The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PDP

  • Plateau council poll: PDP clears 490 aspirants for primaries

    Plateau council poll: PDP clears 490 aspirants for primaries

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau has cleared 490 aspirants to contest the primaries for Feb.17, 2018 local government election in the state.

    The Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Damishi Sango, made this known at a news briefing on Friday in Jos.

    According to him, 44 aspirants were cleared to vie for chairmanship while 446 were aspiring for the position of councilor under the party.

    “We have screened and cleared in all, 490 aspirants to stand for the primary elections in preparations for the forthcoming local government election in the state.

    “In specific, we have cleared 44 aspirants for chairmanship, and 446 for councilor positions.

    “The screening process was transparent enough because we did everything in the open; there was no hide and seek game,” he said

    The chairman said the party gave free forms to female aspirants and people with disabilities, as a way of promoting inclusiveness in the party.

    He promised to ensure a level playing ground for all the aspirants, saying that the party would support all the candidates that would emerge from the primaries.

    “We sold forms to everybody that indicated interest to contest; we didn’t deny anybody our forms. This shows how far we want to give everybody a level playing ground,” he added.

    Sango also said that the party had given attention to the youths to enable them to actively participate and contest for positions in line with the “not too young run bill”.

    The chairman explained that 98 per cent of the aspirants cleared were below 40 years, saying that the younger generation could now be properly mentored to assume leadership responsibilities.

    He called on the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) to ensure that the council poll was free, fair and credible.

  • Anxiety in PDP over contest

    Anxiety in PDP over contest

    There is anxiety in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as preparations for the national chairmanship election has polarised the platform. The party’s national convention is billed for Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on December 9.

    The party was enveloped in apprehension yesterday as the PDP Governors’ Forum convened an emergency meeting of aspirants. It was hosted at Enugu State Government House by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who kept sealed lips on the meeting’s agenda.

    Aspirants who showed up at the meeting, which kicked off at 6.10 pm, were Chief Olabode George, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and Prof. Taoheed Adedoja. They were accompanied by their associates and supporters.

    There was a heavy security presence around the venue. The movement of aides was restricted. Secondus and Adeniran arrived 30 minutes later in company of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

    The National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, zoned the slot to the South, comprising the Southwest, Southeast and Southsouth. However, a crisis erupted, following the failure of the push for micro-zoning to the Southwest, which the zone had championed because it is yet to enjoy the slot since 1998 when the party came into existence.

    A PDP chieftain from the Southwest who spoke on a condition of anonymity, explained that the failure of the Southwest to produce a consensus candidate for the position strengthened some chieftains from the Southsouth to join the race.

    Barely one hour into the meeting, the governors and aspirants relocated from the Enugu State Government House to the Presidential Lodge.

  • ‘APDA not in merger talks with PDP’

    ‘APDA not in merger talks with PDP’

    The Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) is not in “merger talks” with other political parties, its leadership said yesterday.

    In a statement, the group said: “It is not lost on APDA that some persons with their consorts who continue to nurse hidden but illicit interests in APDA, as bargaining foil for their nothing but egotistical agenda for leadership of the PDP, are crafting masterminds of the purported “merger talks.”

    APDA categorically declares to the world that the craftsmen with their supporting cast of the “merger talks” are engaging themselves in strategic tacit deception, to hoodwink the public against the Party by the alleged “merger talks,” they are declaring to Nigerians they have no credible packages to offer Nigerians.

    We want to urge Nigerians to dicontinuance this fabricated lies because APDA is not aware of and not interested in the purported “merger talks” with the PDP.

  • PDP to Buhari: you can’t destroy opposition

    PDP to Buhari: you can’t destroy opposition

    THE leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has warned President Muhammadu Buhari against attempts to destroy opposition, saying no amount of harassment will make the PDP crumble.

    A statement yesterday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, slammed the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration for persecuting the opposition for no justifiable reasons.

    “The latest needless onslaught against our party members is the plan by the APC government at the centre to incarcerate 50 members of our party before the end of this year with a view to using their arrest to deceive Nigerians that the failed anti-corruption war is still on course.

    “The dirty job, we are aware, has been handed over to the compromised anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Already, five members of our party have been illegally arrested and detained by EFCC without any charge preferred against them,” the statement said.

    Although the PDP said it could not reveal the identities of about 45 of its members marked for arrest in the days ahead, the party said it was by no means scared of the persecution by the Buhari administration.

    The party said: “We are sure that the daylight is about to break after the dark night of the APC administration. We wish to state clearly that what is ongoing under the Buhari administration is not a fight against corruption but an attempt at using members of the PDP as scapegoats and cover up for the ineffectual anti-corruption agenda of the current government.

    “The current wave of arrests therefore has nothing to do with the failed anti-corruption war but everything with 2019 elections. The ruling party failed on all its major election planks.

    “It has nothing to show for its over thirty months in office. The APC government has come to the conclusion that the only way to prevent its inevitable defeat at the polls in 2019 is to hound, harass, intimidate and suppress members of our party into submission.

    “However, we wish to state clearly that irrespective of what the APC government does in an attempt at bringing the PDP down to its knees, we shall remain irrepressible and will not bow to any tyranny.

    “The APC has already thrown away its chances in the 2019 elections by its non-performance. No amount of intimidation and harassment of the opposition will improve its fortunes.

    “We call on all men and women of goodwill to rise up to challenge of the invidious attempt by the APC government to turn Nigeria into a gestapo state and undermine our hard earned democracy on the altar of political desperation,” the statement added.

  • 2019: PDP renews call for Atiku’s return

    2019: PDP renews call for Atiku’s return

    The Adamawa State chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party ( PDP ) has renewed its call on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to return to the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Mr Shehu Tahir, the state chairman of the party, made the call while speaking the party’s stakeholders meeting on Wednesday in Yola.

    Tahir said: “ It is not a wise decision for Atiku to abandon the house he helped to build, so we want him back.’’

    He said that the problem that led to mass defection of former members of the party to other parties were over, hence the need for them to return.

    “We are calling on Atiku Abubakar, who is among the PDP founding fathers, not to abandon the house he had helped to build.

    “This is because the party needs him now to continue from where he stopped.’’

    He also called on other stakeholders to help prevail on the former vice-president to return to the party.

    “We urge our stakeholders to prevail on him and others who left to reconsider their decision and return to the party.”

    On the 2019 general elections, the chairman said that the party was ready to provide credible alternative to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

    According to the chairman, the party’s doors are open to all Nigerians willing to join its fold, assuring that level playing ground would be provided to all members.

    Read Also: PDP factions battle over Ogun Secretariat

  • Confusion in PDP over convention

    Confusion in PDP over convention

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) risks an explosion as gladiators prepare for the national chairmanship election next month in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The position has been zoned to the South. There is no aspirant from the Southeast. But, aspirants from the Southwest and the Southsouth are quarrelling over zoning and micro-zoning. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU reports.

    The struggle for ‘party power’ is tearing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) apart. Ahead of next month’s national convention in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the chairmanship aspirants have polarised the platform. The bone of contention is zoning and micro-zoning of the top position.

    The aspirants are former Deputy National Chairman Chief Olabode George, former Education Minister Prof. Tunde Adeniran, former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, his Oyo State counterpart, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, former Lagos State PDP governorship candidate Jimi Agbaje, former Sports and Special Duties Minister Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, Chief Raymond Dokpesi and former Acting Chairman Chief Uche Secondus.

    George, Adeniran, Daniel, Agbaje, Ladoja, and Adedoja are from the Southwest. Dokpesi and Secondus are from the Southsouth. There is consensus in the Southwest that the slot should be zoned to the region. But, there is no agreement on a consensus candidate. The exclusive endorsement of some aspirants by some Board of Trustees (BoT) members from the zone, led by Chief Shuaib Oyedokun, was resisted by other chieftains. The PDP National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Dr. Eddy Olafeso, dissociated his zonal leadership from the endorsement. He said the endorsement, which shut out other contenders, was personal, stressing that it lacked collective blessing.

    Olafeso added: “We detest this act of impunity and will not support any action that will infringe on the fundamental rights of any party man to aspire to the highest position in the party. All those gentlemen from the Southwest that wish to contest for the position of national chairman of the party are at liberty to continue to pursue their ambition without encumbrance and hindrance.”

    The Southwest has insisted that it should be the major beneficiary of zoning to the South. But, the BoT chairman, Senator Walid Jibril, has clarified that the slot is not zoned to the Southwest, but to the entire South. He objected to the selective endorsement championed by Oyedokun and urged other BoT member to exercise restraint.

    The aspirants are traversing the six zones to drum support for their aspirations. The most powerful bloc in the PDP is the PDP Governors’ Forum. The forum many not be backing any candidate from the Southwest, according to a source. The source said the governors may have settled for an aspirant outside the zone for strategic reasons. Although the contenders have been scrambling for the endorsement of the forum, there was disquiet in the fold, until they finally agreed to back a particular candidate.

    “The governors could not make up their minds in time. They were previously enthusiastic about the entry of former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke into the race. But, he backed out for personal reasons. It appears that their best bet is Secondus, whom they are already familiar with,” added the source. Secondus is from Rivers State and Governor Nyesom Wike is favourably disposed to his candidature. Southsouth chieftains are of the opinion that the zone should occupy the position because they are major financier of the party.

    The implication is that the governors may have objected to the idea of micro-zoning, following the National Caretaker Committee Chairman Ahmed Makarfi’s clarification that the national leadership only recognised the South as a zone, thereby rejecting zoning to the Southwest.

    Many PDP leaders favour zoning to the Southwest, based on equity, fairness and justice. Former National Chairman Senator Ahmadu Ali had pointed out that since 1999, no politician from the Southwest has served as national chairman.

    The lone PDP governor in the Southwest, Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, had advised octogenarian George and Adeniran to quit the race, saying that that the mood in the party favoured generational shift. A source said the vocal governor may be peeping at 2019. Fayose has already for the Presidency, although the slot has been zoned to the North. The Southsouth is targeting the vice presidency. However, if the Southwest fails to produce the national chairman at the convention, Fayose’s chance of emerging as the running mate to the presidential candidate may be bright.

    However, Southeast governors and other prominent leaders, who are nursing the agenda of presenting the vice presidential candidate for the 2019 poll, are torn between Daniel and George, although George has been reaching out to the founding fathers of the party from the zone.

    The two northern governors-Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State and Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, and prominent northern leaders were said to be rooting for George, whom they had worked with in the party secretariat. Fayose and Wike of Rivers State have counselled that that they should favour a younger chieftain for the job.

    However, it is not certain that the duo still have Agbaje as “Plan B,” contrary to the support they gave to him during the botched Port-Harcourt convention.

    Party sources said founding fathers are split over the chairmanship. While a section is supporting George, a section is rooting for Adeniran. However, the founding fathers who have been sidelined in the future know their limitations. They may not be able to exert any influence at the convention. Many of them are too old and have lost their mobilisation prowess.

    Anxiety is brewing, ahead of the national congress. It appears the governors hold the ace. They call the shots.

    The governors will not be indifferent to the tendency of the next chairman. But, many gladiators may also seize the initiative and galvanise delegates from states controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The convention is critical to the future of the PDP. It may be a make or mar congress. The party has not recovered from the Port-Harcourt experience when a carnival-like convention became a disaster.

    A party source said: “If crisis erupts at the convention in Abuja, the PDP may have to brace up for the 2007 experience when Egwu and Ayim polarised the party and former Internal Affairs Minister Prince Vincent Ogbulafor became the dark horse.”

     

  • ‘Defectors from PDP are retracing their steps’

    ‘Defectors from PDP are retracing their steps’

    Former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairmanship aspirant. He spoke with Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU on preparations for the December 9 National Convention.

    How is the party tackling the challenge of reconciliation among the rank and file, ahead of the convention?

    I think kudos must be given to Senator Ahmed Makarfi, who is the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee. He has a very good disposition, very good mien; he is highly intelligent. Even, at the point of victory, he declared that there was no victor, no vanquished. He has forgiven all those who had done something untoward to the party from the beginning of the crisis to the victory at the Supreme Court. He is only going to look at people after that ‘no victor, no vanquished’ who has committed anti-party activities. He has been able to carry on with the reconciliation process. If you look at our own zone, reconciliation is being addressed in specific terms. A lot of people have come back into the party. Reconciliation is going on. I am happy with what has happened in Oyo State. We have had people who left the party have returned; people like former Governor Ladoja. Seyi Makinde who went to SDP has returned to the party. Even, former Governor Akala, who went to the Labour Party, and later, to the APC, is considering coming back to the party. He has not completely concluded, but he is considering it. Everybody came to the conclusion that it is only by coming together that we can win. If we look at what is going on in Osun, it is also similar. People are coming to terms with the fact that we can’t get things in absolute terms. You can see our people coming together. One can say the same thing about other states-Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, everywhere. If you go outside the Southwest, I have also seen a lot of movement. The mood is the mood of reconciliation and it is exciting.

    How is your friend, Chief Tunde Odanye, trying to do the assignment given to him as the Caretaker Committee chairman in Ogun, in terms of repositioning the chapter and laying the ground for the conduct of the state congress that will lead to the emergence of new members of the executive council?

    Most people do not know that Tunde Odanye is quite an experienced politician. He ran for the governor in Osun State sometimes ago. He later joined the party. More importantly, he is a lawyer of several decades. If you look at the challenges we have had in Ogun State, it is more or less an incidence of law. I am happy that he was given the opportunity. Somebody who has up to 40 years of experience in the legal profession. He is able to see how a number of people have misused the courts; taking advantages of loopholes to do all sorts of things. He is liberal enough. He is talking to everybody; visiting everybody and I know he will achieve the best for the party in Ogun State.

    Is reconciliation still possible between you and Senator Buruji Kashamu in the interest of your party in Ogun State?

    Not just in Ogun State, but also nationally. Reconciliation has no colour. In this political process, I have seen it happen all the times. There are really no permanent enemy, but permanent interest. I have absolutely nothing personal against the senator. We disagree basically on principle. The point of disagreement is not something that is secretive. I have a strategy of organizing the party to win elections as the first step. Because I believe that, if the party does not win elections, then, you cannot have any benefit, either individually or collectively for the people. When you now have people who feel that the process also must be profitable, then, you have a big challenge in your hand. What am I saying? Once we all come to terms with the fact that we are no longer in power, everybody must put whatever he has on the table in the overall interest of everybody. Then, we can create points of convergence. But, the only thing some of us will not compromise is our principle. Otherwise, there are no issues.

    How do you view the agitation to Egbado or Yewa in 2019?

    You know that at the twilight of my administration in 2011, I was on top of the agitation for reasons of equity, fair play and to give everybody a sense of belonging, so that people of Ogun West can also produce the governor. Not because I have any pecuniary interest. I just thought that this things happened on a national scale. In the build up to the 1999 election, the Southwest felt that with the demise of Abiola, it should be assuaged. People agreed that the Southwest should produce the president. That was why the election was between two prominent Yoruba, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Olu Falae. So, that was equity at play. That was fair play at play. In 2011, I also felt that, since the people of Ogun Central and Ogun East had had the opportunity to rule, we should support the people of Ogun West. But, unfortunately, that did not happen at that time. What’s even sad was that the current governor even won in some locations in Ogun West, despite the fact that he is from Ogun Central. People then felt that Ogun West people should put their acts together. One cannot blame them because politics in Ogun is not ethnic. That itself is a good development. The corollary is that, if Ogun West wants to rule, then, they must look at things that bind them together and develop it. It is clear from the demography and statistics that Ogun West cannot produce the governor on their own without the support of the Ogun Central and Ogun East. I am from Ogun East. When I was running in 2003, the largest vote I got was from Abeokuta South, which is Ogun Central. That tells us that the people of Ogun State are very sophisticated. They look more at personalities. If a towering personality who is able to network across the state, people will follow him. The challenge therefore, is for Ogun West to come up with personalities that are not parochial and can sell themselves. Politics in Ogun State has become quite sophisticated and less ethnic in terms of voting pattern. When I was governor, a lot of people believed I favoured a lot of people from Ogun West more than the people of Ogun East. Ogun West’s quest is something that I support. I have been an apostle of Ogun West for governor. The reality today is that Ogun West must look for one good candidate who can network across the length and breath of Ogun State. I have no doubt in my mind that they will get a lot of sympathy. If that happens, anyone from anywhere in Ogun State can become governor.

     

  • Ogun PDP: Kashamu’s camp reclaim Secretariat, arrest 17

    Ogun PDP: Kashamu’s camp reclaim Secretariat, arrest 17

    In less than eight hours after the Sikirullai Ogundele led executive of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dislodged the factional chairman, Engr. Bayo Dayo, and his team from the party’s state Secretariat on IBB Boulevard, Abeokuta, Dayo’s camp fought back and reclaimed the building.

    Dayo’s camp which is loyal to Senator Buruji Kashamu in a counter – strategy, stormed the facility on Monday evening with armed Policemen believed to have been drafted from Zone 2, Lagos, and arrested 17 persons stationed at the party Secretariat by the new elected executive led by Ogundele.

    The Publicity Secretary of Bayo Dayo – led factional executive of Ogun PDP, Bolaji Adeniji, who confirmed to The Nation the recovery of the building from Ogundele’s camp, said the 17 people arrested at the Secretariat would be arraigned in court today.

    Bolaji described Ogundele and his executive members as dissident group, accused them of invading the party Secretariat and stationing people suspected to be political “thugs” there.

    Ogundele and other members of the newly elected executives had stormed the Secretariat by noon yesterday and sacked junior workers and other people found there, triggering confusion as the affected workers caught unaware scampered for safety.

    But some hours later, Kashamu loyalists turned the tide against Ogundele and colleagues, went to the Secretariat and evicted their boys keeping vigil at the building.

    Read Also: PDP holds parallel state congresses in Oyo, Ogun

  • Kebbi: Haruna emerges PDP State Chairman

    Kebbi: Haruna emerges PDP State Chairman

    Kebbi State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has sworn-in newly elected State Executive of the party.

    The State Congress of the party commenced on Saturday and ran till Sunday afternoon. 749 delegates from 21 local government Areas of the state cast their votes for ten elective positions while 17 officers were returned unopposed.

    The Chairman of State Congress, Senator Nimi Barigha Amange who supervised the Congress with the representative of INEC, Mohammed Awwal, Head of Department of Election and Political Parties Monitoring Department declared Alhaji Haruna D. Saidu as the newly elected Chairman of the party.

    He declared that Saidu defeated his co-contestants, Alhaji Ibrahim Dan-Illela with total votes of 448 as against his opponent who scored 286 votes out of 636 total votes cast.

    Other elected officers include; Garba Labbo Tasha, Abdullahi Rahah, Sahabi Kimo and Haruna Issa who were elected as Assistant Organising Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Auditor and Assistant Treasurer, among others.

    In his acceptance speech on behalf of the all the new exco members Haruna Saidu diatribe the election as no winner no losers. He called on all the party member s to come together and moved the party forward. He also assure that he will discharge his duty according to the party’s constitution.

    Adding that PDP will reclaime Kebbi state come 2019. He commended the efforts of the electoral committee, INEC, security agencies and press men for standing all night in ensuring a free Fair and credible election. However, the new executives have since been sworn in by Barrister Nura Bello.

  • PDP sweeps Enugu local govt election

    PDP sweeps Enugu local govt election

    •Election is a sham, say Okechukwu 

    •Nwoye: we’ll challenge results

    •This is best council poll in Nigeria, says Ekweremadu

    Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been declared winners of Saturday’s local government election in Enugu State.

    They won all the 17 local government chairmanship seats and all the wards’ councillorship seats.

    But the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) called the outcome of the poll a sham.

    Both parties contested for 17 chairmanship and counsellorship seats.

    The State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) Chairman, Chief Mike Ajogwu (SAN), who announced the results at the commission’s headquarters at Independence Layout in Enugu, said the PDP cleared all the 17 chairmanship seats.

    Elections were not held at Eke, the ward of the Foreign Affairs Minister, Godfrey Onyeama and the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Ostia Okechukwu, and Abia, both in Udi Local Government Ardea.

    The PDP won at Awgu, Ezeagu and Udi, the local government of the former Governor Sullivan Chime.

    Ajogwu said the election was free, fair and credible.

    The ENSIEC chairman denied knowledge of any violence. He said: “I’m not aware of any bomb explosions, violence, rigging or malpractice during the election. This election is reliable and credible.”

    Also, an APC chieftain and the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, described the outcome of the poll as shambolic.

    He said the results were the paradox of the quest for devolution of powers from the federal to the states.

    Okechukwu said the election was marred by late arrival of electoral materials and other irregularities.

    The APC chieftain expressed worry that since “our return to the Fourth Republic, most state governments have debased democracy by conducting shambolic local government council elections. The same shambolic election took place in Enugu on Saturday”.

    He added: “Take Enugu State as a case study. APC members, in 2016, first objected to the appointment of caretaker committees to administer the 17 local government areas in the state. Consequently, APC headed to court, citing a breach of Section 7 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “Regrettably, the election came after two years and in PDP electoral phobia tradition, the ENSIEC disqualified 50 councillorship and two council chairmanship candidates of the APC. Without any legally valid option, we headed to court again and they reversed the disqualification.

    “Then came the Election Day. Impunity reared its ugly head again. Result sheets were handed over to PDP leadership and their associates. Is this democracy?”

    On the danger the “shambolic” local government election posed to democracy, Okechukwu said: “It makes popular participation at the local government level impossible, hence it debases democracy. To compound matters, all state governments run rubber-stamp Houses of Assembly. Therefore, there are no oversight functions at the state level.

    “Consequently, the devolution of powers from the federal to the state seems a paradox in the sense that democracy cannot grow or survive without free and fair elections at the local government level. Imagine what could have happened to the opposition if there was state police. We could have been chased out of the polling precincts. To be honest, we, the patriots, have to review our support for devolution of powers.”

    Reminded that APC governors had also conducted “shambolic” local government elections, Okechukwu said his concern was about the growth and survival of democracy in Nigeria.

    He said: “To me, we must join hands to save democracy for the struggle. For free and fair local elections to be effective, it must bi-partisan.”

    Also, the Enugu State APC Chairman Ben Nwoye said the election was characterised by widespread violence in almost all the local government areas.

    Nwoye said APC’s governorship candidate in 2015, Okey Ezea, who hails from Igboeze South, was attacked and injured by suspected PDP thugs.

    The party chairman recalled that “as I speak to you now, he is currently receiving treatment in the hospital”.

    He said: “Like I predicted yesterday at a media briefing, ENSIEC Chairman Mike Ajogwu has rubbished himself with this sham he put together in the name of an election, just to satisfy his pay masters, the PDP.

    “It is quite unfortunate that there was widespread of violence and bloodbath in Enugu, simply because ENSIEC wants to please the PDP. There were no result sheets in all the polling units. Yet, Dr. Ajogwu called what he did today an election.

    “If you remember, I had severally called for the resignation of the ENSIEC chairman because of his open bias against APC.

    “Ajogwu breached all the electoral provisions, including disallowing opposition parties and other stakeholders from being present while ENSIEC takes delivery of sensitive electoral materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) few days to the election, as provided by law.”

    Nwoye, who urged APC supporters to remain calm in the face of provocation, said the party does not believe in violence.

    He said APC would seek redress in court at the appropriate time.

    Also, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu yesterday described the local government poll as the best in Nigeria’s recent history.