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  • A divided house

    •The Presidency and National Assembly should unite in the nation’s interest

    SINCE the Buhari government was inaugurated in 2015, the Presidency has hardly  enjoyed the cooperation of the legislature. The manner of emergence of the Dr. Bukola Saraki leadership of the National Assembly set the tone for the spat between the two politically active arms of government. When presidential nominees are forwarded to the National Assembly for approval, the list is either set aside for an interminable period or rejected. On many occasions it provides opportunity to throw jibes at the executive.

    This is unhealthy and has brought unbelievable tension into the system. The legislature is quick to draw attention to its powers under the constitution. We accept that the legislature is not, and should not be inferior to any of the other two arms of government, after all, it is the arm saddled with law making and exercising oversight in order to prevent the absolutism that defined the medieval era and monarchical order.

    By now, the political leaders should have become more familiar with the doctrine of Separation of Powers as expounded by the French philosopher, Baron de Montesquieu who wrote in “The Spirit of the Law”, the need for checks and balances in governance. In place of individuals’ power he advocated institutional authority. This largely influenced the American Constitution of 1789 from which Nigeria, since the Second Republic, derived its own constitution.

    However, as implemented in the United States of America and other countries practising the presidential system of government, the branches of government are supposed to cooperate towards ensuring good governance.

    But, under the current government, the arms have been mostly at war. Things got to a head recently when the Senate passed a vote of no confidence on the Inspector-General of Police, and followed it with a threat that the president would be held accountable for the actions of his appointees, which has been interpreted as a warning that impeachment could be in the offing.

    We call on both arms of government to realise that they are essential parts of the same administration. Failure cannot be contemplated in this context, especially for a country that is just emerging from a recession. Unemployment rate is still high and the youth are getting restive. The enactment of the Not-too-Young-to-Run Act may not serve as a leash for too long. The precarious situation in the country calls for concerted action by all arms of government acting as a whole. Unless this is done, law and order may be threatened to the discomfiture of all.

    It is strange that the row keeps growing at a time when both arms are controlled by the same political party. This speaks of failure of the party system. The Saraki leadership emerged despite the reservation of the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress’ government. A minority in the party teamed up with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to snatch the leadership of the National Assembly, ceding the Deputy Senate President to the opposition party, thus constituting an opposition to the ruling party. It is therefore not surprising that the Appropriation Bills in 2016, 2017 and 2018 took about six months to pass, to the detriment of the economy. For this year, we are yet to have an Appropriation Act that would serve as policy guide. This is unfortunate and certainly not the path to growth and development.

    Both the legislature and executive should realise that the wrangling is dividing the society further at a time healing should be priority for social, economic and political advancement. In place of the national interest which should underscore government’s actions, personal interest has dominated the reaction of leaders. Discussions and debates in the National Assembly have been dominated by ego. Salaries and allowances are beyond the capacity of the national treasury. While President Muhammadu Buhari was elected on the pledge that he would tackle the unacceptable level of insecurity, scale of corruption and weak economy, he has been slowed down by the unwillingness of the lawmakers to cooperate.

    In the last year of this administration, all concerned – the Presidency, National Assembly, the political parties and the public must realise that the country can only make progress when all hands are on deck. Citizens must become bolder and more active in serving notice on the leaders that lethargy would no longer be tolerated. The onus is on this government to deepen and not retard democracy. Where there are disputes over the extent of the powers of either institution, the Supreme Court should be approached as the final arbiter.

  • Delta pdp: A divided house

    Delta pdp: A divided house

    The Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has become a divided house, following its polarsation by the leadership crisis at the national level. OKUNGBOWA AIWERIE examines the issues that led to the factionalisation of the chapter and what it portends for the future of the party.

    The Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in turmoil, no thanks to the crisis bedeviling the party at the national level.

    The party is split into two camps. In one camp is Mr. Kingsley Esiso, who assumed office following the controversial election conducted by leaders loyal to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. Austin Ogbaburhon is recognised by the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff camp.

    Ogbaburhon is a former deputy chairman and former House of Representative member.

    The recent inauguration of the factional executive committee headed by Esiso at Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, home of the governor, was witnessed by members of the governor’s camp.

    Undoubtedly, the party has become factionalised as a result of the division that have trailed the emergence of Esiso as chairman in a congress which many described as flawed.

    Esiso emerged as chairman through consensus, to the chagrin of aspirants, who had earlier signified interest in the job.

    Many aggrieved members felt that Okowa imposed Esiso on the people.

    An aggrieved PDP faithful, Chief Inana Michael from Ethiope East council, is of the view that the congresses that brought Esiso to power was done in a ‘shoddy’ manner, warning it ‘can lead to mass defection to opposition parties’.

    Also, a stalwart, Austin Ogbolu, said the State Working Committee held a meeting that zoned the position to Delta Central, but lamented that “it is now being occupied by Esiso from Warri North Local Government Area in Delta South Senatorial District.”

    But, the State Organising Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Sunny Onoriode, pointed out that the aggrieved members participated in the congress.

    He said the group being paraded by the Sheriff faction cannot be referred to as a parallel executive, adding that it lacked a constitutional foundation because it did not go through the due process.

    His words: “There is no other congress that took place in Delta State. it was only one. And almost all the actors that claim to be on the other side today are just looking for relevance because they were all part of those that elected this current executive.

    “I do not see them as a faction; they are just a group of persons inside the PDP that are looking for relevance.  There are areas in the country where congresses did not hold.  In the case of Delta State, there was a successful congress monitored by the INEC, conducted by a panel put in place by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, and the outcome of that congress is what you have today as the exco in Delta State.”

    But, Okowa has responded to the threat of looming mass defection in the party.

    A source said: “Governor Okowa is uncomfortable with the development and has summoned the chairman, Esiso, to find a way to stem the ongoing defection to the Sheriff camp’.

    The source added: “the Kingsley Esiso-led exco has embarked on a tour of the 25 local councils in the state to sensitize and encourage them to remain steadfast and committed to the current leadership of the party”.

    The tour, which commenced with a visit to Patani, Bomadi, Uvwie and Warri South councils, has progressed to Koko in Warri North Local Government Area and other parts of the state.

    But, it remains to be seen whether the tour will yield the desired result for the Esiso-led executive.

    The factional chairman, Ogbaburhon, has reiterated his commitment to the unity of the party, stressing that the factions, notwithstanding, the party will come out stronger.

    He said that his executive council was on ground, stressing that the Urhobos are particularly happy about his coming on board as the chairman of the party.

    His words: “I know in Delta State we are very much on the ground; especially with me coming in as the chairman. It is well applauded by the Urhobos, who now say that it is now they know they have an Urhobo as a chairman.  But, I would always say that PDP is one.  Despite the fact that we two factions in the party, we are one. we are not fighting ourselves. All we are doing is to make sure that the party comes together’.

    Ogbaburhon debunked the allegation that his inauguration was a negotiation tool in the ongoing reconciliation process.

    He assured that the reconciliation between the two factions at the national level would be successful, adding: “They have agreed to resolve the issues. they are only working out the modalities for reconciliation and probably some harmonization.  So, very soon they will come up with a paper to see that the party comes together as one again.”

    Also, while acknowledging the reconciliation process at the national level, the Esiso-led executive has claimed it is the authentic executive. Esiso declared: “I remain the authentic state chairman of the party. “There was no congress in Delta State that brought in the Austin Ogbaburhon-led exco”.

    It is clear that the authentic chairman will be determined by the outcome of the spirited attempts to forge reconciliation. Will the resolution favour the Esiso-led executive committee, which emerged from a congress, or in favour of Ogbaburhon, who was inaugurated in Agbor without a congress? Time will tell.

    The danger is that the opposition party whose ranks continue to swell may cash in and entice the aggrieved members to do damage to the PDP’s chances in the 2019 general elections.

  • Ekiti APC…A divided house

    Ekiti APC…A divided house

    Things have not been the same for the Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (apc) since the party was defeated at the governorship poll last year. In the recent general elections, the party could not bounce back. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA examines the crises in the fold.

    Reversal of fortunes has been the lot of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State. Since the party lost last year’s governorship election, it has been battling with protracted crises.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ayo Fayose, defeated former Governor Kayode Fayemi in controversial circumstances.

    Although Fayemi conceded defeat, APC challenged the result of the poll at the Election Petitions Tribunal.

    But, the tribunal presided over by Justice Mohammed Sirajo dismissed the petition.

    The party also lost at the Court of Appeal as a five-man jury, led by Justice Abdu Aboki upheld the decision of the Lower Tribunal.

    Also, the Supreme Court, in a judgment delivered by Justice John Fabiyi on April 14, not only placed a judicial seal on Fayose’s victory, but also declared his purported impeachment as illegal.

    As legal fireworks were going on, the wound inflicted on the APC at the 2014 governorship election was still festering and it triggered a blame game among chieftains.

    The APC failed to put its house in order as last year’s general elections gathered momentum.

    Although the party succeeded in organising primaries that produced its National Assembly and House Assembly elections, it was obvious that achieving success at the polls would prove a Herculean task.

    Many party members were disturbed that leaders who supposed to provide leadership for them deserted the party.

    They claimed that the party’s candidates were like “sheep without shepherd” during the campaign, unlike the PDP candidates who were supported by Fayose.

    Some leaders blamed by party members included the three former governors, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Chief Olusegun Oni (now APC Deputy National Chairman-South), Dr. Fayemi, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Senator Anthony Adeniyi, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, House of Representatives members, the APC Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe and some state EXCO members.

    According to party members, Adebayo, Oni, Fayemi and Ojudu were more interested in the election of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as the president.

    They said the leaders failed to back the party with their resources, a situation which placed the party at a disadvantage against the PDP that had a huge warchest for the election.

    Awe was not available for the campaign. The Fayose administration is pursuing a murder case against him at the High Court.

    The complaints against these leaders reached a crescendo during the violent attacks on many APC candidates and members by suspected agents of the PDP.

    Many APC candidates, especially the immediate past House of Assembly members who were seeking re-election, were run out of town by suspected agents of government who made it impossible for them to campaign.

    During the 2011 general elections, the party won the three Senate seats, the six House of Representatives seats and 24 out of 26 House of Assembly seats.

    During the recent election it lost the three Senate seats, the six House of Representatives seat and the 26 State Assembly seats to the PDP.

    The most painful was the State Assembly results.

    Some of the factions existing in the party include the mainstream APC led by Awe, which is loyal to Dr. Fayemi, the Action Group led by Ojudu, which has many aggrieved officials and party leaders who served during the immediate past administration, the Restoration Group formed by the immediate past House of Representatives members, the Justice Forum led by Chief Adeniyi and the Bibiire Coalition led by Opeyemi Bamidele.

    The Bibiire Coalition began a working alliance with the Action Group, shortly before the presidential poll when Bamidele appeared at the party’s  presidential rally in Ado Ekiti.

    Although Bamidele made it clear that he was still in the Labour Party (LP) at the time, he and his supporters would work for Buhari at the presidential poll and support the LP candidates at other elections after which he would join the APC after the election.

    Bamidele has since defected to the APC with his supporters. But, some ward executives in his native Iyin Ekiti are kicking against his return to the party. This is a sign that the acrimony of the past is far from over.

    The Action Group is the most vocal and active of the factions in the Ekiti APC.

    The group, which is led by Ojudu, has other officials of the Fayemi administration, including former Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ganiyu Owolabi, former Commissioners, Funminiyi Afuye, Mrs. Ronke Okusanya, Mrs. Bunmi Dipo Salami; former Special Adviser, Biodun Akin-Fasae and other aggrieved members.

    The Action Group caucus predicated its formation on the need to “bail the party out of doldrums and lifting the morale of party faithful, which has been at an all time low since the June 21, 2014 governorship election to an all time high”.

    It’s spokesperson, Segun Dipe, said the group came to re-awaken the low spirit of members of the party.

    Dipe recalled how the party lost the governorship election, despite the advantages at its disposal, how the loss disunited the members, how the party leadership failed to summon a post election review meeting to know what went wrong and how the members who were in disarray could not be rallied together.

    “The opposite of action is inaction. Progressivism and activism are what APC should be known for and these are what our group stands for.

    “We saw the party in a precarious state immediately after the election. We called on our leaders to take action by reviewing the election, returning to the drawing table, calling members, telling them what went wrong and restoring them to a state of equanimity in anticipation of future elections, but no satisfactory response came from them.

    “What happened next was that the APC lost the two subsequent elections to the amazement of the  people”.

    Dipe added: “We have woken up our party from the sleepy mode it went into after the ill-fated June 21 2014, we have re-awakened the spirit of progressivism within our party members, we have aligned with other groups to expand the APC frontier in the state.

    Bamidele’s Ekiti Bibiire Coalition is another faction.

    Bamidele said he consulted widely with his followers and the national leadership of the party before refusing to the party.

    He said: “Our coming together with those that were there before will further strengthen the party”.

    He praised the national leaders of the party including Gen. Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and his predecessor, Chief Adebisi Akande, for their roles.

    He said that, with his entry into APC, the party would not be “the same APC the electorate rejected three times at the last general elections”.

    Bamidele reflected on why he left the ACN for the LP.

    He said: “My decision to contest for the governorship of Ekiti State was borne out of my innate conviction and that of many like-minds of mine, most of whom are illustrious sons and daughters of this great State, that though the ACN-led administration then was doing its best, however, its best was not enough for our much expectant but highly disillusioned people .

    “Invariably, I would have loved to stand in for the gubernatorial race on the platform of the ACN as a vision-driven progressive party under the leadership of an equally dynamic leader, benefactor and mentor of mine, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “But when it became apparent that  party primaries for candidate selection was not likely to hold in the Ekiti Chapter of the ACN/APC, I had no choice at some point in the course of expressing my intent to offer our people a better leadership, than to move to another suitable party where I could be offered the ticket to contest in the ensuing governorship election.

    “All of us the candidates contested on different platforms for the number of seat  in the State. But as we all know in any contest, someone must emerge the winner.“

    But, some party leaders in Bamidele’s hometown of Iyin Ekiti are not comfortable with his return to the progressives fold accusing him of contributing to its failure at the last governorship election.

    APC leaders in Iyin listed conditions for his re-admission.

    In a joint communique signed by the APC Chairmen in Iyin Ward A, Ope Ogundele, and Iyin Ward B, Folorunso Adeuyi, the party leaders said they are not happy with the way Bamidele defected to the Labour Party (LP) in 2013.

    The communique read in part: “Two years after his election, he dumped the party to join the Labour Party as a sole financier and as soon as he joined the Labour Party on the excuse that APC formation was alien to his belief, he became a torn in the flesh of APC.

    “He and his cohorts decided to pull down the structure of our party using all means and machinery at his disposal while also dissipating energy and resources to sponsor Labour Party candidates against APC candidates at all levels, thereby jettisoning his campaign promises”.

    While admitting that though the Nigerian constitution allows freedom of association and exit from that association, they expected Bamidele to conduct consultations within the grassroots party structure? before organizing defection ceremony to join APC.

    “The leadership was shocked on learning of his defection through the media. Bamidele neither came to his ward nor was he received by any party leader in accordance with the rules and regulations of our party.

    “We want to state unequivocally that we are unaware that he has defected to APC.

    “We are saying emphatically that Bamidele shall be welcomed to the party whenever he is ready to come down from his high horse and abide by the laid down rules and regulations of our party guiding defectors.”

    Bamidele is believed to be enjoying the confidence of the national leaders who see him as a mobilizer and a rallying point.

    The Action Group and Bibiire Coalition worked together during the presidential election.

    The Restoration Group was formed by five former House of Representatives members.

    They are: Bimbo Daramola (Oye/Ikole), Robinson Ajiboye (Ido Osi/Moba/Ilejemeje), Bamidele Faparusi (Gbonyin/Emure/Ekiti East), Dr. Ife Arowosoge (Ekiti Southwest/Ikere/Ise Orun) and Oyetunde Ojo (Ekiti West/Efon/Ijero).

    The Restoration Group says it has commenced mobilisation ahead of the next governorship election in 2018.

    It is believed that one of the five former Reps is being positioned for the party’s ticket.

    Much has not been heard from the Justice Group, which is led by Prince Ola Adeniyi, a chieftain of the party from Ikole.

    The Justice Group is pushing for what it called “indigenous candidates” for various elective and appointive positions.

    The group believes that majority of those who had held governorship seat and other positions are not based in Ekiti hence they cannot understand the feelings and yearnings of the people.

     

    Can Ekiti APC put its house in order?

     

    Observers believe that for the APC in Ekiti State to play its role as the leading opposition party, there must be genuine and sincere reconciliation.

    Many party leaders, who have one grouse or the other as a result of their unfulfilled expectations during the Fayemi administration, must be appeased and their grievances looked into.

    The reconciliation, the observers believe, must reach all the 177 wards. How the reconciliation will be carried out remains to be seen.

    Well-meaning party members are also calling for the dissolution of the party executives at the ward and state levels to reposition the party for future challenges.

    Some party members believe that the party leadership, as presently constituted, is skewed in favour of one of the caucuses and cannot lead the party to victory in future elections.

    An APC leader in Efon Local Government, Chief Joseph Alake, is one of the advocates of re-organisation of the party.

    Alake, who spoke with our reporter while he led members of the party to celebrate the inauguration of Buhari on May 29 in Efon Alaaye, said the dissolution of the party executives at all levels is what is presently needed to launch the party back into reckoning.

    The Efon chief said: “This party needs to be reorganised, there is need to dissolve all the present excos at the unit, ward, local government, senatorial and state levels to allow a breath of fresh air in the party.

    “We need to tell ourselves the truth, although God has given our party power at the eternal level for the first time since the nation returned to democracy in 1999, the chapter in Ekiti needs repositioning.

    “It is obvious that the same set of people leading the party cannot continue to remain in office. Our party is currently facing serious challenges, there are some issues that need to be addressed in good time.

    “We urge the national leadership to, as a matter of urgency assist the party in Ekiti to be back on its feet and challenge the excesses of the PDP government.”

    Another chieftain, Gabriel Olaofe, expressed optimism that despite the challenges facing the APC in Ekiti State, the future is bright.

    Olaofe who is the former APC Secretary in the defunct Ifedara Local Council Development Area, urged all feuding party members to sink their differences and come together to make the party an election-winning platform.

    “This is not the time to be apportioning blames, we should put the defeat of last year behind us and forge a united front to tackle the misrule and dictatorship prowling the Ekiti political landscape.

    “This is the time to carry out a thorough and genuine reconciliation process and lay the foundation ahead of the future elections most especially as the 2018 governorship election is fast approaching.

    “Let us learn from the mistakes of the past, go back to the drawing board and fashion out a winning formula. The doors of the party should not be shut against anyone that is willing to join as long as they subscribe to the ideology of the party.

    “All shades of opinion should be accommodated in the party leadership to make it a party that’s ready to win back power within a very short period of time.”

    A chieftain in Ijan Ward in Gbonyin Local Government Area, Taiwo Olawuyi, urged those who would be privileged to be appointed to positions in the APC-led Federal Government to be closer to the local chapter of the party.

    Olawuyi said: “I want to charge our party members that will be appointed to key positions at federal level to give back to the party at their wards, local governments of origin and the state levels.

    “This is not the time to remain perpetually in Abuja and abandon their home base. The party in Ekiti needs serious financial, material and moral support at time the party is no longer in power in the state.

    “There should be an aggressive and continuous membership drive because Ekiti people have seen what the PDP has to offer in terms of illegality, constitutional breaches, violence, dashed hopes and expectations of civil servants, among others.

    “This party has potentials to bounce back, if we get our acts right and there should be no room for self-aggrandizement, blame game and division because 2018 is just around the corner”.

    The people of Ekiti State are watching whether the APC would be back to the winning ways in no distant time or allow itself to be ruined by avoidable self-inflicted crisis.

  • Southwest PDP: A divided house

    Southwest PDP: A divided house

    Three months to the general elections, the Southwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in chaos. The state chapters are polarised by the struggle for political offices. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the implication of the war of atttriction on the party, ahead of next year’s polls.   

    The dark clouds hanging the future of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest is yet to disappear. For more than two years, the party has been embroiled in crisis. The acrimony climaxed when the former National Chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, appointed Mr. Buruji Kashamu as the Chairman of the Zonal Contact and Mobilisation Committee. Since then, the Southwest PDP has not been the same.

    The crisis has polarised the zone. The discontent is such that virtually all state chapters are grappling with crises. Efforts to resolve the crises have not been successful, given the division within the ranks of party leaders. It is the divergent interests that prompted the national headquarters to set up the Integration Committee headed by the Senate President, Senator David Mark, to bring the warring factions together, ahead of next year’s general elections.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, under whose leadership the PDP rose to prominence in the Southwest, has lost control over the party, even in his home state, Ogun. Analysts described Kashamu’s appointment as an imposition intended to spite the former President and reduce his political influence. The party structure, they said, was deliberately handed over to Kashamu to undermine Obasanjo, who has vowed that he would never recognise a party leader who is wanted in the United States of America for drug offences. Besides, Obasanjo’s letter to the national chairman, announcing his withdrawal from the affairs of the party on account of recent development, has complicated matters for the party.

    It was against this background that a party elder, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), said  summoned some leaders and elders to find ways of putting the division in the party behind them and forge ahead as the preparation for next year’s election gathers momentum. Akinjide said: “In Nigerian politics, the Southwest is an important zone to reckon with. Why are we taking up arms against one another? What exactly is happening to us? If we call ourselves leaders, should we then be found in a demeaning position?”

    Supporting Obasanjo’s position on the alleged imposition of Kashamu as party leader in the zone, Akinjide said: “Obasanjo said there are some alleged criminals in the party. One of them is a drug addict. I mean the criminal element who wants to lead us. We won’t allow them.”

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has also declared interest in the zonal leadership of the party. He told the Southwest PDP chieftains at a meeting in Abuja that, being the only governor elected on the platform of the party, he should automatically become the zonal leader.

    In a veiled reference to former President Obasanjo, Fayose said:  “The party would not beg anybody to return to its fold. This is the last time that any member of the party, irrespective of his position, whether former governor or President, will be begged to remain in the party. If they want to join other parties, they can go. They should not disparage the party again because if they do, they will go. They have enjoyed benefits in the party, so they should respect the party.”

    The internal struggle for political offices and positions, particularly the squabble over who gets the party’s governorship tickets has created more divisions in the fold. The party is factionalised in the six states that make up Southwest.

     

    Oyo

     

    Unless the party puts its house in order in Oyo State, its dream of wresting the governorship back from the All Progressives Congress (APC) would remain a mirage. The party is sharply divided into four groups.

    A former Minister of Power and Steel, Elder Wole Oyelese, confirmed that there is a division in the chapter, when he said: “As things are now in the state, the PDP has four groups.” According to him, the groups are championed by former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Ms. Jumoke Akinjide, Senator Teslim Folarin and the neutral group led by him.

    One of the factions close the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, has been trying to bring former Governor Rashidi Ladoja back to the fold. But, apparently the other factions are not favourably disposed to the idea. Recent efforts of the First Lady to reconcile the former governor with the PDP leaders in the state have met a brick wall. Dame Patience, according to reports, had at a meeting held at the Presidentia Villa, Abuja, requesting the party leaders to “accommodate” Ladoja in the party and support his governorship ambition in order to take the state back from the APC.

    But, the chieftains have vowed not to concede the ticket to Ladoja, who they insist is not a member of the party. Otunba Alao-Akala, who was present at the meeting, confirmed that Mrs Jonathan asked them to accommodate Ladoja. Alao-Akala said they disagreed on the ground that Ladoja had yet to dump the Accord Party for the PDP. Alao-Akala insisted that he would not step down for his former boss. Ladoja, on the other hand, has not ruled out joining the PDP. But, obviously, he doesn’t want to do so without the assurance that he would get the ticket. Ladoja emphasised that he could not leave certainty for uncertainty. “I have built my party into a winning party. How then can anyone expect me to leave that party, which is the pride of all aspirants, to another party?”

    The problem facing the PDP in the state is how to pick a candidate that will be acceptable to all factions among the arrays of aspirants. They include: Senator Folarin, Alao-Akala, Akinjide, Oyelese,  and youthful  Seyi  Makinde among others.

    All the aspirants, except Alao-Akala, hail from Ibadan. The aspirants from Ibadan insist that the ticket should be conceded to Ibadan. They premised their argument on the fact that Alao-Akala had served two terms allowed by the 1999 Constitution. But, the former governor faulted the claim, saying he contested the governorship election only in 2007. He added that he ran a joint ticket with Ladoja as deputy governor and took over when Ladoja was impeached to complete the tenure. He boasted that he would win the primary because his popularity cuts across the state. He hails from Ogbomosho, the second largest town in the state.

    Indications are that, if the party gives the ticket to any of the aspirants from Ibadan, Alao-Akala will not support him or her. Can the PDP afford to ignore the support of the Ogbomosho people? The outcome of David Mark-led Integration Committee will decide whether or not the PDP will go into next year’s polls as a bloc.

     

    Ogun

     

    The fight over the soul of the party in Ogun State has taken a new dimension. The struggle is between the Mandate Group led by Kashamu and the Jubril Martins-Kuye faction. The JMK is rooting for the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, to emerge as the party’s governorship candidate. The group is also calling for the dissolution of the state executive, which was installed by Kashamu. The Mandate group, on the other hand, has drawn the attention of the Mark Committee “to the activities of the members of JMK Group who are moving around to deceive the panel to do their bidding in order to satisfy their selfish interests.”

    It added: “This late hour scheme is meant to cause a fresh round of crises after the party has been stabilised and it is now functioning very well. We wish to state that this is not the time for anyone to start using the names of the President, the Senate President and/ the National Chairman to cause disaffection and further any selfish interest.

    “Even, if they want to foist the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Dimeji Bankole, on the party and give him automatic ticket for the governorship election, they should not throw away the baby with the bath water. Any attempt to do so would cause more grievous harm than it was meant to resolve.”

    The Mandate Group reminded those behind “Dimeji Bankole Must Be Governor” campaign that it was the same Bankole, who lost his re-election bid for the Abeokuta South Federal Constituency which is made up of just only one local government.

    A source disclosed the Presidency has endorsed Bankole as the consensus. This development, according to source, is causing disaffection in the party. Kashamu, the sole financier of the PDP in Ogun State, is not happy with it.  The source recalled that Kashamu had warned Bankole to go through normal process to realise his ambition. Other aspirants jostling for the ticket include Gboyega Isiaka, Kayode Amusan, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade and Ishola Sarafa, .among others

    Another source of worry in Ogun PDP is the return of the former Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel to the party. Daniel was prevailed upon by President Jonathan and the National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, to collapse the Labour Party (LP) structure into the PDP, to strengthen it for next year’s general elections. This development, according to sources, did not go down well with Kashamu. Daniel was stampeded out of the PDP by Kashamu and took over the party’s structure, which ought to be under the former governor, if not for the crisis that engulfed the party prior to the 2011 general elections. The old rivalry seems to have been rekindled by the  ambition of the two gladiators. Daniel is interested in the Ogun East Senatorial District ticket, which had been exclusively reserved for Kashamu. The Mandate group is not comfortable with the idea of dissolving the state executive council of the party to accommodate Daniel and his LP members that recently defected to the PDP.

     

    Ondo

     

    The defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko has destabilised the Ondo State chapter of the PDP. The fear that the national leadership would hand over the party structure to Mimiko has become a reality. Against all expectations, the National Working Committee (NWC) had dissolved the state executive council and constituted a caretaker committee without the knowledge of the state executive members.

    Reacting to the dissolution, the state chapter said: “To say the least, this action is a clear intention that those we expect to safeguard the interest of the party are intent on beheading it. We also consider this action a disappointment, particularly in view of the fact that there is a subsisting court order, barring the NWC from taking this action. We want to remind Abuja that it is by choice that we are party members and that the party is not a prison yard where we are inmates who are bereft of liberties and rights.”

    The state party secretariat had been closed down by the police. Observers are of the view that the closure was done to pave way for a new executive to be put in place by Mimiko. A party chieftain, Benson Enikuomehin berated the governor’s moves to truncate the democratic process in the state. He said Mimiko became governor in the state today through the judiciary and that a man of his calibre is expected to obey court ruling.

    Enikuomehin said this development may ruin the chances of President Jonathan and the PDP in Ondo State at the general elections next year.

     

    Lagos

    Many party chieftains believe that, since Chief Olabode George became the leader of the party, peace has eluded the chapter. Today, key party leaders are up in arms against George. They complained that he has aborted efforts to unite the polarised chapter by taking unilateral steps considered infuriating to other party leaders. Others have accused him of imposition of Dr. Shamusideen Ade-Dosunmu as governorship candidate in the last election and preventing a proper congress from holding at the ward, local government and state levels.

    Today, the relationship between George and Senator Musiliu Obanikoro is frosty.  Obanikoro had resigned his ministerial appointment to contest governorship election. Supporters of Obanikoro believe he lost governorship election in 2007 because the party leadership starved his campaign organisation of funds.

    Ade-Dosunmu too has declared his ambition to contest for the party ticket. Will George stick out his neck for him despite his poor outing in 2011 or support Jimi Agbaje to slug it out with Obanikoro at the primary? A party chieftain said the battle for the PDP ticket is between George and Obanikoro.

    Already, not less than 10 governorship aspirants are eyeing the PDP ticket in Lagos. They include Babatunde Gbadamosi, Deji Doherty, Remi Adikwu-Bakare, Tunde Daramola, Koshoedo, Bode Oyedele and Akintoye Branco-Rhodes.

     

    Ekiti                                                                      

     

    Governor Fayose runs the party as sole administrator. He has unilaterally picked the candidates for the state and national assembly elections. The governor reportedly said that, as the leader of the party in the state, he is in a better position to decide who is qualified for what position. Stakeholders of the party have complained against turning the party into a personal estate.

    The governor was also said to have masterminded the removal of the former Southwest PDP Caretaker Chairman, Chief Ishola Filani, from office. The removal of Filani, an indigene of Ekiti, according to party sources, was because Fayose prefers someone that would be loyal to him.

    Since Fayose emerged as the governorship candidate of the party at the primaries, other contestants have kept distance from him. Notable among them are former Police Affairs Minister Caleb Olubolade and Senator Gbenga Aluko. This suggests that proper reconciliation has not taken place.