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Tag: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • Alleged N2.5bn fraud: PDP demands probe of Lai Mohammed, others

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has charged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to go beyond the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Is’haq Kawu Modibbo and institute a system-wide investigation into an alleged N2.5 billion NBC scandal.

    The PDP particularly demanded an open investigation into the roles possibly played by certain top government officials, including the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in the matter.

    The party said ICPC’s uncovering of fraud in the N2.5billion NBC Digital Switch Over (DSO) contract has further exposed the inherent corruption in the administration and how presidential officials and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have allegedly been siphoning billions of naira from government agencies.

    The statement said: “This further exposes how corruption has become endemic at the NBC under the direct supervision of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who has not yet cleared his name on the N13.1 million NBC loan scandal since May 2016.

    Read Also: PDP will revamp economy — Peter Obi

    “The party therefore urges the ICPC to go beyond the N2.5 billon NBC fraud and investigate the allegations Alhaji Lai Mohammed abused the privilege of his office by approving a letter from his office requesting the NBC, an agency under his supervision, to advance a loan of N13.1 million to his ministry for a purported official assignment in China.

    “The demand, which was against budgetary approvals, principle of TSA and the anti-corruption claims of the government he represents, has not been investigated and culprits prosecuted, even when it was clear that it corrupted the agency in converting it into a lending institution, against our financial regulations and the laws that established the NBC.

    “Alhaji Lai Mohammed is a spokesperson of the Buhari administration, which claims to be committed to the fight against corruption.

    “He cannot, in all honesty, hold such a position with this allegation still hanging around his neck.

    “This is more so as allegations are rife in the public space that agencies in the Ministry of Information and Culture now reek of corrupt and sharp practices in the last three years”.

  • APC receives 2500 PDP, ADP members in Ovia

    Over 2500 supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Action Democratic Party (ADP), have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), at Udo and Evbonogbon, in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo.

    The defectors announced their decision to leave the PDP during the unit by unit campaign tour of the APC candidate for Ovia Federal Constituency, Mr Dennis Idahosa.

    They said their reasons for leaving the PDP was based on lack of cohesion within the opposition PDP and poor performance of the incumbent lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency,  Barr. Omosede Igbinedion.

    The defectors said Omosede did not impact on the lives of the people of the constituency.

    Read Also: APC campaign: Buhari departs Sokoto for Kebbi

    Anthony Osarobor, a councillorship candidate of the ADP in the last Local Government elections in Edo, who defected with 1000 of his supporters said they joined the APC because of performance of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    “I am coming into the APC to join forces with the those already on ground, to win elections and develop Ovia,” he stated.

    At Evbonogun village, Seun Adeola, who led his PDP supporters to defect promised to work for the emergence of Idahosa as member of House of Representatives, representing Ovia Federal Constituency.

    According to him, “The Umbrella which the symbol of the PDP logo, is now in pieces and can no longer act as protective shield to us.

    “We are not just coming to join the APC to help Dennis Idahosa win, we want to assist in building the party here.”

  • Seyi Makinde to voters: I will create wealth if elected

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Oyo state Seyi Makinde has assured his administration would create wealth for all and sundry if voted in the March 2, 2019 election.

    He gave the assurance during his campaign in Igbeti and other communities in Oke-Ogun area of the state on Tuesday.

    The politician explained that creating wealth will help solve the major security and economic problems in the state.

    Makinde also pledged to give due honour to traditional rulers in the state.

    During his visit to the palace of the Afasegbejo of Igbeti, Oba Emmanuel Oyebisi, Makinde said nothing has changed since he came to seek their votes four years ago.

    He promised to correct all anomalies and put the state in a higher pedestal.

    He said: “Four years ago, I visited you soliciting for your votes to become governor of the state, this is God’s time and his time is the best.

    ” There is nothing I told you four years ago that is not still relevant today and the two vocal things were poverty in the land, after four years, it seems worse.

    “The second thing I mentioned is the entitlement of traditional rulers in Oyo State, which is five per cent of the allocation from the local government according to the constitution.

    “The current administration did not do it four years ago and not even ready to do it.

    Read Also: Lagos, Kano top list of voters

    “Today, you have tried the two options. You can attest to situations during PDP administration and the other party. Their style is to feed fat first without considering the fate of the masses.

    “We are here today to appeal to you to vote PDP government back to power in Oyo State.

    “From our presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his vice presidential candidate, Peter Obi, our senatorial candidate, House of Representatives, myself as gubernatorial candidate and my deputy, Raufu Olaniyan and our candidate for state House of Assembly, kindly support us by convincing your people to vote for us and not sell their votes.

    “It is very evident that people want PDP to return to power. We will be grateful if you can support us to achieve this.”

    Oba Oyebisi wished the PDP train success in their tour, intimating them the people have their right to vote but urged them to eschew violence during their rally.

    Should Makinde win, Oba Oyebisi urged him to direct investments into the town’s heavy deposit of marble to improve the economy of the town and create employment for locals.

    He also called for provision of potable water and citing of a tertiary institution in the town.

  • We are not interested in Interim government, says PDP

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected insinuations that opposition parties were toying with the idea of setting up an Interim Government, as stated by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed at a briefing in Abuja on Monday.

    The main opposition party countered that it cannot accept any form of unconstitutional governance and a contraption like an interim government.

    A statement Tuesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said its confident of a landslide victory for its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar in the February 16 presidential election.

    The PDP said a suggestion of an Interim Government, under any pretext, context or contemplation can only come from desperate and unpatriotic minds in a failed administration, or from a political party that has lost hope of being re-elected in a free, fair and credible election, due to its manifest incompetence and humongous corruption.

    “Every Nigerian knows the desperation of the APC and the Buhari Presidency ahead of the 2019 general election, leading to their resort to threats, intimidation and clamp down on dissenting voices, as well as, assault on institutions of democracy, in the face of incontrovertible indices pointing to their imminent crushing defeat at the polls.

    Read Also: PDP urges Yakubu to resist pressure

    “The PDP has already alerted Nigerians that Alhaji Lai Mohammed had let out APC’s ignoble “plan B” of “if we can’t have it, then destroy it”, which is to cause violence, derail the electoral process and blame it on the opposition; not minding the damage such could cause the nation, including human and material losses.

    “We hope such cruel plot, as revealed by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, is not the underlining reason behind the APC administration’s alleged neglect and undermining of our security forces fighting in the fronts”, the statement added.

    The main opposition party charged Alhaji Lai Mohammed to come clear on the source of his information, if it is not a plot being hatched by the APC.

    The PDP urged the Minister to tell Nigerians if his source of information was the Police, the military or the Directorate of State Services (DSS) so that they can appropriately channel their concerns.

    The party urged Nigerians to be at alert and keep an eye on the APC in their “nefarious” plans against the nation, adding that the ruling party has made its strategy public.

    “On our own part, the PDP is prepared and ready for the elections. We have been going round the country peacefully, campaigning and presenting our candidate, policies and programmes to the electorate.

    “The PDP will therefore not accept any form of interim government, not when Nigerians have already attained a consensus to rally behind and vote in the peoples Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as their next President, come February 16, 2019”, the PDP further said.

  • Babachir: PDP charges Buhari to prosecute other APC leaders

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to go beyond the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke and prosecute other leaders of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), who have allegedly been openly indicted of corruption.

    The party said that singling out Babachir Lawal and Ayodele Oke, for prosecution, while providing official cover to numerous other indicted APC leaders and persons close to him, President Buhari has further confirmed that he is indeed partisan and insincere in prosecuting the anti-corruption fight.

    A statement Tuesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, faulted a statement by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo that President Buhari had given the nod for the prosecution of Lawal and Oke.

    This, the PDP said, further confirmed that President Buhari has annexed the system and directly determines who is prosecuted and who is spared.

    It challenged President Buhari to immediately order the prosecution of all APC leaders, particularly members of his Presidential Campaign Council, beginning with the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, the campaign Director-General, Rotimi Amaechi, other directors and zonal coordinators, who have allegations of corruption hanging on their necks.

    “Mr. President should also immediately order the prosecution of the former aide to the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, Mr. Baba Inna, who was arrested in September last year, over accusations of receiving N2.5 billion from politicians, businessmen and women on behalf of the First Lady.

    “In the same vein, he should also order the prosecution of Mrs. Amina Mohammed, who while being paraded by the Department of State Services (DSS), last year stated in public that persons close to President Buhari were involved in serial fraud and looting of public resources under the official cover of the Buhari Presidency.

    Read Also: PDP will put food on Nigerians’ tables, says Secondus

    “President Buhari should also order an open inquest into alleged involvement of some individuals said to be close to the Buhari Presidency in the N1.032 trillion alleged corrupt acquisitions in 9Mobile and Keystone Bank PLC.

    “He is also invited to order an investigation into allegations that persons close to him and serving in his Presidency took N500 million as bribe to reduce the fine imposed on a telecommunication company operating in the country, from N1.03 trillion to N330 billion.

    “Furthermore, we challenge President Buhari to allow an inquest into the N14 trillion looted oil money under his watch, as detailed in the NNPC leaked memo; the handling of the repatriated $322m that has been siphoned under the guise of sharing to the poor; the N33 billion Internally Displace Persons (IDP) intervention fund and the billions of naira already frittered through the ‘Tradermoni scheme’.

    “Until Mr. President musters the required political will to carry out these actions, his war against corruption remains a charade”, the statement added.

     

  • PDP will put food on Nigerians’ tables, says Secondus

    The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has said that the party would tackle hunger and put food on the table for Nigerians if the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar is elected President.

    Speaking at the party’s presidential rally in Dutse, Jigawa State on Monday, the party chair described Atiku as energetic, competent and with experience in tackling poverty.

    Prince Secondus told the jubilant crowd that their massive turn out at the rally was a clear indication that power is returning to the PDP and that the state has already joined the train to rescue Nigeria.

    In a statement issued shortly after the rally by his media aide, Ike Abonyi, the party chair assured the people that Atiku was fully equipped for the challenges of governance.

    Secondus said that the APC has failed Nigeria and should be thrown out, as the ruling party has not been able to fulfill any of the promises it made to Nigerians in 2015.

    Read Also: PDP, Secondus knock Buhari

    The party chair was quoted as saying, “The choice before us is between competence and incompetence, between broken promises and a man ready and equipped for the job”.

    Reminding the people that Atiku’s late mother hailed from Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, Secondus assured them that they would not regret voting the PDP candidate. He stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration has done incalculable damage to the country.

    The former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido who also spoke at the rally, berated the APC administration, saying the ruling party has destroyed the country as a result of incompetence and lack of direction.

    Atiku was reported to have led the PDP campaign train to the  palace of the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sanusi, who prayed for him and his team.

  • NASS don’t hate President Buhari – Dogara

    The Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, says the National Assembly does not hate President Muhammadu Buhari but only exercising its independence.

    Dogara said this on Saturday at the launching of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), for the gubernatorial and National Assembly candidates in Bununu, Bauchi State.

    “None of us hates President Buhari and we are not against him, but we are only exercising our independence as contained in the Constitution.

    “We are all looking at the plight of our people, especially insurgency, poverty and other vices that have continued to bedevil the masses.

    “You can see what is happening between American president and the legislature which is normal,” he said.

    Dogara recalled that NASS had sometime last year, initiated a Bill for the autonomy of Local Government Areas but regretted that it was aborted by State Assemblies.

    He emphasized that the autonomy would have diversified development to rural areas where majority of the people lived.

    Dogara stated that Alhaji Abdulkadir Muhammed, the Bauchi State Gubernatorial candidate of the PDP would decentralise the local government system in the state, even without the approval of the Federal Government.

    The speaker said that personal efforts made by him to reconstruct mosques and schools in his constituency were scuttled by some individuals.

    He warned the people against trying to instigate trouble in the areas, saying that “it is always retrogressive.”

    Read Also: Akpabio chides Saraki, Dogara

    The gubernatorial candidate, Mohammed while addressing the gathering, called on the people of the area to resist the proposal by INEC to relocate collation centre from Zwall to Dass.

    Mohammed, who stressed the need for people to change the present administration in the state, assured that PDP would take over the state in 2019 general elections.

    He pledged to provide functional education, infrastructure and agriculture, if elected into office.

    NAN

  • No division in Southeast PDP – Umahi

    Ebonyi state governor, David Umahi on Saturday reiterated that there is no division in his party, People’s Democratic Party ( PDP) in the South East.

    The governor, who is the Chairman of the Southeast Governor’s Forum, stated this at Iboko, headquarters of Izzi Local government area during the flag off of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) campaign in the council.

    He charged the people to vote for all the candidates of the party during the forthcoming general elections.

    “There is no division in PDP in Southeast, Southeast is PDP and PDP is Southeast. Vote for all PDP candidates”, he said

    Governor Umahi promised that the Abakaliki ring road will commence by Match.

    He said efforts to begin the construction years earlier were twarted by some members of the All Progressive Congress who deployed all means to frustrate the efforts of government to take loan from the African Development Bank to donstruct the road.

    The Abakaliki ring road is the longest road in the state and cuts across 8 out of the 13 local governments in the state.

    “The same people who caused the delay are today coming to ask you to vote for them. We will commence the road by Match and will do more projects for you”.

    The governor also announced the appointment of Dr Sunday Nwangele as a Commissioner to make it two commissioners from the local government.

    He urged the people to vote for Dr Sam Egwu for Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone, Sylvester Ogbaga for Abakaliki/Izzi federal constituency and Chukwuma Nwazunku for Ebonyi/Ohaukwu federal constituency in the election.

    Read Also: Umahi effects cabinet reshuffle

    The governor also flagged off the the N1.4 bn community development project for the 140 communities in the state.

    According to him each Community will get N10m to carry out a project of their choice.

    Umahi said the money for the community projects has already been set aside and that leaders of all the 140 communities have submitted projects their communities like for execution.

    Umahi noted that he will continue to develop the state and called on the people to continue to support his administration.

    “We are starting N10million project in each of the 140 communities. The money is already available, it is by action not by mouth. We said that every community should give us project of their choice and they have done that. So, we will need to flag it off”, he said.

  • PDP accuses APC of instigating violence in Taraba, others

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plots to unleash mayhem and get elections stalemated and postponed in some strategic states across the federation.

    Specifically, the main opposition party fingered the governorship candidate of the APC in Taraba State, Sani Abubakar Danladi to be instigating violence in the state ahead of the Mach 2 governorship election.

    At a media briefing in Abuja on Saturday, spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said it’s an incontrovertible fact, known to all, that Taraba state is a long established stronghold of the PDP.

    According to him, Governor Darius Ishaku who was elected on the platform of the PDP has an undiluted backing of overwhelming majority of the electorate across the state, due to his “sterling performance” in office.

    The party said the APC governorship candidate’s intransigence was borne out of frustration of rejection and has hatched plots to ambush and truncate the electoral process in the state, not minding the human and material damage such action portends.

    The PDP said it has full information of how the APC is working with enemies of Taraba to inject confusion and escalate insecurity in the state.

    This, according to the party, is to pave the way for the governorship election to be deferred, to enable the federal authorities and security agencies have the opportunity to perpetrate the type of massive rigging that took place in the Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections in 2018.

    Ologbondiyan said, “The APC governorship candidate, who is also personally well reputed for acts that contravene free and fair elections, has been boasting that he has the backing of the Federal Government and some godfathers in Abuja, who have no stake in the peace, unity and development of Taraba state in this ignoble project.

    Read Also: PDP dares Buhari over threats to arrest Atiku

    “On Thursday January 17, 2019, the APC, hiding under the guise of campaign unleashed mayhem on Wukari, a major town in Taraba state. Right from Gindin Dorowa, about 40 kilometers to Wukari City, thugs recruited by the APC governorship candidate, went on shooting spree, destroying PDP billboards all the way to Wukari.

    “From the Wukari Yam market, APC thugs continued shooting their way into the town as if they were on a mission to conquer the town, while destroying PDP campaign materials including billboards, posters.

    “The shooting and unbridling of mayhem continued until they arrived to the city center and close to the Aku Uka Palace where another political party was also holding a rally, just as they did in Karim on December 26, 2018 during which they prevented the PDP senatorial and House of Representatives candidates from campaigning.

    “It is important to note that pandemonium broke out when, in the course of the shooting in Wukari, a member of the PDP was killed. At this point a crowd in sympathy to the victim rushed to the scene; panic took over, a vehicle carrying some APC thugs tried to beat a retreat and in the process crashed into another vehicle and caught fire.

    “Other vehicles, which wanted to rush out of the scene got trapped and were torched from the fire spreading from the already burning vehicle.

    “We invite Nigerians to note that the grand plan by Sani Danladi and the APC is to cause confusion during the campaigns since they have no chance of winning the March 2, election”.

    The PDP noted that it was for this sinister reason that the APC governorship candidate has refused to sign the peace accord, which was initiated by the Taraba state police command and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), toward ensuring peaceful campaigns and election.

    The party further observed that the APC in Taraba state has always been known with political thuggery, for which even other governorship aspirants in the APC had openly accused the party.

    “The PDP wants the APC, its governorship candidate in Taraba state, Sani Danladi and their godfathers in Abuja, to note that the people of Taraba state will not surrender their freedom and rights to the APC.

    “Let it be stressed that Taraba state as a stronghold of the PDP will never, in any way whatsoever, succumb to the machination of the APC as the people are ready and fully alert to confront and resist the APC and its candidate, with all the means and energy necessary and available in the defence of their mandate which they have freely given to the PDP.

    “The PDP insists that the governorship election in Taraba and indeed all states of the Federation scheduled for March 2, 2019 will hold on the fixed date. In the same vein, the PDP and the people of Taraba state will never accept any result that does not reflect the reality already expressed by the people.

    “The PDP therefore urges the National Peace Committee to note the infractions by the APC in Taraba state and speak out in the interest of peace, particularly given the security situation in the North East, especially now that Nigerians know who to hold responsible, should there be a break down of law and order in the state.

    “Finally, the PDP charges President Buhari and the APC leadership to counsel their governorship candidate in Taraba state, as well as rein-in their thugs, as there is no way they can have their way in Taraba state. Any move to undermine the resolve of the people, might come with very dire consequences”, the party said.

     

  • 2019: INEC publishes Kashamu-backed Ogun PDP candidates’ list

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday laid to rest the controversy over the list of candidates for Ogun State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the February 16 and March 2nd, 2019 elections.

    In the final list of Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates published by the Commission on its website, www.inecnigeria.org, the electoral body listed the names of candidates submitted by the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State PDP Executive as candidates of the PDP for the National Assembly election scheduled for 16th of February, 2019.

    The Dayo-led Ogun State PDP Executive is the structure supported by the lawmaker representing Ogun East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Buruji Kashamu, who also doubles as the Ogun State PDP governorship candidate.

    For the senatorial candidates, the list has Apostle Solomon Abiodun Sanyaolu as the PDP candidate for Ogun Central Senatorial District; Engr. Sosanwo Adeola Ayoola for Ogun East Senatorial District and Honourable Odunjo Odunleye Abiodun for Ogun West Senatorial District.

    For the House of Representatives candidates, the list has Barrister (Mrs.) Lanre-Balogun Abimbola for Abeokuta North/Obafemi-Owode/Odeda Federal Constituency; Showunmi Olusegun for Abeokuta South Federal Constituency; Sunmonu Monsuru Olusegun for Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency; Kojeku David Olusola for Egbado North/Imeko Afon Federal Constituency; Ajose Suru for Egbado South/Ipokia Federal Constituency; Adesina Olufemi for Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency.

    Read Also: INEC to engage 14, 000 adhoc staff

    Others are Barrister Taiwo Kabir Shote for Ijebu Ode/Odogbolu/Ijebu North East Federal Constituency; Honourable Adekoya Adesegun Abdul-Majeed for Ijebu North/Ijebu East/Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency and Honourable Lawal Alaba Isiaka for Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency.

    Reacting, Senator Kashamu described the development as “victory for resilience and the Rule of Law”, saying there was “no victor, no vanquished”.

    He said with the publication of the final list of candidates by INEC, it was incumbent all lovers of the party to close ranks and work to deliver Ogun State for PDP.

    “Like I said recently, we are members of the same family. We may have had our differences in the past.

    “At the end of the day, it is the party that wins; not any individual or group. We have to come together and work to deliver Ogun State for PDP in all the elections.

    “As the governorship candidate of the party, my doors are wide open. I am willing, able and ready to work with all – in the overall interest of our Party and people.”

    Kashamu commended INEC and the judiciary for standing firm on the side of justice and the Rule of Law.

    He wondered what “our democracy would have been without the judiciary which is the last hope of the common man and an upright electoral umpire”.