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Tag: PDP

  • Barde wins Chikun/Kajuru Federal constituency in Kaduna

    The incumbent member representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal constituency, Rt. Hon. Umar Yakubu Barde has been reelected to represent his constituency for the fifth term.

    Hon. Barde of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who is the minority whip at the green chambers garnered total votes of 92,547 to defeat his closest opponent Barrister Bashir Yahaya Wushiri of APC who scored 34,022 and Ekene Abubakar Adams of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) who polled 16,813 votes.

    In the keenly contested election, Hon. Barde polled 69,416 votes in Chikun local government area and 23,131 votes in Kajuru local government area.

    Barrister Wushiri of the APC scored 23,505 votes in Chikun local government area and 10,517 in Kajuru local government area.

    Mr. Adams got 11,636 votes in Chukun local government area and 5,177 in Kajuru local government area.

    Announcing the result at the collation centre at Kujama headquarters of Chikun local government area of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office, Professor Emmanuel Bamidele from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, said, “Yakubu Umar Barde haven satisfied and scored the highest votes cast is hereby declared winner and returned elected.”

  • PDP wins AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency

    The immediate past chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Micah Jiba has been declared winner of the AMAC/Bwari federal constituency in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The returning officer Prof. Rebecca Wusa Ndana declared Micah Jiba of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) winner of House of Representatives elections in the constituency after he polled a total vote of 174,377.

    The candidate of All Peoples Congress (APC) polled 82,761 votes.

    AMAC/Bwari is one of the two House of Representatives seats in the FCT.

  • Dickson, APC leaders’ trade words on electoral violence, killings 

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, Monday accused leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of masterminding the killings and other forms of violence that occurred in the state during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Briefing journalists in Government House, Yenagoa, Dickson lamented that at least three persons, one in Nembe-Bassambiri and two in Southern Ijaw, were killed with many people across the state sustaining injuries.

    The visibly angry governor alleged that security agencies especially troops of the Nigerian Army, colluded with the APC leaders to kill the victims, who were members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Read Also:Lokpobiri to Dickson: stop linking us to electoral violence

    He said thugs loyal to APC unleashed mayhem on polling units across the state under the watch of soldiers adding that troops were responsible for the act of terrorism against innocent voters by thugs.

    The governor particularly accused a former Governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, a surveillance contractor, a former National Deputy Publicity Secretary, APC, Yekini Nabena and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof. Nelson Brambaifa, of leading assaults against voters in the state.

    He alleged that Sylva and the surveillance contractor in connivance with soldiers unleashed pre-election violence on Nembe-Bassambiri by shooting into the community throughout Friday night.

    He said the shooting continued in the morning while thugs loyal to them abducted INEC officials and took them to a hotel where they thumb-printed all the ballot papers meant for the seven wards in Nembe-Bassambiri.

    He said INEC in the state had done nothing about it despite text messages sent to the Resident Electoral Commissioner by one of the INEC officials abducted by the thugs.

    The governor alleged that the APC was making efforts to transmit “the unlawful results” to the INEC and appealed to the commission to reject the overtures since according to him no elections held in Nembe-Bassambiri.

    He asked the people of Nembe-Bassambiri to rise against the development and promised to lead a protest against attempts to subvert and undermine the will of the people.

    The governor further alleged that Brambaifa came with about 50 soldiers to disrupt elections in Agbere, adding that they deliberately scattered all the votes when they saw they were losing.

    Dickson claimed that Nabena was arrested with arms at Odi by soldiers but was later released after security agencies received orders from above.

    He said: “I am telling the people of Bassambiri not to accept this and they have my support. Bassambiri has to be freed. I am calling on the leaders of Bassambiri not to allow this nonsense to persist in that proud land. For us we will not accept this.

    “I have had cause to issue several statements on this. I will lead demonstrations and protests aimed at vindicating the democratic rights of the people of Bassambiri. I shall do so. I call on the REC to drop his lilly-liver and wear the garb of an electoral umpire in the state.

    “Because if you allow Sylva to take several electoral materials, lock the place down by force of illegal arms with soldiers and others conniving with them, then what you are telling politicians is that votes are not important”.

    He said there were efforts by thugs loyal to the APC to storm the Sagbama collation centre and manipulate the results in his local government areas.

    On the killings, he promised to set up a judicial commission of enquiries to look into the roles played by leaders and security agencies in the elections.

    But he added: “A preliminary report that I have indicated that they were killed by soldiers. They were not killed by thugs. The chieftain of our party who was in house waiting for the results to be collated and announced but an APC leader who had access to solders went and pointed at them and they just shot them.

    “I believe that the full circumstances will be unraveled. But I feel very sad. Nobody should die in an election. If you defeat my candidate, I will even congratulate you. We are not enemies to kill ourselves. It’s so sad.”

    The governor, however, praised the electoral process in Brass and Ekeremor, saying for the first time in the history of the state, the people were allowed to cast their votes in peaceful atmosphere.

    In their reactions Brambaifa and Nabena denied the allegations against them by the governor saying they were never in breach of the electoral process.

    Nabena said he was never arrested with arms and asked the governor and other persons making the allegations to present the weapons found on him by security agents.

  • Kano: Gaya, Jibrin retain senatorial seats

    Two incumbent Senators from Kano state have retained their seats following their victory in the Saturday’s National Assembly elections.

    The two Senators are: Sen. Barau Jibril-Maliya representing Kano North Senatorial district and Sen. Kabiru Gaya, who is representing Kano South Senatorial district.

    Announcing the results of National Assembly elections, the returning officer for Kano North Senatorial district, Prof. Ali Tijjani-Abdullahi said on Monday that the APC senatorial candidate, Barau Jibril-Maliya scored 286,419 votes to defeat the PDP candidate, Alhaji Ahmed Garba-Bichi, who polled 155, 638 votes.

    Read Also: Senators who won’t be in the 9th assembly

    Similarly, the returning officer for Kano South Senatorial district, Prof. Ibrahim Barde of the Bayero University Kano declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Kabiru Gaya as the winner of the election in the Kano South Senatorial seat.

    Barde said Gaya secured 319,004 votes to defeat the PDP candidate, Alhaji Abdullahi Sani-Rogo who got 217,520 votes.

    Meanwhile, the collation of results for the Kano Central Senatorial zone is ongoing at the collation Centre.

  • Atiku maintains lead in 18 Adamawa LGAs

    The results of the presidential election in three more LGAs in Adamawa State have been announced with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar maintaining the lead.

    Atiku had been in the lead since about 9am on Monday when results of 15 LGAs were released.

    But more results have since been announced from three more LGAs namely Song, Fufore and Gombi, bringing to 18 the total number of LGAs where results have been announced since the collation exercise started Sunday evening.

    Read Also: Atiku leads Adamawa’s 15th LGA result

    Atiku has a total of 349,690 votes from the 18 LGAs while Buhari has 338,926 votes.

    In the latest results Atiku polled 22,648 votes in Song, 16,430 in Fufore and 18,172 in Gombi while Buhari polled 17,350 votes in Song, 29,507 in Fufore and 12,805 in Gombi.

    The Presidential Collation Centre in Yola adjourned sitting to 2pm after announcing the Gombi LGA result with pending results from the remaining Michika, Jada and Toungo LGAs.

  • Buhari wins Nasarawa for the first time

    President Muhammadu Buhari has won Nasarawa state for the first time since 2003 defeating Alhaji Atiku Abubakar by 37,896 votes.

    Results collated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lafia shows that President Buhari polled 279,315 votes to defeat Atiku who polled 241,419 votes.

    Buhari won in eight local governments while Atiku won in five local governments marking the first time the Peoples Democratic Party has lost Nasarawa state in a presidential election since then return to democracy in 1999.

    Read Also: Buhari leads in five local governments in Edo

    The president got his highest number of votes in Lafia, the state capital, where he polled 55,254, while Atiku got his highest votes in Karu local government after polling 49,292.

  • ‘PDP will bounce back in Imo’

    Alphosus Gerald Irona is the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State. In this interview with CHINYERE OKOROAFOR, he speaks about the readiness of the party for the March 9 election, why an Oguta indigene was considered for the ticket and what he would contribute to the position, if the party wins the contest.

    YOU are the first Oguta indigene to contest for an executive position in Imo State. What does it mean to you?

    I see it as a challenge and a call to service to good development. Orlu zone has produced the governor for the past 16 years. Now, we are craving for a power shift to Owerri zone and the governorship candidate was magnanimous enough to con cede the position of the running mate to Orlu zone. I was among the few people that were considered. Based on certain criteria, I was nominated as the running mate. So, first of all, it is a vote of confidence on me. It is also a vote of confidence on my area that we can deliver, because you can’t give such a position to an area you consider to be weak. So, to me, it is a call to service and challenge, considering the fact that our area is the only area that produces oil in Imo State. Our area has also consistently delivered for the PDP in all elections since 1999. So, it is a part of the reward from the party to consider an indigene of Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta and Orlu West in particular and Orlu zone in general for the job.

    Do you have any previous experience in politics?

    My service to my people started with my two term role as a councillor in Oguta Local Government. From there, I became the state secretary of the then APP now NNPP. In 1999, I contested for the state constituency from 1999 to 2003. After that role, I served as a transition chairman of Oguta Local Government from 2003 to 2004. From 2004, I contested for the seat of the chairman of Oguta Local Government and succeeded. I was unopposed and therefore was unanimously adopted by all the political parties. I also represented Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta/Orlu West Federal Constituency at the National Assembly from 2011 to 2015. After one term I became the Deputy National Financial Secretary of the PDP. This was my last post before I emerged as the running mate to Hon. Emeka Ihedioha. When I was in the House of Representatives, I championed the exclusion of Imo State from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). I moved a motion on the floor of the House, calling on the then President Olusegun Obansanjo to include Imo and Abia in the NDDC. I made efforts to call for Oguta meeting. Led by Senator Arthur Nzeribe, some prominent Oguta indigenes, such as Barrister Eze Uyimadu, Ogbuage Oputa Iworisha, among others, joined me to demonstrate at the National Assembly. After this protest, Imo State and Oguta community became part of the NDDC and Hon. Tony Okenwa was nominated to represent us in the NDDC. I want to place it on record that I have never executed or benefitted from the NDDC until today. You will agree with me that there was a time Senator Arthur Nzeribe nominated me as an NDDC Commissioner. But I declined and I was asked to nominate someone else for the job. Subsequently, I nominated Ikechukwu Akeru to represent Imo and Oguta community in the board of the NDDC. Throughout my political career, I have never been indicted, either by my people or the EFCC. I couldn’t have achieved all these without a man I considered as my father, as my mentor and as my leader in the person of Senator Arthur Francis Nzeribe.

    What is your relationship with the governorship candidate, Ihedioha? 

    We are just party colleagues. He is someone I respect so much. We have a cordial relationship.

    How prepared is the PDP to challenge APC, APGA, and AA in the election?

    Power is not given; you only negotiate for power or you take power. We are determined to take over Imo State through democratic means, because the APC has failed the people of Imo State in particular and Nigerians in general. The indices are there to judge. The people of Imo are asking for an alternative and the only credible one is the PDP. It was only the PDP that conducted credible primary, not only in Imo State, but in Nigeria in general. From the state constituency primary, the House of Representatives primary, senatorial primary, governorship and the national convention, the exercise was free and fair. They were transparently done. We have a rebranded PDP where the talk of the day is the performance.

    What difference would PDP government make when elected?

    PDP government is going to do things in a different way. We are going to be accountable to the electorate. We believe in the rule of law and we are going to follow due process. Our cardinal principle is the rule of law. We will govern transparently and we will be accountable to the people. How can we be transparent and follow due process?

    We are going to domesticate the Due Process Act in Imo State. A situation where government awards contract for a road will not be the order of the day. We are also going to domesticate the Public Procurement Act. In the Public Procurement Act, there are processes to award a contract in government in order to be accountable. We are going to domesticate the Freedom of Information Act, so that Imo people can ask questions.

    What should Imo people expect from the PDP, if voted in?   

    The primary responsibility of every government is to protect lives and properties. We are going to protect the lives of the citizens, because they mean a lot to us. We are going to ensure that our people have access to qualitative education. We are going to ensure that there will be an enabling environment for people to relax. We are going to develop the tourism sector. We have a rich manifesto, which outlines our plan for the growth of Imo State. We have a clear cut definition of what we are going to do. We are not only going to revive education, we will ensure that technical education is given priority. Within the first 100 days in office, we are going to make sure that money meant for technical colleges are channeled towards developing the sector. We shall consider building additional technical colleges. When some people graduate, they go to look for a hand work to do. So, we are going to provide opportunities for our people to fully develop their potentials. Everybody cannot do a white collar job. There are people that are talented. Talking about tourism, Oguta Lake is one of the areas that will be revived. It should be a tourism hub and the present government has not done anything to revive it. Oguta golf course has also been abandoned.

    You said Senator Nzeribe is your political mentor. What can you say you have learnt from him?

    A lot! I learnt to negotiate and to recognise when to fight and when to retreat. He also taught me how to invest resources.

    How prepared is the PDP to take over Imo State in the coming election?

    What we had in Oguta before is the PDP and the APC, but as I am talking to you, the APC has split into three in Oguta. But in Ohaji/Egbema, it is the Action Alliance (AA) party that is on the ground. The APC is not prepared for election; they are banking on rigging, because they are not campaigning.

     

  • PDP plotting to declare Atiku winner of election, says APC

    •Party seeks Buba Galadima’s arrest
    •’Plot to alter S’East, S’South results uncovered’

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council yesterday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and other relevant security agencies to activate the provisions of the law on non-official declaration of results.

    It alleged that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its agents have completed plans to declare Atiku Abubakar as the winner of Saturday’s presidential election without waiting for INEC.

    The Council, in a statement by its spokesman, Festus Keyamo, said the opposition plans to create confusion that would trigger pockets of protests by hired thugs across the country in other to attract the sympathy of the international community.

    Keyamo said, as part of the plot, a video recording has already been made by one of the PDP campaign spokespersons, Buba Galadima, announcing Atiku as the winner of the election.

    Calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Galadima, the APC campaign council urged Atiku to say something on the alleged video by Galadima.

    Also yesterday, the Central Working Committee of APC Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team raised the alarm over alleged plans by the opposition to instigate violence in the Southeast and Southsouth so as to use that as cover to alter the election result figures from the two geo-political zones.

    Keyamo’s statement reads: “Devastated by authentic results filtering out of polling units nationwide, our usual sources within the camp of the PDP have informed us that an emergency meeting of the main opposition party has been summoned for today somewhere in Abuja.

    “Top on the agenda of the PDP is to activate the last strand of their Dubai strategies that have since collapsed like a pack of cards: they plan to release fake results of the presidential selection later today or early Monday morning that they claim to have compiled themselves.

    “Our information is that they aim to create crises and confusion that will lead to Atiku claiming victory in a day or two from today ahead of the official announcement of the results by INEC. Then, what would follow will be some carefully choreographed protests by pockets of hoodlums in some parts of the country. The ultimate aim is to curry the sympathy of our foreign friends and push us to the Venezuela situation.

    “Our call is, therefore, to INEC, Nigeria Broadcasting Commission and all law-enforcement agencies to continually warn the PDP and all their surrogates like the amorphous Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and their likes that anyone, who flouts the law on announcement of official results will be made to face the law. Opposition does not confer immunity on anyone to flout the law.

    “In preparation for this reckless move, some PDP social media agents are already flying some kites online as to the number of states allegedly ‘won’ by PDP. In fact, Galadima, an official spokesperson for Atiku, has made a short video announcing PDP as the ‘winner’ of the presidential election.

    “As an official spokesperson, he is clearly acting on behalf of Atiku and on his instruction. We, therefore call for the immediate arrest, interrogation and prosecution of Galadima in this regard. The world is watching and waiting on Atiku to say something on the video by Galadima.

    “Consequently, we urge all well-meaning Nigerians, the international community and even reasonable members of the opposition not to be bought by these cheap antics of the PDP. Let’s restrain our wards from being used by these unscrupulous elements. Nigeria will continue to exist after this election.”

    Addressing a news conference in Abuja yesterday, chairman of the campaign committee, Gen. Buba Marwa, called on security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be vigilant and prevent such moves.

    He said: “We will like to draw attention to the fact that there are plans afoot for massive manipulation of results by the opposition in the Southeast and Southsouth through the unleashing of violence from tonight onwards with a view to altering election results by using total registered voters instead of accredited voters to change the final result figures.

    “We, therefore, urge security agencies and INEC to monitor this information very closely and act swiftly to forestall this nefarious intention. As we await the final outcome that will surely confirm the re-election of President Buhari, let us all keep our eyes on the ball, follow the collation process closely and remain steadfast until the whole exercise is concluded in our favour.”

    Expressing optimism that the final results will favour President Buhari and the APC, Marwa hailed the campaign team to the President, his wife and other party leaders for their support and encouragement throughout the duration of the campaign.

    He added: “While we await the verdict of history, may I on behalf of the Central Working Committee of our campaign team thank our members, coordinators and full structures, canvassers, door-to-door mobilisers and millions of patriots for their uncommon commitment and efforts towards the success of the President Muhammadu Buhari re-election project. I want to put it on record that your selfless labour has made all the difference in the outcome of the election, which no doubt will be in our favour by the grace of God.

     

  • PDP insists on results from polling units, alleges plots to alter election results

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted on the official release of results already delivered at the various polling units for its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

    A statement last night by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, cautioned that any figure, except what was declared and collated from the polling units, would not be accepted.

    The PDP further alleged that the Buhari Presidency has been mounting pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and dispatching officials to change results in Rivers, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Kogi, Bauchi, Cross River, Borno, Yobe and Edo states among others, in a frenzy to allocate fictitious figures for President Buhari.

    It said: “Pathetically, the Buhari Presidency is also threatening the Southeast state governors to change results and carve a 25 per cent for Mr. President, a scheme that has already failed.

    “In Bauchi state, we are aware of the plots to move thump-printed ballot papers and fabricated results from Bauchi to Dass Local Government Area to upturn PDP’s victory in the results already delivered and announced at the polling units in the area.

    “This is why the electoral officials have been delaying moving the results for final collation and announcement. If this plot fails, the APC plans to void the results for Dass.

    “In spite of all these, our party assures Nigerians that the hope for a new government led by Atiku Abubakar, is already manifest.”

    “Our agents and indeed, Nigerians, already have the results as delivered at the polling units and are not ready to accept anything to the contrary. President Buhari and the APC should therefore quietly come to terms with the fact that they have been defeated.

    “The PDP therefore cautions INEC to respect the laws and electoral guidelines by upholding and declaring results from the polling units as expressed by Nigerians on Saturday.”

  • PDP to INEC: declare Atiku winner of presidential election

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately announce results as delivered from the polling units and declare its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, the winner of Saturday’s presidential election.

    The party said its position is predicated on clear and verifiable results across the nation, showing that Atiku Abubakar is in clear lead both in spread and total number of votes cast.

    In a statement yesterday by its spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said intelligence available to it showed that INEC was delaying the announcement of results following directives by the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    According to the main opposition party, the delay was a ploy to alter the figures from the polling centres and allocate fictitious figures for President Muhammadu Buhari, particularly in the northern states.

    The statement reads: “Curiously, INEC server is now shut down, results are no more being transmitted and the reason is to enable the APC to inflate figures from six designated states.

    “We call on international observers and election monitors to insist on a transparent process of transmission of results and the monitoring thereof.

    “We already have reports of how APC governors in the northern states have been making desperate effort to tamper with the results of the elections in their respective states with the view to awarding conjured votes to President Buhari.

    “In Kogi State, Governor Yahaya Bello has been making frantic moves to change results to suit APC’s intent and purposes as against the wishes of the people, expressly delivered at the polls.

    “Nigerians already know how the Minister of Transportation and the Director-General of the Buhari Campaign, Rotimi Amaechi, used the military to hold an INEC official in River State, Mrs. Mary Efeturi, hostage and insisted that she will not be released until she alters the results in favour of President Buhari.

    “The PDP calls on INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to note that in this age of Information Communication Technology, Nigerians already have the results as delivered at the polling centres and any attempt to alter any figure will be faced with vehement resistance.

    “In delaying the announcement of the results, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu is allowing the APC to turn him into a villain and directly pitching him against the people.”

    The PDP urged the INEC chair to extricate himself from the grip of the APC and be on the side of the people, by immediately announcing the results as already delivered at the polling units and declare Atiku Abubakar winner.

    It insisted that “anything short of this will not be acceptable to Nigerians, who had already expressed their wishes and aspiration at the polls”.