The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peoples Democratic Party

  • Oyo 2019: Re-alignment against ruling party will end in futility – APC

    Oyo 2019: Re-alignment against ruling party will end in futility – APC

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) Oyo State chapter, says the on-going re-alignment of forces by the opposition political players in the state ahead of the 2019 gubernatorial election would fail.

    This was contained in a statement by Mr Olawale Sadare, the party’s Public Relations Officer in Ibadan on Saturday.

    The leaderships of opposition political parties in the state, including the Accord Party, Social Democratic Party, Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party have initiated a move to regroup against the ruling APC.

    The re-alignment is aimed at dislodging the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in the state in the 2019 elections.

    Prominent among the state political leaders in the move were former Gov. Rasheed Ladoja, former Gov. Adebayo Alao-Akala, Mr Seyi Makinde and Alhaji Sharafadeen Alli.

    “We are a governing party that has distinguished itself as the only vehicle of good governance, peace and wholesome development desired by the majority of the people of Nigeria, including the good citizens of the state.

    “What they are planning is a civilian coup against the electorate but it would not see the light of day for many reasons.

    “Most characters involved in the gang-up have had opportunities in the past to impact positively on the lives of the people but they failed as a result of incurable traits of incompetence, selfishness and cluelessness,’’ it said.

    The party stated that many of the arrow heads of the alignment are ignorant of how government works from the way they criticize government policies and condemn its projects.

    The party stated that Nigerians would not support any alignment, re-alignment or gang-up from the same set of people that plunged the nation into economic mess.

    It counselled the sponsors of alignment and those who intend to benefit from it to realize that the effort would end up in futility.

  • PDP suspends Ubah, refers Kashamu to disciplinary panel

    PDP suspends Ubah, refers Kashamu to disciplinary panel

    The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah for one month. The party has also refereed Senator Buruji Kashamu to its disciplinary committee for action.
    Briefing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said Ubah, who was a governorship aspirant in Anambra State, got suspended for disregarding a query issued him by the leadership of the party.
    On Kashamu, Adeyeye said the leadership of the party had queried the senator representing Ogun East over some of his actions which the PDP considered inappropriate and detrimental to the stability of the party.
    Adeyeye said: “This week, we had some disciplinary issues regarding the issue of Anambra governorship primaries, in which one of the aspirants had launched a major attack against the leadership of the party in the media.
    “I am talking in the person of Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah who not being satisfied with the decision of the Governorship Appeal Panel, decided to launch a vitriolic attack on the leadership of the party and those who were involved in the conduct of the primary.
    “The National Caretaker Committee took a decision to issue him a query, asking him to retract the statement and to offer apology to those who have been disparaged by his remarks in the press.
    “He chose not to answer the query. Of course the query was issued under the relevant sections of the Constitution of the PDP. But he decided not to answer the query; consequent upon which the National Caretaker Committee today decided to suspend him for a period of one month and to refer the matter to the National Disciplinary Committee for further necessary action”.
    Adeyeye said of Kashamu, “He too was issued a query by the National Caretaker Committee some weeks ago. In his own case, he replied the query and denied some of the allegations made against him. He was basically saying that he is not responsible for some of those things for which he was accused of.
    “Consequently, the National Caretaker Committee also took a decision to refer his case to the National Disciplinary Committee for further necessary action”
    According to the party spokesman, the disciplinary committee is expected to submit its report within two weeks.
    Ubah was suspended for launching media attacks on members of the primary election committee set up the party to conduct the Anambra State governorship primaries. Mr. Oseloka Obaze won the primary election.
    The oil magnate had described the primary election as a “sham” and accused the leadership of the party of doctoring the delegates’ list for the primaries.
    According to him, the list of accredited delegates used for the primary election was different from the one the party submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
    Ubah had accused the chairman of the primary election committee, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State of manipulating the exercise by unilaterally pruning the number of delegates.
    He had challenged Obaze’s victory on the ground that the latter was still awaiting the party’s decision on his waiver application at the time the primary election was conducted.
    Ubah had threatened to take the PDP to court, following the failure of the party leadership and its various conflict resolution organs to address his complaints.
    “I was robbed of the PDP governorship ticket at the primary election and all my efforts to get redress from the leadership of the party, including the Appeal Panel and the Board of Trustees (BoT) failed to yield result”, Ubah had said.
    Apparently, Kashamu is being investigated for challenging the decision on the party leadership dissolving Ogun State executive committee in court.
    The party had, a few weeks ago, dissolved the state’s executive committee loyal to Kashamu and had set up a caretaker committee in its place.
    Kashamu had kicked against the decision of the party, an action that attracted a query from the party leadership.
    In response, the senator said the query was contemptuous of a subsisting court judgment relating to the leadership crisis in the Ogun State chapter.
    Kashamu’s response states in part, “I am extremely shocked by the content of your letter to the effect that I instigated the police to arrest and prefer criminal charges against certain party members whose names were mentioned in your letter.
    “This is more so because the issues raised in the letter practically have no direct bearing to me except to the extent that I am the leader and highest PDP political office holder in Ogun State.
    “First and foremost, I differ to the assertion that the Nigeria Police could be instigated into performing their statutory responsibilities. As a Nigerian lawmaker and Senator of the Federal Republic, I strongly believe in our institutions and thus have no doubts about the professionalism and capability of the Nigeria Police to perform their functions should the need arise”.
  • IPOB: PDP advises APC to look inward

    IPOB: PDP advises APC to look inward

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to look inward in resolving the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) crisis.

    The party gave the advice in a statement by its National Caretaker Committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Dayo Adeye, on Tuesday in Abuja.

    It said that it was again constrained to react to a statement credited to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, noting excuses and blame-game would not help in solving the problem.

    The party said that the minister on Sunday tried to shift blames of the poor handling of the agitations of IPOB by the current administration to an opposition.

    According to it, it is worrisome that government blamed opposition parties, which they have conveniently labelled looters, for the activities of IPOB.

    It urged the APC to look inward in locating the looters using their ill-gotten wealth to sponsor separatist agitation against the government of the day.

    It stated that no external enemy was working against the APC government and advised the party to do soul-searching and correct the anomaly.

    “We wish to put on record that agitation for the actualisation of the State of Biafra was a total silent voice while the PDP was in power.

    “That was because of the Government of inclusiveness we provided for Nigerians who were made to experience what a genuine national government meant.

    “Finally, as a party, we had condemned and we are still condemning separatist movements tailored towards balkanising the nation.”

  • IPOB, Army: Charly Boy, Adeyanju urge FG to be more solution-focused

    IPOB, Army: Charly Boy, Adeyanju urge FG to be more solution-focused

    Popular Nigerian songwriter and entertainer, Charles Oputa, known as Charly Boy and the convener of Concerned Nigerians group, Deji Adeyanju, on Thursday called on the Federal Government to more circumspect and solution-focused in handling sensitive matters as secessionist agitations within the country.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Maverick singer and the former New Media Director for the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), in which the duo noted that the move by the government is an aberration that must be strongly condemned.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the recent detachment of soldiers from the Nigerian Army to the Afaraukwu country home of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, and the invasion of Abia State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists on Aba Road, Umuahia, which led to the destruction of laptops and other valuables thereby causing unnecessary panic within the state and the entire region.

    “We consider this move an aberration that must be strongly condemned in a democratic environment like ours.

    “The good people of Abia State deserve better than the undue panic under which they have been placed since the invasion which has completely restricted them from going about their daily activities freely like they used to.

    “In as much as we are aware that the Federal Government is concerned about curbing divisive messages and inordinate agitations within the country, we believe it should be more concerned about safeguarding the lives and properties of all Nigerians in any part of the country.

    “It is also important to note that though recanted, the October 1 ultimatum issued by some misguided northern youths to the Igbos in the north remains weighty in the minds of many and the atmosphere is hypersensitive to any mishap that could foment such interethnic melee.

    “We urge the Federal Government; therefore, that, rather than steaming up the flames of enmity and discord within the country by using force on harmless citizens, it should be more committed to dousing tensions and promoting peace and unity.

    “Finally, we appeal to the Federal Government to be more circumspect and solution-focused in handling sensitive matters as secessionist agitations within the country. God bless Nigeria.”

  • Why we ordered removal of illegal billboards in Gombe – Commissioner

    Why we ordered removal of illegal billboards in Gombe – Commissioner

    The Government of Gombe State has said that it ordered the removal of illegal billboards within the state capital owing to the environmental hazards they constitute.

    This is according to the State’s Commissioner for Information, Hon. Umar Ahmed Suleiman, who made this clarification that the billboards were illegally mounted across the state without approval from the relevant authority.

    The Commissioner noted that such billboards accrue no revenue to the state.

    In a statement, Suleiman said: “These billboards are mounted recklessly within the state capital posing serious threat to the environment. Gombe city is known as one of the cleanest and environmental-friendly capitals in the country.

    However, these billboards are defacing the city and more dangerously is the fact that they pose serious threat to road users, especially drivers as some of the billboards are positioned in ways that obstruct the view of drivers. Some of these billboards are also not well-erected and can fall at any time, especially during this rainy season.”

    According to the statement, the State government ordered the concerned agency of government to remove all the billboards, irrespective of political parties or affiliations.

    He berated the state chapter of the opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC), for playing politics with the genuine move of the government.

    “It is pathetic that the APC in the state is playing politics with this laudable move. Are they not happy that Gombe is rated as one of the cleanest states in Nigeria? Are they not proud of the exemplary leadership of His Excellency, Gov. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo that has made Gombe the safest state in the North-East and beyond? Will they be happy if some of these illegal billboards cause accidents in the state?

    “Let me restate that this move is not targeted at anyone or group as claimed by the APC. It is surprising that with the much-touted campaign of change, legality and respect for the rule of law by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government, the APC in the state is encouraging illegality, uncleanliness and disregard for law and orders,” he added.

    Suleiman maintained that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in the state will continue to be proactive and meet the yearnings of the electorates, stressing that Gombe electorates and Nigerians are proud of the achievement of Gov. Dankwambo.

    Recalled that the APC accused the PDP of removing the billboards and posters of President Muhammadu Buhari and other members of the party in the state, saying no law prohibits the party from displaying its posters. 

  • ÀPC accuses PDP in Enugu of blackmail

    ÀPC accuses PDP in Enugu of blackmail

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), Enugu State chapter on Monday accused the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state of a strategy to break the ranks of the APC by appointing relations of APC chieftains as either care taker committee chairmen or candidates of PDP in the November 4, local government elections in the state.

    The party said that it has gone ahead to prepare for the poll with the conduct of its primaries on yesterday.

    The chairman of APC in the state, Dr. Ben Nwoye while briefing journalists at the party’s secretariat in Enugu on the success of the exercise, said the party was following all the democratic tenets to ensure internal party democracy as well as free and fair exercise, which he said will guarantee the party’s success at the polls.

    Nwoye used the opportunity to discountenance insinuations in some quarters that APC and the PDP-led government in the state were working together and that some APC chieftains were given the privilege of nominating PDP candidates in the council poll.

    He specifically denied that APC chieftains such as Ken Nnamani, Emperor Chris Baywood-Ibe and Sen Fide Okolo nominated their boys as PDP candidates in Enugu South, Awgu and Nsukka local government areas respectively.

    He said that PDP was trying to be clever by half by nominating or appointing relations of APC chieftains as either local government care taker committee chairmen or PDP candidates for the incoming council poll, and turning around to spread the fake rumour that the APC chiefs endorsed such candidates.

    The APC Chairman also alleged that the PDP propagandists and media consultants had also gone to town with the rumour that because APC chieftains attended a farewell reception which the state Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi held for Nigeria’s Ambassador to India, Gen Chris Eze (rtd), who happens to be his kinsman, it then means APC has endorsed the PDP led government.

    “The little gimmicks will not work. PDP is decimated, they are finished in the state as a political party; they are using this local government election to pitch family against family, brothers against brothers and friends against friends,” he said.

    He boasted that APC will give PDP a run for its money in the council poll and will go ahead and chase the party out of power in Enugu state in 2019 general elections, to show that the antics of PDP did not work.

    “Today is our local government primary election in all the 17 local governments. It is done at the ward level. It is direct primary, we are giving everybody, all the members of our party, the opportunity to come out and vote, unlike the PDP that had adopted a primitive style of selection and imposition of their members.

    “But in midst of that my attention has been drawn to a campaign of calumny by PDP-led government against the leaders of APC, against our national vice chairman, Hon. Emma Eneukwu; against DG-VON, Osita Okechukwu; against former governor of old Anambra state Sen Jim Nwobodo; and the former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani; and even against three time senator, Senator Fide Okolo.

    “And the point is, all these came about by the fact that Gov Ugwuanyi agreed to perform one of his civic responsibilities of giving a farewell reception for an ambassador who happens to be his kinsman, from the same village as Gov Uguwuanyi.

    “And he (Gen Eze) did the right thing as a person and invited leaders; the same man Gen Eze invited our leaders to come to his reception. Being civil people, and being civil leaders, they attended that reception. All that has now been turned around and we are getting suggestions from PDP media houses and media aides that somehow APC and
    PDP are now one, which is far from the truth. We are not one,” he said.

    He advised PDP goons not to equate personal relationship with political ideology, insisting that evaluation and assessment of PDP-led government would be done before 2019 by masses of Enugu State and not APC alone.

    “And this campaign of calumny had been systematically sustained by PDP media house in Enugu state to the effect that they have hired writers and ambush men in media houses suggesting that APC leaders in Enugu state have passed some type of good verdict in PDP-led government in Enugu state,” he said.

  • PDP insists Edo ex-Speaker must face trial 

    PDP insists Edo ex-Speaker must face trial 

    The People’s Democratic Party has insisted that a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Elisabeth Ativie, must be made to face trial if it was discovered that she contravened Section 10 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Matters Commission (ICPC) Act.

    It said the issue was no longer whether Hon Ativie is made to return the four official vehicles she used as Speaker but whether it was lawful for her to receive gratification for performing a duty for which she was duly elected.

    After weeks of hesitation, Hon Ativie has agreed to return the vehicles following the intervention of party leaders in her Uhunmwode constituency.

    Ativie had alleged that the four vehicles, one Toyota prado jeep, one Lexus jeep 2016 model and two Hilux vans were given to her by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the sacrifices she made for stepping down as Speaker.

    She said she has sold one of the after registering them in her name.

    But Comrade Oshiomhole denied asking Ativie to convert the vehicles for her personnel use and called on the state government to prosecute for stealing.

    A statement signed by state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Chris Nehikhare said the intervention by APC leaders and explanations of Oshiomhole were dangerously unacceptable.

    Nehikhare stated that the party will still seek an order of Mandamus to compel the arrest, investigation and prosecution of Oshiomhole and Ativie for their role in the purported sale of government vehicles and property.

    According to the statement, the PDP wants to establish if Adams Oshiomhole as governor had the power to gift government property to Hon. Ativie or anyone else for that matter.

    “That Adams Oshiomhole by gifting out the government vehicles in the circumstances which he said he did, was offering a bribe to a government official?

    “We want to state that Edo PDP is doing this in the interest of Edo people and its assets. A legal resolution of this issue will be a check on the conduct and behaviour of future governors and elected officers of the State and Nigeria at large.

    “A governor must know the limits of his powers and how to exercise them. He must know that deceit and bribery are not acceptable.”

  • Only newbreed, focused politician can unseat Osun APC – Guber Aspirant

    Only newbreed, focused politician can unseat Osun APC – Guber Aspirant

    An Abuja based online Publisher and governorship aspirant in Osun state, Olawale Rasheed has said that only a new breed politician with the right attributes can unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, Rasheed said while the people of Osun State are desirous of having a change, they should be looking into the future by getting politicians who will move the state forward and not be looking backwards.

    He said: “Our people seek new face, new age leadership, a breath of fresh air, not aspirants that are part of the problem rather than the solution. If we say Osun is in crisis, does it start with the current government? If we are looking for the solution, how do you present problem as a solution?

    Rasheed who is eyeing the governorship seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the party can only win next year’s poll by wide margin provided “the party understands what Osun people are saying on the streets, what the youth are clamouring for, how eager they are to break from the past.

    “Overwhelming majority of voters in Osun state are fed up with the old political elite. If you want to beat APC next year, present a successor generation of leader within PDP. Without that, we may be digging for another failure”.

    He said further that, “PDP leaders will be insulting the voters and underrating their intelligence if they fail to consciously work to produce a candidate from the right zone, with new age outlook and with unblemished records.

    “It is a lie to affirm that Osun people want to ‘change the change’ at all cost. While they want change, they are not ready to jump from frying pan to fire. PDP can only become a viable option to the people when it demonstrates a true, not cosmetic break from the past”, he said.

    “We have served our leaders, we have followed them from inception and we are mature. Now is the time for a successor generation to aspire and be supported to lead the state. I am one of the many children of the PDP. Our fathers should support us to take the mantle of leadership”.

  • Anambra election:  Obaze clinches PDP ticket

    Anambra election:  Obaze clinches PDP ticket

    Mr Oseloka Obaze has clinched the People’s Democratic Party, PDP governorship ticket to fly the party’s flag in the November 18 Anambra governorship election.

    In a landslide victory, he defeated oil mogul, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah, Dr Alex Obiogbulu and Sen Stella Oduah to the ticket of the party.

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state led the Committee appointed by the National Leadership of the party that conducted the primary election amidst tight security at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre in Awka, the state capital.

    Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were also present to monitor the election.

    A total of 958 delegates took place in the one day exercise and at the end Obaze, a former Secretary to the State Government, emerged victorious with  672 votes while Obiogbolu came a distant second with 190 votes.

    Mr Ubah could only garner 94 votes to place third while two votes were declared as invalid.

    There was a mild drama after counting of the votes as Mr Ifeanyi Uba took the microphone and protested the election result claiming that the election was mared by irregularities.

    But Umahi interrupted him and asked him to wait for him to declare the results to make his protest.

    After the declaration of the results, Dr Uba said the delegates list was only given to them two days to the election unlike what other parties got their list four weeks before the primaries.

    This he said made it difficult for the candidates to campaign to the delegates.

    He also noted that he and some of the candidates who withdrew have already instituted a case in the court to challenge the primaries because of the massive irregularities.

    Three other contestants, John Emeka, a former Minister, Hon Linda Ikpeazu representing Onitsha North and South federal constituency and Prof Akaolisa Ufodike had earlier announced their withdrawal from the race.

    Mr Emeka in a press statement cited irregularities in the party’s delegates list for his decision to back out of the race.

    The aspirant who did not state those responsible for the mutilation of the list simply announced his withdrawal from the contest.

    Governor Umahi before the commencement of voting acknowledges receipt of withdrawal by Ikpeazu and Ufodike.

    There have been accusations and counter accusations over the party’s delegates list, with some aspirants complaining of the party’s rank being infiltrated by members of other political parties, with the hope of disrupting the emergence of the party’s choice candidate.

    Accreditation of delegates began at exactly 10am at three designated centres in the state which are Emaus house, J-Jumac Hotel and Alexandria hotel.

    Voting commenced as soon as accreditation was completed a few hours and was concluded at around 4:30pm.

    Thereafter sorting and collation of results began immediately after the votes were cast.

     

  • 500 Abia PDP women defect to APGA

    Women numbering over 500 in Aba North and South Federal Constituency, Abia State have defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    The PDP women under the aegis of Amalgamated Abia Women led by their leader Madam Peace Uwalaka said they decided to dump the ruling party in the state because of what she described as the inability of the incumbent administration in the state to fulfil its promises to the people of the state.

    Uwalaka who recalled how past elected representatives of Aba North and South federal constituency had failed the electorate, hailed House of Representatives lawmaker, Hon. Ossy Prestige for quality representation in less than three years of being in the House.

    The group members who vowed to assist and support the lawmaker in any way that they can to improve the lives of the constituents, urged the lawmaker to continue in his good works.

    In his response, Prestige thanked the women for identifying with his service to the people and promised not to rest on his oars until Aba is fixed.

    He also told the women that their solidarity would encourage him to do more.