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Tag: anti-party

  • Anti-party: ADP expels National Secretary, 16 others

    The National Executive Committee of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) has approved the expulsion of the party’s National Secretary, Dr. James Okoroma and three other members of the National Working Committee of the party for anti-party activities, insubordination and causing disaffection and division among members of the party. The party’s highest decision making body also approved the expulsion of 13 other members of the National Executive Committee and the appointment of Dr. Steve Uwazie as the new National Secretary of the party.

    National Chairman of the party, Engr. Yabagi Sani said at a news conference in Abuja that the expelled National Secretary was discovered to have been a agent of the All Progressive Grad Alliance and worked for the APGA governorship candidate in Imo state, Ifeanyi Ararume during the just concluded general election. Sani also said the former National Secretary took the resources of the party and the vehicle given to him as the Director General of the party’s Campaign Council and rebranded it in APGA colours during the elections, while the campaign he was supposed to head suffers.

    Reading the resolution of the NEC, the new National Secretary, Dr. Steve Uwazie said one of the leaders of the party in the south-south, Senator Rowland Owie is to appear before the disciplinary committee to explain his alleged involvement in pitching some state chapters of the ADP against the leadership of the party, contrary to the constitution of the party. Uwazie said the NEC unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of the party led by Engr. Yabagi Sani and pledge their loyalty to his leadership, while calling on members of the party to rally round him to reposition the party.

     

     

  • APC chieftain berates Amosun, others for anti-party activities

    The Director General of Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Council in Ekiti State, Dr. Olusegun Osinkolu, has berated the anti-party activities by some All Progressive Congress (APC) stalwarts.

    Osinkolu described as “unfortunate and worrisome” the anti-party posture allegedly displayed by some APC governors in the Southwest ahead of Saturday’s general elections.

    He said the cracks in the party in Ogun State due to Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s opposition to APC governorship candidate, Mr. Dapo Abiodun, could have adverse effects on the party and reduce votes for President Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election.

    The campaign chief, who addressed reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, said cases of anti-party activities were also levelled against some other governors in the Southwest.

    He described the development as pivotal to the victory of President Buhari in the February 16 poll.

    Amosun is alleged to be backing the candidate of Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Abdulkadir Akinlade, for the March 2 governorship election.

    This was said to have triggered the recent imbroglio which characterised the party’s presidential campaign on Monday, where President Buhari and other party leaders were nearly hit with missiles thrown by the governor’s suspected hirelings.

    “We are worried that our members go as far as trying to pelt a President. I am seeing a lot of anti-party playing out here in the Southwest and it is not going to be in our best interest.

    “But the bulk stops on the table of Governor Amosun because he ought to manage that situation better, being the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the state. He didn’t handle the issue very well.

    “Whether you are a President or governor or holding any other position, the party is supreme. This is because the crisis was a fallout of the primary. Governor Amosun must repent and change his ways because the Southwest is important to APC in the coming elections,” Osinkolu said.

    The campaign chief hailed APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole for displaying ingenuity in crisis management for the party to be largely united.

    He added that the party could have been more polarised but for Oshiomhole’s strong leadership acumen.

    Read also: Buhari to Commonwealth Sec-Gen: we’ll conduct credible polls

    Osinkolu expressed confidence that the party would win in Ekiti State due to Governor Kayode Fayemi’s superlative performances in the last four months.

    He said: “Within the last four months, Fayemi has boosted APC’s electoral fortunes through regular payment of salaries and pensions. He abrogated the development levy in public and private schools and introduced true and genuine free education. He approved N200 million car and vehicle loans for teachers.

    “Just on Tuesday, the governor met with teachers and canvassed for votes for President Buhari. So, our projection to get the nine

    National Assembly and 26 House of Assembly seats can be realised. The governor now relates well with the people and it will help us in getting more votes for Mr. President.”

  • APC disciplinary committee summons Banire over anti-party activities

    The Disciplinary Committee of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward C of Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State has summoned the embattled National Legal Adviser of the party, Mr Muiz Banire over alleged anti-party activities and misappropriation of campaign materials and logistics.

    In a letter dated July 10, 2017 signed by the Secretary of the Committee, Mr Badru Olaide, Banire was directed to appear before the Committee to defend allegations contained in a petition written against him by concerned members of the party over series of infractions of the party’s constitution.

    According to the letter which was published in some national dailies on Friday, Banire is to appear before the sitting of the Committee scheduled to hold by 10am on Monday, August 14, 2017 at Mushin Sports Centre in Bishop Aggey Memorial School, Ilasamaja.

    “The business of the sitting is to examine, hear and determine the complaints against you (Banire) by concerned members of our party,” Olaide said, adding that Banire was at liberty to attend with legal practitioners of his choice and relevant documents and witnesses to defend the allegations against him.

    In the petition written by two members of the party – Mr Olukayode Tunde Tolu and Mr Ayodeji Adebayo, the petitioners are asking that Banire be suspended from the party and debarred from holding any party office as well as contesting office on the platform of the party for a period of ten years.

    They alleged that aside the fact that Banire had been continuously absent from ward meetings for more than two years contrary to Article 9 (2) (iii) of the party’s Constitution, he has also been engaging in unrestrained media campaigns against the party, its organs, leaders and functionaries, a development deliberately calculated to embarrass the party and bring it into disrepute contrary to Article 9 (2) (I) of the Constitution.

    The petition reads in part: “That the member (Banire) has openly been encouraging and inciting Court actions against the party, its organs and functionaries when internal dispute resolution mechanisms have not been explored or exhausted contrary to Article 21 (A) (ii) of the Constitution.”.

    In a text message he forwarded to The Nation yesterday, Banire said: ‘’ APC did not write any letter. It is a bunch of rascals that are on rampage. Go and check if any of the ward executive or local government executive is involved. Besides, they lack any legal capacity to invite me. Issue already settled since in accordance with APC constitution.’’

  • Senator Sani’s suspension stands – Kaduna APC

    Senator Sani’s suspension stands – Kaduna APC

    All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State on Wednesday announced that the suspension of Senator representing Kaduna Central Zone, Shehu Sani from the APC for eleven months stands.

    The Nation recalled that, the National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the party, Barrister Inuwa Abdulkadir had on Monday said the suspension of the senator was invalid. But the Kaduna State APC Executive has firmly dismissed the view.

    Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, the spokesman of the APC, Hon. Salisu Tanko Wusono said, Barrister Abdulkadir acted without the consent of the national leadership and contrary to Section 21 of APC’s constitution.

    Wusono added that the National Vice Chairman’s action was a deliberate attempt to ridicule the party for his personal interest. “The 11-month suspension slammed on Shehu Sani by the Kaduna State APC stands. Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir does not have the power to lift the suspension, and was acting on his own without any authorization by the national leadership of the party.

    “What happened on Monday in Kaduna between Abdulkadir and the so-called APC chieftains was an abuse of his office in promoting the narrow agenda of people who have never been interested in the progress and success of the APC.”

    Wusono also accused Abdulkadir of embarrassing the national leadership and loyal membership of the APC by his conduct.

    “Can a Senator in Inuwa Abdulkadir’s Sokoto State abuse and denigrate party leadership without being disciplined? Take this from us, the national leadership of the APC, President Buhari and his Vice- President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and other leaders of the APC are aware of Shehu Sani’s anti-party activities and his involvement in plots to undermine the APC governments at the federal and state level.

    “Shehu Sani is only wasting his time, running from pillar to post; he is like a crocodile in a dry river. Senator Shehu Sani stands suspended from participating in all APC activities in the state. Why is he not attending President Buhari and Vice President Osibanjo’s functions in Kaduna? Why is he not participating in our activities? Why is it that the PDP senator from Southern Kaduna attends critical state functions and not him? All the 11 APC lawmakers in House of Reps from the state are loyal to our leadership. All the 28 APC lawmakers in the Kaduna State House of Assembly are standing by the party and its government. Shehu Sani has chosen to be on his own, and the APC cannot abide his acute irresponsibility and his lack of any appreciation of disciplined political conduct and party discipline.

    “There is difference between grandstanding and genuine representation. Kaduna Central, which elected him to the Senate, is one of the most populous senatorial districts in the country with a lot of complexity and dynamism. Rather than representing them well, he is consumed by his penchant for popularity shows, and irresponsible comments like someone who has reduced his duty into a perpetual ego trip.”

    The spokesman added that Shehu Sani and his group are trying to use the back door to get back to the party having realized the failure of their attempts to destroy the party in the state.

  • Dickson, PDP set to expel First Lady’s men for anti-party activities

    Dickson, PDP set to expel First Lady’s men for anti-party activities

    • Await committee’s report

    The Governor of Bayelsa State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have insisted that Senator Emmanuel Paulker and Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa, a domestic aide to President Goodluck Jonathan, should be punished for anti-party activities.

    Paulker who won his reelection for a third term and Dudafa have been on a running battle with Dickson and the state chapter of PDP for allegedly sponsoring candidates in other political parties against PDP’s candidates.

    Mr. Ebiye Tarabina, a candidate believed to have been sponsored by Dudafa in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), defeated the PDP candidate, Mr. Ongore, to win the Kolokuma-Opokuma Constituency II House of Assembly election.

    Dudafa and Paulker are close allies of President Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience.

    Irked by the development, Dickson had inaugurated a committee comprising members of his cabinet to investigate the activities of Dudafa, Paulker and other Abuja-based politicians during the concluded elections in the state.

    But groups loyal to the senator faulted the committee and said it was a mere witch-haunt against persons opposed to the second term bid of Dickson.

    The governor said on Friday that despite the smear campaign against him, the party had through the committee commenced investigations against Dudafa, Paulker and others who were accused of anti-party activities.

    Speaking to party members at the PDP secretariat Yenagoa, Dickson said, if indicted, the senator, Dudafa and his cohorts would be expelled from the party.

    He said the party would no longer treat indiscipline with kid gloves adding that the leadership of PDP was waiting for the committee’s report to wield the big stick.

    “Those found culpable would be expelled from the party,” he said.

    He added: “The era of indiscipline and disloyalty that has bedevilled this party in this state is over for good. People should take this message home.

    “We want honest and genuine members who understand the meaning of being a party man or woman and being a party official means subordinating personal interest for group interest.

    “I have come to deliver a message of hope. The state is solidly PDP. The issue of indiscipline in the next couple of days the report will be out and they will all be gone.”

    He said the government, in collaboration with other stakeholders, would work to reorganise the party with a view to regaining political power at the national level in 2019.

    He said that PDP remained the only well-coordinated party with a focus to deliver the dividends of democracy in the state.

    Dickson flaunted the achievements of the party in the just-concluded elections, saying it won 20 out of the 22 seats declared so far for the State House of Assembly, three senatorial and the five House of Representatives’ seats.

    He urged members of the party to be hopeful and trust in the party’s ability to win the two remaining constituency seats in the state House of Assembly that were declared inconclusive in the last election.

    Dickson noted that the meeting was arranged to encourage PDP members not to despair in the face of the party’s defeat at the national level.

    The governor promised to hold consultations with the party leadership to organise a thanksgiving service to acknowledge the role of God in the affairs of the state.

    He expressed happiness that the state has been enjoying relative peace and stability since he came on board.

    He also said the government was working closely with the party leadership to organise a rousing reception for president Jonathan.

    He called on members to come out in their numbers to give Jonathan a heroic welcome on May 29th.

    “It would be an emotional event for some of us receiving the President of the country, who is from the state,” he said.

     

  • Tension in Bayelsa PDP over alleged anti-party elements

    Tension in Bayelsa PDP over alleged anti-party elements

    ·Paulker, Dudafa, others may be expelled

    Fresh tension is brewing in the Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following allegations that most stalwarts engaged in anti-party activities during the national and Houses of Assembly elections.

    Major stakeholders of the party especially persons close to President Goodluck Jonathan were said to have sponsored candidates in opposition parties against PDP candidates.

    They were said to have preferred sponsoring their candidates on the platforms of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), National Conscience Party (NCP), KOWA party and Labour Party (LP) instead of supporting candidates who emerged from PDP primaries.

    Governor Seriake Dickson, who is also the leader of the state PDP, was said to have directed its leadership to begin investigations into the allegations.

    Party leaders said to have promoted anti-party activities are the domestic aide to the President, Waripamowei Dudafa and Senator Emmanuel Paulker(Bayelsa Central).

    The party through its Publicity Secretary, Osom Makbere directly accused Dudafa, who hails from Kolokuma-Opokuma, of mobilising security agencies to rig the elections in favour of his candidates in APGA.

    Dudafa, who spoke through one of his aides, Bebetimi Dasuo, denied the allegation and said he remained a member of the PDP.

    But there was, however, a strong indication that Dudafa, Paulker and others would soon face the disciplinary committee of the party to clear their names.

    A source, who spoke with The Nation in confidence, said those concerned would be expelled for alleged anti-party activities.

    He said the leadership of the party had allegedly summoned and queried some top party chiefs over alleged anti-party activities during the House of Assembly elections.

    He said such party chiefs gave open support to candidates of APGA, LP and NCP.

    For instance, the source gave clear instances where Senator Paulker and his wife allegedly mobilised thugs and resources against the interest of the PDP candidate in favour of his preferred APGA candidate.

    The source said: “The Senator looked like a wounded lion as he was stopped from having his way.

    “The bigwigs in the PDP in the state are working closely with our opponents and this is clearly a case of anti-party.

    “Obviously no serious leadership, especially at this time will tolerate this kind of behaviour and very soon they will be expelled from the party.

    “These are persons, who should know better the implications of their actions, having regrettably used the party’s platform to attain national recognition and positions of influence and affluence only to become traitors working against the PDP.”

    The source said since it was almost certain that the so-called Jonathan’s men were set to dump the PDP, the party was ready to wield the big stick against all erring members.

    Also, an aide to the governor said Dickson was not treating the matter with kid gloves.

    He said the governor was miffed that the tensions generated in some of the constituencies were orchestrated by PDP members working to ensure the emergence of their candidates in other parties.

    “The governor has directed that there must be discipline in the state. All the people who participated in anti-party activities must not go unpunished,” the source who spoke in confidence said.

    But when contacted, Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Osom Makbere, dismissed the report.

    Makbere said: “It is not true. The party has not deliberated on such a matter and neither has such a matter been brought to our notice.”

  • Rivers ACN ‘suspends’ five for anti-party activities

    Five members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Rivers State have been suspended for allegedly fraternising with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The suspended members are National Treasurer Kenneth Kobani; Publicity Secretary Jerry Needam; Ibieneye Lolo; Lali Green and Nancy Nwankwo.

    The State Chairman, Esuku M. Esuku and the State Secretary, Ngoji Warmate, yesterday in Port Harcourt signed the statement suspending the officers, for alleged anti-party activities.

    The 2011 governorship candidate, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, however, accused Esuku of selling out.

    “At no time was there any meeting where such decision was taken, neither was it contemplated.

    “Esuku has sold out to justify monetary inducements he might have received from his paymasters, having lost out in their party to cause confusion and commotion.

    “I am urging members of the ACN, Rivers people and the public to discountenance the false statement.

    “The party stands for the interest of Rivers people and against the injustice done to them.

    “It has become very obvious that those who are desperate for a new cover are now hell bent in penetrating the ACN, by using Esuku and others who have lent themselves as willing tools, to destabilise the party.”

    Esuku accused the suspended officers of meeting with leaders of the PDP .

    He described the allegations levelled against him as cheap blackmail.

    “Sekibo was not a member of the SEC of the party and had no right to disapprove the decision.”

    Needam, however, accused Esuku of romancing with the leaders of the PDP and government officials.

     

  • Ekiti PDP sacks secretary for ‘anti-party’ activities

    Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday suspended its Secretary, Dr Tope Aluko, for alleged anti-party activities.

    He was also accused of divulging official information to “outsiders”.

    A statement by the party’s Deputy Chairman and Publicity Secretary, Femi Bamisile and Pastor Kola Oluwawole in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the suspension “would be for 30 days.”

    It is to enable the party to carry out “full investigations into all the allegations leveled against Aluko.”

    The decision, according to sources was taken at the State Working Committee meeting held yesterday.

    The party, according to the statement, said it acted in accordance with the provision of Section 59 Subsections 1 and 2 of its constitution.

    It was alleged that Aluko was “indulging in acts capable of denting the image of the party and put it into disrepute in the eyes of the right thinking members of the public.”

    Pastor Oluwawole said the party had an obligation to protect its image and instil discipline in members.

     

  • PDP accuses chieftain of anti-party activities

    •’We lost because of our choice of candidate’

     

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has accused the Director-General of the Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation (OOCO), Dr. Dare Bada, of romancing the Labour Party (LP).

    It debunked Bada’s alleged claims that former Governor Olusegun Agagu was instrumental to Oke’s emergence as the party’s candidate in the October 20 governorship election.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Wale Ozogoro, PDP said: “First, it must be put on record that Bada was one of the governorship aspirants of the PDP before Oke’s emergence. Bada was economic with the truth when he alleged that Agagu persuaded the governorship aspirants to endorse Oke.

    “Agagu was not part of the selection process that led to Oke’s emergence. The aspirants met and presented Oke as a consensus candidate. So Bada should stop playing to the gallery and admit that he is acting out the script of his pay master, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

    “Oke, who was chosen by consensus, obtained the party’s nomination form and was unanimously elected as the PDP’s candidate. No leader or member of the party stopped Bada from obtaining same and contesting the primary election. At this juncture, he should be considered a clown or, succinctly put, a traitor empowered to carry out onerous assignments.

    “The PDP is aware of Bada’s secret meetings with the LP leadership before, during and after the election. We confronted him during the election, but he denied it.

    “After the election, he was asked to account for funds appropriated to his office as OOCO D-G and he started behaving funny. Bada was yet to account for the N65 million in his kitty when he started fighting the party’s leadership to prevent them from asking about the money.

    “Most disturbing is the fact that Bada emerged OOCO DG at the mercy of the PDP’s State Working Committee after much plea from him. It is surprising that he could turn himself into a clown and a pawn on the chess board of the LP government because of the paltry sum Mimiko offered him.

    “The party is highly disappointed, but we wish him well in his new-found love. We look forward to reclaiming our stolen mandate at the tribunal.”

    Bada said the PDP’s statement was a deviation from the truth.

    He said the party lost the election because of the wrong choice of candidate, poor funding and bad leadership by Agagu.

    Bada said PDP won “marginally” in Okitipupa and Ilaje local governments, adding that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) won in three local governments, spread across three divisions in two senatorial districts.