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  • Osun 2018: APC cautions Secondus on utterances

    …says stop throwing mud at us

     

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) has asked the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus to stop his unguided and baseless utterances, saying the National Chairman of a political party is supposed to exhibit some level of decency and decorum.

    Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena said in a statement that Secondus allegation that the APC conspired with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the Osun governorship election inconclusive was without any basis at all.

    While challenging the PDP Chairman to back his statement with facts, the APC said Secondus should not to descend to the level unexpected of his office, less he enters the boxing ring with its attendant mud and dirt.

    The statement reads: “The National Chairman of a political party is expected to exhibit the highest sense of patriotism, decency and decorum in public conduct and discourse. Regrettably, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has not lived up to these basic expectations.

    “Weeks ago, the PDP National Chairman took the internal matters of the country’s politics to the international scene by writing letters to various international organizations.

    “Again, soon after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the Osun State Governorship Election inconclusive, Prince Secondus without basis accused the electoral body of conspiring with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to declare the election inconclusive.

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    “The APC would as a rule ignore irresponsible and baseless utterances and actions as exhibited by the PDP National Chairman. But as we prepare for the forthcoming 2019 General elections, it is necessary we give a word of caution on expected behavior required of all political sides. Prince Secondus is respectfully advised to temper his political language and conduct.

    “His unfounded allegation on the inconclusive Osun State governorship election is not expected from such highly-placed party official. Accusing the APC of conspiring with INEC, without proof, is taking mudslinging too far.

    “We advise Prince Secondus not to descend to the level unexpected of his office, less he enters the boxing ring with its attendant mud and dirt. His action will only bring him personal attacks, ridicule. A word is enough for the wise”.

  • Edo APC holds emergency meeting on expelled party chieftain

    The All Progressives Congress in Edo State will on Tuesday hold an emergency meeting to deliberate on the expulsion of Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Pally Iriase.

    Chairman of the APC in Owan East Local Government Area, Zuberu Shabah, had announced the expulsion of Iriase from the APC, over alleged anti-party activities.

    Zuberu in a letter addressed to National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, explained that Iriase was expelled because executive members of the party in Iriase’s ward defected to the PDP.

    Speaking in a chat with newsmen, Vice Chairman of the APC in Edo North, Chief Sunny Okomayin, said the emergency meeting would declare the expulsion a nullity.

    Chief Okomayin said Iriase is a respected leader of the party, both at the state and national level and remained a bonafide member of the party.

    Okomayin stated that some party members had personal grudges with Iriase but they failed to consult with the sate party’s secretariat, if the party rule have been breached by the lawmaker.

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    He explained that the ward or local government chapter of the party lacked the powers to expel a member of the NEC of the party.

    He said those responsible for the alleged expulsion would be sanctioned by the party.

    According to him, “We are quite surprised by the action of the persons responsible for this alleged expulsion of not only respected leader of the party, but a principal officer of the House of Representatives.

    “We have rules guiding every actions of members. If at all Iriase has breached any of the rules, it is only the National leadership of the party that can take disciplinary action against him, and not these people.

    “If not for mischief making, why wasn’t I, the Senatorial Vice Chairman of the party consulted on this?

    “As I speak, an emergency leadership meeting of the state chapter of the party have been called on Tuesday over this matter.“

  • APC Campaign Council slams PDP for grandstanding on poll

    The war of words between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the Osun State governorship election continued yesterday. The APC Campaign Council described as “excessive grandstanding” the call by the PDP for the declaration of its candidate as the winner.

    In a statement issued in Lagos, the Chairman of the Council’s Media Committee, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, decried what he called the PDP’s descent into hysteria after INEC announced that the election was inconclusive. He said this reinforced the council’s earlier statement that the opposition party was in the panic mode prior to the election, and that it had no confidence in the institutions saddled with organising the polls.

    The council said rather than resort to threats, the PDP could either go to court or decide not to participate in Thursday’s supplementary election.

    What the PDP cannot and must not do, the Council said, is to engage in brigandage or to employ tactics that can short-circuit the democratic process.

    INEC declared the election inconclusive because the number of cancelled votes exceeded the difference between the two top candidates. Ademola Adeleke of the PDP is leading, having scored 254,698 votes.

    APC’s Gboyega Oyetola got 254,345 votes. There will be a rerun in seven polling units.

    The APC said: “‘In its time, there would have been no room for a supplementary election in Osun because the PDP would have used state institutions to hijack the election proper, as it did in Ekiti in 2014. But in its deafening hysteria, the PDP pretends not to understand the real meaning of the outcome of the Osun election: That the ruling APC did nothing to prevent the state institutions that organised the election from carrying out their duties, in the spirit of true democracy.”

    “Local and foreign observers have hailed INEC and the security agencies for a well-organised election. We join them in this commendation. Our confidence in the ability of the relevant state institutions involved in the Osun election remains unshaken. So also is our belief that every disagreement resulting from the election must be resolved through the democratic process, rather than a resort to threats of fire and brimstone,’’ the Council said.

    It described as “selective amnesia” the “jaundiced” analysis by compromised, pay-as-you-go analysts, party hacks and renowned professional riggers masquerading as democrats who pretend not to remember that the APC was leading the PDP massively (by over 40,000 votes) in the 2015 Kogi governorship election when INEC declared the election inconclusive.

    ‘’Rather than resort to threats, like the PDP is doing now, the APC simply submitted to the democratic process and the supplementary election was peacefully conducted in 91 polling units across 18 of the 21 local governments in the state. Where were these emergency, ready-for-hire analysts then?’’ the Council queried.

    It praised Osun State residents for deepening democracy by eschewing violence and exercising their franchise in an orderly manner last Saturday, and urged voters in the areas to be covered by the supplementary election to also ensure a peaceful process on Thursday.

  • PDP vote buying mechanism, a threat to democracy says APC

    OSUN State residents were told yesterday to resist vote buying in Thursday’s rerun in seven polling units.

    The All Progressives Congress Congress (APC) asked security agents and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to check what it described as the PDP vote buying machinery.

    Acting National Publicity Secretary Yekini Nabena said in a statement that the outcome of the Osun election confirmed the threats by the PDP to deploy all means, scheme, shenanigans in all ramifications to rig all the elections beginning from the Osun election.

    It said that the vote buying mechanics deployed by the PDP during the Osun election is a threat to democracy and current efforts to ensure the sanctity of elections.

    While asking the people of Osun to resist any such attempt, the APC wondered why the main opposition is raising questions about the inconclusive nature of the election when it failed to do same in previous elections, especially the governorship election in Kogi State.

    The APC said: “The aftermath of Saturday’s inconclusive Osun State governorship election has confirmed the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) vow to deploy all “means, schemes, shenanigans in all ramification and magnitude” to rig all coming elections, starting from the Osun State governorship election.

    “It is now clear that the vote-buying template introduced by the PDP and brazenly deployed in the Osun inconclusive election is an urgent threat to our democracy and current efforts to ensure the sanctity of our elections.

    “While the PDP and its paid proxies were accusing other political parties of irregularities during Saturday’s inconclusive elections, the Party was busy perpetuating its vote-buying scheme as exposed in several leaked videos showing PDP agents buying votes for its candidate, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, particularly in Ede local councils.

    “The PDP’s now public rigging method, particularly vote-buying and dissemination of diversionary fake news, must be checked, particularly as we go into the INEC-ordered Osun governorship rerun.

    “We also call on the electorate, civil society organisations and relevant stakeholders to speak out and resist the PDP’s retrogressive plans, which threaten our democracy.

    “Again, while the PDP attempts to misinform the public on the rationale for declaring the Osun governorship election inconclusive, they should be reminded that in 2015, the late Abubakar Audu of Kogi State was leading by 240,867 votes to PDP’s 199,514 votes; the margin of 41,353 favoured the APC but it was declared inconclusive.

    “INEC ordered a rerun because 49,953 cancelled votes were higher than the 41,353 despite the fact that APC was leading with a wide margin. At the time, the PDP did not protest; rather it prepared and waited for the rerun date.

    “The PDP cannot be supportive of decisions only when it seemingly favours them. There are electoral precedents, guidelines and laws which are binding on all.

    “Finally, we reiterate our confidence that the Osun electorate will resist the PDP’s deployment to take over the state by force. The people’s will; the people’s vote is supreme. It must be respected and defended. That is democratic, progressive and the right thing.”

  • PDP National Convention: Party leaders disagree over venue

    There are indications that the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have yet to agree on a venue for party’s presidential primaries fixed for Oct. 6, following a sharp disagreement between the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) and the National Working Committee (NWC).

    The disagreement manifested at the inauguration of the party’s National Convention Planning Committee on Monday in Abuja.

    This followed a sharp disagreement between the chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) ,Sen. Walid Jibrin , and the National Working Committee (NWC) over the choice of venue.

    Inaugurating the committee, PDP Deputy National Chairman (South) Elder, Yemi Akinwonmi, said that the party leaders had consulted widely on the venue and agreed for Port Harcourt, River.

    “On the issue of venue, the party set up a committee headed by Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure and they went round the South-South Zone and South-East Zone before coming out with the choice of Port Harcourt for us.

    “As in acceptance, the National Working Committee (NWC) has consulted widely with the PDP Governors forum, we have consulted widely with the BOT, cacaus of the party and today it has been jointly accepted that we will converge on Port Harcourt, in no distance time for the National Convention.”

    Akinwonmi added that the international community had expressed their interests in the party primaries.

    “Particularly they said they Want, to come and watch the process the will lead to the emergency of our flag bearer, because by the grace of God our flag bearer will be the next President of Nigeria.”

    Meanwhile, the chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) , Sen. Walid Jibrin, in his remarks said that the party had yet to make final decision on the choice of venue for the convention.

    “Even though the Deputy Chairman said the issue of venue had been concluded, I want to say that the issue of venue is still on and is not concluded.

    ” Because there are many suggetions on the issue of venue. We look at all suggestions and I assure you that the issue of venue will be resolved.

    “But for now we are working around the clock to ensure that we have a very suitable venue accepted by everybody.

    “I want to say that everyone of us should come together and ensure that we have a venue suitable to all of us.”

    Intervening on the matter, the secretary of the convention committee and Ebonyi  Governor, Dave Umahi, said “I think the working committee and the BOT need to settle this.”

    Chairman of the convention committee, Ifeanyi Okowa, also speaking on the matter said PDP was ready to host the convention in any state eventually agreed on.

    Okowa said that no matter where the convention was settled for PDP would do what was right.

    “I believe that at the end of the day, nobody will have any cause to complain.”

    Okowa, who appreciatd the party for the assignment given to them said
    that they knew that the party was in very critical moments in the history of the nation and the PDP.

    “We do understand that the assignment that you have given us is about the most important assignment in the history of this party at least for this year.

    “All of us believe that the only way forward is for the entirety of the party to stay united and focused. And as such, as members of the PDP, we cannot afford to disagree on any issues.

    “The thing that is needed is for a free and fair primary to be conducted for all our aspirants. And we are very definite that we will get it right.”(NAN)

  • Osun: APC, PDP trade words

    The two leading parties in Saturday’s Osun State governorship election were yesterday locked in a war of words over the stalemated exercise.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) said it was providential that the process was incomplete because a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) victory would have been a major calamity for residents.

    But the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it was robbed of victory, stressing that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should have declared it winner.

    After declaring Saturday’s election inconclusive, INEC yesterday fixed Thursday for a rerun poll.

    The elections are to be conducted in seven polling units within four local government areas of the state. The electoral umpire nullified the ballot from the affected units due to irregularities and over voting.

    INEC’s election guideline made pursuant to Section 153 of the Electoral Act stipulates a rerun if the margin of victory in an election is lower than the number of voters in units where elections are cancelled.

    In all, 3,498 votes were cancelled, making it impossible for the commission to declare any party the winner on the first ballot.

    At the INEC State Headquarters in Osogbo, the state capital, Returning Officer (RO) Prof Joseph Adeola Fuwape yesterday listed the affected local governments as Orolu, Osogbo, Ife South and Ife North.

    He noted that the cancelled 3,498 votes could swing victory in favour of either the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, who polled 254, 698 or his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, who was trailing him on the first ballot with 254,345.

    According to the RO, the 353 votes difference between Adeleke and Oyetola is not enough to declare anyone the winner.

    He said the result from Osogbo Unit 017, where 884 voters were registered, was cancelled because the presiding officer absconded with electoral materials.

    In Orolu, the election was cancelled due to ballot box snatching.

    Fuwape said: “Unfortunately as the returning officer, it’s not possible to declare anybody as the clear winner of the election on the first ballot.”

    He said that since the 3,498 cancelled ballot was higher than the difference between the votes of the leading candidate, a re-run election had to be conducted.

    His words: “From the analysis of the results we have, the difference between the two leading parties is just 353 votes; 3,498 votes were cancelled in the polling units.

    “To that effect, as the retuning officer, it is not possible to declare any party as clear winner of this election on the first ballot. But I must commend the people of this state for being peaceful.

    “The INEC, therefore, declares September 27 as date for a rerun election. On the basis of this, I, declare the election inconclusive. I, Joseph Adeola Fuwape, hereby, declare this election inconclusive.”

    The Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Segun Agbaje, said the rerun would be between 8am and 2pm.

    Agbaje said that since the affected polling units are few, voting will end early so that the winner can be announced as promptly as possible.

    It was learnt yesterday that all the 48 parties that partook in Saturday’s election would be free to participate in the re-run if they so wish.

    According to a statement released by the APC Directorate of Publicity, “Osun has been miraculously saved from the savage jaws of the evil that could have befallen it, if the monstrosity called the PDP had won the election.”

    “It was the limit that corrupt money could go to buy up an election,” the party said.

    ‘Now that Osun has been given a second chance to escape from the calamity it almost fell into, the people of Osogbo, Orolu, Ife South and Ife North have the enormous task to save the state from predator-politicians,” the statement, signed by Kunle Oyatomi, the Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, said.

    It went on: “On Thursday 27th of September, that is the mission that they have. We therefore call on all citizens in these polling areas to sacrifice everything they can on that day to become the great heroes and heroines  of our beloved state.

    “We use this opportunity to thank all those who summoned courage in spite of  the ‘blood’ money on offer by the PDP to vote their conscience, stood their ground and voted for APC.

    “The unfinished job will be concluded on Thursday by the Grace of God.”

    The PDP insisted that the process was conclusive and that its candidate was in clear lead and should be immediately declared winner, having met the requirements of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    At a media briefing in Abuja yesterday, PDP spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan said Section 179 (2) (a)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) was clear in spelling out the conditions for returning a candidate to the office of governor.

    Quoting from the said Section, the PDP chief said: “A candidate for an election to the office of Governor of a State shall be deemed to have been duly elected where, there being two or more candidates – (a) he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and (b) he has not less than one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the local government areas in the State.”

    The main opposition party insisted that the declaration by INEC of the election as inconclusive, was a “sordid robbery” of the franchise of the people of Osun State, who participated in the election.

    “The people, by their votes, have overwhelmingly declared for our candidate and we are not ready to accept any attempt by anybody to use any means whatsoever to steal our mandate freely given by the people.

    “The PDP is for peace, but we will not hesitate to use every force available in a democracy to face any attempt to subvert the will of the people or rig us out in this election,” Ologbondiyan said.

    The party urged INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to reverse what it described as a “fraudulent” decision by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and declare its candidate the winner.

  • Ishaku declares self only PDP governorship aspirant in Taraba

    Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba has declared himself as the only governorship aspirant under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
    ‎
    Gov. Ishaku disclosed this to newsmen shortly after  he was screened as the governorship aspirant of the PDP by the Screening Committee of the party  in Bauchi on Saturday.
    ‎
    “My administration have achieved much in terms of infrastructures,  human and capital development in Taraba State.
    ‎
    “That is why my people and our party called on me to seek re-election, come 2019,” he said.
    ‎
    The governor said his administration has excelled in the areas of education, agriculture and prompt payment of workers salaries.
    He assured that his administration has plans to do more for the people of the state, if returned by 2019.
    ‎
    Ishaku also expressed optimism that the PDP will spring electoral surprises in the North-East geopolitical region in the 2019 general elections.
    ‎
    He commended the Committee for doing a good and thorough job, saying that it was a transparent exercise in line with the guidelines of the PDP. (NAN)

  • Melaye urges unity among Nigerians

    Sen. Dino Melaye, Kogi West Senatorial District, has urged Nigerians to uphold the unity and peace of the country in spite of their religious, political and ethnicity differences.

    Melaye made the call call at a dinner and reception organised by the Okun Development Initiatives (ODI) and in honour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, and Public Complaints Commissioner, Kogi, Olusuyi Otitoju, on Friday night in Abuja.

    He also advised Okun people not to politicise the virtues that united them.

    “People should not because of bread and butter, Naira and Kobo sell the consciences of our people or politicie Okun land,’’ he said

    Read Also:‘Melaye, others underdeveloped Kogi West’

     

    Melaye commended ODI for the reception and described Ologbondiyan as a “one single Nigerian with multiple competences’’.

    He also said that the emergence of Ologbondiyan as PDP spokesman had given a new face to PDP and Nigerian politics.

    Chief Victoria Awomolo, keynote speaker at the occasion, called for specialised courts to try economic and financial crimes and other corruption cases.

    Awomolo said this would reduce the burden on normal courts and ensure speedy trial of offenders.

    “We also need total overhaul of the security apparatus in the country, beginning from recruitment of more personnel, provision of more advanced facilities and tools to combat crimes.’’

    Reponding, Ologbondiyan commended the group for honouring him, saying the award had encouraged him to do more for the country, urging all to contribute their quota to the development of the nation.

    “For us in Okun land, we were all brought up to speak the truth and to fight injustices wherever we find ourselves.

    “As a people, wherever we find ourselves, we must think and work toward emancipation of our people back home,’’ Ologbondiyan said.

  • Atiku promises to take Nigeria to higher level

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday in Lafia, promised to take Nigeria to a higher level if elected president in 2019.

    Atiku, who is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, stated this while addressing the Nasarawa State Working Committee and delegates of PDP.

    According to him, insecurity, poverty, and hunger are some of the factors militating against the progress of Nigeria.

    Atiku said that it was improper to describe Nigerian youths as  lazy people who only needed free money.

    According to him, available records have proved Nigerian youths to be excellent sportsmen and women, astute businessmen and women,  among other things.

    Read Also: Atiku raises the alarm over alleged threat to life

     

    “If elected President of Nigeria , I will restructure Nigeria by empowering the youths, eradicate hunger and poverty, as well as fight insecurity,” he stated.

    The former vice president also promised to develop all states sharing boundaries with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    This, according to him, is because most of the people working in FCT reside in communities located in the neighbouring states.

    He called on the delegates to vote for him given his experience, high net-worth and resourcefulness.

    Responding, Francis Orugu, the Nasarawa State PDP Chairman, commended Atiku for the visit.

    He promised that delegates from the state would vote for a credible aspirant that would be able to represent the party in the 2019 presidential election.

  • Massive turnout in Iragbiji as Oyetola hails exercise

    …confident of winning 

    Sons and daughters of Iragbiji turned out in large number expectedly to vote for one of their own, Gboyega Oyetola, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in today’s election.
    Residents stormed polling units as early as 6:30 am awaiting staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to commence the voting exercise that was slated for 8:00 am.
    In most of the polling units visited by our reporter, accreditation and voting commenced as scheduled with the card readers working in nearly perfect condition.
    Oyetola arrived at the L. A. School, Popo, Iragbiji at exactly 10:05 am. At 10:10, he did his accreditation. The card reader could not read his fingerprint the first time but succeeded the second time. He proceeded to cast his vote at 10:12.
    His wife, Kafayat, did the same immediately after her husband. But the card reader could not read her fingerprint until the third attempt.
    Clad in a white native attire with an orange cap to match, Oyetola described the exercise as peaceful and well organized.
    He also told reporters that reports from other parts of the state suggested that it has been a peaceful exercise so far. He hailed the INEC  for a smooth process and also commended Osun residents for conducting themselves peacefully as they performed their civic duties.
    A total of 1,278 voters were registered at his polling unit.