The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • ‘Your defection not a Surprise’

    Kano State Government on Tuesday described the defection of the immediate-past Deputy Governor of the state, Prof.  Hafiz Abubakar, from the All Progressive Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as long overdue.

    A Statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Youths and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, noted that, “we are aware of the event at Mambayya House on Tuesday when the former Deputy Governor finally revealed to the world his political betrayals in about three years in office as the Deputy Governor of Kano state and the Commissioner for Education.

    “To discernable minds, there is no doubt that the contentments of the 9-page text of Press Conference, painstakingly read out by Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, is not only laughable, but filled with ambiguity and confusion.”

    The statement further noted that, “for Prof. Hafiz to dissociate himself from his chairmanship of the 2015 Kano Gubernatorial Transition Committee, the findings and pronouncements he made, is a clear indication that he no longer has a mind of his own.

    Read Also: Much ado about defection

    “Going by his acclaimed political pedigree, one would have expected that Prof. Hafiz resigned his position long ago for what he described as, “political persecution and humiliation.”

    Kano State Government stressed further that, “It is kind enough of Prof. Hafiz to confirm that he was paid his entitlements even when he chose to abandon his service to the good people of Kano state and humanity.”

    According to the statement, “There is no gains saying the fact that Prof. Hafiz hurriedly left office in anticipation of a constitutional sledgehammer from Kano State House of Assembly, over his strong antagonism to policies of the State Government that have direct impact on the standard of living of the good people of Kano.”

    The Statement added that, “Finally, we wish Prof. Hafiz well in the voyage of his godfather, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, as we welcome his final exit from our great party,  the All Progressive Congress (APC), as a good omen.”

  • Alleged NASS invasion: PDP chides DSS

    ….hails sacking of DSS Boss

     

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ekiti chapter, on Tuesday condemned the action of the Department of State Security (DSS) for allegedly blocking the entrance to the  two chambers of the National Assembly and prevented some  Federal lawmakers from entering to perform their legitimate National assignment.

    The PDP said what the men of the DSS allegedly did at the Senate amounts to desecration of the Legislature, which it described as a potent arm of government that lends credence to the executive for good governance and giving efficiency to government’s policies.

    Read Also:NASS Blockade: Osinbajo summons IG, DSS Boss

    The party equally praised the sacking of the Director General of DSS, Lawan Daura, saying his action since assuming the top security seat in 2015 had been characterized with controversies, accusing the ex-security chief of always acting in a way that could destroy the nation’s
    democratic foundation.

    Speaking with newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, the PDP State Chairman in Ekiti, Barrister Gboyega Oguntuase, said it was a national disgrace for masked DSS operatives to have blocked the National Assembly and insulated elected officials from performing their duties.

    The PDP spoke in reaction to the siege laid to the National Assembly on Tuesday, where many Senators were prevented from entering the chambers by DSS operatives and the sacking of the DSS DG by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) for undisclosed reasons.

    Oguntuase, who spoke through the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Jackson Adebayo , said the leadership of the Senate that were prevented from entering the chambers were called by  the Senate President to interface with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on the 2019 general elections.

    “Since inception of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government in 2015, the DSS has been acting like politicians under many circumstances, the DSS under Lawan Daura has put democracy on trial and Nigerians need to act fast to prevent our democracy from being truncated by desperate individuals.

    “It is not only a desecration of the legislative arm for the chambers to be put under security siege, but a slap on Nigerians for those they took a whole day, staying inside sun and rain to elect to have been that disrespected under the guise of protecting few Senators who were
    desperate to oust the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki.

    “The National Assembly is a national symbol that deserves honour and respect of all institutions, particularly the security outfits. The situation was so bad to the extent that the Clerk of both chambers and staff were prevented from entering to perform the tasks for which they
    were being paid with tax payers’ money.

    “How would Nigerians look in the international community for 30 Senators to have sat and remove Senator Saraki, when the constitution was explicit that 2/3 majority is required to do such bidding?

    “Removing the cloak of politicking from DSS has become a serious burden to all Nigerians, because protecting the democracy we got after fighting the military for so  years , causing deaths of many priceless Nigerians is a task that must be achieved, it is no longer PDP or APC
    issue, it is about our collective destiny as a nation,” he stated.

    Speaking further on Daura’s ouster, Oguntuase said:  “We thank God that the ring leader of the dangerous cartel in DSS, Mr. Daura had been sacked. It could have been dangerous and harmful to us as a nation, for him to stay a day longer on that seat, because it was clear that he had made himself available for hatchet’s jobs.

    “So, PDP as a political party is happy about the FG’s position and we congratulate Nigerians for this bold step, for it will go a long way in protecting our democracy from total desecration and collapse,” the PDP leader asserted.

  • Kashamu to INEC, DSS, Police: Disregard PDP expulsion 

    There appeared to be no letup in the row between the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Senator representing Ogun East in the National Assembly, Buruji Kashamu, over the expulsion of the later by the PDP National leadership as Kashamu on Monday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Department of State Services (DSS) and Police to disregard his expulsion notice to them from PDP.

    Kashamu, who in a counter – correspondence to the correspondence of the PDP national leadership to the three agencies, insisted that his expulsion is a stillbirth and cannot stand the test of the law.

    Read Also:Expulsion: PDP writes INEC, DSS, Police over Kashamu, others

    The Senator’s position was contained in a letter dated August 6 and addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus and copied to the INEC Chairman, Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ogun State, Commissioner of Police and State Director of DSS, among others.

    The PDP National Legal Adviser, Emmanuel Enoidem, had on August 1 written INEC and security agencies of the PDP’s recent decision to expel Kashamu, Bayo Dayo, Semiu Sodipo and Segun Seriki – all of Ogun State chapter of PDP, over alleged anti-party activities.

    Kashamu who is a major financier of the state chapter of PDP since 2011, dismissed the correspondences as one  borne out of ignorance,  most ridiculous, deceitful and criminally contemptuous as the National Legal Adviser of PDP acted outside his jurisdiction as stipulated in Article 42 of the Party’s Constitution.

    He said only the national chairman and the national secretary that have powers to issue such correspondences as stipulated in Articles 35 and 36 of the party’s constitution, adding that there were also  pending litigations in which the courts restrained the party  from taking any disciplinary action against him and others.

    “Thus, I respectfully urge you to discountenance the fake letter, as it is not worth more than the piece of paper on which it was written.

    “Secondly, the National Executive Committee (NEC) could not have validly expelled me and others when there are subsisting judgments and orders of court forbidding them from taking any disciplinary action against me and the others.

    “If they had taught through their ill-advised step, they would have realized that it offends the provision of Article 57 (6) of the PDP Constitution.

    “It should be clear to all law-abiding citizens and institutions that the purported expulsion, in spite of subsisting orders and judgments of the court, is a still birth which cannot see the light of the day. It is an act of illegality that cannot stand the test of the law.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, I and the others remain valid, card-carrying and financial members of the PDP. Nobody can take away our rights and privileges because the courts had forbidden the party from doing so before it purportedly moved against us.

    “We will continue to operate within the law as PDP members, senator and State Exco members.

    “Finally, I wish to inform you that I have written letters to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Police and the State Security Service (SSS) urging them to disregard the valueless and incompetent letter written in defiance of several subsisting court judgments and orders, and continue to relate with us as the authentic and legally recognized leaders and members of the party,” Kashamu said.

  • Defection: Group urges Tambuwal to resign

    A Group of ‘Concerned Citizens of Sokoto State has urged Gov. Aminu Tambuwal to resign his position as governor following his defection to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from  All Progressive Congress (APC).

    Addressing newsmen on Sunday, the group Coordinator, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi, described Tambuwal’s exit from APC as a betrayal of the people’s mandate given him in the  2015 general elections.

    Abdullahi said Tambuwal’s  election was not because of his popularity among the by people but because of the circumstances that PDP led Nigeria into then and   the contributions of Sen. Aliyu Wamakko and President Muhammad Buhari.

    “We are speaking on behalf of Sokoto people that we are totally against Tambuwal’s decision to join PDP and we want him to immediately return our mandate by resigning his position as governor,’’ Abdullahi said.

    He called for an investigation into the alleged bribery of 18 lawmakers to join PDP with Tambuwal and sponsorship of people from the 23 local government areas to attend the Aug. 1 event at which the governor defected.

    The coordinator called on Tambuwal to either confirm or deny the allegations, including the claim that the governor spent five million naira on each of the local government to transport people to the event.

    He added that the group would begin educating people to recall any lawmaker that followed Tambuwal’s actions, while decrying that Nigerians Constitution should accommodate recall process of elected governor.

    Abdullahi described Tambuwal’s comments on Federal Government not executing any project in Sokoto as misleading.

    He listed the establishment of 8 Division of Nigerian Army, N8.7 billion FGN/CBN Intervention programnme in agriculture among others as Buhari’s good work to Sokoto people.

    Abdullahi also urged Tambuwal to account for N18.3 billion Paris Club refunds and N10.09 Salary/Pension arrears settlement facilities given by the Federal Government.

    He traced the history of Tambuwal’s emergence as Speaker House of Representatives, his governorship contest with his brother Sen. Umaru Dahiru-Tambuwal and support he enjoyed from Sen. Aliyu Wamakko.

    Others in attendance at the conference were Retired Squadron Leader, Aminu Bala-Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Gidan-Bango, Alhaji Usman Hassan and Alhaji Mu’azu Maigwanjo among others.

  • Kano deputy Governor, Hafiz Abubakar resigns

    …as 31 House members sign his impeachment notice  

    The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Professor Hafiz Abubakar, on Sunday resigned his position on the platform of the ruling, All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He resigned following  hints that 31 members of the state House of Assembly, signed his impeachment notice, which would be tabled before the house on Monday.

    Abubakar  has been having a running battle with his boss over issues bordering on loyalty between the Gandujiyya and Kwankwasiyya group of his intention to resign his position.

    In a letter, dated August 1, 2018, addressed to the Governor, Dr Abduallahi Umar Ganduje, Professor Hafiz said” : I would desire to remain up to the end of our tenure in order to fulfill the aspirations and expectations of the good people of Kano State, as expressed in their joint ticket in 2015.

    ”But with the current and persistent   irreconcilable differences on matters relating to governance and government operations, personal opinions and the concept of, and  respect for democratic  ideals and values, it would be unfair to my conscience to the good people of Kano State and  you, as the head of the Government to continue to remain in my position as the Deputy Governor.”

    Abubakar, a University Professor was said to have resigned his position and will join his political godfather, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the ruling APC.

    The deputy governor of Kano State has personally refuted speculations that he had defected from the  APC to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

    The Nation earlier reported that speculations were rife in the state last Wednesday that the academic and a Professor in Nutrition at Bayero University Kano, will quit his office.

    Abubakar has been under pressure from the governor’s loyalists to resign or face impeachment.

  • APC will sweep polls in Kwara in 2019 – Oyedepo

    Former Chairman, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara, Akogun Oyedepo, has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019 general elections in the state.

    Oyedepo, who  recently led majority of PDP members to APC, said on Sunday in Ilorin in a statement after a meeting of his group that over 85 per cent of PDP members followed him to decamp to APC.

    “If you add our 85 per cent with the people in APC before we came in, the party is richer now and ready to chase away PDP in Kwara,” he said.

    He said that members of the splinter group that remained in PDP had no electoral value, adding that APC was the party to beat in any election in Kwara.

    According to him, only four members of the PDP executives out of 31 members remained with the party, adding that the rest followed him to APC.

    Oyedepo also said that 27 of the PDP executive members were now with him in APC.

    According to him, the four executive members that choose to remain are from a splinter group loyal to the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

    The former PDP chairman also said that over 85 per cent of the local government and ward executive followed him to APC.

    Oyedepo, a lawyer, said that not less than 15 other political parties were ready to work with APC to wrestle power form PDP and Saraki.

    “I can boast of 15 political parties that are with us. As far as that is concerned, we have not less than 15 that are working with us. KOWA is with us, we are with Labour Party, PPN and many others.”

  • ADP will not form evil alliance with any party – Chieftain

    The Action Democratic Party (ADP) says it will not form “evil” alliance with any political party.

    Thenationonline.ng reports that a chieftain of the party and aspirant for the Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency, Mr Pius Alile, said this while addressing newsmen at the Benin Airport on Saturday.

    He said the ADP wanted to produce new leadership for Nigeria.

    He said going into alliance with any party would mean working in concert with the same politicians that looted the common patrimony of Nigerians.

    He said it was the reason the ADP rejected going into any alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    According to him, “My party will not form any evil alliance with any political party. My party will stand independently and contest for 2019.

    “The same people have been ruling us since 1999, so what difference do they want to make that will bring the desired change to the people of Nigeria.

    “We want to bring transparency into governance and accountability. We want to bring probity into governance and entrench the rule of law.

    “The PDP told us that they will rule this country for 60 years, what happened today?

    “This must change and put an end to suffering in the land.”

    Thenationonline.ng reports that the aspirant later inaugurated two boreholes he provided for Uselu and Eweka communities.

    He said the project was part of his free water scheme to communities in the constituency.

  • Expulsion: PDP writes INEC, DSS, Police over Kashamu, others

    …As Senator rejects expulsion from party
    The National Headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has formally written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Department of State Security Service (DSS) and the Police Command in Ogun State, notifying each of them of the expulsion of Senator Buruji Kashamu and three others from the party.
    Senator Kashamu representing Ogun East Senatorial district at the Senate, factional Chairman of PDP in Ogun State, Engr. Bayo Dayo,  and two others were expelled from the party weeks  ago by the PDP National leadership for alleged anti – party activities but Kashamu and Dayo rejected the expulsion, dismissing it last Thursday as a ruse and illegality that shall not stand.
    The Senator and Dayo Bayo insisted that they remained full – ledge member of PDP, saying a subsisting court order protects their membership.
    However, in a letter  by the PDP National Legal Adviser, Emmanuel Enoidem,  dated August 1 and addressed separately to the trio of the  Resident Electoral Commissioner, the State Director of DSS and the Commissioner of Police in the state, the party said the expelled persons have ceased to be members of PDP.
    In the said letter, the party recalled that the National Executive Committee (NEC) at its 80th meeting held on July 23, expelled the quartet of Kashamu, the factional state chairman and secretary, Bayo Dayo and Semiu Sodipo, respectively and Segun Seriki, for “various infractions and violations of express provisions of the constitution of the party 2017 (as amended).”

    Read also:Kashamu holds Mega rally, rejects expulsion by PDP

     “Grateful, we write to bring to your notice and information that on July 23, 2018, the 80th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC)  of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expelled Senator Buruji Kashamu, Mr.  Semiu Sodipo,  Engr. Bayo Dayo and Segun Seriki, from the party for various infractions  and violations of express provisions of the Constitution of the party 2017 (as amended).
    “Accordingly, they have ceased to be members of our party forthwith and lost all rights and or privileges, to act or represent the party in any capacity whatsoever. The extract of the 80th meeting of the NEC is attached for your perusal,” the letter reads.

  • Expulsion: PDP formally writes INEC, DSS, Police over Kashamu, others

    …As Senator rejects expulsion from party

     

    The National Headquarters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has formally written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Department of State Security Service (DSS) and the Police Command in Ogun State, notifying each of them of the expulsion of Senator Buruji Kashamu and three others from the party.

    Senator Kashamu representing Ogun East Senatorial district at the Senate, factional Chairman of PDP in Ogun State, Engr. Bayo Dayo,  and two others were expelled from the party weeks  ago by the PDP National leadership for alleged anti-party activities but Kashamu and Dayo rejected the expulsion, dismissing it last Thursday as a ruse and illegality that shall not stand.

    Read Also:Kashamu rejects expulsion by PDP leadership

    The Senator and Dayo Bayo insisted that they remained full – ledge member of PDP, saying a subsisting court order protects their membership.

    However, in a letter by the PDP National Legal Adviser, Emmanuel Enoidem, dated August 1 and addressed separately to the trio of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, the State Director of DSS and the Commissioner of Police in the state, the party said the expelled persons have ceased to be members of PDP.

    In the said letter, the party recalled that the National Executive Committee (NEC) at its 80th meeting held on July 23, expelled the quartet of Kashamu, the factional state chairman and secretary, Bayo Dayo and Semiu Sodipo, respectively and Segun Seriki, for “various infractions and violations of express provisions of the constitution of the party 2017 (as amended).”

    “Grateful, we write to bring to your notice and information that on July 23, 2018, the 80th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) expelled Senator Buruji Kashamu, Mr.  Semiu Sodipo, Engr. Bayo Dayo and Segun Seriki, from the party for various infractions and violations of express provisions of the Constitution of the party 2017 (as amended).

    “Accordingly, they have ceased to be members of our party forthwith and lost all rights and or privileges, to act or represent the party in any capacity whatsoever. The extract of the 80th meeting of the NEC is attached for your perusal,” the letter reads.

  • Resign now, Yoruba youths tell Saraki

    A group, Yoruba Youths Congress (YYC) Friday urged the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to resign his position having defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Speaking to reporters in Akure, the Ondo State capital, its National President, Prince Dapo Adepoju who is also the Chairman, Coalition of Southwest youths  said it will be immoral for  Saraki to continue as President of the Nigerian senate with his defection from the ruling party to the opposition.

    Read Also:Buhari tells Saraki, other defectors: you’re bad eggs

    The youth leader noted with dismay the undue opportunities granted politicians to take the electorate for granted in their actions.

    According to him, since the APC has majority members in the upper chamber, the minority PDP cannot lead the majority.

    He said; “Our call is to ensure that the national assembly is peaceful, the situation whereby 109 senators will set Nigeria ablaze because of their selfish interest will not be acceptable by the Nigerian youths.

    “The activities of the 8th assembly under Saraki has been retrogressive, in fact the present National Assembly is the most politicized senate since we returned to democratic rule in 1999”.

    Adepoju emphasised that the 2019 polls will not be determined by politicians but the electorate who are mostly youths.

    He also cautioned the leadership of the APC not to victimise any personality that defected to another party since partisan politics is free entry and exit.

    He also called on the leadership of the Senate to as a matter of urgency reconvene for parliamentary business in the interest of Nigerians.