The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peoples Democratic Party

  • Tension as Edo awaits election results

    Tension as Edo awaits election results

    …Igbinedion denies arrest
    There was huge turnout of residents in Edo State Wednesday as they trooped out to elect the next governor of the state.

    Contending candidates for the election were Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the People’s Democratic Party and Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressive Congress.

    In Edo South, the election was generally peaceful as accreditation of voters commenced as early as 8am.

    The card reader performed well across the seven local government except in few cases where the card readers stopped working and they were replaced.

    As at press time, leaders of both the PDP and APC are laying claim to victory in the keenly contested election.

    Unconfirmed report from 1100 out 2,627 polling units across the state placed the APC ahead with 78837 votes while the PDP ahead 62649 votes.

    Collation of results were still being done as at press time.

    A former lawmaker in the House of Representatives, Hon Rasaq Bello Osagie, described the call by candidate of APGA, Osaro Onaiwu, for the cancellation of the results as a defeatist comments.

    Hon Bello-Osagie said anybody who felt sub-changed should go to the court of law.

    Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency, Omosede Igbinedion, has denied being arrested by the police.

    Information that trend on the social media said Omosede, a daughter of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom, was held for attempting to vote with a fake voter register.

    Omosede stated that it was the police that tried to intimidate and harass her.

    She alleged that ballot boxes were snatched in some parts of Ovia.

  • Edo Polls: PDP caucus alleges APC, INEC of conspiracy to rig

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) and some personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are conspiring to rig Wednesday’s governorship polls in Edo state, the caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives has alleged.

    Compromising INEC staff, issuance of sensitive materials including result sheets before elections and alteration of card readers, among others  are the means to be employed to carry out the rigging, the leader of caucus, Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta) said at a briefing on Tuesday.

    “INEC surreptitiously and in conjunction with APC compiled names and list of INEC staff and persons sympathetic with APC to superintend over election to skew same in favour of APC.

    “Thus, INEC staff earlier listed for the elections were all replaced majorly with people from a particular section of the country, claiming that most people from the South-south are sympathetic to the PDP.

    “There was an arrangement to issue sensitive materials such as results sheets and incident forms to the APC before the election to enable them originate fake results and submit same with the assistance of security men.

    “Some top APC members were arranging with ICT experts and some INEC officials to alter the card readers to be used for the election to give an inaccurate figure, which was not generated from the legitimate accreditation in the field.

    “Additionally, INEC unlawfully agreed with some security agencies to move collation centres to police station, saying the action was to give the APC, who are ill-prepared and indeed not capable of winning any free and fair election in Edo State, the covering to bring in compromised results for the Returning Officers to announce,” he said.

    Ogor, who was accompanied by several members of the caucus said the APC in the State, in conjunction with some security agencies have consistently harassed PDP members in the various local governments of the state ahead of the election.

    The security report which was used as excuse to postpone the election would also be deployed as grounds to militarise Edo to ward off any anti APC voter, Ogor alleged.

    The caucus however appealed to the electoral umpire to live above board, saying, “We urge INEC as an independent and unbiased umpire to forestall these evil arrangements and uphold its integrity. The issues raised herein should be taken seriously and acted upon by civil society, the Nigerian public and the press to give credibility to the electoral process”.

  • ‘Why Ikpeazu is battling infrastructure decay’

    Ben Onyechere, a former Special Assistant to Second Republic Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme, on Monday debunked claims that Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was selective in his development agenda.

    He said the insinuation that the governor was developing the state’s infrastructure while neglecting other sectors was not true.

    “There are many things competing for attention at the same time for which reason there is a well structured prioritisation process whereby infrastructure is on the front burner.

    “The most onerous task of any government is to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, particularly in Abia which is the nerve center of commerce in the Southeast.

    “The government, therefore, has no choice than to upgrade facilities necessary for growth of the economy,” Onyechere said in a statement.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief said the construction and rehabilitation of roads was crucial to boosting trade and commerce. According to him, past administrations neglected the state’s infrastructure, which he said Ikpeazu was determined to correct.

    He urged Abia citizens to bear with the governor, saying Ikpeazu was committed to transforming every sector of Abia’s economy, in addition to infrastructure.

    The President of the Igbo Question Movement (IQM) said: “The problem is not that roads were not done in the past but their lifespan was nothing to be proud of. The difference is that Governor Ikpeazu is not just awarding contracts for road construction and rehabilitation, but is concerned with the quality of work done.”

    According to Onyechere, the governor was not only fixing state roads, but Federal roads to make life easier for Abians and others.

    “Abia state accounts for the highest concentration of federal roads which have lacked attention for a long time. The governor has, in a short period of time, taken up on many roads that are vital to the promotion of commerce for which Abia is known.

    “It may be surprising to know that the government has completed such roads as Omne, Ukaegbu, Umuola Ehere, Ochefu, China Nwafor Umuihilegbu and Owerri roads despite lean resources accruing to the state.

    “The most edifying of these roads is the long stretch from Umuahia to Arochuku, and roads in Umuahia, some of which are under construction,” Onyechere said.

     

  • Edo poll: APC wants to distribute special pen – PDP

    Edo poll: APC wants to distribute special pen – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised alarms that the ruling All Progressive Congress planned to distribute special pen to members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

    It said the purpose was to ask the NYSC members to use the pen to write the election results on the result sheets.

    State Vice Chairman of the PDP, Emmanuel Ogbomo, stated this at a stakeholders meeting in Benin City.

    However, Ogbomo did not state what effect the special pen will perform on the result sheets.

    He urged officials of the NYSC to warn corps members not to collect the special pen from APC agents.

  • Edo: PDP chieftain, INEC officer remanded for kidnapping

    Edo: PDP chieftain, INEC officer remanded for kidnapping

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Nakowa Suleiman and an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mr. Effong Akpan, have been remanded at the Auchi prison for allegedly abducting two members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) during the recent conduct of Voters Registration Exercise.

    The court was informed that Alhaji Suleiman and Akpan confiscated the registration machine to the residence of Suleiman where the Corps members, Matthew Omaji and Grace Adah were coerced to register people illegally.

    The three-count charge preferred against the suspects reads, “..that on the 25th of June, 2016, at Ofukpo, in the Fugar Magistrate District did abduct one Mathew Omaji and compelled him against his will to carry out unlawful activities and thereby committed an offence contrary to to section 1 And punishable under section 3 (2) of the Edo state kidnapping prohibition law 2009 as amended in 2013.

    “That you compelled Mathew Omaji to carry out unlawful activities and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 and punishable under section 3 (2) of the Edo state kidnapping law 2009 as amended in 2013.

    “That you Effong Akpan on or before 25th June, 2016 at Ofukpo in Fugar Magistrate District did aid and abet Alhaji Nakowa to abduct Mathew Omaji and Grace Adah and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 4 (1) of the Edo state kidnapping (prohibition) law 2009 as amended in 2013.”

    The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding Magistrate, Abibor Emmanuel, remanded them to Auchi prison pending when a new date will be fixed to hear the their bail application.

  • 30 political parties to participate in Ondo guber poll

    30 political parties to participate in Ondo guber poll

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Tuesday announced that thirty political parties will participate in the November 26, governorship election in Ondo State.

    It also informed that it has put in another arrangement to ensure smooth accreditation and voting process during the poll.

    This it said would reduce the rigorous process being experienced by the commission during the poll.

    The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Olusegun Agbaje disclosed at a press conference held in Akure, the state capital.

    Agbaje said all parties intended to participate in the contest have concluded their primaries as at on Monday.

    The REC listed the parties as Alliance for Democracy, (AD), Social Democratic Party,( SDP), People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), African People Alliance, (APA), Peoples Redemption Party, (PRP), All Progressives Congress, (APC) and Labour Party,( LP).

    It also include Citizens Popular Party,( CPP), People’s Party of Nigeria, (PPN) ,Democratic People’s Party, (DPP), Democratic People’s Congress, (DPC), New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP), Hope Democratic Party,( HDP), National Unity Party, (NUP), and Better Nigeria Progressive Party,( BNPP).

    Others were: Young Democratic Party, (YDP), Accord Party, (AP), All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA), Progressive Peoples Alliance, (PPA), African Democratic Congress, (ADC), Action Alliance,( AA) , Unity of Nigeria (UPN), KOWA Party, (KP), People for Democratic Change (PDC), Independent Democrats, (ID), Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), National Conscience Party, (NCP, United Democratic Party,(UDP), United Progressive Party,( UPP) and Advanced Congress of Democrats, (ACD).

    Agbaje who appreciated the peaceful conduct of political parties during their primaries, noted that the standard of the conduct exhibited will benefit the deepening of democracy in the state.

    His words: Going by the scheduled election timetable, the party campaigns for the election have taken off and open politicking is gathering momentum.

    “On this note, I wish to appeal to the political parties and politicians/ contestants to exercise restraint in their pronouncements and avoid getting involved in verbal wars and inflammatory comments capable of igniting political tension and provoking rancour that could threaten the peace currently being enjoyed in the state.

    “The current political campaigns should record a significant improvement. It should be violent -free, issue-based, enriching and peaceful. It is my belief that a peaceful campaign exercise is a likely harbinger to the conduct of a peaceful election.”

    Agbaje, however, assured the stakeholders the readiness of the Commission to conduct a peaceful, transparent and credible and conclusive governorship election in the state.

  • Lawal condemns PDP over call for Buhari’s resignation

    Lawal condemns PDP over call for Buhari’s resignation

    • encourage Nigerians to work for the good of all

    The Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Scandinavian chapter, Ayoola Lawal has vehemently condemned the calls from some quarters for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    It will be recalled that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) recently called for the resignation of the President over the current economy situation in the Country, a move Lawal described as insensate and rakish.

    According to Lawal in a statement over the weekend, the call for President Buhari’s resignation to instigate chaos by playing on emotion and suffering of the people caused by the same opposition party, is a move that is dead on arrival.

    His words: “It is well known and established that the present administration is not the cause of the inevitable recession Nigeria and her people are passing through right now, even if the solution has to be from it.

    “I sometimes ask myself what has happened to the values of integrity and honor that Nigerians were once known for. The very mentally sick people, who looted the collective wealth of the Nigerians and presently causing pain and suffering for million of Nigerians, while painting the convincing image and deceiving the world that Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa and the state of our economy is very robust when Nigeria was secretly blending to meet up her financial obligations, are also the very people calling for the resignation of the Mr. President when they can no longer run away from the reality of facing the wrath of the law.

    “In the light of the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC) uncovering of unfathomable stealing and senseless looting, they now want to use the masses as the proxy to achieve the aim they could not naturally achieve by playing on the emotions of suffering Nigerians to ignite chaos, but the truth is that Nigerians are wiser than yesterday.

    “Truth be told, times are hard, but Nigerians should brace up for worse things to get better. So help us, God. Many other countries around the world are suffering same. Ours is only bad because past administration failed, like Mr President said, to save for the raining day.

    “It is a known fact that the strength of any country is often judged by the strength of her economy and it is undeniable that over dependent on mono-economy for so long without saving and investing for rainy days always lead to pain and suffering for a nation that her leaders intentionally refused to plan ahead for the citizens and be proactive for the well being of the governed.”

    The APC Scandinavia chief implore all Nigerians to be patient and continuously demand accountability from elected leaders.

    “It will be amazing if the majority of Nigerians in diaspora continue to contribute their bit to the development of Nigeria especially in these trying times and refuse to slip into the half-glass-empty perspective about Nigeria and Africa.

    “Let us support the present administration and always remember Mr. President Buhari and his ministers in prayer for success in the revamping of our dear Nation, Nigeria,” he summed.

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”APC Scandinavia” count=”6″ show_more=”on”]

  • Ize-Iyamu promises scholarship, bursary

    Ize-Iyamu promises scholarship, bursary

    Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has promised to pay bursary as well as give scholarships to Edo students in tertiary institutions.

    This, he said, is to guarantee access to quality and affordable education.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu spoke at campaign rally at Ekosodin, a satellite community which serves as residence for thousands of students of University of Benin.

    Ize-Iyamu said it was pathetic that the APC government neglected the community in terms of  provision of roads, water supply and electricity despite huge votes recorded from the community.

    He said, “I was one of the beneficiaries of the Bursary scheme introduced by the defunct Bendel state Governor, the late Professor Ambrose Folorunsho Alli as an undergraduate in UNIBEN. The bursary helped our parents to a great extent in offsetting such expenses like books and our feeding”.

    “Under the Simple Agenda of my government if by the grace of God you elect me as governor, I plan to pay all Edo students in higher institutions of learning bursaries. For those who are exceptionally brilliant we will give them scholarships to attain academic heights because they are a pride to our state “.

    “I am proud to be a University of Benin graduate. I also lived for one year in Ekosodin as an undergraduate. The place has always enjoyed a very high population of youths and business people. And as a host community of the University, I believe it deserves more government attention by way of development. What I see here is appalling”.

    He urged eligible voters to take APC money but vote for the PDP.

  • Group lambasts Wike, Okowa over Edo poll

    Group lambasts Wike, Okowa over Edo poll

    A sociology-political group, the Niger-Delta Alliance for Good Governance (NDAFGG) has vowed not to resist alleged plots by Governors Nyesome Wike and Ifeanyi Okowa of Rivers and Delta states to rig the September 28 governorship election in Edo state.

    It said Edo would not return to the days of People’s Democratic Party where the state was rule from Okada Avenue and the state wealth shared among cronies.

    The group noted that it was disheartening that both Governors Wike and Okowa could not pay workers’ salaries but doled out  N2bn to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to bribe voters.

    President of the Group, Mr. Nosa Omorogie, in a press statement said the NDAFGG has received reports about plans to rig the Edo state governorship election in favour of the PDP candidate.

    Omorogie stated that it was painful that rather than for Wike and Okowa to face their state’s businesses, they have resorted to fighting Edo people by making Edo election do or die just as they did in their states.

    “We know that they are yet to get over their failed plans as a result of postponement of the election which they had already perfected to rig with the importation of militants.

    “We also received reports that there are plans by the PDP to disrupt with heavy armed men polling units where the All Progressives Congress, APC have strongholds across the state and create chaos.

    “Edo people must reject them. Edo is not like Delta or River state where the governors have refused to pay workers even with the huge resources they receive from both internally Generated Revenues and the Federal allocation.

    “Edo is working, the people can attest to it. Any attempt by people in guise of governors to cause mayhem in a state they know nothing of will be opposed.

    “We urge all Edo citizens to be wise as the likes of Governor Wike and Okowa mean no well for the development of the state at large and its people”.

  • Edo 2016: Shekarau woos Hausas for Ize-Iyamu

    Edo 2016: Shekarau woos Hausas for Ize-Iyamu

    Former Minister for Education and two-term governor of Kano state, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, has urged the Muslim community and Hausas in Edo State to vote for the People’s Democratic Party candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, for quality governance.

    Shekarau who was in Benin to attend the General Assembly and Executive National Council Meeting of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) took out time to join the Edo PDP campaign team.

    Speaking in Hausa language to some Hausa community in Oredo local government, Shekarau said the PDP has better offers than the APC.

    He told the people that Pastor Ize-Iyamu is a man with integrity, determination, vision and commitment to excellence.

    Shekarau cautioned them not to be coerced by money to be shared the ruling APC.

    At a Campaign Fund-raising dinner for Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu at the Royal Chinese Restaurant in Benin City, the former Education Minister said Edo people were in for better days if Pastor Ize-Iyamu is elected as governor.

    “I want to assure the people of Edo state that they have a man of dedication, a man of commitment, a man of business, a man of determination and a man of vision in Pastor Ize-Iyamu.

    “By some coincidence, the same devilish act of the APC by people who were sleeping on their beds when we did the dirty job of forming the APC, both of us are no longer in APC and are in the right place, PDP,” he added.

    He said the APC ran into crisis after the Caretaker National chairman Mr Olabisi Akande went ahead with the idea of creating a National leader for the party as well as giving the leadership of the party in the states to the 5 erstwhile PDP governors who joined the PDP whereas there was no such provision in the Constitution.

    “We thank God that we are today not part of that mess called APC. We are by the day being vindicated and by the grace of God by the time Ize-Iyamu becomes the governor of Edo state, we will be further vindicated”.