The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peoples Democratic Party

  • PDP: Southwest zones chairmanship to Lagos, Ogun

    PDP: Southwest zones chairmanship to Lagos, Ogun

    The Southwest zonal caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday met at the Government House, Alagbaka, Akure, Ondo State in an attempt to present consensus candidates for positions zoned to the region by the Southern Caucus.

    On Thursday, last week, the Southern Caucus of the Party in Port Harcourt zoned the office of National Chairman, National Auditor and Deputy National Publicity Secretary to the zone.

    At the end of the Monday meeting, the caucus agreed to peg the National Chairmanship position between Lagos and Ogun State, Deputy National Publicity Secretary zoned to Oyo/Osun, National Treasurer zoned to Ondo/Ekiti.

    The caucus also set up a six-man committee to be Chaired by Alhaji Yekinni Adeoko to meet with the three aspirants from Lagos and Ogun with the view of coming up with a consensus candidate for the National Chairmanship position. The committee is expected to submit its report within forty-eight hours.

    The new arrangement has now streamlined the position of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party to three individuals. The former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who is the only aspirant from the State; Chief Olabode George and Jimi Agbaje, both from Lagos State.

    The meeting was attended by the host Governor, Olusegun Mimiko and his Ekiti State counterpart, Ayodele Fayose; former National Deputy Chairman and National Chairmanship Aspirant, Chief Bode George; Chairman, House of Representatives Committee for Rural Development, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, former Minister of Education and National Chairmanship Aspirant, Professor Tunde Adeniran,  amongst other dignitaries

  • 700 APC members join PDP in Ovia

    700 APC members join PDP in Ovia

    …..PDP Reps stormed Edo for Ize-Iyamu

    No fewer than 700 members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Wednesday defected to the People’s Democratic Party in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

    The defectors who were from various communities in Ovia North East were led by a leader of APC in the locality, Friday Ighodaro.

    Other APC leaders that defected with their supporters were Stephen Osagie, Ifeanyi Okolie, Iredia Samuel and Peter Igbinedion.

    Friday said they left the APC because ‘it is a one-party.’

    Osagie on his part said the APC supporters from his Ulakpa community decided to quit the APC because the road leading to their community was graded by the lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency, Barr. Omosede Igbinedion.

    The former APC members announced their defection at a campaign rally of the PDP held at Okada, hometown of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom.

    Barr. Omosede in her remarks said it was her father, Chief Igbinedion that turned Okada village into a town and the Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu will turn it into a city.

    Omosede told her kinsmen that the APC stopped some of her pet projects including rural electrification and road project at Okun community.

    She urged the people to show the ‘short man’ that he failed them through the ballot papers.

    Seven PDP members in the House of Representatives stormed the campaign rally to drum support for Pastor Ize-Iyamu.

    They included Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, Hon Uzoma Abumka, Hon Ladi Adekoto, Hon Sambo Garuba, Hon Oghene Ego and Hon Tunji Soyinka.

    Ogor urged the people to use their vote to send what he termed negative government  out of the system.

    State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, accused Governor Oshiomhole of spending N90m monthly to maintain water fountain at the Oba Ovoranmwen Square in Benin City at a time residence lacked water to drink.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu told the people that contents of his ‘Simple’ agenda document was his convenant with the people of the state.

    Ize-Iyamu said Oshiomhole was behaving as if he was pursuing a third term agenda.

    His words, “I feel sad when I hear Oshiomhole insults people like Chief Igbinedion when it was Chief Igbinedion that helped him to power.

    “He should have tell the people what he did in the past eight years  he he resorted to insulting elders.”

    Ize-Iyamu promised to improve the people lives as well as partner with businesses to develop the state.

  • Police denies carrying out ‘politically motivated arrest’

    Police denies carrying out ‘politically motivated arrest’

    The Edo State Police Command has denied allegations that it has been carrying out ‘politically motivated arrest’.

    State Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Felix Imosili, had accused the police of increasing political tension by allegedly reluctant to arrest persons involved in pulling down the party’s campaign banners and posters in parts of the state.

    Chief Imosili said PDP leaders were frequently called police stations to bail persons whose arrest he said were politically motivated.

    Imosili stated that the Police stopping of the PDP campaign at Igueben local government because the governor was coming to the area for APC campaign was capable of creating political tension.

    In his reaction, State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, said those arrested by the police included some members of the National Youth Service Corps caught carrying out voter registration at the residence of a politician in Fugar, Estako Central local government.

    Ezike said the politician was arrested and charged to court.

    He disclosed that some persons were caught with INEC’s voter register and they were released after clarification from INEC officials that document could be downloaded from the Internet.

    The police commissioner said the PDP campaign rally at Ekpon in Igueben was cancelled because Speaker Justin Okonoboh first applied to holding political gathering in the area.

  • PDP zoning: Group canvasses support for Kwara

    PDP zoning: Group canvasses support for Kwara

    A group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kwara PDP Support Group KSG has appealed to North Central Zone Leadership of the party  to concede its slots of  the National Publicity Secretary to Kwara State on the basis of equity and justice.
    Leader of the PDP group, Olanrewaju Olokode urges party leaders and stakeholders in the North Central to graciously reconsider the zoning arrangement of party’s National Publicity Secretary in favour of Kwara State.
    Olokode also urges the leaders and stakeholders to prevail on the Benue State leadership  by reasons and brotherliness to concede the  National Publicity Secretary slot to Kwara State, PDP.
    He said that Benue State had for 8 years enjoyed the Senate Presidency, a slot zoned to the North Central Geo-political zone under the PDP arrangement.
    “Also, in the 2011 and 2015 Presidential Elections the Benue State produces the Zonal Coordinator, then Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan. Benue has had a good fair share of North Central Zone States collective stake, Kwara state should been given this slot in  spirit of friendly relationship, equity, justice and good political calculation ahead of 2019 election.”
    Olokode said the position will also rally members and supporters of the party together for a reinvigorated and strong PDP in Kwara State ahead of 2019.
    The PDP group also appealed to Professor  Jerry Gana, Senator David Mark, Alhaji Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Senator Jonah Jang, Ex-Governors Gabriel Suswan, Idris Wada, Abdulkadir Kure, Babangida Aliyu and all other key Stakeholders that have influence to support the Kwara State PDP in its quest to produce a vibrant National Publicity Secretary for the party.

  • Igbinedion spends ‘looted’ funds on Oshiomhole’s election -Ize-Iyamu

    Igbinedion spends ‘looted’ funds on Oshiomhole’s election -Ize-Iyamu

    Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has asked Governor Adams Oshiomhole to refund the money Chief Lucky Igbinedion expended on his elections in 2007.

    The refund, Pastor Ize-Iyamu said, became necessary because Governor Oshiomhole has consistently accused his predecessor of looting the state treasury.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu for the first admitted that the man behind the mask that financed Governor Oshiomhole in 2007 was Chief Igbinedion.

    He spoke last weekend at the unveiling of a book titled “Betrayal of Trust” written by an ex-aide to Governor Oshiomhole, Orobosa Omo-Ojo.

    The PDP governorship candidate said Lucky Igbinedion was one of the biggest contributors to the money that was spent to making Oshiomhole governor.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu stated that Governor Oshiomhole as President of the NLC never protested against Lucky’s policies ‘because he deliberately needed Igbinedion friendship.’

    Ize-Iyamu also urged Oshiomhole to refund the money collected from President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 to ensure the defunct ACN lost the presidential election.

    According to him, “Lucky Igbinedion recommended him to some of us that people are saying he had not done well, let him appoint a man who is popular, who appears to have popularity among the people. Let it be on record that he helped him to become governor. That was how he introduced Oshiomhole. We did it for two reasons.”

    “First was that because Edo is one and an Afenmai man has never become the governor. We felt it was time for an Afenmai man to become the governor. I also bought the story of Lucky Igbinedion that this man just left office as President of the NLC. This man will be interested in the masses, he will be interested in our pensioners, he will be interested in students. This man will excel. On that note, we supported him. He declared he had no money, we have to put all the resources together to support him.”

    “When he is busying talking about Lucky Igbinedion, let Edo people know that it was Lucky Igbinedion that brought him. In 2007, I want him to tell Edo people where he got the money he spent to become governor. In case, he has forgotten, I will like to remind him that most of the money comes from Lucky Igbinedion. Since he is saying Lucky Igbinedion stole Edo State money, can he please refund the money he collected from Lucky.

    “In 2012, Oshiomhole was in ACN. I know that a governor in ACN collected money from Jonathan in 2012 to betray his party such that ACN lost in Edo.

    “I did not betray my party. A governor collected money from Jonathan to betray his party and ensure his party lost in Edo. As he is talking about people refunding money, please remind him to refund the money he collected from President Jonathan. He should please refund that money.

    “Let me confess that when I was his DG, he brought a lot of money for us to use for campaign, I don’t know where he got that money from. I have been told he got that money from the state government coffers. Can he please refund the money.”

    Author of the book, who was a former Commissioner for Transport, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, said the book gave an insight into the person and administrative style of Governor Oshiomhole.

    He said the book revealed those that supported Oshiomhole to power and why Oshiomhole lost focus in governance.

  • Osinbajo, APC governors storm Benin for governorship flag off

    Osinbajo, APC governors storm Benin for governorship flag off

    * as security operatives take Ogbemudia stadium, it’s environs

     

    The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and All  Progressives Congress Governors will on Saturday storm Benin City, the Edo state capital for the official flag off of the All Progressives Congress Governorship campaign of Godwin Obaseki for the September 10th election.

    This was disclosed by the state Chairman of the party, Barrister Anselm Ojezua yesterday while speaking on the preparation on ground for the flag off.

    Ojezua said some of the governors will arrive Friday evening ahead of campaign on Saturday.

    He also said arrangements are on to mobilize all Edo people in and outside the state for the flag off.

    The APC Chairman further revealed that some notable People’s Democratic Party members in the state will pick tent with All Progressives Congress at the flag off.

    Meanwhile, Security Operatives have taking over the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium venue of the flag off  and its environs ahead of the APC governorship flag Off on Saturday.

    Vehicular movement have been diverted from stadium road, the popular Akenzua road, Zabayo and Plymouth road, while soldiers have also taking over some strategic zone around the stadium.

  • Court affirms candidacy of Ubah, Oduah, others for 2015 elections

    Court affirms candidacy of Ubah, Oduah, others for 2015 elections

    A Federal High Court in Abuja Friday upheld the candidacy of former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, Senator Andy Ubah and others for last year’s national and state legislative election in Anambra State.

    Justice Adeniyi Ademola, in a judgment Friday, held that the list of candidates, containing the name of Oduah, Andy Ubah and others, submitted to the Independent National Executive Committee (NEC) of the People’s Democratic Party was the authentic list of candidates.

    The judgment was on a suit by Senator Annie Okonkwo, Chukwunedum Chris Ubah and 42 others, who were listed as candidates in the list submitted to INEC by the Abia State Executive Committee of the PDP.

    The plaintiffs had among others, challenged the decision of INEC to substitute their names earlier published on INEC’s website prior to the election with those contained in the list submitted to it by the party’s NEC.

    They urged the court to void INEC’s decision to replace their names with those of Oduah, Andy Ubah and others.

    In his judgment Friday, Justice Ademola resolved the four issues he identified for determination against the plaintiff.

    The judge faulted the plaintiffs’ contention that INEC having published their names first, it could not replace them with a list of other people without a valid order of court.

    Justice Ademola said the mere publication of the plaintiffs’ names on INEC’s website was without any legal consequences and did not qualify them to be regarded as the authentic candidates of the party.

    “The state Executive of a party or any organ of the party at the state level lacks the power to sponsor candidates. It is only the primary election conducted by the National Executive or their delegates that can validly conduct primary to produce its candidates.

    “The 1st to 44 plaintiffs were not the through candidates of the 17the defendant (PDP), but products of illegally contrived primary by the Anambra PDP, which is a complete illegality,” the judge said.

    Justice Ademola, who referred to the January 29, 2016 judgment and February 24, 2016 ruling of the Supreme Court on similar issues involving parties in the case, held that the apex court’s judgment and ruling were not in favour of the plaintiffs in this case.

    The judge, who also referred to an earlier judgment by the late Justice Evoh Chukwu (also of the Federal High Court, Abuja), said the judgment only upheld the legitimacy of the Ejike Oguebego-led state Executive of the PDP in Anambra.

    Justice Ademola held that the fact that Justice Chukwu’s judgment upheld the legitimacy of Oguebego-state EXCO of the PDP in Anambra State does not confer on it the power to nominate candidates for the party.

    He said political parties, being national organisations, the power to nominate/select candidates for a party resides with its National Executive Council, not the state Executive Council.

    He dismissed the suit, but made no order as to cost.

  • Edo 2016:  Sheriff Should Forgive Us- PDP Lawmaker

    Edo 2016:  Sheriff Should Forgive Us- PDP Lawmaker

    Apparently worried by the lingering National leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives has appealed for understanding just as he called for a united opposition party in the country

    Hon. Sergius Oguns, member representing Esan south east and Esan north east federal constituency who disclosed this said, the PDP must put its house in order for the sake of providing a viable opposition party to checkmate what he described as ‘excesses’ of the ruling party.

    Speaking at his country home in Ugboha,Esan south east local government area of the, said “I want to say the least I can’t say I am worried,I was a member of the convention committee, I was there at Port Harcourt and when we returned back from the convention to Abuja, the minority leader in the house of Representative called some of us to go and see Alhaji Ahmadu Sheriff to plead with him that the party is supreme, that he should put the party first, that if we have offended him as a person ,we are coming on behalf of the PDP caucus in the house to ask for your forgiveness.

    “Ahmadu complained of the injunctions that came and others saying that was the reason he stopped the Port Harcourt convention, he now told us that the governors have immunity ,that he doesn’t have, that he can be arrested, so he needs to obey the court orders, so we now pleaded that for whatever happened he should forgive us in the interest of the party.

    “We left and regrouped that same evening to see Prof. Jerry Gana in his place to also let him know that we have met with Ahmadu Sheriff so that the supremacy of the party can prevail. So the next day,the BoT of the party meet with the caretaker committee,then it was resolved that the stakeholders are ready to work with the caretaker committee.

    “In that meeting it was also resolved that some of our leaders, should get in touch with Ahmadu Sheriff and his people and it was later reported back that they couldn’t reach him, so I was surprised when I saw

    in the papers that Ahmadu Sheriff said nobody reached him,that wasn’t correct. I personally was in his house alongside other caucus members.

    “My prayers is that, His Excellency, Ahamdu Sheriff would for the sake of the party,do the needful and withdraw the cases in court and let us have one United party, so that we as an opposition party can take on the government of the day. As you and I know,things are not working right in this country,when was the last time did you hear someone speak as a united PDP? Nobody. So I will plead with him that if people offended him,we say sorry and for the sake of Nigeria,let’s have a strong opposition party to check the government of the day.

  • Pastor Ize-Iyamu wins PDP primaries

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu wins PDP primaries

    Former Secretary to the Edo State Government, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has won the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State with a landslide victory.

    He polled 584 votes to defeat his opponents, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and Chief Solomon Edebiri.

    Matthew garnered 91 votes while Chief Edebiri polled 38 votes.

    A total of 740 delegates participated in the primaries held at the Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia stadium.

    Security was beefed around the stadium to prevent hoodlums from gaining access to the venue.

    Details later…

  • Diezani N700m: EFCC detains Edo PDP chair

    Diezani N700m: EFCC detains Edo PDP chair

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has continued its search for N700m given to Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party  out of the Diezani $115m bribe money.

    It has detained State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, and extended invitation to 18 local government officials of the party.

    Other persons earlier invited in connection to the N700m bribe money were a former Deputy Governor, Lucky Imasuen, Tony Aziegbemin and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

    Imasuen had told newsmen that the he was only invited to a branch of Fidelity Bank to witness collection of the money and that the money was taken to the House of a PDP leader where the money was shared.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu also explained that he did not touch a kobo out of the money and that he gave the EFCC list of those that signed as the money was being shared.

    Sources said Pastor Ize-Iyamu has been invited again but close aides to Pastor Ize-Iyamu said he traveled to Lagos.

    It was gathered that the EFCC has asked those indicted to refund the money.