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Tag: PDP

  • PDP to APC: You rigged Ekiti poll

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) rigged Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

    In a statement issued on Monday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP cautioned the Presidency and the APC not to mistake the “rigging” in Ekiti as acceptance of the party by Nigerians.

    The party said it is shameful for a government claims to be fighting corruption to gloat over acts of electoral corruption that can truncate the nation’s democratic process.

    The party said it was strange that President Muhammadu Buhari could not condemn the emasculation and subversion of the will of Ekiti people and the stealing of another party’s victory by brute force.

    It also noted what it described as the unsavoury statements by the Presidency, celebrating the subjugation of Ekiti people as a stamp of “President Buhari’s triumph in the 2019 general elections.”

    The statement said: “If, for President Buhari and the APC, the subjugation of the people, as witnessed in Ekiti, amounts to an election, then the nation is headed to a serious crisis, as such will be resisted with all legitimate force available within our laws in the defence of our nation’s democracy.

    “The APC and INEC must note that what happened in Ekiti, as a single state, cannot be pulled through in a general election, especially where the people have made up their minds to seek a new president.

     

    “Nigeria is too big and too complex to be subjugated by a single individual or group of individuals, as any attempt to do so will definitely consume the conspirators.

    “Moreover, while we are still pursuing the recovery of our stolen mandate in Ekiti, we state in very strong terms that this will be the last time the PDP will, under any circumstance whatsoever, allow itself to be manipulated out at the polls at any level.”

     

  • APC has given me red card, says Ortom

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has said that he has been given a red card by the All Progressive Congress ( APC)

    The governor spoke at Government House Makurdi on Monday while swearing -in the new Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Jerome Tor Shine.

    The former Adviser was sacked last week in a new political realignment move.

    Governor Ortom who was elected on the platform of APC is now believed to be heading to the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP), which is in alliance with Social Democratic Party( SDP)

    ” APC has given me red card, they shut me outside ,I’m now party less ,but may soon decide my next journey ” Ortom said.

    Read Also: I’m still a member of APC – Ortom

    But speaking with The Nation on phone, a member of APC who pleaded anonymity said the governor is already a member of PDP.

    He advised the governor to tell his followers the truth about his new political party.

    Curiously, Governor Ortom’s posters bearing APC flooded Wurkukum roundabout in Makurdi .

    Many residents who saw the posters pasted round the busy roundabout gathered to discuss the issue of the party the governor now belongs.

  • PDP rejects poll results

    •Says Fayemi’s victory can’t stand

    The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the results of last Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

    The election was won by Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who defeated the PDP candidate, Prof Kolapo Olusola and other candidates.

    But the PDP, at a media briefing in Abuja yesterday, said the election results were falsified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in favour of the APC.

    The party described APC’s victory at the poll as “daylight robbery, brazen subversion of the will of the people and direct assault on our democracy”.

    PDP spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan said the “authentic results” from the polling centres indicated that the PDP candidate won the election.

    Ologbondiyan said: “It is clear that the PDP candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, incontrovertibly won the election, with very comfortable margin over the APC candidate, only for INEC to allow the alteration of results at the collation centres.

    “Painfully, the people of Ekiti State were pillaged, openly brutalised, confronted with the worst form of cruelty and intimidation from security agencies, and their mandate, which they freely gave to the PDP, was snatched at ‘gun point’ by enemies of democracy, who are parading themselves as icons of anti-corruption.

    “Nigerians are witnesses to all manipulations by the APC, aided by security agencies and compromised INEC officials, to rig the election, particularly, the audacious alteration and substitution of election results in favour of the APC at the collation centers amidst the brutalization of our agents.

    “The PDP has the details of all the polling units where we won, mostly with very wide margin ahead of the APC, only for the security agencies to chase away our agents, then aid the alteration and swapping of such results with those smuggled in by the APC at the collation centers.

    “We have the detail of the discrepancies between the authentic results from the polling units and the false figures eventually announced by INEC.

    “It is also instructive to state that all the issues we raised ahead of the election, including the conspiracy between the APC, some compromised INEC officials and security agencies; the importation of thugs from other states by the APC; the use of brute force against our members, the falsification and alteration of results in favour of the APC, all manifested in the election.

    “We know how APC conspired with INEC to bring in card reader machines belonging to Kogi, Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun states into Ekiti state to enable APC members from these states to vote in Ekiti election with ease.

    “Nigerians will recall the irresponsible and inciting statement credited to the factional National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, where he threatened that the opposition will be ‘crushed’ in this election.

    “The APC governorship candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, also vowed that they will “cage” the Ekiti State governor, Chief Ayodele Fayose.

    “These threats were carried out with the full collaboration of our security agencies”.

    The PDP said that it had details of how APC governors and ministers diverted huge sums of money from their states and ministries to bribe top officials of INEC, particularly, those in the ICT Department, as well as security agencies to perfect the brigandage against the people of Ekiti state.

    “The PDP holds strongly that there is no way our democracy can survive with an electoral process as witnessed in Ekiti state under President Muhammadu Buhari and the current INEC leadership.

    “This bare-faced subversion of the will of the people is a clear recipe for crisis and we invite Nigerians and the international community to hold President Buhari, the APC, the INEC Chairman and heads of security agencies in Nigeria responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order in Ekiti State as a result of this election.”

     

     

    “This robbery of the franchise of Ekiti people is a horrible rape of our democracy and it is most uncharitable that it could happen under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari as well as the participation of the APC, who hugely benefitted from the credible electoral process midwifed by the PDP in 2015.

    “It is shameful that APC and President Buhari, who jointly won a pan Nigerian election in 2015, now rely heavily on brute force to deliver their gubernatorial candidate in Ekiti state. This, indeed, is very shameful!

    “Finally, let it be known to all that, surely, this electoral banditry will not stand. The PDP is already collating all the infractions in this election and within the possible timeframe, we shall make our next step to reclaim our stolen mandate public”.

  • Okotie asks APC, PDP to adopt him for 2019

    Household of God Church Pastor Chris Okotie has returned to partisan politics as he seeks to contest for president in next year’s general election.

    He announced the intention at a news conference in his church yesterday, saying he was motivated to return because of the dashed dreams and aspirations of the people.

    Okotie said: “In sincere consideration, I humbly and sincerely ask that the All Progressives Congress (APC) adopt me as the presidential candidate. I have extended the same gesture to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) too. This is the time to demonstrate our love for this country.”

    He said things had gone from bad to worse in the country. He said Nigeria needs a credible personality, who is intellectually ready and capable.

    He said the Nigerian constitution is obsolete, adding that he would set up a government of reconciliation.

    Okotie concluded when he said his aspiration is not out of his will, but that of the Lord.

     

  • Arrest, prosecute killer politicians, Lamido tells Buhari

    Former Governor of Jigawa state and presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Sule Lamido on Sunday challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to come out with the names of politicians who he believed are behind the incessant killings in the country and bring them to justice.

    Lamido was reacting to the claims by the Presidency that it has the list of names of politicians who are behind the killings of innocent Nigerians.

    “President Buhari said ‘I know those politicians, who are sponsoring these killings,’ he said so, as the Commander-In-Chief. Now, have they been arrested? Who are they? Name them. People are dying every day, and he knows the killers and they have not been arrested. You press men, please ask him (Buhari) who they are, he should arrest them,” Lamido added.

    The presidential aspirant who spoke to journalists in his Kano residence, insisted that the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) government has failed to deliver in its three-point agenda of security, economy and fighting corruption.

    Lamido who said he has started consultation with PDP stakeholders across the country ahead of the convention regretted that Nigerians have suffered a lot under APC government.

    According to him, “on security, you see, before it were Boko Haram, it has now gone beyond Boko Haram. It is now inter-tribal. It is between Fulani and Fulanis; it is between Hausa and Hausas, between Igbos and Igbos. In Ebonyi it is there, in Zamfara it is there and in Sokoto, it is there.

    “So, you see, today, we are under siege. It means all they key security chiefs appointed by this government have failed to deliver. Nigerians are now sleepless, they are watching, they have so many things in their minds—whether to go for what they know is safety, security and prosperity or to go for this culture of violence which is now defiling Nigeria as a country.”

    Lamido further stated that, “the three factors that they used during their campaign—economy, security and fighting corruption are all zero.

    “How on earth can Buhari go to Danjuma Goje’s house to beg him—Goje who has been arraigned in court! And Buhari preferred to go to him, by that, the Judge should be very very careful, because it means they cannot convict Goje.

    “If Oshiomole after all these noise and ranting will go to Saraki and Tambuwal and beg them, after calling PDP thieves and what have you, which means their fight against corruption is defeated.”

    Speaking on the just concluded Ekiti governorship election, Lamido said, “the election process in Ekiti was heavily militarized; and I know it shouldn’t be a surprise because we are being led by a former military General who was also a former military Head of State, who was known for arresting political leaders.

    “Number two, you see, he (Buhari) only says politicians are this, politicians are that, which means he is not a politician.

    “So, I think the election in Ekiti, to me, if it is the wish of the people that is announced as the result, I have no quarrels with it. I hope, also, that this is not the kind of thing we are going to experience in 2019 elections because it will spell doom for democracy.

    “You see, even before the election, there was this acrimony, the atmosphere was very tensed. You see, sending 30, 000 police men in Ekiti for a governorship election is very worrisome.

    “From what I heard, they said they sent 30, 000 police men, we don’t know the number of other security agencies and para-military. If in 2019, they are sending 30, 000 police men to conduct elections in each state, that means 30, 000 times 36, including Abuja—this is very curious.

    “If this was how that election was conducted, that means they instilled fear in the people. To me, the election has come and gone, it has been conducted and the winner has been declared, I certainly hope that it is the wish of the people that was declared. Let it be the wish of the people that is being declared, simple.”

    He expressed confidence that PDP will reclaim power in 2019, adding that PDP has learnt from its past mistakes.

    According to him, “you see, PDP was in government for 16 years at all the levels, it was PDP. The key players today in APC are also PDP.

    “So, it means we know our mistake; we made a mistake because people who were in PDP left and they were able to conceive the APC; and to that effect, this APC government is our own baby. So, we have this commitment and passion for Nigerians.

    “We have learnt our lessons and we have seen the consequences of our second-eleven being in government—they have no capacity, they have no commitment, and they unleash pains and agony on Nigerians.

    “PDP is a family; it is a family which has a very strong background. It is a family which was built on the reflection of what was Nigeria and the evolution of our great country.”

  • Ekiti APC urges Fayose, Olusola to accept defeat in good faith

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has advised Governor Ayo Fayose and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate,
    Prof. Kolapo Olusola, to accept the wishes of people who gave their mandate to the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
    The party also praised President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the party for their unflinching support in bringing Ekiti back into
    progressives fold.
    The victory, Awe said, demonstrated the confidence and trust by “our people in the overall outstanding leadership of President Buhari’s
    APC-led administration.”
    The Ekiti APC Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe, in a statement on Sunday said Fayemi was chosen because he was considered by the electorate as having a proven track record of performance and integrity.
    Awe who also congratulated the deputy governor-elect, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, expressed confidence that Fayemi will bring the needed turnaround to Ekiti hence he needs focused leadership to translate his dreams for the state to reality.

    Read Also: Ekiti 2018: Gov. Sani-Bello congratulates Fayemi

    He expressed the gratitude to the Ekiti electorate for voting conscientiously for the party and expressed his gratitude to the good people of the State for their impressive turnout and peaceful conduct during the election exercise.
    He however called for calm and appealed to the opposition parties and their candidates to accept defeat in good faith, while seeing accepting the outcome as a no victor, no vanquished one.
    Awe said: “The APC thanks the Ekiti electorate for voting for the Party in the keenly-contested election. The Ekiti electorate has voted for the candidate of their choice, who they consider as having a proven track record of performance and integrity, and who will bring about the kind of turnaround the state needs deserves at this crucial period, through focused leadership, good governance, restoration of cherished values and multi-faceted development.”
    He assured that the Governor-elect, John Kayode Fayemi will surely be magnanimous in victory, and deliver on the expectations of the people of the state.”
    Awe commended the timely action of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), particularly, in averting the danger of the crises Fayose would have instigated by using the state owned BSES to pollute and confuse the Ekiti political space.

  • Okotie asks PDP, APC to adopt him as presidential candidate

    OKOtie back to politics, want APC, PDP to adopt him as presidential candidate

    Household of God Pastor, Chris Okotie has called on Nigeria’s two political parties APC and PDP to adopt him as their presidential candidate.

    Speaking at a press conference in his church during the Sunday service, Okotie cited the dashed dreams and aspirations of the people having been confined to oblivion.

    He said we must act now to defend the Nigerian dream as things have gone to a worse state.

    He said that he has decided to return to politics seeing that Nigeria needs a credible personality one who is intellectually ready and capable.

    He added that the Nigerian constitution is obsolete and  therefore desires to pursue a mandate that will set up a new government of reconciliation.

    A government that does not need a House of Assembly any more.

    “In sincere consideration I humbly and sincerely ask that the APC adopt me as the presidential candidate. I have extended the same gesture to the APC too. This is the time to demonstrate our love for this country.”

    Pastor Chris Okotie samsaid that this is not our of his will but that of the Lord.

  • PDP apologises to Obasanjo for maltreatment, bad conduct

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday met with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and counselled them on steps to adopt if they hope to ‘unseat’ President Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.

    Obasanjo, who was elected Nigerian president twice from 1999 – 2007  on the platform of PDP,  told the  21-man delegation of the Committee, led by PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Walid Jibrin, to pay more than passive attention to four issues he identified as needed ingredients to bring PDP back to power.

    The Ebora Owu, who announced his quitting of partisan politics in the build up to the 2015 presidential election to become an elder statesman, advised the party to court and embrace “good image, internal discipline, commitment, quality leadership and moral principles.”

    The early morning meeting at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) was at the instance of the NWC of the party which had earlier arrived Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, a day ahead of it. The ex – president gave the advice in response to Uche  Secondus.

    The party national chairman had earlier tendered words of apology on behalf the party to Obasanjo for the bad conduct and mistreatment meted out to him and also drew  his attention to what he (Secondus) considered as the “distress and prostrate situation of the country today” as well as  the progress report on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the  grand alliance of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), among others.

    These were contained in a release issued in Abeokuta by Obasanjo’s media aide, Mr. Kehinde Akinyemi, shortly after the meeting.

    The release reads: “Chief Obasanjo thanked the delegation for apologising on behalf of the party and made reference to the Lord’s Prayer where we are taught to ask God for forgiveness and to grant forgiveness to others.

    “He further underlined the pitiable situation of Nigeria today and the inexcusable killing and insecurity almost all over the country and the unprecedented division of the country all of which the present government seems to have no credible solution.

    “After deliberations, it was made clear that the MOU for grand alliance is what it says, a grand alliance. It is neither a merger nor absorption of any political party by any political party. It is clearly for the parties who agreed to be members of the alliance to work together to achieve one important common objective at the national level for the election of 2019 and where it is appropriate and necessary members may also form alliance and cooperation at the state level.

    “Chief Obasanjo reiterated to the Committee that the idea of a grand alliance was broached when the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) adopted African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a political party platform. He therefore reaffirmed his belief and support for the grand alliance.

    “Chief Obasanjo, however, advised that the individuality and independence of each political party must be observed and respected by all parties concerned. It is also desirable that in the process of implementing the MOU to achieve the set objective, solidarity and focus on the objective must be maintained.

    “Chief Obasanjo urged that all member political parties must be cautious of fake news, rumours, blackmail, and seeds of discord that may be sown among them from external quarters.

    “He also, reminded the committee that on adoption of ADC as political party of the CNM (Coalition of Nigeria Movement), he had maintained that he will not be a member of any political party but he will make himself available to guide any party that wishes to be so guided and he has offered such guidance to ADC.

    “While he may make himself available to any other party that will require it, service to ADC will be paramount, he equally pointed out to the committee that before their prompting he had put his hands on the ground and there is no looking back.

    “That he will join men and women in the country and if necessary lead them, in retrieving and saving the country from shipwreck.”

    Earlier, the National Chairman of PDP also appealed to the former president not to relent on giving necessary leadership to save the country from the throes of mismanagement and drift towards shipwrecking.

  • Katsina PDP rejects Atiku, others, backs Lamido

    The Katsina state branch of the Peoples Democratic Party , PDP, on Saturday in Katsina threw its weight behind the Presidential ambition of former Jigawa Governor and Minister of Foreign Affairs ,Dr Sule Lamido in the forth coming party primaries slated for early August this year, thus effectively shutting the door for other aspirants including former vice President ,Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

    The State Chairman of the Party Alhaji Salisu Yusuf Majigiri who made the above declaration during a reception organized for the visiting Presidential aspirant said Lamido has towered above other aspirants especially with his progressive agenda and commitment to a united and peaceful Nigeria

    He said ‘’Lamido has remained a committed and enduring progressive in the last 5o years, who had fought for a strong and united Nigeria, he identified with other progressive minds like Abubakar Rimi, Solomon Lar, Bola Ige, Alex Ekwueme, Iyorchia Ayu and several others in the struggle to liberate Nigeria from ethnic cleavages’’

    ‘’He has equally identified with the common man and ensured their improved standard of living as demonstrated while he was the governor of Jigawa state, we have no choice than to throw our weight behind and assure him of our goodwill and support, hoping that when he comes to power he will remember the state

    Earlier in his address at the occasion, Dr. Lamido said he was in the state to solicit the support of delegates from the state branch of the party for the forthcoming party primaries for Presidential aspirants.

     He further decried the anti corruption campaign of the present administration which he described as one sided and partisan and has turned  President Buhari to see everyone, including opposition parties beside himself as thieves

    Lamido further wondered why President Buhari had to visit former governor of Gombe state, Danjuma Goje who is presently hunted by the EFCC for fraud related cases to solicit for his political support

    He said ’’if Buhari is pure as he claimed why did he court the support of Danjuma Goje who is on trial for corruption, am sure if Barrister Ibrahim Shema, former governor of Katsina dumps PDP today and join APC, his corruption cases in the courts will be dropped .APC is now turning out a haven for everyone with corruptions cases’’

    The reception was attended by party stalwarts from the 34 local government areas of the state, including all the delegates to the forth coming national convention of the party

  • Ekiti 2018: Helicopter lands in Govt house

    A helicopter has just landed at the new Government House, Ayoba Villa, Ado-Ekiti.

    The chopper landed at the Government House helipad few minutes past noon.

    It has been alleged in some quarters the chopper brought cash from a Southsouth governor.

    People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members have been trooping to the Government House to collect money.

    They have been entering Government House through the small gate at the old Governor’s Office.

    Read Also: Ekiti Poll: APC justifies deployment of 30,000 policemen

    A female party member was seen complaining that he was not given his own share of the cash.

    She said: “They have not been given my own why some have been given twice.

    “Anyone that collects this money and vote against Eleka shall not live to spend this money.“