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Tag: PDP

  • PDP: big money, propaganda and utter debauchery

    PDP: big money, propaganda and utter debauchery

    Since Dr Reuben Abati disputes the N2 trillion allegedly spent, he should help convert all the money spent by TAN on its pro-Jonathan propaganda which began a full year ahead of the elections focused on labelling self-evident lies as evidences of transformation

    PDP is dead, okay almost. No thanks to PVCs and the Smart Card Readers and, of course, an INEC Chairman whose integrity you can take to the bank. Prior to the elections, various organs of the party had coyly obtained about 20 million voters’ card numbers from their unsuspecting owners.  Claiming to be looking for endorsers, TAN, by its own admission, grossed 17.8 million signatories with their voters’ card numbers. Omo-Ilu Foundation must have distributed, and received back, close to 2 million application forms, also with voters’ card numbers in the Southwest, making close to 20 million voters numbers available to be cloned but for the Smart Card Reader.

    Nigerians should, therefore, congratulate themselves for their historic escape from a 16-year virtual enslavement. Even President Jonathan, by his own confession, has been entrapped for his own six of those years. Nigerians also know that in the last four, although we voted for one, we got two. While one sat placidly, watching our problems multiply, with hundreds of children stolen under his nose, the other ran roughshod over the entire country, especially in her south south zone, causing problems everywhere she went.

    Again, because he that is down needs fear no fall, let us spare the PDP but take a cursory look at some of its most outlandish legacies. First, the humongous, absolutely unimaginable amount of money they spent on the presidential election. Since Dr Reuben Abati disputes the N2 trillion allegedly spent, he should help convert all the money spent by TAN on its pro-Jonathan propaganda which began a full year ahead of the elections focused on labelling self-evident lies as evidences of transformation. Or how can any serious organisation claim that President Jonathan fought corruption to a standstill, even as corruption related cases were being serially withdrawn from the courts?  And why do they think a wily Femi Fani-Kayode moved over to the PDP?  Dr Abati should also convert to naira and kobo, all the amount spent on those dizzying television adverts which were, allegedly, funded by federal government agencies. Then to the campaign proper, he should tell Nigerians how much was spent on logistics, adverts –radio, television and outdoors, as well as the staggering ‘mobilisation’ fees paid, mostly in hard currency, to all Lagos -based tribal associations then being assiduously recruited to work against the Yoruba; to Obas, Obis and Emirs; to the ever available CAN and other faith-based organisations, not leaving out hotel expenses at the most expensive hotels in the country. Others are fuelling the thousands of vehicles deployed, rendering operable the entire presidential fleet of 10 air craft and others that were chartered, all put in the service of that most expensive campaign ever in the history of Nigeria. I have deliberately left off security and INEC officials, many of who must have been handsomely ‘settled’ to turn the other eye as we saw copiously in Akwa Ibom and Rivers states. Before he can successfully dispute the allegation that PDP spent N2 trillion of public money on the election, Reuben must tell Nigerians how much the PDP spent.

    Apart from literally emptying the national treasury and instituting corruption and crass debauchery in the country these past 16 years, the Peoples Democratic Party has completely disembowelled Nigeria; it  has turned it to a mere shadow and we are only fortunate that a man like General Muhammadu Buhari will be taking over in days. While President Barrack Obama took over an America that was economically humbled as a result of a general economic downturn, General Buhari will be taking over a country economically, as well as morally, in ruins. Nobody has captured our current circumstances better than Bámidélé Adémólá-Olátéjú, a Premium Times Editorial Board member, who we shall be quoting here at some length.  Her article: ‘Thieving Nigerian Elite and Their Brats’, apart from very accurately capturing the Nigerian condition at the tail-end of the Jonathan era, situating as it does, some of the reasons our politicians, public servants, oil subsidy and pension scammers –all friends of the government – steal much more than they would ever need in nine lives, it also points us in the way of the much desired relaunch of the War Against Indiscipline.

    Wrote Ademola-Olateju: “The rich Nigerian makes a compelling case that unearned money is unfulfilling. That explains their enslavement to primitive acquisition, ostentatious consumption and transparent displays. The Nigerian wants to be rich just to show and to oppress those around him. They steal more and covet more, long after the money has become a burden rather than a comfort. They are raising brats and self-absorbed children who are accustomed to living large from infancy. They have no idea they are ruining this country much more than what they stole but by contaminating the environment with children who have no respect for hard work and know nothing about integrity. They see expensive vacations and high brow shopping as commonplace. What the truly wealthy in other nations consider as luxury is commonplace in Nigeria. Luxury loses meaning when it is a constant. Constant luxury is no luxury at all; luxury is not commonplace! There is no need for sweeping generalisations as some people earned their wealth in this country but how many are they? How many are genuinely rich and not fronting for people in government or enabled by insiders? Richard Branson who owns Virgin Atlantic has children and they fly economy. How many Nigerians are as rich as Richard Branson? Unfortunately for these thieving parents, their children know them as thieves and they themselves are trying to be bigger thieves when they grow up. They are all over the Lekki-Ikoyi corridor and the streets of Maitama and Asokoro, displaying the stereotypical arrogance of privilege. They are everywhere, driving fast cars and lacking the motivation to accomplish anything in life. Our rulers who stole us blind send their children abroad to study with the aim of coming back to take over the reins of power; have they? No! It doesn’t work that way. Privileged children have no motivation to take better control of their education. They have the money to stay in posh apartments, ride expensive cars and party away because the money is there for the taking. There is no need to learn for a future career. While their children struggle through school, partying and doing drugs, the parents are still delusional, hoping it is just a phase. It is not a phase! Life without work, however financially secure, is an aimless life. A life without purpose. That is why monied children are swinging in oceans of anxiety, indecision and despair. In essence, money robs children of their ambition. When children are in full knowledge of their parents vast fortunes, they are more likely to develop a twisted view of the world. Money prevents them from developing a strong sense of empathy and compassion. The result? The aim of sending them abroad eventually falls flat. The best among them come back as DJ’s and the children of their drivers and nannies become doctors!”

    Continuing, she writes: “we owe it a duty to tell it loud and clear that stealing billions of Naira will not bring them all they had hoped for nor will it guarantee happiness. We must educate people on the concept of service and aspiring to something greater than the self. Parents, teachers and the clergy must go back to preaching our lost values as people are truly happy when they concentrate on things that make the world a better place. How many Nigerians alive today can have the cult following Buhari has? Money did not fetch him that, something far greater did.

    “If nothing is learned from the profligate times of Goodluck Jonathan, we, at least, know that stealing is far more complicated than it seems. Money is never enough! The rich worry more about money than the poor. They worry about losing it, so they steal more and more. As the zeroes increase, the dilemmas get bigger. If anything, the rich faces more melancholy than the rest of us. We generally believe a little more money would make our lives happier and in many instances it is true. But the hard truth is; human appetites for material indulgence are rarely satisfied. Money is overrated!”

    As we march into the new Buhari era, therefore, we all must learn to abandon those negative actions and traits that combine to put us smugly amongst the wretched of the earth. We must graduate out of PDP-ism, forever.

  • PDP must not be allowed to die!

    PDP must not be allowed to die!

    Lastweek’s visit of the former National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, to the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was expectedly well reported by the media. Not less by its symbolism, the visit of the Prince who is also a ‘Prophet’, came to many as a surprise just few days after his party was soundly beaten by the APC in an historic presidential election.

    More than casual observers of the Nigerian political space would easily recollect that it was this same Ogbulafor, apparently savouring the spirit of the moment, who told a bemused nation that his party would rule the country for 60 years before it can be upstaged from power. It was a Sunday evening at the Lagoon Restaurant, Victoria Island, during the government of the late Umaru Yar’Adua, when Ogbulafor led his party members to a dinner with media. This reporter wrote the story for Daily Independent.

    Ogbulafor never minced words when he said the PDP is the biggest party in Africa and would rule Nigeria for 60 years. Even though the audience was not elated with what he said, members of the party gave the remarks a standing ovation. Most of us saw it as not only uncharitable, but that the ruling party was hell-bent in making sure that the country remained a one-party state. We were indeed, further disturbed that there was nothing on ground to show that Ogbulafor ‘prophesy’ would not come to pass.

    So, rather than being annoyed with what the chairman said, we were afraid that the nation’s democratic space would be dominated by one party, PDP, for a very long time. That was why the visit of Ogbulafor to Chief John Odigie-Oyegun received much space in the media. It was implicit that Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief that thank God his ‘prophesy’ did not come to pass. The Prince even gave an indication of not fore-closing the possibility of joining the APC in the near future.

    That is the reality of Nigerian politics. In what would be a case study to political scientists for a long time, the opposition party for the first time in our not too enviable political history defeated the ruling party, in an election that attracted a global audience.  Working under the mantra of change, the APC picked former head of state, General Mohammadu Buhari, a man who is known for his strong stance against corruption, to enter the ring with incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan.

    It was clear that most Nigerians were tired of the ruling party and its president who, to many of them, has failed in the past four years; it was evident that voters wanted a change from the status quo to a new beginning; it was clear that they were fed up with Jonathan, who they massively voted for in 2011. Of course, the ruling party was over confident of its victory that defeat was never envisaged.

    The treasury was emptied and the instrumentalities of state were effectively used to curtail the opposition. It was also very evident that the ruling party underrated the capacity of Nigerians to consummate the necessary change. The outcome was indeed in consonance with the immortal words of Victor Hugo that, “not even all the armies in the world can stop an idea whose time has come”.

    Predictably too, since President Jonathan conceded defeat, PDP members have been defecting to the APC in droves, forcing observers to question their commitment to the democratic project. What was expected at this time was that since losing the election the PDP leadership should brace up to the reality of providing an effective opposition. The party should redefine its focus from being a ruling party to that of providing alternatives to the government in power.

    What I was expecting to hear from the party National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, after the loss was for him to announce his resignation and put in place machineries to pave way for new leadership that would chart the way forward. It cannot be done by the Muazu-led executive. No way! The PDP would have to come to the realisation that it’s no longer a dominant body in the political space; it would have to re-organise itself and be more pragmatic to be able to win future elections.

    It is in the best interest of the country and democracy for PDP to come out stronger after this process of electioneering. And thank goodness that some of its leaders like the Senate President, David Mark, Governor Babangida Aliyu, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, amongst others have vowed to remain in the party and salvage it from going under. More importantly, the arrow head of this rejuvenation may as well be President Jonathan, who got his grooves back with the way he conceded defeat. The party can come together, put its house in order and act as checks on the likely excesses of the government in power.

    For a country that is increasingly becoming a two-party state, an effective opposition party is what would guarantee that the citizens are not shortchanged; an effective opposition is what would put the government in power on its toes; an effective opposition would serve as a reminder that the people’s wishes and aspirations cannot be taken for granted; yet an effective opposition would always come up with alternatives to government policies and programmes.

    Even so, history has shown that it’s not always easy for a ruling party, in this case, one that has been in power for 16 years, to transform to a virile opposition party. It’s much difficult for a party without ideology, what brought them together was the spoils of office and perquisites of power. They however have to find solace in the new discovery among Nigerians that power resides in the ballot box. The PDP has to cash in on the insatiable appetite of voters, because soonest the honeymoon would be over, to be relevant and get back to power.

    It is in the national interest and the future of the country for the PDP to be reanimated to perform the constitutional role of a virile and vibrant opposition party. Hence, rather than being despondent and recriminating, the party leadership should wake up and get back to the drawing board.

    -Aruna, a journalist, wrote from Ikorodu, Lagos.   

  • “PDP is finished in Nigeria”

    “PDP is finished in Nigeria”

    Comrade John Akhigbe is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and aide to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State. The politician spoke with The Nation on the just concluded general elections and other related issues . Excerpts :

    What is your assessment of the 2015 general elections in Edo state?

    During the National Assembly elections, there were a lot of intimidations. The military was used by the opposition to scare voters in areas they believe their party was not strong enough to win. For instance, in my area where the APC was sure of victory, I was arrested and detained. But today, we thank God for what happened. We saw soldiers walking into the polling station when I was about voting. They took me away. Many people who saw what happened were scared and they retraced their steps back home because the soldiers cocked their guns and were ready to shoot.

    So, the result announced in my place was not the reflection of the wishes of the electorate and that was what they did in the whole of Edo State. But we did what we needed to do and still got the numbers of vote we got. Afterwards, I promised everybody that during the State Assembly election,  they will see a different pattern of voting. As I predicted, the April 11 election was more peaceful, free and fair because people voted with out harassment. Though there were little problems here and there, which is normal, but generally, the election was better than what happened on March 28.

    Will you say in clear terms that the military was compromised in the first election?

    Yes, it was very clear that the military was compromised. I can say they were acting according to instructions. At least, with the way a Private in the Army whisked me away from the point of casting my vote in the full glare of my people, I can say they were compromised. Even when my people wanted to know where they were taking me, they threatened to shoot. They went to another voting center and picked up the local government Chairman, Emmanuel Momoh. They took him away and he was never available until after the election at about 10 pm. During the next election, the power was no longer in the hands of Jonathan; it was no longer in the hand of Dopkesi, so the military obeyed and acted according to the constitution. That was why you saw a more peaceful atmosphere in Edo State on that day.

    What do you think of the PDP in Edo state in  future?

    A member of PDP told me that the only thing that can save PDP is for them to change the name of the party. That name is tainted and nobody will accept PDP again anywhere in Nigeria. That is the truth. PDP is empty now, don’t listen to those saying otherwise. Dan Orbih is my brother. He is from my place. Dan Orbih only live on the name his father had when he was alive as a politician. Dan Orbih has no political base. A state Chairman of a political party who struggles to win his unit. He fights and share money to be able to win his unit. He fight to see how he can win his ward, we are not talking of his local government. We are from the same local government. We have ten wards. A state Chairman is fighting to win his unit and his ward and he will open his mouth and be talking and people will listen to him? They have nothing to say. PDP is finished. We are done with PDP.

    Yes they have highest number of senators here in Edo. They have two and they have highest number of House of Representatives members, but the people came out to say no to them during the House of Assembly election because they were unable to intimidate us the way they did on March 28. Some people were even bought over. They gave a young man a car. He came here and dropped the key on my table and said that the car was bought for him by the opposition. They added N2million for him to work at ward 7 in Oredo. Soon, we are going to trace Orbih’s wealth. We are going to look at his account before and after he joined NNPC board. We decided to keep quite because he is fooling himself.

    So you don’t think that your people in Edo south voted against APC in the presidential and national assembly elections?

    I have told you there was a lot of intimidation in Edo South during the election. The young man who brought car key to my house told me if the Governor can give him appointment, he will return the car. I told him nobody will just give him appointment. I said to him, “if they can buy you aero-plane go and take it. You have taken it already. Why did you not come to me before you took it? These are the things they did to woo our people. I can show you a picture on whatsapp of a man sharing money and never knew his picture was taken. We have to do things and do it properly. Edo people are very intelligent and they are very wise. Nobody can induce them. If you look at Ishan where Anenih comes from,where you also have Tom Ikimi, Ugbesia, and Onolomemen, PDP has nothing to show over there. That is why Anenih’s couldn’t win all the seats there. We shared the seats with them.

    Is the party ready to challenge the National Assembly elections at the Tribunal?

    Yes we will challenge it. We have evidences that will be produced in the court. I participated in the prosecution of Oshiomohle’s petition from the very beginning for the eighteen months. I participated in sorting out the whole thing. I was there when we were checking form EC8 A, EC8 B, down to EC8 D. We know what the law says in every unit. We are already seeing their flaws. We are already seeing a lot of manipulations . You know this impunity, they cant get away with it. How can you declare a result in a ward where somebody was killed and burnt?  We will see how they can hold on to the seats they stole. We will see how PDP got the number of votes they announced for them.

  • Why PDP was defeated in polls – Bishop Kukah

    Why PDP was defeated in polls – Bishop Kukah

    The Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Mathew Hassan Kukah, on Friday blamed greed and arrogance as major reasons why the Peoples Democratic Party was defeated in the 2015 general election.

    He made this postulation in Abakaliki, Ebonyi, while delivering a convocation lecture at the Ebonyi State University.

    The title of the lecture was “Transition To Democracy: Can Nigeria Ride The Wave?”

    Kukah also identified lack of party cohesion, insensitivity to supporters and inability to control its stalwarts’ excesses as other reasons for the party’s failure.

    He, however, blamed these on the poor foundation of the party at its inception, maintaining that PDP “was really not a party and never worked hard to become a party.”

    He said: “Successful transitions are based on the typology of the transition. Was it negotiated as it was in South Africa or is it an emergency transition? I don’t believe we have a transition in Nigeria, because I followed the circumstances that brought in Gen.  Olusegun Obasanjo and I know the story pretty well.

    “But what we had was really an attempt at becoming a democracy. PDP has reaped the ill wind it sowed because clearly PDP was really not a party and it never worked hard to become a party. It became a distribution agency.

    “It is true that these elections could have swung either way. Many would argue that President Goodluck Jonathan and his PDP could have won the elections had they not succumbed to the hubris that has become the hallmark of the PDP. We all know the story of the peculiar circumstances that brought the party into being.

    “We also know that despite that, the party became an association of takers and buccaneers more than anything else. The party could not deal quickly with the issues of greed and arrogance of some of its men and women in power.

    “The party could not control the excesses of some of its ministers and henchmen/women. It simply saw itself as presiding over a distribution agency.”

  • PDP: We’re regrouping to takeover power in 2019

    PDP: We’re regrouping to takeover power in 2019

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to bounce back to power in 2019.

    National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu, who yesterday spoke to reporters in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, he was in Taraba  to thank Governor Danbaba Suntai and his deputy Abubakar Sani Danladi for their efforts in the 2015 general elections.

    He said the party, like President Goodluck Jonathan, has accepted defeat in good faith, “but we shall work very hard, remain resolute, restructure and reposition the PDP and regroup members to regain our position of the ruling party in the next general election”.

    Mu’azu described PDP members defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after the party’s loss as “untrue democrats and insincere politicians”.

    He said APC was “dragging” with PDP to take everything and make Nigeria a one-party nation. He advised the APC to give room for credible opposition, without suppressing the will of the people in its bid to be in control everywhere because that, according to Muazu, would not augur well for the nation’s democratic experience.

    He said: “APC is propagating negatively; they want to take everything, but we have resolved, as a party, to restructure and take over power in the next general elections.

    “Whatever it takes, we have resolved to ensure that we forgive one another, resolve our differences and forge ahead, with efforts to winning elections come 2019.

    “It is, however, very unfortunate that our supporters who are desperate to defect to APC have become confused because they have been rejected by the APC. I don’t know what would become of their faith, because they now have no roof; they are neither in PDP nor in APC.”

    The PDP boss said its candidate in Taraba, Darius Dickson Ishaku, is too credibly qualified to lose the election.

    “We are here to encourage our supporters to continue their loyalty and good work for our great party. Everybody knows that Taraba is for PDP and PDP is for Taraba. We have been in charge in Taraba for the past 16 years.”

    Mu’azu accused the APC in the state of “negative media propaganda” against the PDP.

    He praised the “courage and magnanimity” of President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat to General Muhammadu Buhari, as he urged APC supporters to also learn how to concede defeat when they lose.

  • APC, PDP members-elect seek credible House leadership

    APC, PDP members-elect seek credible House leadership

    Some members-elect of House of Representatives from All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have vowed to work for the enthronement of credible leadership for the lower chamber.

    The coalition said it was crucial to elect House leaders that would build on the legacy of vibrancy for which the outgoing 7th House of Representatives was reputed.

    Towards achieving this objective, the members-elect from different political parties said they have collapsed their pressure groups to form “The 8th Assembly New Nigeria Agenda (ANNA)”.

    The conveners of ANNA, who spoke to reporters at a news conference in Abuja include member-elect for Agaie/Lapai Federal Constituency of Niger State Mohammed A. Mahmud (APC), Ibrahim Baba (APC, Katagum Federal Constituency of Bauchi State), Chukwuemeka Ujam (PDP, Nkwanu East/West Federal Constituency of Enugu State), and Director of Administration, Mr. Samuel Melaye.

    Mahmud spoke for the coalition.

    Also yesterday, the ongoing lobby for sharing of National Assembly positions took a twist, with the PDP Senate caucus holding a lengthy meeting with the Northeast caucus of the APC.

    An insider said that the talk may metamorphose into an alliance between the two blocs with the aim of gunning for the Senate President and the Deputy Senate President.

    It was gathered that some Northeast APC senators, who attended the meeting, were “dissatisfied with the plan to zone the slot of the Senate President to the Northcentral geo-political zone.”

    The APC senators were also said to have resolved to approach the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari and the National Executive Council of the party to lodge their case for a revisit of the zoning formula.

    A credible source at the National Assembly said that the Northeast senators and those in the fold of the PDP are negotiating a power sharing deal that may see a ranking PDP senator emerge as the Deputy Senate President while another ranking senator from the Northeast will clinch the slot of the Senate President.

    The source said that the calculation is part of their plan B incase their entreaties for the position of the Senate President to be zoned to the Northeast zone failed.

    The source said: “I can confirm to you that the PDP have approached us with a power-sharing deal that will cede the Senate Presidency to the Northeast while one of the PDP states will produce the Deputy Senate President.”

    He insisted that “Our position is if the APC fails to zone either the Senate President or the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the Northeast, then we will have no option than to form this alliance with the PDP to get what we want.”

    He noted that no calculative politician will toy with 49 PDP senators in chamber, although APC has majority members in the Senate.

    He said that it was obvious that the PDP with 49 senators can turn the table at any time.

    He said: “As things stand now, we only need seven senators to get the simple majority of 51 votes to produce the Senate President and there 18 senators from the Northeast, which gives us 66 votes.”

  • ‘PDP, APGA competed to outrig each other’

    Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State Dr. Ayim Nyerere has described the April 11 election as a competition of who was the best rigger between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Speaking in Abuja, Nyerere said what happened in the state was no election because the people’s will did not prevail.

    He said the election was a show of desperation by the two parties to outsmart each other in a rigging exercise.

    Nyerere said he petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), asking for a cancellation

    “In an election, the wishes of the people becomes supreme; the people are allowed to express themselves in their choice of leadership, but that was absent in Abia.

    “The competition was between APGA and PDP. In most polling units, there were no result sheets and ballot boxes were snatched with impunity and they aided it.

    “What we have canvassed for is cancellation of the process in Abia State. We are not unmindful of the huge cost on the Federal Government or INEC but that is the path of honour,” Nyerere said.

  • Party member challenges PDP Reps-elect candidacy

    Party member challenges PDP Reps-elect candidacy

    A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state, Tele Ogunjobi, has approached a state High Court sitting in Ijebu – Ode to challenge the candidacy of a Federal House Representatives – elect, Prince Segun Adekoya.

    Ogunjobi, former Chairman of Ijebu North Local Government Council, had aspired to run for the seat ofthe Ogun Waterside, Ijebu North and Ijebu East Federal constituency in the last March 28 National Assembly elections but the ticket, in a curious twist, went to Adekoya.

    Ogunjobi in a motion filed by his lawyers Ayo Alagbe and T.M Otayemi before Justice S.A Olugbemi in Ijebu – Ode, claimed that  he won the PDP primary election held at the Ogbere town hall last December 6 having scored 33 votes while Adekoya polled 32 votes.

    According to the plaintiff, having contested the seat at the primary with eight others and emerged winner with 33 votes while Adekoya, came second with 32 votes, the PDP Returning Officer declared him winner and returned him as validly elected party candidate for the  House of Representatives candidate for Ogun Waterside, Ijebu North and Ijebu East Federal Constituency.

    Also dragged to Court along with the House of Representatives – elect, Adekoya, are the Ogun state PDP and the state Chairman, Adebayo Dayo, alleging that they snatched the mandate given to him during the primary election which he won and gave it to Adekoya.

    He also informed the court that his name was equally submitted as the elected candidate and also forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    According to him,  the court action became necessary because his mandate was unlawfully given to Adekoya, who was subsequently declared winner during the March 28 National Assembly polls.

    He prayed the Court to help him retrieve his mandate,  declare him the candidate of PDP for the Federal House of Representatives for his constituency, and by extension the right beneficiary of the PDP victory in the March 28 National Assembly polls for Ijebu North, Ijebu East and Ogun Waterside.

  • Tukur to PDP: I warned you on looming defeat

    Tukur to PDP: I warned you on looming defeat

    The former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has said that he is having the last laugh over the party’s defeat in the just concluded general election, saying the party ignored his warning and refused to mend its ways.

    Tukur said in a statement in Abuja that he had warned the party in 2013 that it will suffer defeat in the 2015 general election if the leaders refuse to change their ways and allow for internal democracy within the party.

    In the statement titled: “PDP- Were you not warned?” the former PDP chairman reminded the party leadership of the speech he read at the PDP National Executive Committee [NEC] meeting of Thursday, June 20, 2913, which he presided over as chairman.

    Quoting from the speech, Tukur said he had warned his fellow party leaders and members to have a change of attitude if the party must succeed.

    He said: “In our efforts to achieve success, we must   rededicate our genuine political believes, change our attitudes and identify our political needs. These good values cannot be realized without accepting the supremacy of the party constitution as key instrument that ensures progress, stability and internal discipline.”

    He also drew their attention to his words that “we must strengthen our democracy through determination, not personalization, correction, not manipulation, collectivism, not individualism and sacrifice, not disservice.

    “If these pronouncements are substantial then, the party should quickly take urgent steps to achieve higher levels, at least by coming to terms with democratic norms and practices.”

    Tukur argued that he also asked party members to accord President Goodluck Jonathan some measure of respect, saying, “We owe ourselves a duty to protect, project and support our President to leave behind, a lasting legacy for Nigerians,” while reminding them of the promises made on the PDP journey.

     

  • INEC declares PDP winner in Ilaje

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday upheld the verdict of the returning officers for the April 11 House of Assembly elections for Ilaje one and two constituencies, which declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates winners.

    INEC, through the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Segun Agbaje, had earlier declared the election inconclusive based on reports from a returning officer, who said he was forced to declare the result under threat.

    A statement by Agbaje said the commission will declare the PDP candidates- Abayomi Akinruntan (Ilaje 1) and Malachi Coker (Ilaje II)- winners of the election .

    He advised those not satisfied with the outcome of the election to seek redress at the appropriate quarters.

    With this declaration, the PDP has 21 seats and the APC five.