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Tag: Chief Raymond Dokpesi

  • Defamation: Court adjourns Dokpesi’s suit against Lai Mohammed, AGF 

    FCT High Court, Apo, on Monday adjourned until Oct.23, the alleged N5billion defamation suit, instituted by Chief Raymond Dokpesi against the Minister of Information and Culture and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

    Dokpesi, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and chairman emeritus of DAAR Communications Plc, filed the suit on April 30, seeking N5 billion damages from the defendants for alleged defamation.

    Read Also:‘N2.1b fraud’: Dokpesi received funds without executing contract, says witness

    He alleged that Information Minister, Lai Mohammed and the Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami (SAN), defamed his character by the inclusion of his name on the treasury looters’ list.

    The plaintiff had told the court that the Information Minister had on March 30, during a press conference, portrayed him as “a corrupt and crooked person, a dishonest man and a thief.”

    Dokpesi through his counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), told the court that the minister’s action negatively affected his reputation and that his image had been seriously injured.

    The plaintiff said he had suffered considerable distress, odium, obloquy, ridicule in political analysis in the media.

    Dokpesi besides the N5 billion damages,  is also asking the court to order the defendants to publish a full retraction of the said publication.

    He further asked the court to order the defendants to tender an unreserved apology to him in all the major electronic and print media outlets in the country.

    He further urged the court to grant a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, partners, representatives, from further writing, publishing defamatory words about the plaintiff.

    At the resumed hearing on Monday, the plaintiff’s counsel, Ennaemeka Adasu, holding brief for Ozekhome, informed the court that the matter was slated for hearing and all the five plaintiff’s witnesses were in court.

    He, however, told the court that the defendants’ counsel only this morning in court, served the plaintiff with a notice of preliminary objection on the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit.

    Adasu , who argued that the service on his client in court this morning was done in bad faith and in the circumstance, requested for an adjournment to enable him respond to the objection.

    Justice  Adegboyega Adeniyi, upheld the plaintiff counsel’s submission and adjourned  the case until Oct. 23 for hearing of the preliminary objection.

     

  • PDP convention: Dickson warns on provocative comments

    PDP convention: Dickson warns on provocative comments

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has warned winners at the just concluded elective convention of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) and their supporters to stop further provocative comments on aggrieved chairmanship and other aspirants that lost out at the convention.

    Dickson’s warning is directed at some high profile party chieftains who have been launching verbal attacks and derisive comments in response to protests by some aggrieved chairmanship aspirants, particularly contestants from the Southwest geopolitical zone.

    He spoke with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Some of the aggrieved chairmanship aspirants including Chief Bode George, Prof Tunde Adeniran, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and Prof Taoheed Adedoja who lost out, have been at the receiving end of verbal attacks from the camps of the winners.

    One of such instances was a statement credited to the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who questioned the right of the aggrieved aspirants from the Southwest, saying the zone had contributed very little to the PDP.

    But Dickson, who chairs the party’s Reconciliation Committee, said such utterances could inflame passion and send the wrong signals to the aggrieved candidates.

    Read Also: PDP pacifies angry Southwest leaders

     

     

  • PDP National Convention: Dokpesi, Adeniran rejects outcome

    PDP National Convention: Dokpesi, Adeniran rejects outcome

    Two Chairmanship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Raymond Dokpesi and Prof. Tunde Adeniran have rejected the outcome of the party’s national convention and the process that led to the emergence of the key officers.

    The aspirants announced their positions in separate interviews with newsmen at the venue of the convention, on Saturday in Abuja.

    Dokpesi, the media magnate said he rejected the elections following alleged distribution of a so-called unity list to delegates, describing it as a charade that may destroy the party.

    Read Also: ‘Unity list’ sparks protests at PDP convention

    Dokpesi said that the process of voting had been rigged, following the distribution of a unity list containing names of candidates believed to have won elections into various National leadership positions in the party.

    He explained that the 21 names of candidates contained in the list appeared on the ballot papers as number one and in the voting boots as number one.

    He said complaints were lodged to the chairman of the PDP electoral committee Gabriel Suswam who confirmed that he had seen the list with some delegates but he was overwhelmed.

    Dokpesi said it was unfortunate that a party which was just getting out of a major leadership crisis would be involved in acts of impunity and election malpractice.

    He called on the party leadership to urgently rectify the anomaly before it becomes another major challenge in the party, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Similarly, Taiwo Akeju, Director, Media and Publicity of the Adeniran Campaign, called for the cancellation of the entire exercise.

    He accused Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers and Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti of being the masterminds of the unity list distributed to the delegates.

    “We reject the entire electoral process. The election has been grossly compromised to achieve a predetermined end.

    “The illegal unity list is prepared by governors Wike and Ayodele Fayose to foist on the entire delegates” he said.

    He, however, called on the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the party to takeover the affairs of the party until proper election would be conducted, since the National Caretaker Committee has been dissolved.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the rejection of the unity list by the frontline chairmanship candidates, was done before the final collation of the elections results.

  • ‘Unity list’ sparks protests at PDP convention

    ‘Unity list’ sparks protests at PDP convention

    The unity list containing the names of preferred candidates for all the 21 positions available for contest has sparked protests at the convention venue.
    One of the chairmanship candidates, Chief Raymond Dokpesi was one of the persons that protested the circulation of the list to the various delegates.
    Speaking with journalists while voting was ongoing, Dokpesi said he complained to the chairman of the convention planning committee, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.
    The media mogul said he also complained to the former governor of Benue State, Mr. Gabriel Suswam who was one of the organisers of the convention.
    According to him, both Okowa and Suswam admitted having seen the controversial list, but that they could not do anything about it.
    Dokpesi vowed to explore available internal conflict resolution avenues to seek redress but he was silent on whether he would challenge the alleged imposition in court.
  • Dokpesi still in race for PDP Chairmanship– Campaign DG

    Dokpesi still in race for PDP Chairmanship– Campaign DG

    A national chairmanship aspirant in Saturday’s National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Raymond Dokpesi, says he will not step down from the race for any reason.

    Director- General of Dokpesi Campaign Organisation, Mr Baba Kachalla, made this known in a news conference on Friday in Abuja.

    Kachalla debunked a rumour making the rounds that Dokpesi had dropped out of the race, saying it was untrue and mischievous.

    He said it had become obvious that some PDP members masquerading as leaders were determined to sabotage and inflict damages on the well-organised and victory-bound aspiration of Dokpesi

    “The position of this campaign organisation is that only delegates to the Convention can and will decide the fate of all aspirants at the Eagle Square on Saturday.

    “We make bold to challenge the masquerades long known for their penchant for taking unpopular decisions that have brought defeat and humiliation to the PDP in the past.

    “Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi has campaigned throughout the length and breadth of this country and will finish the race at the Convention grounds.

    “Raymond Dokpesi has not and will not withdraw from the race for any reason whatsoever.

    “The campaign organisation will like to ask a very simple question in the direction of those behind this wicked rumour.

    “If the leaders and some governors hell-bent on ensuring victory for their aspirants are very sure of themselves, why ask Dokpesi to drop out of the race and resort to blackmail?”

    Kachalla said that Dokpesi was not afraid to be defeated on the convention floor if the elections are free, fair and adjudged credible.

    He condemned an advertorial published in a national daily on the outcome of the PDP South-South meeting held in Port Harcourt.

    He described the advertorial signed by Dan Orbih, Edo State Chairman of PDP and Chief Felix Imoisili whose signature was missing, as totally misdirecting and misguiding.

    “Those who were present at the meeting can testify that what was agreed was that delegates from the South-South are free to vote for the aspirant of their choice from the South-South.

    “The PDP elective convention will remain what it is designed to achieve – elect new national officers for our great party.

    “No amount of blackmail and intimidation will force Dokpesi to capitulate to the dark forces of imposition and impunity.”

    Responding to question that Dokpesi met with some aspirants and agreed to step down, he said it was not true.

    He said that the candidate had not met or discussed with anyone on the matter.

  • PDP will not fail followers -Bafarawa

    PDP will not fail followers -Bafarawa

    A former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Atahiru Bafarawa, said the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) would not afford to fail its numerous followers at the Dec. 9 national convention.

    Bafarawa stated this in Sokoto on Sunday while receiving an aspirant of national chairmanship of the party, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, who was on a campaign visit to the state.

    He said that it was unfortunate that the party encountered crisis after its convention in Port Harcourt in 2016, noting that the party was on “intensive care” at that time.

    “Now that the party is out of the intensive care unit, there is need to put the party in order.

    Read Also: PDP: Intrigues ahead of December convention

    “We stand at risk if we don’t put our house in order. We will fail our millions of followers who are in support of this great party.

    “Honestly, what we can do is to unite ourselves and pray to God to guide us to choose leaders who will lead our party,” Bafarawa said.

    The former governor said that the North-West was yet to take any decision on who to support for the national chairmanship position, noting that the people would make the decision.

    He described Dokpesi as a man of wisdom and experience, the criteria needed by the man who lead PDP as chairman.

    “We believe that God chooses leaders, and I know that you are qualified to aspire for any position in this party and country,” the former governor told the aspirant.

    Earlier, Dokpesi had said that he knew that Bafarawa was a man who loved and always wanted the best for his people, state and the country.

    At a meeting with state executive members and convention delegates of the party at the Secretariat, he said he was in the state to seek support of party members for his aspiration to lead PDP.

    Dokpesi pledged to work with the state executive committee and members to return PDP to power in Sokoto in 2019.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dokpesi was also in Gasau, where he met officials and delegates of the PDP in Zamfara.

  • PDP: Electing Credible leaders, key to party’s future- Said

    PDP: Electing Credible leaders, key to party’s future- Said

    Delegates to the Dec. 9 national convention of the People Democratic Party (PDP) have been urged to use the opportunity to “vote for the party’s and nation’s future”.

    Chairman of the party in Kebbi State, Mallam Haruna Said, made the call on Sunday in Birnin Kebbi when he received Chief Raymond Dokpesi, an aspirant for national chairmanship of the party, who was on a campaign tour to the state.

    He said that electing credible leaders at the convention was key to the future of the party.

    “We have a responsibility that rests squarely on our shoulders, to say that we can’t be carried away by monetary inducement.

    “We should not be quickly carried away to believe that someone is coming to impose consensus candidate on us.

    “We here will do justice to the future of PDP. We must have serious thought over the future of the PDP and Nigeria,” he said.

    The chairman assured that the calibre of people that Kebbi had produced as delegates to the convention would not in any way be influenced in taking decision that would determine the future of PDP and country.

    He described Dokpesi as active politician, who had carved a niche for himself in politics and had impacted greatly in changing the course of political history in Nigeria.

    He assured Dokpesi of the support of members of the party in the state, saying “you have taken significant percentage of what it required to get support.”

    Earlier, Dokpesi had told the party chairman and members that PDP would regain power in 2019 through its connection with citizens and electorate at the grassroots.

    He said that power “comes from God which He gives through the people and He has decided that PDP must come to power in 2019’’.

    He said that if members of the party agreed to work together, they would win back power in states, including Kebbi and the North-Central.

    “Just like in Kebbi State, the battle to rescue power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) is not going to be easy.

    “It is not going to be easy because as at today, they have the Police, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all organs required to rig elections.

    “In our opposition, we are going to win elections, not by the power of INEC, power of police or all the instruments they have in their hands.

    “We shall win the power because we shall relate to the ordinary citizens on the streets,” Dokpesi said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dokpesi also visited Sokoto and Kastina to solicit vote of delegates to the convention.

  • PDP chair: Dokpesi flays role of BoT members 

    PDP chair: Dokpesi flays role of BoT members 

    One of the aspirants in the race for the national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Raymond Dokpesi has knocked some members of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) for campaigning for some of the chairmanship aspirants.

    Dokpesi, who accused the BoT members of trying to hijack the party ahead of the national convention, also faulted attempts by the BoT members in the Southwest to exclude some aspirants from the race.

    He called on members of the BoT wishing to become national chairman to first relinquish their seats in the BoT and join the race. Chief Bode George and Prof Tunde are two members of the BoT in the chairmanship race.

    Speaking shortly at the party’s Abuja secretariat shortly after returning his nomination papers, Dokpesi stressed the need for the PDP to have a chairman strong enough to lead the party to victory in the 2019 general elections.

    He said, “Members of the BoT want to take over the party. Some people want to use the BoT to take over the day to day running of the party.

    “Members of the BoT have been going round with some aspirants. They have been meeting delegates and stakeholders of the party.

    Some of them (BoT members) smart as they are, are peddling rumours that the BoT has endorsed some aspirants as their choice of national chairman. But we know that the BoT has not met”.

    Faulting the decision by some Southwest BoT members to exclude some chairmanship aspirants, Dokpesi said it’s wrong to exclude the aspirants without consulting them.

    In a November 3 document signed by Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun, the Southwest BoT had cleared Chief Olabode George, Prof Tunde Adeniran and Prof Taoheed Adedoja for the race.

    Other aspirants like Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Mr. Akintayo Akin-Deko and Prof Wale Oladipo were excluded from the race.

    Dokpesi said the action of the BoT members has already done some damage to their aspirations.

    “For one or two persons, a lot of damage has been done to the persons said to have been excluded from the list”, stressing however that the affected aspirants would have to work hard to get their campaign rhythm back.

    The media mogul however said the issue picking a consensus candidate may still arise, adding that the aspirants will sign the terms of agreement in the days ahead.

    On his plans for the party if he emerged chairman of the PDP, Dokpesi said he will work hard to unify the party and ensure that all broken bridges are rebuilt.

  • PDP convention: Mark warns against impunity

    PDP convention: Mark warns against impunity

    A former Senate President, Senator David Mark, Thursday warned against impunity and imposition of candidates in the build up to the December 9th, 2017 elective convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Senator Mark implored party faithful to reflect on the issues that led to the fall of the PDP in 2015 and do well to avoid the pitfalls at the convention.

    A statement by the media aide to the former Senate President, Paul Mumeh, said that Mark gave the warning when he played host to one of the aspirants to the office of the national chairman of PDP, Chief Raymond Dokpesi in Abuja.

    It said that Senator Mark stressed that “we must learn from the mistakes of the past and do the right thing at the convention.

    Mark was quoted to have said, “We must say no to impunity. We must reject imposition of candidates on the party. Elders of the party including myself must ensure justice, fairness and equity. The people must be allowed to decide.

    “Nigerians are eagerly waiting for the PDP and we must not fail them. We need a leader of the PDP that is a bridge builder, assessable; one possesses the character and integrity to lead the party to victory in 2019”.

    It said that Mark recalled how he tried in vain to resolve the intractable conflict between the Senator Ali Modu Sherrif and Ahmed Makarfi factions and submitted ” for me, I will always stand for the truth because only the truth  will guarantee our success in future polls”.

    Senator Mark appreciated the contributions of Chief Dokpesi to the development of the PDP and urged him not to relent .

    The former Senate President enjoined all the aspirants for various positions to comply with the rules of the game and accept the outcome of the election without bitterness or rancour, hoping that the process would be free, fair and credible.

    It said that Chief Dokpesi who briefed Mark said that he opted for the chairmanship position of the party “because I am eminently qualified, competent and capable of leading the party to Eldorado”.

    It said that Dokpesi promised to bring sanity to the party and ensure justices, fairness and equity in the administration of the party if elected.

    It said that Senators Yisa Briamoh and Grace Bent who were among those on Chief Dokpesi’s entourage extolled his qualities as the man appropriate for the job at the moment.

  • PDP chair: Drama as Dokpesi drums up support for George

    PDP chair: Drama as Dokpesi drums up support for George

    THE race for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman took a dramatic turn yesterday as one of the aspirants, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, openly drummed support for a rival aspirant, Chief Olabode George.

    Dokpesi had made a dramatic appearance at George’s campaign office in the highbrow Maitama, Abuja, where the latter was having an interactive session with his supporters and other stakeholders.

    The media mogul, who arrived midway into the event, swapped his traditional cap with George’s branded campaign fez cap, with the bold inscription ‘BG’ (Bode George) embossed on the cap.

    Describing George as a man that had made invaluable contributions and services to the Nigerian project, Dokpesi said he was at the event to give full solidarity to a fellow aspirant.

    Dokpesi said: “Let me thank Chief George not only for his contributions to the PDP but also for his services to Nigeria.

    “My presence here is to give full solidarity to Olabode George. We rose from a meeting yesterday and we agreed that this contest is going to be a family affair.

    “He is a team player, very courageous.  In 2019, we cannot succeed without the support of Bode George or any of the other aspirants.”

    George, who addressed his supporters before Dokpesi’s arrived at the venue, assured that he would be a team player, if given the chance to lead the party.