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Tag: PDP

  • Kwara APC, PDP bicker over clash

    Kwara APC, PDP bicker over clash

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State have traded words over Monday’s street brawl in Ilorin.

    Street urchins paralysed activities in parts of Ilorin when they engaged in a fight over collection of rent.

    APC alleged that the violence and disruption of business activities were perpetrated by PDP thugs.

    The party’s spokesperson, Sulyman Buhari, in a statement said: “We condemn the violence, disruption of business activities and destruction of properties in Post Office, Taiwo Isale, Niger road, Unity road and other areas of the state by PDP thugs. PDP has declared war on the people of the state.

    “According to the information at our disposal, the action was due to the failure of the PDP leadership to fulfill promises made to the thugs who were mobilised to its Sunday rally.

    “The frustration of the opposition PDP has led to a declaration of war on residents. If this violent trend is not arrested – it is capable of turning the state to a war-ridden zone.

    But the Publicity Secretary of the PDP caretaker committee in the state, Mohammed Alhassan said APC’s accusation was not true.

    He said: “What happened was purely an act of misunderstanding between some groups which does not have anything to do with party affairs. However, trying to achieve cheap publicity by disseminating wrong information to the general public is an act of irresponsibility on the part of APC’s leadership and its allies.

    “APC should address issues rather than engaging in cheap blackmail of our party. APC leaders and their members should also be aware that a more intimidating event will soon come up with the visiting of President Goodluck Jonathan come Monday 3rd March 2014.”

     

  • 2015: PDP’s new calculation in Imo

    2015: PDP’s new calculation in Imo

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has held a rally to welcome defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Owerri, capital of Imo State. Correspondent KINGSLEY NDIDI examines the implications of the defection for the ruling party in the Southeast state.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is on the prowl in Imo State. At a rally in Owerri, the state capital, party leaders vowed to reclaim power from the All progressives Congress (APC) governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. But, the governor is not sleeping on guard. He said that the PDP chieftains were day dreaming. The rally took place at the Dan Anyiam Stadium. It was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, PDP National Chairman Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) Chief Tony Anenih, Senate President David Mark, and some governors. .

    The rally was organised to welcome defectors from the APC. The defectors include former Governor Achike Udenwa, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume Imo East), Senator Chris Anyanwu, and Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN).

    President Jonathan urged party members to gird their loins, ahead of the 2015 polls. He said they should learn from the wrangling and discord, which permitted a crack on the wall in 2011.

    The governor of Akwa Ibom State and Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio, said that, with the return of the old members, the PDP will reclaim the state.

    He charged the party leaders to to promote unity in the fold. “We are not just here to receive the returnees, but their thousands of supporters and, with what we have seen so far. the PDP has recaptured Imo State. The will of God is that, in 2015, the PDP flag will fly again in Imo government House,” he said.

    The Senate President advised the PDP family to forget the past and forge ahead in the spirit of new understanding. His deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, assured that the party will bounce back next year after the polls.

    Anenih was more optimistic that the PDP will regain power in the state in 2015. He said: “With the return of our great members, the job is already done.”

    Mu’azu, who was impressed by the huge crowd, said: “The

    he journey to recapture Imo has just started and the new leadership of the PDP is committed to reclaiming all the states we have lost as a result of internal problems”.

    He added: “Now, that we have found the answers to our problems and, with the returnees, I want to assure you that Imo State has fallen”.

    The national chairman however, appealed to the aspirants to thread softly. He said: “This is a brand new PDP and only our very best will be fielded during the 2015 election”.

    The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and governorship aspirant, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, said: “Imo is a PDP state and today we have earnestly began the journey to take back the state. We made mistakes in the past, but we are back. We misunderstood ourselves and power slipped off our hands, but today, our brothers who strayed away are back and that is one of the things we need to return to Douglass House”.

    President Jonathan described the rally as a reunion that will strengthen the party. He said: “We are here for unity rally because of our brothers that stepped out, but have stepped back. The PDP is the only stable party in Nigeria and we will continue to play a major role in the country”.

    However, observers contend that the PDP has some some hurdles to cross. Certain elements in the party are not comfortable with the return of the founding fathers. The governorship race is already crowded. No fewer than 10 strong members of the party are struggling for the ticket. They belong to the various caucuses. They cannot be ignored because they are party financiers. They Ihedioha, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Acting Minister of Aviation Prof. Viola Onwuliri, Chief Jerry Chukwueke, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim and Ararume.

    A political analyst, Chief Stanley Egwudia, expressed doubt about the ability of the different factions to agree on a consensus ccandidate. He said: “The storm is brewing in the state chapter of the PDP. The celebrated return of these heavy weights to the PDP will do more harm than good for the party. It will further break the rank of the party. All of them returning to the party have one ambition or the other they could not realize outside the party and they returned with the hope of getting retribution”.

    A clear pointer to this fact was the move by a faction of the party to concede the governorship slot to Ararume as a compensation for the injustice done him in 2007, which made him dump the party after the governorship election.

    Another challenge is that Okorocha has performed creditably to earn the people’s loyalty.

    In Imo State today, the feeling is that the PDP has ruled the state for 12 years without anything to show for it and the electorate are known to be resolute and cannot be easily swayed by political statements or monetary inducement.

  • Aspirant disowns committee

    Aspirant disowns committee

    A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Mr. Bisi Omoyeni, has condemned the composition of a consensus committee by a group of aspirants from Ekiti South Senatorial District.

    He said the committee was “compromised and masterminded by a few self-serving individuals”.

    In a statement in Abuja by Mr. Yemi Akinbode, the media director of BOFER, Omoyeni’s campaign organisation, the aspirant described the committee as “stage-managed”.

    He said no representation of the party sat on the committee as was agreed by aspirants, adding that the original members were schemed out of the assignment, with four of the seven members “intentionally misinformed on the date of the meeting”.

    He said: “Incidentally, the four that were prevented from participating are members of PDP State executive, who were to represent the party structure.

    “Our participation in the botched consensus process was based on trust and the strong believe in the collective interest of the Southern Senatorial District, an area that has never produced the governor since its creation. “We thought we were dealing with credible and sincere people, but the event of Monday has shown that the Dr. Tae Lawal-led committee is not only fraudulent and self-serving, but its members are cheap and mischievous, as demonstrated by their neglect of the template originally drawn by all aspirants.”

    Omoyeni said he was committed to genuine processes that will lead to the emergence of a sellable PDP flag bearer.

    He urged the public to disregard the outcome of the committee’s meeting, adding: “With the antecedents of the members, nothing credible and good can come from their kangaroo committee.”

  • Peaceful council polls in Plateau

    Peaceful council polls in Plateau

    The election into 15 local governments of Plateau State was held in a peaceful atmosphere as there was no report of violence in any polling unit.

    Governor Jonah Jang, who cast his vote at his Ladura ward in Du, applauded security agencies for the peaceful conduct of the election.

    But one of the contending political party the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged intimidation of its supporters, resulting in disenfranchising.

    Interim state secretary of APC, Alhaji Salisu Nakande said, “The election was peaceful and we commended the state electoral commission for their preparation, the distribution of electoral material was good and timely but later in the day we began to notice malpractice.

    Garba said: “There was no voting in some polling units in APC stronghold, we noticed ballot box snatching by PDP agents, the security agencies compromised in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

    Commissioner for Justice Edward Pwajok noted that the election is being conducted in accordance to law, adding that, all litigations and injunctions trying to stop the election have been cleared from the State High Court to the Appeal Court.

     

  • What’s the motive of defecting politicians?

    What’s the motive of defecting politicians?

    SIR: Preparatory to the 2015 general elections, political permutations have thrown up an unprecedented trend of defections from one political party to the other. Thirty-seven members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives were the first to cross-carpet to the All Progressives Congress (APC), while eleven other PDP senators are angling to switch to APC. Some members of APC have also defected to Labour Party and PDP respectively.

    This defection blues presently rocking the political space is not new in Nigerian politics, but it has kept tongues wagging. The motives behind defection vary from one person to another. In fact, I can say without any fear of contradiction that most defections these days were borne out of ulterior motives and self-serving agenda of the defectors.

    Defection opens a floodgate of exodus of party members who rightly or wrongly felt aggrieved, short-changed or disenchanted with the way their party was being run, especially in the Second Republic. Politicians who know their onions translate their movement to other parties into victory and success, while others who fail are doomed politically and consigned to the dust bin of history.

    What is the mind of the Constitution and the Electoral laws on defection as it continues to dominate public discourse and raise so much legal and political dust? What impact will this development create in our democracy? The law made it clear that a candidate who is elected on a platform of a given party and defects to another ceases to be a member of that political party. It is, therefore, at the discretion of a jettisoned party to either declare his seat vacant or not. The PDP and APC adjudged to be the strongest today are mostly immersed in this defection fever with the PDP threatening to declare the seats of the defectors from the party vacant.

    The laws of the land should be applied across boards on all defecting elected politicians in accordance with the constitution and the electoral laws. The court should also prove that sentiments have no place in law. If this happens now and justifiably too, a precedent will be established and the issue of defection will be laid to eternal rest.

    It should be noted that the provision for declaring the seat of a defected member of the legislature or executive vacant was to discourage political nomadism. Elected representatives defy the law and defect because the 2010 Electoral Law as amended is not applied accordingly.

    The mass media which should hit the nail on the head has been shy or rather pretentious on this matter. Instead of providing information, education and direction to the most appropriate perspectives on the issue, the fourth estate of the realm decided to throw the issue to the public domain for judgment. So many phone-in programmes and vox pop have been carried out without any of such efforts pin-pointing the exact application of the law. They rather left people more confused than they were before the issue came up. The Nigerian Bar Association is equally standing aloof on this matter.

    In this case, those who should be the drivers of the decision-making process and opinion-moulding have turned out to be pretentious onlookers. An analyst once said that for the fact that one has converted to either Christianity or Islam does not make him or her righteous or guarantee him heaven at last. The character and attitude of the defectors, if not changed, will make no difference in their sojourn in their new parties.

    • Sunday Onyemaechi Eze

    (sunnyeze02@yahoo.com)

     

  • The return of ‘Azikiwe’

    The return of ‘Azikiwe’

    One of the most confounding ironies in politics is that budding politicians always desire to be associated with political heroes of yore but they never seem to be able to make the sacrifice or reenact the virtues that defined these great people. It is like wanting the crown while shunning the cross. The result of course, will remain ephemeral and dismal making the new age politician nothing but an upstart who huffs and puffs and soon fades away like the morning mists. Now why is Hardball speaking in so much riddles, spewing some roadside philosophy?

    Well the other day, President Goodluck Ebele ‘Azikiwe’ Jonathan was in Owerri, Imo State, to welcome some party renegades back into the PDP fold. The result was laughable; a colourful agglomeration of snakes, scorpions and stingrays in one small pond. Having ‘reconciled’ the Imo PDP, one of the most fractious, if not carnivorous, in the land in a gay ceremony, Jonathan on his return journey stopped over at the palace of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe. Why he chose Achebe over the Owerri monarch, Eze Emmanuel Njemanze, who is equally influential and a natural host beats Hardball but that is another story for another day. The gist of this winding piece is that at a reception in Achebe’s palace, Jonathan had food for thought to last him another four years.

    According to a Channels TV news clip from the Onitsha event, Igwe Achebe, tall, lanky, debonair and well spoken had the microphone and of course the floor. “Your Excellency,” he started in his learned and well culture voice, smiling: “In 2011, you came here and promised us a number of things one of which is the 2nd Niger Bridge. You told us that it would be completed before the end of four years— (the monarch stumbled here, he smiled some more and continued) or end of your tenure. But we have not seen any work going on there.” A din of approval rent the air.

    The microphone switched to President Jonathan in response to the Achebe’s remarks, to the effect that: your highness, yes I remember I made such a promise; a bridge is a complex engineering work, I assure you that work will soon start. “Remember I also told you that an Azikiwe built the first Niger Bridge, an Azikiwe will also build the second one.” Applause, applause; ceremony over and everyone dispersed.

    Now let us overlook Igwe Achebe’s confusion over the ‘small’ matter of tenure; we all are. But what is this Azikiwe gambit once again? Recall that during the 2011 electioneering, President Jonathan had told the world, particularly Ndigbo that his old father had been so enamored with the activities of the great Zik that he also named him Azikiwe. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was of course an Igbo and a foremost Nigerian politician of the First Republic who played an active role in Nigeria’s independence struggle from the British colonialists. He was a liberal nationalist, a charismatic speaker and master of the rostrum; he had a rich academic record and brought a deep philosophical bent to politics.

    Since Jonathan became president in 2011, the Azikiwe tag virtually varnished, perhaps for lack of space. Now that political campaigns are about to begin again, will ‘Azikiwe’ regain its prominence? Now how would the inimitable Rt. Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe feel seeing all this mimicry; how would he feel knowing that even his mausoleum in Onitsha, his resting place, is in utter dereliction nearly two decades after his demise?

     

  • ‘Anyanwu’s exit good riddance to bad rubbish’

    ‘Anyanwu’s exit good riddance to bad rubbish’

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Imo State chapter, dismissed yesterday as deceitful and ridiculous, the claim by the lawmaker representing Imo East, Senator Chris Anyanwu that she returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 27 council party chairmen and 17 members of its state working committee.

    APGA’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Tony Mgbeahuruike, said the senator left the party with only her campaign structure from the nine local governments in Owerri zone and not 27 local government party chairmen as she claimed during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally organised to receive her and other returnees.

    Mgbeahuruike, who described her exit as good riddance to bad rubbish, said she did not add value to APGA while she was a member.

    He said: “It is fallacious for Senator Anyanwu to claim that she was compelled to quit APGA due to its crisis. The party is intact. APGA is the only democratic party in the country, which believes in the rule of law. APGA, Imo State branch, is intact. Why should a distinguished senator indulge in falsehood and deceit?”

    On whether the party would take a legal action against the lawmaker to reclaim the mandate given her, Mgbeahuruike said: “We are a law-abiding party. We believe in the rule of law. Her case will be handled in the same manner we handled that of Governor Rochas Okorocha. Although hers is worse than Okorocha’s.”

     

  • APC governors: Why we are different from PDP

    APC governors: Why we are different from PDP

    •Accuse Jonathan of embarking on ‘church tourism’ over 2015 elections

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) governors yesterday said the party is different from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because it is people-centred.

    The party also described President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to churches ahead of the 2015 elections as “church tourism,”.

    The governors spoke at the first Progressive Governance Lecture in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The lecture has “Unemployment and the Crisis of Governance in Nigeria: the Way Forward” as the theme.

    It was organised by the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi said of the difference between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): “Some people now say that both PDP and APC are the same. They say there is no difference. Governor Kwankwanso was in PDP, he is now in APC. Governor Rotimi Amaechi was in PDP, he now is in APC. I urge you to also check what those governors were doing when they were in the PDP.

    “We have never said that all the people in PDP are bad leaders. That has never been our argument. Our argument has been that the influence of the-end-justifies-the-means politicians in the PDP is overwhelming. And that is why they are not making any progress beyond this jobless growth that we are witnessing. When you go there, you can see it. Governor Kwankwanso runs a free education programme now in Kano. Governor Amaechi runs free education in Rivers. Governor Nyako does the same in Adamawa. So, there are many ties that bind us together and we believe that ideologically, we are Siamese twins. And that is why they are here. We also want to enrich what we are doing with the examples they have shown in their states and other states. Of course, you can see the difference in Ibadan. I am not saying this just to humour my brother, the governor of Oyo State. I was born, grew up here and know this city like the back of my hand and I know the progress that it has witnessed in the short period of time that Governor Ajmobi has taken on the reins of power. You know what is going on in Lagos, Ogun, Edo, Osun and Ekiti states.”

    Fayemi and other party leaders, who spoke at the lecture, said the 2015 election would be a contest of ideas, not of physical strength, sentiment or violence.

    On the determination of the party to revitalise Nigerian economy through job creation and other initiatives, Fayemi said: “The reason why we are progressive is that we believe that we owe a duty to our people, that it is not a favour to our people to empower them to become people who have self worth in their own right. And job is not about earning a wage. It is about the dignity that it gives our people. That is why we are making this the first in the series if the PGF lectures. And there is a direct nexus between governance and employment. The disconnections that the lecturer have pointed out, the issues that have been raised are also borne by the evidence before us. The strategic committee of this group headed by Governor Fashola has been receiving results from the polls that we commissioned in the 36 states of the federation. The polls we have been doing make it clear to us that the number one issue for Nigerians across the length and breadth of the country is joblessness. Next is insecurity. But as Governor Kwankwanso has highlighted, there is a connection between joblessness and insecurity. When you look at what we are witnessing in the Northeastern part of the country today, there are those who say it is religious, there also those who want to make us believe it is ethnic. But as a student of security, the most critical factor responsible for crisis in the North is economy. That is what has made it possible for some Nigerians to believe that they have no future than to throw themselves in arms way in the name of creating an alternative republic. That, for us, is what we need to tackle. When we cut off the oxygen that is fueling the crisis in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and other parts, we clearly must understand the connection between insecurity and poverty.”

    Earlier, welcoming the guests to the state, Oyo State Go ernor, Abiola Ajimobi, reeled out his achievements in the last 1000 days, stressing that his administration has redefined governance. He pointed out that it has also brought back an enabling environment for businesses to thrive

    “The revolution is unprecedented. From the ashes of the second dirtiest city, we have raised the level of cleanliness to make Ibadan one of the neatest. We are attracting investors due to conducive atmosphere.

    Your presence here today adds to our huge intellectual account.”

    Highlighting the danger of unemployment, Ajimobi said it has become urgent for any responsible government to act fast.

    “By taking on this challenge, we are telling the world that when we eventually take over federal governance, we will tackle this and other challenges confronting the country.” He said.

    The Chairman of the occasion and former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said irrespective of the position various Nigerians hold about the country or the party, the APC governors and its leaders came together for the progress of Nigerians.

    He said they embraced progressive politics in order to lift citizens out of their frustration, adding that party leaders and members laid down their differences and political idiosyncrasies in the larger interest of the country.

    The guest lecturer, Dr Ayo Teriba, dissected the current state of the economy, particularly unemployment. He disclosed that though Nigeria is among the five fastest growing economies in the world, the country has double digit unemployment rate, which he put at 23 per cent.

    As a way out of the current parlous state, Teriba recommended that government must take data reading more seriously, revamp rail transportation, support economic intelligence and reform policy processes, among others.

    He said: “To make democratic governance a tool for delivering economic tangible and enduring economic benefits in the future, Nigeria needs to make monthly employment data available before the end of each month, fix rail transportation, rethink fiscal policy, refocus monetary policy, and ensure that elected officials accept responsibility for policy formulation and coordination. Appointees can implement but elected officials must adopt modalities for ensuring transparency and accountability in policy mplementation. Examples of successes in using democracies as a tool for economic advancement abound.”

    The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, said agreements at the lecture would be implemented in APC-controlled states .

    The governors and party leaders visited the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasngba where they addressed crowd of party supporters who came to welcome them to Oyo State.

    They were led by the National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and National Leader Gen. Mohammadu Buhari. The governors include Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano), Borno State Deputy Governor Alhaji Umaru Mustapha, his Osun State counterpart, Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, Dr Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and the Edo State Secretary to the State Government, Prof Julius Ihonvbere.

    Former Ogun State Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba and former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Niyi Adebayo were also there.

  • Uzamere’s defection blues

    SIR: I had considered whether or not to write this reply for a few days before bringing myself to the realisation that to keep silent in the face of the obvious lack of reasonable care on the part of Senator EhigieUzamere that is representing Edo South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, would amount to a disservice not only to the people he represents but to Edo state and Nigeria in general. Senator Uzamere had advertised in the Vanguard Newspaper of Wednesday February 12, 2014, a letter announcing his defection from Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on which platform he was elected to the Senate in 2011 to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Addressed to ”My dear people of Edo South Senatorial District”, Senator Uzamere’s letter was titled ”THIS HOUSE IS NOT OUR HOME. IT IS TIME TO GO (AMALAWA).

    In returning to the PDP which he left in 2011, Senator Uzamere exercised his constitutional right of freedom of association. I do not think anyone can or should quarrel with that. It is his right to seek out and associate with persons who he thinks can add value to his life and politics.

    It is instructive to note that Uzamere secured ACN ticket to go back to the Senate , not because there were no better qualified aspirants in the ACN but because the progressive party deemed it imperative to compensate him for the support he gave to the ACN government in Edo State. Senator Uzamere was, no doubt, careless in his remarks about what he described as the present reality in Edo State in which Benin people have been marginalised. Those remarks, false as they are, were designed to whip up ethnic sentiments and put a wedge between Benin people and other sections of Edo state. It is unfortunate this Uzamere chose to disparage a system and people whose homogeneity is and never will be in doubt. The present administration in Edo State has been fair to all in the distribution of appointments and projects including Edo South. Aside the Governor (Edo North), Secretary to the State Government (Edo North) and Head of Service (Edo Central), all other major positions starting with Deputy Governor, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Judge, President of Customary Court of Appeal, Chief of Staff, Civil Service Commission, House of Assembly Service Commission, Accountant-General of the State, etc are in Edo South. No one has complained of marginalisation against the government of Edo State. The attention of Senator Uzamere should be directed to the lack of federal presence in Edo State generally and his senatorial district in particular.

    The Edo South Senator should admit it that the real reason for his defection is his inability to push through his personal assistant as nominee for the same NDDC state representative position. He has refused to face the reality that it is the state government that has responsibility to nominate a representative to the board of NDDC and not himself as a Senator. He may also not admit (but it is curiously coincidental) that his defection was influenced by the carrots dangled before Senators and Representatives including cash and automatic tickets by the ruling PDP. How else can one describe the sudden eulogy he is now pouring on the PDP whose ticket he described as “worse than the Zimbabwean Dollar” less than four years ago? We wonder if the Zimbabwe dollar is not worse off today than it was when Uzamere joined the APC almost four years ago.

     

    • Blessing Yakubu,

    Yenagoa, Bayelsa, State

     

  • 2015: PDP’s new calculation in Imo

    2015: PDP’s new calculation in Imo

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has held a rally to welcome defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Owerri, capital of Imo State. Correspondent KINGSLEY NDIDI examines the implications of the defection for the ruling party in the Southeast state.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is on the prowl in Imo State. At a rally in Owerri, the state capital, party leaders vowed to reclaim power from the All progressives Congress (APC) governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. But, the governor is not sleeping on guard. He said that the PDP chieftains were day dreaming. The rally took place at the Dan Anyiam Stadium. It was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, PDP National Chairman Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) Chief Tony Anenih, Senate President David Mark, and some governors. .

    The rally was organised to welcome defectors from the APC. The defectors include former Governor Achike Udenwa, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume Imo East), Senator Chris Anyanwu, and Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN).

    President Jonathan urged party members to gird their loins, ahead of the 2015 polls. He said they should learn from the wrangling and discord, which permitted a crack on the wall in 2011.

    The governor of Akwa Ibom State and Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio, said that, with the return of the old members, the PDP will reclaim the state.

    He charged the party leaders to to promote unity in the fold. “We are not just here to receive the returnees, but their thousands of supporters and, with what we have seen so far. the PDP has recaptured Imo State. The will of God is that, in 2015, the PDP flag will fly again in Imo government House,” he said.

    The Senate President advised the PDP family to forget the past and forge ahead in the spirit of new understanding. He described Imo as a PDP state.“In fact ,Imo has returned to the PDP; we are getting back our own that mistakenly strayed away. We have made a strong statement by the turn out of people today,” Mark added.

    His deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, assured that the party will bounce back next year after the polls.

    Anenih was more optimistic that the PDP will regain power in the state in 2015. He said: “With the return of our great members, the job is already done; all we need now is to play the politics of inclusion. Nobody should be left behind. We should avoid the mistake of the past and work together to deliver our common goal. Our coming here today to receive the returnees has shown that the importance of the project to reclaim Imo by the leadership of our great party”.

    Mu’azu, who was impressed by the huge crowd, said: “The

    he journey to recapture Imo has just started and the new leadership of the PDP is committed to reclaiming all the states we have lost as a result of internal problems”.

    He added: “From the beginning of this democratic dispensation, the PDP has swept all elections in Imo, but due to internal wrangling, we were not able to hold on to power. Even, the incumbent governor, Rochas Okorocha ,was a PDP member.

    “Now, that we have found the answers to our problems and, with the returnees, I want to assure you that Imo State has fallen”.

    The national chairman however, appealed to the aspirants to thread softly. He said: “This is a brand new PDP and only our very best will be fielded during the 2015 election”.

    The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and governorship aspirant, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, said: “Imo is a PDP state and today we have earnestly began the journey to take back the state. We made mistakes in the past, but we are back. We misunderstood ourselves and power slipped off our hands, but today, our brothers who strayed away are back and that is one of the things we need to return to Douglass House”.

    President Jonathan described the rally as a reunion that will strengthen the party. He said: “We are here for unity rally because of our brothers that stepped out, but have stepped back. We are making a reunion of the PDP and the party will be stronger than ever before. The PDP is the only stable party in Nigeria and we will continue to play a major role in the country”.

    However, observers contend that the PDP has some some hurdles to cross. Certain elements in the party are not comfortable with the return of the founding fathers. a tall barrier to scale to return to Douglas House in 2015. Firstly is the challenge of internal scuffle which is already building up with the return of founding members of the party.

    The governorship race is already crowded. No fewer than 10 strong members of the party are struggling for the ticket. They belong to the various caucuses. They cannot be ignored because they are party financiers. They Ihedioha, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Acting Minister of Aviation Prof. Viola Onwuliri, Chief Jerry Chukwueke, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim and Ararume.

    A political analyst, Chief Stanley Egwudia, expressed doubt about the ability of the different factions in the PDP to agree on a consensus ccandidate. He said: “The storm is brewing in the state chapter of the PDP. The celebrated return of these heavy weights to the PDP will do more harm than good for the party. It will further break the rank of the party. All of them returning to the party have one ambition or the other they could not realize outside the party and they returned with the hope of getting retribution”.

    A clear pointer to this fact was the move by a faction of the party to concede the governorship slot to Ararume as a compensation for the injustice done him in 2007, which made him dump the party after the governorship election.

    Another challenge is that Okorocha has performed creditably to earn the people’s loyalty.

    In Imo State today, the feeling is that the PDP has ruled the state for 12 years without anything to show for it and the electorate are known to be resolute and cannot be easily swayed by political statements or monetary inducement.

     

     

    Governor Okorocha who was obviously unshaken by the threat by the PDP to sack him in 2015, vowed that the PDP will never govern the state again after.

    He described the 12 years of PDP administration in the state as a total waste, “these expired politicians have nothing to offer the state. Udenwa’s eight years as governor was a total waste, Ohakim’s four years was a disaster so where is there justification to return to power. They can no longer deceive our people the PDP has marginalized Ndigbo and we cannot continue to allow them.

     

    “What they are doing is mere ranting none of them can proudly stand before the people and asked to be voted for. They should show the people what they have done with the state resources for 12 years that should warrant their return to power”.