The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • Aregbesola to set up panel to probe Adeleke’s death

    Aregbesola to set up panel to probe Adeleke’s death

    Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun has said  the government would  set up a panel to probe the cause of the sudden death of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke,

    Aregbesola made this promise in a statement by Mr Semiu Okanlawon, his media aide.

    The statement sounded more like a tribute by Aregbesola to the departed senator, who also happened to be his neighbour in Ikeja, Lagos.

    He described Adeleke as a man of peace, who he said defected from the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the August 2014 governorship poll in the state because he could not stand violence.

    According to the governor, the state government  had planned a befitting state burial for the late politician but was scuttled by some person ” crying more than the bereaved” who unleashed terror on dignitaries, who came to honour the departed soul.

    “Senator Adeleke was a man of peace. He preached peace and lived it through his life.

    “He left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he could not stand violence.

    “This was after he was beaten up by some leaders of the PDP during a meeting in a hotel in Osogbo.

    “It is a profound irony and most unfortunate therefore that a few disgruntled elements purporting to protest his death desecrated his funeral with violence and attacks on innocent persons.

    “They dishonoured him and did his memory a great disservice by keeping his friends, political associates and well-wishers away from his burial.

    “The best we could do in the circumstance was to declare three days of mourning throughout the state and fly national, state and our party’s
    flags at half-staff in his honour.

    “The State Government of Osun, using the instrumentality of the law, is setting up an inquest to unravel the circumstances of this unfortunate and sad incident, in order to put the record straight on his death.

    “He is irreplaceable in our hearts.  We commiserate with his family, the good people of Ede, associates, friends, constituents and generality of our people on the passage of this patriot.

    “As we pray for the repose of his soul, we equally pray for the strength to bear this heavy loss”.

    Adeleke, who was representing Osun West Senatorial District, died on April 23.

  • 500 PDP members defect to APC in Akwa Ibom

    500 PDP members defect to APC in Akwa Ibom

    Over 500 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ikono Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom on Sunday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The defection in Ikono, generally regarded as the cradle of the Ibibio, was the latest  defection to  hit the PDP in the state in recent times.

    Among those that defected were four former councillors, Iboro Akpan, Samuel Etuk, Ndifreke Essien and Jonathan Umana, a former PDP chapter secretary, Dr George Udoh, a former University of Uyo official, Dr Silas Udofia and Mr Victor Etefia, an oil  mogul in the state.

    In his remarks, the immediate past senator of Akwa Ibom North West in the National Assembly, Sen. Aloysius Etok, expressed joy that all the “real politicians” in the area were together in the APC.

    Etok assured the APC in the state of bloc votes in Ikono in the 2019 general elections , adding that the era of writing election results in Government House, Uyo, is over.

    He described some of those still in Ikono PDP as “lightweight and violent politicians” with no grassroots support.

    The senator dismissed as false the claim by the PDP state government that it had constructed 250 kilometres of roads in the state.

    Also speaking, former member of the House of Representatives for Ikono/Ini federal constituency, Mrs Iquo Inyang commended the defectors for choosing to embrace the change that was going on in the country.

    Inyang applauded the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari administration, adding that it was the answer to the prayers of Nigerians who were impoverished by the mindless looting of the treasury by the last PDP government.

    Receiving the defectors, Obong Uko Umoh, the State APC Vice Chairman for Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District who represented the State Chairman Dr Amadu Atai, said that the PDP being heavily factionalized would fade away from Akwa Ibom politics in 2019.

    He charged the defectors to return to their wards to join existing APC members to preach the message of change.

    Mr Iboro Akpan, a former leader of Ikono Legislative Council, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, assured APC of their total commitment and said he was making history after former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the second former PDP member to publicly shred his membership card.

  • Accord Party candidate wins Warri South 1 by-election

    Accord Party candidate wins Warri South 1 by-election

    Mrs Shola Daibo of the Accord Party has been declared the winner of  Wednesday by-election in Warri South Constituency 1 of Delta state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Mr Olatunbosun Odusanya, the Local Government Collation and Returning Officer of INEC, declared the result on Wednesday night.

    Odusanya said that Daibo polled 5,546 to defeat her closest rival, Mr Stanley Emiko of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 2,010.

    He also said that Mr Ojere Edeyinbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 182 votes.

    The returning officer said that total vote cast was 8,100 across the six Wards in the constituency.

    “Total registered voters in the constituency is 69, 537, accredited voters, 8,186, valid votes 7,837, rejected votes 263 while the total votes cast is 8,100.

    “I, hereby, declared Daibo winner of the election, having scored the highest number of votes,” he said.

    Responding, Daibo assured the people of quality representation at the parliament.

    “I thank you all for believing in me and I promise that I will not disappoint you,” she said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the by-election was conducted amid tight security.

    The exercise followed the death of Mrs Omawumi Udoh,(56) on Dec. 13, 2016.

  • Court orders temporary forfeiture of building belonging to PDP Delta Senator

    A Federal High Court, Lagos, on Monday, ordered the temporary forfeiture of a 12-storey building belonging to a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senator, Peter Nwaoboshi.

    The property located at 27, Marine Road, Apapa, is said to belong to Nwaoboshi who is senator representing Delta North Senatorial District.

    The court’s order was sequel to an ex-parte application, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Nwaoboshi and his two companies; Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd, and Bilderberg Enterprises Ltd are listed as respondents.

    Arguing the application, EFCC counsel, Mr George Chia-yakua, informed the court that the  application was pursuant to section 44(2)(k) of the constitution as well as Section 28 and 29 of the EFCC (establishment) Act 2004.

    The EFCC counsel informed the court that the Commission received a petition from an anti-corruption group, ‘Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum’, against the senator and his Companies on alleged money laundering.

    The EFCC stated that upon receipt of the petition several investigations were carried out.

    It said it included making enquiries from the Code of Conduct Bureau, banks, Delta State Governor’s office, Delta State Tenders Board, Nigeria Customs Service, and Lagos State Ministry of Lands.

    It said that investigations were also made at the Federal Inland Revenue Services, and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), with a view to tracing movement of funds suspected to be proceeds of Illegal activities.

    The EFCC stated that in 2010, the Tender Board of Delta State awarded a contract to the Senator’s second company to purchase new construction equipment for Delta State Direct Labour Agency.

    It said that this was at the sum of N1.58 billion, adding that rather than buying new equipment, the company only imported and supplied used equipment, while the Delta State government fully paid for new one.

    It further stated that upon investigation, it was revealed that the Senator moved the proceeds to various accounts linked to him, and his company bidded and bought the said 12 storey building formerly known as Guinea House, located at 27, Marine Road, Apapa.

    It said this was for the sum of N805 million, through the use of his first company, Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd.

    The commission also stated that further investigation revealed that the Senator’s Bank Verification Number had about 20 bank accounts while his private companies had about 23 bank accounts.

    It therefore, urged the court to grant the application, in order to prevent the disposal of the building pending the conclusion of investigation and when a criminal charge will be filed against the respondents.

    After listening to the submissions of counsel to the applicant, justice Anka ordered that the 12-storey building located at 27, Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos, be temporary forfeited to the federal government pending the outcome of its Investigation.

  • Former PDP national secretary defects to APC

    Former PDP national secretary defects to APC

    A former national secretary of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and indigene of Enugu State, Chief Rex Onyeabor, has defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    He was also a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) member of PDP.

    Notable members of the party in the state, including former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; former Governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, had earlier  defected to the APC.

    Onyeabor, who was also the former coordinator of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organization in Enugu state during the 2015 general elections, announced his defection at Ugboka, in Nkanu East LGA of Enugu state.

    He said one of the reasons for his defection was the fact that PDP was not likely to survive her current protracted crisis.

    “Apart from being former national secretary, I was BOT (Board of Trustee) member which is the highest advisory body in PDP and I attended a lot of meetings, virtually every meeting, reconciliation meeting.

    “There are some people who are still there attending meeting to reconcile; you see what they are doing now, Modu Sheriff and Makarfi and recently Jonathan and Seriake Dickson; it is not likely that an agreement will be reached very soon.

    “So I look at all the efforts we have made in the past trying to restructure the party, trying to bring the party out of the melancholy or depression of defeat, it has not worked; that’s why I decided to pick my bag and take a walk,” he said.

    He further stated that APC provides the best platform for changing Nigeria for now, noting that though APC might not be the best party in the world but that it was better than other
    parties in Nigeria today.

    Also Speaking at the event, the Enugu state chairman of the party, Dr. Ben Nwoye expressed happiness  over  the influx of political bigwigs into his party saying that they were joining not only to help win elections but to also organize the party as some of them are political
    technocrats and bureaucrats.

    “I’m excited and I’m honoured to be part of the political revolution in Enugu state. We have never had a strong opposition in Enugu state since 1999.

    The entire South East have had other parties as members of the State Assembly, Senate or Reps, but Enugu state remained under PDP completely. It took men like these to ensure that that happens.”

  • Sen. Tejuoso, others mourn Adeleke

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Lanre Tejuoso, has described the death of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke on Sunday, as a shock.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Adeleke, who died at 62, as a result of illness, was a vibrant and charismatic lawmaker, who lived an exemplary life.

    Tejuoso said the deceased contributed immensely to the growth of the National Assembly.

    “It is shocking.  He was the Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market and he was active in ensuring that there was no problem in the Capital Market.

    “He organised a summit recently on the Capital Market and it was a success. He was an achiever; we are going to miss him greatly,’’ he said.

    The lawmaker prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest, and the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

    In his reaction, Sen. Abdulfatai  Buhari (APC- Oyo) recalled that the deceased was in good health when the National Assembly adjourned for the Easter break.

    While praying God to accept his soul, the lawmaker said that late Adeleke was a model to other lawmakers, particularly the new ones.

    He said, “it is a sad one; that is life, we come from God and to Him we shall return.

    “He was one of the finest senators and one of the gentlemen I have ever met.

    “He was also easy going, a friend to everybody and he guided some of us who are new in the National Assembly on how to be productive. Unfortunately we will no longer enjoy from his wealth of experience.’’

    The lawmaker pointed out that the demise of the former governor of Osun would create a vacuum in the National Assembly, particularly the Senate.

    “Every lawmaker plays a unique role in ensuring that the legislature contributes meaningfully to the development of the nation.

    “Adeleke equally played his role before his call back to his creator.

    “His death will create a wide gap. He was one of the most senior persons in the senate. He was in the 7th Assembly and he came back to the 8th Assembly.

    “Nigerians will miss him, particularly his constituents. From reports, he died in his constituency, where he went for the Easter holiday to reach out to his people,’’ he said.

    On his part, Sen. Duro Faseyi (PDP-Ekiti), described the late senator as a humble man, who was close to all lawmakers irrespective of party membership.

    “It is a shock to all of us because we left the chamber together and he was hale and hearty. It is really a bad day for us.

    “He was one of those we respect in the chamber, a humble and lovely person. He was nice to everybody. It is a pity we lost him, and his death came at a time Nigeria needed him most,’’ he said.

    Faseyi added that while alive, Adeleke contributed his quota to the progress and development of the country, saying “I am not happy about it at all.’’

    Late Adeleke, serving two-term senator, was first civilian governor of Osun in 1992.

    He became a senator, representing Osun West constituency in 2007 on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He lost in 2011 when he sought re-election.

    He was, however, re-elected in 2015, but on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

  • PDP wins all chairmanship, councillorship seats in Ebonyi LGA elections

    PDP wins all chairmanship, councillorship seats in Ebonyi LGA elections

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won the chairmanship seats of the 13 Local Government Areas of Ebonyi in the Saturday local council polls.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the party also won all the councillorship seats in the 171 wards of the state.

    Mr Jossy Eze, Chairman of the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) announced this on Sunday at the commission’s headquarters in Abakaliki while declaring result of the polls.

    According to him, seven political parties participated in the elections out of the 40 registered parties in the state including the PDP and the All Progressive Congress (APC)

    “The other parties that contested in the elections include: African Democratic Party (ADC), African Peoples Party (APA) Merger Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP) Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP).

    “The PDP’s candidate in Abakaliki LGA, Emmanuel Nwangele won with 65, 036 votes, Ogbonnaya Oko-Enyim won in Afikpo LGA with 55, 808, Eni Uduma-Chima-Afikpo South 50, 894, Juliet Nwaogbaga—Ebonyi, 54, 527 and Nora Aloh—Ezza North, 58, 423 votes.

    “The PDP candidate in Ezza South LGA, Sunday Ogodo won with 50, 576 votes, John Nnabo—Ikwo, 77, 132, Henry Eze—Ishiellu, 68, 263, Ude Ogbonnaya—Ivo, 28, 787 Paul Nwogha—Izzi, 84, 088, Clement Odaa—Ohaukwu,84, 088, Nkechi Iyioku—Ohaozara, 55, 698 and Felix Igboke—Onicha,59, 698 votes,” he said.

    Eze declared that the APC trailed in a distant second position with an accumulated  5, 900 votes while most of the other parties did not record a single vote in most LGA’s.

    He commended the electorate, party agents, security officials, observers, among other stakeholders, for ensuring a smooth and credible electoral process, noting that cases of electoral disturbances were very minimal.

    “We have been able to deliver a credible election to Ebonyi people despite inherent challenges as the state has the enviable record of conducting LGA elections in the country, every three years,” he said.

    Mr Onyekachi Nwebonyi, state PDP Chairman, congratulated the party faithful for the victory and noted that it was an indication of what to expect in the state, in the 2019 genera elections.

    “This resounding success has proved that PDP is the only party which viably exists in Ebonyi and we are not going to rest on our oars until such feat is repeated in 2019,” he said.

    Mr Splendour Eze, state Chairman of the Advanced Congress for Democrats (ACD) hailed the smooth conduct of the election but regretted that his party did not participate in it.

    Eze, who is the state Secretary of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), lamented that the current economic hardship in the country made most parties not to participate in the election.

    “The state governor was magnanimous to offset 50 per cent of the nomination fees of N500, 000 for chairmanship candidates and N100, 000 for councillorship positions, for registered parties in the state.

    “The balance despite the subsidy was still high as it was still not within the reach of most parties,” he said.

    Miss Isabella Monye, an Election Observer from Anambra, however, disputed the high figures released by EBSIEC for the elections, noting that it did not reflect what observers witnessed in various polling units.

    “During our monitoring on Saturday we observed that the turnout for the election was poor so I wonder where EBSIEC got these high figures from,” she said.

  • PDP supporters tackle Lagos council over stalled PHC renovation

    PDP supporters tackle Lagos council over stalled PHC renovation

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters  in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government area of Lagos on Friday flayed the decision of the council authorities to stop the ongoing rehabilitation of Ewu-Tuntun Primary Health Centre l (PHC) in the area.

    The rehabilitation of the PHC, according to the supporters, was facilitated by Mr Mutiu Shadimu, a PDP member representing Oshodi-Isolo 1 Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

    The party supporters, at a rally held close to the health centre, urged the council authorities led by its Sole Administrator, Mr Adebayo Taiwo, not to use party differences to hinder the people from getting the benefits of democracy.

    Taiwo, the sole administrator, is one of the 57 appointees of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Lagos State Government overseeing affairs in local governments and local council development areas in the state.

    Alhaji Adesina Toriola, who led the rally, appealed to residents of Oshodi-Isolo to prevail on the leadership of the council to change its stance and allow completion of the rehabilitation.

    He also kicked against an alleged attempt to turn the health centre into an event centre.

    “We are having a peaceful rally to let the entire world and this constituency in particular know the order from APC to stop the rehabilitation of this health centre by a PDP house of reps member.

    “During our campaign in 2015, we promised to deliver dividends of democracy and the House of Representatives, through Hon. Mutiu Shadimu, included this project; it is a federal government project.

    “Shadimu visited this area during his campaign and it was in a bad shape without maternity beds, which made the lawmaker to include its rehabilitation in the 2016 budget.

    “The APC in the local government saw the rehabilitation going on in this place and when the work reached about 90 per cent completion, they came to inform us that it is the council property.

    “Democracy is government of all; the PDP House of Representatives member is responsible to all residents, not only its members,’’ he said.

    According to him, Shadimu took up the challenge to make the health centre a better place.

    Toriola said the PDP enjoyed the support of the masses in the constituency, urging the council to stop playing politics with the project.

    When contacted, the sole administrator, who confirmed the order to stop work on the rehabilitation, said the federal lawmaker did not consult with council leadership before carrying out the work.

    Taiwo, who affirmed that some health centres had been abandoned for a while and appreciated the intention of Shadimu, said the PHC had been marked for relocation to a better, spacious and more conducive location.

    “PHC is the property of the local government, and as the head of the council, we are supposed to be aware and give approval. The lawmaker didn’t channel his intention through proper authority.

    “We just got a call that some people are working there and we saw it as a way to score a political point, so we had to stop it because there is a constituted authority and protocol.

    “Meanwhile, this PHC has been marked for relocation to a better, bigger and more conducive place on Ogundele Street, just a stone throw from there, by next month.

    “This one is not conducive again. It is dilapidated. We have set up a mega one. The lawmaker ought to have written to the local government, even at that, approval has to come from the ministry of local government and community affairs.

    “If we were informed, we would have told the lawmaker that the PHC had been moved to a mega one. It doesn’t make economic sense to do anything in the old PHC long abandoned,” Taiwo said.

    The sole administrator said if the council had been properly informed, such funds would have been channelled to other laudable projects for the common good of residents.

    He said that the council had completed renovation and equipping of the new PHC and the one in the council Secretariat which would be inaugurated in May.

    On whether the lawmaker’s rehabilitation work on the PHC would be a waste, Taiwo, said that there were lots of things the government could use the place for.

    Taiwo said it was untrue that the PHC building had been sold to people who wanted to use it as an event centre.

  • PDP chief sad over absence of tangible FG’s projects in Rivers

    PDP chief sad over absence of tangible FG’s projects in Rivers

    The Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, has expressed sadness over the absence of tangible Federal Government projects in the state.

    He alleged that two years into the administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led, Muhammadu Buhari’s government, the Niger Delta state had not benefitted from capital-intensive and people-oriented projects of the Federal Government.

    Obuah, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, said the ruling party in the state frowned on the alleged obvious indifference towards Rivers.

    The PDP chairman cited the Port Harcourt International Airport, which he claimed had remained abandoned by the Federal Government.

    He alleged that the APC-led Federal Government had failed to complement the efforts of Governor Nyesom Wike in the execution of capital projects,  which he said would have improved the wellbeing of the people of the state.

    Obuah claimed that the APC-led Federal Government deliberately abandoned the Rivers and also accused the Buhari’s administration of treating the state badly, despite all the support Wike was giving to the Federal Government.

    He mentioned the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, as projects completed in record time, whereas the Port Harcourt International Airport remained allegedly abandoned.

    Rivers PDP chairman also urged the APC-led Federal Government to have a rethink, by giving deserved attention to the state, described as the treasure base of the nation.

  • Umahi promises more dividend of democracy for Afikpo South

    Umahi promises more dividend of democracy for Afikpo South

    Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has promised the people of Edda in Afikpo South Local Government of more dividends of democracy even as he said the people will not be left behind in his developmental strides.

    Umahi who stated this on Easter Sunday at the country home of a chieftain of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Julius Amah Orji at Nguzu Edda said the people of Edda were dear to his heart.

    He said it was the special love he has for the Chieftain and the people of Edda in general that made him to pay the visit on the special day of Easter Sunday, stressing that his love for the people would not diminish.

    “My administration has executed some notable projects in your area including the streetlights and I assure you that many more are coming in the days ahead”.

    He urged the people of the area to continue to support his administration which he said was for the overall development of the state.

    The host, Amah Orji commended the governor for the visit which he said was remarkable as his people including traditional rulers would use the opportunity to let the governor know some of the teething problems facing them.

    He promised his peoples’ total support for the governor in his bid to fast track the development of the state.

    In his vote of thanks, Stanley Okoro Emegha, the Transition Committee Chairman of Afikpo South Local Government expressed joy over what he said was the developmental strides of the governor in the area

    “Gov Umahi is a wonder working governor, he has done well for the people and at the same time, there are a lot of things the governor need to do for us. We need street lights from Ohafia/Nkporo junction to Nguzu Edda and I believe strongly he will do that.

    “Again, the Federal Government has been very slow in handling the Ohafia/Nguzu/Amaigbo/Owutu/Oso Road; they’ve been on that road for the past four years. Since there are a lot of roads in the state which belongs to the federal government that the governor is doing and he is faster than them, I appeal to him to take over the reconstruction of the road so that our people will have access to their communities”.

    He commended Umahi for appointing him the TC chairman of Afikpo South council and promised not to disappoint his people.

    In an interview later, Okoro Emegha said his priority as TC chairman will be to key into the agricultural policies of the governor, in addition to putting up empowerment programme for the youth in order to curb youth restiveness in the area.

    “Experience is the best teacher, what I gained staying close to the former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, if I can put it down here; I believe very strongly we will compete very favourably with any local government in the country”.

    He assured Gov Umahi that the recent defection of his predecessor in office, Chief Martins Elechi to the All Progressives Congress (APC) would not in any way affect his changes of being returned to the Government House for a second tenure come 2019 as the people of Ebonyi were solidly behind him.