The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • PDP wins in Adamawa Govt House

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday defeated Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow at the 11 voting points in the three polling units around the Government House in Adamawa State.

    The incumbent Governor Bindow is seeking re-election on the platform of his party, the All Progressives Party, APC.

    Results from nine of the 11 polling units obtained as at filing this report, showed that the PDP polled a total of 441 votes against 260 votes of the APC and 203 scored by the African Democratic Party (ADC).

    The presiding officer for Unit 010 of the New Government House polling units would not read out the results of the two voting points of the unit, but the figures of the unit gleaned by our correspondent showed superior figures for the PDP.

    The governorship candidate of the PDP, Hon Umaru Fintiri, is a former speaker and later acting governor of the state, while ADC’s governorship candidate is Abdul-Azizi Nyako, a serving senator and son of a former governor, Murtala Nyako.

    Bindow voted in Mubi while Fintiri voted in Madagali,  both in the northern  senatorial zone of the state. Abdula-Aziz voted at a unit opposite the deputy governor’s office in Jimeta, Yola North local government area.

    Adamawa speaker slams PDP in own polling unit

    Alhaji Kabiru Mijinyawa, Speaker, Adamawa State House of Assembly yesterday defeated both PDP and ADC candidates with large votes in unit 006, Wuro-Hausa, Adarawo Ward in Yola South.

    NAN correspondent, who monitored the counting, reports that Mijinya, candidate of APC garnered 466 votes to beat candidate of PDP, Adamu Baba who polled 126.  Ahmed Mahmoud of ADC got 84 votes.

    The APC also won in the governorship category, with incumbent Gov. Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow polling 410 votes to defeat PDP’s Ahmadu Fintiri and Sen. Abdulazeez Nyako of ADC who got 134 and 136 votes.

    NAN also reports that the APC governorship candidate won the polling unit 006 of Dr Mahmoud Halilu, younger brother to Aisha Buhari, wife of the president.

    While APC got 179, the PDP polled 112 and ADC got 79 votes. The polling unit is in Korea, Mbamoi, Ward in Yola South Local Government Area.

  • Don’t contest your defeat, Marahaj Ji tells Atiku

    Self-styled perfect living master Satguru Marahaj Ji Marahaj Ji has warned presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar not to contest his defeat at the court.

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari won the election free and fair.

    He declared any effort to contest the victory would end in futility.

    “I will advise Atiku not to waste his money on lawyers but should rather donate such money to motherless baby homes and the less privileged.

    “The lawyers are only out to collect this money, they know the effort will be in futility,” he said.

    He also supported All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, saying his election will take Lagos to greater heights.

    Addressing a press conference at the weekend, Satguru Marahaj Ji said Lagos has experienced a tremendous infrastructural and human development under visionary leaders that have governed the state.

    “Why change a winning team? Lagos under ACN which later joined progressives to form the APC has been a role model in monumental development for other states, so I for see them winning the next election in the state.”

    According to him, PDP is not an alternative in the state.

    “Under the PDP at the federal level, public utility companies such as NITEL, Ajaokuta rolling mill and several others were sold in controversial circumstances of which the country is yet to get over.

    “Lagosians will benefit more under Sanwo-Olu because they will be assured of continuity of the good work started in 1999 by Bola Tinubu as against a new party whose manifestoes is still shrouded in confusion.”

    On his advice for Buhari, Satguru Marahaj Ji said the President should continue with his fight against corruption, advising all former presidents to join hands with him to rid Nigeria of corrupt practices and officials.

    “A nation cannot move forward with such a heavy baggage like corruption.

    “His second term should be used to pursue the fight with vigour, off course many will be offended and even ganged up against him, but he has the mandate of the people, and therefore shouldn’t relent,” he said.

    He said Nigeria is too blessed to remain poor. “The collective wealth of the nation has been stolen by a few and these few are the one fighting back.”

  • PDP accuses monarch of hijacking electoral materials in Bayelsa

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused a paramount ruler in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, of hijacking electoral materials.

    The State Secretary of the PDP, Chief Godspower Keku, said in a statement that the traditional ruler abducted officials of INEC with electoral materials to his residence for thumb printing and production of concocted results.

    He said that the materials were hijacked by the paramount ruler and taken to his residence for brazen manipulation in favour òf a Candidate òf the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Keku said that the electoral fraud affected units 12, 13, 14 and 15 of Ologoghe , ward 04 , Ogbia constituency 2.

    Keku said, that it was most condemnable that a paramount ruler would subject the traditional institution to ridicule to pursue selfish individual interest to the detriment of the common good.

    He urged INEC to redeem its image by cancelling the fake results being produced by the traditional ruler for the units.

    He said; “The PDP wishes to draw the attention of INEC and the public to the snatching of the electoral materials meant for units 12, 13, 14 and 15 of Ologoghe , ward 04 , Ogbia constituency 2 by a Paramount ruler.

    “The INEC officials were abducted, ballot papers hijacked by the monarch to his house for thumb printing and production of illegal results.

    “We call for total cancellation of results of unit 12, 13, 14 and 15 from Ologoghe , ward 04 , Ogbia constituency 2, Bayelsa State as election did not take place in these units.

    “INEC as the electoral umpire would do well to reject the fake results and cancel the election to redeem its image.”

  • PDP decries killings, violence, militarisation of elections

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the heavy militarisation, violence and killing of innocent Nigerians during Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly elections across many states of the federation.

    A statement on Saturday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan blamed the development on what the opposition party described as the desperation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the elections.

    “The world watched with utter horror as soldiers under the command of the Buhari Presidency, hound, arrest, shoot, terrorise opposition figures and provide cover for APC thugs to unleash violence, kill opposition members, cart away electoral materials and disrupt polls in PDP strongholds, all in the bid to forcefully foist the APC on Nigerians,” the statement said.

    The party further bemoaned the resort to bloodletting, violence and alleged official high handedness by the APC in the electoral process, which it said, has further confirmed this administration has no regard for the lives of Nigerians and lawful processes, but only interested in seizing power by all means.

    The PDP noted that never in the history of the nation had a general election recorded such bloodletting, violence and manipulations as triggered in the 2019 elections.

    Lamenting further, the PDP said: “In Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, Kogi, Benue, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, among others, soldiers brazenly aided APC thugs to unbridle violence, hijack electoral processes and write fictitious results for APC candidates.

    “In Rivers state, soldiers invaded INEC office in Bori, beat up and chased away PDP agents and assisted the APC in ballot stuffing and writing of results.

    “The scenario was the same in Akwa-Ibom where security agents provided cover for APC thugs in their bid to hijack the electoral process.

    “In Imo state, APC thugs, accompanied by security agents disrupted polls in PDP strongholds and reportedly killed a PDP agents in Umudo/Umuwala area of Owerri.

    “In Ebonyi state, APC thugs aided by security agents, burnt down INEC facility in the state, seeing that their party did not have any foothold in the state.

    “In Ajaokuta, Kabba/Bunu, Olamaboro, Ijumu and several other local governments in Kogi state, APC thugs, assisted by soldiers invaded polling units and carted away ballot materials, a development which sparked off restiveness in some areas and resulted in mass destruction of property in the area”.

    The party regretted that in many other states, the APC, in connivance with INEC, orchestrated the deliberate diversion of electoral materials meant for certain areas to unknown destinations, resulting in the frustration of electoral processes in the affected areas.

    “We know that the APC plot to derail our hard- earned democracy and impose a fascist regime on our nation but we are resolute in standing with Nigerians and all lovers of democracy to ensure that nobody, no matter how vicious, is allowed to vanquish our democracy.

    “In all, our party stands with Nigerians in their resilience at this defining moment in our political history.

    “The PDP commends the courage of Nigerians in standing firm in defence of democracy, despite the machinations of the APC,” the party added.

  • Kaduna PDP guber candidate wins polling unit

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in Kaduna State, Hon. Isa Ashiru has won in his polling unit.

    At the Kofar Fada Kudan ward, Kudan Local Government Polling Unit 01, PDP Ashiru scored 284, while APC’s Governor Nasir El-Rufai pilled 33 votes.

     

  • Kaduna PDP guber candidate expresses satisfaction with election process

    Kaduna State gubernatorial candidate on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Isa Ashiru, on Saturday pledged to give government a human face to restore good governance, if elected.

    He said in an interview with Journalists shortly after casting his vote at Kudan headquarters of Kudan Local Government Area, that of Kaduna State on Saturday, that he was satisfied with the process.

    “For me, to give government a human face is something that we need to do urgently, to restore confidence in governance as far as Kaduna State is concerned.

    “Secondly, issue of security is something that you need not to ask me, people are living in fear, they sleep with their two eyes opened, we will address that squarely given the opportunity,” he said.

    On the conduct of the elections, the candidate said he was satisfied with the election process, but complained of people moving about with security personnel for no reason.

    Ashiru lauded the electorate for coming out en-mass to exercise their franchise despite what he described as verbal instigation.

    He urged the electorate to continue to be patient, assuring that they would soon be freed from “bondage and lack of listening ears.”

    While congratulating President Muhammadu Buhari for his victory during the last presidential elections, Ashiru expressed satisfaction that Kaduna PDP produced the highest number of votes for Atiku from across Nigeria.

    The candidate appealed to the people of the state to remain calm and peaceful during and after the elections to pave way for prevailing peace in the state. (NAN)

  • Udom’s campaign coordinator hails exercise

    The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Works and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) campaign coordinator in Onna Local Government, Mr. Ephraim Inyang, said the tension that enveloped the state on the eve of the governorship and House of Assembly elections and the threat of military intimidation is restricted to the social media, as the exercise has been cordial and peaceful so far.
    Inyang who spoke to reporters at his polling unit in Ikot Ebere, Oniong West, commended security agencies, electoral officials and the people for the manner they have acquitted themselves so far.
    He said the military has been patrolling and not getting close to the polling units, just as the police are not interfering with the exercise.
    He said: “The tension that enveloped the state on the eve of this election is restricted to the social media.
    “People are out in their numbers to vote, because they have realised the need to come  and exercise their civic duties.
    “If what I have observed in Onna is replicated across the state, then the election could be considered as free and fair.”

  • Sen. Adeleke votes, optimistic of victory at tribunal

    Sen. Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State on Saturday expressed optimism of emerging victorious at the Governorship Election Tribunal.

    He spoke after casting  his vote at exactly 9:01 am at Unit 09 Ward 02 Polling Unit at Sagba-Abogunde area, Ede.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adeleke is  challenging the victory of Gov. Gboyega Oyetola in the Sept. 27, 2018 rerun governorship election in the state.

    ” I am sure of victory at the Osun Governorship Tribunal because of the confidence I have in the judiciary system of this country,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Adeleke’s passion for selfless service

    Adeleke, however, said Saturday’s  State House of Assembly election had been peaceful, expressing confidence  that the PDP would emerge victorious.

    He commended INEC  for the successful conduct of the House of Assembly election, saying the exercise had so far been hitch-free in Ede.

    Adeleke urged the electorate to be patient  while waiting to be accredited so as to ensure a peaceful conclusion of the exercise.

    NAN

  • PDP to Buhari: Atiku ‘ll soon reclaim his mandate

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to stop gloating and showboating on Nigerians with the “stolen” 2019 presidential mandate, saying that its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would soon retrieve the mandate at the tribunal.

    The party described President Buhari’s renewed attack on the PDP’s 16 years administrations as a lame attempt to divert public attention from the overwhelming evidence that he rigged the elections.

    A statement yesterday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, also said the President’s statement that the PDP has questions to answer on its 16-year stewardship was part of the plots to obstruct the clear winner, Atiku Abubakar, from going to the tribunal to reclaim the mandate freely given to him by Nigerians.

    The statement said: “It indeed speaks volumes that President Buhari, in his claimed integrity and anti-corruption stance, is grandstanding over the violent rigging of the elections and his attempt to foist himself into a second term in office on the pedestal of stolen votes.

    “President Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) should know that the PDP and Nigerians are focused and will not be distracted by any sort of blackmail in the pursuit of the mandate and we are confident that our justices will never allow an illegitimate government to sit over the affairs of our dear nation.

    “Moreover, if anybody has a question to answer on the administration of the nation’s resources, it is President Buhari, who has not been able to offer any explanation on the looting of over N14 trillion from revenue generating agencies in a space of three years under his direct supervision.

    “We ask: was it the PDP that siphoned over N9 trillion, through underhand contracts, as detailed in the leaked NNPC memo, in the same sector President Buhari directly supervises as Minister of Petroleum Resources?

    “Was it the PDP that stole the over N1.1 trillion worth of crude illegally lifted and diverted with 18 unregistered companies in 2017; the over N1.4 trillion in fraudulent oil subsidy regime and many more scams, including funds meant for the welfare of victims of insurgency in the North East under the Buhari administration?”

    The main opposition party insisted that its past administrations created wealth and applied national resources on massive infrastructural development in all critical sectors.

    It also claimed credit for paying off the nation’s huge foreign and domestic debts and grew the economy to be one of the fastest growing in the world.

    The party observed that President Buhari on the other hand, ran the economy into recession within a space of three years without being able to point to any development project his administration initiated and completed despite the huge opportunities at his disposal.

    “President Buhari must note that Nigerians are no longer interested in his incompetence and blame game and this is the very reason they voted massively against him on February 23.

    “He should therefore end his diversionary tactics and get ready to meet the people’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in court,” the statement added.

  • Wike, Amaechi in verbal war ahead polls

    The Minister of Transport and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, declared yesterday that more Rivers people will die if the state governor and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nyesom Wike, gets a second term.

    Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, urged the people of the state not to cast their votes for Wike, his former Chief of Staff, accusing him of sponsoring many killings in Rivers, which, according to him, was an indication that the incumbent governor never cared about the security of the lives and property of the residents of the state.

    Amaechi stated these in his Port Harcourt residence while receiving a visiting delegation of the British High Commission to Nigeria ahead of today’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    In an interactive session with members of the party in Eleme on March 6, Amaechi, who is the leader of APC in the state and the Southsouth zone, had announced after a crucial meeting of Rivers stakeholders of APC, that they had agreed to back the governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara, an engineer and native of Kula-Kalabari, a riverine community in Akuku-Toru LGA of the state.

    On his part, Wike, a former Minister of State for Education, in a statewide broadcast, urged Rivers people to vote for candidates of their choice today.

    But he accused his former benefactor (Amaechi) and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, of planning to unleash mayhem in the state during the elections; an allegation both of them denied, describing Wike as a propagandist and a blackmailer.

    Amaechi, during yesterday’s meeting with the delegation of the British High Commission to Nigeria, said: “All Wike has done so far is killings, and he does not care about the lives of the people.

    “If Wike gets a second term, more people will die. The man is blood thirsty and he wants to kill us because of his second term ambition, for the simple reason of milking the treasury of the state dry, without considering what happens to the ordinary Rivers people.

    “Stealing is in his blood.

    “I wonder why Wike will be crying foul about the presence of military men in Rivers State instead of joining forces to encourage them to beef up security in the state.

    “The general elections of 2015 cannot in any way be compared with the 2019 polls in terms of the security situation in Rivers State.

    “Wike and his PDP members would have preferred the elections of 2015 where thugs overwhelmed the state and unleashed terror on innocent Rivers people, resulting in the loss of so many lives and destruction of valuable property across the state.

    “Even my cousin was killed in front of Wike’s father’s house in Port Harcourt.”

    Amaechi also stated that with the presence of the military personnel in Rivers state for today’s elections, everybody, including the APC and PDP members, would be adequately protected.

    He revealed that the plan of the Rivers governor was to see the total withdrawal of military men from Rivers for him and his thugs to have a field day to kill APC members as they did in the previous elections.

    The Minister of Transportation said: “You are aware that PDP’s thugs killed four APC members in Andoni LGA of the National Chairman of PDP (Prince Uche Aecondus), beheaded them and took away their bodies.

    “When I was the Governor of Rivers State, I gave people assurances that my life is as important as their own lives.”

    On his choice of endorsing the governorship candidate of AAC in today’s election, Amaechi said: “My party is not on the ballot for tomorrow’s (today’s) election, and you know that I have the right to vote. That is why I will vote for the governorship candidate of AAC.”

    The head of the delegation, Louis Edwards, had earlier said that they were in Port Harcourt to support free, fair and credible elections.

    Edwards disclosed that they had earlier engaged some stakeholders, including politicians, security chiefs and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the need for peaceful polls in Rivers State today.