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Tag: PDP

  • IBB, Jonathan reject PDP governors choice for chair

    IBB, Jonathan reject PDP governors choice for chair

    Four governors may dump Secondus 

    Battle for 2019 deepens crisis

    There are moves to checkmate some Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) governors pushing to install the party’s chairman at Saturday’s convention, sources said at the weekend.

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike is leading the plan to put former Interim Chairman Uche Secondus on the much coveted seat.

    But former military President Ibrahim Babangida, some PDP  founding fathers, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) may have teamed up to block the governors whose ranks may have been broken.

    Four governors, including two from the Southeast,  may jettison the plan to make a former Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, the chairman, it was learnt at the weekend.

    A party source said: “We are set for a make or break convention between the old brigades, led by Gen. Babangida and Jonathan, and the governors.”

    With Gen. Babangida are founding fathers, like former Minister of Information  Prof. Jerry Gana, ex-PDP national chairmen, including Sen. Ahmadu Ali, members of the BoT, ex-ministers, ex-governors and former Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu.

    The new brigade includes Wike, Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and state party chairmen “who want to put an end to godfatherism and hijack the structure of the party”.

    The source, who pleaded not to be named, went on: “The hidden plan of the two groups is the battle for the 2019 presidential ticket of the PDP. So far, it is apparent that the founding fathers and Jonathan are beholding to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, to whom they want to give the ticket

    “The governors seem to have a focus on another candidate either an ex-governor or a defector into the party. The game is tough because whoever controls the structure of the party may produce the PDP flagbearer for the 2019 presidential poll.

    “As it is now, the governors are in control of more delegates than the founding fathers who are scavenging for delegates. Even ex-President Goodluck Jonathan is not sure of the 50 per dent control of delegates from Bayelsa State.”

    A former member of the NWC said: “Gen. Babangida, Jonathan and others are determined to tame the governors. They have succeeded in breaking their ranks because four of the PDP governors may back out of their colleagues plans to install Secondus as the next chairman.

    “The governors have decided to abandon their colleagues following plea from Babangida and Jonathan.

    “But the governors have the resources to make it a battle to the finish. The old brigades depend on goodwill whereas delegates need lifeline because the party had been out of power for two and a half years.”

    “Babangida is crying out now because he has seen the handwriting on the wall that these governors are in charge. The founding fathers are banking on votes from the North to stop the governors from hijacking the party.

    The source said: “The situation is dicey. The party may end up in a deeper crisis because the chairman that will emerge might cause a split. Once we are in a crisis, 2019 presidential poll will be an easy ride for APC.”

    It was learnt that a former National Security Adviser Gen. Aliyu Gusau, has been the arrowhead of the outreach by PDP founding fathers to the governors to allow the chairman to come from Southwest. They are working for Prof. Tunde Adeniran.

    “Gen. Gusau has been trying to restore the ideals of PDP as espoused by Gen. Babangida and other founding fathers. But the governors may fight the old brigades to a standstill.”

  • IBB frightened by deployment of cash to ‘buy’ PDP chair

    IBB frightened by deployment of cash to ‘buy’ PDP chair

    Former military President Ibrahim Babangida yesterday warned against monetary inducement of delegates at Saturday’s Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) Convention.

    He urged delegates to learn from the defeat of the party in the 2015 election.

    Babangida’s intervention has heightened the tempo of the intrigues ahead of the election of national chairman.

    Gen. Babangida, in a statement through his media adviser Prince Kassim Afegbua, said: “In the countdown to the convention; as founding fathers and stakeholders, we need to collectively assure Nigerians and our teeming members that we have indeed learnt our bitter lessons.

    “ Following the defeat of the party in the 2015 election, it is incumbent upon us as leaders and stakeholders to use the opportunity of the convention to soberly reflect on the challenges confronting us, identify our flaws and seek plausible ways to correct them in order to come out stronger in subsequent elections.

    “An elective convention presents, as it were, a rare opportunity and veritable platform to elect in a holistic manner a credible, tested, down-to-earth and truly urbane candidate with enough stamina, distinguished character and national acceptability who is driven by incurable optimism and passion for a united Nigeria.”

    Giving the attributes he felt the chairman should possess, Gen. Babangida said: “At this point of our political history as a party, we need a National Chairman who is driven by uncommon initiatives, creativity in ideas and a rich content of character to lead and stabilise the party in line with the laudable ideals of the founding fathers of the party.

    “Such an individual must possess national recognition to be able to galvanise political opportunities and transform them into tangible outcomes in our democratic engagements.

    “When we were conceptualising the idea of the PDP at formation, we had in mind a party that offers platform for all Nigerians in their pursuit of legitimate political aspirations.

    “ In any democratic engagement, the people decide the outcome of elections through popular and inclusive participation.

    “The monetisation of our electoral process is disturbingly eroding that power which should ordinarily reside in the people.

    “In the last few days, I get frightened by the monetary consideration that is likely to dictate who emerges as the National Chairman of our great party rather than what the people truly want. The discussion is more on the side of heavy monetisation of the process and ultimate ‘procurement’ of the position of the Chairman by the highest bidder.

    “This approach, in my humble view, defeats the whole essence of participation, free choice and voting which are the essential attributes of any democracy without inducement and outright manipulation. I wish to plead that we tread on the path of caution and common sense, conscious of our recent history of avoidable political crisis.

    “At 76, and given the benefit of hindsight, my role both in context and content; is now more of advisory one to enhance any altruistic democratic process to elect credible leadership at various levels of representation.

    “Rather than de-monetise the electoral process to provide ample room for more citizens’ participation, the idea of monetising the process and trying to ‘procure’ party positions defeats merit, offends good conscience and blurs fair play.”

    He reeled out his expectations from the convention and why PDP leaders should learn from the party’s dismal outing in 2015 general elections.

    The statement said: “At this critical stage of our political secretions, we need men of stature, discipline, character and commendable conduct to breathe fresh air into our party and not persons whose political relevance is the product of naira and kobo bargain across the counter.

    “We need a National Chairman that would not bend to the vagaries of individual selfish interest but one who is strong enough to apply the rule of law without fear or favour. We must begin the process of interrogating processes that lead to outcomes and not just the outcomes.

    “We must interrogate our leadership recruitment process and encourage our delegates to exercise the power of their thumbs in making their preferred choice among the candidates.

    “On the strength of this, I wish to make a passionate appeal to our members, party leaders and the members of the Convention Committee to be fair and just to all, and allow the process to produce a National Chairman that would truly represent the conscience of the party.

    “I do subscribe to the idea that consensus building, collective bargaining and constructive engagement are some of the ingredients that nurture any democratic process; such ingredients should be given enough room to flourish in order to birth credible and truly representative leadership.

    “Our party, the PDP, must re-invent and re-enact itself on account of her recent history of factions and fractures. The new leadership must therefore be one that enjoys the confidence of the majority stakeholders and members in order to have a seamless transition.

    “To achieve this template, such a chairman must be the outcome of delegates’ election without manipulation and inducement.

    “One would have thought that after the 2015 dismal outing, followed by months of leadership tussles, individuals would have put to rest their selfish and egocentric interest and pursue goals and objectives that bear true testimony to the ideals of the founding fathers; but the sound bites of monetization of the process are utterly demoralizing and benumbing.

    “It is my strong belief therefore that leaders of the party irrespective of their political interest would allow reason and level playing field to prevail in the overall interest of the party. I wish the party a successful and peaceful convention on Saturday 9th December, 2017.”

  • PDP members defect to APC in Gboko

    Hundreds of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Mbakpegh ward, Gboko, Benue State, at the weekend defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The defectors, most of who are associates of Secretary to the State Government Prof. Tony Ijohor (SAN), were led by James Terhemba, popularly known as Shehu, a former majority leader of the Gboko Legislative Council; PDP Chairman Verlumun Avar, and Agber Igba. They were received by the APC Chairman Abba Yaro.

    Yaro hailed the consistency and resilience of members of the APC and urged them to continue.

    He assured the new members of equal opportunities, and urged old members to remain firm in their support for Governor Samuel Ortom.

    The defectors cited the people-oriented policies of the Ortom-led administration in security, agriculture, anti-corruption, resolution of the famers/herdsmen crisis as reasons for their decision.

    Prof. Tony hailed the defectors for choosing to join the APC, describing it as a wise decision.

    He called on the people to pray for Ortom’s success, saying he is genuinely committed to transforming the state.

  • PDP wins Akwa Ibom council polls

    •APC rejects results

    The Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) has declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of last Saturday’s local government election.

    PDP won the 31 chairmanship and 329 councillorship seats in the election.

    AKISIEC’s Chairman Aniedi Ikoiwak announced the result in a statement yesterday.

    The statement reads: “The election was contested by 12 political parties and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the 31 chairmanship and 329 councillorship seats.

    “This statement confirms the announcement/declarations made by the authorised Returning Officers in the wards and local government areas.

    “Details of scores, as submitted by our Field Officers, will be provided by the Field Operations/Logistics Department of the commission.

    “The commission thanks stakeholders and the people for the good conduct exhibited during and after the elections.”

    The newly elected officials will get their certificates today.

    But the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the election results, describing it as a sham.

    A statement by the Chairman Dr Amadu Atai and Secretary Dr Effiong Etuk, described the election as “falling in standard” of what was expected. It called for its cancellation.

  • Atiku promises jobs as he joins PDP

    Atiku promises jobs as he joins PDP

    •Lalong ‘won’t follow him’

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday promised to create jobs if elected president as he announced his return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said issues that led to his exit from the PDP four years ago had been resolved.

    In his view, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed Nigerians.

    Atiku who made the  announcement   on his Facebook page, said the decision to return to the PDP followed consultations with party leaders and stakeholders from across the country.

    The former Vice President who also responded to questions from a few people on his Facebook page, said he was disappointed with the APC for failing in its promise to create jobs.

    He wrote: “Hello, my name is Atiku Abubakar. I am speaking to you today on Facebook Live as I want to reach as many of our young people as possible as I have an important announcement to make about the future of Nigeria.

    “As it is you, our youths, who represent the future of our nation. I have found in my travels across the country that whenever I get into conversations with young people. their number one concern is whether they will be able to get a job for without a job they have no means of sustaining themselves or begin a family.

    “And without the security of a job we cannot have security in our country. So without jobs there is no future for you or for Nigeria. And I also know as a parent that the older generation is also concerned about jobs for their children and, too often today, for themselves as well.

    “Creating jobs is something I know about as I have created over 50,000 direct jobs and 250,000 indirect jobs in my own State of Adamawa. And I also know how the Government can help create the right environment for businesses to create jobs.  When I was Vice President in 1999 I was responsible for liberalising the telecomms sector which enabled us to increase the number of people who could access a phone from less than 1 million then to over 100 million today.

    “This transformation resulted in the creation of hundreds of thousands of new jobs from the top-up card vendors you see on every street corner to the many new businesses that fed off the mobile phone revolution. Some of you may know that I was elected Vice President under the banner of the PDP, which is the political party I had helped to found some ten years before.

    “And some of you may also know that I left the PDP four years ago when I believed it was no longer aligned to the principles of equity, democracy and social justice upon which we had founded it.

    “I joined the APC as I had hoped it would be the new force that would help improve life for our people and I was excited about the party’s manifesto to create 3 million new jobs a year. The result has not been the change people had been promised or voted for, as in the last two years almost 3 million Nigerians have lost their jobs.

    “And today with a record 25% of people aged 18-25 unemployed I can see how difficult it is for our youths to find a job. The key to creating jobs is a strong economy and that is what we are currently lacking.

    “So today I want to let you know that I am returning home to the PDP as the issues that led me to leave it have now been resolved and it is clear that the APC has let the Nigerian people, and especially our young people, down.

    “But rather than giving a long political speech on this matter I thought it would be more helpful to invite you to ask me questions and share with you my answers.

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, a close associate of the former vice president, said he was not perturbed by his resignation from the APC last week.

    Lalong told reporters on Sunday in Jos that he would not leave the APC.

    “We reached out to Atiku while building the APC structure in Plateau and received some help from him, but my loyalty is with the APC. My loyalty is with President Buhari and my people have endorsed him for a second term.

    “Whatever happens in another party does not concern me. We are only waiting for the APC National Convention to endorse Buhari for a second tenure,” he said.

    Adamawa State Governor Jibrrilla Bindow has also said he would not follow Atiku to the PDP.

  • Kashamu: let Southwest produce chair to save PDP

    Kashamu: let Southwest produce chair to save PDP

    Senator Buruji Kashamu has urged Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) founding fathers, governors and delegates, to ensure the emergence of the chairman from the South West to save the party.

    He said this was the agreement reached before the party’s botched Port Harcourt convention.

    In a statement yesterday, Kashamu accused the national caretaker committee of attempting to manipulate the convention to satisfy a micro interest that could derail the on-going reconciliation process at bringing the party back into reckoning.

    He said it was frustrating that rather than working for the convention to heal the wound of the party from the last election, some governors and caretaker national chairman Ahmed Makarfi, were busy perfecting plans to suit their personal interest against the general interest of millions of party members.

    Kashamu said: “I urge our existing founding fathers, all PDP party men and women , convention delegates from the entire North, the South East, South West and South South including Governor Wike himself, to allow the voice of reason prevail and allow the emergence of the first-ever South West national chairman.

    “Let’s jointly and severally prevent the hijacking of the PDP which, more likely than not, would lead to her dismemberment.

    “The forthcoming elective PDP national convention would rank first in the mischievously muddled up zoning arrangements of party offices in the history of the party.

    “Even at the inception of the PDP when the presidential ticket was contentious and generally zoned to the South, it was after being robustly debated by all the six zones and unanimously resolved in the interest of party unity and prevailing national exigencies without clandestine moves.

    “Not only that, the electoral process of that convention, particularly the delegates compilation, was painstakingly transparent, lacking in impunity and easily verifiable, unlike current disobedience of court judgements/orders and these outright ceding of party state structures to favourites.

    “That’s the legacy upon which PDP was built by the founding fathers unlike this Makarfi’s work-to-answer manipulations.  Witnessing this ongoing charade, one can’t but salute the PDP founding fathers for their uncommon integrity and penchant to public order and service.

    “The least that could be done to the memory of Solomon Lar, Chief Awoniyi, Dr Alex Ekwueme etc, being the dead among them; is for major stakeholders to rise in unison to obstruct the current administrative manipulations of some few people in chanced official positions over the multitudes. Otherwise, how can a generally agreed national chairmanship zoned to the Southwest pre-Port Harcourt convention now become indefinable under an unelected Makarfi as chairman?

    “The unambiguously credible position of the Northern Elders Forum to support the previously agreed popular zoning of the National Chairmanship to the Southwest is very honourable and highly commendable.

    “Makarfi has indeed allowed his undeserved presidential ambition to becloud his decisions and actions in this his interim caretaker position.

    “How on earth does Makarfi think that his genuflecting to Governor Wike would endear PDP national unity and progress? Carrying such absurdity to the ridiculous extent of confronting his primary Northern constituency, all because of his blind ambitious mirage is really pitiable.”

  • Dickson warns against manipulating PDP convention

    Dickson warns against manipulating PDP convention

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson at the weekend warned leaders and other members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against manipulating the outcome of the party’s national convention.

    The governor expressed concern that some party members were still stuck in the old way of doing things in the PDP, which he said would only jeopardise the chances of the party producing a credible presidential candidate in 2019.

    He insisted that Saturday’s convention must be credible, transparent and devoid of manipulation to help the PDP reclaim power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.

    Dickson said in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, that the leadership of the PDP had a responsibility to come up with a candidate from the northern part of the country to actualize the project to recapture power from the APC.

    The governor advised that the leadership of the PDP should not focus excessive attention on the national convention.

    Dickson, a former Chairman of the party’s National Reconciliation Committee, said it was important that the convention was viewed as a means to an end.

    The statement quoted  Dickson as speaking while playing host to the Chairman of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, a contestant for the position of the party’s national chairman, at the Government House, Yenagoa.

  • Daniel: PDP chair a Southwest agenda

    Daniel: PDP chair a Southwest agenda

    Former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel has said the  national chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has become a Southwest agenda.

    Daniel said the party’s No. 1 one office had morphed into a Southwest agenda, which should be pursued and achieved by the zone.

    The former governor, who ruled Ogun State for eight years on the ticket of the party, said he was vying for the national chairmanship to rescue and reposition the party for success.

    He noted that “PDP national chairmanship has gone beyond individual agenda to become a Southwest agenda”.

    Daniel spoke yesterday in Abeokuta, the capital, while addressing party stakeholders and delegates ahead of the December 9 national convention in Abuja.

    The meeting was attended by PDP State Chairman Sikirulahi Ogundele, Prince Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka, Chief Remi Bakare, Titi Gomez, Mrs. Iyabo Apampa, Senator Lekan Mustapha and others.

    Daniel admitted that while PDP is strong in the Southeast, Southsouth and North, it is weak in the Southwest.

    The former governor urged the party’s Southwest stakeholders to unite and ensure the zone gets the national chairmanship.

    He said: “Our party is very weak in the Southwest. We only have a governor in Ekiti State and we should pray that we retain the state in 2018. In the Southsouth, Southeast and in the North, the PDP has more than one governor. The North, which has two governors, has even zoned the Presidency in 2019 to the region. So, the only thing left for the Southwest is the position of the national chairman.

    “And if we fail to land the position, then we have nothing left for us. Even the All Progressives Congress (APC) has its Vice President in the Southwest as well as other appointees. We must get it right so that we can have something to campaign to our people.”

    Daniel expressed the confidence that if the national chairmanship comes to Ogun State, the effects will manifest throughout the Southwest.

    The former governor urged the state’s delegates to vote wisely during the convention.

    He added: “I know how to win elections. There is only one way to remove an incumbent governor, and that is by a grand coalition of forces. We need GNI, we need Adebutu, we need Lekan Mustapha and everyone to do this.

    “My job, if elected as the national chairman of our great party, is to provide the ground for the grand coalition to win. We need to create space for ourselves. I was in Lagos and I was not happy with the situation of the party. We need to work and reposition the PDP in Lagos.

    “In Osun, people are ready to change the ‘change’. In Oyo, we brought back (former Governor Rashidi) Ladoja and Seyi Makinde to the party. The people are ready there to vote for the PDP again. All we need is a Southwest PDP national chairman of my calibre and experience to organise our people and return the PDP to the path of glory.

    “An election is even interstate: whatever happens in a neighbouring state will surely percolate down to the other state. So, if we win elections in Ekiti and Osun states next year, that will serve as a good omen for our party in 2019 general election.”

  • PDP North’s state chairmen reject micro-zoning to Southwest

    PDP North’s state chairmen reject micro-zoning to Southwest

    PDP chairmen in northern states have urged delegates to the convention to ignore a directive to vote only aspirants from the South-West for the National Chairmanship position.

    A group of elders from the northern zone last week in Abuja resolved to encourage northern delegates to the convention to vote a candidate from the south-west to emerge as the next party boss.

    But PDP Chairmen in the 19 northern states and the FCT, who reviewed the elders’ stance at a meeting in Abuja, dissociated themselves from the directive which they said was “undemocratic”.

    Mr Hassan Hyat, Chairman, Forum of PDP State Chairmen in the North, who read their communique, said it was not right to sub-zone the seat to any particular zone.

    “The position cannot be sub-zoned to a particular zone in the south because that will disenfranchise other contestants. We, as state chairmen, cannot be party to any micro-zoning.

    “The party’s decision at the Port Harcourt Convention is final and binding on all. No one has the right to change or tamper with it,” Hyat declared.

    Recalling the declaration at the Port Harcourt Convention last year, Hyat said that the seat was zoned to all parts of the south and stressed the need to allow all zones in the south to present their candidates.

    “We stand by that position and have resolved to reject any sub-zoning to a particular area,” the Forum declared.

    The Forum further declared that zoning was a cardinal principle of the PDP and should “never be toyed with”.

    It urged delegates to assess candidates on merit and vote as directed by their conscience.

    The party chiefs advised the contestants to be “temperate and civil” in the use of language and avoid actions or statements that could create sharp division within the family.

    “The party’s interest should be the principal guiding spirit. No other personal or group’s interest should be placed over it,” the group declared.

    It urged members seeking positions to “understand that power comes from God” and be prepared to accept whoever God ordained to lead the PDP.

    The group commended the National Caretaker Committee of the PDP for strengthening the party after its protracted crises, and expressed happiness that the PDP was growing stronger “every minute”.

  • PDP’ll emerge stronger, says Jonathan

    PDP’ll emerge stronger, says Jonathan

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that the PPDP will become solid after  Saturday’s convention.

    Speaking to reporters yesterday after a visit to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike at the Government House Port Harcourt, the former president said an elected National Working Committee would set in motion  the preparation for the 2019 elections.

    He said: “God willing, we will go through the National Convention and the party will become solid.

    ”You know we have a Caretaker Committee.  When you have a Caretaker Committee, you are not as strong as a fully elected chairman.  The party passed through some challenges.  Luckily for us, we have passed through  that phase with the pronouncement of the Supreme Court “.

    ”We want to formally elect the officials of the party that will lead the party to the 2019 elections.  I am very hopeful that on the 9th of December we will elect our leaders “.

    He described Wike as “one of the best governors in terms of commitment, in terms of putting structures on ground, in terms of coming up with creative policies.

    ”He met certain structures, he has improved on them and he has built new roads and infrastructure.  I was even asked to come and commission one of the roads. That is why people call him Nr. Projects. He has been accepted by Nigerians as a performing governor “.

    The former president thanked Governor Wike and the Rivers State Executive Council for attending  the funeral of his brother-in-law at Okrika.