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  • APC, PDP locked in verbal attacks over Ekiti election

    PDP members protest in Abuja

    APC: you’ve been rejected

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday threw jabs at each other over tomorrow’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

    The PDP claimed that the state had been militarised to prepare the ground for rigging of the election for the APC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. The PDP’s candidate is Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    The APC said the PDP was making wild allegations because it knew that its candidate will lose. The party has been rejected, APC said.

    PDP organised protests in Abuja and some state capitals to express its misgivings over the claim by Governor Ayodele Fayose that the police shot at him and fired into the Government House teargas, which  injured him.

    An unconfirmed source said last night that the police summoned the governor’s security detail and asked them if he was attacked. They were said to have denied any assault on the governor, who reportedly sent some emissaries to the police. Attempts to seek confirmation of the report from Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Joshak Habila, who is in charge of security for the poll, failed. His aides declined comment.

    PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus led a march on the National Assembly.

    The protesters were received by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

    Secondus claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), allegedly in collaboration with security agencies, planned to rig the election.

    He said the state’s residents were living in fear following alleged restriction of movement by security agencies. There was no confirmation of any restriction yesterday.

    He expressed concern about the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    Secondus urged the National Assembly to investigate perceived excesses of security agencies to save democracy.

    “Sir, we are aware and we have been reliably informed that INEC and a section of the security agencies have prepared to rig the election in Ekiti.

    “That is why Ekiti today has been militarised and over policed; 30,000 policemen and women are in Ekiti.

    “The citizens of Ekiti are afraid. They are traumatised. They are harassed, and they are being guarded not to come out of their homes.

    “The Ekiti Government House was sealed and the governor brutalised. This development is an eyesore to democracy.

    “We came first to National Assembly, because you represent democracy and the hope and aspirations of Nigerians.

    “We believe that we should register our protest to the National Assembly to quickly intervene, query, examine through oversight, the excesses and assault on democracy.

    “We call on the international community to see and watch what is happening in Ekiti, if this is the type of election that APC and INEC want to conduct in Ekiti.

    “By this, the 2019 general elections is under threat. We believe that if they continue in this manner and rig the poll, there will be nothing like 2019 elections.”

    A one-time Minister of Aviation, Mrs Kema Chikwe, said for Nigeria to achieve good governance, there must be true democracy, saying the Wednesday incident in Ekiti was undemocratic.

    “If you watch the video, you could see shootings in the air and you will see molestation.

    “Election is about one man, one vote. For us to achieve good governance in this country, we must have true democracy.

    “PDP believes in structures and peace. There are excesses. Everywhere in Ekiti has been turned into a war zone.

    “The governor has been humiliated and he has immunity. What type of democracy do we have?

    “PDP ruled for 16 years of peace, and we want it to continue. We are starting now to show that enough is enough; there must be a change so that we will have a credible 2019.

    That’s what we are starting today”, Chikwe said.

    Ekweremadu, while receiving the PDP protesters, said:  “We will do everything possible to ensure that we will continue to work within the tenets of democracy.

    “We shall make contact with INEC, police and other security agencies to ensure that they are neutral.

    “We believe to be leaders in Africa. We cannot be leading from the back. We must show leadership by example.

    “So, whatever we do, we must also know that the world is watching us. We want to thank you for taking this path of honour”.

    The Senate Caucus of the PDP, led by Senator Godswill Akpabio, called on the Executive to set up a commission of enquiry to investigate Fayose’s claim.

    But the APC dismissed the PDP’s claims.

    APC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said in a statement that with the PDP’s allegations, it was clear that they were not abreast with developments in Ekiti State.

    The statement said: “We reject the claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that policemen were drafted to Ekiti State to harass PDP supporters in Saturday’s governorship election in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    “As usual with elections, extra security deployment is routine to keep the peace for credible and transparent elections.

    “With PDP’s claim in its press statement, it is obvious that its leadership does not have the facts of the actual events in Ekiti State or it is deliberately attempting to divert public attention from the comical performance put up by Governor Ayodele Fayose on Wednesday, which was clearly contrived to give the impression to the public that he was being persecuted.

    “Somehow, Fayose has contrived to make this election about himself. But it is not. The contest is between Dr. Fayemi and the Professor that has continued to hide behind Fayose’s fingers.

    “What is clear to every voter in Ekiti is that to vote for this Professor is to hand Fayose a third term.

    “Given their horrid experience with him, they have wisely rejected them both.

    “The PDP in Ekiti has read the handwriting on the wall. They know they have lost the election. They therefore have to save their face with these wild allegations.

    “The story of how Fayose used the security agencies to manipulate the last election is still fresh in the memory of the people. Unfortunately for him, he has no such opportunity this time. Winning a free and fair election is a strange territory to him and that’s why he is looking stranded.

    “It is therefore mischievous of PDP to continue to claim that the Police assaulted Fayose on Wednesday after Fayose himself has apologised to the Police authorities for lying against their officers.

    “The ultimate decision about who governs Ekiti lies with the people of that State, which they will make on the principle of one man one vote.”

    Director of Media and Publicity of the Fayemi Campaign organisation Mr. Wole Olujobi, also faulted Olusola’s claim that policemen assaulted Fayose on Wednesday.

    He explained that Fayose’s apology to the Police authorities for lying against their officers did not support the claim that the police assaulted the governor.

    “It is great that security detail attached to Fayose have confessed that there was no attack on the governor.

    “The security detail confessed after they were queried for dereliction of duty in the protection of their principal.

    “Late last night (Wednesday), Fayose sent his aides to the police for forgiveness for lying against their officers.

    “The police spokesman this evening said so, but Olusola is still misinforming Nigerians that the police assaulted Fayose, which then goes to show the quality of his Christian life that he is flaunting to aspire to lead the state.

    “While the APC respected the security agencies when they asked APC to cancel its own women’s rally to avoid conflict, the PDP and Governor Fayose, particularly, have themselves to blame for his shameful conduct.

    Policemen yesterday vacated the gates of Ekiti State Government House which they occupied for two days.

    The withdrawal succeeded in dousing the mounting tension generated by Wednesday’s encounter between Governor Ayodele Fayose and the police.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that security agents also vacated the campaign office of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola.

    Many supporters of the governor yesterday thronged the Government House, demanding to know if he was hale and hearty.

    Olusola told the supporters that the governor was fast recovering and that there was nothing to fear.

    He also told them to maintain the peace and to refrain from taking the laws into their hands.

    It was gathered yesterday that Fayose may declare today work –free to enable civil servants to travel for Saturday’s poll.

    Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Idowu Adelusi told NAN that arrangements were on to allow workers to leave for their home towns since there would be restriction of human and vehicular movements tomorrow.

     

  • PDP seeks probe of alleged attack on Fayose

    THERE were protests in different parts of the country yesterday over the purported assault on Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose on Wednesday by the police.

    Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took to the streets in Benin City, Edo State, Yenogoa, Bayelsa State, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja), to draw attention to what they described as the injustice done to the Ekiti State governor and members of the PDP.

     

    Party seeks electorate’s support

    The PDP through its national leadership charged the electorate to be alive to their civic responsibility by coming out in large numbers to vote for the party’s candidate.

    The charge came on a day the party’s Senate caucus called for investigation into the alleged attack on Fayose by the police at campaign rally in the Government House on Wednesday.

    Earlier yesterday, the PDP leaders staged a protest march to the National Assembly and headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Their mission was to demand for credible election in Ekiti and future polls as well as investigation into the alleged assault on its members.

    Led by its national chairman, Prince Uche Scondus, the party leaders urged the INEC not to take sides or to give undue leverage to the APC candidate at the election.

    Speaking on behalf of the caucus, Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio, urged the government to set up a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the matter.

    At a media briefing at the National Assembly, Akpabio said that machinery should be set in motion for the probe panel to bring anyone found culpable to book.

    PPD members protest in Abuja, Edo

    Secondus said that Nigerians and the international community were watching to see if there would be elections in 2019.

    He said that the assurance for 2019 would be from the Ekiti governorship election, adding that intelligence information showed that some INEC officials and some security agents were already in collusion to rig the election.

    Secondus said that if the election was right, it would have consequences on 2019 general elections.

    Addressing the INEC officials who came out to meet the protesting PDP leaders and members, he said, “We want a free and fair election in Ekiti.

    “Anything short of that will be a recipe for problems and crisis, and in our own judgment, there may not be elections because that will be the beginning of crisis in our nation.

    “We believe that the best INEC can give to this nation is to allow free and fair election. If they use all the forces that are available to the government to frighten the people and also use federal might to frighten the people, that will be one sure road to crisis.

    “We want to warn that our party will not condone and will resist every attempt to rig the election in Ekiti and coming general elections.

    “Right now in Ekiti, some of our leaders are being arrested, witch-hunted and the whole of Ekiti is traumatised; they are worried, wondering if they will be allowed to come out on Saturday to vote.”

     

    INEC promises fairness

    Receiving a petition from the party, INEC National Commissioner, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, re-assured the leaders of the commission’s commitment to credible election in Ekiti and in 2019.

    Ogunmola said: “The mandate of INEC is to conduct free, fair and credible elections, and that is what we are committed to. I assure you that we are not going to do anything short of that.”

    Explaining why the protest was not taken to Police authorities and other security agencies, the party’s spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan told NAN that INEC and National Assembly were critical to the nation’s democracy.

    “The National Assembly enacts laws for the different arms of government in the country and the citizens. We believe it is the backbone of our democracy,” Ologbodiyan said.

    Meanwhile, in Benin City, the Edo State capital, PDP members took the protest to the Police headquarters where they condemned the attack on the party members in Ado-Ekiti.

    The protesters deplored the alleged assault on the governor and his deputy by policemen led by very senior officers.

    Secretary of the party in Edo, Mr. Felix Imoisili, who led the protest, described Wednesday’s incident in Ekiti as “another sad development for Nigeria’s democracy.’’

    Presenting a petition from the party to DCP (Operations), Mr. Olatunji Ayodele, who received it for the command, he called on all concerned to ensure that the election in Ekiti was free and fair.

    He said: “One-man, one-vote and one-youth, one-vote is what we stand for. We are tired of bloodletting which has turned the country into a theatre of war.”

    Imoisili also queried the rationale behind the deployment of large numbers of security men to a civil election when people were being killed daily without security intervention.

    Also yesterday, Chief Gani Adams urged all the stakeholders in the state, including political parties, candidates and the electorate to ensure peace and tranquility in the state, before, during and after the election.

    Adams, in a statement signed by his media aide Kehinde Aderemi, expressed concern over the prevailing situation in the state, saying election should not be a do-or die affair.

    The statement reads: “In the build-up to the election, Ekiti State has been in the news for the wrong reason. A situation where the security of the electorate is not guaranteed is not acceptable to our democracy in the 21st century.

    “I urge the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Security (DSS) and other government’s security architecture to rise up to the challenges of ensuring peace in Ekiti this Saturday.

    “A situation where security operatives allegedly wear masks a few hours to an election is uncalled-for.  Therefore, politicians must play by the rule, not forgetting that elections would go, but Ekiti State will remain.”

    He lauded the prompt intervention of Ekiti monarchs for lending their voices to ensure peace in the state, even as he appealed to the INEC to ensure adequate security and a level playing field for all the candidates.

     

    Reps to investigate alleged assault 

    The House of Representatives yesterday resolved to mandate all its relevant committees to investigate an alleged assault on the Ekiti State governor.

    Condemning the alleged assault, it asked President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the police to apologise to Nigerians over the incident.

    Besides, its members urged the INEC chairman his men to ensure free, fair and transparent election tomorrow.

    The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of the prayers of a motion brought under matters of urgent public importance by two members, Yusuf Tajudeen and Kingsley Chinda.

    In the motion, Tajudeen noted that with just a few days to the 2018 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, “some men of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies completely barricaded and took over the Ekiti State Government House, Ado Ekiti.

    “Also noted that heavily armed Policemen and other security agencies locked up, all entry points, prevented the free movement of people into and out of the Ekiti Government House and shot sporadically with the aim to instill fear in the people, ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.

    “Aware that the INEC, in line with its statutory mandate, had fixed the 2018 governorship elections in Ekiti State for Saturday, 14th July, 2018.

    “The Nigerian Police is empowered under S.4 of the Police Act, Cap. P19, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, among other things, for the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and the due‘ enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Abuja light rail is our project- PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has chided the Federal Government for failing to give it credit at the Thursday’s commissioning of the Abuja Light Rail Project by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The PDP in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiay on Thursday, in Abuja expressed dismay that Buhari commissioned the project without given credit to the party.

    It stated that it was unfortunate that the All Progressives Congress (APC), attempted to claim credit for the project, while Nigerians were already aware that it was conceptualised, initiated and policy-propelled by the PDP.

    The party added that it was unfortunate that after three years in office, the APC government could not boast of any development project conceptualised and executed in any part of the country.

    “The PDP usually watch with amusement whenever the President and the APC seek to claim credit for our achievements in various sectors.

    “However, while we understand their predicament of having nothing in their scorecard ahead of the 2019 general elections, we state that poaching the achievements of others cannot help them in anyway.’’

    The party urged Nigerians not to despair especially as the 2019 general elections offer them the firm opportunity to vote out APC and return the repositioned and rebranded PDP.

    Buhari had on Wednesday while commissioning the Light Rail System said that the completion of the project was“ a dream come true”. (NAN)

  • We must defend our democracy – PDP Chieftain

    The National Vice Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), South-South, Mr Emmanuel Ogidi, has urged Nigerians to join force with the party to defend the principles of democracy in the country.

    Ogidi made the call in an interview with Our reporter  in Abuja while reacting to the alleged Police brutality on Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose.

    The police were said to have on Wednesday interrupted a rally organised by the PDP ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state, and shot guns and teargas canisters to disperse the crowd.

    Policemen were said to have attacked the governor in the process, leading to injuries on him.

    Ogidi referred to the actions of the police against innocent Nigerians in Ekiti as “gangster-like’’, and urged leaders to watch the examples they leave for younger generations.

    According to him, we must all do everything possible to defend democracy and should not stand-by and watch it desecrated.

    “I want to say and assure you that by the grace of God, we are going to defend this democracy, because our children will not be happy with us as it is in our time that all these things are happening.

    “It cannot stand; we are going to follow anything political to resolve this; we are ready and they may have to jail or kill all of us.

    “We are going to defend democracy; we know nothing good comes easy and we are ready for it,” he said.

    Ogidi said that in a state where election was expected to hold two days away, shutting down the Government House by the Police was despicable.

    He explained that Nigeria practiced federal system of government and that the state’s Government House represented the Aso Rock in Abuja.

    According to the vice chairman, the state government house is the symbol of the Federal Government in the state; once it is threatened then democracy is threatened.

    He called on all governors irrespective of party affiliation, to protest against the actions of the police against Gov. Fayose as it could happen to any of them.

    According to him, this implies that governors are no longer the Chief Security Officers of their states, if Fayose could be treated that way.

    Ogidi said that the actions of the police in Ekiti justified the calls for State Police to ensure security of lives and property.

    He blamed the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led Federal Government for destroying democracy in the country.

    He alleged that the police officers were only carrying out the directives from high commands.

    The PDP chieftain said that government officials must imbibe the tenets of democracy, citing former President Goodluck Jonathan as a perfect example.

    “If you ride a tiger, the tiger will hunt you; if the APC is comfortable with what is happening, it will hunt them,” he added.

    He urged Nigerians to be very careful when choosing a leader for the continuous growth of democracy in the country.

    Ogidi said that his pride as a Nigerian was diminishing as a result of the trauma and humiliations in the country.

    He said that hatred and hate speeches had grown in the last three years and that Nigerians had become afraid of leaving their local residences for other parts of the country.

    The party chieftain said Nigerians irrespective of tribe or creed were suffering and that the country was no longer the happiest in the world as it used to be known.

    He said that people were suffering and losing confidence in the country, and called on every Nigerian to support the defence and sustainability of democracy in the country.

  • PDP members protest Saraki’s planned comeback

    Scores of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State have protested the planned return of Senate President Bukola Saraki to the party.

    The protesters said if the Uche Secondus-led executive insists on foisting Saraki and his supporters on them, they would move to another party.

    The placard-carrying protesters marched from the secretariat at Geri-Alimi roundabout to Sawmill area of the metropolis.

    Some of the placards read: “We don’t want authoritarian leader in Kwara”; “Saraki- go to another party- stay away from PDP”; “We say no to impunity in PDP” “Enough of political dealer”; “Liberation is our cause, Senator Saraki cannot lead us in PDP”.

    Pioneer state PDP chairman Kunle Suleiman said: “If Uche Secondus insists on admitting Bukola Saraki into the PDP, we will move to another party with our structures. It is unfortunate that Secondus seems bereft of ideas on how to make PDP win the 2019 elections, otherwise he would not need defectors from APC.

    “He ought to have devised other strategies of winning.

    “Saraki’s and others’ defection to our party will make it impossible for PDP to win. Nigerians are politically wiser than before.

    “All of them left the party then saying PDP is bad. They are now coming back to eat their vomit; they are shameless and I urge Nigerians to reject them. We don’t want them in our party any longer. We don’t want our party infested with leprosy.”

    The Chairman, Abubakar Sulaiman, said: “They devastated our party and left for APC in 2014. I want to tell the whole world and the leadership that without them, Kwara PDP can win the 2019 elections.

    “My fellow PDP members, my leaders, will we fold our arms and allow them destroy what we laboured for? Will we abandon our efforts, sacrifices and investment in PDP because of Senator Bukola Saraki? Will we allow them eject us out of the party we laboriously built?

    “If the answers to these questions are in the negative, the earlier we take a proactive measure to defend what we have laboured to build the better.

    “This is a state of one-man dominated democracy; a state of one man’s antics; a state where government is the government of one man, by one man and for one man, as against government of the people by the people and for the people.”

     

     

    I am still in APC, says ex-Saraki ally

    Abdulganiyu Cook-Olododo, former political ally of Senate President Bukola Saraki, has said he and his supporters remain members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Cook-Olododo, who was Chief of Staff, Commissioner and Secretary to the Kwara State government under then Governor Bukola Saraki, added that his loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari is unmistakable and unshakable.

    The politician was suspended by the party’s leadership for alleged anti-party activities.

    Cook-Olododo, who addressed his supporters in his GRA-Ilorin home, said he decided not to challenge his suspension as “I didn’t want to destroy the house I helped to build. They claimed they suspended me but I refrained from saying or doing anything. I know I cannot be suspended in my Igbagun ward. We are still in APC and nobody can expel me from the party.”

    “I am breaking this silence because I want the whole world to know where we are heading to

    “During the congresses, they disallowed our members’ access to nomination forms. Despite this, we held all the congresses successfully by producing our own executives at all levels.

    “My own style of politics is devoid of rancour, wrangling and acrimony. We are out to serve the people. Development and growth of Kwara is our concern.

    “It is only in Kwara State that former political office holders live in penury after office; we are now more exposed; we cannot be deceived anymore.”

  • Atiku meets with PDP Reps Caucus in N’Assembly

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is to meet with members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus, in the House of Representatives The Nation has learnt.

    According to a source, Atiku is set to meet tonight in the National Assembly with lawmakers elected under the PDP platform.

    He is meant to convince the lawmakers on the benefits of his candidacy to them and  the nation in general.

    Many members of the PDP Caucus were seen in their offices waiting for the arrival of  the former Vice President on Wednesday evening.

    A ranking PDP lawmaker who spoke with our reporters on the condition of anonymity said they would listen to what Atiku and other candidates have to say.

    “All presidential aspirants in the party would be given an opportunity to sell their candidature to us. We will then meet and decide on the person whose candidacy would do the country the greater good.

    “Many of us are still in the office because Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is meeting with us this evening.

    “There is no gainsaying that the (PDP) National Assembly Caucus is an influential block that all of the serious  aspirants should meet with”, he said.

    The source further stated that the former Vice-Preisdent’s visit will be followed by that of other candidates vying for the party’s presidential ticket.

    According to him, the House Caucus has not made up its mind on any candidate,” but we will back any candidate that emerges in a free and fair primary to succeed in the major election.

    “I can say, I and many of my colleagues don’t want to get emotional about any aspirant. The feeling is that we must produce a northern candidate in a transparent manner and we all back him fully during the elections”, he added.

    In a related development Former Minister of Works and Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party politician, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, has thrown his weight behind the former Vice President .

    According to him, Nigeria is at crossroads and needs the kind of experience Atiku possesses.

    While speaking at the inauguration of Women and Youth Support Group (WAYS) for Atiku 2019, Ogunlewe said that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has the experience of a president that Nigeria needs to rework the national economy and bring the country.

    Atiku’s political career, he noted began in 1989 in the days of the Peoples Democratic Movement.

    “In those years, Atiku has remained steadfast to the course of strengthening democratic institutions and bringing people together to pursue common good for the country.”

    The meeting was yet to commence as at the time of filing this report.

  • Benue PDP condemns police attack on Gov Fayose of Ekiti State

    The Benue state chairman  of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) ,Hon John Ngbede has condemned the attack on the governor of Ekiti state ,Ayo Fayose by the police deployed  for the governorship election in Ekiti state .
    This was contained in a protest letter submitted to the Inspector General of Police today by his Deputy ,Dr Testsim Ayagwer who led other members of the state working committee of the party to the Headquarters of the Benue state police command in Makurdi.
    Dr Ayagwer while speaking to the media on the matter  said no amount of intimidation will stop the PDP from bouncing back to power in 2019.
    According to him ,the attack and manhandling of governor Fayose was  primitive,barbaric  and a threat to democracy in the country.
    He appealed to teeming members and supporters of the party to remain calm and be law abiding as the party will not be cowed by the assault on their high profile leaders  by law enforcement agencies in the country.
    Hon Ejembi Ogwuche
    Media Adviser to the chairman,
    Peoples Democratic Party .
    Benue state.

  • APDA: we’re not part of part of merger with PDP, others

    THE Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) has said that it was not part of the political parties seeking to merge with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to form a mega party that will wrest power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.

    The party’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Bayo Olumoko, said the reports making the round in the media were unfounded, baseless and untrue.

    Media report said APD was part of the 45 political parties seeking to merge with the PDP or form an alliance. But the party said the report was orchestrated by mischief-makers to undermine the party’s integrity.

    He said: “For the avoidance of doubt and for the umpteen time, the APDA is not part of any merger with the PDP and is not interested in any merger for now. The party has not taken any position as it is waiting for a better alternative and will make it known to its supporters and the public.”

    Acknowledging that  some leadership of political parties, including the PDP have approached it for merger, he said the party is yet to align or merge with any party, as it is still weighing the options.

    Olumoko noted that the party is presently being repositioned across the states to provide a better and more credible platform to the Nigerian electorates.

    He urged the public to disregard such reports, which according to him, was the imagination of the author.

  • R-APC: PDP summons Atiku, Makarfi, others

    Governors, senators to discuss Imoke Panel’s report

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman  Uche Secondus has invited  presidential aspirants, governors, senators and other leaders to a meeting today in Abuja. The meeting is coming amid plans by leaders of the Reformed-All Progressives Congress(R-APC) to defect to the PDP.

    The presidential aspirants  invited are:  ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Governor Ahmed Makarfi; ex-Minister of Special Duties Tanimu Kabiru Turaki(SAN); ex-Governors Sule Lamido and Ibrahim Shekarau, as well as others.

    The session will discuss terms for accepting R-APC leaders, such as Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and others into the party.

    Top on the agenda is the report of the ex-Governor Liyel Imoke Contact and Mobilisation Committee, which has been negotiating with R-APC and about 30 “minor” parties.

    Ahead of today’s meeting, tension is building up in the PDP over alleged plot by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose to “influence” defection terms in favour of Saraki, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, who are interested in the presidential ticket.

    Wike is accused of hatching a script for Tambuwal as the anointed candidate.

    Some governors and leaders of the party, including those on the Board of Trustees (BOT) are opposed to a “work-to-the-answer” method for any aspirant.

    PDP leaders from the North have also queried why the two Southern governors will dictate to the North the choice of a presidential candidate.

    The Northern leaders may meet next week depending on the decision of today’s talks.

    The notice of the meeting was conveyed to the critical stakeholders by National Secretary Umaru Tsauri.

    The notice reads: “The National Chairman of our great party, the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, hereby invites all PDP presidential aspirants, all PDP governors and former governors, PDP members of the National Assembly and former members, all members of the BOT, members of PDP former ministers forum and all state chairmen to a crucial meeting on Monday, 9th July, 2018 at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.”

    Although the notice was silent on the agenda, a source in the National Working Committee (NWC) said the “meeting will discuss the proposed defection of R-APC leaders and other bigwigs to PDP; alliance talks from other parties and the way forward for PDP in 2019.

    “We will specifically look into the report and recommendations of ex-Governor Liyel Imoke Contact and Mobilisation Committee which had been holding talks with likely defectors and our leaders in some affected states.

    “Certainly, we will also consider the offers from Saraki, Tambuwal, Kwankwaso and others who are interested in returning to PDP with a desire to contest for the presidential ticket.

    “Do not forget that there are some knotty issues in the report which have not been clearly defined. This is what is delaying the expected mass defection to PDP.”

    The source added: “The outcome of our meeting on Monday (today) will determine how our party structure will now look like; the limits we can accommodate for the defectors and whatever R-APC and others have in stock.”

    The Nation on Saturday reported that the R-APC leaders have made tough demands PDP. There are four knotty issues yet to be settled.

    The four pegs of negotiation are:

    • conceding state party structure to R-APC on 60 to 40 per cent basis or 40-60 per cent ratio;
    • automatic ticket to re-contest for elective posts by Senators, Representatives, House of Assembly members;
    • a change of name by PDP;
    • and governorship tickets for some R-APC aspirants in states like Kaduna, Kwara, Kogi, Bauchi, Sokoto, Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, and Borno states.

    A BOT member said: “We are aware that Wike favours Tambuwal and Fayose is insisting he must play a major role on who gets the presidential mandate of the party. We won’t allow anyone to dictate to us.

    “Some of us from the North cannot understand why the two Southern governors are interested in the choice of a presidential candidate from our region than Northerners themselves.

    “If they allow democracy to prevail at today’s meeting, we will abide by the will of the majority. Otherwise, we will convene a meeting of Northern PDP leaders next week.”

    “This meeting is an acid test for Secondus. He should place the interest of the party above any other consideration.”

    A PDP governor, who spoke in confidence, said: “Some of our colleagues are behaving as if they have the presidential ticket of PDP in their pockets; we have had enough of this nonsense.

    “We will be frank with ourselves at the meeting. The Liyel Imoke Committee only recommended a level-playing field for all. No anointing, no adoption and no emperor style of bullying stakeholders into submission on any candidate. Those defectors must play by our rules and nothing else.”

  • Group oppose alleged planned imposition of Melaye as sole PDP candidate

    A group under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Kogi West Elders Forum (KWEF), has rejected any attempt to impose Senator Dino Melaye as the sole senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, on the people of the Kogi West in 2019.
    The group, made this known through its chairman, Hon. Shaibu Momoh, at a meeting held in Lokoja, over the weekend.
    The group declared that its main objective was to work with other leaders in Kogi West, to present a credible candidate from Yagba axis, warning that imposition of candidate by any group or individual will be resisted vehemently.
    “That the news of an attempt to impose the controversial Senator Dino Melaiye on the people’s Democratic Party (PDP) Kogi West, by the National Leadership of the party, as automatic Senatorial candidate for the 2019 National Assembly election is hereby Rejected in it totality and unacceptable,” he said.
    According to the group,  Senator Dino Melaye comes from a Ijumu local government area of kogi West that has been producing the senator for the Senatorial district for the past 12 years and adding another four years will make 16 years while the rest 6 local government areas will still be waiting for their turn.
    He stressed that of recent, the need for a shift to other local government areas became inevitable, universal option and it has become a serious campaign issue.
    “PDP Leadership in kogi West endorsed by the state Leadership was the first Party to take a firm decision to shift/zone the position to other Federal constituency of the state for equity and justice, since over a year now.
    “Known aspirants have emerge from other areas excluding Ijumu in PDP and they have being on the field carrying out their consultations and preparing their structures in preparation for the party Senatorial primaries expending huge amount of resources and time for the past 12 months.
    “To now impose a strange candidate under a questionable reasons will not only be wrong, unjust and unfair but it will totally collapse all efforts by our highly respected leaders at rebuilding and rebranding the party in the state there by giving an opportunity and undue advantage to the opposition party APC that is in government to contend with,” he warned.
    The Chairman noted that Senator Melaye, as he stands today, is not an asset to PDP, but a very big liability because he has no noticeable structure and followers that can substantially erode the consequential damage, such imposition could cause on PDP in the state.
    “The result of his recall failure by Government backed agitators are not because of his political strength but rather it is the reflection of the wider rejection by the people of the sitting APC government, their policies, unpaid salaries, pensions and gratuities and ethnic coloration rather than the love for senator Melaiye, infact many people despite Dino’s rough behavior and they will not want him back.
    “He is seen as too controversial and his unacceptable behaviors are the serious negative views of the public against him.
    “He can not win any election in a free and fair atmosphere and PDP should therefore not gamble with him as a candidate for now.
    “He needs a serious reformation period which PDP Kogi state do not have the luxury of time to dispense.
    “The leadership of PDP in the state under the Apex Leadership of two former governors of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, Captain Idris Wada, senator Tunde Ogbeha Alhaji Musa Ahmadu and host of other critical stakeholders have been struggling to rebrand a PDP that can recapture power from an aggressive none performing government of APC in the state.
    “They have reconciled several prominent strong men and women who came back to the party and their re-entrance back to PDP is without any condition or concession but genuine.”