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Tag: PDP

  • Wike inaugurates LG caretaker committee

    Wike inaugurates LG caretaker committee

    … APC kicks

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State chapter, has kicked against the decision of Governor Nyesom Wike to hurriedly inaugurate members of the caretaker committees in 22 of the state’s 23 local government areas, contrary to the order of the National Industrial Court (NIC), sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    The NIC earlier gave an order restraining Wike from dissolving the 22 Rivers councils, pending the determination of the suit filed by the chairmen.

    Rivers APC, through its Chairman, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, Friday in Port Harcourt, insisted that the setting up and Wike’s Thursday night’s inauguration in Government House, Port Harcourt of the caretaker committee members were illegal.

    The Rivers Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, however, described as a step in the right direction, the dissolution of the 22 councils, through a ruling of the Federal High Court (FHC), Port Harcourt, presided over by Justice Lambo Akanbi, including the screening of the caretaker committee members by the state’s lawmakers and their inauguration by Wike around 10 p.m. on the same Thursday.

    The tenure of the chairman and councillors of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA of Rivers state will expire next year and not affected by the dissolution.

    Prior to Thursday morning’s sitting of the FHC, there was an explosion at the premises of the FHC, which led to pandemonium, with the people around scampering to safety, but no life was lost, while Justice Akanbi still went ahead to deliver the ruling.

    Wike immediately sent names of members of caretaker committees for the 22 LGAs to the state’s House of Assembly, led by Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani and they were quickly screened by the 32 lawmakers, consisting of 31 PDP and one APC members.

    The chairmen of the dissolved councils, under the aegis of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Rivers chapter, which has as its chairman, Chimbiko Iche Akarolo, of the Port Harcourt City LG Council, on Thursday, after Justice Akanbi’s ruling, proceeded to the National Industrial Court in Yenagoa, where they obtained an order of stay of execution, restraining Wike from implementing their sack, but was ignored by the Rivers governor.

    Rivers APC said: “Wike, last (Thursday) night, appointed and sworn in caretaker committees for 22 Local Government Councils in Rivers State, presumably based on the illegal pronouncements of Federal High Court One, sitting in Port Harcourt and presided over by Justice Lambo Akanbi.

    “The APC will like to unequivocally state that the ruling by Justice Akanbi on Thursday was illegal and, to that extent, unacceptable to the party. Our rejection of the illegal ruling is based on facts.

    “On April 29, 2015, Justice Akanbi acknowledged that he was on notice that the jurisdiction of his court was on appeal by counsel to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and the Rivers State Government and therefore adjourned the matter sine die (indefinitely), pending the outcome of the appeal at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt. Consequently, all parties retreated to wait for the decision of the Court of Appeal, fixed for October 12, 2015, for which all parties are already on hearing notice.

    “The application to join by the APC, which Justice Akanbi turned down, was appealed and that appeal is still pending at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt. There is a subsisting court order in suit number: NICN/YEN/26/2015 by the National Industrial Court, Yenagoa, preventing the Rivers Governor and other parties from undertaking any action to dissolve the 22 councils and/or remove the chairmen and councilors from office. Both courts have co-ordinate jurisdiction.

    “Justice Akanbi cannot reverse his earlier decision to adjourn sine die and reopen the matter without the Court of Appeal dispensing with the matter of jurisdiction before it and other pending appeals, followed by service of hearing notice to all parties in the matter.

    “Based on these facts, the APC rejects the illegal ruling, purportedly given by Justice Akanbi dissolving local government councils in Rivers State. We urge the council chairmen, councilors and members to reject and not to recognise anyone parading himself/herself/themselves as caretaker chairmen and members in the 22 local government councils.”

    The APC in Rivers also called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase; the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS); the new Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Chris Okey Ezike; and all other security agencies to be on notice to continue to provide security for the duly-elected chairmen and councilors, as the only legitimate persons in charge of the 23 local councils of Rivers state (all the 23 LG chairmen belong to the APC), which it said would prevent APC members across the state from being forced to resort to self help.

    It will be recalled that the sacked members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Rivers chapter, recently accused Justice Akanbi at a news conference in Port Harcourt, of being bribed by Wike, a former Minister of State for Education and Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi, to ensure their removal from office.

    The Rivers ALGON members also sent a petition against Justice Akanbi to the National Judicial Council (NJC), calling for his dismissal for unethical conduct and corruption.

  • Wike, PDP lose bid to prevent inspection of election materials

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday lost the bid to prevent the inspection of materials used for the April 11 governorship election in the state.

    The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, on June 11, following an ex-parte application by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Dakuku Peterside – who are challenging Wike’s election – ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow the petitioners inspect the election materials to prove their case.

    But INEC refused to obey the order on the grounds that Wike had applied for the order to be set aside and the PDP was challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

    Wike, by his application, asked that the tribunal either set aside or vary the order on the grounds that it was wrongly made.

    Alternatively, the governor applied that his agents be allowed to participate in the inspection by the petitioners.

    The PDP supported Wike’s position and INEC said it would await the outcome of the application to decided – whether or not to obey the order for inspection.

    Ruling yesterday, tribunal Chairman Justice Muazu Pindiga refused Wike’s application on the grounds that it lacked merit.

    The judge noted that the order made on June 11, in accordance with the provision of Section 151 of the Electoral Act, was directed at INEC and not Wike.

    He said: “There is need for us to clarify the order we made on June 11. The order was made against INEC to allow the petitioners access and inspect and obtain the Certified True Copies (CTC) of election materials in respect of the governorship election in the state.

    “The order was made in accordance with the provision of Section 151 of the Electoral Act. The order still stands.”

    He adjourned till July 22 for the pre-hearing to begin in the petition by APC and Peterside against Wike’s election.

    The parties, who argued Wike’s petition on July 7, disagreed on why INEC was reluctant to allow the petitioners to inspect the election materials based on the tribunal’s order of June 11.

    The petitioners’ lawyer, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), argued that INEC’s continued refusal to allow his clients’ agents to inspect the election materials was a manifestation of an alliance among INEC, Wike and the PDP to frustrate the hearing of the petition.

    Olujinmi urged the tribunal to dismiss Wike’s application on the grounds that the order was not directed at him but at INEC, which was directed to allow the inspection.

    The lawyer averred that Wike’s decision to challenge an order that did not affect him and INEC’s refusal to obey the court’s order formed part of the plot by the PDP, Wike and INEC to frustrate the proceedings before the tribunal.

    He urged the tribunal to halt the current disregard of its order.

    Olujinmi said: “We have shown that INEC has not objected to the tribunal’s order and, today, they have confessed before the tribunal that they disobeyed the order for inspection because the second respondent (Wike) filed a motion seeking the setting aside of the order.

  • Disquiet in PDP as leaders bicker over new INEC chief

    There seems to be no respite for the leadership of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the party appears to be struggling with crisis of confidence.

    The latest in the series of disagreement broke out over the recent appointment of the Acting chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs. Amina Zakari, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The PDP had kicked against the appointment, alleging that Zakari “is too close” to President Buhari and an unnamed Governor in one of the states in the Northwest elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In a July 1 statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP had called for the immediate removal of Zakari.

    But a swift reaction to the PDP’s position, however, Metuh’s deputy, Mallam Abdullahi Jalo, had disagreed with the party and challenged the PDP to produce the minutes of the said National Working Committee meeting in which the party claimed the decision was taken.

    Jalo had queried the appropriateness of the party’s position, saying while there was need to play the role of opposition, such role, he said, must be played with decorum.

    He had warned the PDP against creating unnecessary enmity for the party within the INEC and the northern region where Zakari hailed from.

    Jalo had also reminded his party that the new INEC boss was appointed into the commission by former President Goodluck Jonathan in the first place, and not by President Buhari.

    According to him, it was inappropriate for the PDP to object to the appointment, because the appointee was promoted to become the Acting Chairman of the electoral body.

    “Zakari was appointed by a member of our party, former President Goodluck Jonathan into the commission and that time, we didn’t raise objection.

    “Why now that she was elevated to lead the commission briefly when she is due to retire soon, that we are now talking about her alleged closeness to some people?

    “We should be careful of what we say or do. We are begging people to come and join us, yet, by our actions we are creating more enemies,” Jalo stated.

    Apparently miffed by Jalo’s outburst, the party’s NWC summoned him for investigation “for bringing the party into disrepute.”

    The invitation letter, dated July 8, 2015 and signed by the party’s National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, directed Jalo to appear before the party leaders on Wednesday, July 15, at 12 noon.

    The letter reads, “The attention of the NWC has been brought to your recent unguarded utterances in some of the Nigerian newspapers. The NWC therefore, has requested you to appear at its meeting for preliminary investigation on the charge of bringing the party into disrepute among others.”

    But speaking with our correspondent on telephone on Thursday, Jalo said he had yet to get the letter and that he would respond appropriately after collecting it at the party secretariat.

  • Edo PDP begins search for governorship candidate

    Edo PDP begins search for governorship candidate

    The Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has begun the search for a credible candidate to present against the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s governorship election.

    PDP chieftains said to have shown interest in the race are: Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, Chief Solomon Edebiri, Matthew Iduoriyikemwen and Mike Onolememen.

    It was learnt that a special committee has been set up by the top hierarchy of the party to scout for a popular candidate.

    A source told our reporter that all lawmakers, except Ehiozuwa Agbonnayima, representing Ikpoba Okha/Egor Federal Constituency, attended the meeting when the committee was set up.

    The source said Ehiozuwa was barred from the meeting because of his alleged romance with the APC.

    But in a telephone chat, Ehiozuwa said he was not barred from any PDP meeting.

    The lawmaker denied acting the APC script at the National Assembly.

    He said: “The National Assembly is not APC or PDP. You do what is in the interest of Nigeria and your constituency once you are a member.

    “I am PDP member. The Captain Hosa they are talking about is no longer a politician. Everybody goes to his house, irrespective of party affiliations.”

    Former Senate Chief Whip Roland Owie, in an interview, had said he would join other well-meaning leaders of the PDP to scout for a credible candidate without connection with PDP’s failed government.

    He said: “The 2016 governorship will not be based on political platform; it is going to be about who the candidate is. For the PDP to be seen to have broken ranks with irresponsibility, we have to be sure that our candidate will not have any relationship with previous failures of the PDP government in Edo.”

    Former Governor Lucky Igbinedion said the next PDP governor would be a founding member of the party in the state.

     

     

  • PDP takes credit for bailout fund

    PDP takes credit for bailout fund

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has claimed credit for the N804 billion bailout fund ordered to be released to distressed states’ governments by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the PDP said a significant amount of the bailout came from savings accumulated in the Excess Crude Account handed over to the Buhari administration by the last PDP-led government.

    “This development is in clear contradiction to the earlier impression given by President Buhari to Nigerians and the international community that they should not expect much from his administration in its first 100 days because according him, upon assumption of office, he met a virtually empty treasury.

    “We want to believe that given the President’s release of such huge amount, he may have realized that he was earlier misdirected on the actual financial state of the nation at the time he took over. In this regard, we expect the President, as a respected statesman to do the needful to correct that erroneous impression.

    “Furthermore, we expect President Buhari’s APC administration as direct beneficiary of this savings initiated by past PDP administrations to appreciate the strategic importance of always saving for rainy days and as such guarantee prudent and transparent management of the nation’s resources now under its care,” the party said.

    The party charged the APC as a party in government to put its house in order, desist from what it termed injecting confusion and distracting the President from settling down to form a government and face the enormous challenges of governance, especially the implementation of his long list of campaign promises to Nigerians.

     

     

  • Edo guber: PDP begins search for candidate

    Edo guber: PDP begins search for candidate

    Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has begun search for a credible candidate that it would present to contest against the All Progressive Congress in next year’s governorship election.

    Some individuals interested to contest under the PDP are Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, Chief Solomon Edebiri, Matthew Iduoriyikemwen and Mike Onolememen.

    It was learnt that a special committee has been set-up by top hierarchy of the party with a mandate to scout for a popular candidate.

    A source told our reporter that all lawmakers except Ehiozuwa Agbonnayima representing Ikpoba Okha/Egor Federal Constituency attended the meeting where the committee was set-up.

    The source said Ehiozuwa was barred from the meeting because of his alleged romance with the APC.

    Ehiozuwa in a telephone chat said he was not barred from any PDP meeting and denied playing APC script at the National Assembly.

    He said; “National Assembly is not APC or PDP. You do what is in the interest of Nigeria and your constituency once you are a member.”

    Former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Roland Owie, had in an interview said he would join other well-meaning leaders of the PDP to scout for a credible candidate who does not have connection with the PDP failed government.

    He said; “The 2016 governorship will not be based on political platform, it is going to be who that candidate is.  For the PDP to be seen to have broken ranks with irresponsibility, we have to be sure that our candidate for 2016 will not have any relationship with previous failures of the PDP government in Edo”.

    Former Governor Lucky Igbinedion said the next PDP governor would be a founding member of the party in the state.

  • Akwa Ibom tribunal adjourns sitting

    The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal for Akwa Ibom, has adjourned its sitting till July 14 to enable the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its candidate, Umana Umana inspect materials used by INEC for the April 11 governorship election.

    The Tribunal Chairman, Justice Sadiq Umar, adjourned the case on Monday at the sitting of the tribunal at the FCT High Court complex, Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Justice Umar-led-three man tribunal is sitting on a petition filed by Umana and his party, seeking to nullify the election of Governor Emmanuel Udom of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Justice Umar said the adjournment was to give time to the petitioners to go through the polling documents in INEC office in Abuja.

    He directed parties to the petition to come early to court with their witnesses on the adjourned date
    NAN recalls that the tribunal on June 24 ordered INEC to move all polling documents and results sheets used for the April 11 governorship polls from Uyo to Abuja within 10 days to allow the petitioner have access to them.

    Justice Umar had also directed the Inspector General of Police to provide adequate security for INEC while moving the election materials from Uyo to Abuja.

    The judge had also ordered the police and the State Security Services to jointly provide security to Umana and his legal team when they are carrying out the inspection of the election materials.

  • Ekiti APC to PDP: murder charge against Awe hypocritical

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has said President Muhammadu Buhari did nothing wrong in hosting its Chairman, Olajide Awe.

    The party criticised the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for raising eyebrows over Awe’s appearance at Aso Rock.

    It said: “Nigerians know the difference between murder charge and contrived cases of alleged murder to hound political opponents.”

    In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary Taiwo Olatunbosun, the APC said the PDP’s insistence that Awe should not be allowed entry to the seat of power “was hypocrisy taken too far”.

    The party recalled that shortly after President Buhari made a public declaration to probe unresolved murder cases, Governor Ayodele Fayose was jolted into official reaction, urging the President not to play politics with  investigation of murders.

    Explaining that Fayose and the PDP contrived the crisis that led to the death of a PDP member, Olatubosun said Awe could not be blamed for the death that happened when he was not in town.

    The APC spokesman said: “All Nigerians knew when Fayose unleashed his thugs on Ekiti people with the alleged support of security agencies aided by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, which believed that Fayose represented the suppressing machine needed to win Ekiti State.

    “Awe’s alleged murder charge was the making of Fayose to put him out of circulation. This politically-motivated case was investigated and the accused were discharged by a court, until Fayose assumed office and reopened the case for political reasons.

    “We are aware that PDP is planning a press conference to allege that Awe killed Madam Jeje and Ayo in Erinjiyan just to blackmail President Buhari.”

    Olatubosun expressed indignation at this dishonest arm-twisting in the face of many alleged unresolved criminal cases hanging on the governor’s neck.

    He said it was hypocritical for Fayose to be allowed to contest election while criticising Buhari for allowing innocent Awe into Aso Rock.

    “Fayose must be prepared to defend himself, instead of a devious scheme to blackmail the President,” he said.

  • APC, PDP battle for Lugard House

    APC, PDP battle for Lugard House

    The governorship election in Kogi State is gathering momentum. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are warming up for the exercise. JAMES AZANIA examines the chances of the gladiators in the race and issues that will shape the poll.

    The Kogi State governorship election, which is scheduled for October, has been generating interest, both within and outside the state. For the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the battle has been drawn. The two parties have been fine-tuning strategies for the contest.

    The recent general elections had slowed down consultations over the election. But, now, aspirants have commenced preparations.

    There are about 19 political parties in the state, but the APC and the PDP are the only players that have the wherewithal to dominate the contest. Of the 17 parties, only the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Labour Party (LP) fielded candidates for the state and national Assembly elections, but they did not win any seat.

    Governor Wada will run on the platform of the PDP. But, he is said to be fighting the battle of his life against the APC.

    Wada has said on many occasions that he is too occupied with the responsibility of governance and that he left his second term ambition in the “hands of God.” Analysts believe that his recent actions are geared towards positioning himself, ahead of the election. One of such actions is the appointment of 21 Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) to oversee the affairs of the local governments, whose chairmen were recently sacked via a ruling of the Kogi State High Court sitting in Koton-karfe. The SSAs are to serve as his foot soldiers at the grassroots. This is perhaps, informed by the lesson the ruling party received from its trouncing in the hands of the APC during the general elections, because there were no council chairmen at the helms.

    Other pointers to Wada’s second term intention are the billboards dotting the landscape of Lokoja, the state capital, announcing the governor’s second term ambition. Some of the inscriptions on the billboard reads:

    “Wada for Continuity, Fruits of Transformation Agenda, Well Done Sir, No shaking – Carry Go Beyond 2016, Let the Truth Be Told… Regardless of Our Financial Constraints This Governor is Working, Wada/Awoniyi Continuity 2015 Season 2 and Let the Truth Be Told… Over 26 states are Owing Between 6 to 9 months Workers’ Salaries. Kogi State is Exceptional… Kudos to Gov. Wada.”

    In the APC, no fewer than 20 aspirants have restricted their campaign to the outdoor media, particularly billboards and posters. Aside Governor Audu, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Suleman Baba-Alli, Olusola George Olumoroti, Dr. Alex Kadiri, Prince Rotimi Obadofin and Nda Ditchie, others have restricted their campaign to billboards and posters.

    However, the APC appears to be the only party making Kogi politics tick at the moment. In the PDP, only Muhammed Ali, the former chairman of Dekina Local Government, has indicated his interest. Ali was sacked by Wada based allegations bordering on financial impropriety.

    Another PDP aspirant is Jibril Isah (a.k.a Echocho). He is bitter over the manner he lost the party’s ticket to Wada in 2011. Although he is yet to formally leave the PDP, his campaign billboards, which are visible in major cities, are silent on the platform. Though, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to release the guidelines for the election, pundits are in agreement that Wada only has himself to beat in the race for the PDP ticket.

    While the APC secretariat is a beehive of activities, the PDP secretariat is a shadow of its self. Last week, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) purportedly announced the cancellation of the adhoc delegates list for the ward congresses. This leaves in the balance the fate of the state congress, which was to have taken place on July 4. The state congress was to have produced  a new party chairman.

    Reports attributed to the NWC said: “After a careful review of reports of the Congress Committee on Appeal Committee in respect of the three-man Adhoc Delegates Ward Congresses in Kogi State on June 28, 2015, decided to cancel the exercise.”

    The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh said: “The participation of ‘Local Organising Committee’ which is unknown to the constitution of the party and the guidelines marred the congress; a new three-man Adhoc Delegates Congress would commence on July 14, 2015.”

    Kogi APC Chairman Alhaji Haddy Ametuo said the party has no rival, as far as the governorship election is concerned.

    According to him, with the PDP’s woeful performance in the last general elections, the  chances of the APC is bright.

    He added: “When you look at the state, the only development that is visible is what the opposition did under former governor, Abubakar Audu. The PDP has spent 13 years with nothing to show for it. What will they use to campaign, is it all the bad roads that dot the capital city and other parts of the state?”

    Ametuo said the party would repeat the performance of the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state, where it swept the three senatorial seats, in addition to six House of Representatives seats out of nine.

    Analysts are, however, of the view that in spite of the scenario on ground, the APC could end up shooting itself in the leg, if the party fails to put its house in order. This is predicated on the campaign of calumny emanating from the camp of its legion of aspirants, who are trying to outdo one another for the party’s ticket.

    A chieftain of the PDP and Special Adviser to the Governor, Alhaji Kabiru Yusuf, said the party will emerge victorious in the election.

    He said: “When you look at the victory of the APC in Kogi during the presidential election, it was the PDP that gave them the victory. Many PDP card-carrying members voted for the APC, but this is the governorship election, so those PDP members that voted for the APC will vote for the PDP candidate. At the moment, we are on a reconciliation mission, and by the time we finish we will come out stronger to win the governorship election. The chances of the PDP is very bright”.

    According to him, Wada has done his best for the state, in terms of development, with the resources at his disposal.

    “Everybody keeps blaming Wada, forgetting that the problem they are talking about were inherited ones. I think that the problem we have as a government is that we don’t use the media very well, because, if you don’t talk, nobody will talk for you and as such, his performance remains unnoticed,” he said

     

    The candidates:

     

    Wada (PDP)

     

    Wada, who was sprung from relative political obscurity by former Governor Ibrahim Idris to fly the PDP flag in 2011, defeated Prince Abubakar Audu of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He has resolved the acrimony that trailed his PDP primary four years ago.

    He has also fostered peaceful existence, with his avowed distaste for thuggery that pervaded the state, prior to his assumption of office.

    Wada has been criticised for poor performance. Wada, who is from the majority Igala tribe, command the loyalty of party members of the party that have remained after the defection of some other PDP bigwigs to the APC before the last election.

    Though Wada has continued to keep the people of the state guessing as to his second term ambition, he is the man to beat for the PDP ticket.

     

    APC: Audu

     

    The first civilian governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, has remained on the political terrain since the creation of the state in 1991, when he was elected governor under the short-lived Ibrahim Babangida political experiment, ruling the state as governor under the All Peoples Party, which later became the All Nigeria Peoples Party.

    Audu lost to Alhaji Ibrahim Idris of the PDP, in 2003. He challenged Idris’ victory, which led to the cancellation of the election and a fresh poll was ordered. He lost in the rerun.

    He later vied for the governor in the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), against Wada.

    Audu, the leader of the Kogi APC, is from the Igala tribe and he commands wide followership.

    He is touted as the best governor with many landmark projects, including the Kogi State University Anyigba, the Confluence Beach Hotel, NTA Lokoja, Radio Kogi, Graphic Newspaper, Commissioners’ Quarters and House of Assembly Quarters.

    His ambition is, however, being challenged from various quarters, by those who insist that he should not contest for the governorship, but remain as a kingmaker.

    The APC ticket will be a straight fight between Audu and other aspirants.

     

    Bello

     

    Alhaji Yahaya Bello, a retired civil servant, is the dark horse.

    Bello, who is from Kogi Central, is a successful businessman. At 40, he is touted as an excellent administrator, whose entrance into the race has received wide acclaim and generating much interest, especially from the quarters of the advocates of power shif in Kogi State.

    He packs a well-oiled political and campaign machine and he remains a force who can spring surprise in the race for the APC ticket.

     

    Kadiri

     

    Senator Alex Kadiri, a former PDP chieftain was one of those that decamped to the PDP before the last general election. He dumped his former party based on grievances bordering on the lack of internal democracy.

    Another, Igala, Kadiri, is not new to the contest in Kogi, having contested against Audu, Idris and Wada.

     

    Baba-Ali

     

    Baba-Ali, a former Commissioner for Health in the administration of Audu, his uncle, is from Lokoja, Kogi West.

    A businessman-turned politician, he is agitating for generational shift.

    His supporters believe that as a former commissioner, he knows what it takes to administer Kogi.

    Baba-Ali is also an advocate of power shift to other senatorial districts.

    Wada has said on many occasions that he is too occupied with the responsibility of governance and that he left his second term ambition in the “hands of God.” Analysts believe that his recent actions are geared towards positioning himself, ahead of the election

  • Ex- PDP chief defects to APC in Ekiti

    Ex- PDP chief defects to APC in Ekiti

    Former two-term State Chairman of PDP in Ekiti State, Chief Ropo Adesanya, at the weekend defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC)‎ in Ijan-Ekiti, Gbonyin Local Government of the state.

    At a ceremony held at Ijan Ward secretariat were hundreds of his supporters were received to the party by the Ekiti South Senatorial Chairm‎an of APC, Mr Kayode Babade, in company of other party leaders across the state.

    Gbonyin Local Government Leader, who is also the Chairman of Afenifere in Ekiti State, Chief Dapo Awojolu, praised Adesanya for leading Ijan Ekiti people out of darkness to the light represented by APC.

    While urging members to always have positive attitude to their party for strength and growth, he appealed to the people to always pray for President Muhammadu Buhari to succeed in redirecting Nigeria to the path of development and prosperity.

    Babade urged members to start preparing for the local government election by organising themeslves at the unit level, saying the local government poll represented an opportunity to prove the new energy the party had gained by becoming the first opposition party to defeat incumbent government in the history of the party‎.

    Praising Ijan political leaders, including Aderemi Ajayi and Paul Abegunde for their feats in rallying members for success in previous elections in the town, Adesanya said he had abandoned PDP long time ago over thuggery,  brigandage ‎and deceit of a one-man party in the state,

    He explained that his conscience will not allow him stay in a party that exists for the pleasure of one man while Ekiti people suffer. He added that the crooked politics played by some individuals who think less about the growth and development of the youth and welfare of the elderly people was not what Ekiti people needed to grow the state in desperate need of socio-economic development for the happiness of all.

    “Ekiti people have seen enough deceit and planlessness of the PDP as exemplified by the current administration. I have my name to protect. That is why I am joining honest and decent Ekiti people to chart a new course for the development of our dear state,” Adesanya said, adding:

    “Any political association you can’t find Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Asiwaju Segun Oni, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Senator Gbenga Aluko, Chief Awojolu, Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua, Ayo Arise, Senator Tony Adeniyi, Aderemi Ajayi, Bimbo Daramola, Femi Ojudu, Opeyemi Bamidele, Bisi Egbeyemi and where Babade and Taiwo Olatubosun, among several other decent Ekiti politicians are running away from, we should know that such a political party exists for motives different from Ekiti development.”

    He assured Ijan people of mass mobilisation and participation for the success of the party in Gbonyin Local Government and in the state at large, even as he urged Ijan people to be prepared for aggressive unit mobilisation and meetings to strengthen the party for future elections.