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Tag: PDP

  • Gulak, 16 others dump PDP for APC in Adamawa

    Gulak, 16 others dump PDP for APC in Adamawa

    At least 17 chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their supporters defected to All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Adamawa on Tuesday.

    The PDP chieftains include Ahmed Gulak, the Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Felix Tangwami, Chief Medan Teneke, Alhaji Sahabo Aliyu and Alhaji Saidu Aliyu.

    Other defectors were – Chief Lazarus Gugu, Alhaji Mustafa Maigari and Alhaji Yusuf Dan-Umma, among others.

    Gulak, who addressed supporters at the event in Yola, said they left the PDP with their 42,000 supporters “because of the impunity in the party.

    “It is time for us to register formally as APC members. It is time to formally bury PDP in Adamawa.”

    Gulak noted that the APC government at all levels had done a lot for Adamawa and the North East in general.

    According to him, the APC constitution, which provides equal opportunity to both old and new members, proves to them that the party is the most democratic in Nigeria.

    “Take us as equal partners; take us as your brothers and sisters. In APC you don’t need waiver if you are a new comer to contest any position,” Gulak said.

    Receiving the defectors, the National Vice Chairman of APC, North East, Alhaji Mustafa Salihu, said the development was a big boost for the party.

    Salihu said APC remained the party to beat particularly in the North East and assured the new members of equal opportunities in the party.

    “You are our twin brothers; it’s just that we left PDP to join APC before you. Now that you have realised the impunity we earlier realised in PDP and decided to quit and join us, we welcome you,” he stated.

    NAN

  • PDP condemns Zamfara killings, calls for prayers

    PDP condemns Zamfara killings, calls for prayers

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday condemned the gruesome murder of 41 Nigerians by marauders in Zamfara State and urged Nigerians to join forces in praying for the nation.

    The party in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja, urged the Federal Government to take decisive steps to end the incessant killings in various parts of the country.

    PDP said it was heartbreaking that Nigerians were daily slaughtered by marauders.

    The party said: “In the last two months, hundreds of helpless citizens have been murdered by bandits in various parts of the country.

    “Hardly have tears dried over the gruesome killings in Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Nasarawa and other states when marauders hit Zamfara, a state known for peace, killing 41 citizens in cold blood.

    “Nigerians now live defenceless and in perpetual fear. Our people are fast losing confidence in our institutions.

    “As we speak, citizens are now sourcing their own security as APC-controlled Federal Government daily manifest crass indifference to the protection of our people.”

    According to the statement, the PDP stood with all citizens across the nation and share in their pains at this critical time.

    The party implored Nigerians, irrespective of their religion, ethnicity and political affiliation, as well as all people of goodwill across the world, to join forces in praying for the nation.

    It also urged Nigerians to support the government and one another at this critical time for the nation.

    “We call on the APC-controlled Federal Government to seek help from Nigerians who can assist in our current situation.

    “Our people have witnessed enough bloodletting and we must collectively find an end to the carnage.

    “The PDP commiserates with the families of those killed in Zamfara and other states and pray God to grant us peace and all round protection in our country,’’ the statement added.

    NAN

     

  • Ex-commissioners, others defect to PDP in Bayelsa

    Ex-commissioners, others defect to PDP in Bayelsa

    Former commissioners and many All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts as well as their supporters, yesterday, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State.

    Among them are PDP ex-State Chairman Dr. Tarila Tebepah; ex-Chairman of the Civil Service Commission Monday Karibo; and ex-leader of the House of Assembly Stephen Erebo.

    Others are ex-commissioner Geseye Isowo; ex-Assembly members Johnson Alalibo, Chief Victor Awala, andAyiba Duba, among others.

    They were received by PDP’s National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus at a rally to mark the sixth anniversary of the Governor Seriake Dickson administration.

    Secondus said their rights and privileges had been restored and warned state party chairmen against frustrating those willing to join the party.

    Addressing the defectors, he said: “You and all your supporters are welcome. All rights and privileges are hereby restored unto you. You are free to contest elections. There will not be any barrier to any of your aspirations.

    “You are eligible, you are competent and you have the rights to be as if you are six or seven years old members of this party. No state chapter should bar anybody from coming into our party. We have opened the doors, the space is hereby open.”

    He said his party would stop killings, poverty and hunger, if it returned to the Presidency in 2019.

    Secondus, who led the National Working Committee (NWC) to Yenagoa, claimed that APC brought killings and vengeance to the country,

    At the Ox-Bow Lake Pavilion, party faithful and thousands of women, youths gathered to celebrate Dickson.

    Ex-governors, former ministers, state chairmen of PDP, led by Obong Paul Ekpo, of Akwa Ibom State,  Assembly members, led by Speaker Kombowei Benson, National Assembly members and traditional rulers were present to honour Dickson and his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd).

    Secondus, who inaugurated the pavilion, added that the party is expecting prominent stakeholders to join its fold.

    “Starting from Bayelsa today, we are waiting for very prominent stakeholders of our nation to come over to the party that will rescue our nation from this challenge of difficulty, hunger, killings, poverty.

    Dickson said the APC was not on ground and challenged his opponents to test their popularity in the state.

    But the APC yesterday disowned the defectors, saying they were never its members.

    Its Chairman, Mr. Joseph Fafi,  in a statement, said the PDP put up the show to hoodwink the public following its failure to woo APC members.

    Fafi said: “APC notes with interest the purported defection of some unknown persons claiming to be APC members in Bayelsa state to PDP.

    “We wish to state that apart from a few persons who came in from the PDP to contest the last APC Govenorship primaries and left immediately after their failure; none of the other mentioned persons are card carrying  members of the APC in Bayelsa state neither are they known within their wards.”

  • Deposed monarch urges subjects to ignore PDP

    Deposed monarch urges subjects to ignore PDP

    Deposed monarch of Uromi in Esan North East Local Government of Edo State, Anslem Odaloghe Eidonojie, has urged his subjects to ignore a call by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that they should vote out the party that deposed their king.

    The ruler, who advised his people to vote for the party of their choice, dissociated himself from PDP’s comment.

    PDP Chairman Chief Dan Orbih told Uromi people that it was wrong for them to support the All Progressives Congress (APC), which deposed their king.

    He cautioned Governor Godwin Obaseki to stop playing politics with Uromi’s traditional institution.

    But the monarch, in a statement to reporters in Benin City, said he was not a member of any party.

    He hoped the governor will revisit the incident, which led to his deposal.

    Eidonojie said: “I wish to use this medium to state that I was neither privy nor a party to the statement. I hereby dissociate myself from the statement. I am not a member of any party.

    “I urge the electorate at Uromi to disregard the statement and vote for the party of their choice.

    “I’m confident that the governor, given his progressive nature, will revisit the unfortunate incident that led to my being deposed. I promise my support and loyalty to the government.”

  • Police stops PDP rally in Niger

    Police stops PDP rally in Niger

    The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) rally slated for Saturday in Paiko, Niger State, has been postponed indefinitely.

    The Vice Chairman of PDP,  Zone B, Mallam Adamu Jibrin Ally, said the police turned down the party’s request to organize the rally because the All Progressive Party Congress (APC) had already applied to hold its Unity Rally the same day in Minna.

    According to Jibril, added that police turned down the request in order to prevent break down of law and order if the two parties hold their rallies same day.

    “We wrote the police since February 5, asking for permission to hold our party rally on February 17 at Paiko but we only got their reply just this Monday. They told us that APC had already applied for the same date.

    “The police told us that they do not have enough personnel to provide security for the two rallies at the same day. They asked us to put on hold our rally till further notice.

    “The police also said that even if they have enough personnel for the two rallies, there is the possibility of the two supports crossing each which might result in violence.”

     

     

     

     

  • PDP, AAU disagree over funding status

    The Peoples Democratic Party and management of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, have disagreed over funding of the institution.

    State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, had accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of deliberately abandoning the AAU through poor funding while providing adequate funding for the Edo University, Iyamho

    Speaking in Ekpoma, headquarters of Esan West Local Government Area, Orbih said it was wrong for the APC government to spend N18.5bn in the new Edo University without allocating same amount for AAU.

    He said, “After spending N18.5bn on Iyamho University, an average Edo man cannot send his children to that school.

    “Iyamho University was by the rich, for the rich and for children of the rich. But the AAU has been neglected by the APC in the last nine years.

    “There is a conscious policy to deny the poor access to quality education. Without proper funding of AAU, you are denying people access to education. This government has starved the AAU of fund.

    “They have not given half of the money given to Iyamho University to AAU. Government has a responsibility to provide quality education for everybody.”

    However, spokesman for AAU, Mr Edward Aihevba, said the university and the state government had a “very cordial” relationship.

    He said the government had been apt in the sending of its monthly subvention to the school adding the institution is waiting for Obaseki to set up its Governing Council.

    He said lots of infrastructural projects have been executed and are being executed.

    “More than 25 others projects have been done in the past one year. The Federal Government TETFUND and others are properly utilized. The Governor has a lot of plans for the institution. Things are not as bad as the PDP are painting it. We are providing the highest quality education.

    “Academic activities have stepped up. The tempo of academic activities is on. There is no such thing as academic decay. We are the only university running electronic voting. People should have the right information. It is not in the interest of everybody to use the university to pay politics. We are the best in law school. In French village we are the best, we are winning prizes on all fronts. In architecture, we are the best. On all fronts, we are doing very well,” he said.

     

  • We’ll stop killings, poverty in 2019 – PDP

    We’ll stop killings, poverty in 2019 – PDP

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, said on Wednesday his party would stop killings, poverty and hunger in the country if it wins the 2019 presidential election.

    Secondus, who led members of his National Working Committee (NWC), to witness a mega rally to mark the 6th anniversary of Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson’s administration, said the brooms of the All Progressives Party (APC) brought killings and vengeance to the country,

    The party chairman spoke at the Ox-Bow Lake Pavilion, Yenagoa, where party faithful and thousands of women, youths and elders in outfits with touch of red in the spirits of the Valentine, gathered to celebrate Dickson.

    Former governors, former ministers, state chairmen of PDP led by Obong Paul Ekpo of Akwa Ibom State, members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly led by their Speaker, Kombowei Benson, National Assembly members and traditional rulers were in attendance to honour Dickson and his Deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd).

    Scores of APC stalwarts and their supporters defected to the PDP at the event.

    Secondus, who had earlier inaugurated the pavilion, also reaffirmed his doubts over the readiness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free and fair election in 2019.

    Describing INEC as the parastatal of the APC, Secondus, however, warned that any attempts to manipulate the elections in 2019 would be resisted by the people.

    He said: “Starting from Bayelsa today, we are waiting for very prominent stakeholders of our nation to come over to the party that will rescue our nation from this challenge of difficulty, hunger, killings and poverty.

    “Our country witnessed the era of brooms from 2015. This broom has brought us evil, vengeance, hunger, poverty, killings in our land. We will continue to receive these brooms and throw them into the ocean. Never again shall our people witnessed killings and poverty.

    “We will rebrand, reposition our party and regain the lost ground. Bayelsa has laid the foundation for our teeming supporters. Just two days ago, we were at Abia State and we visited Abia. The governors of PDP are performing.

    “They are the good example of nation-building. I believe that all the 11 governors of PDP are the best the country has today. And because they have performed, the entire nation can see that this is the party that can rescue this country.”

     

  • PDP members defect to APC in Kwara

    Over 100 members and supporters of the  opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State.

    They were received at Agbonda, Ajase Ward II of Irepodun Local Government Area.

    The defectors attributed their decision to pitch tent with the ruling party to alleged neglect and lack of focus by their former party.

    The Secretary of the APC, Mr Olabode Adekanye, received the defectors at the empowerment programme he organised for residents of Ajase Ward II, tagged: “ABS Ajase II Empowerment Scheme”.

    Materials distributed at the event included 45 knapsack sprayers, six sewing machines, six grinding machines and six multi-functional fans.

    Adekanye said the defection of the former PDP members  was a sign that the APC was swelling in rank.

    He enjoined the defectors not to entertain any fear, adding that they would be treated equally with other members.

    The APC chieftain advised  the defectors to be faithful with the ruling party and mobilise those he said were “sitting on the fence” to join the mainstream politics.

  • Turmoil in PDP over Tambuwal

    Turmoil in PDP over Tambuwal

    •Jonathan, associates kick
    •Obasanjo schemes to impose crony on CNM

    A fresh crisis is looming in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2019 elections.

    The threat to party peace stems from alleged plan by some powerful forces to hand over the PDP presidential ticket to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State.

    Tambuwal is currently in the All Progressives Congress (APC) but he is being wooed by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and some other PDP governors to return to the party he dumped ahead of the 2015 elections.

    Also pushing for the Sokoto governor’s candidature is a prominent traditional ruler in the North, party sources told The Nation yesterday.

    Simultaneously, the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) appears to be narrowing its choice of presidential candidate in next year’s election to one of the three ex-governors it is currently wooing as a possible replacement for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Ex-governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), and Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano) like Buhari, are all from the North-West geo-political zone.

    The Nation gathered authoritatively that their names feature prominently in ongoing consultations by CNM bigwigs.

    But there is a condition: any of them seeking the Olusegun Obasanjo-inspired coalition’s support must first identify with it publicly.

    Wike, fresh from installing Prince Uche Secondus as party chairman despite vehement opposition from the likes of former Military President Ibrahim Babangida and ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, is said to have drawn the ire of Jonathan and many of his supporters for promoting Tambuwal’s presidential ambition in PDP.

    Party sources said the anti-Tambuwal elements are uncomfortable with him in view of the role he played in the loss of power by the PDP in 2015, especially the defeat of Jonathan.

    The Jonathan associates and some PDP governors have vowed to stop Tambuwal’s bid to secure the PDP presidential ticket.

    Tambuwal was Speaker of the House of Representatives under Jonathan and his defection from the PDP to the then newly formed APC laid the foundation for the defeat of the PDP in the 2015 polls.

    Party sources also said he might return to the party on the basis of an alleged unwritten agreement between him and Wike.

    He is the only APC governor that has not yet identified with the 2019 re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    A source conversant with the ongoing intrigues said:  “Jonathan’s associates and some PDP governors are not comfortable with Tambuwal for betraying the party to pave the way for the victory of APC and President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015

    “They believe that, as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, he  was used by the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN ) to destabilize the PDP, giving the ACN control of the House from  2011 to 2015

    “They accused Tambuwal of working for ACN and later joining APC to fight Jonathan. Jonathan’s kinsmen and his associates have not forgotten the role he played in bringing down their man. To that extent, the ex-president’s camp sees Tambuwal as a hard sell in the South-South, particularly in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states.

    “Some PDP governors and leaders believe he will also be difficult to sell in the South-West because of the role he played in the defeat of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila in the Speakership race in 2015. Whereas the South-West supported him to become the Speaker by defeating Hon. Mulikat Adeola from Oyo State in 2015, he was implicated in working against Gbajabiamila, who was the zone’s choice for Speaker in 2015.

    “Some PDP governors also believe that Tambuwal will be no match for Buhari in the north since his major political platform belongs to ex-Governor Aliyu Wammako who APC and strategists of Buhari are lobbying to remain in the ruling party.

    “Wammakko, politically known as ‘Alu’, may prefer to return to the Senate on the ticket of APC as long as he can be allowed to single-handedly pick a successor to Tambuwal to consolidate his political base.”

    But a PDP source said: “With Wike’s backing, Tambuwal may get the ticket. I think those making a strong case for Tambuwal have gone far on this project to be underrated.

    “If Jonathan and his associates can be cut to size during the National Convention of PDP, Wike and others can have their way on Tambuwal.

    “The aftermath in PDP might affect the chances of the party in 2019 because those in favour of the former Interim National Chairman of the party, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi as the preferred candidate for the party’s presidential mandate may cause an upset. Adopting Tambuwal will amount to abandoning the agreement with Makarfi by PDP governors to make him the party’s presidential candidate.

    “I think a member of the Interim Caretaker Committee saw this coming when he advised Makarfi to seek a firm commitment from Wike and others. Makarfi preferred to have trust in these governors.

    “Whatever it is, it is just a matter of when Tambuwal, who pulled the strings behind the scene during PDP convention, will move to PDP.

    “Realising the danger of APC plot against him, Tambuwal has gone on the fast lane by winning prominent Emirs to his side and reconciling with the likes of ex-Governor Attahiru Bafarawa. This was what accounted for the enlargement of his cabinet to 25 on February 5. He also pulled the rug from under  Wammako’s feet by appointing his younger brother, Ahmed Barade Wamakko  as Commissioner for Social Welfare.

    “Also, the anti-Tambuwal elements in PDP and APC are not relenting. For instance, the alleged hounding of Prince Kassim Afegbua, who is the spokesman of Babangida, by security agencies might have been more about his role as a political strategist of Tambuwal than the ex-Military President.”

    Notwithstanding, it was learnt that some PDP governors are considering Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo.

    A third source said: “These governors say Dankwambo is young, well educated, urbane, cosmopolitan with less baggage.  He was in Asaba last week when the governors met with the Secondus-led executives. He is also very close to Governor Ayo Fayose

    “Their worry is whether or not he has the stature to defeat Buhari.”

    Another PDP source added: “Dankwambo is too close to Governor Nasir el-Rufai for comfort. We are suspecting that APC is propping him up as a weak candidate to make it an easy ride for Buhari. We know their game plan.”

    Investigation by our correspondent on Obasanjo’s CNM revealed that contrary to claims by the former president  that he has no preferred candidate for the 2019 presidential race, the coalition  may  make strong recommendations on some candidates for Nigerians to vote for.

    A source in the group however said that whatever action taken by it will be guided by utmost caution to avoid acts capable of derailing its plans to “ease out Buhari” at all cost.

    “Whatever may be the pretence by ex-President Obasanjo, the ultimate target of CNM is to get a replacement for Buhari in 2019,” the source said.

    “The group may recommend any of the three former governors from the North-West as being capable of replacing Buhari.

    “The three leaders are Rabiu Kwankwaso, Sule Lamido, and Ibrahim Shekarau who are all from the North-West like Buhari.

    “I think a major challenge of CNM is how to work to the answer in 2019 on any of these three presidential aspirants.

    “This is why CNM, through Obasanjo, is opening talks with top politicians from the six geopolitical zones.”

    But the group is still working on the platform it will use to actualize its plan to replace Buhari.

    “The choice of platform is a challenge,” the source explained.

    He added: “PDP is the strongest opposition party which Obasanjo does not want to associate with in order not to return to his vomit having torn his membership card.

    “The CNM is trying to recommend a merger of PDP and other parties with a new name to be able to push its agenda for any of Kwankwaso, Lamido and Shekarau.”

    The CNM believes it has made a substantial inroad into the National Assembly as one of the institutions to promote the anti-Buhari agenda.

    Continuing, the source said: “The CNM has been implicated in a romance with some Senators and members of the House of Representatives which led to the reversal of INEC’s Order of Elections in 2019.

    “Nigerians should expect more radical resolutions from the National Assembly which can promote the coalition’s plans against Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

    Analysts however see Obasanjo’s motive as selfish and playing gambling with Nigerians.

    One analyst asked: is it his birth right to choose president for us? He imposed Yar’Adua, Jonathan, now he is scheming to impose on us the next President. He must be stopped.

    “On Wednesday, Obasanjo insisted that CNM would remain a socio-political movement.

    “He said he would cease to be a member if the coalition becomes partisan.

    “He said: ‘In the year 2015, I said I would no longer participate in partisan politics. And I still stand by my decision. Everybody, irrespective of his or her political affiliation is free to come here for advice, I will gladly do that. I have no candidate, whatsoever, for any political office. I just believe that things must be done differently in Nigeria to get different result.’

     

  • Ogun PDP: Court orders INEC, PDP to obey judgment

    Ogun PDP: Court orders INEC, PDP to obey judgment

    The Federal High Court in Lagos at the weekend ordered the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to recognise the Adebayo Dayo-led executive in Ogun State.

    Justice Mohammed Idris held the executive’s tenure will not expire until May 2020.

    The PDP in Ogun has been embroiled in leadership tussle, leading to factional crisis.

    The suit was filed by a member of the PDP National Working Committee, Adewole Adeyanju, Ogun State Youth Leader Femi Alao, “national delegates” for Sagamu and Ijebu North Local Government Areas Idris Muniru and Chief Tuke Omotara, chairman of Ijebu East LGA Badejo Abiodun and chairman of Sagamu LGA Kola Akinyemi.

    They sued for themselves and on behalf of “PDP Ogun State Delegates to the National Convention”.

    The defendants include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, Tunde Odanye and others.

    The plaintiffs urged the court to hold that there was a subsisting and binding judgment and orders of the Federal High Court in Lagos and Abuja delivered and issued on June 24, 2016 and on August 10 last year.

    The plaintiffs said by virtue of the court verdicts, only they were entitled to attend and participate in PDP conventions.

    They urged the court to restrain the PDP Caretaker Committee in Ogun State from usurping the plaintiffs’ functions as “authentic officers of the Ogun PDP Executive Committee” led by Chief Adebayo Dayo.

    Justice Idris, in his verdict, dismissed the defendants’ objection on the ground the plaintiffs are beneficiaries of the judgement delivered by Justice Ibrahim Buba in a suit no FHC/L/CS/636/2016.

    Justice Buba held that the tenure of the Adebayo Dayo led executive subsists until May 2020.

    Affirming the judgment, Justice Idris directed INEC and the PDP (first and second defendants) to obey Justice Buba’s orders.

    The court also nullified the congresses held in defiance to Justice Buba’s judgement and orders.

    The court nullified the appointment of Odanye and others as Ogun State PDP Caretaker Committee, saying their appointment was contrary to Justice Buba’s judgment which affirmed Adeboyo Dayo -led exco.