The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PDP

  • PDP wants to foist one party system on Nigeria, alleges CNPP

    The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has said it views the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) covert bid to register the African Peoples Congress (APC) as a bad omen for the country’s democracy.

    A statement signed by CNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resist the temptation of PDP’s covert move to register the African Peoples Congress, adding that prior to the February 6 date when the All Progressives Congress (APC) was formed, there was no such application with INEC.

    It said PDP’s intention to register African Peoples Congress “is ignoble, subversive and meant to forestall the registration of the authentic APC, based on the flimsy argument that both possess the same acronym.” CNPP said: “PDP’s intention is to foist a one-party system on Nigeria and rule for 60 years.

    “We challenge INEC to publish the names of the promoters of African Peoples Congress. INEC should also investigate the allegation that the proposed APC is being floated by the PDP to foist a one-party system on the country.”

    Former head of state and three-time presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, alleged that INEC was in a merger with PDP to do the latter’s bidding.

    He accused INEC of corruption, among others, adding that the electoral body had not accepted or refuted the allegation.

     

  • ACN, ANPP, CPC youths back APC to dislodge PDP

    ACN, ANPP, CPC youths back APC to dislodge PDP

    Youth leaders of merging political parties yesterday called on youths and progressives all over the country and in Diaspora to support and join the All Progressives Congress (APC) to save Nigeria from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The youths said the PDP government is leading the country to a wrong destination.

    At a joint news conference in Abuja, youth leaders of the merging political parties, including the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) said: “The journey to the Promised Land under a government of PDP that is lacking focus and vision is proving to be an impossible task.”

    ACN National Youth Leader, Comrade Ebikibina Miriki, who briefed reporters on the development, lamented that the Nigerian dream has become a mirage every passing moment.

    The youths called on “all youth and progressives all over the country and in Diaspora to support and join the All Progressives Congress (APC) not only to challenge the PDP but also to save this sinking ship called Nigeria from drowning, where elections are a sham as results are already known before hand.”

     

  • How far can PDP go in Osun?

    How far can PDP go in Osun?

    Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have returned to the drawing board, ahead of the next year’s governorship election in Osun State. Correspondent Adesoji Adeniyi examines the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirants eyeing the Bola Ige House.

     

    Ahead of next year’s governorship election in Osun State, the two major parties Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – have started mobilisation.

    Many believe that the ruling party will endorse Governor Rauf Aregbesola for a second term because he has performed creditably. Thus, the ACN will not be assailed by internal crisis arising from the governorship nomination.

    However, it is a different ball game in the PDP. The antagonistic activities of the combatants eyeing the State House is factionalising the main opposition party. The third party, Labour Party, is for now, a spectator.

    Since the historic judgment of the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State, which deposed former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola on November 26, 2010, the political equation has been changed in the State of the Living Springs.

    What has boosted the confidence of the ruling party is the achievement of the governor in the critical sectors. Stakeholders have compared the administration with the previous one and applauded Aregbesola for his frugality, transparency and commitment to public welfare.

    Despite the meagre resources available to the state, the governor and his executive council of talents have laid a solid foundation on which subsequent administrations will continue to build.

    Reviewing the activities of the administration, former National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) Secretary Mr. Ayo Opadokun said that the people did not vote for Aregbesola in vain. He said his feats are intimidating to the PDP, which does not have a good legacy in the state.

    In the PDP, the five aspirants eyeing the Bola Ige House are full of bravado. Party sources said that more are likely to join the race.

    Top on the list is Senator Iyiola Omisore from Ile-Ife. He has been nursing the ambition to rule the state since the days of the late Gen. Sani Abacha. In 1999, Omisore was the deputy governor in the Bisi Akande Administration. But he defected to the PDP, following a protracted feud with the party and his boss. Irked by his attitude, the House of Assembly impeached him in December 2002.

    Following the murder of the Attorney-General and Justice Minister Chief Bola Ige, Omisore was detained by the police. In detention, he emerged as the PDP senatorial candidate for Ife/Ijesa District. He won the poll through what the Alliance for Democracy (AD) described as rigging.

    Omisore, according to party sources, is working hard to emerge as the PDP candidate. But he also has a ‘Plan B’. Party sources said that the former deputy governor is seriously courting the Labour Party. He is relying on his closeness to the Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to get the platform ready for his ambition, if the PDp denies him the ticket.

    But how far can he go? Although the PDP appreciates Omisores’s services, there are forces in the party that will abort his dream. Since he fell out with Oyinlola, party chieftains outside his Ife/Ijesa axis have kept him at arm’s length. Others believe that he is a controverisial politician who may likely be perceived as a liability, instead of an asset.

    Another PDP aspirant is the former Minister of Youths and Sports, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, a native of Ode-Omu, Osun West Senatorial District. Last week, he held a press conference where he declared his ambition. His popularity does not cut across the state and his political structure is not visible.

    Another PDP contender is the former House of Representatives member from Oriade Council, Mr. Oluwole Oke. He was a federal legislator for eight years. He served as the Chairman, House Committee on Defence. He has erected signposts on major highways to announce his gubernatorial ambition. Oke wants to leverage on his popularity among party elders and youths across the state. He fought tooth and nail to return to the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly in the last election. He lost his deposit. The former legislator wanted to return to the House to aspire to the position of the Speaker, but the dream was aborted by the ACN.

    Another aspirant is Alhaji Fatai Akinade Akinbade. He has a large following in the PDP. He hails from Ogbagba, near Iwo. Since there is the pervading sentiment in the PDP that power should shift to the Osun West District, his supporters are confident that he can benefit from zoning.

    But, according to observers, Akinbade’s capacity to stand up to the benchmark set by the new crop of leadership in the Southwest is in doubt. He has the structure. He is loved by the youths in his constituency, but in other districts, he lacks the grassroots appeal.

    Senator Isiaka Adeleke is also in the race. He is full of nostalgia, having served as the first executive governor of the state. When he was in office, he was full of youthful exuberance. How the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governor and son of Senator Adeleke, an ‘Action Grouperfound himself in the conservative fold has remained a puzzle.

    Adeleke, a native of Ede, represented Osun West District in the Senate between 2003 and 2007. He was the Chairman, Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission. He lost the governorship ticket in 2007 during the controversial primaries of the PDP. However, one of his associates said that he is not desperate to retun to the State House.

    Also in the race is Mr. Alafe Aluko, a prominent member of the Action Congress (AC) and Aregbesola’s supporter who deserted him when he was still fighting for the restoration of his stolen mandate. There was no disagreement between him and Aregbesola before he left for the PDP. He hails from Ilesa.

    Former Head of Service Elder Sunday Akinwusi has not openly declared his interest. But a party source said that he is being penciled down for the position on the paltform of the Labour Party, if Senator Omisore will not run on the platform. He was The Clerk of the House of Assembly before he was appointed by Oyinlola as the Head of Service. He was a retained by the Aregbesola Administration, until he retired last year. He is technocrat with little political experience.

  • PDP urged to nominate Jonathan for second term

    THE, concerned Advocates for Good Governance (CAGG) has said that it is in the interest of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to support President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term.

    Its leader, Olusegun Bamgbose, a lawyer, said the PDP can only retain power in 2015, if it remains a united house.

    However, a polytechnic teacher, Okechukwu Okereke, said that PDP would lose power, if the President inisists on a second term ambition.

    Okereke, who teaches Public Administration at the Abia State Polytechnic, urged the ruling party to put its house in order.

    Bamgbose said the party will suffer from the heat of the succession battle, if Dr. Jonathan is not made the presidential candidate.

    He described President Jonathan as the best candidate who can retain presidential power for the party because he has the power of incumbency.

    Bamgboye added: “It is obvious that PDP is in crisis and this can be traced to the fact that some governors in the PDP have their eyes on the Presidency in 2015. This is a lawful ambition, but this should not be done in a manner capable of destroying the foundation of the party.

    “The earlier PDP understands that Jonathan holds the ace to the Presidency for them in 2015, the better. Anything short of that is failure. Jonathan remains the man to beat. The merger is not a threat to PDP. 22 rats cannot confront one cat”

    Okereke, who holds a contrary view, said that power should shift to the North, adding that five years are enough for President Jonathan to serve the country.

    He said the nation has given President Jonathan to serve, noting that, apart from completing his predecessor’s term, he was also elected as President in 2011.

    Okereke said: “Given the way we run politics in Nigeria, anything could happen. But under normal circumstances, I would believe that Jonathan would not want to run because, though I am an Ibo man, I do appreciate that the Northerners, if we are to say the truth, need to be given that chance and this is based the fact that Yar’ Adua governed for twoyears and died.

    “But if the President runs, I think it might bring great crisis to PDP and the possibility is that many big wigs in the PDP may move to the All Progressive Congress (APC). That will weaken the PDP. I do not see how Jonathan would win under that circumstance.”

  • PDP’s imminent demise

    SIR: After a long spell of brutal and excessively corrupt military dictatorships, Nigerians peacefully drove the soldiers back to the barracks in 1999 but not until the military ruling class, in collaboration with their civilian counterpart programmed and arranged pseudo electoral contests in which the retreating soldiers formed and financed a party that produced one of them whom could protect their interests.

    And since May 1999, PDP hijacked the political space of Nigeria and it has dished out to Nigerians more than enough of toxic of maladministration, misgovernance, mismanagement and directionlessness in terms of leadership.

    For the past 14 years, Nigeria has been groping in the dark and it is on the verge of collapse. Except the PDP and its current lords are clinically entombed, Nigeria risks violent implosion.

    Jonathan happens to be the worst President in Nigeria so far in terms of cluelessness, colourlessness, ineptitude and incompetence.

     

    • Akinrolabu Tunde,

    lkeji-lle.

  • Court sacks Delta lawmaker

    A Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State, on Friday sacked the member representing Ukwuani constituency in the state House of Assembly, Mr. Alphonsus Ojo, for decamping.

    Ojo was elected to represent his constituency at the April 26, 2011 election on the platform of the Democratic Peoples’ Party (DPP) but decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last year.

    Ojo in his Notice of Summons argued that the DPP was in crisis necessitating his decision to resign his membership of the party.

    But the DPP and Mr. Chukwuma Dafikpaku dragged the lawmaker before the court, claiming that his action violated the provisions of Section 109 (1) g and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and prayed the court to declare the seat vacant.

    In suit number FHC/ASB/CS/129/12, the Delta State House of Assembly, the Speaker of the House and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were joined as defendants.

    Justice C.M.A. Olatoregun-Isiola granted the prayers of the plaintiffs and averred that the second defendant (Speaker of the House) was “under mandatory responsibility to declare the seat of the 3rd defendant (Ojo) vancant.”

    The court also directed the 4th defendant (INEC) to immediately commence the process of conducting fresh election into the Ukwuani constituency seat at the Assembly.

     

  • Court clears Jonathan for 2015 presidential poll

    Court clears Jonathan for 2015 presidential poll

    President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest the presidential election in 2015, a Federal Capital Territory High Court declared on Friday.

    Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi held that his tenure started on May 29, 2011 when he was sworn in after winning the presidential election and not earlier.

    A card carrying member of Peoples Democratic Party from Zuba Ward in Abuja, Cyriacus Njoku, had approached the court following a statement credited to the President that he is serving his first term in office.

    According to him, Jonathan cannot be a candidate in 2015 because he is running a second term in office.

    The respondents in the suit are Jonathan, the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The plaintiff also sought for a perpetual order of injunction to stop PDP from nominating Jonathan for the election, and INEC from accepting his name as a presidential candidate.

    Delivering judgment in the suit, Justice Oniyangi observed that Jonathan only ascended to power in May 6, 2010 by the doctrine of necessity pronounced by the National Assembly following the death of the then President, late Umaru Musa Yar’adua.

    He said this could not be misconstrued as his first term in office.

    Describing the suit as speculative, the court held that the plaintiff failed to establish the fact that the Jonathan had declared for the 2015 presidential election.

     

  • 2015: PDP hails ruling on Jonathan

    2015: PDP hails ruling on Jonathan

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the ruling by the Federal Capital Territory High Court that President Goodluck Jonathan is constitutionally free to contest the 2015 Presidential election as yet another victory for the nation’s democracy.

    In a statement shortly after the ruling on Friday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh said the judgment has laid to rest debates on whether or not the President is constitutionally eligible to contest the 2015 election, adding that it now depends on the party and Nigerians to decide when the time comes.

    Stating that the court ruling has “freed the nation from the shackles of intimidation and harassment by some desperate elements seeking to impose themselves on Nigerians”, the party said the judiciary has also restated the freedom and right of every Nigerian to seek any office under the constitution.

    The statement reads: “The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) applauds the ruling by the Federal Capital Territory High Court that President Goodluck Jonathan, as a Nigerian, has the constitutionally guaranteed right to seek re-election in 2015.

    “This landmark ruling is yet another victory for the nation’s democracy. It has laid to rest the unnecessary debate on whether or not the President is constitutionally eligible to seek re-election in 2015.

    “The court held that President Jonathan is in his first term, which commenced on May 29, 2011 and thus is free to seek a second term in office in the 2015 general election under the platform of the PDP or any other political party.

    “The import of this judgment is that it is now left for the PDP as a party and Nigerians to decide, through legitimate processes, whether or not to return President Jonathan to the Presidency in 2015 if he indicates interest.

    “With the ruling, it is now left for the President, the PDP and the people to decide and not for some people to try to stop others from exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights through intimidation and harassment.”

    The party appealed to Nigerians to continue to be law abiding and resist all attempts by “desperate politicians” to truncate the system through the distortion of the facts of the law.

    Metuh assured that the party will continue to focus on the welfare of Nigerians in line with the transformation agenda of the administration.

     

  • Agbaje denies joining PDP

    Afenifere chieftain Mr. Jimi Agbaje has denied media reports that he has joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State.

    The former governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) dissociated himself from the report, saying it was the antics of “spin doctors”.

    He admitted that prominent Nigerians have been mounting pressure on him to join their parties, but he said he has not joined any party.

    Agbaje said: “I have not joined any party. Some people are spinning. People have been coming to me to join their parties, but I have not joined any party.”

     

  • Knocks for Edo PDP chair over tour

    A  group, Edo is in Safe Hands, has accused the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Dan Orbih, of insincerity.

    A statement by the group’s coordinator, Washington Osa Osifo, said Orbih goofed when he said: “the Edo State Government had no project to showcase to the visiting Good Governance Team”.

    Osifo said: “For Orbih to say there is nothing to show in Edo is insincere, what about the road leading to his village? Is it not dualised? Can’t he see water flowing in his village at Ogbonna, right at his family house?

    “The two primary schools (Imaikene and Oboarekpe primary schools) in his village have been reconstructed with modern facilities. Can’t he see or feel?

    “The roads from Ekperi to Anegbete are almost completed and that means it is no longer a difficult terrain and yet he cannot attest to these projects.

    “We are not in a unitary system of government. The Adams Oshiomhole-led administration does not need the Federal Government to help showcase what it has achieved.

    “It is the people in Edo State who will determine that and not a group from Abuja.”