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Tag: PDP

  • BOT meets to reposition PDP

    BOT meets to reposition PDP

    Members of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are about to begin a crucial meeting in Abuja over possibilities of reporting the party.

    Already some of the party’s BOT members from various States have started arriving the party’s national secretariat in Abuja where the meeting is scheduled to take place this afternoon.

    Read Also: PDP panel recommends political solution to Edo crisis

    Early arrivals at the venue include the former Kaduna Governor Ahmed Makarfi, who is also a former acting National Chairman of the party;  former Sokoto Governor Attahiru Bafarawa; Mrs. Josephine Annenih; firmer Osun Governor Olahunsoye Oyonlola and former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido.  

    The acting National Chairman, Alhaji Ilyas Damagun and the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum Bala Mohammed are at the venue.

    “A vote of confidence in the acting National Chairman is very likely today,” a party member told The Nation.

  • PDP Govs lament rising cost of living

    PDP Govs lament rising cost of living

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors on Monday described the rising cost of living in the nation as worrisome. 

    They met at the Oyo Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja during which they addressed the economic and security challenges the country is facing. 

    The Governors called on the security agencies to tackle the growing insecurity, urging the Federal Government to tackle the declining value of the naira.

    The Chairman of the Forum and Bauchi Governor, Bala Mohammed, said: “What we are doing is providing constructive criticism of the Federal Government’s objectionable policies.

    “But at the beginning of this administration, we supported the removal of subsidy. We believed that there were safeguards in place and that if we made collective decisions, we should abide by them. However, we have now witnessed a free fall of the naira.

    “The cost of living is skyrocketing and we are almost on the road to becoming like Venezuela. So, we are offering concrete opposition without insulting anybody. Ultimately, the decision rests squarely with Nigerians and other organs in the country to ensure that we take actions that will bring relief to all of us.”

    Read Also: PDP will win next year’s governorship election, says Afenifere scribe

    Mohammed said that the APC-led Federal Government and the PDP Governors will collaborate closely to bring some relief to the general populace.

    “The rising cost of living is not solely the responsibility of the Federal Government. We have been collaborating with them to ensure that we avoid any distractions, but the monetary and economic policies are squarely the responsibility of the Federal Government,” he noted.

    Governors in attendance were Vice-Chairman PDP Governors Forum Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa); Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau); Dauda Lawal (Zamfara); Kefas Agbu (Taraba); Godwin Obaseki (Edo); Enugu and Delta Deputy Governors.

  • JUST IN: Kefas, Obaseki, others arrive as PDP govs hold crucial meeting in Abuja

    JUST IN: Kefas, Obaseki, others arrive as PDP govs hold crucial meeting in Abuja

    Governors Agbu Kefas of Taraba, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, and Godwin Obaseki of Edo arrived at the Oyo state Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja for a meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum.

    Also in attendance are Caleb Mutfwang, Governor of Plateau State, Ifeanyi Ossai, Deputy Governor of Enugu State, and Monday John Onyeme, Deputy Governor of Delta State.

    Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed leads the PDP Governors’ Forum.

    Read Also: PDP will win next year’s governorship election, says Afenifere scribe

    Topics for discussion include the current economic challenges and security situation in the country, the upcoming Edo State Governorship Election, the party’s February 22 primary, the National Executive Council Meeting, and other party-related matters.

    Details shortly…

  • PDP will win next year’s governorship election, says Afenifere scribe

    PDP will win next year’s governorship election, says Afenifere scribe

    Secretary General of Afenifere, Chief Sola Ebiseni, has predicted victory for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in next year’s governorship election in Ondo State.

    Chief Ebiseni, who is an aspirant of the PDP, said signs were clear that Ondo State residents have rejected the ruling All Progressives Congress.

    Ebiseni said any candidate that emerged at the PDP primary would win the election.

    Speaking to journalists at the Akure Airport, Chief Ebiseni said the state has become inept and rudderless under the APC.

    He noted that Ondo State has shown uniqueness in the election of its governors.

    Ebiseni stated that past governors of the state were mentored by the Afenifere and their vision was determined by its intellectually grounded philosophy.

    Read Also: Soludo, Kefas, Nnamani, Uba, others in Anambra for Offor’s birthday

    According to him “Nothing is happening here now, not even with the extra billions released to the state on account of the fuel subsidy removal. All the inherited people-oriented progressive programmes of the previous administrations in health, education,  environment, and community development,  have either been abandoned or bastardised.

    “The buses acquired by the Mimiko administration for free movement as part of its salutary education policy were misused and abandoned by the present administration. After much public pressure, they were recently brought out without the decency of being repainted.

    “Such special agencies of development, like OSOPADEC, established by the visions of the Adefarati administration cannot point to a single project in eight years, our forest resources developed since Western Region and continually regenerated by past governments are continually and wantonly depleted. The truth is that the people are fed up with the APC in its government in Ondo State.

  • Court orders pasting of processes on Atiku’s ex-aide’s case in PDP secretariat 

    Court orders pasting of processes on Atiku’s ex-aide’s case in PDP secretariat 

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the service of documents in respect of a suit by former aide to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar against on the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja.

    Justice Bolaji Olajuwon gave the order on Thursday in a ruling on an ex-parte motion for substituted service filed by the plaintiff, Otunba Segun Sowunmi.

    Sowunmi’s lawyer, Anderson Asemota told the court his client was having problem effecting service on six  out of the eight defendants in the suit.

    Justice Olajuwon ordered the plaintiff to serve the suit’s originating processes on the second to seven defendants and adjourned till March 4 for report of service.

    In the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/70/2024, Sowunmi wants the court to among others restrain PDP’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum and other national leaders of the PDP from further acting in their official capacities given their alleged failure to convene the mandatory National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for over a year now.

    He stated that since the meeting was last held on September 8, 2022, during the tenure of the sacked Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, the new leadership under Damagum has failed to convene NEC meetings to enable its members to review the party’s activities, take critical decisions and plan for future elections, despite demands by concerned party members.

    Listed with Damagum as defendants in the suit are the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary), Umar Nature (National Organizing Secretary), Okechukwu Daniel (National Auditor), Ahmed Yayari (National Treasurer), Muhammed Kadade (National Youth Leader) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Sowumi is contending that not only did the failure of the party’s leadership to hold NEC meeting violate the party’s constitution, it is inimical to the progress of the party and threatens his fortune and those of other members, who plan to contest future election

    He stated, in a supporting affidavit that since the party participated in the last governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states, the reports of the elections have not been presented to the party as required.

    Read Also: Edo PDP demands cancellation of delegates’ election results

    He added that elections are coming up in Edo and Ondo state elections and the party needs to also plan and prepare ahead, “which preparation and planning can only be done at the meeting of the members of the NEC.

    Sowumi stated that “by the provisions of Articles 31(2)(4) &(5) of the party’s constitution, Damagum and leaders of the PDP “are obligated to call for or cause to be called and held quarterly or at the request of one-third of members of the NEC of the PDP the meeting of the NEC of the PDP at which they shall present proposed guidelines and regulations governing the conduct of elections to the party offices at all levels, and procedure of selecting party candidates for elective offices to the members of the NEC.

    He added that “there are other critical issues which the party need to discuss during the NEC meeting.

    “The NEC is saddled with the responsibility of fixing and approving the date for the party’s National Convention which is the highest decision-making organ of the party.

    “The NEC is the organ that would determine when the convention will hold, organize and what will transpire there.

    “By their conduct and actions aforesaid the 2nd to 7th defendants are acting in breach and violation of the constitution of the 1st defendant (PDP) and the provision of the Electoral Act, 2022 which may have fatal consequences for the smooth and continuous running of the 1st defendant as a political party in Nigeria,” he said.

    Sowunmi wants the court to among others, issue an order of perpetual injunction restraining Damagum and others, including their agents “from functioning or continuing to function or discharge the functions of their offices until they call for or cause to be called and held meeting of the NEC of the PDP in total fidelity and obeisance to the PDP constitution.”

    He also wants the court to order the party’s leadership “to immediately call for or cause to be called and held the meeting of the National Executive Committee of the PDP to present the activities of the party from the date of the last NEC meeting which was held on 8th September, 2022.”

    The plaintiff is equally seeking an order directing Damagum and others “to immediately call for or cause to be called and held the meeting of the NEC of the PDP to present the proposed guidelines and regulations governing the conduct of elections to the party offices at all levels and procedure for selecting party candidates for elective offices to the members of the NEC.”

  • Edo PDP demands cancellation of delegates’ election results

    Edo PDP demands cancellation of delegates’ election results

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has called for the cancellation of the outcome of wards delegates’ election held last Saturday.

    This is contained in a statement by the Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ogie Vasco, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday.

    Vasco said the call for the cancellation became imperative in view of what transpired on that day.

    He said what transpired was not a true reflection of the PDP congress in the state.

    Read Also: Dollarisation: EFCC raises 14 task forces, arrests racketeers

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has called for the cancellation of the outcome of wards delegates’ election held last Saturday.

    This is contained in a statement by the Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ogie Vasco, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday.

    Vasco said the call for the cancellation became imperative in view of what transpired on that day.

    He said what transpired was not a true reflection of the PDP congress in the state.

  • PDP tasks FG on current hardship in Nigeria

    PDP tasks FG on current hardship in Nigeria

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government to take urgent steps to tackle the hardship being faced by Nigerians.

    The PDP said this in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Ologunagna condemned the attempt by the APC to politicize the protest by Nigerians over the hardship in the country.

    He said it was the constitutional right of Nigerians to protest in the face of poverty, hunger, killings and other harrowing experiences.

    Ologunagba said the best would be for the APC led government to listen to the people and offer solutions to Nigerians, who could no longer meet their daily meets.

    He said any government with idea of macro-economic policy management ought to know that increase in the pump price of petroleum products would lead to consequences on the economy.

    He said that the same apply to high cost of electricity and arbitrary floating of the naira as as being witnessed in the country.

    He said that the productive sector was being crippled with 28 per cent inflation rate, crashing of the naira from N167 to over N1,500 to a dollar.

    Read Also: I can collapse PDP, LP in Edo, Charles Arhiavbere boasts

    Ologunagba added that closure of millions of businesses and exodus of international companies from Nigeria also resulted in the distress 41 per cent unemployment rate and unbearable pressure on millions of families across the country.

    He said that thousands of Nigeria promising youths had left the country in droves due to killings, kidnapping and other acts of terrorism ravaging the country without concrete action plan and policies to address them.

    “The APC must understand and come to terms with the fact that there is frustration in the land because of the suffocating economic and social policies; laidback attitude to security and massive corruption in the Tinubu administration,” he said.

    (NAN)

  • Edo PDP ward congress: Nine electoral officers still missing

    Edo PDP ward congress: Nine electoral officers still missing

    Nine electoral officers that were kidnapped on Sunday during the ad-hoc congress in Edo State’s 192 wards, for election of delegates for the February 22 governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are still missing.

    Edo Chairman of PDP, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, yesterday during a news conference at the state secretariat of the party on Airport Road, Benin, urged the kidnappers to release the nine persons unconditionally and without being injured.

    Aziegbemi also called on security agencies in Edo to ensure the quick release of the victims, and arrest of the gunmen, who should be prosecuted, to act as a deterrent to others.

    The nine persons were seized on their way to Etsako Central Local Government in Edo North Senatorial District.

    The Edo chairman of PDP, who was accompanied to the news conference by the party’s state Organising Secretary, Tony Anenih Jr., said in view of the ugly incident, the ward congress in Etsako Central Local Government, which could have produced 31 of the 594 delegates statewide, was cancelled.

    Read Also: Edo 2024: APC prunes 29 governorship aspirants to four

    He called on the nine aggrieved governorship aspirants on PDP’s platform in Edo to table their grievances before the appeal panel to be headed by a former Bayelsa Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West Senatorial District.

    Aziegbemi said members of the appeal panel of PDP would sit in Benin on February 7.

    He said: “Sunday’s ward congress in Edo State was transparent and credible. I have been a member of PDP since it was formed in 1998. I have never seen a well-organised, fair and peaceful election in the history of PDP in Nigeria, as the Sunday’s ward congress in Edo State.

    “The ward collation centres recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were used for the ad-hoc congress, with PDP members asked to be at the centres with their party’s membership cards and voter cards, to ensure transparency, authenticity and credibility.”

    Edo PDP chairman hailed Governor Godwin Obaseki for the transparent ward congress, and commended the efforts of the representatives of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the main opposition party that were in the state for the exercise.

    Police spokesman in Edo, Chidi Nwabuzor, a Superintendent of Police (SP), could not be reached at press time, on the fate of the nine kidnapped electoral officers.

  • We are studying Ondo by-election results, says PDP

    We are studying Ondo by-election results, says PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State said its legal team and experts have commenced studying the results announced by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the bye-election held in Akoko NorthEast/Akoko Northwest federal constituency.

    The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ifeoluwa Ehindero, was declared the winner after polling 35,504 votes to defeat Bada Olalekan of the People Democratic Party (PDP), who for 15,328 votes.

    The PDP said the outcome of the investigation would determine its next line of action.

    It said the bye-election was held without any loss of life and significant violence apart from places like Oyin-Akoko where it said its supporters were intimidated to vote APC.

    The spokesman for the Ondo PDP, Kennedy Peretei, said the party combed all the nooks and crannies, campaigning door to door for its candidate and the responses it received were reassuring but also.

    Peretei stated that the support from the people was not unconnected with the age-long understanding and rotational agreement between Akoko North East and Akoko North West.

    He said the arrangement favoured Akoko North East where its candidate hails from.

    “However, two days to the election, the APC which relied on the government and the people’s fund in their custody stormed the homes of party leaders and other individuals with the sole aim of changing their minds.

    Read Also: PDP candidate slams Imo govt over Ohaji explosion

    “Our party wishes to salute all those who in spite of financial inducement and promise of political patronage, stood their grounds and voted according to their conscience. Those who did otherwise have only posterity to contend with.

    “In the last seven years, the APC has brought hunger and lack into homes. Poverty walks on all four legs in the state. Such a party can only use hunger as a weapon to garner votes which is what happened in this case.

    “It is not the case that, the PDP did not offer options but the people made their choices. Therefore, nobody should weep for the PDP, let us reserve our tears for our democracy which is gradually reducing the space for honest labour and elections based on performance instead of stomach infrastructure.”

  • PDP candidate slams Imo govt over Ohaji explosion

    PDP candidate slams Imo govt over Ohaji explosion

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 11, 2023 election in Imo State, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of negligence, leading to the unfortunate, but avoidable explosion in Obitti community, Ohaji Egbema Local Government.

    The explosion was a result of illegal bunkering.

    The Nation reports that vandals had gone to a rubber estate in Othe bitti community and attempted to tamper with the oil by digging through an oil pipeline. In an attempt to steal the oil, the pipeline caught fire and killed several persons.

    Anyanwu, the national secretary of PDP, blamed the Governor Hope Uzodimma administration for not protecting oil pipelines.

    He said unemployment level, insecurity, the state’s financial status and Uzodimma’s lackadaisical attitude towards the well-being of the citizens offered oil thieves undue privilege to wreak havoc in Obitti community where many people were feared killed.

    Read Also: Tinubu: Presidency blasts Atiku, describes ex-VP as new opposition-in-chief

    Commiserating with the bereaved families and the people of Ohaji Egbema in general, Anyanwu, in a statement yesterday by his Media Adviser, Ikenna Onuoha, advised the state government to provide security, particularly along pipelines, to prevent recurrence.

    “This administration in our state is ill-prepared and non-proactive. It is on record that since it came on board, there has been wide outcry, disenchantment, poverty, starvation and insecurity in virtually every part of the state. While Imo people barely struggle to escape from these challenges, it will be improper for the same government to allow oil thieves to continue to create pandemonium in the oil rich communities in Ohaji Egbema Oguta and its environs where lives and properties are consumed.”

    Anyanwu, an erstwhile Senate Committee Chairman on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, decried the rate of negative stories involving Imo State since the inception of the Uzodimma-led APC administration.

    The PDP national secretary urged security agencies to “nip this ugly trend in the bud.”

    He also advised youths to be law-abiding, enjoining monarchs to take charge of communities by setting up viable vigilance outfits that would monitor movements of strange persons within their domains.