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Tag: Metuh

  • Election: PDP worried over Rivers, Delta, A/Ibom

    Election: PDP worried over Rivers, Delta, A/Ibom

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed apprehension over its electoral victories in Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom States, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenges the results at the tribunals.

    At a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said it’s worrisome that even in victory, the APC has remained desperate in the desire to be in total control of the polity by attempting to take over the states genuinely won by the PDP.

    “You will recall that we had earlier alerted Nigerians to a groundswell of plots by the APC to foist a one party rule in our country by attempting to destabilise the PDP, take over some of our states and legislative seats, all to ensure that there is no strong opposition when they eventually assume power.

    “As we speak, APC has resorted to instigating crisis, inciting the people while mobilising resources to arm-twist the judiciary, ostensibly to torpedo the will of the people in these states.

    “In particular, our findings show that in Delta, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom States, the APC machinery is working round the clock to ensure that it upturned the victory of the PDP and the mandate freely given to us by the people in these states,” Metuh said.

    The party claimed to be aware of clandestine moves by the APC to procure and compromise some stakeholders in the elections, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security personnel to bear false witness and doctor electoral materials against the PDP at the tribunal.

    “This is in addition to sponsoring negative publications in some section of the media, laced with false claims and distortion of election figures to suit their nefarious plans of swaying public opinion and the course of justice against our party in these states.

    “We know that the main aim behind APC’s desperation to take over these three states is their belief that they are strategic to the PDP and that taking them away will further weaken and undermine our party and accelerate the quest for a one-party state in our country.

    “However, the PDP wishes to state in very clear terms that we will not accept any attempt by anybody whatsoever, especially the APC to manipulate the process and rob us of our clear victories in these states or any other state for that matter,” Metuh added.

    The party warned the APC not to take its civility, “driven by patriotic zeal” for peace, unity and harmony in the country for granted, adding that its members across the country were willing and ready to defend the party’s mandate in the three states, using all available instruments within the ambit of the law.

    Metuh continued: “As a party that has made history by nurturing democracy for 16 years, and elevating it to a standard appreciated by the democratic community the world over, we cannot fold our hands and watch while the gains are being undermined by the APC and its agents.

    “It is on this note that the PDP draws the attention of the judiciary, INEC and security authorities to the heinous scheme by the APC to drag their institution and men into these criminal plots.

    “In view of the above therefore, we urge these institutions to closely monitor its officials involved in the elections and do everything within the law to safeguard their reputation against the acts of a few greedy and dubious individuals.

    “Finally, while we note that the APC should be held responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order in Rivers, Delta and Akwa-Ibom States, we charge the people not to relent but to stand up and defend their mandates and use all means allowed by the law to ensure that their will, expressed through the ballot box is not thwarted by desperate and greedy enemies of democracy.”

  • 2015 poll: Hate campaign caused Jonathan’s defeat – PDP

    2015 poll: Hate campaign caused Jonathan’s defeat – PDP

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday said the hate electioneering camping, initiated by the party’s presidential election organisation was responsible for President Goodluck Jonathan’s crushing defeat in the 2015 election.

    Jonathan’s campaign spokesman, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose and the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan were the arrow heads of the hate campaign.

    President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other leaders of the party were the major targets of the assault.

    At a press briefing at the PDP secretariat on Monday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said, “The decision of the Presidential Campaign Organization to adopt and execute a hate campaign strategy against the then presidential candidate of the APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari led to the failure of PDP.”

    Metuh said the blame being heaped on the leadership of the party by PDP governors and some aides of the President for the loss of power at the centre was misplaced.

    According to him, the President’s campaign team failed to heed advise to desist from the hate campaign, adding that the leadership of the PDP, which could have offered direction, was sidelined in the campaign.

    He revealed that the party generated over N9 billion before the election, apparently from the sale of nomination forms across the 36 states, Abuja and the presidential nomination.

    The PDP spokesman further revealed that the negative effects of the hate campaign aimed at Northerners, their values, tradition and culture backfired on the party, its presidential and most of its governorship candidates in the region.

    He dismissed allegation of mismanagement of campaign funds against the party chiefs, saying the party contributed N500 million to the presidential campaign and N100 million each to its governorship candidates across the states. National Assembly candidates also benefitted.

    “The the monies were paid either directly to the candidates, through ministers or campaign directors in some states,” Metuh affirmed.

    He stated the readiness of the party’s leadership for probe in respect of election fund management, even as he defended N30 million advance, which he said, was given to each member of the National Working Committee.

    According to him, the money was payment for three years backlog of medical, housing and other allowances of the NWC members.

    He faulted the call for resignation of the party’s elected officials over the abysmal failure at the polls, saying the party chiefs were not assigned any role in the presidential campaign.

     

     

  • No pressure on Mu’azu, others to resign – PDP

    No pressure on Mu’azu, others to resign – PDP

    The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied media reports that the party chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and his team had been asked to resign.

    A statement issued on Thursday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said neither the PDP Governors’ Forum nor any other organ of the party made such demand on the party executives.

    Rather, Metuh said Mu’azu and his team enjoy the confidence of key stakeholders in the party, including the PDP Governors’ Forum.

    The statement said,”The NWC was never asked to resign by the forum of governors or any other organ of the party for that matter.

    “For the avoidance of doubt therefore, the NWC states that at no time was the National Chairman of our great party, Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu walked out of the meeting of the governors, neither was he in any way ill-treated at that meeting contrary to reports in some section of the media.

    “To put the records straight, our National Chairman upon invitation by the governors, attended the meeting alongside our Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and National Legal Adviser, Barr. Victor Kwon and left after a brief and fruitful discussion with the governors. Mu’azu was not at any time asked to resign and nothing close to such was ever insinuated at the meeting.

    “For purposes of clarification, the National Working Committee as a duly elected organ of the party has a constitutionally guaranteed tenure which expires in March 2016. It is therefore focused on galvanizing every organ and interests within the PDP with a view to re-engineering it for the task ahead.

    “To this end, the NWC is currently working hand in hand with strategic stakeholders, including PDP governors towards repositioning our great party and regaining power at the center by 2019.

    “In this regard, the National Working Committee in its meeting on Wednesday April 29, 2015 constituted a special committee under the chairmanship of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu. The committee membership is drawn from all the key stakeholders of the party, including members of the forum of governors.

    “Furthermore, the NWC states that it holds the PDP Governors’ Forum in very high esteem, especially its Chairman, Governor Godswill Akpabio, who has worked assiduously for the progress of the party.

    “Finally, the NWC restates that it enjoys the confidence and respect of all our organs and structures across board, particularly the PDP governors who individually and collectively appreciate that the supremacy of the party is more important than anything else at this point in time.”

  • We didn’t handle Jonathan’s campaign fund – PDP

    We didn’t handle Jonathan’s campaign fund – PDP

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has distanced itself from controversies surrounding the N 2 trillion allegedly spent by President Goodluck Jonathan on his election campaign.

    The party said it did not handle the President’s campaign funds, contrary to media reports.

    PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, stated this in a radio programme monitored in Abuja on Monday.

    Maintaining that the President had denied spending a whopping N2 trillion on his campaign, Metuh said funds meant for the campaign were directed and managed by the various directorates of the Presidential Campaign Organization, over which the party’s leadership had no control.

    He said: “As a party, we have refrained from joining issues publicity on this matter, but in the light of series of enquiries arising from allegations that the NWC embezzled the money meant for the campaigns, we need to make some clarifications.

    “As the spokesperson of the PDP, I want to place it on record that the National Working Committee was not involved in the management of funds for the Presidential campaigns.

    “The NWC did not receive any money neither was it in any way involved in how the funds were spent.  Even as the National Publicity Secretary of the party and Chairman of the Publicity Sub-Committee, I did not receive any money from anybody and no fund whatsoever was given to me for the campaign.

    “Apparently out of ignorance, this NWC has been unjustly demonized and labeled. How can anybody expect the NWC to account for funds it never received? Can we account for funds we did not manage? The President in his wisdom set up Directorates and gave them the responsibility to directly manage the elections, including the funding.”

    Meuh decried what he described as the unnecessary heating up of the party system by certain elements who, apparently had been hired by “some divisive elements” within and outside the party to sponsor negative publications ostensibly to pull down the leadership.

    Calling on unnamed sponsors of the report to desist from peddling falsehood, the party spokesman urged party members to unite and support the leadership in its re-engineering efforts aimed at returning the party back to power in 2019.

     

  • APC slams Metuh over alleged plan to destabilise PDP

    APC slams Metuh over alleged plan to destabilise PDP

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday that it would not allow itself to be polluted by defectors from the Peoples Demecratic Party (PDP).

    The APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said in a statement in Abuja that the party already has its hands full as it seeks to “clear the mess that the PDP has made of Nigeria and the state of hopelessness to which its 16-year rule has plunged the citizens.”

    It also dismissed allegation by the PDP National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh that the APC was behind the crumbling of the PDP.

    It offered Mr. Metuh a free, six-week crash course on his new role as the opposition spokesman.

    “During the training, Metuh will be given free lessons by his APC counterpart, in the spirit of cooperation and for the advancement of the nation’s democracy,” the APC said, adding that he “will need the training to effectively carry out his new, tough task. It is now obvious that he needs to understand that for him to succeed in his new role, he must be credible, empirical, more sophisticated in language use and very passionate, in addition to being able to operate on a lean or zero budget.’’

    APC said it was ludicrous for anyone to suggest that the APC “is seeking to destabilize the PDP when the ruling party has done such a great job of crumbling under its own weight, having gorged on the commonwealth.

    ‘’Really, it beggars belief to say that the APC is seeking to lure away members of the PDP’s NEC with ‘phantom promises and threats’, with a view to destabilising the party, when everyone knows the rate at which PDP stalwarts have been rushing to jump off the sinking ship called the PDP before it finally tips over.

    ‘’Our National Chairman and our President-elect have even spoken out publicly on this issue, encouraging the eager PDP defectors to stay back in their party so they can provide a formidable opposition to the new ruling party. How then can anyone accuse the APC of either luring away PDP members or seeking to destabilise a party that has done itself in?’’

    The APC advised Metuh to “take a little time off so he can engage in some introspection, against the backdrop of the total repudiation by Nigerians of the brand of politics that his party, the PDP, played in its days as the ruling party.

    ‘’There is no doubt that Metuh is in a hurry to do his work as an opposition spokesman. He should not worry. He should save his energy, because he would need it, in addition to the crash course which has been offered to him freely, if he is to function effectively in his new role. Having been in opposition for so long, we can tell Metuh that it is not a cakewalk.

    ‘’Lies by themselves never travel far enough for the truth not to catch up with them, as the PDP must have now realised when its strategy of muckraking, distortion of facts and blatant falsehood – under the guise of electioneering campaign – failed to turn the tide in its favour during the last elections. But it seems the lead actors in that failed strategy, Metuh included, have not yet learnt their lessons, hence they have continued to engage in their despicable pastime.”

  • PDP accuses APC of posting fake results

    PDP accuses APC of posting fake results

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Nigerians to disregard “misleading figures being circulated by the All Progressives Congress (APC)” in the social media as results of the presidential and National Assembly elections in some polling booths.

    A statement issued on Sunday by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said the figures were “fake” and do not represent the true results which are currently being collated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC, the only body authorised to release and announce results.

    The statement said: “The APC in its desperation for power has resorted to posting fake results in the social media in a bid to ambush the electoral commission, mislead the unsuspecting public to believe it is winning, all in furtherance of its grand plot to cause confusion and set the stage for violence when the authentic results are finally released.

    “We therefore alert Nigerians to be on their guard and close ranks in resisting the APC’s plot to plunge the nation into chaos and anarchy. Our democracy has come to stay and the will of the people must prevail over and above the parochial ambition of a selfish few.

    “Finally, we strongly caution the APC against its acts of desperation and use of dishonest methods including physical attacks against our members and supporters as these pose great threat to our democracy, the unity and stability of our dear nation.”

  • Poll shift saved Nigeria, INEC huge embarrassment – PDP

    Poll shift saved Nigeria, INEC huge embarrassment – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the shift in dates of the general election from February to March saved the nation and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a huge embarrassment.

    A statement issued on Friday by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, added that rather than condemnation, initiators of the shift in the polls dates, ought to be appreciated.

    According to the ruling party, the elections, if held in February as initially scheduled, ” would have been chaotic and far from fair and credible, as over 23 million registered voters would have been disenfranchised for no fault of theirs.”

    The statement continued: “The prevalent huge deficit in the distribution of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) has shown that the development rather saved the nation and the INEC a huge embarrassment.

    “The fact that millions of Nigerians are still struggling to receive their PVCs a week after the February 14 date, clearly shows that the commission would have been thoroughly embarrassed had it gone ahead with the elections on that day.

    “As at February 7, a week to the rescheduled elections, the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega announced that only 45, 829, 808 representing 66.58 percent of the total number of registered voters have received their PVCs. INEC’s records also showed that 1.3 million cards were yet to be delivered by the printers while 1.1 million stolen cards were yet to be replaced as at that date.

    “Whereas INEC gave the impressions that all processes including the PVC distribution will be perfected before February 14, it is disturbing that a week after that date, millions of Nigerians are still struggling to receive their cards, which confirms the fears that the commission was not truly ready for the election in February in spite of its posturing.

    “Also, had the commission gone ahead with the polls on February 14, non-indigenes who were being denied their PVCs in select states such as Lagos and Kano would also have been disenfranchised. The shift gave INEC the time to tackle the issue, which led to the sacking of two of its culpable ad-hoc staff members in Lagos State.

    “Furthermore, while briefing the Senate on Wednesday, the INEC Chairman had acknowledged that the postponement was a blessing in disguise which affords the commission and other stakeholders an ample opportunity to perfect all processes for credible elections.”

     

  • Buhari: MEND blasts Metuh, PDP, IYC

    Buhari: MEND blasts Metuh, PDP, IYC

    … Denies link with APC

    The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has described recent attempt by the Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, to suggest a relationship between it and the All Progressives’ Congress as irresponsible and callous act.

    Metuh had on Wednesday while reacting to MEND’s announcement of support for the presidential candidate of the APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, demanded that the opposition party declared the nature of its relationship with the militant group, a query regarded by some as another attempt by the ruling party to frame the opposition and its presidential candidate as those in support of violence.

    The MEND, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, on Wednesday, also took a swipe at the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) for suggesting in a press statement by its spokesman, Eric Omare, that it was a ghost organisation, describing the youths’ body as “a mere tribal assembly and political praise singers.”

    The group wondered what happened within six months after the same IYC commended it for declaring a cease fire.

    But responding to the MEND’s statement, IYC’s spokesman, Omare, maintained his organisation’s position, pointing out that any group involved in guerrilla warfare can never be seen as having any electoral value, unlike the ex-militant leaders who recently expressed support for President Goodluck Jonathan.

    IYC said, “These are known men, whom you have always known in person and they held their meeting in Akwa Ibom State.

    “Who is Jomo Gbomo, let him come out and declare his support?”

    However, the MEND, which also encouraged Nigerians to disregard recent threats by some ex-militant leaders, who had declared their support for President Jonathan, denied any link or relationship with the APC, stating that its support for Buhari was because of his capabilities, measured against the failures so far witnessed under the Jonathan administration.

    “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) views the recent question and statement credited to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, as very callous and irresponsible. This question: “Explain your connections with MEND,” further confirms and vindicates our views about Goodluck Jonathan, his inept government and the PDP.

    “MEND strongly denies any links with the All Progressive Congress (APC) and has never been approached for anything, at any point in time, by the party, as pettily alleged by Olisa Metuh.

    “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) stands strongly by our endorsement and full support of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as the man to lead the country out of its present calamitous state in the hands of Goodluck Jonathan.

    “MEND finds it laughable the recent statement by Mr. Eric Omare, the Publicity Secretary of a mere tribal assembly and political praise singers, known as the Ijaw Youth Council, stating that ‘MEND is a ghost.’ We clearly understand their frustrations at our stance as it obviously came as a shock to them.

    “Nigerians should ask this man (Eric Omare), if he was referring to ‘ghosts’ when he lauded MEND for declaring a temporary ceasefire six months ago.

    “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) once more, urges Nigerians to ignore the empty threats of this so-called ‘ex-agitators’ and the Ijaw Youth Council. Their reckless utterances only ridicule and confirm the colossal failure of the ‘Amnesty Programme.’ We advise the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) to use their idle time in telling and showing Nigerians and Niger Deltans what the government of Goodluck Jonathan has done or achieved in Nigeria and the region in the last six years in office, apart from giving them handouts called ‘Monthly Stipends,” the statement said.

     

  • Jonathan ready for debate with APC candidate – PDP

    Jonathan ready for debate with APC candidate – PDP

    President Goodluck Jonathan is ready for public debate with any aspirant that emerges as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh , stated this at a press conference at the party’s Abuja national secretariat on Tuesday.

    He said the debate will focus on a wide range of issues affecting the country, adding that the President would be ready for the APC candidate after the ratification of his candidacy on Thursday.

    The party spokesman said 3,073 delegates are expected to participate in the PDP convention where the President’s sole candidacy is expected to be sealed.

    Metuh said: “As a party, we are going into the conduct of our presidential primaries, in particular, with great excitement, knowing very well that we are keeping an appointment with the destiny of our nation as embodied by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan who is both President of our nation and candidate of our party on the occasion of our presidential primaries at the Eagle Square.

    “The PDP is rest assured that we have a very good product to sell to Nigerians. We are confident that President Jonathan, as our candidate, is primed to win the 2015 presidential election based on his popularity deriving from his forthrightness, humility and steadfastness to the Nigerian project, coupled with his record of verifiable achievements.

    “We are today serving notice to the opposition APC to expect a crushing defeat at the polls. In view of our confidence, preparedness and the popularity of our candidate, we declare that the APC can put forth its two frontline aspirants in one bunch, namely Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as joint presidential candidates with their collective credentials and followership to face our candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “The President has been able to stabilize the polity by his pan Nigerian outlook and approach to governance. The stability of our nation has strengthened national unity. Today, he has been able to give every geo- political zone a sense of belonging in terms of infrastructure development, economic and human capital empowerment.”

    The party said no other leader had united the Nigerian people more than Jonathan had done, adding that the President has continued to act on the side of caution in the counter insurgency campaign.

    “President Jonathan has stabilise the economy. The rebasing of the economy has made Nigeria the largest economy in Africa and 26th in the world.

    “For us in the PDP, it is neither a matter of conjecture nor propaganda; we are certain that with the grassroots support and the love he enjoys from Nigerians across board, President Jonathan will secure an emphatic victory at the polls.”

  • Elections must hold in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe – PDP

    Elections must hold in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the 2015 elections must hold in the insurgency ridden northeastern part of the country, despite the security challenges.
    Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, three of the six states in the zone have been under emergency rule for over 18 months.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, while featuring on a live radio programme in Abuja on Wednesday, insisted that there was no reason why elections should not hold in the insurgency ravaged states.

    Metuh said: “After all, these states which are being controlled by the opposition, had successfully conducted council elections at the peak of insurgency, while bye-elections to state and National Assemblies were held during the period. So what are they saying?

    “If the governors in the affected states have been alive to their responsibilities as being done by the PDP controlled Federal Government, the situation would have been brought under control.

    “Rather, they are busy attacking the President and our party as being responsible for the insecurity and those elections will not hold in the affected states. Elections must hold and PDP will spring surprises.

    “That is a shallow and callous thinking from the opposition. How can the President be sponsoring crisis in a country he is presiding over. Even the President made it clear on several occasions that his presidential ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. President Goodluck Jonathan is a refined gentleman who will never have such a sinister motive against anybody or his father land.

    “What is regrettable is that those leading members of the main opposition, the All Progressives Congress that are making unguarded utterances against the President and the PDP were former members of our party who got to where they are today on our platform before they defected. One of them even said that if APC did not win the 2015 presidential election, they will not go to court but will go and form a parallel government.

    “We have made our position known in our press statement of yesterday that enough is enough. The PDP will no longer tolerate such barbaric attacks again. If any one of them tries again, we will go out in full swing and expose such a character.”

    Metuh said the defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, was an issue that bordered on morality, integrity and constitutional matters for Nigerians to decide.