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Tag: Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)

  • Daniel, supporters in thousands finally leave PDP for APC

    Former Governor Gbenga Daniel and thousands of supporters on Sunday formally declared to jettison the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State.

    The declaration touched – off a spontaneous and thunderous chanting of the APC slogans “change” and “Next level” at Daniel’s “Asoludero Hall” within his private residence in Sagamu GRA, Ogun State.

    This followed intense pressure mounted Daniel to lead them to APC and not abandoned them midstream.

    The loyalists who took turn to speak, hinged their demands on the fact that their efforts contributed to the emergence of Prince Dapo Abiodun, as the governor-elect of Ogun state on the platform of APC.

    The former governor who governed Ogun state on the ticket of PDP for eight years, had convened a stakeholders’ meeting of his loyalists under the aegis of OGD Political Family at his Sagamu home where he  formally announced his withdrawal from partisan politics.

    He disclosed that his foray into politics was accidental and necessitated by the need to “awaken the sleeping giant” – Ogun state from slumber and having met that need, it was important that he leaves the stage when the “ovation is loudest.”

    Daniel also lamented that he has been “bartered, “bruised”  and “called names because of politics” hence his resolve to quit even and a time there is much outcries against “sit tight leaders.”

    He also narrated how he failed at getting Hon. Ladi Adebutu as well as the governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) to work together after the court had validated  Senator Buruji Kashamu as the PDP gubernatorial candidate, and further lamenting that members of his political family failed to listen to him on a number of occasions.

    But his supporters, said they would take none of such excuses from him, protesting that why could he even let the resignation from politics to the media without first consulting them.

    One of them, Ifekayode Akinbode led other members of the OGD Political Family to prostrate for Daniel with the women holding  his legs, pleading passionately that he should lead them to APC.

    And arriving at a final resolution, the PDP Senatorial candidate for Ogun Central during the just concluded 2019 general elections, put the matter to  a voice vote where to choose between remaining in PDP or joining APC but in unison, the all resolved to collectively join APC.

  • CSOs in Akwa Ibom indict PDP, APC over vote buying/intimidation

    Civil society groups in Akwa Ibom State have said that both the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and the All Progressives Congress(APC) were involved in massive electoral fraud during the just concluded general elections in the state.

    In fact, they said the February 23 and March 9 presidential/National and governorship/state house of assembly elections in the state were characterized by voter inducement and intimidation.

    Chairman Civil Societies Forum in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Harry Udoh, who disclosed this to the Nation in a telephone interview at the weekend, said voters in the state were heavily induced and harassed by the two foremost political parties in both elections.

    According to Udoh, findings indicate that the two political parties had started buying votes since December last year.

    ”Now if you ask me if people were induced or if there was vote buying, i will say yes even though i can’t substantiate it. The strategy was such that,  I think from December, they had started buying peoples minds.

    ”The massive voters intimidation and votes buying were perpetrated by both parties. Nobody can change my mnd on that. Perhaps the party with the biggest amount of money got the day but people went to the polling units and voted.

    ”I think that the people voted by themselves but they were induced by pecuniary benefits. The people actually went to the polling units, queued up, voted and the votes were counted at the end of collation of each election and the results announced at the polling units”’ he said.

    Udoh also absolved the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) resident electoral commissioner(REC) in the state, Mr. Mike Igini of partisanship.

    Read Also: PDP members join APC in Akwa Ibom

    He specifically said there was never a time Igini said he was going to frustrate the APC from winning elections as alledged by spokesman of APC campaigns in the state, Mr. Eseme Eyiboh.

    Eyiboh had accused the state REC of saying during a meeting with CSOs that he was going to ensure that APC loses elections in the state.

    ”Each time Mike Igini meets with civil society organizations in Akwa Ibom, I am always there as the chairman of civil societies forum in the state.

    ”We have never had that kind of discussion except I was not there when he said that. It is not true that he made that kind of statement”, Udoh said.

  • Atunwa congratulates Kwara gov-elect Abdulrazaq

    Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the Saturday’s poll, Hon. Razak Atunwa has hailed the winner of the election, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Atunwa, in a statement also thanked God for His blessings as well PDP’s leadership and supporters who stood by him during the just concluded elections in the state.

    He added: “I would like to thank the PDP leadership and all our supporters who stood by me in the just concluded elections.

    “Your commitment and dedication is heart-warming. You all gave your best. We are all winners in the process of democracy.

    “Whilst the Party considers its next line of action, and without prejudice to any legal process, I offer my congratulations to  AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

    “I pray that Kwara will continue to be a state of harmony and witness further development in the next administration. My utmost gratitude goes to Almighty God for His blessings.”

  • Dogara wins 4th term in Bauchi

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) was on Sunday declared winner of  Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Federal Constituency Bauchi.

    He polled 73,609 votes to secure a fourth consecutive term.

    He defeated his closest rival Dalhatu Kantana of the All Progressive Congress APC who bagged 50,708 votes.

    The returning officer, Professor Muhammed Abdulhamid declared Dogara the winner at the federal constituency collation centre in Zwall at Tafawa Balewa local government.

    The Speaker,  who decamped from  the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC  for the PDP  last year, coasted home in home town Bogoro  where APC polled 30,216 and PDP scored 25,829.

    In Dass LGA, APC polled 16,661, PDP got 10,222 while in Tafawa Balewa, APC got 30,201 PDP garnered 37,558 votes.

    INEC had earlier rescheduled election at a polling unit in Kopti for Sunday due to the failure of the smart card reader deployed, which delayed the collation of result.

    The Bauchi politician was first elected to the parliament in 2007 as a member of the PDP.

     He defected to the APC in 2014 as part of the new-PDP bloc that revolted ahead of the 2015 elections.

    Dogara has been in the Lower Chamber for 12 years, serving as Speaker in the last three and half years.

  • Ohuabunwa kicks as Orji Kalu wins senatorial seat

    Former Abia State governor, Chief Orji Kalu has defeated incumbent Senator Mao Ohuabunwa in the battle for Abia north senatorial seat.

    Kalu of the All Progressives Congress(APC) polled 31,203 votes to defeat Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) who secured 20,801 votes.

    The returning officer for senatorial election Dr. Charles Anumodu declared Kalu winner while the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance(APGA) Chief David Ogba who scored 11,410 votes.

    Ohuabunwa however rejected the result of the election in a statement issued by his campaign Organisation.

    Ohuabunwa, in the statement by Mr. Ukpai Ukairo, the true results Abia North senatorial election were still being collated.

    According to him: “It has come to our knowledge that INEC operatives in their haste to arrive at a pre-determined conclusion manipulated the electoral process to the shock of all well- meaning patriots who believe in democracy.

    “In this respect, it is tragic that INEC could conduct an election without the issuance of form EC40G, a form used to capture cancelled votes and places where there was no voting.

    Read also: PDP clears Oredo, Esan North East/Esan South East

    “In the circumstances of the above, we demand that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in  Abia State should to direct the Returning Officer of the Abia North Senatorial Election to make the requisite declaration in accordance with the dictates of Rule 17E(e) of the guidelines for the conduct of elections issued by INEC by cancelling the elections completely”.

    Kalu also delivered his Bende Local Government for President Mahamadu Buhari.

     Buhari polled a total of 9,233 to defeat the candidate of Peoples Democratic party Atiku Abubakar who polled 6649.

    The returning officer for the presidential election in the area Prof Nnennaya Ibiam, announced the result at the INEC headquarters in  Umuahia, the state capital on Sunday.

    Member representing Isikwuuato/ Umunneochi federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in Abia state, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, also won a return to the House of Representatives for the fourth term.

    She was declared winner after polling 14,712 votes to defeat her closest rival of the Peoples Democratic Party Mr. Ude Achara who polled 10,064 votes.

    Also in Bende federal Constituency, Benjamin Kalu of the All Progressive Congress also polled 9,138 to defeat Chimanyaso of the Peoples Democratic Party who polled 5591 in the Bende federal Constituency.

    The returning officer for the constituency Mr. Martin Okoro declared him winner after announcing the result.

  • PDP accuses FG , APC of using force to capture A’Ibom

    The People’s Democratic Party(PDP) in Akwa Ibom has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government of using intimidation to capture the state for the ruling party.

    In a press conference Thursday night, the state chairman of the PDP, Obong Paul Ekpo said the party has uncovered plan by the FG to use the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to haunt state government officials, as a prelude to freezing the accounts of the state.

    Ekpo said the siege on the State House of Assembly by the police and the frequent change of commissioners of police was parts of plots to capture the state by force.

    He said the impression that APC was trying to make the state ungovernable so that a state emergency would be declared ahead of next year’s general election.

    The PDP boss, however, said the party would not be intimidated by the actions of the federal government.

    Ekpo said the invasion of the state house of assembly by the five sacked APC lawmakers was done in bad faith as there was no stay of execution by any court stopping the Speaker from declaring their seats vacant.

    “The invasion of the house of assembly with thugs by Mr. Idongesit Ituen, one of the sacked lawmaker representing Itu state constituency was done in bad faith as there was no stay of execution issued by any court of law against the speaker in respect of Ituen’s case”, he said.

    He argued that the schemes of APC were to bring Governor Udom Emmanuel in a collision course with President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “The People’s Democratic Party has invited you this evening to alert Nigerians, international communities, and indeed the whole world of attempts by the All Progressives Congress in collusion with security agencies to make the state ungovernable and possibly declare a state
    of emergency to pave way for easy manipulations of elections results in 2019.

    “It is pertinent to note that we have uncovered a fresh plot by the APC to use the EFCC to clamp down on Akwa Ibom State government accounts. This is another desperate attempt by the APC to paralyse the activities of the government of Akwa Ibom State.

    “In view of the foregoing, we make this extant demand: that the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, should as a matter of urgency, cause the troops laying siege at the premise of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to vacate with immediate effect and cease forthwith, further intimidation of officials of Akwa Ibom government and principal officers of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly,” he said.

     

     

  • ‘PDP had rancour-free primary in Owo/Ose Constituency’

    A House of Representatives aspirant for Ose/Owo federal constituency,in Ondo state under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Sadiq Oluwole Obaneyen on Saturday said there was peaceful primary in the area where he emerged the candidate.

    He faulted the claim that there were irregularities during primary which led to the purported cancellation of the primary in the federal constituency.
    Obaneyen in a statement made available to reporters in Akure, the state capital said he clinched the party ticket to contest the general election for Owo/Ose federal constituency next year.
    According to him,”I emerged at the PDP primary election held in Owo where 234 delegates participated in the exercise”.
    He said delegates from the two local governments were accredited before voting,while
    the election went smoothly as delegates conducted themselves in a peaceful manner.
    Obaneyen added that INEC officials were on ground to monitor the exercise as well observers.
    Besides,the aspirant said Security operatives were present to provide maximum security which facilitated hitch free exercise.
    Announcing the results,the Returning Officer,Yusuf Rabiu declared Obaneyen as the winner with 107 votes to defeat the serving member in the federal constituency,Bode Ayorinde who had 73 votes while the third  contestants got 54 votes.

    Read Also: Agbaje clinches Lagos PDP governorship ticket

    The PDP chairman in Owo local government,Idris Okeowo expressed  delight in the process that produced clear winner.
    Obaneyen expressed appreciation to God,party leaders and supporters for the victory while promising his constituents that he would not disappoint them.
    He assured them of robust and quality representation.
    Obaneyen had served in various leadership positions within and outside the state.
    He was the first Labour Party secretary in the state and served as the former Director, Ondo State Development Property between 2009/2010.
    Besides,he served as the senior legislative aide to the Deputy Senate President,
    Ike Ikweremadu,the position he held before resigning  last month to contest for the  House of Representatives seat in Owo/Ose federal constituency.

  • 2019: ‘Fight against destroyers of our destiny’

    …….forces of oppression will be repelled – Saraki

    Akwa Ibom state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has said that next year’s general elections, particularly the governorship would not be an ordinary electoral contest but a fight between the people and ‘destiny destroyers’.

    Speaking on Sunday at the Uyo Township Stadium on the occasion of the 31st anniversary celebration of the state, Governor Emmanuel, therefore urged Akwa Ibom people to rise up and fight against some highly placed individuals who want to mortgage the destiny of the state.

    Though he was not explicit on who he referred to as ‘destiny destroyers’ the governor said Akwa Ibom was and will remain a People’s Democratic Party(PDP) state which cannot be subdued by the opposition.

    He said no single individual from the state can play God and get away with it, adding that the gathering of ‘lions and bears’ against of the political destiny of the state would be put to naught in next year’s election.

    “Today Akwa Ibom people have come together and the fight before us is Akwa Ibom destiny and we are taking our destiny in our own hands. We will fight for our destiny. All destiny hijackers we tell them Holy Ghost fire.

    Read Also: FA cup: Gov Udom doles out N70m to Akwa Utd

    “All destiny destroyers we tell them Holy Ghost fire. In Akwa Ibom today we have development coming into Mbo, Ibiono to everywhere. There is nothing like Oro, nothing like Ibibio, nothing like Annang; development cuts across everywhere.

    “If you go to Ibaka road people were dancing; a major economic road was abandoned over the years because of ethnic bigotry. Today what are we saying forward ever, backward never. If they like let the lions and the bears come together. Can they eat up our destiny?

    “The same God of yesterday is the same God today and is the same God of tomorrow. Never again can the destiny of Akwa Ibom be taken over one man who has risen up to pretend that he God. Did Goliath succeed?

    “We shall conquer the beast. No man will sell our destiny; no man will mortgage our destiny; no man will rubbish our destiny. On our destiny we stand; our destiny is built on a solid rock and so shall it stand”, Emmanuel said.

    The governor mentioned the renovation and upgrading of general hospitals in Ituk Mbang, Etinan and Ikono as well as attraction of industries such as Toothpick factory, metering assembly plant, fertilizer blending plant and syringe factory among others.

    Speaking earlier the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki assured that the PDP would reclaim power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the federal and state levels.

    Saraki said, “In 2019 the forces of darkness and oppression will repelled across the 36 states of the federation”.

    In attendance at the occasion were the governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Dino Melaye among other PDP chieftains.

  • PDP: Caretaker Committe suspeneds Buruji Kashamu

    PDP: Caretaker Committe suspeneds Buruji Kashamu

    Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) chieftain and senator representing Ogun East senatorial zone at the National Assembly, Buruji Kashamu has been suspended by the National Caretaker Committee of the party.

    The decision which was taken at 3am Saturday morning  is said to be for a month.

    The National convention of the party is expected to start Saturday morning , with the election of a new National chairman and other officers as the major highlight.

    Further details later.

  • Lagos council poll : Aggrieved PDP members are welcome – AD

    Lagos council poll : Aggrieved PDP members are welcome – AD

    The Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Lagos on Monday said it would warmly receive aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) wishing to contest the July 22 council poll on its platform.

    The state chairman of the party, Mr Kola Ajayi made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    He was reacting to a recent directive by the Moshood-Salvador faction of the PDP telling its aspirants to contest the July 22 council poll on platforms of their choice.

    The Publicity Secretary of the faction, Mr Taofik Gani had said the decision was a temporary arrangement to ensure that its aspirants were not denied participation in the poll.

    Gani said that the arrangement had become inevitable as reconciliation with the Segun Adewale-led group for the party to unite for the polls was not yielding results.

    Ajayi said the door of the party was open to aggrieved members of the PDP, but they would be allowed to contest on the party’s platform as long as they met the conditions.

    “Disagreements are normal in politics, so are movements of politicians from parties to parties for certain reasons.

    “So, if some of the aggrieved members of the PDP have decided to join us to contest the elections under our party, why not?

    “Our doors are open. We will warmly receive them and they will surely be allowed to contest so far they agree to certain terms and conditions.

    “One of the conditions will be that they will not come and use our platform and dump us afterwards. No,we don’t want ‘use and dump”, he said.

    Ajayi, who is also the state chairman of the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) in the state said the AD was perfecting preparations for the elections.

    He added that IPAC was also taking steps to strengthen harmony among the political parties and ensure that the forthcoming polls were peaceful.

    He said the party and IPAC were relying on the promise of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission that it would ensure the election was free and fair.

    Assessing the performance of the Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration in the last two years, Ajayi said it had done well.

    He said the achievement of the governor in the area of road construction was commendable, noting that gridlock had been significantly tackled.

    “I commend Gov. Ambode. He has done well. He is visible in the area of infrastructural development.

    “However, he can still do better. He can do better to make more impact on the lives of Lagosians,” he said.