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Tag: Peoples Democratic Party

  • Elders warn against interference in Southwest PDP

    Southeast Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elders yesterday warned against the meldding of external forces in the affairs of the party in the zone.

    They lamented that the party failed in the region becuase candidates emerged through unfair process.

    “We will insist that we will never again tolerate the interference of outsiders in the affairs of the Southwest”, said the Elders’ Causus in a comminique at the end of its meeting in Lagos.

    The communique reads in part:”The Southwest Elders Caucus met and deliberated exhaustively about the state of the Nigerian Union and particularly about the challenges in Yorubaland and thereby resolved:

    The Nigerian Union deserves peace, harmony, equity and a strengthened bond of brotherhood that will galvanize our nation to greater development and prosperity.

    All Elders, patriots, all people of goodwill across our land should speak out with courage and boldly about the perceived wrongs and the glaring imbalances in our polity.

    “We are in accord with the immortal words of the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo who warned in 1983 that”If the current democratic experience should collapse, those of you younger than I will never see democracy again in your lifetime no matter how long you may live.”

    “We do not pray for the collapse of our democracy. But we urge for vigilance and constant monitoring of the affairs of the state.

    “We submit that the Nigerian Union has crossed a crucial threshold in the continuous struggle for a summative identity and national wholeness.

    We insist that the recent general elections were fraught with screaming flaws, deliberate sabotage, treachery and outright banditry.

    “The present electoral processes wherein result sheets are physically carried across the nation are absolutely primitive and apparently susceptible to all kinds of distortions.

    “The apparent distortions in Yobe, Borno, Rivers, Lagos, Adamawa, Kano and several other states diminish the purity of a fledgling democratic state.

    We urge the PDP Leadership to return to the First Principle of fairness, equity and justice. The Party must embrace men and women of selflessness and instinctive sacrifice rather than encourage little people who merely serve the hour.

    “We enjoin the PDP national leadership to start rebuilding the broken places, to start rectifying the wrongs so as to heal the still festering sores.

    “We support wholeheartedly the decision of our party to seek justice in the court of law rather than withdrawing into a shell of cowardice.

    “We believe and trust in the indivisibility of the Nigerian Union where merit prevails over mediocrity, where justice triumphs over inequity, where tribe and sectarian differences are promptly discarded for the greater good of the nation.

    “Finally, we do agree with Preet Bharara, a Former US Attorney who had proposed that “the right thing must be done the right way for the right reason” This much we advise the Chairman and other management team of INEC to embrace.”

  • Kano PDP tasks INEC, security agencies on fairness in re-run election

    The Kano State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure that the Saturday supplementary election in the state was seamless.

    Mr Rabiu Bichi, Kano State PDP Acting Chairman, who made the call in a statement on Wednesday, also appealed to INEC and security agencies to be neutral during the elections.

    Bichi said that security agencies had a duty to ensure that voters and their votes were protected from harassment, intimidation and manipulations from any quarters.

    He urged the presidency to compel all political, religious, business and traditional leaders in the state to conscientise the political actors on the need to keep peace during the polls.

    “We also want them to practise the principle of politics without bitterness’ and the president should prevail on the Kano State Government to let peace reign.

    “In addition, it is our hope and prayer that you would use your good offices to ensure that the re-run election is not disrupted at some levels,”

    Bichi also urged INEC to be firm, uncompromising and transparent; and ensure anyone found subverting the electoral process was dealt with accordingly.

    He further suggested that the electoral umpire should collate election results of all the polling units at the INEC headquarters in the state.

    He noted that this would reduce risks of attacks from hired thugs, especially in areas that were far from the state capital.

    Bichi said that vote buying, compromising security personnel and use of arms by thugs to disrupt the re-run elections in Kano were already brewing.

    He also called on all relevant stakeholders to be vigilant and ensure credible polls, saying the call became necessary because the party had received “credible and reliable intelligence regarding the plans and evil machination of some groups’’.

    “Since the March 9, elections and its declaration as inconclusive by INEC, we have repeatedly witnessed unprecedented PVC (Permanent Voter Card) buying across the 44 local government areas of Kano.

    “Agents have been deceiving unsuspecting and vulnerable women by taking advantage of their impoverishment by paying them N5, 000 to surrender their PVC,’’ he claimed.

    The chairman further alleged that many perpetrators of these fraudulent acts had been apprehended and handed over to the police.

    He said that the culprits, along with others that were nabbed in other places, had been handed over to the police and were being investigated.

    He claimed that the PDP also received reliable information that cloned card readers had been acquired and pre-loaded with the PVCs that were bought to be swapped with the original card readers.

    Bichi, however, said in spite of all these alleged evil plans, the people were determined to exercise their mandate by casting their votes for the candidate of their choice.

    He urged all political stakeholders to play according to the rules to ensure free and fair elections. (NAN)

  • Worried by electoral hiccups, PDP set to review conduct of 2019 polls

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed concerns over hiccups in the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    The party, at an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, complained about the inability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conclude the elections in record time.

    The PDP chieftains were particularly miffed that almost two weeks after, INEC could not conclude the governorship and state assembly elections that were held on March 9.

    Winners of the governorship elections are yet to be declared in seven states where the polls were declared inconclusive. The affected states are Kano, Sokoto, Benue, Plateau and Bauchi states. The concluding part of the elections are billed to hold in the affected states on Saturday.

    The governorship election in Rivers state has become a subject of legal rigmarole by interested parties as a result of suspension of announcement of the results midway into the exercise.

    Also of grave concern to the main opposition party was the militarisation of the elections in many states in the South-South geopolitical zone.

    The party has resolved to do a post mortem of the general election after the supplementary elections.

    The PDP National Chairman, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus who presided over the meeting, called on the military not to allow themselves be called out again for what he described as illegal duties.

    He enjoined the military and other security agencies to resist any attempt to be dragged into paying manipulative roles in Saturday’s supplementary elections in the affected states.

    The party chair said that military institution in Nigeria is highly regarded and therefore has the responsibility to guard its reputation jealously.

    According to him, inconclusive terminology is a rigging strategy introduced by the INEC to aide the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He expressed optimism that PDP candidates will emerge victorious in the upcoming supplementary elections in five of the six states that the election will take place.

    Secondus said that property will hold the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu responsible for the consequences of all his actions.

    President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki said the result of the presidential and state elections reflected the strength and character of the PDP and urged members to build on the foundation.

    Saraki said the victory of the APC in the presidential and state elections will be short-lived, adding that, “We have a great future ahead and I believe we will start that on Saturday to make sure that we defend those five states that are declared inconclusive.

    “If anybody believes that it is a loss to PDP, it is a loss to the country that history will not forgive. We said it many times here, that the worst to do is to do an election that our country, Nigeria will not be proud of.

    “We have done an election that no doubt anybody and even those that think they have won are ashamed of the kind of election that we did.

    “I think it is a shame to the country and to those that were given that responsibility to do. They have Saturday as their last opportunity to try as much as possible to reclaim part of their embarrassment to the country.

    “How can a country like Nigeria have this type of election? Ghana has done it, Congo and Zimbabwe have done elections. And we say we do elections, with seven inconclusive. We did elections in 2015, we did it in 2011 and 1999 and after so many years, this is what we can produce.

    “It is not a loss to the PDP, it is to the country. It just showed the level of desperation. I have confidence that this will be shortlived and as such, let us ensure on Saturday, that these fives states that as ours remain within the PDP and INEC should for once do what is right”, Saraki said.

    Also speaking at the meeting, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, urged INEC to save the country the agony setting bad precedent for the country.

    Dogara said, “Elections are done all over the world, elections are conducted in Africa and at no time have we heard of these inconclusive elections in other jurisdictions. Ghana elections were held not long ago.

    “It will be very unfortunate if INEC, which is led by a first-class Professor set this very dangerous and unacceptable precedent in our political history. That I want them to take note of.

    “And also what has happened is pure evil, our consolation as members of this party is that evil does not last and no evil doer has ever escaped punishment.

    “If they do what others have done before, they will see what those who did evil saw. Definitely, they cannot escape from it. It’s a law of nature and in the scriptures of God, that whatever you sow so you shall reap.

    “This is also for those who believe in power for the sake of power, not because they want to empower people, not because they want to better the lives of our people.

    “There is also lessons they can learn from history. History is now replete with examples of all those who pursued power, for the sake of power. Their lives have always ended in semilar tragedy that awaits anyone who seeks power for the sake of power. We have seen that display in Nigeria.

    “For us as members of this party, I don’t want us to despair, even though we have inconclusive elections in some states. In five of those states, PDP clearly won the election in those states.

    “We will not despair, let us stand strong, let us face the rerun or supplementary elections as they called them. I sincerely believe that by the grace of God victory is ours and we will overcome.

    The PDP vice presidential candidate in the February 23 election, Mr Peter Obi, said besides blaming the INEC and the security agencies, the biggest shame goes to those who are directing them to do the wrong thing.

    Obi said, “If you choose to be a leader, especially with APC that claims integrity, the biggest corruption and the biggest show of a government that does not believe in integrity is to rig election. Because the process through which you come into office, is far more fundamental than what you do thereafter.

    “I think we should hold them responsible for what is happening in this country now. The examples we are setting for the young ones, I don’t know what they will tell a young man who is cheating in an examination in this country after seeing the ways our elections are conducted.

    “I don’t know what they will tell those who are robbing banks and kidnapping people, because we have seen the biggest of it by this election where people are happy after robbing the nation and their states.

    “The chairman said we will do a post mortem after the election. I thank the party, because it is the party that is going to court not just the presidential candidate going to court to challenge this rascality.

    “I as a person have always believed that the biggest enemy of freedom or progress are happy slaves. And thank God that this party has chosen this part, and we will all stand by it”.

  • Oyo governor-elect has brought new dawn, says Alaafin

    Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III said yesterday  that the election of Mr. Oluseyi Makinde of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as Oyo State governor-elect is the beginning of a new dawn.

    The monarch also hailed Makinde’s promise to sustain good policies of the former and outgoing administrations.

    A statement entitled: “A new dawn in Oyo State” issued in Ibadan, which was personally endorsed by Oba Adeyemi, hailed Governor Abiola Ajimobi for the spirit of sportsmanship he displayed despite the fact that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, who he promoted, lost the March 9, 2019 poll to Makinde.

    The Alaafin also lauded Makinde for promising that he would continue with good policies and programmes of the outgoing administration.

    Such promise, the monarch said, was unprecedented since the advent of democratic governance in 1999 in Oyo State.

    Oba Adeyemi, who is the permanent chairman of Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, said: “The governorship election in Oyo State might have come and gone. However, the aftermath of it is of special interest and personal joy to me.

    “This has to do with the spirit of sportsmanship that followed the election. This is especially in respect of the outgoing governor in person of Senator Abiola Ajimobi, and the incoming one, Engineer Oluseyi Makinde.

    “The exchange of pleasantries between the two affable gentlemen is of special note and attention to all discerning minds. I am particularly delighted by the promise of the governor-elect not to abandon the projects already embarked upon by the outgoing government.

    “One lesson to learn from the promise is that this is the first time in the governance in the state. The difference, however, is that continuity in governance may not be in partisan personnel, but in the implementation of good projects started by a government of another political party.

    “One significant and remarkable thing about the institution of Alaafin before, during colonial rule and, the attainment of indigenous political regime since independence, is that successive Alaafins have always used their good offices to complement successive administrations at all tiers of government.

    “The Alaafin had always seen himself as partner in progress to successive governments.

    “On a final note, I am happy to note that unlike what used to be in the era of political antagonism, the incoming governor is not going to see the governor’s chair as one vacated by a political enemy, but as one occupied by a fraternal brother, irrespective of political differences, with the usual attendant vendetta.”

     

  • Tribunal fixes judgment in Osun governorship tussle for Friday

    THE  Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Apo, Abuja, has scheduled this Friday for judgment in the petition by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the September 2018 governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

    PDP and Adeleke are, by their petition, challenging the declaration of Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The date for the judgment was communicated to parties via hearing notices sent to them yesterday to that effect by the tribunal’s secretariat, a copy of which The Nation sighted in Abuja.

    The tribunal chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, had, on March 7, this year, after parties adopted their final written addresses, announced that judgment in the case would be reserved till a later date.

    Justice  Sirajo said the parties would be informed, at least, 48 hours before the date of delivery of the judgment.

    Wole Olanipekun (SAN) appeared for Oyetola; Akin Olujinmi (SAN) represented  the APC and Lasco Pwahomdi appeared for INEC on March 7. The petitioners’ legal team was led by Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN).

    In adopting their separate final addresses, Olanipekun, Olujinmi and Pwahomdi urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition on the grounds that the petitioners failed to prove their case.

    On his part, Ikpeazu urged the tribunal to uphold the petition and grant all the reliefs prayed by the petitioners.

    Olanipekun, while adopting his final address, noted that the petition was full of confusing claims and betrayed the petitioners’ lack of understanding of the nation’s election petition jurisprudence.

    In identifying what he described as the many contradictions in the petition, Olanipekun noted that “in pages 37, 38 and 39, the petitioners are presenting a different case entirely from their pleadings”.

    “The petition is a bedlam of confusion,” he said.

    Olanipekun noted that the petitioners have admitted breaching the electoral law by seeking that some of their votes be quashed.

    He added: “They are also asking the tribunal to quash some of their votes. A self-confessed petitioner, who has in writing, admitted infringing the law, cannot be asking to be returned as a winner of the election.

    “In their relief seven, they want the court to nullify the certificate of return, but they failed to present the certificate before the tribunal. Where is that certificate? Can the tribunal nullify what is not before it?

    “They said the certificate of return is with us. If it is with us, should they not have given us a notice to produce it? They did not give us notice to produce,” Olanipekun said.

    He relied on a decision of the Court of Appeal in the motion filed by the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and urged the tribunal to decline the petitioners’ prayer to void the guideline issued by INEC for the conduct of the election.

    In similar argument, Olujinmi faulted the evidence given by 63 polling agents called as witnesses by the petitioners.

    He noted that though the petitioners called 80 witnesses in all, 63, who were polling unit agents gave common evidence by saying similar things and using almost exactly the same words.

    Olujinmi also argued the evidence by the petitions’ 74th witness, who was the state polling agent, amounted to hearsay evidence because he admitted getting the information from the documents submitted to him.

    He urged the tribunal to ignore the various documents tendered by the petitioners, which he said they merely dumped on the tribunal without demonstrating their link to the case.

    Olujinmi also noted contradictions in the case of the petitioners and the evidence they led.

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    He noted that while the petitioners want the tribunal to declare them winner of the first part of the election held on September 22, 2018 and void the supplementary election held on September 27, 2018, their 74th witness said they have no cause of action as it relates to the election of September 22, 2018.

    Ikpeazu, in his counter argument, urged the tribunal to disregard the issues raised by the respondents’ lawyers.

    He faulted the written addresses by the second and third respondents, which he argued, were not filed as required by law.

    Ikpeazu said there was no confusion as it relates to the case of the petitioners. He said the respondents’ claim of existence of confusion betrayed their misunderstanding of the case.

     

     

     

  • PDP rejects order stopping final collation of Bauchi results

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday rejected what it described as the “arm-twisting” of the judiciary and the court by the All Progressives Congress (APC) “to unconstitutionally halt the conclusion of collation of already declared results in the Bauchi State governorship election,” which it claimed to have won.

    A statement yesterday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the development was akin to the infamous order that derailed the 1993 democratic process.

    The party alleged a plot by the APC and certain compromised elements in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to escalate crisis and derail the electoral process.

    The statement reads: “The power to collate, suspend collation and or to reverse such decision based on obvious circumstances as the case in Bauchi, is clearly within the domain of INEC.  Until collation is completed and results declared, no one can question the constitutional powers of the electoral body: INEC, in that regard”, the statement added.

    The PDP cautioned that “if this desperate underhand measure by the APC to halt electoral processes is not checked, the country’s hard-earned democracy will fail and the nation thrown into anarchy.

    “Our party should not be constrained into a situation in which we will have no option than to allow our members to seek similar ex parte orders to halt statutory processes, including the swearing-in of APC candidates at various levels, particularly President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “It is clear that collation of result is part of the electoral process and that INEC cannot act on a purported exparte order to jettison its independence and halt the collation of results, which is a key component of its statutory electoral duty.

    “Section 87 (10) of the Electoral Act is unambiguous in its prescription that nothing in this section shall empower the courts to stop the holding of primaries or general election or the processes thereof under this Act pending the determination of a suit.

    “Our party therefore charges INEC to be properly guided by the law in this regard.

    “The PDP urges the institution of Judiciary not to allow the APC to entangle the court in its shenanigans to destroy our hard-earned democracy.

    “Nigerians in Bauchi state have elected the PDP and nothing can change this reality,” the statement added.

     

  • PDP rejects Exparte Order stopping final collation of Bauchi gov election results

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected what it described as the “arm-twisting” of the judiciary and the court by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to unconstitutionally halt the conclusion of collation of already declared results in the Bauchi State governorship election, which it claimed to have won.

    A statement on Tuesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the development was akin to the infamous order that derailed the 1993 democratic process.

    The party further alleged a plot by the APC and certain compromised elements in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to escalate crisis and derail the electoral process.

    The statement said: “The power to collate, suspend collation and or to reverse such decision based on obvious circumstances as the case in Bauchi, is clearly within the domain of INEC.

    “Until collation is completed and results declared, no one can question the constitutional powers of the electoral body: INEC, in that regard.”

    The PDP cautioned if this desperate underhand measure by the APC to halt electoral processes is not checked, the country’s hard earned democracy will fail and the nation thrown into anarchy.

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    “Our party should not be constrained into a situation in which we will have no option than to allow our members to seek similar exparte orders to halt statutory processes including the swearing-in of APC candidates at various levels, particularly President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “It is clear that collation of result is part of the electoral process and that INEC cannot act on a purported exparte order to jettison its independence and halt the collation of results, which is a key component of its statutory electoral duty.

    “Section 87 (10) of the Electoral Act is unambiguous in its prescription that “nothing in this section shall empower the courts to stop the holding of primaries or general election or the processes thereof under this Act pending the determination of a suit”.

    “Our party therefore charges INEC to be properly guided by the law in this regard.

    “The PDP urges the institution of Judiciary not to allow the APC to entangle the court in its shenanigans to destroy our hard-earned democracy.

    “Nigerians in Bauchi state have elected the PDP and nothing can change this reality,” the statement added.

  • Court dismisses suit challenging Makinde’s candidacy

    An Oyo State High court sitting in Ibadan on Tuesday dismissed the suit filed by Senator Ayoade Adeseun and Sunday Adeyanju challenging legality of the primary elections that produced Engr. Seyi Makinde (governor-elect) as the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last governorship/House of Assembly election in the state.

    Adeseun, who was Makinde’s opponent in the PDP primaries held in October 2018 at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan had claimed that the list of delegates that participated in the election was imported and doctored.

    The complainant in the suit had prayed that the court to declare the primary elections of the party as undemocratic, null and void.

    During the court proceeding which started January 2019, the claimant’s counsel, Michael Lana, presented 14 witnesses, while the defendant’s counsel presented eight witnesses.

    The presiding judge, Justice Ganiyu Sunmonu, ruled on Tuesday in favour of PDP and dismissed all claims of the claimants.

    Ganiyu said the Adeseun’s counsel could not prove with substantial evidence that the delegates list for the primary was doctored.

    The judge said “he who assets must prove.

    The claimants must provide the names that were removed, to prove that the list was doctored.”

  • I’ll simplify governance, prevent NURTW violence in Oyo, says Makinde

    The Oyo State Governor-elect, Seyi Makinde, has assured the people of the state that he would bring simplicity to governance and also do everything to prevent violence from commercial drivers when he eventually takes the reins of power on May 29.

    Makinde, who won on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), gave the assurance on Southwest Political Circuit, a live interview programme on Ibadan-based Fresh FM radio.

    The governor-elect said the most important value that will mark out his administration is simplicity, adding that he would use everything he has to make the state better.

    “I will keep the business of governance very simple; without any complication. We will communicate with the people. We will lead with the fear of God. I want to be remembered for simplifying the business of governance. We will work very hard for the people of Oyo State and they will be the judge. We will use everything we have to make Oyo State better,” he assured.

    Makinde also promised to protect the sanctity of any contract signed by the outgoing administration in order to protect investors and assure them that their investments are safe in Oyo State. He added that he would be transparent in all dealings, stressing that he would not witch hunt anyone, group or organization.

    On how he intends to further build the economy of the state, Makinde promised to look into how to improve electricity supply, build a vibrant and skilled workforce as well as sustain the peace and security across the nooks and crannies of the state. He assured that he would not politicize decisions.

    He said: “We are here to bring progress to Oyo State. We will dialogue with people in all sectors to find solutions to every problem in the state. We will be a listening government. We won’t cancel any ongoing project that is good for the growth and development of Oyo State. We will listen.”

    On the potential violence that may be foisted on the state by leaders and members of the state’s chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Makinde said he would not allow them to bring back violence because he would dialogue with them continuously.

    “I have sent messages to the NURTW to avoid violence. They don’t have my support. We want peace in Oyo and efforts are on to dialogue with them and ensure there is no resurgence of violence.”

  • PDP alleges intimidation of collation officers

    THE local chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that security operatives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) were trying to intimidate electoral officers recalled to conclude the collation of results of the governorship election of March 9.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had ordered the resumption collation of the results after it suspended electoral processes in the state following widespread violence.

    Details of the activities to conclude the process are to be released today by the electoral umpire.

    The PDP alleged that SARS men, on the orders of its top officers in Rivers, had invited INEC officers, returning officers and ad hoc staff participating in the collation to threaten and intimidate them.

    The Senator representing Rivers South-East District, Magnus Abe, said no one can handpick a governor for Rivers State.

    According to Abe, “the right to do so rests squarely on the shoulders of Rivers people to freely choose who will lead them.”

    Abe spoke at the funeral service of late Pa Macdonald Graham Harry, father of Dr. Ipalibo Harry, a Federal Commissioner at the National Population Commission (NPC), held at Saint Alban’s Anglican Church Obuama, Degema Local Government Area of the State.

    He condemned the violence that characterised the March 9, 2019, governorship and State House of Assembly elections in the state, describing it as a shame.

    The senator further said that the election was not only an embarrassment to the country, but unacceptable even as he wondered why people have failed to learn from the past.

    He said: “All across the country, you could see that the people tried to vote. They also tried to count their votes, but in Rivers State, the reverse was the case, because it is obvious that we did not learn from what happened in the 2015 general elections and draw our lessons appropriately.

    “I’ll like to appeal to Rivers people not to leave the future of our state in the hands of the politicians alone. This State belongs to all of us and no one man owns more or deserves more of Rivers State than others.

    “I was very clear when I called on our supporters in the state to vote for a candidate of their choice in the governorship election and not to vote for the governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) because it was an attempt to single-handedly handpick a governor for Rivers people and he cannot.

    “That is the decision that all Rivers people have as a right to freely participate in a process to elect whoever will govern the state.”