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Tag: PDP

  • Imo PDP guber candidate vows to stop killings

    Imo PDP guber candidate vows to stop killings

    Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, Senator Samuel Anyanwu has disclosed that he is contesting the Governorship election to guarantee safety of the entire Imo people and to end insecurity.

    Anyanwu regrets that in the last three years, security of the Imo people have been badly ignored, leading to the proliferation of kidnapping, armed robbery and killings in the state.

    He said: “What I promise Imo people is that our government will nip this ugly trend in the bud if elected the governor of the state in the November election.”

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    He gave this assurance weekend while addressing the clergy and members of the Royal Christian Pentecostal Church Umukehi Orji, in Owerri North Local Government Area during their 2023 Synod/Anniversary as a special guest of honour.

    Speaking on behalf of the Diocese, His Lordship, Rt Revd F.O Nwaodu expressed confidence that with the level of hunger and discomfort in the state, Imo people would make the best choice in the November 11 governorship election.

  • Osun PDP characterized by lawless executives—Guber aspirant

    Osun PDP characterized by lawless executives—Guber aspirant

    • We are operating threshold of rule of law—PDP chair

    A Former governorship aspirant under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Osun State, Prince Dotun Babayemi has said that the incumbent leadership of the party in the State is characterized by lawlessness and administering affairs with impunity.

    This is just as the chairman of the party, Sunday Bisi refuted the claim, saying, “PDP is operating threshold of rule of law.”

    A statement by Babayemi on Friday also stated that he is still a bonafide member of PDP, following speculations that he has been suspended by the leadership of the party.

    The Nation recalled that Babayemi who is the leader of the main faction within PDP against the faction of Governor Ademola Adeleke had challenged the congresses of the party on the ground that his loyalists were suspended within the party ahead of the exercise in May 2023.

    The statement read in part: “The party leadership in the state is being led by lawless individuals whose stock in trade is characterized by impunity. The party chair, Sunday Bisi should still be in kindergarten at the school of politics because of his approach to PDP administration. He should have to be enrolled for refresher courses on the Rule of Law, the PDP Constitution, and the Constitution of Nigeria.”

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     “I’m still a full-fledged member of the PDP, my purported expulsion from the party is a ‘kangaroo exercise’  undertaken by some jesters”. This is not surprising because they are foisted kindergarten executives who do not have definable means of livelihood except for crumbs from politics. They don’t know the constitution of the party let alone that of the country; they are always sheepishly and sentimentally goaded which is alien to known laws”

    However, the PDP chair, Sunday Bisi in a statement advised Babayemi to desist from parading himself as a member of the party in Osun State, saying: “Doing so is akin to continued self-destruct and further proof of attitudinal indiscipline which led to his expulsion from the party.

    “The PDP is a party operating on the threshold of the rule of law and, strangely, a man, Babayemi who prides himself as a legal practitioner would not understand the import of his expulsion from the party right from his ward. It is also laughable that Barrister Babayemi would attempt to rub mud of ridicule on the highest temple of justice in the country albeit making a mockery of his acclaimed! societal standing by disparaging the lord justices of the Supreme Court, who ultimately threw away his meritless attempt to ambush the popular mandate of the good people of Osun State for his defeated cohorts.”

  • Tribunal: PDP’s case against Sule distortion of facts, lies

    Tribunal: PDP’s case against Sule distortion of facts, lies

    Seven witnesses called by Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, at the election petition tribunal sitting in Lafia yesterday described the content of the  petition against Sule’s re-election as a distortion of facts and lies.

    They said PDP and its candidate, David Umbugadu, deflected original scores of APC and increased that of PDP in most polling units.

    The witnesses described the PDP petition as a distortion of facts and inconsistencies.

    They made their submission yesterday for Sule, represented by his lawyers, Chief Wale Olanikpekun and Dr Mubarak Adekilekun.

    Isham Dan’azimi (RW2), resident of Wuse confirmed that as an agent of APC, the governorship election in all polling units was conducted peacefully, and the Presiding officer used BVAS machine.

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    He added in Wuse TV Centre Polling Unit 010, BVAS machine was used and results uploaded to INEC iRev by the Presiding officer, but complained the scores of APC was reduced in Wuse TV Centre Polling Unit while that of PDP was increased.

    Isham confirmed it is the same score for parties that are transferred to the ward level, APC scored 353, PDP 37 at Wuse TV Centre Polling Unit, but at the Collation of Registration Area of Wuse Ward, APC got 193 instead of 353 at the polling unit level while that of PDP was increased to 197 instead of 37.

    Abdullahi Hashimu Danlami (RW3) a resident of Sabon Garin Awe, Awe LGA said from the report he received from his party agents, INEC conducted governorship election peacefully in Makungiji Electoral Ward, and on the day of the election, he cast his votes before going to the Ward Collation Centre, adding that BVAS machine was used by INEC Presiding Officers.

    According to him “after the election, INEC Presiding Officers uploaded the results to iReV but his party has issue with Kekura Primary School Polling Unit of Makungiji Electoral Ward where the scores of APC was reduced while that of PDP was increased, affirming that the exercise was the best ever conducted in the state”

    He said APC scored 238 in Kekura Primary School Polling Unit while PDP got 15 while in the result of Makungiji Electoral Ward, APC score was entered as 159 instead of 238 and that of PDP increased to 94 instead of 15 which was its score at the Polling Unit Level, and he complained bitterly about the irregularities.

    Abdullahi Tela Usman (RW4) a resident of Akiri, Awe Local Government Area, told the tribunal that on the day of the governorship election, he cast his votes before he moved to the Ward Collation Centre and visited some Polling Units in Akiri Ward, adding that BVAS machine was used by INEC Presiding Officers for accreditation as well as uploaded the results to iReV.

    Abdullahi Usman said his party has problem with the results of Ungwan Torbuto Polling Unit of Akiri Ward where the score of APC was calculated wrongly and that of PDP was increased, saying APC scored 213 while PDP got 59 but it’s recorded 161 for APC while PDP was increased to 111.

    The 5th witness, Ahmad Abubakar Sarki (RW5) a resident of Keffi, said on the day of the election, he cast his vote before he proceeded to the Ward Collation Centre, and visited Tudun Kofa Polling Unit, confirming that INEC Presiding Officers used BVAS machines to authenticate voters before they cast their votes.

    He affirmed that the results of the election was uploaded to iReV by INEC Presiding Officers but his party has complaint about Ungwan Nupawa Polling Unit result and Ungwan Yarbawa where the results of APC for the two polling units were reduced while that of PDP was increased.

    Ahmad Sarki confirmed that he visited Ungwan Nupawa and Ungwan Yarbawa Polling Units, APC 152 scored 200 while PDP got 17, APC and PDP scored 7 but it was recorded for APC in Ward Collation Result of Tudun Kofa Registration Area as 184 instead of 200 and 136 instead of 152, just as PDP was increased to 20 instead of 7.

    Kasim Tanko Kasim (RW6) a resident of Keffi said on the day of the governorship election, he cast his vote at his Polling Unit before he proceeded to the Ward Collation Centre and visited some Polling Units within his Ward.

    He confirmed that in his Polling Unit and all the Polling Units he visited , INEC Presiding Officers used BVAS machines to authenticate voters before they cast their votes affirming that after the election, INEC Presiding Officers uploaded the results to iReV. 

    He complained of the results of Ungwan Kwara and Kofar Gidan Late  Mai Angwan Polling Units where the result of APC was reduced while that of PDP was increased, adding that APC scored 360 in Ungwan Kwara but it was recorded 2 while PDP got 14 but it was increased to 384 instead of 14.

    The 7th witnesses, Abdullahi AlKasim (RW7) a  resident of Gangaren Yara in Keffi, said he cast his vote at his Polling Unit of Alhaji Mukhtar Ahuwa before he proceeded to the Ward Collation Centre and affirmed that INEC Presiding Officer used BVAS machine and uploaded the results on iReV.

    He confirmed that election was conducted peacefully in his Polling Unit but complained that the scores of APC were reduced while those of the PDP were increased, stating particularly that APC scored 160 and PDP got 19 in Kofar Alhaji Mukhtar Ahuwa Polling Unit of Yara Electoral Ward but the score of APC was reduced to 65 and that of PDP was increased to 114.

    The Petitioners counsel, Jibrin Samuel Okutekpa SAN who objected to the admissibility of the 7 witnesses was unsuccessful as the tribunal chairman, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi accepted the testimony of the 7 witnesses and adjourned till 25th August 2023 for continuation of Governor Sule witnesses.

  • Planned regrouping of PDP, NNPP and Labour

    Chief Bode George, one time PDP deputy national chairman (South) was perhaps one of the few honest PDP elders that saw the party’s defeat in the last February presidential election coming. He had before the election warned against breaching of PDP constitutional rotational provision conceived by its founding fathers to promote harmony and sense of belonging. His warning was however ignored by those driven by greed for power with dire consequences including the fractionalization of the party into PDP, NNPP and Labour. Bode George who has continued to blame the defeat of the party on mismanagement by its leaders knew a house divided against it would not stand.

    After their self-inflicted tragedy, there were newspaper reports of discussion of possible merger between Labour Party, PDP and NNPP ahead of 2027. The truth is that the three are one and the same. As Bode George asked a while ago: Where is Obi of Labour Party coming from?” Obi after serving his two terms as Anambra governor on the platform of APGA joined PDP and became Atiku’s running mate in the 2019 election.

    But Atiku Abubakar, leveraging on voting population of the north, in breach of PDP constitution came out for the 2023 election. Peter Obi equally driven by greed like Atiku Abubakar resigned from PDP, relocated back home to also exploit the ethnic sentiments of his own aggrieved Igbo people who felt betrayed after faithfully serving PDP for about 24 years. Beyond vehicle for political power, both have no abiding faith in PDP.

    But the fault is neither in Obi nor in Atiku since  PDP was neither a political party driven by ideological orientation nor a political faction with interest or opinion different from that of the party. To John Campbell, a former American envoy to Nigeria, PDP was “an elite cartel at the centre of power in Nigeria with no ideological or programmatic basis, but simply as essentially a club of elites for sharing of oil rents and political spoils”.  PDP did everything including periodic ‘family quarrel’ over sharing of Nigerian resources” during its 16 years reign to validate Campbell’s thesis.

    At the onset of the 4th republic, contract for the refurbishment of Nigerian ailing refineries secured by PDP members was not implemented. Instead, they created artificial fuel scarcity to justify setting up of PPPRA, an instrument with which PDP leaders and their children defrauded the nation to the tune of about N1.7trillion under the fuel subsidy scam.

    Read Also: Domestic airlines at war with Nigerians

    They also came up with self-serving monetization policy through which public servants immorally bought their official residences. Two stood out like sore fingers: Dimeji Bankole, a former Speaker of the House of representative  and David Mark, a former Senate President  who bought the Senate president mansion, built on 1.6 hectares of land, a national monument that was not meant to be acquired by an individual and was never reflected in the federal government’s gazette as required”.

    There was also the power sector reform.  It was launched by President Jonathan in Lagos on August 26, 2010. Then in August 2013, 15 companies made up of 10 Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and five Generation Companies (GENCOs)  paid $2.238b to  take over 60% of unbundled PHCN after federal government  injection of between $8.2-$15b of taxpayers money.  But who were these new investors and Disco owners? Records show they were mostly PDP stalwarts led by Professor Jerry Ghana.

    As Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State and now Nigeria’s president observed during the 11th Bola Tinubu Colloquium: “The PDP administration shared our generation, distribution and transmission to their friends and cronies without very deep and thoughtful research and evaluation. It has now become pork chops”.

    The whole privatization effort between 1999-2014 was abused forcing the 7th Senate report of November 30,  2011 to direct the National Council on Privatization to “rescind the sale of Abuja International Hotels Limited (NICON) Luxury Hotel) as well as Sheraton Hotel and Towers;  investigation of the sales of assets of Daily Times Nigeria PLC  to Folio Communications Limited and its directors by anti-graft agencies and the sold assets recovered; that the Share Purchase Agreement of Volkswagen Nigeria Limited now (VON)  be rescinded while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was to investigate the economic crimes perpetrated against the nation by Barbedos Ventures Limited; that NICON Insurance PLC  and Nigeria Re-insurance PLC should refund N900 million and one billion Naira respectively back to the federal government; that  the former Directors-General, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Dr. Julius Bala and Mrs. Irene Nkechi Chigbue should be reprimanded by the National Council on Privatization; while the then Director-General, BPE, Ms Bolanle Onagoruwa be relieved of her appointment.

     But Nigerians have short memories. In any case, by 2023, Buhari had done enough to alienate those who gave him landslide victory in 2015. While those in government lived in denial, there was massive insecurity especially in the northern states where helpless Nigerians were kidnapped for ransom, killed or driven into IDP camps by terrorists who confiscated their homes and farm lands.

    There was also a reign of impunity. Godwin Emefiele, a CBN governor appointed by President Jonathan because of his sympathy for PDP wanted to contest for  Nigerian presidency on the platform of APC even as a sitting CBN governor. When he lost out, he unleashed violence on Nigerians. He disobeyed Supreme Court order that attempted to bring relief to Nigerians who had no access to their confiscated life savings. Frustrated Nigerians were up in arms against APC and its presidential candidate.

    The presidency was therefore just there for the picking by PDP. But PDP, haunted by its past and driven only by greed, frittered away the opportunity. While their total votes and those of their two family members almost doubled that of victorious APC, it was APC that scored the highest votes and met the constitutional spread requirement.

    Let the talk and regrouping begin, but not with the current PDP leading light who have always behaved like prostitutes. Atiku Abubakar has been running from one party to the other in search of a platform since 2007: Action Congress 2011; APC 2014 and PDP 2017.

    Aminu Tambuwal also once rallied round his supporters to breach his party (PDP) zoning formula ceding the speakership to the Southwest geo-political zone. He was elected speaker with 252 votes compared to government and PDP-backed Mulikat Akande-Adeola’s 90 votes

    Bukola Saraki is as audacious as he is venomous on the political battle field. He punished PDP by pulling it down for claiming he was part of N1.7 fuel subsidy scam. In APC, he traded off the victory of his party for senate presidency in what Itse Sagay back then described as ‘a victory for impunity, a victory for fraud and a victory for political desperation and indiscipline”.

    We have Obi, diminished not only by his opportunism, appeal to religion and ethnic sentiments, but also damaged beyond repairs by his unthinking ‘obidients’ who terrorize those who refuse to swallow their prejudices.

    Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso who won only his Kano State in the last presidential election shot himself in the leg by his short-sighted opposition to state police and his ‘National Grazing Reserves Bill’ (seeking grazing routes and reserves), as against ranching promoted by Southern Nigeria People’s Assembly (SNPA)

    Besides the struggle for 2027, the nation todays needs a viable opposition that can keep the ruling party on its toes. That task does not belong to those who brought PDP to this sorry path but to those who understand that political parties promote ideological or policy goals and also serve as modernization agents.

  • PDP’s choice of apex court panel?

    By Utum Eteng

    Justice is two way traffic, justice for the appellant (claimant) and justice for the respondent (defendant) in the case of a case on appeal. Thus, the posturing by the factional leadership of PDP House of Representatives caucus following an emergency meeting whereof the caucus arrogantly attempted to usurp the constitutional responsibility of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Tanko by publicly proposing the names of Supreme Court justices to hear the appeal filed by its political party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) smack of arrogance, mischief, blackmail, lack of respect for the Apex Court and above all an affront to the principles of separation of powers.

    Sometimes, one wonders whether Nigerian legislators sit back to read the laws they make if for nothing else but to be abreast with the provisions made in such laws. Otherwise, the PDP factional leadership in the House of Reps would have known about the existence of THE JUDICATURE PART I, in Chapter VII of the 1999 Constitution particularly Section 230, where the Supreme Court is declared the apex court of the land, with exclusive jurisdiction pursuant to section 232 “to the exclusion of any other court to hear and determine appeals from the Court of Appeal”. The jurisdiction is complete and it is in pursuance to this clear provision that the PDP is today before it challenging the verdict of the presidential tribunal given in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Quite clearly and without mincing words, the factional PDP caucus members should be assumed to be aware that by section 236 of the constitution, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) is mandatorily given the constitutional prerogative to make rules to regulate the practice and procedure of the Supreme Court. The power of the CJN to make rules and procedures for the determination of cases in the Supreme Court can only be subjected to the provisions of any other Act of the National Assembly.

    It is therefore cheap blackmail and preposterous, for the factional PDP leaders to purport to anchor their call for the selection of the membership of the Supreme Court panel to hear and determine the presidential appeal before it on mere convention. A convention no matter its age, not being part of the constitution, can only be based on the choice and discretion of the CJN. It is not enforceable and the CJN cannot be compelled to abide by what the constitution has not provided.

    It is within the realm of the absolute discretion of the CJN, shared with nobody, to empanel the Supreme Court justices to hear and determine appeals from the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court. The constitution has made no extraneous qualifications between senior and junior Supreme Court justices to hear and determine appeals or other matters coming before it. All Supreme Court justices in the eyes of the constitution are equal except where it relates to the appointment of the CJN alone whose method of choice is expressly provided by the constitution to be the next most senior justice to the outgoing CJN. Otherwise, all Supreme Court justices are equal in terms of participating in the hearing and determination of all cases on appeal before it.

    Thus, for the avoidance of doubt, the singular and compulsory qualification to be a justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria is provided in section 230(3) of the constitution thus:

    “A person shall not be qualified to hold the office of CJN or a Justice of the Supreme Court unless he is qualified to practice as a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for a period of not less than fifteen years”.

    The constitution has not in any of its provisions set down the ranking of Justices to decide an appeal, the only mandatory provision is in section 234 where the constitution specifically provided without exceptions the quorum of the Supreme Court “to consist of no less than five justices of the Supreme Court” (general quorum) and “shall be constituted by seven justices” in case of other cases to include “whether any person has been validly elected to the office of president or vice-president under this constitution”, as in the present appeal between ATIKU ABUBAKAR & ORS VS. PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI & ORS pending before the Supreme Court.

    It is therefore wrong and indeed unacceptable for the PDP factional leadership to state in its public statement thus: “The caucus thereby pushed for selection of seven most senior     justices of the Supreme Court: CJN Ibrahim Tanko, Justice Rhodes-Vivour, Justice Mary Odili, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Justice Musa Muhammad and Justice Kumal Akaarhs in line with conventional practices”.

    It is pertinent to promptly point it to the factional lawmakers that the integrity of the Supreme Court is not in doubt in any manner howsoever, despite the selfish interest demonstrated. If the law itself is dynamic, then a convention is a fluid alternative which has no force of law to bind a people on the face of the legality of the constitution.

    It is a common principle of our procedural jurisprudence that the plaintiff and the defendant, in a case in court or the appellant and the respondent in the case on appeal are equal and must transparently be treated equally, following the doctrine of fair hearing as enshrined in the constitution. It would amount to a breach of the principles of fair hearing in the constitution for a party in an appeal to insist for particular justices to hear and determine his case. This is an invitation to chaos, injustice and judicial hara-kiri.

    One cannot sacrifice justice on the altar of giving one party the right to impose his choice of adjudicators to hear and determine his case as it is the attempt herein. This is a dangerous precedent to the impartiality, equality and against parties’ inherent right to justice devoid of suspicion. It is more dangerous to allow any of the named justices to sit on the panel to hear the appeal by reason of this insistence.

    A convention of many years can be changed, modified or disregarded completely without breaking the law; a law cannot be breached to uphold a convention; the law is superior to a convention.

    The CJN is a well-focused judicial officer of many years of experience, standing to his credit. He has what it takes to reposition the judiciary and should not be distracted from this mission and vision.

    • Chief Eteng, legal practitioner & public affairs analyst writes from Calabar.

  • PDP seeks end to Obaseki, Oshiomhole blame game on N30bn water project

    The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Edo State has called for a probe of the N30b Benin Water Storm Project begun by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    It said the project was supposed to curb erosion menace in the state

    State Chairman of the of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, called for the probe after conducting on-the-spot-assessment visit to the Storm Water Project site in Egor Local Government Area of the state.

    Chief Orbih said the project has become a permanent habitat for mosquitoes.

    Orbih described the Storm Water Project as a hoax because ‘it was mere erosion control project’

    He said Edo people were tired of the blame game between the godfather and the godson over projects in the state

    Orbih said Governor Obaseki has no right to abandon the projects inherited from his predecessor.

    He warned Obaseki to stop the blame game and complete the project for respite to return to the people of the area.

    Read Also: Oshiomhole can’t stop Obaseki, says ex-aide

    His words, “Starting from the Specialist Hospital project to the crisis in the state House of Assembly and now the Benin Water Storm Project, it is all blame game.

    “I call for a comprehensive probe of these projects . From the time they acquired the N30b bond, those who facilitated the bond, those who were paid the commission of N1.5b and those who are now shifting blame for the disaster here.

    “They have been part of this project and they must account for the public fund that have been wasted here.

    There is no storm here, there is no water storm project, there is no earthquake, nothing. It is all deceit.

    “They have constructed a gutter that has become a permanent habitat for mosquitoes.

    “As we approach 2020, which is an election year for the people of Edo state, we call on Edo people to watch very closely the blame game by the APC actors in Edo state between Adams Oshiomhole and Godwin Obaseki.

    “It is very obvious that there is something that is wrong with this government. It is the duty of government to carry out project that will be in the best interest of the people but here we are, a project that they informed the state will cost about N30b, there are now talking about N150b to complete this project.

    “They have also come out to say it will take another 30 years for them to be able to complete this project and at a time none of them probably will be alive to answer for the failure of this project.

    “I want Edo people to look at this government, look at the failure of this government and urged them to put an end to this disaster. I can say quite clearly that we need to change the narrative in Edo state politics, the deceit and the distortion of fact must come to an end.”

    Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Omuoa Alonge Oni-Okpaku, had earlier said Governor Obaseki is committed to completing the project.

    Oni-Okpaku said work on the project was on course to address flooding and erosion in Benin City.

    According to her, “The Uwelu East and West Storm Water Masterplan Project is about 70 per cent completed. Currently, the drains along the powerline is cleaned up.

    “Proper concrete is used in constructing the drains to allow for proper flow of flood in the channel towards Ogba River. The project is still ongoing.”

    The Benin Storm Water project was designed to tackle flood in different parts of Benin City and environs.

    It was begun by former Governor Oshiomhole and it was a project with a mix of deep channels, canals and underground receptacles, will on completion, de-flood hitherto flooded areas in the city.

    Flood water are to be channelled through the deep canals to Ikpoba and Ogba Rivers.

  • Ex-senator didn’t defect from our party, says PDP

    The Bayelsa State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that a former Senator, who represented Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Nimi-Barigha Amange, did not defect from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Chairman of the PDP, Chief Moses Cleopas, said in a statement on Thursday that Amange ceased to be a member of the PDP shortly before the last general election elections when he defected from the PDP to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    Cleopas explained that Amange defected from the PDP to the ADC to contest against the PDP when he failed to secure the Senatorial ticket of the party for Bayelsa East Senatorial District.

    Cleopas said that Amange’s claim that he defected from the PDP to the APC because of Governor’s Dickson’s style of leadership was unfortunate and a mischievous attempt to create a false Impression of an implosion in the party.

    He said: “There is a misleading report that Amange has defected from the PDP to the ADC. The fact is that Amange is not a member of our party. He defected from the PDP to the ADC, to contest against us in the February 16, 2019 National Assembly election and lost.

    Read Also: Ex-Bayelsa PDP senator joins APC

    “Sen. Amange is not a PDP leader and the public should discountenance this misleading claim. This unfortunate claim is part of a calculated attempt to create an erroneous impression of an implosion in a party that is stable.

    “The PDP in the state knows those who are genuine members. Amange is not one of us and he should desist from misinforming the public with the intent to cause mischief.”

    Cleopas said that the Bayelsa State Chapter of the PDP was too strong to be bothered by a false defection masterminded by people troubled by the strong internal cohesion within the party.

    Cleopas who debunked Amange’s accusation against the governor stressed that he had never seen a leader who had adopted a more consultative approach to the resolution of issues than Governor Dickson.

    He said that before his defection in January, Amange was the one producing the councilor from his ward.

    He added that the governor, who he wrongfully accused of dictatorial tendencies could not identify the PDP candidate for Nembe Local Government Area in the last local government chairmanship election, West Alalibo, until after the poll.

    Cleopas added Amange surreptitiously sponsored a candidate who lost to the PDP Candidate, Ms Dorcas Kuku, a daughter of PDP Board of Trustees member, Mrs Remi Kuku in his Ward in Nembe Local Government Area in the last election.

    He added that contrary to lies being peddled against Governor Dickson by Amange, the Vice Chairman òf Nembe Local Government Area, Alison Abel, was collectively nominated by the Deputy Governor Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, Amange and other stakeholders.

  • Tribunal upholds PDP assembly members’ seats in Oyo

    The House of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Ibadan on Sunday upheld the elections of two People’s Democratic Party (PDP) assembly members in Oyo State.

    The three-man tribunal led by Justice D. M. Igyuse upheld the elections of Hon Olasunkanmi Babalola (PDP-Egbeda State Constituency) and Hon. Akeem Adeshina (PDP- Iwajowa State Constituency).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the duo were dragged before the tribunal by their All Progressives Congress (APC) opponents in the election to challenge their emergence.

    Babalola, the Deputy Majority leader of the assembly, was dragged to the tribunal by Olalekan Usman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Adeshina was challenged at the tribunal by Johnson Eroyalesun.

    The tribunal dismissed the separate petitions on account that the petitioners could neither prove nor establish their claims of irregularities in the election.

    Babalola, who expressed joy after the judgment, said the outcome would further strengthen him in representing his constituents well.

    Read Also: Tribunal labels Akinlade’s petition ‘lazy, hollow’, affirms Abiodun as Ogun gov

    “I feel amazed by the judgment. I don’t have any opponent at all. It is good to challenge so that you can learn how to move forward.

    “I did not allow the case to distract me and I am sure it will make me more focused. It will also help me to know the value of the mandate,” he said.

    He promised to ensure that he fulfils his electioneering promises, thanking the people for standing by him and the mandate.

    Adeshina hailed the judgment delivered by the tribunal, saying he emerged from a free, fair and transparent election.

    “My mandate is ordained by God. I respect my opponent up till this moment as an uncle. I give glory to God and thank my people.

    “They believed in the mandate they gave me and stood by it. I thank them and promise to fulfil my promises during the campaign,” he said.

    Hon. Yusuf Adebisi (PDP- Ibadan South West Constituency II), who was at the tribunal to show solidarity with his colleagues, expressed joy about the judgment.

    Adebisi, who is the Deputy Chief Whip, said the judgment would help them to be more focused on delivering the dividends of democracy to their constituents.

    “Babalola and I are the youngest in the 9th assembly. We share a lot of things in common and have been doing things together.

    “He gets distracted sometimes over this case and thank God he has been vindicated now. We have been doing fine in our legislative duties and will give our best to our constituents,” he said.

  • Ex-Women Affairs Minister Alhassan returns to PDP

    Former Women Affairs Minister Aisha Alhassan, who suffered massive defeat in the 2019 governorship election in Taraba State, says she has completed arrangements to return to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Hajia Alhassan was the governorship standard bearer of the United Democratic Party (UDP) in the 2019 elections in which she scored only 14, 651 votes.

    She joined the UDP on the eve of the election after she failed  to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket, a party she contested under in 2015 and was able to secure 275,966 votes to come second in the governorship poll.

    Hajia Alhassan was subsequently made the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development by President Muhammadu Buhari, but had to resign amid doubts over her political loyalty.

    Hajia Alhassan told reporters on Sunday after a UDP stakeholders meeting in Jalingo that the majority of her supporters in the 168 wards of Taraba had encouraged her to shift base to the PDP.

    She said that the stakeholders meeting, which lasted till midnight on Saturday, drew participation from all those who contested for various political offices on the platform of the UDP, executive members of the party from the ward to state levels and other respected elders.

    Read Also: PDP governors okay appeal

    Alhassan added that more than 80 per cent of respondents in an opinion poll conducted by a committee headed Alhaji Abdulmumini Vaki, a former PDP chairman in the state, which covered the 16 local governments, suggested that she should move to PDP.

    The former minister said, based on the outcome of the opinion poll, she had no option but to go  by the decision of majority members of the UDP.

    She said: “I cannot go against the decision of the popular opinions of my supporters,” adding that she was glad that the committee did not suggest the APC as an option.

    A communiqué issued at the end of the stakeholders meeting, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jalingo on Saturday night, recommended that two committees be set up immediately to fast track the defection process.

    According to the communiqué, which was signed by the state UDP Chairman, Alhaji Hassan Chul, the first committee is to visit the national leadership of the UDP in Abuja to express the appreciation of supporters of the former minister for providing her the platform to run for the 2019 governorship election.

    The communique added that the second committee is to arrange a meeting with PDP leadership in Taraba to work out modalities for the former minister’s official return to the PDP.

    NAN reports that Alhassan contested and won the election for the senatorial seat of Taraba North in 2011 under the PDP before defecting to APC in 2015.

  • PDP BoT to Wike: Prove allegation of corruption against our members

    The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike or any other member with proof of corruption against members of a committee set up by the Board to investigate issues surrounding the emergence Mr Godwin Ndudi Elumelu as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

    Elumelu had emerged Minority Leader against the choice of the leadership of the PDP, which favoured another Rep member, Mr Kingsley Chinda.

    Governor Wike, who was also opposed to Elumelu’s emergence, has accused the committee members of having succumbed to corrupt influences with the view to slanting their report to favour Elumelu.

    The BoT committee, which was set up on July 9, had a Third Republic President of the Senate, Dr Iyorchia Ayu as chairman.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Wike breaks ranks with PDP, congratulates Buhari

    Other members are Senator David Mark, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Senator Ibrahim Mantu. A former Deputy Reps Speaker, Austin Opara served as secretary.

    All the committee members are members of the BoT.

    But reacting to Wike’s accusations, the chairman of the BoT, Senator Walid Jubril, said the mere submission of a report by the committee did not imply issuing a clean bill of health to Elumelu and other Rep members who turned against the party’s choice.

    He also challenged any member of the party with proof of allegations against any member of the committee to speak out instead of casting aspersions on the members.

    The BoT chairman said the Board will meet on Thursday next week to deliberate on the committee’s report and take a decision

    Senator Jubril said, “I will not condemn any member of the committee without any proof of evidence of corruption. I challenge anybody anywhere to provide proof of the allegations of corruption.

    “He who alleges must show evidence of corruption. It is not enough to accuse anyone of any wrong doing. I call on anyone; both party members and non-party members to come forward with evidence of corruption and you will see what the BoT will do”.

    The BoT chair enjoined aggrieved party members to take advantage of the existing internal conflict resolution mechanism to table their grievances, instead of spreading unfounded allegations.

    Also reacting to the governor’s allegations, a member of the committee, Wabara said it would be premature to join issues with Wike, as the BoT had yet to discuss or taken a decision on the report.

    “But permit me to make it abundantly clear to our performing Governor of Rivers State that Wabara is not corrupt and that I do not think that all the other distinguished members of this committee are.

    “We are experienced and tested authorities on legislative matters and the unity of our great party without concealed interest in 2023 was paramount.

    “I will not unwittingly discuss the content of the report on the pages of newspapers until the BoT takes a decision on the recommendations of the Ayu committee report”.

    Contacted for reaction, the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said its internal affairs of the party and that the matter was being resolved.

    Wike had, on Wednesday, said, “The committee set up by the PDP on the illegal emergence of Ndudi Elumelu is the most corrupt committee ever set up by the party.

    “We thank our worthy son, Rt Hon Austin Opara, for withdrawing from that committee, so that he is not entangled in the illegal activities of the tainted committee”.

    The governor’s reaction was sequel to the withdrawal of Opara as secretary of the committee.