The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • PDP convention: Mark warns against impunity

    PDP convention: Mark warns against impunity

    A former Senate President, Senator David Mark, Thursday warned against impunity and imposition of candidates in the build up to the December 9th, 2017 elective convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Senator Mark implored party faithful to reflect on the issues that led to the fall of the PDP in 2015 and do well to avoid the pitfalls at the convention.

    A statement by the media aide to the former Senate President, Paul Mumeh, said that Mark gave the warning when he played host to one of the aspirants to the office of the national chairman of PDP, Chief Raymond Dokpesi in Abuja.

    It said that Senator Mark stressed that “we must learn from the mistakes of the past and do the right thing at the convention.

    Mark was quoted to have said, “We must say no to impunity. We must reject imposition of candidates on the party. Elders of the party including myself must ensure justice, fairness and equity. The people must be allowed to decide.

    “Nigerians are eagerly waiting for the PDP and we must not fail them. We need a leader of the PDP that is a bridge builder, assessable; one possesses the character and integrity to lead the party to victory in 2019”.

    It said that Mark recalled how he tried in vain to resolve the intractable conflict between the Senator Ali Modu Sherrif and Ahmed Makarfi factions and submitted ” for me, I will always stand for the truth because only the truth  will guarantee our success in future polls”.

    Senator Mark appreciated the contributions of Chief Dokpesi to the development of the PDP and urged him not to relent .

    The former Senate President enjoined all the aspirants for various positions to comply with the rules of the game and accept the outcome of the election without bitterness or rancour, hoping that the process would be free, fair and credible.

    It said that Chief Dokpesi who briefed Mark said that he opted for the chairmanship position of the party “because I am eminently qualified, competent and capable of leading the party to Eldorado”.

    It said that Dokpesi promised to bring sanity to the party and ensure justices, fairness and equity in the administration of the party if elected.

    It said that Senators Yisa Briamoh and Grace Bent who were among those on Chief Dokpesi’s entourage extolled his qualities as the man appropriate for the job at the moment.

  • Maina: PDP lacks moral authority to attack Buhari, says Presidency 

    Maina: PDP lacks moral authority to attack Buhari, says Presidency 

    The Presidency on Wednesday insisted that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has no moral right to level any accusations against the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration over Abdulrasheed Maina, the embattled former head of the presidential team on pension reforms.

    In a statement released to the media on Wednesday, Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity (SSA Media), described Maina as one of the monsters created by the former PDP government, and which are still rearing their ugly heads long after the Party was soundly defeated in the 2015 elections.

    “Over and over again, the President Buhari government has pointed out that the administration’s greatest problem is the mess left behind by the previous government. Maina is just one more example,” he said.

    Referring to document records from the investigations that led to the disgrace of the former pension boss and his being declared wanted by the EFCC, Malam Shehu noted that Maina was not the only top member of the former government involved in the multibillion naira pensions scandal, but a man warmly ensconced in the bosom of power.

    “Top officials in the PDP government, from sectoral heads, to those charged with responsibility for law and order received some of these billions of naira from Maina,” the SSA Media said.

    “We have all the transaction records and these are matters that the EFCC has been pursuing to ensure that they all have their day in court.”

    Malam Shehu hinted that some influential officials loyal to the previous government may have been the invisible hand in the latest scandal that saw the return of Maina to the public service, despite being on the EFCC’s wanted list.

    He, however, assured Nigerians that President Buhari was determined to get to the bottom of the matter of the impunity that led to Maina’s reinstatement.

    “Everything will be uncovered in due course,” he said.

    “This just goes to show us the scale of corruption that this government is fighting. And, as we can all see, corruption keeps fighting back viciously,” he said.

  • PDP needs a gentleman with ideas – Adeniran

    PDP needs a gentleman with ideas – Adeniran

    A former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, says his gentle mien will not diminish his chances of becoming the next national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Adeniran told in a telephone interview on Wednesday that being a gentleman, he remained the best candidate in the race for the national chairmanship seat of the party.

    The party’s national elective convention, which will produce the national chairman and other executive officers, is scheduled for Dec. 9 in Abuja.

    Apart from Adeniran, former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George; former Minister of Sport, Prof Taoheed Adedoja, and former PDP governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr Jimi Agbaje, are also in the chairmanship race.

    Former governors of Ogun and Oyo states, Chief Gbenga Daniel and Chief Rasheed Ladoja respectively; media mogul, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, and one-time acting chairman, Chief Uche Secondus, are also eying the party’s chairmanship.

    Adeniran said the perception that he is a gentleman is a good one, as the PDP needs such a person with ideas and vision to drive its progress.

    “Yes, I am a gentleman. The belief in some quarters that the party does not need a gentleman as leader is an insult not only to the party, but every member.

    “Leadership is not by thuggery, is not by violence, but by ideas, passion, vision and commitment.

    “We don’t need a violent person in PDP as chairman. We need a man with ideas to drive the party‘s vision. I am that man. I am that gentleman,’’ he said.

    The former minister said with God on his side and the support he was enjoying across the party, he was sure to clinch the post.

    He insisted that he had all it required to lead and reposition the party, being a founding member with the requisite experience.

    “PDP needs a leader with the right vision, passion for good leadership qualities and a leader with right experience.

    “I am passionate about repositioning the party and I am brimming with ideas and vision to return the party to winning ways,’’ he said.

    Adeniran said his academic and political background as a political science professor and former minister had enriched his suitability for the seat.

    He acknowledged that other aspirants had great attributes, but said his kind of vision to salvage the PDP at a critical moment was unmatched.

    The National Caretaker chairman of the party, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi had said at the end of the party’s National Executive Council ( NEC ) meeting on Tuesday that the chairmanship seat was zoned to the entire South, and not micro-zoned to the South-West.

    He said the party’s non-elective convention zoned the presidency to the North and the chairmanship to the South.

    Read Also: Chairmanship: Again, PDP walks a tight rope

  • APC is making good what PDP made bad – Sen. Adamu

    APC is making good what PDP made bad – Sen. Adamu

    A National Assembly member, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu (APC-Nasarawa), says the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) is making good what the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) made bad during its 16-year rule.

    Adamu, who made this known in an interview in Abuja on Tuesday, said that the rot accumulated between 1999 and 2015 that PDP held sway in governance was much.

    “What it took them 16 years to damage, we cannot take just one year of some magical works to get everything corrected,” he said.

    According to him, the PDP fails to realise deliberately that the APC cannot just perform magic within this short period, because they have nothing on their agenda but mere propaganda.

    “They have not been doing enough work and spending enough time to plan what is called opposition in the real sense of democracy. They feel calling people names, abusing people and propaganda is opposition, this is wrong.

    “They will not get the desired result out of that.

    “For instance, the propaganda that Monkey Pox was induced by vaccines from the military, what can be more absurd than that and they have kept quiet because it is an agenda.

    “This negativity is from the PDP stable; this is a smear campaign, I pity their strategy,” Adamu said.

    On the recent comment by the PDP Senate Caucus that it would dislodge the ruling party, the lawmaker said that they were only giving the impression that they were still relevant in the political arena.

    He, however, said that the political space was big enough for associations wanting to be recognised like the PDP, to impact on the Nigerian polity.

    “PDP is no longer what it used to be. PDP is a party that had 16 years and then toward the end, they got so strong and got a bit power drunk.

    “Unfortunately, through intoxication they lost everything that there was in political fortunes, they had to go back to the table to start all over,” he said.

    Adamu, who is a former governor of Nasarawa, lauded Gov. Umaru Al-Makura, for his efforts at developing the state, saying “given the circumstances, he has given the best he can’’.

    “I support the government of Nasarawa. I believe no administration is perfect; no administration provides everything that the populace requires; I believe that he is doing well enough,” he said.

    NAN

  • Litigations responsible for PDP’s ineffective opposition role – Dokpesi

    Litigations responsible for PDP’s ineffective opposition role – Dokpesi

    A Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) national chairmanship aspirant, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, has blamed the party’s inability to effectively perform as opposition on protracted litigation over its leadership since 2015.

    He stated this on Monday night when he led some members of his campaign organisation on a consultation to former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina.

    We have heard severally from leaders and former heads of state that the PDP had not played proper role as opposition party.

    We had no chance and no opportunity, because we had been in court all through.

    It was not due to lack of competence or courage, but due to the fact that we had been in court processes,” Dokpesi said.

    He said that there was now a vacuum in the party and a need to put in place a duly elected National Working Committee in accordance with the provisions of its Constitution.

    He said that the committee must be headed by a man of courage, vision and integrity who had “paid his dues and demonstrated passion and commitment to the party´s advancement”.

    According to Dokpesi, getting the right person for the position of the party´s next chairman is not about pampering, but about being firm and resolute.

    He pointed out that it was only people with track records and zeal to fight for the party that should be chosen for such position.

    He described as miscarriage of information claims that the party´s chairmanship position had been zoned to the South-West.

    The truth of the matter is that there was no meeting where the PDP as a party, decided that its chairmanship position should be zoned to the South-West.

    The Constitution of the PDP unequivocally states that zoning shall take place, but it shall take place in the North, South and East.

    It is cheap propaganda and mischief to state that there had been a zoning to the South-West, the aspirant said.

    He, however, added that preferences could be made because it was a family affair that should be devoid of any form of bitterness.

    Dokpesi, who is founder of Daar Communications, noted that the party was presently fighting against impunity, saying that some of its members took laws into their hands and had despised its Constitution by manipulating it.

    He said that it was unfortunate that such persons were being applauded and made heroes of the party, while others took advantage of the situation.

    He advocated direct primaries for the party in future, saying it would allow its financial members to vote and elect their candidates for elections and leaders.

    Dokpesi prayed that whoever emerged as next national chairman of the party would be committed to it and ready to take it through its challenges and return it to power in 2019.

    It is not just electing a chairman for the sake of electing him, but electing someone who is able to take us through the fire-lines and make sure that we regain power in 2019, he said.

    He pleaded with the former minister to rise to the occasion as one of the mothers of his campaign team to assume her role in the interest of the party and the country.

    In her remarks, the former minister said that Dokpesi was the right person to lead the PDP for many reasons, adding that she had known him since 1981 as a man of high integrity.

    If the PDP chairmanship position is something I can give on my own, I will give it to Dokpesi in front of everybody,” she said.

    Maina described Dokpesi as a man of selfless service who had committed his time and resources to the advancement of the PDP, adding that he was a bridge-builder who had friends across the country.

    She promised to galvanise support for the aspirant and ensure that he became the next national chairman of PDP “in the interest of the party and the country.

    She prayed God to grant him victory in the race because, according to her, he has done a lot for the party to deserve being its national chairman.

    I believe in your capabilities, because I know who you are and I believe that if you become our national chairman, we will all go to rest,” the former minister stressed.

    The PDP has scheduled its National Convention where new leaders will be elected to end the tenure of its National Caretaker Committee, which had been extended two times.

    NAN

  • PDP Chieftain demands three more states for Southwest

    PDP Chieftain demands three more states for Southwest

    A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Mr. Gboyega Akinola, has canvassed for the creation of three more states in the Southwest.

    Akinola, who spoke with reporters in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, argued that no other region or ethnic group has been marginalized like the Yoruba whom he claimed has been disadvantaged since the colonial era.

    Former PDP Secretary in Ekiti State noted that for restructuring being canvassed in many quarters to have any meaningful impact, the Nigerian constitution must be seriously reviewed to address some structural imbalances.

    Akinola, who is also a former Chairman of Ikere Local Government, said the Nigeria constitution must seriously reviewed to address some structural imbalances.

    He said: “If we want restructuring to take place in Nigeria without any marginalization, the Yoruba nation should be given three additional states. If the former Eastern region is having about ten states, the defunct Northern Region is having 19 states the Yoruba is only having six states”

    “So, the Yoruba needs three additional states to, balance the political equation, because we have the population. We have been agitating for Ose and Ibadan states. Ibadan is the largest city in
    West Africa and the third in Africa after the Johannesburg and Cairo.”

    “Why is it that Ibadan is the only city in Nigeria since 1966 that has not been given a state status? Ibadan, should get a state and other towns should form new Oyo State.”

  • Attack on APC govt: Presidency hits back at Jonathan

    Attack on APC govt: Presidency hits back at Jonathan

    The Presidency responded to the dismissal of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as a failure by former President Goodluck Jonathan, saying that the former president has no moral ground to criticise Buhari.

    Receiving a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship aspirant in the forthcoming national convention of the party, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Jonathan had said the All Progressives Congress (APC) government led by Buhari had not recorded any achievement after two years, adding that the ruling party was feeding Nigerians with lies and propaganda.

    “Those who are giving us some kind of names, what have they done?” Jonathan queried, saying that the Buhari government had taken propaganda and lies to professional level.

    The former President recalled that his administration was “severely criticised for increasing the pump price of petroleum from N67 to N97 at a time that global crude price was going for over 100 dollars.

    “The pump price was later reduced to N87 when the price of crude oil dropped and they attacked us that it was supposed to be lower.

    “Those who criticised my administration are not talking again now that the global crude oil is about 53 dollars per barrel and the pump price of petrol is N143.”

    But the Presidency yesterday explained to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan why the generality of Nigerians accepted the increase of petrol price from N89 per litre to the current N143 in good faith.

    The Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said it was all down to the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “When petrol went to N145 under PMB, Nigerians held their peace, unlike when they shut the country in 2012. The difference is trust. Simple,” Adesina tweeted yesterday in response to Jonathan’s statement on Thursday.

    An APC chieftain, Mr.Osita Okechukwu, also advised Jonathan to quietly retire to any part of the country he chooses and stop challenging the APC and the Buhari government to a public debate.

    Okechukwu, who is the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), told The Nation on the phone that the Jonathan Administration failed the nation, leaving major infrastructure to decay while public funds were freely looted.

    He challenged the former President to point to any project he was able to complete during his six years in office as President.

    Okechukwu said: “The President was very clear that the man (Jonathan) left almost an empty treasury, which is why we have a huge infrastructure deficit.

    “The world knows that almost all the infrastructure that Jonathan inherited went bad. We are challenging him to show us one project he completed.

    “Is it the Green Field refineries? He told us on May 13, 2010 that he was going to build three green field refineries at $23 billion.

    “The contract was awarded to the Chinese under Public Private Partnership. One was to be located in Bayelsa, one in Lagos and the other in Kogi State.

    “We challenge him to show us the three green field refineries or tell us where the money he voted for the projects is. I am talking about a time when our Excess Crude Account was in the excess of short $17 billion.

    “The Chinese came back and told him they were going to contribute about 80 per cent of the three green field refineries. We have not seen any of them.

    “If we had seen the three green field refineries which he publicly announced, the billions we lost in importation of refined petroleum products and the gross unemployment engendered by the looting of that fund would have been avoided, and that is what we are talking about.

    “Before and during his regime, there was money voted for the cleaning of Ogoni environment that was degraded by oil spill.

    “It is the Buhari regime that started that project now. Did he do anything there? Did he complete the East/West Road? That is a road that covers the nerve centre of the Niger Delta where he comes from.

    “If there is any project that he promised to implement and he did, he should tell us.

    “Don’t forget that the average price then was about $100 per barrel. I don’t see how he can be calling for a public debate, because I am talking of just one region.

    “Even the development he did in the Nigerian airports, is it commensurate with the amount of money voted or the amount of money borrowed? He said he did this or that. Is it commensurate with the amount of money voted?

    “If I were in his shoes, I would retire to the village or any city of my choice and keep my cool, because if he talks of a debate, we will bring out what happened during his time.

    “The fact that his wife was coming to claim $15 million, saying it was out of her hand work as First Lady and permanent secretary in Bayelsa State. Is it that other Nigerians are not working hard to be worth $15 million? So, let us not go into his matter.

    “We are not talking of Diezani who was Minister of Petroleum under his government, who failed to do anything to develop the Niger Delta and rather resorted to illegal accumulation of wealth.

    “I have great respect for him as a former President and being gracious enough to accept his defeat. But if he wants to open the vault, then we can go back and open the Pandora box for him. So, let us leave it at that.”

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State expressed disappointment at the statement made by Jonathan.

    Spokesman for the party, Abayomi Adesanya, believes Jonathan has not recovered from the shock of his defeat in the 2015 election.

    “For the avoidance of doubt and for clarification that is known to the public though, Jonathan plunged Nigeria into this present quagmire of unprecedented corruption and economic crisis,” Adesanya said.

    “If I were Jonathan, I would keep quiet and beg for forgiveness from Nigerians and God, rather than making uncomplimentary comments about the present government.”

  • Jonathan, IBB hold closed door meeting in Minna

    Jonathan, IBB hold closed door meeting in Minna

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan and Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida Wednesday held discussions regarding the forthcoming People’s Democratic Party (PDP) convention in Minna, Niger state.

    The meeting which was held behind closed door meeting at the Uphill Residence of Babangida went on for hours.

    Former president Jonathan who was accompanied by Senator Nimi Barigha Amange arrived the Niger state capital at about 10.00am in a black GMC bullet proof SUV jeep with registration number ABJ 961ER with eight other vehicles on his convoy.

    However, none of the people who accompanied him were allowed into the meeting, as they were all relegated and entertained in a room within the Uphill mansion.

    The meeting between the two former leaders which began a few minutes after 10.00am did not end until about 12.14pm.

    After the meeting, former president Jonathan declined to speak to journalists saying that there was nothing to talk about as the visit was a private visit, “gentlemen please I am on a private visit, thank you.” I have not seen General Babangida since he returned from medical vacation and felt it was the right time to do so”.

    He further said that they were retired politicians and nobody should be bothered about what they do, “we are retired politicians”, he said before he drove off in his convoy.

    The Uphill Residence of former President Babangida have been a beehive of activities in the past few weeks as party bigwigs and Chairmanship Aspirants have been consulting the elder statesman regarding the forthcoming National convention of the PDP slated for December.

    Former Ogun state Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Chief Executive Officer of African Independent Television (AIT), Chief Raymond Dokpesi, former minister for education during the Babangida regime, Professor Tunde Adeniran were among the visitors.

  • Court dismisses PDP suit to stop Kwara council elections

    Court dismisses PDP suit to stop Kwara council elections

    A Kwara state High Court Tuesday dismissed the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s plea to stop the conduct of the November 18th local government elections in the state.

    The PDP through its lead counsel Salman Jawondo approached the court to restrain the Kwara state Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) from conducting the said election into the 16 local councils.

    Also joined in the suit was the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN).

    PDP had hinged its claims on the alleged unconstitutionality inherent in KWAISEC guidelines for candidates participating in the council poll.

    It issued an order of interlocutory injunction restraining KWAISEC from enforcing, giving effect to and or applying some sections of the Kwara state Electoral Law, Laws of Kwara state 2006 and the guidelines
    for the conduct of the for coming local council election pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    PDP argued that the 2006 local government electoral law passed by the Kwara state House of Assembly is inconsistent with the National Assembly Act and the 1999 Constitution.

    The party also averred in its application that some requirements for candidates in the Kwara state local government electoral law and the guidelines for the conduct of the council poll are preconditions not
    within the purviews of the 1999 Constitution as amended and the 2010 Electoral Act as amended.

    PDP listed such requirements as the screening and disqualification of candidates by the KWAISEC.
    But in his judgment, Justice Sulaiman Akanbi said that there was nothing unconstitutional by the legislation passed by the Kwara state House of Assembly.

    He therefore ordered the state electoral umpire to go ahead with the November 18th, 2017 local government elections.

    He said: “What the Kwara state House of Assembly did constitutionally and additionally is to aide the Federal Law; the state law is not inconsistent with the Electoral law. Kwara state House of Assembly did
    not run foul of the Constitution rather it complemented it.

    It is crystal clear that the action of the Kwara state House of Assembly is constitutionally guaranteed as regards the council elections. Section 106 of the Constitution is also emphatic on this. I therefore resolved the two issues raised by the claimant in favour of the defendants.”

  • Anambra: Ekwueme, Ezeife, Soludo disagree over APC, APGA, PDP candidates

    Anambra: Ekwueme, Ezeife, Soludo disagree over APC, APGA, PDP candidates

    The November 18, Governorship election in Anambra State, has pitted  the former Vice President , Dr Alex Ekwueme against former first Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife and former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) , Prof Chukwuma Soludo among others in the old Aguata Union (OAU) political bloc.

    While, Ekwueme has endorsed the Governorship candidacy of Mr Oseloka Obaze of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with his daughter Chidi Onyemelukwe as the running mate, Soludo and Ezeife have endorsed Obiano of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    But the youth, led by Emmanuel Agu had championing the candidature of Mr. Godwin Ezeemo of the Progressives People’s Alliance (PPA)

    Before now, it was celebrated by the APGA faithful that Ekwueme had given his nod for the re-election of Obiano in an interview he granted one Paul Nwosu some month back .

    Speaking with the PDP faithful at his Oko country home at the weekend,  Ekwueme who delved into memory lane on the formation of the PDP, said Anambra state had a kindred affinity and alliance with the party.

    Read Also: 2019 polls: Opposition parties ‘ll get few votes- Wamakko

    It was when he received Obaze, the PDP candidate his daughter Onyemelukwe with former Governor Peter Obi among others which attracted an unprecedented crowd.

    He said time had come to unseat Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance and enthrone a PDP government in Anambra State.

    He said APGA was able to saddle the affairs of the state for 12 years because of the  protracted crisis in the PDP in the state.

    According to the former Vice President,”Anambra State is a PDP state from inception. We shall now continue with PDP. Time has come for us to take away power from APGA”

    For Obaze, who commended Ekwueme for his roles in the enthronement of democracy in the country in 1999 assured the people of simultaneous development of the state.

    He said his priority would be on education, adding that 26 percent of the state budget would be dedicated to education, while promising scholarship from nursery to Junior secondary school, if voted to power.

    However Soludo and Ezeife alongside two former Deputy Governors in the state, Dr Okey Udeh and Chief Emeka Sibeudu, had in meeting of the old Aguata union (OAU) at Amaokpala Orumba North Local Government Area last week, said the people should support Obiano as it was the surest way of the zone getting the Governorship in 2022.

    The eminent sons of Aguata said they were tired of producing Deputy Governor everytime which according to them was like a spare tyre, adding that they would never support that idea again saying “enough is enough”

    The youths of old Aguata Union (OAU), had tackled the pioneer Governor of Anambra state, Ezeife, Soludo and others over their call to the people of the area to support the second term bid of Governor Willie Obiano.

    The leader of the youth, Emmanuel Agu who opposed the meeting held by some members of OAU,  said it was natural that the people of the area should support their own in the person of, Mr Godwin Ezeemo of the Progressive People Alliance (PPA)

    Agu called on the Aguata leaders to stop such blanket endorsement on behalf of the people of the area, adding that enough is enough.

    According to him,” the purported endorsement is an imposition, it is not allowed  in a democracy. We refuse to continue in the ignorance of old men in our union, who collect money and sell our collective birth right “

    The youth said their reason was not enough as Ezeemo who came from Umuchu community in Aguata, was a member of the union and also gunning for Governorship on the platform of PPA and therefore should be supported by his people.

    The old Aguata union comprised of 45 communities and three  local government areas in the state.

    Meanwhile, majority of the people in the area are equally rooting for the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr. Tony Nwoye.

    Some them like Chief Hon. Okonkwo Okom, had faulted the endorsement of Obiano by some of the members of OAU, declaring that the prominent candidates in the Governorship election like Nwoye, Obaze, Ezeemo and Obiano had equal opportunity of emerging victorious during the election.

    He noted that what had prompted the blanket endorsement by some the members of the clan was because they were afraid of inroads APC had made in recent times after branding the party with all sorts of names in the past.