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Tag: PDP

  • PDP holds solidarity rally for Saraki in Kwara

    A large members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara on Friday turned out en mass for a solidarity rally for Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    The party members marched through all the streets in Kaiama, the Headquarters of the local council.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the rally came up a day after Saraki declared his intention to contest 2019 presidential election on the platform of PDP.

    All political office holders from the area at both the state and local government levels participated in the rally that lasted for hours.

    Mallam Abubakar Abdullahi-Bata, the Chairman of Kaiama Local Government Council said that the rally was staged to express the support of the people of the area to the leadership of Saraki.

    According to him, the large turnout has corrected an insinuation that PDP is dead in the community.

    “The people of Kaiama are for Saraki because we believe in his leadership.

    “We are ready to follow him to any party he wishes to lead us to because we have benefited immensely from him,” he said.

    He expressed confidence in the ability of the Senate President to govern Nigeria well and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

    Dr Aminat Ahmed, the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, who also took part in the rally, said it was organised to correct the misconception that the people of Kaiama had rejected the leadership of Saraki.

    She assured PDP of victory in Kaiama in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

    Mallam Ahmed Ibn-Mohammed, who is representing Kaiama/Kenmaji/Wajibe constituency, noted that Saraki’s belief in the youth was what endeared him into the minds of the people of the area.

    “For giving a youth like me an opportunity to represent my people at the state Assembly is a manifestation of his visionary leadership and belief in the youth”, he said. (NAN)

  • Automatic ticket divides Kogi PDP

    The proposal for automatic tickets for returning National Assembly members of the PDP ahead of the 2019 general election has ruptured the party in Kogi.

    The development which has resulted in serious intra-party dispute.

    Many of the senatorial aspirants and other stakeholders are kicking against it, with uncertainty and looming mass defection.

    One of the groups kicking against the declaration is the PDP Youths and Masses Advocacy Group, which has declared the decision as impunity.

    Addressing pressmen on Friday in Lokoja, the state coordinator of the group, Mallam Ahmed Suleiman, warned that failure to adhere to a level playing ground in the state primaries will not only lead to mass exodus but will kill the party in Kogi.

    His words: “As a group with a firm believes in the ideals and manifestoes of our great party, the People’s Democratic Party, we stand to condemn any act of impunity that will likely give rise to imposition.

    “The idea of an automatic ticket to representatives whose state the party is not having a governor is clearly and totally unacceptable. Any attempt at enforcing such will surely lead to mass exodus and the eventual collapse of the party at all level.

    Read Also: Kogi Central Senate seat and GYB

    “Also, a kangaroo primary in whatever form would be vehemently resisted. Let the people decide; the people own the party and not those leading the party.

    “The stand of the mass of people in the party supersedes all. The founding fathers of the party never contemplated automatic slot, if so, they would not have named it “people’s” party.

    “We are a party trying to bounce back from an electoral defeat at the national level, an appraisal shows that impunity was a major factor that led to our failure, that impunity we would never tolerate any more, we shall resist it with the blood flowing in our veins.

    “We maintain that a level playing ground be enabled, let the popularity of all the aspirants guarantee them victory, equally too, those incumbents seeking for a return ticket, let their scorecard or stewardship endear them to the people and not shifting the goal post in a manner to favour one aspirant or the other.

    “We must pick a lesson from the past and make the necessary adjustments.”

  • ‘Lifeless’ comment: PDP, Afenifere enemies of Nigeria, says Yoruba Ronu

    The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, are enemies of Nigeria.

    This followed their recent comments on President Muhammadu Buhari’s health.

    The group noted that the claims by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, and his Afenifere counterpart, Yinka Odumakin, that the President was physically unfit to run in 2019, were malicious.

    The PDP and Afenifere, in what has been described as an unflattering language, asked the President not to seek a second term against the backdrop of a statement credited to United States President Donald Trump that his meeting with President Buhari in April was “lifeless”.

    But in a statement yesterday by its Secretary-General Akin Malolu, Yoruba Ronu criticised the PDP and Afenifere spokesmen for their “vulgar”, false reactions and urged Southwest leaders to call both men to order.

    It said: “We are sad over the vituperations and several lines of insulting words poured out by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, and his Afenifere counterpart, Mr Yinka Odumakin, in the once respected Afenifere on President Muhammadu Buhari over a fake news (lifeless) that had been denied promptly by the United States government.

    “The descent into vulgarity from these two individuals had gained weight without caution and reprimands from their two political associations.”

    Yoruba Ronu noted that the failure to caution the duo would mislead youths to “take to ignoble routes of insulting elders in the land”.

    It added: “Describing the President as being in a vegetative state or embarrassing the nation on his several foreign visits are not only untrue but typical of those who have developed hate as a disease that needs urgent cure.”

    The group said both men did not understand the requirements of the offices they hold.

    It claimed that the “once respected Afenifere has been serially misused by younger men within it, who now go cap-in-hand begging for benefits in cash and kind”.

    “It is a shame that elders are allowing themselves to be rolled in muddy waters with putrid smell for political advantage that would never again be realised tomorrow or in the near future,” Yoruba Ronu said.

    The group urged Nigerians to see the PDP and Afenifere “as enemies of Nigeria and Nigerians as they have sold their souls to the Devil”.

    Yoruba Ronu apologised on behalf of the Yoruba to the President for the “unguided insults on his person and his office”.

    The group urged him to continue “in his good ways, which Nigerians are proud of”.

    It added: “The international community and their leaders have similarly admitted openly that Mr President remains a gift to mankind and Nigerians.”

  • Saraki associates resign appointments in Kwara APC

    Ten members of the dissolved Ishola Balogun – Fulani led executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state, Thursday have resigned their appointments.

    The dissolved executive members  have been laying claim to their positions.

    Read Also:Aisha Buhari charges APC women on unity, dialogue

    The National Working Committee of the APC had dissolved the state executives led by Ishola Balogun-Fulani shortly after the gale of defection of APC members to PDP in the state. The NWC thereafter set up a caretaker committee headed by Hon Bashir Bolarinwa.

    However, a Kwara state High Court ruled that the Ishola Balogun-Fulani led executive is the one recognised by law.

    Leading the pack of those who resigned are the former state women leader, Ramat Oganija and the state the publicity secretary, Buhari Sulyman who resigned.

    Other APC officers that have resigned their appointments include Mohammed Halliru (Asst. Welfare Secretary) ,Isiaka oniwa (North senatorial chairman), Jimoh Adesina (Central Senatorial Chairman), Katum mohammed (Organizing Secretary), Ramat Ibrahim (Financial Secretary),Jinatu ibrahim (North Women Leader),Atiku Abdurahman (North Senatorial Chairman) and  Sunkanmi Ereoye (South Senatorial Youth Leader).

    In his letter of resignation, Alhaji Buhari said his resignation was occasioned by the national leadership of APC who he accused of causing crises in the state chapter.

    He added that there was also lack of reward system in the party” we toiled to build from the scratch.”

    The letter reads: I wish to notify you of my resignation from the position of the publicity secretary of the APC in Kwara state. I have also resigned my membership of the party with immediate effect.

    “My resignation is based on litany of issues, chief among the issues is that the national leadership of the APC, through its actions, has continued to directly fuel crises in the state chapter of the party at the detriment of those of us who toiled day and night for years to ensure the ultimate victory of the APC at the polls.”

  • 2019: I’m not contesting for selfish reason – Atiku

    Former Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku has said that his interest in the presidency is not out of selfishness but a desire to offer his service to the nation.

    Just as he said that he is not ready to retire from politics and would continue to serve the country both in the public and private sector.

    Speaking with Niger state PDP delegates in Minna, the Presidential Aspirant said that the bid to offer his service to the nation what motivates him to come out and contest.

    “I have always been motivated by service to the nation and not for selfish reason. There is no question of me pushing so hard. If I am strong enough and health enough, why not continue to offer my services to the country.

    “I do not think I will like to be anybody else other than a Nigerian. The country have been good to me and I will continue to offer my service to the country. That is my main motivation and it is not motivated by selfishness. ”

    Atiku said that he is not ready to retire from politics,”my retirement in politics will depend on my ability, age and health. I will continue to serve this country. ”

    Speaking on the state of the nation, Atiku said the nation has recorded the lowest economic growth since the return of democracy in the administration of the APC declaring that the APC government have failed as far as the economy is concerned.

    He added that the nation have not fully recovered from recession contrary to the claims of the administration.

    “The nation have recorded the lowest economic growth since the return of democracy. It is clear that the APC government have failed so far as far as economic growth is concerned, that is why we have the highest level of joblessness and poverty rate. “

  • I will not leave PDP even if I lose primaries – Lamido

    Alhaji Sule Lamido, a former Governor of Jigawa and Presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said he will not leave the party even if he loses primaries for the presidential race.

    Lamido said this in an interview with newsmen at the residence of Gen. Jeremiah Useni, during a solidarity visit in Jos on Wednesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lamido had earlier paid a visit to the Plateau PDP secretariat where he declared his intention to run for presidency in 2019.

    “All of us vying for Presidency in PDP are equal and are capable of ruling Nigeria as President.

    “2019 Presidency is not just about me, we are all working for a just and a common goal to salvage the country. So if I’m not made candidate of our great party, I will support whoever emerges as flag bearer for PDP.”

    The Presidential aspirant assured that the party would reclaim its mandate.

    Lamido debunked rumours making rounds that he was being sponsored for the Presidential race by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    He said that he did not have any godfather in politics and was on his own and was vying for the number one seat in the country.

    “I was in PDP before former President Olusegun Obasanjo became president, I do not have a godfather, but I respect everyone in our party; we have the same aspiration as PDP members,” he said.

    The presidential aspirant said if voted into power, his administration would tackle security issues head on and try to find a lasting solution to the herders/farmers clashes being experienced in some parts of the country.

    Earlier, the party’s state Chairman, Mr  Damishi Sango, promised the aspirant of the state party’s support while urging him to strive towards making a difference if he emerged as the party’s candidate. (NAN)

  • Obasanjo not my sponsor – Lamido

    Alhaji Sule Lamido, former Jigawa governor and Presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP, has dismissed suggestions that he was being sponsored by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Lamido debunked the rumour while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday in Jos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lamido was in Jos to solicit votes from the party’s delegates in Plateau, ahead of the PDP National Convention slated to hold in October.

    “I have no political godfather; the presidency is for matured minds and I am one.

    “I hear people say Obasanjo is the one sponsoring my presidential ambition. That is not true.

    “I was in PDP before Obasanjo became president, but I respect him as my leader and elder statesman. I also respect every aspirant contesting on the PDP platform.”

    He said that his goal was to salvage Nigeria from poverty, underdevelopment and economic stagnation, adding that he was not desperate for the party’s ticket.

    “I am not desperate for the ticket. The Presidency is not just about me because all the aspirants in our party are working for a common goal.

    “If I’m not made candidate of our great party, I will support whoever emerges as our flag bearer,” he said.

    The aspirant promised to tackle the incessant herder/farmer clashes and other security challenges in the country if he was elected president in 2019.

    Earlier, Chief Damishi Sango, PDP chairman in the state, had said that the party would conduct transparent primaries that would be acceptable by all aspirants. (NAN)

  • Kwankwasiyya supporters dump group for APC, burn redcaps

    Over 10, 000 tricycle operators loyal to the Kwankwasiyya Group and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday in Kano destroyed and openly burnt their red caps and formally defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
    Receiving the defectors, chairman of APC in Kano, Prince Abdullahi  Abbas described the event which took place at Sani Abacha stadium as historic and an indication that the Kwankwasiyya and the PDP are dead and buried in Kano.
    According to him, “we are happy to receive the tricycle riders who have realized that there is no hope where they were.
    ” Today, they have come to join us and we have received them with open hands. In our great party, there is no discriminative. They will be accorded the same treatment just like any one of us.”
    Prince Abbas also stated that, ” with what is happening now, you will agree with me that come 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Abdullahi Abdullahi Umar Ganduje will have a landslide victory in Kano.”
    The Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Alhaji Muktar Sule Garo, in his address to the defecting supporters said about 6500 members of Kwankwasiyya Tricycle operators and 3500 members of PDP Tricycle operators defected to the APC.
    According to him, “thousands of Kwankwasiyya and PDP loyalists are gathered in this place to show their disaffection on the ideals and ideology of their leader, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.
    ” The defectors have come to join the struggle of restoring true democracy under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari at the centre and Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje here in Kano.
    “What you have seen here today is the beginning of the total annihilation of the Kwankwasiyya Group and the red-cap followers.
    “Already, plans have been concluded to receive more of these groups from market women, tea sellers, mechanics, baked beans sellers, soft drinks hawkers, vulcanizers and many other groups.”
    He added that, “there is no doubt that Kano is ready to deliver over five million votes to President Muhammadu Buhari. The people are happy with the achievements of Governor Ganduje’s administration and they are ready to appreciate him at the polls.”
    Also speaking, Kano state Commissioner for Information, Youths and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, described the event as memorable, adding that the state government was impressed by the development.
    According to him, “most of the decampees were members of the APC who went on sabbatical, but today, they have realized that there is no road where they were. They are back and we welcome them with open hands.
    “You can also agree with me that Kwankwasiyya is dead in Kano. We are expecting more people to join the progressives. I must tell you that Kano will soon record yet another massive defection of the opposition into our great party, the APC.”
    Speaking on behalf of the defectors, leader of the tricycle operators in the state, Alhaji Usama Haruna Dala, said that, “our defection today is as a result of our conviction that Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has given Kano the kind of development we deserve and he is ready to do more.
    ” We are also happy with the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari. We believe in APC, we believe in Ganduje, we believe in Buhari. In 2019, Insha Allah, APC is the winning party.”

  • 2019: Turaki, Bafarawa pick PDP presidential forms

    A former Special Duties Minister, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki and a former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa on Wednesday picked the presidential nomination forms of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    The two aspirants expressed the hope that the PDP will defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in the 2019 presidential elections.

    Ruling out the prospects of stepping down for one of the 12 PDP aspirants in the race as consensus candidate, the aspirants however said any of the aspirants could willingly withdraw from the race.

    Turaki said, “If we say that we are going for consensus, what are we going to do with it? We agree we are all brothers. We see it as a game. Therefore, if anybody is interested in withdrawing from the race, it’s a welcome idea.

    “But talking of consensus, you are going to fall like the All Progressives Congress (APC) where we are going to have a one-man show. We don’t want to go for one-man show. We want to practise democracy so that people will choose their own better candidate.

    “For example, if APC is playing democracy, they will allow at least three to four aspirants to aspire for the position. But because the party is a limited liability company, while PDP is a public limited company, it is welcome by everybody”.

    Turaki’s nomination documents were picked on his behalf by the Director of Media of his campaign organisation, Mr. Sola Atere.

    On his part, Bafarawa, who came to pick his nomination papers in person, said he was encouraged by the number of aspirants in the race, stressing that it was an indication of acceptability of the PDP among Nigerians.

    Read Also: Nigerian leaders should emulate Ayade, says Turaki

    “That is why people are aspiring, more are interested in joining the party unlike other parties where they run a one-man show. So, it’s very encouraging to all of us who are aspiring for this seat.

    “We are brothers, we are family. Our ambition is to get rid of APC. Therefore forget about the number of aspirants of the PDP. At the end of the day, we are all democrats, we must accept (the outcome of the primary, win or lose.

    “Therefore, anybody who wins, I believe collectively we are going to work together and see that we save this country from this mess”, Bafarawa said.

  • PDP sets agenda for British Prime Minister

    THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the visiting British Prime Minister, Theresa May, to use her visit to Nigeria to uncover the “dismal state” of the Nigerian nation by resisting a “choreographed” plan by the Buhari presidency to hoodwink her for an endorsement stunt.

    The party called on the British leader not to allow the Buhari presidency to confine her to the parlours of the Presidential Villa, but to insist on visiting other parts of the nation to enable her appreciate the “level of lies and false performance indices” the Federal Government has been dishing out to the world.

    A statement yesterday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the opposition party had been made aware of plans by the Federal Government to use the visit to “dish out more lies” to the international community in an effort to cover “its failures” in governance in the last three years, for which Nigerians are clamouring for a new president under the PDP.

    The party charged the British Prime Minister, as a parliamentarian, to take the Buhari presidency to task on its unabated interferences and violent attacks on the institution of the National Assembly, including threats to forcefully remove the elected presiding officers of the Senate, as well as the recent invasion and blockade of the National Assembly by security forces.

    It called on the British leader to task President Buhari on his disposition to the supremacy of the rule of law, including alleged violation of human rights.

    “This includes government’s disobedience to court orders, reported extra-judicial killings, torture, unlawful political arrests and detention, restriction of free speech and media freedom and lack of government’s accountability, as detailed in report by international bodies, including Transparency International (TI), Amnesty International (AI) and US Department of States.

    “The British leader should also elicit discussions with the President on the recent report by Price Waterhouse Cooper showing humongous corruption in his administration, including the circumstances surrounding the N4 trillion unremitted oil money in agencies under his direct supervision as minister.

    “Finally, the PDP urges Prime Minister May to engage President Buhari on the violent rigging of elections under his watch, and extract commitment from him on his administration’s preparedness for a free, fair and credible general election in 2019, especially as there are apprehensions across Nigeria, that his actions, utterances and body language suggest otherwise”, the statement added.