One of the frontline contenders for the position of national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George has withdrawn from the race.
Details shortly….
Tag: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
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PDP convention: I ‘m neutral, says Jonathan
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that he remained neutral and that he’s not backing any candidates among contestants for the various positions in Saturday’s national convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
In a goodwill message signed on his behalf by his media aide, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, Dr. Jonathan expressed the optimism that the convention would produce positive outcomes which would help the party regain its pride of place in the affairs of the nation.
He said he’s prepared to work with all those that would emerge as new leaders of the PDP in the interest of the party and nation.
The statement said, “As the father of the party, ex-President Jonathan has no preferred candidates for any of the positions, and is prepared to work with all those that will emerge as members of the new NWC, to ensure that the party regains its pride of place in the affairs of the nation”.
Jonathan extended felicitations to the candidates, delegates, convention committee members, as well as all other party members, for their interest and participation at the convention.
“The former President is pleased with the dedication and enthusiasm of all party members towards building a strong PDP and wishes all participants successful deliberations, as they seek to freely elect members of the National Working Committee that will lead the party for the next four years.
“Dr. Jonathan is impressed with the level of preparations for the convention, especially with the number of the candidates and the spread and vibrancy of the campaigns, which has established a new paradigm for intra-party elections, in the country.
“Contrary to speculations and permutations by some interest groups, Dr. Jonathan has never discussed or plotted with others against the ambition of any of the candidates, as is being falsely reported by those who are adept at spreading negative stories against the immediate past President.
“The former President is therefore optimistic that the convention will produce a positive outcome that will help the PDP consolidate its position as the party with the best democratic ideals in the country”, the statement added.
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Outcome of convention critical to party’s future – Ogun PDP
Elders and leaders of the Ogun State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have called for support from members to ensure a hitch – free National Convention, saying the outcome of it is critical to the future of PDP in Nigeria.
The call was made known to journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Friday in a statement by former members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Johnson Olu -Fatoki, Joseph Adegbesan, Mr. Ladi Owodunni, Chief Adeoye Monsuru, and Chief Gbadero Gbadela.
Others were Mr. Wasiu Saula, Alhaja Adeyinka Ilebiyi, Chief Sunday Alawode, and Alhaji Wasiu Isiaka respectively.
The nine party faithful said the success of the Saturday convention would brightened the fortune of the party the more and appealed to members to remain calm and ensure peaceful and fruitful exercise.
They lauded the qualities of the party’s national caretaker committee for ensuring that the party is reorganized and repositioned ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
“Being committed and loyal party members, we believe that the success of our National Convention on December 9 (today) is paramount important to the future of our great party. We therefore appeal to all members to remain calm and join in ensuring a peaceful and fruitful convention,” the statement reads in part.
They expressed the hope that the new national executive that would emerge from the convention will address all the petitions sent to the different committees in respect of the State Congress of November 4, ward and local governments Congresses of October 21st and 28th respectively.
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S/East PDP endorses Secondus
The Southeast caucus of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Friday adopted Prince Uche Secondus as its candidate for chairmanship of the party in Saturday’s national convention.
The party’s National Vice Chairman for the zone, Mr. Austin Umahi who announced the decision in Abuja on Friday said the caucus settled for Secondus after due consultation.
“We are very conscious of the personality of who becomes the national chairman of our great party for the next four years. Based on the foregoing, we have unanimously in our today’s stakeholders meeting, here in Abuja decided that we will back an aspirant that has character and content.
“In this circumstance, and without prejudice to the right of other aspirants to this national chairmanship position, credible and transparent election, we have decided to back and vote for Prince Uche Secondus for the position of national chairman of our great party.
“We have also agreed to vote the following positions zoned to the Southeast, Col Austin Akobundu for national organising secretary; Hon Ude Okoye for youth Leader; Alphonsos Gerald (Deputy financial secretary)”.
Among those that attended the meeting was attended by Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara; members of the National Assembly from the zone among other party leaders.
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Kashamu urges delegates to reject candidates undergoing trial
Ahead of Saturday’s national convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the senator representing Ogun-East senatorial district, Buruji Kashamu has called on party delegates, leaders and stakeholders to reject candidates undergoing corruption trial at the various courts.
In a statement he issued in Abuja on Thursday, the senator warned that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was planning to arrest some of the candidates with corruption cases.
Kashamu said, “While it is true that an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty, our great party cannot afford to close its eyes to this potential threat.
“It is a no-brainer that if a national chairman with a corruption case is elected, the party will literally be put on trial with him.
“This is one avoidable risk that is too much to take. You can be sure that a corruption trial of the national chairman of an opposition party will come with a lot of bad publicity that will sound the death knell the party”.
Kashamu pleaded with delegates and stakeholders, particularly those from the Southeast, to support the quest by the Southwest to produce the national chairman in the interest of equity and justice.
“Our brothers and sisters from the Southeast need to be categorical now in support of the Southwest on the ongoing national chairmanship tussle between the Southwest and the Southsouth.
”The implication of this avoidable tussle is to make uncertain the settled Southeast vice-presidential quest in 2019. If the Southeast expectedly takes a principled stance in support of the Southwest, naturally as a reliable race in adherence to agreements, the Yoruba people would reciprocate without any prompting.
“What is currently happening is glaringly an orchestrated assault on the Southwest to end up with nothing in 2019, just like we did when our party was in power. This is a dangerously illogical political permutation for 2019 national elections”, the senator added.
Kashamu said without prejudice to the right of others to seek elective positions at the convention, he however said such should not be done at the expense of established norms and agreements.
The senator said, “Without prejudice to anybody’s right to aspire for party positions, it is an open secret that the PDP national chairmanship had been conceded to the Southwest pre-Port Harcourt convention.
“It was because of this that the other positions zoned to the Southwest are innocuous deputies to substantive offices except the National Treasurer.
“All these are because of the fact that the national chairmanship had already been conceded to the Southwest.
“It is in the light of the above that I wish to reiterate my call on our notable leaders, elders and delegates to put the interest of democracy and the future of our great party above any pecuniary interest or considerations. This is the time we have to rebrand our party and reposition it”.
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PDP convention: Group alleges fake delegates list for Anambra
A group of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in Anambra State has raised the alarm alleging the submission of a fake delegates list for the state and meant to be used for Saturday’s convention.
The allegation was contained in a statement dated December 7, 2017 and signed by 12 members of the party from Anambra State.
The stakeholders, who stormed the national secretariat of the party in their numbers on Thursday, protested what they described as an attempt by a national official of the PDP to impose an illegal delegates list on the party leadership.
According to the statement released by the group, the contested delegates list was signed by members of the National Assembly and other stakeholders purported to have been elected at the state congress.
The statement, which was jointly signed by a former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh; a party chieftain in Anambra, Chief Chris Uba and 10 others, insisted that no congress was held in the state on December 4, as claimed by the authors of the list.
They insisted that there was no list of delegates to the state congress as the state congress committee did not provide any and that there was no accreditation of delegates to the said congress.
“That since the state congress did not take place, it is the general view of the stakeholders that a repeat state congress be held after the national convention on the 09 December 2017”, the statement added.
In a related development, a law firm, Papal Juris Mondial Attorneys has petitioned the National Caretaker Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) seeking the disqualification of a candidate for the National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu for alleged misconduct.
In the petition dated December 5, 2017 and signed by Onyebuchi Nwosu Esq, the petitioners accused Akubodu of misconduct, misrepresentation and misappropriation of the party funds while he was National Vice Chairman, Southeast zone of the PDP from 2012 to 2014.
The petition added that Akobundu did not resign his position as vice chairman of the PDP in the zone when he was appointed as the Minister of State for Defence in 2014.
According to the petitioner, Akobundu action was a violation of the constitution of the PDP, which has rendered him unfit for contesting for the position of National Organising Secretary.
“There is first hand and highly classified information that the aforementioned candidate contesting for the position of the National Organizing Secretary of the party, had flouted the party’s constitution during his regime as the National Vice Chairman South East Zone”, the petition added.
Section 48 (1) of the PDP constitution (As Amended 2012) states that:
Subject to the provisions of this constitution, any member holding any office in the party at any level shall be deemed to have resigned that office, if he or she assumes any of the following offices:
c). Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1). Federal Minister
d). Any full time employment or appointment in the public service of the federation, state or local government.
“In outright dismay and disobedience to the above sections of the constitution, Col Austin Akobundu was the National Chairman South Eastern Zone of the party when he was appointed the Minister of State for Defence between the year 2014 and 2016.
“He never resigned from his position as the South Eastern National Vice Chairman before assuming the office of the Honourable Minister of State for Defence where he was authorizing cheques and withdrawing funds from the South East PDP Zonal Accounts.
“In order words, he operated the two offices at the same time. Thus, if the committee is in doubt of this allegation, the Treasurer or the Financial Secretary of the South Eastern Zone should be called upon to produce the Certified True Copies of the statement of accounts of the party from the bank of the South Eastern Zone as evidence.
“We submit that the conduct of Col Austin Akobundu is in total aberration to the party’s constitution. The party is on the verge of restructuring and reformation and cannot allow or tolerate such undescended charade of personality in its restructuring activities at this stage.
“We call on the Screening Committee and Convention to launch a wholesome investigation into this petition and take disciplinary measures against the candidate in question”.
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PDP convention: Our chance to restore dignity, says Mark
Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, Thursday told Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwarts to the Saturday’s elective convention to allow the will of the people to prevail.
Mark said that allowing the people’s will to prevail will restore the dignity of the party.
Senator Mark in a message of good will by to the delegates, by his media assistant, Paul Mumeh, urged them to shun ills such as imposition of candidates and impunity that ruined the chances of the Party in the previous elections.
Senator Mark stressed that “we have seen what the imposition of candidates caused us in the past. We cannot travel the same route anymore.
“I am sure we have learnt some useful lessons from our electoral misfortune in 2015. We now have the opportunity to right the wrongs of the past by allowing the will of the people to prevail at the convention”.
The former Senate President expressed confidence in the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa led National Convention Committee to do a good job and return the Party to the people.
He enjoined Party Faithful to adhere to the rules of the game in order to guarantee a smooth Convention “because only the rule of law and adherence to the principle of Democracy endures”.
He advised the would-be winners and losers to accept the outcome of the elections in the interest of all, saying, “Win or lose, we are still one family. All we need to do is put our house in order in the interest of the Party and its members because I can see a bright future”.
He welcomed the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and others back to the party just as he enjoined all those who defected to return home because “PDP is still the only National Party and a home for all”.
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Ogboru vows to end PPD Rule in Delta
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta state, Chief Great Ogboru has vowed to put an end to the dominance of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and deliver the state to the APC in 2019.
Ogboru who said he was going to run for the governorship ticket of the APC in 2019 said if given the ticket by the party, he was capable of displacing incumbent governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and give President Muhammadu Buhari 75 percent of votes at the Presidential election.
Speaking when he visited the Director General of the Buhari Support Group Centre, BSGC, Alhaji Umaru Dembo in Abuja, Ogboru said it is evident that the PDP, had always rigged elections in the State since 1999, and vowed to put a stop to it in 2019 when he hoped to contest on the platform of the ruling APC for the State Governor’s office.
He said “We must thank God that president Muhammadu Buhari has come to sanitize the nation and put an end to impunity which the PDP institutionalized since 1999 when it came to power”.
He assured that he was going to rally support of his supporters that formed the bulk of the Labour Party LP, and the Democratic People’s Part, DPP, to coalesce on the platform of the APC to rid Delta State of the PDP, in 2019, saying “I can claim that with the huge support base that we enjoy in Delta, we can deliver more than 75% votes to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.”
Responding, Alhaji Dembo who is a former minister of state petroleum, commended him for his foresight in joining the APC and assured him of the support and cooperation of the centre in the struggle to secure the party’s nomination ticket and go on to win the gubernatorial election in Delta in 2019.
The former minister further assured his visitors that with President Buhari’s democratic credentials, and accomplishments within the last two years of the APC’s administration, Nigerians would readily embrace him and those who associate with his vision as leaders they can trust.
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‘Let us work toward the success of the convention’ -Akpokabayen
The Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) South African chapter, Hon. Ekos Akpokabayen has appealed to the party members worldwide to work towards achieving the most desired and expected success in the upcoming National convention.
Speaking at a pre-convention parley in Johannesburg, Ekos said it was good that the party has been able to overcome several months of uncertainties.
“I am optimistic that the party will come out better and stronger than ever after the December 9th National convention,” Akpokabayen said.
“In the next few days from today, the biggest political party in Africa, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) will be having their first consensus and unanimously agreed national convention to elect the key officers who will take the party to its expected destination which has remained the utmost wish of every freedom and progress loving Nigerian today.”
The convention, he said “will be a very hard choice between a step in the forward direction and one that will take us backwards and that is why we must all strive to do all that it takes not to get it wrong but to make the right choices.”
Akpokabayen noted that it is clearly visible even to the blind that our country as it is today under the present administration (the APC) is standing on a very faulty foundation, adding that Nigeria has already been taken to the slaughter and has been well placed on the butchery awaiting the final raise of the cutter, and it is seriously crying for the rescue,
He urged members of the PDP to remember that the majority of the masses are looking up to them to rescue this land and take it forward to her days of plenteous harvest.
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Atiku meets Makarfi, urges other defectors to return to PDP
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar Tuesday called on other politicians that dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to return to the PDP.
Atiku was received at the party’s Abuja secretariat by the chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi at 12 pm.
The former Vice President said it’s only by their returning to the PDP that he and other defectors could build a stronger and more united PDP that can regain power in 2019.
Addressing Makarfi, Atiku said, “All what I have come to do today is to come and show my face. Many people have read in the media that I have returned home. This is home.
“Let me pay tribute to past leadership of this great party wherever they may be and to call upon them to please return home as I have done.
“It is only by their returning home that we will build a stronger, more united party that can again return to government and continue to deliver the dividends of democracy.
“I can bet you the records we have achieved so far in governance; no government has yet even done 50 percent of what we have achieved in government, not to talk of equaling our performance in government”.
“Over the years, like any or every human organisation, PDP has faced its challenges. But I want to pay tribute to those who have stayed steadfast through thick and thin to see us through to this point.
“Now that we have learnt our lessons, I hope that we will be guided by the lessons we have learnt. And that is to make sure that we build an all-inclusive party, where every part of this country will have a sense of belonging and sense of participation”
Atiku commended the leadership of the PDP for keeping the party united despite many challenges and assured of his support and cooperation at all times.
He recalled that the PDP was founded on the principles of democracy, good governance, unity of the country and the prosperity of its people.
His return to the party, he said, was to help continue with the work of reforming and re-branding of the party, adding that the party must avoid tendencies that breed conflicts in the party.
“To achieve all these, there must be sacrifices, understanding and compromises in the process of achieving that. And that is what I speak to members to imbibe. But as you know, one thing that I will never compromise is the internal democracy process in a given political party. And I hope we all must have learnt our lessons.
“Mr Chairman, I want to congratulate you for a wonderful work which you have been doing to redeem the image of this party, to rebrand it and return it to its original form. I want to assure you of my support and cooperation at all times, to make sure that these objectives are achieved by you and subsequently by your successors”.
Atiku had, last week, announced his resignation from the APC where he and others had defected to in 2014 owing to disagreements with the then President Goodluck Jonathan.
Responding, Makarfi said Atiku has opened the flood gates and that the party expects more high profile returnees and new entrants into the PDP in the days ahead.
“So PDP must be prepared for this, and be ready to reconcile and reintegrate in such a way and manner that everybody will be treated and given a level playing field to purse his or her personal aspiration. That is what PDP must stand for if it has to survive.
The party chair denied the existence of any secret deal with Atiku for him to return to the party, adding that the ex-Vice President isn’t one to go for secret deals.
“You have returned in good time and you should continue to contribute in this reinvention, remodeling of our party so that come 2019, we can reclaim what we can claim as ours. Because we still remain the only true Democratic Party in the true sense of the word.
“We thank you for coming before the convention so that you can contribute to what we have started going forward. We will continue to consult you.
“You will also help us reinvent the vehicle that will take us to Aso rock in 2019, we are not just targeting Aso Rock, we are targeting the federal legislature, the states; both the executive and legislature. We are targeting the local governments.
“We want to sweep elections all across the country. As a united party, we have the capacity and we have the ability to do so,” Makarfi said.