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Tag: PDP convention

  • Convention: Court orders PDP members to maintain status quo

    Justice Muhammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to take any action that will void proceedings of court on the parallel convention.

    The court gave the directive on Friday in two suits filed by the National Auditor of the party, Alhaji Fatai Adeyanju,  Kamal Olorunoje and Jide Ladeinde for themselves and on behalf of the Lagos State executive committee of the party.

    This came just as Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Friday refused to vacate the order not to conduct election into offices of National Chairman, National Secretary and National Auditor at the PDP national convention.

    While Adeyanju’s suit is against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and PDP, Olorunoje and others’ suit is against INEC, PDP, the party’s National Chairman and its National Secretary, Ali Modu Sheriff and Wale Oladipo respectively.

    The order of the court was sequel to the confusion that arose as to who will represent the party at the proceedings.

    Two lawyers from two different chambers, Yemi Oke and Godswill Mrakpor, announced appearances for PDP. Mrakpor told the court that he had been ordered to take over from Oke.

    But, Oke in his response, said he had not been de-briefed by anyone, adding that only the National Legal Adviser of the party had the right to appoint or determine the counsel to represent the party.

     

  • Gana, others set for parallel PDP convention

    Gana, others set for parallel PDP convention

    The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new twist with the party set to hold two separate national conventions on Saturday.

    While the faction loyal to the National Chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, will be holding its convention in Port Harcourt, another faction, headed by a former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana, will be holding its own in Abuja.

    The two factions met simultaneously in Abuja on Tuesday to fine-tune plans for their separate conventions.

    The pro- Sheriff convention is backed by the party’s serving governors, its National Assembly caucus and a faction of the Board of Trustees (BoT) led by the chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin.

    The Gana group, under the aegis of Concerned PDP Stakeholders, inaugurated its 56-members steering committee to conduct its convention and pilot the affairs of the party afterwards.

    Members of the group include Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Hajia Inna Ciroma, Amb. Wilberforce Juta, Alhaji Ibrahim Bunu, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, Senator Bala Mohammed, Mr. Taminu Turaki, Dr. Doyin Okupe and Mrs. Remi Adiukwu.

    Also in the group are – Mrs. Josephine Anenih, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Prof. ABC Nwosu, Sen. Ben Obi, Mr. John Odey, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, Alh. Shittu Mohammed Kabiru, Senator Grace Bent, and Senator Anietie Okon.

    A group of former PDP governors who are also named as members are – Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Mr. Bonnie Haruna, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, Mr. Donald Duke, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, Alhaji Mahmood Shinkafi, Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure, Sen, Ahmed Makarfi, Chief Achike Udenwa, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and a former PDP national Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo.

    At a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), Walid said he met with the Gana group up to 2:30am on Tuesdays where he pleaded with the aggrieved members to drop plans for a parallel convention.

    “I pleaded with them to refrain from actions capable of destroying the unity and progress of the party. I made it clear to them that I will not be attending meetings other than the ones called by the organs of the party.

    “As a matter of fact, I made it clear to them that I will be leading the BoT members to the Port Harcourt convention,” the BoT chairman said.

    Also speaking at the NEC meeting, Sheriff said the party had resolved to cancel results of the just concluded congresses in some states and that fresh congresses would be conducted in the affected states.

     

  • PDP Convention: Confusion in Sheriff’s camp

    PDP Convention: Confusion in Sheriff’s camp

    •Allies disagree over sharing of positions 

    Allocation of positions to supporters of the acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, in the six geo-political zones, is now tearing his camp apart, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    Sheriff’s supporters are said to be fast losing their cohesion on account of the issue ahead of the party’s national convention scheduled for May 21, in Port-Harcourt.

    Sherrif who wants to remain as national chairman beyond the May 21 date of the convention was, until lately, the toast of most PDP state governors and the majority of the members of the outgoing National Working Committee (NWC).

    But following disagreements over who the camp should back for certain positions at the convention, it appears he may have lost the support of some of his backers.

    One of those in disagreement with him is Governor  Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State who is sponsoring his Special  Assistant on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, for the position of the PDP national publicity secretary.

    Sheriff, according to party sources, is not disposed to Olayinka’s candidacy following conflicting interests.

    A group from the Southwest loyal to Senator Buruji Kashamu, which had earlier put forward a former Director General of the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2015 governorship campaign, Segun Sowunmi, for the same position, has now resolved to back Ondo State for the position.

    Olayinka is from Ekiti and the Fayose group wants the position of national vice chairman given to Ondo State while Ekiti gets the publicity secretary position. This scenario has also pitched delegates from the two states, who are largely supporters of the acting national chairman, against one another as the national convention draws nearer.

    Fayose’s insistence to have the senior position of national vice chairman taken away from his state and given to Ondo State may also not be unconnected with his alleged determination to truncate the re-election bid of the current occupier of the seat, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe.

    Ogundipe, who hails from Ekiti State, is an ally of Senator Kashamu but has been having a running political battle with Governor Fayose, his erstwhile associate of many years. Several efforts to reconcile the duo by Kashamu have proved abortive.

    The Nation learnt that the Fayose group may have decided to pull out of Sherrif’s camp following suspicion that the acting national chairman may have settled to support the controversial zoning in deference to Senator Kashamu, who, according to party sources, is seen by the national secretariat as the leading strongman of PDP in the Southwest.

    A well placed source said, “We are watching events. There is no way we will allow people who don’t understand how we have kept the party alive to hijack it from us in the Southwest.

    “Senator Sherrif is supporting Kashamu and his group to forcefully take over the PDP in Southwest. This is in spite of the support our leader, Governor Fayose, has given him.

    “We are politicians and we are going to respond to the current challenge appropriately. There is no way we will continue to co-habit with Kashamu. Don’t forget there are two factions in PDP today. Those who want Sheriff and those who rejected him. We have been with those who want him all the while but it appears he is forcing us to go with the other camp.

    “You saw Fayose at the Akure meeting with party elders who largely are opposed to Sherrif’s ambition. “This is not because he hates Sherrif but just because those people share his idea of how the party should be run in the Southwest. And if we are left to continue to find those who share our opinion on the other side, I wonder what will happen soon.”

    Sources also said Governor Olusegun Mimiko is angry over the alleged tacit support being given the Kashamu camp by Sherrif. The Nation learnt he may also jettison the chairmanship aspiration of the acting PDP boss if nothing happens to debunk spreading reports of endorsements by Sherrif.

    Sources at the PDP national secretariat also squealed that some members of the NWC may have decided to withdraw their support from Sheriff’s ambition following the zoning of their current positions away from their states. The Nation learnt that the affected officials have made their position know, to the acting chairman who is making frantic effort to appease them.

    Another source said:”There is a serious division amongst the NWC members. Some of them are unhappy that earlier agreement to have all of them returned to office at the convention is already broken by the zoning of offices. While some were surprised to see their position given to other zones other than theirs, others were shocked when the PDP leadership in their zones allocated their position to states other than theirs.

    “And when efforts to get the acting chairman to intervene failed, they suspected foul play and approached Sherrif. As we speak, frantic efforts are on to appease them. The current situation in the NWC is that of confusion as many of them are threatening to work against Sherrif’s ambition.”

     

  • PDP Northern elders seek postponement of national convention

    Northern elders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have lent their voice to calls for the postponement of the party’s national convention originally slated for May 21.

    The elders’ group led by a former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, which arrived at the decision at a meeting in Abuja late Wednesday night, said the postponement would allow for reconciliation by army of aggrieved members.

    Another group led by the immediate past Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, had earlier made a similar call, citing flaws in the ongoing congresses across the various states.

    The Gana group, however, insisted that the present members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) should vacate their seats on May 21, when their extended tenure is expected to expire.

    The elders decried the entrenched culture of impunity and imposition by the present leadership of the PDP, insisting that the party must shun these vices to enable it achieve stability and the vision of its founding fathers.

    They also faulted the proposed amendment of the PDP constitution, saying it was a violation of the party’s constitution.

  • PDP Convention: Dankwambo, Ciroma, Nwosu, others oppose return of Sheriff

    PDP Convention: Dankwambo, Ciroma, Nwosu, others oppose return of Sheriff

    •Wike, Fayose, Lamido, Shekarau, lend support

    opposition to the planned extension of the tenure of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman at the May 21 national convention of the party appears not to be abating.

    Several leaders of the party are  threatening  to leave PDP  should  Sheriff  have his way at the convention.

    Others are even mooting the formation of a new party from the “relics of whatever is left of PDP” after the convention.

    But his key supporters   including  Governors Nyesom Wike  (Rivers) and Ayodele Fayose  (Ekiti) as well as  Senator  Buruji Kashamu are insisting  on his choice, in the belief that he has what it takes to square up to the   ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Governors Ibrahim Dankwambo, Henry Seriake Dickson, Prof. Ben Ayade have opted for  a strict adherence to the party’s zoning formula which will enable the South to produce the next National Chairman of PDP.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that some stalwarts of the party, who met separately on Thursday, vowed to resist the return of Sheriff.

    Three groups have risen in the party against Sheriff including some PDP governors led by Dankwambo (Gombe); Ex-Ministers Forum; the Ibrahim Mantu- Raymond Dokpesi group and the Babangida Aliyu group.

    Sources confirmed that tempers were high on Thursday at the session of the Ex-Ministers Forum, which is being led by a former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and Secretary, Suleiman Abubakar (ex-Minister of National Planning).

    Those who spoke against the return of Sheriff included a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, a former Minister of Health, Prof. ABC Nwosu, Suleiman Abubakar, ex-Minister of Sports, Isa Bio, a former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, and a former Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Inna Ciroma among others.

    But Sheriff got backing from a former Minister of State for Education, Kenneth Gbagi, ex-Minister of Labour, Joel Danlami, and a former Minister of State for Finance, Lawan Ngarma.

    Some former ministers like Bala Mohammed, Ibrahim Shekarau and Tanimu Turaki were non-committal because of their long standing political ties with Sheriff.

    A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Maduekwe specifically warned against the danger of throwing away morality and value for selfish interest. He said he was opposed to Sheriff’s candidacy.

    While making his point, Maduekwe interjected, “I pity this nation’s democracy.”

    On his part, Nwosu said: “if the PDP wants to be fair and just, the next National Chairman ought to be a Southerner. The party’s zoning formula must be respected.”

    “Also contributing, Suleiman Abubakar (ex-Minister of National Planning) told the gathering in unmistaken terms that he would leave the party should Sheriff re-emerge as  PDP chairman.

    A source quoted Suleiman as saying: “Some of you are saying we should opt for Sheriff because of power and money with which we can dislodge APC in 2019. Let me ask you: when we had all the structures and incumbency factor in 2015, did we win? I will leave PDP if Sheriff is chosen.”

    Contributing, Hajiya Inna Ciroma, who husband –Adamu Ciroma – is one of the founding fathers of PDP, said party members in Sheriff’s home state of Borno were not ready to follow Sheriff because of the way he joined the party and hijacked the structure in the state within two months.”

    Another source at the meeting explained how Prof. Jerry Gana was put on the spot on why PDP’s Board of Trustees sold out by accepting Sheriff to lead the party.

    The source quoted Gana as saying: “The BOT did not sell out but we did not want to rubbish the National Executive Committee (NEC) which had endorsed Sheriff. We insisted that Sheriff must go on May 21.”

    “The immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Aminu Wali faulted the process which brought Sheriff into power. If the chairmanship is zoned to the North, we should mobilize delegates to vote for the right candidate.”

    In a communique after the session, the Ex-Ministers Forum said : “ reaffirmed its earlier position regarding the leadership of the party on the principle that, while the minority will have their say, the majority will have their way.

    “The forum reiterates its stand that the party’s leadership should conduct transparent and credible congresses and national convention that will be in conformity/in line with the party’s constitution.

    “The forum recognized serious concerns over the arrangements and is unequivocal that should the convention not produce officers of the party that reflect the will of the people, it will portend continued disaster for the party in popular elections.

    “The Ministers forum therefore recommends that widespread consultations must precede the election / of delegates to the convention.

    “To have delegate that are pre-selected or pre-elected to return preferred candidate to National Officers will be seen as a perpetration of lack of internal democracy that mortally injured the party in 2015.

    “The Ministers forum reaffirms its resolved continue to interact with the BOT, Governors forum, National Assembly forum and the leadership of the party in an increased effort to play active role in their various state so as to ensure that state delegates elect national officers that will accelerate the renewal of the PDP as a truly National parties which it is.

    “The forum calls on the reconciliation committee to immediately commence the process of reconciliation of member immediately.

    “Finally, we urge all members of the party and it National organs to rise to the demands of its rebuilding and rebranding by eschewing all selfishness and opportunism in approaching the convention.”

    Investigation confirmed that the PDP governors remain  split on plans by some forces to retain Sheriff in defiance of the party’s zoning formula.

    A member of the NWC said: “Going by the party’s zoning formula, it is the turn of the South to produce the next National Chairman. But the “hatchet  boys” in the party, led by Governors Nyesom Wike and Ayodele Fayose and Sen. Buruji Kashamu, are pushing for Sheriff to alter the zoning formula again.

    “We have been warning them to avoid a repeat of what led to the defeat of PDP at the polls in 2015 but they don’t care  even if the  heaven falls.

    “And since the convention is holding in Port Harcourt, Wike’s camp has been boasting that Sheriff’s re-emergence as the National Chairman of PDP is a fait accompli. Delegates votes might not count in the face of imposition.

     

    “I think what Wike and Fayose are planning is a bigger picture on the 2019 presidential race. They want to hijack the structure of PDP to impose a presidential candidate or transform Sheriff into an automatic candidate of the party and then pick a new chairman of the party from the South in 2018.

    “Others like ex-Governors Sule Lamido and Ibrahim Shekarau are supporting Sheriff because of political permutations which may tilt PDP presidential ticket in their favour in 2019. As for a former Minister of State for Education, Kenneth Gbagi, ex-Minister of Labour, Joel Danlami, and a former Minister of State for Finance, Lawan Ngarma, they are positioning themselves for appointments in the future if PDP creates  an upset in the next poll.

    “Some governors like Ibrahim Dankwambo, Henry Seriake Dickson, and Prof. Ben Ayade have asked the party leaders to allow the South to produce the next National Chairman since the 2019 presidential ticket of PDP has been conceded to the North.

    “The position of the outgoing Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Dr. Segun Mimiko on the situation in the party was unknown although he might not pitch tent with Fayose and Wike.

    “Two other groups( ex- Governor Babangida Aliyu  and Ibrahim Mantu-Raymond Dokpesi camps) also met on Wednesday  and Thursday in Abuja with reservations on Sheriff’s return at the National Convention.

    “The consequences of imposing Sheriff are mass defection from PDP to other parties; the formation of a new party and internal sabotage Certainly, the party will not be the same again if Sheriff is imposed by some governors.”

     

     

  • 2015: I will not fail Nigerians – Jonathan

    2015: I will not fail Nigerians – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday accepted his nomination as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate in the 2015 election with a pledge that he would not fail Nigerians.

    The President also announced Vice President Namadi Sambo as his running mate again for the presidential election.

    Speaking after delegates to the PDP National Convention had nominated him, the president promised to give his all to ensure that the living standard of Nigerians improved.

    Jonathan said that his nomination as the PDP Presidential candidate exemplified the party’s determination to ensure that democracy in Nigeria yielded the desired benefits to Nigerians.

    He urged political parties in the country to rise above all impediments to project the country to a higher level.

    He assured all PDP members that all complaints and grievances within the party would be amicably resolved.

    According to him, the country’s fight against corruption is on course and would be won.

    The President further stressed that the government would ensure that no child lacked basic needs and that no woman died from child birth.

    The president said the observance of human rights was the cornerstone of his administration, adding that no Nigerian would be persecuted for holding a contrary view.

    He restated that Nigeria was undergoing some transformation being progressively enjoyed by the people, adding that many of the projects being showcased by those who defected from PDP were actually initiated by the party.

    He enjoined the opposition to be honest in its campaigns and be devoid of propaganda and half truth.

    Jonathan had earlier captured 2,812 votes cast at the convention to emerge as the party’s candidate for the 2015 presidential election.

    The party had also amended its constitution to address the issue of tenure in the party’s administration.

  • PDP convention: Governors now NEC members

    PDP convention: Governors now NEC members

    Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are now members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

    This was made possible by the amendment of Sections 33 (1) and 47 (6) of the party’s constitution at the PDP’s convention in Abuja on Wednesday night.

    Delegates overwhelmingly affirmed the amendment and endorsed Mu’azu as the party’s national chairman. The party’s National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo and National Auditor, Adewole Adeyanju were similarly affirmed.

    Voting for President Goodluck Jonathan’s ratification as PDP’s presidential candidate was still ongoing at the time of filing this report. About 3063 delegates across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory were billed to vote for or against the ratification.

  • FEC meeting cancelled for PDP convention

    The weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting did not hold at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday to allow President Goodluck Jonathan and other cabinet members attend the national convention of the People’s Democratic Party.

    The convention takes place at the Eagle Square, Abuja, on Wednesday and Thursday.

    FEC, which is the highest executive decision-making body in the country, is presided over by the President with members including the Vice President, ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the National Security Adviser, Head of Service of the Federation and other presidential aides.

    Although, no official statement was issued to explain the cancellation, the Presidency has insisted in the past that no law compels the convening of the meeting weekly.

    The PDP convention is to ratify the position of the National Chairman of the party, Adamu Muazu and affirm the sole candidature of President Jonathan as its presidential flag bearer.

    About 3, 070 delegates are expected to vote during the convention.

     

  • Move to stop PDP convention: Court orders service of processes on Mu’azu, others

    Move to stop PDP convention: Court orders service of processes on Mu’azu, others

    Justice Evoh Chukwu of  the Federal High Court,  Abuja yesterday ordered the service of a motion seeking to stop the planned national convention of the  People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on the party’s leadership.

    The judge made the order while ruling on an ex-parte application argued by a lawyer, Mrs. Lilian Ojimma.

    She had sought an order to restrain the PDP and its National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, from proceeding to hold the party’s convention and for parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit by her client.

    She argued that it was unjust for the PDP to proceed with its congress when her client, Aliyu Ayoba Gubrin, a member of the party and  House of Representatives aspirant from Adamawa State, was challenging Mu’azu’s appointment as the PDP Chairman and his right to preside at the congress.

    Justice Chukwu refused to grant the prayers ex-parte, but instead ordered the applicant to covert her application to a motion on notice and serve the defendants to enable them respond. He adjourned to November 20 for the hearing of the motion.

    Gubrin is, in the substantive suit, seeking, among others, an order sacking Mu’azu.

    He argued that Mu’azu cannot legitimately preside over the affairs of the PDP because the process leading to his emergence as the National Chairman violated the party’s constitution.

    In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2014, Gubrin equally faulted the process leading to the resignation of Mu’azu’s predecessor, Bamanga Tukur.

    Named as defendants in the suit include the PDP, Tukur, Mu’azu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Gubrin, who wants the court to void Mu’azu’s appointment, equally seeks an order to restrain Mu’azu from further parading himself as the party Chairman.

    He wants the court to determine whether or not Tukur’s  resignation on January 15 complied with Section 47(5) of the constitution of the party.

    The plaintiff also asked the court to declare that Tukur’s resignation is invalid as it did not comply with the constitution of the party and the Electoral Act 2010.

    He is equally praying the court for an order setting aside the resignation of Tukur as the party Chairman.

    Gubrin also wants an other restraning INEC from recognizing Mu’azu as the Chairman of the party.

    Hearing in the main suit has been fixed for December 20.

  • Uba’s, Nwoye’s supporters clash at PDP convention

    Uba’s, Nwoye’s supporters clash at PDP convention

    Supporters of the two parallel governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Anambra election, Senator Andy Uba and Mr. Tony Nwoye on Saturday  engaged in fisticuffs at the convention ground.
    Trouble started when some of Nwoye’s supporters attempted to yank Andy Uba’s younger brother, Chris off his seat. The three Uba brothers, Ugochukwu, Andy and Chris were seated next to one another.
    Incidentally, Nwoye was seated one seat away from the three brothers on the same row.
    A few of the Uba supporters resisted the attempt to drag Chris away from his seat, a development that led to exchange of blows among the supporters.

    Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah who was at the scene quietly walked away from the rowdy scene. Looking unruffled, the Uba  brothers sat quietly and watched the drama that lasted for about 20 minutes before normalcy was restored.

    One of the factional chairmen  of the Anambra chapter of the PDP, Chief Ejike Oguebego sat close to the Uba brothers; while his rival, Ken Emeakayi sat close to Nwoye.
    Andy Uba emerged the PDP candidate through a congress organised by Oguebego, while Nwoye emerged through the Emeakayi faction.
    The leadership of the PDP has given recognition to the Emeakayi faction, while the Independent National Electorsl Commission (INEC) has declared  Oguebego as the authentic chairman of the Anambra chapter of the party.