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Tag: PDP convention

  • Kashamu urges delegates to reject candidates undergoing trial

    Kashamu urges delegates to reject candidates undergoing trial

    Ahead of Saturday’s national convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the senator representing Ogun-East senatorial district, Buruji Kashamu has called on party delegates, leaders and stakeholders to reject candidates undergoing corruption trial at the various courts.

    In a statement he issued in Abuja on Thursday, the senator warned that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was planning to arrest some of the candidates with corruption cases.

    Kashamu said, “While it is true that an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty, our great party cannot afford to close its eyes to this potential threat.

    “It is a no-brainer that if a national chairman with a corruption case is elected, the party will literally be put on trial with him.

    “This is one avoidable risk that is too much to take. You can be sure that a corruption trial of the national chairman of an opposition party will come with a lot of bad publicity that will sound the death knell the party”.

    Kashamu pleaded with delegates and stakeholders, particularly those from the Southeast, to support the quest by the Southwest to produce the national chairman in the interest of equity and justice.

    “Our brothers and sisters from the Southeast need to be categorical now in support of the Southwest on the ongoing national chairmanship tussle between the Southwest and the Southsouth.

    ”The implication of this avoidable tussle is to make uncertain the settled Southeast vice-presidential quest in 2019. If the Southeast expectedly takes a principled stance in support of the Southwest, naturally as a reliable race in adherence to agreements, the Yoruba people would reciprocate without any prompting.

    “What is currently happening is glaringly an orchestrated assault on the Southwest to end up with nothing in 2019, just like we did when our party was in power. This is a dangerously illogical political permutation for 2019 national elections”, the senator added.

    Kashamu said without prejudice to the right of others to seek elective positions at the convention, he however said such should not be done at the expense of established norms and agreements.

    The senator said, “Without prejudice to anybody’s right to aspire for party positions, it is an open secret that the PDP national chairmanship had been conceded to the Southwest pre-Port Harcourt convention.

    “It was because of this that the other positions zoned to the Southwest are innocuous deputies to substantive offices except the National Treasurer.

    “All these are because of the fact that the national chairmanship had already been conceded to the Southwest.

    “It is in the light of the above that I wish to reiterate my call on our notable leaders, elders and delegates to put the interest of democracy and the future of our great party above any pecuniary interest or considerations. This is the time we have to rebrand our party and reposition it”.

  • PDP convention: Our chance to restore dignity, says Mark

    PDP convention: Our chance to restore dignity, says Mark

    Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, Thursday told Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwarts to the Saturday’s elective convention to allow the will of the people to prevail.

    Mark said that allowing the people’s will to prevail will restore the dignity of the party.

    Senator Mark in a message of good will by to the delegates, by his media assistant, Paul Mumeh, urged them to shun ills such as imposition of candidates and impunity that ruined the chances of the Party in the previous elections.

    Senator Mark stressed that “we have seen what the imposition of candidates caused us in the past. We cannot travel the same route anymore.

    “I am sure we have learnt some useful lessons from our electoral misfortune in 2015. We now have the opportunity to right the wrongs of the past by allowing the will of the people to prevail at the convention”.

    The former Senate President expressed confidence in the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa led National Convention Committee to do a good job and return the Party to the people.

    He enjoined Party Faithful to adhere to the rules of the game in order to guarantee a smooth Convention “because only the rule of law and adherence to the principle of Democracy endures”.

    He advised the would-be winners and losers to accept the outcome of the elections in the interest of all, saying, “Win or lose, we are still one family. All we need to do is put our house in order in the interest of the Party and its members because I can see a bright future”.

    He welcomed the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and others back to the party just as he enjoined all those who defected to return home because “PDP is still the only National Party and a home for all”.

  • PDP chair: Edo delegates dump Dokpesi for Secondus

    PDP chair: Edo delegates dump Dokpesi for Secondus

    Edo State delegates for the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been asked to vote for Prince Uche Secondus and not Chief Raymond Dokpesi as National Chairman of the party.

    However, some delegates from Edo North Senatorial district have reportedly kicked against the decision since Dokpesi hails from the state.

    But the delegates are yet to arrive at a consensus at the time of filing this report.

    It was learnt that the state leadership of the party led by Chief Dan Orbih was toeing the line of the South South region to support Secondus.

    At a meeting with the party delegates in Benin City, Dokpesi informed them that he got the blessing of party leaders in the state before contesting for the position of the national chairman of the party.

     The aspirant said he didn’t reach out to some members of the party in the state because he assumed that having secured the blessing of leaders of party, he has the blessing and endorsement of all party faithful in the state.

    Dokpesi said: “As well to the consultation, we consulted with Chief Anenih and our governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. I consulted the state chairman here also. I also consulted Chief Tomi Ikimi, Alhaji Isa Braima, Chief Ozeto and all of the elders.

    “And because it is a delegate election, I took off time to even notify my senatorial chairmen. I requested them to please also get involved. So, I mentioned this to them and I had their blessings to go ahead. So for all those who said I did not knock at their doorsteps to inform them, accept my unreserved apology, it was not just possible to go round.”

  • PDP convention: Court refuses to hear members’ suit

    PDP convention: Court refuses to hear members’ suit

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday adjourned till January 16 for hearing in a suit by some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members seeking to be allowed to participate in Saturday’s National Convention.

    The suit was filed by a member of the PDP National Working Committee, Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju, Ogun State Youth Leader Femi Alao, “national delegates” for Sagamu and Ijebu North Local Government Areas Idris Muniru and Chief Tuke Omotara, chairman of Ijebu East LGA Badejo Abiodun and chairman of Sagamu LGA Kola Akinyemi.

    They sued for themselves and on behalf of “PDP Ogun State Delegates to the National Convention”.

    The defendants include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Senator Ben Obi, Tunde Odanye, and 25 others.

    The plaintiffs are praying the court to hold that the PDP National Caretaker Committee cannot validly prevent them and other delegates from Ogun State from participating as delegates in the December 9 convention.

    According to them, there were subsisting and binding judgment and orders of the Federal High Court in Lagos and Abuja delivered and issued on June 24, 2016 and on August 10.

    The plaintiff said by virtue of the court verdicts, only they were entitled to attend and participate in the PDP convention.

    They urged the court to restrain the PDP Caretaker Committee in Ogun State from usurping the plaintiffs’ functions as “authentic officers of the Ogun PDP Executive Committee” led by Chief Adebayo Dayo.

    The plaintiffs sought an order of injunction restraining the party leadership or their agents from preventing them from attending the conference.

    They urged the court to nullify the appointment of Odanye and others as Ogun State PDP Caretaker Committee, saying their appointment was contrary to a judgment delivered by the court on June 24, 2016.

    They said the judgment recognises the Adebayo Dayo-led executive committee as the authentic one.

    The plaintiffs further urged the court to order the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agents to seal off and close and down the Ogun PDP secretariat operated by the caretaker committee.

    Yesterday, the plaintiffs’ lawyer Mr Ajibola Oluyede said the defendants had filed their counter affidavits to the plaintiffs’ originating summons.

    “There’s no impediment to the hearing of this application. It is a substantive issue relating to PDP convention scheduled to hold on Saturday.

    “So, it’ll he tidier for this application to be taken. The matter is time sensitive. We urge the court to hear this application,” he said.

    But, PDP’s lawyer Dr Yemi Oke urged the court not to hear the application.

    Faulting Oluyede’s prayer, he said: “This type of practice is not encouraging at all.”

    He said the issue boiled down to a power tussle between Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Senator Ahmed Makarfi, which he said the Supreme Court had resolved.

    Counsel for the Ogun Caretaker Committee, Mr Afolabi Fasanu (SAN) said: “I’m objecting to the hearing of this application today (yesterday). As at yesterday (Monday) they were still filing further and better affidavit.

    “We need to respond by affidavit. We have a Preliminary Objection which borders on the jurisdiction of this court. In the light of the above, we’ll be craving the court’s indulgence to adjourn the matter.”

    There was a heated verbal exchange between Oluyede and Fasanmi following the plaintiffs’ counsel’s bid to have the case heard in view of the soon-to-be-held convention.

    Justice Mohammed Idris advised them to “act according to law”, adding that the “conduct of counsel should be moderate”.

    The judge said the plaintiffs’ Originating Summons and the defendants Preliminary Objection would be heard together when the defendants would have filed all their responses.

    Justice Idris adjourned until January 16 for hearing.

  • PDP governors not planning to impose national chairman – Okowa

    PDP governors not planning to impose national chairman – Okowa

    The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) National Elective Convention Committee, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday dismissed reports that governors of the PDP have attempted to impose a national chairman on the party.

    The Delta State governor said delegates for the convention from most states are known, stressing the party will ensure it gives a level playing field to all aspirants and ensure a hitch-free convention

    He also expressed optimism that the party would be more united, following its upcoming convention on December 9 and emerge a much stronger force for the 2019 presidential election.

    Governor Okowa stated these on Channels Television’s programme “Politics Today.”

    He said: “I believe that the National caretaker committee of the party is doing a lot to ensure that things are put in place, as for the national planning committee that I lead, we were inaugurated this afternoon and we have held our inaugural meeting. We do know that in any elective convention, all kinds of views do come into play but ours as a planning committee is to ensure that we deliver a convention that is credible and in which all the processes are such that will be blameless. We will deliver a free, fair and transparent primary; that is our aim.

    “For the reconciliatory process, we’ll be looking up to the party leadership to deal with that. But the major task is for us to deliver a convention that is truly credible and all can attest to. That will enable us to heal faster, and unify faster after the convention.”

    Reacting to reports that the chairman of the electoral panel, who is also the former governor of Benue State, had declared support for a candidate, he said: “I’m not aware that he has declared support for any particular candidate but even if he has any sentiments for anyone, he will not be in a position at all, on the convention day to do anything that is unjust. We are going to adopt the open secret ballot system of voting.

    “We have also put in place a credible team to ensure reconciliation of party members who may feel aggrieved going forward after the convention,” he added.

    On the defection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governor Okowa said there is strength in numbers and that the party would always welcome as many persons as possible.

    “We believe that as many persons that come into the PDP is good for us because it would help to strengthen the party because politics is one that is inclusive – the more persons you get into the party, the greater the strength of the party. So we will welcome him into the party just as we will look forward to many more persons who will want to come over to join us as a family. It will be a welcome idea because it will help to strengthen us going into `2019,” he concluded.

     

     

  • Why Atiku may not vote at PDP convention

    Why Atiku may not vote at PDP convention

    •No special concession for ex-VP, says Makarfi

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may not vote at Saturday’s  convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The party was still awaiting yesterday his official notification to rejoin the PDP.

    The National Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, confirmed that Atiku had not regularised his documents with the party.

    Responding to an SMS message sent to him by our correspondent yesterday, Makarfi said the party’s leadership would “do the needful” when Atiku’s documentation is completed.

    “We have heard of the press release and we welcome him. But we are yet to get official notification. When we receive it, then the needful will be done,” Makarfi stated.

    Atiku  on Sunday  announced his return to the PDP following his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) a few days earlier.

    Party sources said the former Vice President may attend the convention as an observer, pending the completion of his documentation with the party.

    At the inauguration of the convention committee, Makarfi .said there would not be any concession for Atiku or any  other person coming into the party.

    The party chair said Atiku did not ask for any special concession or special terms, but returned to the party on his own will.

    Makarfi said: “The Waziri Adamawa did not seek any special concession or any special term. He joined on his own term and decision.

    “The party did not extend any special concession to him. I don’t think it will extend any special concession to anybody other than what is due to him and what will be due to anybody of his own status that will be coming into the party. It is only right that you accord such people such recognition and status they deserved.

    “I read in some papers as if the party made a deal with him to concede something to him; far from the truth. He never asked for anything and we never offered anything. Whatever aspiration he or anybody coming to PDP may have, they will be free to pursue them.

    “PDP men and women are free to pursue whatever aspirations they have. The party will give level playing field for everybody to exercise their right to give mandate to whoever they want to give it to.”

    According to Makarfi, the party is expecting more people like Atiku; some media houses only decided to make news out of his return, he said.

    The chairman of the PDP Convention Planning Committee, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, warned 2019 presidential aspirants and their agents against displaying their posters at the convention.

    Okowa, who spoke in Abuja shortly after the inauguration of the various convention committees, said no campaign of any kind would be allowed at the convention.

    “For those who want to campaign for future election, possibly the presidential aspirants, this convention is not the place to display campaign posters or to display their intentions. I believe there will be an appropriate convention for that. I want to urge them to cooperate with us as a committee”

    “I will not expect any aspirant, especially presidential aspirants to bring their campaign posters, campaigners, men or women to the venue because it will not be allowed. And we want to appeal to all of them campaigning to desist from doing that.

  • PDP chair: Confusion as North splits over micro zoning

    PDP chair: Confusion as North splits over micro zoning

    There is confusion in the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) as cracks have emerged among party stakeholders in the North over plot by some elders in the party to micro zone the chairmanship slot to the South West zone.

    The party’s Caretaker Committee and the National Executive Committee (NEC) had already said the position should be open to interested aspirants from every parts of the South to contest.

    Crisis erupted in Abuja on Friday after a group led by a former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, issued a communique declaring that party stakeholders in the North had micro zoned the position to the South West.

    But in a counter move, another group, led by Mallam Sani Kutigi disagreed with the Gana group, describing the declaration by the Gana group as “obnoxious and objectionable” plot to rail-road the region into illegality.

    The Gana group, at a meeting convened under the aegis of Northern Elders and Leaders Forum, had issued a communique’ after a marathon meeting that ended in the wee hours of Friday, declaring that the chairmanship slot had been micro zoned to the South West geopolitical zone.

    The communique’, dated December 1, 2017 and signed by a former Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and Mrs. Margaret Icheen, stated that the North had unanimously agreed to the micro zoning of the slot and urged delegates from the region to vote for only chairmanship candidates from the South West.

    The communique’ reads: “As we head to the national convention, the forum showed keen interest on the position of the National Chairman.

    “The forum received reports from the three geo-political zones of the region, regarding the micro-zoning of positions zoned to them, in line with the spirit of rotation. The forum resolved that capable and competent aspirants should be identified and supported.

    “After extensive deliberations, it was resolved that, in the spirit of fairness, equity, carrying every part of the country along, giving every geo-political zone a sense of participation and inclusion in the affairs of the PDP, we strongly support the quest of the South West geo-political zone to produce the next National Chairman of the party.

    “In line with our resolve to rebuild and reposition the PDP, we urge delegates from all the Northern states to abide by this decision and vote for only aspirants from the South West geo-political zone in the forthcoming national convention, in the best interest of the party. This is without prejudice to the right of aspirants from other geo-political zones to contest.”

    The Gana group is loyal to one of the chairmanship aspirants from the South West, Prof Tunde Adeniran, while the Kutigi group is loyal to an aspirant from the South South, Prince Uche Secondus.

    At a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, members of the Kutigi group, who also attended the meeting, accused Shekarau, Gana and others of betraying a mutual agreement not to micro-zone the position.

    According to Kutigi, Gana and his group lacked the authority to speak for the North on the matter, describing their action as an insult and a slap on the face of party members from the South.

    Read Also: PDP chair: South West may present consensus candidate – Adeniran

     

     

  • 2,800 delegates for PDP convention

    2,800 delegates for PDP convention

    NO fewer than 2,800 delegates have been cleared to vote at the December 9 national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja.

    The figure could be higher as the list is yet to accommodate delegates from Osun State, where the congresses to elect them were inconclusive.

    Rising from its 77th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting yesterday, the party dismissed threats by some stakeholders to conduct a parallel convention to ventilate their grievances.

    Some of the aspirants have complained about the failure of the party leadership to micro zone the position of the chairman to the South West. Some other aspirants have kicked against micro zoning the position of National Secretary.

    The party threw the contest for chairman open to all the three geopolitical zones in the South, while micro-zoning that of National Secretary to Kaduna and Katsina states.

    Briefing reporters after the meeting, National Publicity Secretary Prince Dayo Adeyeye confirmed that the NEC had approved the decisions on zoning of offices.

    Adeyeye also said the NEC approved the list of the convention committee and other sub committees set up for the purpose of the convention.

    He, however, declined to reveal the identities of members of the committee.

    The party spokesman said the NEC warned aspirants to the various positions against campaign of calumny and utterances that could hurt their opponents in the course of campaign.

    Chairman of the Caretaker Committee Senator Ahmed Makarfi said the leadership had refused to take offence at the criticisms and verbal attacks directed at him by the various aspirants.

    Some chairmanship aspirants had accused Makarfi of favouring a particular aspirants to the detriment of others and went ahead to call for his resignation.

    He called for tolerance and unity among members, stressing that there is a lot of strength in unity and forgiveness.

    “If you don’t get what you want today, you can get it tomorrow,” Makarfi counseled, adding that the leadership would ensure a level playground for all contestants.

    Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwabo, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, assured that all the party’s governors were working hard to ensure a successful convention.

    The meeting, which was well-attended by key party stakeholders, lasted over three hours.

    Those that attended the meeting included governors of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Gombe and Delta.

    The governors of Abia and Bayelsa states sent their deputies.

    However, governors of Ekiti, Taraba, Enugu, Cross River and Ebonyi did not attend and were not represented.

  • 2,800 delegates cleared for PDP convention

    2,800 delegates cleared for PDP convention

    At least 2,800 delegates have been cleared to participate in the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) slated for December 9 in Abuja.

    The figure could be higher as the list is yet to accommodate delegates from Osun State where the elective congresses have not been conducted.

    Rising from its 77th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Thursday, the party dismissed threats by some stakeholders to conduct a parallel convention to ventilate their grievances.

    While some of the aspirants have complained about the failure of the party leadership to micro-zone the position of chairman to the South West, others aspirants have kicked against the micro -zoning of position of National Secretary.

    The party has thrown the contest for chairmanship position open to all the three geopolitical zones in the South, while micro-zoning that of National Secretary to Kaduna and Katsina States.

    Briefing journalists shortly after the meeting, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, confirmed that the NEC had approved the decisions on zoning of offices.

    Adeyeye also said the NEC has approved the list of the convention committee and other sub committees set up for the purpose of the convention.

    He, however, declined to reveal the identities of members of the committee.

    The party spokesman disclosed that the NEC warned aspirants to the various positions against campaign of calumny and utterances that could hurt their opponents in the course of campaign.

    In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, said the leadership has refused to take offence at the criticisms and verbal attacks directed at him by the various aspirants.

     

  • PDP chair: South West may present consensus candidate – Adeniran

    PDP chair: South West may present consensus candidate – Adeniran

    A national chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Tunde Adeniran, said on Wednesday the South West zone may produce a consensus candidate ahead of the party’s national convention slated for December 9 in Abuja.

    Adeniran, who spoke while addressing party members and delegates for the convention at the PDP secretariat in Akure, Ondo State, said all the candidates from the South West have been holding talks on the matter.

    This, according to him could pave way to a consensus candidate.

    Adeniran said:” We are talking among ourselves and I believe one way or the other we will get it right. I also believe that God will step in.

    On reports that he was being sponsored by the senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Buriji Kashamu, the former PDP National Secretary, described the report as handiwork of his political detractors.