The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ondo PDP

  • Ondo PDP leaders protest power sharing

    Ondo PDP leaders protest power sharing

    •More lawmakers to join APC

    Some aggrieved leaders of the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stormed Abuja yesterday, following a disagreement with Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    The chapter was thrown into crisis after Mimiko’s defection from the Labour Party to the PDP and the subsequent dissolution of the Ebenezer Alabi-led state executive by the party’s national leadership.

    It was gathered that the aggrieved members, comprising leaders of the Alabi group, arrived in Abuja on Monday to meet with the party’s leadership.

    A meeting was held with the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, who was said to have brokered peace between the two groups.

    Kuku is from Arogbo-Ijaw in Ondo State and is one of the key financiers of the party in the state.

    A source said the aggrieved party leaders complained about the lopsided sharing of elective offices, with the Alabi group given nine House of Assembly slots, and Mimiko 17.

    The Alabi group insisted on 10 and 16 for Mimiko.

    The group also faulted the formula allocating six House of Representatives slots to Mimiko, against its three. They are insisting on a five-four ratio.

    “If this anomaly is addressed among others, the dissolution of the state PDP exco and the handing over of the party structure to Mimiko won’t be an issue anymore,” an aggrieved party leader said.

    Chairman of the Ondo All Progressives Congress (APC) Isaac Kekemeke has said three PDP House of Representatives lawmakers would join the APC.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Kekemeke said the APC was ready to do everything morally right to accommodate them.

    “Yes, it is true that some lawmakers and the party (APC) are discussing the possibility of their defection to our party. As a party, we will ensure that all new comers and old members are fairly and equally treated.

    “This is the only way we can unite the party and build it in readiness for the task ahead.

    “I can assure you that these lawmakers who have approached us will openly declare for the APC next week,” Kekemeke stated.

    One of them, Akintoye Albert, who represents Okitipupa/ Irele Constituency, at a briefing with reporters in Akure, attributed his planned defection to the unresolved crisis that trailed the governor’s defection to the PDP.

    The lawmaker said the PDP had witnessed “political decadence” since Mimiko joined the party a month ago.

    He said the governor had not carried members along but he rather adopted a divide-and-rule tactic for his selfish interest.

    Akintoye said: “How can you just come into the party and say you want to take over the party at the detriment of the old members and destroy the existing structure?

    “Everyone in Ondo State knows that Mimiko left LP because the party had lost credibility and relevance in the state.

    “We expected the PDP leadership to address and handle the issue appropriately but instead, it did otherwise.

    The lawmaker, who was a former chairman of Irele Local Government, accused Mimiko of causing disaffection during the party ward congress.

    With the party crisis in the state, Akintoye said President Goodluck Jonathan would lose the state in  2015, if the crisis is not resolved.

    He said: “How can a governor pick two sisters for House of Assembly and House of Representatives?

    “The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Jumoke Akindele and Princess Oladunni Odu are sisters.

    “The governor has endorsed Odu for the House of Representatives and her younger sister for the House of Assembly.

    “It is against the PDP tradition. PDP is not a father, mother and child party as they did during their days in the Labour Party. I will not tolerate that,” he said.

  • Ondo PDP caretaker committee takes off

    Ondo PDP caretaker committee takes off

    THE caretaker committee of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in Ondo State on Friday commenced work with a courtesy visit to the state Police Commissioner, Issac Eke, at the Akure Command Headquarters with a promise to hold an all-inclusive consultative forum for members of the party.

    The committee Chairman, Hon. Dare Adeleke, who dropped the hint while meeting with the Commissioner of Police, said the forum is to consolidate on the gains recorded so far in resolving all differences following recent developments in the state chapter of the party.

    He said whatever remained of the differences within the ranks of the PDP would be resolved amicably as a united family within a month.

    Adeleke said his committee was in the commissioner’s office to thank him for his support in maintaining peace in the party and to solicit for more assistance, stressing that the unity of the party is paramount. Hon Adeleke also lauded all the reconciliatory moves of Governor Mimiko , stressing that his Committee will consolidate on this to achieve success in its task.

    “Governor Mimiko, to us in PDP represents a true leader and we will consolidate on his antecedents to ensure Ondo PDP remains one,” Adeleke Said. In his response, the police commissioner restated the commitment of the command to zero tolerance for the breakdown of law and order, as well as maintain peace in the party and state. He urged the committee to be magnanimous in its task and carry along all interests.

  • Ondo PDP secretariat locked

    Ondo PDP secretariat locked

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee in Ondo State has said its secretariat on Oyemekun Road, Akure, shall remain closed.

    Armed policemen invaded the two-storey building and shut it down.

    This step, according to a statement by the Committee Chairman, Dare Adeleke, was to avoid unauthorised access and possible destruction of property at the secretariat.

    The committee assured members of its unwavering commitment to the promotion of justice, peace and fair play and calls on all aggrieved members to remain calm and be law abiding.

    At the secretariat yesterday, armed policemen were guarding the premises.

    There were no party officials around as the door leading to the main entrance was locked.

    The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) dissolved the Executive Committee on Sunday.

    The Chairman of the dissolved executive, Ebenezer Alabi, lamented what had become of the secretariat.

    Alabi said since the matter was in court, they would wait for the outcome of the court.

    Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said he was not aware of police deployment to the place. He said he would find out details about the matter.

  • Ondo PDP sues national body

    Ondo PDP sues national body

    Members of the Ondo State Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have kicked against the planned dissolution of the committee by the national leadership to accommodate loyalists of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    They have sued the party’s national leadership at the High Court of Federal Capital Territory.

    The plaintiffs include the Chairman, Omotayo Alabi, Deputy Chairman Fatai Adams, Secretary Oyedele Ibine and three chairmen at the local government level – Bitire Solomon (Okitipupa); Kehinde Lawal (Owo) and Lawrence Fagbolajun (Ifedore).

    They argued in the suit filed by their lawyer, Abdul Ibrahim, that having been elected on March 17, 2012 to serve a four-year term, the dissolution of the Exco will amount to a breach of their rights.

    The decision to dissolve the Ondo Exco was said to have been hatched during a meeting on September 30, in Abuja at the official residence of the Senate President, David Mark, who is the Chairman of the party’s Reconciliation and Integration Committee.

    The dissolution is intended to allow for the re-constitution of the Exco  in order to cede 50 per cent of its membership to loyalists of Mimiko.

    The plaintiffs want the court to restrain the Mark-led committee, the Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC) and other defendants from proceeding with the plan.

    They urged the court to declare that  they had the legal right to hold their offices for a four-year term.

    When the case came up for hearing on Monday before Justice S.C Oriji of the FCT High Court in Apo, lawyer to the defendants, C.I Paul, told the court that there were ongoing efforts to settle the case out of court. He sought for time.

    Justice Oriji adjourned till November 6.

  • Ondo PDP warns Mimiko against dissolution of exco

    Ondo PDP warns Mimiko against dissolution of exco

    THE Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is up in arms against Governor Olusegun Mimiko following his return to the party on Thursday.

    The state executive council of the party in the state is uncomfortable with the Governor’s return ,fearing that he and his followers from Labour Party will, sooner than later,hijack the structure of the PDP from the old members. It has already filed a suit in court to restrain the governor from dissolving the exco. Chairman of the PDP in the state, Mr. Ebenezer Alabi warned yesterday that the governor’s defection could destroy the party if not properly managed.

    Alabi deplored the decision of the national leadership of the PDP to hand over the party’s structure to Mimiko. The implication, according to him, is that the governor has been empowered to sack the exco. Alabi said: “We are not opposing the governor’s return to the party, but we are against moves by him to dissolve the state executive of the party. “We were duly elected on 17th March, 2012 and our fouryear tenure will end in 2016.

    So any attempt by the governor to change the leadership of the party will be regarded as an affront on members of the party who have remained loyal through the years. “So it would be illegal for some people to sit down somewhere and cut short our tenure. We believe it is illegal. And that is why I promise that if it should happen, it will not go unchallenged. “And we heard that there is this bundle which they have negotiated with him (Mimiko) and that they are ceding some executive positions of the party, including the state chairmanship to him. Like I said, we believe this is very wrong. It is an affront on us. “We have constitutional right and we have opted to defend our constitutional interest.

    And that was why we have filed a suit in Abuja rejecting any dissolution of the executive.” He vowed that the State Executive council of the PDP “will not tolerate a situation where their tenure will be cut short because somebody is joining the party.”

    The party chair cautioned the leadership of the party against setting the governor against existing party members, saying that there are alternative platforms for aggrieved members to move to. In Akure, the deputy chairman of the PDP in the state, Mr, Fatai Adams addressed agitated party supporters on the issue and vowed that “we are not ready to collapse the structure of the party particularly at this crucial time when its primaries are less than one month away.”

  • Ondo PDP youths call for minister’s sack

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youth leaders in the 18 local government areas of Ondo State yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to sack the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Mrs. Mobolaji Johnson, who is representing the state in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    They demanded that she be replaced with a politician, who can rejuvenate the party’s activities.

    In a statement after their meeting at the party secretariat in Akure, signed by the State PDP Youth Leader, Rasheed Elegbeleye, the youth leaders alleged that Mrs. Johnson had not made any positive impact on the PDP since her appointment.

    They recommended that a staunch PDP member should be in charge of the President’s campaign in the Southwest, if he is interested in running for a second term.

    The statement reads: “The Presidency should not depend on the claim by non-PDP members that they will deliver the votes of the people of Ondo State and the Southwest.

    “It is impossible to serve two masters at a time. How can a man campaign for two parties when, according to the election timetable, the presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on the same day.

    “We have invested our trust in the party, toiled for its greatness and contributed to its development. Our support remains unwavering. We solicit empowerment for Ondo youths from the Presidency.”

  • Ondo PDP pledges support for Tukur

    Damisi Ojo in Akure, Ondo State, unveils the power game in the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    Even before the split at the national level of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Ondo state chapter had been embroiled in crisis before the last year’s governorship election declared in favour of Dr Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party (LP).

    The rift emanated from  its  factional  group led by Professor Olu Agbi that dragged the State Executive Committee of the party, led by former local government chairman, Hon .Ebenezer Alabi, to court.

    Agbi’s group reportedly worked for the victory of Mimiko as against  its party’s candidate,Chief Olusola Oke.This development affected the fortunes of PDP in securing victory at the poll because of the visible crack within the party.

    However, at the end of the day, Justice C.T Ajama dismissed the suit filed by Agbi’s faction and upheld the election of Alabi’s led State Party Executive Committee [SEC].

    The SEC said efforts of those it called ‘’disgruntled ‘’ members who had engaged in surreptitious collaboration with Dr Mimiko to cripple the activities of PDP had been nailed permanently with the court’s judgement in favour of the State Executive Committee.

    The suit was dismissed on the ground of incompetence,while the writ of summon, according to the presiding Judge, was grossly defective because the names of the parties to the suit were not signed.

    With this development, Ondo PDP officials said the state chapter is still officially united under the national leadership led by the embattled Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

    Its state publicity secretary, Wale Ozogoro, though described the present imbroglio that has engulfed the party immediately after the National Mini Convention as unfortunate, stressed that it calls for sober reflection.

    But he quickly pointed out that  the party has enough ability and zeal to combat any crisis that may come to fore as a result of this convention, noting that PDP is a big family where such is unavoidable.

    His words ‘’We have witnessed serious crisis than what is presently rearing its ugly head and shall soon go the way of others. The internal mechanism of the party is up and running and we will tackle all the differences and nip all in the bud.

    According to him, Ondo PDP as a chapter, remains committed to the aspiration and belief of the founding fathers of its great party and the leadership as well as the transformation agenda of President, Dr. Goodluck Ebelle Jonathan.

    This official position suggests that the  Ondo state chapter of PDP is solidly behind the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and its national executives.

    The party commended the efforts of  its national leaders  in trying to resolve this seeming differences.

    It however appealed to all  aggrieved parties to see reasons with  the leaders that are making frantic efforts at making peace return to the fold, saying ‘’PDP in Ondo state remains a united entity and indivisible front, making unequalled stride in developing the nation.