As PDP stages protest over Osun election
Jimi Agbaje on Friday emerged as the governorship candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State.
Agbaje who was candidate of PDP in 2015 got 1,100 votes to defeat Adedeji Doherty who polled 742 votes.
Details later…
Two prominent Ijaw youth leaders from Bayelsa State on Thursday dumped the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) following the fallout of the party’s primary elections in the state.
A former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri and ex-National Mobilization Officer of IYC, Elvis Donkemezuo, who were aspirants in the elections, complained bitterly that the process was marred by irregularities and violence.
Donkemezuo, immediately defected to the Young Democratic Party (YDP), to actualize his aspirations of representing Kolokuma-Opokuma Constituency 2 in the State House of Assembly.
But Eradiri, who aspired to fly a PDP flag for the Yenagoa-Kolokuma-Opokuma Federal Constituency, in a press briefing in Yenagoa said he was still consulting with his supporters and family members to decide his political future.
He described the Wednesday primary election in which a former Secretary of State Government (SSG), Steve Azaiki, was declared the winner, as a sham adding that thugs mobilized by state forces attacked delegates and shot at him.
Eradiri lamented that delegates from 12 wards in his constituency were not allowed to vote saying he witnessed the highest level of intimidation despite promises of a free and fair election by the party.
He said with his experience as an aspirant, the PDP leaders had learnt nothing from the lack of internal democracy and imposition of candidates that made them lose the 2015 general elections.
He said: “I am dissatisfied with the way the primaries went, right from when ward congresses were conducted. The ward congress election did not hold. Names were written, we protested but nothing was done about it.
“At the primaries, I saw the height of an undemocratic process. In fact 12 wards from my Federal Constituency were excluded. It was marred by violence. People were mobilized to violently attack our supporters and I was shot at.
“Above all the principles of the true free and fair democratic process was not adhered to. It is not as if I wasn’t expecting this but I thought that as a party which came out of 2015 wounded as a result of lack of internal democracy and inposition of candidates probably leaders would have learnt some lessons.
“The PDP is going into an election with an opposition and ruling party that has everything that it takes to win an election. We saw what happened in Ekiti and Osun states so the only way the PDP can make progress is by ensuring internal democratic process.
“So, having considered all the factors surrounding it I have come to the conclusion that the PDP is not where I would be able to express myself. I am a young man with a lot of energy and drive to add value to the society.
“I think that the agitation for justice in the Niger Delta must migrate from the streets to the table of political discus and that is when people who are knowledgeable find themselves in the law-making part of governance”.
Eradiri said it was unfortunate PDP chose to treat him like an outcast despite his loyalty and contributions to the party.
He said: “I have learnt the hard way. I want to formerly thank the leadership of the PDP and the leadership of the state for giving me the opportunity to learn the ropes of politics.
“I want to formerly inform the world that today the 4th October 2018, l formerly exit the PDP. My letters will be ready and I will forward it to my ward through which it will be forwarded to the leadership of the council.
“Going forward I am engaging in conversation with my supporters and I will communicate again to the world the next line of action”.
On his part, Donkemezuo, who was received by the leaders of the YDP described the PDP as a wilderness and expressed happiness that the YDP had given him the light.
“It was unfortunate what happened in the PDP. We have seen imposition of candidates. We have seen lack of internal democracy, violence, intimidation and impunity in the highest order.
“My constituency was not allowed to vote in the National Assembly primaries. My ward chairman was beaten and stripped naked. Monies and phones were stolen and that is not the kind of ideals l have for politics.
“Violence and intimidation does not conform to my principles in politics. It is part of these reasons l chose to pursue my ambition in other platform where there is decency”.
Joseph Haruna-Kigbu, has emerged the Lafai/Obi Federal Constituency candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State.
Malik Ohioma, the chairman of the primary election committee, announced the result at about 1:3 p.m. on Thursday at the party secretariat in Lafia, venue of the event.
Ohioma said that Kigbu got 146 votes to defeat his rival Ahmed Dala, who got 86 votes.
He, therefore, declared Kigbu as the winner of the election and the candidate of PDP in the constituency.
Similarly, the committee chairman declared Idris Gani, as the candidate of the party in Awe/Doma/Keana Federal Constituency.
Gani polled 163 votes to defeat Adamu Aboki, who got 148 votes.
In their reaction, the winners of the elections thanked the delegates and leaders of the party for the confidence reposed in them and promised not to let them down.
They also called on all members of the party to join hands with them to ensure victory for the party in the 2019 elections.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Kigbu represented the constituency from 2011 to 2015 at the lower chamber.
He was defeated in 2015 election by Abubakar Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Alhaji Abdulkarim Usman, a former member representing Wamba Constituency at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA), has emerged winner of the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) ticket for the Akwanga/Nassarawa Eggon/Wamba Federal Constituency.
Mr Joseph Agbo, the PDP Returning Officer for the election, announced the result on Thursday in Akwanga.
Agbo commended the aspirants and delegates for their maturity and peaceful conduct of the primary.
According to him, Usman got 339 votes to defeat two other contestants – Kefas Elisha and Nathaniel Isah, who polled 15 and 2 votes respectively
He said that the total number of accredited voters were 358, saying that one vote was invalid while one person did not vote after accreditation.
Agbo, therefore, declared Usman the winner of the election.
“Abdulkarim Usman having polled the highest votes of 339 is hereby declared the winner of the primary election, ‘’ the returning officer said.
Speaking with newsmen, Usman said that he would ensure effective and quality representation at the National Assembly, if elected in 2019.
He thanked the delegates for voting him and gave an assurance that he would not disappoint them in the green chamber, if elected.
“My constituents and the people of the state can testify of what I had done when I was in the state house of assembly and I will do more if given the mandate to go to the green chamber come 2019, ’’ he said.
There was some confusion in a hotel in Calabar on Wednesday as the Senator representing Cross River South Senatorial District, Gershom Bassey, almost came to blows with his opponent in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial primary, Ntufam Ekpo Okon.
Members of the party had gathered at the hotel to find out from Chairman of the Cross River State Senatorial Primary Election Committee, Col. Ahmadu Usman (retd), why election materials were not made available for the delegates to cast their votes in the southern senatorial district.
It was gathered that a vehicle brought in one of the members of the Cross River State Senatorial Primary Election Committee to the hotel.
An eyewitness said the party supporters intercepted the driver of the vehicle and the election committee member and discovered some election materials and some colour photocopies.
Okon, who was present at the scene proceeded to prevailing on Usman in his hotel room to either make the materials available or postpone the conduct of the exercise.
In the evening, Senator Bassey arrived the same room and tempers flared between both contestants.
It took the intervention of security officials to calm the situation.
After heated arguments it was learnt Usman decided to shift the exercise to Thursday.
The crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) may have been finally resolved as a Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Tuesday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Uche Secondus-led National leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to accept and process the list of candidates and delegates submitted to them by the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State Executive Committee of the PDP for the purpose of the 2019 general election.
Ruling on a motion for interlocutory injunction after listening to arguments canvassed by the counsel to the Ogun State PDP Executive, Mr. Ricky Tarfa (SAN), who noted that the court had on the 28th of September, 2018 ordered that the defendants should be put on notice and adjourned till 2nd October, 2018, for definite hearing of the motion for interlocutory injunction.
Tarfa said he was ready to move the motion because all the parties had been served and the court was bound by its records.
The Honourable Justice M. Abubakar Shittu went through the court’s file and noted that the court was satisfied from the proof of service and affidavit in support that all the defendants had been duly served but for reasons best known to them failed to file any document in opposition to the plaintiffs’ claims. They also did not send in any legal representation despite standing down the case for hours.
After standing down the matter for hours, the court resumed sitting and in a brief ruling delivered afterwards, it held that the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs, having not been controverted, are granted as prayed. The reliefs are: “An interim order directing the 1st Defendant (INEC) to accept or process only the list of candidates of the PDP for the 2019 general election in Ogun State authenticated by the plaintiffs as having emerged from primaries conducted by them for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senatorial and Governorship elections and submitted by the Plaintiffs or their authorized nominees pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st Defendant (INEC) by itself, servants, officials, agents or privies from accepting, processing or publishing the name/s of any person/s purporting to be a nominated candidate/s of the PDP from Ogun State for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, senatorial or governorship election except those who emerge from primary elections constituted by delegates authenticated by the Plaintiffs, convened and conducted by the plaintiffs for the election/nomination of 2nd Defendant’s candidates in Ogun state pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the 2nd – 4th Defendants (PDP, Secondus and National Secretary Ibrahim Tsauri) from convening, conducting or organizing a National Convention of the PDP for the nomination of the Presidential candidate of the party without the authentic delegates from Ogun State listed in Schedule A attached to this originating summons (as authenticated and accredited by the Plaintiffs) in attendance and voting pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st Defendant (INEC) by itself, its members, employees, servants, agents or privies from accepting, processing and or publishing (for the purpose of the 2019 general elections) the name of any person purporting to be the nominated presidential candidate of the PDP (notwithstanding that such a name is submitted by the National Executive Committee of the PDP or persons claiming to act for it) when such a person claiming to be the Presidential candidate of the PDP is a product of any National Convention convened, organized and/or conducted by the 2nd to 4th Defendants (PDP, Secondus and National Secretary Ibrahim Tsauri) or persons claiming to act for them, without the authentic delegates from Ogun State including the Applicants herein and others listed in Schedule A attached to the originating summons (as authenticated and accredited by the Plaintiffs) in attendance and voting pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the 1stDefendant (INEC) by itself, its members, employees, servants, agents or privies from accepting, processing and or publishing (for the purpose of the 2019 general elections) the name/s of any person/s purporting to be (a) nominated candidate/s of the PDP from Ogun State or presidential candidate of the PDP (notwithstanding that such nomination is submitted by the National Executive Committee of the PDP or persons claiming to act for it) when such person/s claiming to be candidates of the PDP for the general elections is/are (a) product/s of any unity list or consensus arrangement which bypasses the prescribed electoral process of the PDP, particularly the electoral colleges constituted by delegates including the Ogun state delegates listed in Schedule A attached to this originating summons(as authenticated and accredited by the Plaintiffs) in attendance and voting pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”
The court adjourned hearing in the substantive suit till the 7th of November, 2018.
Tambuwal made this promise in Umuahia, capital of Abia state, when he paid a courtesy visit to the state governor, Okezie Ikpazu, on Tuesday October 2, 2018, as part of his nationwide consultations over his 2019 presidential ambition.
The Sokoto governor, who in a statement by his campaign spokesman, Dr. Okey Ikechukwu, described his presidential aspiration as ” a mission to rescue Nigeria from ineffective and ineffectual leadership”, lamented the multiplicity of security challenges that the nation is currently faced with, as he pledged to provide a responsible leadership that would comprehensively tackle “insecurity, impunity and lack of transparency in doing government business, if given the opportunity to serve this great nation president.”
He told the Abia state governor that he understood what the zone is suffering as regards the poor state of federal roads in the area, emphasizing, “I have seen firsthand, what Abians and the people of the entire South east are suffering as a result of bad roads. On my way to Umuahia from Port Harcourt through Owerri, we meandered through potholes, gullies, ponds and even swimming pools, in the name of federal roads. This is a shame.
“Nigeria is a good country, but It can and will be better. When I become president, we shall take on the challenges of infrastructural deficit in this region, address the ecological problems here, by applying the ecological funds judiciously.
“We shall collaborate with the state governments to provide jobs through Small and Medium Enterprises (SME). Abia people are very enterprising and we shall support those with entrepreneurial skills to fulfill their potentials and help in creating jobs for the teeming youths.
According to the former speaker of House of Representatives, ” NNPC has constituted itself into a government of its own and operates as if it is not accountable to anyone. The states are continually shortchanged by the federal government and NNPC. But all that will change when I’m elected president because I will take on the issues of secrecy in NNPC accounting and ensure that there is transparency and fiscal discipline so that Nigerians know the true state of things in the corporation’s operations in terms of the revenue accruable to the nation”
He said that Nigeria at this critical moment “needs a democrat that will unify the nation and return her to the part of progress, not a nepotist leader that believes in the interest of a few. I will not be a leader that will shut doors against critical national issues. I will work for a United prosperous Nigeria where rule of law is supreme and respected. And where every citizen will live peacefully in any part of this great nation without fear of molestation or intimidation.”
Senate Minority Leader, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, has clinched the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for Ekiti South senatorial district ahead of the February National Assembly election.
Olujimi was elected by affirmation by delegates from all the six local government areas that make up the senatorial district at a primary conducted in Ikere Ekiti on Tuesday.
Party leaders and delegates from Ekiti Southwest, Ikere, Ise/Orun, Emure, Gbonyin and Ekiti East local government areas elected Olujimi by voice vote.
The shadow poll was witnessed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the National Orientation Agency (NOA), security agencies and journalists.
The primary was conducted by Ekiti PDP Women Leader, Mrs. Yemisi Afolabi, on behalf of the panel from the party’s national secretariat.
Mrs. Afolabi explained that panel members’ flight had a delay saying she had the permission of the panel to conduct the primary.
Speaking shortly after winning the PDP ticket to seek a re-election, Olujimi appreciated party members for the confidence reposed in her promising to do more for the senatorial zone if elected at the general election.
The former Ekiti Deputy Governor urged party members to be more united to ensure victory at the election.
According to her, she has succeeded in bringing visibility to Ekiti South and attracted more projects there in the last three and half years and empowered the constituents.
The senator urged party members and people of the district to guard their votes at the general elections to ensure that their votes count.
She called on INEC to conduct credible polls next year to win back the confidence of the electorate in the ballot box criticising the electoral umpire’s handling of the last governorship poll in Osun State.