The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PDP

  • Bankole has no electoral value, says Ogun PDP

    Bankole has no electoral value, says Ogun PDP

    •Party: we are not bothered by his defection

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has said it is not bothered by the defection of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    It said the decision posed no threat to its electoral fortunes in next month’s general elections.

    The party added that Bankole no longer commands electoral values that could ensure victory for anybody or party at the polls.

    The state Chairman, Bayo Dayo, who said this in Abeokuta at the inauguration of the state’s 35-man governorship campaign committee, dismissed the former Speaker as a paper weight politician.

    Dayo said the ex-Speaker was not useful to himself electorally in his re-election bid into the House of Representatives in 2011 and could not win his constituency.

    He wondered how Bankole could have added any advantage to the PDP’s electoral fortunes, if he had been picked as its flag-bearer.

    His words: “I always say the truth. I heard it (Bankole’s defection) last night and I can tell you as I have said earlier, it’s a free world; everybody has the right to be associated with any group that he wishes.

    “But if that is done, you will then know and the people in Abuja will know who is on ground. Somebody who contested when he was Speaker and lost. Let him now contest in 20 local governments and let us see the outcome.

    “I challenge them to the fact that come February 14, you will all see the results of whatever arrangement that is going on.

    “Some people live in glass houses and they will not know that there are other people looking at them.

    “Let him contest under any platform and people in Abuja will know if he is on ground or not. That is all I have to say. We cannot force everybody to stay in PDP.

    “Our prayer is that the more people are going out, more people are coming to the party. And with that, we are going to win the election come February 14 by the grace of God.”

    The state chairman, however, assured that former Governor Gbenga Daniel still remains a PDP member and has continued to show his commitment to the victory of the party.

    Dayo appealed to all aggrieved aspirants to put their loss at the primaries behind them and work for the party’s success.

    He said: “I will only use this media to appeal to our aggrieved aspirants that they should allow us to work together and win the election that can make them relevant.

    “So, first things first; we must work together and win the election. And when that is done, everybody that you are seeing here you will be filling forms to go and see them in their offices.”

    Also, the Director-General of the Ogun PDP Governorship Campaign Organisation, Yomi Majekodunmi, said the state deserved better.

    Majekodunmi assured that the PDP would carry out a “real rescue” of the state.

  • APC, PDP, LP, AP battle for Senate in Oyo

    APC, PDP, LP, AP battle for Senate in Oyo

    Unlike in 2011, when the senatorial race across the three districts in Oyo State was among three political parties-the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Accord Party (AP), four parties – All Progressives Congress (APC),  Labour Party (LP), PDP and AP – are fielding candidates for the parliamentary elections. BISI OLADELE examines the strengths and weaknesses of the flag bearers and their chances at the polls. 

    Four parties-the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP) and the Accord Party (AP)-are warming up for senatorial elections in Oyo State.

    In Oyo North, Oyo Central and Oyo South districts, there is enthusiasm among the stakeholders. The only obstacle to a successful poll now is the lack of Permanent Voter’s Cards. The distributions of the cards was not successful in Oyo State.

    The senatorial election will be very interesting because of the defections across platforms. Those who contested on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011 are now flag bearers in the AP and the PDP. Those who fell out with the PDP and the APC are now vying on the platform of the AP and LP.

    There are three serving senators in the race. They are experienced politicians. But, they will work hard to retain their seats because new entrants are also working to dislodge them.

    The three senators are Olufemi Lanlehin (Accord), Ayoola Agboola (PDP) and Ayoade Adeseun (PDP). Lanlehin and Adeseun defected from the APC to their new parties.

    Oyo Central

    This struggle for the Senate is expected to be tough in this district. This is because the district cuts across three major towns of Ibadan, Oyo and Ogbomoso. Adeseun, who hails from Ogbomoso, currently occupies the seat.

    But, the Speaker of the  Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Monsurat Sunmonu, has picked the APC ticket to contest the position. She will face Adeseun and Chief Oyebisi ilaka, the Ladilu of Oyo, at the poll. Ilaka is the Accord Party flag bearer. Sunmonu and Ilaka hail from Oyo town.

    In the LP, where former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala calls the shots, Comrade Olu Abiala is the flag bearer.

    Sunmonu

    Sunmonu is an astute lawmaker. A former employee of the British Immigration Service, she returned to Nigeria in 2010 to join politics. She is representing Oyo East/Oyo West Constituency in the House of Assembly.

    Her tenure witnessed unprecedented peace in the House, judging by the vices that have assailed the parliament since 1999. This has shored up her popularity in the district and the entire state.

    The APC and Accord zoned the senatorial slot to Oyo because it is the only town in the district that has not produced a senator since 1999.

    Besides, the APC is waxing stronger in two local governments in Ibadan among the five that make up the district in the capital city. They are Lagelu and Akinyele.

    With her grassroots style and gender appeal, Sunmonu stands a better chance in the race.

    Yet, she faces a hurdle in Oyo, her home town, where Ilaka is also a major contender.

     Ilaka

    A United Kingdom-trained tax consultant, Ilaka contested and lost to Adeseun in 2011. But, the fortune of Accord has risen in the last two years in Oyo, making him a strong contender once again.

    The candidates fielded by Accord are mostly riding on the fame of Senator Rashidi Ladoja, who is well known in the state. With the possibility of getting reasonable votes in Oyo, Ilaka is also likely to enjoy Ladoja’s goodwill is some parts of Ibadan.

    But, it is doubtful if the Oyo chief will garner enough votes to emerge as the winner.

    Adeseun

    Adeseun was a member of the House of Representatives. In 1999, he was a member of the Alliance for Democracy. In 2003, he defected to the PDP. In 2011, he was a Chieftain of the ACN. Until recently, he was an APC leader in the district.

    The senator is back in the race after losing the governorship ticket to Senator Teslim Folarin. He is popular across the district. He is an experienced politician. Adeseun has been reaching out to his constituents through constituency projects.

    As an experienced politician, the senator is counting on his goodwill among constituents. The PDP is also depending on the federal might. Folarin’s strength in some parts of Ibadan is also an advantage.

    Yet, Adeseun may find it tougher this time. The PDP’s popularity has declined in the state. The dwindling fortune has reflected in the way it was defeated in the 2011 general elections, in spite of power of incumbency. The crisis generated by its primaries this year has not been resolved.

    In Ogbomoso, his home town, three people are vying for both governorship and senatorial seats on the platforms of different parties. While Alao-Akala is vying under the Labour Party, Hon. Fatai Buhari is the APC’s senatorial candidate for Oyo North. He is the third candidate from the town. Obviously, votes in the town will be divided across the three lines. Adeseun is not likely to pull any meaningful votes in Oyo and two other local governments in Ibadan. He will count on the PDP’s strength in Ona-Ara, Oluyole and perhaps, Egeda local governments to get votes. With the odds against him, it is believed that the senator faces a huge hurdle to retain his seat.

    Abiala

    The LP candidate, Comrade Olu Abiala, will slug it out with the three. Abiala, a renowned labour unionist ,is in partisan politics for the first time. The election will be an uphill task for the former Secretary o the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT),  Oyo State chapter. He hails from Ibadan.

    Oyo South  Lanlehin

    The senator joined Accord earlier this year. He is a well-known politician. He hopes to coast into victory with his power of incumbency and popularity. He may also enjoy some goodwill in Ibadan because of Ladoja.

    But, Lanlehin, who rode to victory,on the crest of the ACN, may not find it smooth this time. The political space is more polarised today while the APC is working harder daily to win more voters. Besides, some APC members and other stakeholders believe that Lanlehin should have waited in the party to pick the governorship ticket after Governor Abiola Ajimobi leaves office. This may also work against him. His major huddle is the APC. Besides, there are some people who are not happy over his defection.

    Soji Akanbi

    The APC candidate, Soji Akanbi, is an experienced politician. He was a governorship aspirant in 2011.  Since he picked the APAC ticket, Akanbi has been working to entrench himself within and outside the party across the senatorial district. A follower of the late Alhaji Lam Adesina, the former governor of the state,  Akanbi is close to key players in the Lam Adesina political family.

    His party is an added advantage because it is popular in the district.

    But, Akanbi must work very hard to defeat Lanlehin. He will need to warm himself into the hearts of voters outside the camp because they will ultimately decide who emerges the senator.

    Adedeji Otiti

    The PDP candidate relies mostly on her party and gender appeal to win the election. The PDP candidate in the 2011 election, Kamorudeen Adedibu, was defeated by the incumbent.

    Otiti is only relatively known in the political circle. Her political experience is doubtful. But, she may be a candidate of the future.

    Akinyo

    Nurudeen Akinyo, who recently defected to the LP, is new in Oyo politics. He was a Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi. Although he hails from Ibadan, Akinyo will have to cover several miles in popularity to win the election,

    Oyo North Agboola

    The candidate of the PDP, Senator Ayoola Agboola, is the candidate to beat in this district. He is a grassroots politician and he is entrenched in the district. The power of incumbency may also count for him.

    But, Agboola faces a huge hurdle in his Oke-Ogun Constituency because the LP candidate, Hon. Tajudeen Abisodun Kareem, who is representing Atibo/Saki East/West in the House of Representatives, is also a grassroots mobiliser. Both of them were with Alao-Akala, but Kareem followed his boss to LP.

    Agboola faces a tough time in the three local governments in Ogbomoso where Alao-Akala delivered for him in 2011.

    Buhari

    Hon. Fatai Buhari is a former member of the House of Representatives. He is the Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs. He relies on his popularity and that of his party, the APC, in Oke-Ogun and Ogbomoso to win the election. Besides, the party,  zoned the position to Ogbomoso.

    But, Buhari will need to work extremely hard to win the three councils in Ogbomoso where Alao-Akala also hails from. He also needs to work very hard to garner enough votes in Oke-Ogun to win the election.

  • Injustice forced Amaechi, Kwankwaso others out of PDP – Mu’azu

    Injustice forced Amaechi, Kwankwaso others out of PDP – Mu’azu

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamau Mu’azu, has identified injustice, inequity and unfairness as factors responsible for the defection of five state governors from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and ex- Governor Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) had in November 2013 defected from the PDP to the APC.

    Similarly, a number of prominent party chieftains, including serving senators and members of the House of Representatives also left the PDP for the APC, owing to factors earlier identified by the PDP chairman.

    Mu’azu, who spoke in Abuja at the inauguration of the PDP’s Presidential Campaign Organisation, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to consider the governors’ defection as a challenge ahead of the general election.

    Decrying what he described as politics of use and dump, which according to him, was pervasive in the ruling party, Mu’azu said the trend, if not stemmed, could spell catastrophic consequences for the democratic process.

    He said: “I appeal to President Jonathan to consider it a challenge to discuss with your governors, senators, all elected officials of the PDP that members of the PDP said they should not be used and dumped.

    “Adhere to equity, fairness and justice, substantial membership of the APC, APGA and others are members of our party.

    “A lot of our party members have left because they have been used and dumped. It should not happen again.”

    Also speaking at the event, Jonathan said the performance of his administration would be his selling point during the electioneering campaign and urged his campaign team to be civil in the use of language.

    Reiterating his promise of free, fair and credible elections, the President said 2015 poll marked a critical point in the nation’s history. Apparently referring to his major challenger, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, he challenged his critics to tell Nigerians how many women served in their administration.

    The President said: “I am not campaigning to you, I have no doubt you are already familiar with the achievements of this administration.

    “We will see those who said they would form a parallel government. Do not join them in violence, every Nigerian is free to campaign in every part of Nigeria.”

     

  • PDP: We are unmoved by Bankole’s defection to SDP

    PDP: We are unmoved by Bankole’s defection to SDP

    The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday said it is not bothered by the defection of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), saying the defection poses no threat to the electoral fortune of the party in the forthcoming elections.

    PDP added that Bankole who boycotted the governorship primaries conducted by the party in the state no longer commands electoral values that could ensure victory for anybody or political party at the poll.

    The state Chairman of the PDP, Bayo Dayo, who made this known in Abeokuta, the state capital, while fielding questions from reporters during the inauguration of the state’s 35-man Governorship Campaign Committee at the party secretariat, dismissed Bankole as a paper weight politician.

    He said: “I always say the truth. I heard it (Bankole’s defection) last night and I can tell you as I have said earlier, it’s a free world, everybody has the right to be associated with any group that he wishes. But if that is done, you will then know and the people in Abuja will know who is on the ground.

    “Bankole contested the position of House of Representatives in one local government when he was in office as the Speaker of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and lost.

    “Let him now contest in 20 local government areas and let us see the outcome. I challenge them to the fact that come February 14, you will all see the result of whatever arrangement that is going on.
    ”

    “Some people, when they live in glass houses, they will not know that there are other people looking at them.

    “Let him contest under any platform and people in Abuja will know whether he is actually on ground or not. That is all I have to say. We cannot force everybody to stay in PDP. Our prayer is that the more people that are going out, more people that are more than them should be coming to the party. And with that, we are going to win the election come February 14 by the grace of God.”

  • Aliyu: ensure victory for PDP in Niger

    Aliyu: ensure victory for PDP in Niger

    Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu yesterday urged members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to use the rules of engagement to win next month’s general elections in the state.

    The governor spoke in Minna, the state capital, when he inaugurated the party’s governorship campaign organisation.

    He said: “The state PDP has a sellable candidate who is willing, who has learnt the ropes of leadership and is willing to work. But the 2015 elections will be different from that of 1999.”

    Aliyu advised the party members to use all legal means to win the elections because the party was facing new issues that were not similar to those of the past elections.

  • PDP to APC: focus on real campaign

    PDP to APC: focus on real campaign

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, to focus on “real campaign” and try to win followers genuinely, instead of applying “cheap diversionary tactics”

    A statement yesterday by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said the APC’s change agenda should be based on issues and not on change of dressing and religious gathering.

    The statement said: “This election is not about political window-dressing and dramatising. What will count is record of performance and antecedents.

    “It is therefore not surprising that the APC and its presidential candidate will resort to organising a kangaroo opinion rating in a failed attempt to cover up their inadequacies and manipulate public perception in their favour.”

    The statement described the poll as “phantom”, designed in such a way to make the public believe that 75 per cent of the voting population are in support of General Buhari ahead of the February 14 presidential election.

    “Our findings reveal that the APC leaders are intensifying efforts to compromise some section of the media so as to ensure that the poll packaged by its foreign consultants is widely publicised.

    “Part of the strategy is a disguised mobile phone balloting application being circulated by the APC, whereby a curious click elicits a thank-you message from them and automatically register the unsuspecting phone user as having voted in support of General Buhari.

    “We are indeed shocked at the level the APC and its presidential candidate have sunk in their desperation for power.

    “We hereby urge Nigerians, particularly the media, to be wary of this plot to deceive the public and truncate our democratic process.

    “Our final advice to the APC is that it should focus on real campaign and stop playing to the gallery. Lies, no matter how much embellished can never take the place of truth and nothing built on falsehood stands.”

  • Gana: Jonathan ’ll campaign in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa

    Gana: Jonathan ’ll campaign in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa

    •‘N21b donation for party secretariat, others’

    THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will take President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election campaign to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and other states in the Northeast ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgents.

    Chairman of the PDP fundraising dinner and former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana, stated this in Abuja yesterday.

    Gana is also the director, Contact and Mobilisation of the President’s campaign organisation.

    Towns and villages in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states are under Boko Haram’s attacks.

    A number of the towns and villages have been seized by the sect members, with hundreds of innocent citizens killed, maimed and abducted.

    Gana said: “As the director, Contact and Mobilisation, yes, we are going to go to the Northeast. The campaign organisation is going to be inaugurated today (yesterday) and because we are organised, the programme is ready.

    “Northeast is in our programme and in fact, we are going to campaign in Maiduguri, Yobe and everywhere else. And by the grace of God, we shall come back.”

    On the chances of the PDP in next month’s elections, Prof. Gana said the electorate will go for capacity and experience.

    His words: “People will go for experience and capacity and not those that will be experimenting with the new house, because we don’t know whether the new house will last after the election.

    “People, who want to be stable, build on solid rock, which is the PDP. The other one is the sand; and when you build on sand, it may scatter. Please advise Nigerians to vote for the party that is on the rock.

    “This is a critical year for Nigeria, but it will all go well. There won’t be violence; the elections will be free and fair. The winner will be clear and Nigeria will not break up. Anyone who says Nigeria will be divided will be disappointed, because Nigerians have become very mature politicians and democrats.”

    Gana also said the N21 billion donated by individuals and corporate bodies towards the president’s re-election campaign at a fundraiser in December would be used to complete the PDP national secretariat building under construction and other party projects.

    He spoke at a news conference at the construction site of the party’s permanent secretariat building, located at the Central Area of the Federal Capital Territory.

    According to him, N10.5 billion would be used to complete the building while the remaining N10.5 billion would be expended on capacity building for party officials at various levels.

    He added that party projects in the 36 states of the federation would also be financed with part of the money.

    The party was forced to make a detour, apparently as a result of public outrage that greeted the donations, in which the amounts donated by individuals and corporate bodies exceeded what the Electoral Act stipulated.

    Defending the purpose for raising the N21 billion donation, Prof. Gana said:  “The administration of the party resolved that we must complete this project, so that we can move here.

    “So, part of the preparations for this year’s campaign is for us to raise funds and I had the honour of leading a very distinguished team of Nigerians to prepare for the fundraising.

    “We raised about N21 billion on that day. And the purpose of this press conference is to say that right from the start, we were raising money for the PDP and the project of the party.

    “The documents and letters said so, the speeches confirmed it. During the day of the fund-raising, in my own speech and the speech of the vice president – who happens to be an architect – there was a specific focus on this building; that this is one project we want to complete.

    “The vice president, being an architect, gave graphic details of where we were on this project and how we desired to go ahead. Therefore, the central aim of the fund-raising was to empower the party to complete this building and other projects.

    “The second is of course to empower the party to campaign for its candidates. Not for the President alone, but for others. The presidential candidate has the right and he is going to use that right to raise fund for his campaign quietly.

    “So, we want to make it clear that the money raised was for the PDP and a substantial part of it will be for the completion of this building.

    “As already noted, we need over N10 billion to complete it and so, even if we raise and we hope that we are going to raise more, half of the money is already going to be for the building and other projects.

  • Sokoto PDP governorship candidate picks running mate

    Sokoto PDP governorship candidate picks running mate

    •Hails Jonathan for resolving party’s crisis

    Sokoto State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ambassador Abdallah Wali, presented yesterday a former member of the House of Assembly, Alhaji Garba Yusuf, as his running mate.

    The PDP candidate explained that Yusuf was chosen, following wide consultations among party members and elders in the state.

    Yusuf was the Assembly’s Minority Leader from 2007 till 2011.

    Wali said: “You know it cannot be an individual thing. Therefore, stakeholders of the party had to come in to ensure the best possible choice was made for it and the state.

    “He (Yusuf) is very disciplined and loyal to the party, just as he has a big heart.”

    The governorship candidate hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for resolving the state’s post-primary election crisis.

    The candidate described Jonathan as a true leader whose sense of unity for the party and Nigeria remained resolute.

    He said: “We must really commend the vision and mission of the President for dispatching Vice President Namadi Sambo to Sokoto last Sunday.”

    Wali, who addressed reporters in Sokoto, added: “By such singular move, the President has helped in brokering peace between myself and the three other defeated governorship aspirants of the party.”

  • ‘PDP, SDP have no place in Ogun’

    ‘PDP, SDP have no place in Ogun’

    Olusola Balogun, Special Assistant (Print Media) to Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, was a House of Assembly aspirant in Yewa South Constituency. He spoke with reporters in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on the Amosun Administration and why the governor will get a second term.

    You aspired to be a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly on the platform of the APC? How was the contest?

    It is really an enriching experience. I saw first hand what politics is and how it is played.  I now understand what moulds the thinkng of an average politician. Its a new experience different from the world of journalism i am used to.

    How is the ambition now?

    Its over at least for this next legislative assembly.

    Why is that so?

    I withdrew in deference to the wish of my governor and my party.

    Can you please explain that?

    There is nothing to explain.It is a dead issue, so let’s not reopen it. I am focusing on how to assist all the APC candidiates win their various elections for my party .

    Why did you withdraw from the race?

    I withdrew in deference to the desire of the governor, who is the leader of my party and my own personal hero and political mentor. He wants the incumbent office-holder to continue on the seat, so i complied.I agree completely with him and I am 110 per cent behind him in his quest to rebuild our state. He is doing a swell job of it and i am ready to hand him all the support he needs to reposition of our state.

    But, some people alleged that the APC in the state imposed the candidates?

    That is not true. It is far from what happened. I am in the thick of it, so, I can talk authoritatively on it. That allegation is a lie from the pit of hell. I am sure it is the type of discussion our detractors peddle around. Our detractors believes and expects  the Ogun APC to be engulfed in crises after the primaries; but they were disappointed. God gave Senator Ibikunle Amosun the wisdom of Solomon to tackle the notty aspects of it.

    There is no truth whatsoever in that. All our candidates emerged through transparent process which explained why the appeal panel sent from Abuja to look into complain was largely idle in ogun state. Nobody complained. The opposition believes the exercise would explode in violence, but that didnt happen.

    Despite the departure of Osoba and his followers, will you say  Ogun APC is in a good position ahead of the polls?

    The APC in Ogun State is in great and united shape. It is unfortunate that they went to the SDP, but I can assure you it won’t affect the fortunes of the party. We will also win the elections.

    Are you sure of that?

    I am very positive.

    But, it is believed those that left are core politicians…

    That is not true. We will soon see who are the real politicians connected with the voters. February is around the corner.

    But, one of the allegations is that the governor runs a one-man show in Ogun….

    Thats another tissue of lies. Senator Amosun runs an all-inclusive government. He brought all Ogun indigenes he feels are needed to assist in rebuildng the state on board. It might also interest you to know that a whooping  72 per  cent of this present state executive of the APC are from the AD and the AC. Two of the three senatorial chairmen of the AC are serving commissioners. So, where is the basis for the allegation?

    But, most of those in the SDP are National Assembly members. Don’t you think it looks somehow that all of them are opposing the governor?

    Not all are against the governor. Some are with him. However, there is no big deal in that. There is freedom of association in our constitution.They were elected to make laws in Abuja, while the governor was elected by all the people of Ogun State to steer the ship of the state away from its ruinous past.

    Does it speak well of the governor that he is not able to manage his National Assembly members?

    I won’t want to go into the details of what caused the crisis, but suffice to say that no one can clap with one hand. It is not possible. It needs two people to make peace and two people to fight. If the truth must be told, Governor Amosun made all efforts to ensure a united and cohesive Ogun APC.

    But allegation is that the problem arose because he took over the party from the original owners…

    Original owners? The APC, if you remember, is an amalgam of the ACN, the CPC, the ANPP, a fraction of the PDP and a section of the APGA. The ACN, the ANPP and the CPC all returned their membership registration to the INEC, so in the APC, there is no original owner. We all joined the APC afresh. No old member or landlord.We are all co-founders. Those who are saying that will want to forget that because they are out to promote their mischievous plans.

    By the way, it 72 per cent of those from AD and AC are in the state executive, where is the basis for this charge of taking over the party?

    They also allege that the governor runs a government of family and friends. How will you react to that?

    As I said ealier, I don’t want to comment on the nitty-gritty of the crises, but it will be irresponsible of me not to correct that erroneous impression. It is a lie.

  • Our ideology has enhanced business growth, says PDP

    THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it has, in the last 15 years, provided the enabling environment that empowered Nigerian entrepreneurs to flourish in business and economy.

    Its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, who said this in a statement yesterday, noted that “meticulous application” by successive PDP administrations, of policies as enshrined in the party’s ideology and manifesto, has created and sustained an investment friendly environment and empowered Nigerian businesses.

    The statement said: “The growth of the private sector under the PDP has been phenomenal. This did not happen by chance. Our governments at all levels have been guided by our economic policy, which directs the creation of a dynamic economy in which market forces are combined with the forces of partnership, solidarity and cooperation for the benefit of the people.

    “The hallmark of the PDP administration remains the policy of transfer of wealth from the public sector to hardworking and enterprising Nigerians. This has not only revived and empowered the private sector, but it also expanded the nation’s economic frontiers with an unprecedented growth in small and medium scale enterprises, which has helped in providing employment for our citizens across the country.