Tag: PDP

Ten out of the 13 governors elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) arrived in Enugu, the Enugu State capital for the party’s Governors Forum meeting.

The meeting, billed for the State Government House, holds today.

The early birds are: Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Umo Eno (Akwa-Ibom); Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta); Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); Godwin Obaseki (Edo); Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau); Agbu Kefas (Taraba) and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).

Others are: Ahmed Fintiri (Adamawa), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers) and the host Peter Mbah.

Three governors –  Ademola Adeleke (Osun); Douye Diri (Bayelsa) and Godwin Obaseki (Edo) were still being expected as of the time of filing this report.

The agenda for the meeting remained unclear last night. But, a Gala and Cultural night was to precede the meeting.

It was learnt that key party leaders, including the Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum will join the governors at the Enugu parley.

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The sources, according to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report, said that governors would most likely deliberate on how to organise successful state congresses nationwide on July 27 ahead of the off-season governorship polls Edo and Ondo states.

They are also expected to review the implications of the recent Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local government as well as the issue of mass defections of top party members in Imo, Abia and Ebonyi states.

Last week, a one-time Senate President, Pius Anyim and others dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Kingsley Chuku, has faulted claims by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, dissociating the PDP from the appeal filed at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, against the ruling of the River State High Court.

PDP in a statement through Ologunagba, said it did not authorise the filing of the appeal against the judgment of Rivers State High Court.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, has ascertained that the party did not file the said appeal neither did it authorise any external solicitor to file same on its behalf,” Ologunagba said.

However, Chuku cited the judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja, which authorised state Legal Adviser of the PDP to appoint legal representation for the party in relation to the activities of the party at the state level.

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He said: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement by the National Publicity Secretary dissociating the party from the appeal filed at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, against the ruling of the High Court of Rivers state. We want to put it on record that the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, in the case of Ambassador Desmond Akawo v. People’s Democratic Party & 2 ORS, delivered on September 20, 2023, had interpreted Article 46(1) of the Constitution of the PDP and declared that the State Legal Adviser is vested with the requisite powers and authority to appoint legal representation for the party in relation to the activities of the party at the state Level.

“It is pertinent to state that the PDP did not appeal against the said judgment till date. I issued the letter of instruction to the counsel who filed processes in the case in question, and I authorised him to file the Notice of Appeal, relying on the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, in the case of Ambassador Desmond Akawo v. Peoples Democratic Party & 2 ORS (Supra).

• Woman leader calls for unity

Some women of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday marched on the national secretariat to demand the probe and removal of the National Woman Leader, Mrs. Amina Darasimi Bryhm.

In a petition to the National Working Committee (NWC), the group of ‘Concerned PDP Members’ accused Mrs. Bryhm of sponsoring marginalisation, covering up sexual harassment and high-handedness against other women factions.

Their leader, Dr. Obianuju Ogoko, said: “Leaders of the PDP, all is not well with the participation of women in the PDP; women in the PDP have become endangered species and no longer feel at home in the party.”

The petition also included a demand for the immediate resignation/suspension of Mrs. Bryhm from the NWC for direct violation of Sections 58, 1(b), (h), (j) and (k) of the party’s constitution, following repeated incidents of harassment and intimidation of party members under her leadership.

The protesters also demanded an investigation of the repeated actions of Adiela Nwosu, who has been doing the bidding of the NWL by intimidating and harassing female party members; and that the NWC should set up a committee to investigate Mrs. Bryhm and give appropriate disciplinary action pursuant to Section 57 of the party’s constitution.

Dr. Ogoko, who noted that ‘a related issue of sexual harassment and intimidation’ is already being investigated by the police, added: “In the last six months, the National Woman Leader, Mrs. Amina Darasimi Bryhm, has allegedly engaged in vicious acts of intimidation, exclusion, harassment and persecution of women in the party, especially those she perceived to be against her emergence as Woman Leader.”

“The NWL is accused of constantly engaging in actions that continue to pitch the party against the women; a situation that brings the party into disrepute, hatred and public contempt.

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“She has been accused by numerous party members of division and using vulnerable young women to intimidate, harass and bully women who she perceives as not supportive of her opinions. Such acts of intimidation, bullying and harassment and factionalisation of the Women Wing has also disrupted the unity, peaceful and efficient conduct of women activities in the party.

“More distressing is that the NWL is accused of encouraging some of her staff to use violence and intimidating actions against the women who she perceives as being against her. She is accused of encouraging of one of the staff, Ms. Adiela Nwosu, to use the police to harass innocent party members, the most recent being a police assault against Ms. Ada Okwori, whose offence is that she contested the position of Woman Leader with her.”

Candidates of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State have been declared winners of the chairmanship election in all the 21 local government areas of the state.

The Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC) announced the result on Sunday, July 14.

The commission, which conducted the election on Saturday, July 13, released the results in the later hours of Sunday, giving the names of the chairman-elect for each of the LGAs.

The main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) did not participate in the election after criticisng the constitution of ADSIEC, saying they could not trust the commission to conduct a credible poll.

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The commission said it could not force any party to present candidates, and had gone ahead to conduct the election after screening candidates presented by 12 political parties.

The chairmen-elect as relseased by ADSIEC, preceded by their respective council areas, include Demsa LGA: Akham Jaloh; Fufore LGA: Shuaibu Babas; Ganye: Farouk Mohammed; Girei: Adamu Umaru Dala; Gombi: Mark Ishaya; Guyuk: Kassah D. Shalom; Hong: Inuwa Usman; and Jada: Salihu Mahmud Sa’o

The others are Lamurde: Bulus Daniel; Madagali: Simon Musa Shashi; Maiha: Abubakar Mustapha; Mayo Belwa: Umar Nashong; Michika: Dan Biyu Paul Tumba; Mubi North: Musa Hassan; Mubi South: Hamidu A Jingi; Numan: Innocent Koto; Shelleng: Abubakar Musa Abba; Song: Idris Yahaya; Toungo: Sulaiman Gangkuba; Yola North: Jibril Ibrahim; and Yola South: Salihu Usman Malkoh.

A 32-Year-Old wanted acclaimed thug of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode Owoeye aka Bode Itapa has applauded the Osun State Police Command for doing diligent work that led to his arrest.

Owoeye was declared wanted by the Police in 2022 for electoral killings and cultism, but he was arrested two years later.

While parading Owoeye for murder and cultism at Osun State Police Command, he confessed, “I am a thug working for PDP, I have never killed anybody in my life but I used to drive vehicle or motorcycle to convey my other team(members) to the scene where they kill.

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“During cultism war, we used to kill ourselves (sic), they have killed about five people in my presence. It was Solo Iwara that used to kill people and he was the one that engaged me. Solo is working with a federal lawmaker.

“I want to appreciate the Osun State Police Command, the Anti-Kidnapping Squad for doing their work efficiently well to arrest me.

“My arrest will teach my other counterparts lessons that the government can arrest anybody. I applaud their commander, Moses for a job well done including the Investigating Police Officer on my case, Mr Ipoola. I regret my actions.”

The crisis rocking the Ebonyi chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remained unabated as the party’s former governorship aspirant, Christian Usulor, resigned his membership of the party. 

The three term former member

of Ebonyi State Assembly, who represented Ezza South state Constituency between 2011 to 2023,

announced his resignation in a letter dated June 8, 2024 to his ward chairman.

The party has been in serious crisis which affected its chances during the 2023 general election.

After the election, many chieftains of the party, dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, as peace was being expected in the party, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, appointed a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the party.

This caused fresh crisis in the party with many bigwigs angrily rejecting the decision and threatening to dump the party

Usulor, in the letter, said the decision to quit the PDP was due to the crisis which led to factionalisation of the party.

He recalled that he had last month issued a one week ultimatum to the national leadership of the party to wade into the crisis and correct the anomalies in the state chapter of the party which were not heeded.

According to him, the national leadership had worsened the crisis in the party by appointing known Members of other political parties into the state caretaker committee, a decision that did not go down well with stakeholders of the party in the state.

He said he took the decision to resign from the Party after due consultation with his followers, supporters, and well-wishers.

The former lawmaker said it will serve no meaningful political interest for himself, political associates and supporters to hold further the membership of the PDP which is fast sinking.

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“As an individual, I have made my modest contribution by working for the growth and development of PDP”, he said. 

The party, he also noted, has equally contributed positively towards the growth of his political fortunes culminating in his representing his constituency for three terms at the state assembly under the banner of the party.

“That is something I will always cherish. I do hope that this my resignation will be accepted in good faith by you and other members of the Party”, 

“I will remain forever grateful to the party and her Leaders from the ward, LGA, state, zonal to National level but it is time to quit”, he said.

Usulor, son of Late Senator Usulor, further noted that his resignation will enable him explore other options that may accommodate his political aspirations and that of his associates and teeming supporters.

On his future political plans, the former Lawmaker noted that he will make his decision known in future after due consultation with his immediate family, political followers and associates.

• No cause for alarm, says group

National Vice Chairman (South South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Dan Orbih has been suspended over alleged counter-moves against the party’s candidate in the September 21 Edo State governorship election.

Chief Orbih, a loyalist of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and leader of the PDP Legacy Group in Edo State, had rejected membership of the state Campaign Council to further emphasise his position that Governor Godwin Obaseki neglected those he met in PDP when he joined in 2020, and that the legacy group would only vote for a candidate who would represent the people’s best interest.

A statement by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, after a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) yesterday indicated that complaints about Orbih’s disposition towards Asue Ighodalo’s candidature and the September 21 election necessitated his suspension.

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Also, a six-man committee headed by the Deputy National Chairman (South) Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, has been set up to investigate Orbih’s utterances and activities.

The statement reads: “The NWC unanimously condemned the embarrassing actions and utterances of Chief Dan Orbih relating to the Edo State governorship primary election. His actions and utterances are inconsistent with the provisions of the party’s constitution and the demand of his office as a national officer.

“Consequently, the NWC has set up a six-member committee to investigate the issue pursuant to the provisions of the party’s constitution.

“In the meantime, the NWC forthwith suspends Chief Dan Orbih from participating in all meetings, activities and programs of the NWC pending the conclusion of investigation…”

However, one of Orbih’s loyalists, who pleaded for anonymity, said the purported suspension is nothing to worry about as Orbih had envisaged such reaction long before now. He added that the crisis began with Governor Obaseki’s attitude towards those he met when he joined the PDP in 2020.

He said: “Chief Dan Orbih is not disturbed at all; those who thought they can ride roughshod over everybody are the ones feeling worried; let us simply wait and see how it all plays out.”

The Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has approved the appointment of principal officers for the Agboola Ajayi Campaign Council for the November 16. governorship poll.

This is contained in a statement issued yesterday in Akure, by the state Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr Kennedy Peretei.

The party had on Monday denounced the composition of a campaign council earlier constituted and announced by its governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi.

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Peretei said Mr Olafeso Olorogun would serve as Chairman, while Mr Clement Faboyede would serve as Director General of the council.

According to him, Mr Deji Aseniserare will be the Secretary of the Campaign Council.

He explained that the full list of the council and date of inauguration would be made public in due course.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has said it is yet to elect a chairman to replace its late former chair, Alhaji Fatai Adams.

It said a purported congratulatory message to a new chairman was fake, baseless, unconstitutional and crafted to create problems where there were none.

Spokesman Kennedy Peretei in a statement said the amended PDP Constitution of 2017 spelt out provisions for replacement of officers, who died or were replaced.

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The statement said: “For all intent and purposes, the fake congratulatory message is mutinous and a calculated attempt to undermine efforts at rallying support for the PDP governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, in the November election.

“The tenure of the present State Executive Committee of the party expires on August 3, 2024. Those who are desirous of assuming responsibilities for party positions are advised to wait.”