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Tag: NWC

  • PDP threaten to deal with erring Kogi assembly members

    PDP threaten to deal with erring Kogi assembly members

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to sanction any member of the Kogi State House of Assembly that indulges in anti-party activities.

    The party in a statement also resolved that that the status quo be maintained, with Hon. Momoh-Jimoh Lawal as speaker.

    Media Adviser to the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Mr. Felix Udebu said that the national working committee at a reconciliation meeting held in Abuja on Thursday which had all the PDP members in Kogi House of Assembly in attendance, noted that since PDP formed majority in the house, members must “avoid conniving with other political parties to run the assembly down”.

    It warned that any member that works against the interest of the party will be sanctioned.

    The statement added that after the resolution of the dispute, the speaker and the factional leader Hon. Godwin Osiyi embraced.

    The leadership tussle in the Kogi State House of Assembly has lingered for more than two months, before the Abuja meeting was summoned to broker peace among the two factions within the PDP in the house.

  • APC NWC launch Kogi governorship campaign rally

    APC NWC launch Kogi governorship campaign rally

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will today storm Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, to commence the party’s governorship campaign rally.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) is expected to lead the APC governorship campaign to Kogi in the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari who is away on official assignment in India.

    APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the APC governor and other top party chieftains are also expected to officially kick off the Prince Abubakar Audu APC governorship campaign rally in Kogi.

    Leader of the 20-man All Progressives Congress (APC) National Election Committee for the Kogi State gubernatorial election campaign, Alhaji Sani Abubakar Bello, will on Friday arrive in the state capital, Lokoja.

    Chief John Odigie-Oyegun had three weeks ago inaugurated the APC 20-member National Election Committee, headed by the Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, at the party national secretariat in Abuja, charging them to deliver Kogi from the hands of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

    Oyegun said the Kogi governorship election must be won to confirm that the party’s winning streak in the last general election was not a fluke.

    “We have an enormous task ahead of us. All hands must be on deck to ensure that our party carries the day on the November 21 governorship election date in Kogi State,” he was quoted to have said.

    Other members of the APC National Election Committee to Kogi include governors of the middle belt states and the party’s National Deputy Chairman (North Central) as well as APC governors from the North Central region, who have been charged to evolve a winning formula for the party in the forthcoming election.

    Daniel Isah (Prof.), the Director General of the Prince Abubakar Audu Governorship Campaign Organisation, is also part of the APC National Election Committee to Kogi as Secretary General.

  • PDP nullifies suspension of Metuh

    PDP nullifies suspension of Metuh

    . Reverses impeachment of Shelle

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had announced the nullification of the purported suspension of the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Victor Kwon, the PDP National Legal Adviser on Thursday in Abuja.

    It noted that contrary to the suspension of the national publicity secretary, the party‘s NWC at its Wednesday meeting reiterated its implicit confidence in his ability and actions that had stabilsed the party so far.

    “The NWC restates its implicit confidence in the National Publicity Secretary and expresses satisfaction with his commitment toward the progress and development of our great party at all levels.

    “The NWC of the PDP notes with concern, misleading reports in some section of the media that a certain group in Anambra, unknown to our party, has purportedly suspended Chief Olisa Metuh.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the NWC reiterates that Chief Olisa Metuh is a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and as such can only be disciplined by NEC.
    “He can be disciplined in accordance with Sections 57(7) and 59(3) of the PDP Constitution 2012 (as Amended), and that is in the event that a need for such arises.’’

    It therefore said “the purported suspension is therefore a nullity.’’

    In the same vein, the NWC also declared as a nullity, the purported “impeachment” of Capt. Olatunji Shelle, the Lagos State Chairman of the party by the Lagos State Executive.

    It added that Shelle was also a member of NEC and could only be disciplined by NEC as prescribed by the PDP constitution.

    It stated that members of PDP in Lagos with genuine complains and grievances on the running of the chapter were at liberty to channel such to the NWC for appropriate action in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution.

    “The NWC urges all party faithful to go about their normal activities, in accordance with the constitution of the party and extant laws of the land,’’ the statement said

  • PDP governors, NWC split over Kogi governorship poll

    PDP governors, NWC split over Kogi governorship poll

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors and members of its National Working Committee (NWC) are divided over whether or not to support Kogi State Governor Idris Wada for second term.

    The governors and the NWC are confused on how to prevent the All Progressives Congress (APC) from winning the governorship poll.

    The jostle for the ticket is between Wada and a former banker, Jibrin Isa Echocho.

    It was gathered that Governor Olusegun Mimiko, ex-Governors Liyel Imoke and Ibrahim Idris are supporting Wada.

    But Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, two governors and some NWC members prefer Echocho because of “his wider acceptance by PDP members and the electorate”.

    Mimiko, Imoke and Senator Iyiola Omisore had a long session with Echocho a few days ago to convince him to quit the race.

    At the session, the pro-Wada leaders said ordinarily the governor ought to have an automatic ticket – in line with the agreement between PDP governors and ex-President Goodluck Jonathan before the 2015 general elections.

    But Echocho vowed not to step down for Wada.

    A highly-placed source said: “The PDP is in disarray in Kogi State ahead of the governorship poll. Some PDP governors and NWC members are sharply divided on the choice of the party’s candidate.

    “Based on alleged low performance, some governors and NWC members believe that Wada’s candidacy is not sellable.

    “They said a survey conducted by the party indicated that the PDP might lose if Wada is fielded.

    “They said the ultimate target is to prevent the APC from winning the governorship poll.”

    These reasons accounted for the refusal of the NWC to concede automatic ticket to Wada.

    But Mimiko, Imoke, Idris and Omisore said Wada had done “reasonably well” and PDP could win the state again.

    Another source added: “Mimiko and others begged Echocho to step down for Wada, but he refused, saying they were trying to force him to go through his 2011 experience.

    “Echocho warned that PDP will lose if Wada is anointed as the candidate of the party,” said the source.

    Wada may have to slug it out at the primaries, if Echocho remains adamant.”

     

  • PDP NWC members on Ondo payroll, APC alleges

    PDP NWC members on Ondo payroll, APC alleges

    •Metuh: ‘allegation frivolous’

    ONDO State All Progressives Congress (APC) has alerted the public, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the police to an alleged reckless spending by the state government.

    The party alleged that despite the state’s meagre resources, Governor Olusegun Mimiko was still lavishing money monthly on some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s National Working Committee (NWC) members.

    But Metuh, in a reaction, described the allegation as “frivolous”.

    In a statement in Akure, the state capital, the APC’s spokesman, Abayomi Adesanya, said: “We reliably gathered that some PDP national officers are on the payroll of Ondo State government.

    “The money, which is running into several millions of naira monthly, was part of the agreement reached with Mimiko before controversially installing him as the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum.

    “In view of the prevailing conditions of non-payment of workers’ salaries and emoluments, non-payment of pensioners’ allowances and gratuities for more than two years, neglect and complete abandonment of state-owned industries coupled with infrastructural decadence, the governor is still reckless in spending our commonwealth on frivolities and leaving the people of Ondo State to wallow in abject poverty.

    “At this crucial period of economic downturn, we expect the governor to apply austerity measures: mend loopholes, cut down wasteful spending, priortise resources and stop dispensing our money as an Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

    “We, therefore, call on the law enforcement agents to investigate Mimiko and these members.”

    The APC urged Mimiko to focus on the state’s development and fulfill his electoral promises, rather than spending the state’s funds to resuscitate the “dead PDP”.

    Reacting, Metuh said: “It is no longer a surprise to me that they are making these accusations against me. I am not from Ondo State and I am not a worker of the Ondo State Government.

    “I was in Ondo during our party’s last governorship election campaign and I also went there during the last presidential campaign. I have not been there afterwards.

    “I am happy that they are throwing accusations at me and not bombs or assassination attempts. Honestly, I am not surprise at these frivolous accusations and I am not deterred.”

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  • Kogi guber poll: PDP at daggers drawn with NWC

    Things seems to be fallen apart for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State ahead of the November governorship election in the state.

    Already, elected delegates in the state are at dagger drawn with the National Working Committee of the party.

    The delegates who were elected in the June 27th, 2015 ad-hoc delegates election across the various wards in the state, have rejected the purported cancellation of their elections.

    They described the action of the party NWC as undemocratic and unacceptable to them.

    A lawyer, Ibrahim Abdullahi, an elected delegate representing Igalamela/Odolu LGA in his address said the party leadership erred by setting up a new committee to conduct fresh adhoc delegates election when the first one was declared to be free and fair.

    He further stressed that there was no justification for the new directive, except if there was a hidden agenda.

    He said: “We state categorically at this juncture that, we totally reject the purported cancellation and plot to conduct a fresh election for the ad-hoc delegates. Information available to us suggests that certain elements in the National Working Committee of the party have colluded with some undemocratic party members to deny the state a transparent process leading to the election of state executives.

    “We therefore wish to warn any of such members of the National Working Committee against undue vested interest they are showing in the matters of our state. We wish to also inform all, that the entire members and leaders of our party in the state will resist vehemently, any form of undue attempt to subvert the process with a view of installing state executives against the interest of the teeming members of the party.

    “We therefore call on our National Leaders, Board of Trustees members, other state governors and opinion leaders in the party to call the misguided members of the National Working Committee to order in the general interest of our party.

    “While we reaffirm our loyalty, commitment and support to our party PDP, we will resist, contest and reject attempt to hijack the party structure through unpopular and undemocratic means.”

  • Ogbulafor tells PDP NWC members to quit

    Ogbulafor tells PDP NWC members to quit

    A former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, has called on the members of its National Working Committee (NWC) to resign voluntarily.

    Ogbulafor, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia yesterday, said the members should take the path of honour by bowing out of the committee.

    He added that the members should resign in the interest of the party and pave the way for fresh hands to pull the party out of the woods and reposition it ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    He described the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, and the Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, as a welcome development.

    ‘’I feel happy about their resignation because I feel they did so in the interest of the party.

    ‘’So, I feel it is better for all the committee members to voluntarily resign if they love the party and want it to survive,’’ he said.

    Ogbulafor urged the committee to accept responsibility for the party’s woeful performance in the 2015 general elections and the failure to deliver President Goodluck Jonathan for a second tenure.

    ‘’The party played the politics of hate and exclusion,’’ he said, adding that ‘’past national chairmen were completely excluded and were never invited to offer our own ideas on how to deliver Jonathan.

    ‘’When I was the chairman, I controlled 28 states and a majority in the National Assembly and also won additional four states for the party.

    ‘’Some of us performed better and have good ideas on how to keep PDP in power for as long as I predicted,’’ he said.

    Ogbulafor, who predicted that the party would rule Nigeria for uninterrupted 60 years, said that the feat was possible had the party sustained the line-up.

    ‘’I made the prediction in clear conscience and realisation that it was achievable, given that PDP controlled 28 states, majority in the National Assembly and local government administration.

    ‘’So, there is nothing that could have stopped PDP, if we were able to control the line-up.’’

    Ogbulafor blamed the woes befalling the party on the emergence of a ‘’reform group,’’ saying that the group created factions within it.

  • Court urged to restrain PDP from forcing out Mua’zu, NWC members

    Court urged to restrain PDP from forcing out Mua’zu, NWC members

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja has been urged to restrain  the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from compelling the party’s chairman, Adamu Mua’zu, and other members of its National Working Committee (NWC) to resign their position until the expiration of their tenure of office.

    The request is contained in a suit instituted by two members of the party, Tasiu Iliyasu Hussaini and Waziri Amadu.

    They, in suit filed yesterday, want the court to determine whether the PDP’s NWC could  be dissolved or its members forced to resign their positions without following require procedure lay down by the party’s constitution.

    The plaintiffs want the court to declare that the party’s NWC cannot be dissolved or force to resign their positions without following procedure.

    The plaintiffs asked the court to make an order restraining the party from directing Mua’zu and other NWC members from resigning their positions without following the prescribed procedure in the party’s constitution.

    They said the call for the resignation of the party’s NWC members will jeopardise the efforts of party members to reposition it for success in future elections.

    No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.

  • PDP, victim of own impunity

    SIR: It is no longer news that the ruling PDP is in serious crisis across the nation as a result of accumulated and recurring problems in its fold. The party is on its way to the Golgotha.

    The endorsement of President Jonathan as its consensus candidate for the 2015 general elections by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has worsened its internal crisis. The endorsement and adoption of consensus candidates by PDP governors whose second term in office expires next year and the aspiration of some of these governors to go to the senate after the expiration of their tenures has further divided the party creating disaffection between National Assembly members and their state governors.

    All over the PDP states, it one problem or another; In the South-east state of Enugu, it is superiority battle between Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremmadu and state governor, Sullivan Chime over who becomes the senator, representing Enugu West in the senate come 2015. In South-south, Rivers State PDP is divided between zoning and who becomes their governorship candidate in the forth coming elections.

    In Akwa Ibom, the matter is imposition of governorship candidate; in Cross River State, it’s been war of words between Governor Liyel Imoke and Senate Majority Leader Victor Ndoma Egba over eligibility and tenure of senators at the upper chambers.

    In the North, the adoption of President Jonathan as consensus candidate is causing rancour in the fold of the party.

    How further could the party be divided?

    As the series of drama unfolds, it is an indication that the architect of the death of many political parties in the past, the master strategist in plotting divisions in other parties is finally being served a dose of its on juice. The sins of the party is gradually catching up with them.

    The implosion is both imminent and inevitable. As we await the death of the self-acclaimed largest party in Africa, I have already prepared an epitaph that will be read:  “Here lies a party that admires the politics of Western world but when it was given the mandate to rescue the nation from its series of anomalies, tenaciously chose to tread the part of impunity to rape, exploit and impoverish the nation of its hard-earned democracy by coveting our institutions against its people and empowered Nigerians to take up arms against each other, leaving us in a state of perdition”.

    The same epitaph will apply to all the politicians that contributed to this quagmire in our society.

     

    • Joe Onwukeme,

    Enugu

  • 2015: PPA repositions in Anambra

    AHEAD of the general elections in 2015, the Progressives People’s Alliance (PPA) in Anambra State has set up committees in its bid to reposition the party for the battle.

    As a result, the party held what it called stakeholders meeting yesterday in Awka at its office at Udoka Housing Estate where the committees were inaugurated.

    The state committee is headed by Uduonu Emmanuel, a lawyer, while Mike Igwilo, an engineer, will serve as the secretary with the sole aim of supervising the local governments and wards in the state.

    Addressing stakeholders yesterday, the leader of the party in Anambra State, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, said there was need to get it right in the country as the current leadership under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had failed the people.

    According to Ezeemo, “We must not continue this way, the people must follow a party with the same ideology with the (PPA) to alleviate the sufferings of the people.

    “A lot of people are disgruntled by what is happening in Nigeria today. PPA will contest every election in 2015, politics is not about money, making people feel like animals or a do-or-die game, politics is all about sharing ideology of progress and positive change.”

    “Our party has not picked anybody for the president, but we are patiently waiting for the National Working Committee (NWC) to come up with what they have,” Ezeemo added.