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Tag: PDP

  • PDP short-changed Cross River for 16 years – Ndoma Egba

    Former Senate Leader and senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River state, Senator Ndoma Egba has said that the PDP government short changed the state in the 16 years it governed the country, depriving it of 76 oil well and the Bakassi peninsula.

    Senator Ndoma Egba also said that for the south east to be in a position to produce the President of the country in 2013, they will have no choice than to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari, saying any other candidate cannot guarantee an Igbo Presidency in the near future.

    Speaking to newsmen at his Apo, Abuja office, the former lawmaker who is seeking a return to the Senate after a short absence said even though his state gave the President what he described as paltry 28,000 votes, they have benefited tremendously from the APC government.

    The former Senator said the State governor who has always boasted of his closeness with the President should reciprocate the President’s good gesture to him and the state by mobilizing votes for him in the Presidential election.

    He also said the sentiments that played out in the 2015 elections in the south south are no longer there since former President Jonathan or any body for the zone is seeking election as President.

    “Yes, it was a traditional PDP ares because at a time, we had our son who was contesting the Presidency. There was that underlining sentiment that our son was contesting. But today, we don’t have that situation and we don’t have anybody who is contesting from that zone” he said.

    “The two major candidates are from the same region and from the same religion. So, that sentiment will not be there. Take the example of Cross River state. In 2015, President Buhari got a paltry 28,000 votes and inspite of the low level of support, see what he has done for Cross River”.

    “Cross River remain the only state that he has visited twice. The state is well represented in government. We have the Chief Justice of Nigeria even though he is not a politician. You can’t run away from the fact that he became Chief Justice under President Buhari, but anything could have happened.

    “The Head of Service of the Federation is from Cross River state, the Auditor General of the Federation is from that state, the Minister of the Niger Delta, the Chairman, NDDC, the Special Adviser on Prosecution are all from that state in addition to Chairmen of boards, all for a paltry 28,000.

    “What was the record under PDP? The best we ever had as a state under the PDP was when we had Kanu Agabi as Minister and Senator Liyel Imoke as Special Adviser. These are arguments that will be taken to the field in Cross River. It will be the height of ingratitude for any Cross Riverian not to vote for President Buhari and it will be uncharitable ingratitude.

    “Recently I had an interview with a radio station and I challenged the public. Any tarred road that was constructed in the last two years in Cross River, 90 percent of the chances is that it was tarred by the NDDC or the Ministry of the Niger Delta.

    Any renovation of any school in the last two years, the chances are that it was done by either the NDDC or the Ministry of the Niger Delta.

    “So, we have benefited a lot from this government. We also have our argument. What was the experience under the PDP government. It was one loss or the other for us as a state.

    “It was under the PDP that we lost Bakassi and also lost 76 oil wells. It was under the PDP that we lost the hosting right of the National Sport Festival. Cross River at a time was paradise game under Donald Duke when we had the Cattle Ranch and the Mountain Range. But it was still under the PDP that the paradise was lost.

    “These and many more are the arguments that we are going to confront the people with. The sentiments that our son is contesting is no longer there. We are now dealing with verifiable records which we are going to be dealing with and the records favour the President unequivocally and the APC.”

    On the agitation for a south east Presidency come 2023, he said “For the south east, let me hazard what may happen and I think they will go with President Buhari.

    “They are hoping to produce a President in 2023 and that opportunity can only come through a President Buhari because by the application of the law, come 2023, Buhari will become illegible to contest because he must end his tenure and that is when the south east can have their turn.

    “Any other person that comes, forget whatever promises they make. The moment they seat on that chair, they must take their constitutional two full terms. So, any other person will delay the chances for the south east. That is why I think the south east will go with President Buhari.

    “It is not automatic though. We are talking about the opportunity and it is for the south east to go and organize themselves and ready itself for that opportunity.

    “Will they have an opportunity in 2023 through President Buhari? The answer is yes, the opportunity will be there and you need to put your house in order. Will it be possible with other person in 2023 considering the fact that the person would have a constitutional two term. The answer is no.”

  • 2019: Bode George calls for unity in PDP

    A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has urged  members  to unite to achieve victory in 2019.

    George gave the advice while speaking with journalists on Friday in Lagos.

    He said the goal of defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the general elections could not be realized in a divided house.

    George enjoined party members to put whatever grievances they had behind them and sacrifice their personal ambitions and interests to ensure PDP’s victory in 2019.

    He also called for repositioning of PDP in view of the mistakes the party made in the past.

    “We must unite and work closely together for the victory of the party in 2019.

    “We must put old things behind us and sacrifice our personal ambitions and interests, not only for the victory of the party, but for the progress of the nation.

    “We must correct things quickly before the end of the year and reposition and restabilise the party for the battle ahead.

    “We are not fighting from the government side now, we are in the opposition. We must unite more than ever because a divided house is a defeated house,” he said.

    George said one of the mistakes the party made in the past was its failure to micro-zone the position of the national chairmanship to South West at the last convention to elect officers.

    He said the zone had never produced a national chairman and there were high expectations that the Ahmed Makarfi-led committee would give the slot to the region in line with the party’s long -standing arrangement.

    George said with the eventual emergence of the chairman from the South South, the party presented the South West as if it did not matter.

    The former Deputy-Chairman of the party added that shutting out of the South West in the scheme of  things gave the APC a field day in 2015 to ensure the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    George urged the party to avoid the pitfalls of the past ahead of 2019, calling for the inclusion of all regions and members in the journey to the election.

    He described himself as an irredentist PDP member in spite of all , saying his support for the party’s Presidential Candidate,  Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, could not be doubted.

    Read also: Bode George to youths: Don’t repeat mistakes of the past

    On the relationship between him and the Lagos PDP Governorship Candidate,  Mr Jimi Agbaje, George said he had no problem with him.

    He said though Agbaje erred by contesting against him for the party’s chairmanship at the elective convention just to stop him, he had forgiven him.

    George said at the right time, he and some other elders of the party would be more visible in the candidate’s campaign to win Lagos.

    The PDP Chieftain urged Nigerians to make peace the watch word as the country journeyed into 2019, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the people’s will prevailed.

    “We should all do our bits to ensure the hitch-free conduct of the general elections. We should eshew violence.

    “President Buhari should also ensure that the will of the people prevails by ensuring credible conduct.

    “Nigeria belongs to all of us and we should not do anything to plunge it into chaos.,” he said.

    He said restructuring was a precondition for development and called for the implementation of the idea for progress. (NAN)

  • Our administration financed project, says PDP

    THE People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation (PPCO) has said that the new Abuja airport terminal project was designed, conceptualised and fully financed by the its past administration.

    The main opposition party faulted what it described as attempts by President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) to claim credit for the project.

    President Buhari yesterday inaugurated the new airport terminal, a development the PDP said was mainly designed to score cheap political points ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Read also: Afenifere endorses Buhari for 2019 polls

    A statement by the spokesman for the PDP Campaign Organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan, maintained that it’s public knowledge that the Buhari administration made no contributions towards the funding and execution of the project.

    It added that the ceremony marking the commissioning of the project was yet another failed media stunt aimed at posturing and claiming credit for a project his administration made no contribution towards the funding and execution.

  • God will not allow PDP return to power – Oshiomhole

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has declared God will not allow the return of the opposition Peoples Democratic Power (PDP) to power in 2019.

    He accused the former ruling party of looting the nation dry throughout its 16 years in power.  .

    Oshiomhole said only President Muhammadu Buhari can salvage the country and return it to prosperity.

    The APC helmsman spoke on Thursday in Lafia, capital of Nasarawa State while flagging off the 2019 state wide campaign.

    He urged the people of Nasarawa state to vote massively for President Buhari and other APC candidates in the 2019 general elections.

    He also presented the party’s flag to the governorship candidate Engr Abdullahi Sule and all other APC Senate, Reps and state Assembly candidates.

    He explained God healed the President to shame the PDP, which he said wished him death.

    Buhari, according to him, will win the 2019 general elections with landslide votes.

    He lauded the giant strides of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura in the state and his policy of inclusiveness and urged the APC governorship candidate to follow the footsteps of the outgoing Al-Makura when elected.

    He explained that he has painstakingly followed the developmental achievements of the governor in all sectors of the state and appealed to the people of Nasarawa south to reward Al-Makura by voting him to represent them at the Upper Chamber.

    Al-Makura urged the people of the state to return President Buhari in 2019 and all other APC candidates in the state.

    He said the President has done a lot for the state by providing 33 KVA electricity and award of contract for the dualisation of Keffi- Makurdi, Abuja road among many other achievements.

    He thanks all the governorship aspirants of the party in the state for agreeing to work tirelessly for the victory of the party in the state.

    Sule assured he will use his experience in the private sector to bring development to the state.

    He noted that he will continue from where Al-Makura stops and take the state to the next level, adding that he will hit the ground running immediately he take over from Al-Makura because he has already set the template.

     

     

  •  APC denounces ‘disgraceful’ PDP lawmakers for heckling Buhari

     The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the conduct of lawmakers of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) during Wednesday’s budget presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari as disgraceful.

    The lawmakers booed and jeered almost every statement by the President but the APC said their action eroded the little respect Nigerians still have for the PDP.

    The ruling party said the PDP lawmakers succeeded in confirming to Nigerians they were self- serving.

    A statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu reads: “We condemn in strong terms the action by lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the presentation of the 2019 budget by President Mohammadu Buhari on Wednesday.

    “The PDP should be aware the disgraceful conduct and actions of its legislative caucus has succeeded in eroding the remnant of the public’s respect, (if any) that the Party has in the eyes of any respectable Nigerian.

    “The PDP has further confirmed its unsavoury image in the eyes of well- meaning Nigerians the party is largely populated by self-serving and unpatriotic members, whose sole aim in politics is to promote their self- interest at the expense of the country’s interests.

    “By law, respect for the office of the President or head of government in any clime is not a matter of choice, but a civic obligation sanctioned by laws.

    “Being an opposition party or critic is no licence for such wayward conduct by the PDP legislative caucus; most especially against the President of the country.

    “Not even the admonition of the President to the PDP lawmakers that “You are on international TV, comport yourselves.

    “The world is watching us; we should be above this,” failed to calm the unruly PDP elements.

    “Nigerians are not oblivious of the actions and inactions of the National Assembly presiding officers, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara while the President was being heckled by the PDP legislative caucus.

    “Their failure to rein in their unruly PDP colleagues, while their show of shame lasted clearly confirmed that the PDP members’ action was premeditated and orchestrated to embarrass the President.

    “When the APC was in opposition, Nigerians will recall statements by the PDP government the immediate-past President Goodluck Jonathan did not personally present the national budget to the National Assembly based on fears that he will be heckled and embarrassed by the opposition federal lawmakers at the time.

    “The fears turned out to be misplaced as that never happened when Jonathan eventually presented the national budget.

    “Such shameful and undignified practice has no place in our progressive ideology.”

    The APC commended Buhari for remaining calm and focused during the budget presentation “despite the provocation from PDP lawmakers, an act of statesmanship that has been acknowledged by Nigerians.

    “We are equally proud of the APC lawmakers, who stood firm in defence of the President and our great party during the budget presentation.“

    It called on the National Assembly to “rise above political and selfish interests by putting the country first in its consideration of the proposed N8.83 trillion 2019 national budget.”

     

     

  • Osun election dispute: PDP, Adeleke tender result sheets from 27 local govts

    The petitioners – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Ademola Adeleke – opened their case yesterday tendered documents, mostly result sheets, at the Election Petitions Tribunal.

    Lead petitioners’ lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), during proceedings, which lasted from 10 a.m till a little past 5 p.m, tendered 492 documents comprising the result sheets (EC8A and EC8A – VP) for 27 local government areas.

    The local governments are: Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West, Ayedaade, Ayedire, Boluwaduro, Boripe, Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore, Ejigbo, Ife East, Ifelodun, Ife North, Ife South, Ila, Ife Central, Ilesha East, Irepodun, Irewole, Isokan, Iwo, Obokun, Odo Otin, Ola Oluwa, Olorunda, Oriade and Oshogbo.

    Lawyers to the respondents, Adesina Agbede, for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), for Adegboyega Oyetola and Lasun Sanusi (SAN), for the All Progressives Congress (APC), examined the documents, as tendered by Ikpeazu, local government by local government and elected to reserve their objection to the point of final address.

    The procedure was a bit slow as each lawyer to each respondent took turn to examine the documents per local government before the tribunal, led by Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, admitted them as exhibits, numbering each item from P1 to P492.

    After tendering the last set of documents from Oshogbo Local Government Area around 5 p.m, Ikpeazu told the tribunal that he was willing to continue.

    The lawyer said he was willing to tender more documents, including voters’ registers, from about 12 local government areas.

    Lawyers to the respondents objected to Ikpeazu’s willingness to continue, citing the problem of security in Apo, Abuja, where the tribunal has been sitting.

    They requested for a postponement of further proceedings till today.

    In a ruling, Justice Sirajo agreed with the respondents to adjourn till today.

    He ordered lawyers to all parties to resume at the tribunal at 9 a.m today to sort out the documents to be tendered, before the tribunal sits at 10 a.m.

    The PDP and Adeleke are, by their petition, challenging the outcome of the election.

    Read also: Fayose squandered N18b Paris Refund to Ekiti, says Fayemi

    They are querying the victory of APC candidate, Gboyega Oyetola, in the election.

    Respondents to the petition are: the INEC, APC and Oyetola – listed as first, second and third respondents.

    The tribunal earlier heard applications on another petition filed by Mrs Jumoke Lawal and the National Rescue Mission (NRM), with INEC, Oyetola and APC as respondents.

    The applications by Oyetola and APC sought the dismissal of the petition for being defective.

    After listening to arguments from lawyers to the parties, Justice Sirajo held that in view of the provision of Section 285(8) of the Constitution (as amended), ruling in the applications would be delivered at the time of judgment in the petition.

  • We will beat PDP, Agbaje roundly in 2019, says Sanwo-Olu

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said the party will defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, in next year’s general elections.

    Speaking to a large crowd of party leaders and members during a stakeholders’ meeting at the party’s secretariat on Acme Road in Ogba, Ikeja, the state capital, the APC candidate maintained that it would be foolhardy for anyone who thinks Lagosians “who are in bondage” will vote from them.

    “How can someone be talking about freedom in Lagos?” Sanwo-Olu asked.

    He added: “Are we in the 18th or 19th century when slavery was the order of the day? Lagos has always been free. The state is the fifth largest economy in Africa, the cynosure and envy of all other states across Nigeria. It is the bedrock of the nation’s economy, where everyone who is enterprising records success without any form of hindrance.

    “It is obvious that Jimi Agbaje and indeed the PDP do not have anything to say; so, they had to resort to freedom. This won’t fly; it won’t sell. Lagosians will not buy it.”

    Read also: One soldier dead as troops kill four Boko Haram terrorists

    Amidst cheers from the teeming APC supporters, Sanwo-Olu queried the role of Agbaje as a candidate and PDP as a party had played in the development of Lagos State.

    He said it was the same freedom that Agbaje clamoured for that had made him run for governorship three times in a row.

    Sanwo-Olu said: “We have freedom here in Lagos and that is why someone like Jimi Agbaje can aspire to govern the state three consecutive times. Although he has failed in all two attempts, I can guarantee you that he will fail this time around because Lagosians don’t trust him or his party, the PDP.

    “Where were they several years ago when our leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in concert with other members of the State Executive Council (Exco), toiled day and night to revamp Lagos economy from paltry N600 million monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which could not pay Lagos State workers’ salary, to over N30 billion.”

  • Osun election: PDP, Adeleke tender result sheets from 27 LGs

    *To tender voters’ registers, other documents today

     

    The petitioners – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Ademola Adeleke – opened their case on Monday at the election tribunal by tendering documents, mostly result sheets.

    Lead petitioners’’ lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), at Monday’s proceedings, which lasted from 10 to a little over 5pm, tendered a total of 492 documents – result sheets (EC8A and EC8A – VP) for 27 local governments.

    The Local Governments are Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West, Ayedaade, Ayedire, Boluwaduro, Boripe, Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore, Ejigbo, Ife East, Ifelodun, Ife North, Ife South, Ila, Ife Central, Ilesha East, Irepodun, Irewole, Isokan, Iwo, Obokun, Odo Otin, Ola Oluwa, Olorunda, Oriade and Oshogbo.

    Lawyers to the respondents, Adesina Agbede (for the Independent National Electoral Commission), Abiodun Owonikoko, SAN, (for Adegboyega Oyetola) and Lasun Sanusi, SAN, (for the All Progressives Congress) examined the documents, as tendered by Ikpeazu, Local Government by Local Government, and elected to reserve their objection to the point of final address.

    The procedure was a bit slow as each lawyer to each respondent took turn to examine the documents per LG, before the tribunal, led by Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, admitted the documents as exhibits, numbering each item from P1 to P492.

    After tendering the last set of documents from Oshogbo Local Government at about 5pm, Ikpeazu told the tribunal that he was willing to continue. Ikpeazu said he was willing to tender more documents, including voters’ registers from about 12 LGs.

    Lawyers to the respondents objected to Ikpeazu’s willingness to continue, citing the problem of security in Apo, Abuja, where the tribunal sits. They requested a postponement of further proceedings to the next day.

    In a ruling, Justice Sirajo agreed with the respondents to adjourn to the next day. He ordered lawyers to all parties to resume at the tribunal at 9am on Tuesday to sort out all the documents to be tendered, before the tribunal sits at 10am.

    Read Also: Tinubu hails Ambode, others for accepting party supremacy

    The PDP and Adeleke are, by their petition, challenging the outcome of the election. They are querying the victory of the candidate of the APC, Oyetola in the election.

    Respondents to the petition are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC and Oyetola (listed as 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents).

    Earlier, the tribunal heard applications in relation to another petition filed by Mrs Jumoke Lawal and National Rescue Mission, with INEC, Oyetola and APC as respondents. The applications by Oyetola and APC sought the dismissal of the petition for being defective.

    After listening to arguments from lawyers to parties, Justice Sirajo said, in view of the provision of Section 285(8) of the Constitution (as amended), ruling in the applications will be delivered at the time of judgment in the petition.

  • PDP congratulates Buhari at 76, tasks him on rule of law

    The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) has joined other Nigerians to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari on his 76th birthday.

    The party said at the age of 76, President Buhari has attained a father-figure position and should do everything to respect the aspirations and will of the Nigerian people on all issues, particularly as the nation heads for the 2019 general elections.

    It urged the President to leave a lasting legacy by doing all within his powers to ensure that the nation he leads knows peace; to ensure that rules are obeyed and that the sensibilities of the people, in their diversities are fully respected.

    A statement Monday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the 2019 general elections placed a heavy responsibility on the shoulders of President Buhari.

    The main opposition party charged the President to guarantee peaceful, credible, free and fair elections, particularly, the presidential election.

    It urged the President to ensure that all electoral laws and rules are obeyed; that opposition members are not molested; that the amendment to the Electoral Act is signed; as well as to declare like his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan did in 2015, that his 2019 re-election ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

    Continuing, the PDP said, “If President Buhari looks at the state of the nation today, he will discover, and we believe he is aware, that the situation has become horrendous for the average Nigerian.

    “Therefore, the PDP urges President Buhari to use this occasion to reflect on his administration and do all to ensure that posterity does not remember him for violation of human rights, suppression of opposition and dissenting voices; disobedience to court orders, nepotism and divisiveness; escalation of violence, bloodletting and concealment of corruption under his administration.

    “In all, the best gift President Buhari can give Nigerians is, having openly agreed that he lacks the capacity to manage our economy, to allow a credible election to enable Nigerians to vote our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who understands the nuances of our national challenges and who has a blue print for economy recovery, to come and turn things around for all our people, while he withdraws to Daura for a well-deserved rest.

    “On this note, the PDP congratulates President Buhari as he turns 76 and prays that the Almighty Allah grant him good health and many more years ahead”.

  • Attacks on Buhari: Group urges INEC to caution PDP

    The Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) yesterday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to call the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to order over what it termed hate speech and campaign of calumny against President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The group described PDP’s statements on President Buhari’s position on the state of the country’s economy and his refusal to assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018 as ridiculous and misleading.

    In a statement in Abuja by its Director of Communications and Strategic Planning, Mallam Gidado Ibrahim, the president’s support group described certain statements issued recently by the major opposition party against Buhari as the antics of a drowning political party, whose plot to rig the 2019 general elections had been scuttled.

    On Buhari’s words to governors at the weekend that they should expect tough times ahead, BCO said rather than describing the president’s admittance to impending economic hardship as a sign of failure, the PDP ought to have praised the president for the courage to speak up when necessary.

    The group noted: “Because of its 16 years of leud leadership, the PDP is ill-prepared for the role of constructive opposition. If they don’t have anything to say or do, the PDP can as well go to the Sahara Desert to dig a well, rather than making hate speeches and throwing tantrums everywhere in the name of opposition. We urge the electoral umpire to call the PDP to order.

    “It is pathetic that the PDP prefers the president to lie to Nigerians about the state of the economy. What is wrong in admitting to where challenges exists? The PDP’s modus operandi for 16 years was to continue to mislead the people. We all know President Buhari very well; he won’t lie to Nigerians. Rather, he will tell them the truth, while working hard to fix the problem.

    “For the records, Nigerians elected and trusted President Buhari to tell them the truth at all times and he will not deviate from that. The problem that still bedevils the economy today is still a fallout of PDP’s 16 years of irresponsible governance”.

    On the amended electoral bill, BCO said Buhari was right to have declined his assent to the bill, even as it insisted that the amended electoral bill presented to the president was a landmine the PDP would have relied on to rig its way back to power in 2019.

    Ibrahim stated: “A Leopard can never change its skin. The PDP thought they are smart but the president and his party are smarter. No more will the PDP  be allowed to execute its sinister motives. They want to use the amended electoral bill to rig their way back to power again in 2019 so that they can continue to plunder the economy of this country. We say capital NO!

    “The PDP has demonstrated once again that it means no good for this country and its people. The president will not fold his hands and watch the PDP rig its way back to power to destroy the economy he is toiling to rebuild. Knowing that they have been rejected by Nigerians, the only way they think they can foist themselves on this country again is through the back door.

    “Their plan to engage a Russian hacking agent to infiltrate INEC’s data base during the next general elections has been unravelled.”