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Tag: National Convention

  • National convention: PDP will demonstrate capacity in handling challenges – Ologunagba

    National convention: PDP will demonstrate capacity in handling challenges – Ologunagba

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it will make a strong statement with its forthcoming elective national convention, that the party has capacity to organise itself in the face of challenges.

    The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba stated  this on Tuesday in Abuja during a news conference on the update on the party’s forthcoming elective national convention.

    NAN reports that the event is scheduled for Nov. 15  and Nov. 16 in Ibadan.

    He said that one the things the party did was to ensure that every state organ and stakeholders were carried along in the selection of the committees, adding that the party would soon publish the lists of the sub-committees.

    Ologunagba said that the party was excited on the level of preparations so far by various committees and stakeholders, noting that several committees were already working for the success of the convention.

    “To show the inclusiveness of our party, every state chapter contributed to populating those sub-committees.

    “Every organ of the party, the Board of Trustees (BOT), the Governor’s Forum, the state chapters and all other relevant bodies and stakeholders are all accommodated.

    “This is because we’re determined to make a very strong statement about the capacity of this party to organise itself, to bring itself back when there are challenges that we have done.

    “To ensure that every organ, every party member have a sense of belonging, because we’re truly people’s democratic party,” he said.

    Ologunagba said that the feedback from the field had shown that the party was ready for Ibadan.

    “We’re very ready. We are coasting on. We’re determined because this would show the capacity of PDP to stand up, to defend democracy, to do the right thing,” he said.

    Responding to a question on the speculation that there was possibility of having parallel convention, Ologunagba said that the party was not aware.

    He said that the party had process and constitution guiding it’s actions, adding that “interestingly, the process has started, we have been in sync with our regulator, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),has been attending all the meetings.

    “They have witnesses to all the things we’re doing. That might be a media hype, people testing the waters. In-fact it does not exist.

    “The local organising committee is working hard. The venue committee, they’re working already ahead of time. Even before the inauguration of those sub-committees, they’re already working. And we’re methodical in the things we do,” he said.

    On the performance of the party in the Saturday by-elections, Ologunagba said Nigerians would not allowed what happened during the election to repeat itself in 2027 general elections.

    He alleged that the by-elections were marred by violence, intimidations, attacks and arrest of opposition members including PDP elected members in different states where the elections took place.

    “I have a bad news for APC. What happened in those by-election, that they call election, will not happen in 2007.

    “Why? The reason is that Nigerian people are wiser,” he said

    He said that Nigerians would vote based on the prevailing challenges facing them and the country.

  • PDP releases timetable for elective National Convention

    PDP releases timetable for elective National Convention

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC), has released its timetable for the party elective national convention, scheduled for Nov. 15 and Nov. 16

    The timetable was signed by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, on Sunday in Abuja.

    According to the timetable, the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms will commence on Sept. 3 and end on Sept. 22 while the last day for return of completed forms is Sept . 26.

    The party also fixed the screening of all aspirants for Sept. 30, publication of cleared aspirants on Oct. 3 and screening appeals for Oct. 6.

    The statement said that Publication of names of final aspirants will be on Oct. 10.

    The national convention will take place on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16, while handing over is expected to take place between Dec. 1 and Dec. 8.

  • Immaculate Conception College Old Boys association holds 7th national convention in Canada

    Immaculate Conception College Old Boys association holds 7th national convention in Canada

    The Immaculate Conception College Old Boys Association North America Branch recently held its 7th National Convention in Toronto, Canada.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the event with the theme, “Sustainable Development” held from 12th to 14 July 2024 with keynote address delivered by Prof. Bonny Ibhawoh and the Vice Provost, International Affairs McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.

    A lecture on the “The Mystic of Leadership” was also delivered by Nosakhare Alex Ihama.

    The 3 days event which was attended by members from all over the world featured a Meet and Greet, Bus and Boat tour to Downtown Toronto and Saturday night Gala and fundraising.

    The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to deserving Old Boys. Amongst the recipients are:

    Chief Chris Omoregie Inneh

    Dr. Garvey Omorodion

    Pastor Tony Egharevba

    Dr. Victor Obasuyi

    Prof. Bonny Ibhawoh

    Pastor Greg Odiase

    Barr. Babatope Atafo

    Teddyson Iyonmana

    Joseph Ogbebor.

    The Excellence in Leadership Award was given to Barr. Ogulogu Obaide.

    Speaking at the Event, the North America President, Sunday Uwumarogie, called on members to give back to our Alma mater.

    He thanked members for their generous donation in March, 2024 fundraising towards ICC 80Mfor 80th Anniversary event coming up in Benin City Edo State in November 19-24, 2024.

    A fundraising was held for the Alma Mater Scholarship Program. The worldwide President was represented by Mr. Nedo Osayande.

    A campaign against bullying was launched at the Convention General meeting, with a call on members to join the fight against bullying in our schools and society.

  • APC National Convention: Gov Sule reveals how much spent on publicity

    APC National Convention: Gov Sule reveals how much spent on publicity

    Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has disclosed how much the All Progressives Congress (APC) spent on media and publicity for the party’s special convention held in June.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Gov Sule was the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Sub-Committee of the party’s 2022 special convention that produced Bola Tinubu as the presidential candidate of the party.

    Sule while submitting the report of the committee to the party’s National Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu at its national secretariat on Friday in Abuja, returned N20 million unspent money to the party’s coffers.

    TNG reports that the committee’s Secretary, Sen. Bello Mandiya and other members of the committee were present during the submission of the report.

    Presenting an executive summary of the report, Sule said the committee was given N140 million for its activities, but only expended N120 million.

    “Initially, we were given N30 million a day after our inauguration, thereafter, we got another N60 million. In all, the party gave us N140 million.

    “I am here with a draft of N20 million to present to the chairman of our party as the balance remaining from what we were given, because we did not spend everything,” Sule said.

    Adamu in his remarks said the level of integrity and commitment exhibited by the committee was appreciated.

    He said the committee did a good job and was transparent and accountable to the extent of declaring some surplus which was a good example.

    “The challenges were high, but you were able to deploy publicity to defuse tension and we were able to have a good convention.

    “Not a single incident was reported and it was all because of the role your committee played by ensuring that everybody was carried along,” Adamu said.

  • Dogara, embittered 124 APC aspirants seek nomination fee refund

    Dogara, embittered 124 APC aspirants seek nomination fee refund

     

    Embittered 125 aspirants including former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara who participated at the March 26 National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress have vowed to take the leadership of the party to court over its failure to refund the payment for their Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms.

    This development is coming four months after they were asked to step down for the current National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and other members of the National Working Committee.

    Some affected politicians who spoke in separate interviews expressed concerns that they have explored and exhausted all their options with the only obstacle being the national chairman.

    Depending on the category of the expression of interest and nomination forms, the 126 aspirants who contested various positions were made to cough up between N20 and N2.5 million.

    At the end of the exercise, APC raked in well over N700 million with an additional N3 billion generated among stakeholders and party members ahead of the presidential primary.

    There were also complaints that despite the huge revenue generated by the leadership of the party between March and August, ad hoc workers, staff and affected party members who were engaged were equally not paid their welfare allowances.

    Aspirants asked to withdraw at National Convention

    The affected aspirants who stepped down for Adamu in the category of National Chairman included Senator Umar Al-Makura, Salihu Mustapha, Muhammed Sani Musa, Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, Senator George Akume and Mohammed Etsu.

    Those in the category of National Deputy Chairman (North), who withdrew for the consensus candidacy of Senator Abubakar Kyari, were Yakubu Dogara, Faruq Aliyu, Sunny Sylvester Monidefe, Senator Ken Nnamani, Malam Isa Yuguda and Emmanuel Joseph.

    For the post of the National Secretary, three aspirants which included former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu; Oyedele Ifeoluwa and Prof Olaiya Olaitan were sacrificed for the candidacy of Senator Iyiola Omisore.

    In the category of National Vice Chairman (South-South), Yekini Nabena and Worgu Chambers were asked to step down for Victor Giadom.

    Aside from the aforementioned aspirants, there are 113 other aggrieved politicians who are also yet to be refunded.

    One of the affected candidates, who spoke with our correspondent in confidence, vowed to recoup their nomination forms before Adamu is kicked out of office.

    Adamu ‘deliberately’ delaying refund

    He said, “We know how much was raised at the convention and even the APC presidential primary. So what is the problem? We the party members are equally aware of how much was doled out for Osun and Ekiti elections. I still don’t get why Adamu is finding it hard to comply with the directive of the president.

    “The only reason we delayed in taking this issue to court until now was to avoid putting our presidential candidate, Asiwaju, in a bad light. But as it stands, we have no option but to head for court. Everybody knows what took place at the convention where we had to step down cannot be called an election. Perhaps, that’s why some of them in the NWC including Adamu has been acting with impunity.”

    In one of the letters written to Adamu dated June 21 and appended by 107 signatories, the aggrieved aspirants also accused the party leadership of excluding them from active participation and assignments at the last party primaries for the election of various candidates.

    The letter partly read, “Your Excellency, recall that President Muhammadu Buhari in his speech at the convention directed that for those who agreed to step down, the party should refund the money they paid for the purchase of expression of interest and nomination forms.

    “For the record, it is not worthy to envisage the reality of the huge expenses we incurred in our campaigns, which amount was far beyond the cost of purchase of forms.

    “Our able chairman, we want to assure you and the APC leadership that we will give our best to ensure the party emerges victorious in the forthcoming 2023 general election.

    “While yet not being discouraged, we wish to express that we were excluded from the lists of just concluded party primaries committee assignments for the election of our various party candidates for the general elections.”

  • BREAKING: Buhari leaves APC National Convention in Abuja

    BREAKING: Buhari leaves APC National Convention in Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari has left the premises of the ongoing APC National convention at Eagles Square, Abuja.

    TheNewsGuru reports that Buhari left the venue just when the voting process of the party presidential election was about to commence.

    He left with his wife, Aisha at about 1.30 a.m and was seen off by top officials, including Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo, one of the contestants in the primary.

    Buhari in his speech, enjoined delegates at the special convention to consider voting for the presidential candidate with the best chances of securing victory in the 2023 general elections.

    He noted the critical task ahead of the Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee (NWC).

    He said the leadership of the party must continue to forge the unity of purpose among party members and to keep securing needed compromises in the interest of the party.

    The President, who spoke to the delegates before the voting exercise to elect the presidential candidate, urged party officials and delegates to follow due process and abide by all extant laws and regulations pertaining to election of the party flag bearer.

    The Nigeria leader said the flag bearer must be a knowledgeable, fair-minded nationalist with a very strong belief in the unity of the country and strength of character and purpose to steer the country forward.

    ”My fellow party members and compatriots, I commend you for your various roles and contributions towards the successful conduct of the various APC primaries across the nation.

    ”I commend the party stakeholders, officials, organs, and the Abdullahi Adamu-led NWC.

    ”I commend your efforts in organising party exercises and urge you not to rest on our achievements so far.

    ”Now we have a big task ahead: the special convention for the presidential primary.

    ”I congratulate all the winners, our newly emerged party flag bearers, so far, for the 2023 general elections and urge you to be magnanimous in victory, particularly towards your fellow aspirants who conceded to you.

    ”I urge you at all times to abide by the Party rules and follow party reconciliation processes.

    ”In every competitive event, there are bound to be winners and runners-up; and as such, all the aspirants who lost or conceded at the primaries, I equally urge you to maintain the spirit of sportsmanship and to stand by our great party for the next challenges ahead.

    ”As we go into the presidential primary, I urge all to keep to the same spirit. We must avoid acrimony and maintain the spirit of sportsmanship.

    ”The critical task ahead of the Abdullahi Adamu-led NWC remains to continue to forge the unity of purpose among party members and to keep securing needed compromises in the interest of our great party.

    ”I enjoin you all to be fair to all and to create a level playing field for all the presidential aspirants in the coming crucial party exercise,” he said.

    The president also enjoined the party officials and delegates to abide by all extant laws, rules, and regulations.

    “Please, follow due process in all the party decisions and I call on all party members, particularly the party officials and delegates to abide by all extant laws, rules, and regulations and to consider voting for the presidential candidate with the best chances of securing victory for our great party in the coming general elections,” he said.

    According to the president, the principal challenge before the party is the need to keep a united front.

    He, therefore, affirmed that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party had vested its powers in NWC for the time being, as requested, and in compliance with the Party Constitution, to ensure smooth party administration and operations in these critical times in the overall interest of the party.

    Buhari also assured the party chairman and the entire NWC members of his support, adding:

    “Please do not hesitate to call on me and all other appropriate quarters for the help that will propel our great party to the victory that we all seek.

    “To ensure a hitch-free presidential primary, please let us work collectively in the interest of our great party and our great country,” he added.

    On governance issues and how his administration has steered the ship of state in the last seven years, the president declared that the APC Government in spite of inheriting a nearly dead economy, had made substantial progress in implementing reforms.

    He said his administration had also provided infrastructure and social care and redeeming Nigeria’s image in the international community.

    “Fellow delegates, fellow men, women, youth, citizens of our country. Many people have short memories. But let us remember the situation we inherited.

    “A nearly dead economy in spite of oil being over 100 dollars per barrel for many years. Vast areas of our country under insurgent control. Salaries, wages, pensions unpaid for months in many states.

    “Problems were left unattended or ignored. Infrastructure left to decay. Internationally we were despised.

    “Your APC Government has changed all that. Our response to any new challenges, whether banditry, kidnappings, insurgency has been prompt and head-on. Rehabilitation of infrastructure has taken place on a massive scale. Our response to Covid-19 is second to none in Africa.

    “We have made substantial progress in governance, in implementing reforms, in democratic processes and in social care.

    “We are now respected in Africa and across the world. These major achievements by APC are historic and far-reaching.

    “We now have to choose a leadership not just to win elections next year but to continue and improve on these landmarks.

    “We must choose a knowledgeable, fair minded nationalist with a very strong belief in the unity of our Nation, Nigeria, and strength of character and purpose to steer the country forward. We should not allow the PDP to drag the country backwards,” he said. 

     

  • Primary: Northern APC govs cannot zone or choose candidate – Fani-Kayode

    Primary: Northern APC govs cannot zone or choose candidate – Fani-Kayode

    A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has said the Northern APC governors cannot zone or impose a candidate on party members.

    Fani-Kayode noted that President Muhammadu Buhari, APC chairman Abdullahi Adamu, the National Working Committee (NWC), and delegates will decide who to become the Party’s candidate ahead of the 2023 general election.

    In his tweet, he said that: “It is not for the Northern Governors to singlehandedly zone or determine the Presidential candidate of our party.

    “It is for the President, the National Chairman, the NWC & the delegates to decide.

    “A challenge to the authority of the Chairman & supremacy of the party is unacceptable.”

    TheNewsGuru reports that the Northern APC Governors forwarded the names of five southern aspirants to President Muhammadu Buhari from which consideration should be made for a consensus candidate.

  • Few hours to APC convention, Buhari meets aggrieved Yahaya Bello in Aso Rock

    Few hours to APC convention, Buhari meets aggrieved Yahaya Bello in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with the Governor of Kogi State and presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, Yahaya Bello.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls Yaya Bello stormed out of Aso Rock meeting threatening to address a world press conference on the convention.

    The meeting is holding at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The Kogi state governor is among the 23 presidential aspirants of the APC cleared to contest for the primary of the party.
    Although the APC governors from the north have resolved that power should shift to the south, Governor Bello has disassociated himself from the resolution.

    The agenda of the meeting between the president and the governor was not made known, but there is an insinuation that Bello may discuss his decision on whether he will step down or not with the president.

  • Tight security at Eagle Square as delegates arrive

    Tight security at Eagle Square as delegates arrive

    …govs yet to agree on consensus candidate

    …two southern aspirants advised to step down out of five nominees

    There’s serious security beef up at the Eagle Square venue of APC special convention to produce a presidential flag-bearer as governors are still dilly dallying over who to crown as consensus candidate.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reliably gathered two out of the five names submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari have been asked to humbly step down.

    Our source said” Governor John Fayemi and his Ebonyi counterpart, Dave Umahi were advised to step down to allow one popular South South aspirant battle VP Yemi Osinbajo and Bola Tinubu leader of APC and Ahmad Lawan that was outrightly rejected by his northern governors.

    All roads leading to the venue from adjourning roads have been sealed off by security agents and FRSC .

  • 2023: PDP ready for National Convention – Mark

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC), says arrangements have been concluded for a hitch free convention on Saturday, said its chairman, Sen. David Mark.

    Mark, in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Mr Paul Mumeh, gave the assurance while addressing members of the committee of the Convention in Abuja on Friday.

    Mark, a former President of the Senate, gave the assurance that the exercise would be smooth and transparent.

    He told members of the committee to be prepared to carry out credible exercise, saying “you must be absolutely transparent.

    “If you have any interest or bias for any of the aspirants, you can excuse yourself from this assignment.”

    Mark maintained that the stage was set for a hitch-free programme as all logistics, materials and security had put in place.

    “We are prepared for the exercise, virtually all our delegates have arrived Abuja”.

    He said the PDP had a track record of conducting peaceful congresses and conventions over the years, assuring that the outcome of the convention would make the party stronger.

    “The PDP has an array of eminently qualified persons to rule Nigeria. We carried out due diligence during our screening. I am confident that whoever emerges from the convention will reflect the wishes of our party”.

    Mark and his committee members also inspected the facilities at the Velodrome , Moshood Abiola stadium , Abuja , venue of the convention.

    The Party is expected to elect its presidential flag bearer for the 2023 presidential election on Saturday.