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Tag: 2023 Election

  • PDP crisis: Nothern coalition stages protest in Kaduna, calls for Ayu’s resignation

    PDP crisis: Nothern coalition stages protest in Kaduna, calls for Ayu’s resignation

    Coalition of the Northern Nigeria Peoples Democratic Party Youth Movement, on Friday protested at the PDP Secretariat in Kaduna, demanding the resignation of National Chairman of the party, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu.

    Newsmen reports that the PDP is currently hit by crisis after Alhaji Atiku Abubakar emerged the party’s Presidential Candidate for the 2023 general elections.

    Some PDP governors and leaders, particularly from southern Nigeria were insistent that for fairness, northern Nigeria should not hold both the party’s presidential ticket and national chairmanship position.

    Leading in the struggle for resignation of Ayu, who is from the North Central, is Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers and other leaders of the party from southern Nigeria.

    Spokesperson/Leader of the Coalition, Mr Shehu Isa-Dan’Inna, said they had been in PDP since 1999 without defection and had no plans to decamp even in the future.

    He said for the PDP to win Presidential seat in the coming 2023 elections, the party Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu must resign from his position as he had promised to.

    Isa-Dan’Inna said for the PDP to project transparency as it had always done, the North could not hold about three key positions in the party.

    “PDP is not a Northern Peoples Democratic Party nor Southern Peoples Democratic Party, we have to be just and united, to enable us to win at various levels in the coming 2023 general elections,” he said .

    He noted that Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, the party’s national chairman must go, to fulfill the promise he made that he would resign immediately after the parties primary elections if a Northerner emerged the party’s flag bearer.

    Isa-Dan’Inna said they were reminding Ayu to fulfill his promise because they were tired of opposition.

    He said the country needed back the PDP at the helms of its affairs for overall wellbeing of Nigerians.

    “If the PDP’s internal crises persist, I don’t think we will win the presidential election.

    “About six governors are fighting one governor; in the South we have about four presidential aspirants cut across different parties which will reduce our votes, and the rulling party again which is strong,” he said

    “The other man is also so strong, we don’t want to devide our votes, that is why we are calling on Sen. Iyorchia Ayu to resign.

    “It will be better wise for us to loose Ayu as the PDP Chairman and clinch the President seat, than to leave him and loose the presidency”, Isa-Dan’Inna said.

    He called on the PDP Board of Trustees, National Working Committee and the PDP caccus to be just and fair in order to get the party to victory.

    “If Ayu should keep to his promise, victory will surely be ours and Nigerians will smile again, the party leaders must act to salvage Nigerians, we don’t want to continue suffering,”he said.

    Newsmen recall that the crisis got deeper on Wednesday, when loyalists to Wike’s caucus pulled out of the Abubakar presidential campaign council after a meeting in Portharcourt, Rivers.

    Newsmen report that the protesters carried placards with inscriptions reading: “Ayu Must Go”, “Ayu must step down”, “We need justice, and fairness for all”.

  • 2023 elections: LP inaugurates LG, ward executives in Kuje

    2023 elections: LP inaugurates LG, ward executives in Kuje

    The newly-elected executives of Kuje chapter of Labour Party (LP) have been inaugurated at the party secretariat in Kuje Area Council, FCT.

    The inaugurated Chairman of the Kuje Labour Party, Hyginus John, was sworn-in alongside five other members of the party executives in the area.

    Those sworn-in are Mr loveday Uwka-Aju, as Vice Chairman, Mr Fanimi Oluwabusayo, as Auditor, Mr Tony Silas, as Central Ward chairman, Mr Abu Tanko, as Secretary, Mr Godwin Onmonya, as PRO.

    Mr Clement Ojotene, a lawyer, who administered the oath of office on the new executives at Kuje Labour Party secretariat, charged them to carry out the duty assigned to them diligently.

    Mr Hyginus John, the Kuje Labour Party Chairman, in a remark, said that the executives were saddled with the responsibility of uniting the party and ensuring they deliver Kuje come 2023 general elections.

    According to him, Labour Party commands huge number of supporters in the country and is battle -eady to clinch power at the presidential and local government levels come 2023.

    “In order to have effective and successful party, we must have competent field workers who can execute any work assigned to them.

    “I am urging every electorate in Kuje Area Council to remain focused and canvass votes for Labour Party at the presidential and local government level.

    “We should be resolute and remain law abiding for peaceful coexistence; Labour is a united movement in Kuje,” he assured.

    He congratulated other officials and called on the party supporters to continue to be law abiding and be focused toward achieving the desired targets in 2023.

  • Supreme Court strikes out suit seeking PDP to zone presidency to South East

    Supreme Court strikes out suit seeking PDP to zone presidency to South East

    The Supreme Court, on Friday, struck out a suit seeking to compel the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to zone its nomination of presidential candidate to the South East Geo-political Zone of the country.

    The court, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro, struck out the suit on the ground that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

    Cosmos Ndukwe, a presidential aspirant of PDP and former Deputy Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, filed the suit against his party.

    He had prayed for an order to compel the PDP to uphold its zoning and rotatory policy.

    Ndukwe, specifically, sought for order of the court to compel the PDP to zone the nomination of its presidential candidate to the South East Geo-political Zone.

    However, Justice Jauro held that the suit was not justiciable on the ground that the nomination of candidates for election is an internal affairs of political parties.

  • Sheath your sword, Nasarawa PDP leaders, elders urge aggrieved members

    Sheath your sword, Nasarawa PDP leaders, elders urge aggrieved members

    Leaders and Elders of the Peoples Democratic Party in Nasarawa State have urged aggrieved members of the party to sheath their swords and unite to win the 2023 general elections.

    They made the called in a statement jointly signed by Abdulkarim Usman, Baba Gbefwi, Sen. Sulaiman Adokwe, Rep. Jibril Keana, Musa Karshi, Chief Micheal Abdul and Dr Kefas Kaura.

    The statement is titled: “Nasarawa State Stands With Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    The elders urged members to close ranks in the interest of the nation yearning for PDP.

    The group said the call became necessary in view of reports that some PDP leaders declared their decision to withdraw from the PDP Presidential Campaign Council 2023 general elections.

    The aggrieved leaders said the only condition for their participation in the campaign council would be for the party National Chairman, Sen. lyorchia Ayu to resign his position to pave way for the emergence of a new national chairman from the southern part of the country since the party presidential candidate is from the north.

    “As leaders and elders of our great party from Nasarawa state, we are compelled to state unequivocally that the decision to withdraw participation in the Presidential Campaign Council taken by this group on the eve of the start of campaign for the general election, is ill-advised.

    “Our party in Nasarawa state has resolved to vigorously support and campaign for all our candidates in the general election including and especially, our presidential candidate, Abubakar to ensure he emerges victorious at the polls.”

    The group described the 2023 general election as consequential for the survival of Nigeria as a viable entity and the PDP mission to rescue Nigeria.

    It stated that there was need for all hands to be on deck for the important and noble cause.

    “In arriving at this position, we are not unmindful of the grievances of the group which is traceable to the outcome of the party primaries particularly the presidential primary election which ushered in Abubakar as the presidential candidate of our party.

    “We note with great satisfaction that the process itself was transparent and democratic .

    “The need for realignment of party positions is one that cannot be faulted and our great party has always been known to take this fact into consideration.

    “However, as a democratic party governed by rules and regulations, the desired ends can only be achieved through an orderly process.”

    The group said that Nigerians look up to the PDP to provide leadership for the country.

    “There will be time enough after the election to address all grievances that may still exist in the interest of our party and the nation.

  • 2023: Biggest gift I need from citizens is peace – Gov. Ugwuanyi

    2023: Biggest gift I need from citizens is peace – Gov. Ugwuanyi

    Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on Thursday said his utmost desire was for all communities in the state to continue to live in peace and harmony for steady progress and development of the state.

    Gov. Ugwuanyi stressed that the biggest gift he needed from the people of Enugu State was continuous peace.

    The governor disclosed this when the people of Mgbowo Community in Awgu Local Government Area of the state visited him at the Government House, Enugu, to appreciate his good works and peaceful disposition.

    The community also appreciated his considerable concern for their well-being and concerted efforts in addressing myriads of their socio-economic challenges.

    The people of Mgbowo, led by the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr Obi Kama, were also at the Government House, to declare their support for the Gov. Ugwuanyi-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership in the state.

    They pledged to support the governorship candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Mbah, his running mate, Mr Ifeanyi Ossai and others being fielded by the party.

    Thanking them for their solidarity and support for his administration, the PDP governorship candidate and other candidates of the party, Gov. Ugwuanyi who is the candidate of the party for Enugu North Senatorial District, urged them to hold on tightly to their belief in the PDP.

    He assured them that Mbah and Ossai would build on the foundation his administration had laid, anchored on peace and good governance.

    Earlier, the President General of Ekpulambo Mgbowo, Chief Collins Okelu, stated that “Mgbowo Ward has benefited so much from your purposeful and people-oriented leadership in the state in so many areas”.

    Chief Okelu listed some of the governor’s achievements in Mgbowo Ward to include “the construction of ultramodern classroom blocks at Community Primary School Ezioha Mgbowo, upgrading of Technical and Vocational College, Imama Mgbowo to one of the best in the state.

    Others were the creation of access road from Old Road, Amaiyi Mgbowo to Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, construction of three solid block culverts linking the three villages of Ekpulator Mgbowo, Inyi, Ezioha and Imama, and laying of asphalt on the Amata Mgbowo road attracted by Maj.-Gen. Azubuike Azinta.”

    Appreciating Gov. Ugwuanyi for appointing their sons and daughters into sensitive government positions, the President General said: “Mgbowo people owe you a huge debt of gratitude and be rest assured that this debt will be paid with our block votes in next year’s general elections for PDP.

    “We have neither gold nor silver to give you in return for your continuous magnanimity to our people, therefore, our visit to you today is to pledge our unalloyed support to you and our candidates.”

  • 2023: APC Integrity Group inaugurates Northwest structure in Kano

    2023: APC Integrity Group inaugurates Northwest structure in Kano

    The All Progressives Congress National Integrity Movement (ANIM) has inaugurated its Northwest zonal structure in Kano.

    Inaugurating the structure on Wednesday in Kano, the national leader of the ANIM, Alhaji Sadik Fakai, said that a Tinubu presidency would place Nigeria on the path of progress.

    He said that Tinubu has what it takes to unite Nigeria and promote economic development.

    The ANIM national leader said the movement would deploy resources and everything possible to ensure that Tinubu and other APC candidates wins the election, “as he remains the candidate with the best chance of winning.”

    Fakai said the party was optimistic that the members who were carefully selected were competent to deliver in 2023.

    “I call on all members and Nigerians to close ranks and deliver the country to APC. The cooperation of all and sundry is expected for the actualisation of APC’s dream,” he said.

    He urged members of the group to remain focus and deliver victory to the party’s candidate in 2023.

    He said every member of the APC was important and had a lot to contribute to the success of the party.

    ”APC remains the property of party faithful, and we all own the party and ready to give our support,” Fakai said.

    Abdullahi Dan’azumi, Zamfara state chairman of ANIM, who spoke on behalf of the new members promised to justify the confidence reposed on them.

    He also pledged to ensure that the presidential candidate of the party and all other candidates win the election in 2023.

  • A Tinubu presidency will accelerate national growth, development – Ganduje

    A Tinubu presidency will accelerate national growth, development – Ganduje

    Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has said that a Tinubu presidency in 2023 would accelerate national growth and development.

    Ganduje said this on Wednesday while accepting an appointment as the patron of the APC National Integrity Movement (ANIM) at the Government House, Kano.

    ”Tinubu’s track records and pedigree shows that he can propel Nigeria to greatness if elected as president.

    “Asiwaju is man of integrity and a good product. He has contributed greatly to the growth and development of our democracy.

    “He is a consummate democrat and the leader of progressives who fought to bring the democratic rule that Nigerians are enjoying today,” Ganduje said.

    He urged ANIM to consolidate on their support and advocacy for Tinubu after the presidential election in 2023.

    Ganduje expressed appreciation for the recognition by the group and promised to work hard for the election of Asiwaju as president.

    Earlier, the national leader of ANIM, Alhaji Sadik Fakai said that the appointment was a way of saying thank you for the strategic role Ganduje played in the actualisation of Asiwaju as the APC candidate.

    ”Every member of the APC is important and has a lot to contribute to the success of the party.

    ”APC remains the property of party faithful and we all have a stake in the party and ready to give our support,”Fakai said.

  • Bishop Kukah charges political actors to be disciplined as electioneering campaigns beckon

    Bishop Kukah charges political actors to be disciplined as electioneering campaigns beckon

    The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah, has called for discipline among political actors, as parties prepare for campaigns ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    Kukah made the call at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation’s 2022 peace conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Kukah, a panellist at the conference electoral violence in Nigeria was attributable to lack of discipline among political actors.

    “Ordinary Nigerians have no problem with religion; it is the manipulation and systemic manipulation of our different identities that is responsible for our violence,’’ he stressed.

    He charged religion leaders to do their best to sensitise the public on the need for peace, but insisted that political actors must play their roles.

    Another panellist, Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State said elected officials should regard themselves as being privileged or opportune to participate and contribute to nation building.

    He said Nigeria needed a president who would be a leader for Nigerians across board and not a sectional leader.

    In his contribution, the Regional Director for Africa at the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Prof. Christopher Fomunyoh, said Nigeria could not afford to erode its past election gains in 2023.

    The NDI is a non-profit American NGO that works with partners in developing countries to increase the effectiveness of democratic institutions.

    “Elections have consequences; peaceful elections have a lot of benefits,’’ Fomunyoh, also a panellist said.

    He stressed that other African countries were looking up to Nigeria as the giant on the continent to conduct peaceful elections.

    “No country stumbles into credible, meaningful elections by chance; there has to be a national consensus that the citizens want meaningful elections.

    “Once that national consensus is there, it is going to raise the bar for stakeholders to comply with that national consensus.

    “The political leaders should make sure in their conversations with their supporters that they talk about non-violent elections,’’ he stressed.

    Executive Director at Centre for Democracy and Development, Dr Idayat Hassan, in her contribution, urged all stakeholders to take responsibility toward a successful conduct of the 2023 general elections.

    “It is not enough for us to point accusing fingers towards the electoral umpire; we all need to take responsibility,’’ she said.

    The Director of Programmes, Yiaga Africa, Ms Cynthia Mbamalu, also a panellist, said political actors, media and civil societies must play their roles properly to ensure a peaceful election in 2023.

    Mbamalu said there was also the need for security agencies to pledge their alliance to the nation’s Constitution and not to a ruling party.

    She also called for uniformity in the implementation of rules and regulations guiding the conduct of elections.

    She said preparation for campaigns should not entail the amassing of arms and ammunition by politicians who should instead be sensitising their supporters to embrace peaceful conduct.

    In his remarks, the Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, said Nigeria must seize the opportunity of the 2023 general elections to address injustices facing the country.

    The theme of the conference was “Nation building: The role of peaceful elections in a multi-ethnic context.’’

  • INEC did not deny anyone the opportunity to get PVC – Official

    INEC did not deny anyone the opportunity to get PVC – Official

    INEC says it did not deny any eligible Nigerian the opportunity to acquire the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) as was being claimed in the media.

    Its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, refuted the claim in Abuja on Monday.

    Okoye said that INEC’s attention was drawn to media reports that about seven million Nigerians who applied for the PVC online during the last Continuous Voter Registration were denied the opportunity.

    “To set the records straight, INEC introduced the online pre-registration on June 28, 2021.

    “By doing so, citizens were given the opportunity to start the registration online and then book appointments at their convenience to complete the physical biometric registration at designated centres.

    “It was a novel idea leveraging on technology to ease the registration process,’’ he said.

    Okoye explained that this was in addition to the walk-in option at physical registration centres, where registrants could begin and complete their registration without going through the online pre-registration procedure.

    “For the online pre-registration, 10,487,972 began the process.

    “By the deadline of the exercise, 3,444,378 registrants completed their pre-registration physically at the designated centres in line with laid-down procedure.

    “Some 7,043,594 applicants did not complete the registration and INEC made the information public.

    “This is what some people are now holding on to, to claim that they were denied the opportunity.

    “In reality, they failed to either complete the online enrolment or failed to appear physically at the designated centres to complete the process,’’ he said.

    Okoye added that out of the 7,043,594 who did not complete their registration, 4,161,775 attempted but either did not complete online pre-registration or abandoned it and went for the physical registration.

    “The remaining 2,881,819 registrants completed the online pre-registration but did not show up to complete the physical biometric registration at designated centres before the expiration of the deadline.

    “Therefore, it is clear that no Nigerian was denied the opportunity to complete the online pre-registration,’’ he stressed.

    Okoye appealed to Nigerians to always adhere to timelines as against the endless agitation for eleventh hour extension of set deadlines.

  • We didn’t deny seven million Nigerians registration – INEC

    We didn’t deny seven million Nigerians registration – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied reports in the media that it denied seven million citizens opportunity to register as voters in the last Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) Exercise.

    INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye stated this in a statement.

    He said the claim is misleading and untrue, and urged the public to disregard such stories.

    24 Nigerians filed a lawsuit against INEC with the claim that they and other seven(7) million Nigerians were not given adequate time and opportunity to complete their voters’ registration after they had carried out their registration online.

    He stated, “To set the record straight, Nigerians may recall that on 28th June 2021, the Commission introduced the online pre-registration of voters.

    “By doing so, citizens were given the opportunity to commence the registration online and then book an appointment at their convenience to complete the physical biometric capture at designated centres.

    Also Read: Why we spend so much to conduct elections; INEC

    “It was a novel idea leveraging technology to ease the registration process. This was in addition to the walk-in option at physical centres, where Nigerians can commence and complete their registration simultaneously without going through the online pre-registration procedure.

    “In the interest of transparency, the Commission provided weekly statistical updates on the exercise,” he said.

    According to him, for the online pre-registration, a total of 10,487,972 commenced the process. However, by the deadline of the exercise, 3,444,378 Nigerians completed their pre-registration physically at the designated centres in line with the Commission’s policy. Some 7,043,594 applicants did not complete the registration.

    Okoye further noted that the Commission made the information public. “This is what some people are now using to say that they were denied the opportunity when in reality they failed to either complete the online enrolment or appear physically at the designated centres to complete the process.

    “A breakdown of the 7,043,594 incomplete online pre-registrations is as follows:

    “That 4,161,775 citizens attempted but either did not complete online pre-registration or abandoned it and went for the physical registration instead.

    “And 2,881,819 registrants completed the online pre-registration but did not show up to complete the physical biometric capture at designated centres before the deadline.

    “Therefore, it is clear that no Nigerians were deliberately denied the opportunity to complete their online pre-registration,” the chairman stated.

    Okoye appealed for the citizens to always adhere to timelines against the endless agitation for the eleventh-hour extension of set deadlines.