The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peoples Democratic Party

  • APC seeks postponement of Rivers gov election

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Rivers state has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to conduct the election in the state saying doing so will be handing the state to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate on a platter of gold.

    Reacting to a statement credited to INEC that the APC is not yet on the ballot, the party’s Director of Strategic Communications for the Tonye Cole Campaign, Prince Tonye T.J.T Princewill said in a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja that conducting the election without the APC will be an exercise in futility.

    He said “Of course we are not yet on the ballot, it’s a process. INEC by now has received the first order and in another day or so, will receive the second one. Then their lawyers will advise them and at a meeting of the powers that be, a decision will be taken. That decision will be to obey the law. We expect nothing less. If they don’t, then it will be lawful to be lawless in a lawless society. There will be no elections in Rivers state.

    “We knew Wike had penetrated the judiciary, every day the signs are revealed. We know he has also penetrated some of our security agencies, but we do not want to believe he has penetrated our electoral body at the highest levels. We are soon about to find out. Let us be patient. These things take time. Our money, that he is using, will be traced to its last hiding place when he leaves office. We know a lot about who he is working with. Money leaves a trace. And in this government, corruption will always come with consequences.”

    Read Also: APC administration fair to all governors – Badaru

    While describing the PDP as an “accident waiting to happen” he advised all those with good conscience still sitting inside it, to jump for safety before the inevitable crash or hold themselves to blame.

    He said “Wike is a learner driver. He has no business driving the vehicle of Rivers state and everyone knows it. Even he knows it. He can use money to win awards, ascribe bogus titles to himself, get biased media coverage, even delay justice, but he can’t use our money to bribe God. Judgement is coming for him and it is coming soon.”

    Tonye said further that while being on the ballot was necessary, allowing the APC candidates time to go about their campaigns, as had been denied them; was only fair because their campaigns were gaining momentum before legal gymnastics stepped in.

    He said the “PDP should be very ashamed that after four good years, their candidate could not go from ward to ward to tell them what he has done. Instead he has stumbled from LGA to LGA headquarters with more people in his entourage than indigenes to receive him, only to drop sound bites and share two-two thousand Naira to willing takers.

    $His mate (even though we are yet to ascertain Nyesom Wike’s actual age), his mate and our candidate Tonye Cole, has gone from ward to ward in every LGA and had done 236 wards out of 319 before a judge, Magnus and Wike stopped him using the law. Magnus is not our focus. He is our lost brother whom we wish well. His room is there, if he returns. Our focus is Wike and nothing will distract us from demystifying his perceived grassroots’ appeal, his supposed strong man status and his recent Mungo Park like discovery of Spirituality.

    “Tonye Cole and others must be allowed to finish their campaigns. Anything short of that cannot be just and we will contest it. INEC should get ready for the Presidential elections, but State House of Assembly, National Assembly and the Governorship elections must be a separate exercise set aside for a special date.

    “All eyes are now on INEC as the fate of Rivers state now hangs in their balance. Will Wike be given a free ride back into Government house or will the never say die attitude of Tonye Cole emerge from the ashes of court judgements? Very soon, all will be revealed.“

  • PDP not committed to peace accord- BMO

    The alleged threat by the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) to pull out of the peace accord they signed with the National Peace Committee has continued to receive reaction with the Buhari Media Organization (BMO) saying the party and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar were never committed to the peace deal in the first place.

    The PDP had in a statement on Wednesday threatened to pull out of the peace accord over comments made by governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai that foreign observers who interfere in the electoral process will leave the country in body bags.

    Reacting to the threat, chairman of BMO Niyi Akinsiju, said the former Vice President and his party grudgingly signed the peace pact in the first place.

    He said it took intensive pressure on PDP’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar before he “grudgingly consented to sign the peace accord not more than 48 hours after all willing consenters to the accord had done so.

    Read Also: PDP coming to put smile on faces of Nigerians — Obi

    “In issuing this threat at this time is in furtherance of the PDP’s Dubai agenda to build a case for the disruption of the presidential election or at the minimum, create a perception of ill will around the election with intent at discrediting the election which they know they will lose even before they commenced formal campaign.

    “To advance their evil agenda, in their desperation, they have continued to throw all manners of tantrums, rubbishing institutions of States without any modicum of patriotism and civility.”
    The BMO leader however assured that no matter the threat from the main opposition party, “the presidential election will be held peacefully and creditably well to their shame.”

    National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu Onilu could not be reached for his reaction at the time of this report.

  • Why Nigerians should vote for my husband, by Titi Atiku

    Mrs Titi Atiku-Abubakar, wife of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday urged Nigerians to vote her husband on Feb. 16 to move the country forward.

    She made the call in Lagos while addressing PDP faithful and residents at an interactive meeting of the party.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that prominent members including a former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George; the party’s governorship candidate, Mr Jimi Agbaje; and his running-mate, Mrs Haleemat Busari, attended the meeting.

    A former governor of Ogun State and Director-General of Atiku Campaign Organisation, Otunba Gbenga Daniel was also among hundreds of party faithful present.

    Mrs Abubakar said the task to reposition the country and set her on the path of prosperity required somebody with the right capacity like her husband.

    The candidate’s wife said her husband had the experience and the passion to further the country ‘s progress, adding that a vote for Atiku is a vote for a better Nigeria.

    “Atiku is what Nigeria needs right now to move her forward. My husband is experienced and he has the capacity to improve the fortunes of the country.

    “He is an educationist, a philanthropist, a businessman and a lover of the masses. Atiku is committed to a new Nigeria. So, on Feb. 16, I urge you to vote my husband to end all the sufferings in the country,” she said.

    She decried the high rate of poverty in the country, saying the situation had turned many Nigerians, especially young people, to crime and prostitution.

    Abubakar blamed the situation on what she called absence of the right policies and programmes to create jobs and empower the youths and women.

    The candidate’s wife said her husband would fulfil the promise to run an all-inclusive government to create opportunities for all segments of the society, especially youths and women.

    “Atiku knows the youths and the women of this country are suffering and he wants to put an end to all the sufferings.

    Read Also: How pastor confessed to defrauding Atiku’s wife, by EFCC detective

    “Atiku cares about young people and women and he will create opportunities to make their lives better.

    “For the women, he said he is going to give us 30 per cent in his cabinet and that he is going to give the youths 40 per cent.

    “Our youths are jobless, our ladies are roaming the streets, everywhere you go, what you see is suffering and this must come to an end, and for this to come to an end, we need to vote the man Atiku to get Nigeria working again,” she said.

    According to her, Nigeria witnessed great leaps in the economy when her husband was in charge of the economy as Vice-President to former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

    She said some of the economic legacies of Obasanjo/Atiku government like banking consolidation, pension reforms and telecommunication revolution were still standing.

    The candidate’s wife said her husband would also bring his business acumen to bear on the economy to create jobs and prosperity.

    She said Atiku would unify the country as he was a detribalised Nigerian, not given to bigotry or nepotism.

    Abubakar urged Nigerians to reject the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying citizens were better off in the 16years of PDP than the three and half years of the present government.

    She said that Agbaje was committed to a better state and urged residents to vote him along other PDP candidates.

    The candidate’s wife commended George for facilitating the meeting, saying the chieftain had always demonstrated commitment to the progress of the party.

    Speaking on the chances of PDP in the state, Daniel said victory was sure for the party with Atiku as presidential candidate.

    “By the time Atiku wins the presidential election on Feb 16, the people of the state would automatically vote for Agbaje in March,’’ he said.

    Daniel urged Nigerians to use the opportunity of the election to vote Atiku to deliver what he called the right leadership.

  • PDP coming to put smile on faces of Nigerians — Obi

    Mr Peter Obi, Vice-Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), says that his party will bring back smiles to the faces of Nigerians when it wins the Feb. 16 presidential election.

    Obi said this while addressing newsmen before embarking on a roadshow in Awka on Tuesday.

    He said PDP would restore the country’s days of economic prosperity which had suffered set back under the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

    He said voting back the APC meant “prolonging the suffering in the land”.

    According to him, the country is collapsing under the watch of incompetent and incapable people; come out en mass on Feb. 16 and vote out this the APC controlled-government.

    “Nigeria has the highest number of poor people in the world today where about 90 millions are poor that is half of the population.

    “About 21 million youths are unemployed, nobody is happy with situation in the country today and any person that is happy with the situation is not a normal human being.

    “PDP is coming back to restore happiness and lessen the sufferings of the people,’’ he said.

    Earlier, Mr Oseloka Obaze, Chairman of Atiku-Obi Presidential Campaign Council in Anambra, said the PDP was coming with positive ideas on how to rebuild Nigeria.

    Obaze expressed confidence on the chances of PDP to win the presidential election, saying Nigerians need a new lease of life.

    Read Also: ‘Only PDP candidates can attract development to Bayelsa’

    “PDP findings show that Nigerians are not happy with the present government of APC and re-electing them will worsen the sufferings of the people.

    “If you vote for the present government to return, things will be worse than we had in the last three years and half.

    “They made several promises in 2015 and they have not fulfilled any, we want to restore the economy and human dignity in the next four years,’’ he said.

    Obaze said there was nothing to show that PDP governors in South-East were against the Atiku/Obi ticket as no one had come out openly to say he was not supporting it.

    “The PDP governors in the South-East are solidly behind Atiku-Obi ticket, so there is no need to worry about,’’ he said.

  • Jonathan left $2.5bn in govt coffers, says Amaechi

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan left only $2.5 billion in the coffers of the federal government when he left government in 2015, the Director-General, All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Organisation, Rotimi Amaechi has said.

    He emphasised that the corruption allegedly perpetrated by the immediate past administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was traceable to the current harsh economy in the country.

    Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers state also revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo left $68bn while in office.

    He expressed concern on why Jonathan could leave $2.5bn for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, alleging that the Jonathan’s government ruined the nation’s economy through corruption.

    Amaechi spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital during the party’s presidential campaign rally held on Tuesday in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

    President Buhari at the occasion maintained that his administration has kept faith to all his electioneering campaign promises, especially on the fight against corruption.

    According to him, many corrupt Nigerians have been arrested and prosecuted in the last three and half years of his administration.

    The President assured that his government would intensify efforts on the fight against corruption if he is reelected.

    Read also: Sokoto Commissioner dumps PDP for APC

    He said the money recovered from those found culpable of various corrupt offences will be used to develop the country.

    Buhari said “We are gradually winning the war against Boko Haram and Nigeria is getting secured. Boko Haram no longer operates in many communities in Borno State. In fact, they don’t operate in secular places again.

    Vice President Osinbajo assured that the administration of President Buhari will create one and half million jobs for unemployed youths if given the opportunity for a second term in office.

    He said the federal government had engaged 500,000 youths through the N-Power programme in the last three and half years and will do more if allowed to serve a second term.

    Osinbajo also promised an improved electricity supply in all parts of the country, adding that a new initiative tagged “People’s Money” which is a replica of the “Traders money” will be introduced
    during the second term of President Buhari.

  • You can’t blackmail Nigerians, PDP tells Buhari

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told President Muhammadu Buhari he cannot blackmail Nigerians over his impending defeat in the February 16 presidential election.

    The main opposition party lamented what it described as the administration’s incessant blackmail and threats against the opposition and law -abiding Nigerians.

    In a statement Tuesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said Nigerians will not buckle under the jackboots.

    It also alleged efforts by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to heat up the polity, inject crisis, undermine the general elections, then carry its heinous plots to use mercenaries from Niger Republic to unleash mayhem on the nation and blame it on the opposition.

    This plot, the PDP alleged, is because the APC have realised that there is no way Buhari can win in a peaceful, free and fair election.

    The party also drew the attention of the international community to what it described as land mines being set on the way of credible elections by the APC.

    It cited the clamp down on opposition, foisting of President Buhari’s relation, Amina Zakari, as head of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) collation centre.

    Read Also: PDP ‘ll fix economy — Peter Obi

    The PDP also cited the refusal by President Buhari to sign the amendment to the Electoral Act, the creation of illegal geo-spatial centers and polling units for allocation of “fictitious” votes for the APC, listing of APC supporters as election officials and the opening of borders to “mercenaries” to participate in the electoral process as some of the danger signals.

    The party said: “It is now clear to all that the target of the APC is to demonize and cow the opposition, instill fear in Nigerians, undermine our democratic institutions, attempt to subjugate the citizenry and pave the way for the actualization of a self-succession plan for President Buhari.

    “The PDP, as a political party with the highest demography of members and supporters, in their millions, across our nation, therefore states in unequivocal terms, that Nigerians will never allow themselves to be blackmailed, intimidated or cowed by the APC into relinquishing their constitutionally guaranteed rights, to freely choose their leaders, no matter the threats.

    “The PDP stands with Nigerians, across the board, in demanding for a free, fair, transparent and credible general election.

    “This position must be respected, as the citizens of our country will spare no thoughts in vehemently confronting and squarely resisting, head to head, any attempt by anybody, whosoever he may be, to subvert our electoral process.”

  • Explain how you got to the US, APC challenges Atiku

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar to come clean and explain to Nigerians circumstances surrounding his recent trip to the United States of American.

    Media reports quoting Reuters News agency have it the former Vice President paid heavy bribe to secure a temporary waiver of his alleged travel ban as a result of alleged corruption charges.

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa- Onilu, APC also accused the PDP and its presidential candidate of elevating falsehood and crying wolf in an attempt to discredit the forth coming general election even before it is conducted.

    The APC said: “Again, in the wake of the recent Reuters report that Atiku visited the US two weeks ago thanks to heavily paid lobbyists who aided the temporary suspension of a travel ban linked to decade-old bribery scandals and corruption indictments, we urge Atiku to come clean to Nigerians on his problems. This is the least he owes an electorate he wishes to lead.”

    “As the 2019 general elections fast approaches, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has watched with consternation how the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the last couple of weeks has elevated falsehood and crying wolf into an ignoble art.

    “Nigerians have also watched in disbelief how the PDP without proof has consistently and vehemently pilloried state institutions performing various roles in the coming general elections.

    “From security agencies to our election management body, the PDP has spared none its barefaced lies.

    “On a daily basis, the PDP has invented one lie after the other to discredit state institutions in the eyes of Nigerians and the international community.

    Read Also: APC, PDP step up attacks

    “PDP’s ignoble actions are unhealthy for our electoral processes and a threat to our maturing democracy.

    “The PDP’s game plan is simple: Discredit the entire process before, during and after the elections in order to make the final outcome a “nullity” in its own jaundiced eyes.

    “The PDP must understand that all registered political parties are equal stakeholders in the coming elections; hence the PDP’s tired narrative that the entire election process is skewed against it should be seen for what it is – PDP’s admittance of defeat.

    “The era of sham elections is behind us. The records of credible elections conducted since the APC took over the country’s governance are public knowledge compared to selections, impositions and fraudulent elections under the PDP.

    “We will continue in our progressive tradition of ensuring that elections are free, peaceful credible and every vote counts — The wishes of the electorate must prevail in all elections.

    “Against this backdrop, we urge INEC and other state institutions responsible for different election duties to remain firm and focused in the discharge of their legitimate roles. They must not be stampeded into taking actions that run contrary to the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

    “Our free advice to the PDP is that it concentrates its energy to resuscitate its floundering campaign, which has seen majority of its governors tacitly and openly avoid supporting the presidential bid of the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar.”

  • Atiku cautions security agencies on polls

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has cautioned the nation’s security agencies against interference with the electoral process in the upcoming general elections.

    According to Atiku, the electoral process is outside the constitutional mandate of the security agencies, adding that their duty is to ensure the safety of voters in a seamless process.

    Speaking at the party’s presidential campaign rally in Jalingo, Taraba State on Tuesday, the opposition presidential candidate also warned that any government that involves the military and paramilitary agencies in electoral matters did not mean well for the personnel.

    Atiku harped on the need for security personnel to remain neutral in the electoral process, saying such role is clearly outside their constitutional responsibilities.

    He said, “Our security services, you have no business to interfere with our political process, that is not your work. Your work is to make sure that there is peace, law and order. It is not your business to interfere in our political process; this is not your constitutional responsibility at all.

    “Your constitutional responsibility is to make sure that we are all safe. Any government that draws the security agencies, the Police, the Army, the Civil Defence, that government is doing more harm to your career, is doing more harm to your patriotism and more harm to yourselves.

    “Don’t accept that, don’t get involved, allow us to choose the leaders we want to choose and to elect the people we want to elect. It is not your business whom we elect at all. So I want to caution the security services not to get involved because there are many of us who were also security officers, so don’t come and tell us bullshit”.

    Atiku assured the Taraba people that he will tackle insecurity, which has become a major challenge in the entire Northeast zone.

    Read Also: Endorsement of Atiku, a fraud, says APC

    He also promised to complete the Mambilla Hydro Electric Power and to create the enabling environment for job creation.

    Continuing, Atiku said, “I want to promise you that the much awaited Mambilla Hydro Electric Power, we will complete it so that you will not have problem of power whatsoever.

    “I also want to promise you, that your federal roads will be taken care of. Taraba is one of the most endowed states in this country. We are going to exploit the natural resources which are in abundance in Taraba so that you can have prosperity, so that we can bring employment, so that we can create jobs for our teaming men and women”.

    Apparently referring to his presidential aspiration, Atiku told the crowd of supporters that the Northeast zone is closest to the Presidency now than ever before and charged them not to allow the opportunity to slip away.

    “And this is the first time since 1999, when you are going to have a President from this state, you are going to have a President from this zone. So do you want to take it to another state, to another zone. No! God bless you”.

    The PDP presidential candidate urged the people to vote and ensure their votes are protected and counted, even as he assured that their loyalty to PDP will never go unrewarded.

    Also speaking at the rally, the national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus accused President Muhammadu Buhari of setting the military against geopolitical zones perceived to be against his re-election bid. He reminded the security agencies of their constitutional responsibility to defend the entire country.

    Secondus said, “We have issue of Boko Haram in Borno. They should tackle that issue. Buhari, don’t use the military to terrorise regions that you don’t like.

    “Enough is enough. The Nigerian military is to defend our territory’s integrity. We shouted aloud that foreigners were entering into our country. They have no response to it because we have evidence.

    “We will continue to hammer that the election must be free and fair. We will continue to address these issues until that day. We believe that when you conduct free and fair election and we elect a credible candidate, that is the only way to bring peace in this country.

    “We believe that anyone that wins from a free and fair process, that person will be the choice of Nigeria. But if you manipulate, if you rig this election, the PDP and others will not accept it. INEC, be warned”

    The Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku who hosted the rally said that Atiku has the solution to the problem of insecurity and unemployment that have ravaged the Northeast and assured that the state would be delivered to PDP in all the elections.

  • Atiku to military: Don’t dabble into election

    Presidential flag bearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Abubakar Atiku on Tuesday cautioned the military against dabbling into the general election, slated February 16 and March 2.

    Atiku gave the warning in Jalingo -the Taraba State capital during the PDP presidential and governorship rally in the northeastern state.

    “The military signed to defend and protect the country, not to defend an individual, as no person is a god.

    “Their (military’s) quick response should be to tackle Boko Haram in Borno and the entire northern region where they are terrorising Nigerians.

    “Muhammadu Buhari, please don’t use the military to terrorise the states you don’t like. The military are to protect the territorial integrity of the country,” he said.

    Atiku also told the police, the State Security Service (SSS) and other security agencies to be neutral during the polls.

    He said: “The police and the SSS have been reformed, so we believe they will be neutral during the general election; they will not side any individual.

    Read Also: Middle Belt Forum denies endorsing Atiku

    “The job of the security is to protect us and ensure there is law and order in the land. They are not to interfere in electoral matters; so, they shouldn’t tell us bull shit.”

    Atiku said his rally in Taraba State was just “homecoming,” adding it was the first time the people of the northeastern region would be having a presidential candidate. “Will you go and vote someone from another region?” he asked.

    Atiku said the major problem of Taraba and the northeastern states was insecurity. “I will provide security,” he pledged.

    He also promised to complete the hydroelectric power project on the Mambilla Plateau, Sardauna local government area of Taraba state.

    “Everything about the Mambilla hydropower project, so far, is a scam. I will reconstruct it and every Nigerian will benefit from it, if you elect me as Nigeria’s president,” Atiku said, adding: “all the federal roads shall be taken care of; the natural resources in the country shall be tapped for job creation.”

    The PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a credible election, without taking sides.

    “With the crowd I have seen here, Taraba State is 100 percent PDP. All the people watching this rally on the television, Instagram, Twitter, Google and WhatsApp will agree that Taraba is PDP.

    “INEC should be very careful in their responses. This election cannot be rigged. If you rig it, you (INEC) will invite crisis, and we don’t want crisis.

    “If INEC can conduct free and fair polls, the people will accept whoever emerges, and the country will be peaceful, and that is what we want,” Secondus said.

    Governor Darius Ishaku, who is the PDP candidate in Taraba, assured Atiku of victory, saying: “Taraba is for Atiku.”

    “I have toured the nook and cranny of Taraba for my reelection campaign. And everywhere I went to campaign, the people all know Atiku. This is because he had traversed the State during the Gongola days.

    Atiku will give the people jobs, tackle poverty and revitalise Nigeria’s economy. The APC has failed Nigerians and Atiku is the answer. Atiku, carry go,” Ishaku said.

  • Breaking: Osun gov closes case at tribunal after 11 witnesses

    *APC to open defence, Feb 6

    Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola has closed his defence before the state’s governorship election tribunal, sitting in Abuja.

    Oyetola, who is the second respondent in the petition filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, closed his case on Tuesday, after calling 11 witnesses.

    PDP and Adeleke are challenging the outcome of the election won by Oyetola, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Read Also; Osun tribunal: ‘INEC is allowed to rectify errors in result sheets’

    Oyetola had, on February 1 this year, after calling his 11th witness – Adegboyega Rasaki Adeosunn, who acted as APC’s State Collation Officer during the election, promised to call four more on Monday.

    At the resumption of proceedings on Monday, Oyetola”s lawyer, John Baiyeshea (SAN) told the tribunal that his client did not see any reason to call more witnesses and has decided to close his case.

    Tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo adjourned to Wednesday for the third respondent, APC to open its defence.