The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PDP

  • Plateau stakeholders differ over governorship primary

    THE controversy arising over the outcome of the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State, which produced Senator Gyang Pwajok, is yet to abate.

    Twelve of the 16 aspirants that contested the governorship primaries are asking the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, and the election appeal panel to reject the result of the said primary election, alleging that the process was marred with irregularities.

    The aggrieved aspirants who addressed journalists in Jos, the state capital, further alleged that the election was not conducted according to the party guidelines in favour of Governor Jonah Jang’s favoured candidate.

    The petition to the appeal panel was signed by Ambassador Fidelis Tapgun, Dr Haruna Dabin, Senator Victor Lar, Arch. John Alkali, Engr. Jimmy Cheto, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, and Apostle Chris Bature on behalf of the 12 aspirants.

    However, a coalition of youths in Plateau State has described the emergence of Senator Gyang Pwajok as the PDP governorship candidate as the best development in the state’s political history.

    According to the Coalition of Young Redemption Advocate (CYRA), the PDP national leadership should ignore calls by the defeated aspirants for the cancellation of the primaries, while declaring their total support for Pwajok.

    The media relations officer of the group, Hon. Abubakar Kanam, who read the text of the briefing, said, “The youths had earlier adopted Senator Pwajok as our governor come 2015. And now that he has emerged as the PDP governorship flag bearer, we will mobilise other stakeholders in the state to support him in 2015.

    “We are calling on all those who competed with him in the primaries to join us in supporting him because Senator Pwajok, no doubt, possesses the best leadership qualities to govern the state.

    The group also commended Governor Jang for supporting power shift to the younger generation.

    Similarly, another group, Plateau Youths Patriotic Front has , expressed its readiness to resist any attempt by anyone to cancel the result of the PDP governorship primaries, which produced Pwajok.

  • ‘No results yet on Kwara PDP governorship primary’

    ‘No results yet on Kwara PDP governorship primary’

    The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo and his executive members have disagreed over the status of Senator Simeon Ajibola as the party’s governorship candidate.

    Although Oyedepo said only the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party could declare the winners of the congresses, including the governorship primaries, but the party’s executive committee upheld Ajibola’s election. .

    Oyedepo insisted that no official result had been released on the primaries.

    The party chairman said the state chapter of the PDP lacked the power to recognise candidates except those announced as winners by the NWC.

    “In recent times, the mass media and the public have been worried about the outcome of the primaries of our party, which were held between November 29 and December 11,” Oyedepo said in a statement he issued yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital.

    He added: “I have, however, restrained myself from issuing out the results of the primaries because it is not my duty to do so. Usually, the people who came from Abuja to conduct the primaries are to report to the national secretariat.

    “The result of the election can only be made public after the endorsement of the NWC. The issue of recognising one candidate or the other does not arise, as it is in the powers of the NWC to do so. Those who are hungry to know our candidates should wait a little; the national secretariat will soon make available to the public the winners of the primaries conducted in Kwara State.”

    Oyedepo added that “any other contrary message should be regarded as unauthorised”.

    But the Assistant Publicity Secretary of PDP in the state, Yusuf Femi, in a statement, said majority of the executive committee members attended the all-important meeting.

    The statement reads: “The PDP state executive committee, Kwara State chapter, rose from our extra-ordinary meeting today(December 17) with majority of the members in attendance.

    “That the meeting ended, living the executive members stronger and more united. It was resolved in the meeting that the result of the governorship primaries held on December  11, in which Senator Simeon Sule Ajibola was declared winner, is hereby up held.

    “We want to reinstate that the state Exco stands firmly behind this decision. The public should, please, discard any rumour or speculation contrary to the stand of our party.

    “We praise all our other governorship aspirants who have openly declared and demonstrated their support for Senator S. S. Ajibola who is the People’s choice. We hereby appeal to our teaming supporters to remain calm and supportive of this our noble course.”

  • Tension in Kwara PDP over primaries

    Tension in Kwara PDP over primaries

    There was heavy security presence at the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, as executives of the party met this week to discuss the botched primary in the state.

    About 20 anti-riot policemen mounted sentry at the entrance of the party’s secretariat, along Asa Dam Road in the metropolis.

    But, the party’s spokesperson  Chief Rex Olawoye, said the presence of security men was to ward off  hoodlums ‘who might want to protest the loss by their principal’.

    Olawoye said there was no crisis within the party, but he added that fears were expressed in some quarters that the national secretariat of the PDP might upturn the result of the primaries which produced Senator Simon Ajibola as governorship candidate.

    The police presence might have been used to prevent a protest march to the secretariat by supporters of Ajibola, who may want to counter the one carried out on Saturday evening by some members of the party against his emergence as the PDP flag bearer for next year’s governorship elections.

    The earlier protest was believed to have been sponsored by some aggrieved stakeholders in the party to give the impression that Ajibola is an unsellable candidate for the party. The aggrieved leaders were said to have allegedly undertaken several moves to rework the outcome of the primaries in favour of their candidate.

    He said: “We have an executive meeting today to appraise the outcome of the primary so that we can take position on issues and you know some hoodlums could come  to demonstrate as reaction to the loss by their principal. So, that’s why we asked the police to come and be here to keep them at bay. We need to meet to review things.”

    On the probable modification of the outcome of the primary, Olawoye said: “When you have a primary like this, the national body still has the final say. You remember when Rotimi Amaechi won the primary and his name was substituted with that of Celestine Omehia, he went to court to challenge it. Fortunately, he won and was given the mandate, without contesting in the election. This is politics and anything can happen. But, for anyone to say he doesn’t know Ajibola is a lie. He has represented Kwara South for 12 years and he has done well for us and we know him very well.”

    The  Freedom Group expressed similar fears, warning against any planned substitution of Ajibola’s name with that of another candidate. It dismissed the religious arguments being allegedly raised against the candidature of Ajibola.

    In a statement, the group’s spokesperson, Tajudeen Kareem said, “We wish that, in the interest of democracy, freedom of choice and peace in our   party, nothing is done to tamper with Senator Ajibola’s mandate. Any attempt to manipulate the outcome of the governorship election supervised by Governor Gabriel Suswam is a recipe for electoral disaster for the PDP in Kwara State.”

    Alhaji Kareem added: “We testify to the fact that the governorship primary election was conducted in adherence to due process, transparency and in conformity with the guidelines and regulations of the PDP. That anyone or group of persons are uncomfortable with its outcome is myopic, divisive and undemocratic. It flies in the face of logic and the facts on the ground in Kwara State.

    “When has religion become the basis for political representation in Kwara State? The advocates of anti-Ajibola candidacy are disingenuous. Their antics have exposed them as a bunch pursuing selfish interests and not the interest of our people. If Ajibola is a Christian so what?  All three candidates who recently won tickets to contest senatorial seats on the platform of the PDP are Muslims: Alhaji Yinka Aluko, Central; Alhaji Yinusa Yahaya, North; Arc. Lola Ashiru, South.

    “As a matter of fact, of the six candidates chosen by delegates for the House of Representatives election, only one, Mr. Richard Babatunde (Oke-Ero, Isin, Ekiti and Irepodun constituency) is a Christian. The rest are Muslims. Going further, the same PDP delegates had earlier elected 24 of their members to contest election to the House of Assembly. Of the lot, only six are Christians. They are-Enoch Omokanye (Odo-Ogun in Oyun), Henry Olatunde (Omupo in Ifelodun), Ben Duntoye (Irepodun), Olu Adeoti (Oke-Ero), Segun Bamidele (Ekiti) and Sunday Adedoyin( Isin).

    “The Freedom Group is comfortable with the emergence of Senator Ajibola. That is the collective wish of the PDP members who earlier elected delegates to represent them. His emergence has put a lie to the face of those who tried to hoodwink the delegates that the Presidency in Abuja had anointed a candidate.”

    Also, in a statement on behalf of other aspirants, Deacon John Dara accepted the emergence of Ajibola as the PDP candidate and asked the party’s leadership to immediately set up a reconciliation committee to bring aggrieved members of the PDP on board to ensure victory for the party in 2015.

    He said the aspirants met in the house of Professor Shuiab AbdulRaheem last Sunday and reached agreement on the issue.

    The four-paragraph statement however did not give a list of those who attended the meeting. But, it was gathered that Mr. Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN) was not in attendance.  The statement asked Ajibola to also commence efforts to placate aggrieved members and form an inclusive campaign structure to effectively mobilise party members and the general public for the coming elections.

  • Wali: ‘PDP’ ll return to power in Sokoto’

    Wali: ‘PDP’ ll return to power in Sokoto’

    Nigeria’s  former Ambassador to Morocco  Senator Abdallah Wali  won the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship ticket in Sokoto State. In this interview with ADAMU SULEIMAN, he speaks about the Sokoto governorship primaries, his vision and other issues. 

    How do you feel emerging as the PDP’s governorship candidate in Sokoto State?

    I feel grateful to Almighty God for making it possible to be elected as the governorship candidate of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for next year’s general elections. I am highly delighted by the level of support by members of our party, who have demonstrated their confidence in me, by allowing me to fly the party’s flag in the forthcoming general elections. I thank all the delegates, particularly members of the National Working Committee and Mr. President for leading the party in such a way that people can aspire to various positions through a free and fair election. I must say that without the discipline that the national headquarters of the party has provided, people like us would not have had the opportunity to aspire, let alone win the primary election. I sincerely thank them all.

    What strategies did your party intend to adopt or put in place to win the governorship election in the state?

    Well, winning strategies are not things that should be disclosed in the public. They are things that are exclusive to the campaign committee, which is being worked on for our victory. But, be it as it may, I will say that we are well prepared for the elections. We look forward to a successful race. We have gone through the same system before and we believe we will make it again.

    The party won the 2007 and 2012 general elections in the state. Although, the governor and some of his aides have since moved to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC),  we believe that the PDP is a party that is still alive. It is still kicking and capable of winning any elections in the state. The coming of His Excellency, the former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa into the PDP fold has re-galvanised the party. We believe we can win all the various seats. You will also recall that in 2003, former Governor Bafarawa was running for second term on the platform of the defunct All Progressive Party (APP), and I was also contesting on the PDP platform for the first time. But, he (Bafarawa) won the election in that contest and today the two of us are working together. We believe that we have the necessary structure on the ground to win the election for the PDP. By God’s help, it will come to pass.

    Why are the other contenders refusing to accept the outcome of the primary?

    Well, I will say that I am very disappointed by the development because the election was covered by the media and other observers. We, the four aspirants received an invitation to the venue from the panel in order to address us. When we arrived, we found that we were only three; we were told that the forth aspirant, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman had withdrawn from the race. The panel advised us to go through the election in a peaceful manner and urged us to accept the outcome of the elections.

    The accreditation lasted for a long time.  Though, the accreditation exercise was supposed to be a simple formality in the sense that the same delegates voted a week earlier for the state assembly election across the state. All the delegates that had participated in the congress of the governorship primary were delegates to the state assembly elections in their respective constituencies. These same delegates also participated in the National Assembly elections which was conducted without hitch. The governorship election was the fourth election the delegates were participating in. The accreditation was still done in the usual way and after that the election panel announced the commencement of the election.

    That was when one of the aspirants, Alhaji Mukthar Shagari, as we were told, approached the panel that since the election could not hold in neighbouring state of Zamfara, it should also be postponed here in Sokoto. That was an absurd proposition. The Police Commissioner had to come and address us individually assuring us that election must hold because the accreditation has been completed. Later, he (Shagari) had a session with the media and later met with the electoral panel before staging a walk out from the Giginya Stadium, venue of the exercise. To me, all those actions are not consistent with the democratic principles. People who hold the position of leadership are supposed to live by example. In summary, the voting continued and election was conducted peacefully in the open. The result was later declared and we expected them to quickly congratulate the winner.

    One of the contestants alleged that the delegates’ list was manipulated in the process. What is your take?

    As I said earlier, the delegates that were accredited had voted three times previous occasions before the congress. In the real sense, there is no justification for accusing anybody of manipulating the delegates’ list.

    Do not forget that these delegates were accredited in front of three certified agents that represented the three aspirants.

    To us, it is embarrassing for anybody to raise the issue of fake delegates during the election. This venue was an open air arena and not a hall. Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were present and they monitored the processes. Security agents were also present at the venue. To many, the election was one of the most transparent in the state. Two of the aspirants were even seen going round, speaking with the delegates.  But, I was not involved in the act because according to the rules, contestants are not expected to have contact with the delegates. Anybody who says the exercise was not fair, is not telling the truth. I hope such people would quickly desist from that and accept the outcome.

    Have they formally congratulated you?

    Senator Abubakar Gada, one of the contestants had since congratulated me for winning the election. Alhaji Mukthar Shagari was not at the venue when the winner was declared, so I am not expecting him to congratulate me immediately. I have been hoping to receive his phone call or text message. But, up till now he has not done so. I believe we are one PDP family and we are supposed to work together as a team for the success of the party. I have invited the party executive members to brief them on the preparation of my campaign team and activities. We will also invite the supporters of my co-contestants to join our campaign team, so that together we will work hand-in-hand in order to come out victorious.

    The action of your co-contenders, by not accepting the outcome of the contest, could threaten the party’s success next year. Don’t you think so?

    You see, this borders on the unity of the party as a whole. We all believe that it is only a united front that can bring success to our party. The first aspect is that, one of the aspirants, Senator Abubakar Gada, has accepted the outcome of the election because right there, he congratulated me and I alluded to that in an acceptance speech.

    It was in the open when he came over to me and I thanked him for that. The second aspirant who is yet to accept the result now is Alhaji Mukthar Shagari. Of course, his decision not to accept the outcome is a challenge. But, it is a manageable challenge because the election is not a question of somebody winning 100 per cent. We only won with 74 per cent of the total votes, which means three quarters of our party faithful shared our beliefs and dreams. That is a strong percentage of the party followership that can lead the party to success. Secondly, even among sympathizers of other aspirants, we are still going to have sizeable numbers of them that could work for the party. Since all of them are aware that the process was free and fair. They (delegates) would be convinced to toe the path of truth at the end. It is natural for aspirants to be disappointed after losing a contest and thereby refuse to congratulate the winner. But, that is not always the case for followers.

    What are your plans for the state, if elected as the governor?

    You see, Sokoto State is facing very stiff challenge in terms of moral value. The people of the state are so worried that the morality level among the youths has gone so low and they believe that something must be done. One of the reasons I am aspiring for the governorship position is because people believe in our sincerity of purpose. They are aware that we are really committed to changing the trend of moral decadence in the state and that we will do by the grace of the Almighty. We are committed to doing that for ourselves and for the sake of our children. That is one area. The second one is the national disgrace that the state is facing today going by analysis from National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The bureau has for long identified Sokoto as the poorest state in the poverty indices. The question is that, why should we be the poorest state in the country?

    What really is the problem, is the state lacking in human or natural resources?

    The answer is none. So, why should a state that has over 90 per cent of its land arable and has one of the major productive dams in the country be called a poor state? This is simply because of lack of good leadership. We believe that we can change that trend. We intend to use agriculture as number one focus in transforming the fortunes of the state. We will give support to farmers during the rainy season. We will make sure that we draw the Goronyo Dam to service all the farmers that are on the sloppy part of the state. Where we cannot use the dam, we are going to construct tube wells and make sure that our people are engaged in farming all-year round. Sokoto people are productive people and we believe that if we can support them, it will improve their lot.

    What can you say about education in the state?

    On that also, the National Bureau of Statistics has also released the indices that Sokoto State is the worst state in education. How can this state that is the historical bedrock of learning be rated so low?  Sheikh Usmanu Danfodiyo of blessed memory established the Danfodiyo dynasty on the basis of knowledge which is the most critical ingredient for the foundation of the Danfodiyo dynasty. So, how can we say 200 years after, all the evidences of learning in terms of the books produced by Danfodiyo, his son Muhammadu Bello and his brother Abdullahi Fodiyo have faded off? That is not acceptable. So, if voted into power, we will tackle the problems facing education from the primary up to the university level. Take for instance when you talk about scholarship, the government made a principle that it will provide scholarship to students. But, such promises are usually not fulfilled.

    So, we believe that we will strategically tackle that. We will bring the best brains we have from primary school to the tertiary level, so that the state can compete favourably with other states. We will design a system that will bring the best out of us.

    As a stakeholder, have you in anyway proffered solution to the government in these areas you have identified?

    The problem is that we do not have a listening government. Even when we were both members of the same political party, the state government never considered us as stakeholders in the system. The best we can do is to get them out and then take charge.

    Do you see the emergence of the APC flag bearer, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal as a threat to your aspiration?

    Honestly, I do not see it that way. We know from the onset that he (Tambuwal) is one of the possible contenders of the APC ticket. For that, we built our strategies in such a manner that anybody that the APC pushes forward, we believe that we have an edge over him and can be able to face any of their candidates. I believe that when he emerged we did not have any cause to be apprehensive. We only considered it as one of the natural cause of the event. So, we will go ahead and fight the APC until we take over the state.

  • PDP faults Buhari’s choice of Osinbajo as running mate

    PDP faults Buhari’s choice of Osinbajo as running mate

     The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reacted yesterday to the choice of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as running mate to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC),  General Muhammadu Buhari.

     In a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, after the APC unveiled Osibajo, the party described Osibanjo as APC National Leader Bola Tinubu’s acolyte, saying he served under him as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

    The statement was full of abuses. It described Gen. Buhari as incompetent because, said the PDP, Tinubu chose his deputy.

     The APC’s choice of running mate as been hail as an exhibition of the “beauty of democracy”. But to the PDP, which was said to have been jittery after the news of Osinbajo’s choice was broken, “our citizens should indeed be concerned that it took the APC six days to produce its vice presidential candidate.

    “Fortunately, the PDP offers to all Nigerians a truly national party and a Jonathan/Sambo ticket ready to build a better tomorrow.

     “In PDP, the focus remains to ensure that we continue to deliver on our promises and put the interests of Nigerians first in all our party decisions and policies of our government,” the ruling party said.

  • Two PDP lawmakers attend plenary after six months

    Two lawmakers elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) attended plenary yesterday, six months after they joined other PDP lawmakers to boycott sittings.

    The two lawmakers are: Minority Leader Emmanuel Okoduwa and Minority Whip Kingsley Ehigiamusoe.

    They lost their re-election bid at the PDP primaries and were suspended for boycotting sittings in solidarity with four others an Edo State High restrained from attending sittings.

    The lawmakers were called into the legislative chamber after they their suspension was lifted under Matters of Urgent Public Importance.

    Majority Leader Philip Shaibu moved the motion for the lifting of the suspension.

    He urged the lawmakers to support the motion in the spirit of festive period.

    Shaibu said an ad hoc committee, which was set up by the Assembly, met with the two lawmakers and discovered that they were merely in solidarity with other lawmakers.

  • Delta PDP’s mockery of the rule of law

    SIR: On December 8, SilverBird Television’s prime time news bulletin captured the outcome of the primary election conducted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for House of Representatives aspirants for Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency. The station reported that the polling clerk identified as Barrister Jerome Ebo pronounced the exercise which started very late as inconclusive due to insufficient ballot papers. It further revealed that the votes already cast were taken to the police station for safe-keeping.

    However, the news making round mostly in the social media is that the exercise has been secretly concluded. The news is that the Presidency and the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have purportedly picked Hon Ndudi Elumelu as PDP’s candidate for the constituency. Elumelu, who is the current occupier of the seat, vacated the position, in line with the party’s directive, to vie for the party’s gubernatorial ticket at the just concluded primaries. He, alongside other contenders, lost the ticket to Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.

    Expectedly, the situation is now generating widespread social media condemnation for both the Presidency and the ruling party, PDP. Many commentators expressed fears that the situation if not amicably resolved by the appropriate quarters might affect the ruling party’s fortunes during the 2015 general elections. Hon Elumelu’s gubernatorial campaign materials are still visible in every nook and cranny of Delta State. One can easily deduce from the campaign strategies that his main desire in 2015, perhaps backed by the ‘Abuja-super-power,’ was to be the next occupant of Unity House, Asaba. Therefore, the moral questions which many political observers and social media commentators are asking are, when did Elumelu buy  PDP’s expression of interest form and was openly cleared within the party’s stipulated time to vie for the House of Reps ticket? What is the fate of the main contenders especially those who vacated their previous elective positions for the party’s House of Representatives primaries in Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency?

    The Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) consistently prides themselves as promoter of internal democracy and defender of the rule of law. They must strictly follow their laid down 2014 Electoral Guidelines for PDP’s Primary Elections which they equally stated conform with the provisions of the Party’s Constitution (2012 as amended), the Electoral Act, 2010 (as Amended) and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended).

    The purportedly arrangement to hand-pick Ndudi Elumelu as the party’s candidate for Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency is highly undemocratic and a mockery of the rule of law.

    • Sunday Shorikwue

    Itire, Mushin, Lagos

  • Tension as Kwara PDP leaders contemplate fall out of primaries

    Tension as Kwara PDP leaders contemplate fall out of primaries

    There was heavy security presence at the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, as executives of the party met this week to discuss the botched primary in the state.

    About 20 anti-riot policemen mounted sentry at the entrance of the party’s secretariat, along Asa Dam Road in the metropolis.

    But, the party’s spokesperson in the state, Chief Rex Olawoye, said the presence of security men was to ward off  hoodlums ‘who might want to protest the loss by their principal’.

    Olawoye said there was no crisis within the party, but he added that fears were expressed in some quarters that the national secretariat of the PDP might upturn the result of the primaries which produced Senator Simon Ajibola as governorship candidate.

    But, it was also gathered that the police presence might have been used to prevent a protest march to the secretariat by supporters of Ajibola, who may want to counter the one carried out on Saturday evening by some members of the party against his emergence as the PDP flag bearer for next year’s governorship elections.

    The earlier protest was believed to have been sponsored by some aggrieved stakeholders in the party to give the impression that Ajibola is an unsellable candidate for the party. The aggrieved leaders were said to have allegedly undertaken several moves to rework the outcome of the primaries in favour of their candidate.

    He said: “We have an executive meeting today to appraise the outcome of the primary so that we can take position on issues and you know some hoodlums could come  to demonstrate as reaction to the loss by their principal. So, that’s why we asked the police to come and be here to keep them at bay. We need to meet to review things.”

    On the probable modification of the outcome of the primary, Olawoye said: “When you have a primary like this, the national body still has the final say. You remember when Rotimi Amaechi won the primary and his name was substituted with that of Celestine Omehia, he went to court to challenge it. Fortunately, he won and was given the mandate, without contesting in the election. This is politics and anything can happen. But, for anyone to say he doesn’t know Ajibola is a lie. He has represented Kwara South for 12 years and he has done well for us and we know him very well.”

    The camp of the Freedom Group within the party expressed similar fears, warning against any planned substitution of Ajibola’s name with that of another candidate. It dismissed the religious arguments being allegedly raised against the candidature of Ajibola.

    In a statement, the group’s spokesperson, Tajudeen Kareem said, “We wish that, in the interest of democracy, freedom of choice and peace in our   party, nothing is done to tamper with Senator Ajibola’s mandate. Any attempt to manipulate the outcome of the governorship election supervised by Governor Gabriel Suswam is a recipe for electoral disaster for the PDP in Kwara State.”

    Alhaji Kareem added: “We testify to the fact that the governorship primary election was conducted in adherence to due process, transparency and in conformity with the guidelines and regulations of the PDP. That anyone or group of persons are uncomfortable with its outcome is myopic, divisive and undemocratic. It flies in the face of logic and the facts on the ground in Kwara State.

    “When has religion become the basis for political representation in Kwara State? The advocates of anti-Ajibola candidacy are disingenuous. Their antics have exposed them as a bunch pursuing selfish interests and not the interest of our people. If Ajibola is a Christian so what?  All three candidates who recently won tickets to contest senatorial seats on the platform of the PDP are Muslims: Alhaji Yinka Aluko, Central; Alhaji Yinusa Yahaya, North; Arc. Lola Ashiru, South.

    “As a matter of fact, of the six candidates chosen by delegates for the House of Representatives election, only one, Mr. Richard Babatunde (Oke-Ero, Isin, Ekiti and Irepodun constituency) is a Christian. The rest are Muslims. Going further, the same PDP delegates had earlier elected 24 of their members to contest election to the House of Assembly. Of the lot, only six are Christians. They are-Enoch Omokanye (Odo-Ogun in Oyun), Henry Olatunde (Omupo in Ifelodun), Ben Duntoye (Irepodun), Olu Adeoti (Oke-Ero), Segun Bamidele (Ekiti) and Sunday Adedoyin( Isin).

    “The Freedom Group is comfortable with the emergence of Senator Ajibola. That is the collective wish of PDP members who earlier elected delegates to represent them. His emergence has put a lie to the face of those who tried to hoodwink the delegates that the Presidency in Abuja had anointed a candidate.”

    Also, in a statement on behalf of other aspirants, Deacon Johna Dara accepted the emergence of Ajibola as the PDP candidate and asked the party’s leadership to immediately set up a reconciliation committee to bring aggrieved members of the party on board to ensure victory for the party in 2015.

    He said the aspirants met in the house of Professor Shuiab AbdulRaheem on Sunday night and reached agreement on the issue.

    The four-paragraph statement however did not give a list of those who attended the meeting but it was gathered that Mr. Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN) was not in attendance.  The statement asked Ajibola to also commence efforts to placate aggrieved members and form an inclusive campaign structure to effectively mobilise PDP members and the general public for the coming elections.

  • ‘Nobody can impose Bankole on Ogun PDP’

    ‘Nobody can impose Bankole on Ogun PDP’

    Ogun West Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders have protested alleged moves by the party to impose former House of Representatives Speaker Hon. Dimeji Bankole as the governorship candidate for next year’s election.

    The elders, including  Chief Iyabo Apampa, former Deputy Governor Salmot Badru and Mrs Ebun Oyagbola, who protested against the plot at the party secretariat, Abeokuta, the state capital, said it was in bad faith.

    The protesters bearing placards with various inscriptions, decried  the plan to substitute the governorship candidate, Prince Nasir Isiaka, with Bankole.

    They noted that the  Ogun West has been marginalised politically, adding that the attempt to rob their son, Isiaka, in favour of Bankole was unacceptable.

    The chieftains vowed to resist any attempt by the party leadership to withdraw the mandate already given to Isiaka, urging the two districts-Ogun East and Central-to support their legitimate quest for power shift.

    Ogun West PDP senatorial leader  Hon. Boye Adesina said the few  powerful and undemocratic elements and their collaborators are bent on throwing the chapter into crisis, reminiscent of 2011.

    He said: “It is not in the tradition of the PDP to impose or select candidates for elections but to go through democratic process of open, transparent election as was conducted on Monday December 8th 2014.

    “We passionately appeal to the national leadership of our party not to be hoodwinked by these elements to short-circuit the transparent process that has produced Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka as Ogun State PDP governorship standard bearer for the 2015 election.

    “Ogun West people are seriously agitated for the long years of marginalization in the state and any undue interference to upturn or alter the result of the primary election held on Monday 8th December will not only seriously alienate our people, it will certainly have undesirable consequences on the fortunes of the party in the district.

    “That Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka having emerged as governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun State through the process as defined by the party, we are irrevocably committed to his candidature.”

    Their protest letter was delivered to  the state Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo ,who assured them that the party would stand by the mandate given to Isiaka during the primary election.

    According to Sodipo,  the state executive committee would send the protest letter to the PDP national secretariat in Abuja.

  • Enugu crisis: Court summons PDP, INEC

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to appear before in to answer to a suit over the dispute resulting from the governorship primary conducted by the party in Enugu State.

    Justice Evoh Chukwu also gave them 24 hours within which to file their responses to the suit instituted by an aspirant, Samuel Maduka Onyishi (owner of Peace Mass Transit Limited) following his dissatisfaction with   the outcome of the party’s gubernatorial primary election held on December 8.

    The judge abridged time for the defendants to respond to the suit in view of the application of urgency made by plaintiff’s lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN).

    He ordered PDP and INEC to appear before the court on Thursday to show cause why the reliefs sought by Onyishi should not be granted.

    The plaintiff, who raised some questions for the court’s determination, is seeking, among other things, a declaration that the primary election conducted by the PDP in Enugu state was in total disregard and contempt of a subsisting suit challenging the election of delegates for that primary election.

    He wants the court to nullify that primary election for being in breach of sections 87(4)(b)(I) of the Electoral Act and for non-compliance with the electoral guidelines for primary elections 2014 of the PDP and and its constitution.

    Justice Chukwu had, prior to the primary election, held in a suit marked: FHC/Abj/CS/830/2014 filed by Orji Chinenye Godwin and two others against the PDP and 4 others, that the legitimate list of delegates for the primary election should be that  of all the delegates duly elected as delegates at the party’s ward congress held for the state.

    Onyishi stated, in a supporting affidavit, that the state’s  Electoral Panel, allegedly acting in breach of the court’s decision, discarded that list of elected delegates approved by the court, and utilized a different  list of delegates, which they claimed was handed over to them by the leadership of the party.

    He further averred that no valid election took place in the state because  no votes or results could have been recorded from the flawed election.

    The plaintiff said as a result of the confusion created with the substitution of the actual delegate list, some delegates conducted different primaries leading to a situation where the state now parades three persons laying claims to being winners of the gubernatorial primary election of the PDP in the state.

    Justice Chukwu has adjourned to December 18.