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Tag: Candidate

  • Osun 2018: I have no anointed candidate – Aregbesola

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun says he has no anointed candidate for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

    Aregbesola, who disclosed this while addressing the All Progressives Congress (APC) members on Saturday in Iwo, in Osun West Senatorial District, was reacting to consistent agitations by the people of the zone to produce the next governor of the state.

    He said that he was not ready to impose any candidate on the people.

    He said that there would be a free, fair and credible primary to pick the party’s flag bearer.

    Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed Sept. 22 for the governorship election.

    The governor, however, appealed to party members not to allow the outcome of the primary to divide or disturb the peace and progress of the party.

    He said the outcome of the primary should rather unite the party to make it stronger and indivisible.

    ” Every party member is free to support any aspirant of his or her choice.

    ” But after the party’s primary, any candidate that emerges as the party’s flag bearer should be supported by all to enable the party to win the election convincingly,” the governor said.

    The APC Chairman in the state, Mr Adegboyega Famodun, urged the party members to remain strong and united for the election.

    Famodun said that with the achievements of Gov. Aregbesola in education, health and infrastructure development, among others, victory was guaranteed for the party.

    The Asiwaju of Iwoland, Mr Gbadegesin Adedeji, urged the governor and party members to allow Osun West Senatorial District to produce the next governor of the state.

    Adedeji said the zone had been marginalised for long and urged the governor to consider the zone whenever decision on who would be party’s flag bearer was being taken.

    “The entire people of Iwo constituency are solidly behind Mr governor.

    ” And I am using this opportunity to tell you that we want the next governor to be from this zone.

    ” We have many responsible, cultured, experienced, qualified and well trained people that will not disappoint the state if given the opportunity,” Adedeji said.

     

  • Nominate credible candidates for appointment into my government, George Weah tells opponent

    Liberia’s President-Elect, George Weah on Monday (New Year Day) visited his closest opponent and incumbent Vice President, Mr. Joseph Boakai asking him to to suggest capable candidates for appointment into his government.

    Recall that the former football star won a landslide in the December 26, 2017 run-off election, which saw him elected as the next president of the country.

    Weah wrote in his Facebook page that he visited Mr Boakai on New Year’s Day as “a sign of solidarity and good will”, saying the election was over and that Liberia was the true winner.

    “I informed him that Liberia is the true winner, and that we must all work collectively in the best interest of our Country,” he wrote.

    “I further intimated that he’s a man of impeccable character and experience, and that his expertise will be needed in order to move our Country forward. I further assured him that he will be granted due courtesy according to the law as a statesman and outgoing VP.

    “Finally, I did suggest to him to put forth his people that he believes are capable of helping us move Liberia forward. Happy new year to you all,” he wrote.

    Mr Boakai conceded defeat to Mr Weah even before the final results of the election was announced. He explained that he did so because he wanted to prevent bloodshed.

    “I reject any temptation of imposing pain, hardship, agony, and uncertainty upon our people. My name will not be used as an excuse for one drop of human blood to be spilled in this country,” he said.

    Below is Mr. Weah’s Facebook post.

    “Earlier today, I paid a courtesy visit to the Honorable Vice President, Hon. Joseph Nyumah Boakai as a sign of solidarity and good will; and to wish him happy new year. I expressed to him that the elections are over now, and that there’s no winner here.

    “I informed him that Liberia is the true winner, and that we must all work collectively in the best interest of our Country. I further intimated that he’s a man of impeccable character and experience, and that his expertise will be needed in order to move our Country forward. I further assured him that he will be granted due courtesy according to the law as a statesman and outgoing VP.

    “Finally, I did suggest to him to put forth his people that he believes are capable of helping us move Liberia forward. Happy new year to you all.

    “May God bless you.”

  • Special Report: Meet the eight candidates contending PDP’s chairmanship title today

    …as Bode George backs out of race

    All is now set for the conduct of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention scheduled to hold today (Saturday) at the Eagles Square in Abuja.

    However, one of the leading contenders, Chief Bode George backs out of the race on Friday evening, therefore, leaving the position open to the remaining eight candidates.

    Those in the race for the position of the PDP chair, include former Governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel; founder of AIT and Raypower, Raymond Dokpesi; a former Deputy National Chairman and Acting Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus; and a former Minister of Education, Tunde Adeniran.

    Others are a former Governor of Oyo State, Rasheed Ladoja; a former governorship candidate of the party in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje; a former Minister of Youth and Sports, Taofeek Adedoja and Segun Aderemi.

     

    1. Tunde Adeniran

    Prof. Tunde Adeniran is among the founding members of the party. He served as chairman of the electoral panel for the party’s national convention in 2011.

    Adeniran is a professor of political science and is aged 72.

    He has held various prominent positions in public office in the past such as Minister of Education, Nigerian Ambassador to Germany and chairman of the Board of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

    Many believe that with his level of education, exposure, experience in politics and governmental matters, Adeniran has what it takes to be in the helms of affairs of the PDP.

    He is also said to be the favourite for senior party chieftains from the north such as Jerry Gana, Ibrahim Mantu and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who recently defected to the party.

    His “gentility” is, however, perceived to be a weakness for him in the convention, with many in the party insisting that what the PDP needs at the moment is a chairman that can lead it as a “vibrant” opposition to the ruling APC ahead of the 2019 elections.

    Moreso, pundits are of the opinion that any candidate that emerge the National Chairman of the party will be resuming as the head of an opposition party rather than a party in power, hence, such Chairman will need to portray a battle-ready figure with the capacity to improvise occasionally and lead the party into the challenge in 2019; a duty many think Prof. Adeniran might find difficult discharging if elected as chairman.

     

    2. Uche Secondus

    2019: I will return PDP to Aso Rock if elected chairman – Secondus

    Uche Secondus once served as the party’s acting chairman, deputy national chairman, organising secretary, and its two-term chairman in Rivers State.

    With the positions he has held in the PDP, there is no doubt that Secondus has a deep knowledge and workings of the party; a plus that may earn him the support of some key decision makers – including governors.

    Another plus for Secondus is that at 62 years of age, he is much younger than other other contenders like Adeniran and Ladoja who are 72 and 73 years old respectively. This could be an advantage for stakeholders of the party who are said to be rooting for young hands.

    If he emerges, the workings of the party will not be new to him as he has a network across the divides. However, like Dokpesi, Secondus is also from the South-South region.The implication of his emergence is that the South East chance of clinching the Vice-Presidential ticket may become slim as the South West will definitely put in all its resources into ensuring the position comes to the region. Politically, the calculation of an Uche Secondus as National Chairman is that it creates a level of marginalization against the Southwest region and also promote a general believe of what many has whispered as the ‘South-Southernization’ of the party by the South-South having produced the immediate past President.

     

    3. Chief Rashidi Ladoja

    The candidacy of Chief Ladoja is more like a chess game. Having been received with accolades and funfair back into the party from the Accord Party, Chief Ladoja is on the road to test the efficacy of the promise of equality and level playing ground he was promised while been wooed back to the party. Chief Ladoja knows he is more of a freshman into the party and may not have the inroad network to galvanize the support of the entire National delegates but if the party does not screen him out in the race and he eventually gets to the convention as a candidate, his desire for inclusiveness would have been established.

    A former governor of Oyo state, Ladoja joined the race very late, weeks after some of the contenders had kicked off campaigns.

    He had left the PDP for Accord Party when the party was in leadership crisis but, just like Atiku, later returned in August this year.

    Not long after he indicated interest in the party’s chairmanship position, he was endorsed by Oyo state chapter of the PDP. However, unconfirmed reports have it that PDP governors are considering him for the option of the party’s deputy chairman.

    Apart from the PDP stakeholders in Oyo, the former governor is also said to enjoy massive support on the grassroots level and had in the build-up of the convention, said the chairmanship race is not a “do or die affair.”

    At 73, Ladoja is the oldest among the key contenders in the Saturday convention.

     

    Prof. Taoheed Adedoja

    A former minister of youth and sports, Adedoja was the governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2015 Oyo state governorship election.

    He is known within the party circle as a dedicated party member and has also traversed the length and breadth of the country, selling his candidature ahead of Saturday convention.

    While indicating interest in the party’s chairmanship position, Adedoja had promised to put an end to “impunity” and “imposition of candidates” within the party.

    While speaking Thursday on his chances of emerging the next PDP chairman, he had described himself as “a man of all parts who has lived and made friends across different parts of the country”.

    He has also vowed that the PDP under his leadership will win back the presidency in 2019.

     

    Jimi Agbaje

    Agbaje is a Nigerian Pharmacist, and Politician. He was the 2015 flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, [PDP] in the Lagos State Governorship candidate, but he lost.

    Recall that Agbaje had also vied for the state’s governorship election under the platform of the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) in 2007. Despite Agbaje’s serial loss in seeking an elective position in government, he has been able to build himself a formidable brand in the political circle.

    The 60-year old politician has garnered in his favour the integrity that accords him respect among the leaders of the party.

    If not for the postponement of the second Port Harcourt convention, Jimi Agbaje would have emerged as the National Chairman of the party despite the challenge posed by Chief Dokpesi then. He was the candidate of the Governors and they literally made a case for him as the best image the party deserves then.

     

    Raymond Dokpesi

    Former chairman of Daar Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi is a frontline personality in the Peoples Democratic party.

    In the midst of the uncertainty around the judgement of the Supreme Court, some party leaders pandered to him to create an alternative platform for the party, however, this was where Dokpesi problem started.

    Rather than put in place an alternative party whose leadership will be collectively selected, Chief Dokpesi went ahead to put his followers and loyalists in all the top positions of the alternative party. This immediately caused distrust between him and the leadership of the PDP.

    Party sources had earlier kicked against his candidature claiming that the media mogul is still a registered member of the Advance Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) – the party he co-founded amidst the PDP leadership tussle between Ali Modu Sheriff, former PDP chairman, and Ahmed Makarfi, current caretaker committee chairman.

    However, he has gotten a clearance by the National Executive Council of the party as fit to contest for the National Chairmanship seat.

     

    Gbenga Daniel

    PDP chairmanship: I won’t step down my candidacy for anybody - Gbenga Daniel

    Former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel is a popular figure in the party. Apart from being a key political machinery in state, he has also played lead roles in the South West at large. During the 2011 election of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Daniel played was the Southwest Coordinator of the campaign.

    One cannot rule out the political stature of Daniel, especially if one considers that he once defeated a strong incumbent in 2003 in Ogun State, a feat he replicated when he coordinated the Southwest for Jonathan’s victory.

    Daniel who is already endorsed by PDP stakeholders in Ogun, during the build-up of the convention, promised to return the party to the path of the rule of law.

    The 61-year old politician and an engineer by training has also made significant roles to the growth and rebranding of PDP in Ogun and Southwest.

    Daniel apart from some of the inner caucus the rule the PDP is said to have the support of some former as well as serving governors for today’s convention.

     

    Olusegun Aderemi

    Ekiti State politician and member of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Olusegun Aderemi has thrown in his hat for a shot at the national Chairmanship seat of the party.

    Aderemi who hails from Omuo Ekiti was born on the 10th of April, 1973. He attended the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State where he graduated with a Higher National Diploma(HND) in Accounting/Insurance.

    Aderemi is no doubt one of the least popular among the eight contenders, and also the youngest [he is aged 44] .

    In June 2016, he had led youth groups within the PDP to the party’s secretariat in Abuja where they threatened to take over the party if the leadership tussle rocking it at the time was not resolved within seven days.

    Despite his young age, the Ekiti politician may have some “fresh ideas” to add to the party and help it gain some grounds ahead of the 2019 election.

     

  • PDP chair: Jonathan denies drumming support for any candidate

    PDP chair: Jonathan denies drumming support for any candidate

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has denied reports published in some sections of the media that he was drumming support for the emergence of certain candidates in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention scheduled to hold on Saturday (tomorrow).

    Jonathan disclosed this in a felicitation message issued by his Media Office on Friday in Abuja.

    The former president said he was prepared to work with all those that would emerge as new leaders in the interest of the party and nation.

    Jonathan said that the clarification was important contrary to speculations and permutations by some interest groups.

    “Dr Jonathan has never discussed or plotted with others against the ambition of any of the candidates, as is being falsely reported by those who are bent on spreading negative stories against the immediate past president.

    “The former President is therefore optimistic that the convention will produce a positive outcome that will help the PDP consolidate its position as the party with the best democratic ideals in the country,” he said.

    He expressed optimism that the convention would produce positive outcomes which would help “the party regain its pride of place in the affairs of the nation”.

  • PDP chair: I have no preferred candidate – Atiku

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said he does not have an anointed candidate in Saturday’s national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

    The former Vice President said in a press statement signed by his media office in Abuja on Friday that he, as an advocate of internal democracy in a political party system, believes all the aspirants for respective elective positions in the PDP National Executive Council (NEC) are eminently qualified.

    He noted that the challenge before the delegates of the party is to vote according to their consciences.

    The statement reads: “As our great political party sets forth to elect new set of national officers for the party today (Saturday), we must put the interest of the party first and I urge our delegates to vote for people they believe will better promote the interest of the party.

    “I am an advocate of democracy and it is my belief that the best way to strengthen a political party is to promote the principle of internal democracy in the workings of the party. I believe that all of the aspirants for respective positions are eminently qualified and the task is before our delegates to pick people who will make PDP even a stronger party after the Convention.

    “I do not have any preferred candidate, all I ask of our delegates and members of the organizing committee is that they should give us a national convention that is transparent, free and credible – one that will establish a standard for how intra-party elections are to be held in the country.

    “I wish all members and leaders of our great party, the PDP a successful national convention just as I wish all the aspirants luck in their endeavors,” Mr. Atiku said.

  • South east governors to meet on PDP chairmanship candidate: Umahi

    South East governors belonging to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party will meet soon to decide on a consensus candidate for the chairmanship of their party.

    Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state disclosed the planned meeting, but he did not indicate the date it would take place.

    He spoke in Abakaliki on Tuesday, during the vote-seeking visit of Chief Raymond Dokpesi, one of the candidates for the chairmanship post.

    The PDP will hold its convention on 9 December in Port Harcourt, and also fill party vacancies.

    Dokpesi who called upon Ebonyi people to support him, gave an assurance that as the chairman of the party, he would sustain the legacy of the party’s founding fathers and that of Governor David Umahi.

    He addressed the party’s 41st State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, held at the secretariat of the party in Abakaliki, the state capital.

    Dokpesi acknowledged PDP’s dominance in the state and endorsed Governor Umahi for a second term, to enable him complete his projects.

    “Based on our confidence, our faith is in the hands of God and the delegates,”Dokpesi said.

    Umahi who introduced Dokpesi to the meeting said he is qualified to be the party’s national chairman. But he gave no further commitment.

    “In the past we have voted blindly but now our eyes are open to seek negotiation with everyone aspiring, so as to agree on what he will do for us. What ever the zone comes up with, we will let you know”, Umahi said.

    “The commitment and zeal of the aspirant who is going round 36 States of the federation to ask for vote is highly commendable. I am one of the apostles who will not give power to anyone that is not prepared, “Umahi added.

  • Just in: Gunmen kill candidate in Venezuela election

    A candidate for the new body in ongoing Venezuela election – at southeastern town of Ciudad Bolivar, 39-year-old lawyer Jose Felix Pineda, was killed from multiple shots fired by assailants on Sunday.

    According to prosecutors, he was killed after the hoodlums broke into his home overnight.

    He was the second candidate to be murdered, after the July 10 death of another, Jose Luis Rivas, as he was campaigning in the northern city of Maracay.

    Deadly violence highlighted the tensions over the vote called by beleaguered President Nicolas Maduro despite months of demonstrations and fierce international criticism.

    He is gambling his four-year rule on the 545-member citizens’ “Constituent Assembly” empowered to dissolve the opposition-controlled congress and change laws as it reforms the nation’s constitution.

    AFP

  • Osun West by-election: Ademola Adeleke emerges PDP candidate

    The younger brother of late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, Demola, has emerged the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Osun West Senatorial District bye-election.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Adeleke, who had been cleared to contest for the primary on the platform of APC, defected to PDP on Tuesday evening.

    Adeleke was set to contest the primary in APC unopposed after his opponent, Sen. Mudashiru Husain, was disqualified on Sunday by the APC screening committee headed by Zamfara Assembly Speaker, Sanusi Rikiji.

    Hussein was disqualified by the committee which stated that he was still in active public service against the stipulated party’s guideline.

    According to Rikiji, the party’s guideline stipulates that any aspirant that wants to contest an elective office is expected to have resigned from the public service 30 days before the primries.

    Hussein was the Commissioner for Cabinet Matters in the Rauf Aregbesola administration which was inaugurated on May 30.

    The disqualification was upheld by the Appeal Committee of the party headed by Abdulahi Bello.

    Hussein was, however, cleared on Monday evening by the National Working Committee of the APC to contest the primary.

    Adeleke, who contested the PDP primary unopposed on Wednesday in Iwo Local Government Area of the state, scored 343 votes.

    In his acceptance speech, Adeleke said the PDP would win the election.

    ” I accepted to contest the election under PDP and come July 8, we shall have victory.

    ” Victory shall be ours and nothing can stop us. We are moving forward because it is God’s project,’’ he said.

    The PDP Chairman in the state, Mr Soji Adagunodo, said the party would win the bye-election.

    According to him, there is no faction in PDP but only aggrieved members.

    ” We are going to win the election and come 2018, we will still win,’’ he said.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that Independent National Electoral Commission fixed July 8 for the bye-election following the vacuum created by the death of Sen. Adeleke on April 23.

     

     

    (NAN)

  • JAMB candidate arrested with gun in exam hall

    21-year-old candidate of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination was arrested for bringing firearms into one of the centres at the ongoing examinations in Nasarawa State.

    The state’s commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mr. Bashir Lawal-Kano, told journalists in Lafia about the arrest on Thursday.

    He said that the suspect was arrested at the Nasarawa State Polytechnic centre during a search at the entrance to the hall.

    Lawal-Kano said the suspect was found to be in possession of a locally-made pistol and two rounds of live ammunition.

    He said upon interrogation, the suspect confessed that someone gave him the gun for safe keeping.