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Tag: PDP

  • Akoko by-election: PDP, APC renew rivalry

    Akoko by-election: PDP, APC renew rivalry

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are set for battle in next week’s by-election for the Akoko North-East/Akoko Northwest federal constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

    It is an election political analysts have said would be a litmus test for the November governorship election.

    A total of eight politcal parties fielded candidates for the by-election but it would be a two-horse race between the PDP and the APC.

    The seat was won by the APC candidate, Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in last year’s general election. 

    It became vacant fowoing the appointment of Tunji-Ojo as Minister  of Interior.

    Political parties that fielded candidates are the Action Alliance, Aliyu Ajewole , All Progressives Congress (APC) – Ehindero Ifeoluwa, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) – Adesuyi Victoria Alaba and Action Peoples Party , Ajagunla Olanrewaju A, the Labour Party – Abass Arisekola, New Nigeria Peoples Party – Akadiri Mukaila Olusola, Peoples Democratic Party – Olalekan Bada and the Social Democratic Party – Ogunleye Muritala Idowu.

    Checks showed that a total of 145,755 registered voters are in the federal constituency.

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    The election would hold in 23 wards across 329 polling units.

    Further checks showed that 74,564 voters collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Akoko North East, while 71,191 collected PVCs in Akoko North-West.

    Both local government areas are stronghold of the ruling APC but the PDP has vowed to reclaim it.

    The spokesman for the Ondo PDP, Kennedy Peretei, said the party would use the by-election to show the world that the party ‘is alive and kicking in Ondo.’

    “We are going yo have victory at the polls. We have written to President Bola Tinubu to ensure INEC and security agents do their work. Let the vote counts.and the world will know the PDP is strong and popular in this state. The people are angry. They will show their anger against the APC in that election. We are doing House to house campaign to ensure we mobilise voters to the field.

    “For this election, we are going to see a change in the narrative. They will know the difference is clear this time if the APC bank on their previous victories in the area.”

    However, the spokesman for the Ondo APC, Alex Kalejaiye, could not be reached for comments.

  • Atiku’s ex-aide asks court to restrain PDP’s national chairman, other leaders

    Atiku’s ex-aide asks court to restrain PDP’s national chairman, other leaders

    The Federal High Court has been asked to stop the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, and other national leaders of the party from further acting in their capacities owing to their alleged violation of the party’s constitution.

    The request forms a major relief in a suit filed by a former aide to Atiku Abubakar, who was the spokesman of the PDP during the last general elections and a former gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State, Otunba Segun Sowumi.

    In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/70/2024, Sowumi accused the national leadership of the party of hampering its fortune in future elections by failing to hold the mandatory National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party to enable its members to review the party’s activities, take critical decisions and plan for future elections.

    Showumi, who 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 Umar Damagum has allegedly refused to convene NEC meeting despite demands by concerned party members.

    The plaintiff stated that not only did the failure to hold the NEC meeting violate the party’s constitution, but it was inimical to the progress of the party and threatened his fortune and those of other members, who plan to contest future elections.

    He wants the court to among others, issue an order of perpetual injunction restraining Damagum and other national leaders, 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.”

    Sowumi, in the suit filed by his lawyer, Anderson Asemota, 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.”

    He 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.”

    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, in a supporting affidavit, stated 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.

    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: “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: “There are other critical issues that the party needs 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 determines 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.

    “It is now necessary to construe the relevant provisions of the law and the 1st to 7th defendants viz-a-viz the provisions of the constitution of the 1st defendant to determine the existence and extent of the jural rights of the parties in conformity with their own law, in the interest of justice, law, and order.

    “All efforts to get the 1st to 7th defendants to call or cause to be called and held a meeting of the NEC have proved abortive as the defendants have woefully failed, refused, and/or neglected to respond to my entreaties viva voce and repeated demands for a NEC meeting as well as the letter written by my solicitors in that regard.”

    Sowumi stated that unless the defendants were compelled by orders of the court, they “will proceed to continue to breach and violate the provisions of the constitution of the 1st defendant which will jeopardize my rights as a member of the party, who is eligible and desirous of running for the office of the national chairman of the PDP which election is slated to hold in the next national convention.

    “The refusal or failure to call or cause to be called and held quarterly or at the request of the members of the NEC of the PDP the meeting of the NEC of the PDP, is in breach or violation of my rights as a member of the 1st defendant.”

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    The plaintiff wants the court to declare among others, that under and by the provisions of Article Articles 31(2)(4)&(5) of the PDP and Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, the 1st to 7th defendants 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 the defendants 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 also wants the court to declare that having failed, refused and/or neglected 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 in which the 8th defendant (INEC) ought to have been invited, the 1st to 7th defendants are in breach of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

  • Ogun APC demands apology from PDP, Adebutu

    Ogun APC demands apology from PDP, Adebutu

    Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its defeated governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, to “apologise publicly for all their political shenanigans against the governor, government and people of Ogun State.”

    Reacting to a publicised congratulatory message purportedly issued by the PDP to APC on the heels of last Friday’s Supreme Court verdict that affirmed the election of Prince Dapo Abiodun as the duly elected governor of Ogun State, which put any doubt or controversy on the governorship election to rest, the APC in a statement by its spokesman, Tunde Oladunjoye, yesterday in Abeokuta, described the said PDP message of congratulation as “hearsay”.

    Oladunjoye said: “We read the message just like any other person or party. We saw it as hearsay. You know nothing is beyond the Ogun PDP, they can still deny authorship of the statement as they have done in the past. They had also said in the past that the olive branch extended to them by peace-loving Governor Abiodun was an insult. Our party is yet to be formally communicated to and PDP’s defeated and loquacious candidate, Ladi Adebutu, is yet to put a call through to our victorious governor, Prince Abiodun.”

    The statement recalled that the defeated deputy governorship candidate of the PDP, Adekunle Akinlade, who contested on the platform of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) against Prince Abiodun and APC in the 2019 governorship election, was the only candidate that failed to congratulate Governor Abiodun to date.

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    “Akinlade pursued his vainglorious governorship ambition desperately from the Tribunal in Abeokuta to the Court of Appeal in Ibadan and finally to the Supreme Court in Abuja and our party and candidate won unanimously at every stage of their perennial litigation. Even after the judgment of the Supreme Court, to date, Akinlade has not congratulated Prince Abiodun.

    “If the disembodied PDP is desirous of congratulating our party and candidate, we believe that a party like the PDP that touts itself as leading opposition party not only in Ogun State but also in Nigeria, needs not to be tutored on the proper route to take and the impression to make on its defeated candidate to make the call to our victorious candidate and governor. We cannot receive such message from the ‘airwaves’.

    “If and when the party and its candidate formally felicitate our party and governor, we will then be sure about it. We are magnanimous in victory. We will only ask the party and its serial contestant to apologise to the people, government and the governor of Ogun State for the childish attacks, libellous statements, insults and decorated falsehood perpetrated against Governor Abiodun, all in the name of politicking and electioneering. Adebutu, under the spur of God-knows-what, insulted almost everybody, the governor especially; even traditional rulers, our revered royal fathers from Yewa land were not spared. So, a flying message of congratulations will not address all that. The man should be bold enough to apologise publicly and rescind all the unprintable name-callings by himself, his party and their led-by-the-nose, cheeky, supporters.”

    “Politics is not an excuse for unfounded allegations, libellous statements and unbridled insults on leaders and our revered traditional rulers. In political combats, there is a level you must not descend to, no matter your frustration or dampened hope. We must not fight like a pig in the gutter, because only God enthrones, and you cannot force yourself on the people. In anyway, Ogun people have demonstrated at the polls that the seat of the governor of the state was not for sale and will never be for sale. It is beyond gambling.

    “On the hints of possible contest in 2027, we advise Ladi Adebutu to first address the allegations of money laundering and vote-buying hanging on his neck and take a deserved rest. He should take time to look after his health, which he claimed took him on medical vacation abroad for about eight months. Health is wealth; Adebutu should take proper diagnosis and treatment of his undisclosed ailments. We wish him good health and advise that he should place premium on solving his health challenges. It is only God and the people of Ogun State that will determine the governor of Ogun State in 2027. It is too early for Ladi Adebutu to embark on another visionless voyage of political misadventure. Man shall not live by contesting elections all the time.

    “Finally, we must thank the people of Ogun State for voting for our party and candidate;  for keeping faith with us all through the months of distractions by the unpopular rabble rousers,” the party said.

  • Edo 2024: Group urges PDP’s zonal chairman Orbih to embrace peace

    Edo 2024: Group urges PDP’s zonal chairman Orbih to embrace peace

    The Edo South Vanguard for Equity and Justice (ESVEJ) has urged the National Vice Chairman, Southsouth, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih, a former Edo State Chairman of PDP, but at loggerheads with Governor Godwin Obaseki, to embrace peace.

    It accused Orbih, one of the allies of a former Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), of allegedly fanning the embers of disaffection and disunity in Edo PDP, by using unprintable words on a leading governorship aspirant of the party, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.

    The group stated that the zonal chairman referring to Ighodalo, an outstanding Lagos-based lawyer, as a stranger and somebody who had just joined the PDP, did not demonstrate the true love and unity which the party was known for, over the years.

    ESVEJ, yesterday through its Coordinator, Pastor Johnson Adole, noted that it was condemnable of Orbih to state that Edo PDP delegates would not support Ighodalo, whom he (Orbih) described as an aspirant who joined the party yesterday, and being backed by Obaseki.

    The group asked PDP’s national vice chairman, Southsouth, to name the delegates he had control over, while maintaining that the ex-chairman of the party (PDP) in Edo could only control delegates from his compound in his village.

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    It said: “We watch in total dismay and astonishment, the National Vice Chairman, Southsouth, of our great party, the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, speaking to a group of party faithful in his living room, while speaking with so much bitterness, and he openly attacked Governor Godwin Obaseki, accusing him (Obaseki) of imposing Asue Ighodalo on the party.

    “We, as a group, have concluded that the respected leader (Orbih) should embrace peace and allow the unity currently being experienced in the PDP in Edo State to continue.

    “Governor Godwin Obaseki is not imposing any aspirant on the PDP in Edo State. We are urging the performing Edo governor not to dignify Chief Orbih’s unprovoked attacks with any response, while continuing to stay focused on his efforts at transforming Edo State, in order not to be distracted.

    “Dr. Asue Ighodalo has the right to aspire for any position in Nigeria, and of course in Edo State as well, being a free born citizen of the state. Chief Orbih has no monopoly over PDP’s delegates in Edo. So, he does not have the power that he is arrogating to himself.”

    ESVEJ also stated that the zonal chairman was known to be openly moving against Edo governorship of Esan extraction, thereby negating the doctrine of equity, justice and fairness, which the group stood for.

    It said: “Chief Orbih should be advised to allow peace to be sustained in Edo PDP, as he is a known politician who loves being in opposition, even when his own party is in government. Chief Orbih should stop creating divisions in the PDP in Edo State, by opting for ‘Legacy Coalition’ in Edo PDP, which actually does not exist.

    “We are committed to the aspiration of Dr. Ighodalo, who hails from Ewohimi in Esan Southeast Local Government Area, Edo Central Senatorial District, as we support the governorship moving to Edo Central, having stayed in Edo South for eight years, and earlier eight years in Edo North.

    “We are calling on the good people of Edo State, particularly PDP’s delegates from Edo South Senatorial District, to ignore the ranting of Chief Orbih, a politician who has lost relevance in Edo politics, right from his ward.”

    The group also called on the national leadership of PDP to call to order, the party’s national vice chairman, Southsouth, declaring that no individual should act as if he or she was bigger than the party.

  • Edo 2024: Why PDP stakeholders picked Ighodalo as consensus aspirant, by Ikimi

    Edo 2024: Why PDP stakeholders picked Ighodalo as consensus aspirant, by Ikimi

    The chairman of the special committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Edo Central Senatorial District, Chief Tom Ikimi, disclosed on Sunday, January 14, in Benin that the committee engaged in consultations with seven governorship aspirants before selecting Lagos-based lawyer, Asue Ighodalo, as the consensus aspirant for the district.

    Ikimi emphasized that these consultations included meetings with 22 traditional rulers, numerous PDP leaders, and other stakeholders in the Edo Central senatorial district.

    The governorship aspirants in Edo Central senatorial district consulted by the committee were Senator Clifford Ordia, John Yakubu, Martin Uhumoibhi, Friday Itulah, Anselm Ojezua, Marcus Onobun, and Asue Ighodalo.

    Ikimi disclosed that Felix Akhabue, who was not part of the seven aspirants, sent an apology to the committee while stating that he was in Northern Nigeria at the time of the consultation.

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    He pointed out that Ighodalo was chosen as Edo Central senatorial district’s sole aspirant for the party’s governorship primary election on February 22, 2024, following his overwhelming support from co-aspirants and stakeholders in the district.

    The chairman of the special committee, while presenting the report to the Chairman of Edo Central PDP Caucus/Senatorial PDP Chairman, Archbishop Anthony Okosun, stated that the committee’s members were given the mandate to meet and interact with governorship aspirants in Edo Central, with a view to screening and recommending the best aspirant for the senatorial caucus for adoption.

    He disclosed that members of the committee, who commenced sitting with the tour of the five local government areas in Esanland/Edo Central senatorial district on November 15, 2023, concluded their mission on January 10, 2024, after sitting for six times.

    The PDP’s national leader also urged members of the party in Edo Central and other parts of Edo state to continue to give peace a chance and shun violence, ahead of the September 21, 2024 crucial governorship poll.

  • Edo PDP Central to screen aspirants

    Edo PDP Central to screen aspirants

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo Central District is set for the screening of governorship aspirants in the zone for the off-season poll.

    Although the exercise was meant to be held last week, it was postponed,  following a meeting at the Igueben home of the party elder, Chief Tom Ikimi, who chairs the screening committee.

    Aspirants include Anselm Ojiezua, a lawyer, Senator Clifford Ordia, John Yakubu, Amb. Martins Uhomoibhi and Asue Ighodalo, a lawyer. 

    Ikimi thanked the aspirants for their commitments to the interest of the party and Esan people.

    He read a letter addressed to the committee by one of the aspirants,  Marcus Onobun that he had stepped down for Ighodalo. 

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    An aspirant, Felix Akhabue, was absent at the meeting.

    He asked the aspirants to address the committee on the outcomes of their further consultations.

    Ojiezua said he was still consulting and waiting for the outcome of the decision of the committee.

    Ordia said in the interest of the party, personal sacrifices must be made. 

    He said he had decided to support the ambition of Ighodalo

    Yakubu said he needed time to consult before communicating his decision to the committee.

    Uhomoibhi also asked for more time for consultation before making his position known. 

    He expressed confidence in the committee to make the right decision.

    Ighodalo thanked the committee for the personal sacrifices and pledged his continuous alignment with the committee.

  • It’s not over for PDP in Nigeria – Chieftain

    It’s not over for PDP in Nigeria – Chieftain

    Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, a Lagos PDP chieftain and former member, Atiku Abubakar 2023 presidential campaign council, says there is still hope for the main opposition party in Nigeria.

    Pearse, a former PDP national chairmanship aspirant and gubernatorial candidate in Lagos state, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that things were not as bad as they were being made to look in the party.

    He said: “PDP is not done yet. It is not over for PDP in Nigeria. When you look at the national landscape, PDP still remains very strong number two at the National Assembly.

    “APC has about 20 governors, we have about 14 governors while other parties have two.

    “If we go to the national assembly, we are very strong number two with maybe 38 per cent to 40 per cent of members.”

    Pearse, however, said  the PDP’s strength in Lagos state is a different issue, as Labour Party had displaced PDP to emerge a distant number two to the ruling APC.

    “We have lost a lot of ground in Lagos,” he said.

    Pearse, however, said the fortune of PDP would revive once the party completed her mid-term congress for the emergence of substantive national leadership.

    “Part of our problems now is that we don’t have a substantive national chairman. We really don’t have a party leader, that is the problem.

    “Once we get a substantive national chairman in our mid-term congress, the party will move forward,” he said.

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    He urged the party to be more aggressive in constructive criticisms of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

    Pearse said that though the PDP’s national secretariat was doing a bit of this, all the state chapters of the party should be doing same and be more aggressive about it to give live to the main opposition party.

    “We must be speaking on behalf of the people. It is the opportunity to make the party look good.

    “All the flaws of the incumbent, we can expose and tell the people what the party will do if given the opportunity to represent them.

    “We should just keep hope alive, keep getting ready and planning toward the  2027 general elections,” he said.

    (NAN)

  • Our chairman remains suspended, Ondo PDP tells national secretariat

    Our chairman remains suspended, Ondo PDP tells national secretariat

    The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that its State Chairman, Fatai Adams, remains suspended.

    It described the comments by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, as embarrassing.

    The Ondo PDP said the comments about developments in the party in Ondo State contradicted the party’s constitution, as amended.

    In a statement in Akure, the state capital, the chapter’s spokesman Kennedy Peretei argued that all levels of the party have powers to discipline erring members of their Executive, whether at the ward, local government, state or zonal levels.

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    “The State Chairman, Fatai Adams, is a member of the State Working Committee (SWC) and can, therefore, be sanctioned in the face of his activities with flagrant disregard for SWC decisions. To this end, the suspension of Fatai Adams stays.

    “Unfortunately, Ologunagba, who is from Ondo State, appears not to have up-to-date information about the party in Ondo State. If he did, he would have been the last person to issue such a misleading statement.

    “Nine out of the 11 State Working Committee (SWC) members signed the suspension letter. That alone is a confirmation that Fatai Adams has overstayed his usefulness as state chairman.

    “Finally, we wish to reiterate that by the provisions of our Constitution, every level of the party can discipline any officer of the party at that level.

    “Therefore, Ologunagba’s personal opinion should not be misconstrued as the provisions of our constitution.”

  • JUST IN: Crisis hits Ondo PDP as SWC sacks state chairman

    JUST IN: Crisis hits Ondo PDP as SWC sacks state chairman

    Crisis has hit the Ondo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the February’s bye-election for Akoko Northwest/Akoko Northeast Federal Constituency seat.

    The crisis escalated on Tuesday, January 2, when the State Working Committee sacked state chairman of the party, Hon Fatai Adams.

    In a statement issued at the end of the Ondo PDP SWC meeting and signed by nine members, the SWC said Adams was removed in pursuant to section 58(1b. c, f. h. and i) of the party’s Constitution as amended in 2017.

    The statement said Adams was removed for anti party activities and engaging in activities likely to bring the party to disrepute.

    “He is accordingly advised to appear before the State Disciplinary Committee of the party for further interrogations within the next one week.

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    “The party wishes to state emphatically that it will deal decisively with any incursion by the ruling party. the APC, into its ranks.” It reads.

    Adams described the members that signed the statement as jokers.

    He said his removal was null and void saying only the National Executive Committee could discipline him.

    Adams said those that signed the statement were sponsored by ‘elements within and outside the party.’

    It was gathered that trouble started escalated within the Ondo PDP after Adams rejected report of 20-man Committee to assess aspirants for the February by-election.

    The Committee had advised the party to sponsor Olalekan Bada as ita consensus candidate for the by-election into the Akoko North East/Akoko North West seat in the House of Representatives.

    Sources said Adams was in support of another aspirant that came third in the Committee’s ranking.

    A chieftain of the PDP said, “We will not allow Adams lead us to defeat again. He is supposed to be neutral but he picked sides. What we want is victory at the polls.”

  • PDP, LP in battle over opposition role

    PDP, LP in battle over opposition role

    • ‘LP lacks basis to claim top spot’

    Leaders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) yesterday disagreed over which is the main opposition platform.

    Presidential candidate of the LP in last year’s general election, Mr. Peter Obi drew the ire of the PDP with his claim in his New Year message in which he rates the LP ahead of it.

    The former governor of Anambra State said the party will continue to adjust to its new role as the main opposition party. 

    But, objecting to LP’s claim to a superior opposition status, PDP leaders said LP was day dreaming and evading reality. 

    While PDP National Vice Chairman (Southwest) Kamoru Ajisafe berated the LP for a shortfall in objectivity, its former governorship candidate in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) said LP’s claim lacked substance.

    Former PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary Diran Odeyemi said LP’s claim was absurd and laughable. 

    According to the results of the presidential, governorship and parliamentary elections announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), LP came third. It trailed the PDP which was defeated by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Obi and the LP, despite coming third, challenged the result declared by INEC before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), claiming that it won. It took the matter to the Supreme Court, but lost at both levels.

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    In his statement, Obi said the nation must work assiduously to avoid drifting to a one-party state.

    He said: “We in Labour Party have undertaken in the national interest and in our undying commitment to a new Nigeria that is possible, to remain firmly in opposition and as such, must remain focused going forward.

    “Our collective role in nation building remains fundamental and obligatory.

    Reflecting on the outcome of the elections, he said it is on record that it was contested in the court, which made the final pronouncement. 

    Obi added: “I wish to thank members of the Labour Party, the Obidient Family, friends and well-wishers of Nigeria for their loyalty, resilience, tenacity and commitment to true democracy.

    “We will continue ongoing discussions and efforts for the Labour Party to adjust to our new role as Nigeria’s main opposition party.

    “We will continue to constructively engage all Nigerians and our friends, who have now realised the vast implications of the road not taken; and the folly of national interest decisions predicated on sentiments and primordial interests.”

    Taking exception to Obi’s claim to number one position for LP in the opposition, Ajisafe said the claim lacked basis. 

    He said: “I don’t know what basis they will claim to be the main opposition party when PDP has more spread than Labour Party in terms of governors, senators, House of Representatives members. What basis?

    “Labour Party has not even been criticising the government as a group or as a party, except what Obi and his running mate are doing individually.”

    The Southwest PDP leader said the LP claim lacked justification at a time the party is seriously battling with intra-party crisis arising from disputation over its national chairmanship. 

    Ajisafe stressed: “The activities of the PDP are not hidden. You can see the activities of our party and individuals in PDP. They are playing their opposition roles well. By March, it will become clearer. 

    “There is a limit to how you can manipulate the system. Labour Party does not have the strength to claim the number one position in the opposition. Where is their evidence? 

    “Labour Party does not enjoy the same spread that PDP enjoys. Labour Party is having leadership problem. Who is their national chairman? It is a contentious issue. There is no division in the PDP. But Labour Party is in court with its national leadership.”

    Jegede, who is a top stalwart from Ondo State, said Obi’s claim amounted to wishful thinking. 

    He said: “You said they are claiming to be the main opposition party. Anybody can claim. Everybody knows who is the main opposition party. It is us the PDP and not the Labour Party.”

    Odeyemi chided Obi for regression into absurdity, saying that he made a false claim.

    He said: “It is very absurd for the Labour Party that is just finding its way on the political scene to call itself the main opposition party in Nigeria. It is even laughable for Labour Party, which hardly controls a state, unlike the PDP which has many senators, House of Representatives members and governors, to call itself the main opposition party.”

    Odeyemi added: “PDP is the main opposition party. Labour Party should stop being radical unnecessarily and give support to the main opposition party instead of laying claim.”