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Tag: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • Reps PDP caucus rejects new PDP

    Reps PDP caucus rejects new PDP

    The caucus of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives has described those behind the formation of a new faction of the party as ‘impostors’.

    The caucus in a statement Thursday by the Deputy Minority Leader, Chukwuka Onyema said it will never recognize or interact with the new faction, while calling for the investigation of the activities of those behind it by security agencies.

    The statement reads: “This band of impostors – pawns being strung along by devious elements in the ruling party – has the audacity to arrogate the name of our party, the PDP, to its misadventure, using a rented space somewhere in Asokoro, Abuja.

    “Feigning complete ignorance that the Wadata Plaza national headquarters of the PDP that is recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission is located at Wuse Zone 5 in Abuja, they pasted two copies of our flag on the wall and went to town like a band of jesters.

    “The PDP House caucus hereby declares that the five leprous fingers said to constitute the mischievous adventure do not constitute any faction, splinter group or whatever fanciful description they claim within PDP as they are only serving the errands of the ruling party elements planning to use them for even more mischief early next year.

    “The activities of the said men claiming to be starting a fresh PDP deserve urgent investigation and immediate halt by the police and the Department of State Security as we would not want enraged supporters of the PDP to take the laws into their hands in the process of dealing with such miscreants.

    “There is need to investigate how far these five leprous fingers are connected to the APC and its past record of widespread deceit and unscrupulous propaganda.

    “Our convention has come and gone in the face of a ruling party that seems so petrified at the thought of facing a reawakened PDP, even as it remains unable to hold a national convention like we did”.

  • 2019: APC can’t lose sleep over Atiku against Buhari – El-Rufai

    2019: APC can’t lose sleep over Atiku against Buhari – El-Rufai

    Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has said that, All Progressives Congress ( APC ) is waiting for the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to come and contest the 2019 presidential seat against President Muhammadu Buhari, saying that, they cannot lose sleep over Atiku’s ambition.

    El-Rufai also said that, Atiku lied by saying he financed the APC campaigns in 2015. He however challenged the former Vice President to prove his claims.

    Kaduna State Governor stated this in an interview with the Hausa service of the Voice of America (VOA), which was monitored in Kaduna on Wednesday.

    Also featured in the short interview on the VOA Hausa service programme ‘Democracy Today’ were the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar himself and former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, who has since declared intention to contest the presidential ticket under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    When asked about his intention to contest in 2019, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar simply said, he has not made up his mind, saying that, “when I decide, I will let the world know”.

    But, Sule Lamido in his reaction to Atiku’s return to PDP said, they were happy to have him back, and that, he is not threatened by Atiku’s return.

    According to Lamido, “We are happy that former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is back to PDP. PDP made him and that he is back to the party is our joy. Not only him, in fact, we want others who left the party like the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and former Governors to come back”.

    Asked whether he is not threatened by Atiku’s return, Lamido said, he is not threatened, but his prayer is that, best Presidential candidate will emerge for PDP. “If our interest is to see the progress and development of Nigeria, then, we should also prayer that everyone who left should return home”.

    However, El-Rufai while tongue-lashing Atiku said, “We in the APC were aware from onset that Atiku was going to leave APC back to PDP in the December and we thank God that, he left in November.

    “Atiku had seen that, we in the APC, especially the APC Governors had resolved to support President Muhammadu Buhari to run again in 2019. That is why he left APC, since he was only looking for where to contest for presidency.

    “Even in the 2015 APC primary election, Atiku didn’t come second, he was floored by Kwankwaso. So, even if President Buhari decides not to contest, Atiku knows that the APC ticket is not sure for him. Majority of the APC Governors have endorsed President Buhari as our candidate for 2019.

    “And we thank God, God has continued to improve the health condition of the President. Each time I see him, I thank God and I still pray that God continues to give him sound health.

    “So, by 2019, we are waiting to see Atiku contest, we are waiting to contest against him and see what happens. But, I cannot lose sleep because Atiku wants to contest, because by God’s grace, this is the reign of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Agreed, in politics if you lose even only one person, it should worry you, but the utterances of the former Vice President that, APC used his money, who did he give the money to? For me, I know those that supported us with their money and property that we used during election, and I never heard the name of Atiku that he brought a dime. If Atiku said he brought money, who did he give? Let him come and say it and how much did he give and what was it used for?

    “And in fact, if Atiku brought money, I ought to know, because I am part of the leadership of the party and during campaign, myself and former Governor Rotimi Amaechi were at the centre of the presidential campaign. Therefore, we are supposed to know. So, let him mention whom he gave the money and how much?

    “Asked about large number of APC members who are likely to follow Atiku to PDP, El-Rufai said, “Sure, we know that, we cannot rule out the possibility of some greedy people following him, those that are following material things. But, if people will consider how we can work for the progress of our country, everybody knows that you cannot compare Atiku with President Muhammadu Buhari”, El-Rufai said.

  • PDP rep protests intimidation by PDP caucus over defection

    PDP rep protests intimidation by PDP caucus over defection

    Cracks appeared in the caucus of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives Tuesday as a negative emerging trend in support or otherwise of motions or bills  along political party or ethnic lines in the House of Representatives was vehemently condemned by a member of the caucus.

    Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma (PDP, Edo) protested being intimidated by his colleagues in the PDP caucus for opting not to join a walk out over the defection of a PDP member to All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Agbonayinma at a press briefing said his colleagues promised to defeat (negative)  his motion on Digital Switch Over (DSO) for refusing to join the caucus’ walkout over Nnenna Igbokwe  (Imo), who decamped from PDP to APC.

    The lawmaker said the behaviour of his PDP colleagues was unfair and contrary to the feeling of togetherness with which members have always voted on motion and bills, irrespective of party affiliations.

    Saying that the national interest has always been an overriding factor on the floor of the Green chamber, Agbonayinma regretted that it was jettisoned by his own caucus when his bill on the DSO was introduced.

    He expressed disappointment that his reason for not joining the walkout was not acceptable to his colleagues.

    He said: “I did not join the walk out and it was because I have a motion of urgent public importance to move.

    “For Speaker Yakubu Dogara to allow the motion to be moved showed the national importance of the motion because it is against the rule to move such motions and debate it same day.

    “I’m disappointed because I was promised by my caucus that my motion will be defeated if I don’t join the walkout and it was defeated.

    “For the love of Nigeria, we don’t have to be partisan when issues of national importance are on ground and it is such a surprise and disappointment because they used to stand by me but partisan politics played out today.

    “With what happned today, are we setting a precedence on passage of motions based on partisanship?

    “The fact of Tuesday action by the PDP caucus is that it is a conspiracy not against me but against the people of Nigeria.

    “We should not forget that it is our duty to help President Buhari to succeed in his fight against corruption and moving this country forward because if he succeeds, Nigeria succeeds.

    “What can be more important than for us standing by the resolution of the House that the Federal government should comply with the recommendations of the White paper on it.

    “That the Information Minister should not commission the Kwara Switchover because one of the signal distributors supplied obsolete equipment.

    “The company was paid N1.7b but what do we have on ground? Outdated equipment that cannot offer what is required for the switchover.

    “The same company was also not registered which means that the country is losing millions over its non-registration”.

    The aggrieved lawmaker opined that rather push members out of the party, the PDP caucus should encourage people to stay back.

    “Today I’m a PDP member but should not push me out, they should encourage people to stay, they should not ridicule me.

    “That someone decamped doesn’t mean we should be enemies but my feelings about what happened on the floor is that  individuals are the problems of this country and not the parties and we need to move above that for the love of this country,” he added.

  • Why we dumped PDP for APC in Ondo

    Why we dumped PDP for APC in Ondo

    Several members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state on Tuesday dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    The defectors were led into the APC by former Education Secretary of Akoko Southwest, Ware Olukayode.

    He said they were attracted to the APC by the developmental revolution of the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu led administration in Akoko.

    Olukayode stressed that they were particularly grateful to the governor on the ongoing Oka Akoko road rehabilitation.

    The defector, who explained that many lives have been lost to the road, noted that Akeredolu has shown that his government place premium on human lives.

    He said the PDP has become a shadow of itself, adding that it is a party which is no longer acceptable to the people of Akoko.

    Olukayode said “We have come to join the winning team. Akeredolu has consolidated on the popularity of the APC in Akoko.

    APC has been winning Akoko for a long time. It is because the party is deep rooted here. We want to join the rest of our people, PDP is no longer a place of abode us “.

    Receiving the defectors, the Association acting Chairman, Ade Adetimehin assured the new members of level playing ground.

    He charged them to keep faith with the party and support the development drive of Governor Akeredolu’s government.

    Adetimehin called on members of the party who were involved in anti- party activities during the last year gubernatorial election to retrace their step into the APC.

    He said they can only come back into the party by following the appropriate channel in their various wards.

  • PDP convention: I ‘m aggrieved but hopeful, says Adedoja

    PDP convention: I ‘m aggrieved but hopeful, says Adedoja

    A defeated chairmanship candidate in the just concluded national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof Taoheed Adedoja has expressed his grievances with the conduct of the exercise, but said he’s hopeful on the future of the party.

    Adedoja, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday said he was not happy about the outcome of the convention, regretting that the party has failed to learn from its past mistakes.

    The former Sports and Special Duties Minister who got no vote at the convention, pleaded with members of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party to set up a committee to investigate what went wrong with the conduct of the exercise.

    According to him, it’s only an insane person that would say that the convention went through due process, saying “the exercise was characterised by impunity, which he said, must be reviewed in order to avert futher crisis in the party.

    “A week to our convention, a list tagged ‘unity list’ emerged with names of the winners in the convention circulating around. So the BoT should find out what went wrong”, he said.

  • PDP: ‘This is the best national convention in Nigeria’- Fayose

    PDP: ‘This is the best national convention in Nigeria’- Fayose

    Ekiti state governor and Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Ayo Fayose, has come out to praise the organisers of the national convention, being held by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    He made this statement in an interview with the African Independent Television (AIT), at the on-going national convention.

    “This is the best national convention ever held in Nigeria. I listen to some people talking about list, I felt ashamed, I felt sad.

    He also asked others to toe the line of Atiku Abubukar and return to the PDP.

  • PDP National Convention: Dokpesi, Adeniran rejects outcome

    PDP National Convention: Dokpesi, Adeniran rejects outcome

    Two Chairmanship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Raymond Dokpesi and Prof. Tunde Adeniran have rejected the outcome of the party’s national convention and the process that led to the emergence of the key officers.

    The aspirants announced their positions in separate interviews with newsmen at the venue of the convention, on Saturday in Abuja.

    Dokpesi, the media magnate said he rejected the elections following alleged distribution of a so-called unity list to delegates, describing it as a charade that may destroy the party.

    Read Also: ‘Unity list’ sparks protests at PDP convention

    Dokpesi said that the process of voting had been rigged, following the distribution of a unity list containing names of candidates believed to have won elections into various National leadership positions in the party.

    He explained that the 21 names of candidates contained in the list appeared on the ballot papers as number one and in the voting boots as number one.

    He said complaints were lodged to the chairman of the PDP electoral committee Gabriel Suswam who confirmed that he had seen the list with some delegates but he was overwhelmed.

    Dokpesi said it was unfortunate that a party which was just getting out of a major leadership crisis would be involved in acts of impunity and election malpractice.

    He called on the party leadership to urgently rectify the anomaly before it becomes another major challenge in the party, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Similarly, Taiwo Akeju, Director, Media and Publicity of the Adeniran Campaign, called for the cancellation of the entire exercise.

    He accused Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers and Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti of being the masterminds of the unity list distributed to the delegates.

    “We reject the entire electoral process. The election has been grossly compromised to achieve a predetermined end.

    “The illegal unity list is prepared by governors Wike and Ayodele Fayose to foist on the entire delegates” he said.

    He, however, called on the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the party to takeover the affairs of the party until proper election would be conducted, since the National Caretaker Committee has been dissolved.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the rejection of the unity list by the frontline chairmanship candidates, was done before the final collation of the elections results.

  • FRSC warns of Abuja traffic buildup ahead of PDP convention

    FRSC warns of Abuja traffic buildup ahead of PDP convention

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned of an impending traffic buildup in Abuja occasioned by Saturday’s national convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    The Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.

    Kazeem said an increase in vehicular and human traffic was expected in roads around the Eagle Square, venue of the convention.

    He stressed the need for motorists and other road users to be cautious, patient and cooperative with traffic management officials during the event.

    He, however, assured the public that the FRSC had made adequate arrangements to ensure free-flow of traffic in the city during the event.

    “There is going to be increase in human and vehicular traffic especially around the venue of the event, and roads leading to Abuja.

    “But we have adequately deployed men and logistics to cater for motorists coming in from Lokoja, Kaduna, Niger and Nasarawa States.

    “We have beefed up our patrol and ambulance points on the roads.

    “From Friday night until Sunday, our men will be at the various junctions leading to the venue of the event.

    “Our own is traffic control to safeguard the lives of Nigerians.

    “We don’t want crash, and that is why we are calling for caution and patience among motorists and other road users in Abuja on Saturday,” he said.

    Kazeem also called on Nigerians to obey traffic rules and regulations to avoid road carnage during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

  • Senators, Reps exchange blows in Akpabio’s house ahead of convention

    Senators, Reps exchange blows in Akpabio’s house ahead of convention

    Ahead of the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), members of the National Assembly caucus of the party on Thursday night exchanged blows at the residence of a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, over the choice of the next national chairman of the party.

    Akpabio, who is the Minority Leader in the Senate, had convened a session on how to keep the party united and ensure a rancour-free convention.

    The session was also meant to allow the National Assembly Caucus to interact with all the aspirants of the party.

    The fracas occurred at the residence of Akpabio in Asokoro District, Abuja.

    A top source, who was at the meeting, said: “The Senate Minority Leader convened the session in his house to enable us interact with all the aspirants on their programmes and form our opinion on who to vote for.

    “We were barely settling down for the session when some members of the House of Representatives raised issues concerning some aspirants for the office of the National Chairman and others disagreed.

    “The development led to shouting match and fisticuffs among some Senators and members of the House of Representatives.

    “The rowdy session was witnessed by the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, and some of the aspirants in attendance, including a leading candidate, Prince Uche Secondus.”

    Another source at the meeting said: “The meeting ended abruptly when some lawmakers started exchanging blows over who should lead the party.

    “I think the clash was a carry-over of some political misunderstanding among some members of the National Assembly in some states over the choice of chairman for PDP. But we all bore the brunt of the fisticuffs.”

    A member of the House of Representatives, who was hit at the session, said: “I think some of our colleagues at the session were just being overzealous by taking sides. They misread the intent of what we were to do.

    “The assumption was that the session was meant to adopt a candidate for the Office of National Chairman of PDP.”

    When contacted, Akpabio’s spokesman, Mr. Jackson Udom, said: “Why can’t you get in touch with the Senate Minority Leader himself? I do not speak on party matters.”

    The chairmanship candidates are a former Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; a former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran; a former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George; a former Minister of Sports, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja; a former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; a media mogul, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi; and Aderemi Olusegun.

  • Dokpesi still in race for PDP Chairmanship– Campaign DG

    Dokpesi still in race for PDP Chairmanship– Campaign DG

    A national chairmanship aspirant in Saturday’s National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Raymond Dokpesi, says he will not step down from the race for any reason.

    Director- General of Dokpesi Campaign Organisation, Mr Baba Kachalla, made this known in a news conference on Friday in Abuja.

    Kachalla debunked a rumour making the rounds that Dokpesi had dropped out of the race, saying it was untrue and mischievous.

    He said it had become obvious that some PDP members masquerading as leaders were determined to sabotage and inflict damages on the well-organised and victory-bound aspiration of Dokpesi

    “The position of this campaign organisation is that only delegates to the Convention can and will decide the fate of all aspirants at the Eagle Square on Saturday.

    “We make bold to challenge the masquerades long known for their penchant for taking unpopular decisions that have brought defeat and humiliation to the PDP in the past.

    “Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi has campaigned throughout the length and breadth of this country and will finish the race at the Convention grounds.

    “Raymond Dokpesi has not and will not withdraw from the race for any reason whatsoever.

    “The campaign organisation will like to ask a very simple question in the direction of those behind this wicked rumour.

    “If the leaders and some governors hell-bent on ensuring victory for their aspirants are very sure of themselves, why ask Dokpesi to drop out of the race and resort to blackmail?”

    Kachalla said that Dokpesi was not afraid to be defeated on the convention floor if the elections are free, fair and adjudged credible.

    He condemned an advertorial published in a national daily on the outcome of the PDP South-South meeting held in Port Harcourt.

    He described the advertorial signed by Dan Orbih, Edo State Chairman of PDP and Chief Felix Imoisili whose signature was missing, as totally misdirecting and misguiding.

    “Those who were present at the meeting can testify that what was agreed was that delegates from the South-South are free to vote for the aspirant of their choice from the South-South.

    “The PDP elective convention will remain what it is designed to achieve – elect new national officers for our great party.

    “No amount of blackmail and intimidation will force Dokpesi to capitulate to the dark forces of imposition and impunity.”

    Responding to question that Dokpesi met with some aspirants and agreed to step down, he said it was not true.

    He said that the candidate had not met or discussed with anyone on the matter.