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Tag: PDP

  • PDP demands Sen. Jang’s release from EFCC custody

    The Plateau Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the “immediate release” of former Plateau governor Jonah Jang from Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody.

    Jang, who represents Plateau North in the senate, was invited by the EFCC on Monday over alleged misappropriation of some monies when he governed the north-central state between 2007 and 2015.

    The senator had, since then, been in the custody of the anti-graft agency.

    Chief Damishi Sango, the PDP Chairman in Plateau, who addressed a press conference on Jang’s detention, described it as “unconstitutional”.

    Sango argued that the refusal of the commission to grant bail to the elder statesman was “a gross violation of his fundamental human rights”.

    “We consider the continued detention of Sen. Jang by the EFCC as unconstitutional, unlawful and gross violation of his fundamental human rights.

    “It is very shocking and unbelievable that a sitting senator and elder statesman is being denied bail, access to his lawyers, family and even his medication. This is quite unfortunate

    “We have appealed to party supporters and family members to remain calm and shall continue to ensure that they remain so, but we want the EFCC to, as a matter of urgency, release Sen Jang,” Sango stated.

    The chairman alleged that Jang’s continued detention was “part of an orchestrated plan to clamp down on the opposition”, saying that Jang was entitled to bail on self recognition since he was a serving senator.

    “Jang is a former governor and a serving senator; there is no way he will jump bail,” he said.

    Sango, however, said that the PDP would continue to serve as a viable opposition and ensure a voice for the voiceless “no matter what happens”.

  • Court orders PDP to pay N180m fee to senior lawyer

    A FEDERAL Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to pay N180 million to Mr. Samuel Okutepa (SAN) being his professional fee.

    Justice Jude Okeke, who delivered the judgment in a suit filed by Okutepa against the PDP, said the senior lawyer deserved to be paid the money for handling the cases for the party.

    “The defendant is directed to pay the claimant N180 million, being the earned professional fee for defending and prosecuting their cases listed out in the applicant’s statements of claims.”

    The court also ordered PDP to pay N50,000 to  Okutepa  for successfully handling the cases.

    The judge held that it was not right for the PDP not to pay for the work they knew was well-handled by the plaintiff.

    He said the defendant claimed that they did not give him job to do,  as no legal agreement was signed by the parties.

     

     

     

  • Voting ends at Ekiti PDP primary

    …Sorting of Ballot begins

     

    Voting has ended in the Ekiti State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary holding at Great Eagle Event Centre, Ado-Ekiti

    The exercise which commenced at 2.15 pm ended at 5.05 pm without any hitch.

    All delegates in the primary had voted and sorting of the votes had just commenced.

    The Electoral Committee Chairman, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State was fully in charge.

     

    Details later.

  • Omo-Agege urges Delta APC ward executives to sack PDP

    SENATOR Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central) has urged ward executives elected during weekend’s congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State to lead battle to remove the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the state.

    A statement by his spokesman, Prince Efe Duku, quoted Omo-Agege as urging them to remain united and avoid acrimony.

    He said: “By the official results duly endorsed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies, our party’s grassroots across almost all 270 Wards in Delta have chosen a new reality that demands total focus on APC’s resolve to defeat the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s general elections.

    “Senator Omo-Agege is particularly thankful to the Alhaji Dododo Committee for its steadfastness and total respect for the rules of the game. He is equally grateful to our security agencies for rising up to the unique demands of the exercise.

    “All, especially the new Ward Executives, have a duty to urgently unite and reconcile the party. We should never be tempted to believe that our fellow party men and women are losers or lesser members of the party. That should never happen. We must work together.”

    Omo-Agege lauded the executives elected into the 85 wards in Delta Central, saying they emerged “in the midst of avoidable challenges, they remained focused on the real prize of leading our Party to better territories”.

  • ‘PDP, Jonathan failed Niger Delta’

    A coalition of nine militant groups in Niger Delta, the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, has lashed out at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for creating poverty in Niger Delta despite being in power for 16 years.

    RNDA, in an electronic statement yesterday signed by ‘General’ Johnmark Ezonebi, lamented that the PDP was busy looting the  treasury instead of developing the region.

    The RNDA regretted the wasted years of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, accusing the Jonathan administration of corruption, looting, favouritism and non-supervision of his appointees.

    The group said no project was completed in Niger Delta during Jonathan’s era adding that the poor performance of Jonathan, who hails from Niger Delta, took the region back.

    The RNDA, however, hailed the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) towards development of the region.

    The militants said they carried out an appraisal of Buhari’s performance and concluded that the President deserved commendation.

    They warned some leaders of the region, who they described as enemies of Niger Delta, to stay off or have themselves to be blamed.

    “We accepted the Federal Government’s ceasefire agreement in 2016 for dialogue.

    ‘’That acceptance has led to the sustained peace in the region following renewed destruction and bombings of oil installations and facilities that crippled the nation’s crude oil output.

    “Most worrisome and painful is the fact that Buhari’s predecessor goofed on development of the region as he was unable to complete the road to his Otuoke community in Bayelsa State.

    “We praise Buhari’s commitment to Niger Delta since 2015 depite the recession as crude output hit as low as 900 barrels daily, with price as low as between $35 and $45 per barrel due to agitation in the creek’’.

    “Buhari’s fight against corruption has defined his stand on development of the region. We want to commend him for the  btake off of academic activities of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State.

    “We want to also commend the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for the approval for the dredging of the Escravos Warri river at the cost of N13bn to enable them to use cargo vessels to access Warri seaport which will in turn boost economic activities in the Niger Delta and to create employment for the teaming youths in the creeks.”

    The militants’ coalition, however, appealed to President Buhari to complete the East-West Road, a major gateway to other parts of the country abandoned by the previous governments.

  • pdp disqualifies Fayose’s aides from voting at primary

    In a bid to ensure transparency, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disqualified appointees of Governor Ayo Fayose from voting at the governorship primary holding tomorrow in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    The National Organising Secretary, Col. Chris Akobundu (retd), has excluded the appointees in the list of delegates.

    The decision was reached by the National Working Committee (NWC), following its meeting with   the Ekiti PDP Peace and Reconciliation Committee, led by former Senate President, David Mark.

    A copy of the delegates showed  that only serving and former elected officials still in the camp of Fayose will have the right to vote at the shadow election.

    Prominent aides of the governor who have ben disqualifies include  Secretary to Government Dr. Modupe Alade, Chief of Staff to the Governor Chief Dipo Anisulowo,  Commissioner for Health Dr. Rotimi Ojo; Commissioner for Works and Transportation Mrs. Funmilayo Ogun and Commissioner for Public Utilities Chief Tunde Ogunleye.

    Also barred from voting are Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Hon. Michael Ayodele; Commissioner for Budget and Planning Mr. Gbenga Olajide; Special Adviser (Political) Alhaji Dauda Ajise, Chairman, Local Government Service Commission Mr. Sola Omotoso; Chairman, State Universal Basic Education, Senator Bode Ola; Chairman, Teaching Service Commission Chief Abiodun Falayi, chairmen and members of boards of boards, commissions and agencies.

    The Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM), has warned local government chairmen against sewing uniforms to be worn by delegates to the primary.

     

     

     

     

  • PDP will not succumb to APC intimidation, says Secondus

    Ahead of 2019 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed not to succumb to intimidation by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Speaking at the PDP South-West Zonal rally at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park in Osogbo, Osun State yesterday, the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, said the PDP was positioned to take over power from the APC in Ekiti and Osun in the forthcoming guber polls in the two states and at the federal level next year.

    Secondus,  who disclosed that the PDP was resolved to work harder to win the 2019 general elections, said that the masses were tired of the President Muhammadu Buhari-APC led administration.

    He said: “The PDP will win the forthcoming governorship election in Osun, Ekiti and the general elections in 2019. The APC should start packing their load because they cannot win again. And ahead of the election, we will not succumb to any form of intimidation because we are on a mission to rescue the nation.”

    Also, the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, stressed the need for members of the party to come together if the PDP will win the 2019 general elections.

    He said that the party would do everything possible to “rescue Nigeria from the APC.”

    A former governor of Jigawa State,  Alhaji Sule Lamido, who is a presidential aspirant of the party like Atiku, advised members to start serious work right from now, saying “I know you and you know me,  let us prepare for the 2019 general elections.”

    Also, Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti, said the party was adequately prepared for Ekiti, Osun and 2019 general elections. He said the PDP was prepared to give the ruling APC a good fight in the forthcoming elections.

    Meanwhile, Alhaji Fatai Diekola, who recently defected from the APC in Osun State to the PDP, said that he and his supporters decided to leave the ruling APC because of the party’s “evil policies.”

    In attendance were many stalwarts of the party, including former Osun State deputy governor and Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, former Minister of Youth Development, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, former Osun State Speaker, Adejare Bello among others.

    In a reaction to PDP’S rally, the APC described it as “an overhyped mega rally and a little better than a town hall meeting.”

    In a statement by its spokesperson, Kunle Oyatomi, the party said: “the PDP has promised 15,000 people from Osogbo alone will defect but only two leaders (a business man and a weak politician) and a few korope loads of supporters showed up.

    “The Ibadan crowd led by defecting Rasheed Ladoja stole the show. Then one Secondus came all the way from Abuja to Osogbo to declare that the PDP was on a rescue mission. It was all pathetic.

    “Those who witnessed 2014 PDP rally will be sorry for the party or what was left of the PDP at today’s rally. The Yoruba nation, if it ever needs deliverance would not look for one from a Secondus.

    “The rally which was supposed to be ‘a show of strength’ turned out to be an exhibition of a diminished political party. That’s why they could also attract inconsequential politicians and businessmen.

    “Sensible party men in the PDP won’t need to be told that Saturday’s rally was a picture of the defeat that is around the corner for the PDP in Osun come September 22.”

  • PDP writes UN on alleged rights violations in Nigeria

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has written to the United Nations on alleged human rights violations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) – led federal government.

    Titled: “Threats to democracy, rule of law, basic freedoms and gross human rights violations by the Federal Government of Nigeria”, the letter signed by the party’s national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, was addressed to the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.

    It reads in part: “Since assumption of office in 2015, the President and the Federal Government agencies have provided a blanket shield for its corrupt officials and for any member of the opposition who decamps to the ruling APC.

    “This protective ‘immunity’ is held firmly also for former state governors who misappropriated billions of state government funds to sponsor the 2015 presidential election, most of whom were rewarded with ‘juicy’ ministerial portfolios by President Buhari.

    “Recently the federal government confirmed the persecution of opposition leaders in the guise of fighting corruption when it released a phantom list of alleged looters comprising only of persons who are members of the opposition PDP.

    “Even persons who were facing criminal prosecution prior to the 2015 presidential elections who are now members of the ruling APC and other members of APC who are overtly known to be involved in known cases of corruption were excluded from the list whilst persons who have never been charged with any crime and who in fact have not held any previous government portfolio including myself were listed as looters”.

    The PDP also complained notable opposition leaders were being harassed or hounded by security operatives using all manners of frivolous and vexatious allegations.

    “Currently, our members and supporters in many states including Edo, Rivers, Kaduna, Kogi, Borno, Adamawa, Delta and others are being hounded for expressing a divergent political opinion, particularly on the exposed corruption, abuses, constitutional violations and incompetence of the President Buhari administration.

    “In Kogi, Borno and Kaduna States, there are reports of the government sponsoring agents to attack and destroy properties belonging to opposition members and supporters.

    “We decry this raging intimidation of our party officials, members and supporters and call on the United Nations and the international community to stand up and condemn this drift towards stone-age despotism.”

  • PDP seeking return to treasury looting, says Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of plotting a return to power so as to resume treasury looting.

    He described the All Progressives Congress (APC) – led Federal Government as well-focused and determined to lift the country.

    He said the Buhari administration had performed better in three years than PDP did in 16 years.

    Vice President Osinbajo spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during a vist to inaugurate Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Clinic (MSME). He also visited the Deji of Akure Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi.

    The VP described those pushing for the ouster of the the Buhari administration as the corrupt who wanted to reclaim government at all costs in order to return the contry to corrupt ways.

    He said the argument that nobody had been put to jail on the account of corruption could not hold water, saying: “We will continue to put them on trial even if the courts have not put them into jail”

    He urged Nigerians to continue their support for the APC- led federal government in its quest to address the challenges confronting the nation.

    He noted that the government had committed N1.3 trillion to infrastructural development since it came on board three years ago.

    He said: “This government wants to be honest with the people. The difference between us and the previous governments is that we are not stealing public fund.

    “We are able to achieve this because we are spending what we have for the people.We have spent over N1.3trillion on infrastructure to better the lives of Nigerians.

    “They promised Lagos-Kano rail line, they did not do it. We earn less than they did, we are doing it. Look at the Lagos-Ibadan rail line, they had much money, they did not do it, we are doing it. Look at the Lagos -Ibadan Expressway, we are doing it.

    “We shall continue to arrest these who stole the nation’s money. They said we have not been able to convict anybody, we are not bothered; we shall continue to arrest and prosecute them. Let the cases remain in court.

    “The corruption is desperately fighting back so that they can come back to into power. God will not make it possible”.

    On the MSME prgramme, Osinbajo said N80billion out of the budgetted N500 billion had been spent on the programme despite the paucity of fund coming into the coffers of the government.

    According to him, additional 300,000 people would be employed into the N-Power, with 200,000 people already in the scheme.

    At the palace of Oba Aladelusi, Osinbajo commended the monarch for his show of love at all times and promised that government was determined to fulfill promises made particularly the actualisation of a Teaching Hospital in Akure.

    He told the monarch that the government was also working very hard to fix the blackout being experienced by the people of the southern senatorial district of the state.

    The VP said the MSME’s clinic in Akure became necessary in ensuring that small businesses grow tremendously. He described it as a way to revitalize Nigeria’s economy.

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu said the programme underscored the determination of the Federal Government to drive the country’s economy towards self-reliance, using this platform, as a delivery tool for development.

    The governor noted that there could be no better demonstration of serious commitment on the part of the government than this direct involvement at the highest level of authority.

  • Oyo PDP crisis: Ex-Deputy Senate whip resigns membership

    A prominent member of the Oyo state People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Hosea Ayoola Agboola Wednesday morning resigned his membership of the party following Tuesday’s meeting of the party’s leadership in the house of a former Governor Rashidi Ladoja.

    Senator Agboola was the only senator from the People’s Democratic Party between 2011-2015 from the South West Nigeria in the seventh National Assembly.

    The Deputy National Chairman of the party, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi; the Zonal Chairman, Dr. Eddy Olafeso; Lagos State PDP Chairman, Hon. Moshood Adegoke Salvador; Rev. Bunmi Jenyo, Zonal Secretary (South West); Arewa Nike, Ex-Officio (South West); had stormed Ladoja’s Bodija Ibadan residence to assuage the feeling of the former governor over the “much-reported harmonization of the PDP state executive”.

    Agboola who was in the forefront of those clamouring for the harmonization of the executive appeared worried over the ‘Tuesday’s homage paid’ to Ladoja by the party’s hierarchy.

    According to him, “with this visit, the party has finally handed the fate of Oyo PDP in Ladoja’s hand. Here is somebody whose leadership style will finally sink the boat of the party. Why do they think we were praying for harmonization? It is basically to give room for true reconciliation of all factions, following the parallel Congress of last year. And before now, we have made it clear that anything short of true reconciliation, we won’t welcome it.

    “I am taken aback by such visit which was largely once sided. And it has shown us that the party does not want the PDP to win this state in 2019. The National Working Committee should count some of us out on this latest development which would certainly boomerang in the loss of the coming election.

    “For the party to now say that somebody whose anti-party activities are legendary should be the alfa and omega of the party we all toiled to grow to this level, it leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Here was Ladoja who in 2007 sponsored a candidate in All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) against the PDP gubernatorial candidate which the PDP won. Again in 2011, he left PDP to join Accord and contested but lost.

    “If one may ask, where are these two parties; the ANPP and Accord today in this state? The PDP will certainly go into extinction in Ladoja’s hand unless the National Working Committee (NWC) wades in before it is too late to reconcile and harmonise the executive, and until that is done, I am leaving the party for them. I assure my supporters statewide and more importantly Oyo North senatorial district to await further directives.”

    Asked if he was not invited to the meeting, Senator Agboola said “I was invited but I made it clear to them that I won’t attend any meeting in Ladoja’s house. Can’t we meet at the state party Secretariat? Many of PDP chieftains had left the party because of Ladoja’s style of leadership.

    “I was invited but I made it clear to them that I won’t attend any meeting called outside the party Secretariat, I will never attend meeting in Ladoja’s house. Thank God, it is less than a year now to the next general election, we will all see the results,” Agboola popularly called Alleluyah fumed.

    A report from a statement on Wednesday signed by Anthony Agbetuyi, the Personal Assistant to the PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Elder Yemi Akinwonmi had quoted Ladoja expressing commitment to the PDP following the meeting of Tuesday

    Ladoja was quoted as having said: “I want to encourage our party members and all well-wishers to remain steadfast and strong in this journey as we approach 2019 general election and deliver our people from the hand of the All Progressives Congress.”

    Other leaders in attendance were the Oyo State PDP Chairman, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha; Senator Hamzat Ayo Adeseun; Senator Olufemi Lanlehin; Senator Kamorudeen Adedubu; Hon. Muraina Ajibola; Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli; Bayo Lawal; Dr. Saka Balogun; Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran; Hon. Bimbo Adepoju; Mukeso Destiny; and Alhaji Emiola Wasii among other leaders.

    Engr. Seyi Makinde was said to be absent due to an official commitment in the United States of America.

    Read Also: Ekiti 2018: Senator, Envoy, others quit PDP for SDP