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Tag: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • PDP suspends ex-party chairman for four years

    PDP suspends ex-party chairman for four years

    The National Disciplinary Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended a former chairman of the party in Anambra State, Mr. Ken Emeakayi for four years.

    The suspension order was conveyed vide a letter dated September 26, 2017 and signed by the chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Chief Tom Ikimi.

    The statement said, “The National Disciplinary Committee of the People’s Democratic Party met today Thursday 26th September, 2017 in Abuja and reviewed the written and oral representation of Mr. Ken Emeakayi, former Chairman of PDP Anambra state including the numerous documents submitted to the Committee by Mr. Emeakayi in respect of the allegations of refusing to obey lawful directions of the party as contained in the queries issued to him and his response thereto.

    “The Committee further considered the provisions of the Constitution of the party and found Mr. Ken Emeakayi to have committed infraction against the provisions of Section 58 (1) (b), (c) and (h) of the P.D.P constitution.

    “Accordingly, the National Disciplinary Committee at its meeting held on 26/9/17 took a decision to suspend and hereby suspend Mr. Ken Emeakayi as a member of the People’s Democratic Party for a period of FOUR YEARS effective from today 26th September, 2017 and terminating on 25th September, 2021.

    “In effect, Mr. Ken Emeakayi has lost his membership of the party together with all the rights and privileges for this period of time”.

    The national leadership of the party had in August suspended Emeakayi for one month and had referred him to the Ikimi-led Disciplinary Committee for further action.

    The party had queried Emeakayi for storming the state headquarters of the party in Awka with hoodlums and had forcefully entered the premises against a decision of the national secretariat.

    The state secretariat building was sealed owing to leadership crisis that led to the factionalisation of the party’s executive committee in the state.

  • PDP: Lamido canvasses free, credible convention

    PDP: Lamido canvasses free, credible convention

    A former governor of Jigawa, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has called the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ensure that the party’s December national convention would be free and fair.

    Lamido made the call when he met with ex-PDP Speakers of States Houses of Assembly forum on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said that anybody that emerged as PDP chairman would enjoy the required support from all party’s members.

    Commenting on Gov. Ayo Fayose’s declaration for presidency in 2018, Lamido said that it was the constitutional right of the governor to contest like every other Nigerians.

    He said that Fayose had the right to contest even though, the party had zone the 2019 presidential ticket to the North.

    He also advised PDP members to be courageous in the face of what he described as “persecution”.

    “We need people to be courageous.”

    He reiterated his determination to remain in PDP, saying “no matter how hard I try, if I move to All Progressive Congress (APC), my soul will not follow me.”

    Lamido added that without the PDP members who joined the APC, the party would not have defeated PDP in the last general elections.

    The former Minister of Foreign Affairs said that 2019 would be a defining moment for Nigeria.

    The News Agency Nigeria (NAN) former Ogun State Governor, Mr Gbenga Daniel also met with the forum.

  • ‘Fayose PDP number one destroyer’

    ‘Fayose PDP number one destroyer’

    The Senator representing Ogun East, Senator Buruji Kashamu, Thursday took a swipe at the 2019 presidential bid of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose describing the governor as a joker.

    Kashamu also described Fayose as the number one destroyer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    The lawmaker, who reacted to Fayose’s presidential campaign launch in Abuja, noted that the governor was only showing Nigerians how unreliable he is.

    He described as a huge joke Fayose’s presidential ambition insisting that “I tell you Fayose is not bidding for any presidential position come 2019.”

    Kashamu said: “He is a confusionist and number one destroyer of the party because how on earth would somebody who agreed with other party chieftains that the presidential ticket of the party for 2019 should be zoned to the North, now turn around to start campaigning for the same ticket as a Southerner and particularly as a South westerner to the detriment of the National Chairmanship ticket of the party already zoned to the area.

    “Lovers of our great party and politically minded Nigerians generally, should by this action of Fayose see him as the number one destroyer of the party and the most cantankerous politician in the polity who can at any time abuse anybody and go against agreed plans at any time.

    “I believe that am not the only one disturbed by Fayose’s agbero brand of politics but all political stakeholders in the land including those who followed him from Ekiti to grace his campaign launch because everybody knows that he is going nowhere come 2019 but just exercising his right in a funny way as a joker.”

    Kashamu slammed the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party under the leadership of Senator Ahmed Makarfi for allegedly issuing him query unreasonably.

    The lawmaker wondered why he was accused of instigating crisis in the Ogun State chapter of the party when he was in Abuja as a Senator representing the good people of Ogun East Senatorial District.

    He claimed that the query served him by the party which has been responded to has no substance but a pure mischief and a product of malice.

    He claimed that Makarfi who heads the party as National Chairman, Caretaker Committee, wanted to corner the 2019 presidential ticket of the party.

    He also accused Makarfi of working surreptitiously to ease out those he felt could challenge him.

    He said, “In fact, the December convention of the party may not hold due to Makarfi’s ambition. He is a chameleon pretending to have the interest of the party at heart but secretly executing his own personal agenda.”

  • Jonathan canvasses delegate option for PDP

    Jonathan canvasses delegate option for PDP

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has advised the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to adopt the statutory delegates in the party’s next constitution amendment.

    He stressed that the review was necessary for the internal selection process in states and local governments.

    Jonathan gave the advice while receiving in his Abuja office a delegation of former State House of Assembly Speakers who got elected on the platform of the PDP.

    The former President observed that one of the major challenges facing the PDP was the election of candidates into national and party office at the highest level.

    According to him, selection process can hardly been crisis free, but that crisis would be better managed if the number of statutory delegates could be reviewed up to 70 percent.

    The ex-President cautioned against one or two persons sometimes influence the decision of delegates through inducement.

    He called for the inclusion of persons who have served at certain levels, including ex governors, ministers, lawmakers and others in the list of statutory delegates.

    “That is the area we have not been able to manage properly that is still creating problem for us.

    “I believe the next constitution amendment should advocate for that area to be properly examined.

    “From my own experience, if that area is strengthened the party will be okay and nobody will complain at the end of primaries. If you loss, you loss gallantly and you support the person that wins”, Jonathan said.

    The ex-President advised PDP members not to be intimidated by the anti-corruption war being waged by the present administration.

    He said, “There are stories of corruption. I say this will always be there because if you read the statement of the organisers of the first military coup, their statement was attributed to corruption.

    “After that all the coup plotters it is always corruption. It will continue to be but one day we will get out of it. Most nations passed through this stage of life.

    “The only thing I plead of you is not to politicise certain basic things. Issues of corruption, yes, it is worrisome. Nobody will encourage it.

    “The society must come up with reform to reduce it, if you cannot eliminate it totally. No Society is 100 per cent free of some of these vices but the approach you go about it is key.

    “You may approach it in a way that it will become detrimental to the society. It should be done in a way that will enhance the development of the nation. So we encourage people to do well”.

    He described the PDP as the strongest party in the land, saying the party lost the 2015 elections due to certain reasons.

    “People maybe writing left and right, at the appropriate time, some of these things would be properly addressed because of history.

    “There are certain things you don’t write now because it would be misunderstood as if you are playing politics..

    “After some years, five, six or eight years, when the beneficiaries have left, you can state it in writing and people will not fight with you”.

    He encouraged members to continue to be loyal to the party, unlike those playing “politics of the stomach” by defecting to other parties.

    Jonathan insisted that t PDP did well during its 16-year- rule, going by the number of reforms the party introduced and implemented.

  • Uchendu’s swearing-in, triumph of people’s power – Dakuku Peterside

    Uchendu’s swearing-in, triumph of people’s power – Dakuku Peterside

    Dr Dakuku Peterside, the Director-General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA ), says the swearing-in of Sen. Andrew Uchendu is a triumph of people’s power and resilience over violence.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Uchendu was sworn-in as a Senator to represent Rivers-East Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ).

    Peterside, in a statement on Thursday in Port Harcourt, said that the victory of Uchendu at the tribunal and subsequent swearing-in had put a stop to election manipulation.

    “As Sen. Andrew Uchendu mounted the podium and took oath of office, it has marked the collapse of the manipulation of our electoral system.

    “The swearing-in of Sen. Uchendu also marks real victory of the people’s power and conquest of resilience and determination over violence.

    “I salute Sen. Uchendu for his moment of glory and our leader, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, for offering leadership that strengthens our resolve, courage and gives hope to ordinary people,” he said.

    According to him, those who celebrated the shortlived victory of electoral manipulation will definitely fear God and also know that there is a limit to which they can manipulate our weak institutions.

    “Sen. Uchendu represents the true spirit of the ‘Riversman’ and the state, and his victory marks a new beginning and never again will darkness becloud our land again.

    “I join all Rivers people and particularly the thousands of young men and women who are ready to go to any length to defend their conviction to celebrate this new era,” he said.

    Peterside, who was the Rivers APC Governorship candidate in 2015, thanked supporters of the party who made necessary sacrifice to be in Abuja to witness the historic swearing-in.

    “I thank those who invested resources to celebrate our brand new Senator in both newspaper publications and various massmedia platforms,” he said.

    The National Assembly Appeal Tribunal for Rivers on Aug. 24 sacked Sen. George Sekibo of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) to issue Certificate of Return to Uchendu.

  • Reconciliation, unity imperatives for new PDP – Adeniran

    Reconciliation, unity imperatives for new PDP – Adeniran

    A former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, has said that reconciliation and unity were imperatives needed by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to reclaim power in 2019.

    Adeniran stated this while declaration his interest in the national chairmanship of PDP on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said that reconciliation, unity and rebuilding were keys for consolidation of the party after the 23 months leadership crisis it contended with.

    Adeniran, also a former Ambassador to Germany, expressed confidence in Sen. Ahmed Makarfi to conduct a credible national elective convention of the party.

    He said that the convention scheduled for Dec. 9 remained an opportunity for the party to regain power.

    “Now it is time for a new beginning for our great party. We must reconcile, unite, rebuild and we must reposition to face the challenges that lay ahead.

    “These are, indeed, the imperatives before us as a party.

    “I have full confidence in the present leadership of the party, ably led by Sen. Makarfi to conduct a credible and transparent national convention to usher in a new leadership of the party.

    “This will guarantee the survival of the party for the years to come,’’ Adeniran said.

    Soliciting support across the six-geo-political zones, the aspirant pledged to lead in the task of making PDP a strong, credible, reliable and leading political party again.

    He promised that if voted in, he would restore the sanctity of internal democracy and rule of law within the party.

    He added that he would also work with stakeholders to return the party to the people in tandem with the spirit and intent of its slogan – “power to the people.”

    “My team shall work to reaffirm and entrench the founding principles of our great party and rejuvenate it to original state of strength, devoid of impunity, imposition and subversion of the will of the people.’’

    In his remarks, a former Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, urged PDP members to rally support for Adeniran in the December convention.

    Mantu described Adeniran as God’s choice for the national chairman of the party, saying that God revealed the professor as the right candidate when he fasted and prayed about it.

    “I fasted for 30 days and nights, asking God to show me who would lead the party. God showed me Adeniran.

    “Let’s now look forward and make sure that we elect a credible chairman. We should make sure that nobody short-changes us at the national convention,” he said.

    He said that time had come to take PDP back to the people, adding that some people came to the PDP with nothing and left with billions. We need to bring the party to the people now.

    On his part, a former Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Waziri, urged party supporters to work assiduously for the task ahead, saying that the road to the Villa in 2019 would not be an easy one.

    He urged members of PDP to support Adeniran as he had proven to be a loyal partyman since the formation of the PDP in 1998.

  • Oyo APC accuses Ladoja in Ibadan chieftaincy crisis escalation

    Oyo APC accuses Ladoja in Ibadan chieftaincy crisis escalation

    •Ex-governor to party: you’re mischievous

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has attributed the crisis on the review of the Ibadan Chieftaincy Law to the alleged ambition of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja.

    The party said the former governor was allegedly taking advantage of the situation to broaden his personal interest and fight a needless war with his perceived political adversaries.

    In a statement yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, by its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olawale Sadare, APC condemned Ladoja’s alleged role in the organisation and the violence that followed the installation of some village heads (baales) and family heads (mogajis) at the Popoyemoja palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, on Monday.

    The statement reads: “It is most unfortunate to discover that a former number one citizen of a state like Oyo, who doubles as an Ibadan high chief, would not mind subjecting the state to another social unrest just to satisfy his own whims and caprices. Senator Rashidi Ladoja has a known history of instigating resentment against people, government and institutions to derive some personal benefits, as he did in 2002/2003 against the government of late Alhaji Lam Adesina.

    “This time, he is up again to fight his way back to the Agodi Government House, after he tried and failed twice in 2011 and 2015. At 73, one wonders why Ladoja would start up many fights on many fronts only when another general election was approaching, if not that he has his eyes on contesting election. As he is struggling to dislodge original members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and usurp the party’s structure, Ladoja is also waging a war against the APC government of Senator Abiola Ajimobi and he has just discovered a tool in the Olubadan palace.

    “The Monday violence at Popoyemoja was a script written by Ladoja and his supporters to either whip up sentiment against the government and other members of the Olubadan-in-Council or deal with some characters within the ill-conceived political re-alignment, those who could stand on Ladoja’s way towards taking full control of the PDP. But we would like to urge relevant security agencies to do the needful by unravelling the mystery surrounding the unfortunate incident.

    “There are many questions begging for answers: when did Ladoja become so over-bearing on the palace that he would now dictate who to be installed as what by the kabiyesi and even choose his birthday for such event? Why was it that he arranged for the presence of his loyalists, like Senator Olufemi Lanlehin at the palace with whom he hid somewhere until after the ‘invading gunmen’ finished their attacks?

    “More importantly, the public should be informed that the protests against the recent chieftaincy law review have largely come from politicians who are sympathetic to Ladoja’s cause and their supporters. However, we call on Oba Saliu Adetunji to checkmate some unscrupulous politicians who lurk around and use the palace to fight political war since he would forever remain a father to all and sundry, irrespective of individuals’ political and religious beliefs.”

     

  • Saraki reshuffles committees

    Saraki reshuffles committees

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday rearranged some standing committees of the Senate.

    Saraki, who announced the committee alterations on the floor of the upper chamber, named Senator Andy Uba, as chairman, Senate Committee on Interior.

    Senator Uba (Anambra South) was formerly chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts before he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The Public Accounts committee is statutorily meant to be chaired by the opposition party.

    Saraki also named Senator Mathew Urhoghide (Edo South) to replace Uba as chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts.

    The outspoken Senator Urhoghide was before the new appointment chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism.

    Other appointments included Senator Sabo Mohammed, chairman, Senate Committee on Trade and Investment with Senator Mohammed Sani Mustapha as Vice Chairman; Senator Raji Rasaki, chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism and Senator Solomon Adeola, chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content  with Senator Godswill Akpabio as vice chairman.

    Senator Adeola was formerly Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications.

    The local content committee was extracted from the Committee on Petroleum.

    Saraki named Senator Stella Oduah, chairman, Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration. Senator Buka Mustapha was announced Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market.

    The newly inaugurated Senator Nurudeen Adeleke (Osun West) was named vice chairman, Senate Committee on Communication while Senator Babajide Omoworare (Osun East) was named vice chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

    The committee rearrangement was in line with Saraki’s promise before the Senate went on recess that the committees would be reshuffled to ensure effective performance.

     

  • Saraki reshuffles committees

    Saraki reshuffles committees

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Tuesday rearranged some standing committees of the Senate.

    Saraki who announced the committee alterations on the floor of the upper chamber, named Senator Andy Uba, as chairman, Senate committee on Interior.

    Senator Uba (Anambra South) was formerly chairman, Senate committee on Public Accounts before he defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The Public Accounts committee is statutorily meant to be chaired by the opposition party.

    Saraki also named Senator Mathew Urhoghide, (Edo South) to replace Uba as chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts.

    The outspoken Senator Urhoghide was before the new appointment chairman, Senate committee on Culture and Tourism.

    Other appointments included Senator Sabo Mohammed, chairman, Senate Committee on Trade and Investment with Senator Mohammed Sani Mustapha as Vice Chairman; Senator Raji Rasaki, Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, Senator Solomon Adeola, Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content  with Senator Godswill Akpabio as Vice Chairman.

    Senator Adeola was formerly Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications.

    The local content committee was extracted from the committee on petroleum

    Saraki named Senator Stella Oduah, chairman, Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration while Senator Buka Mustapha was named Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market.

    The newly inaugurated Senator Nurudeen Adeleke (Osun West) was named Vice Chairman, Senate committee on Communications.

    Senator Babajide Omoworare (Osun East) was named Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

    The committee rearrangement was in line with Saraki’s promise before the Senate went on recess that the committees would reshuffled to ensure effective performance.

  • Only court can stop my governorship ambition – Ifeanyi Ubah

    Only court can stop my governorship ambition – Ifeanyi Ubah

    A governorship aspirant on Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) platform in the forthcoming poll in Anambra, Mr Ifeanyi Ubah, said only the court could stop his ambition.

    He alleged that the party’s primary election conducted to pick its candidate for the poll, was fraught with irregularities and that the party leadership had refused to address his complaints on it.

    Ubah made this known at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, and said that he would continue with his aspiration until his complaints were addressed by the party.

    He said that he would approach the court to seek his right after exhausting all the internal mechanisms to address the issues as stipulated in PDP Constitution.

    He said that he had contacted party leaders, Board of Trustees members as well as appeared at the party’s primary election Appeal Panel, but that his concerns had not been addressed.

    “I will be going to court to seek redress; only the court will determine the party’s candidate or the party should come back to us and addresses the irregularities.

    “They know that the person they have chosen has no requisite to be the party’s candidate. It is their responsibility to right the wrong,’’ he said.

    Ubah, who is the Chairman of Capital Oil, said that he would pursue the legal angle on the matter for himself and other Nigerians that may also be treated in the same manner in future.

    “I am doing this not just because of me but because all the political parties will not act the same way PDP has done. If we continue to allow issues like this, people will continue to suffer over impunity.’’

    Ubah said that Mr Oseloka Obaze, who was declared winner of the primary election and upheld by the party’s Appeal Panel, did not emerge through a transparent, free and fair means, describing the primary as “a fraudulent exercise.”

    He said that he noticed some irregularities in the primary, including overnight change of delegates’ list, and alleged that the delegates used for the election were different from those on Certified True Copy list he obtained.

    He added that people that lodged the complaints at the primary election venue were chased away with tear gas.

    “They use that opportunity to smuggle in people. We have 326 wards in Anambra, and even if we had three delegates per wards, we will have 678 delegates, not 958.

    “Also in the party’s Constitution there is what we call statutory delegates who are over 400, they were all cut off.

    “What they did was that they gave black marks on the fingers of those they wanted in, and by the time they call you in and if you don’t have those marks they pushed you away.

    “All complaints on these issues were ignored.’’

    Ubah said that he remained the best candidate of PDP for the election in the state “because we are closer to the people, and have invested in the party and in the people’’.

    He accused former governor of the state, Mr Peter Obi and Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers of imposing an unpopular candidate on the delegates.

    “Sadly, an election which was supposed to provide a level-playing field for all seven aspirants cleared for the race turned to a dance of shame.

    “All these represent the greatest act of impunity bearing in mind the fact that the party had began to gain sympathy from Nigerians.’’

    On the allegation that he was hobnobbing with other political parties, Ubah said that as a business man, he was free to relate with any political party and the Federal Government.