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Tag: Kola Ologbondiyan

  • APC plans to attack Nigerians, PDP alleges

    The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) has alleged plots by the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) and its agents to load arms and ammunitions into vehicles painted in PDP colours and the names of some of its prominent chieftains.

    According the main opposition party, the plan is to use the illegal arms and ammunitions to attack gatherings and orchestrate violence across the country ahead of the general elections.

    In a statement Thursday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said some of those marked for frame up in the planned attacks include its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, Senator Dino Melaye among others.

    Citing “intelligence report” at its disposal, the opposition party said the governing APC will then clamp down on the targeted PDP chieftains and get them incarcerated.

    Condemning what it described as the heinous plot, the PDP said the plot was an act of desperation by the APC, as a result of despondency, arising from their rejection by Nigerians.

    Read Also; APC seeks postponement of Rivers gov election

    The statement reads: “We want all Nigerians to note that the PDP is a party of goodwill and our rallies have demonstrated that we are a people of peace.

    “Our objectives and goals, as laid down by our founding fathers, demonstrate unity, national cohesion and economic prosperity for our nation.

    “This is the path we have continued to toe in our campaigns, in spite of provocations by the APC and the Buhari Presidency.

    “The PDP is therefore, alerting Nigerians to take serious note of this plot by the APC, which is tailored to smear the image of our party and candidates, as well as divert public attention from their acts and threats of violence ahead of the 2019 general election”.

  • El-Rufai: PDP threatens to pull out of peace accord

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has threatened to pull out of the peace accord over death threats issued by the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai to officials of the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union.

    Speaking in a Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) live  programme Tuesday night, El-Rufai, had threatened the foreign nationals who might interfere with Nigeria’s upcoming elections  with violent death.

    El-Rufai had said, “Those that are calling for anyone to come and intervene in Nigeria, we are waiting for the person that would come and intervene, they would go back in body bags”.

    The governor was reacting to calls by the PDP a few days ago, urging the global community to keep a watchful eye on the processes leading to the general elections, with the view to ensuring free, fair and credible polls.

    At a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan described El-Rufai’s comments as inimical to peaceful, free and fair elections.

    “The PDP is left with no option than to consider a review of its signatory in the National Peace Accord, if no action is immediately taken to curb this trend”, Ologbondiyan said.

    The main opposition party called on the international community to immediately impose a travel ban on el-Rufai for the inciting comments against peaceful elections in the country.

    It also called on the National Peace Committee, chaired by  former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar to summon El-Rufai for clarifications on the threat.

    “The PDP holds that any situation that seeks to allow the APC to abuse the tenets of the accord will definitely force our party to review our signatory to the peace process.

    “We therefore call on the National Peace Committee to immediately summon el-Rufai on his inflammatory remarks against peaceful election in our country.

    “In that regard, we might have no option left than to allow our members to defend their votes with whatever that is available to them.

    Read Also: Onnoghen must go – El-Rufai

    “This country belongs to all of us and no individual or group, no matter how highly placed, can subjugate other citizens or seek to appropriate any sort of absolutism to themselves”

    The PDP has similarly kicked against what it described as an alleged plot by the police authorities to redeploy Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to Kwara State Command as Commissioner of Police.

    The opposition party alleged closeness of Egbetokun to a section of the leadership of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

    This, according to the PDP, might lead to Egbetokun taking sides in the ongoing supremacy tussle between the PDP and the APC chapters in Kwara State.

    Ologbondiyan continued, “This is in line with plans by the Buhari Presidency and the APC to effect a mass deployment of top security officers, particularly the police, to intimidate, harass and manhandle Nigerians that will not support the self-succession bid of President Muhammadu Buhari as well as aiding APC thugs to snatch ballot boxes and orchestrate violence in the elections.

    “Nigerians are aware of how CP Kayode Egbetokun was posted to Lagos State by the disgraced former Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, to serve the same partisan interest and how that posting was stopped by the new IGP Adamu Mohammed. Now, he is being redeployed to Kwara State for the same ignoble plot.

    “It is necessary to state that the PDP is a party of peace and we are committed to the peace accord. However, the deployment of Kayode Egbetokun as Kwara CP directly negates the principle of the Peace Accord and can only hurt the fragile peace that currently exists in Kwara state.

    “We wish to remind the acting Inspector General, Adamu Mohammed that his acceptability among Nigerians across party line was based on the pedigree, which was presented to Nigerians before his appointment.

    “These pedigree and exposure place on his shoulders, the responsibility to be just, firm, equitable and professional in the discharge of his duties. We therefore urge him not to allow his reputation to be mired in controversial political activities”.

    The party called on the National Peace Committee to note the alleged infractions by the APC and its leaders to the peace accord.

    It also drew the attention of the Committee to how the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje on Tuesday shut down all stadia in Kano city in order to frustrate the PDP presidential campaign rally schedule to hold in the state.

     

  • You can’t blackmail Nigerians, PDP tells Buhari

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told President Muhammadu Buhari he cannot blackmail Nigerians over his impending defeat in the February 16 presidential election.

    The main opposition party lamented what it described as the administration’s incessant blackmail and threats against the opposition and law -abiding Nigerians.

    In a statement Tuesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said Nigerians will not buckle under the jackboots.

    It also alleged efforts by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to heat up the polity, inject crisis, undermine the general elections, then carry its heinous plots to use mercenaries from Niger Republic to unleash mayhem on the nation and blame it on the opposition.

    This plot, the PDP alleged, is because the APC have realised that there is no way Buhari can win in a peaceful, free and fair election.

    The party also drew the attention of the international community to what it described as land mines being set on the way of credible elections by the APC.

    It cited the clamp down on opposition, foisting of President Buhari’s relation, Amina Zakari, as head of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) collation centre.

    Read Also: PDP ‘ll fix economy — Peter Obi

    The PDP also cited the refusal by President Buhari to sign the amendment to the Electoral Act, the creation of illegal geo-spatial centers and polling units for allocation of “fictitious” votes for the APC, listing of APC supporters as election officials and the opening of borders to “mercenaries” to participate in the electoral process as some of the danger signals.

    The party said: “It is now clear to all that the target of the APC is to demonize and cow the opposition, instill fear in Nigerians, undermine our democratic institutions, attempt to subjugate the citizenry and pave the way for the actualization of a self-succession plan for President Buhari.

    “The PDP, as a political party with the highest demography of members and supporters, in their millions, across our nation, therefore states in unequivocal terms, that Nigerians will never allow themselves to be blackmailed, intimidated or cowed by the APC into relinquishing their constitutionally guaranteed rights, to freely choose their leaders, no matter the threats.

    “The PDP stands with Nigerians, across the board, in demanding for a free, fair, transparent and credible general election.

    “This position must be respected, as the citizens of our country will spare no thoughts in vehemently confronting and squarely resisting, head to head, any attempt by anybody, whosoever he may be, to subvert our electoral process.”

  • PDP exposes INEC’s ‘rigging’ plans

    The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has alerted of alleged fresh plots by the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the 2019 general elections in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    According to the main opposition party, INEC has been taking directives from the Buhari Presidency and the APC on how to manipulate the electoral process at various levels.

    Addressing newsmen in Abuja Monday, spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, accused the electoral body of having collected a list of people that will serve as electoral officials, including ad-hoc staff and returning officers at the polling units, from APC state governors and candidates, across the federation.

    Stating that the directive was handed to INEC by the Presidency, the PDP claimed to be privy to how the lists were populated with APC members and agents of the APC candidates, after clearance by the APC leaders in various states.

    Ologbondiyan said, “The PDP vehemently rejects this wicked plot by the Buhari Presidency, which is tailored to ensure institutional manipulation of the electoral process, including accreditation, voting and collation of results at the polling units, which is the base of the elections.

    Read Also: We’re ready for polls, INEC reassures

    “The PDP holds that by following the directive of the APC in such dubious rigging scheme, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, has violated section 29 (1) of the Electoral Act (as amended) and shows that he is in clear deficit of the required political will to conduct a credible, free and fair election.

    “This is especially in the light of the boasting by agents of the Buhari Presidency and the APC to give the INEC chairman what they describe as the ‘Onnoghen treatment, and frame him, if he fails to comply with their rigging plans”.

    The PDP demanded of INEC to, within 48 hours, publish the list of all officials and ad hoc staff that will play any form of role in the election at all levels for verification by stakeholders.

    The party insisted that any delay or refusal by INEC to publish the list with 48 hours would be a clear acceptance that it has been compromised by the APC and this could lead to a very serious crisis with very dire consequences, as the PDP will never allow anybody to rig it out in the election.

    “The PDP wants Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to note that the fate of our nation lies in his hands. It is left to him to decide whether he would end as a national hero or as a villain.

    “Furthermore, the PDP calls on the international community to place the INEC Chairman, Directors and Commissioners in INEC responsible for this election on their watch list and proceed to impose travel ban on them as well as hold them directly responsible should there be any form of rigging in the February 16, 2019 Presidential elections.

    “Finally, the PDP directs all its members, teeming supporters and all well-meaning Nigerians across the nation to get ready to vote out President Buhari and protect their votes with all the energy available to them in the defence of our democracy and freedom as a people.

    “If President Buhari believes he is popular, he should make himself available for a free, fair, transparent and credible election. Anything short of this is completely unacceptable to Nigerians.

    “This is because Nigerians have already reached a consensus to vote out the incompetence, hunger, nepotism, pretense and manifest lies which the Buhari President truly represents”.

  • No rift over campaign funding, says PDP

    The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has denied rift among its leaders over the handling of campaign funds, describing media reports on the alleged rift as laughable, infantile and diversionary.

    A statement Monday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, accused unnamed agents of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) of having sponsored the said report.

    The party said for the APC and agents of the Buhari campaign to descend to the level of fabricating stories to create a non-existent scenario, showed that the APC and the Buhari Presidency have finally come to their wits end and are now suffering a pre-defeat trauma.

    The statement said, “The PDP is aware that the Buhari Presidency and the APC have become so frustrated over their dwindled electoral fortune in the face of the soaring popularity of the people’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar that they are now attempting to inject crisis into the PDP campaign in order to divert public attention from their own failures and rejection.

    “For President Buhari’s information, the Atiku Abubakar campaign is owned and driven by the Nigerian public and will never have the kind of rifts that have been ravaging the APC campaign, where their leaders, including their National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, went on the run from security agencies over allegations of siphoning funds from aspirants and candidates.

    Read Also: PDP to Buhari: You can’t rig this election

    “Unlike the Buhari Campaign Organization, which is practically a den of looters and sanctuary of persons indicted for corruption, which have been running its campaigns with looted funds, the Atiku Presidential campaign have been running a transparent and people-driven campaign, anchored on the volunteered support of overwhelming majority of Nigerians”.

    The main opposition party counseled President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC to note that their resort to smear campaign will not help their cause.

    Nigerians, the PDP said, would never be distracted from their collective resolve to vote in Atiku Abubakar as the next President.

    The party restated its confidence in Atiku’s proven capacity and will to return the country to the path of national cohesion and economic prosperity.

  • Hold Buhari, APC responsible for any threats to polls, says PDP

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) should be held responsible for any threats to the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    The main opposition party said its position was informed by its review of recent developments, particularly what it termed the desperation being exhibited by the APC and agents of the Buhari Presidency.

    In a statement on Wednesday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP alleged plots by the APC administration to scuttle the upcoming general elections.

    The party’s position was predicated on the alarm raised by the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Mongunu, alleging that some individuals that are not certain of their fate in the upcoming elections were plotting to precipitate widespread violence aimed at scuttling the conduct of the elections.

    But the PDP retorted that by every evidence and material facts, the political party and candidate that are not certain of their fate in the election have proven to be the APC and its presidential candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The PDP said the President and his party have continued to exhibit acts of frustration over fear of imminent electoral loss.

    The statement said, “We are all witnesses to the series of warnings to the Buhari Presidency, from prominent Nigerian citizens and topmost members of the international community, including the United States, United Kingdom, the United Nations, and the European Union, against actions that are inimical to the smooth conduct of the general elections.

    Read Also: PDP: Atiku is a consummate democrat

    “It is instructive to note that instead of heeding this warning, the Buhari Presidency and the APC, in their arrogance and desperation, resorted to blackmailing and vilifying the international community, thereby further confirming that they are not ready for a peaceful, free and fair election.

    “Except the NSA is addressing facts known to Nigerians that as a result of losses already suffered by the APC on account of court judgments stopping it from participating in the elections in some states, due to its flawed primaries, some desperate leaders and members of the ruling party are making discreet arrangements to scuttle the polls.

    “This is in addition to APC’s frustration over the soaring popularity of the people’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, among Nigerians across the board, who have come to a consensus to elect him as the next President of our country, come February, 16, 2019.

    “For the majority of Nigerians, particularly members of the PDP and our teeming supporters, across our nation, the successful conduct of the February 16, 2019 Presidential election is a paramount desire that must be actualized.

    “Nigerians are eager to go to the polls to vote out this administration that has caused them so much anguish, pain, hunger, economic deprivation, sectional acrimony and deaths and this is the reason the APC is seeking all ways to scuttle the elections”.

  • PDP greets Dickson at 53

    The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) has described Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa as an outstanding leader and a quintessential democrat.

    The party made the commendation in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Tuesday in Abuja, as Dickson clocked 53 years.

    Ologbondiyan said that Dickson had continued to demonstrate an unparalleled patriotism towards the stability and growth of the nation at various levels, both in the legislative and executive arms of government.

    He said that Dickson’s excellent performance as a member of the House of Representatives and now as the governor of Bayelsa, stood him out as an exceptionally dedicated statesman.

    He said that the governor through his performance had elevated the quality of life of his people through unprecedented infrastructural development and economic empowerment of the citizens of the state in all spheres.

    “The PDP particularly appreciates Dickson for his role as the Chairman of the PDP National Reconciliation Committee.

    “The governor brought to bear his prowess for peace leading to the unity, stability and oneness of purpose with which our party is coasting to victory in the 2019 general elections.

    “The PDP family, therefore, joins millions of friends, associates and well-wishers in celebrating Governor Dickson as he marks this important milestone,” he said.

    Ologbondiyan prays that God would continue to bless him with good health and sound mind as he continues in his patriotic service to the people of Bayelsa and the nation.

  • We are not interested in Interim government, says PDP

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected insinuations that opposition parties were toying with the idea of setting up an Interim Government, as stated by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed at a briefing in Abuja on Monday.

    The main opposition party countered that it cannot accept any form of unconstitutional governance and a contraption like an interim government.

    A statement Tuesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said its confident of a landslide victory for its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar in the February 16 presidential election.

    The PDP said a suggestion of an Interim Government, under any pretext, context or contemplation can only come from desperate and unpatriotic minds in a failed administration, or from a political party that has lost hope of being re-elected in a free, fair and credible election, due to its manifest incompetence and humongous corruption.

    “Every Nigerian knows the desperation of the APC and the Buhari Presidency ahead of the 2019 general election, leading to their resort to threats, intimidation and clamp down on dissenting voices, as well as, assault on institutions of democracy, in the face of incontrovertible indices pointing to their imminent crushing defeat at the polls.

    Read Also: PDP urges Yakubu to resist pressure

    “The PDP has already alerted Nigerians that Alhaji Lai Mohammed had let out APC’s ignoble “plan B” of “if we can’t have it, then destroy it”, which is to cause violence, derail the electoral process and blame it on the opposition; not minding the damage such could cause the nation, including human and material losses.

    “We hope such cruel plot, as revealed by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, is not the underlining reason behind the APC administration’s alleged neglect and undermining of our security forces fighting in the fronts”, the statement added.

    The main opposition party charged Alhaji Lai Mohammed to come clear on the source of his information, if it is not a plot being hatched by the APC.

    The PDP urged the Minister to tell Nigerians if his source of information was the Police, the military or the Directorate of State Services (DSS) so that they can appropriately channel their concerns.

    The party urged Nigerians to be at alert and keep an eye on the APC in their “nefarious” plans against the nation, adding that the ruling party has made its strategy public.

    “On our own part, the PDP is prepared and ready for the elections. We have been going round the country peacefully, campaigning and presenting our candidate, policies and programmes to the electorate.

    “The PDP will therefore not accept any form of interim government, not when Nigerians have already attained a consensus to rally behind and vote in the peoples Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as their next President, come February 16, 2019”, the PDP further said.

  • Babachir: PDP charges Buhari to prosecute other APC leaders

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to go beyond the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke and prosecute other leaders of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), who have allegedly been openly indicted of corruption.

    The party said that singling out Babachir Lawal and Ayodele Oke, for prosecution, while providing official cover to numerous other indicted APC leaders and persons close to him, President Buhari has further confirmed that he is indeed partisan and insincere in prosecuting the anti-corruption fight.

    A statement Tuesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, faulted a statement by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo that President Buhari had given the nod for the prosecution of Lawal and Oke.

    This, the PDP said, further confirmed that President Buhari has annexed the system and directly determines who is prosecuted and who is spared.

    It challenged President Buhari to immediately order the prosecution of all APC leaders, particularly members of his Presidential Campaign Council, beginning with the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, the campaign Director-General, Rotimi Amaechi, other directors and zonal coordinators, who have allegations of corruption hanging on their necks.

    “Mr. President should also immediately order the prosecution of the former aide to the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, Mr. Baba Inna, who was arrested in September last year, over accusations of receiving N2.5 billion from politicians, businessmen and women on behalf of the First Lady.

    “In the same vein, he should also order the prosecution of Mrs. Amina Mohammed, who while being paraded by the Department of State Services (DSS), last year stated in public that persons close to President Buhari were involved in serial fraud and looting of public resources under the official cover of the Buhari Presidency.

    Read Also: PDP will put food on Nigerians’ tables, says Secondus

    “President Buhari should also order an open inquest into alleged involvement of some individuals said to be close to the Buhari Presidency in the N1.032 trillion alleged corrupt acquisitions in 9Mobile and Keystone Bank PLC.

    “He is also invited to order an investigation into allegations that persons close to him and serving in his Presidency took N500 million as bribe to reduce the fine imposed on a telecommunication company operating in the country, from N1.03 trillion to N330 billion.

    “Furthermore, we challenge President Buhari to allow an inquest into the N14 trillion looted oil money under his watch, as detailed in the NNPC leaked memo; the handling of the repatriated $322m that has been siphoned under the guise of sharing to the poor; the N33 billion Internally Displace Persons (IDP) intervention fund and the billions of naira already frittered through the ‘Tradermoni scheme’.

    “Until Mr. President musters the required political will to carry out these actions, his war against corruption remains a charade”, the statement added.

     

  • PDP: We are vindicated by Obasanjo’s position on 2019 poll

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it has been vindicated by the concerns raised by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, detailing President Muhammadu Buhari’s scheme to use apparatus of state power to subjugate Nigerians, undermine the democratic system, subvert the electoral process and perpetuate himself in office.

    In a statement Sunday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party restated its position that President Buhari is out for a self-succession plot.

    The main opposition party further stated that Obasanjo’s  submission has also reinforced its position that President Buhari, and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), having realized that there is no way he can win in a free and fair election, are now besieging all democratic institutions, including the Judiciary, the Legislature, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while engaging in acts that threaten the unity, peace and corporate existence of the nation.

    The PDP maintained that President Buhari and APC’s desperation for power is putting the lives of over 200 million Nigerian citizens at great risk, saying such actions stoke violence and push the nation to the precipice.

    The statement said, “We are however not surprised that the APC, a party that has shown that it is completely anti-people, quickly rose in defence of the Buhari Presidency’s assault on our democratic order. The APC has always been a deceptive soulless mob that would rather have our nation burn than to be out of power.

    “President Obasanjo’s concern is therefore a clarion call to all compatriots, irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliations to rise in defence of our democracy.

    “He has reinforced the fact that this nation belong to all of us; that our pride as a people lies in our resilience and globally acclaimed ability to rise above and defeat every situation that challenges our nationhood.

    “The PDP therefore calls on all Nigerians to be at alert at this critical time to stop President Buhari and the APC on their anti-democratic trails with our votes.

    “We should never allow anybody to set our nation on fire just to achieve selfish ambitions. We must eschew all our differences and unite in using our votes to take back our country from this dwindling, incompetent, ineffectual, corrupt and anti-people administration.

    “If we don’t take action with our votes, we would be giving up our nation to totalitarian forces at our own peril and those of generations yet unborn”.