The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PDP

  • ‘Abia PDP lacks internal democracy’

    ‘Abia PDP lacks internal democracy’

    The lawmaker representing Abia Central, Senator Nkechi Justina Nwaogu, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state lacks internal democracy.

    Speaking in Aba ahead of tomorrow’s National Assembly primaries, she said she feared that if nothing was done by the national leadership of the party to address the situation, it might not produce the next governor.

    The Senate Committee on Oil, Gas and Natural Resources chairman alleged that the PDP structure in Abia had been hijacked by a family, noting that a situation where it was left in the hands of a few would not mean well for the party.

  • Cross River politics… No longer business as usual

    Cross River politics… No longer business as usual

    A time there was in Cross River State when elections came and went without much ado. Then, the usual intrigues and horse-trading that characterised the process of getting new leadership elsewhere was always lacking. That was because the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, which emphatically dominated and still dominates the political space, was one united and happy family, which settled all issues over the table. Of course, there were usually dissenters but always not strong enough to go against the tide of the consensus. Their grumblings at best were water off a duck’s back.

    The colouration this time, however, seems different. Developments already unfolding indicate electioneering in the state would have more gusto. As the primaries of the party draw close, the tempo of politicking has grown very intense as aspirants seek to clinch the party’s tickets for various elective offices.  At the centre of these all is the politicking over who takes over the reins of the state next year as governor.

    Several have expressed their desire to succeed Liyel Imoke, all from the northern senatorial district. However, of all these aspirants one seems peculiar. He is former Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Godwin Jedy-Agba. His aspiration is the one on everyone’s lips.

    His emergence, many feel, is changing the political configuration in the state. The Imoke administration appears indisposed to him, especially coming from a relatively independent background.

    The politics of Cross River since this political dispensation has always experienced the snuffing out of political aspirants who are not aligned to the status quo, a situation which has been challenged in a couple of recent developments and which analysts believe Jedy-Agba’s emergence would be the ultimate game changer as he would be no pushover.

    There is a growing feeling in government circle not to bring in an “outsider” to run the state. The governor had, on a few occasions, hinted that whoever would succeed him should be someone who would carry out a governance of continuity. Hence the job is not one for any “new kid on the block.” Observers feel the development is a manifestation of a growing feeling of apprehension in government circle about Jedy-Agba’s emergence.

    Despite his achievements, Jedy-Agba, who is the son of Uti Joseph Davies Agba, the Paramount Ruler of Obudu, who has been on the throne for over 50 years, is clearly not the “poster boy” for the establishment in the state.

    At one time, Jedy-Agba was denied by the chairman of the PDP in the state, John Okon, who said he was not a member of the party. Not long after that, he was said to have been suspended from the party by the same chairman.

    The party sure faces a major test for the unity of the PDP in the state as Jedy-Agba himself is a strong member and is already garnering a huge base of supporters across various circles. He does not seem deterred. If anything, he appears to be gaining momentum. An indication of this was clear a few weeks ago, when Calabar, the state capital, went agog as enthusiastic supporters of the governorship hopeful, welcomed him back to the state after being away for some time.

    From the Margaret Ekpo Airport, where he was received, to the Holy Child Secondary School where a grand reception was held for him, it was a bustle of activities as thousands declared their support.

    At the occasion, former governor of the state, Donald Duke, believed to be Imoke’s close friend, declared total support for the Obudu Prince.

    The Director-General of Jeddy-Agba Campaign Organisation, Dr Sandy Onor, described him as a machine that cannot be stopped, given his experience, contacts and connections. “He is the man for Cross River,” Onor said.

    Imoke has said he is not going to foist a governor on the people. According to him, he would not be part of such an arrangement as it is undemocratic. The people should own the process that throws up people for elective positions, he maintained.

    By this declaration, it will be expected that the governor has an open mind and is willing to accommodate everybody who is desirous of being governor next year so far as he or she is qualified. Many, however, feel only time will tell if that will be the case.

    However, one thing has become clear, which is that politics in Cross River State is no longer business as usual – a situation many feel Jedy-Agba’s entry into the political scene has contributed immensely to.

  • ‘Oyo PDP chieftain calls for caution’

    ‘Oyo PDP chieftain calls for caution’

    A Chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Oyo State, Alh. Adebisi Olopoenia has cautioned the leader of the party in Eruwa, Chief Moses Fagbohun who recently stated in an interview that  Seyi Makinde was the best governorship aspirant in the party.

    Olopoenia is a stakeholder in Ibadan North East Local Government where Makinde hails from.

    He told reporters in Ibadan, the state capital, that Fagbohun should not have uttered such statement because it is capable of causing disunity among the governorship aspirants in the party.

    “As an elder, he should not have said one governorship aspirant is better than the other because it could cause crisis and bring about disunity within the party. If any of the aspirants are giving him anything to solicit for his support, he should have keet his view to himself and wait for the party’s primaries coming up on December 8. I wonder why he was comparing Makinde with other aspirants, insisting one has better electoral value than the other.

    “We have several governorship aspirants in the race. Why should he be condemning the others; it doesn’t justify Chief Fagbohun as a good leader of the party. He was at the declaration rally of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and he saw the large crowd that turned out to support him, whereas he wasn’t at Makinde’s to know his electoral value,” he said

    Olopoenia noted that Chief Fagbohun is not a mainstream member of the party because he travels abroad most times.

    He added: ”He stays in Eruwa for two weeks and travels abroad for four months. So, I wonder how such person will know the best governorship aspirants in Ibadan?”

  • Uyo PDP leaders endorse zoning

    Uyo PDP leaders endorse zoning

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in Uyo Senatorial District, Akwa Ibom State, have endorsed the zoning of the governorship ticket to Eket District by the party leadership.

    Announcing the decision on zoning, Senator Effiong Bob, who spoke after the stakeholders’ meeting, said: “Elders of the PDP in Uyo senatorial district decided to toe the line of peace in the interest of the party because the decision of the party is final.”

    Bob added: “It was a difficult decision to arrive at, following the popularity of Obong Bassey Albert Akpan, who has won the election,  but there was nothing any member of the PDP could do to win the election, if that person is not from Eket Senatorial District, based on the zoning adopted by the National Working Committee (NWC).

    “Something happened before something happened, that is why we have decided to follow Jesus, a man of peace, no turning back, this peace has caused us something. If there were provision for independent candidacy by INEC, he would have been the next governor. But, since Uyo  would not want to play the opposition, we have decided to follow the decision of our party.”

    The party chieftain said Obong Albert has not disappointed the people for accepting to step down, adding: “If the people demand apology it should not be from Albert, since he did not step down on his own, but was forced to do so by his party. Uyo district is known for peace, when we speak, others listen, for the interest of peace we have decided to support Eket senatorial for governorship. Uyo had it, Ikot Ekpene has it, Eket must also have it in 2015. Bassey Albert has not committed any offence; he has not betrayed anyone; it pains him more than any of his supporters, but he has to abide by the party’s decision.”

    Senator Bob said: “Albert is innocent and the party is supreme”. He urged the people of Uyo to support the zoning.

    Albert said: “Based on the support garnered so far, if the party had allowed every aspirant to contest, I would become the next governor of the state. “It pains me; I feel it, because millions of Akwa Ibom people wanted me.”

    Also speaking, House of Assembly member Hon. Onofiok Luke (Nsit Ubium State Constituency) said: “As far as the party whose platform every member works under and has taken oath of membership, such member has accepted to walk according to the tenet of the party.”

    He stressed that Albert cannot take decision for the party and that it is only the  PDP that has the right to take decisions for any of its members including Albert

    The politician, however, blamed the elders and leaders of the district for not carrying them along on vital decisions affecting the political direction of the district. He added:  “Our elders should be blamed for the misunderstanding between the youths and the governor over the zoning issue. He said most of them have been supporting Eket district. Some of them called the governor every night to discuss the same issue, while the youths were put in dark. We the youths have also come out today to say we also support Eket senatorial district for governorship in 2015.”

    He thanked the Governor Godswill Akpabio for appointing an Uyo senatorial district indigene from Nsit Ubium as the new Secretary to Government.

  • PDP Senatorial ticket: ‘Anambra Central requires fresh ideas’

    PDP Senatorial ticket: ‘Anambra Central requires fresh ideas’

    As the campaigns for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) senatorial ticket in Anambra Central District coasts home ahead this weekend’s National Assembly congress, several factors may have coalesced in favour of Dr. Obiora Okonkwo. More than any other senatorial zone, observers say Anambra Central is likely to be the most interesting zone. The zone comprises of seven local government areas (LGAs), namely, Anaocha, Dunukofia, Njikoka, Idemili South, Idemili North, Awka North and Awka South.

    Taking cognizance of the confusion that trailed the State Assembly congress of the party last weekend and the ongoing crisis in All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), The Nation gathered that concerned elders and leaders of the PDP have come together to canvass for a more generally accepted candidate, if the party hopes to contest favourably in the Anambra Central Senatorial District, which is currently occupied by All Progressives Congress’ (APC) Senator Chris Ngige. The ruling APGA has resolved to field Chief Victor Umeh for the Senate seat.

    Though dismissed by supporters of other aspirants like Hon. Uche Ekwunife and Senator Annie Okonkwo as a new comer, Obiora Okonkwo, who is the leader and chairman, Board of Trustees, Nzuko Imeobi of Idemili North and South Councils, appear to have, more than the other aspirants, convinced the youths in the PDP and majority of the party leaders that he not only represents the change that the people are agitating for in the party and that unlike most of the other aspirants in the party, he has less baggage and will therefore stand a better chance against whoever the other parties will field.

    An entrepreneur and the political /economic adviser to the ArchBishop of Onitsha, insiders in Anambra power game, including some of his political opponents, admit that he is not entirely new. As a top politician puts it off record, “We all know that Obiora has for years played big, but from behind-the-scene. It remains to be seen how he will cope in a real contest involving him.”

    Confronted with the contention that his chances may be affected by the fact that he is contesting against some experienced politicians who dismiss him as lacking experience in politics, he told The Nation: “To start with, you cannot win a project of this nature if you worry about those who, because of the recurrence of their presence at every election, appear to be favourites. There is something about freshness. We cannot ignore the idea behind a new way of thinking; the enthusiasm of the new kid in the block, if I may use that phrase. We need a new energy source, a new face, a change in the way we have been doing things, a shift in gear, which can come only from a collective desire to look elsewhere for movement. Experience counts, but what is the benefit of experience if all it does is to keep us all stirring the same old pot of stew.

    “This is the difference we are bringing into the race. There are people who keep boasting of how long they have been around. If that is so important, what have they done? There are others who have done so much and ought to move to other challenges. I am saying; let others dance on the stage. My strength is in my dance steps; my chances are hinged on the number of persons that will key into the dexterity we promise to show on the stage. Here, I am talking about fresh ideas, perspectives, motivation, and an unyielding desire to give to the people, my people, a dose of fresh air.”

    The state is currently experiencing some interesting developments. For instance,last weekend’s PDP State Assembly congress and the delegates’ congress held earlier left little to be desired. At the State Assembly congress, for example, delegates’ lists were manufactured by the various factions. There are three factions fighting for the PDP ticket in Anambra State. There is the so-called team from Abuja, which is from the party secretariat. This group seemingly worked with no party structure on ground because the court before the congress had ruled that the tenure of the state working committee had expired. There is also the dissolution of the so-called caretaker committee that showed up in Anambra at the night of the delegates’ congress and according to some aggrieved stakeholders never showed up again.

    So, in the midst of the confusion, each of the three factions simply produced their lists. This being the case, it seems right to predict that having manufactured delegates’ lists, and since, during the State House of Assembly congress last Saturday, names were just written down and votes apportioned to them, the situation is not likely to be different during this weekend’s National Assembly congress.

    As would be expected, PDP leaders and some other stakeholders are currently making last minutes plans to save the situation and to ensure that only acceptable candidates that can win the general elections for the party would emerge.

  • PDP suspends Tukur

    PDP suspends Tukur

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended the party’s immediate past National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, for one month.

    A statement issued on Thursday by the party’s National Legal Adviser, Mr. Victor Kwom, said Tukur had been referred to the party’s National Disciplinary Committee for appropriate actions.

    Tukur had approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the removal of the party’s incumbent national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, from office.

    In the said suit, the former chairman had challenged his ouster in January and prayed the court to re-instate him as the party’s helmsman.

    The statement added that the former chairman was suspended for instituting the law suit without exploring and exhausting available internal party channels of dispute resolution.

    The statement said: “The NWC deliberated on the court case instituted against the National Chairman of the party, Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu by the former National Chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur.

    “The NWC reasoned that for instituting a claim and counter claim in suit FHC/ABJ /821/2014; Gurin vs PDP & 3 others without first exploring and exhausting the party’s internal mechanism of redress and for attempting to stop the forthcoming national convention to nominate the party’s presidential candidate as well as regularize the position of the National Chairman and other members of the National Working Committee is unacceptable.

    “The NWC hereby suspends Dr. Bamanga Tukur and Aliyu Abuba Gurin for one month and refers them to the National Disciplinary Committee for infringing on section 58(1) (a) (b) ( h)( l) of the PDP Constitution 2012( as amended).”

  • Fayose: Yoruba’s new PDP leader in action

    I sympathise with Ayo Fayose for his current travails. It is as if it is now a crime to be resourceful enough to defeat two sitting governors at different periods. He has on account of trials by his political detractors since his second coming six weeks ago become the face of all that is wrong with us as a nation and with our fledgling democracy.  The truth however is that the Fayose phenomenon is only symptomatic of a nation ‘of anything is possible’, one that thrives in aberration of putting  square pegs in round holes, hoping the nation will wobble on.  Didn’t we not too  long ago have an ill-equipped Aguiyi-Ironsi who thought all that was required to manage society was military training and tactics, an ill-equipped Obasanjo, who thought he could play god because fortune had smiled on him, and an  incompetent Shagari who only wanted to be a senator but found himself imposed on Nigeria. He smoked while Akinloye and his NPN wrecked the economy. There was also the cunning Babangida who took the nation for a ride for eight years of ‘transition without end’; an impostor called Abacha whose only agenda was to mindlessly loot the treasury. We have similarly had a terminally ill Yar’Adua and a Jonathan who by all accounts is a good man but lacks the competence and political will to manage a multi-ethnic society which is today torn between Christians and Muslims, north and south, Fulani versus Middle Belt and Ijaws versus Hausa/Fulani – their traditional allies.

    Fayose, today’s aberration is brash, garrulous, and confident. He is well grounded in the art of street fighting as espoused by his mentor the late Adedibu, PDP garrison commander of Ibadan politics who rose through the rank as an Action Group thug in the first republic to become the leader of Ibadan thugs and road workers union. He it was that told us that to be a governor, you must be ready to remove your dress and fight it out on the street and have no inhibition about falsely swearing publicly with the Holy Koran. Fayose has been an outstanding student. But for those like Obasanjo who have continued to prolong our nightmare through playing god, Fayose would have been a celebrated success if he had been restricted to his area of core competence – protecting the king on the throne. The Yoruba with its rich culture have long warned of the consequences of usurping the throne by those not groomed to ascend thrones. Accordingly they say, “Ti a ba fi eru j’oba, ilu a tuka.” The governor  by all accounts is not a slave; this is just the Yoruba way of saying those who were not groomed to be kings but usurp the throne, will mismanage the fortune of the people while the community will be in disarray. We witnessed the consequences of such an aberration during the reign of Abacha, when NADECO members fled the country. We saw a bit of it during Fayose’s first coming as governor 2003 -2006 when Ekiti elite fled from the state while revered traditional rules like the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti who had nowhere to run to was rudely challenged by Fayose to remove his crown and sceptre and come to the political arena for contest of popularity.

    Indeed the view of George Akosile, the state chairman of defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) shortly before Fayose’s impeachment in 2006 was that “Fayose is not a proper person to rule Ekiti State. He has no certificate. He is an area boy…” This may sound harsh and uncharitable, but Akosile was vindicated by Fayose’s subsequent impeachment by 23 of the 26-member state House of Assembly in October 2006 for the mismanagement of N12 billion local government joint contribution fund and the alleged theft of N1.3 billion through the derailed integrated poultry project among 26 charges brought by EFCC to support his impeachment.

    Most people had thought that eight years in the political wilderness,  51 court appearances and months of detention over the yet-to-be resolved 26 charges EFCC  brought against Fayose would have sobered him but a leopard does not change its skin. This time around, he did not even wait for his inauguration before resorting to self-help. He simply led a band of thugs and okada riders into a court premises, beat up the judge handling the case about his eligibility to contest an election, filed long before the election. They tore the judge’s gown along with some prepared judgments.

    With inauguration, he started with the mundane. The government house commissioned on the eve of his inauguration, he claimed, was too big and too tastefully furnished for a people’s governor. He then directed okada riders and thugs to go and have a taste and feel of the place because government house belongs to them. Days later, his political detractors claimed he spent another N200 million to carry out further repair on the same house. At the state secretariat, a new entrance was to be constructed to keep ‘evil servants’ at a distance while the governor moves to his office every morning. There had been an earlier directive that civil servants who got promoted in the last one year were to revert back to their old positions. Due to no fault of theirs, they would also have to refund the allowances already earned because government is broke. Along the line, the people’s governor appointed a special adviser on stomach infrastructure. Government also issued a public notice inviting his supporters to a rendezvous at drinking joints for carousing on Fridays at government expense.

    Then from the mundane, the government moved to the bizarre. Never equipped to manage conflicts through negotiation and compromise with the other arms of government, he forced 19 of the 26 members of the state House of Assembly out of town, ferried the seven members of PDP in a government bus guided by over 300 heavily armed policemen to the assembly chambers where the seven hilariously pronounced the speaker and deputy impeached in their absence and accorded one of their seven members the title speaker. Minutes later, the governor, dressed like one of his supporters was addressing local and international press. He told bemused nation that he has recognized the new speaker and was prepared to work with him.

    With Ekiti now fully secured, Fayose who won an election without an agenda has moved on to the national stage. Last week he ferried PDP members and some leading Ekiti Obas to Obafemi Awolowo University, to sell Jonathan who is seeking re-election in 2015 to the marginalised Yoruba who the Jonathan administration has largely ignored for three years. This in itself was an arduous task. But Fayose instead of selling Jonathan embarked on petty personal wars by attacking Obasanjo’s person.

    Fayose’s answer to Obasanjo’s warning that “increasing corruption under Jonathan had damaged the economy, with possible consequences of having to borrow to pay salaries and allowances because of dwindling revenue allocation to states and local governments” was to call attention of the public to donations to Obasanjo library and an alleged sharing of N50 million to each senator and House of Representatives member during Obasanjo’s third term fiasco.

    Fayose’s answer to Obasanjo’s warning that “Nigeria cannot continue to indulge in disdain for truth, elevation of corruption and incompetence, reinforcement of failure, and celebration of mediocrity, tribal bigotry, fomenting violence and anti-democratic practices in states and National Assembly” was to accuse Obasanjo of intolerance of those with independent minds of their own.

    Fayose’s reaction to Obasanjo admonition that it took Jonathan more than three years to appreciate and understand that “Boko Haram is not simply a menace based on religion or one directed to frustrate anybody’s political ambition”, was to praise the president for refusing “to toe the path of unconstitutionality” and for respecting human rights by not committing crime against humanity” as Obasanjo once did.

    I am sure it is not only the Ekitis  at home and abroad that feel diminished by Fayose’s emptiness and attempt to wage petty personal wars with serious national issues at Ife last week, his entourage made of professors and respected traditional Ekiti rulers and even  Obasanjo who first promoted him beyond his level, would probably share the same fate. Behold the new Yoruba PDP leader, the nemesis of Obasanjo in action.

  • 2015 and PDP’s fight to reclaim Kano

    One interesting state to watch in the run off to the 2015 general elections is Kano. Kano is what, in the American political lexicon, termed a swing state. You just cannot predict what will sway the unpredictable and huge number of voters in the state.

    Added to this is the imminent showdown between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC). The people of Kano, of course, are not new to PDP. In 1999, the people overwhelmingly voted the then freshly formed PDP. Four years later, the PDP lost to the then ANPP. However, eight years after, the same people turned to vote for the PDP. This shows the unpredictably of the voting populace and, at the same time, the fact that both parties could be interpreted to be on the support pedestal.

    However, with the incumbency factor to its advantage and the fact that the current governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso has succeeded in building a strong support base at the grassroots, APC is poised to give the PDP a tough fight to retain the job at Kano Government House. But it is not necesarilya hopeless case for the PDP. In fact, the party has a lot of advantages that it can turn on in making sure that it hands a clean defeat for the APC in Kano.

    A number of serious and not so serious aspirants have thus far indicated interest by purchasing the nomination forms. And it is in sieving the array of aspirants to come up with the better one that the PDP can make or mar it’s chances. Some of the people on the posters dotting the streets of Kano are politicians that have used up their goodwill or have no good standing to confront the massive structure that Kwankwaso has built for himself. For PDP to weather the storm, there is the need for a new face and one who can pull the crowd. It is in this that one would see Abba Risqua Mohammed, the son of late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed as one with the right credentials.

    In this knowledge-driven and youth-oriented world, the greatest treasure of a people is to have a leader who is in sync with modernity to lead it to the utopian world of progress. If a state as historic and important as Kano routinely gets into the news for the bad reason – from drug abuse to breakdown of epidemics, it certainly needs redemption. We need someone to rescue the state to a better clime.

    The Kano of today requires a pragmatic leader who is in tune with current events trends and development all over the world. Indeed, the future of Kano depends largely on a quintessential leader blessed with vision, focus, commitment, resourcefulness, exposure, dynamism, hard work, fearlessness, noble family background and above all, credibility and the fear of God. For the state to fit rightly into the modern society, the major catalyst is for it to be steered by one who knows exactly the right direction  to go.

    By way of introduction, Abba Risqua Mohammed is the only surviving son of late Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed. When his father was tragically murdered by some people opposed to Nigeria’s progress, in 1976, Abba Risqua was only six years old. He is now 45: fully made man and accomplished in all respects. A graduate of Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos, he also holds a Postgraduate Diploma from the prestigious Cardiff Business School, Wales, United Kingdom. He is also a trustee of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, an NGO that has done a lot for Kano people and other Nigerians.

    In terms of leadership and management acumen, Alhaji Abba Risqua had served as Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo on International Relations from 2000 to 2007. He is now managing his booming business as the Group Chief Executive of AMG Petroenergy Limited, one of Africa’s foremost energy service providers.

    Coming from that golden heritage of a hero that was late General Mohammed, Abba has no hiding place for people looking for credible individuals to take critical leadership roles. It is therefore for this and his personal attributes as an accomplished man that a number of times people of Kano approach him to make himself available to serve the people by standing in for election. This time around, the magnitude and intensity of the demand is huge. As the 2015 general election beckons, the call is for Abba Risqua to come and take up the governorship seat of Kano per chance the state will have a Midas touch that Nigeria witnessed during his late father’s short sojourn in power.

    There is no gainsaying that General Murtala Ramat Mohammed is still regarded as one of Nigeria’s true heroes. He was not only one of those fiercely patriotic sons of the land who defiantly fought to keep Nigeria as one united country; he possesses startling qualities that are cherished by all.  He was detribalized, he was authentic, he was enthusiastic about the progress of the country, he was extraordinarily bold, and he was a patriot who truly loved his country. He was a man in a hurry to accomplish great things. He died in that hurry, in the prime of his life. Imagine what he could have done with power had he lived for a little longer?

    It is also worthy of note to mention that as a mark of his prudence and uprightness, when General Murtala Ramat Muhammed was assassinated in 1976 while serving as Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he left only N13,000 in his account and one bungalow in Kano – this was despite serving in various other positions at a time of the celebrated oil boom.

    As the Hausa say the offspring of antelope also runs like it’s parent, it is everyone’s expectation that anyone from the respected home of General Murtala Mohammed will just be as good! More over, for the PDP, the name of the Kano’s illustrious son alone is a huge asset that they can capitalise on to win the election. Additionally, Abba’s reputation is also intact with the people as he was never found wanting in all the key national assignments he has held. These, among other advantages that Risqua have, make him an easy-sale candidate for the PDP if at all the party wants to take back the Kano Government House easily.

     

    • Iliyasu wrote from Gwammaja, Kano.

  • Politicians, others hail peaceful conduct of PDP primaries in Enugu

    Politicians, others hail peaceful conduct of PDP primaries in Enugu

    There has been jubilation across Enugu State following the successes recorded during last Saturday’s primaries which threw up 24 candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 general elections.

    Leading political figures and observer groups in the state have continued to commend the state chapter of the party over the peaceful conduct of the primaries in the twenty four state constituencies.

    The pioneer chairman of the PDP in Enugu State, Chief C.OC Egumgbe, hailed the primaries as “very orderly, peaceful and successful” saying that “it was one of the finest of such exercises” he had ever witnessed in the state.  He also said that he was satisfied that all constitutional requirements were met.

    The Enugu Professionals Forum (EPF) hail  the leadership of the party for the maturity and orderliness demonstrated by party members during the exercise.

    In a statement by its President, Nebechi Ugo, the group noted that the primaries went without any ugly incident in all the 17 local government areas, adding that it was remarkable that none of the results obtained from them was being disputed.

    The Centre for Leadership and Democracy Studies (CLDS), Enugu State said it observed that the primaries were conducted peacefully across the state and that ”all due constitutional processes and procedures were fully followed” by the party officials who conducted the exercise.

    Results released by the State party secretariat indicated that 16 old members won the nod to contest for a second term while eight will be contesting for the first time. Among the old members seeking a return to the Assembly include the House leader, S.K.E. Udeh-Okoye, his deputy, John Ukuta as well as Hons. Iloabuchi Aniagu (Nkanu West), Edward Ubosi (Enugu East Urban), Joseph Agbo Ugwumba (Enugu East Rural), Emeka Ogbuabor (Isi-Uzo) and Nelson Uduji (Awgu South.

    Others are John-Bull Nwagu (Udi North), Mathias Ekweremadu (Aninri), Donatus Uzogbado (Oji River), Cecilia Ezeilo (Ezeagu), Lydia Nkechi Omeje-Ogbu (Nsukka West), Chinedu Nwamba (Nsukka East), Mathew Ugwueze (Igbo-Eze South), Ikechukwu Ezeugwu (Udenu)n and Tony Ogidi (Igbo-Eze North II).

    The new entrants comprise Paul Nnajiofor (Nkanu East), Phillip Nnamani (Enugu North), Obinna Okenwa (Enugu South Urban), Mary Onyinye Ugwu (Enugu South Rural), Chukwuka Eneh (Udi South), James Akadu (Igbo-Etiti West), Ugo Ezeani (Igbo-Etiti East and Ethel Ugwuanyi (Igbo-Eze North I)

    The State party chairman, Chief Ikeje Asogwa thanked the members for the peaceful and orderly manner they conducted during the exercise and enjoined them to do the same during the other primaries slated for this weekend.

     

  • PDP leaders, 52 others defect to APC in Amaechi’s town

    PDP leaders, 52 others defect to APC in Amaechi’s town

    •Defectors: we’re happy with APC governorship candidate choice 

    Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ubima, the home town of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, led by Mr. Emmanuel Hejirika and 52 party supporters in the area, have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.

    Hejirika, who was Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Nyesom Wike’s contact man in the ward, said he defected to APC with his supporters because his ward, which is under Ikwerre Local Government Area, had become APC ward, even at the local government level.

    The defectors burnt the caps and T-shirts with Wike’s portraits at yesterday’s ward sensitisation rally in Ubima.

    They said the choice of APC governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside, encouraged them to defect.

    Hejirika noted that the defection to APC showed that the PDP was dead in the ward.

    He said: “Ubima now has a one-party system. If I and some of my leaders with our supporters, who are the livewires of the PDP in the area, have left for good, then the party is dead. We are here today because we are happy with the choice of APC governorship candidate in the state.”

    APC leader in the ward Mr. Control Asobi said the party had a large space to accommodate them.

    The party leader promised to ensure that they were treated as stakeholders.

    He said: “I am glad and I know that the party will be very happy with you for making a wise decision. Before now, I had always said that we had only one party in this ward because I now know that with your number, you cannot win an election here. You are welcome. You will be treated like every other member of APC.”