The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • Dokpesi pledges fairness for presidential aspirants, if elected national chairman

    Dokpesi pledges fairness for presidential aspirants, if elected national chairman

    Founder of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, says his leadership will provide level-playing ground for all Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) presidential aspirants, if elected national chairman of the party.

    Dokpesi made the pledge while addressing zonal and state executive committee members and other members of the PDP during his campaign visit to Kano state on Saturday.

    He said that he was aware that the goal of PDP was to win presidency in 2019, and assured that as national chairman of the party, he would not allow manipulation of the process.

    “I am very conscious of the fact that our illustrious sons from Kano are looking forward to contesting for the presidency in the 2019 elections.

    “First of all, we must have a party and the first step is to create a National Working Committee that I can work along with to ensure that there is justice, fairness and equity.

    “I want to pledge firmly that there shall be a level-playing ground for all the presidential aspirants from the 19 northern states willing to vie for the office of the president.

    “We shall not manipulate any regulation. We will be transparent, and whoever God has chosen may He allow him to lead us to victory in 2019.

    “So, our choice of presidential candidate in 2019 will not be on the basis of wealth or accumulated money, but the human person that he is.

    “I want to plead with you that it is the same criteria that we will use for the election of the chairman, we must use for the election of the president,” he said.

    Dokpesi said his visit to Kano was to remind them of his plea for their support for his aspiration, for the state’s executive of the party and delegates to the Dec. 9 national convention to vote for him.

    He urged the delegates to vote on merit, not on sentiment.

    “I want to appeal to you to look at and chose anyone who you believe is ready to sacrifice for the party.

    “Vote for anyone you know has been consistent with this party when it was raining and when we needed umbrella over our head.

    “I want you to look at all the candidates and ask yourselves who among these candidates has been a bridge-builder and helped to reunite Nigeria. I am interested in Nigeria unity,” Dokpesi said.

    He advised PDP members not to allow themselves to be used by the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any PDP member to destroy the party, especially those planning to hold parallel convention.

    In his reaction, Mr Jinjiri Dutse, Zonal Auditor, who represented the National Deputy Chairman (North-West), said that the zone was preparing for the December convention.

    He expressed Kano state’s support for Dokpesi, adding that the state would also canvas for votes from other states
    in the Zone for Dokpesi.

    Sen. Baraka Sani, who is vying for National Women Leader, said that Dokpesi had shown verifiable support to the party in many ways, at different times.

    “This is what is expected from leaders. Tell us what we can verify, not to tell us something in the air. Let us see it, something we can touch or feel.”

    NAN

  • Buhari not interested in automatic ticket in 2019 – Kalu

    Buhari not interested in automatic ticket in 2019 – Kalu

    Former Abia governor, Dr Orji Kalu, said on Saturday that President Muhammadu Buhari might not be interested in getting an automatic ticket to re -contest.

    Kalu told newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, that the president would prefer a situation where other candidates would explore the democratic process to test their popularity.

    “Buhari himself is not even looking for automatic ticket.

    “He is a man that is very fair and free in what he does.

    “And his feeling is that if any candidate is willing to contest against him, he should come out.

    “So President Buhari is also feeling that an automatic ticket for him is not right.

    “He believes that the political space should be opened up for other people who also want to contest and he wants an open primary (elections) to take place,” he said.

    He said he would support Buhari should he indicate interest to run for a second term.

    “I have said it times without number, that the president needs to consolidate on his achievements because he is very popular.

    “He is still the only person carrying 15 million votes in his back despite his tenure being besieged by illness.

    “So the president genuinely deserves a second tenure,’’ Kalu said.

    He also ruled out the chances of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) coming back in 2019.

    Kalu said Buhari was under restraint not to expose the gargantuan corruption that took place at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    He said if Nigerians knew what happened at NNPC, they would not allow any of the looters to run away from the country.

    Kalu wished former Vice President Atiku Abubakar well on his future endeavours following his decision to leave APC.

    NAN

  • Obanikoro finally joins APC, says ‘I’m on a mission’

    Obanikoro finally joins APC, says ‘I’m on a mission’

    A former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, on Saturday in Lagos finally dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Obanikoro’s defection at his Lagos Island constituency ended months of speculations about the status of his political allegiance.

    There were earlier reports that he had settled his differences with the national leader of APC, Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a step to joining the ruling party.

    Though Obanikoro acknowledged reconciliation with Tinubu, he had neither denied nor confirmed plans to join his political mentor in APC.

    He, however, finally gave the hint of his defection during a television interview on Thursday.

    Obanikoro defected to the APC along with other PDP bigwigs in the state, including a former aide of former president Good luck Jonathan, Mrs Modupe Sasore.

    Others are a national officer of the PDP, Mr Jide Damazio, and another PDP chieftain, Chief Kola Balogun.

    They were received by chieftains of APC, including the state chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale; Alhaji Kashim Imam, Chief James Odunbaku as well as the Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr Adeniji Kazeem who represented Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Past and serving members of the National Assembly including Sen. Ganiyu Solomon, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa and Rep. Jide Jimoh were among APC bigwigs present.

    Presenting the APC flag to Obanikoro and others, Ajomale said the coming of the former minister and others meant the opposition was totally dead in the state.

    He described Obanikoro as politically experienced and sagacious, and said his joining the party would no doubt add to the electoral fortune of the party in the state.

    “We are happy to receive Obanikoro back in our fold. He was with us when we started the Alliance for Democracy (AD) but he decided to go the other way.

    “Thank God he has realised his mistake and he is back. We are indeed happy to get back this big fish, along with others.

    “Obanikoro is an asset and he will no doubt add value to our party,” he said.

    Obanikoro, in his speech, said he was happy to return to the fold of his age-long political associates after his long sojourn in the PDP.

    He said he defected because he couldn’t find fulfillment in the PDP and he joined the ruling party because he had a mission to render service on its platform.

    The ex-minister said his former party could not offer him the platform for the kind of service he wanted to render.

    “Today, I and others are not just joining the APC for joining sake, we are joining because we are on a mission.

    “I had joined the PDP a few years ago with the hope that certain things would be done right to enable me make the desired impact. That did not happen.

    “And now, Asiwaju Tinubu has taken leadership to another level, not only in the state, but at the national level.

    “So, my joining the APC is not by accident. It is to return to my people and seek a platform on which I can render service to my people, because leadership is about service and co-ordination of talents to achieve results.

    “We have looked everywhere, and the only party that offers that platform for service delivery is the APC.

    “For me, this is not really a defection; it is a home-coming, because in a way, this is my root. I am happy to return to my people; no place like home,” he said.

    Obanikoro praised the leadership style of Tinubu, which he said had ensured the development of the state.

    He thanked Tinubu for being magnanimous to accept him back in the fold after years of altercations between them.

    “I thank Tinubu for his magnanimity. I am here because he is generous and has a forgiving heart. If it were other leaders, they will say ‘God forbid’.

    “He has accepted me back despite all the issues between us, I am grateful to him,” Obanikoro said.

    The former minister said he we would do his best to add value to his new party.

    Also, Sasore and Balogun took turns to thank the party for allowing them into the fold.

    They said they could not find fulfillment in PDP hence, the decision to join APC.

    The duo promised to do their best to ensure APC progresses in the state.

    Imam, in his remark, said the party was happy to receive Obanikoro and others.

    He said the defection meant the party was the only party in the state, as it marked the end of PDP.

    The National Vice-Chairman of the APC (South West), Chief Puis Akinyelure, who represented Tinubu, said the party was glad with the home-coming of Obanikoro and others

    He said the defection meant the PDP was dead as Obanikoro was one of its pillars in the state.

    It was a carnival-like ceremony as party faithful danced and sang to receive Obanikoro and the others.

    A popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, was on hand to thrill those present.

    NAN

  • PDP: Borno gets new EXCO

    PDP: Borno gets new EXCO

    Alhaji Zanna Gaddama has been elected as new Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno, with Alhaji Baba Mustapha as the Secretary.

    Alhaji Sabo Garba, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee in the state, announced the result in Gombe on Saturday after the election by the congress from Bayo and Shani local government areas of Borno.

    He said that the congress election conducted two weeks ago was declared inconclusive due to some challenges which resulted in the two local governments not casting their votes.

    Garba said “we started this election two weeks ago in Maiduguri; we now came back to complete it here in Gombe with the remaining two local governments who were unable to vote.

    Read Also: PDP accuses APC of plot to sabotage its convention

    “However, we concluded election peacefully today without any problem.”

    The electoral committee chairman said the choice Gombe to conclude the election was because it was close to the two local governments.

    He added that Gaddama retuned elected with 553 votes to defeat Usman Baderi who scored 525 votes.

    He explained that the Secretary, Baba Mustapha, scored 553 votes to defeat Alhaji Yusuf Dikko who had 499 votes, while Baba Sheriff Abba, declared the state’s
    Youth Leader scored 529 votes to defeat Alhaji Usman Abba with 527 votes.

    He said that Kellu Abba returned elected as Women Leader with 570 votes to defeat Hajiya Gambo Zailani who scored 426 votes.

    Garba thanked delegates for the support and cooperation that led to the successful congress election.

    He congratulated the winners and advised them to take every member along for the success of the party.

    Speaking on behalf of the new executive after taking oath of office, Gaddama promised to work toward repositioning the party and uniting members to reclaim its past glory in the state and the country at large.

    He thanked party delegates for the confidence reposed in the new executive officers and promised to give them the opportunity to contribute for the development and success of the party come 2019 general elections.

  • PDP accuses APC of plot to sabotage its convention

    PDP accuses APC of plot to sabotage its convention

    The leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to sabotage its December 9 national convention.

    Citing “intelligence reports”, the PDP said the ruling party has perfected plans to sponsor a parallel convention using some unscrupulous members of the PDP to hold a parallel convention.

    Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Friday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said the aim of the APC was to factionalise and destroy the opposition ahead of the 2019 elections.

    Adeyeye appealed to PDP members across the federation to resist such temptation, saying the party was doing everything to address grievances among its aspirants to the various executive positions ahead of the December 9 convention.

    “We are not completely oblivious of the plans by the APC to sabotage our convention. Apart from the internal fighting within the APC, one of the reasons why the party postponed its national convention till next year was to enable it closely monitor our convention with a view to destabilising our party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Adeyeye said, “The National Caretaker Committee has uncovered plans by some unscrupulous members of our party to hold a parallel national convention on December 9, 2017.

    “This is totally uncalled for and a complete act of sabotage. Those making such plans cannot be said to be honest members of our party, the PDP. They are not patriotic but just out to destroy our party.

    “The planned parallel convention is one of those ideas of the APC to create divisions amongst members of our party. It will be most unfortunate for members of our party to allow themselves to be used against the party, especially in the light of our recent painful experience.

    “These are all part of the agenda of the APC to create an atmosphere of fear and insecurity around PDP members before and after the national convention. It is also part of the overall strategy of the ruling party to turn Nigeria into a one party state.

    “The National Caretaker Committee has been working very hard to carry all party members and supporters of the party along in all the preparations for the forthcoming national convention holding on December 9 – 10, 2017”.

    According to him, the plot by the APC was to capitalise on disagreements among the chairmanship aspirants of the PDP, assuring that the leadership of the party would address the aspirants’ grievances in an open and transparent manner before the convention.

    “We are putting our resources in place to address all the fears earlier reported by some national chairmanship aspirants. One of the steps being taken by the leadership is to make available and in good time, the comprehensive names of all the delegates for the national convention to all the aspirants before the convention.

    “We therefore see no reason for any honest member of this great party to want to disrupt our programmes, except they are of course working for the ruling party, the APC”, Adeyeye added.

    The party appealed to aggrieved aspirants and members to take advantage of available internal conflict resolution channels to ventilate their opinions, concerns and grievances.

    It vowed to resist any moves by anyone to sabotage the convention, saying however that there was very little the party could do to dissuade members that may have decided to become paid agents of the APC.

    The party spokesman cited the arrest and detention of some key PDP stakeholders on what he described as trump up charges of corruption, saying that the ruling APC had already targeted no fewer than 50 of its prominent members for arrest and incarceration.

    Adeyeye said, “The APC propagandists said we were crying wolf. Now we are being vindicated by the continuing and unrelenting arrest, intimidation and harassment of our top leaders.

    “In the last one week, the former Governor of Taraba State, Mr. Abubakar Danladi and the former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, two prominent members of our party, were arrested by the anti-graft agency, the EFCC. This is apart from the five that were earlier arrested within the month of November. We don’t know who will be next in the list”.

    The PDP called on Nigerians and the international community to be vigilant and to ensure that the APC did not entrench full blown dictatorship in the country.

    “The only reason why the APC is hell bent on killing the opposition in Nigeria is due to its nonperformance and inability to deliver on its campaign promises. They have failed Nigerians and they know too well that they can no longer convince Nigerians to vote for them again in 2019.

    “We want to assure members of our party nationwide that, the leadership of the party led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, will provide an enabling environment and a level playing field for all those contesting for one position or the other before and after the national convention.

    “We pledged to ensure a transparent, free and fair election and by the grace of God we are going to conduct the most democratic election in the history of any political party in Nigeria”, the party spokesman said.

  • I remain South-West PDP chairman, says Olafeso

    I remain South-West PDP chairman, says Olafeso

    A factional leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Eddy Olafeso, says he remains the authentic leader of the party in the South-West zone.

    Olafeso  on Wednesday in Akure that his group was re-affirmed as the PDP leaders in the zone during the last convention of the party in Abuja.

    Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, another factional leader of the party, had on Monday in Lagos claimed that he was the authentic chairman of the party in the South-West zone.

    Olafeso said: “It is very unfortunate and tendentious for someone to assume that carrying court papers around is enough to make him the leader of the party.

    “Even, if they have court papers to back their claims, the case is already at the Appeal Court.

    “They should wait till pronouncement of the court before jumping around that they are the leaders of the party in the zone.

    “Leadership is freely given by the people and endorsed by the party through all its processes.”

    He said that Makanjuola and his group were part of the challenges facing the party since 2011 “till when we won at the Supreme Court in July 12, 2017”.

    Olafeso noted that PDP had gone beyond unnecessary antagonism, saying that the party’s focus was to ensure victory at the polls in 2019.

    He expressed optimism that all the crises rocking the party would be resolved before its Dec. 9 National Convention.

    “Today, I can tell you categorically that South-West PDP under my watch has been able to stabilise the party in Osun, Ogun, Oyo and Lagos States.

    “We thank the leadership of the party for the opportunity given us to serve.

    “We will continue to do our best to ensure that our party will be positioned in a way that it can begin to win again,” he said.

    NAN

  • I’m a crisis manager, able to lead PDP – Daniel

    I’m a crisis manager, able to lead PDP – Daniel

    Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Ogun State, says he is a crisis manager, and best suited to lead the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as national chairman to regain power in 2019.

    Daniel is one of the aspirants eying the national chairmanship position of the party, to be determined through election at its Dec. 9 convention.

    He was in Kogi on Wednesday for a  meeting with the party delegates from the state to seek their support.

    Daniel said he could lead the PDP to bounce back and  “change the change” at the federal and state levels it had lost, come 2019.

    He described the PDP prior to the 2015 elections as crises-ridden and promised to deal decisively with all the crisis that bedevilled the party and robbed it of its prime position in the country.

    Read Also: PDP leaders fight dirty over race for chairman

    “I’m a crisis manager as I have just told you; and not only that.

    “ I’m a tested hand. I understand what it means to run an election. I have manned a state before and I have managed people.

    “The bulk of the challenge we have in the party is just people’s management.

    ”For you to be successful, you must have the capacity to manage interlocking interests.

    “As crisis managers, we must strive very hard to underplay areas of division”, he said.

    The former governor said he was presenting himself for the position of the national chairman to rebuild the party.

    Daniel attributed PDP’s defeat in the just concluded Anambra governorship election to imposition of candidate.

    He promised to entrench the culture of internal democracy, if successful in his bid at the forthcoming convention.

    Responding, State Chairman of PDP, Mr Sam Ohuotu, commended the former governor and his team for bringing their campaign train to Kogi, assuring him of members’ support.

    Ohuotu described the aspirant as a leader with capacity to lead the party to victory in view of his antecedents.

    He, however. warned that it was not going to be a smooth sail, saying: “if we start by attacking ourselves from the beginning, then we have lost it’’.

    “My opinion therefore is that there might be issues, but we must not personalise such issues, and I believe we will resolve our issues. Regrettably, we didn’t show that we have learnt any lesson.

    “From my own little investigation, people said that the PDP candidate in Anambra election was a good candidate.

    “But what we keep hearing was that the process that brought that candidate was faulty and that is precisely what I keep talking about.

    “That this is about management of human beings. We could still have brought that up without pressing on anybody’s head,” he said.

    Ohuotu, however, declared that the PDP was poised to bounce back in 2019, as the ruling party was not doing enough for the people.

  • I’m working for PDP to regain presidency -Jonathan

    I’m working for PDP to regain presidency -Jonathan

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that his priority is how to ensure the return of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to power in 2019.

    He spoke when he received Chairmanship aspirant Chief Olabode George and his campaign team at his country home in Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

    Jonathan took responsibility for the party’s defeat in the 2015 election adding that it was also his responsibility to ensure that the party rose again as a strong political platform to win the next election.
    He said: “Whether I like it or not, I must take responsibility for the defeat because I led the party to the election. The only thing that will make me sleep well is to ensure that PDP comes back to power”.

    The former president said he was working with other stakeholders to ensure that the party is well organized to achieve this purpose though he preferred to work from the back seat.

    He said the party must begin to take the right steps in the right direction to regain the confidence of the electorate adding that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated.

    Speaking earlier, George, a former deputy national chairman of PDP who is currently on a nationwide campaign for the chairmanship election in December congratulated the former president on his 60th birthday anniversary while urging him as the leader of the party to ensure that the party will emerge stronger from forthcoming national convention.

    George however told the former president that the failure to apply the micro zoning principle to the chairmanship position this time around had caused ripples capable of dividing the party.

    He lamented that the party appeared to be drifting as there was no reasonable justification offered by the Senator Makarfi led National Caretaker Committee for jettisoning the principle which was applied to all previous elections to the position.

    George also visited Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson at the Governor’s Office and commended him for sustaining the confidence, goodwill and support of the people for the PDP.

    Dickson described the December 9 national convention as a window of opportunity to put the PDP house in order and urged all aspirants to elective positions as well as leaders of the party to show tolerance and patriotism and work together to make the party proud.

    He said it was important to ensure that the election is free, fair, credible and acceptable.
    George was given a rousing reception at the state party secretariat in Yenagoa where he met with party stakeholders and delegates to the convention led by the state chairman, Chief Cleopas Moses.

    Others at the meeting were members of the state house of assembly led by the speaker of the house, local government chairmen, among others.

  • Convention will determine PDP’s fate, says Dickson

    Convention will determine PDP’s fate, says Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, Wednesday, said the survival of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would depend largely on the outcome of its forthcoming December 9 convention in Abuja.

    Dickson, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Francis Agbo, spoke when a PDP National Chairmanship aspirant, Chief Bode George, visited him in Government House, Yenagoa.

    The governor, however, expressed fears that the window of opportunity to reorganize the PDP to enable it confront the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019 was fast closing.

    He prayed that, the convention would be used to relaunch the party and regain the trust of Nigerians.

    He said: “I have taken certain positions in terms of what is right for the party, in terms of how best to conduct ourselves, and how fast we need to move away from the mindset of the old to new ways of conducting party business and affairs”.

    Dickson seized the opportunity to congratulate Chief George on his 72nd birthday and thanked him for offering to serve the party.

    He described George as a man with the capacity, experience and other requisite qualities to contest for the PDP National Chairmanship position.

    He noted that, the crisis that engulfed the PDP was needless and urged party leaders to be tolerant, patriotic and put aside their personal differences in the overall interest of the party and the country’s democracy.

    Dickson further called for understanding among the aspirants and prayed for the conduct of a peaceful, free, and credible convention.

    He said if well-conducted the outcome of the convention should be acceptable to all, stressing the need for all to work together to get the processes right.

    Earlier, George explained that, he was in the state to solicit the support of Governor Dickson, as well as the state’s delegates to the December 9 convention in Abuja.

    He said: “I am here because the PDP is heading very soon to elect new managers to pilot the affairs of our great party and we need an experienced, tested captain to take the ship of our party safely back to harbour”

    According to George, there was a need for the party to revisit the experiences of the past and study them with a view to avoiding the mistakes that led to the defeat of the PDP in the last general election.

    He also called on those who dumped the PDP to return to the party.

    “Those of our friends who have moved to other parties, now know they are tenants, let them come home and become landlords,” he said.

    The aspirant prayed God to continually bless the governor with strength and wisdom to pilot the affairs of the state and complete his numerous development programmes to better the lots of the people.

  • Ward Congress: Fayose’s alleged imposition of delegates tears Ekiti PDP apart

    Ward Congress: Fayose’s alleged imposition of delegates tears Ekiti PDP apart

    A fresh crisis has hit the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State over the ward congress conducted last Saturday.

    Some party chieftains are accusing Governor Ayo Fayose of violating the party’s guidelines and the constitution by allegedly compiling the names of his stooges and imposing them as “elected delegates.”

    They claimed that the development has sparked tension in Ekiti PDP and has provoked majority of party members who looked forward to a free, fair and credible congress to elect delegates expected to vote at the December 9 National Convention.

    The aggrieved Ekiti PDP stakeholders in a petition addressed to Ekiti State PDP Ward Appeal Panel a copy of which was made available to The Nation on Tuesday urged panel members to disregard the list of national delegates that may emerge from the Local Government Congress
    held on Tuesday, 21st November.

    The petition was signed by Board of Trustees member, Chief Clement Awoyelu; Senator representing Ekiti Central, Mrs. Fatimat Raji Rasaki and House of Representatives member representing Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 2, Mr. Olamide Oni.

    Others who endorsed the petition are Former House of Representatives members, Mrs. Titilayo Akindahunsi and Mr. Olufemi Adeyemi; Mrs. Titilayo Oluwatuyi, Dr. Kunle Folayan, Chief Williams Ajayi and Mr. Fatai Ibraheem.

    The petition reads; “We members of PDP in Ekiti State hereby wish to bring to the notice of the chairman and members of the above-named panel that there was no Ward Congress in Ekiti State on Saturday, 18th November, 2017 or anytime directed by the National headquarters of our
    great party.

    “What actually happened in Ekiti State was the usual practices of Governor Ayo Fayose to single handedly compile the names of his stooges as delegates without following the stipulated guidelines of the party.

    “What this means is that Governor Fayose’s choice rather than the people’s choice emerged as candidates. This singular action has disappointed and provoked majority of members of PDP in Ekiti State.

    “The essence of this is for the governor to enable him select those delegates that would vote for candidates of his choice rather than the popular choice of Ekiti people at the National Convention on the 9th December, 2017.

    “We hereby appeal to your panel to void and disregard the list of delegates submitted by the governor and by intention disregard the list of national delegates that may emerge from the local government congress scheduled for Tuesday, 21st November, 2017.”

    But the PDP Publicity Secretary in Ekiti State, Mr. Jackson Adebayo, described the petition of the aggrieved party chieftains as a ruse and a mischief of the highest order.

    Adebayo who spoke in a telephone chat maintained that valid ward congress was held saying: “the action of disgruntled elements against an organized house will not stand.”

    He said: “The petition is a ruse and a mischief of the highest order; the dates for the congresses were held and everybody knows the venues and they were held according to the constitution of the party.

    “The Electoral Committee supervised the (ward) congress, except they are trying to cover up their inadequacies and unless they did not go to the venue of the congress.

    “That is why they sit down in the corners of their rooms to be writing rubbish in their petition. To us as a party, a valid congress ward congress was held on 18th November and delegates emerged.”

    When asked if the petition written against the alleged imposition of delegates by Fayose did not portray division in the party Adebayo said: “There is no division in the party.

    “If some people are not acting according to the rules of the party, maybe because of their ulterior motives, they are writing petition against the congress conducted in 177 wards in the state.

    “There was no imposition at the congress and we want to urge our well-meaning party members to ignore the action of a disgruntled element against an organized house.”