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PDP: Allow return of members with values to add, Chairman tells leaders

The Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) in Niger, Mr Tanko Beji, has advised party leaders to allow the return of defected members who had values to add to the party.

Beji gave the advice on Monday in Minna when he received Chief Raymond Dokpesi, an aspirant for national chairmanship of the party, who was on a campaign tour to Niger.

He also called for reward mechanism for members who stood by the party in the troubled times.

“As a state chapter of the party, we have resolved that loyalty must be rewarded and disloyalty must be punished.

“Those who have torn the party apart must be punished for what they have done.

“In rebuilding the party, there is need for us to open its gate.

“Anybody who wants to add value to our party must be re-admitted into the party, but if you re-join you have to join the queue.

“Those who stood in the hard time must not be overtaken,” Beji said.

The chairman also urged party members to ensure that the December convention mended rather than marred the party, considering the recent crisis it went through.

“Nobody will build this party for us; we have to build it by ourselves, because this party belongs to all of us and does not belong to anybody.

“Unlike other political parties, PDP is not owned by anybody.”

Beji who said that Dokpesi had visited the state three times within 15 months, remarked that the aspirant had always demonstrated the spirit of party man.

He reassured Dokpesi that PDP members in Niger would not fail him.

He advised him to rekindled peoples’ confidence in PDP, put mechanism of intra-party democracy in place and give due recognition to state chairmen of the party, if he emerged as national chairman.

Earlier, Dokpesi had said that he believed that he was the most qualified candidate for the party’s national chairman.

“I want to plead and assure you that I am eminently qualified to contest for the office of the national chairman.

“If there is anybody in the South-West who is better than me, let us get to the field,” he said.

Dokpesi urged the state delegates to the December convention to make good decision in electing the party’s national leaders.

He said that the decision would determine the future of PDP, the future of the children and the direction on the country.

Read Also: PDP will not fail followers – Bafarawa

November 27, 2017
Buhari to Oyegun: Accept my sympathy on Atiku’s exit

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday sympathized with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, over the exit of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the party.

The President made the remark just before the commencement of the inauguration of the Tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

READ ALSO: Atiku: In pursuit of a life time ambition

Facing Odigie-Oyegun, the President said: “Accept my sympathy for losing a senior member of your party.”

Atiku had last Friday announced his exit from the ruling party.

Read Also: Buhari to attend EU-AU Summit in Abidjan

November 27, 2017
Atiku splits PDP governors

Makarfi, others listed for 2019

Adamawa APC gets ex-VP’s resignation letter

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors are split over the expected defection of ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to the party and his bid for the presidential ticket.

Some of the governors and party leaders prefer National Caretaker Committee Chairman Ahmed Makarfi, former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and one-time Governor of Kano State Ibrahim Shekarau.

There were indications that some of the governors might oppose former President Goodluck Jonathan’s plan to back Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.

They claim not to have been consulted by Jonathan.

Atiku has continued his consultations prior to his return and registration as a PDP member in Jada 1 Ward, Adamawa State.

The Adamawa chapter of the APC yesterday confirmed the receipt of Atiku’s resignation letter.

State Secretary of APC Alhaji Saidu Nera confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola.

Nera said he was yet to get the letter but the party officials of Jada 1 Ward in Jada Local Government Area where Atiku registered had told him that they had received the letter.

Atiku spent the weekend holding talks with some of PDP’s Northeast Zonal executives; Adamawa PDP executives and party leaders from Jada Local Government, Jada 1 Ward and zonal executives.

PDP State Secretary Abdulllahi Prambe described the meetings as fruitful.

“Our meeting with him has been fruitful and from his body language, he will soon return to PDP,” Prambe said.

“With Atiku, the party will carry more weight and more people will also troop in,” he said.

It was learnt that Atiku might meet Governors Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Ishaku Darius (Taraba) in Abuja this week on his plans to return to the PDP and seek their cooperation.

Although he was silent on when he would rejoin the PDP, there were speculations that he might re-register in Jada 1 Ward of PDP on December 6.

It was learnt that some of the PDP governors might have opted to work for Makarfi when he leaves office at the National Convention on December 9.

The governors have reportedly said they were “not keen to work for Atiku”.

A governor who spoke in confidence said: “Not all the PDP governors have bought into the Atiku agenda, we are not united on him. If we have our way, some of us will go for Makarfi who has shown uncommon leadership in reuniting PDP. And those of us in this group are encouraging him to join the presidential race.

“Some of our leaders also prefer Lamido or Shekarau. If we have any issue with Makarfi, it is about rumours on his health and we have conducted our research, the ex-governor is as fit as a fiddle. It is all propaganda.

“As I am talking to you, we have not been fully consulted by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Atiku’s candidature.

“At the end of the day, we will follow the rule of law, the party’s constitution and go to the field to elect a presidential candidate. What if our members decide not to grant Atiku a waiver to contest the presidential primaries? ”He is a new member, he can as well queue like others.

“Some of our leaders speak about Atiku as a political asset in the North but he was a distant third in the APC presidential primaries. We won’t be blind on our choice this time around. I think programmes and not personality should matter to PDP.”

A former member of the National Working Committee (NWC) said: “Some of the governors have been working behind the scene with Jonathan on the Atiku project. We see him as a game changer and that is why we are desperate to woo him.

A fresh twist to Atiku’s exit from APC emerged yesterday following the revelation that he left the ruling party since October 18.

Notwithstanding the discrepancy in the date of resignation and formal announcement of his exit, Atiku’s letter, which was sent to the chairman of Jada 1Ward, reads: “I wish to inform you of my decision to resign my membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in this ward with effect from the date of this letter (October 18, 2017).

“I am resigning from a party we formed and worked so hard with fellow compatriots across the country to place in government. I had hope that the APC government will make improvements to the lives of our people and the continued existence and development of Nigeria as one indivisible nation. This hope has now been dashed.

“I am unable to reconcile myself with the dismal performance of the party in government, especially in relation to the continued polarization of our people along ethnic and religious lines, which is threatening our unity more than any other time in the recent past, and the unbearable hardship that our people are currently undergoing.

“As I said in 2006, it is the struggle for democracy, constitutionalism and service to my country and my people that are driving my choice. Let me emphasize, again, that this is not about me. We have to have a country before people can aspire to lead it.

“While wishing you well, let me express the hope that, in the near future, a substantial number of you will join forces with us to, once again, defeat impunity, and restore vision and purpose to the politics of our great country. Please accept the assurances of my highest regards.”

Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has described Atiku’s resignation from the APC as “a disgrace.”

The ex-governor who spoke at the weekend during the inauguration of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) office in Ringim local government of the state, said: “If Atiku would quit this party it will be morally wrong for any Nigerian to continue to patronise the APC

“It is unfortunate that the APC that comprises of those seen as “saints” could be classified by Atiku as a symbole of poverty, betrayal, disrespectful and a dungeon of hell”.

He pleaded with the former leaders of the PDP in the APC to retrace their steps.

He named Senate President Bukola Saraki, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso and Senator Aliyu Wammako.

He said: “We had known that sooner or later this would happen, because it is an amalgamation of strange bed fellows that formed the APC that people like Atiku felt he could support its course, yet today they have betrayed him and they will all betray you if you don’t leave them”, he declared.

But Accord Party chieftain Dr. Doyin Okupe advised opposition parties to form a coalition if they hope to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC in the 2019 general elections.

Okupe, a former presidential spokesman, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as presently constituted, is weak to upstage APC from power but should team up with other parties to realise the dream.

Okupe described Accord as a veritable third force that is blowing like a whirlwind across the Southwest Nigeria and the country at large, expressing confidence that the party would win the 2018 governorship election in Ekiti State.

He spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, at the weekend during the election and inauguration of the party’s State executive and the official adoption of Banjo Ojo as the governorship candidate for the 2018 election.

At the event, 500 members of the PDP, APC and Labour Party defected to the party and were received by the State chairman of the party, Chief Abiola Odeoba and National Chairman, Mr. Lawan Nalado.

Okupe said: “It took a coalition in 1998 to be able to send away military. The coalition crystallized into PDP, won election and held it for 16 years.

“It took a coalition of forces again in 2015 to be able to wrest power from the PDP and that is what Nigerians should do in 2019.”

November 27, 2017
George seeks PDP aspirants debate

A leading aspirant for PDP national chairman Chief Olabode George has challenged other contestants for an open debate on their vision, agenda and motive for gunning for the party’s prime office.

He described himself as knowledgeable about the culture and practices of the party, saying whoever wanted to lead the party should not be afraid of a public debate that will showcase their grasp of the norms and traditional values of the party.

George told delegates from Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto states about the need for micro zoning of the national chairmanship position, he insisted that the fundamental resolve of the founding founders was to promote equity and balance in the distribution of the party offices.

George praised the Sultan of Sokoto Sa’ad Abubakar for his patriotism and his instinctive embrace of all Nigerians regardless of faith or tribe.

George was praised by the North West Coordinator of his campaign Organization, Alhaji Bakori, for his selfless service to the party and his consistency.

Alhaji Bakori described George as the most experienced among the contestants.

George was at the Katsina State PDP secretariat yesterday.

Director General of the Bode George Campaign Organisation Alhaji Aliu K. Ibrahim, described this as payback time for George having worked selflessly as the Director General of Yar’Adua/Jonathan Presidential Campaign.

George said the convention itself must reinforce all sense of fairness, civility and equitable largeness. He enjoined delegates to be courageous and open-minded.

George said this is the second chance for the party to redeem itself and rectify the errors of the past.

He promised to be back in Katsina state which has 110 delegates, the largest batch in the nation because of the vivid hospitality and embrace with which he was received by the leaders and delegates.

November 27, 2017
Bode George urges Atiku to return to PDP

Chief Bode George, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and aspirant for the chairmanship position of the party, has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to return to the PDP.

George made the call while addressing PDP supporters on Sunday in Katsina as part of his campaign tour to solicit for support to actualise his aspiration.

“The former vice president is a landlord in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as he was among the G-34 that established it.

“In the All Progressives Congress (APC) party, Atiku is just a tenant that can be kicked out any time the landlord wants.

“But in the PDP, nobody can kick Atiku out because he has laboured for the establishment of the party.

“Just because your house is leaking, you cannot abandon it and move to a rented house,” he said.

The PDP stalwart urged party members to close rank and do the right thing as the December 9, convention date approaches.

“If we miss to select the right leaders during our convention, then we cannot do anything tangible in 2019 general elections” he said.

George appealed to all members of the party to avoid the in-house fighting that had been dividing members of the party.

It will be recalled that the former Vice President announced his resignation from the ruling party over the weekend.

According to Atiku on reasons for his resignation, “the party we put in place has failed and continues to fail our people, especially our young people.”

He lamented the absence of youths in the federal cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari saying: “How can we have a federal cabinet without even one single youth.

“A party that does not take the youth into account is a dying party. The future belongs to young people.

“I admit that I and others who accepted the invitation to join the APC were eager to make positive changes for our country that we fell for a mirage. Can you blame us for wanting to put a speedy end to the sufferings of the masses of our people?

“Be that as it may be, after due consultation with my God, my family, my supporters and the Nigerian people whom I meet in all walks of life, I, Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa, hereby tender my resignation from the All Progressives Congress while I take time to ponder my future.

November 26, 2017
PDP: December convention threatened by Makarfi, Atiku’s aspirations

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) was at the weekend moving to fortify plans for its scheduled national convention billed to hold next month after indications emerged that the December get together meant to elect a new national leadership for the party may have come under threats owing to emerging conflicts allegedly being fuelled by the rumoured presidential ambition of chairman of the party’s Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and the recent defection of former Vice President Abubakar Atiku from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Hours after Atiku announced his decision to dump the ruling APC amidst widespread speculation that he is headed into the PDP, a close aide of Makarfi confirmed the national chairman’s interest in the presidential ticket of the party in 2019.

Without mincing words, former national deputy publicity secretary of the PDP, Abdullahi Ibrahim Jalo, said Makarfi will seek the presidential ticket of the PDP in 2019.

This surprise revelation by Jalo, who is also an adviser (Hausa Media Services) to Makarfi, while speaking with journalists in Gombe, appears to confirm earlier speculations within the party that Makarfi maybe eyeing the presidency. Jalo’s closeness to the former Kaduna State governor, coupled with the fact that no disclaimer has been issued by Makarfi or the PDP hours after the revelation, gave credence to his claims.

Following the revelation, The Nation learnt that a group of prominent chieftains within the party may have resolved that the December convention will not hold unless Makarfi and his team quit the stage. It was gathered that a fierce campaign to call for the resignation of the caretaker committee ahead of the national convention will be mounted in the days to come.

The moves to see out the Makarfi-led committee, reliable party sources claim, were in response to emerging fears within the party that the December convention is being tele-guided to produce a pre-determined set of national executive committee members, who will in turn, do the biddings of some current party leaders and subsequently deliver the presidential ticket of the party to a clique within the party in 2019.

One of those repeatedly mentioned to be part of the plot to influence the outcome of the December Convention is Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. Party sources claim he is working for the emergence of a PDP leadership that will “play ball with him and his clique” in determining who gets the presidential ticket of the party.

“The events of the past few days have shed more light on what is happening within our party as we prepare for the national convention. It is now clearer that the unending manipulations the process of the convention has been subjected to are not without reasons. If somebody as close to Makarfi as Jalo said he is interested in the presidency and Makarfi has not denied that, then the truth has been told.

“And if it is true that Makarfi is harbouring such plans, then it is important that we take another look at his role in the process that will lead to the emergence of those who will superintend over the

process of deciding who gets the party tickets in a matter of months. Simply put, previous allegations that he is tinkering with the process are appearing to be very correct and we are determined to put a stop to all that,” a member of the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT) from Osun told The Nation.

It was learnt that at an impromptu meeting of PDP chieftains in the Southwest, it was resolved that a formal demand for the resignation of the caretaker committee be made as soon as possible with an additional position that the region will boycott the convention and take alternative lines of action if their demand is not met before the December date.

Speaking at the weekend, a former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said Jalo’s revelation has shown that Makarfi and the caretaker committee were already compromised, and as such, should not be arbiters in the processes that will midwife a new leadership for the party. He urged them to resign and not wait to be pushed out.

“The game plan is for the caretaker committee to simply handover the party administration to Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State through his planted agent and acolyte Uche Secondus. In this grand scheme to compromise the national convention, Secondus and Wike will equally do a pay back by rigging the presidential primary to favour Makarfi.

“The only way out now is for Makarfi and his entire Caretaker Committee members to resign immediately. They cannot be trusted. Once the head is rotten, the whole body is subsequently vitiated, corrupted and dishonoured. We are absolutely clear in our demand. We are absolutely resolved in our position. We will not stand idle and fold our hands while all kinds of machinations are being hatched to destroy the collective interest of the Yoruba people,” Babatope vowed.

“We strongly advise Senator Makarfi to resign his position forthwith because he has been severely compromised. He can no longer play the role of a neutral arbiter who stands far above the fray. He is already tarred and soiled in the muddy waters of partisan prejudice. Makarfi should now do the most honourable thing by walking away and face his ambition squarely.”

Another BoT member, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliu, while supporting the call on Makarfi to resign, said “Apparently spurred by personal ambition of contesting for the Presidential office in 2019, Makarfi is brazenly allying with a particular aspirant in the South-South to deliberately distort the process, muddle equity and invariably destroy the democratic process for transient personal gains.”

“Everywhere you look, he is planting his agents to stage manage warped and skewed congresses in an undisguised mockery of all the normative patterns of our founding fathers whose enduring forte about equity, justice and fairness is now being flung into the gutter. In a way, Makarfi is evidently resolved to repeat the farcical malady that characterized the debacle in Port Harcourt last year. We have equally resolved that we will not be led along this ruinous path again.”

The Nation also gathered that strong belief that Atiku will be joining the PDP formally before the convention is causing anxiety over the planned convention. Inside sources claim the coming of the former Vice President, earlier than was previously expected, was orchestrated by a group of PDP governors and chieftains who saw a need to stop Makarfi and Governor Wike from freely taking over the party structure at the convention.

“Atiku has actually been expected to join the PDP, but not this early. His coming at this time followed a division within the leadership of the party over the way the process that will lead to the convention was being handled. It became clear that there is need for a new rallying point for those who disagree with Makarfi, Wike and Governor Ayodele Fayose.

“Some Governors too, especially in the northeast, were not comfortable with the turn of events and so reached out to Atiku to hasten his coming and provide much needed leadership for a large crowd of disatisfied party chieftains ahead of the convention. If this convention will still hold, the terms would have to be redefined and agreed upon by all and sundry.

“Atiku is not coming to the PDP alone. He is returning to the party with heavyweights some of whom were in the PDP before many of those claiming leadership today. So, his coming will balance the power equation within the party and help us to be able to question the allegations of sinister plots and manipulations currently going on as we plan for the December convention,” a party chieftain said.

The Nation learnt that a letter of protest may be submitted at the national secretariat of the PDP early this week by a group of concerned chieftains, to officially call on Makarfi and his team to resign. “One of our demands is that the BoT be allowed to work with the Convention committee in organizing the convention while the caretaker committee should take a bow. Our group is made up of Governors, Senators, BoT members and other prominent party stakeholders,” our source claimed.

Efforts to speak with Makarfi yesterday proved abortive as he failed to pick his call and did not reply texts messages send to him. Also his aide did not pick his calls nor reply texts messages.

November 26, 2017
Obanikoro dumps PDP, joins APC

Former Minister of State for Defence, Chief Musiliu Obanikoro, yesterday returned to the fold of progressives.

He dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

There had been speculations of his formal declaration for the APC for months until it finally came to pass at a rally in Lagos.

Senator Gbenga Ashafa(Lagos East) was at the rally.

He wrote on his twitter handle: “I welcome my brother @MObanikoro back home to our great party @APCNigeria. The APC in Lagos is stronger and more united. APC!!!”

November 26, 2017
PDP: Intrigues ahead of December convention

As the Peoples Democratic Party prepares for its December National Convention, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports on the problems and intrigues that may determine the outcome of the event

CONSIDERING the unending leadership tussle that rocked the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for years before former Borno State governor, Senator Alli Modu Sheriff, was sacked as the National Chairman of the party, many watchers are wary of the possible outcomes of the forthcoming National Convention of the party, scheduled to hold in December.

Not a few commentators on the convention are concerned about the many allegations and counter allegations that have come to characterize the build up to the event. The intrigues within the PDP as the December date of the convention draws closer have left many observers wondering if the party will truly come out of the convention stronger and more united as promised by the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee.

The planned convention is the PDP’s first elective gathering after the Supreme Court laid to rest the leadership crisis that nearly crippled the former ruling party. Thus, many have not only described it as symbolic, but have warned that the eventual outcome of the event will either make or mar the self-declared largest political party in Africa.

The event, which is expected to usher in a new national leadership for the party, is also expected to take a look at the books of the party with the possibility of making some amendments that are expected to make the party stronger and more appealing to the populace ahead of the 2019 General Election which the party has been boasting it will win convincingly.

“The forthcoming convention is of utmost importance to us as a party and of great importance to some individuals within and even outside the party based on their political interest in 2019. All these and many more are responsible for the many intrigues we are all seeing in the build up to the convention. However, one major thing we all agreed on is that the PDP must remain united after the convention

“It is worrisome that we are today seeing things that threaten the continued unity of the party. Within and outside the party, concerns are being expressed over the seeming divisive dimension the contest for party positions is taking. That is why many party chieftains are today calling for urgent intervention by some of our leaders before the matters get out of hand,” a member of the National Caretaker Committee from the South-South told The Nation.

Anger in the South-West

With the convention now less than a month away, the party is sadly still unable to end a fresh crisis that was borne out of its decision to zone the chairmanship position to the southern part of the country. While the South-West is insisting that the zone be allowed to produce the next National Chairman of the party unhindered by aspirants from other zones, party chieftains from the South-South say the race must remain open to all aspirants from the southern region.

And as the argument raged, the party in the southern region was gradually being divided with governors, National Assembly members and other prominent party leaders being drawn into the divisive debate of how the next National Chairman of the PDP should emerge. Allegations and counter allegations soon began to fly, followed by name callings and even threats of a boycott of the convention by a bloc in the party.

Not even a meeting of PDP governors and leaders of the party, as well as aspirants for the position of national chairmanship, held in Enugu to deliberate on the raging issue among other things, could resolve the lingering face-off between PDP chieftains in the South-West and the leadership of the party. Those in attendance include members of the National Caretaker Committee led by Ahmed Makarfi, PDP national chairmanship aspirants, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Raymond Dokpesi, Uche Secondus and Rashidi Ladoja.

Also in attendance are governors Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Ben Ayade (Cross River), Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Darius Ishiaku (Taraba), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Ebonyi Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe.

At the end of the meeting, it appears the party is unable to stop aspirants from other zones in the south aside South-West from contesting for the national chairmanship position. Thus, Makarfi was to tell reporters that the issue may have to be resolved at the convention in December. By this, he may have meant that all aspirants would be allowed to slug it out at the election.

But leaders of the South-West PDP, rising from a meeting in Ibadan during the week, rejected the party’s position on the issue. At the meeting were Chief Shuaib Oyedokun, Captain Tunji Shelle, Dr. Jimi Oke, the former deputy governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Salimonu Badru, Dr. Saka Balogun, Alhaji Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli and Dr. Yemi Farounbi, among others.

The party leaders faulted the peace accord reached by PDP in Enugu and warned that the isolation of the South-West could affect PDP’s chances in the 2019 presidential race. The meeting resolved that the leadership of the PDP in the South-West should before the convention; meet all PDP governors and leaders to persuade them to have a rethink over the zoning issue.

Similarly, National Vice- Chairman of the PDP in the South-West, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, while urging all aspirants for National Chairman in the zone to come to a round table to reduce the number so as not to jeopadise the zone’s bid, insisted that the party should allow the South-West to produce the chairman. According to him, it is the right thing to do to move the party forward.

“The position of the zone is emphatic; it’s unassailable historically. We are supposed to produce the National Chairman of the party. But in a party that has six zones, we can only persuade and plead with other zones to see reason with us and that is what the leadership of the zone has been doing. We still believe that they will see reasons and the South-West will produce the chairman of the party. From 1999 till date, we’re yet to produce the chairman for the party.

”Let it be on record that we have at present the best of all candidates in the country. Chief Olabode George, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Professor Tunde Adeniran, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, Jimi Agbaje and there is possibility between now and one week for other people to come in. But we want to take our team straight down there and say make your choice, not a situation that we will just bring an individual to the race,” he said.

South-South insists

But media guru and PDP national chairman contender, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, has warned leaders of the party in the South-West not to hijack the process leading to the convention by trying to stop other aspirants from contesting in the race alongside aspirants from the South-West. He said attempt by some BoT leaders to exclude some people from the race is not good for the party. But speaking with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, shortly after submitting his nomination forms at the PDP national secretariat, Dokpesi said it was wrong for the BoT members to take such a decision.

“Members of the BoT want to take over the party. Some people want to use BoT to take over the day to day running of the party. Members of BoT have been going out with some aspirants. They have been meeting delegates and stakeholders of the party. Some of them as smart as they are are peddling rumours that the BoT has endorsed some aspirants as their choice for National Chairman. But we know that the BoT has not met,” he said.

“We are in a haste to take over from the APC. It won’t be easy to take back power from the current government. APC will not hand over power on a platter of gold. We need a fighter; a strong party man. That is why we need a strong man to serve as chairman of the party,” he added, saying he is not ready to abandon his quest to lead the PDP for any zoning arrangement.

Similarly, former National Deputy Chairman (South) of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, has while debunking the insinuation that some interests were trying to impose him on the party as the National Chairman, has insisted that he will go all the way to the convention to ask for the votes of the delegates irrespective of efforts to zone the position to the South-West.

“Our attention has been drawn to news reports alleging clandestine moves by some powerful forces to impose Prince Uche Secondus as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party. We want to categorically declare that there is no iota of truth in that reports. Our candidacy depends on endorsement and votes of delegates at the forthcoming national convention.

“We urge all aspirants to get ready for the National Convention and stop game of distractions. The delegates assembled will cast their votes for an aspirant of their choice in the full glare of the public. Nobody can impose any aspirant in a free and fair contest. We also want to affirm that Prince Secondus remains the most qualified for the chairmanship going by his antecedents before and after the crisis that nearly killed the party.

More troubles for Makarfi

And as this war over zoning rages on, the Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee has come under severe attacks over allegations that it is not handling some crucial party matters well. Recently, a chieftain of the PDP in Oyo State, Alhaji Adebisi Olopoenia, warned the leadership of the party to resolve the outcome of a recent parallel congresses in the state or face dare consequences.

The aggrieved PDP chieftain said due to the way the issues within the state chapter of the PDP were handled, the congresses had produced two factional chairmen of the PDP in Oyo State. He warned that if the outcome of the state congress is not reviewed and allow free and fair treatment of all members, there is likelihood of a mass defection from the party.

He said there is urgent need for Markafi and other leaders to revisit the crisis before it escalated beyond resolve. Olopoenia lamented that Accord Party has taken over the structure of PDP in the state going by the sharing formula of the positions in the party. He said it seems it was actually the PDP that joined Accord Party during the recent process of bringing together of members of the PDP who had gone to form another political parties prior to 2015 general elections.

In a related development, the member representing Ogun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Buruji Kashamu, accused Makarfi of creating crisis in the South-West zone of the party because of his 2019 presidential ambition. The Senator said Makarfi, aided by Governor Fayose of Ekiti State, has been illegally altering duly elected state executives in the zone.

“Makarfi had been going about not even as an elected National Chairman with full tenure but much more ridiculously like a sole administrator with timeless tenure under the disguise of solving one problem or the other. He has disorganised the South-West PDP for selfish manipulations with his cohorts, chief amongst whom is the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose.

“As if the disorganisation of the South-West structures is not enough; Makarfi has clandestinely abdicated the leadership role of ensuring an acceptable micro-zoning, he left the national chairmanship hitherto conceded to the South-West for a free-for-all among the three southern zones. It is indeed funny that Makarfi that has evidently shown lack of requisite capacity to be the National Chairman is dreaming of becoming the President of Nigeria,” Kashamu lashed.

And as the party prepares to decide on the delegates’ list to be used at the convention, the issue of fictionalisation is rearing its ugly head again within the PDP as a faction of the party in the South-West, led by Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, has threatened to slam the PDP with a lawsuit if it is not recognised as the legitimate leadership of the party in the zone.

The Makarfi leadership of the party currently recognizes Dr. Eddy Olafeso as the Vice Chairman (South-West) but Ogundipe said he remains the authentic Vice Chairman of the PDP in the zone based on a subsisting court judgment. He said the continued recognition of Olafeso as Vice Chairman (South-West) ran foul of the law as there had been no superior order to nullify the subsisting Abuja court judgment.

“We are the authentic South-West zonal executive of the PDP, based on a subsisting court judgment and we want the party to accord us due recognition. Any other group parading themselves as Executive Committee from the zone is committing an illegality as there has been no better judgement to nullify the court judgement affirming us as the authentic executive. More so, the subsisting court order restrained Olafeso and his group from participating in the December 9 National Convention.

“We do not want to constitute any problem to the convention and that is why we are saying the party should operate in accordance with law and allow us to present delegates from the zone. In the event that we are excluded, just as we were at the non-elective convention in Port-Harcourt, we shall take the necessary legal action, and that will affect the party in the long run,” he said.

Unless something dramatic happens to help the PDP resolve these myriads of problems, the Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee seems poised to go to the December convention with a bagful of unresolved grievances within the party across the states. And political observers say this may not augur well for the troubled party in its quest to reposition itself and go ahead to put up a good showing at the 2019 General Election.

November 26, 2017
PDP accuses APC of plot to sabotage its convention

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to sabotage its December 9 national convention.

Citing “intelligence reports”, the PDP said the ruling party has perfected plans to sponsor a parallel convention, using some unscrupulous members of the PDP to hold a parallel convention.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said the aim of the APC was to factionalise and destroy the opposition ahead of the 2019 elections.

Adeyeye appealed to PDP members across the federation to resist such temptation, saying the party was doing everything to address grievances among its aspirants to the various executive positions ahead of the December 9 convention.

He said: “We are not completely oblivious of the plans by the APC to sabotage our convention.

“Apart from the internal fighting within the APC, one of the reasons why the party postponed its national convention till next year was to enable it closely monitor our convention with a view to destabilising our party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

“The National Caretaker Committee has uncovered plans by some unscrupulous members of our party to hold a parallel national convention on December 9, 2017.

“This is totally uncalled for and a complete act of sabotage. Those making such plans cannot be said to be honest members of our party, the PDP. They are not patriotic but just out to destroy our party.

“The planned parallel convention is one of those ideas of the APC to create divisions amongst members of our party.

“It will be most unfortunate for members of our party to allow themselves to be used against the party, especially in the light of our recent painful experience.

“These are all part of the agenda of the APC to create an atmosphere of fear and insecurity around PDP members before and after the national convention.

“It is also part of the overall strategy of the ruling party to turn Nigeria into a one party state.

“The National Caretaker Committee has been working very hard to carry all party members and supporters of the party along in all the preparations for the forthcoming national convention holding on December 9 – 10, 2017.”

According to him, the plot by the APC was to capitalise on disagreements among the chairmanship aspirants of the PDP, assuring that the leadership of the party would address the aspirants’ grievances in an open and transparent manner before the convention.

Adeyeye said: “We are putting our resources in place to address all the fears earlier reported by some national chairmanship aspirants.

“One of the steps being taken by the leadership is to make available and in good time, the comprehensive names of all the delegates for the national convention to all the aspirants before the convention.

“We therefore see no reason for any honest member of this great party to want to disrupt our programmes, except they are of course working for the ruling party, the APC.”

The party appealed to aggrieved aspirants and members to take advantage of available internal conflict resolution channels to ventilate their opinions, concerns and grievances.

It vowed to resist any move by anyone to sabotage the convention, saying however that there was very little the party could do to dissuade members that may have decided to become paid agents of the APC.

The party spokesman cited the arrest and detention of some key PDP stakeholders on what he described as trump up charges of corruption, saying that the ruling APC had already targeted no fewer than 50 of its prominent members for arrest and incarceration.

Adeyeye said: “The APC propagandists said we were crying wolf. Now we are being vindicated by the continuing and unrelenting arrest, intimidation and harassment of our top leaders.

“In the last one week, the former governor of Taraba State, Mr. Abubakar Danladi, and the former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, two prominent members of our party, were arrested by the anti-graft agency, the EFCC.

“This is apart from the five that were earlier arrested within the month of November. We don’t know who will be next in the list.”

The PDP called on Nigerians and the international community to be vigilant and to ensure that the APC did not entrench full blown dictatorship in the country.

“The only reason why the APC is hell bent on killing the opposition in Nigeria is due to its non-performance and inability to deliver on its campaign promises.

“They have failed Nigerians and they know too well that they can no longer convince Nigerians to vote for them again in 2019.

“We want to assure members of our party nationwide that the leadership of the party, led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, will provide an enabling environment and a level playing field for all those contesting for one position or the other before and after the national convention.

“We pledged to ensure a transparent, free and fair election, and by the grace of God, we are going to conduct the most democratic election in the history of any political party in Nigeria,” the party spokesman said.

Reacting to PDP’s allegation yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi dismissed it as baseless, adding that it was a clear indication that the party has lost direction and control of its members.

Abdullahi said: “What does that mean? I don’t understand. That we are going to organise a parallel convention for them or what? I mean, if those people they are alleging are actually their members, shouldn’t they be ashamed to say we are sponsoring them? Does it make sense at all?

“Those people are confused. How can you come out and say that your opponent is sponsoring your members?

“It is like saying that my neigbour is using my children against me or that somebody is inciting my wife against me.”

November 25, 2017
Ex-PDP National Chairman’s wife joins APC

Mrs. Mariam Nneamaka Ali, the wife of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), Dr. Ahmadu Ali, on Thursday joined the All Progressives Congress ( APC ).

Mrs. Ali who was accompanied by the Delta State APC Chairman, Jones Ode Erue; Chief Frank Kokori; Chief Great Ogboru, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and other top APC stalwarts and supporters from Delta State was received by the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun at the Party’s National Secretariat. Odigie-Oyegun was accompanied at the ceremony by the Party’s National Woman Leader, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu and National Auditor, Chief George Moghalu.

At the ceremony, Mrs. Ali said: “A lot of persons may wonder why I am joining the APC. The answer is simple. I want to continue to render service to my people and Nigeria at large. I believe I will be doing myself a lot of disservice if I don’t fulfil this burning desire in me.

“I know also a lot of people will wonder why I have chosen to opt for a political party different from my husband’s. Again, the answer is not farfetched. My family is a unique family, it is a family devoid of religious and ethnic differences. You are all aware that Dr. Ahmadu Ali is a Muslim and I am passionate Catholic. Also, Dr. Ahmadu Ali is from North Central and I am form the South South.

“Therefore, religion and ethnicity do not play a role in our lives. It therefore suffices to say that my becoming an APC member and him being an active member of the PDP further displays the uniqueness of my family.

“We symbolise a people who want to serve a nation, a nation where oneness, love and peace reign supreme. Today marks the beginning of greater peace, love and oneness amongst all Nigerians. It is a new dawn, one nation, one destiny, one people. It is about an indivisible nation, Nigeria.”

The APC National Chairman in his remarks said Mrs. Ali’s entrant to the Party has added to value and quality to the Party and its leadership both in Delta State and at the national level.

“It is very clear from the spread, the quality of those who are here today that this is indeed a major event. l am glad that this day has come that you are joining APC because of your determination to render service to your people and the nation, which means that you have looked around, you have looked at your environment in the PDP and you have decided consciously after deep thought that the best vehicle available today on which platform you can render that service is the APC and l want to congratulate you.

“Yes, your husband was the longest serving National chairman of the PDP…But it is my hope that what you have started would turn into a family thing. I welcome you especially because you are adding to the quality of membership in Delta State and also adding to the quality of leadership in the APC family in the whole nation. The quality would propel us not just to victory in Delta State, but also in Nigeria.”

Senator representing Delta Central, Ovie Omo-Agege said the coming of Mrs. Ali’s and her immense grassroots support base to the APC is “a major strategic achievement for the party”.

He said: “It is a carefully thought-out game changer in our reengineering of the grassroots machinery of the APC in Delta North and Delta State as a whole. It is clearly a practical demonstration of our firm belief that true political strength only grows when reputable, courageous and competent leaders join a Party.

“Many may have thought this was impossible, but we have proved again today that the Delta APC will do all that is necessary to increase its gains, decimate the PDP in Delta State and win convincingly in 2019. This is yet another real testimony of the increasing strength of the Delta APC and an evidence of our determination to carefully organise ourselves for landslide electoral victories in 2019.”

Chief Great Ogboru said Mrs. Ali joining the Party was a paradigm shift in the political equation in Delta State. “Your coming into this party today is a confirmation that there is a paradigm shift from the wanton years of the PDP to the glorious years ahead for the APC. For this reason we are lucky.”

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November 23, 2017