The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peoples Democratic Party

  • Osun: Senator Adeleke’s brother defects to PDP

    Osun: Senator Adeleke’s brother defects to PDP

    • Becomes party’s sole aspirant for primary poll

    Younger brother to late Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, Ademola, is the sole aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary poll for Osun West Senatorial District July 8 bye election holding today at Iwo City Stadium, headquarters of Iwo Local Government.

    Two contestants for the seat on the platform of the PDP, former Minister of the Youth Development, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, and a retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army, Olayiwola Falabi, earlier cleared for the primary last night stepped down for Ademola Adeleke after he had shown intention to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Until Monday, Adeleke was sole aspirant of the APC until his co-contestant, Mudashiru Hussain, disqualified by the party’s screening committee and the Appeal Committee was cleared by the national working committee of the APC.

    It was gathered that Adeleke wrote a letter to the APC to withdraw from the race on the platform of the party, therefore leaving Hussain as the party’s sole aspirant in today’s primary holding on the outskirts of Osogbo at Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State.

  • Ramadan: Pray for Buhari, avoid watching television – cleric

    Ramadan: Pray for Buhari, avoid watching television – cleric

    An Islamic cleric, Alhaji Aminulahi Seriki, on Sunday called on Nigerians, particularly Muslims to use the opportunity of Ramadan to pray for quick recovery of President Mohammadu Buhari.

    Seriki, Assistant Imam, Ansarul-deen Mosque, Fadeyi, Lagos, made the call at an annual Ramadan Lecture, entitled ‘`The Impact of Prayers.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture was organised by Alhaji Moshood Salvador, a factional Lagos State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The lecture was held alongside `zakat’ – giving alms to the needy.

    The cleric, who said that God commanded prayers for leaders, urged Muslims to avoid watching television while praying to avoid unanswered prayer.

    “We should fully submit ourselves to God and concentrate when praying to Him.

    “You don’t watch television or look at things going on around you while praying; such things are the causes of unanswered prayers,” he said.

    Seriki said that Buhari needed prayers of Nigerians for restoration of his health and God’s guidance to rule.

    He also urged Nigerians to unite to pray for the peace and unity of the country.

    “I call on Nigerians to continue to pray for sound health for President Buhari so that he can quickly return to the country and continue the business of governance.

    “I want my Muslim brothers to use the opportunity of the blessings the holy month of Ramadan offers to pray for the president and for national peace.

    “God requires us, as believers, to always pray for our leaders because He gives power to them.

    “We should obey this command and pray for the president and his men so that they can lead us well.

    He said that most people did not have solutions to their problems because they underrated the power of prayer.

    Seriki said that prayer remained a medium of communication between man and God.

    He commended Salvador for organising the annual lecture, saying that it would go a long way to uplift participants spiritually.

    In his remarks, Salvador said that he had been organising the lecture and the zakat in the past 20 years.

    He said that the aim was to remind Muslims of the need to renew their commitment to God and extend a hand of brotherhood to the needy.

    The PDP chieftain said that the zakat would be expanded next year to include disbursement of empowerment items in Surulere, Lagos, and environs.

    He urged affluent Muslims to assist the poor.

    “I want to urge wealthy Nigerians particularly Muslims to always remember the less privileged.

    “Allah has commanded us to do so. If you help your brothers in need, you are fulfilling a religious obligation.

    “The clothes and food items we are giving to over 3,000 beneficiaries today are to ensure that people around us have a reason to smile especially during Ramadan,” he said.

  • Edo polls: PDP, Ize-Iyamu head for Supreme Court

    Edo polls: PDP, Ize-Iyamu head for Supreme Court

    The People’s Democratic Party in Edo State and its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu have expressed their desire to head for the Supreme Court against the Court of Appeal ruling.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu told newsmen after the Court of Appeal ruling that certain issues raised at the tribunal were yet to be addressed.

    He said, “Until one is actually able to lay hands on the judgement and read,that is when one can make a fair comment. All we know is that our appeal and the cross appeal were dismissed. But the reasons are not known.

    “By the time we lay hands on it, we will meet with our lawyers and our party leaders and take a decision. There were fundamental issues we raised against the tribunal judgement.

    “There are things it said that we believe cannot stand the test of time. We are not bound to depend only on corrupt practices to prove our point. Non-compliance is a ground in the Electoral Act and we depended on it.”

    State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, said nothing would stop the party from appealing against the appellate court ruling.

    His words, “I was in court and we were waiting anxiously to hear their verdict. But what we got was a very brief statement saying that they have dismissed the appeal. They did not give the reasons for their judgement.

    “But on the strength of our case to the Appeal Court, I believe that there is nothing that will stop us from going to the Supreme Court‎ to see that justice is done on this case.”

     

  • PDP chieftain reveals plot to sack Obaseki through Supreme Court

    PDP chieftain reveals plot to sack Obaseki through Supreme Court

    A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party in Edo State, Mr. James Ifaluyi-Ogbeide, has revealed plans by the party leadership to sack Governor Godwin Obaseki through the Supreme Court.

    Mr. Ifaluyi-Ogbeide said the plot to use a Supreme Court justice was hatched at a meeting of PDP leaders held in Port-Harcourt.

    Speaking at a press briefing in Benin City, the PDP chieftain said he decided to raise the alarm to stop desperate plans by the party leadership to manipulate the electoral victory of Governor Obaseki at the Supreme Court.

    Ogbeide said the leadership of PDP have set-aside huge sum of money to procure victory at the apex court.

    He alleged that the Supreme Court justice from the South-South zone has offered to assist the party to upturn the electoral victory of Obaseki just as was done in the case of Rivers and Awka-Ibom states.

    According to him, “The discovery of most unholy scheme by the People’s Democratic Party to pervert the course of justice and condemn the people of Edo as many years of ungodly wretchedness and black misrule as possible

    “It has come to my knowledge that a terrible séance held recently in Port Harcourt consisting nefarious characters loyal to the People’s Democratic Party. The fiendish meeting, which was assembled by top PDP members and had in attendance stakeholders in Edo state governorship was conveyed to analyse how to sabotage the mandate of the people of the state.”

     

  • We will win future elections – PDP

    We will win future elections – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State on Sunday expressed optimism that it would win all future elections in the state.

    Some chieftains of the party in the state said at a zonal meeting in Awgu for Enugu West that the party would continue to control the state in spite of recent political realignments in the state.

    The Deputy Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Chief Donatus Uzogbado, said that the party was not envisaging any challenge from any of the opposition parties in the state.

    Uzogbado said that the faithful needed not fret over recent events where some members defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that PDP was “still on ground”.

    “The APC challenge is no challenge to us. In fact, the 2019 elections is going to be the easiest for our party in the state,” he said.

    Also, the Chairman of Aninri Local Government Area, Mr. Chidi Ekwe, said that the unprecedented peace and unity in the party would be the tonic for its successful outing of the party in future polls.

    Ekwe hailed the exemplary relationship between Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, saying that the state had not had it so good.

    “We at the local government are trying to replicate the good works of the governor in our various councils,” Ekwe said.

    The Commissioner for Water Resources, Chief Charles Egungbe, said that the PDP had a well-thought out secession plan which could not be thwarted by any of the opposition parties.

    Egungbe said that there was nothing to fear as the PDP was synonymous with the state, adding that the second term of the governor was assured.

    He, however, urged the party faithful not to rest on their oars or remain indifferent if the PDP must be successful.

    “Our loyalty is with Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and we shall keep supporting him,” Egungbe said.

    The member representing Aninri constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Toby Okechukwu, said that Enugu West was a no-go area for the opposition parties.

    Okechukwu said that politicians in the area were so focused that even without a political party they could decide where their allegiance stood and would not waiver.

    “However, we will do our best to make sure that the party continues to prosper. Our support for the governor is not in vain. We are with him because of what he is doing,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the party leadership in the zone received some members of opposition parties in the state who defected to it at the event.

    One of them, from All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mrs. Ijeoma Chukwu, said that her decision to join PDP was borne out of conviction that it was the party of the moment in the state.

    Chukwu, who was APGA’s candidate for the Enugu West senatorial election in 2015, said that her former party was dying.

    “We have decided to join the PDP because of some reasons. I love my former party, APGA, but it is unfortunate the party is gradually dying,” she said.

     

  • Fulani herdsmen attack two Benue communities

    Fulani herdsmen attack two Benue communities

    Six days after Fulani herdsmen invaded Logo local government area, home of ex-governor, Gabriel Suswam killing about twenty people, the insurgents between Tuesday and Wednesday again made a violent incursion into the Mbavuur council ward of the local government killing four people and injuring 16 others.

    The herders also proceeded to Mbaya council ward in neighbouring Buruku local government area where they killed two people and overran the entire council ward with more than 4, 000 cattle grazing freely in the area. This brings to six the total number of people killed during the week.

    The twin attacks came as Governor, Samuel Ortom on Friday allegedly disowned his Special Assistant on Fulani Matters who doubles as National Coordinator of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria Benue State chapter, Alhaji Garus Gololo over comments he allegedly uttered on the “presence of herdsmen in parts of the state”.

    In Logo Local government, former chairman of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Ndiisaa Terhemen told The Nation that the invaders first stormed the Tse-Igboughul village on Tuesday about 8pm when most people had gone to bed and were shooting randomly during which two people were killed.Terhemen added that the attack which spilled over to the next day (Wednesday), saw the killing of four people while ten others who sustained varying degrees of gunshot wounds were rushed to hospitals in Zaki-Biam and Ugba, headquarters of the local government for treatment.

    The Nation gathered that in Buruku, the homestead of a member of the House of Representatives representing Buruku constituency, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Yisa Orker Jev, the invaders penetrated several communities to Mbaya council ward where they murdered two victims and left them in their pool of blood, bringing the total number of people killed as at press time to about eight.

    Residents who deserted their homes in the two local governments left their food items and livestock at the mercy of the insurgents.

    Sources from the affected communities who spoke with our correspondent said the attack which came at the peak of farming activities, has grounded all economic and social services as some schools, hospitals and business premises have been forced to close up.

    Reacting, the Chairman of All Progressives Congress in the local government, Mr. Mbatseen Terngu, confirmed the killing, saying over 4,000 Fulani cattle were grazing roaming freely in the area with the herdsmen destroying their farmlands.

    An aide to Hon. Orker Jev, Desmond Ikyume, told Saturday Nation  that the attackers made incursion at about 8 pm on Tuesday night and surrounded the village, adding that what followed was sporadic shootings and massive exit of inhabitants.

    Mr. Ikyume added that one of the victims was stabbed to death in the stomach with a sword, adding that corpses of the victims were deposited at the hospital.

    Meanwhile, Governor Ortom on Friday said he has no connection with his Special Adviser on Fulani Matters, Alhaji Garus Gololoany longer, as he said, he is neither his appointee at the time he was quoted to have granted the interviews nor at the time of issuing this press statement”.

    Governor Ortom in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, released to journalists in Makurdi, accused the Fulani chief of disputing the remarks he (Ortom) earlier made that herdsmen have taken over twelve local government areas in the state.

    “We wish to state that as a citizen of this country who enjoys the right to freedom of speech, Mallam Gololo is at liberty to air his opinion on any issue of national or state interest, whether or not his opinion is right as it is evident in the said publications that he failed to get his facts correct”.

    “If indeed he made the published comments, they represent his personal skewed views, have no connection with the true security situation in the state and remain irrelevant as far as the present administration is concerned”.

    The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Moses Joel Yamu said he was “not aware of the attack” and tasked our correspondent “to cross your facts”.

  • ‘1.4m PVCs yet to be collected in Lagos’

    ‘1.4m PVCs yet to be collected in Lagos’

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State says there are 1, 425, 282 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) yet to be collected in the state.

    The new Administrative Secretary of INEC in the state, Dr Mudashiru Mustapha disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    He spoke on the sideline of the commission’s Stakeholders’ Meeting with political parties on Tuesday.

    NAN reports that the event, which had no fewer than 20 state chairmen of different political parties in attendance, was organized by INEC to seek support for the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR).

    The CVR exercise, scheduled to be flagged-off by the commission on April 27 nationwide, will also provide avenue for people who were yet to collect their PVCs to do so.

    Mustapha said: “There are so many PVCs yet to be claimed by their owners in Lagos State. We want residents to go to INEC offices in each of the 20 Local Governments in the state.

    “We want to canvass for the support of leaders of political parties for mobilization of eligible residents for the forthcoming nationwide Continuous Voters Registration exercise.

    “The commission needs your understanding, support and cooperation to mobilize residents for this continuous voter’s registration, even though we have done the needful in awareness campaign.

    “There is no way we can achieve success without leaders of political parties, we want to solicit your support because you are closer to the people and live among them.

    “Voter card is the power people have to elect their representatives, they must be encouraged to come out en masse and get registered. Help us sensitize and mobilize the people.”

    Earlier, Mustapha assured the party representatives that the commission had put necessary measures to ensure a hitch free exercise.

    Mrs Seye Soriyan, the Head of Department, ICT/Voters’ Registry, also highlighted the eligibility and procedures for the fresh registration, transfer and distribution of PVCs.

    Soriyan said that the exercise would be from Monday to Friday every week between 9 a.m. and 3.p.m. at the INEC office in each of the 20 local government areas of the state.

    According to her, each of the local governments will have five Registration Area Officers who will register eligible residents and distribute PVCs ready for collection.

    Soriyan said eligible persons for registration include those who turned 18 years after the last exercise in 2015 and those who did not register before.

    She added that those who want to transfer their voting centers were also free to register during the exercise.

    Soriyan explained that those registered would be given temporary Voter Cards, before their PVCs became ready after six months.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that party leaders at the meeting had urged the commission to make the exercise less stressful by decentralizing it to the ward level.

    Political parties represented at the meeting include All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Accord Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, KOWA Party, Labor Party, and Young Democratic Party (YDP) among others.

     

  • Northeast PDP apologises to Jonathan over Sheriff

    Northeast PDP apologises to Jonathan over Sheriff

    Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Northeastern Nigeria apologises to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The apology was contained in a statement released at a stakeholder meeting which held in Gombe State over the weekend.

    The statement reads: “As you may all be aware that the PDP North East Zonal office had called for a stakeholders meeting scheduled to hold at the Gombe International Hotel main conference hall on the 22nd of April, 2017.

    “Part of the agenda of the meeting was to discuss issues of concern to the North East Zone in view of recent developments that have stained the good standing and reputation of our zone.

    “However owing to security reports from the security agencies we were compelled to postpone and call off the meeting indefinitely. A new date and venue will be communicated to parties concerned as soon as the decision is arrived at.

    “While regretting the inconveniences the Postponement might have caused our members and all invitees we wish to also appreciate you all for the unflinching support you have always given to our great party the PDP.

    “In a related development on behalf of overwhelming supporters of our great party in North East Zone we wish to tender our unreserved apology to His Excellency former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR and to clearly put it on record that the in North East disassociate ourselves from the unfortunate and lamentable actions of one of our prominent member who walked out of the reconciliatory meeting held at the Yar’adua Center on Thursday the 6th of April 2017 which was at the instance of the former president His Excellency Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR).

    “As members and executives of the PDP  in the North East we strongly stand by the moves initiated by the former President and encourage him not to relent in his effort and quest to find a lasting solution to the current Challenges confronting our party.

    “Let me once again reaffirm that the proposed stakeholders meeting has been postponed and consequently it did not hold. In conclusion I wish to once more convey our apology to all invitees to the meeting as I have already done by visiting each team of State representatives to explain the need for the Postponement.”

  • Adeleke was a grassroots politician – Tinubu

    Adeleke was a grassroots politician – Tinubu

    Former Lagos State Gov. Bola Tinubu, has described late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, as a grassroots politician with rich political background.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), National Leader in a condolence message issued on Sunday in Lagos, said that the leadership and good counsel of Adeleke were still very much required when death came.

    Adeleke, 62, also a former governor of Osun, died in the early hours of Sunday at a private hospital in Osogbo.

    ”I received the news of Senator Isiaka Adeleke’s death with shock.

    ” It was too much to bear coming barely a day after that of Dipo Famakinwa. The news of his death was both sudden and saddening for me and I am sure for most members of our political family.

    ”Sen. Adeleke was a grassroots politician with a rich political back ground. He was hugely popular in his Osun , particularly in the three local governments in Ede, his hometown.

    ”He was a major leader of our party, the APC. His leadership and good counsel were still very much required when death came.

    ”The late senator and I shared mutual respect and affection. My path and his first crossed during the aborted Third Republic, in the 1992/93 era, when we both belonged to the defunct Social Democratic Party.

    He was in the Peoples Democratic Party at the rebirth of democratic dispensation in 1999, but he later joined us in the APC in the build-up to the 2015 election, ” he said.

    According to Tinubu, he left behind a legacy in the area of education by establishing Ire Polytechnic and College of Education, Esa-Oke, among other laudable things during his time.

    ”Adeleke was with us in Lagos during the colloquium marking my 65th birthday. He also joined us for the inauguration of Aboru-Abesan Link Bridge and adjoining roads constructed by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode.

    ”I commiserate with his wife and children. I commiserate with the entire Adeleke family and his friends and numerous supporters.

    ”My heart also goes out to his brother, Dr Deji Adeleke. I mourn with Gov. Rauf Aregbesola and the people of Osun over this unfortunate occurrence.

    ”I pray that they all have the strength to withstand this loss. I also pray for the repose of Adeleke’s soul, ” Tinubu said.

  • ‘Ekiti governor’s utterances on PDP’ve exposed him’

    ‘Ekiti governor’s utterances on PDP’ve exposed him’

    The Senator representing Ogun East, Buruji Kashamu, has faulted Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose’s position on the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Kashamu, in an advertorial in this newspaper, said the Ekiti State governor was plotting to kill the party before defecting.

    The senator said: “I had always known that Fayose has an agenda and alerted our leaders and elders to his agenda of either having his way or destroying the PDP before he leaves for God knows where.

    “Now that he is letting the cat out of the bag, I can only say that Fayose has exposed himself. He has shown that he is the real agent of destabilisation. He is one of those who want to kill the PDP before he defects.

    “However, it should be clearly pointed out that PDP was not founded because of Fayose or any of us. Whether anyone leaves or not, the party will remain. It will not die. The party is like a barracks, where soldiers come and go, and the barracks remains.

    “The truth of the matter is that the leadership crisis in the PDP was designed and orchestrated because of the inordinate ambition of some people, especially those who are exiting office next year.”

    Kashamu picked holes in the reconciliation move of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “I am honestly shocked and surprised that the former President could preside over a meeting, where the judgment of the Court of Appeal was being disregarded as irrelevant. This cannot be the face of a party that is desirous of seeking a break with the past.

    “Going by the accounts of what I have heard happened at the meeting, I think it was a needless gathering that has reopened healing wounds and further exacerbated the crisis. I say this because any PDP meeting that fails to recognise what our laws and the courts have said about the leadership crisis is on a wrong footing and premise, and it will breed more chaos and confusion such as we have seen.

    “Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is the National Chairman of the PDP as of today based on the Court of Appeal judgment and everybody is bound to abide by that whether we like it or not.

    “You cannot call a shareholders or Board of Directors meeting and say the chairman of the board cannot participate or preside over the meeting. Worst still, some persons said Senator Sheriff must not be recognised as such even when an appellate court has established that Senator Sheriff is the party’s national chairman,” he said.

    He said Sheriff did not disrespect Jonathan by walking out of the meeting.

    “Senator Sheriff was out of the country when he was called by the former President and told of the meeting and he had to cut short his trip to attend the meeting.

    “That is a sign of respect. Even when he arrived in the country, I understand that he went straight to the former President and they met over the modalities for the meeting, and it was agreed that four of them will address the meeting. That is, former President Jonathan, Senator Sheriff, the BoT Chairman and then Senator Makarfi.

    “However, when he got there, he was not recognised as the party’s national chairman whereas others were recognised with their titles, including those who were no longer in office.”