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Tag: Peoples Democratic Party

  • PDP condemns Edo competency test for promotion

    PDP condemns Edo competency test for promotion

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the introduction of competency written test by the Edo State government for its workers before they would be promoted.

    It said Governor Godwin Obaseki was sustaining an unpopular policy of his immediate predecessor.

    The PDP rather advised the state government to cultivate the habit of organising in-house training for workers and to “stop dehumanising them in the name of competency test.”

    State chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, in a statement issued in Benin urged Governor Obaseki to take learn from former Prof. Ambrose Alli administration on content development for civil servants.

    He said, “Edo PDP condemns in strong terms the clandestine and wicked reintroduction of competency test by Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    “The test itself is an illegal one as a restraining order given by the Industrial Court in 2014 against the conduct of such tests has not been vacated.

    “With this, it has shown clearly that the only thing that has changed in the Edo government house is the personality because the present government is a continuation of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s anti-people policies.

    “We challenge the state government to come out with the real motive behind the competency test as it is a common knowledge that there is more than meets the eye in the exercise.

    “Remember that Oshiomhole set up committee and wasted millions of taxpayers’ money to organise the failed test in 2014. It is shameful that just like Oshiomhole, Governor Obaseki has shown great knack for frivolities.”

    Governor Obaseki, had on Wednesday defended the conduct of the test, saying t the test was not compulsory for all teachers and that it was unfortunate that many teachers failed to understand details of the test.

    He said, “It is not competency test. It is part of strengthening the civil service. The test is part of promotion exercise. They are already competent and that is why they are working and in the service.”

  • PDP begins sale of Anambra governorship forms

    PDP begins sale of Anambra governorship forms

    …Slashes cost of forms from N11m to N6m

    The national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party has commenced the sale of interest and nomination forms for aspirants in the Anambra State governorship election billed to hold in November.

    As at Tuesday, only one of the aspirants, Dr. Alex Obidigbo had collected his form.

    Spokesman for the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye announced the reduction of the nomination form for the race from N11 million at which it was sold during the 2015 elections, to N6 million.

    According to him, the crash in price was to allow broader participation in the race by intending aspirants, adding that Nigerians have not lost confidence in the party.

    Adeyeye said that the PDP was working towards winning 30 of the 36 states by 2019.

    The party’s Caretaker Organising Secretary, Dr. Abdul Ningi declared that the PDP had recovered from the shock it received when former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and five governor defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the 2015 elections.

    Ningi said, “We said one of our cardinal principles is that the party is not a one man party. This party has individuals that left the PDP, beginning with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar.

    “That has been our plight. This party can do without a single individual or groups of individuals. Five of our governors left, we were wounded but not defeated and we are rising from the ashes of those who have left”.

    He added that the 14-month leadership crisis the PDP went through has strengthened rather than weaken the party, as it has provided the opportunity for reflection.

    Continuing, Ningi said, “We are also happy that the crisis has given us the opportunity to look inwards, to look at mistakes, look at where we went wrong and try to make amends.

    “This party has also left it doors open to those who have left to come back because the PDP is their natural turf. A lot of them have discovered that where it matters is this party”.

    The party chief observed that the crisis bedeviling the country today were not there in the 16 years the PDP held power, stressing that Nigerians have now seen the difference.

  • Nigerians were worried for PDP – Jonathan

    Nigerians were worried for PDP – Jonathan

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan said on Monday that Nigerians still have confidence in the capacity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to lead the country.

    Jonathan stated this at the expanded National Caucus meeting of the party held at Wadata House, Abuja.

    He said Nigerians were worried that the party would go down.

    The ex-President said this confidence in the PDP was demonstrated with reactions by Nigerians to last Wednesday’s Supreme Court’s judgment on the party’s leadership crisis.

    He urged that efforts by PDP members and supporters within this period should be channelled towards building the party.

    Jonathan said: “Nigerians still believe in the PDP because when the Supreme Court judgment was given, I was so surprised because some of the people called and sent text messages to me.

    “They are not even politicians but they are so happy that PDP has come on stream because they were worried that PDP will go down.

    “So, if people who are not even members of PDP are so happy that PDP has now gotten a platform to operate despite the negative propaganda against us, it means people still believe in PDP.

    “PDP is a party that Nigerians still believe in.”

    He appealed to party members to rebuild it, assuring that many people who stepped aside from the party as a result of its leadership crisis would return.

    The ex-President added: “The first thing we need to do is to rebuild the party because when the party is strong, everything will be added to that.

    Whether you have individual or group interest, as a politician, you must serve. These are very basic things, but first and foremost, we must strengthen the party – Jonathan.

    “Let us cooperate with the Caretaker Committee and make sure that PDP is very cohesive. And when that happens, people who stepped aside may step back.

    “We may not even need to go on a voyage of discovery to discover people. But they, themselves will come back because a strong party acts like a magnet.

    “It will attract all the people that are interested.”

    The Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, said only a miracle would stop PDP from regaining power in 2019.

    Makarfi said the meeting was convened to chart the way forward for the party.

  • PDP holds expanded National Caucus, BOT, NEC meetings July 17

    PDP holds expanded National Caucus, BOT, NEC meetings July 17

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has fixed its expanded National Caucus, Board of Trustees (BoT), and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings for Monday. July 17.
    The notice of the meeting was jointly issued in Abuja on Saturday by Sen. Ben Obi, the National Secretary of PDP National Caretaker Committee, and Amb. Aminu Wali, the National Secretary of BOT for BOT Chairman.
    It stated that the meeting of the expanded National Caucus would hold at 8 a.m, at PDP National Secretariat (Wadata Plaza), Abuja.
    Those invited to attend the meeting were former presidents and vice presidents, PDP governors, NEC members, BoT members, National Assembly members, former PDP governors, former PDP ministers and all former national officers of the party.
    It added that the BOT and NEC would also be holding separate meetings on Tuesday, July 18, at the same venue.(NAN)

  • ‘I would have burnt my PDP card if Sheriff won’

    ‘I would have burnt my PDP card if Sheriff won’

    Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, said he would have burnt his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) membership card if the court had declared Ali Modu Sheriff chairman of the party.

    He said that he would have also destroyed the party’s flag in his possession.

    Fayose, who returned to the state on Friday after the Wednesday’s Supreme Court session, stated this while addressing PDP supporters in Ado-Ekiti.

    He said that he would have destroyed his membership card of the party and the flag right at the court premises if the verdict had been in favour of Sheriff.

    “I never imagined myself being in the same party with impostors,” he said.

    The governor, however, said that Sheriff and his followers had been forgiven but won’t go scot-free for causing the party members so much pain.

    “I went to court with a perfume which I wanted to use to spray my cards and party flags and set them ablaze even within the court premises if Sheriff had won; that was why I went to court.

    “Although I believe that we remain the same PDP family, no one can cause our party such pains and embarrassment and expect that he will go without being asked to account for his actions.

    “The no victor, no vanquished’ that we said was a mere political slogan. Whoever that participated in this charade must show some reasonable level of remorse for his actions,” he said.

  • The battle we fought was not for PDP alone – Makarfi

    The battle we fought was not for PDP alone – Makarfi

    Leaders and key stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are excited over yesterday’s victory of the Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee at the Supreme Court.

    After consultations, the stakeholders declared that with the victory over Sheriff, the PDP is poised to reclaim the presidency in 2019.

    Describing the victory as one for democracy and the people, Makarfi said it also signified the supremacy of party men and women to decide their destiny.

    Said he: “This victory is not just for PDP; it’s for democracy. This affirms the powers of political parties. This affirms the powers of the convention of all political parties.

    “The battle we fought was not a battle for PDP alone. It was a battle for democracy; it was a battle for supremacy of party men and women to decide their destiny. And it’s a battle to do away with dictatorship in political parties and this will never repeat itself.

    “We thank the rest of party men and women across Nigeria for their loyalty and steadfastness. We must thank and appreciate the judiciary for the wonderful job it has done. We never lost faith in the judiciary. We have always been saying that ultimately justice will be done.”

    Makarfi said the party’s doors would remain open for reconciliation with Sheriff and other aggrieved members, including those that dumped the PDP during the crisis.

    “We must be open to reconciliation. But there’s a caveat: reconciliation does not mean we take what belongs to people and give it to you. Reconciliation must be based on equity, equality, and values.

    “With this caveat, we should be prepared and willing to reconcile with everybody. Anybody that can meet these criteria, we should be willing and open to reconciliation with such a person no matter who they are.

    “And I assured you that those who have been waiting for this judgment were not just PDP. The whole of Nigeria today was waiting for this judgment. And the eagle has landed.

    “We are going to consult within the next two to three days. And come up with a programme of meetings between  Monday and  Tuesday. And these meetings will include Expanded Caucus, BoT and NEC so that we can take some far-reaching decisions on how to take the party forward,” Makarfi added.

    He called on Muslims and Christians to continue to pray for ailing President Muhammadu Buhari and PDP BoT Chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, who suffered a stroke about two days ago.

    To Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, the judgment has placed the party in good stead to return to power in 2019.

    According to him, the party would make maximum use of its resurgence. Power, he said, has remained dormant under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Fayose

    He chided the ruling party for what he described as its inability to sustain the power given to it by Nigerians in the 2015 elections, saying “today is a new dawn for Nigeria”.

    Fayose, who spoke in Abuja after the judgment, said governance would take its rightful place under the leadership of the PDP.

    The governor also said the Makarfi camp would not engage Sheriff and his loyalists in any further struggle, but efforts would be made to reconcile them with the new leadership.

    Fayose pleaded for unity and cooperation with the Makarfi leadership. He cautioned against mutual suspicion and mistrust that triggered the crisis in the first place.

    Said he: “I urge us to support the Makarfi-led committee. The committee cannot please all of us. So please, let us stop suspecting ourselves. Some will lead, some will follow. So let’s give the committee support.”

    Former ministers described the judgment as one of the most celebrated cases in the nation’s history.

    Addressing reporters in Abuja, the chairman of the Forum Tanimu said: “The judgment is hope for democracy. The opposition will continue to survive. Without opposition, those in government won’t be able to sit up and do the work that is expected of them.”

  • KOWA urges Obaseki to be magnanimous in victory

    KOWA urges Obaseki to be magnanimous in victory

    KOWA, a political party, has urged Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo to be magnanimous in his political victory by working with all stakeholders, irrespective of political affiliations.

    Mr Thompson Osadolor, KOWA’s candidate in the 2016 Edo Governorship election, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Tuesday.

    Osadolor, who was reacting to Obaseki’s victory at the Supreme Court, described the victory as a call to unite all stakeholders for the purpose of moving the state forward.

    He said just like his previous victory at the Tribunal and Appeal Court, the Supreme Court victory had again reaffirmed that the people truly voted for Obaseki to be the Governor.

    Osadolor said: “Now that the legal battle of the governorship election has been put to rest, it is time for all, irrespective of political affiliations, to put the state at work.

    We must all now come together to work for the common good of the people and the state. We must now put our individual interest or ambition on hold for the common good of all – Osadolor.

    “As for the Governor, I urge him to see his victory as a call to unite all, whether they worked for him or not.

    “He should be magnanimous and humble enough to tap knowledge from his political opponents. What matters most is the overall development of the state,’’ he said.

    Osadolor said many candidates that contested the election with Obaseki did so with the desire to uplift the standard of living of the people and for the overall growth of the state.

    “In going into the contest, however, we were also conscious of the fact that only one will emerge as governor at the end of the day.

    “My point here is that since Obaseki defeated us to the seat, he needs our support; let us avail ourselves to assist him when he requests for it.

    “Obaseki is the governor today; his time has come and it will definitely end one day for another person to take the battle of leadership, but the state remains while leaders come and go.”

    Obaseki, who contested the election the election on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), September 2016, defeated his closest rival and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

    Ize-Iyamu, who was not satisfied with the results of the poll, challenged the victory of Obaseki at the Election Petitions Tribunal alleging irregularity.

    However, the Three-Member Edo Election Petition Tribunal in April dismissed the petition filed by the PDP and its candidate, for lack of merit.

    Similarly, in June, the Appeal Court again upheld Obaseki’s victory at the poll while Ize-Iyamu proceeded to the apex court to challenge the Appeal Court’s judgment.

    In the seven-man panel at the Supreme Court on Monday, the judges, in a unanimous decision, dismissed Ize-Iyamu’s case for lack of merit.

  • Ize-Iyamu congratulates Obaseki

    Ize-Iyamu congratulates Obaseki

    Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in the September 28 governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has congratulated Governor Godwin Obaseki on Monday’s Supreme Court ruling which affirmed Obaseki’s election.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu, whose petition was dismissed for lack of merit, assured Governor Obaseki of his goodwill.

    In a press statement issued in Benin City, Pastor Ize-Iyamu said the Supreme Court verdict has brought an end his struggle for the office of the governor of Edo State.

    According to the statement, “I accept in good faith this decision of the highest court of our country, which affirms Mr Godwin Obaseki as the Governor of Edo State. I therefore congratulate Mr Godwin Obaseki and assure him of my goodwill.

    “I also want to use this opportunity to thank all our supporters and party men and women for their immense support for our struggle right from the time of the election to this day that it ended at the Supreme Court. Let me assure them of my acknowledgement of their various sacrifices and promise that I will always be there for them.

    “I thank all Edo people who have been part of our struggle all the way. In our various ways we should keep the fire burning in the quest for an Edo State of our dreams.”

     

  • ‘PDP totally dead, even Obasanjo tore its card’

    ‘PDP totally dead, even Obasanjo tore its card’

    • Says Obasanjo who gave PDP relevance in South-West has torn its card into shreds

    Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has on Tuesday stated that the Peoples Democratic Party‎ (PDP) has lost its relevance in the South-Western part of Nigeria with the turning into shreds of the party’s membership card by the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo who brought the party to the region.

    This was even as the Governor warned the opposition party against importing into the state hoodlums and mercenaries for the purpose of unleashing mayhem during the coming Osun West Senatorial by-election.

    Aregbesola stated these when the campaign train led by him to solicit votes for Senator Mudashir Husain moved to Ikire, in Irewole Local Government Area of the state.

    Aregbesola who had earlier paid a courtesy call on Akire of Ikire, Oba Olatunde Falabi, said the emergence of the All Progressives Congress at the centre has been the end of PDP’s reign in the country.

    He said the PDP’s era has gone in Nigeria particularly in the South-west as many of the party’s founding fathers have dumped the party.

    Aregbesola held that ‎the PDP has become a dead party in Nigeria, saying whoever returns to the party now could only meet vanity.

    The Governor described the move to revive the PDP through the forthcoming bye-election as an exercise in futility, saying the former President who brought PDP to the South-west ‎openly before members of the part tore his membership card of the PDP into shreds.

    According to him, ‎”Why will any sensible politician at this time will want to associate with a party that is not only drowning but dead in the South-West.

    “It will be an exercise in futility for anybody to now want to wake up a dead horse through the July 8 Osun West Senatorial bye-election when founding fathers of the party have not only deserted the party but wouldn’t want to be associated with it.

    “We are all living witnesses to how the former President openly at his ward declared that the the PDP has gone beyond redemption, hence his declaration of the obituary of the party with the symbolic trashing of his membership card “, he stressed.

    He also took the opportunity of the campaign to warn troublemakers especially the opposition parties who are nursing the ambition of bringing in militants to unleash mayhem should people resist their underhand tendencies during the July 8 bye-election.

    Aregbesola, however, warned suspected militants who PDP might have engaged to turn down the offer as the state in collaboration with security agencies ‎will do everything possible to ensure that Osun remains peaceful as ever.

    He said, “Why will anybody think that the people of Osun who stood firm even in the face of provocation‎ during the last general election under the supervision of the PDP led government then, would now waiver from such determination?.

    “It is on record that despite the intimidation by the then security apparatus who invaded the state with weird looking officers who had strange looking dogs still could not deter our people from associating with our good governance, why will they be deterred by militants?.

    “We use this medium to warn any militant who the opposition had contracted to think twice before coming to Osun as government is ever ready to use every lawful means at its disposal to smoke them out of the state”, the Governor told the gathering

  • ‘I’ll defeat Adeleke’s brother to Senate’

    ‘I’ll defeat Adeleke’s brother to Senate’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the July 8 Osun West senatorial district by-election, Mudashir Hussein, has said he will defeat his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rival, Ademola Adeleke.

    Hussein was reacting to alleged “gang-up” by other contenders.

    He said the electorate would decide who they wanted as their representative in the Senate.

    According to him, his achievements and antecedents would speak for him.

    Hussein said: “I am hearing for the first time that they are teaming up against me. It’s okay. We shall meet on the field. I am running on records and my achievements. My antecedents will speak volume.

    “When the late Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke was a serving senator on PDP platform, I defeated him as a sitting senator in Osun West District. I believe in God.

    “Their party thrives on poll-rigging and manipulation, but we believe in one man, one vote. Let them gang up. We shall meet on the field.”