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Tag: PDP

  • PDP mounts pressure on Alamieyeseigha to drop senatorial bid

    PDP mounts pressure on Alamieyeseigha to drop senatorial bid

    Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa Central Senatorial District are mounting pressure on former Governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, to drop his senatorial ambition in 2015.

    The stakeholders were said to have begged the former governor to respect the zoning arrangement of the party in the spirits of fairness.

    A leader of the party, Mr. Douye Diri, appealed to Alamieyeseigha, to forget his 2015 senatorial ambition.

    Diri urged the former governor to play a statesman’s role for the younger generation.

    The advice came shortly after Alamieyeseigha, who is from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, was said to have submitted his expression of interest form to contest for the Senate in 2015.

    Diri, the Principal Secretary to Governor Seriake Dickson, who is from Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, has also declared for the senatorial seat having submitted his form.

    Speaking in an interview yesterday, Diri also said the former governor should forget his ambition in the interest of peace, justice and equity.

    He said out of the three councils that make up the senatorial district, Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw have been occupying the Senate for 16 years with the exception of Kolokuma/Opokuma.

    He said: “For Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, politically speaking, his declaration is actually very wrong. He is from Southern Ijaw. Somebody from his local government area was there for eight years.

    “For another Southern Ijaw man again, particularly for a person we all have very high regard and respect for, I expect that Alamieyeseigha should be a father figure for all of us. He should play more of an advisory role to us and allow us (the younger ones) to also grow.”

     

  • PDP and its troubled South South

    PDP and its troubled South South

    In many South South states, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) is battling acrimonies, infighting and rebellions in the quests of aspirants to pick governorship tickets, reports Sunday Oguntola 

    For Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it’s been one day, one trouble. The last few days have witnessed drama, violence and blood-letting in the quest for the party’s governorship ticket. The crux of the matter is zoning. While the state Chairman of the PDP led by Felix Obuah maintained that governorship aspirants can come from any part of the state, some stakeholders have kicked against it.

    They said it would be wrong for the Ikwerre ethnic nationality to produce the next governor, a veiled reference to the preference of the Obuah-led executive to the governorship ambition of former Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike.

    Wike, whose expression of nomination form, was purchased by a group led by former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Austin Opara, last week in Abuja, has the party’s structure in his grip. He has been oiling the machinery few months after his appointment as Minister.

    But his antagonists said it would be wrong for another Ikwerre man to contest for the governorship after the eight years of Governor Rotimi Amaechi. The situation has created a massive gang-up against Wike’s bid. Last Thursday, no fewer than 14 PDP aspirants staged a mega rally against Wike’s bid.

    The rally held at the Liberation Stadium where they called on President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to intervene in the logjam, said the ticket should go to riverine areas of the state in the interest of justice and fairness.

    Some of the aspirants include: Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack, Bernard Mikko, Denis Ojuka and Gabriel Pidomson, Mr. Sunday Nwankwo and Sampson Ngerebara, among others.

    Time to reward loyalty?

    On Friday, the party’s secretariat was set on fire by suspected arsonists, further fuelling the crisis in the PDP. Some of the aspirants’ convoys were attacked on the way to the Thursday rally. The war drums are beating but Wike remains adamant while his critics are also unrelenting.

    Wike is banking on his avowed support for President Goodluck Jonathan, as the National Secretariat of the party believes he should be compensated for fighting Amaechi to a standstill in defence of Jonathan.

    He is also banking on the support of Dame Patience Jonathan, who endorsed him at his residence in Port-Harcourt last April during a visit. Should Wike get the ticket, as it seems, it will leave the party further estranged and divided. Should the pro-zoning advocates have their way, Wike, with the heavy war chest and party structure in his possession, can choose to be a spoiler.

    It will be a ‘lose-lose’ situation for PDP with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) waiting in the wing to capitalise on the looming implosion.

    Akwa Ibom: No longer at ease

    Left to Governor Godswill Akpabio, his successor should come from Eket senatorial district, which has never produced a governor for the state since inception. To realise this, he has thrown his weight behind the candidature of former Secretary to the State Government, Udom Emmanuel.

    The governor has been bankrolling the campaign of the former banker with the Akwa Ibom Consolidated Alliance (ACA), which has been the main structure of Emmanuel’s electioneering campaign. As far as the party is concerned, the emergence of Emmanuel will give everyone a sense of belonging and ensure the institution of zoning in the state.

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP believes him. The body last week issued a statement declaring that it has approved the proposal that only candidates from Eket senatorial district should join the race in the interest of fairness and equity. That appears to have nailed the ambition of aspirants from other senatorial zones.

    But Akpabio and Udom have enemies in bigwigs of the party in the state. Among them are the former Governor Victor Attah, former Petroleum Minister, Chief Don Etiebet and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Ufot Ekaette, among others who have vowed to work against any attempt by the governor to impose any candidate on the party.

    The elders and stakeholders have accused Akpabio of imposition, saying he is not giving everyone a level-playing field. To them, the contest should be thrown open to aspirants from all parts of the state because zoning has never been an issue. They warned last week in Abuja that the party might lose the governorship election if Akpabio is allowed to present his preferred candidate.

    Etiebet, who has been critical of the governor, dismissed the zoning principle adopted by the NWC in Akwa Ibom as untrue. Claiming to have spoken with principal officials of the party in Abuja, the former Minister said: “They (PDP) said it did not preclude in the spirit of democracy, in the spirit of giving all Nigerians a level playing field to participate, in the spirit of proper internal democracy and in the spirit of having a popular candidate, who can win the election for the party.”

    Former SSG, Umana Umana and former Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bassey Albert, from Uyo senatorial district have vowed to carry on with their bids. At the last count, they were over 20 others interested in the ticket. Some of them are: Presidential aide, Prof. Richard King; Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice, Ekpenyong Ntekim; two former Deputy Governors, Nsima Ekere and Patrick Ekpoutu;  and former House Leaders of the state House of Assembly, Okpolupm Etteh and Jerome Isangedihi.

    Others are: Envoy Assam Assam (SAN); former Commissioner for Rural Development, Effiong Abia;  former National Publicity of PDP, Benjamin Okoko; Dr. Peter Esuh; Justice Nya Ebito; Asuquo Okpo; Michael Onofiok; Mike Sebastian; Dr. Samuel Udonsak; Effiong Usin; Bishop Sam Akpan; Engr. Larry Esin; Kufre Inyang; Pastor Ita Udoh.

    In 2006, former Governor Attah led a delegation of 30 chapter chairmen of the party, 300 party elders, 70 youth leaders and 120 women across the state to Abuja with a communiqué to former President Olusegun Obasanjo to drop Akpabio as the party’s flag bearer. Obasanjo declined and Akpabio became governor. Could the same scenario be playing out again?

    Either way, the party will never remain the same after the primaries slated for this month in Akwa Ibom.

    Cross Rivers: Dangerous game plans

    On the surface, everyone seems to have been in agreement. The PDP in Cross Rivers has zoned the governorship slot to the northern senatorial district. That should have ordinarily handled most misgivings in the party since the zone is the only one yet to produce a governor.

    When the party caucus leaders across the 18 local government areas met last week and came up with a five-man shortlist of aspirants from the zone, the best appeared to have been done.

    The shortlisted candidates include:  a former SSG, Mike Aniah; former Commissioner for Works, Legor Idagbor; Speaker Larry Odey; Senator Ben Ayade and an Executive Secretary at the National Planning Commission (NPC), Fidelis Ugbo, who it is believed the governor is backing.

    The caucus leaders screened out former General Manager Crude of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Jeddy Agba, heir to the throne of Uti JD Agba, the Paramount Ruler of Obudu. The ouster, it is gathered, was to force the popular candidate out of the race because of his perceived independent-mindedness as well as heavy war chest.

    The party is already divided with a group reportedly sponsored by Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba rooting for Agba while the other group headed by Imoke supporting Ugbo. Both aspirants have picked the nomination forms for the primary slated for later this week.

    Delta:  Will Delta north get it this time?

    Everyone seems to agree the northern senatorial district should get the ticket this time around. The district has never produced a governor in the state. On the surface, it appears fair. But who really in the district should get the PDP ticket? To Governor Emmanuel Udughan, the former SSG, Tony Obuh should get it. He was a career civil servant until he was recommended as SSG by former Governor James Ibori.

    But there is snag with the zoning arrangement. The Urhobo, who constitute 60 percent of the voting population, believe the slot should be given to them in recognition of their numerical advantage.

    Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama has also obtained the nomination form in defiance of the zoning arrangement. Many in Delta North believe leading aspirant, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, should have been given the ticket going by his grassroots presence and good performances in public offices.

    For now, it’s hard to see how the party will wriggle out of the impending implosion. But for sure, things will never be easy as they seem.

     

  • 2015 governorship ticket: Confusion in South-West

    2015 governorship ticket: Confusion in South-West

    In the South-West states of Oyo, Ogun and Lagos, there is confusion over governorship tickets, reports Dare Odufowokan 

    The Oyo State chapter of the PDP is obviously going into the 2015 general election in shreds. Since it lost the governorship position to the APC in 2011, chieftains and leaders of the party have been at loggerheads with one another, resulting in the party losing many of its foot-soldiers and mobilisers across the state to the ruling party.

    First was a battle for the control of the party that saw chieftains holding two parallel congresses that produced two executive committees for the party in the state. What followed was an array of unending litigations, some of which are still ongoing.

    A recent intervention by the national leadership brought some respite in the leadership tussle as all factions were charged with working to ensure the victory of the party in the forthcoming election after which the issues of party leadership will be addressed appropriately.

    In line with the resolution, the party has been holding series of meetings with all its members, both the aggrieved and the perceived ‘aggressors’, especially on the issue of picking the right candidate enough to confront Governor Isiaka Ajimobi who is definitely coming out to seek re-election in 2015 on the platform of the APC.

    But the quest of many of the chieftains to pick the governorship ticket of the party merely heightened the tension in the party. This is because while some of the chieftains are angling for the party to choose its flag-bearer through consensus, others want all the aspirants to be allowed to slug it out at a party primary.

    As of the last count, the number of the aspirants interested in flying the flag of the party in 2015 was said to be nine, namely immediate past governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, Professor Soji Adejumo, Mr. Femi Babalola, Mr. Seyi Makinde, Alhaji Azeem Gbolarumi, Mr. Isaac Owolabi, and Dr. Gbolarumi Adetunji.

    But at the time of filing this report, only about five of them are said to have purchased the nomination form to vie for the ticket. Akala, Makinde, Adedoja and Folarin are said to be amongst those who picked their forms before the expiration of the deadline last Thursday.

    But trouble is far from over within the party even with the reduction in the number of those vying for its ticket. This is because the remaining aspirants and some leaders of the party are currently up in arms against an alleged attempt by the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, to foist former governor of the state, Rashidi Ladoja, on the party as its candidate.

    Mrs. Jonathan was said to have dropped the hint of her intention during a recent parley with the Oyo PDP stakeholders when she made a request that Ladoja should be accommodated in the party ahead of the 2015 governorship election.

    Ladoja, a former member of the PDP and now the national leader of the Accord Party, who is nursing a governorship ambition, was present at the villa meeting where Patience made the request. Notable PDP leaders at the meeting, according to sources, were Alao-Akala, Akinjide, Folarin, and Chief Yekini Adeojo.

    Speaking on the development, Alao-Akala said it was true that the meeting with the First Lady was held, but he said nobody was asked to step down for Ladoja. The former governor said the First Lady merely asked them to “accommodate” Ladoja in the PDP.

    “Yes, it is true that the First Lady met us. But she didn’t ask me to step down. She said we should accommodate Ladoja in our party and we said it would be difficult to do so because he is not a member of the PDP. That was what happened,” Akala said.

    As the aspirants await the next line of action from the leadership of their party in the days to come, the fear that somebody may be imposed on them is very uppermost in their thoughts.

    This, sources claim, has led to a serious reduction in the political activities of nearly all the camps of the various aspirants. “We hear that Ladoja is still discussing with people in the presidency. Some people are selling him to the leadership of the party as the only man that can defeat APC. This is worrisome to us as members of the PDP.”

    And within the ruling APC, sources say all is also not rosy. While nobody has come out to pick the party’s nomination form to challenge Governor Ajimobi, talks about a case before an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, are rife as the party prepare for the 2015 governorship election.

    The matter which was commenced on February 25th this year is a motion to stop the All Progressives Congress, APC, from conducting its membership registration in the state.

    The motion ex-parte was brought to the court by Adebayo Shittu, a governorship candidate of the defunct CPC in the 2011 election.

    Mr. Shittu alleged that the APC had contravened its constitution and guidelines by engaging in activities that could jeopardise his aspiration and that of other members of the party. He told the court that he was interested in contesting the 2015 governorship election on the platform of the APC in Oyo State. Mr. Shittu said his interest would not be adequately protected unless he was represented and involved in the entire process as a member of the State Harmonising Committee.

    The respondents in the suit include Governor Ajimobi, Akin Oke, Interim Chairman of APC in the state and Razak Folorunsho, the former Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, in Oyo State. Also joined was the Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Suleiman Oyaremi, in the state.

    Although the registration was successfully done, followed by a state congress, observers of the politics of the state say the fact that the case is yet to be expended with remains a source of worry to Ajimobi’s men.

    As serious politicians, they don’t want to leave anything to chance. I think it would be safe to ensure such loose ends are taken care of before the election day,” a national officer of the party said.

    Ogun: Leading parties battle crises

    The rank of governorship aspirants in Ogun State on the platform of the PDP increased as former deputy governor to Chief Olusegun Osoba in the aborted Third Republic, Alhaji Rafiu Ogunleye, picked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination form in Abuja. Ogunleye joined Hon. Abiodun Akinlade, Mr. Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka and Hon. Dimeji Bankole who had earlier picked the PDP nomination form.

    But this was just as a new wave of crisis broke out in the troubled party as a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, granted permission to its state executives to serve contempt proceedings against Bankole, a former House of Representatives Speaker.

    Apart from Bankole, others mentioned as alleged contemnors in the committal proceedings filed last week are the PDP, former Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel, and a former member of the House of Representatives from the state, Dave Salako.

    The contempt suit was filed by the Adebayo Dayo-led executive of the PDP in Ogun State. In the committal proceedings, it was alleged that the contemnors (Bankole, Daniel and Salako) have been indulging in series of activities to remove the Dayo-led executive, despite two separate judgments of the Federal High Court affirming the legality of the executive.

    Trouble started again in the party, following allegations by the state Chairman, Bayo Dayo, that just as Ondo State PDP executive was recently dissolved, the alleged Bankole and Daniel have also been making frantic moves to ensure that the Ogun PDP executive is equally dissolved, with the aim of handling the party structure in the state to their surrogates.

    He alleged that because Bankole was nursing the ambition to become Ogun State governor, he is not comfortable with the present PDP executives in the state, and had been attempting to ensure that the present executives are sacked by the National Integration Committee of the PDP.

    The applicants further alleged that Daniel and Salako were also not comfortable with the current executive of the party in the state as the Dayo-led executive was perceived to be working against their political interest.

    The development, coming barely two weeks after the Ogun PDP held a unity rally meant to announce to the whole world that peace has finally returned to the embattled party, has left many in doubt of the seriousness and readiness of the PDP to win the 2015 governorship election.

    Lagos: Uncertainty reigns supreme

    Contrary to expectation that the PDP gubernatorial primaries will be a crowded race in Lagos State, about five aspirants have so far shown seriousness in the race for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state by picking their nomination forms.

    Information gathered at the state secretariat of the party revealed that Adegbola Dominic, a medical practitioner, Jimi Agbaje, a renowned pharmacist, and former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, are three of the aspirants still in the race.

    But the age-long crisis rocking the party has worsened, following the severe rift between its two main gubernatorial contenders. The development has once again seen chieftains and members breaking into two factions behind either of the two contestants.

    Things got out of control after one of the aspirants, Obanikoro, described another strong contender, Agbaje, as a mole of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

     

  • Scores set to dump PDP for APC in Ondo

    Scores set to dump PDP for APC in Ondo

    Massive defection is looming in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State as some aggrieved members of the party are making underground moves to pitch their tents with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Hinging their proposed action on the alleged dictatorial attitude of the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko in choosing the party’s candidates for the 2015 general elections, many members of the party including old and new members, sources said, are set to dump the PDP for the major opposition party.

    Mimiko had defected to the PDP some weeks ago and his return to the party he left eight years ago had polarised the  party in the sunshine state.

    The party is now divided into two factions, with some members loyal to the chairman of the old PDP, Ebenezer Alabi, while the other faction holds allegiance to the governor.

    Specifically, some members of the party in Akure South and North are not happy about the choice of a politician, Dare Aliu, as the party’s candidate for Akure North and South federal constituency.

    Many members of the party are also not pleased with the governor for backing the Senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, to run for another term.

    It was gathered that aggrieved members of the PDP have been holding series of meetings with the leadership of the APC in the state to fine tune their plan to join the party.

     

  • Short Takes

    Short Takes

    While some said my choice – Buhari/Amaechi – cannot hurt the president, most of those who reacted said that will be the very last nail on the coffin of impunity, insecurity and corruption, otherwise known as the PDP.

    I received tonnes of reactions on the 4-part article: Periscoping APC’s Ideal Presidential Candidate. While some said my choice – Buhari/Amaechi – cannot hurt the president, most of those who reacted said that will be the very last nail on the coffin of impunity, insecurity and corruption, otherwise known as the PDP.

    Today’s SHORT TAKES, therefore, parade eloquent testimonies as to why the latter opinion will prevail, come February, 2015.

    PRESIDENT GOODLUCK                        JONATHAN

    . “Without security, there is no government. So it is not debatable, it is something we have to address and we are working towards that with vigour. But if I’m voted into power within the next four years, the issue of power will become a thing of the past. Four years is enough for anyone in power to make significant improvement and if I can’t improve on power within this period, it then means I cannot do anything even if I am there for the next four years.” – Jonathan to Nigerian diplomats at UNECA, Addis-Ababa, 2011.

    The only improvement I can see is public money being splashed on private companies called Gencos, Discos, whatever.

    DR REUBEN ABATI ON THE                 FIRST LADY.

    “The sober truth is that democracy is about rights and responsibilities, a democratic dispensation therefore cannot be a licence for disagreeable conduct as a norm; just as the possession of power in any form does not guarantee the right to be reckless or to ignore the etiquette required of office holders. Anyone in the corridors of power, either by chance or right, or appointment, is expected to behave decorously.

    Dame Patience Jonathan, our president’s wife, failed the test this week in Okrika, Rivers State. It is trite knowledge that there is a critical difference between Yenagoa and Abuja, and a world of difference between being the wife of a Deputy Governor/Governor/Vice president and being the wife of Nigeria’s No 1 citizen. When people suddenly find themselves in such latter position, prepared or unprepared, anywhere in the world, they are taken through a crash programme in finishing and poise and made to realise that being the wife of an important man comes with serious responsibilities. If Dame Patience went through such re-orientation, the course was incomplete. -The Guardian, Thursday, 27 August, 2010.

    SOME KEY  NIGERIANS ON                 GEN. BUHARI

    PRESIDENT SHAGARI -“After the Army  toppled our democratic regime it has option but to install Buhari as head of state so as to avoid credibility problems, especially in the sight of the international community because of his being an epitome of integrity.”

    -.PRESIDENT OBASANJO -“There are only two honest and reliable Nigerians – myself and Buhari. All what the PDP is saying of Buhari being a fundamentalist is mere hot

    lies. They just fear him. He is as reliable as he is hardworking, honest and incorruptible.”

    .GEN. ABDUSALAMI – “Buhari was honest and sincere in all his conduct that perhaps, only very few Nigerians could match him in integrity.”

    PRESIDENT JONATHAN – “Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was a true patriot, respected former head of state, elder statesman and a nationalist.”

    -.LATE GEN. ABACHA (PTF INAUGURAL SPEECH).-“I have realised our collective mistake in over-throwing you. I have seen the terrible damage which our action caused to the Nigerian psyche. I am most sorry. Please, come and do what is best known about you. Patriotic service to the nation.”

    – PRESIDENT IBRAHIM BABANGIDA -“If Buhari quits PTF job as he promises, and as we knew him to mean his words all along, I will  support the idea of scrapping PTF as no one else can do the job like him. I respect Buhari. He was my boss. He was an honourable man. And I can say this anywhere.”

    .ALH. ISIYAKU IBRAHIM –  “As a member of PDP BOT, I decided personally to donate  N5,000,000 to Buhari’s campaign organisation because of my firm belief  in his ability to right all the nation’s wrongs-.

    ALHAJI ISIAKU IBRAHIM -MEMBER, PDP BOT MEMBER (at a Book launch in Kaduna) – “Buhari is as clean as the book I am holding.”

    -SEN. MAKARFI  (a former Kaduna State governor)- “If the truth must be said, Buhari remains the only real threat to PDP whether he runs for the presidency or not due to his wider followership among the masses that now hate the elite circle.”

    – BALARABE MUSA (a former Kaduna State governor) – Punch January 21, 2011 – “General Buhari rose from the rank of a Lieutenant in the army to a General. At one time, he was a GOC. He was later appointed Military Administrator of the old North-East. He was in the Petroleum Ministry as minister. In December 1983 he became Head of State via a coup. During the late General Sani Abacha’s regime, he headed the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) before former President Obasanjo scrapped it. But I read in the papers where the General himself said after obtaining his CPC presidential form, which cost him over N5 million, he is now left with less than a million naira in his account. Now, my task is to challenge all of us to ensure this man becomes president. General Buhari deserves to be given a chance. When he became Head of State after the 1983 coup, thousands of Second Republic politicians, including me, were picked and locked up by the junta. But even in Kirikiri I discovered that the NPN elements among us were giving bribe to prison officials to ensure they got a double ration of food. It dawned on me that people who can offer bribes even in Kirikiri have no reason to be our leaders. Buhari was vindicated.”

    ON SPEAKER TAMBUWAL’S              RESIGNATION

    “Concerning calls for Mr. Speaker to step down from the position to which his colleagues freely elected him on June 6, 2011, we wish to reaffirm that the Speakership of the House of Representatives, or any other national elective position, belongs to the generality of Nigerians, not the political platforms upon which such leaders emerge. While the case of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who as a sitting vice president moved to another political party – and did not get judicial reprobation for the act – is still fresh in our memories and the clear provisions of Section 50(1) (b) of the Nigerian Constitution easily settles the worries regarding the continued Speakership of Rt. Hon. Tambuwal. It says: ‘There shall be a Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves.” It would, therefore, amount to an affront on members’ privilege to question their constitutionally-guaranteed right to freely elect their leaders. “Additionally, Order 1, Rule 1 (2) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives states: ‘In all cases not provided for hereinafter, or by sectional or other orders, precedents or practices of the House, the House shall by resolution regulate its procedure’. “It is in the light of the foregoing that the House wishes to appeal to those who seek to ‘regulate its procedure’ from outside its hallowed chambers to have a rethink, as the nation’s Constitution, the Standing Orders of the House and precedent – as in the Speakership of the late Rt. Hon. Edwin Ume-Ezeoke in the Second Republic on a minority platform – have all provided answers to what may have otherwise been a knotty political issue.” -Hon Victor Afam Ogene (Deputy Chairman, Media and Public Affairs.)

    When I heard the government has withdrawn the Speaker’s security details, my reaction was: very good; there goes the 2015 budget in flames!

  • Four feared dead in Bayelsa

    Four feared dead in Bayelsa

    Four members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were feared dead while returning from the party’s ward congress in Ekeremor local government area of the state.

    They were said to have died when their boat capsized along the Ekeremor waterways.

    Former Deputy Governor, Peremobowei Ebebi, was said to be among the occupants of the ill-fated boat but he was reportedly rescued.

    Though details of the ugly incident were still sketchy at the time of filling this report, the victims were said to be returning from Ekeremor when the incident occurred.

    President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson participated in the congresses, which held in the 105 wards of the 18 local government councils of the state.

    Jonathan and Dickson asked party members to maintain peace ahead of political activities in the state.

    Jonathan arrived the state on Friday evening and held marathon meetings with stakeholders at the State Government House and his house along the Nikton road area of the state capital.

    He was reported to have called on aspirants and party leaders to maintain peace during the ward congress in the state.

    Jonathan was said to have later moved to his ward headquarters in Otuabadi in Ogbia local government area of the state to partake in the exercise.

    Dickson, who participated in the Option A4 voting during the ward delegate election at ward 2 in Angalabiri community of Sagbama local government area, commended the party faithful for their peaceful disposition.

  • Why the battle for North-West, North-East is crucial

    Why the battle for North-West, North-East is crucial

    As the nation moves towards the 2015 poll, the unsung battle fields are the North-West and the North-East. Our MANAGING EDITOR, NORTHERN OPERATION, YUSUF ALLI X-rays the governorship race in the 12 states in the two geopolitical zones.

    Prologue:
    To say next year’s governorship election is going to be tough is to say the obvious. The toughness in not in the tension that would accompany or herald it, rather it is in the jockeying and level of interests and reputation that would be at stake and be tested. In these reports, our correspondents have pieced together compelling analysis of the politics, issues and events that would shape the winners and losers in the leading parties.

    In spite of its boast that it has a firm control of the South-South, South-East, and a little incursion into the South-West, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan know that they have serious challenges in winning voters in the North, especially the North-West and the North-East.

    Although Vice-President Namadi Sambo is from the North -West, he is yet to secure the electoral confidence of the zone. A panicky Jonathan had offered a helping hand to his deputy in the last few months. He had to renew his rapprochement with angry Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State through some shuttles to the state which included the commissioning of the state-owned International Airport in Dutse. Not minding public opinion on insurgency in the North-East, the presidency ensured that ex-Governor Modu Ali Sheriff was admitted into the PDP.

    Still undone, the President reconciled with the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for what a Minister described as “a politically strategic reconciliation” for 2015 poll to win Kano State. Though the President was aware that the Emir has a close-knitted relationship with key figures in the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), the emergency reconciliation was designed to prick the Emir’s conscience to be “neutral” while all the parties fight for the soul of Kano.

    Yet, as the President was ‘gaining mileage’ in Kano, he is fast losing whatever is the goodwill left for him in Sokoto State with the hounding of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal whose security aides were withdrawn for defecting to APC. The anger of the people of Sokoto State was not about defection but the apparent double standards of the Presidency.

    Unknown to many, the battle for the North-West and the North-East is crucial for Jonathan, PDP and all the parties for many reasons. There is jostle for the huge voters in the two geopolitical zones. Going by the number of registered voters recently released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, out of 70,383,427 eligible voters nationwide, the North-West and the North-East have combined voters’ roll of 29,064,009. While the North-West accounts for 18,616,499 voters, the North-East has 10,447,510. Whereas both the South-East and South-South have total of voters’ register of 16,664,968.

    There is no reason why the President and PDP will not have more than a passing interest in the two zones in a poll system where, according to Section 133(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution, a President is deemed duly elected with majority of YES votes and one-quarter of the votes cast in at least 24 states.

    Also, the defection of some PDP governors and ex-governors to APC in the South-West has strengthened the hold of the opposition in the North-West and North-East. For instance, out of six states in the North-West, three (Kano, Sokoto and Zamfara) are under the control of the APC. In the North-East, PDP controls four states (two ridden with crisis) and APC manages two.

    The gubernatorial race

    What will define governorship race in the North-West and North-East are the incumbency factor; quest for power shift; resistance to imposition or godfathers; types of candidates chosen by parties; attitude of the PDP-led Federal Government to insurgency; religion; defection of governors from PDP to APC and performance of the outgoing governors and those aspiring for second term in office. The outlook so far in some of the affected states (across all parties) are as follows;  Kebbi (23 aspirants), Bauchi (23), Katsina (19), Sokoto (10), Kaduna (10), Kano (10), Taraba (9), Zamfara (7), Adamawa (7), Gombe (5) and Yobe (5). The list includes serious and unserious aspirants.

    In Kaduna State, the turf is between APC and the PDP. Contrary to the prediction of a walkover for Governor Ramalan Yero, five others are challenging him. These are former Minister of Aviation, Felix Hyat; former Secretary to the State Government, Samiala Abdullahi; and a former member of the Senate, Zego Aziz, Jimmy Nabaida Dung, Air Commodore John Bako Ajeye (rtd) and Haruna Zego Aziz. For Yero, he is banking on his mentor, Vice-President Namadi Sambo rather than performance.

    The people of Southern Kaduna, who had been victims of insurgency and militia attacks are not only demanding the return of power to their area to compensate for the death of ex-Governor Patrick Yakowa in office, they want a new governor who can guarantee them adequate security. The failure of PDP to restore peace to Southern Kaduna might lead to protest votes for APC which is already gaining ground in the area. The removal of the former Group Managing Director of NNPC, Engr. Andrew Yakubu (a Southerner from Kaduna) has fueled the anger against PDP.

    The APC, through one of its merger parties (the CPC), which gave PDP a run for its money in 2011 is in good stead to reclaim its stolen mandate. Already, former FCT Minister Nasir el-Rufai, the Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum, Alh. Salihu Mohammed Lukman, Isah Ashiru, Mr. James Bawa Magaji, and Haruna Saeed Kajuru have indicated interest in the APC ticket to challenge Yero whose performance could not match his predecessors like Senator Ahmed Makarfi and VP Sambo. The loss of Kaduna State to APC will confirm the assumption that Sambo had been a “paper weight” politician were it not for Makarfi who brought him into politics or bestowed power on him. But if the VP gets his bearing in 2015, he would have proved that he is a political giant.

    With the shutting out of Governor Bala Ngilari by the PDP’s National Working Committee during the week, it is going to be a battle royale by ex-UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo; ex-EFCC Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Markus Gundiri; Auwal Tukur; ex-Minister Aliyu Idi Hong; and Sen. Abubakar H. Girei for PDP slot. In the APC, Senator Jibrilla Bindow has to go through the hurdles of primaries with his previous challengers. Ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has a fresh opportunity to install his chosen one as the party’s governorship candidate. Already, the party’s structure has returned to Turakin Adamawa.

    In Kebbi State, the battle line is drawn between Governor Saidu Dakingari and those for either power shift or against imposition of candidate.  In PDP, while the governor from Kebbi North seeks to impose a former Coordinator of the Counter Terrorism Centre in the Presidency, Maj-Gen Sarki Yaki Bello (Kebbi Central) as the party’s governorship candidate, other stakeholders are opposed to it. They are demanding free and fair primaries. One of those in the vanguard for due process is a kingmaker and ex-Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Adamu Aliero. In fact, the PDP Chairman in the state, Mansur Shehu Mansa resigned to vie for the governorship ticket. Others in the race in PDP are Deputy Governor Ibrahim Khalid Aliyu; moneybag Senator Atiku Bagudu; Bala Na’Allah, Gen Muhammadu Dan’Hanne Isah, Alhaji Zubairu Turaki, Alh Hussani Adamu, Bala Kaoje, Alh Sama’ila Sambawa and Elder Ishaku Daudu, Senator Mohammed Magoro; Businessman Adamu Hussein.

    The APC has a crack set of aspirants like ex-Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Samma; Dr. Yahaya Aliyu; Malam Bukhari Bello;  Dr. Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi, Abubakar Atiku Bunu, Abubakar Chika Malami, Ahmed Mohammed Sama, Salihu Isah Nataro, Bala Musa Sakaba, Mohammed Nasir Sala Koko, Sadeeq Sule Iko-Sami, Suleiman Mohammed Argungu, Rtd Col Inuwa Bawa and Sadiq Yelwa.

    The demand for power shift to the South, which has never produced a governor, is likely to play a key role in the emergence of the next governor. Past governors, Aliero (Kebbi Central) and Dakingari (Kebbi North) were produced by other zones. The people of Kebbi South covering Zuru, Yauri and Argungu might part ways with PDP if it does not concede the slot to them. This explains why APC is in good stead to win the state if it is more tactical. The implosion which the imposition of Gen. Yaki Bello might generate in PDP will add value to the advantage of the opposition.

    As for Borno State, the courage with which Governor Kashim Shettima had defied insurgency to perform in office is a plus for him. The success of the administration has intimidated the PDP such that governorship aspirants are cautious flying the flag of the party. So far, only veteran gubernatorial aspirant, Kashim Imam has shown interest in PDP ticket to slug it out with Governor Shettima. Imam is over relying on ex-Governor Modu Ali Sheriff to install him as the governor in 2015. Despite his alleged denial of his involvement in Boko Haram, the unending insurgency has created a political burden for Sheriff. The same insurgency factor informed why he lost election into the Senate and it might backfire for him in 2015. The rising profile of his emergency ex-godson, Governor Kashim Shettima has reduced his political profile. For a politician who used to enter Maiduguri with about 200 military and police escorts, Sheriff’s touch with the grassroots is rated low at present. By the voting pattern of Borno State since the Second Republic, APC is the party to defeat because the people of the state do not vote for mainstream party; they always prefer a progressive tent. “I think it is a cultural thing,” said a source.

    As for Sokoto,  Governor Aliyu Wammako Magatakarda still holds the ace. A strategist, he is rated to have the Midas touch for winning elections irrespective of the party he moves to. Those struggling to replace Wammako on PDP platform are Deputy Governor Mukhtari Shagari, Senator Abdallah Wali, a friend of the President, Senator Abubakar Umar Gada and ex-Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Sulaiman. The sidelining of ex-Governor Attahiru Bafarawa by the presidency after defecting from APC to PDP has compounded the woes of PDP in Sokoto State. Out of the bigwigs who defected to PDP, Bafarawa is yet to be politically rehabilitated. This is making his supporters to have a second thought. Aspirants on the platform of the APC are Senator Umaru Dahiru, Alhaji Faruk Malami Yabo, Alhaji Yushe’u Kebbe, Barrister Aliyu Abubakar Sayyinna and Ibrahim Dambuwa. The defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to the APC has left the gubernatorial flank open in Sokoto State. The ambition of Shagari might prove fatal for PDP in the state. The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr. Sambo Dasuki is also under pressure to return his state to the ruling party. Though not a politician, Dasuki could wield influence to back the ruling party.

    In Kano, the search for a credible candidate by the PDP has given APC much leeway to dictate the pace. This dilemma of the ruling party in Kano accounted for the confidence of Governor Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso on APC’s chances. Those seeking PDP governorship nod are Mohammed Abacha, who was recently given legal soft-landing for more than $500million allegedly looted by his father  and cronies in office as a military Head of State; Risqua Murtala, the son of a former Head of State, Murtala Muhammed whose tenure reshaped Nigeria;  and Dr Akilu Indabawa among others. The PDP is depending on the war chest (looted funds) of the Abachas to displace APC government in the state but a source added: “It takes more than money to win election in Kano State.” The fact that ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau (Minister of Education) is disallowed from controlling the party machinery in the state and shopping for a credible candidate might not help the fortunes of PDP. Shekarau wants an open race but the presidency seems to ave its anointed candidate.

    If APC has any challenge, it is about applying wisdom to pick its flag bearer in Kano State. Those interested in being APC candidate are retired Col. Lawal Jafaru Isa, Deputy Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Senator (ex-Governor Kabir Gaya), Rep Suleiman Kawu Sumaila, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, Alhaji Rabiu Suleiman Bichi and Alhaji Salihu Sagir Takai.

    In Taraba State, the Acting Governor, Garba Umar is locked in a battle for the governorship ticket with the ex- Minister of State for Niger Delta Arch Darius Ishaku. The chances of Ishaku were buoyed by the decision of Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (another Danjuma boy) to step down. Until the ill-fated plane crash of outgoing Governor Danbaba Fulani Suntai, Bwacha was set for the Government House in Jalingo. Others interested in the race are Chief David Sabo Kente, Senator Joel Ikenya, Agbu Kefas and Ezekiel Irimiya. The problem with the jostle for the PDP ticket in the state is that it might degenerate into tribal and religious conflicts. The Muslims in the state consider the emergence of the Acting Governor as an opportunity for power shift but the Christians want the power back at all cost. With incumbency factor and the right of First Refusal accorded all sitting governors by PDP, Umar might emerge PDP candidate.

    The APC is waiting in the wings for any slip from PDP. Those after APC governorship ticket are Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan and Dr. Jonah Wachap.

    The jostle for the PDP flag in Bauchi State might see Governor Isa Yuguda rekindling his age old rivalry with the National Chairman of PDP, Alh. Adamu Muazu. In line with the trend in his party, Yuguda is said to be “highly” interested in his successor. His camp is already rejoicing over the chickening out of the race by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed at the last minute. Mohammed, who was earlier anointed by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan was able to read the handwriting on the wall on the ‘cold war’ between Yuguda and Muazu. He chose the ministerial comfort, rather than gamble, to wait for another day. In Bauchi, PDP governorship aspirants include Deputy Senate Leader Abdul Ningi, Senator Babayo Garba Gamawa, Dr. Musa Babayo, ex-Minister of State for Health Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, ex-SSG, Ahmed Ibrahim Dandija, Alhaji Aminu Hammayo, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Alamin, Alhaji Mohammed Nadada Umar, Alhaji Magaji Udubo, Senator Abubakar Maikafi, Haruna Umar, Senator Baba Tela and Alhaji Shehu Gabam. The roll after the collection of nomination forms will determine who is set for the contest or not.

    The APC aspirants are ex-Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame, Mohammed Abubakar, Sadiq Mahmud, Senator Suleiman Gamawa, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Nuhu Gidado and Abdullahi Tanko Ningi.

    For Yobe, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of the APC might emerge the party’s aspirant although he has an aspirant, Alhaji Yahaya Muhammad to contest with. The Gaidam aspiration is enhanced by the fact that the political godfather of the state, three-term ex-Governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim is supporting him. A well-respected politician, Ibrahim commands large following in the state. He is regarded as the “political heartbeat” of Yobe State. The state has also been voting for the opposition since 1999. The insurgency in the state and apparent lack of solution by the PDP has foreclosed its victory in Yobe State. Crawling for the PDP slot are ex-Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, Alhaji Ibrahim Talba and another veteran governorship aspirant and ex-Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri.

    Regarding Katsina State, although the incumbent Governor Ibrahim Shema is keeping his game plan to his chest, he has an anointed candidate in mind. He is presently preoccupied with how to check the ravaging APC than PDP’s internal politics. Notwithstanding, aspirants reading the lips of Shema are Senator Ibrahim Muhammad Idah (a former Permanent Secretary and ally of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua but now romancing President Jonathan), Umar Abdullahi Tsauri Tata, Alhaji Sunusi Dan Bello Na Adiyalle, Kabir Abdullahi Barkiya, Ahmad Aminu Yar’Adua, Nura Khalil, Musa Adamu Funtua and Nasiru Umar Dutsima.

    To avoid a repeat of the crisis on the 2011 governorship primaries, which led to the loss of Katsina State by the defunct CPC, the APC is trying to manage the situation. In terms of support, a presidential aspirant, ex-Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari is enjoying cult followership in the state. The APC aspirants are Alhaji Aminu Masari, Senator Sadiq Yar’Adua, Senator Abu Ibrahim, Senator Kanti Bello, Col. Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, Mannir Yakubu, Abubakar Ismaila, Dr. Usman Bugaje, Alhaji Sada Ilu and Alhaji Garba Aminci. Senator Yakubu Lado is also out to be Katsina State Governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM). If APC has any obstacle in Katsina, it is the alleged ‘good’ performance of the governor. The opposition will have to come up with a better roadmap for the state.

    With ex-Governor Sani Yerima still in APC, the party will retain its grip on Zamfara State. This explains why Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar appears to be emerging as a sole aspirant of the party. His challengers in PDP are former Governor Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi, Rep. Bello Mutawalle, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, Alhaji Sagir Hamidu and Alhaji Bashir Adamu. The Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Aliyu Gusau could have saved the day for PDP in the state but age is said to be slowing him down. Gusau also detests the growing money politics in the state. At a point, some PDP stalwarts wanted ex-IGP Mohammed Abubakar as the party’s candidate but the presidency could not decode their message. The same presidency is yet to fulfill its promise to compensate Abubakar with an ambassadorial posting after failing to extend his tenure.

    In Gombe State, the stake is between the incumbent Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo and his estranged political godfather, Senator Danjuma Goje, who is now the natural leader of APC in the state. Whoever is ‘anointed’ by Goje will be Dankwambo’s opponent. The PDP and APC rating in the state is 50 percent apiece.

  • Edo South: Obahiagbon’s ambition upsets calculations

    Edo South: Obahiagbon’s ambition upsets calculations

     

     

     

    The battle to decide who represents people of Edo South Senatorial District at the National Assembly is gathering steam as more politicians declare interest in the seat.

    The contest promises to be interesting indeed. Although nearly all the major political parties are jostling to field candidates for the senatorial contest, pundits say the battle is mainly between the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    However, the entrance of present Chief of Staff to Edo State Governor, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon (aka Ighodomighodo), into the race has sent tongues wagging as many observers of the politics of the state posit that his coming may redefine the entire contest from the primary elections to the general poll.

    Ending months of speculations about his political future, the former member of the Federal House of Representatives has thrown his hat into the ring saying he feels he still has a lot to offer the people of Edo South in the area of robust representation at the National Assembly.

    Given that the race is already a crowded one, the aspiration of Obahiagbon, who is famous for his eloquence and earth-moving vocabularies and who had represented the Oredo Federal Constituency between 2007 and 2011 on the platform of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is seen by many as a move by the ruling party to ensure that it put its best foot forward in the looming political contest.

    The lawmaker, who was denied a return ticket on the platform of the PDP in 2011, decamped to the ruling APC and played a prominent role during the re-electioneering campaign of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in 2012. He afterwards emerged as the Chief of Staff to the state governor upon the Comrade Governor’s re-election.

    Before his election into the lower chamber of the National Assembly, he was elected into the House of Assembly in 1999 under the PDP. He served for eight years as a state legislator.

    Perhaps as part of effort to ensure that he does not suffer the fate that befell him in 2011 that saw his losing to Hon. Razaq Bello-Osagie, The Nation learnt that Obahiagbon is currently reaching out to political and community leaders with a view to marketing himself to constituents.

    “With Obahiagbon in the race, the contest is bound to take a new shape. We all know he is not a politician to be shoved aside in any contest that is political. By the time you add his current position as a serving Chief of Staff to the governor, you will understand what we are talking about.

    Yes, a lot of people are in the race, even before him. But his aspiration can easily be used to guess the body language of some powerful forces within and outside his party.

    If that happens, then the entire race will immediately assume a new dimension,” a chieftain of the ruling party said on Friday.

    “Edo South Senatorial District requires someone like Obahiagbon with not just charisma, depth, huge local following but also national visibility to make impact. To stem the current drab sessions at the Abuja Chamber, he is the man we should send to the senate in 2015.

    You will recall that respected national figures like the Sultan of Sokoto, General Ibrahim Babangida and even Bishop Mathew Kukah are known to have openly begged Comrade Oshiomhole at one time or the other to release Obahiagbon to serve Edo and indeed the nation in Abuja come 2015. So, we are urging the governor to do that right away,” Hon Elias Oduware, APC youth leader in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the state submitted.

    Senator Ehigie Uzamere currently occupies the senate seat in contention at the Green Chamber in Abuja. Uzamere, who was re-elected into the senate on the platform of the ruling APC in 2011 after he was denied a return ticket by his then party, the PDP, recently dumped the ruling party and staged a return to his former party, the PDP.

    Analysts say Edo South is APC stronghold in Edo State. If this turns out to be true, then pundits who have been giving victory to APC in the forthcoming senatorial battle would be right and Senator Uzamere, who is reported to be seeking a third term in the senate, may not be re-elected.

    Aside the current senator who had to switch political party platforms to get re-elected, no other person has been re-elected into the senate from the district since 1999. His predecessors – Senators Roland Owie and Daisy Danjuma – both served only a term each between 1999 to 2003 and 2003 to 2007 respectively.

    Aside Obahiagbon and the current senator, also in the race is the APC Minority Whip in the House of Representatives, Hon. Samson Osagie. He has been a lawmaker for 16 years.

    Osagie was a member of the Edo State House of Assembly between 1999 and 2003 before moving to the House of Representatives. He was elected thrice on the platform of the PDP. In 2011, he joined the ACN and was re-elected into the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

    His critics urge him to seek an executive office haven been a lawmaker for 16 years. But, Osagie says he is well equipped to proceed to the senate in 2015. He says only a credible and tested person is fit for the job. The Speaker, according to his associates, is very keen about getting the nod of his party to represent the district in the senate and is working seriously towards this.

    “He sees himself as the candidate to beat and is not thinking of jettisoning this ambition come what may,” an aide told The Nation.

    But pundits say with the entrance of Obahiagbon into the race, the permutation in the Speaker’s camp would have to change.

    “Given the closeness of the two and the fact that they are both trusted allies of the governor, there are no way the calculations will not be altered. These two people cannot engage themselves in blind politicking. Even the governor will not allow that to happen,” a chieftain of the party said.

    In the PDP, apart from Senator Uzamere, other political heavyweights gunning for the ticket include Hon.Victor Edos Ebomoyi, currently the Chairman of the Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti. He served Governor Lucky Igbinedion as chief of staff. He was also a commissioner before becoming the chairman of Oredo Local Government Area. Viewed by his supporters as loyal to the party, they believe he would be rewarded for his loyalty by the party.

    Hon. West Idahosa and Matthew Urhoghide are other aspirants on the platform of the PDP. Both are believed by their supporters to have what it takes to get the ticket of their party.

    While Urhoghide, who is the Publicity Secretary of the PDP, joined the PDP ahead of the last general elections after he felt cheated at the ACN primaries won by Senator Uzamere, Idahosa, a three-term federal lawmaker, was among APC members that defected to the PDP after the APC congresses.

    Observers say it will be a keen competition among those that have remained loyal to the party and those that left the party and defected back alongside Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

  • Consensus at work in Edo

    Members of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday elected delegates that will choose the party’s candidate in next year’s general election.

    Many delegates emerged through consensus in several local government areas.

    A total of 576 delegates were elected in the 192 wards in the state.

    When the Nation visited some wards in Oredo, party members were seen affirming the consensus delegates.

    State chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, hailed party members for conducting a peaceful congress.

    He said: “The exercise was very successful. In all the places I visited, I met them conducting the congress in a peaceful atmosphere devoid of any slightest sign of violence.

    “I commend leaders and members of the party across the state for the manner they went about electing the three ad hoc delegates.”

  • No congress in Enugu

    No congress in Enugu

    No member of the Electoral panel from the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) showed up yesterday in Enugu to conduct the ward congress.

    Delegates, who arrived the secretariat, as early as 7am were disappointed over the absence of the electoral officers.

    A statement by the Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Dr. Okey Eze, confirmed the absence of electoral officers from Abuja.

    It said: “It is pertinent to note that the Deputy Governor of the State, His Excellency, Rev. Ralph Nwoye, the National, Zonal, State and Local Government Area Executives of the Party and all the 17 Local Government Chairmen including thousands of other party faithful and our teeming supporters have been waiting tirelessly at the State party secretariat for the arrival of electoral materials from Abuja and proper commencement of the ward congress but report available to us is that the ward congress committee panel from the National Secretariat are still in Abuja.

    “The State Chapter wishes to state that this unfortunate development is the handiwork of those who are dangling in the euphoria of unpopularity and are bent on exploiting all undemocratic measures to scuttle the Ward congress of the Party, through mischief and manipulation of the entire process.

    “Our members and supporters are ever ready to participate fully in the congresses through a transparent and democratic process where every member will be given the opportunity to test his or her popularity at the polls.

    “We therefore alert the public and the National Leadership of our Party that no legitimate ward congresses took place in Enugu State today and any such activity to the contrary is illegal, fraudulent and must be disregarded.

    “The State Party Leadership therefore invites the National Working Committee of our Party to take appropriate action in this regard.”