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Tag: PDP

  • Victory is assured, says Adeleke

    After casting his vote, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke, has assured his supporters that, if he is not rigged out by the authorities in charge of the process, he is sure of victory.

    Adeleke who arrived exactly 8am at his polling unit 009, Ward 2, Abogunde/Sagba registration area, Ede North, was the first to vote at the unit.

    The Card Reader Machine had initially difficulties authenticating his fingerprints, but after about five minutes, he succeeded in doing his accreditation.

    The PDP flag bearer who voted at about 8.07am told reporters afterwards that so far everything was proceeding normally and that if it continues that way he is sure of victory.

    He said attempts were made to frustrate his bid, to destabilise him ahead of the election, but everything failed in the end.

    Buoyed by the support he is getting from his constituency in Ede, Senator Adeleke who surprisingly emerged winner of the Osun West senatorial by-election in July 2017 fancies himself as the next governor of Osun State.

    Adeleke became actively involved in partisan politics when he contested and won the by-election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  after the death of his elder brother, former Governor Isiaka Adeleke, then a serving senator, in April 2017.

    Read Also: Live Updates: Osun 2018 governorship election

    Ademola Adeleke had defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP, when he suspected that the ruling APC in Osun State would deny him its ticket for the contest.

    He proved book makers wrong when he won the election which was conducted on July 23, 2017. Everyone had expected the APC to win the election.

  • APC, PDP in verbal war

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of assembling nine of its state governors in Osogbo for the purpose of rigging today’s governorship election in the state in favour of the APC candidate, Mr.Isiaka Oyetola.

    The PDP publicity Secretary in the Southwest, Mr.Ayo Fadaka, claimed in a statement that the presence of the nine governors was causing disquiet in the state and was capable of leading to unforeseen developments.

    But Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, dismissed the rigging allegation as lacking in substance.

    He said the truth is that the PDP has slipped into panic mode because it is not prepared for the poll.

    Fadaka said: “We wish to bring to the notice of Nigerians that Osun State has again been invaded by nine APC governors who continue to remain the arrow head and catalyst of its rigging machines across the nation.

    ”They brought into Osun State public funds meant for the development of their individual states to come and buy votes again as done recently in Ekiti State, accompanying them are thugs whose only mission is to cause mayhem in the state during the elections.

    “These governors are led by Alhaji Ganduje and Mr El’Rufai of Kaduna, and there are nine of them presently on ground.

    “It is sad that the APC continues to pride itself in this malfeasance of wholesale bribery in spite of its so called battle against corruption.

    “We however encourage the people of Osun State to take a hard stance against these governors who have abandoned their duty posts with a view to corrupting them.”

    You’re in panic mode, Mohammed mocks PDP

    In a swift response, Information Minister Lai Mohammed said that the PDP was only jittery ahead of the election because it was not prepared for it.

    Mohammed who is chairman of the APC campaign council for the election, said his party has “no need for thuggery or rigging “because the people are solidly behind us.”

    He added: “The PDP and some of its top members have accused INEC, the police and other security agencies as well as the NYSC of all sorts of things. They have made allegations of thuggery and rigging against the APC.”

    “None of the accusations has been substantiated. If only the party had invested its energy in preparing for the election, it may not have become so jittery.

    “Unfortunately, the die is cast and the PDP has seen the handwriting on the wall, hence the party’s slip into the panic mode.

    “On our part, we have confidence in the various institutions saddled with the responsibility of ensuring a successful election in Osun State.

    “We have no need for thuggery or rigging because the people are solidly behind us.”

  • 2019: Crisis rocks Kaduna PDP

    Five Governorship aspirants of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State on Friday passed vote of no confidence on the party’s State Chairman, Hassan  Hyat, for allegedly favouring a particular aspirant ahead of the party’s primaries.
    The Aspirants who addressed a press conference in Kaduna under the Forum of PDP Governorship Aspirants, kicked against the alleged  imposition of the one of the aspirants by some members of the State Working Committee (SWC).
    The forum aspirants include Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi, Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Sidi, Ramalan Yero,  Muhammed Sani-Bello and Dr Shuaibu Idris-Mikati.
    Speaking on behalf of the aspirants, Ahmed Maiyaki, head of Media team for Sani-Sidi, said that the stand of the forum was for the love and progress of the party in the state.
    The five governorship aspirants appealed to the party’s National Body to take charge of affairs in the state to avoid crisis during the primary elections.
    ” The  forum deems it a duty to intimate the national leadership of our great party, teeming party members, supporters and the general public on the following concerns:
    “‘Prior to and after losing the 2015 general elections, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) had never been a more ‘cherished bride’ with the prospects of winning almost all the elective posts in Kaduna State than now with more people willing to join and participate actively in rescuing our state and the nation at large.
    ‘”As democrats, the Forum insists that power must truly return to the people through open and transparent process anchored on internal democratic process in our great party.
    “The forum also observed with dismay the deliberate attempt  to subvert the democratic process ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial primaries slated for the 28th of September, 2018.
    “The Forum condemns strongly the activities of the Kaduna State Chairman of our Party, Hon Felix Hassan Hyet, who has openly attached himself to one of the gubernatorial aspirants, which is against the norm and the principle of fair play.”
    The forum accused the state party chairman of openly working against the aspirations of the other gubernatorial aspirants in favour of his ‘anointed candidate’.
    The aspirants claimed that the chairman had been promised the position of a running mate to the favoured aspirant.
    “After the recent congresses in which ad-hoc delegates were elected, the State Chairman threw caution to the wind by tempering with delegate lists of several Local Governments areas sent to the State Party Secretariat to the advantage of his ‘anointed one’.
    “There is great tension in the State as a result of the partiality of the Party Chairman; whereby the bright prospects of “bringing back” Kaduna State to the PDP is in jeopardy.
     “Forum further notes, the attempt by the Party Chairman to surreptitiously foist the preferred candidate using a certain group called “Southern Kaduna Stakeholders Chairmen Forum”.
    ‘This act is capable of destabilizing the party and its prospect in the 2019 polls and undermining the efforts of the aspirants to find consensus among themselves.
    ” Inview of the above, the Forum humbly requests the National leadership of our great party to take full charge of the Party’s activities in Kaduna State, in order to rescue the situation and restore the confidence of majority of Party members and loyalists in the state once more.
    “The Forum also called on teeming party members, delegates and supporters to resist all attempts to subvert democratic process and vote for aspirants of their choice.
    “The Forum wishes to reassure all that discussions are ongoing to reach a consensus among the aspirants.” (NAN)

  • ‘PDP’s dominance in Ede has ended’

    Former Speaker of the Osun State of House of Assembly, Hon. Adejare Bello, has said the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ede has ended.
    Bello, who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) recently, said the outcome of the election in the two local governments that makes up Ede could go anyway.
    The former Speaker told our reporter on Friday over the telephone that the election was likely to be a 50-50 affair between the PDP and the APC.
    “I won’t say because I now belong to the APC that the ruling party will win hands down in the area. It’s going to be anybody’s game tomorrow in Ede. The PDP will make an appreciable impact in the area, because that is where it’s governorship candidate (Adeleke) is from” he said.
    “But a number of other eminent politicians in the APC are also indigenes of the area, so the the ruling party will give the PDP a run for its money in the two local government”.
    “The PDP is likely to do well in Ede on Sartuday. But, whether it is going to be 55 per cent, 51 per cent or 50 per cent, I cannot say at the moment. The Ede vote is going to be split between the two major parties, with the other parties trailing behind.”
    Bello further said the APC standard bearer in the election, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, would carry the day, after tomorrow’s contest.
    The former PDP chieftain said the party is hopelessly divided in Osun State and cannot make the sort of impact people are expecting.
    He said: “Many of us felt aggrieved and left the party, because of the division within its fold. The support Senator Iyiola Omisore is enjoying in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) used to belong to the PDP”.
    “The same goes for Mr. Fatai Akinbade of the African Democratic Party (ADC), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola also of the ADC and myself. Most of the votes that would be cast for the APC tomorrow in my constituency used to be for the PDP.”

  • Tambuwal storms Ekiti, promises dynamic leadership

    Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal on Friday stormed Ekiti State to woo the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) delegates in the Fountain of Knowledge ahead of the October 6 presidential primary.

    Tambuwal, who is a PDP presidential aspirant, promised to give Nigeria dynamic and quality leadership if he wins the party’s ticket and the
    presidential election.

    The former Speaker of the House of Representatives said he has what it 1takes to preside over the affairs of a complex country like Nigeria
    given his pedigree and experience both in the legislature and executive.

    Tambuwal said he was motivated to join the presidential race because of what he called the “poor performance” of President Muhammadu Buhari whom he accused of presiding over a divided Nigeria.

    He promised to accede to the demands of Nigerians who are demanding the restructuring of the country to allow for the practice of true
    federalism and correct the alleged lopsidedness in sharing of resources and political offices.

    The aspirant urged the party members and the electorate to elect a “pan-Nigeria President” in the 2019 general elections saying an ethnic
    jingoist and a religious bigot is not suitable for the nation’s top job.

    He also urged leaders and members of PDP not to be discouraged by what he called “the oppression and humiliation being unleashed by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.

    The Sokoto governor commended Fayose saying “if not for people like him (Fayose), the PDP would not have been where it is today because
    Governor Fayose has fought hard to reposition the party in Ekiti and at national levels.”

    Tambuwal said: “The focus of every Nigerian in 2019 is to vote for a President that is Pan-Nigerian; a man who is not an ethnic jingoist or
    religious bigot.

    “We are all aware that the present government is desperate to perpetuate itself in power. They are ready to do those things outside the laws of the land to remain in power. That was why they have been harassing leaders like Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    “You must try and give the PDP flag to someone who believes in the unification of this country, someone who has traversed the length and
    breadth of this nation; Someone who has moved from Maiduguri to Lagos, from Port Harcourt to Sokoto and from the East to the extreme North as a private person.

    “As the former Deputy Minority Whip, Minority Leader and Speaker in the House of Representatives, I have an idea about the geographical
    configuration of this nation, so I am in good position to respect individual rights.

    “I will not be that President that will shut the doors against restructuring, I will even facilitate debate that will quickly enhance true and proper fiscal federalism. As a leader, it is not good for you to impose your will on the people, you must allow diverse opinions based on our religious and ethnic diversity.

    “As a President, I will respect the Rule of Law. I won’t be a President that would say National security is higher the rights of individuals. I will ensure we have peace across the nation through enhanced technology to build security architecture that will protect Nigerians.”

    Responding, Fayose said Nigeria needs a vibrant and youthful President to tackle the various challenges threatening its corporate existence noting that Tambuwal represents the youthful generation.

    Fayose described the APC-led Federal Government as a ‘monster’ that was only allegedly interested in oppressing people with power, rather
    than transforming their lives.

    The Ekiti governor lambasted the federal government for allegedly excluding Ekiti from benefiting from N2.5 million Budget support and
    N11 billion Paris Club Funds released to some states recently, alluding to such as anti-democratic and against the principles of federation.

    He charged the PDP presidential hopeful to campaign for the PDP the way he did in 2015 for President Buhari.

    Fayose said: “You (Tambuwal) were one of those who repackaged President Buhari in 2015 and ensured he won the presidential election.
    You must make sure you do same in the 2019 election.

    “Everyone knows that we need a youthful President with energy. Someone who can see Nigeria as one indivisible entity, not a tribalist and religious bigot. The treasure of any man is his vitality, which would make him work harder to deliver his people from poverty.

    “Look at what they did now, they excluded Ekiti from N11.6b Paris Club and N2.5b budget support fund I would have used to pay the backlog of salaries.

    “I want to appeal to all workers to ensure that the money is not diverted. They should ensure that it was used to pay their salaries the way I would have loved to do.

    “So, in selecting the presidential candidate for our party, Ekiti delegates will vote wisely. We will vote for a president we can trust and the one that will see all Nigerians as one.”

  • I am back in PDP, Dogara declares

    As Speaker submits nomination form

     

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara on Thursday confirmed his defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP).

    Dogara made the declaration at the national secretariat of the PDP while submitting his nomination form for his Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency of Bauchi State.

    This has ended speculations about his defection and political career in the past few weeks. The Speaker, who was elected on the platform of the APC, was silent on whether or not he has formally resigned his membership of the ruling party.

    On his decision to dump the APC for the PDP, Dogara said he had decided to come back to his original roots, adding that he did not defect to the PDP because the APC denied him a return ticket.

    The Speaker said, “I have decided to come back to my original root because the truth is that when we went into APC after the general elections, there was never an occasion in which we were not reminded that we do not belong.

    “When there are discussions, you will hear reference to the fact that those who joined us from the PDP are our problems. So, that discussion will end from today since we have left.

    “So, I have decided to join my brothers – members of this great party, the PDP so that we can chart a new frontier in our state of Bauchi and for our dear nation, Nigeria”.

    Read Also: IGP, others urged to execute arrest warrant on Uzodinma

    “I am here not because they have denied me ticket to contest in APC. And I am not bothered about contesting election; what bothers me is the state of my state.

    “The situation in which our people are and the state of this country. So, even if you give me a ticket to work in a situation where my conscience is totally not aligned with, to be candid, I cannot function effectively there”.

    Dogara said he was still in shock over happenings within the APC, particularly at the national level, adding however that he would reserve the details for another occasion.

    “When I recover from my shock, I will now tell my story in a way that is devoid of sentiments so that people can clearly understand the reason why I am taking the decision that leads me to the PDP today. And I will certainly do that.

    “But permit me to say that in the APC when we moved in, obviously they are not all devils. There are wonderful people in APC but there are equally some people who have a ravenously wayward sense of personal entitlement.

    “And this really are the problems with the APC. When it serves their interests, they said ‘the party is supreme’. When it doesn’t serve their interests, they castigate the party, including the leadership of the party.

    “These are people who are the lots of the family. They do what they will while others are required to do what they must. And in such environment, I am disabled.

    “We have a lot of bouncers in the party. And in such a situation where I had a very clear conscience, even though a lot of people were happy with me. But I can tell you that I would rather be hated for who I am than be loved for who I am not”.

    In apparent reference to the frosty relationship between him and the governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar, the Speaker said he was ready for the challenge from those who said they would retire him from politics.

    Daring his political adversaries, Dogara said he would be waiting for them in his constituency, adding that he had to prove to those who said he could not move from the APC to any other political party.

    “Permit me to say that for some of us who are here and who are wondering becsuse it has been said that I cannot move from where I was to perhaps any other political party. That discussion has been ongoing. But today’s event marks the end of all speculations”, he declared.

     

  • Lagos: I’m back in the governorship race – Jimi Agbaje

    Mr Jimi Agbaje, the 2015 Lagos State gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday ended speculations about his re-run bid, saying he was back in the race.

    Agbaje made the confirmation via a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    “It is true that initially I did not want to re-contest, but I had so many people urging me to run.

    “I bought and submitted my nomination form shortly before it closed. I will be part of the PDP Lagos governorship primaries, billed for Friday, Sept 28th, “ he said.

    Agbaje said that he was confident he would win the elections in Lagos, if he picked the PDP guber ticket to run.

    On the upcoming primaries, Agbaje said he was confident that the leadership would create a level playing ground for all the aspirants, as has been the norm of the party.

    “Our primaries have always been open, fair and free for all.

    “This is what we are known for, and that is the way I expect it to be,” he said.

    Read Also: ‘How we reconciled Gov. Gaidam, Sen. Bukar Abba Ibrahim’

    Agbaje, who also contested for the National Chairmanship of the PDP in 2017, won by Uche Secondus, said that the recent defections from the party in the state would not affect him if he picked the ticket.

    “It is the people of Lagos State that will decide. The issues in the party will not impart negatively on votes.

    “Most Nigerians now vote for individuals rather than party,” he said.

    NAN reports that Agbaje, popularly known as JK, was born March 2, 1957 in Lagos State to late Chief Julius Kosebinu (Banker) and Mrs. Margaret Olabisi (teacher).

    A Pharmacist, Agbaje is the second born and first male child of five children (two female and two male siblings) including Segun Agbaje, the CEO of Guarantee Trust Bank.

  • Kano Assembly confirms Gawuna as deputy governor

    Kano state House of Assembly on Tuesday screened and confirmed Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna as Deputy Governor of Kano state.

    Gawuna is to replace the former Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar who resigned his position last August and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Gawuna’s appearance at the Assembly followed a letter from Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje requesting for Gawuna’s confirmation as his Deputy.

    Gawuna, a two term Council chairman and one time president of Youths Sports Federation of Nigeria was chosen from five contestants.

    At the plenary, Leader of the Assembly, Bappa Babba Danagundi requested the Assembly for Gawuna’s screening and confirmation.

    Read Also: 2019: APC chieftain, Dahiru defects to Sokoto PDP

    The Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum who presented Gawuna before the floor of the Assembly, urged him to present his biography for the public to know his background and political career.

    Gawuna in his brief speech appreciated Governor Ganduje for finding him worthy out of millions of competent people in the state and the trust bestowed on him to serve Kano and humanity as Deputy Governor.

    After answering a series of questions posed to him by members of the Assembly, Speaker Rurum confirmed Gawuna as the Deputy Governor of Kano state amidst cheers by thousands of Gawuna’s supporters who thronged the Assembly complex for the screening.

  • APC chieftain Dahiru Yabo joins PDP

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State, Dahiru Yusuf Yabo, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He announced his defection yesterday.

    Yabo, a former governorship candidate of defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), promised to support Governor Aminu Tambuwal’s presidential aspiration.

    The former commissioner was hard on President Muhammadu Buhari’s critics until recently.

    Yabo noted that he defected because President Buhari has failed to deliver his electoral promises to Nigerians.

    He said: “Despite working hard for Buhari’s election in 2015, the APC leadership failed to honour the merger agreement reached with former Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko with the defunct CPC members since 2015.

    “My resolve to join the PDP is because of Buhari’s failure to deliver on the promises made to Nigerians, especially in security. I was one of his political foot soldiers and close allies in the past years but he cannot even recognise me now.

    “We hereby resolve not to trust Senator Wamakko as the APC leader in Sokoto due to his penchant for betraying his associates.”

    The party chieftain lamented that APC only succeeded in promoting hardship and sufferings in Nigeria.

    “Unfortunately, rather than the change it promised to the electorates, the party only caused socio-economic discomfort to Nigerians whose lives have been impacted negatively due to impeccable failure of the ruling party.”

    He denied any move to contest the governorship, and promised to mobilise people for Tambuwal’s presidential aspiration.

  • Gemade dumps PDP again for SDP

    A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Barnabas Gemade, has defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    He currently represents Benue North East in the Senate.

    The lawmaker has allegedly bought the party’s senatorial form and he is expected to submit it today.

    The senator, three weeks ago, picked the expression of intent and nomination forms of the PDP but it was learnt that he did not submit the form.

    SDP’s former Publicity Secretary Philip Wuhe said Gemade would submit his senatorial form today in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    He added that the senator would be battling two other aspirants: Senator Joseph Akargerger and Torgem Malu for the ticket.

    Few weeks ago, Gemade’s aide, Alaga Udu, said his principal was not planning to leave the PDP.

    But PDP’s Publicity Secretary Bemgba Iortyom said the party was not aware of the senator’s exit.

    He said: “I am not aware if Senator Gemade has left the party. I don’t know if he picked the party’s form because aside the House of Assembly form, which was bought here, others picked their forms in Abuja, though they were asked to submit to the state. But Gemade did not submit the form here.”

    Gemade, who was PDP National Chairman, left the party in 2015 and won the senatorial election on APC’s platform.

    Two months ago, he returned to the PDP with Governor Samuel Ortom, but moved to SDP and bought the nomination form for Sone A senatorial seat, leaving former Governor Gabriel Suswam as a sole candidate in the Zone A contest.

    Gemade blamed Ortom for his defection to SDP, saying the governor betrayed him.