The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Senatorial ticket

  • Mimiko withdraws from presidential race for senatorial ticket

    •Ex-commissioner withdraws for former governor

    The presidential candidate of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and a two-term governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has withdrawn from next year’s race.

    He announced his withdrawal yesterday while meeting with the party faithful from the 18 local government areas of the state and some national leaders of the party in Ondo town.

    Mimiko, who briefed the meeting on developments in the polity, said he had been inundated with calls from on his presidential aspiration and the rumour of a senatorial bid.

    The former governor said he became overwhelmed by the calls that he had to jettison the presidential ambition as it had been narrowed to a race between the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and All Progressives congress (APC) candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The former governor said he was asked to go for the senatorial race to build the party and sustain it.

    Mimiko said: “I took the decision in the ultimate interest of our party, the Zenith Labour Party, Ondo State and the country.

    “I will now be running as the candidate of the ZLP for Ondo Central Senatorial District in next year’s election.”

    Also, a former Commissioner for Works, Gboye Adegbenro, has withdrawn from senatorial race for Ondo Central District under the ZLP.

    His decision, he said, was hinged on the respect for his political mentor and former Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who joined the senatorial race.

    In a statement, Adegbenro said: “It has become imperative that I bring to a close my aspiration to represent Ondo Central Senatorial District at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at this critical juncture.

    “Having consulted far and wide with my family, business associates, followers and constituents, it has become important to bow out before the full race commences in the interest of our great party, the Zenith Labour Party and our dear state.

    “More than the above, I am convinced that the candidacy of our leader, the former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, will better serve the interest of the district now and the overall goal of the Southwest.

    “I am eternally grateful to my constituents, followers and party leaders who have been with us all through the processes that culminated in taking this decision. I renew my commitment and unalloyed dedication to the ZLP.”

     

  • Senatorial ticket: Kwara governor may lock horns with Saraki’s godson

    •Ahmed may lose right of first refusal

    Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of  Kwara State yesterday obtained the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) nomination form for the senatorial primaries in Kwara South.

    Ahmed who recently defected from the  All Progressives Congress(APC)  alongside Senate President Bukola Saraki is expected to slug it out in the primaries with Saraki’s  godson, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim.

    It was expected that the governor would be given the right of first refusal for the ticket on account of his defection from the APC.

    It was gathered that some associates of the governor are upset by the development.

    He is said to have been calming them down.

    The fate of the governor is causing ripples in PDP in the state.

    Confirming his purchase of the from yesterday on his Twitter handle, Ahmed said:”In response to calls by my people and in keeping with my strong desire to upscale the excellent work we have done in all three zones of the state, through effective, purposeful representation, I have picked up the PDP nomination form for Kwara South Senatorial District.

    “Besides demonstrating our commitment to the well-being of our people through affordable health insurance, @KwaraCare testifies to value of continuity in governance.”

    A party source said Saraki is  trying to live up to his pledge to “ensure fairness” for old and new PDP members in the state.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that Sen. Rafiu, who is a close ally of Saraki and one of his strategists in the Senate, has obtained nomination form for the Senatorial seat when the governor was expecting the ticket to be his as of right.

    A well placed party source said: “All attempts by the governor to earn the ticket automatically have failed.

    “Associates of the governor are insisting that  the agreement reached with  the Liyel Imoke Committee should be applicable to the governor. All defecting governors have been given the right of first refusal.

    “Some PDP stalwarts are also seeking ticket concession for Ahmed for keeping the home front for Saraki, with untainted loyalty, in the face of hostility at the centre.

    “Any occasion the governor goes to these days, his supporters chant “Senator lola,” meaning ‘Our Senator tomorrow.’

    “But those opposed to senatorial ticket for the governor claim that he has no legislative experience unlike Sen. Rafiu who was in the House of Assembly and House of Representatives before moving up the ladder to the Senate.

    “Records have also shown that Sen. Rafiu has performed creditably and done a lot for his constituents in the district.”

    Responding to a question, the source said: “The governor is also rated as unpopular in the Senatorial District, especially among his own people, forcing him to be meeting with different communities in Irepodun, Ifelodun, Oke Ero, and Ekiti local government areas in the last four weeks.”

    But associates of Ahmed   say most governors who left for the Senate never had legislative experience.

    A source said:”With two terms of eight years, the governor (who is from Ifelodun Local Government Area) will also be short changing Offa-Oyun Local Government Areas (Ibolo) if he is given the  senatorial ticket. Conceding the ticket to him might prove fatal for PDP’s victory in the state.

    “But there appears to be no end in sight to the stalemate because Sen. Rafiu has collected the nomination form also, a development which has caused disquiet in the camp of the governor.”

    The governor is said to have been sending emissaries, including his fellow governors, to Saraki to prevail on Rafiu to forego his return to the Senate.

    A top source in PDP said:  “The Senate President and most of our party leaders are in  a dilemma on how to resolve the logjam over the Kwara South Senatorial District ticket.

    “It will be dangerous to deny the governor the ticket because he can rock the boat with the power of incumbency. And at the same time, Sen. Rafiu is a worthy godson.

    “We are all confused but we are waiting for how Saraki will untie the knot. What we heard was that Saraki has asked the governor to go for primaries with Rafiu but we regard it as a parlour talk.

    “It is a slippery case and if it is not well-handled, it can cause a setback for us.”

    A source in Rafiu’s camp said: “The Senator has obtained the nomination form. I think he read Saraki’s body language and went to collect the form.

    “Since the PDP started selling forms, Saraki has never asked any aspirant not to obtain any in line with his policy to ensure fairness to all whether old or new PDP. Yet, he cannot run away from looming crisis in any part of the state.”

    The senator also confirmed his own purchase of the nomination form on his Twitter handle.

     

     

    He said: “The general elections are here already. With declarations hitting us from all sides, my people have ascertained their position and they’ve echoed it very loudly to my hearing: “We want you to continue the unprecedented good work.”

     

  • Ikole demands Ekiti North senatorial ticket

    The people of Ikole Local Government Area have said the Ekiti North Senatorial seat be reserved for the area.

    This is part of the resolutions of the Council of Obas in under the leadership of the Elekole of Ikole and paramount ruler of Egbeoba Kingdom comprising of 24 communities.

    They urged party leaders to zone the ticket to the local government to erase the neglect of the area since 1999.

    According to them, fairness and justice should be the guiding principle in allocation of political offices in the state.

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Chairman of Local Government Commission in the state, Chief Ranti Adebisi, confirmed the decision of the monarchs to appeal to political leaders in the state to allow Ikole Local Government Area produce the next senator in the district.

    Addressing reporters, Adebisi said the area, having the largest voting strength among the five in the senatorial district, should be given the nod to produce the next senator for the district.

    Since the return of democracy in 1999, other local government areas have produced the senator representing the district at the Upper Chamber.

  • Ekwunife lobbies Apc for senatorial ticket

    Ekwunife lobbies Apc for senatorial ticket

    Former Senator representing Anambra Central Uche Ekwunife is lobbying the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the party’s ticket in the rerun ordered by the Court of Appeal.

    Ekwunife, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC arrived the party’s National Secretariat at about 1pm yesterday to lobby the leadership to hand her the ticket.

    Ekwenife, who was elected on the platform of the PDP was sacked by the Court of Appeal in a judgment delivered by Justice A.H. Yahya.

    The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election within 90 days from the date of the judgment.

    She was seen moving round the offices after leaving the office of the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. But it was not clear if she got an audience with the chairman or any other party official.

    Sources said she also made efforts to meet with the National Auditor, Chief George Moghalu who is her senatorial district.

    Ekwunife declined to speak on her defection and visit to the party’s secretariat.

    It was also gathered that the APC’s candidate in the election and now Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr. Chris Ngige, said he was not interested in the rerun. It is however, not  clear whether the APC will be allowed to substitute Ngige.

    Section 33 of the Electoral Act states that: “A political party shall not be allowed to change or substitute its candidate whose name has been submitted pursuant to section 32 of this Act, except in the case of death or withdrawal by the candidate.

    However, section 35 of the Electoral Act says: “A candidate may withdraw his candidature by notice in writing signed by him and delivered by himself to the political party that nominated him for the election and the political party shall convey such withdrawal to the Commission not later than 45 clays to the election”.

    Even though the Electoral Act is silent on whether a party can substitute a candidate for a rerun ordered by the court, Ekwunife is believed to be interested in replacing Ngige as the party’s candidate for the election.

  • PDP Senatorial ticket: ‘Anambra Central requires fresh ideas’

    PDP Senatorial ticket: ‘Anambra Central requires fresh ideas’

    As the campaigns for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) senatorial ticket in Anambra Central District coasts home ahead this weekend’s National Assembly congress, several factors may have coalesced in favour of Dr. Obiora Okonkwo. More than any other senatorial zone, observers say Anambra Central is likely to be the most interesting zone. The zone comprises of seven local government areas (LGAs), namely, Anaocha, Dunukofia, Njikoka, Idemili South, Idemili North, Awka North and Awka South.

    Taking cognizance of the confusion that trailed the State Assembly congress of the party last weekend and the ongoing crisis in All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), The Nation gathered that concerned elders and leaders of the PDP have come together to canvass for a more generally accepted candidate, if the party hopes to contest favourably in the Anambra Central Senatorial District, which is currently occupied by All Progressives Congress’ (APC) Senator Chris Ngige. The ruling APGA has resolved to field Chief Victor Umeh for the Senate seat.

    Though dismissed by supporters of other aspirants like Hon. Uche Ekwunife and Senator Annie Okonkwo as a new comer, Obiora Okonkwo, who is the leader and chairman, Board of Trustees, Nzuko Imeobi of Idemili North and South Councils, appear to have, more than the other aspirants, convinced the youths in the PDP and majority of the party leaders that he not only represents the change that the people are agitating for in the party and that unlike most of the other aspirants in the party, he has less baggage and will therefore stand a better chance against whoever the other parties will field.

    An entrepreneur and the political /economic adviser to the ArchBishop of Onitsha, insiders in Anambra power game, including some of his political opponents, admit that he is not entirely new. As a top politician puts it off record, “We all know that Obiora has for years played big, but from behind-the-scene. It remains to be seen how he will cope in a real contest involving him.”

    Confronted with the contention that his chances may be affected by the fact that he is contesting against some experienced politicians who dismiss him as lacking experience in politics, he told The Nation: “To start with, you cannot win a project of this nature if you worry about those who, because of the recurrence of their presence at every election, appear to be favourites. There is something about freshness. We cannot ignore the idea behind a new way of thinking; the enthusiasm of the new kid in the block, if I may use that phrase. We need a new energy source, a new face, a change in the way we have been doing things, a shift in gear, which can come only from a collective desire to look elsewhere for movement. Experience counts, but what is the benefit of experience if all it does is to keep us all stirring the same old pot of stew.

    “This is the difference we are bringing into the race. There are people who keep boasting of how long they have been around. If that is so important, what have they done? There are others who have done so much and ought to move to other challenges. I am saying; let others dance on the stage. My strength is in my dance steps; my chances are hinged on the number of persons that will key into the dexterity we promise to show on the stage. Here, I am talking about fresh ideas, perspectives, motivation, and an unyielding desire to give to the people, my people, a dose of fresh air.”

    The state is currently experiencing some interesting developments. For instance,last weekend’s PDP State Assembly congress and the delegates’ congress held earlier left little to be desired. At the State Assembly congress, for example, delegates’ lists were manufactured by the various factions. There are three factions fighting for the PDP ticket in Anambra State. There is the so-called team from Abuja, which is from the party secretariat. This group seemingly worked with no party structure on ground because the court before the congress had ruled that the tenure of the state working committee had expired. There is also the dissolution of the so-called caretaker committee that showed up in Anambra at the night of the delegates’ congress and according to some aggrieved stakeholders never showed up again.

    So, in the midst of the confusion, each of the three factions simply produced their lists. This being the case, it seems right to predict that having manufactured delegates’ lists, and since, during the State House of Assembly congress last Saturday, names were just written down and votes apportioned to them, the situation is not likely to be different during this weekend’s National Assembly congress.

    As would be expected, PDP leaders and some other stakeholders are currently making last minutes plans to save the situation and to ensure that only acceptable candidates that can win the general elections for the party would emerge.