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  • JUST IN: Police fire tear gas, disperse crowd at PDP secretariat

    JUST IN: Police fire tear gas, disperse crowd at PDP secretariat

    Police operatives fired tear gas at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat to disperse a crowd of supporters gathered at the Wadata Plaza as the struggle for control of the party heats up. 

    The incident happened as the Senator Anyanwu-led group tried to stop Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo) from accessing the Secretariat. 

    Anyanwu’s men, who are fully in charge at the Secretariat and decide who enters and doesn’t, were heard describing the Governors as impostors  who must not be allowed into the NEC/ BoT meeting

    Details Shortly…

  • PDP cautions on ‘security siege’ to Bayelsa

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the federal government over what it described as the continued onslaught and security siege to Bayelsa State.

    Warning that the development, if not checked, could spell doom for the nation, the opposition party flayed the posting of eight Commissioners of Police to the state in a space of three months.

    Read Also:Uzodinma is PDP’s mole, says Okorocha

    At a media briefing at the PDP secretariat on Friday, spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, alleged that the move was meant to forcefully take over the control of Bayelsa by the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    “It is no longer news that the APC, for obvious reasons, is bent on forcefully taking over the control of oil rich Bayelsa and other littoral states, for which it now seeks to turn them into theaters of war, with the support of certain individuals in control of federal apparatus of power.

    “Today, the PDP and the people of Bayelsa state are being pushed to the wall as with the on-going plot by the APC and the Buhari Presidency to bully the people of Bayelsa and politically annex the state, by the use of crude force”, Ologbondiyan said.

    The party alleged plots to use security agencies, particularly the police to browbeat the people, foist a siege mentality on the state, trigger confusion and violence; then create an impression of security emergency.

    This, according to Ologbondiyan, was with a view to using such as justification for a coordinated invasion, attack and annexing of political structures of the state for President Buhari and the APC ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Ologbondiyan continued, “In the bid to forcefully seize control of Bayelsa state, the APC is attempting to convert the Police into its violent militant wing, leading to the violation of rules of engagement and putting security agencies on collision course with the people despite its potential bloody consequences.

    “It may interest Nigerians to know that, in its desperation, the APC has directly influenced the Inspector General of Police into posting eight different Commissioners of Police to Bayelsa state within the space of the last three months just to destabilise the state.

    “Some of the Police Commissioners spent less than a week before being pulled out of the state by the police authorities that have unfortunately acceded to the demands of the APC on the deployment of police chiefs to Bayelsa State.

    “This alarming change of guards of Police hierarchy in Bayelsa state is part of the devious plot to compromise the security architecture of the state, orchestrate security uncertainty, instill fear and siege mentality on residents and then seize the political structure in the state so as to pave way for massive rigging for President Buhari and the APC in the 2019 general elections”.

    The opposition party spokesman said the PDP was privy to information that some of the Police Commissioners were changed for refusing to infiltrate the firm resolve of the people to remain peaceful and determinedly supportive of the PDP controlled administration in the state.

    The party also said it was aware of series of meetings in Abuja involving certain cabinet ministers, two particular Presidency aides, some APC leaders, some top security officers and certain “compromised” officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including a close relative of President Buhari, where plots to destabilise Bayelsa State were hatched and orders given to the police to that effect.

    Stating that the PDP was in possession of documentary evidence of the said meetings, the party said it would not hesitate to make them public if the APC failed to steer clear of Bayelsa State.

    Continuing, Ologbondiyan said, “The fact remains that the APC knows that it cannot win any election in Bayelsa State as well as other littoral states or any PDP state for that matter. As such, it believes that the only way for them is to use security agencies to frighten Nigerians and break their resolve ahead of the 2019 polls.

    “However, let it be known to the APC, the Buhari Presidency and their compromised security personnel that their assault on Bayelsa will definitely attract very terrible consequences, as it will be firmly resisted by the people, head to head, with every means available, accessible and implementable in the defence of democracy.

    “Bayelsa remains a stronghold of the PDP and this fact is known to all. The Buhari Presidency and the APC should recall that they tried to forcefully take over the state in 2016 with their ‘penetration plan’ but failed woefully.

    “Bayelsa has not altered its status as a stronghold of the PDP and any attempt to disrupt this order has the capacity to trigger a crisis that is capable of sinking our nation’s economic mainstay”.

    The opposition party pointed out that Bayelsa state is at the epicenter of all the oil producing strongholds in the Niger Delta region.

    It added that the security siege to the state has triggered unprecedented anxiety and anger across all interests in the Niger Delta region and warned that an imminent collective response by the citizens to defend the state might come with serious costs to the national economy.

    “As we all know, Section 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) amply provided that no person shall take control of the government of our nation or any part thereof, except in accordance with the democratic provisions of the law. Therefore, we are not ready, in any way, to cede this statutory provision to anybody no matter the threats.

    “Nigerians and the international community appreciate the effort of the Government of Bayelsa State under Governor Seriake Dickson in ensuring the peace and security of the oil producing state.

    “Such should be encouraged to consolidate instead of this unrelenting plot by the Buhari Presidency and the APC to use the police to instigate insecurity and violence.

    “Nigerians must note that our country cannot survive another unrest in the Niger Delta, especially when our security agencies are grappling with the worsening insurgency in the North East and prevailing daily violence and bloodletting in various parts of the country.

    “The PDP as a patriotic party therefore calls on all Nigerians and the global community to join in cautioning the Buhari Presidency and the APC not to set our nation on fire with their inordinate ambition.

    “Instead of resorting to violence, rigging and seeking forceful control, the APC should rather use the remaining days of its fading administration to make restitutions and seek for forgiveness for all their atrocities and misrule, leading to the economic disaster and daily bloodletting which Nigerians have been painfully suffering in the last three and half years.

    “The PDP therefore cautions INEC officials and all security operatives, particularly the police, not to allow the rejected and discredited APC to set them on collision course with Nigerians, as such may not augur well with them, both as institutions and individuals.

    “Furthermore, our party calls on all well-meaning Nigerians to raise their voices and counsel the Inspector General of Police to tread cautiously and protect his office from politicisation. A word is enough for the wise”.

  • Tight security as Sheriff resumes at PDP secretariat

    Tight security as Sheriff resumes at PDP secretariat

    There was tight security yesterday at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff resumed duties.
    Police and the Nigerian Civil and Security Defence Corps (NCSDC) personnel took position within and outside the secretariat building, while some took positions in adjoining streets.
    An operation truck belonging to the NCSDC was used to block the road leading to the main gate of the secretariat, forcing motorists to divert to only one of the dual carriage way in front of the building.
    One of the police officers told our correspondent that they were mobilised to provide security at the secretariat since Monday and that they were there to prevent the breakdown of law and order.
    Sheriff, who arrived the secretariat about mid-day, was accompanied by his appointed Deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh; National Auditor, Adewole Adeyanju; Imo Senator, Hope Uzodinma; and a retinue of aides.
    He was on hand to receive a group of party women from Imo State who came to pay a solidarity visit.
    The women, adorned in attire with Uzodinma’s portrait, chanted praises of Sheriff and Uzodinma throughout their meeting with the party chairman.
    Sheriff assured the visiting women of a more organised PDP under his leadership, saying that his mission was to return the party to the grassroots, particularly the women and the youths.
    Workers at the secretariat however stayed away, apparently in solidarity with the rival Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee.

  • PDP Secretariat’s workers protest redundancy

    PDP Secretariat’s workers protest redundancy

    •Senate Minority Whip: party’s crisis ’ll be over soon

    WORKERS at the national secretariat of the crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have pleaded with the judiciary to expedite action on the various intra-party cases pending before the Court of Appeal.
    Protesting under the auspices of the PDP Staff Welfare Forum at the party’s secretariat yesterday, the workers pleaded with the judiciary to save the country from degenerating into a one party state.
    The workers’ secretary, Mr. Dan Ochu Baiye, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, lamented continued redundancy of the party’s workforce since the leadership crisis erupted in May, last year.
    The secretariat has since been locked on the orders of the police. They attributed the development to the endless petitions by the factional chairman of the PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff.
    According to them, the petitions by Sheriff amounted to delay tactics by his camp to pervert justice.
    Baiye said: “The delay is only beneficial to the petitioner, who is being sponsored by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to weaken and silence the only opposition party.
    “The staff of the PDP national secretariat holds the judiciary in high esteem and believe in it to remain unbiased and dispense justice that will maintain the sanctity and independence of the rule of law and the courts.”
    The workers also decried the continued shutdown of the party’s national secretariat by the Police, saying that the situation suggested that certain elements want to ensure that the secretariat was perpetually under lock and key.
    The workers demanded the immediate and unconditional reopening of the secretariat to allow them to enter their offices for official duties.
    They described the shut down as arbitrary, saying the police authorities shut down the secretariat without orders of any competent court in the land.
    “It is only fair and just for the staff to be allowed into their legitimate offices while the police are duty bound to provide adequate security for them as provided by the Nigerian Constitution”, the workers said.
    The protesting workers called on the party organs and stakeholders to urgently support the Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee in its efforts to resolve the crisis.
    They hailed the National Caretaker Committee for its efforts so far and condoled with the families of members that lost their lives during the period of the crisis.
    But Senate Minority Whip, Senator Biodun Olujimi, has expressed optimism that the factional crisis rocking the party would be resolved by March to reposition it ahead of the 2019 general elections.
    Mrs. Olujimi, who represents Ekiti South in the Upper Chamber, expressed confidence that the PDP would win next year’s governorship poll in Ekiti State, maintaining that the party remains “the most popular in the state”.
    She spoke yesterday in her hometown, Omuo Ekiti, East Local Government Area after distributing New Year gifts to the people of the senatorial district.
    On the polarisation of the PDP in the state with the governorship election barely over one year away, Mrs. Olujimi said the issue could be traced to the situation of the party at the centre.
    The former Ekiti State Deputy Governor noted that the moment the factional crisis is resolved at the national level, peace and unity would return to the local chapter.
    The senator was confident that the factional crisis, which contributed to the party’s loss in the Ondo State governorship election, won’t repeat itself in Ekiti in the 2018 poll.

  • Makarfi takes charge at PDP secretariat

    Makarfi takes charge at PDP secretariat

    It’s a charade, it can’t stand, says Sheriff

    Sheriff yesterday described the action as a charade, which he chose to ignore – in deference to subsisting court orders. He accused Makarfi and the party chiefs of acting in breach of the court orders.
    Insisting that he remained the party chairman, Sheriff said Secondus or any other person never got his mandate to act on his behalf by handing over to Makarfi.
    In a statement issued by Sheriff’s Media Adviser, Mr. Inuwa Bwala, the former Borno State governor described the exercise as an act of impunity, which is null and void.
    The statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to the activities at the National Secretariat of the PDP to the effect that some individuals masquerading as leaders have handed over to Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi under a contraption called ‘caretaker committee’.
    “We state as a matter of fact that going by proceedings still pending in the courts to the effect that Senator Ali Sheriff remains the National Chairman, whatever transpired was null, void and of no effect whatsoever.
    “Sheriff has not mandated anybody, nor was his authority obtained by Uche Secondus, who has been parading himself as acting on behalf of the National Chairman.
    “While we await the verdicts of the courts, we wish to state that Senator Ali Modu Sheriff remains the National Chairman of the party, until otherwise declared by the courts.
    “We allowed the charade to go on at the secretariat without any form of challenge in strict obedience to careful pronouncement on the matter. But we must also state that there is no gathering of groups or individuals, however powerful such groups or individuals may be, that can be said to take precedence over the law.
    “For the avoidance of doubts, we state categorically that what took place at the PDP secretariat on Tuesday June 7, 2016 was a total disregard to court orders.
    “And an extension of the impunity of which the party has been accused and which has taken the party to where it is today. The public should disregard all the actions and pronouncements”.

    After more than two weeks of inertia, key organs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday handed  over its affairs to the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee.

    By that gesture, the committee is expected to organise a national convention where officials will be picked to run the affairs of the party for the next four years.

    The exercise was in defiance of subsisting court orders that emanated from Port Harcourt and Lagos, restraining the Makarfi-led committee and the deposed party chair, Ali Modu Sheriff, from exercising the right of leadership of the party.

    This prompted the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), last week, to assume responsibility for running its affairs, pending the election of new executives.

    The BoT chairman, Walid Jibrin, had attributed the action to the subsisting court orders against Makarfi and Sheriff.

    Jibrin said: “Nobody has taken the BoT to court. Today, the BoT remains the only legal body that is not in court with anybody, and that is why we are here to play our role.

    “We are here to perform our duty according to the PDP constitution, hoping that our problems will soon be resolved.”

    Jibrin and his fellow BoT members were active participants at the event where Makarfi was officially recognised as the party’s interim administrator.

    Conveners of yesterday’s event were however silent on the court orders. Makarfi’s installation was similarly approved by governors elected on the party’s platform, the National Assembly caucus and other stakeholders.

    Judging by the body language of the party chiefs, the exercise signified the final exit rites for Sheriff who is still fighting his unceremonious removal through the courts.

    Sheriff stayed away from the event. Party chiefs explained away his absence, saying he had travelled out of the country.

    Former Deputy National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus performed the hand-over ceremony, which received a resounding applause from the party chiefs.

    Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, who spoke on behalf of other governors, said his colleagues decided to back Makarfi because his committee was properly constituted in accordance with the party’s constitution.

    He urged aggrieved members to explore the available dispute resolution options within the party to iron out their grievances.

    The governor regretted that the Civil Society Organisations that used to be vocal under the PDP-led Federal Government have withdrawn into their shells as if all is well with the nation.

    “In the absence of strong Civil Society Organistaions, we are determined to provide vibrant and purposeful opposition to the present administration,” the governor said.

    He stressed the need for the Federal Government to engage the various militia groups in constructive dialogue instead of confrontation. According to him, that was how the PDP-led administration handled the situation.

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu restated the party’s resolve to throw the two members of the House of Representatives who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last week out of their seats.

    “We will do everything under the sun to get them out of the National Assembly . This is no time for gamblers. We are going to replace them with genuine and committed PDP members,” the lawmaker said.

  • Why police cordorned off PDP’s office, by Arase

    Why police cordorned off PDP’s office, by Arase

    Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase has explained that he directed police deployment to secure the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Secretariat and protect the workers till the threat to internal security arising from the intra-party crisis is resolved.

    Arase said this in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by Olabisi Kolawole, an acting Commissioner of Police, who is the Force Public Relations Officer.

    The statement said the directive followed intelligence reports that some aggrieved factional leaders and members of PDP had perfected plans to engage thugs to threaten public peace and security in Abuja.

    It said the threat followed the on-going intra-party leadership crisis in the party and fallout of the political engagements of the party.

    The statement said the plan of the brains behind the development was to infiltrate Abuja and attack the national headquarters of PDP with intent to forcibly occupy the facility.

    “Towards perfecting this criminality, credible police sources confirm that the actors will mobilise into Abuja with effect from May 23 to march through major streets in Abuja before proceeding to the PDP Secretariat to manifest their intention,” it said.

    The statement added that the police action was a proactive initiative being emplaced in furtherance to its statutory mandate to prevent breakdown of law and order.

    It warned all actors in the crisis and their loyalists to refrain from any act that might threaten public order as the police would deal promptly, firmly and decisively with such persons or group.

    The PDP held parallel conventions in Port Harcourt and Abuja at the weekend.

  • CNPP condemns violence at Ekiti PDP secretariat

    •Party urges NSA’s intervention

    Ekiti State Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has condemned the violence that broke out last Friday at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    The umbrella body of registered political parties condemned what it called “raging political crisis rocking the PDP and the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC)”.

    It urged the two parties to lay good examples to other parties in resolving conflict, which it described as normal in the game of politics.

    The CNPP condemned the role played by the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES) in the crisis, accusing the state media of partisanship.

    Its spokesman, Kunle Omotayo, in a chat with The Nation yesterday, expressed shock over the violent dimension to the crisis.

    Omotayo said the CNPP viewed the crisis as “very unfortunate and undemocratic”.

    He urged players in the PDP imbroglio to embrace peace and not to allow the impasse to degenerate further.

    He said: “In the event of any conflict, there are constitutionally stipulated measures to resolve it instead of resorting to self-help. The CNPP is against anything that can lead to the breach of public peace.”