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Tag: Uche Secondus

  • Defections, indication opposition is set to rescue Nigeria – Okowa

    Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has said the gale of defections from the ruling All Progressive Congress to the opposition PDP is an indication that the party is prepared to rescue Nigeria from the present state of affairs.

    He welcomed the defection of Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom and All Progressive Congress (APC) lawmakers to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP),

    In a statement in Asaba, on Thursday, by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, Gov. Okowa congratulated the National Chairman and leadership of the PDP for the proactive steps taken so far in repositioning the party.

    According to the Governor: “I congratulate members and leaders of the PDP on the defections and abandonment of the APC by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom and the members of the National Assembly.

    “The defections have clearly shown to the entire world that the APC lack the capacity to manage a political party, and indeed a government and this explains why the people now look up to the PDP to rescue the country and put it on the path of good governance for our people.

    Governor Okowa commended the defectors for the courage they have exhibited in abandoning “the sinking ship.”  He stressed that the defections signify a vote of no confidence in the APC-led government and that the 2019 election will be a referendum of how the APC shattered the expectations of Nigerians.

    Read Also: Okowa denies backing Atiku’s Presidential ambition

    He added: “The decision of a significant number of members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives to leave the APC and decamp into the PDP clearly indicates that there is hope that the country will be rescued from the misrule of the APC government.

    The Governor congratulated the PDP for positioning itself as a suitable alternative for the defectors. He emphasized that the choice of the PDP as a preferred destination for them is an affirmation of the kind of leadership the national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has provided since assuming office.

    Okowa further encouraged other Governors, lawmakers to consider joining the PDP as the party is set on a mission to rescue Nigeria.

     

  • Ekiti Poll : We’ll win, no intimidation can subvert people’s will – Uche Secondus

    … Warns PDP’ll probe Buhari, APC over handling Abacha’s loot

    The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, on Friday boasted that the party and its governorship candidate, Prof. Kolapo  Olusola Eleka, would win the Saturday governorship election in Ekiti State.

    Secondus alleged that there were plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled “Federal government to take Ekiti State by force but said no amount of intimidation can subvert the will of the people.”

    The PDP national chairman made this known in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when he and

    the PDP Board of trustee Chairman, Senator Walid Jubrin, Chief Bode George, former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara among others national leaders stormed Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, ahead of Saturday meeting with former Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he described as a “warrior, hero and winner.”

    Secondus berated the anti- corruption fight of President Muhammadu Buhari – led government, saying it claimed to be fighting corruption “whereas it is committing mother of corruption” with Abacha’s loot.

    “How on earth will a government engage in mother of corruption? Abacha’s loot money has been withdrawn from the banks and being given to cronies.

    Read Also: Ekiti election: Motor parks busy as passengers travel

    “We want assure President Muhammad Buhari and APC that they will be held accountable.That is mother of corruption.

    “No government will put money in baskets and starts sharing. When PDP takes over in 2019, we will ask them to refund every kobo of Abacha’s loot,

    “The Abacha’s loot the Federal government said they are going to share without budgettibg for it is a wrong way to appropriate money. It is never done anywhere. That is recipe for corruption. Who are they giving it to?

    “I believe that the money is meant for the APC government for election in 2019 and they have started using it. If they do, when we take over, we will probe it. They will be held responsible and accountable and they will refund because they must appropriate for it,” he said.

    While speaking on plans to unhorse APC at the National and in Ogun State, Secondus hinted that there would shaking and shifting in the weeks ahead within the ruling party.

    “You will see signs and wonders. In a matter of weeks, there will be shaking and shifting. The APC government has nothing to offer, they are afraid. What they are doing today is not knew, it has happened before. We can’t be intimidated,” Secondus told his cheering party faithful.

  • Be mindful of your comments on Buhari – BMO cautions Secondus

    The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has called on the national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Uche Secondus, to refrain from making inflammatory comments capable of inciting Nigerians against President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration.

    The organization’s Chairman, Mr Austin Braimoh, and its Secretary, Mr Cassidy Madueke, made the call in a jointly signed statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The group described Secondus’ allegation at the PDP rally in Ekiti, that Pesident Buhari was responsible for the killings across the country, as careless and inciting.

    According to the organisation, such inflammatory comments are capable of exacerbating the current security situation in the country.

    Read Also: We are taking measures against killings, says Buhari 

    “For the information of Mr Secondus and his co-travellers, we need to remind them that under their past administrations, Nigeria was under siege and nearly collapsed, but for the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration that has already brought the situation under control.

    “As we approach the 2019 elections, he should always weigh the implication of his public comments to avoid the possibility of plunging the country into unnecessary crisis.

    “As the chairman of the leading opposition party, he must realize that he owes it a duty to the country to exhibit the highest sense of decorum in his conduct and public utterances,” it said.

    The organization called on security agencies to caution Secondus to desist forthwith from making such comments.

  • Ekiti 2018: Atiku, Makarfi, Secondus, others storm Ekiti for Olusola

    Say PDP on mission to rescue Nigeria

    Fayose alleges intimidation, ‘rigging’ plot

     

    National leaders, presidential aspirants and governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday declared readiness to displace the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Presidency.

    They sounded the 2019 general election battle cry at the mega rally in Ado-Ekiti where they rallied support for the party’s candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, in the July 14 governorship election.

    Olusola was officially presented with the party’s flag by the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, at a rally staged on the highway at the foot of the flyover in Ojumose area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    Mammoth crowd of party members, workers’ unions, students, youths, artisans, ethnic nationalities and members of the public utilized the opportunity to attend the rally.

    Former Vice President and presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said the PDP is on a mission to rescue Nigeria from insecurity and other challenges confronting it.

    Other national leaders who restated the readiness of the PDP to take over power at the centre are former national Caretaker Chairman and ex-Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi; former Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa; former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido; former Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin.

    Atiku, Makarfi, Lamido and Bafarawa addressed the rally in their capacity as presidential aspirants.

    Read Also: Ekiti people will resist rigging of guber poll – PDP

    Atiku urged the people of Ekiti to vote continuity as represented by Olusola, who is seeking to succeed his boss, Governor Ayo Fayose, in the July 14 election.

    He said: “The people of Ekiti, I have known you since 1992; all the projects completed and taken Ekiti to higher level have been done by PDP alone.

    “PDP guarantees you good hospital, road, infrastructure, education and many other dividends of democracy, it is time for you to ensure that this administration continues because that is the key to development.

    “What we are doing is a rescue mission, we will bring back peace, security and prosperity of this country. Make sure you vote and stay there till results are announced.”

    Secondus said: “The PDP is rebranded and repositioned; we are here to rescue Nigeria from insecurity, from collapse and from hardship Nigerians are presently going through under the APC government.

    “Many Nigerians are being killed in Taraba, Benue and Plateau States. How many of our people will you kill? APC and its people are not God.

    “We refuse to be intimidated, it is their style to intimidate. Thus country is experiencing civil war because of killing and Buhari is behind it, APC is behind it, PDP will take over.

    “They have the plan to arrest our people, our members but we will not be intimidated. The APC is broken already, the broom has scattered. We have the best candidate for this election and he will take over from Fayose to continue the development of this state.”

    Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council and Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel said Nigerians are tired of APC leadership and are ready to vote out the broom party.

    Emmanuel claimed that it is only PDP states that things are working urging Ekiti residents to vote continuity and give their votes to Olusola.

    He urged security agencies to allow the conduct of a free, fair and credible election and ensure that the votes of the Ekiti electorate count.

    Other PDP governors who canvassed for votes for Olusola include Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Mr. Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Chief Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Mr. Daris Ishaku (Taraba), Prof. Ben Ayade (Cross River), Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), and Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa) represented by his deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah (rtd).

    Other prominent party leaders who attended the rally include former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi; former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Dr. Eddy Olafeso, members of the National Working Committee and members of the Zonal Working Committee.

    Host Governor Fayose accused the APC of planning to the rig the governorship poll but maintained that the people of the state are ready to resist any attempt to manipulate the poll.

    He alleged that the intimidation ahead of the election had started with the alleged closure of the Akure Airport to prevent governors and other party leaders from attending the rally.

    Fayose said: “INEC, we know your plan that you want to rig for APC, we will follow you bumper-to-bumper. We know your preloaded agenda, how you are planning to release ballot papers to APC.

    “We knew what you did in Kogi, we knew what you did in Ondo, we know your plan. Whether APC resort to violence or not, Kolapo Olusola will be declared governor-elect of Ekiti State, Nigeria.

    “I want to say that over ninety nine per cent of those who will conduct the election are not from Ekiti; youth corpers, police, INEC are not from here, leave our state alone.

    “Look at this crowd, look at this young people, if you are living in our state, this is not a hired crowd, we don’t hire crowd here, these are people living in the state.”

    Fayose added: “Since Monday, they have been arresting PDP people, they arrested three teachers. In this election, it will be 16-0, it will be 16-0 again, the 16-0 is loading.

    “I got a letter on Wednesday that that I should come and welcome the President but I said I am not receiving the President because he has not done anything for Ekiti.

    “I want to condemn the Federal Government for what they have done; why do you have to close the Akure Airport? That is shameful, that is not patriotic, that is shameful.”

    Speaking after receiving the flag, Olusola, who was flanked by his wife, Janet, expressed confidence that he will win the election and will be declared governor-elect.

    Olusola said: “By the grace of Almighty God, we assure our leaders and Ekiti that we will sustain the good legacies of Fayose, we will improve on it and sustain the legacies.

    “I assure you of adequate security, healthcare, excellent infrastructure, civil service, education enterprises, and exemplary leadership among others.

    “Ours is a divine agenda.  It is a divine mission with divine agenda it cannot be conquered by APC. Congratulations Ekiti, your governor elect is talking.

  • Nigerians dying, getting poorer under Buhari – Secondus

    The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has said that more Nigerians are getting killed under President Muhammadu Buhari than ever before.

    Secondus, in a statement on Monday by his media aide, Ike Abonyi, also said many more Nigerians are getting poorer and hungrier in the Buhari administration.

    Reacting to Sunday’s killing of hundreds of people in Barki Ladi local government area of Plateau State, the party chair said nothing can justify the continued bloodletting in the country.

    The statement said, “The federal government and its security agencies appear to have switched off on the killings and now concentrating on how to intimidate people and win election at all cost.

    Read Also: Secondus accuses EFCC of persecuting PDP states

    “Otherwise, how do one explain the genocide in Plateau that was carried out for over five hours and there was no interruption from any security body in a distance less than 20 kilometers from Jos the state capital, headquarters of an Army and Air Force divisions with Police, Directorate of State Services DSS, Civil Defence and others.

    “If we have a government that cares, this horror should not happen to innocent citizens for whatever crime, more so that the report showed that the victims were harmless worshippers and residents sleeping in their homes

    “Intelligence no longer works in this country that such massacre would be planned in Plateau that is prone to violence without any hint to avert it”.

    According to the party chair, the APC led federal government is consumed by plans force themselves on Nigerians, even when it’s obvious that they have lost the goodwill Nigerians gave the party in 2015.

    Secondus accused the federal government of scheming to thwart the will of Nigerians in 2019, through poor governance.

  • Secondus, Ekweremadu laud Ekiti PDP primary

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus says that the successful conduct of hitch free and transparent gubernatorial primaries in Ekiti state on Tuesday is a consequence of the party rebranding and repositioning project that has proved to be on course.

    Prince Secondus said that the real winner from the exercise is democracy and not any individual as the PDP family in Ekiti would be healthier from the primary.

    In a congratulatory message he sent to Governor Ayodele Fayose and other leaders and members of PDP in Ekiti state soon after the primary, the National Chairman appreciated them for conducting themselves well. He charged them to note the pre- primary understanding that there will be no winner or loser but contestants all.

    In a statement from his media office signed by Ike Abonyi, the National Chairman commended all those whose made huge sacrifice that helped to make the primary a success particularly Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and his team who conducted the primary. He also commended in particular Senator Dayo Adeyeye for not only accepting the result but commending the process as free, fair and credible.

    Prince Secondus assured members and supporters of the party in the state and indeed nationally, that his campaign promises that the era of impunity and imposition of candidates in the party is gone remains and Ekiti is the first test case for us.

    He charged any member of the party desiring to fly the flag of the party at any level to return to the grassroots and market themselves because in a rebranded PDP ticket is not given in party offices but by the people at the field.

    The PDP leader warned the APC in Ekiti state not to create any nuisance in their frustration ahead of the July election as available intelligence shows that the opposition in the state is trying to launch havoc  just to disrupt the peaceful election.

    Prince Secondus finally urged PDP members in the state to remain vigilant and not relent until the final success is achieved in July.

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu also congratulated the Ekiti State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, for the peaceful conduct of the primary election that produced the Deputy Governor of the State, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, as the governorship candidate of the party in the July 2018 gubernatorial election.

    Ekweremadu emphasized that more important than the result was the process, noting that the PDP had, once more, showcased the growing internal democracy in the party.

    He advised other political parties to emulate the Ekiti PDP example to avoid overheating the political temperature of the State.

    He said: “I congratulate the PDP, Ekiti State, on this transparent, peaceful, free, and fair outing. It is has showcased, once again, the growing internal democracy in our party.

    “I commend Governor Ayodele Fayose, the Returning Officer, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and our party leaders for showing leadership when it mattered the most.

    “I commend the aspirants for their exemplary sportsmanship. I enjoin Prof. Olusola to continue to work closely with every party faithful, especially the former aspirants, to ensure a massive victory for the PDP in the governorship poll”.

    Ekweremadu also called on the people of Ekiti State to continue to support the PDP.

     

  • PDP’s letter to UN beyond comprehension says Presidency

    The Presidency on Monday said that the letter written by the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mr. Uche Secondus to the United Nations Secretary General accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of several allegations confirmed the opposition party as a bad loser, desperate for another chance after they were kicked out for failing the nation and its people.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu said that the letter which is no less preposterous and comical, have shown that the opposition accused the Nigerian government of “destroying Nigeria’s democracy.”

    He added “PDP’s lecture on democracy and the rule of law coming from a party with a tradition of undemocratic rule is a desperate attempt to pervert history and the course of justice.

    “The sermon is both trite and hollow, coming from a party with intolerance for dissent as its hallmark.  A party that humiliated opposition parties and stunted their growth. This was the atmosphere that nurtured the birth of the All Progressives Congress (APC.)

    “The war against corruption, for which many more politicians may soon be docked, cannot be misrepresented as an attack on human rights and Mr. Secondus should not try to mislead the UN.

    “Nigerian politicians at all levels have been used to dispensing with state funds in whatever manner they please, and to have someone, an administration, finally saying, “No. It doesn’t matter how big or important you think you are; the law must come against you…” That is not something they are used to at all. For the PDP, as has now emerged, national security was the major source of their funding.

    “The PDP Chairman and all other politicians against whom the country’s anti-corruption agencies have on-going investigations, should be assured that it is only a matter of time before the law catches up with them, and makes them pay for the grief their mismanagement of the past has caused, and is still causing Nigerians. Nigerians suffered because of the poison sowed by the PDP.

    “If the public were privy to some of the facts and figures on corruption that President Buhari and the anti-corruption agencies are, they would understand the passion that drives the determination to nail these callous men and stop them in their corrupt tracks.

    “Regarding the accusation that President Buhari is behind the spate of herdsmen and farmer clashes in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, all we will say is that it as an embarrassing charge that the PDP would make, conveying an allegation from the beer parlours of Nigeria to an international body like the UN.

    “The PDP certainly has no shred of evidence to make such an allegation.  These are comments driven by tribalism and that age-old trick of balkanisation in a bid to score political points. This should not surprise anyone given the politics of anger, violence and polarisation that are the stock-in-trade of the PDP.

    ‘The various lengths to which President Buhari has gone to end the spate of killings, such as mobilising state resources against the attackers, approving the setting up of new police and army formations in the affected areas, and the recruitment of thousands into the police and other arms of the military, are a few of the several steps taken which a more reasonable opposition will acknowledge.

    “What can President Buhari possibly gain from the killings? There is no intelligent angle from which you analyze the matter and see any possible gain for this government in the wanton destruction of life and property going on.  For the “new” PDP leadership on the other hand, incapable of thinking big about the nation, they see and treat the unfortunate spate of killing of innocent Nigerians as political gift, about which they seem very happy to cite as the basis for a return to power.  They feel bad at every turn the country improves, which is beyond comprehension.  They should bury their heads in shame.” he said

  • Secondus, INEC disagree over Ogun PDP crisis

    The leadership crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has continued to escalate has following the rejection of Mr. Adebayo Dayo by the national leadership of the PDP.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given recognition to Dayo as the chairman of the Ogun State chapter, but the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus called the bluff of the electoral body.

    Rather, the Secondus-led national leadership has continued to insist on Mr. Sikirulai Ogundele as the chairman of the state’s chapter. It’s on record that the Dayo-led group was denied participation in the party’s December 9, 2017 national convention.

    INEC had earlier been on the same page with the party’s national leadership with Ogundele as the state’s chairman.

    But the commission, in a letter dated April 12, 2018 and signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu said INEC Dayo remained the legally recognised chairman of the chapter.

    Ogakwu cited compliance with a judgment of a Federal High Court in Lagos for the commission’s change of direction.

    INEC had notified the PDP leadership of the judgment in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1556/2017 delivered on February 9, 2017 as the basis for its latest position.

    But both Secondus and the National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Umar Tsauri, in a reply to the INEC, said the leadership crisis in the Ogun chapter had been resolved in favour of the Ogundele-led group.

    The letter, dated April 20, 2018 and copies of which were made available to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, insisted that the Supreme Court had settled the Ogun chapter crisis and others in the apex court’s July 2, 2017 landmark judgment in the case of PDP VS. Sheriff.

    The letter quoted part of the apex court’s judgment as saying, “It is unfortunate this internal party crisis within the appeallant, has staggered a lot of its anticipated progress. In any case, it is my hope this imrboglio within the appellant will serve as a big lesson to all and sundry”.

    The party leadership therefore asked the INEC to withdraw the recognition it has given the Dayo-led executive in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court.

    The party’s letter to INEC stated, “It will therefore amount to an inexplicable vote face and unfortunate summersault if INEC were to withdraw the recogniton of the approved officials of our party in Ogun State, especially the State Executive Committee led by Sikirulai Ogundele.

    “This will certainly throw the party back into avoidable conflict. We believe, this cannot be your intention or wish for our party”.

    But in response, Dayo fired back at Secondus, saying the party chair should not constitute himself into an appeal court in a case already decided by a Federal High Court.

    His letter to the national chairman, dated April 24, 2018, stated, “From all the foregoing, I am honestly amazed and shocked that you lent yourself to write INEC against its lawfully taken position to give recognition to my executive, out of your flagrant disobedience of subsisting court judgments  of which you were corporately (as PDP) a party to the suit.

    “Ridiculously, all your submissions in the letter to INEC were carbon-copy duplication of your solicitor’s submissions to the court before judgment was delivered to which INEC responsibly chose to obey and instructed you in polite administrative terms to comply.

    “Maybe you now wish to sit in appeal over Nigerian high court judgments to interpret to your regulatory body, INEC, which judgment to obey and which not to by your discretion?

    “Aside from this, your unnecessary letter to INEC bore gross misrepresentation of facts and distortion of the issues.

    “Therein it was erroneously claimed that it’s the ‘exclusive right of the NEC’ of our party to determine leaders of the various organs whereas the party constitution is clear on how the ward exco upto the state excos and even through which the said NEC were to emerge.

    “If the NEC has such powers, then what’s the essence of ward, LG and state congresses?

    “Except for the national party officer’s self-serving and undemocratic tampering with the process; the NEC involvement should ideally be purely monitoring and not the egocentric manipulations as is now the case talks less of false claims of exclusive right to determine various organs and exco leaders”.

  • Looters list: Court restrains FG from further mentioning Secondus

    A Rivers High Court in Port Harcourt has restrained the Federal Government from further mentioning Prince Uche Secondus, the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) in the looters’ list recently published by the government.

    The Chief Judge of Rivers, Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra, who gave the order on Monday, also ordered that the hearing notice be served the respondents by the plaintiff.

    The order followed a motion brought by Secondus seeking an interlocutory injunction against further publication of his name on the list.

    Secondus, in Suit PHC/1013/2018, is suing the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Federal Government and Vintage Press for alleged libel.

    He is asking the court to award him N1.5 billion damages for the alleged libel.

    He said listing him as a looter who collected N200 million on Feb. 19, 2015 from the Office of the National Security Adviser was libellous.

    The PDP chairman’s counsel, Mr Emeka Etiaba (SAN), said that the judge could hear the suit because his client was defamed by the publication.

    The respondents were not present in court and the judge adjourned the matter until April 28.

    NAN

  • 2019: PDP broadens consultations to challenge APC

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the party has stepped up consultations with a broader spectrum of stakeholders from diverse political leanings.

    The National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus who gave the hint in Abuja on Thursday, said the move was geared toward defeating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections.

    According to him, response from the various stakeholders has been encouraging, adding that the need to rescue the country from the grip of the APC was an enormous challenge.

    “Majority of Nigerians who are disillusioned about the state of affairs in the last three years, are excited that we are trying to get it right as we remain the last hope for our democracy”, Secondus said.

    The party chair, who spoke at the 79th edition of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the PDP, commended some elder statesmen who have raised their voices against what he described as the misrule of the APC.

    The chairman said, “We commend our elder statesmen and other patriotic Nigerians who have spoken up on the urgent need to rid the country of the current bad APC government and enthrone a government that will serve our needs.

    “Because of this challenge, we have taken it upon ourselves as the leading opposition party to broaden our scope, open our doors and allow ideas to flow in for a more robust democratic development.

    “We therefore, invite our brothers, sisters, youths and women from other political parties in this platform to join us to rescue our country that is in distress, socially, politically, economically and security wise.

    “In this country today over 3.1 million citizens are languishing in various IDP camps across the country, yet we are not at war with any country.

    “Our consultations have taken us to meet with various interest groups who are willing to do business with us and I can report to you that it has been very fruitful.

    “We expect in coming days to have a broader political family working dedicatedly to rescue this democracy and our beloved country from the hands of APC”.

    Echoing the party chairman, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, said so far consultations with the various groups have proved useful.

    He hinted that a broader platform will be raised in the days ahead, with the view to wrestling power from the APC administration, particularly at the centre.

    “Former presidents and former leaders of Nigeria are in unison to make sure that come 2019 a fresh and new government is formed for the interest of our nation”, Ekweremadu added.

    Also speaking at the event, Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose said majority of Nigerians are looking up to the opposition.

    According to him, hopes and expectations are high, promising that the PDP will not dash their hopes and expectations the way the APC government did.

    Those that attended the meeting included governors elected on the platform of the party, present and past party officials, present and past members of the National Assembly, former governors, among others.