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  • Edo 2020: ADP reacts to defection of 106 members to PDP

    The Action Democratic Party(APC)says the defection of some of its members to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo will not affect the party’s chances in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Adelaja Adeoye, spoke by telephone with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday.

    NAN reports that no fewer than 106 ADP members in Egor, Ovia South West and Ovia North East local government areas of Edo had defected to the PDP on Tuesday in Benin.

    ADP Organising Secretary in the state, Mr Oshodin Izedomwen, who led the defectors, said that they left for PDP because they believed the party had the capacity to govern the state.

    Reacting , Adeoye said there was nothing to worry about the defection as it could not ruffle, let alone shake the solid structure of ADP in Edo.

    He added that the exit of the members would not in anyway stop the party from doing well or even win the governorship election .

    Adeoye described the defectors as “political jobbers” who, instead of behaving like ideological party men, went to PDP for personal gains.

    “There is really nothing to worry about the defection; there is no cause for alarm as our party is still firm and solidly on ground in Edo afterral.

    “Our party cannot and will not collapse.The defection will not stop our candidate, Mr Ibio Emmanuel, from doing well and even winning in the election.

    “It is unfortunate how people who were supposed to uphold the great ideologies of ADP left the party to pursue personal gains in PDP.

    “We wish them luck but we must point out that their exit is like a drop out of the ocean. ADP remains unshaken”, he said.

    He said the party had earlier called on Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo to join its fold because it believed the governor was not well treated by APC, his former party.

    “But the governor chose to join PDP and we have our candidate too.

    “Now, all hands are on deck to ensure victory for the party in the election “,he said.

  • Edo 2020: Massive defection hits ADP

    Following the defection of Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), 106 members of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) have also defected to the PDP.

    The ADP defectors are from Egor, Ovia South West and Ovia North East Local Government Areas of Edo. The defections came as Edo State gets set for a governorship election, described by analysts as a two-horse race between the PDP and APC. The governorship election is slated for Sept. 19.

    Mr Oshodin Izedomwen, the Organising Secretary of the ADP in Edo, who led the defectors, said on Tuesday in Benin that the defection was part of their belief in the capacity of the PDP.

    He recalled that he was a founding member of the PDP and that he left the party because of some persons, whom he described as “strange bed fellows” who came to join the PDP.

    Izedomwen said that the other defectors and himself had now returned to the PDP because the “strange bed fellows had since left the party.

    “In politics, interest matters because it is always the driving force,” he stated.

    Receiving the defectors, the Edo State Chairman of the PDP, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, expressed delight with the defectors. He described the action of the new party members and their leader as a home coming.

    Aziegbemi assured the defectors that they would be integrated into the PDP to contribute to the success of the party in the state.

    On June 19, Obaseki defected from the APC to PDP, having been disqualified by the APC to contest for re-election on the platform of the party.

    The governor, subsequently, clinched the gubernatorial ticket of the PDP on June 25, after three other aspirants stepped down for him.

  • Disqualification: ADP woos Obaseki

    Disqualification: ADP woos Obaseki

    The Action Democratic Party (ADP) on Saturday expressed its willingness to welcome Edo Governor Mr Godwin Obaseki “with open arms’’ should the embattled governor decide to defect to the party.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the ADP, Mr Adelaja Adeoye, made the announcement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Adeoye was reacting to the disqualification of Obaseki by the Screening Committee of the APC, which barred the governor from participating in the party’s primaries, scheduled for June 22.

    He said that the ADP was operating an open-door policy and that the party would gladly admit Obaseki and accord him every respect as a sitting governor.

    The ADP chieftain said, however, that the governor would have to follow the party’s rules and abide by its principles should he decide to join the party to contest on its ticket.

    “Yes, if Obaseki decides to join ADP today, the party will welcome him with open arms. The party runs an open-door policy. So we will gladly receive him.

    “He is the sitting governor so we may give him some waivers and will accord him all the respect as the occupier of the number one office in the state.

    “However, we will expect the governor to follow laid- down rules and abide by the principles of the party should he decide to join us to seek our ticket.

    “We will also expect him to slug it out with governorship aspirants in the party to get the ticket. He will definitely enjoy some privileges as a sitting governor. We will accord him all the respect.”

    Adeoye said the ADP had yet to conduct its governorship primaries and that the window of opportunity was there for Obaseki to join and seek the party’s ticket.

    He said the party would adopt the indirect mode of primaries for its governorship tussle.

    On his view on the disqualification of Obaseki by the APC, Adeoye said that what was playing out was a clear-power play in the ruling party.

    He said the same Obaseki that was the bride of the party four years ago was being seen as not qualified for re- election by the APC.

    “And, the aspirant they seem to favour was the same person they said destroyed the state some years ago.”

    Adeoye said that the PDP and APC were over-rated in Edo, pointing out that ADP had a formidable structure and support, to win the governorship election.

  • 2019 Lagos ADP governorship candidate, rejoins PDP

    2019 Lagos ADP governorship candidate, rejoins PDP

    The Lagos State Action Democratic Party(ADP) governorship candidate in 2019 election, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, has rejoined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the ADP governorship candidate,along with his deputy governorship candidate, Mrs Abibat Adeosun, formally defected to the PDP at the party’s secretariat in Lagos on Monday.

    Gbadamosi and his supporters were received back into the party by the state PDP Chairman, Mr Deji Doherty.

    NAN reports that Gbadamosi joined the ADP in October 2017 after leaving the PDP where he was governorship aspirant in 2011 and 2015 but lost the ticket to Dr Ade Dosunmu and Mr Jimi Agbaje, respectively.

    Gbadamosi said he was rejoining the PDP to contribute to efforts to wrestle power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and provide governance to improve the lots of residents.

    “Presently, there are problems in Lagos. In fact, we have serious problems but we shall solve them together.

    “We are going to solve the problem as one house and not as a divided house.

    “As the party chairman and other excos have kindly given me free pass to re-enter the party, I am telling you right now that my job in PDP is to help the efforts to build a winning team that would knock out those people in 2023,” he said.

    Gbadamosi said Lagosians deserved much more than what they were getting and urged residents to make the right choice in 2023 to change the state of affairs.

    He said the PDP was the party for the masses, poised to giving Lagosians a better deal and promised that residents would get the kind of state they desire if they make the right leadership choice in 2023.

    Gbadamosi said he was devastated by Sunday’s explosion at Abule- Ado area of the state which killed many people and destroyed dozens of property.

    He called for full investigation and action to forestall a reocurrence.

    The Lagos PDP chairman, in his address, said the party was pleased to welcome Gbadamosi back home to the fold, describing him as a grounded and experienced politician.

    He said with politician like Gbadamosi back in the party, the PDP was on the path of progress in the state.

    Doherty called on party faithful to own the party and do their best to contribute to the electoral goals of the party

  • Lagos Guber aspirant, Babatunde Gbadamosi dumps ADP for PDP

    Lagos Guber aspirant, Babatunde Gbadamosi dumps ADP for PDP

    The Lagos State Governorship Candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi, in 2019 general elections has dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The return to his political base took place on Sunday in Ikorodu area of Lagos State, where the politician hails from.

    BOG as fondly called declared back into PDP in his Isele 1 (ward A1) and was received by the ward acting Chairman Mr Abiodun Lawal and the ward deputy chairman prince Adekunle Elemuren.

    The declaration into the PDP was also done in the presence of PDP Ikorodu LGA Chairman Chief Taiwo Adekogbe, LGA deputy Chairman Mr Tajudeen Agboola and other LGA executives.

    Mr Gbadamosu was a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) before defecting to the ADP in 2018, where he tried without success to project the new party as the alternative to the two dominate parties in the country; All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party.

    It was gathered that the politician was well received by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ikorodu LGA into the party’s fold.

    BOG is the owner of luxurious Amen Estate and Redbrick Homes international LTD, organisations highly committed to providing enduring homes for Nigerians.

    Gbadamosi who attended Lagos State University from 1986 to 1989 but dropped out Midway was widely adjudged the best at the last Lagos State Governorship debate organised by The Platform, a Civic discussion initiative of the Covenant Christian Centre.

  • Appeal Court upholds Wike’s re-election, strikes out ADP’S appeal

    Appeal Court upholds Wike’s re-election, strikes out ADP’S appeal

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday upheld the re-election of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike as they struck out the appeal filed by the defeated Governorship Candidate of Action Democratic Party (ADP), Mr Victor Fingesi.

    Mr Victor Fingesi had approached the Court of Appeal after the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal on October 5, 2019 dismissed his petition challenging the re-election of Governor Wike, PDP Governorship Candidate during the 2019 Election.

    The Court of Appeal in a unanimous judgment on Monday struck out the Appeal by Mr Victor Fingesi of ADP for lacking in merit. The Tribunal also said that the appeal was incompetent.

    In a lead judgment, Justice H.N Ogunwimiji declared that the ADP Governorship Candidate failed to prove that the election was marred by irregularities.

    Justice Ogunwimiji stated that the ADP Governorship Candidate couldn’t adduce evidence that would invalidate the elections of Governor Wike.

    The Court of Appeal stated that he anyone who asserts, must lead relevant evidence to prove such allegations.

    The Court also declared that INEC has the power to take action on elections when emergencies arise. The Appeal Court said that INEC derived such powers from Section 26 (1) of the Electoral Act.

    The Court of Appeal also held that the petitioner lacked the locus standi to file the petition as earlier ruled by the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal.

    Justice T.N Orji Ababua, Justice.

    U . Omyenenn, Justice H.A Barka and Justice I.B Idiris agreed with the lead judgment.

    INEC Counsel, Dr Garba Tetengi (SAN) said that the appeal was struck out for incompetence.

    Counsel to Rivers State Governor, Ike Udenna said that the Tribunal came to the conclusion that the Tribunal was right to uphold the election of Governor Wike.

    It will be recalled that the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal declared that the petitioner (ADP Governorship Candidate) failed woefully to prove that Governor Wike did not score the highest number of lawful votes during the March 9, 2019 Governorship election. The Tribunal declared that the petitioner’s complaint is vague and merely speculative.

    The Tribunal further described ADP’S Petition as : “An Adventure to discover the Non-Existent “.

    INEC on April 3, 2019 declared Governor Wike re-elected after he polled 886,264 votes, while his closest challenger of African Alliance Congress (AAC) Biokpomabo Awara, scored 173,859 votes.

    Victor Fingesi of ADP polled a paltry 1860 votes during the 2019 Rivers State Governorship Election.

  • ADP suspends national chairman

    ADP suspends national chairman

    Crisis of confidence is rocking the leadership of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) over alleged diversion of over N200 million, among other allegations.

    Consequently, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) has suspended the national chairman, Mr. Yabagi Sani for allegedly diverting the funds into personal use.

    But Sani has dismissed the suspension order, claiming that the constitution of the party did not empower them NWC members to suspend him.

    The suspension order, signed by seven members of the NWC and dated April 26, 2019, listed 12 “illegal acts” against the party chairman. The party chiefs announced Alhaji Najeem Awodele as Acting National Chairman for the time being.

    A copy of the suspension order, obtained by our correspondent on Monday, stated that the N200 million allegedly misappropriated and diverted by Sani was the money realised from payments for Nomination and Expression of Interest forms by aspirants and candidates in the 2019 general elections.

    Sani was also accused of forging the signature of the National Secretary, Dr James Okoroma with which he presented a fake resolution to Polaris Bank and other banks for the removal of the National Treasurer, Chief Iboro Ige-Edaba as signatory to the party’s bank accounts.

    The party chair was also accused of constant physical attacks on ADP national officers and refusal to pay their remunerations for two years.

    The NWC members also alleged that Sani doctored the party’s constitution and criminal insertion of strange clauses meant to perpetuate himself in office as National Leader, Life Leader, Presidential Candidate, National Chairman and the only signatory to the party’s bank accounts.

    Also listed against Sani was the alleged use of his personal staff to run the affairs of the party against the provisions of the ADP constitution and non-disclosure of monetary donations to the party by some prominent Nigerians.

    “In view of the above and the need to reposition the party, a change in the leadership of the ADP has become inevitable. The NWC has decided to suspend Mr. Yabagi Yusuf Sani in order to enable him respond to all the allegations against him and to clear his name”, the document stated.

    The NWC members that signed the suspension order are Dr. James Okoroma (National Secretary); Chief Iboro Ige-Edaba (National Treasurer); Esther Oche (National Special Duties Secretary); Mr Obadiah Bichi (National Legal Adviser); Mr. Tope Salami (National Financial Secretary); Prince Edobor Oghosa (National Youth); and Dr. Chris Nzekwu (National Leader, PLWD).

    “Accordingly, former Agriculture Minister and Deputy National Chairman (South) of the ADP, Alhaji Najeem Awodele has been appointed Acting National Chairman by the NWC pending the conduct of congress,” the document added.

    In a swift reaction however, Sani, in a WhatsApp message to our correspondent on Monday, declared that he remained the National Chairman of the ADP.

    According to the party chairman who also doubled as the candidate of the ADP in the 2019 presidential election, the NWC members that suspended him, had themselves been suspended a long time ago.

    Sani said, “Let me make it clear that the purported suspension is self-defeating, dead on arrival and completely invalid. The so called NWC members are either former or suspended ADP National officers who are no longer members of the ADP NWC.

    “For instance Dr. James Okoroma knows he is no longer ADP National Secretary by the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of ADP which has since several months ago been duly communicated to INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission)

    “Mr. Obadiah Bichi who is purported to be the National Legal Adviser has since withdrawn his membership of ADP. By the ADP Constitution, the NWC cannot suspend the National Chairman.

    “In any event, none of the signatories to the purported resolution suspending the National Chairman is a member of ADP NWC. I therefore state categorically that I remain the National Chairman of the ADP”.

    Sani however, declined comments on the allegations of diverting N200 million, forgery of party documents and high handedness in the running of party affairs.

    “I will not want to comment about the false and damaging allegations made against my person, including misappropriation, forgery and high handedness in the running of the party; as those matters have already been submitted to a court of competent jurisdiction,” the party chair stated.

  • I won’t challenge result of Lagos governorship poll – ADP candidate

    I won’t challenge result of Lagos governorship poll – ADP candidate

    Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, the Lagos State governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (APC) says he will not contest the outcome of the governorship election in the state but prepare for the next election.

    Gbadamosi, a real estate mogul, told newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos that his decision was rooted in him having no confidence in the electoral system.

    He said: “My decision is to wait and contest the next election and hopefully, the votes will count then.

    “I agree that the election in the state was an absolute fraud and a sham with many instances of open multiple voting recorded in places like Ikorodu, Lagos Island.However, I do not have any more resources to waste on a process in which I have no confidence.

    “We keep learning and I believe that the will of the people will surely prevail in future elections in the state.“

    He also claimed that the fraud was carried out by known persons going from one polling unit to another, openly bearing firearms of all kinds.

    Gbadamosi, however, advised INEC to put its house in order to forestall most of the anomalies witnessed in the 2019 general elections in the future elections.

    He stressed the need to prosecute all those involved in electoral malpractices in 2019 general elections to serve as deterrent to others.

    The ADP candidate urged the incoming 9th National Assembly to come up with stiffer penalty for electoral offenders, to ensure much better polls in future.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Mr Owolabi Salis, the Lagos state governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) has, however, approached the state Election Petitions Tribunal to challenge the victory of Sanwo-Olu, followed by Mr Fagbemi Awamari, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP).

    The two petitioners prayed the tribunal to upturn the results of the March 9 governorship election, claiming that the election was marred by voter intimidation, vote-buying and multiple voting, adding that Sanwo-Olu was not fit to contest the 2019 governorship election.

    The candidates also sought a declaration of the tribunal that, the pronouncement of Sanwo-Olu as the winner of the governorship election was null and void and be set aside, based on the gross electoral fraud and/or gross electoral misconduct that characterised the governorship election in the state.

  • Defeated ADP candidate promises to develop Edo South

    Defeated ADP candidate promises to develop Edo South

    Dr Ese Owie, the defeated Edo South Senatorial candidate of Action Democratic Party (ADP) says he remains committed to the development of the senatorial district.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Benin that this was in spite of his loss at the recently-concluded Presidential and National Assembly (NASS) elections.

    According to him, the conduct of different stakeholders in my senatorial district during the elections was peaceful.

    Owie said that in spite of losing out in the election, he was encouraged by the fact that what commenced on Nov. 18, 2018, had germinated and blossomed into an enduring movement for change.

    According to him, 2019 National Assembly Elections has come and gone.

    “ I am thankful to the Almighty God for the essentially peaceful conduct of different stakeholders in Edo South and for the relative tranquility that followed.

    “It has been a long, winding and exhausting road but we are thankful to all our supporters, party members, the media and diverse institutional actors for their commitment to our vision for a better and more prosperous Edo South.

    “Yes, I know we will all have wished the outcome of the elections to have been different.

    “Nevertheless, we are collectively victorious as veritable agents of change and foot soldiers in the fight for democracy in our beloved Father land,’’ Owie said.

    He decried the obfuscation of the ADP party logo on the ballot paper as a result of the array of political parties on the ballot paper.

    Owie urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take necessary actions in subsequent elections against voter’s suppression, buying of votes and intimidation of voters.

     

  • 2019: Amosun’s defection plan thickens as top aides move to dump APC for ADP, others

    2019: Amosun’s defection plan thickens as top aides move to dump APC for ADP, others

    Indications emerged on Sunday that Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State may have perfected his defection plans despite holding peace meetings with President Muhammadu Buhari and other stakeholders last week.
    Baring any last minute change of plans, some close associates of the governor might likely defect this week as a precursor to the governor’s impending defection.
     
    They are aggrieved by the rejection of the nomination of Amosun’s anointed governorship candidate, Mr. Adekunle Akinlade and a few others by the national leadership of the party.
     
    It was gathered that the governor’s loyalists have already cut deals with other political parties, including the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and the Action Democratic Party (ADP), ahead of their defection from the APC.
     
    It was learnt as well that a serving commissioner in Amosun’s government co-ordinated discussions with the DPP while one of the three vice chairmen of the APC in the state handled the deal with the ADP.
     
    Sources said the first move by the Amosun camp to leave the APC was made as soon as the APC national secretariat refused to accept the result of the primaries that produced Akinlade as governorship candidate.
     
    The move has the full backing of the governor although he himself has vowed to stay on in the APC.
     
    One of the governor’s allies involved in the deal said: “It is a move serious politicians should expect.
     
    “We know we are the popular ones across the state. APC cannot win in Ogun State without Amosun and his people.
     
    “But we can do it alone if APC refuses to recognize our worth. We saw the treachery going on and we thought of pre-empting the situation. What you are seeing playing out didn’t just happen. We saw the need and we acted.”
     
    The group was locked in a strategic meeting at press time to determine which of the two platforms -DPP and ADP- is best placed to help Akinlade in realizing his governorship ambition.
     
    Another source in the group said the affected associates, aides and supporters of the governor will announce their defection from the APC in a matter of days.
     
    The source said: “They will also announce their new political party. Many of them will emerge as substitute candidates of the chosen party upon their official defection during the week.
     
    “All is set for Amosun’s people to call the bluff of the APC and its national leaders.”
     
    On Amosun’s continued membership of the APC, the source said: “That is one of the issues that delayed the move till now.
     
    “While some of our leaders see the need for Amosun to remain in the APC for strategic reasons, some others are of the opinion that it is better and more effective for him to lead his camp out of the APC.
     
    “Before now, there was the fear that even Amosun might be denied the Ogun Central Senatorial ticket. But he got it and two of our people also got the other senatorial tickets.
     
    “There is need to decide whether they should hold on to the tickets or drop them and pick the tickets of the party to be adopted. All these will be ironed out at the meeting today. But one thing is sure; our group will not stay in the APC and work for Dapo Abiodun.
     
    “Already, we have our people as candidates of both the DPP and ADP across the state. The deals with the party will be ready to substitute the names they submitted to INEC with the names of our people once we join their party. While DPP submitted the names of people who gave them to stand in for our real candidates across the state, the ADP assured us that once we choose their party, our candidates will be forwarded as substitutes.”
     
    Some prominent aides and associates of Amosun have already been named as candidates of the DPP in the list of National Assembly candidates released last week by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
     
    The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye; a Senior Special Assistant to Amosun, Alhaji Bola Adeyemi and the Governor’s Special Adviser on Energy, Chief Taiwo Fagbemi, are named as DPP’s senatorial candidates for Ogun East, Central and West district respectively.
     
    Also, former APC chairman for Egbado South Local Government, Odebiyi Safiu Abiodun, is DPP’s House of Representatives candidate for Egbado South /Ipokia Federal constituency, a younger brother