local government areas in Abia, Delta, Imo, Kogi and Taraba States where rerun of the ongoing general elections are scheduled to take place on Saturday, 25th of April, 2015 between the hours of 08.00am to 5.00pm.

    “This restriction of vehicular movements order affects movements in and out of the areas where the rerun elections are to take place, except for Ambulances, Fire Service Trucks and others on essential duties.

    “Consequently, travelers and citizens who intend to ply roads within those hours are advised to plan alternative routes.

    “The IGP also warns government officials and political office holders not to go to polling units with uniformed orderlies or aides, while persons who have no business with voting must not be found within 300 metres of a polling unit.

    “The police high command has also put adequate security measures in place by the deployments of additional senior officers to supervise security of elections in the states.”

  • Why PDP was defeated in polls – Bishop Kukah

    Why PDP was defeated in polls – Bishop Kukah

    The Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Mathew Hassan Kukah, on Friday blamed greed and arrogance as major reasons why the Peoples Democratic Party was defeated in the 2015 general election.

    He made this postulation in Abakaliki, Ebonyi, while delivering a convocation lecture at the Ebonyi State University.

    The title of the lecture was “Transition To Democracy: Can Nigeria Ride The Wave?”

    Kukah also identified lack of party cohesion, insensitivity to supporters and inability to control its stalwarts’ excesses as other reasons for the party’s failure.

    He, however, blamed these on the poor foundation of the party at its inception, maintaining that PDP “was really not a party and never worked hard to become a party.”

    He said: “Successful transitions are based on the typology of the transition. Was it negotiated as it was in South Africa or is it an emergency transition? I don’t believe we have a transition in Nigeria, because I followed the circumstances that brought in Gen.  Olusegun Obasanjo and I know the story pretty well.

    “But what we had was really an attempt at becoming a democracy. PDP has reaped the ill wind it sowed because clearly PDP was really not a party and it never worked hard to become a party. It became a distribution agency.

    “It is true that these elections could have swung either way. Many would argue that President Goodluck Jonathan and his PDP could have won the elections had they not succumbed to the hubris that has become the hallmark of the PDP. We all know the story of the peculiar circumstances that brought the party into being.

    “We also know that despite that, the party became an association of takers and buccaneers more than anything else. The party could not deal quickly with the issues of greed and arrogance of some of its men and women in power.

    “The party could not control the excesses of some of its ministers and henchmen/women. It simply saw itself as presiding over a distribution agency.”

  • Tukur to PDP: I warned you on looming defeat

    Tukur to PDP: I warned you on looming defeat

    The former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has said that he is having the last laugh over the party’s defeat in the just concluded general election, saying the party ignored his warning and refused to mend its ways.

    Tukur said in a statement in Abuja that he had warned the party in 2013 that it will suffer defeat in the 2015 general election if the leaders refuse to change their ways and allow for internal democracy within the party.

    In the statement titled: “PDP- Were you not warned?” the former PDP chairman reminded the party leadership of the speech he read at the PDP National Executive Committee [NEC] meeting of Thursday, June 20, 2913, which he presided over as chairman.

    Quoting from the speech, Tukur said he had warned his fellow party leaders and members to have a change of attitude if the party must succeed.

    He said: “In our efforts to achieve success, we must   rededicate our genuine political believes, change our attitudes and identify our political needs. These good values cannot be realized without accepting the supremacy of the party constitution as key instrument that ensures progress, stability and internal discipline.”

    He also drew their attention to his words that “we must strengthen our democracy through determination, not personalization, correction, not manipulation, collectivism, not individualism and sacrifice, not disservice.

    “If these pronouncements are substantial then, the party should quickly take urgent steps to achieve higher levels, at least by coming to terms with democratic norms and practices.”

    Tukur argued that he also asked party members to accord President Goodluck Jonathan some measure of respect, saying, “We owe ourselves a duty to protect, project and support our President to leave behind, a lasting legacy for Nigerians,” while reminding them of the promises made on the PDP journey.

     

  • Edo: Three corps members arrested for selling ballot papers

    Three members of the National Youth Service Corps who served as ad-hoc staff during the April 11 House of Assembly election in Edo State have been arrested for allegedly selling ballot papers and other sensitive materials.

    They were alleged to have sold the electoral materials for N40, 000.

    The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, who disclosed this while reviewing the 2015 polls said 15,000 workers were used for the conduct of the elections.

    Igini said the three corps members sold two packets of ballot papers.

    He stated that two staff of the commission who could not account for election materials given to them were suspended.

    The REC said investigations have commenced to determine the culpability of the two INEC staff in the incident.

    “The ongoing investigations will determine whether their act was deliberate or out of sheer negligence.

    “With respect to the NYSC members, they were given ballot papers of which they sold two packets and were nabbed,” he stated.

    Igini, who described their offences as severe, said they would be dealt with ruthlessly.