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Tag: PDP members

  • PDP members join APC in Akwa Ibom

    More members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    One of the defectors is Utibe Ibanga, an aide of Governor Udom Emmanuel. Ibanga, until Tuesday, was Governor Emmanuel’s Assistant on Projects.

    Other defectors include former chairman of Ikot Ekpene council David Umana. The defectors joined APC during its campaign rally at the Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium.

    Ibanga said he was quitting the government because of the governor’s lack of interest in the welfare of his aides.

    Emmanuel has suffered mass resignations from his government in recent months by aides, mostly citing poor working conditions and the governor’s lack of electoral value.

    Those who have resigned their appointment are:  Chris Okorie (Special Assistant on Electoral Matters); Elder Ibanga Etang (Special Assistant on Project Monitoring); Pastor Abasiandikan Nkono (Special Assistant on Projects); Utibe Idem (Special Assistant on Projects); Umo Assiak (Special Assistant on Projects) and   Anietie Ebe (Special Assistant on Project Monitoring).

    Others are: Mfon Udeme (Special Assistant on Electoral Matters); Joe Iniodu (Special Assistant on Media); Idorenyin Esikot (Special Assistant on Small & Medium Scale Enterprises); Dr. Anthony Usoro (Senior Special Assistant on Demographic Planning); Godswill Ekpenyong (Special Assistant on Projects) and Derek Tower Umoh (Special Assistant on Projects).

    Two commissioners – Victor Antai and Ibanga Akpabio, also resigned and defected to the APC from the PDP.

    Ibanga’s defection came barely a day after two former local government chairmen, Ukana Udofia (Ibesikpo Asutan) and Dr. Eventus Edem (Uruan) and a popular comedian and former Supervisor in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Govermment, Usukoson Etim (Inim), dumped the PDP during the APC campaign rally in Ibesikpo Asutan.

    Addressing the rally, Udofia said he was defecting with over 1,000 PDP members, having been led by the “spirit”.

    He said: “The spirit led me to leave. We have been offered the best as Akwa Ibom people through the candidacy of Obong Nsima Ekere and we have no option than to join that team in order to get the best.”

    Dr. Edem, a PDP Caucus member in the state, declared: “With my entry into APC today, PDP has finally collapsed in Uruan.”

    Etim said he left the PDP because of marginalisation and canvassed support for all APC candidates.

  • We’re under attack in Jonathan’s LGA —PDP members

    Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogbia Local Government Area of  Bayelsa State at the weekend complained that they are constantly being attacked by supporters of an opposition candidate. Ogbia is the council area of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The politicians, under the auspices of the Ogbia PDP Renaissance (OPR, expressed worry that with just few weeks to the general elections, they were being harassed, intimidated and killed in the council area.

    The group in a statement signed by its Chairman, Obhioru Mitanoni,accused an opposition candidate in the area of being responsible for the attacks. The group said PDP members and supporters in Ogbia have become targets of attack by the desperate candidate who is jittery over his chances. He called on security agencies to urgently wade into the issue and arrest the situation alleging that the opposition candidate armed youths with sophisticated weapons to harass PDP members.

    The statement said: “We are now confronted with one of the worst political violence in Ogbia local government. On a daily basis thugs loyal to the opposition candidate are brutalizing and killing our members. We have it on good authority that the APC candidate for the Ogbia Federal Constituency procured all manners of arms to cause mayhem before and during the election. This is because he knows that he will fail.

    “We are however shocked that despite the ugly development, some leaders of our party the PDP are giving tacit endorsement to the candidature of the APC and even sponsoring his rascality in the area. If this is not so, how else can anyone explain their silence. For instance, Ogbia is the home local government of a former President, yet he has watched as his fellow kinsmen are being slaughtered like chicken every now and then without doing anything about it.

    “This is indeed sad. It has confirmed our earlier position that the APC candidate enjoys the support and backing of the former president along with his wife. We will send a formal petition to the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in the state over the killings, intimidation and harassment of PDP supporters in Ogbia. We use this opportunity to call on all Ogbia sons and daughters to reject the APC in the coming elections.”

     

  • PDP members join APC in Akwa Ibom

    Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State Chief Felix Obuah has assured Governor Nyesom Wike that PDP will be re-elected on March 2.

    He promised that the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and other candidates in the state, would win in the February 16 and March 2 polls.

    Read also: Akwa Ibom rewards taxi driver for rescuing 54-year-old woman

    Obuah, according to his media aide, Pastor Jerry Needam, spoke in his Omoku hometown in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA) council when he inaugurated the ONELGA PDP Campaign Council and office donated by him.

    He described Wike as a history maker, having surpassed expectations.

    Obuah, who noted the governor was going to the poll with incredible testimonial and scorecard of social, economic and political development, urged his supporters to vote for Wike and all PDP candidates.

  • Hundreds of PDP members defect to APC in Kwara

    Scores of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Kwara State at the weekend defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The defectors were mainly from Asa Local Government Area, one of the strongholds of the Saraki dynasty and home to the PDP governorship candidate, Abdulrasak Atunwa.

    The defectors, who trooped out in their hundreds, publicly renounced membership of the umbrella party.

    The state chairman and Assistant Treasurer of APC, Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa and M. O. Kamar, were on hand to receive the defectors.

    The event was also attended by many party faithful and community leaders, including two House of Assembly candidates, Alhaji Opakunle and Alhaji Ibrahim; Alhaji Mahmood Babatunde Baako and Alhaji Isa Amosa.

    The defectors were also led by Mrs Racheal Abegunde, Mrs Taiye Garuba and Alhaji Anafi Mustapha.

    Kwara South Senatorial Chairman Gidado Alakawa said the defectors had served the PDP and their leaders for very long.

  • PDP members defect to APC in Akwa Ibom

    Over 5,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ikot Abasi Local Government of Akwa Ibom State have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The latest defectors, coming from Ukpum Okon and Edemaya clans, joined APC when party leaders toured their clans.

    APC chairman in Ikot Abasi Ubong Ekpo, who received the defectors, listed the pains the people had suffered in the hands of PDP, including the killing of the Aluminum Smelter Company (ALSCON). He thanked the people for embracing APC.

    Mr. Emem Ukpe, who responded on behalf of the defectors, said his people had accepted the APC.

    Pastor Uko Udoisong, Mrs. Alice Archibong and Mr. Usen Julius, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, promised to support the old APC members to deliver Edemaya, the home clan of Nsima Ekere, APC governorship candidate, to APC.

     

  • Court to hear five PDP members’ bail applications August 23

    A Lagos High Court yesterday adjourned till August 23 hearing in the bail applications brought by five People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members charged with murder.

    The applicants are Rotimi Kujore, Ismaila Abiola, Kehinde Fasasi, Fatai Adele and Amos Fawole.

    They were accused of involvement in the killing of PDP’s Apapa Local Government Area (LGA) Chairman Adeniyi Aborishade on July 21.

    The police arraigned them before Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe of the Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court on July 25 for alleged conspiracy and unlawful killing.

    Mr Komolafe granted the police request for their 30-day remand in prison, pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    But they challenged their detention at the high court.

    When the matter, came up yesterday before vacation judge, Justice Emmanuel Ogundare, the defendants’ counsel, Mr K. O. Osinowo, sought the leave of the court to apply for their bail.

    He came by way of an August 7 motion ex parte. The matter, he explained, was for urgent hearing.

    According to him, the defendants were being held for an offence they were innocent of.

    “They were in a meeting and one of them got shot,” Osinowo told the judge.

    He drew the court’s attention to the dismissal of the same charge against the Chairman of the PDP in Lagos State, Mr. Moshood Salvador and 10 others, by an Ikeja High Court on Tuesday, following the DPP’s report.

    He said: “I believe that the same thing will also happen when the DPP’s advice concerning these defendants is out.”

    Justice Ogundare granted his prayer and adjourned till August 23.

  • Osun 2018: Saraki, Mark to reconcile aggrieved PDP members

    Ahead of the Osun September 22 governorship election, the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, and his predecessor, Senator David Mark, are planning to reconcile aggrieved members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

    They will soon be visiting the state to reconcile aggrieved members of the party in order to ensure that  the PDP goes into the forthcoming election as one indivisible unit.

    The state chairman of the party, Hon. Soji Adagunodo, said the two party leaders would convene a meeting to address certain fundamental issues and ensure that all shades of interests are accommodated in all other elective and appointive positions in the state.

    According to him, the national and state leadership of the party will ensure that no one is left behind in the reconciliatory process.

    Adagunodo, who advised aggrieved members to be patient, appealed to those who have instituted cases in court to withdraw them in order to facilitate the reconciliation process.

    He assured that the candidate of the party, Senator Ademola Adeleke, is also ready to work with all other aspirants and party members who felt aggrieved by the outcome of the last primary election.

  • PDP members, professionals join Lagos APC

    The membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State swelled yesterday with defection of some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Also, some members of the Road Transporters Employers Association (RTEAN), Faith-Based Community Birth Attendants, Association for Formidable Education Development, comprising teachers and owners of private schools, Association of Traditional Midwifery of Nigeria and Association of Hairdressers have declared support for the APC and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    At a ceremony at the party’s secretariat in Ikeja, the state capital, the new members pledged to work for APC’s success in next year’s general elections.

    The Chairman of Southwest PDP Movement, Mr Elijah Awodeyi, who defected with over 500 members to the APC, said they were excited by the performance of Governor Ambode to join the party.

    Awodeyi said: “We have seen the type of schools, roads and hospitals the Ambode administration is putting in place in the state. Since APC is working and Lagos is working, we decided to join the APC.”

    Lagos State APC Chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun congratulated the new members for joining APC.

    He said it was a party for the progressives who are concerned about the welfare of the people.

    The chairman said this was the reason Ambode has been performing wonders across the state.

    Balogun said the new members resolved to be part of the good work the APC administration was doing in the state, hence their decision to join the party.

    He said: “I must congratulate you for leaving darkness for light. You will not regret your decision in joining APC. All benefits accruing to old members of APC will be extended to you. There will be no discrimination.”

    The chairman urged the new members, who had not registered, to register at their wards.

    Balogun implored those without the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) to register with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enable them vote in 2019.

    Members of the faith-based Community Birth Attendants stood up and waved their PVCs to show the party leaders that they were prepared for next year’s polls.

    Balogun presented APC’s flags to leaders of the defectors.

    They included Awodeyi, who led the PDP defectors; Bishop R. A. Oguntunwase, for Faith- Based Community Birth Attendants; Prince Tajudeen Olusesi, President of Association of Traditional Midwifery of Nigeria; Alhaji Rahaman Amusan of RTEAN; Mrs Ifejola Dada, leader of Association for Formidable Education Development and Mrs Surat Abari-Ajibola, President of Hair Dressers Association.

    Those at the event included APC Deputy Chairman, Chief Sunny Ajose; APC Secretary, Dr Wale Ahmed; Chief Funso Ologunde (Vice Chairman, Lagos West); Ashipa Kaoli Olusanya (Vice Chairman, Lagos East); Alhaji Hakeem Bamgbola (Vice Chairman, Lagos Central); Women Leader, Mrs Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas, members of Lagos State House of Assembly and some local government chairmen.

  • Pdp members allege attack after Fayemi’s rally

    •Fayemi campaign: It’s not true

    Some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Ayede/Itaji area of Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State have accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of unleashing terror on them last Thursday.

    The PDP members alleged that they were attacked shortly after the APC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, took his campaign to communities in the local government area.

    They also claimed that the APC has been using the police to harass and arrest them for what they called “offences they did not commit”.

    A PDP chieftain in the area, Chief Oluwole Paul, alleged that people he described as APC thugs beat up PDP members and destroyed billboards and posters of their party’s candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    The House of Assembly member representing Oye Constituency 1, Dr. Samuel Omotoso, said that the APC members whom he alleged were working for Fayemi, destroyed some buildings in Oloje-Ekiti, his hometown, when they could not find him.

    But the allegation was denied by the Director of Media and Publicity, Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Mr. Wole Olujobi, who said there was no attack on any PDP member during the APC candidate’s tour to the area.

    Oluwole said: “The attack on our members happened at about noon on Thursday after Fayemi’s campaign team had done their rally in this area.

    “They came to my house where PDP flag bearer, Kolapo Olusola’s billboards were and pulled everything down and tore other posters and bill boards. I didn’t say anything because our governor, Fayose, has told us not to retaliate anything the APC thugs did to us.

    “But later that day, while we were preparing to set up the canopy and chairs in our ward secretariat, I suddenly saw a Hilux vehicle full of men in police uniforms, they double-crossed my vehicle and came down to descend on me. They beat me with several weapons. And tied my hands. They also got three others and tied their hands.

    “The thugs who came with them threatened to kill me if I don’t support Fayemi. All they are trying to do is to make the state ungovernable and force the FG to impose state of emergency in Ekiti, because they know they have failed and cannot win the election.”

    Omotoso added: “These people planned to kill me on Thursday the 28th of June 2018 when they invaded my community, Oloje Ekiti with guns, amulets and charms on behalf of Dr Kayode Fayemi and searched for me at all cost during their ongoing blood laced political  rallies.

    “When they could not find me, their frustrations led to the total demolition of our party (PDP) secretariat in Ayede South Itaji Ward 10 of Oye Local Government.

    “Still unsatisfied, these thugs called in several armed mobile policemen tagged as “”Fayemi policemen” which unleashed mayhem on my people with impunity, shooting sporadically at innocent citizens, destroying many houses, looting with physical assaults on three High Chiefs who dared to asked them questions.

    “As I speak to you, the trio of High Chiefs Ejimoko, Afin and Alameiku were arrested and locked up overnight at the police headquarters in Ado for no reason.”

    But reacting, Fayemi’s campaign spokesman Olujobi, said: “I was in the same area with Omotoso and the PDP members mentioned on Thursday but there was nothing like such attacks in the place.

    “The PDP are just cooking up lies to blackmail Fayemi. Do you know what they did this morning. They branded vehicles with APC logo and went into the market to beat and maim people there and they were shouting all about that APC is killing and maiming people all about.

    “All those atrocities have been performed by PDP thugs, but they are turning around to blame it on APC. That is their stock in trade. We are very peaceful and Fayemi has no thugs that can hurt even a fly, not to tall of killing anybody.”

     

  • 2019: Atiku seeks support of Dickson, Bayelsa PDP members

    •PDP aspirant to restructure Nigeria

    FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday took his 2019 presidential ambition to Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson and members of the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Abubakar, who arrived at the State Government House in Yenagoa at about 12pm, presented a document he developed on restructuring, titled: “Restructuring as a pathway to unity and development in Nigeria”, to Dickson.

    The ex-vice-President’s delegation includes a former Ogun State governor Gbenga Daniels, the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godspower Orubebe among others.

    After a close-door meeting that lasted a few hours with the governor, Abubakar proceeded to the PDP secretariat, where a crowd of party supporters received him in a brief rally.

    Addressing the party faithful, he hailed Dickson for his developmental strides and thanked the people for allowing continuity and sticking with one party in the state.

    On continuity of governance, he said: “The last time I came here was several years ago. The changes l have seen in the state are monumental.

    “This is all because of you not because of one individual. You have been supporting this party since 1999 and what you are seeing today is as a result of your support and hard work.

    “Once you don’t change parties, you will see what is called good governance. Once you change from one party to another, this one will come, he will do this project and stop and another one will come and start another project and stop”.

    The former vice-president said he came back to the state to reconnect with the people and appealed to them to work with him to make the country like Bayelsa.

    Dickson described Atiku as a veteran in politics and insisted that the 2019 presidential election would be a referendum on restructuring.

    He called on PDP members nationwide to rise up to the challenge of taking power from the incumbent government.

    He said: “We have the challenge to take power from an incumbent administration and all of us know the nature and character of the government we are talking about.

    “I call for a rejection of a one-party dictatorship in the country. On behalf of our people, our position on restructuring, whether you call it true federalism etc. unless people want to be mischievous, they mean the same thing.

    In his remarks, Orubebe said Atiku would do for Ijaw and the Niger Delta what former President Goodluck Jonathan could not to do for them.

    Orubebe said Jonathan could not restructure the country in the interest of Ijaw and Niger Delta but that Atiku would undertake the task.

    He said the PDP was in need of a man like Atiku to win the election and advised the people to convince others to buy into the vision of Atiku.