The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PDP

  • Atiku to complete abandoned Fed projects in Kogi, if…

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar has promised to complete abandoned federal projects in Kogi State, if elected in the February election.

    Atiku made the promise yesterday in Lokoja, the state capital, while addressing a crowd of party supporters at a rally.

    The PDP candidate also promised to create jobs and wealth for unemployed youths.

    He said his decision to contest the presidency was based on ordinary citizens.

    Atiku described Kogi as a beacon of hope and progress, which must be carefully managed.

    According to him, the state is endowed with abundant natural resources in commercial quantity waiting to be tapped to make Nigeria a truly industrialised nation.

    The PDP candidate assurance the workers and pensioners in the state that he would ensure prompt payment of their salaries and pensions from May 29, if elected.

    He condemned the detention of Senator Dino Melaye by the police and called for his immediate release.

    The Director-General of Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation and Senate President Bukola Saraki urged Nigerians to vote out the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next general elections.

    Saraki said Nigerians were not born to suffer, adding that Atiku, as an experienced businessman, would create jobs for Nigerians.

    Read also: Kwara marginalised under APC government, says PDP

    “Don’t be deceived, don’t be intimidated, don’t be afraid, stand for the truth and come out en masse to vote for our candidates in all the elections,” he said.

    Others speakers included former governors Ibrahim Idris, Idris Wada and PDP State Chairman Sam Uhuotu, who urged the people to vote for PDP candidates.

    Idris and Wada decried the state of things in the state and urged the people to vote out the APC.

    Others are: Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, a former deputy governor, Mr Patrick Adaba and former Minister of Police Affairs Brig.-Gen. David’s Jemibewon.

  • Kwara marginalised under APC government, says PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that Kwara State has not been fairly treated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the federal level.

    The party added that the APC government has denied the state of its legitimate entitlements in the scheme of things.

    Kwara State Coordinator of the Atiku/Obi Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr Ali Ahmad told reporters in Ilorin, the capital, at the official opening of the state office, that the APC candidates do not deserve the votes of Kwarans.

    Ahmad, who is the Speaker of the House of Assembly said: “Why will any Kwaran not vote for the party that has demonstrated it can provide the much needed job to our teeming youth by promising that 40 percent of his appointments will be populated by the youth? Today, about 9,300,000 school children are said to be fed every day across the country under one of their opaque programmes, there is not a single pupil from Kwara state that currently benefits.

    “Will you not vote for Atiku/Obi who will reverse this trend within their first 100 days? Of course, Kwara enjoys no special privilege from this administration, we expected that. What we did not envisage is denial of Kwara and Kwarans our legitimate entitlements. So many examples are out there, but one will suffice. Federal commissionership at the Federal Civil Service Commission is alternated on a five year-term basis.

    “These officers mainly champion the interests of their states at the commission. No wonder Kwarans did not enjoy any appreciable placement at the Federal Civil Service all these years. But, unless we reverse it, the trend will continue.  Instead of a Kwaran to succeed Kogi at the commission for its own turn of five years, Kwara was wrongfully denied and Kogi’s term was extended for another term of five years back to back. Will you not vote for Atiku/Obi to give us our entitlement, by righting this wrong?

    Ahmad added: “Since the last time they came here for campaign in 2015 and we voted them in, they have visited so many states they consider important uncountable number of times, how many times have they come to Kwara since then, if we are important?

    “But Kwara is very much important to PDP and, for example, you can count the unprecedented number of Kwarans in the Atiku/Obi national presidential campaign organisation in Abuja. Indeed, the

    “The Director-General is your son.  How many Kwarans are in the other parties and what is the highest office they occupy? Of all the political parties in Nigeria, which one accords Kwara the highest regard and respect?

    “Even before the first ballot is cast, the number three position in the country, that is the presidency of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has been ceded to us Kwarans by the other 35 states. That is a monumental privilege and never a right. And we all know what comes with that privilege to the state as a whole. PDP is the only party that has done that.”

  • Osun: PDP, Adeleke’s witnesses allege over-voting

    Proceedings resumed on Monday before the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja with the petitioners calling 10 more witnesses.

    The petitioners – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke – are contesting the outcome of the election won by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adegboyega Oyetola.

    The 10 witnesses called on Monday by the petitioners brought to 34 the number of witnesses so far called by the petitioners, who planned to call over 100.

    All the witnesses called on Monday, most of who were barely literate artisans, alleged that there were over-voting at the polling units where they served as agents of the PDP.

    Some of the witnesses could not read the statements they claimed to have signed and adopted before the tribunal on Monday as their evidence in chief in the case.

    The witnesses, most of whom could also not express themselves fluently in English language, were however unable to substantiate their allegations of over-voting.

    When asked, under cross-examination, to provide proof of their claimed over-voting, the witnesses would point to some alterations in the result sheets tendered before the court.

    When reminded, by respondents’ lawyers, that they signed the said result sheets on their own volition, the witnesses would claim to have signed after protesting.

    At a point, some of the witnesses became unruly as they refused to answer questions under cross-examination, thereby necessitating occasional intervention by tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo.

    Some of the witnesses, also confessed, under cross-examination, that they were not the actual PDP’s agents, whose names were submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the election.

    One of the witnesses, Mrs. Victoria Fadeke Alo admitted that it was actually another agent – Ilesanmi Samson Taiwo – who signed the result sheet as agent of the PDP in the polling unit she claimed to have represented the party.

    Under cross-examination by Wole Olanipekun (SAN) who appeared for Oyetola, Mrs Alo admitted that she was not the Ilesanmi Samson Taiwo, whose name appeared on the result sheet as the PDP agent.

    Another witness, Oyedokun Wasiu Soyode, who said he acted as PDP agent at Polling Unit 9, Ward 5 in Ejigbo Local Government also admitted not being the actual agent whose name was sent to INEC.

    Soyode, who was cross-examined by John Baiyeshea (SAN), who took over from Olanipekun, said his name was not on the list of party agent sent to INEC.

    He said it was his brother, Lateef Taiwo, who was the original agent whose name was sent to INEC, but took ill on the election day and was later admitted in the hospital.

    He said the development informed why he was asked to take his brother’s place.

    Also, Shehu Mufutau Alani , who said he acted as PDP agent in Unit 8, Ward 7, Iwo Local Government, also admitted not being the party agent, whose name was submitted to INEC.

    He said one Fadirat Isiaka, whose name was submitted fell sick few day before the election, a development that informed his choice as a replacement.

    Read Also: Senate to NLC: shelve minimum wage strike

    Under cross-examination by lawyer to the APC, Lasun Sanusi (SAN), Ajani said his lawyer wrote the witness’s statement, which he signed.

    He denied knowledge of where the lawyer got the information he wrote on the statement.

    Oyedele Waliu Ayinla, who said he acted as PDP agent at Unit 002, Ward 9 in Egbedore Local Government, could not read his statement when asked to read a portion of it.

    He was the petitioners’ last witness for the day. Further hearing continues Tuesday, Jan. 8.

  • PDP takes case to National Peace Committee, UN

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation (PPPPCO) has urged the National Peace Committee (NPC) to call President Muhammadu Buhari to order.

    It called  also on the United Nations (UN) and other world leaders to call the President to order and save the nation from what it called “imminent collapse”.

    At a media briefing in Abuja yesterday, the organisation’s spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said it had become necessary for the NPC, the UN and world leaders to ensure that the country has peaceful, free, fair and credible general elections in February.

    According to the PDP, the President’s alleged desperation for self-succession has become a major threat to the country’s unity, stability and peaceful electoral process.

    The party accused Buhari of seeking ways to enmesh the electoral process in a crisis as, according to it, Atiku was enjoying Nigerians support to win the February 16 presidential election.

    He said: “The Buhari presidency has been overheating the polity with its unending manipulations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), muzzling of free speech and escalated clampdown on opposition and civil society organisations and we insist that such must stop, if we must have a peaceful election.”

    It expressed the fear that Mrs. Zakari as chairperson of the Presidential Election Collation Centre Committee will not guarantee credible elections.

    The party said: “The PPCO insists that there is no way peace can be guaranteed without a free and fair election. Already, Nigerians across the board are livid with anger over the foisting of Mrs. Amina Zakari, President Buhari’s relation, to head the collation of presidential election results.

    “We want the National Peace Committee and the entire world to know that as long as Amina Zakari is in INEC, a peaceful election is not guaranteed because she has the mandate to abuse the process and this will not be accepted by Nigerians.

    “The PPCO therefore calls on the National Peace Committee to immediately speak out on the impropriety of having Amina Zakari in INEC as well as insist on her removal so that we can have a credible and peaceful presidential election.”

    “The PPCO alerts the entire world and particularly the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to the ongoing use of the police to clamp down on opposition figures, particularly members of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council and outspoken CSOs on trumped-up criminal charges.”

    The party cited the ordeal of Senator Dino Melaye with the police.

    It said: “Part of the plot is to charge such individuals before certain compromised judicial officers, in various states, who have been briefed to detain, silence and put such opposition figures and CSO members out of circulation until after elections are concluded.”

  • APC, PDP: Who blinks first?

    The general elections will hold between February 16 and March 2. Major political parties have started canvassing for votes across the country. LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the issues that will shape the outcome of the polls.

    This is a critical election year. It is the sixth election since the inception of the Fourth Republic. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) time table, the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled to hold on February 16, 2019 while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls would come up on March 2, 2019.

    Campaigns have started in earnest, following the lifting of ban on political activities by INEC. It has been peaceful so far. It is hoped that the peaceful atmosphere will be sustained throughout. The international community has shown interest in the elections through financial and material support for the electoral body. President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that the polls will be free, fair and credible.

    The presidential election will be a straight fight between President Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Atiku Abubakar, the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Although there are many presidential candidates, but the two candidates and their parties are dominant. They have political structure across the country; they have the wherewithal, human and material resources to  prosecute the presidential contest. According to analysts, the other presidential candidates are seeking for attention; they are not strong to contest for the highest office in the land. They said some of them should have settled for senatorial or House of Representatives tickets. Besides, they are contesting on the platform of fringe parties. These parties will go to sleep immediately after the general election; they will resurrect in 2023 when another general elections would hold.

    A political analyst, Dr Earnest Ibok, believes that the emergence of two Fulani Muslim candidates  from the two dominant parties would stabilise the polity. According to him, the results of the election will not trigger crisis as it used to be in previous elections when two major candidates come from North and South. He cited the case of 2003 presidential election which, he said, was Buhari versus Obasanjo; Muslim versus Christian; North versus South and Fulani versus Yoruba. “The election was preceded by the controversies over the introduction of the criminal jurisdiction of Sharia in 12 northern states. Obasanjo kicked against it while Buhari supported it saying it was the right of every Muslim. Buhari’s position endeared him to northern Muslims. Obasanjo lost core northern states he had won comfortably in 1999. Buhari did not score 25 per cent in any of the southern states because he was seen as agent of Islamisation.  However, Obasanjo was considered an “infidel” by the northern Muslims.

    “In 2007, the election was between two sons of Katsina State, Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua and Buhari as well as Atiku. They were of the same ethnic, religion and region. There were no divisive sentiments used by politicians to garner support. There was no uproar after the election won by Yar’Adua. But unfortunately the death of Yar’Adua which returned power to the South led to a resurgence of political insability. Jonathan who completed Yar’Adua’s tenure wanted a second term which was vehemently opposed by the northerners Although Jonathan won the 2011 presidential election against Buhari, the candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the aftermath was devastating. It was a roubled tenure for Jonathan. The polity was irrevocably poisoned and remained so till 2015 when he was voted by Buhari who contested on the platform of APC.

    “My submission is that whoever wins the 2019 presidential election between Buhari and Atiku, there would be no crisis. The north would be contended. Similarly in 2023, if the power shifts to the South where all political parties are expected to pick their presidential candidates, there would be less acrimony, the fear of regional domination and religious hegimony would have been eliminated. Thus, there would be political stability”.

    The preparation by INEC is crucial to the conduct of free, fair and credible election.  The electoral commission has been improving from one election to the other in the areas of prompt arrival of election materials and electoral officers at the polling units, vote counting in the presence of voters and display of results at the polling units as witnessed in Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun governorship elections.  But opposition parties are not convinced that INEC is fully prepared for the 2019 poll. They premised their argument on late approval of INEC budget few months to the election and the problem of card reader malfunctioning.  But the commission said there was no cause for alarm, it was on course with the time table for the election.

    But, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, said that the electoral body is focused on delivering credible election this year. The electoral commissioner said the processes and procedure had been rolled out for the 2019 elections.

    On the issue of funding, he said INEC is proceeding with preparations for the conduct of the 2019 general elections. “The commission is working and consulting with relevant government agencies to make sure that funds do not hamper its preparations for the poll. The commission is determined to conduct good elections and will not allow funding gaps to derail its preparation.”

    Okoye assured Nigerians that all its processes are being deployed to ensure that all procurements are completed on time for the 2019 elections. According to him, the electoral body has introduced far reaching and creative innovations that would raise the bar of elections in Nigeria. He explained that the management and arrangement of the polling units are being reappraised to guarantee and maintain the secrecy of the vote and maintain the independence and personal voting choices of the voters.

    On whether the commission will use the smart card reader in 2019 elections, the INEC Commissioner recalled that the commission introduced the smart card reader as a quality control mechanism to strengthen the authentication and verification of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) and eliminate ghost voters and multiple voting. He said the card reader is being improved on to enhance its performance and minimise as much as possible hitches that occurred in few places in previous elections. The smart card reader has come to stay; Nigerians have accepted it as part of the electoral process and INEC is determined to sustain improvements on it, he added.

    Vote buying is becoming an accepted norm. The brazen act of vote buying was reported during the recently held Ekiti and Osun governorship elections. It violates the 2010 Electoral Act Article 130 which stipulates : “A person who  (a) corruptly by himself or by any other person at any time after the date of an election has been announced , directly or indirectly gives or provides or pays money to or for any other person for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person or any other person to vote or refrain from voting at such election or on account of such person or any other person having voted or refrained from voting at such election, or (b) being a voter, corruptly accepts or takes money or any other inducement during any of the period stated  in paragraph (a) of the section, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N100,000 or 12 months imprisonment or both.

    A lawyer and President, Voters Awareness Initiative, Mr Wale Ogunade alleged that politicians took vote buying in the Ekiti governorship election to a higher dimension. He said while previous acts of vote buying were done in secret, it was done openly during the Ekiti State governorship election, saying that the rising phenomenon of vote-buying during elections calls for deep concern.

    Ogunade said: “Vote buying is not a new phenomenon in the country. Before now, we have had it in Anambra State and before Anambra State, we had it in Edo State. But before the elections in Edo and Anambra States, it had always been done strictly-like stuffing naira notes inside loaves of bread or giving out food items and clothes –all with the intention of wooing voters against their conscience to vote for them. But no doubt, the Ekiti election took vote buying to a higher dimension. It has now opened it up because it was done with reckless abandon.”

    INEC Chairman Professor Mahmoud Yakubu admitted that vote-buying was already rebranding the nation’s democracy before the international community. He said: “We are witnessing an ugly trend of vote-buying in recent elections. This is giving our democracy a bad name. There is difference between democracy, the government of the people made by the people and for the people, and plutocracy, which is government of the rich.

    Yakubu said the commission would enforce the provisions of the Electoral Act that prohibited vote-buying in 2019 as it did during the Osun State governorship election. According  to him, those that were caught in Osun  have been charged to court.  He said the offender is liable to N500,000 fine or twelve months imprisonment or both. For those selling or buying PVC, the penalty is N500,000fine or imprisonment not less than two years.

    He said government has proposed a bill to establish election tribunal which will handle cases of electoral offences whether the elections are ongoing or not. He said having such tribunal would facilitate quick dispensation of justice.

    Thuggery is now common at the electioneering campaign. The unruly behaviour of some people had disturbed candidates from presenting their programmes to the electorate.  Recently, the Senate President Bukola Saraki campaign at Iloin, Kwara State capital was marred by some people among the crowd who were not ready to listen to him. Saraki had to cut it short and left the scene. Every Nigerian seeking political position has the right to canvass for votes anywhere in the country. Leaders of political parties should rein in their supporters to always give peace a chance

    Another ugly trend of political intolerance is the removal of posters over night by thugs allegedly sponsored by their principals. Some governors had through their mobile advert agencies refused opponents to erect bill boards. This is not good for democracy. Every candidate should have access to public space.

    APC and PDP were hit by defections, especially in the National Assembly. Members of the PDP, who defected to APC in 2014, have returned to their former party. Among them are Saraki, Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and many other legislators. Some senators like the Minority Leader in the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio dumped PDP for APC.

    Analysts say the defection will alter the result of 2019 elections. They are of the view that the APC  that performed woefully in the South- South  and South East is likely to make some in-roads in the region. It has also been predicted that APC may lose few states especially where the post-primaries crises are yet to be resolved.

    Some governors would complete their second term in May  2019. They will not seek re-election because of the constitution limitation. They include Governors Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe),  Ibrahim Geidam(Yobe) and AbduFatah Ahmed (Kwara).

  • PDP ‘ll ensure uninterrupted education calendar – Jennifer Atiku

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has given assurance that if elected back to power in 2019, it will ensure an uninterrupted education calendar in the sector.

    Mrs Jennifer Atiku, wife of the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Abubakar  Atiku, gave the assurance in her remarks at the flag-off of the Edo Central Senatorial campaigns by the party on Sunday in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

    Atiku said that a PDP government would ensure that students who “are presently out of school due to the lingering ASUU strike get back to their classrooms”.

    She also said that a PDP government would create an environment for business to thrive with a view to ensuring that the citizens were lifted above poverty.

    She said there was an urgent need to get every sector of the country working again to enable citizens enjoy better life.

    Addressing the gathering, the state Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, said the party had enjoyed unbroken support from Esan people since 1999.

    Orbih, who said the party was on a mission to rescue the country, added every member of the party would go back to their various LGAs, wards and units in Esan land to preach the gospel of rescuing Nigeria.

    He urged the people to come out en masse to vote PDP and ensure that their votes counted and defended.

    He further said that the election wasn’t about PDP but about securing a better future for Nigerians and the nation’s hard earned democracy.

    He also criticised the appointment of Amina Zakari, who is alleged to be a very close relative of President Buhari, as head of INEC’s collation centre.

    Zahara has, however, since denied the allegation, saying she was not related to Buhari.

    The chairman said INEC, like Caesar’s wife, must not only be above board, but must also be seen to be above board.

    “INEC must do the needful by listening to the cries of Nigerians to ensure the forthcoming elections are not only free and fair but transparent and credible,” he said.

    Meanwhike, the Edo Central Senatorial candidate of the party, Sen. Clifford Ordia, said “we promise to do things differently but today with the opportunity given to us in 2015 we have been able to effectively serve our people”.

    “We have surpassed their expectations and we are well positioned to do more when reelected to the National Assembly,” he said.

    Similarly, the PDP candidate in the Edo 2016 governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, admonished the people to collectively halt any plan to rig the forth coming general elections.

    He said that the party’s presidential candidate would perform and put smiles on the faces of Nigerians when elected as president.

  • Court discharges 2 accused of theft

    A Lugbe Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, on Friday discharged and acquitted Ferdinand James and Samson Ephraim, accused of housebreaking and stealing a lenovo laptop, valued at N60,000.

    The Magistrate, Mr Samuel Idhiarhi, discharged and acquitted the defendants due to the prosecuting counsel’s inability to prove her case beyond reasonable doubt.

    Idhiarhi said in his judgment that having considered the points made, “I am  not satisfied that the prosecutor had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants were the people who entered Plot 230, Gold Zone, Krystal Estate, Abuja.

    “I hereby discharge and acquit the defendants of criminal conspiracy, housebreaking by night and theft.”

    Read Also:Court convicts photographer for yellow card forgery

     

    James, 21; and Ephraim, 25; both of  Kubwa area, Abuja, were arraigned on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, house breaking and theft.

    The prosecutor, Vivian Oponmor, had earlier told the court that one Mr Chukwunonso Amakor, of the aforementioned address, reported the matter at the Lugbe Police Station on June 5, 2018.

    Oponmor alleged that the defendants forced their way into the house of Amakor through the burglar proof, and stole a laptop at night.

    The defendants, however,  pleaded not guilty to the offences.

    According to the prosecution, the offence contravened Sections 97, 355 and 288 of the Penal Code.

     

     

     

  • Why we dumped Atiku, PDP – Bello

    A couple of weeks back, the Coalition of aggrieved Support Groups numbering over 145, formally withdrew their support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and pledged their support and loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), for the 2019 presidential election. The leader of the coalition, Bello Osaretin, recently spoke with Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, on why they took that decision. Excerpts.

    YOUR group during the week dumped the PDP and Atiku to work for Buhari. What informed such decision?

    It is quite obvious that the leaders and chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has not learn their lessons. It is now very clear that the party is not serious about returning to power in 2019. How do you expect a party that betrayed itself in 2015 to still win election come 2019 with the same set of characters that were at the saddle of command when APC defeated the party four years ago.

    That was when the PDP was even a ruling party. They say they have changed and are now true democrats, but the issues of imposition and impunity have not been addressed. Coupled with the symptoms of  the use and dump syndrome that has vastly infested the party. Sadly too, the party lacks a reward management system for true members to be fully integrated into party activities.

    It is for these reasons and many more that we decided to be separated from the PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who we have been supporting and worked tirelessly for since he declared his interest in the 2019 presidential race. As I am speaking to you, we are no longer in support of both the PDP and Atiku. We have decided to move away from them both.

    Our decision to quit the Atiku project was occasioned by the total neglect and disregards for the sanctity of support groups existence, acknowledgment and recognition of groups contributions coupled with nepotic deployment in favour of some selected support groups with ethnic affinity, administrative recklessness in management of support groups goodwill, rebarbative use of derogatory terms such as mere volunteers and nuisance to ascribed support groups instrumental for Atiku to defeat eleven co-contestants in PDP Presidential Convention and the use of coercive force, such as thugs and political touts to unleash mayhem on support groups that we are disgruntled to the injustice prevalent in Atiku’s camp.

    But some analysts have described your actions as mere political stunt. What do you have to say to this?

    Whoever think our actions are mere political stunts must be a new entrance or a political neophyte in the game of politics. How would any rational politician think it is a stunt. Believe me, there was a good ground for us to be disgruntled. People need to understand how we feel that after our support had led to the emergence eam abandoned us. of Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate, his team abandoned us.

    Following his victory at the presidential primary election in Port-Harcourt, we were referred to as mere volunteers. We were neglected and left abandoned. No letter of appreciation. No acknowledgment. No recognition whatsoever.

    After the victory in Port-Harcourt, the celebration was moved to Dubai, where people who never laboured for Atiku’s victory were the first to sit at the tea party, while the support groups that labored through thick and thin were neglected, abandoned, used and dumped, confirming the usual parlance of “monkey dye work baboon dey chop” which has been the usual style of PDP as a political party.

    You claimed to be aggrieved Atiku supporters. First, what are the proves that your group actually worked for Atiku?

    If we didn’t work for Atiku Abubakar there wouldn’t have been the need for this agitations. We worked serious for him by using our resources to mobilize and engage critical stakeholders, especially the delegates, because it was a structured delegates campaign. Vehicles, banners, billboard, sourvires were branded to create serious public awareness for him, amongst other things.

    And we are known to him and his handlers. That is why nobody has come out to deny us. They are now doing what they ought t have done long before we decided to cut ties with them. Our decision to quit Atiku’s presidential project is informed and inspired by the outcome of wide consultations and engagements embark upon over the past few months. We didn’t just leave, we consulted widely.

    Since when have you been supporting Atiku and what sort of relationship did you have with him and his political camp?

    We have been supporting Atiku since 2011.  The relationship has been a ecame Aggrieved because we were being used and dumped. We made efforts tot get issues resolved. We wrote several letters but all to no avail. political one. But we became aggrieved because nobody seems to give us recognition for the good job done by support groups. It was very very appalling. We became Aggrieved because we were being used and dumped. We made efforts tot get issues resolved. We wrote several letters but all to no avail.

    Do you think President Buhari can win the 2019 election?

    Why not? The man has done extremely well He has brought integrity into the governance system of Nigeria. There is no match to Buhari in 2019. It is integrity versus corruption. Nigerians are still remembering the past and comparing it with the current situation. Buhari has won the next election for the APC across the country with his performance.

    Like I told you, we didnt just leave PDP, we consulted widely and I can now tell you Nigerians prefer Buhari and the APC to Atiku and the PDP. That was why we unanimously agreed to denounce our membership of Atiku Presidential Campaign Office and as well withdraws total supports for Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition nationwide with immediate effect and direct all affiliate bodies to do same forthwith.

    On the flip-side, we the members of aggrieved Atiku Support Groups Coalition, warehousing more than 145 aggrieved support groups across Nigeria, are now promising to mobilise our members to give President Buhari six million votes across the country to ensure that he is not stopped by the PDP in 2019. We are of the opinion that he should be allowed to continue the good works he is doing.

    Integrity question will be at stake here. We need to put that in context. I still believe Buhari will come on top at end of the day. Also the choices of the running mates have set a voting pattern in motion. The west and the east will look at the persons running as vice president and decide which party should be given the chance. The south will determine the next election. Take my words for it, Buhari will win in 2019.

    Are you now members of the APC?

    We have not officially declared for APC, but we have pledged allegiance to Mr. President through Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But let me say this categorically; it is a sin to remain in PDP. Nigerians have spoken, they will never return to Egypt, so PDP will never return to power in Nigeria.

  • Kwara marginalised under APC government, says PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that Kwara State has not been fairly treated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the federal level.

    The party added that the APC government had denied the state of its legitimate entitlements in the scheme of things.

    Kwara State Coordinator, Atiku/Obi Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr Ali Ahmad, told reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, at the official opening of the state office, adding that as a result the APC candidates at all levels do not deserve the votes of Kwarans in 2019.

    Dr Ahmad, who is the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, asked:

    “Why will any Kwaran not vote for the party that has demonstrated that it can provide the much needed job to our teeming youth by promising that 40 percent of his appointments will be populated by the youth? Today, about 9,300,000 school children are said to be fed every day across the country under one of their opaque programmes; there is not a single pupil from Kwara State that currently benefits.

    “Will you not vote for Atiku/Obi who will reverse this trend within their first 100 days? Of course, Kwara enjoys no special privilege from this administration, we expected that. What we did not envisage is denial of Kwara and Kwarans our legitimate entitlements. So many examples are out there but one will suffice. Federal commissionership at the Federal Civil Service Commission is alternated on a five year-term basis.

     

     

  • Fresh S/South headache as Atiku rejigs campaign

    • Presidential candidate returns home to rejig campaign

    • Jonathan, Bayelsa gov clash over party’s candidates

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji  Atiku Abubakar, is facing fresh challenges in the Southsouth, thus slowing down his campaign ahead of next month’s election.

    The Southsouth leg of his campaign which was originally scheduled for flag off on Tuesday, January 8, has been put off to enable the party “organize a bigger rally.”

    Party sources however told The Nation that the postponement was brought about by the inability of the PDP governors in the zone to work together on how to drive Atiku’s presidential campaign.

    Atiku who had been in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for some days, returned home yesterday  to rejig his campaign against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    It was also gathered that the party and Atiku are trying to find ways of mending fences in the Southsouth and the Southeast before the PDP campaign train moves to the two zones.

    Party sources yesterday spoke of challenges in some states in the Southsouth and Southeast including Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Anambra and Ebonyi.

    Some of the knotty issues before Atiku are whether or not he will spend a term in office; and non-committal on power shift to the South-South in 2023.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Despite Atiku’s personal outreach, there are still some gaps to fill especially lack of trust between old PDP and the defectors from APC.

    “Also, some of those who were instrumental to Atiku’s emergence have developed cold feet because of alleged campaign of non-inclusion. One of them just withdrew to himself and relocated to London in the past few weeks.”

    Sources cited an alleged cold war between ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Henry Seriake Dickson over fall out of PDP primaries.

    One source said:”although Governor Nyesom Wike has pledged to assume duties as the Southsouth coordinator for Atiku-Peter Obi ticket, some governors in the zone do not defer to the Rivers State governor. They are not even ready to take instructions from him.

    “Certainly, there are challenges of how to win huge votes in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Anambra and Ebonyi states.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “Atiku is back from Dubai to rejig his campaign against APC. He will complete the fence-mending initiative and launch his campaign in the Southsouth and Southeast.”

    Another source, speaking on the postponed campaign flag off in the Southsouth said all is not well with the party’s presidential campaign in the zone.

    The source said that apart from the inability of some of the PDP governors to work together on how to drive Atiku’s campaign, there is also the challenge of much needed funds for logistics.

    Announcing the Port Harcourt rally postponement, Oraye St Franklin, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant for New Media, said it was caused by “logistical constraints.”

    His words: “We wish to inform our teeming supporters from across the Southsouth of the shift in date of the much anticipated PDP Southsouth rally.

    “This is to enable us organise a bigger, better and defining rally in the history of Nigerian politics, given that the South-South is the natural home of the Peoples Democratic Party. All logistical constraints are currently being worked out to make it a hitch-free experience for our party faithful from across the region and a truly epoch making event.

    “A new date would be announced shortly. The inconvenience on account of the postponement is regretted. Thank you.”

    But a top notch member of the campaign committee, speaking on condition of anonymity on the aborted zonal rally, said the Atiku campaign in the Southsouth “is still struggling to take off.”

    He added: “aside from the fact that Governor Wike of Rivers State who is supposed to drive the campaign is still not showing much enthusiasm, it has been difficult funding the campaign in the zone.”

    Another reliable source said a good number of the PDP governors in the zone are currently battling fierce opposition in their respective home states and consequently, are concentrating on winning re-election during the 2019 polls.

    The result of this is that Governor Wike, as the coordinator of the campaign in the Southsouth, is left, almost alone, to push Atiku’s campaign.

    “This explains all the logistic issues facing the presidential campaign efforts here in the Southsouth. All the governors are expected to drive the campaign together, but a few are too busy seeking re-election in the various state to put in enough effort for Atiku.

    “Take Governors Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom and Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta for example, they are battling serious opposition back home unlike in their first term.

    “The situation is almost the same for Governor Wike himself in Rivers. So, they are all expending a lot of resources, energy and time on their re-election bids, making their contributions to the presidential campaign to suffer. Other chieftains of the party in the zone, especially former public office holders are not providing the much needed support at a crucial time as this.

    “And very seriously, not much is being heard from Bayelsa and Cross Rivers governors. These two are also seeking re-election but majority of our party members feel they are not as pressed by the opposition as the others ahead of the 2019 general elections. The aborted rally could have been saved if all the governors got their acts together in good time to work towards its success.”

    The Nation learnt that a meeting of stakeholders in the zone has been called by the national leadership of the party with a view to discussing how to move the presidential campaign forward in the Southsouth and also choose a new date for the zonal rally.

    The national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, who is from the zone, is reportedly highly embarrassed by the development and is now ready to work with others to correct the mistakes of the past.

    It was also gathered that the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, will be meeting leaders of the party in the zone in the coming week to once again discuss the mounting challenges being faced by his campaign in the zone. A rejig of the zonal campaign team may be on his agenda as he looks forward to the parley, The Nation gathered.

    A member of the Atiku Campaign Organisation said some challenges have been identified in the zonal structure.

    A few weeks ago, the national caucus of the PDP met in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital to pacify Governor Wike to drop his threat of quitting the party’s 2019 Presidential Campaign Council.

    The meeting was considered important ahead of the zonal rally of the party in the Southsouth zone. The PDP had held its zonal rallies in Northwest, Northcentral and Southwest.

    Those in attendance at the meeting were Atiku, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker, House of Reps, Yakubu Dogara and governors of Rivers, Abia, Cross River, Kwara, Sokoto and Ebonyi. Others include the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, PDP vice presidential candidate, Peter Obi, former governors Ayo Fayose and Liyel Imoke.

    Also in attendance were the party’s National Chairman Uche Secondus, Senator Ben Murray Bruce, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara, Senator Olaka Nwogu, Hassan Saleh and several members of the National Assembly.

    Some PDP chieftains in the zone fear that the grievances of the Rivers State governor are yet to be addressed.

    “Wike is the pillar of the PDP in the Southsouth today. He is the one who held the party together when many of our leaders here were undecided about what to do. So, unless and until he moves, nothing can happen here. His influence goes beyond his state and those toying with his demands should know better than to ignore him. The PDP presidential campaign needs him in the zone and beyond,” a former Commissioner in the state said.

    When contacted, the Special Assistant on Public Communications to Atiku, Mr. Phrank Shuaibu denied knowledge of any difficulty in campaigning in the Southsouth or Southeast.

    He said: “The campaign is on course, the timetable was only adjusted.”

    Sources in the APC and PDP said President Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku might rev up their campaign this week.

    While Buhari will inaugurate the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) tomorrow, Atiku is expected to address a rally in Lokoja.

    “Expect marathon campaigns in the next four weeks,” a top source added.

    Jonathan, Dickson feud over election candidates

    Sources also alleged a crisis of confidence in Bayelsa PDP between ex-President Jonathan and Governor Dickson.

    Jonathan is said to be supporting some candidates in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Advanced Democratic Party (ADC).

    The candidates are a former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Timipre Sylva and APC House of Representatives candidate for Ogbia Federal Constituency, Samuel Ogboku as well as ADC senatorial candidate for Bayelsa East, Senator Nimi Bariagha Amange.

    Jonathan opted to support the two candidates and the House of Assembly candidates in his zone following the humiliation of his preferred nominees at the PDP primaries.

    But some leaders and major stakeholders in Bayelsa State have also threatened to work against the presidential candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar if the ex-President continues to engage in what they perceive as anti-party activities.

    The development is said to have created  a wedge between Jonathan and the Bayelsa State PDP leadership.

    While the ex-President is out to make PDP fail election to prove a point that  he remains the godfather in Bayelsa State, the Governor and the PDP  apparatchik of the state are bent on electing all PDP candidates in the state.

    A top source said: “All is not well within the PDP family in Bayelsa State because of the backing for APC and ADC candidates by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “The former President’s favourite aspirants for Ogbia Federal Constituency, George Turner and a Lagos socialite, Albertine Doibo whom Jonathan sponsored  for Bayelsa East Senatorial District had lost in  the keenly contested PDP primary elections to Fred Azibapu Obua and Blessing Izagara respectively.

    “Though both Obua and Izagara are relatives of Jonathan, the former President is unhappy that his anointed candidates in Bayelsa East Senatorial District lost the PDP primaries.

     “He has therefore vowed to stop both Obua and Izagara at the polls. Jonathan who is yet to recover from the shock of the defeat is now sponsoring opposition candidates against the PDP candidates ostensibly to spite and undermine the leadership of Governor Seriake Dickson.

    “The ex-President wants to make a point that contrary to the  governor’s claim that the state is firmly under his control, he is not on ground.

    “While Jonathan is fighting the PDP candidates in the home front, he is mobilizing support for Atiku and his running mate, Mr. Peter Obi.

    “In fact Jonathan is believed to have  nominated  Obi for VP.”

     But the Bayelsa leaders and stakeholders  have also  decided to abandon Atiku as “a pay back to the former President for sponsoring opposition candidates against PDP.”

    Another source said: “contrary to assumptions, Atiku and PDP may not win Bayelsa State if the ex-President is not called to order.

     “Jonathan cannot eat his cake and have it at all, the party should prevail on him to halt his anti-party activities.

    “The alternative we have is to sacrifice Atiku–Obi ticket on the altar of political muscle-flexing and ego.”

    The  governor’s media aides declined to comment on the matter when contacted although they said  PDP would win.

    However, the media aide to the ex-President, Ikechukwu Eze, said: “It is manifestly dishonest, deceitful and preposterous for anybody to suggest that former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is working against the interest of the party under which he rose to occupy the highest office in the land.

    “As one of the leaders of the party, having served as President under the Peoples Democratic Party, it is obvious that Dr. Jonathan has continued and will continue to work for the success of PDP across the nation.

    “He is also a father figure and a statesman whose door is open to all Nigerians desirous of visiting or consulting him on sundry matters, including politics.

    ” Even then he has always given his support and blessing to his party’s candidates in all elections.

    “Those who also push the narrative of a war between him and Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson are either adept at conjuring up a rift where there is none or are lovers of mischief who do not have the interest of Bayelsa State at heart.

    ” It is instructive  to note that those behind this misleading claim always draw blank when challenged to either provide evidence of such disagreement or cite any instance of former President Jonathan making negative comments against the Governor, either in private or public.

    “For now, what is important is for all members and lovers of PDP to forge a common front and strong force to help the party win big in the coming elections.

    “All efforts should be directed towards uniting and strengthening the party, and not sponsoring negative stories to divide and weaken it.”