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Tag: defects

  • Lagos PDP chairman defects to APC

    CHAIRMAN of the Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Moshood Salvador, has dumped the opposition party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Addressing some party members at his office yesterday in Lagos, Salvador said the former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, frustrated him out of the party.

    He said no few than 15,000 party members would move with him to the APC, noting that he could no longer be in the same party with George.

    The former Lagos PDP chieftain maintained that George was the problem of the party, stressing that he framed him up over the slain chieftain of the party, Adeniyi Aborishade.

    He said: “I am not happy that I am leaving the party. But since they don’t appreciate my efforts, I have to move to where my efforts will be recognised.

    “The PDP National Chairman and other party chieftains at the national level have been calling me to discourage me from leaving, but there is no going back. I have to take my people to where they will make progress, so the APC is the only party that can guarantee this.”

    In his reaction, George said the party was not in crisis in Lagos State, but added that Salvador was free to move to any party.

    He said Lagos PDP remains united, irrespective of the position of the minority in the party.

    The former Deputy National Chairman said Salvador’s decision to move to another party was instructive, given the investigation about his alleged involvement in the murder of  Aborishade.

    He said: “Why is it now that the man is moving to another party? Why did he not provide security at the venue PDP was meeting when Adeniyi Aborishade was attacked and murdered?

    “Those who are alleging that I am the cause of the crisis in Lagos are out of their minds. There is no crisis in Lagos; we are united in our resolve to advance the cause of the party.”

    George said the killing of Aborisade was unfortunate. He called on party members to support the deceased family to overcome the pains.

    He said the party would not relent in the efforts to get justice for the slain politician who was killed on July 21.

    He said: “There is something terribly disturbing about our justice system. The rule of law is now being distorted, savaged, abused, treated with contempt, trampled upon with callous indifference.

    “There is palpable uncertainty everywhere as no one is sure when and how right prevails over the festering wrongs, and how and the scale of justice prevails in sweeping latitude.

    “Without the strict adherence to the sacrosanct largeness of the rule of law, without the natural guidance of the enlightened spectacle of societal thematic truth, we are all endangered, democracy itself becomes wobbly, teeters upon the cliffhanger of ruin.

    “But this should never happen. We must all defend and protect this hard earned democracy. We can’t fold our hands and pretend a stoic indifference, while the normative essence of the democratic order is gradually being trampled and dragged in the mud.”

  • Emmanuel’s aide defects to APC

    An aide to Governor Udom Emmanuel, Mr. Ibanga Etang, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to the All Progressives Party (APC).

    Etang’s decision to dump the PDP is coming few months after Governor Emmanuel lost his Special Assistant on Electoral Matters, Mr. Chris Okorie to the APC.

    Etang, a former Chairman of Esit Eket Local Government, resigned as Special Assistant to the Governor on Project on Monday and formally registered with the APC the next day at his Etebi Ward 7 along with over 300 followers.

    Addressing his supporters at a post-defection meeting on Thursday, Prince Etang said with their entry into APC, the party stood a 70 per cent chance of winning Esit Eket.

    The one-time President of Afigh Iwaad Ekid, the umbrella youth organization in Eket Federal Constituency, Governor Emmanuel’s home base, blamed the continuing exodus from the Esit Eket PDP on “a situation where an individual takes Esit Eket as his personal property.”

    Etang who also served as Special Assistant to former Governor Godswill Akpabio revealed that he has refused overtures from PDP leaders in the state in the last few days to return and vowed that “we have decided to move on and no going back.”

    In his resignation letter to the governor, he said he was leaving because “I deem it necessary to depart now in line with the dictates of my conscience and highest level of sincerity.”

    Etang’s defection brings to seven the number of PDP chieftains in Esit Eket that have defected to APC in recent times.

     

    The others are a Third Republic legislator, Senator Etang Umoyo, a former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC),  Bassey Dan-Abia, a former NDDC Commissioner, Imaobong Inyang, a retired Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mike Eyo and two former Members of House of Representatives,  Bassey Dan-Abia Jnr and Hon. Eseme Eyiboh.

     

     

  • Ex-Abia commissioner defects to APC

    A former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State, Dr. Anthony Agbazuere, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu yesterday that he left PDP following alleged impunity.

    NAN reports that Agbazuere, who had held positions since 2007 in the state, is a one-time special adviser on Public Orientation to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, and ex-chair of Isiala Ngwa South Local Government.

    He alleged that the state chapter is filled with anti-democratic forces, making it impossible for good governance to thrive.

    “As a democrat, I cannot remain in a party that does not respect people’s wishes.

    “There is impunity and imposition of candidates in PDP. The way out is to join a progressive party,” Agbazuere said.

    He said he never received salary while serving as the governor’s aide due to his desire to contribute to development.

    Agbazuere said: “I will soon address a news conference on my defection to APC, but the fact remains that I am no longer in PDP.”

  • Niger Assembly Minority Whip defects to APC

    Niger Assembly Minority Whip defects to APC

    The Minority Chief Whip of the Niger State House of Assembly,  Hon. Shuiabu Liman Iya, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Iya, who represents Suleja Constituency, announced his defection during the Plenary.

    Speaking to reporters after the Plenary, the Minority Whip explained that he and his constituency  cannot continue to remain in the minority, thereby failing to attract dividends of democracy to their area.

    He said his defection was in the interest of his constituency, adding that due consultation was carried out before he finally defected.

    Giving an insight into what the opposition face in the Assembly,  Iya explained that a lot of things would have come his way and by extension to his people, but because he is in the minority, he missed out of all of these goodies.

    He stressed: “The defection is in the interest of my followers from my constituency. Looking at the trends of events, we cannot at this material time continue to be in the minority as far as representation in the state Assembly is concerned.

    “In as much as I would like to attract a lot of development to my constituency,  I cannot find it so easy without being in the mainstream of the ruling party and this is what informed my decision after due consultation with my constituents.

    “”So many things would have been coming my way and my people but because I am in the minority,  definitely, I cannot get it the way I want. “

    The Assembly Spokesman said he is ready for any repercussions that may come along after his defection stating that politics is all about taking risks.

    “I will be satisfied if I am able to attract some developments in my constituency to get what I attract for my people even if it is just 2018 alone. It is only God that can determine my future. If God says I am destined that this is the process and channel through which I will be in this capacity, no one can change it.”

  • PDP Rep Pwajok defects to APC

    PDP Rep Pwajok defects to APC

    THE caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was further depleted in the House of Representatives yesterday as a member from Plateau State, Edward Pwajok, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    This is as a December 2017 dateline was given for the final decimation of PDP.

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong said though democracy was not about a one-party state, but PDP members would be left with no option than to join the ruling party by the end of the year.

    House rules were stepped down for the presence of the governor in the chamber to witness the defection.

    This brings to 221 the number of APC member in the House.

    On February 22, a member of PDP, Emmanuel Ukoette representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom, defected to APC.

    A month later,  on March 22, two House members, Tony Nwoye (Anambra) and Emmanuel Udende (Benue), defected from PDP to APC on the floor at plenary.

    Speaker Yakubu Dogara read Pwajok’s letter on the floor, after which the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, protested.

    Pwajok, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), cited irreconcilable differences that have left PDP divided at all levels as part of his reasons for dumping the party.

    Saying that the party’s secretariat in Jos was not even spared as it was  sealed last week, he noted: “The party is divided in my local government down to the ward level with parallel structures.

    “On Saturday May 13, 2017, over 500 delegates from my constituency besieged my residence mandating, directing and authorising that I quit the party.”

    Pwajok later dismissed the threat of the PDP caucus in the House, saying he was “ready for them”.

    Ogor protested that the party has a chairman and that until the litigation at the Supreme Court was disposed of, division within the party was not enough reason for defection.

    He also protested when the Majority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila welcomed Pwajok into the fold of APC but the Speaker told him same privilege would be extended to the Minority Leader if any lawmaker defects to his party.

  • Iduoriyekemwen defects to Sheriff’s camp

    Iduoriyekemwen defects to Sheriff’s camp

    An aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, has rejected the outcome of the primary, which produced Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as its candidate.

    He also pledged his loyalty to the Ali Modu Sheriff leadership of the party, adding that he would participate in the primary election of the group scheduled for June 28.?

    The former Majority Leader in the House of Assembly, who spoke in Benin, the state capital, described the primary as a “comedy,” which was “clinically manipulated” to favour a preferred candidate of the state leadership of the party.

    He said: “Having looked at all the processes, starting from the clinical manipulation and rigging of the primary, I hereby fully dissociate myself from every process that led to that so-called primary which ended on June 20.

    “Myself and members of my team across the state reject the outcome and we pledge our loyalty to the authentic leadership of the party headed by His Excellency, Ali Modu Sheriff. They have drawn up the programme for the PDP primary and I hereby declare that myself and my team are participating in that primary.

    “Myself and members of my campaign team have met. We have tried to review all that transpired and we have come up? with the fact that what transpired that day could best be termed a comedy, in the sense that the processes that led to the event of that day were clinically planned and orchestrated like the party had indeed endorsed a candidate.”

  • Ex-Rep Eyiboh defects to APC

    Ex-Rep Eyiboh defects to APC

    The former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Eseme Eyiboh, has defected to the All Progressives Party (APC).

    Eyiboh, in a statement in Abuja, said he decided to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because the party had breached the philosophy of its founding fathers.

    The Akwa Ibom-born politician added that his decision to join the APC was predicated upon the presence of mind, ideas, capacity and character that abound in APC to drive the change that would enhance the emergence of contemporary and knowledge-based social capital and new economic order.

    He said: “Having had the privilege of the membership of PDP, which platform I became its state financial secretary, executive chairman, Akwa Ibom Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission (EARCOM) and member of the House of Representatives bespeaks the foundational vision of the progenitors of PDP as a leadership recruitment nursery.

    “Today, that party has conducted itself in breach of the visionary philosophy of its founding fathers.

    “Instead of intended leadership nursery guided by the principle of social justice and a platform to promote content analysis of its manifesto and implementation strategies of its programmes to government as an enabler for good governance, it has rather, thrown up economic choristers and social misdemeanours, which have converted our common wealth into private franchise, thus turning the party and the state into a ‘behemoth of monstrous proportion’.

    “Its present system has produced unprecedented corps of political ‘dealers’ instead of inspirational leaders occasioning the increasing deficits in revenue yielding assets and sundry incentives to trigger community growth and prosperity.

    “It is worthy to note that as the reign of development eclipse, poor ethical integrity and deteriorating institutions subsists, it is imperative for people with development orientation and appropriate mindset to come together and inject a “new deal” to stimulate the collective urges and aspirations of our people with functional confidence.”

  • Ex-PDP governorship aspirant defects to APC

    Ex-PDP governorship aspirant defects to APC

    A former governorship aspirant in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, Comrade Mohammed Ali, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He defected with 14 local government chairmen.

    Ali, in a statement in Abuja, said: “The leader and National Chairman of the Northern Local Government Chairmen’s Forum, NLGCF and erstwhile PDP governorship aspirant in Kogi State, Comrade Mohammed Ali, wishes to inform the public, especially the people of Kogi State and the youth structures of the northern Nigeria that at last he has defected with 14 council chairmen, councillors, five special advisers, 11 senior special assistants, 25 special assistants and the democratic structures in the local governments they represent, ahead of the governorship poll on Saturday.”

    According to him, the decision was the outcome of consultations with stakeholders and political associates.

    He said: “It is our belief that the PDP leadership in Kogi State has failed the people, as Governor Idris Ichalla Wada has failed to deliver the dividends of democracy to Kogites.”

  • Ex-Governor Olunloyo defects to ACN

    Former Oyo State Governor Omololu Olunloyo has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    Olunloyo and other defectors from the Accord were received into the ACN by Governor Abiola Ajimobi at the party’s secretariat in Ibadan Southwest Local Government at the weekend.

    Educating the people on ongoing projects of his administration, Ajimobi said the government has identified over 27 suitable locations for the building of neighbourhood markets.

    He said modern markets would be built at the locations to put an end to road side trading.

    The governor explained that traders were asked to vacate the road sides to reduce accidents and maintain environmental sanitation .

    He said maintaining a clean environment would ensure a healthy populace, prevent flooding and attract investors to the state.

    Ajimobi urged traders in Ibadan, the state capital, to bear with the government on the demolition of illegal structures, adding that it was in the best interest of the state.

  • Suswam’s aide defects to ACN

    A former Senior Special Assistant to Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam on Local Government Liaison for Vandeikya Local Government Area, Mr Cletus Kula, has defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    But he was immediately arrested by the police after his defection.

    The former governor’s aide defected with over 3,000 supporters.

    The defection was celebrated at the Local Government Primary School in Vandeikya.

    The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) attended the ceremony with over 4,000 supporters.

    Kulas’ oldest son, Terna, said after the defection ceremony, his father was invited by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area, Mrs. Clara Ogbeni.

    According to him, his father was detained with six other defectors and transferred to the police command annex in Gboko.

    Terna added that his efforts and those of his associates as well as his father’s friends to know the reason behind the arrest were unsuccessful.

    He said the police maintained that they were acting on “orders from above”.

    But a lawmaker accused the Caretaker Chairman of the local government, Mrs. Torkwase Ajoh, of masterminding the arrest.

    It was learnt that Kutas’ popularity had influenced the votes the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was getting in the area.

    His defection, the lawmaker said, would upset the party’s chances in future elections.

    He said it was the reason the council chief, a PDP chieftain, is jittery and angry.

    Mrs. Ajoh denied complicity in the arrest.

    But she said ACN undermined her powers as the Chief Security Officer when it held the defection ceremony.

    The council chief added that only the state government can be contacted on the matter.

    ACN Chairman Comrade Aba Yaro said the police were acting on instructions from the PDP.

    He said a formal permission was obtained from the police command’s headquarters.

    As at the time of filing this report yesterday, the accused were still in detention.

    Efforts to get the police spokesman’s reaction were proved abortive.

    He did not reply to a text message sent to his phone.