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  • PDP crisis: don’t cheapen Judiciary, Soyinka warns

    PDP crisis: don’t cheapen Judiciary, Soyinka warns

    Faction suspends 27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers 

     

    Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka warned yesterday against the debasement and manipulation of the judiciary to avoid anarchy.

    The dramatist spoke in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital where two factions are battling for the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Also yesterday, the Chief Felix Obuah-led state executive of the party suspended 27 of the 32 members of the House of Assembly, who are loyal to Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Among those suspended is Speaker Otelemaba Dan Amachree. Their seats were declared vacant.

    But the lawmakers insisted that they had secured a Port Harcourt High Court injuction barring the party from suspending them.

    Soyinka, standing in front of the Governor’s Office in the Government House — Amaechi beside him — also described the choice of Port Harcourt as the World Book Capital 2014 as a great honour for Nigeria, the state and Port Harcourt.

    He said he was glad to be in a position to assist the state government, using the instrumentality of literacy, education and knowledge to counter “the negativists”, “violent negativists as represented in movements like Boko Haram”.

    On the deepening Rivers PDP crisis, the playwright said: “The judiciary right now, while it is trying to reform itself, recognises the fact that there are still some dark areas. It is the effect of the dark areas that seems to be creating a crisis in Rivers State right now.

    “I am just alarmed. I am alarmed that a situation exists at all, where it strikes me. It appears to me that the judiciary is being manipulated. That is the impression which I had and that is an alarm which should be sounded in every corner of the nation.

    “Witch-hunting is a very heavy word. Let me just say this generally, that I hate evidence of pettiness in governance. Pettiness at any level is unbecoming of any democratic situation.”

    Commenting on the grounded state government aircraft, Soyinka said: “I am a citizen of this nation. So, I am affected personally by what is happening at the opposite end of the nation. Those who feel that any kind of transgression of the collective rights of groups will not affect, will not have a kind of ripple effect, which will affect other parts of the nation, must be living in a cloud.

    “I am concerned and I will be quite frank with you. I am very much concerned about the imbroglio in which the state (Rivers) appears to be involved at the moment and my main comment is, for heaven’s sake, whatever happens internally between parties and so on, please do not debase and do not manipulate the judiciary. That is my appeal to governance at all levels.

    “Please, do not manipulate the judiciary, because when you do, you have chaos, you have total anarchy and you reduce the nation to a space of complete breakdown of law and order, of what is known as anomie, which is what this nation had better avoided.”

    The PDP leadership dispute was pending in a court in Port Harcourt when Justice Ishaq Bello of an Abuja High Court assumed jurisdiction in the matter. He handed victory to the faction loyal to the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike.

    Obuah, with whom was party Secretary Walter Ibibia and other members of the executive, also stated that the 48-hour ultimatum given Amaechi would enable him to explain the status of the aircraft.

    He noted that the controversy generated by the real ownership of the aircraft and its operation had brought embarrassment to the party.

    The factional chairman stressed that the party’s decision to suspend the 27-pro Amaechi lawmakers was in view of their refusal to rescind the April 22 suspension of the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government, Prince Timothy Nsirim, his vice and all the seven councillors loyal to Wike, at the end of the 48-hour ultimatum given to them to do so.

    He said: “The party views with grave concern, the unfolding facts surrounding the ownership of the purported aircraft and will not fold its arms and allow monumental fraud to be perpetrated in Rivers State. It is unacceptable and embarrassing to our great party, that public funds are hopelessly mismanaged. As a result, these questions must be answered by the Rivers State government:

    “Where is the aircraft purportedly bought with Rivers State fund and tax payers’ money? Where have the billions of naira taken from the coffers of the Rivers State government gone and for what purpose was it appropriated and where is it diverted?

    “The government of Rivers State, led by Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi, owes a public explanation to the entire people of Rivers State and the PDP in particular, as to the true owners of the Bombardier BD 700. They should also explain the identity and the role played by the Bank of Utah of the USA in the purchase of the aircraft and the identity of the owners of the said company to be unveiled.

    “On Monday, April 22, 2013, the party issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Rivers State House of Assembly to rescind the order on the dissolution of Obio/Akpor council, which was flagrantly disobeyed.

    “The party hereby suspends all 27 members of the House of Assembly that carried out such action while their matter is referred to disciplinary committee for further action.”

    The five lawmakers loyal to Wike, who are not affected by the suspension, are: Michael Chinda (Obio/Akpor II constituency), Kelechi Godspower Nwogu (Omuma), Evans Bipi (Ogu/Bolo), Martins Amaewhule (Obio/Akpor I) and Victor Ihunwo (Port Harcourt III).

    Those suspended are Otelemaba Dan Amachree (Speaker, Asari Toru I), Augustine Paul (Abua/Odua), Ewor Nname (Ahoada East I), Nwuche Ibiso (Ahoada East II), Dr. Chigbo Sam Eligwe (Ahoada West). Onari Brown (Akuku Toru I), Anabaraba Benibo (Akuku-Toru II), Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani (Andoni), Horsfall Godstimes (Asari-Toru II), Aye People Atamah (Bonny).

    Others are: Tonye Harry Ezekiel (Degema), Chidi Lyold (Leader of the House, Emohua), Amadi Victor (Etche 1), Golden Ngozi Ben Chioma (Etche II), Barikor Innocent (Gokana), Wanjoku Chikere Azubike (Ikwerre), Legborsi Nwidadah (Khana 1), Leyii Kwanee (Deputy Speaker, Khana II), Gift Nwokocha (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni I), Lucky Odili (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni II), Belema Okpokiri (Okrika), Miller Andrew Anderson (Opobo/Nkoro), Victoria Wobo Nyeche (Port Harcourt 1), Irene Martins Inimgba (Port Harcourt 11) and Felicia Taneh (Tai).

    On April 15, Justice Ishaq Bello of an Abuja High Court confirmed the election of Obuah and members of his executive, which led to the sack of Chief Godspower Ake, a former National Vice Chairman (Southsouth) of the PDP, and members of his executive.

    Ake and members of his executive emerged from the state congress of the PDP at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt on March 17, 2012.

    Amaechi, addressing his supporters at the main gate of the Government House, Port Harcourt, described the judgment as the desecration of the temple of justice, calling on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Maryam Mukhtar, to quickly intervene.

    Wike, who wants to be governor in 2015, is a former Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt and doubled as the Director-General of the Amaechi Campaign Organisation in 2011. Amaechi and Wike are Ikwerre. The governor felt somebody from another ethnic group should succeed him.

  • PDP panel cautions Tukur, Nyako on Adamawa crisis

    PDP panel cautions Tukur, Nyako on Adamawa crisis

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has endorsed the recommendation of a truce committee asking its national Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako to sheath their swords in the festering Adamawa PDP crisis.

    The committee, headed by Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido blamed Tukur and Nyako for the escalation of the crisis.

    The crisis erupted as a result of disagreement between the national chairman and the Adamawa Governor. The two chieftains were said to be scheming to position their children for the Adamawa governorship race ahead of the 2015 election.

    A statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh yesterday said the leadership of the party agreed with the Lamido committee’s position.

    The party said the committee recommended that the existing Executive Committees at the ward and local government levels should remain as contained in the NWC ratification of 29th August, 2012.

    The committee also recommended that the divided State Working Committee in Adamawa State should be harmonised to accommodate all interests.

    “In the same vein, it (committee) recommended that stakeholders, including the National Chairman and the Governor should, in the interest of the party and progress of the state, soft-pedal on their previous positions, and work towards ensuring harmony among all PDP members.

    “The party leadership described the speedy resolution of the Adamawa crisis as a product of the forthrightness of President Goodluck Jonathan as well as a testament to the ability of the PDP, as a truly democratic party to accommodate the interest of all in the handling of its issues”, the statement added.

     

  • PDPsupporters protest in Estako West

    Supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Estako-West Local Government of Edo State yesterday marched on the streets of Auchi to protest the April 20 local government elections.

    The protesters walked through Auchi Polytechnic Road, Igbe Road, Warrake Road, Igarra Road and the Benin-Auchi-Okene Highway but were stopped from entering the council secretariat by soldiers.

    They called for a cancellation of the elections.

    The PDP chairman in the area, Sheriff Idenebomhe, said those sworn in as chairman and councillors were not the representatives of the people.

    Sheriff alleged that the electoral body brought incomplete materials to the locality and that the process was manipulated.

    He called on Nigerians to prevail on Governor Adams Oshiomhole to conduct a free and fair election.

    But the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leader in the area, Abubakar Akokhia, said the elections were free and fair.

    “I don’t call them protesters; they are robbers. What are they talking about, that there was no election? If you watched the news, you saw the governor and the ACN chairmanship candidate, Hassan Kadiri, casting their votes. That tells you that there was an election in Estako West, apart from the two wards that were cancelled, which is obvious.”

    Kadiri said the PDP was responsible for the cancellation of elections in the wards.

    “We conducted elections before and we defeated them, this time around they are calling for the cancellation of the elections, it simply means that they are not on ground,” he said.

     

  • PDP rejects Edo council election results, promises legal action

    PDP rejects Edo council election results, promises legal action

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the results of the April 20 Edo council elections and described the exercise as a mockery of democracy.

    The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr  Olisa Metuh,who made this known while briefing newsmen on Sunday in Abuja also said the party would challenge the results in court.

    The PDP spokesman said the elections were manipulated against the party, adding that what happened at the Edo council elections was “a mockery and a threat to the country`s democracy.

    `The survival of our democracy is under very serious threat.

    “Unpatriotic and undemocratic elements have laid siege on our nation’s democracy and Nigerians are now living in serious fear and uncertainty.

    “Since the annulment of June 12, 1993 Presidential elections, we have never in the political history of Nigeria witnessed any such assault on the people and democracy like what is going on in Edo.’’

    Metuh said it was a regret that the people of Edo were being subjected to the “worst form of tyranny’’ while their will to choose their leader was being subverted.

    The PDP spokesman decried the intimidation of PDP candidates and their supporters during the election.

    He called on the military authorities to investigate the alleged role of the Brigade Commander in Benin in the use of the military against PDP members during the polls.

    Metuh further alleged that ballot boxes were carted away, with election results manipulated in favour of the ACN.

    “Also, election results were annulled in places where PDP candidates won clearly,’’ he said.

    Metuh also contended that there were no election materials in many local councils where PDP had greater support and that PDP members were not allowed to vote in Etsako Central.

    “The cancellation of the Esan North-East election results by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), the second time after it was discovered that a PDP candidate won the election, was to undermine prominent PDP members from the area,’’ he said.

    The party spokesman said PDP would challenge the election results in the court.

    “We went to court in Lagos, we will go to court in Edo. That is the beauty of democracy,’’ he said.

    Metuh said it was an irony that Gov. Adams Oshiomhole had continued to display disdain for democracy since he assumed office.

    “It is funny that a direct beneficiary of President Goodluck Jonathan’s policy of transparent election is the one that is now going against it,’’ he said.

    The PDP official called on Nigerians, civil society groups and other stakeholders to join in the “just fight” to salvage the Edo people.

    “We as a party cannot witness the enthronement of free and fair federal elections by President Goodluck Jonathan only to become victims in elections in states controlled by the opposition,’’ Metuh said.(NAN)

  • 2015 poll: PDP Governors demand N46b compensation from Jonathan

    Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are demanding N46billion worth of projects for their states for voting for President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

    They claim that the 23 states being controlled by the party deserve special treatment for standing by the President.

    However, the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, has pleaded with the Governors to avoid divisive tendencies.

    The Governors, according to party sources, resolved to seek project concessions from the President at a recent meeting.

    The idea was said to have been broached by Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom and Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, who stressed the need for the Governors to approach the President to “site at least one federal project ranging between N1billion-N2billion (at the President’s discretion) in each PDP state.”

    He said the projects would be regarded as compensation for their support for the federal government.

    A delegation of the governors is expected to table the request to thePresident in due course.

    Party sources also said Anenih, at a separate meeting with the Governors, advised them to shun divisive tendencies.

    He told them to develop the spirit of give and take and forgiveness and to remain loyal to the party at all levels.

    He urged them to co-operate with the federal government in the bid to deal with the security challenges in the country.

  • How PDP tried to frustrate council polls, by Oshiomhole

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of doing everything possible to stop the recently-held Local Government election in the state last weekend.

    Oshiomhole added that the party has also stopped the conduct of the election twice in Esan North East Local government area by using federal might to harass and intimidate voters.

    Speaking during the inauguration of the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of Oredo, Ikpoba Okha and Esan West Local Government Areas in Benin City yesterday, the governor said: “Twice, the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC ) tried to conduct election in Esan North East and twice the PDP disrupted it.

    “When I swore in the first set of local government chairmen, I made the point about how the Minister of Works (Mike Onolememen) used armed mobile policemen, over a dozen, to intimidate the voters in Esan North East and subsequently compelled the DPO and the Electoral Officer to announce the cancellation of the election and also went on television to say how could he have disturbed an election that was not held.

    “Let me repeat: I did not accuse him of undermining an election that was held; we accused him of illegally using the police, conniving with the DPO to order the postponement of the election. He caused the election to be postponed because he had no chance of winning.

    “The evidence was clear on that Saturday in Esan land. In Uromi, you had canopies belonging to ACN, the other canopy for PDP supporters and just looking at the canopies, you can see where the majority are and that was why he insisted that election must be postponed and he misused federal instrument to force that postponement in clear breach of the Electoral Act,” the governor noted.

    He added: “Today, we could have sworn in a candidate from the local government but again, he used hired thugs to confiscate election materials, carry fake result sheets and even detained people at Uromi police station.”

    The governor appealed to the opposition to allow the sanctity of the ballot to prevail, because primordial sentiments will not work in the state again.

    The governor, who urged the local government chairmen to sustain and build on the record of service of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), stated: “the voters believe in us and they expect that every promise made will be delivered.”

    Responding on behalf of others, the Chairman of Oredo local government area, Mr. Osaro Obazee, disclosed that they have resolved to tow the developmental strides of the Comrade Governor and to be prudent in the management of resources.

    The Chairmen of Ikpoba Okha and Esan West, Mrs. Itohan Ogbeide and Mr. Henry Irumundomon respectively, also took the oath of office along with their vice chairmen.

  • Crisis in Rivers

    Crisis in Rivers

    PDP should not drag the judiciary down with it

     

    The turmoil in Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where there are two parallel executive committees is unhealthy for the judiciary and the polity. The verdict by Justice Ishaq Bello of the Federal Capital Territory High Court declaring the congress that produced Chief Godspower Ake as state chairman last year invalid has provoked angry reactions from the governor of the state, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and those sympathetic to him.

    Indeed, the state government has argued that Governor Amaechi was the target in the move, which had all the trappings of high-wire politics. Ake enjoys the support of the governor, while the minister of state for education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, leads another faction believed to be working with President Goodluck Jonathan and the national secretariat of the party, in a bid to cut the governor, who is also the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), to size. This is not the first time that President Jonathan would be flexing such muscles; he did the same thing to remove the former governor of his state, Bayelsa, Timipre Sylva, using legal and extra-legal means in the process. We seem to be in an era where vendetta has been elevated to national credo.

    Prior to the Justice Bello ruling, there had been power tussles involving the president and the governor, with a surprise move early in the year to whittle down the influence of the NGF chairman through the establishment of a rival PDP Governors’ Forum, with a fellow Niger Delta governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, as chairman.

    In all this, truth is the casualty and the polity is getting unnecessarily overheated. Governor Amaechi’s supporters insist that the Abuja judgment could be compared to the one delivered by Justice Bassey Ikpeme in Abuja in 1993 on the famous June 12 elections. Ikpeme, who was moved to the Federal Capital Territory just about one week before the matter to scuttle the presidential election was filed by the Chief Arthur Nzeribe-led Association for a Better Nigeria, ruled in favour of the unknown association without due regard for processes.

    In like manner, Governor Amaechi’s men also contend that the matter ought not to have gone to an FCT court when it involved the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a federal agency. More appropriately, they have argued, it ought to have been filed before a Federal High Court, thus raising queries about the motive and conduct of the judge who strangely assumed jurisdiction in such a matter.

    We are bothered that, almost 53 years after independence, we are still confronted with situations that query the commitment of our elected officials to the rule of law and due process. Leaders have failed to make a distinction between personal and public interest. Now, there are two executive committees in the state. While Ake has the backing of most of the local government chapters of the party and government structures in Port-Harcourt and the local councils, the Felix Obuah executive derives its power from the centre. It is seen by many in the state as an imposed leadership which may have to rely on the police to function. The stage thus appears set for conflict. The state police command seems to have realised this and has said it is duty bound to enforce the contentious Abuja court order.

    The judicial absurdity was further compounded by the ruling of a high court in Port Harcourt which purportedly reversed the judgment of the Abuja high court, with which it has co-efficient jurisdiction.

    This is our worry. If politicians want to go down, they should do that alone; they do not have to drag the judiciary into their political mud because when all else fails, it is to the judiciary that we would turn. We do not understand why a matter that should be tried in Port Harcourt would now be filed in a high court in Abuja. In like manner, we cannot understand the basis of a court nullifying the judgment of another court with co-efficient jurisdiction. A stage is being set for judicial anarchy, which is dangerous.

    We urge the National Judicial Council (NJC) to step into the matter before the Rivers crisis escalates and brings the roof down on our heads.

  • 2015: PDP woos Afenifere

    2015: PDP woos Afenifere

    Prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Peoples Party (PDP) in the Southwest are teaming up with the polarised pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, to fight for power in the zone. Currently, the region is the stronghold of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    There are two groups struggling for the soul of the organisation. The first group is led by the former Commissioner for Finance in Ondo State, Chief Rueben Fasoranti. The second is led by the deputy leader, Senator Ayo Fasanmi. Reconciliation broke down between the two camps, almost four years ago. Although the representatives of the factions were brought to the reconciliation table at Ibadan, Oyo State capital, by the younger elements who have formed the Afenifere Renewal group (ARG), they could not achieve a truce. Also, efforts to reconcile them by the wife of the late sage, Mrs. HID Awolowo, failed.

    At the recent meeting of the faction led by Fasoranti in Lagos, many PDP chieftains were in attendance, although the key leaders; Chiefs Fasoranti, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Olu Falae, Oladipo Olaitan, and Supo Sonibare, are progressives and critics of the PDP-led Federal Government.

    At the Lagos meeting were Senator Iyiola Omisore, Alhaji Rahman Owokoniran, Hon. Segun Ojo, Mr. Kayode Alufa, Chief Ladosu Ladapo, Akogun Tunde Odanye and Mr. Jimi Agbaje, who is being wooed by the Lagos PDP to contest the next governorship on its platform. A source said that the Fasoranti’s group enjoys the backing of the Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who has secured a second term. Between 1999 and 2003, Afenifere did not open its door to the chieftains of the PDP, which they perceived as a conservative party.

    However, the members of the Fasanmi’s group belong to the ACN, which is in the merger process with the All Nigeria Peoples Party (PDP), the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) and a section of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Prominent members of the faction include Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Chief Bisi Akande, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Alhaji Olatunji Hamzat, Senator Olabiyi Durojaye, Otunba Busura Alebiosu, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, and Hon. Odunsi. In fact, all the ACN chieftains in the Southwest identify with the Fasanmi’s group. Currently, the members of Fasanmi camp are in the government in the region.

    In 2007, the Afenifere leaders in Fasoranti’s group supported the PDP governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. In 2011, they also supported Daniel’s candidate for the governorship, Mr. Gboyega Isiaka. It was a wide departure from 2003, when the former secretary of the group, Mr. Ayo Opadokun, was criticised for fraternity with former ANPP Governor Mohammed Lawal of Kwara State. Last year, they also supported Governor Mimiko’s re-election bid.

    Southwest PDP members are courting Afenifere at a time the party is becoming increasingly unpopular in the zone. But the source said that the party is ready to pump money into the mobilisation against the ACN. “The fund for the election is not going to be a problem. The PDP Federal Government is showing a special interest in the zone. PDP wants to adopt two strategies. The first is to get aggrieved, credible and popular candidates to run for the governorship elections in the region and get Afenifere to back them on the platform of the PDP. That is why both Chief Bode George and Prince Adeseye Ogunlewe are now on the neck of Agbaje. At every election, Afenifere usually supports candidates and political parties.

    “The second strategy is to encourage other parties outside ACN to compete with the ACN in the zone. It is worthy of note that, after securing the pipeline monitoring contract from the Federal Government, some Southwest leaders started talking about the resuscitation of the UPN. They are not happy with the soaring profile of Tinubu and they want to get their pound of fresh from Osoba”, added the source.

    The group’s posturing has affected its image among the people of the Southwest. Unlike the pre-2003 period, Afenifere is perceived as a toothless bulldog, which can only bark but not bite. In fact, in 2003, the group supported the four AD governors; the late Adebayo Adefarati (Ondo), the late Lam Adesina (Oyo), Akande (Osun), and Osoba (Ogun). They lost to their PDP challengers; Dr. Olusegun Agaggu, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Otunba Daniel. The lone survivor, Tinubu, was deserted by the Afenifere chieftains, following the rejection of the 60:40 formula for the distribution of the appointive and elective offices in Lagos State. He handed over to Governor Babatunde Fashola in 2007. Also, in 2007, Tinubu spearheaded the struggle for the liberation of the Southwest from the PDP. Today, five out of the six states are governed by the ACN governors.

    Recently, ARG leader Hon. Olawale Oshun had alerted the region to the antics of certain forces bent on encouraging the emergence of new parties to create confusion in the zone. He said those behind the idea were working assiduously with the PDP, which has the intention of re-capturing the Southwest in 2015. A sources said that the PDP chieftains are exploiting the division in the Afenifere to penetrate into the fold and swing the support of the Fasoranti camp to the PDP candidates in the next elections.

    Falae ruled out any alliance with the PDP, although he agreed that PDP members can now take their seats in the group. This admission flexibility contrasted sharply with the picture of Afenifere between 1999 and 2002. For example, members of the group rationalised that the presence of Omisore at the Afenifere meeting was not strange. “He has been a member, but dormant for some time. He only left AD, not Afenifere”, said a chieftain.

  • PDP’s dream

    PDP’s dream

    •An unwanted ruling party wants more states  

    As if oblivious of the fact that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is daily losing credibility among Nigerians, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the party to add nine more states to the 23 that it presently controls, in the 2015 elections. While the PDP chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, said that the directive is doable through “hard work”, the chairman, board of trustees of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, added a frightening dimension that the party “will do what we know how to do best”.

    For a party that is fast losing control of itself and that of many of its members nationwide, the “hard work” to “capture” at least 32 states, in spite of the general disillusionment of the electorate with the party’s woeful performance for 14 years, must be rigging of the election. The PDP has done this consistently over the years such that Anenih’s statement is easy to understand.

    Expectedly, the party has been under severe criticism since the presidential directive was made public. The national publicity secretary of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Emma Eneukwu, said “Nigerians are not fools who can be deceived by mere boast by a party that had plunged the country into terrible darkness. The day of reckoning is approaching”. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) simply advised PDP to stop its empty boast and stop day-dreaming, considering the condition on ground.

    The party’s spokesman in Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe, said “No reasonable person could even think of PDP’s chances in 2015 after wrecking havoc on Nigeria for 14 years.” “You don’t capture with votes but with arms and ammunition,” said Jide Awe, ACN chairman in Ekiti State. For Lai Mohammed, ACN’s national publicity secretary, “I don’t think that the word “capture” is a lexicon that should be used in a democracy. That belongs to the military era and that is the mindset of the PDP”.

    Sensing that the PDP’s threat was the result of fear of the victory for the All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2015, the Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, advised President Jonathan “to prepare his hand-over note as the era of rigging was over because what happened in 2011 election will never happen again”.

    These and other criticisms for Jonathan and the PDP have exposed the party exactly as the late Bola Ige called it: “a party with leprous hands” that nobody wants to shake. The widespread disillusionment with the PDP government has become so widespread: Under the party, Nigeria has been plunged into darkness as a result of lack of electricity supply; millions of Nigerians lack access to potable water; billions of pensioners’ funds have been stolen while the beneficiaries have died and are still dying, of criminal neglect by the pension ‘house of horror’.

    These are not all; there is near collapse of education and medical care; infrastructure; dirty environments in rural and urban areas, disease and squalor and the now frightening phenomenon of general insecurity that has made life in Nigeria totally unpredictable. Yet, the PDP hopes to add nine more states to its present 23!

    On what spectacular performance did the party base its boast of capturing nine more states? Where, precisely, will the PDP get the 32 states in 2015? Well, PDP has the right to engage itself in self-delusion or day dreaming, but we should warn that it is extremely dangerous for a non-performing party to boast of winning 32 out of 36 states in a country where general awareness of the situation in the country by the electorate is very high.

    We also advise that the PDP should stop beating the drum of war through its use of military terms and its politics of “do or die” in a country where the electorate may have made up their minds about the kind of government they need and want, come the 2015 general elections.

     

  • PDP boycotts rescheduled council election in Edo

    PDP boycotts rescheduled council election in Edo

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo on Wednesday withdrew from the rescheduled council polls in Esan West Local Government over lack of confidence in the electoral body.

    The party’s Chairman in the local government, Mr Victor Idiakhoa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the conduct of the Edo State Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) would not guarantee free and fair polls.

    Idiakhoa said that the commission had clearly demonstrated that it was incapable of ensuring that the peoples votes would count.

    According to him, our party and supporters have lost confidence in EDSIEC and have no reason whatsoever to partake in its activities.

    “The conduct of last Saturday’s election was shameful and several people who had anticipated a one man one vote situation went home disappointed.

    “It is for this reason, that we took the decision not to participate in the rescheduled election.”

    Asked if the state chapter of the party supported their action, Idiakhoa told NAN that the decision was that of the local government.

    “We took the decision here at the local government and informed the state, and I think they agree with our decision,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the state Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria, Mr Thomas Okosun, has described the withdrawal of PDP from the poll as an acceptance of defeat.

    He said: “fI their decision to withdraw is true, it would not affect the credibility of the election in any way.

    “Six political parties participated in the election, so, withdrawal of one political party is of no value,” he said.