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Tag: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • Atiku: APC has failed Yobe, Borno

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has said that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed the people of Yobe and Borno States.

    Atiku, who stated this Wednesday during the PDP presidential rally in the two insurgency ravaged states, listed security, job creation, health, education and other social amenities as key  areas in which the APC failed the two states.

    Addressing the crowd at the rally, Atiku said, “People of Yobe, over three years ago, you voted for APC; please I want to ask you all, what has APC done for you?

    “APC promised security, is there security now? APC promised to create jobs, are there jobs now? APC also promised to revive the economy, is the economy better now?

    “Today you are poorer, there is hunger everywhere, insecurity everywhere. People of Yobe State, what I want to tell you is that, these people have destroyed everything. Don’t let them take us backward, don’t vote for APC. This is not a party. They will not create wealth”

    Atiku restated his promise to reserve 70 percent of appointments the for women and youth population if elected President.

    Appealing to sentiments, Atiku reminded the gathering that it’s the first time one of their own from the Northeast geopolitical zone would be vying for the Presidency and urged them not to allow the opportunity slip off their hands.

    He said, “The entire people of Nigeria said this time around they want the President to come from the Northeast. Do you all agree? Will you all vote PDP?

    “If you vote PDP, I want to promise you all, that we will bring about lasting peace to the Northeast and the entire Nigeria. All those who know me know that I don’t lie and am not afraid. We will return peace and after that, I promise every one of you will return back to their local governments.

    “Also there will be jobs for the youth, schools will be open, hospitals will treat the sick and the poverty that is disturbing us will be stopped.

    Read Also: Atiku cautions security agencies on polls

    “Initially, they said the Northeast is the centre of poverty in Nigeria. We will put an end to that poverty. We shall create wealth, businesses will grow, there will be peace everywhere”

    He told the electorate in Yobe and Borno not to allow anyone steal their votes on election day, as he urged them to wait for their votes to be counted and results announced before departing their polling centres.

  • Stop misleading voters, Kashamu tells Secondus

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State Senator Buruji Kashamu has urged the party’s national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, to stop misleading voters.

    Kashamu, who was reacting to a letter written by Secondus and the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ibrahim Umaru Tsauri to INEC asking the electoral body to recognize Honourable Ladi Adebutu as the party’s governorship candidate, said the letter was a tissue of lies meant to blackmail INEC.

    He declared the ploy would fail.

    Kashamu, in a 4th of February, 2019 letter entitled, “Re: Final List of Nominated Candidates in Ogun State” addressed to the National Chairman, accused Secondus of twisting facts with a view to blackmailing INEC.

    According to Kashamu, the Secondus’ letter “drips with the usual lies and blackmail that you have always peddled to obfuscate obvious facts and issues that are glaringly in the public domain.”

    He added: “Ordinarily, I would not have responded since the Commission is aware of the issues and has the benefit of sound legal advice from senior lawyers and experts. However, since you are not tired of telling lies, I would also not be tired of telling the truth and exposing your lies to the whole world.”

    Going into the genesis of the crisis, Kashamu said, “The indubitable fact is that the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had on the 24th of June, 2016, delivered a judgment in which it directed the PDP and INEC to deal exclusively with the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State PDP Executive.

    “This same judgment was reaffirmed by the Honourable Justice M.B. Idris on the 9th of February, 2018.

    “These two judgments formed the basis of the 12th of April, 2018 letter written to you by the Commission in which it informed you of its decision to comply with the terms of both judgments.”

    Kashamu said despite the judgments and INEC’s position, the PDP leadership under Secondus opted to act contrary to the position of the law by supporting an illegal executive in the state.

    “If you chose to disobey the law and INEC decided to obey the law, how can you blame me for your misfortune?” Kashamu asked Secondus.

    Read Also: Secondus to APC: Don’t kill Buhari with undue pressure

    The letter reads further, “Contrary to your claims, I wish to remind you that in its guidelines for the 2019 general election dated the 4th October, 2019, INEC expressly stated that notwithstanding its requirements for the National Chairman and National Secretary to endorse the Commission’s Nomination Forms (not PDP’s nomination forms), it added in Item 6.1 that, ‘Political Parties are to note that where there is a Court Order in respect of the nomination of any candidate, the Commission shall be guided by such Order.’

    “Now, in the Ogun State PDP case, there are three subsisting judgments of the High Court and two rulings of the Court of Appeal. In its 25th of October, 2018 letter to you, the Commission referred to three suits, namely FHC/L/CS/636/2016; FHC/L/CS/1556/2017 and FHC/AB/CS/114/2018.

    It was the interlocutory orders in one out of the three suits (i.e. FHC/AB/CS/114/2018) that were determined by the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan on the 18th of December, 2018, leaving the final judgments in the two other cases (FHC/L/CS/636/2016; FHC/L/CS/1556/2017) that came first-in-time subsisting and valid till date.

    “The only appeal against one of the two subsisting and final judgments was dismissed by the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on the 4th of May, 2017. A further attempt to relist it was struck out on the 11th of July, 2018.

    “The second judgment by the Honourable Justice M.B. Idris (now of the Court of Appeal) was not appealed at all.

    “It is inconceivable that the same person who deliberately flouts valid and subsisting rulings and judgments of court could turn round to blame the Commission for his contemptuous acts against the court and the whole judiciary.

    “Mr. Chairman, you are the one choosing and picking the judgments to obey. You lack the moral right to accuse the Commission of what you are known for.

    “If the National Chairman and National Secretary of the PDP willfully refused to sign forms that were duly submitted to them in spite of subsisting court judgments directing them to accord recognition to the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State PDP Exco and its activities, including the conduct of congresses/primaries, how can they hold the judgment creditors or the Commission liable for their disobedience?

    “It was based on the valid and subsisting judgments of court (not only the interlocutory orders of the FHC, Abeokuta) that Engr. Adebayo Dayo, as the Chairman of the Ogun State PDP Exco, presided over the congress (es) where candidates were elected in line with Section 25(1) of the Peoples Democratic Party Constitution 2017 (as amended) which states: ‘There shall be a State Party Congress which shall consist of: The State Chairman who shall be the Chairman.

    “’Section 25(2C) states further: ‘The function of the State Congress shall be to: (c)     Elect Governorship candidates of the Party’, among others.’

    “It is from the congress chaired by the State Chairman that the list of candidates to represent a Party can be generated and submitted to the Commission.

    “The role of the national leadership or its representatives is merely nominal and observatory. More so, such roles are subject to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act and the PDP Constitution.  It does not give the national leadership of the Party the latitude to act irresponsibly or illegally compile list of candidates.

    “When the INEC guidelines say the National Chairman and National Secretary are to sign the Commission’s Nomination Forms, it never envisaged a situation where the leaders of a political party would not obey valid and subsisting judgments of court. Thankfully, the Commission gave the proviso that, ‘…where there is a Court Order in respect of the nomination of any candidate, the Commission shall be guided by such Order’.”

    Kashamu added: “It is also misleading and mischievous to claim that the Commission based its decision to accept, process and publish the list of Ogun State PDP candidates on the ‘judgment of the High Court (Abeokuta’s Division)’.

    “As stated above, INEC’s decision was based on three suits. The Federal High Court order that was set aside is just one out of the three suits cited by the Commission.

    “Two final judgments of court of competent jurisdiction are still valid, binding and subsisting. Even the order said to have been set aside had been overtaken by events.

    “On the so-called implications of the judgment of the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, I challenge you to quote a part of the judgment that validated your claim or declared Adebutu as the Ogun State PDP governorship candidate.

    “For the umpteenth time, I would refer you to the findings of the Court of Appeal at page 12 of the judgment wherein the Court held, ‘The action instituted at the Lower Court is also not in respect of selection or nomination of candidates to represent the 1st Appellant at an election nor is it a complaint against any election, decision or activity of the INEC (10th Respondent). It is in my view, simply an inter-party (sic) dispute between two factions of the party as to which of the factions is the legitimate State Executive of the P.D.P in Ogun State. This appeal is therefore not in respect of a pre-election matter.’

    “The findings and decision of the Court of Appeal in the Judgment of 18th December, 2018, clearly shows that the subject of the said appeal was neither related to pre-election issues nor the nomination of candidates to represent the Ogun State PDP at the election.

    “Therefore, since the said appeal and judgment do not relate to the list of candidates that would represent the Ogun State PDP at the February 16 and March 2, 2019 elections, the Court of Appeal could not have pronounced on the list of candidates from Ogun State.

    “What is more, as can be clearly seen on the face of the appeal, Adebutu was not a party to the appeal. So, how can anyone claim that he is a beneficiary of the judgment?

    “It was when you and Adebutu realised that the appeal court judgment did not enure in your favour that you hurriedly and surreptitiously went to the FCT High Court to file a suit meant to ambush me and my associates.

    “You wanted the court to declare Adebutu as the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun State without joining me as an interested party or someone who would be affected by the outcome of the suit. It was by providence that I got to know of the suit and applied to be joined in the matter.

    “Again, the devilish move backfired when the court found that you acted in flagrant disobedience of subsisting judgment (s), refused your prayers and dismissed the suit.

    “The FCT High Court expressly held on the 14th of January, 2019 that since all the actions of the national leadership of the Party were done in defiance of valid and subsisting court judgments they could not stand.

    “So, what is all the lies and blackmail against INEC about? The Commission has acted rightly – in line with its avowed commitment to be law-abiding and rein in political parties when they act illegally and irresponsibly as in this case.”

    Kashamu advised Secondus to desist from dragging the name of the party in the mud and support him for PDP to win in Ogun State.

  • El-Rufai: PDP threatens to pull out of peace accord

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has threatened to pull out of the peace accord over death threats issued by the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai to officials of the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union.

    Speaking in a Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) live  programme Tuesday night, El-Rufai, had threatened the foreign nationals who might interfere with Nigeria’s upcoming elections  with violent death.

    El-Rufai had said, “Those that are calling for anyone to come and intervene in Nigeria, we are waiting for the person that would come and intervene, they would go back in body bags”.

    The governor was reacting to calls by the PDP a few days ago, urging the global community to keep a watchful eye on the processes leading to the general elections, with the view to ensuring free, fair and credible polls.

    At a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan described El-Rufai’s comments as inimical to peaceful, free and fair elections.

    “The PDP is left with no option than to consider a review of its signatory in the National Peace Accord, if no action is immediately taken to curb this trend”, Ologbondiyan said.

    The main opposition party called on the international community to immediately impose a travel ban on el-Rufai for the inciting comments against peaceful elections in the country.

    It also called on the National Peace Committee, chaired by  former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar to summon El-Rufai for clarifications on the threat.

    “The PDP holds that any situation that seeks to allow the APC to abuse the tenets of the accord will definitely force our party to review our signatory to the peace process.

    “We therefore call on the National Peace Committee to immediately summon el-Rufai on his inflammatory remarks against peaceful election in our country.

    “In that regard, we might have no option left than to allow our members to defend their votes with whatever that is available to them.

    Read Also: Onnoghen must go – El-Rufai

    “This country belongs to all of us and no individual or group, no matter how highly placed, can subjugate other citizens or seek to appropriate any sort of absolutism to themselves”

    The PDP has similarly kicked against what it described as an alleged plot by the police authorities to redeploy Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to Kwara State Command as Commissioner of Police.

    The opposition party alleged closeness of Egbetokun to a section of the leadership of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

    This, according to the PDP, might lead to Egbetokun taking sides in the ongoing supremacy tussle between the PDP and the APC chapters in Kwara State.

    Ologbondiyan continued, “This is in line with plans by the Buhari Presidency and the APC to effect a mass deployment of top security officers, particularly the police, to intimidate, harass and manhandle Nigerians that will not support the self-succession bid of President Muhammadu Buhari as well as aiding APC thugs to snatch ballot boxes and orchestrate violence in the elections.

    “Nigerians are aware of how CP Kayode Egbetokun was posted to Lagos State by the disgraced former Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, to serve the same partisan interest and how that posting was stopped by the new IGP Adamu Mohammed. Now, he is being redeployed to Kwara State for the same ignoble plot.

    “It is necessary to state that the PDP is a party of peace and we are committed to the peace accord. However, the deployment of Kayode Egbetokun as Kwara CP directly negates the principle of the Peace Accord and can only hurt the fragile peace that currently exists in Kwara state.

    “We wish to remind the acting Inspector General, Adamu Mohammed that his acceptability among Nigerians across party line was based on the pedigree, which was presented to Nigerians before his appointment.

    “These pedigree and exposure place on his shoulders, the responsibility to be just, firm, equitable and professional in the discharge of his duties. We therefore urge him not to allow his reputation to be mired in controversial political activities”.

    The party called on the National Peace Committee to note the alleged infractions by the APC and its leaders to the peace accord.

    It also drew the attention of the Committee to how the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje on Tuesday shut down all stadia in Kano city in order to frustrate the PDP presidential campaign rally schedule to hold in the state.

     

  • El-Rufai desperate to rig elections, CUPP alleges

    Coalition of United Political Parties, (CUPP) on Tuesday alleged that, Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is desperate to use his state sponsored security operatives to manipulate and rig the forthcoming elections.

    The coalition made the allegation at a press briefing in Kaduna, noting that Governor El-Rufai in his desperation to manipulate the elections recently inaugurated a new security operatives in the guise of ‘Kaduna State Local Government Safety and Emergency Management Volunteers,’ which he intended to use as Polling Unit Guards.

    The state Chairman of CUPP, Hon. Umar Ibrahim Mairakumi while addressing pressman hinted that the governor is working hard to obtain approval from INEC and to influence the Kaduna State Police Command to accept his state sponsored Kaduna Vigilante Services popularly known as “Kato da Gora,” as part of the election security team.

    Noting that any attempt to manipulate the forthcoming elections will be resisted,  Mairakumi however  called on all security agencies and Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to ensure that the process and conduct of the 2019 general election is not only free and fair but credible and in line with international best practices.

    In another development, Governor El-Rufai, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Hon. Isa Ashiru Kudan, and other governorship candidates had earlier signed a Peace Accord to ensure a conduct of free, fair and credible elections and a peaceful transition of political power.

    Read Also: Corruption: ‘Buhari is on the right track’

    The gubernatorial candidates signed the peace deal at the Kaduna State Police Command Headquarters

    The state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad Abdulrahman whom in his remarks assured that the security agents will be firm and fair while discharging their duties, told the politicians at the gathering that winning election into public office should not be a desperate task.

    The CP who called on all and sundry to partner with the security agencies in ensuring a hitch-free campaign and violence-free elections added that: “violence free election is a fundamental means to sustainable peace and development.”

    He said: “the Peace Accord signifies our respective commitment to peace and symbolizes respect for the rule of law.

    “I want to suggest that, candidates and supporters must accept the outcome as announced by the constituted authorities, rather than make trouble because the results are not in one’s favour.

    “Let us prepare our minds to accept the results for the sake of our dear nation. While those who will emerge as winners must not allow themselves and their supporters when jubilating, to tease and provoke the other sides.”

    In an interview with journalists shortly after the peace deal, the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Isa Ashiru called on INEC to provide a level playing ground for all political parties during the elections, adding that “they (INEC) should play the role of unbiased umpire and they should be free and fair to all.”

    When asked on how the party will ensure that it supporters are law abiding, he said, “our supporters have been law abiding and we have had series of visits across the state.”

  • ‘Only PDP candidates can attract development to Bayelsa’

    Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) on Tuesday told the people of Brass Local Government Area to elect candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to attract development to their area.

    Jonah insisted that only the candidates of the PDP had the experience and qualifications to develop the council.

    Jonah, who led members of the PDP to some communities in Brass, part of the East Senatorial District of the state Commissioner for Information, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said there was a need to consolidate on the achievements of Governor Seriake Dickson.

    The deputy governor, who spoke on the achievements of the PDP-led government in the state said the party put forward persons known with the track records of performance.

    He described the elections as critical for the sustainance of the legacies of the Restoration Government.

    He enjoined the people not to fall for the antics of those who failed to bring development to them when they had the opportunity to do so.

    He stressed that the PDP was the only credible party with a plan to solve the current economic hardship, insecurity and gross underdevelopment in the country.

    Read Also: Bayelsa receives N10.7bn January allocation

    He noted that no party could rival the good work of the PDP saying that if elected, the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and other candidates would truly make Nigeria to work again.

    On his part, the Director-General of the Bayelsa East Restoration Campaign Organisation, Jonathan Obuebite thanked the people for their support for the Dickson-led administration and the PDP in the state.

    Obuebite, who is also the Commissioner for Education said the people had always stood by the party and expressed optimism that they would do so on February 16 and March 2.

    The communities visited were Akassa, Liama, Egwema and Beletieama.

    Some of those on the campaign train were, Mrs. Remi Kuku,  Victor Sam-Ateki,  Victor Isaiah, Bello Bina, members of the State House of Assembly from the area and their State Executive Council counterpart, among others.

  • Waku, a notable parliamentarian – Mark

    Former Senate President David Mark on Monday lamented the demise of Senator Joseph Kennedy Waku.

    Waku represented Benue North West in the Senate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between 1999 and 2003.

    Reacting to the demise of Senator Waku in Abuja today, Senator Mark recalled the contributions of Waku to socio-economic and political development of Benue State saying “Waku was a foremost stakeholder in Benue Politics”.

     Mark, in a statement by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, noted that Waku was “a patriotic Nigeria who called a spade its rightful name no matter whose ox was gored.

    “He stood for the truth at all times. He never pretended. He was brutally frank”.

    Read Also: Senator Waku’s challenge

    He recalled the exploits of Waku in the Senate during his stint in the Upper Legislative chamber saying that the late lawmaker never compromised on welfare and well- being of the oppressed.

    The former Senate President noted that Waku was a fearless parliamentarian who was a voice for the voiceless in the society.

    According to Mark: “His death at this time is devastating.  His wealth of experience would have been handy in resolving the many knotty political problems confronting the nation at the moment.

    “I have lost a dependable brother and friend. Benue state and indeed Nigeria have lost an unrepentant patriot and democrat.  We shall miss Waku for his steadfastness, humour and pragmatism”.

  • Dickson raises fresh security concerns ahead of polls

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, at the weekend alleged that some persons were playing politics with the security of the country ahead of the general elections.

    The governor insisted that there was a general concern about the state of law, order and security ahead of the forthcoming elections describing the signs as worrisome.

    A statement signed by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said Dickson spoke in Lagos after receiving the Silverbird Group’s Extraordinary Achievement Award.

    The governor said people expected fair play and hoped on agencies and institutions of state to have the ability of doing their jobs.

    He said: “On the elections, we have expectations and we also have concerns. Expectation that there should be fair play and fair exercise of public power and authority and that the agencies and institutions of state are able to do their job. That the people are not intimidated and harassed during the elections.

    “Let me however alert that the signs are not too good. There are people playing politics with security – what I call the politics of insecurity and the insecurity of politics. It is unfortunate that sometimes people don’t have the courage to do what is right. We have political leaders who don’t give the right directives.

    “We are concerned about the state of law, order and security during the elections. There is also the general concern about the impartiality of the electoral umpires and their agents.”

    Dickson noted that his administration ensured maintenance of peace in Bayelsa and created an environment for development of the state.

    Read Also: Dickson hails Buhari for IG’s appointment

    He said: “Silverbird is another wonderful Bayelsa brand. We are very proud of what our brothers in the Murray-Bruce family have done for our state, our country, Africa and the world.

    “The way the awards have been coming, I feel great that our sacrifice and modest efforts are being appreciated. Political office is all about service and making impactful changes in the lives of the people. So when one is appreciated, you draw encouragement from it.

    “We will continue to invest in the stability and security of our state. I assure Bayelsans that we will not stop working until the last minutes of our tenure. There is still a lot of work ahead.

    “We have built roads, hospitals, bridges, our children are on scholarship and no fewer than 120,000 Bayelsans have been captured under our health insurance scheme. No state in Nigeria has such a robust scheme. Indeed, there is a revolution going on in Bayelsa,” he said.

    Dickson described the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’ Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who presented  the award plaque to him as the president-in-waiting.

    On his part, Atiku lauded Dickson for building quality infrastructure in Bayelsa and for rendering wonderful service to his people and the country.

    He said: “I have been to Bayelsa where I saw world class university, world class roads and infrastructure. Therefore, this award is a befitting one. For those of you who have not been to Bayelsa, seeing is believing. Governor Dickson has rendered wonderful service to people of his state and Nigeria in general”.

    The Silverbird award is the fourth bestowed on Governor Dickson in the last one month. In January, he was decorated by the Daily Asset Newspapers (Governor of the Year), Daily Independent Newspapers (Man of Year) and The Sun Newspapers (Outstanding Politician of the Year).

     

  • Bankole pledges to tackle youth unemployment in Ogun

    Former Speaker Dimeji Bankole has pledged to tackle the worrisome youth unemployment in Ogun state which he said is a time bomb both to the state and the country.

    Bankole who is the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the Gateway state for the March 2 polls, added that there is a link between the ever growing unemployment rate and rising crimes in Ogun and the rest of the country.

    The former number four citizen on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made this known to reporters in Ota area of the state during his tour, pledging  that if elected, his administration would create mass employment for thousands of jobless graduates who could not find gainful employment after school.

    Bankole said: “One thing that everyone keeps complaining about is lack of jobs and opportunities for their children. My party is formed to address that challenge.

    Read Also: Accident kills 12 in Ogun

    “Ogun people are not interested in where the governor comes from, they want to know if he has the capacity to create jobs for the children who remain idle even after graduating from higher institutions. That is what our party promises: jobs, jobs, jobs for everyone.”

    Bankole, who also rued the deplorable state of roads in Ogun West Senatorial district, promised  to fix them in order to maximize the economic potentials of the zone, stressing he would not  tamper with funds meant for the development of Local Governments in the state.

     

  • Atiku expresses commitment to job creation

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has promised to harness the great potential that abound in the small and medium enterprises in Nigeria to create jobs for the nation’s youths.

    Abubakar said this on Saturday during PDP’s presidential rally held at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

    He said that Abia had become popular as the centre for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), adding that he had developed the strategies to make the state the hub for small businesses in Nigeria.

    He said: “I am going to work with your governor to make sure we create millions of jobs for SMEs. Aba is the headquarters in the whole of Nigeria.

    “We will create that hub and make sure Aba serves the rest of Nigeria. By doing that, we are going to create millions of jobs for our young men.”

    He thanked the people of Abia for supporting PDP and urged them to protect their vote during the election.

    Abubakar further said that the 2019 general elections would go a long way to determine the future of the nation, adding that it was pertinent for Nigerians to vote wisely.

    Earleir, the National Chairman of the party, Chief Uche Secondus, said that PDP was committed to preserving the unity of Nigeria.

    Secondus urged the people of Abia to vote massively for PDP candidates at all levels of the elections.

    He also advised the electorate to take measures to protect their vote and resist any form of malpractice.

    He called on the relevant agencies to put the necessary strategies in place to ensure that the elections would be free and fair.

    Abubakar had an interaction with the Abia traditional rulers, where he urged them to mohilise their subjects to vote for all the PDP candidates at the polls.

    He described the general elections as an opportunity for Nigerians to exercise their right to chose their leaders.

    He said that as the traditional institution closest to the grassroots level, the monarchs had the capacity to influence the people’s choices.

    He said: “Since the creation of Abia state, all the progress that has been recorded in the state has been made under the PDP-led government.

    “It is good for the people of Abia to be consistent and consolidate on the progress made in the state,” Atiku said.

    Responding, Eze Eberechi Dick, the Chairman of Abia Traditional Rulers Council, thanked the presidential candidate and the party for identifying with traditional rulers in the state.

    Dick said that the people of Abia would support causes that would promote national unity and development to ensure even distribution of the dividend of democracy.

    In an interview with newsmen, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu described Abia as a major stakeholder in the nation’s polity, having been acclaimed the SME capital of Nigeria.

    “That goes a long way to show that Abia is the center of the nation’s economy. It is proper to have an industrialist at the helm of affairs,” Ikpeazu said.

    Abubakar was later conferred with the chieftaincy title of “Aha eji aga mba of Abia.”

    NAN

  • South East itching towards presidency, says Atiku

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, says the south-east geopolitical zone is itching towards the presidency by supporting the party.

    Abubakar disclosed this on Friday in Enugu during the presidential campaign tour of the party.

    He said that PDP had never disappointed the people of the region, adding that they would realise the ambition by supporting his aspiration.

    He said that it would take a long time for the region to have such an opportunity if they failed to support him.

    “You are itching towards the presidency now that your son is my running mate. Vote for the PDP because it has never failed you,” Atiku said.

    The National Chairman of the party, Mr Uche Secondus, said that the rumour of the party ceding 25 per cent of votes cast in the presidential election to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not true.

    Secondus said that the mammoth crowd that came to welcome Atiku was a clear testimony that the state belonged to PDP.

    He called on members of the party to be vigilant during the polls to ensure that votes from the region was not tampered with.

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, said that the PDP campaign was an opportunity for the people of the area to rededicate themselves to the party.

    “This is daybreak for us and we are committed to the PDP. They gave us everything in the past and this is time to regain them,” he said.

    Ekweremadu urged the people to return all PDP candidates.

    The Director-General of the PDP Campaign Organisation, Dr Bukola Saraki, said that the state would support Atiku.

    Saraki said that there was no more rumour of compromise by the leadership of the party in the state.

    “This crowd we are seeing is a sign of commitment. There are no more rumour mongers around because Enugu belongs to Atiku,” Saraki said.

    In a speech, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State said that residents of the state had always voted for the party in previous elections and would continue along that line. (NAN)