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Tag: 2019 election

  • Buhari, El Rufai ‘ll return to office – Kaduna deputy gov

    President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Nasir El Rufai will win the coming presidential and gubernatorial elections respectively, deputy governor of Kaduna state, Arc Barnabas Bala Bantex has predicted.

    Bantex who spoke at a stakeholders meeting at Zonkwa, headquarters of Zangon Kataf local government yesterday, advised the people of Southern Kaduna to join the mainstream of Nigerian politics.

    Bantex who is also a senatorial candidate in the coming election said that “as someone from Southern Kaduna, I don’t want us to spend another four years outside government.”

    According to him, the Malam Nasir El Rufai-led administration has been equitable to every local government in the state, in spite of political differences.

    “We have been fair and just to everyone in the last three and half years and we have been governing with the fear of God in our hearts since we assumed office,” he added.

    The senatorial candidate advised the people of Southern Kaduna to turn a new leaf and vote for APC in the next elections in order to return Buhari and El Rufai to office.

    According to Bantex, mischief makers want to put a wedge between the APC-led government and the people of Southern Kaduna, by spreading lies and rumour against it.

    Read Also: Quit Presidential race to avoid embarrassment, BMO tells Atiku

    The deputy governor also promised that the administration will continue with the good work that it is executing in Southern Kaduna and the entire state if it is returned to office.

    The senatorial candidate further said that the difference between the present administration and previous ones is that PDP executed projects with an eye to winning elections. “On the other hand, we are working for the future generation,” he clarified.

    The deputy governor said that the present administration has been working to solve the insurgency in Southern Kaduna, which predates it. “However, mischief makers keep saying that we are the source of the crises”, he lamented.

    Bantex recalled that even before they were sworn in, El Rufai had been meeting with security chiefs to find out the real nature of the crises.

    “On May 29, 2015, two people were killed in Sanga local government on the day we were sworn in. So, we had to convene an emergency security meeting on that day,” he added.

    According to him, mischief makers kept saying that “we are the cause of the problem. Sometimes, I get angry when these rumours are being peddled.”

    “However, the governor keeps consoling me that since we are doing our best and with the fear of God, we should not be worried because history will vindicate us,” the deputy governor revealed.

  • Quit Presidential race to avoid embarrassment, BMO tells Atiku

    The Buhari Media Organisation ( BMO ) on Friday alleged that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar was losing ground in the forthcoming and should therefore humbly quit the race t9 avoid an embarrassing defeat.

    Reacting to the recent defection of the deputy National Chairman of the PDP and member of the Presidential Campaign Council, Babayo Garba Gamawa to the APC, the group said the exit was “shocking and a big slap to the PDP ahead of the 2019 polls.”

    They also said the defection of former National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu whom they described as an in-law to the former Vice President was also another big blow to the PDP and the Atiku campaign.

    In a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, the group said the way and manner Atiku Abubakar, as well as his party PDP, is daily losing support from prominent members of the party to the opposition is absolutely unbecoming.

    They said further that even the party cannot deny that the loss of its Deputy Chairman amongst others, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is quite massive.

    They said “We have nothing but sympathy for Atiku at this time that he has lost some of his trusted supporters who have abandoned him to team up with President Buhari.

    “Nothing could be more demoralising than losing the number two man of your party with few days to what is almost certain to be his last attempt to clinch a seat that he had coveted since the 1990s.

    “Babayo Gamawa is not only PDP’s deputy National Chairman but also a member of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council from the same North-East geo-political zone as the former Vice President.

    “So we at BMO believe that it may be ideal for the PDP candidate to pull out of the Presidential race to save himself from what is almost certain to be a crushing defeat that would end up demystifying him as a political force”, it said.

    The group also noted the defection of the former PDP National Chairman Adamu Muazu who is known in the opposition ranks as the ‘game changer’.

    “If there is any defection that is bound to hit Atiku hard it is that of the former Bauchi governor whose election as the PDP chairman just before the 2015 election was a popular choice.

    Read Also: Buhari condoles with CAN over death of Archbishop Atilade

    “Here is a man whose daughter is married to the former Vice President’s son but opted to ignore family ties to support President Buhari’s re-election bid because he clearly knows the difference between the two.

    “If there are people who know Atiku well, Muazu certainly would be numbered among them and now that he has joined the governing party, there is no clearer message to undecided voters across the country that President Buhari is the better choice.

    “With Muazu’s decision to dump PDP, it is safe to say that the little chance the PDP has to improve on the 86,085 votes it had in 2015 when APC polled 931,598 votes in one of the President’s traditional strongholds has virtually disappeared.”

    BMO added that contrary to the impression created by PDP elements to water down their loss, none of the politicians who may have joined the ruling party to escape the glare of anti graft agencies would be spared if found to have pending corruption cases.

  • We did not endorse Atiku, says Ohanaeze

    The apex Igbo socio- cultural organisation , Ohanaeze Ndigbo has distanced itself from the alleged endorsement of the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the forthcoming election.

    Some Igbo leaders had during a meeting on November 4 last year in Enugu endorsed Atiku.

    The meeting was attended by the leadership of the PDP including Atiku and his running mate, Peter Obi; Senate President, Bukola Saraki and a host of others.

    The clarification came from the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the organisation , Mr Chuks Ibegbu yesterday in Enugu at a media briefing to mark the second anniversary of the current executive of the organisation

    Ibegbu said that the clarification became necessary following misconceptions of the event adding that the said endorsement was done by the friends of Atiku, insisting that the organisation had not endorsed any particular candidate.

    Read Also: Fayemi denies plot to frustrate Atiku’s campaign in Ekiti

    He said that Ohanaeze needed to be circumspect, “as our children are in all the political parties”.

    “ It is erroneous to say that we endorsed Atiku. Ohanaeze Ndigbo did not endorse anybody . That meeting at Nike Lake Resort was organised by friends of Atiku.

    “However, due to our peculiar circumstance in the country, we will identify with candidates that will restructure Nigeria if voted into power, ” he said.

    He said that the organisation would soon meet to take a holistic position on the 2019 general elections.

    “ Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been canvassing for our people to identify with candidates that will restructure Nigeria .

    “ We still stand on that and in the next few days we shall meet to take a holistic position on the elections , ” he said .

    Ibegbu noted that within the two years in office of the Chief John Nwodo led Ohanaeze Ndigbo , “we have given our modest contribution by re- jigging Igbo leadership and issues concerning our people”.

    He said that the current leadership of the organisation had built synergy with its affiliate groups with a view to achieving unity in the among Neighbors.

  • Elections: Adebutu, Kashamu PDP factions hold unification rally

    A unification rally was held at Ado-Odo Ota in Ogun state on Wednesday by two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, aka Lado Group and Senator Kashamu Buruji, aka Omo Ilu Group in the state.

    The unification rally is aimed at ensuring unity and cohesion in Ado-Odo Ota Local Government, Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) towards the 2019 General Elections, a

    Speaking to journalists at the rally, Chairman of Lado Faction in the local government, Alhaji Kabiru Salako said that the two factions had been working separately in the local government, but that the PDP is one.

    “The leaders of the PDP in Ado Odo Ota feel that we are one and we can work together. We told our people that we need to come together and we call the rally “Unification Rally.”

    “We want the people to know that the PDP in Ado Odo Ota is now one and we are working towards winning in the 2019 general elections. We have agreed and we have signed an MOU that we will collapse into any group that wins the election,” he said.

    The factional Chairman revealed that the factions would abide by the ruling of the court, which is expected before the end of January, 2019, and that the PDP is already an accepted party in the state.

    This was corroborated by the Chairman of Omo Ilu faction in Ado-Odo Ota, Hon. Monsuru Oloyede, who said that the “Unification Rally” was meant to unite the PDP in the local government.

    Read Also: Buhari, Tinubu, APC Presidential council meet in Aso Rock

    “The people out there want the PDP. We are all members of the PDP. What we want is for the PDP to win the 2019 elections.

    “We want the PDP to rule the state because the level of poverty of our people is much. We want to start from somewhere, others will join us later,” he said.

    Also speaking at the rally, the apex leader of the PDP in Ado-Odo Ota LG, Hon. (Chief) Alani Akinde stated that there had been problems amongst the Ladi Adebutu and Kashamu Groups of the party in the state.

    Akinde added that the rally was a product of an earlier meeting, but that they wanted the people to know what was going on, which he said was why the rally was organised, and that it would soon spread all over Ogun State.

    In his view, the House of Representatives candidate of the party from the local government under Lado Faction, Alhaji Sikiru Mustapha said that a house divided against itself could not stand.

    Mustapha stressed that they wanted to avoid what happened in Osun, Ekiti and Ondo State, where he said that the PDP lost to the All Progressives Congress (PDP) due to disunity and infighting.

    It will be recalled that the Adebutu and Kashamu factions have been on the way path over the candidates for all the elective positions in the state.

    The case is currently before a court of competent jurisdiction, which will determine the authentic faction between the two for the 2019 general elections.

    However, a meeting was held between the two factions in Ado-Odo Ota at the residence of Chief Alani Akinde on Wednesday 26th December, 2018.

    It was gathered that the leaders of the two factions agreed to unite so that the PDP could win the two assembly constituencies in Ado-Odo Ota, the House of Representatives and the Ogun West Senatorial seat, which Omo Ilu Faction zoned to Ado-Odo Ota, and which Ladi Faction zoned to Yewa South.

  • I’ll make Nigeria modern nation, if elected – Moghalu

    Kingsley Moghalu, the Presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), has said that his party will make Nigeria “a modern nation” by driving the economy through innovation, if voted into power.

    Moghalu made the promise on Wednesday in Abuja at a town hall meeting organised by the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and Daria Media with support from the MacArthur Foundation.

    He said it was unfortunate that many innovations in the country could not see the light of the day.

    The town hall meeting tagged: “The Candidates“ is a two-hour televised series between the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates of four leading political parties.

    The parties were selected from the results of multiple polls aggregated by the Centre for Democracy and Development.

    Moghalu said that the time to transform the country had come, but that the challenges of the 24th century Nigeria needed a vibrant leadership to address them.

    Moghalu, who is venturing into politics for the first time, is a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    He said if elected as the nation`s next president on Feb. 16, he would drive the economy with innovations by encouraging innovations and growth of small businesses.

    He said his party would ensure that the current N500 billion social intervention fund was effectively used to improve the lots of Nigerians.

    The candidate said his administration would put the fund into a productive capital venture that would create and allow people to run their businesses within six months of assuming office.

    This, Moghalu who became the YPP presidential candidate in September 2018, said he would guarantee wealth and job creation in the country.

    He added that he would declare his asset as required by the law before assuming office, saying that his most important asset was his intellectual property.

    “My being educated has showed me what Nigeria should be in terms of economy, infrastructure, and the well being of the people, and I will use my education to improve the lots of the people, “ he said.

    He also said his party, the YPP would fund its campaign from proceeds from voluntary contributions of its members and public-spirited individuals, adding that he did not have a political godfather.

    “I joined politics to run for the presidency using my own money, I have spent over N200 million of my personal money so far, I do not have any political Godfather,“ he said.

    According to the organisers of the town hall series, President Buhari and his running mate, Vice President Osinbajo would feature on the programme on Jan. 16, while Omoyele Sowore and his running mate, Rabiu Rufai, would feature on Jan. 23.

    The organisers say Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Peter Obi, would be feature on the programme on Jan. 30.

    The platform provided an opportunity for the studio audience which included Civil Society Organisations, Diplomatic Corps and some members of the general public who had applied online to directly interact with the presidential candidate and his running mate.

    The event was also streamed online at www.dtv.media to enable Nigerians in the diaspora and those not near television screens to participate.(NAN)

     

  • ADP begins ward-to-ward campaigns in Edo

    The Action Democratic Party ( ADP ) is to kick start its ward-to-ward campaigns across the three Senatorial Districts of Edo on Monday.

    The party’s candidate for the Edo-South Senatorial district, Mr Ese Owie, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Benin on Wednesday.

    Owie, who said that the ADP was poised to win all the available elective positions in the state during the impending general elections, stressed that the people have shown a readiness to change the existing order.

    According to him, “The people of Edo State now have a renewed determination to do away with the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives’ Congress (APC).

    “They have now come to see a better choice in our party, the ADP, a party that has come to change their fortunes for the better.’’

    The ADP candidate noted that the essence of the ward-to-ward campaigns was to take the message of hope to the people in their neighbourhoods throughout the state.

    Read Also: 2019: ADP denies endorsing Edo APC candidates

    “While I, as the party’s Senatorial candidate will be touring all the 77 wards in Edo-South with the message, similar activities will be taken across all the entire 192 wards of the state.

    “Starting from Monday and for the next two weeks, I will going round the nooks and crannies of the 77 wards of Edo-South.

    “The message is clear, and other political parties know it, that the ADP is the party to beat come February,’’ he stressed.

    The ADP is one of the 91 registered political parties in the country.

    INEC announced on Monday that there were 84, 004, 084 voters registered to vote in the 2019 general elections.

  • Saraki: 2019 election not about me

    SENATE President Bukola Saraki said yesterday that the 2019 election in Kwara State is about the preservation of the people’s culture and tradition.

    He added that the election is neither about him as the Senate president nor about the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate.

    Saraki added that the people of Kwara State would resist plans by some desperate politicians and their local collaborators to annex the state to the Southwest.

    He said Kwara belongs to Kwarans and efforts by seasonal politicians to hand it over to their Lagos and Abuja paymasters shall be frustrated.

    The Senate President spoke at Bode Saadu, headquarters of Moro Local Government Area in Kwara North during the official flag off of the PDP campaign.

    Saraki added: “This election is not about me or our governorship candidate, Razak Atunwa. It’s about this state, our tradition. Time will tell about whatever we do today. We went back to PDP because we need a government that will care for our people and gives jobs to our people. We should not vote a candidate, whose DG said ‘he does not care, he does not know’.”

    Governor Abdufatah Ahmed said: “We are flagging off our campaign to usher in another PDP government. You can all see hunger, poverty in the last three years of APC government. We want to bring in PDP to change the narrative. We shall usher in PDP government in Nigeria and Kwara.”

    The state PDP Chairman, Kola Shittu, said only PDP government would be beneficial to Kwarans and Nigerians.

    “PDP government will provide jobs for our youths. Many people have decamped to PDP because of our leaders’ sincerity and welfarism programmes,” he added.

    The state’s Director General of PDP Campaign Council, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, described APC as a deceitful party, which did not mean well for the people of Kwara State.

     

  • One dead, MC Oluomo, three journalists, others injured at Lagos APC rally

    A member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Afeez Ismail was on Tuesday shot dead when violence broke out at the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Ikeja.

    Three journalists – The Nation Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu, New Telegraph correspondent, Temitope Ogunbanke and Ibile Television cameraman, Abiodun Yusuf- were hit by stray bullets during the ensuing melee.

    NURTW Oshodi Chairman Musiliu Akinsanya a.k.a MC Oluomo was attacked by suspected union members loyal to the State Chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede.

    Scores of people were also injured.

    Read also: Photos from APC campaign rally

    The incidents occurred at a rally organised for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu at Skypower field, Ikeja.

    Ismail, popularly called Legacy, was shot in the head allegedly by a security detail of NURTW Chairman in Idumota, Azeez Lawal (A.k.a Kunle Poly).

    He was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) where he was declared dead.

    Oluomo was stabbed in the stomach, hand and head.

    He is receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

    Oladesu is receiving treatment at a private hospital

    Yusuf, who was hit by a stray bullet on his left arm, is recuperating at LASUTH.

    Our correspondent learnt many were robbed of their phones, money and other valuables.

  • 2019 election is not about me, says Saraki

    The Senate President Bukola Saraki on Tuesday said the 2019 election in the state is about the preservation of Kwara state culture and tradition.

    He added that the election is not he as the senate president nor the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Senator Saraki added that the people of Kwara state would resist plans by some desperate politicians and their local collaborators to annex the state to the south-west.

    He said Kwara belongs to Kwarans and all efforts by seasonal politicians to hand it over to their Lagos and Abuja paymasters shall be frustrated.

    The Senate President spoke at Bode Saadu, headquarters of Moro local government area, in Kwara north during the official flag off of the campaign of the PDP.

    Saraki added: “This election is not about me or our governorship candidate, Razak Atunwa. It’s about this state, our tradition. Time will tell about whatever we do today. We go back to PDP because we need a government that will care for our people, gives jobs to our people. We should not vote a candidate whose DG said’ he does not care, he does not know.”

    Earlier, Governor Abdufatah Ahmed said: “We are flagging off our campaign to usher in another PDP government. You can all see hunger, poverty in the last three years of APC government. We want to bring in PDP to change the narrative. We shall usher in PDP government in Nigeria and Kwara.

    The state chairman of the PDP, Hon. Kola Shittu said only PDP government will be beneficial to the people of the state and Nigerians in general.

    “PDP government will provide jobs for our youths. Many people have decamped to PDP because of our leaders’ sincerity and welfarism programmes,” he added.

    Read Also: APC cautions supporters against anti-party activities

    In his opening remarks, the Director General of PDP campaign council in the state, Prof Abubakar Sulaiman described APC as a deceitful party which does not mean well for the people of Kwara state.

    He added that: “Kwara election is between the real stakeholders and pretenders and those with territorial expansionist ambition. Kwara belongs to the north and we should not allow them to take the state to the south west. The APC has nothing to offer the state, they only have deception. We should vote for Atiku. Kwara should not vote for ‘ ghosts’ because” we don’t know those paradigm themselves as gubernatorial candidate now. They have never contributed anything to the development of the state “.
    Atunwa promised to run a government of welfarism if elected as the state’s next governor.

    He lamented that “the APC led federal government denied Kwara youths job placements. Our government shall provide jobs for them. Women will be empowered.

  • APC cautions supporters against anti-party activities

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) has advised its supporters against anti-party activities ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

    Alhaji Ahmed Wambai, the National Vice Chairman of the party, gave the advice at the North Central zonal rally of the Women and Youths Presidential Campaign Team on Tuesday in Lafia.

    Wambai urged Nigerians to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari and all other APC candidates in the polls.

    “Let us support all of our party’s candidates to ensure their victory in the forthcoming elections.

    “We should vote President Buhari and all other APC candidates at all levels, from the top to down and from the down to the top, please.

    “I advise you not to engage in anti-party activities as it is dangerous to the progress of the party,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Buhari seeks respect for democracy in Gabon

    He also enjoined the party supporters to work tirelessly for the victory of the party.

    He said that Buhari and Gov. Tanko Al-Makura had done a lot towards impacting positively on the lives of Nigerians, hence the need for Nigerians to re-elect the party.

    Wambai also called on Nigerians to pray and support Buhari and other APC leaders to enable them succeed in delivering the tasks ahead of them.

    The national vice chairman also urged the electorate to vote massively for the APC at all levels and jealously guard their votes.

    Besides, he urged those who are yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) form the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do so in order to exercise their rights during the election.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event was well attended by politicians, various youths and women groups, among other well wishers.