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Tag: Peoples Democratic Party

  • Guber polls: ‘No anointed candidate in Bayelsa yet’

    It is about a month to the September 3 primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State. The general concern, however, is: who is the preferred or anointed aspirant of the state Governor, Seriake Dickson?

    While insisting that his support would only be for a member of his team, the governor said only three people from his caucus have indicated interests to participate in the election.

    The caucus went further to release the names of the people as the Chief of Staff, Government House, Talford Ongolo; the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Kemela Okara and a Senator representing Bayelsa Central, Douyi Diri.

    Subsequent to the barrage of criticisms against the three people, more members of the restoration caucus jumped into the foray and indicated interests to run for the polls.

    Over eight members of the restoration caucus joined the race for the PDP ticket. Apart from the three earlier mentioned, others are the Chairman of the Revenue Board, Dr. Nimibofa Ayawei; the immediate past Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Kombowei Benson; a member of the House of Representatives, Fred Agbedi; Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd) and Robinson Etolor.

    Among members of the caucus that joined the race, the trio suffered unprecedented criticisms from members of the public. Others such as Benson, Jonah and Agbedi, have enjoyed some degrees of acceptance by the PDP members.

    However, Ayawei appears to stand out among all of them. He is gaining momentum, especially on the social media. Ayawei was one of the last people to pick the PDP forms. Hitherto, he was speculated to be the choice of Dickson.

    Ayawei’s late entry to the race seems to have confirmed the speculation. His character may have endeared him to thousands of youths, women, elders and other stakeholders, who urged him to join the governorship race. Ayawei, who served as the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Revenue Board, is known for his loyalty and dedication.

    Though he lost everything at last as he was forced into political oblivion, his loyalty was remembered by Dickson, who brought him to serve in his government.

    The 48-year-old politician has become one of the most popular people among the 21 aspirants that picked the forms of the PDP.

    Undoubtedly, Ayawei, who is a native of Koluama II in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, has also presented himself as popular among the masses. His speech after collecting his forms gave an insight into his personality.

    He said: “I was born about 48 years ago and grew up here in our dear state and witnessed all the difficulties we face growing up as children. We live and come from an environment where our natural endowment cements and keeps our country prosperous. Unfortunately, in the midst of these abundant natural resources, we suffer great penury and diverse environmental challenges.

    “This cause presents the greatest challenge we all face in the 21st Century. My task in this venture is to deal with this very essential element and provide the necessary platform to increase our development on all sectors”.

    On his experience in governance, he said: “At the advent of democracy in 1999, and the eventual creation of the small development areas by His Excellency, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, I had the rare privilege to serve as Chairman of Bassan-Koluama Rural Development Area, a position from which I was promoted to serve and represent the people of Southern Ijaw Constituency IV in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.

    “At the inception of the restoration government in 2012, it found me worthy and tasked me with managing essential agencies of government, an opportunity I embraced very seriously.

    “At the moment, it seems good, but we are still in the process of creating a better model to further expand our revenue base until this patriotic call to service.

    “I am aware that the task of governance for a state such as ours is indeed a herculean one. However, given my passion, commitment and your expected support and solidarity, it is my firm belief that together we can steer the ship of this state to a good end and deepen the already established protocols of aggressive developments as currently being done by our leader and Governor, His Excellency H.S. Dickson.

    “In the next couple of days we will begin series of interrogations, debates and critical engagements.

    “This blueprint, above all, will bear the ideals and mandate of all in achieving a people-driven policy document that will be our creed as we begin the task of purposeful home leadership when given the mandate.

    “Today, by this singular act of collecting the intent and nomination form for the Peoples Democratic Party governorship election primaries, we have obeyed the massive clarion call with our spirit, soul and body. I thank you all who have contributed in this decision and those of you who are ready to face the crucibles of this decision and work with our team to achieve glory for the land and its people.”

    But Dickson has insisted that he had no preferred candidate for the primaries of the PDP. Dickson, in a statement by the Special Adviser, Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, called on Bayelsans to discountenance aspirants claiming to have his endorsement.

    The governor said he would commence intensified consultations with aspirants and critical stakeholders at the national and state levels of the PDP following the conclusion of the sale of the gubernatorial nomination forms for the next election.

    Dickson also promised to work closely with the party leadership to ensure the conduct of credible, free and fair primaries in Bayelsa. He said while the aspirants, who picked the party’s nomination forms reserved the right to pursue their ambition, the leadership of the party would watch and monitor the buildup to the primaries. He said he remained committed to his earlier stance that there was no anointed aspirant in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

    He said: “Now that the collection of gubernatorial forms have ended, the leadership of the party in the state wishes to say that there is no anointed aspirant against the practice in those states where outgoing governors endorse one single aspirant.

    “I decided to open the state for people in my government, my team and other members of the party who are willing to indicate their interest.

    “The aspirants who have bought firms have the right to express their ambition but the state leadership of the party should watch keenly.

    “Now that the end of purchase of forms has come, I will intensify consultations both with aspirants, party leaders and other stakeholders.

    “And at the end of the day, I intend to work with the party at the national and state levels to ensure that there is a free and fair election. Those using my name should be disregarded; it is not true, I have not endorsed anybody yet”.

  • Bayelsa Guber: A peep at Preye Aganaba’s option

    The All Progressives Congress Party (APC) primary towards the November 16, 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa State has finally been scheduled to hold on August 29, 2019.

    Following the release of the timetable for the governorship election, the political atmosphere in Bayelsa State has become very electric.

    The election is a straight fight between the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition APC.

    There is no doubt that the forthcoming governorship election is going to be the mother of all battles between the PDP and APC.

    The PDP is banking on its vantage position as the ruling party with lots of state resources at its disposal. The party prides itself as an Ijaw party – a sentiment that often swung the political pendulum their way in the past because it produced former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    This ego trip was largely deflated by the sterling performance of the APC in the immediate past general election. The party did not only have an impressive outing by securing the largest chunk of vote in the whole of Southsouth for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari, it also got three seats at the National Assembly and four at the State House of Assembly. This is a radical departure from the past when it was an all PDP affair.

    The choice before the electorate in Bayelsa is at once a tough and simple one – so long as each of the contending parties knows what to do.

    PDP is already in big trouble with its warped selection process, skewed at the whims and caprices of Governor Seriake Dickson, who has narrowed the choices to his immediate political family, while other formidable candidates have been shut out.

    Read Also: Bayelsa guber: Who will win APC’s ticket?

    The voters are just biding time to ease the party out of power with the APC option. The perceived poor performance of the Dickson-led government is also a strong factor that will work against the PDP.

    Bayelsans generally are fed up with the PDP administration characterised by mismanagement of state resources, arrested development, subjecting civil servants to slave labour by denying them what is due them. Whoever secures the ruling party’s ticket will contend with a growing wave of disenchantment across the state, for the singular reason of introducing poverty as an official policy against the Bayelsa people.

    For the APC, the coast to victory is bright and plausible if it can take advantage of the odds against the PDP. The party must resolve its internal problems and present a candidate that is suitable and acceptable to Bayelsans, transcending party divide. What the electorate are looking forward to is a radical departure from the worn-out, old political war horses. The preferred choice is a young, dynamic and dependable character who has not soiled his hands in treasury looting.

    This is where a frontline contestant like Engr. Prince Preye Aganaba readily comes to fore. Few weeks ago, when he made known his intent to throw his hat into the ring the news of his ambition was received with spontaneous jubilation in the nook and crannies of the state and he was the first to do so.

    Though, former Governor Timipre Sylva who sought re-election in 2015 but lost to Dickson has the right to contest re-election as his intent to do so is very strong in the rumour mill and from his body language.

    It is however, the consensus of vast majority of Bayelsans that it will be a herculean task for APC to win if Sylva is given the party ticket for reasons that are legion.

    On the ex-governor’s ambition, a socio-political group called Network for Change, led by Ebitimi Ambaowei, said: “Former Governor Timipre Sylva and Heneiken Lokpobiri should shelve their ambition to contest. Power is given by God. The tide against them in the state is very strong. Let them remain kingmakers in the party.  This is honest advice which their political associates are hiding from them. Let them listen to the voice of reason. The voice of the masses is the voice of God.

    “But if they refuse and go ahead to contest the primary, the party will lose and history will judge them harshly for placing their personal interest above collective interest. We are begging them to make this sacrifice in the interest of the party.”

    This is a knotty issue but quite central to the APC’s determination to win the election. Those watching the political space closely hold the strong view that the issue of Sylva contesting the election is what will make or mar the political fortunes of the party.

    On the part of Lokpobiri, political pundits believe that his decision to contest the governorship election is an ambition taken too far. It violates the principles of equity in the internal zoning arrangements among the three geo-political senatorial configuration.

    Talking about the Lokpobiri candidacy amounts to preaching political heresy against the sensibilities of the people. His kinsman, Dickson – from same geo-political zone – is already serving out his eight-year tenure. It is not morally justifiable for Dickson to hand over to his brother, Lokpobiri, because Bayelsa is not their political inheritance.

    This is where the Preye Aganaba candidacy becomes not only a viable option but also a child of necessity for the APC to win the governorship election.

    Some analysts further buttress the fact that Aganaba as a candidate from Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA from Bayelsa Central Senatorial District will be a fair deal, in line with the gentlemen agreement of zoning key elective positions in the state.

    If the national leadership of the APC is sincere and fully committed to win the governorship election, it must give a listening ear to the local opinions and aspirations of the people by conceding the governorship ticket to Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA where the legendary Niger Delta agitator, Late Isaac Adaka Boro, comes from. This will also go a long way to appease the area widely regarded as the epicenter of agitations against the marginalisation of the region.

    In broad perspective, the progressives believe that Bayelsa right now needs Aganaba whom they describe as epitome of generational shift, tried, tested and successful entrepreneur, community service-driven politician who cannot betray the mandate the people will entrust in him.

    He is a cerebral, disciplined, youth-friendly, patriotic, God-fearing and accomplished business man. He worked briefly with Kandrate Nigeria Limited, in Port Harcourt, a service contractor to Wilbros Nigeria Limited,   a multi-national company, where he showed his professional competence in electrical engineering.

    In 2006, he took the bold initiative to fulfill his long term dream not to depend on salary paid white collar job, but to generate employment and take several unemployed off the streets. He did this by incorporating a limited liability company known as Freenet Global Resources Limited with head office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    The company, which has core investment interest in dredging, marine consultancy, reclamation and shore works as well as sweeping and clearing of oil wells and flows stations across the Niger Delta, has contributed towards reducing activities of militancy in the area as many youths have been engaged meaningfully.

    Moreover, in spite of his cosmopolitan outlook, he cherishes his basics, believing in the aphorism that charity begins at home. He has not only funded and promoted cultural festivals but has also attracted key projects from federal government to enhance the socio-economic lives of his Odi community.

    In 2014, when the merger talk was going on to form the APC, he was part of the process. Along with some comrades, he practically brought the party to Bayelsa. He single handedly donated the first state secretariat of the party. This was not as easy as one could imagine; he was persecuted by the then ruling PDP over what they described as daring a state where former President Jonathan comes from. He regarded the persecution as his baptism of fire over the task ahead of entrenching the APC in the state.

    Aganaba had served the party in different capacities at national level with all sense of loyalty and commitment. In 2004, when the APC primary/convention planning committee was constituted, Aganaba was not only appointed a member of the convention and planning committee but was also secretary of the media and publicity subcommittee. In the same year, he was appointed as one of the facilitators during the visit of the APC National Working Committee team led by the immediate past Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at the United Kingdom House of Commons.

    These are no mean events which have shaped his political horizon and his selfless quest to serve the people of Bayelsa. In addition to that, he is not only a member of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, NSE, but is also a corporate member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria, COREN.

    What many APC members in Bayelsa and the state in general are saying loud and clear is: If APC makes the mistake of fielding worn out old political war horses; then the party should consider itself as certified losers. Mr. Inemotimi Mark says: “If they field Preye Aganaba with his moral strength of character, it would be like unveiling a brand new product and a marketable one for that matter. APC should be prepared to coast to victory, that is truly the verdict of Bayelsans as far as the forthcoming governorship election and the chances of APC are concerned.”

    This is why there is this wide spread clarion call on Aganaba ‘like that of Apostle Paul being called to come over to Macedonia to rescue the people of Bayelsa from years of arrested development. He has heeded the call with ecclesiastical spirit of service.

    Today, in Bayelsa it has been widely accepted across party divide that Aganaba is the only viable option for APC to beat the PDP government. The truth may appear bitter, but that is the reality the national leadership of the party need to consider over the issue of choice of party standard bearer.

    Sylva and Lokpobiri have nothing to lose by putting on hold their ambition for the governorship election. They will rather emerge heroic for subjecting their interest to the overall interest of the party by rallying round their younger comrade, Engr. Aganaba. This is the time they must resist counsels of the Ahitophels and listen to the voice of reason in the interest of the party. If they refuse to heed the advice and go ahead to get the ticket of the party to contest the general election and the party loses, the judgment of history will not forgive them.

    The signs are ominous that APC will win the governorship election in Bayelsa if and only if Sylva and Lokpobiri will bury their ambition and throw their weight behind Aganaba. That is the political reality steering at the faces of APC and indeed Bayelsans as a whole.

  • Supreme Court verdict: Rep urges Osun PDP to be steadfast

    The House of Representatives member representing (Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency of Osun State, Oluwole Oke, has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the state to remain steadfast and prepare for future elections.

    Oke was reacting to the Supreme Court ruling on the state’s governorship election, which upheld the victory of All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola.

    The lawmaker congratulated Oyetola and urged the governor to bring his wealth of experience as a financial engineer to bear on governance.

    He added: “He should see every citizen of Osun as his. I urge every citizen to support him to succeed, while remaining vigilant as well.”

    Oke spoke at the weekend in Abuja, the nation’s capital, following the verdict of the apex court.

    The lawmaker emphasized that though the decision of the highest court in the land came against PDP hopes, desires and expectations, its members should be consoled and remain committed to the tenets and values of the party.

    Read Also: Osun: Jubilation as Supreme Court upholds Oyetola’s election

    He said: “The lessons here is for us as lawmakers to go back to the drawing board, think through our laws, constitution and the Electoral Act to avoid a situation where both the electoral body or the courts will usurp the duty or functions of lawmakers.”

    Oke thanked the party’s leader and businessman, Dr. Deji Adeleke, for his moral, financial and spiritual support since his younger brother, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

    The lawmaker lauded the efforts of Senator Adeleke for his sacrifices, adding that he went through a lot.

    He said: “My thanks and appreciation to our party leaders, particularly our chairman, for his doggedness and hard work and our teeming party members and supporters for their belief in us.

    The lawmaker noted that Governor Oyetola will remain in power in the next three and a half years pursuant to the Supreme Court ruling.

    “I, therefore, wish to urge our members to remain vigilant and watchful and ensure delivery of democratic dividends to our people,” he said.

    According to him, the resources accruing from the Federation Account to the state, the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and from grants belong to the people.

    Oke said the governor must prudently and efficiently manage the state’s resource for the benefit of the all and sundry.

  • Presidency tackles Atiku over comments on judgement

    The Presidency on Friday tackled former Vice President and presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, over his comments on the Supreme Court judgement affirming the election of Mr Gboyega Oyetola as governor of Osun State.

    Commenting on the judgement, Atiku, in a statement, had said: “I urge the nation’s judiciary to take a pulse of the nation and reflect it.

    “In their hands, God has placed a great responsibility. The duty to ensure that justice is done, irrespective of the pressure to do otherwise by the powers that be.”

    But the Presidency, in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said that it found Atiku’s reaction very ridiculous, and comical.

    The statement reads: “Many things fly in the face of logic, reason, and legality in this portion of the statement.

    “Alhaji Abubakar urged the judiciary to reflect the pulse of the nation in their judgments.

    “Learned people know that the judiciary comes to conclusions drawing from matters of law placed before it, and not sentiments, or so-called “pulse of the nation.”

    “A pertinent question is: how does the judiciary gauge the pulse of the nation? Is it even positioned to do such? Is the judiciary established for that purpose, or to dispense justice, even if the heavens fall?

    “Again, there is insinuation of inducement in the statement when the PDP candidate said the judiciary should ensure justice is done, ‘irrespective of the pressure to do otherwise by the powers that be.’

    “We see this as an attempt to browbeat the judiciary, thus causing it to entertain sentiment in the ongoing petition on the presidential election before the tribunal.

    Read Also: Osun: We ‘ll stand by Adeleke, says Atiku

    “If anybody has the tendency or proclivity to put pressure on the judiciary, Nigerians knows where the finger points, and it is definitely not at President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “This was a man who had thrice taken his electoral challenges to the judiciary, up to the Supreme Court, and not once was he accused of trying to influence the process, or put pressure on the courts.

    “When the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost Zamfara and Rivers states, arising from judicial proclamations then, there was no “pressure to do otherwise, by the powers that be.

    “But now that the victory of the party in Osun was upheld, there is insinuation of pressure from those who have never learnt to play straight.”

    According to him, President Buhari has always been committed to fair play, which he noted was clearly evident in the last general elections.

    Buhari, he said, remains committed to even-handedness and justice always.

  • Adamawa APC: we haven’t withdrawn petition against PDP

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State has not withdrawn its petition against the election of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), it was gathered on Wednesday.

    The party, through its Legal Adviser, Shagnah Pwamadi, said the alleged withdrawal of the case, made on Tuesday, was the product of a  plan by some party ‘renegades’ working with the PDP to subvert the petition filed by the party.

    The petition challenged the emergence of Fintiri, following the last general election.

    A section of the media reported on Tuesday that the APC had withdrawn its petition.

    But, it soon became evident that only a couple of persons took the decision at a sitting of the governorship election petitions tribunal in Yola.

    Read Also: Breaking: INEC declares Fintiri winner of Adamawa guber election

    Reacting to the development on Wednesday, the APC legal adviser stressed that the APC never contemplated withdrawing its petition against Fintiri and the PDP.

    “The PDP is using Aliyu Bakari (zonal state chairman, Central), Alhaji Saidu Naira (State Financial Secretary) and Alhaji Babangida Talasse (Mayo Belwa Local Government chairman) through Smart Ukpanah, who was handling the case at the election petition tribunal, to frustrate the case,” Pwamadi stated.

    He said neither the three party leaders nor the lawyer had locus standi to withdraw the case.

    “The lawyer could only withdraw from representing the party in the case if he no longer wishes to continue with it,” he asserted.

    He announced that the APC National Secretariat had engaged Ibrahim Effiong and Co to take over the case from Ukpanah, “as the APC has no option than to officially disengage him and pay him off to enable the party execute the petition effectively”.

  • PDP berates Obaseki’s ‘silence’ on Ruga settlement

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of secretly conceding land to the Federal Government for a pilot scheme of the Ruga Settlement.

    It said Obaseki’s silence, when states are rejecting the initiative, was worrisome.

    Chairman Chief Dan Orbih, who addressed a news conference yesterday, urged Governor Obaseki to understand that land is finite and could not be used in exchange for political bargains and favour. The chairman insisted that Obaseki must listen to the people and the cries of victims of herdsmen activities.

    The chairman said the PDP was concerned about political events in the state, especially the lack of cohesion in the House of Assembly dominated by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said: “The APC can no longer blame the PDP for its misrule. The only achievement of Governor Obaseki is a huge debt profile for Edo State. Obaseki is celebrating birthday at a time Edo people have nothing to celebrate.

    “There is nothing to give the impression of hope. The new central hospital is now for high blood pressure test, radio diagnostics and dialysis. What is happening to the 200-bed hospital? There is urgent need to end the blame game and let the people have full benefits of the facilities in the hospital.

    Read Also: Controversy over Ruga settlement uncalled for, says Lalong

    “The government should let us know why they are bringing in a management consulting firm to run the hospital. The central hospital is our state equivalent of Federal Government University Teaching Hospitals, and they are not managed by consulting firms. Why is Edo State bringing in a consulting firm to manage the central hospital?

    “We sympathise with Edo people over the unpleasant political happenings in the state. It is indeed sad to observe that after 11 years of APC government, what they bequeath to Edo people is bickering, vendetta, corruption, hate and Ruga Settlement!”

    But Obaseki said his agricultural plan has nothing to do with the initiative. According to him, his plan for agricultural development involves the value chain in both crop production and animal husbandry. His plans were developed long before Ruga Settlement was muted, he added.

    The governor, who spoke through his media aide, Crusoe Osagie, said the safety, security and prosperity of Edo people were priority and non-negotiable. He assured the people he would not cede their rights and land to anybody, as his programmes as a sovereign state does not run on the back of any external entity.

    He said: “Edo people should disregard any contrary information circulated by the Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or any other group or individual.

    “As for the Benin Central Hospital, it is up and running, and providing tertiary healthcare services which it was set up to provide.

    “Its phased opening is in line with the vision of the government, and in the coming weeks and months, other phases will be unveiled to complement the primary and secondary health centres.

    “Governor Obaseki will continue to put the people’s interest first in all his policies and programmes, as he has demonstrated in the past two years and seven months.”

  • Trouble looms in Senate over choice of principal officers

    The Senate reconvenes plenary on Tuesday after three weeks break following the inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly.

    With the seamless election of presiding officers, the question on the lips of National Assembly watchers is who becomes Senate Leader, Deputy Senate Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip?

    This is even as senators’ scheming and jostling for headship of juicy committees have begun in earnest.

    Insiders said that the constitution of the 64 standing committees of the upper chamber will be the first litmus test for the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege.

    Multiple sources informed that lobbying for the key positions of Senate Leader and others “is getting more and more intense by the day” as the Tuesday date for the resumption of plenary draws near.

    The Senate President is expected to announce the occupants of the top Senate positions on Tuesday if the trouble shooting efforts of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yields fruit, it was learnt yesterday.

    The important positions, which will form part of the leadership of the upper chamber, also referred to as the “Selection Committee” are said to be the duty of the majority party in the Senate to decide who becomes what in line with its zoning arrangements.

    The Senate President is the chairman of the Selection Committee which allocates committees to senators.

    At the last count, Senators Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West) and Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North), both from North Central, are the top contenders for the slot of Senate Leader.

    With just three days to resumption of plenary, insiders said yesterday that APC is yet to take a position on who to choose as Senate Leader.

    Findings showed that while those rooting for the Niger North Senator to emerge Senate Leader are banking on “the work and the risk he took for the emergence of Lawan as Senate President,” those angling for Adamu are pushing what they describe as the Nasarawa West Senator’s “rich experience on legislative matters.”

    It appears that the main battle is the position of Senate Leader as other principal officers’ slots are said to “have been sorted out by the party.”

    A North Central APC senator insisted yesterday that the party “must do what is right in its selection process to avoid setting senators against themselves and breeding bad blood in the Senate.”

    According to the senator, who is also part of the lobby group of one of the contenders, “what remains sacrosanct is that the Senate Leader’s position has been zoned to the North Central but the race is still open as to who will be announced on Tuesday when we reconvene.”

    Unease in PDP over minority whip position

    The camp of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which many thought had got it right with the selection of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) as Minority Leader is already boiling.

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP is said to have concluded arrangements to tinker the list of selected principal officers of the minority party in the Senate.

    Unconfirmed reports on Tuesday said that the NWC of the PDP is pushing to drop the Edo Central Senator, Clifford Ordia, who was earlier selected as the party’s Deputy Senate Whip.

    A South-South governor is said to be behind the move to shove Ordia aside in place of Senator Sahabi Yau from Zamfara State.

    Those who emerged with Abaribe at a meeting held in the Abuja home of the National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus, included Emmanuel Bwacha, who represents Taraba South Senatorial District, as deputy minority leader.

    Senator Philip Aduda, Federal Capital Territory, emerged as the minority whip while Ordia emerged as the Senate deputy minority whip.

    Read Also: PDP swaps minority positions in Senate as Saraki leads peace move to Edo

    It was reliably gathered that the attempt to drop Ordia is being fiercely resisted by other PDP South-South senators.

    Ordia himself is said to have been livid when the news broke that he might be dropped to make way for a Zamfara Senator.

    Some South-South senators are threatening a showdown with the PDP NWC, vowing to resist what they called a plot to impose Yau on them without due consultation.

    PDP has 16 senators from the South-South geopolitical zone while APC has two.

    Senators from Edo, Cross River, Delta and Akwa Ibom states are insisting that the South-South cannot be without holding a principal position in the upper chamber.

    One of the aggrieved South-South senators explained that election was conducted at a meeting held at the Abuja home of PDP National Chairman, Secondus, on June 14.

    He added that nominations were also made before winners emerged. According to him, those who emerged were unanimously backed by the various PDP organs.

    He claimed that the plot to drop Ordia does not have the backing of the caucus of the party.

    He said: “Under the rules of the Senate, it is not the responsibility of the National Working Committee to select principal officials.

    “It is the responsibility of the senators themselves to select who leads them. The minority senators have freely elected those they want and nothing will change it.

    “The argument that they want to represent every part of the country is false.

    “There are eight positions open to the PDP in the two chambers of the National Assembly. Even if you share one to each geopolitical zone, two will still get an extra slot.

    “Those we selected are known to us. They are the people we can work with. Some governors causing this division don’t know how the Parliament operates. They want to control everything in the party for their selfish interests.

    “Maybe the NWC has not learnt its lessons. The APC tried this imposition in the eighth Senate and they paid for it dearly.

    “It is up to the PDP to allow us have our way or allow strangers destroy its fold in the Senate.

    “The wish of senators must be respected for sustainable peace in the Senate.”

    APC and PDP senators’ caucus meetings are said to have been scheduled to hold ahead of the resumption of plenary on Tuesday.

    Although the agenda of the meetings are not known, they may not be unconnected with the need to reconvene a crisis-free Senate on Tuesday.

  • Presidential election dispute: Tribunal to hear Atiku’s, PDP’s fresh motion July 1

    PROCEEDINGS ended unexpectedly on Wednesday at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) due to the request by a lawyer to Atiku Abubakar and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chris Uche (SAN) for an adjournment to enable his clients react to the responses filed against a fresh motion by Atiku and the PDP.

    Atiku and his party are challenging the outcome of the last presidential election at the tribunal. Although they came second behind President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), they claimed to have won based on some results they gleaned from a central server purportedly utilised by the electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to transmit the result of the election.

    The PEPT, in a ruling on June 24, declined the petitioners’ request to be allowed access to the supposed server, which existence INEC has denied. The tribunal adjourned till June 26 for further pre-hearing session.

    At the resumption of proceedings yesterday, the petitioners were expected to pursue their petition, but their lawyer took all by surprise when he prayed the tribunal for an adjournment to enable them file replies-on-point-of-law to the respondents’ replies to the petitioners’fresh motion seeking to quash the proceedings conducted on June 11 by the tribunal.

    Lawyers to the the respondents – INEC, Buhari and APC – Yunus Usman (SAN), Yusuf Ali (SAN) and Lateef Fagbemi did not object to Uche’s request.

    But Uche urged the tribunal to conduct other pre-hearings related to the petition rather than wasting the day, a request respondents’ lawyers objected to.

    Usman, Ali and Fagbemi said they could only concede should the petitioners withdraw their fresh motion or reply orally, a suggestion Uche rejected and insisted on filing replies to the respondents’ responses.

    Ruling, PEPT’s Chairman, Justice Mohammed Garba said the tribunal would prefer to conclude the hearing of all pending applications/motions before delving into other issues related to the petition.

    Justice Garba adjourned till July 1 for the hearing of the fresh motion by the petitioners and the consideration of any other pre-hearing issues.

    In the fresh motion filed on June 18, Atku and the PDP  prayed the tribunal to set aside its proceedings of June 11 during which it accepted as undefended, an application filed by the APC, in which the party sought to strike out the petition because it was defective.

    Read Also: PDP, Atiku lose battle to access INEC’s server

    In a ruling on June 11, the tribunal held that the petitioners failed to file the required counter-affidavit against the application by the APC and recorded the application as unchallenged.

    It is that ruling that Atiku and the PDP, by their fresh motion, want the tribunal to set aside, a request the respondents have also opposed with their various counter applications, some of which Uche said, were served on him late, and in respect of which he sought an adjournment to enable his team reply.

    In the application accepted by the tribunal as undefended, the APC wants the tribunal to dismiss the petition by Atiku and the PDP, or alternatively, strike out several paragraphs that were not supported by facts and laws.

    APC also wants  the tribunal to remove 10 states from the list of states Atiku alleged electoral malpractices took place in the February 23 Presidential Election because the petitioners failed to disclose the specific polling units where the alleged infraction, which they claimed, took place, thereby “making their claims imprecise, nebulous and vague”.

    The APC also asked the tribunal to strike out paragraphs in the petition, where allegations of thuggery, arrest, intimidation and conversion were made against Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police and individuals who were not joined as defendants in their petition.

    The APC also applied that the claim by Atiku and the PDP that President Buhari was not educationally qualified to stand for the presidential election be expunged from their petition because it is a pre-election matter, which the tribunal has no jurisdiction for.

    Also, the APC urged the tribunal to strike out the petition because it failed to comply with the mandatory provisions of paragraphs 4 and 7 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act 2010 and Section 134 of the 1999 Constitution.

    The APC similarly faulted the petition “for being incompetent and in gross violation of sections 2 and 24 of the Legal Practitioners Act” and, therefore, urged that the petition be struck out with the lists of documents and witnesses to be relied upon by the petitioners.

    Urging the tribunal to reject the fresh motion, INEC, Buhari and the APC argued that it was an abuse of court process, because the petitioners had appealed, at the Supreme Court, the tribunal’s June 11 ruling, which they  sought the tribunal to set aside.

  • Lagos PDP: Torn apart by crises

    Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been embroiled in a battle of survival. Many factors have contributed to the intractable crises that have prevented the party from fulfilling its aspiration of giving the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) a run for its money in the last general elections. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE examines the issues that have bedeviled the party and how it can be repositioned for future elections.

    All is not well with the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It has been a story of one crisis after another and it appears there is no end to the division rocking the one-time largest party in Africa. All efforts to resolve the crises have proved abortive.

    It has been a case of accusation and counter accusation among the major party stakeholders. The situation got worse, following the defeat of the party in the last general elections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The outcome of the election released bottled up anger that has been nursed over the years.

    Observers believe the party has a long way to go, to challenge the dominance of the ruling party in the state. The party has not won any major election in Lagos since 1999. In the opinion of some members, if the quarrelsome situation continues, those who believe in the party may lose faith. Some party big names have threatened to pull out if the party fails to address the issues pulling it apart.

    Such party chieftains said it is a shameful act to observe the PDP’s dirty linen being washed in the public. They said the more the aggrieved members display their anger in public, the slimmer the chances of reconciliation.

    The issues at the centre of the disagreement revolve round poor management of the party’s funds, anti-party activities and disrespect for party elders.

    To make matters worse, the national body appeared to have turned deaf ears to what is happening in Lagos. The National Working Committee (NWC), led by Prince Uche Secondus, it is believed, has remained aloof towards the crises in the Lagos chapter.

    A source in the chapter said it has reached a level where the national body must step in to address the matter. Otherwise, it will disintegrate.

    Prior to the 2019 general elections, its former Deputy National chairman, Chief Olabode George, and Lagos PDP 2019 governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, jointly addressed a conference, where they cleared the air on misgivings within the fold.

    They had refuted allegations that the party was divided. At the conference, the two politicians said it was united in its quest to win Lagos, noting that they would work together to actualize the plans to dislodge the APC.

    Analysts believe the intent of addressing conference was simply to give the impression that they were united in their quest to challenge the APC.  But, beyond the window dressing at the conference, party stakeholders were going for each other’s jugular behind the scene.

    As a proof of their disagreement, up to the eleventh hour of the election, George and those loyal to him rarely participated in Agbaje’s campaign. They even accused the PDP governorship candidate of frustrating efforts to win the state. He was said to have diverted election funds running into billions of naira. The Lagos PDP chairman, Dr. Adegbola Dominic, said Agbaje bolted away with funds provided by the party headquarters immediately the money was released.

    At a conference, Dominic narrated how he made spirited efforts to get Agbaje to explain why he made away with the fund for the Lagos PDP. He said the only explanation given by the governorship flag bearer was that he was asked to expend the money purely for election matters.

    The chairman said the promise made by Agbaje that he would furnish his office the details of how the money was spent did not materialise.

    Dominic said Agbaje was selfish and that he held the party to ransom. The chairman said the governorship candidate was mainly responsible for the failure of the party to make appreciable impact during the election.

    He said: “There are ample evidence that the Lagos PDP recorded more votes during the presidential election than the governorship election. I can say it without mincing words that Agbaje was solely responsible for what happened.”

    The chairman equally accused Agbaje of disrespecting the Lagos PDP leaders, particularly George. Dominic said he was shocked by the venom poured by Agbaje on the party leader. He said it was unfortunate and unbecoming of a party stalwart.

    He added: “Agbaje response was sickening for a Yoruba person; very disgraceful and unacceptable. As omoluabis in Yoruba land, we do not throw stones at elders. What Agbaje did was basically to throw a sledgehammer at his benefactor, by referring to him as a sick mind.”

    Before now, the pharmacist-turned-politician denied any wrongdoing in the run up to the election, adding that the action he took was in order and in the party’s interest. Agbaje said no stone was left unturned in the effort to win the 2019 election.

    He said those who accused him of running a one-man show were economical with the truth. He said there were evidence that he did not take decisions alone.

    Agbaje’s spokesperson, Modupe Ogunbayo, said party chieftains were adequately briefed on every move of the governorship candidate.

    In a counter response to the Lagos PDP Publicity Secretary, Taofiq Gani’s accusation that Agbaje ran a solo campaign, Ogunbayo said she was surprised by Gani’s outburst that leaders were sidelined during the campaign.

    She went further to say that Gani did not only attend Agbaje’s campaign, but was also the arrow head leading the onslaught against the ruling APC.

    She denied any misconduct by Agbaje, saying the issues of noti releasing funds given by the PDP headquarters was simply to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it.

    Ogunbayo said Agbaje disbursed funds according to the instruction given to him. She noted that if the fund was not properly utilised her principal would have been brought to judgment.

    The governorship candidate’s spokesman added: “Agbaje followed instruction on how to expend the money to the letter. The fund was purely for election expenses and not to be shared by party chieftains or so. He gave every member who participated in that election their dues.

    “Are you saying the party headquarters does not read or hear what is going in the Lagos chapter? They have never complained, because they know that Agbaje followed instruction given to him.”

    Sources within the chapter said Agbaje was specifically told to sideline George’s group and prevent it from handling the money. The source maintained that in the past the group had always collected money without using it for the purpose it was meant for.

    One of the sources added: “They specifically urged the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to ensure that the money he would release for Lagos did not go into wrong hands. That is why Agabje had the effrontery to go away with the fund released by Abuja without caring whose ox is gored.”

    The party’s Lagos West senatorial candidate and factional chairman, Mr. Segun Adewale, has been accused of causing a colossal pain in the efforts to find a lasting solution to the PDP crises in the state.

    Adewale who was the candidate of Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the 2018 governorship election in Ekiti State returned to Lagos to continue his battle with the George camp. He said Dominic is a usurper and does not have the legitimacy to lead Lagos PDP.

    The battle to reclaim the seat has been raging and he has made several attempts to forcefully take over the secretariat. This has often led to the breakdown of law and order at the PDP office, located in the Shogunle area of Ikeja Government Reservation Area (GRA).

    Stakeholders have found it difficult to reach amicable solution to the crises, because both Dominic and Adewale have been at each other’s throat on who is in charge.

    Asserting his right to the position, Dominic said the police had been informed to arrest Adewale because he is no longer a member of the party and therefore he is a usurper.

    In a petition written to the police titled, ‘Unnecessary and preventable break-in and entry at PDP Secretariat’, he said: “We are imploring the Nigeria Police, to apprehend Segun Adewale in order maintain peace and protect our property.”

    He said the break-in occurred despite the fact that Adewale was not a member of the PDP and the police have been duly informed about the unwarranted breaches in the party’s affairs.

    The Dominic group went on in the petition: “Please be reminded that this occasion is not the first and you have to swing to action to half the perpetual breaking down of order due to Adewale’s conduct.”

    Speaking on the matter, Adewale said he was following the constitution of the party which still recognises him as the chairman. He said Dominic is a stooge of George, because the latter tried to foist him on the party through the backdoor.  He maintained that contesting Ekiti election on the platform of the ADP did not mean that he had ceased to be a non-member of the PDP.

    Adewale added that he was adopted by the ADP when former Governor Ayodele Fayose said nobody could contest against his former deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, for the party’s ticket.

    Adewale said: “I did not work against the chances of the PDP in Ekiti. I never campaigned against its candidate. What I did was to maintain during the campaign that I was the best candidate for the state.

    “Now that the Ekiti election has come and gone, I am back to Lagos to continue as the chairman; a position I legally occupy by dint of the party’s constitution. The truth is that Dominic was never elected the chairman. It is the plan of Bode George to put him there to do his bidding.”

    The PDP crises deepened, when one of its major stakeholders, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, dropped a hint that he would be leaving the party. The comment from the former Minister of Works and Housing jolted the party. Observers believe it was the sign of bad omen for the party. Ogunlewe could be ranked in the class of die-hard party stalwarts, such as George and Ebenezer Babatope.

    The former minister gave his reason for leaving the party. He said: “Yes, I am set to leave. My son who is already there and he is expecting me to join him. I am leaving in no distant time. You see, there is no chairman in the PDP. We don’t have leaders and you don’t expect me to stay in a party that is not stable and with people that lack focus.”

    Prior to his pronouncement, his son, Moyosore Ogunlewe, who contested Kosofe Constituency 1 on the platform of the PDP and lost defected to the APC. Analysts say they were not surprised that Ogunlewe senior made the pronouncement that he was leaving the PDP, because that has been the tradition of many party leaders.

    One of the analysts said: “What they often do was to test the turbulent water by pushing their wards as a forerunner. When that successfully scales through, they now take the next flight to the party in power.

    “Other members who followed the same route include former Organising Secretary, Mutiu Olakunle. Olakunle contested the Federal House of Representatives, but was defeated by the APC candidate. Indeed, the number of PDP members who crossed to the ruling party in recent times has been on the increase. Almost all the party members who were elected to the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) in 2015 defected to the APC afterwards.”

    Close watchers of the developments in the Lagos PDP believe the reason why members have been crossing over to the APC was because of lack of assurance that party can fly in the state. The party did not win any outstanding election in Lagos when it was at the helm of affairs at the centre.

    With its dwindling financial fortunes, the party has not been able to attract new members. At some point, workers at the party’s secretariat were being owed and rents for the premises were running into several million of naira. Succour only came during the 2019 electioneering campaign when Atiku agreed to pay the bills.

    It very likely more members will leave the party, in view of the discordant voices from the party. But, other members believe that what is happening is simply a storm in a tea cup. They said the party will bounce back and that every problem has a solution. One of its die-hard members said: “The challenge is just temporary; we will get over it. But before that could be done those causing the problem for the party have to leave and some of them have actually started leaving. I can assure you that when the bad eggs are removed the party will become superlative.”

  • Aspirant donates computers to education trust fund

    A governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Reuben Okoya, has donated 15 computers to the Board of Bayelsa State Education Trust Fund (BSETF).

    Okoya’s gesture was in fulfilment of a promise he made when Governor Seriake Dickson and former President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated the board in Yenagoa recently.

    While announcing the donation at the launch of the fund, Okoya promised to give the board 15 computers for some of the schools in the state.

    Speaking while redeeming his promise at the Education House in Yenagoa, Okoya described BSETF as a welcome development.

    He said: “Two weeks ago, the board had launched the education trust fund where they asked for contributions and pledges from people across the country. So, I am here to redeem my pledge today. I have decided to bring computers, the tools, which students use for learning on a daily basis.

    “The world is going technological. I am confident the board will distribute these computers to the areas where they are needed the most and to ensure that the students utilise them for learning”.

    He commended Governor Dickson for starting a revolution in education, insisting that the governor recorded huge successes in the sector. Apart from education, he said Dickson also succeeded in the health sector.

    He said: “l am particularly glad that Bayelsa State has started a revolution already, that revolution is being carried on by Governor Dickson. Whether you like it or not, we are making tremendous success in education, the boarding schools are there and the health facilities are there.

    “Therefore, private citizens like me, who understand the value of education, want to make their little contribution to assist government because the governor can’t do it all alone. The beneficiaries are the children of Bayelsa State and all the children are our children.

    “So, we have to do our best to ensure that we contribute to the success of our state. I encourage all Bayelsans do something no matter how small, because the beneficiaries are our children and the children are the future leaders.

    “If we do not raise them right, if we do not educate them properly then society is doomed and I am here to make my little contribution to ensure that the future of Bayelsa is safe and assured. I pledge to do more if called upon.

    “I will encourage friends to also contribute. The board is doing very well because l have been to some of the schools. I have seen students there in the boarding schools, a nice serene environment. We pray for good things in Bayelsa State”.

    In his welcome address, Executive Secretary of the board, Alice Atuwo said the board received quick responses from people who made pledges during the launch, adding that Okoya’s donation was one of them.

    She said: “On May 24, the Bayelsa State government launched the education development trust fund and so many people came and made pledges in cash and kind.

    “It is very heartwarming that after the launch, we have received quick responses from those who pledged and today is another occasion for that. Okoya pledged to donate computers to our schools and we are here to receive these computers. Others, who pledged cash, somehow responded immediately after the occasion.

    “We thank Bayelsans and others that have contributed towards development of education  the state. The computers will be of immense benefits to the schools we are going to send them to. It is your contribution and it is for the Bayelsa child.”