The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • Railway contract scam: Reps fault process of award 

    Railway contract scam: Reps fault process of award 

    The House of Representatives has faulted the process of award of some contracts for the construction and rehabilitation of railway project between 2010 and 2014.

    This is as a former Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and former Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Bello denied involvement in awards of contracts despite signing the contract papers.

    Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi, who also appeared before the Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma-led-ad hoc Committee probing the railway project of the last administration, said the focus of his administration is to develop a faster railway in four years for Nigeria by securing adequate funding for it, through loans or concession.

    On his part Bello, who was NRC Chairman between February 2009 and June 2011, said as the overall head, his duty was to provide policy direction for the NRC and sign contracts approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    He said his Board was not involved in award of contracts but he signed several contrsct agreements running to billions of naira during his tenure.

    However, the Committee was not satisfied with the explanations of the Managing Director (MD), Seyi Sijuwade on the process of award of contract on the project despite explaining that contracts above N250m is above his limit for approval.

    According to the Committee, several faceless companies working with NRC were uncovered as documents at its disposal showed where contracts papers were witnessed by just the MD and NRC’s Secretary without names and signatures of the main signatories.

    The Committee was also disturbed about, duration and addendum to contracts leading to questionable figures, like the N3.2b Zaria-Kaura Namoda line among several others.

    The sale of railway scraps amounting to N3b that could not be traced to the Federation Account was also raised by the Committee.

    The Committee was also disturbed about the prominence of a contractor, Eser Nigeria Ltd in NRC activities and asked the relationships between the MD and the Directors of the company.

    Sijuwade, who denied any personal relationships with the Directors of the company, said, “I am unaware of any my relation bejng a Director of Eser,” while noting that due process was always adhered to in the award of contracts at the NRC.

  • Tension in Akwa Ibom as Supreme Court delivers judgment Wednesday

    Tension in Akwa Ibom as Supreme Court delivers judgment Wednesday

    There was anxiety yesterday in the political camps of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State ahead of tomorrow’s Supreme Court verdict on the governorship election appeal between Governor Udom Emmanuel of the PDP and Umana Umana of the APC.

    The Supreme Court fixed tomorrow for hearing in the appeal. Based on the current trend with appeal cases in other states, the apex court is expected to deliver judgement on the same day.

    Already, members of both parties have taken to the social media to express diverse opinions on what the outcome of the verdict could be.

    Those in the PDP are hoping that the verdict would not be different from what the Supreme Court justices delivered in the case between Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and APC’s Dakuku Peterside, which upheld Wike’s election.

    But those in APC hoped Umana would defeat Emmanuel, based on the facts and evidence before the court.

    It was learnt that the state’s Local Government and Chieftaincy Commissioner had started mobilising former political office holders ahead of the possible outcome of the verdict.

    Some text messages forwarded to the former chairmen was obtained by our reporter. One of them reads: “Chair, pls attend an urgent meeting with the Commissioner for Local Government, Victor Antai, as follows: Date February 1, 2016; Time – 1pm; Venue: Ministry of Local Government, Uyo. Please, come with all former caretaker/transition chairmen in your local government who are still members of the PDP. Thanks.”

    The agenda of the meeting, it was learnt, would dwell on the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal pending before the Supreme Court, whose verdict would be delivered tomorrow.

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  • Uba brothers, Oduah, others battle for Anambra senatorial seats

    Uba brothers, Oduah, others battle for Anambra senatorial seats

    A key member of the Ejike Oguebego faction of Anambra State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Chris Uba, has warned his brother, Senator Andy Uba, Ms. Stella Oduah and other to stop parading themselves as senators.

    Uba, while arguing that the judgment of the Supreme Court last Friday, which affirmed an earlier High Court verdict recognising the Ejike Oguebego exco as the state’s authentic leadership, advised the affected senators and House Representatives members to step down.

    He said he would lead other candidates, who emerged  under the Oguebego-monitored primaries, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday to demand their certificates of return.

    Andy and Oduah faulted the assumptions that the Supreme Court removed them from office, arguing that they were not party to the suit, which dealt with leadership crisis in Anambra PDP.

    Chris, who described himself as the “senator representing Anambra South,” while speaking with reporters in Abuja yesterday, said he was shocked that those who should be conversant with the laws could be deceiving the public regarding their true status after the Supreme Court failed to recognise the alleged dubious way through which they got to the Senate.

    He said: “The time for substitution had passed and we were busy doing our campaigns when, one week to the election, the Andy Uba faction went to the Court of Appeal and set aside the judgment of the High Court. Based on that, they took the judgment to INEC and their names were used to substitute our own. We cried foul, insisting we were not party to the suit. But INEC insisted that our names were initially published based on a court order and that we should appeal.

    “We appealed to the Supreme Court and the verdict on Friday vindicated our position, as the Supreme Court set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal and agreed with the High Court and granted our five prayers.

    “Now, they (Andy Uba and Oduah) went on the air and issued press statements to deceive the public that the order from the Supreme Court did not affect them because they were not a party to the suit. The question is: when our names were removed by INEC and replaced with theirs, were we party to the suit? Now, they are shouting and trying to misinterpret a clear judgment that has removed them and given us victory. They are just deceiving the public. We will demand our certificates of return from INEC on Monday because the judgment is clear. We do not need to seek any further clarifications.”

    Uba added:  “When the exercise started, INEC wrote a to the PDP headquarters, telling the PDP that the Ejike Oguebego exco was the one that it would recognise based on an order of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    “Unfortunately, the PDP ignored that letter and, instead, set up a two-man caretaker committee to come to Anambra State to conduct primaries. Of course, there was no room for that caretaker committee to operate in the state because the key to conducting the primaries is the three-man delegates from the 326 wards in the state.

    “It was obvious that without the state exco, the caretaker committee cannot be functional because the people to organise the state congress were expected to liaise with the state chairman. From there, they would set up a committee to go to the wards where the delegates to elect candidates into the legislatures, would emerge from. So, when they set up this caretaker committee, the Ejike Oguebego exco went to court and got a judgment recognising it as the right exco, therefore, making null and void the caretaker committee.

    “The judgment also instructed INEC and the PDP to conduct the electioneering exercise under the Ejike Oguebego exco, including the candidates participating. So, we obeyed the court order and did our primaries. The exercise was monitored by INEC and the relevant papers signed.”

    He said it would amount to injustice if the court had ruled in favour of the other group, comprising Andy, Ms. Oduah and others, who allegedly did not undergo any primaries nor visited Anambra.

  • Face the reality that PDP is dead, Aregbesola to Fayose

    Face the reality that PDP is dead, Aregbesola to Fayose

    • as Fayose made his first visit to an APC Gov in Nigeria.

    The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Tuesday advised the Governor of  Ekiti, Dr. Ayodele Fayose to face the reality of the death of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a party.‎

    Aregbesola said while he is not asking the governor to abandon the opposition PDP against his wish, he would only advise him to join hands with a political party that will give hope to the people of Nigeria.

    He also charged the Ekiti State governor to direct his energy towards bringing human and physical development to western region and Nigeria as a whole.

    The Governor stated this when his Ekiti counterpart paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Osogbo.

    Governor Fayose, during the visit, had said that he is in Osun not for any political reason and that he is not ready to abandon the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC) but for his belief in the Yoruba race and her development and unity.

    Aregbesola described the visit of Governor Fayose to Osun as demonstration of maturity, saying it takes a very matured human being to know that at the end of every public office, he will be left with humanity.

    He said, “Osoko has said that he is not going to leave his party, but the reality today is that PDP has served its term in Nigeria. When a horse is dead, it is either you abandon it or you bury it.

    “I want my good friend and brother to know that PDP has exhausted it’s stay in Nigeria, it can no longer be revived, let us look at a political party that will give hope to our people. Opposition must be for a purpose, I stand by you on the unity of Yoruba land and that our leaders not put down in the country.

    “The war is over, we are in a season of mobilising our people to agriculture and produce such that we will economically have the strength to give leadership to the Nation and Africa. Our energy must be directed at bringing human and physical development, we have enough in this region to give leadership”. Aregbesola stressed.

     He assured Fayose that he will stand by him in his effort to galvanise the people of South-west for accelerated development.

    The Governor who lamented the present economic situation of the country noted that there is an invasion on the economy of Nigeria to the extent that the country is loosing 75 percent of her income due to oil glut.

    “The country is facing a very serious crises with the rate at which the crude oil price is falling. There is an invasion on the economy to the level that we are loosing 75 percent of our income which is not good.

    “At this point, wise people must have an alternative to oil which part of it is your visit. We must use our culture and affinity to form a bond that can make our people live a normal life, it is a duty that we owe our people, States and Nigeria as a whole”.

    Speaking earlier, Governor Fayose stated that against all speculations that he was coming to Osogbo to ask Aregbesola help him beg President Muhammadu Buhari, he was  in Osun for the unity of Yoruba race.

    He added that the Yoruba race is greater than any political office hence his belief in the development of the race.

    The governor averred that the visit of the Ooni of Ife to the 45th coronation of the Alaafin of Oyo is instructive hence the need for every Yoruba sons and daughters to see to the unity and progress of the race.

    He said, “This is my first official visit to any APC state in Nigeria. I am not in Osogbo to ask Aregbesola to help me beg as being speculated in some quarters. We are all Yoruba, politics is like water, it can flow anywhere.

    “I believe in the Yoruba race, the race comes first before the office of the governor. The race is eternal while that of governor is momentary. We must watch today to be guided by tomorrow. I am here for the unity of Yoruba as it affect the Oodua, the progenitor” Fayose emphasised.

  • BREAKING: Metuh arrives court in handcuffs

    BREAKING: Metuh arrives court in handcuffs

    The spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, on Tuesday arrives court from Kuje Prison in handcuffs.

    Metuh on Cuff

     

    Metuh Cuffd

    Metuh Cuffed

     

    Metuh Cuff

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  • Diversion of arms funds, heartless – Aregbesola

    Diversion of arms funds, heartless – Aregbesola

    • Commends President Buhari for unraveling the arms scandal

    The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has on Friday described the diversion of money meant for procuring arms for Nigeria soldiers to fight insurgency as a monumental scandal.

    The Governor stated this at the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day and laying of wreath in honour of fallen Soldiers held at the State House of Assembly in Osogbo.

    He commended  the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in unravelling the crime.

    He insisted all the guilty must be brought to justice to forestall future occurrence.

    This year’s Armed Forces Remembrance is the first to be held at the State House of Assembly after the cenotaph was constructed next to the parliament.

    The Governor stressed that the symbolism of holding the ceremony at the military cemetery is impeccable but bringing it to the parliament is of even greater significance.

    Aregbesola added that the Parliament is the symbol of authority of the people and so the fallen soldiers “being celebrated today in the midst of the people for their gallantry and supreme sense of patriotism.”

    He noted every well-meaning Nigerian is of the hope that all those involved in the mismanagement of the arms fund will receive full retribution.

    Aregbesola lamented the situation where some of the soldiers caught and indicted have been pardoned and some losing their commission while others face uncertain future, said it is pertinent that a fresh inquiry be set up so that justice ‎will be done.

    According to him, “It is even a monumental scandal of unimaginable proportion that funds meant for procuring arms for soldiers are shared among members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) without the least compunction.

    “I commend the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in unravelling this heinous crime and I sincerely hope that all those involved will receive full retribution. Some of the soldiers caught in the maelstrom and indicted have been pardoned but some have lost their commission while others face uncertain future.

    “Considering the circumstances of this unusual event, it is pertinent that a fresh inquiry be set up so that justice will be given to all those involved and our gallant soldiers will not be punished unjustly.”

    On the roles of soldiers in the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections in 2014 which the committee set up by Military has submitted it’s report, Aregbesola said that the deployment of soldiers was avoidable.

    “‎The military high command also set up an inquiry into the roles soldiers played in the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections of 2014. The committee has submitted its report and made recommendations.

    “As a victim of the reckless deployment of soldiers in those elections, I will say it was an avoidable deployment of soldiers for a civilian duty and for which there was no threat beyond the capability of the police and other security agencies”. The Governor stated.

    Aregbesola, not oblivious of the fact that soldiers are trained to obey a command from a superior, described as a dilemma a situation where a soldier fails to carry out instruction.

    He added that, for a military command to manipulate an election in favour of a particular candidate and harass opposition candidates and members is unconstitutional and abuse of the military.

    ‎The Governor said that military high command should address the abuse of soldiers  by insulating them from carrying out unlawful commands so that the military itself will not be subject to abuse by any government in power who might be drunk with the idea that the military is the armed wing of its political party.

  • Stop disrespecting PDP – Adeyanju

    Stop disrespecting PDP – Adeyanju

    The Social Media Director of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Adeyanji Adedeji, has urged politicians elected on the platform of the PDP to always stand by the position of the party.

    Adeyanju said it is important for the party to stand united to truly represent the face of opposition and alternative to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    According to him, it is a sign of indiscipline and lack of respect for members to express different views from the official position of the party.

    “The other day, two senators elected on the platform of the party were singing the praises of Buhari over the budget presentation. A budget that failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians, address core issues of the economy, unemployment and insecurity; an unrealistic budget, and a budget that has been termed a fraud by our great party, the PDP.

    “Only for our elected senators to take a disparagingly different view from the official position of the party and turn around to praise the president. Will a Republican or Labor party senator in the United States of America or United Kingdom disagree with the official position of his party on a fundamental issue such as this and make it public? The answer is never,” he noted.

    He enjoined members of the PDP, especially lawmakers not to be afraid of victimization and political witch-hunt by the Buhari-led government, stressing that they should take strength from Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose, former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-kayode and the Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, who are relentless in pointing out the ills of the APC government.

    “No elected member of the PDP should publicly go against the official position of the party because this is the worst form of indiscipline a politician can demonstrate. Since independent candidacy is not recognized in our constitution, political parties are the vehicles by which many aspirants ride to power and as such these politicians cannot continue to deride the platform on which they got to power.

    “I therefore urge the leadership of PDP,  to henceforth, sound a clear note of warning to every elected member of our party never to go against the official position of the  party and be ready to take disciplinary measures against anyone that flouts this warning. Political parties cannot be administered without party discipline,” he added.

  • Court sacks PDP acting chair, Secondus

    Court sacks PDP acting chair, Secondus

    • Orders Secondus to vacate office in 14 days

    Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf of the High Court of the Federal Territory (FCT), Maitama, Abuja has sacked the Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus.

    The judge, in a judgment in a suit by former Political Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, held that Secondus was occupying the party’s Chairmanship seat illegally.

    Justice Baba-Yusuf noted that Secondus was from Rivers State, and not North-east geopolitical zone to which the PDP zoned the position.

    He gave Secondus 14 days within which to vacate the office and directed that the plaintiff or any other party member worthy of that position should take Secondus’ place.

    Lawyer to the PDP and Secondus, Chuwan Isaiah Paul, said the party will appeal the judgment and seek a stay of its execution to allow the party’s  current leadership prepare for its national convention slated for March next year.

    Justice Baba-Yusuf upheld rejected argument by Secondus and PDP (listed as defendants in the suit) that Gulak lacked the locus standing to initiate the suit having allegedly defaulted in the payment of party’s due.

    The judge also rejected the defendants’ argument that Gulak failed to explore the party’s internal mechanism for dispute resolution before approaching the court.

    The judge had, on November 30 reserved judgment in the case after entertaining argument from parties.

    Gulak had argued that Secondus was occupying the position illegally. He contended that by virtue of the provision of Article 47(6) of the party’s constitution, “the 2nd defendant (Secondus) form Rivers State, cannot replace the immediate past Chairman, Alhaji Muazu, who left office about seven months ago.

    He faulted the defendants’ claim that the party’s elders were working on a process to ensure a replacement for Muazu by next March,

    Gulak argued that it was unlawful and a breach of the party’s constitutional provisions for Secondus to hold office for over seven months in Acting capacity and refuse to allow a member form the geo-political zone where the last chairman came from to replace him.

  • Bayelsa: PDP hails cancellation of Southern Ijaw votes

    Bayelsa: PDP hails cancellation of Southern Ijaw votes

    The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed the cancellation of Southern Ijaw Local Government votes by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
    The party praised what it described as the courage of the people of Bayelsa state for fearlessly “curtailing the rigging machinery” of the All Progressives Congress (APC). It described the election in the area as fabricated.

    In a statement on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said but for the bravery of Bayelsans in standing up for their votes against the hordes of harassment by the military and other security forces working for the APC, their will as a people would have been completely subverted in the election.

    The PDP commended the actions and concerted efforts of its members in resisting rigging and impunity.

    The statement said, “We condemn in the strongest possible term, the wanton confiscation and transfer of voting materials by security operatives directly to APC agents for outright allocation of votes.

    “For the purposes of the rescheduled Southern Ijaw election, we wish to make it abundantly clear that we are ready, willing and able to defend the choice of the people.

    “Never again will this leadership of the PDP allow our party candidates to be manipulated out of any election at any level. In that regard, we have activated our structures across the country to defend our mandate always, with all force and means available in a democracy.

    “Nevertheless, we are indeed concerned about the apparent inability of the present INEC to conduct a credible election in a single state, especially in the light of the fact that very soon they will need to conduct a general election in all the states.

    “Finally, for the security forces busy brutalizing innocent Nigerians exercising their democratic rights, we declare that they should hide their faces in shame over the flexing of muscles in terror free zones”.

  • Senate reject N5,000 payment to unemployed youths

    Senate reject N5,000 payment to unemployed youths


    The Senate has rejected a motion for the payment of N5, 000 monthly allowances to unemployed youths in the country.

     

     

    The motion, which was sponsored by one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers representing the Federal Capital Territory, Philip Aduda, was greeted with shouts of “no, no” when he tried to explain it.

     

     

    Similarly, the attempt by the Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, to second the motion was disrupted by the rowdiness.

     

     

    Intervening, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, posed the question but the senators responded along party lines.

     

     

    While PDP members yelled a ‘yes’ in favour of the motion, All Progressives Congress (APC) senators, who were in majority, rejected it.