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Tag: national convention

  • Why PDP can’t shift national convention, by Wike

    Why PDP can’t shift national convention, by Wike

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said shifting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention will be dangerous because there will be no National Working Committee (NWC) after May 21.

    Wike, who is also the Chairman of the National Convention Planning Committee, said the convention would hold as scheduled in Port Harcourt.He added that the PDP had not been served with any court order stopping the national convention.

    Wike spoke yesterday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, while appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily. He said: “There is no valid court order stopping the PDP’s National Convention. The suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos was filed by an impersonator. As the Chairman of the National Convention Planning Committee, I have not been served any court order. How can there be an order, when I did not go to court?

    “At the point we are now, we want everybody to be together, to form a united opposition, in the interest of the nation. When a presidential candidate emerges from the North in 2018, the chairman of the party will come from the South

    “We will no longer allow the imposition of candidates. We are encouraging every candidate to contest elections and emerge through popular votes. We will not allow impunity or imposition.”

    Wike said he had lost confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) because the APC had allegedly used it to generate tension by attempting to manipulate the electoral process in eight local government areas.

    He stated that it was unfortunate that INEC had set up a committee to review the already-cancelled elections, which he said would lead to avoidable crisis.

    He claimed that the rerun in Rivers had proved that money could not win elections, alleging that the ruling APC had access to loads of money, which according to him, made no impact.

    Commenting on former President Goodluck Jonathan, Wike said the Otuoke, Bayelsa state-born politician was no longer in active politics, but playing advisory roles.

    Rivers governor claimed that with the situation on the ground in Edo State, the PDP would win the September governorship poll.

    He said: “From what we have seen on the ground in Edo State, this is the best time to capture the state. We have sent independent assessors to the state and they have adjudged that the PDP has the opportunity to take over Edo.”

  • Wike: PDP ’ll reclaim power through national convention

    Wike: PDP ’ll reclaim power through national convention

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has stated that next month’s National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will serve as a springboard for the revival of the former ruling party to reclaim power at the centre in 2019.

    Wike, who is the chairman of the National Convention Committee, noted that the May convention will set PDP in motion to win more states during the 2019 elections.

    The governor was quoted by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, in a statement yesterday, as speaking during the inaugural meeting of the committee at the Government House, Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.

    Wike stressed that the committee will help in instilling confidence in the members of the PDP that the party remained strong and viable.

    He said: “One thing that is important is that this committee will revive our party. This committee will also allay the fears of our members over the rumours they hear.

    “It is important for us to rebuild PDP to be a stronger party. PDP is our home in Rivers State. This is the only party we know here. This is the only party other members know across the states.”

    The governor admonished members of the committee to work as a team, to ensure the success of the convention, while assuring that the convention will be peaceful and hitch free.

    He said: “We are now in the opposition. Our interest should be on how to rebuild the party and take it back to power at the centre in 2019.”

    Speaking on the security situation in the state, Wike insisted that the state is peaceful, despite the alleged propaganda being sponsored by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Prominent PDP members at the inaugural meeting, besides Wike, were Taraba State Governor Darius Ishiaku, who is the Deputy Chairman of the committee; Ebonyi Governor, Dave Umahi, Secretary I; Ahmed Gulak, Secretary II; Senator Sam Egwu; former Niger Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu; ex-Rivers Governor, Celestine Omehia; Senator Abdulkadir Bala Mohammed and Leo Ogor.

    Others included a former Sports Minister Dr. Tammy Danagogo; Chief Sergeant Awuse; Senator Lee Maeba, ex-Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha; Edo PDP Chairman Chief Dan Orbih; Gogo Bright Tamuno and Dr. Umar Ardo.

  • Oyegun back from leave,APC’s convention holds next week

    Oyegun back from leave,APC’s convention holds next week

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun on Monday resumed from a ten-day vacation with an assurance that the National Executive Council meeting of the party will hold as scheduled on Thursday March 24.
    The return of Chief Oyegun to his office put to rest speculations that he may have tactically vacated the seat of national chairman due to pressure on him by some leaders of the party to quit.
    Oyegun also said that the party may have to look outside the North Central zone to produce the National Publicity Secretary for the party, pointing out that the challenge faced by the party was getting somebody who can handle the position like the former National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed.
    There has been speculations in the media that Chief Oyegun may not return to his position as the National Chairman of the party even though he had told newsmen that he was proceeding on a vacation.
    Oyegun said: I am glad to be back. I told you I was going on a break because I needed it. I’ve had a good break, I’ve had a bit of rest and I’m back to the office”.
    On the scheduled meeting of the various organs of the party that has failed to hold for a long time now, Oyegun said “all the scheduled meetings of the party will run as planned, the caucus on the 21st, the BOT on the 22nd and NEC on the 24th. Everything will go as planned”.
    Speaking on the delay on appointing a National a Publicity Secretary for the party,Chief Oyegun said “I think arrangements have been completed to hold the necessary congresses to nominate the spokesperson. I think that should be done very shortly. In fact the issue is getting somebody that can be as close as possible to the outstanding performance of the present minister of information, Lai Mohammed.
    “I think that has been the issue. As a matter of fact if it means making adjustments somebody who is good is priority number one and you can make adjustments subsequently”

  • PDP national convention in order – Metuh

    PDP national convention in order – Metuh

    The PDP on Wednesday in Abuja said the National Convention that brought in the present National Working Committee (NWC) of the party was held in accordance with the party`s constitution.

    Mr Olisa Metuh, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, who spoke to newsmen shortly after the NWC meeting, said that the convention was also held in accordance with the country`s constitution.

    He said that the party had resolved to remain focused and not to comment on any rumour concerning the convention.

    Metuh was reacting to insinuations by some members of the opposition party who alleged that the PDP national convention which brought in its present NWC was not held in accordance with INEC guidelines.

    “We have resolved to remain focus in the administration of the party and not to respond to any further rumour or any issues concerning other matters about our convention.

    “Our national convention was in accordance with the constitution of the PDP and the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we stand by it,’’ Metuh said.

    The national publicity secretary said that the NWC was not at loggerhead with Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the party`s National Chairman as was reported by the media.

    “It is instructive to state as well that the NWC unanimously endorsed the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the National Chairman of the party.

    “We are supporting him fully because we believe in his ideas and programmes and together we will be able to move the party to a successful election in 2015.’’ Metuh said.

    He also said that the NWC was fully in support of the Federal Government’s transformation agenda.

    He said that this informed the decision of the chairman of the party to invite the ministers to brief the NWC on their activities to ensure that such activities were given the right publicity.

    Metuh said that the ministerial briefing was to showcase government’s performance in the various ministries to the entire country.

    According to him, the briefing is also aimed at informing Nigerians that the Federal Government’s transformation agenda is on course and that government is working in accordance with the party`s manifestoes.

    He maintained that the NWC was intact, united and in one accord in promoting the policies and programmes of the party.

    Metuh commended thanked members of the party across the country for their overwhelming support for the party`s national chairman and members of its NWC in the last one year.

    “The NWC under the leadership of Tukur is in support of all activities and all other bodies of the party, knowing fulyl well that constitutionally, the NWC is in charge of all affairs of the party in the nation,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Metuh as saying on the issue.