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Tag: PDP presidential candidate

  •  INEC chairman denies Atiku access to election materials, PDP alleges

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday accused the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, of refusing the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar access to election materials.

    The Court of Appeal had ordered INEC to allow Atiku’s lawyers inspect ballot materials used in the February 23 presidential election, in furtherance of the petition filed by the PDP candidate against President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election.

    However, in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said Yakubu and the leadership INEC have refused to obey the order of the appellate court, given on March 6, 2019.

    The PDP described INEC’s actions as deliberate and wicked ploy, accusing the electoral body of acting in cahoots with the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to frustrate the case.

    The main opposition party further said INEC’s action was meant to ambush the case, adding it’s a deliberate plot to knock Atiku off the timeline prescribed by law for the PDP and its candidate to file the case at the Tribunal.

    The statement said: “It is imperative to inform Nigerians that upon obtaining the lawful order of the Court, directing INEC to forthwith, avail Atiku Abubakar and the PDP copies of all the documents and other materials used for the Presidential election, our legal team wrote to the INEC Chairman on the 11th and 12th of March 2019 respectively, causing the Order to be served on INEC and requesting access to the said documents and materials.

    READ ALSO: APC, PDP take INEC to task

    “Despite being served with the Order and several follow-ups, the leadership of INEC has refused to grant the PDP and Atiku Abubakar access to the materials and documents, notwithstanding the urgency of the matter.

    “This action by the leadership of INEC has further exposed that it has been heavily compromised by the Buhari Presidency to rig the February 23, 2019 Presidential election and to frustrate the quest by Nigerians to reclaim the mandate from President Muhammadu Buhari and save the nation from the crisis of an illegitimate government.

    “The leadership of INEC and the APC are seeking to frustrate our court option, seeing that the documents and materials will expressly show that Atiku Abubakar clearly won the election by the votes directly delivered at the polling units across the country as well as expose how the commission and the Buhari Presidency manipulated the results for President Buhari.

    “The PDP cautions the INEC to note that Nigerians are now aware of its manipulative tendencies and that any further delay in granting access to the materials might attract public odium.

     

    “INEC should therefore end its unpatriotic partisan shenanigans with the APC and immediately obey the Court of Appeal and grant the PDP and Atiku Abubakar access to the documents and materials and free itself from unholy entanglement with the APC against Nigerians”.

     

     

  • NUPENG, PTD to Atiku: shelve legal action over poll

    The Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD), branch  of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers  (NUPENG), has appealed to the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to rescind his decision to contest the outcome of last weekend presidential election won by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    In the result announced by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Buhari, the APC candidate,  scored a total votes of  15, 191, 847 to defeat  Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who polled 11, 262, 978.

    The PDP candidate has since disclosed his intention to challenge the result of the election at the tribunal.

    But the  national chairman of the Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD),  branch of NUPENG, Otunba Oladiti Salimon,  urged the former vice- president to reverse his decision.

    Oladiti,  in a statement  in Abuja,  advised the main opposition party to take advantage of President Buhari’s pledge to run an inclusive government as very reassuring.

    The NUPENG boss expressed concern that threats in certain quarters to form a parallel government was inimical to peace and further admonished all political actors to work for national cohesion and unity.

    The statement reads in part:  “ The PTD hereby calls on the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to accept the results and accept the election of Muhammadu Buhari as the President. We further call on the PDP to take advantage of the president’s pledge to run an inclusive government. The union also condemns calls for  a parallel government or mobilisation of the masses for   disobedience to constituted authority.

    “We join other peace-loving Nigerians and friends of the country to call for unity, peace and order. We are also committed to the indivisibility of the country and dissociate ourselves from plans and orchestration to be used for violence or mass action.

    “ Consequently, we implore all losers, irrespective of their parties, to rein in their supporters and avoid circumstances in which they may resort to acts inimical to public safety.

    “We further urge such political players to use legal processes open to them as citizens to pursue their legitimate complaints relating to alleged infractions. We restate our confidence in the Nigerian judicial system and hope that it will serve as a neutral arbiter in the event that cases relating to the electoral exercise are brought before it.

    “Our constitution and the electoral act are clear on ways and means aggrieved persons can seek redress in situations they strongly believe that their chances to have won their positions were undermined.

    “We must be reminded that Nigeria is our only country. We must do all within our capacity to keep it peaceful. We will support efforts in this regard and once again persuade our political actors to work for national cohesion and unity.”

    The union called on President Buhari not to disappoint Nigerians who voted for him for a fresh mandate as it noted that the electorate were deserving of good governance in appreciation of their trust in his leadership.

    “We urge President Buhari not to fail Nigerians in his commitment to the common good for the greatest number of our people. It is that confidence in him  that has earned him their unwavering support despite the elite gang-up. He has not disappointed them.

    “A lot still needed to be done in the area of the provision  of critical infrastructure to stimulate economic growth, provision of jobs for the army of our unemployed youths and security of lives and property of the average Nigerian.”

  • Election: PDP advises Buratai not to drag Military into politics

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai not to drag the Military into politics.

    Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan gave the advice in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Ologbondiyan, who is also the Director, Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation urged Buratai to refrain himself from acts or actions that would suggest in any way that the military had become an arm of a political party.

    He said that Buratai’s allusion to the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar as well as his threats to officers and ranks to participate in the electoral process was an aberration of the laws.

    He said that Abubakar spoke on the side of the law and to respect the wishes of Nigerians so could not be intimidated by anybody.

    Ologbondiyan said that the loyalty of the military was to the state and that the president did not have the power to deploy soldiers for the conduct of elections.

    “Our party urges Gen. Buratai to concentrate on his very demanding assignment of protecting the territorial integrity of our nation and ending insurgency rather than dabbling into partisan politics at the risk of our national cohesion.”

    He said that the judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos on March 23, 2015, presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba, had directly outlawed the deployment of troops in the conduct of elections in the country.

    He also adviced the president to note the subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal, which on Feb. 15, held that the President had no powers to deploy soldiers in the conduct of elections.

    Ologbondiyan said that the courts had summarily dismissed the arguments that soldiers were needed to guarantee peaceful elections.

    “It may interest the President to know that the judgment was sequel to a suit filed by the APC Leader in the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, seeking a declaration that deployment of soldiers during elections is illegal and unconstitutional.

    “The court directly held that “the Armed Forces have no role in elections” and if soldiers must vote, they must do so in their barracks.”

    Ologbondiyan stressed the need not to corrupt the patriotism of the military and use them against innocent Nigerians, “whose only demand is for a free, fair and credible election”.

    He urged the international community to monitor the country’s electoral process. (NAN)

  • Atiku, Obasanjo owe Nigeria explanations on PTDF- Tinubu

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Tuesday said former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar owes Nigerians explanations on alleged mismanagement of the Petroleum Trust Development Funds (PTDF).

    Tinubu said Nigerians need explanation on alleged theft of millions of dollar belonging to the PTDF, which Atiku superintended over during the regime administration of Obasanjo.

    He said it would be a big mistake if Nigerians elect Atiku in the February 16 poll, saying he has nothing to offer other than to sell the nation’s commonwealth.

    According to him: “They want to come back and sell our commonwealth. They promised to create 2 million job for you, and nobody ask them how.

    “When you were there with Obasanjo how many jobs did you create? How many times did Obasanjo say Atiku stole PTDF’s money?

    “The answer he always gave was that his former boss too stole money. Is this the kind of person you want to vote for?”

    He added that PDP are responsible for the electricity estimated billing system “saying their actions to share the electricity company into Generation and DISCO caused the hike in the tariff estimated bill.

    “What is Atiku response and PDP? He said what is wrong if I share Nigeria resources with my friends? Is that what you want them to come back to do”?

    Tinubu, who added that President Buhari deserves reelection due to his sterling records in all sectors, said the President has revived the agriculture sector and sponsored anchored borrowers who have generated over 5.8 million jobs.

    He urged the Ekiti people to vote for massively for Buhari come February 16 to enjoy more the benefits of good governance so as witness a new lease of life.

    Buhari told the crowd of party supporters and admirers who thronged the 12,000 capacity Ekiti Parapo pavilion, Ado Ekiti, the State Capital, that fighting corruption in a nation like Nigeria was a difficult task.

    Buhari added he would never be dissuaded to rid the nation of graft in line with the promise he made in 2015 to sanitise the country.

    President Buhari said he was quite conscious of the promises he made while contesting four years ago, particularly the ones that have to do with corruption, insecurity and resuscitating the economy.

    “We are fighting corruption but it has not been easy. But we told the security agencies to keep watch and ensure that those who have cases to answer do not escape justice.

     “As part of our promises, we are building roads, rail lines, fighting corruption.

    “We introduced Treasury Single Account and increased power  supply so Nigerians can have their own businesses.”

  • Secondus alleges plots to arrest Atiku, Obi, Saraki, Dogara

    The national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has raised the alarm, alleging plots by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest some key leaders of the opposition party on trump up charges.

    Secondus listed the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar; his running mate, Peter Obi; President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and other leaders of the party as some of those marked for arrest.

    In a statement issued on Monday by Secondus media aide, Ike Abonyi, the party chairman warned that the country would explode any moment if the EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu continued with such impunity.

    Alleging plots to prefer frame up charges against the PDP chieftains, the main opposition party chairman further warned that the country is presently sitting on a gunpowder.

    Prince Secondus further cautioned the EFCC chairman, saying that he won’t get away with the hatchet job he has taken upon himself by using instruments of state to harass and intimidate opposition figures.

    Regretting that Magu has made himself a willing tool for oppression, Secondus said available intelligence indicated that the EFCC chairman was working in cahoots with some prominent chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “They are presiding over clandestine meetings and developing strategies for the APC, which is aimed at caging and crushing critical leaders of the opposition”, Secondus said.

    The party chairman said aside arrest and detention of the targeted opposition leaders, their family members and business associates have also been lined up for intimidation and harassment, including freezing their business interests and their bank accounts.

    He described as an afterthought fabrication, the EFCC’s statement that the two sons of Atiku, whose residence was raided by operatives on the Commission on Saturday, were not the target of the raid.

    Prince Secondus recalled the security search on Atiku on November 11, when he arrived in the country from Dubai, saying the country has gone into full blown dictatorship.

    “After that embarrassment and harassment which was aimed at intimidating the candidate and nothing incriminating was found on him, no apology was extended to him as a former number two citizen.

    “They followed it up with the freezing of the bank accounts of our vice presidential candidate as well as that of his friends and family members as part of a large scheme to keep the party distracted from its focus of regaining power in 2019”, the statement added.

    The PDP chairman said the script being played by the ruling party was meant to bring key opposition leaders to their knees, with a view to grounding them, framing them up and putting them behind bars before the 2019 elections.

    He called on all lovers of democracy and rule of law, especially the international community to rein in President Muhammadu Buhari, Magu and the APC to observe the tenets of democracy that respect the sanctity of the opposition and human rights.

     

  • Atiku to Reps: Why I want to contest

    …As lawmakers demand automatic return tickets

     

    The former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar met with members of the House of Representatives under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Thursday night in the National Assembly (NASS).

    The caucus was led by the Deputy Minority Leader, Chukwuka Onyema.

    The PDP presidential candidate used the opportunity to acquaint the members of reasons for his ambition.

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    The former Vice President personally distributed his letter of intent to each member of the caucus and some reformed All Progressives Congress (rAPC).

    The letter reads in part: “After thorough consultations with my families,  major stakeholders within man outside the party including party stalwarts, traditional and religious leaders, various youths and women groups, the civil society and the private sector; I , Atiku Abubakar, wishbone inform you about my aspiration for the exalted office of the President of Federal Republic of Nigerian under the flagship of People’s Democratic Party (PDP)

    “As stipulated by the Party constitution and guidelines for nomination, it is mandatory that we go through the process of presidential  party primary election.

    “It is in line with this that I wish to humbly solicit your votes during this all important process.

    “I am in no doubt that with your support, in will emerge victorious amongst other candidates at the forthcoming Presidential primary election.

    “Together, we can liberate, repair and refocus our country Nigeria. Together, we can put Nigeria back inbred right pedestal. Together, we can get Nigeria working again”.

    The Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Chukwuka Onyema who spoke on behalf of the Minority leader, Leo Ogor, appreciated the candidate for the interactive session.

    He appreciated the consultation with the caucus as being an important part of the process.

    He however reminded Abubakar how important an automatic return ticket is to all the lawmakers.

    Though some of the lawmakers that included reformed All Progressives Congress (rAPC) wanted to ask questions, Onyema prevailed on them to shelve the questions since further meetings would take place even outside the NASS complex.

    He said: “We are happy that you already know the importance of legislators coming back as many times as possible and seeing our former leader Abdul Ningi who does not follow anyone that is going to fail.

    “In our usual way, we will look at this, go over it and come up with one voice. Any decision we take, we go together and try as much as possible to earn 100 percent”.

    Atiku left while the lawmakers stayed behind for more deliberation where Onyema was heard stressing the importance of a united decision.