The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peoples Democratic Party

  • My security yet to be restored 72 hours after election – Fayose

    … Alleges 400 PDP members still in detention

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose on Tuesday appeared in public for the first time since his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, lost the governorship election held on Saturday.

    Olusola, who contested as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, was defeated by the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Fayose visited the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, on Thursday at his palace where he alleged that he and his supporters were still being persecuted by the Federal Government after losing election on Saturday.

    The governor alleged that his security aides who were withdrawn on the eve of the election are yet to be restored, a situation he said has exposed him to danger.

    He also claimed that about 400 PDP members are still being detained saying harassing him is not in the interest of democracy.

    Fayose further told the Ewi that the Government House was invaded by security forces and his wife prevented from gaining access to their official residence after election on Saturday.

    The governor urged the Ewi and other traditional rulers to intervene and save him from further punishment by the Federal Government as his mandate expires on October 15.

    Fayose said: “I have come to officially tell your sir, as the Paramount Ruler of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, that the Government House was invaded by the police.

    “Over 400 of our members are being detained as we speak now. After the poll on Saturday, my wife was prevented from entering the Government House for about 45 minutes.”

    “Since last Wednesday, security agents had laid siege to the Government House, and were subjecting people to untold hardship coming in or going out.”

    “The poll has come and gone irrespective of what we went through. The constitution says I am still the governor till October 16 this year. Our state radio and television stations have been shut down. And there has been no means of getting across to our people.”

    “It was only this morning that security agents at the entrance of the Government House were withdrawn. If we have been robbed I still have a right to life and my family has a right to life too.”

    “The man that won has three units of the police protecting him. All my security men have been withdrawn since last Wednesday. I am only left with just a few.”

    “Harassing me is not on the interest of democracy. People must intervene before things go out of hand. I don’t know why we should be in this situation in 2018.”

    The Ewi sympathized with Fayose and promised that the traditional rulers would intervene and make representations to the appropriate authorities.

    While thanking God that nobody died during the election, the royal father appealed to the relevant security agencies to restore Fayose’s security aides to him.

    Oba Adejugbe said: “As if we knew, monarchs arranged many meetings before the election and pleaded with everybody that before, during and after the poll, we don’t want any trouble.

    “We said then that whoever wins, there should be no problem. The way I see you, I know something is happening. You rarely wear this type of dress to the palace.

    “I will convey your message to the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, who is the Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and we spoke this morning and we were worried about your whereabouts.

    “I appeal to security agencies that they should restore your personnel to you as the sitting governor. As Ekiti leaders, we will intervene.

    You, Fayemi and Eleka are our sons. Peace must be allowed to reign. We need peace in our state.”

  • Ogun PDP crisis: Appeal Court awards N600,000 costs against PDP

    Upholds judgment in favour of Dayo-led Exco

    The Court of Appeal in Lagos has struck out an application by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to relist its appeal challenging a lower court judgment that validated the Ogun State chapter executive led by Adebayo Dayo, an engineer.

    It awarded N600, 000 costs against the party to be paid to former chairman Alhaji Ali-Modu Sheriff, Prof Wale Oladapo and Dayo.

    Each of them is to be paid N200,000 each, the Appeal Court held.

    The Federal High Court in Lagos had ordered the PDP to recognize the Dayo-led executive in Ogun on the basis that its tenure would expire in 2020.

    PDP had appealed against the judgment recognizing Dayo as the authentic chairman, but it later withdrew the application through its lawyer Godwill Mrakpor, who filed a Notice of Withdrawal.

    The Appeal Court consequently dismissed the appeal.

    But, another PDP lawyer, Dr Yemi Oke, returned with another application to relist the case on the basis that the PDP faction which briefed Mrakpor, led by Senate Sheriff, then was not the authentic national leadership.

    In a judgment delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, the Court of Appeal held that the faction that appointed Mrakpor “had the power to do so” when it did by virtue of a Court of Appeal judgment recognising Sheriff.

    Besides, it said there was a lower court judgment recognising Mrakpor as PDP’s lawyer.

    Dismissing PDP’s appeal, Justice Tukur, in a judgment delivered on July 11, a copy of which was obtained yesterday, held that the appellant also failed to attach the lower court’s ruling appealed against.

    Read Also: Twelve persons feared dead in Ogun flood

    “From whatever angle I looked at the application, I find it to be unmeritorious and liable to be dismissed.

    “However, in view of my findings on the competence of the application for failure to exhibit the ruling of this court subject of this instant application, the proper order befitting this application is one striking it out.

    “It is hereby struck out. There shall be costs of N200, 000 in favour of the first, fourth and fifth respondents (Chief Dayo, Alhaji Sheriff and Prof Wale Oladapo),” the Court of Appeal held.

    The PDP in Ogun had been embroiled in leadership tussle, leading to factions, one led by Sikirulai Ogundele.

    The lower court held that the tenure of the Adebayo Dayo-led executive subsists until May 2020 based on a subsisting judgment by Justice Ibrahim Buba.

    The court had also nullified the congresses which were held in defiance to Justice Buba’s judgment and orders.

    The lower court had also declared the appointment of Tunde Odanye and others as Ogun State PDP Caretaker Committee null and void, saying their appointment was contrary to Justice Buba’s judgment that affirmed the Dayo led exco.

  • I’m yet to declare for any party – Ortom

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom said he was yet to declare for any political party despite the flooding of Makurdi town with his campaign posters for 2019 governorship race on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Barely 24 hours after Governor Ortom said he had been given red card by his party the All Progressive Congress (APC) his campaign posters bearing PDP symbol for 2019 governorship race took over streets of Makurdi, the state capital.

    The posters were pasted in strategic places alongside the earlier ones with APC symbol.

    The PDP posters, unlike the APC ones, were however without the picture of the deputy -governor Engr Benson Abounu.

    But is a telephone interview with The Nation, Governor Samuel said he was yet to declare for any political party.

    Ask why his posters surface with PDP symbol which gave credit to the rumours that he was heading to the party .

    The governor said “Like I stated earlier,  I have been given a red card and I am without a club, maybe those who wants to signed me are behind the posters, but like I said in yet to join any party.”

    In a related development, a group known as Benue Youth Alliance For Ortom 2019 (BYAFO 2019), a youth group pushing for the re-election of Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom,  in 2019, has vowed to continue with the Governor in his efforts to giving a new direction in the Nigeria’s Food Basket State in spite of persecutions he is facing.

    Read Also: APC has given me red card, says Ortom

    A press statement issued by the National Coordinator of the group Iorliam Shija, Tuesday, in Makurdi, the state capital said that no political leadership in the state will be acceptable outside that which is provided by Governor Ortom.

    This statement is in reaction to the revelation by the Benue State Governor that he has been shown “Red Card” by his current party, All Progressives Congress (APC), on whose platform he came to power in 2015.

    According to the statement, Ortom’s presence on the political stage in the state is reminiscence of what was obtainable in the First Republic when late JS Tarka attempted the definition of minority rights in Nigeria.

    Shija observed that since the era of Tarka, clear agenda and focused political Leadership have eluded the state until the emergence of Ortom since the need to spare him persecution by selfish politicians, whose actions are anti-people has become the duty of every Benue Youth.

    “Ortom must be spared the ongoing persecution. When has it become a crime to stand by the people, whose mandate you are holding in trust? We are satisfied with the unwavering determination of our Governor, His Excellency Samuel Ortom to securing the future of our state at the expense of his comfort and political career.” he noted.

    “Our assurance to the Governor is that with him we stand to the end in his desire to giving a new lease of life and direction in the state,” the statement reads.

    The group has promised to move into the every nooks and crannies of the state to mobilize against selfish politicians, who because of their personal ambitions, want to hold the state back.

  • Allow defectors, concerned PDP members tell leaders

    Some concerned People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state has urged party leaders to welcome intending defectors with open arms in the party.

    This according to the concerned members will fortify the party ahead of 2019 elections, thus enhancing its chances.

    The members in a statement under the aegis of Concerned Members of PDP, Kwara state chapter, argued that “Nigerians believe that our parry is the popular platform for serious minded politicians and thus we cannot afford to be unduly selective in our membership drive”.

    The call came as the National Chairman of the PDP; Prince Uche Secondus said the party is open to all possible defectors from the R-APC, and other opposition members who are not satisfied with the current affairs of the country.

    Secondus made the statement in Ilorin, during a condolence visit to the former PDP national leader, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, over the loss of his mother.

    The concerned PDP members statement was signed by  Alhaji Abdullahi Lateef (Balogun Fulani Ward 11), Alhaji Danjuma Hamid (Oko-Erin),  Moshood Issa (Alanamu), Prince Olabode, M. A. (Ibagun), and Ayinde Wasiu (Aare1).

    The statement reads in part: “If we are desirous of winning come 2019, we must maintain an open door policy to all new members nationally unless we have made up our minds to only participate in the coming elections with the usual dismal outcome of failures.

    Read Also: PDP rejects poll results

    “All sincere and faithful members of the PDP in the state are aiming to win in the forthcoming general elections both at the state and federal levels we want whoever emerges as our party gubernatorial candidate to occupy the Kwara state Government House come 2019. To be able to achieve this, we are ca;;ing on all party leaders and members off all rival political parties to decamp en mass into the PDP today in order to be part of the  moving train.

    “This clarion call coming at this point in time is most appropriately directed also to big time political leaders like the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Bashir Bolarinwa. They should jettison the docile APC for the PDP.”

    The group allayed the fears being expressed by some members of the party in the state over the possibility of losing their offices due to the influx of new members; saying to have such fears is to be pessimistic about the positive sides of the defections into the party.

    “We are earnestly saying No, to recurrent electoral failures as we have grown weary and tired of losing at every election in Kwara state since 2015”, the statement said, adding that the party should be ready to accept the likes of Saraki and others whom they described as acclaimed game changers.”

  • Edo APC youths deny being in Ekiti for election

    Youths of the All Progressive Congress in Edo State have denied allegations that they were mobilized to Ekiti State to help rig the governorship election won by Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    Members of the Peoples Democratic Party had alleged that five buses were used to convey those they termed APC thugs to Ekiti State during the election.

    State Youth Leader of the party, Mr. Valentine Asuen, who spoke to newsmen in Bénin City said nobody mobilized APC youths to Ekiti.

    Asuen said the Edo APC were in solidarity with Ekiti APC through prayers and not to be physically present.

    He said it was Ekiti people that delivered victory for Dr. Fayemi.

    According to him, “Our youths are prepared for the 2019 general elections. No APC youths in Edo went to observe the election in Ekiti. What happened is that people in Ekiti delivered Fayemi. We in Edo are prepared for election in Edo and we are winning other South South states.

    Read also: Obasanjo counsels Secondus, PDP on how to defeat Buhari, APC in 2019

    Security forces are not members of the APC. The opposition also had security personnel protecting them. We did not watch any security personnel snatching ballot papers. The security men were there to do their job and maintain law.

    “Ekiti was significant for us as it has shown that 2019 is bright for the APC. It has shown that we are going to win the election. A lot of people that were looking at Ekiti to determine their fate or political future has seen that the APC is still very strong.

    “The rAPC is not a party. Other greedy and political charlatans hijacked genuine demands of the rAPC to bring down our party. They can now see clearly that we are strong. Ekiti has shown them that they cannot defect again. Some of them that were thinking of defection will not show the intention again.”

  • Buhari, APC and the CUPP challenge

    With the formation this week of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) – a loose alliance between the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 30 other political parties – the battle for 2019 has been well and truly joined.

    Rumoured as political realignments picked up pace a few days earlier when certain elements of the ruling party moved to factionalise it with the formation of the so-called Reformed All Progressives Congress (R-APC).

    The group has quickly made common cause with the new PDP-led alliance while, continuing to trouble it erstwhile base by petitioning the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over perceived sins at the last national convention. It has also instituted a case in court seeking to the recognized as the authentic APC.

    This should not confused as a bid by R-APC leader Buba Galadima and others to battle for the soul of the ruling party, but simply another way to unsettle it and provide evidence of factionalisation, as a cover for its members who are soon expected to execute dramatic defections in the National Assembly.

    By signing the CUPP Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which aims to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari’s APC at the center, the states, and in the legislature, the parting of ways is settled.

    The resort of the PDP to sponsoring the new grouping simply confirms a settled fact in Nigeria politics – that there are a really only two major tendencies and the fringe elements.

    In 1998 that thinking, that those two tendencies were the military and civilian politicians, drove the bid to create a massive political party that would bring most of the key players together under one roof – irrespective of their supposed ideological positions. While the ambitions of certain individuals made it difficult to pull it off, the PDP was the closest they got in terms of spread.

    Those who demurred soon found themselves boxed into the then All Peoples Party (APP) and Alliance for Democracy (AD) which had their strengths in the regional redoubts and could not on their own challenge for the presidency.

    That realization was what led to a last-minute alliance between APP and AD that produced Chief Olu Falae as presidential candidate and the late Umaru Shinkafi as running mate.

    In the ensuing contest in February 1999, they were well trounced by the PDP’s Olusegun Obasanjo/Atiku Abubakar ticket which received 62.78% of the vote compared to 37.22% for the Falae/Shinkafi partnership.

    Among the key challenges faced by the APP/AD alliance was the lateness of its coming and hurried nature of its assembling. It lacked so much in cohesion and conviction – compared to the PDP which appeared to be in its element as the latest incarnation of the Second Republic’s National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

    It was the natural home for politicians of the conservative and centrist persuasions. They were comfortable in their skin and made no pretense about what they were.

    The same could not be said for the APP/AD alliance. For while the likes of Falae could project themselves as progressives – though some would dispute that tag for the brainbox of Ibrahim Babangida’s Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP); Shinkafi could not by any stretch of the imagination be described as a leftist. Truth be told, the natural home of this ex-NPN member would have been the PDP.

    At best, the APP-AD alliance was a poorly-assembled, ill-timed special purpose vehicle (SPV) to contest the 1999 presidential election. In theory the partners were to field candidates for state and legislative elections where they had advantage. The results of the federal legislative polls in February 1999 with the APP winning 20 out of 109 Senate seats and 68 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives, was a signpost that even with the returns of AD in the Southwest, it had very little chance of capturing the presidency.

    But the fact that the APP-AD alliance failed to deliver doesn’t necessarily mean other such efforts are fated to meet the same end. We have the example of the emergence of APC to give us pause. Many felt its formation so close to the last general elections was a problem.

    Perhaps what made the APC a more formidable proposition is the fact that rather than an alliance of the half-hearted, it agreed a merger of all its legacy parts to create something akin to the then ruling behemoth. That very decision took care of the problems of commitment, cohesion and national spread.

    The circumstances of 2018 are a world removed from what prevailed in 2014. The PDP which once boasted it was Africa’s largest political party has been reduced to a shell by its catastrophic loss of power in 2015, and the opportunistic defections that followed thereafter.

    Today, it understands that it is not strong enough to oust an incumbent party with better spread and control of state organs. It has to rally the opposition to muster additional strength. Unfortunately for it, much of those it now trumpets as members of a potentially all-conquering CUPP alliance, have little or no electoral value.

    Compare and contrast where APC was at formation. Together, the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Rochas Okorocha rump of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), had a little over a dozen governors and scores they would could call on in the National Assembly.

    CUPP, on the other hand, has the PDP and the R-APC as its leading lights. The Galadima group for now is mainly the aggrieved members of the ruling party in the National Assembly ostensibly backed by Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara. Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, is identified with the group and we are told that there are other ‘sleeper’ governors who will manifest at the right time. Until they do so, we must reckon with CUPP as it stands today.

    Shorn of the PDP and the Saraki-Dogara-Tambuwal axis, the new coalition is just an anonymous congregation of 30-odd names lacking electoral heft.

    You could argue that on account of what happened to Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP in 2015, incumbency is not all that it is made out to be. I would make the counter point that the Jonathan debacle was an aberration rather than the norm. In Nigeria, executive incumbency remains a major advantage for anyone who is not damaged beyond repair politically.

    Tellingly, such is the weakness of today’s PDP that none of its current partners is willing to dissolve into it. Some have even audaciously demanded that the erstwhile ruling party agree to change its name as a condition for cooperation. All of these, again, raise questions about commitment and cohesion.

    Still, I stop short of making predictions about 2019. Seers have had their fingers burnt making political projections; seasoned analysts and pollsters blundered badly with Donald Trump and Brexit. Given the Buhari administration’s challenges with herdsmen killings and the economy, the opposition would clearly fancy their chances. Their clear thought would be: if coming together worked for APC, why wouldn’t it work for us?

     

     

     

  • Ekiti 2018: PDP deplores alleged attack on members, ballot snatching

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has deplored alleged harassment, intimidation and attacks on its members and supporters by thugs in Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, made the condemnation in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, and said that PDP took a serious note of the situation during the election.

    Ologbondiyan said that the party believed that the whole world also noted the attacks suspected to have been carried out by its opponents and some compromised security men during the election.

    Read Also: Ekiti 2018: Fayemi wins polling unit

    According to him, the entire world witnessed the desperation to hijack power in Ekiti through terrorization, snatching of ballot boxes and ferocious assault on the people, who turned out peacefully to cast their votes.

    The party spokesman added that “the PDP is monitoring all events and will make our formal position on the entire process known in due course”.

    He called on all PDP members and supporters in the state to continue to be at alert and monitor all results to the end.

    “Monitor all results to the very end to ensure that nobody, no matter how highly placed, alters any result that is in our favour.

     

     

     

  • PDP candidate accuses APC of vote buying

    People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ekiti State Prof Kolapo Olusola Eleka has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders of buying votes in his local government.

    He said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and security agents were complicit as, according to him, they did nothing to stop the act.

    He said Ekiti people would still vote for him despite the money they collect, as they were not hungry and therefore cannot be bought with “peanuts”.

    Eleka said: “It is left for the security agencies and INEC to do the needful. Let me be specific. The APC leaders are all round the various wards distributing money.

    “They’re at Ogbonjana Ward, at Igelearokun Ward. At the Afin Palace, a former chairman of the local government under APC government was seen distributing money.

    “Security agencies were just looking at them at those places, doing nothing. Even in Ikere here. And it’s quite unfortunate.”

    On his assessment of the security situation, he said: “I can’t really comment on that because it’s too early to do so.”

    On whether he has confidence in the electoral umpire, Olusola said: “INEC should do the needful. We have received reports of APC members who have been distributing money right in the presence of INEC officials and in the presence of security agencies.

    “All this have been reported but unfortunately the security agencies turned a blind eye. It’s quite unfortunate that they are not doing the right thing.

    “So, I want to advise that appropriate agencies should please rise up and play by the rules.”

    Read Also: I’m coasting to victory – PDP candidate

    Eleka said he had confidence in INEC despite the allegations of vote buying.

    “The issue of vote buying should be addressed by INEC. If the security agencies are pretending as if they don’t see what is happening, it is quite unfortunate. Because right in their presence, APC stalwarts were seen distributing money.

    “But they should remember that Ekiti people are not hungry. They are not poor. They are not people that can be easily deceived by mere peanuts that will be given to them during election time.

    “Ekiti people are ready to vote for the man of their choice and that is Kola Olusola-Eleka.”

    After the card reader failed to verify his PVC for a second time, Eleka had expressed fears that he might be unable to vote.

    “I have confidence in the electoral process, but then I have my fears. A situation where I as the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP cannot cast my vote because the card reader did not recognise my PVC is worrisome.

    “They asked me whether the card was defaced. Everybody can see that this card is straight and is not bent and is not defaced (he displayed his card). Whatever might have happened, I don’t understand.

    “I want to believe that the REC should be able to come up with a solution to this. I used it to vote in 2014 when I registered for the first time.

    “So far so good. The process has been going on smoothly in my unit, but not so in some other units.”

    Eleka eventually voted at 11.10am. He arrived at his unit by 9.10 am.

     

  • Ekiti Poll : We’ll win, no intimidation can subvert people’s will – Uche Secondus

    … Warns PDP’ll probe Buhari, APC over handling Abacha’s loot

    The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, on Friday boasted that the party and its governorship candidate, Prof. Kolapo  Olusola Eleka, would win the Saturday governorship election in Ekiti State.

    Secondus alleged that there were plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled “Federal government to take Ekiti State by force but said no amount of intimidation can subvert the will of the people.”

    The PDP national chairman made this known in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when he and

    the PDP Board of trustee Chairman, Senator Walid Jubrin, Chief Bode George, former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara among others national leaders stormed Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, ahead of Saturday meeting with former Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he described as a “warrior, hero and winner.”

    Secondus berated the anti- corruption fight of President Muhammadu Buhari – led government, saying it claimed to be fighting corruption “whereas it is committing mother of corruption” with Abacha’s loot.

    “How on earth will a government engage in mother of corruption? Abacha’s loot money has been withdrawn from the banks and being given to cronies.

    Read Also: Ekiti election: Motor parks busy as passengers travel

    “We want assure President Muhammad Buhari and APC that they will be held accountable.That is mother of corruption.

    “No government will put money in baskets and starts sharing. When PDP takes over in 2019, we will ask them to refund every kobo of Abacha’s loot,

    “The Abacha’s loot the Federal government said they are going to share without budgettibg for it is a wrong way to appropriate money. It is never done anywhere. That is recipe for corruption. Who are they giving it to?

    “I believe that the money is meant for the APC government for election in 2019 and they have started using it. If they do, when we take over, we will probe it. They will be held responsible and accountable and they will refund because they must appropriate for it,” he said.

    While speaking on plans to unhorse APC at the National and in Ogun State, Secondus hinted that there would shaking and shifting in the weeks ahead within the ruling party.

    “You will see signs and wonders. In a matter of weeks, there will be shaking and shifting. The APC government has nothing to offer, they are afraid. What they are doing today is not knew, it has happened before. We can’t be intimidated,” Secondus told his cheering party faithful.

  • Ekiti 2018: Expected voters storm Government House to collect N4000

    In anticipation to vote for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Prof. Kolapo Olusola in Saturday’s election, expected voters trooped  to  Government House in Okesa area of the State to collect N4000  with the presentation of their  voters card.

    The electorates who in their thousands stormed the seat of power through the Deputy governors office and linked up with the government house were discussing aloud about the election as they marched to the hilly office of the governor.

    The Nation gathered that the government house which was crowded by the electorate are highly organized as they were all divided according to the ward that individual belong.

    Read Also: Ekiti 2018: INEC is ready to conduct credible election – REC

    One of the electorate who simply identified himself as Tijani, a student of Ekiti State University said he has to wait and collect his own share of the national cake since it is free.

    It was a peaceful environment as it was highly organized and some of the ward representative are seated with the comprehensive voters register in their hands to cross check the name of the would be collector.

    Women and Okada drivers packed their machines in front of the deputy governor’s office and passed through a small gate that linked up the office to the governor office to collect their dole.