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Tag: NWC

  • 2023 Election: PDP sets May 9 for North West Zonal Congress

    2023 Election: PDP sets May 9 for North West Zonal Congress

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has fixed May 9 for the conduct of the party’s North West Zonal Congress to elect Zonal Executive Officers and National Ex-Officio members of the party in the North West Zone.

    The party announced this in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja on Saturday night.

    Ologunagba said that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party approved the conduct of the congress at the Zonal Headquarters of the party in Kaduna, Kaduna State.

    “The NWC requests all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our party in the North-West to be guided accordingly for a smooth and hitch-free exercise.

    “The exercise will be conducted in line with the Constitution and Guidelines of our great party, and in adherence to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Protocol on COVID-19,” he said.

  • PDP Congresses: NWC issues zero tolerance for imposition, infringements

    PDP Congresses: NWC issues zero tolerance for imposition, infringements

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned against any form of imposition, infringement and meddlesomeness in the 3-Man ad hoc and National Delegate Congresses and Primaries slated for Saturday.

    It advised all party leaders, stakeholders and officials to conduct themselves in line with the party’s regulations in the exercises.

    The PDP National Working Committee (NWC) gave the advice in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba, on Friday in Abuja.

    The directive, according to the NWC, was part of the resolution of the committee at its 552nd meeting on Wednesday, April 27, in keeping with its resolve to ensure credible, transparent, free and fair processes in the build-up to the 2023 general elections.

    “The NWC advises Party leaders, stakeholders and members at all levels to refrain from any form of imposition, infringement and meddlesomeness in the exercise.

    “Any evidence of infringement and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Party’s Electoral Guidelines will attract serious consequences including the cancellation of the outcome of such Ad Hoc Delegate Congresses.”

    The NWC directed all members and officials of the party to respect and fully comply with the party’s Constitution and the Electoral Guidelines in the conduct of the 3-man ad hoc and national delegates congresses and primaries.

    It also directed that the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 with regard to consensus candidate in the coming ad hoc and national delegate elections must be observed in the conduct of the exercise.

    “All Party leaders, critical stakeholders and Party members should be guided accordingly,” he said.

  • Agunloye resigns as acting national chairman of SDP

    Agunloye resigns as acting national chairman of SDP

    Dr Olu Agunloye says he has resigned as the acting national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and become the national secretary of the party in the country.

    Agunloye, who made the disclosure in a phone interview in Akure on Wednesday, explained that his resignation was not due to his suspension by the party at the state level.

    He stressed the move was to strengthen the party’s chances ahead of the incoming general election in the country.

    Agunloye, a former Minister of Power and Steel, was suspended by the Ondo State chapter of the SDP in a letter dated March 28, over alleged anti-party activities.

    In the suspension letter, Agunloye was accused of bringing non-party members into the party to cause confusion and disturb the functions of the party executives at both state and local government levels.

    The party stated that Agunloye was suspended from his ward (ward 10) in Akoko North-West Local Government area of the state, following a resolution of the ward executives.

    According to him, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party met on March 22 and announced that all positions that are zoned to the South are now zoned to the North.

    “So, there is no big deal about swapping in the party because the presidential aspirant is coming from the South. In fact one of the leading aspirants is coming from Ondo State.

    “It is not politically expedient to allow the presidential candidate to come from the South and the national chairman also from Ondo State, which is part of the South.

    “And for me, to do so without commotion is to resign my position as a national chairman of the party.

    “As I am speaking to you, I’m sitting on my desk that I used when I was the acting national chairman but now, am the national secretary,” he said.

    Agunloye, who described his suspension as “mischievous and an action of some people that had no locus”, said they were doing so “because he was making waves in Nigeria”.

    According to him, “as at the time they claimed I have been suspended, I was presiding over a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting of the party.

    “The suspension is just the action of some of the people that have no locus because if the party allows their suspension, nobody will be chairman anymore, because some people can just sit down and suspend the national chairman.

    “They are frustrated people and we will not provoke them the more but if they take it away from political rascality to crime, we would curtail them,” he said.

  • N100m APC nomination forms, measure to assess aspirant’s support base – Sen. Adighije

    N100m APC nomination forms, measure to assess aspirant’s support base – Sen. Adighije

    The sale of expression of interest and nomination forms fixed for N100 million by the All Progressives Congress (APC) will help to measure and assess a presidential aspirant’s support base.

    Sen. Chris Adighije, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of, Governing Council, the Federal University of Lokoja in Kogi, made this known on Tuesday at a news conference in Abuja.

    Adighije, who threw his weight behind the APC National Working Committee (NWC) on the cost of the forms, said that no aspirant was expected to raise such an amount of money personally, but from those supporting them.

    He said that any aspirant, who has no support base, have no business being in the race.

    “The Presidency is a large constituency and anybody contesting for it should have support that can raise the money for him. If you are running for the state House of Assembly, the same thing applies.

    “So, with the support base and spread, you should be able to, at least, raise a reasonable amount of the money.

    “I don’t think the expectation is for an individual to put his hands in his pocket and find N100 million. I don’t think that is the purpose.

    “The purpose is to measure and assess an aspirant support’s base,” he said.

    Newsmen reports that since APC announced the cost of its Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms, some people have criticised the cost, saxing that it would breed corruption.

    They also argued that such nomination fee would discourage potential aspirants to lead.

    However, the APC National Women Leader, Dr Beta Edu, had condemned those criticising the cost of the nomination forms.

    According to her, the reason for the exorbitant nomination fee is to cut down the number of aspirants that would buy the forms.

    This, she added, would have put more pressure on the party’s leadership while processing the aspirants.

  • 2023: Saraki cttee suggest how to pick people who’ll conduct PDP primaries

    2023: Saraki cttee suggest how to pick people who’ll conduct PDP primaries

    Senator Bukola Saraki led National Reconciliation and Strategy Committee, NRSC has advised PDP NWC to ensure that only credible people who will be fair, adhere strictly to democratic tenets are picked to conduct primaries.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports Saraki made this disclosure when he presented the findings of the committee to PDP Chairman and NWC members on Wednesday.

    Hear him: “credible people who will be fair, adhere strictly to democratic tenets are picked to conduct primaries – Saraki

    “Chairman, we need to point out that while so much has been done there is still so much to do. Our party has recently commenced the journey towards electing candidates to contest on the party’s platform in the 2023 general elections at the presidential, gubernatorial, national assembly, and state houses of assembly levels.

    “We have discovered that the conduct of primaries to elect candidates to represent the party has been a source of great intra-party conflict and friction in the past, resulting in the PDP being severely weakened and hampering its chances of success in previous elections.

    “We believe that you and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) are men and women of great courage and integrity who have displayed a commitment to our great party, its ideals, and values. We want to advise that the party leadership should at all times adhere to the principles of equity, justice, fairness, good conscience, and inclusiveness.

    “The leadership should always be transparent in taking decisions such that those not favoured by the decision can at least see that they have been given a fair hearing and those whose cases prevail can see that they won on merit, therefore having to be magnanimous in victory.

    “We urge you, Mr. Chairman, and other members of the NWC to ensure a thorough and extensive scrutiny process in the selection of the people who will be sent to go and conduct the primary elections in the various states as we prepare for the 2023 elections.

    “They must be people who will be fair to all and adhere strictly to democratic tenets. Sanctions should be meted out to those of them who by their actions create a crisis in any state.

    “Also, we need to mention that time did not allow us to dwell much on the area of strategy. We had so much to do in the area of reconciliation. It is therefore our recommendation that the party leadership should explore the idea of setting up a standing committee to advise it from time to time on the issue of strategy, particularly as we prepare for the 2023 general elections.

    “Let us commend the efforts of the NWC on some of the key steps you have taken to reposition our great party, particularly as they are in line with the recommendations of this committee which you will find in the report we are submitting to you. One example of such great steps is the revival of the defunct People’s Democratic Institute (PDI) to serve as a policy think-tank and centre of the party.

    ” My colleagues and I are grateful for the opportunity to be of service to our great party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, its leadership, all its members, and by extension, the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who have long desired peaceful resolution of the crises plaguing the party and our party’s return to the helm of the ship of the Nigerian state to successfully navigate the nation and her people towards sustainable socio-economic and political development.

    Read full text below:

    BEING THE TEXT OF SPEECH BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND STRATEGY COMMITTEE (NRSC), DR. ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, CON, ON THE OCCASION OF THE SUBMISSION OF THE COMMITTEE’S REPORT TO THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), DR. IYORCHIA AYU ON APRIL 6, 2022

    2. The National Reconciliation and Strategy Committee (NRSC) was created after a resolution approving its establishment and Terms of Reference was passed at the 90th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our great party on November 23rd, 2020. At its inception, the Committee was tasked with the mandate of identifying and resolving disputes at various levels of the party structure and reconciling aggrieved members to promote cohesion and strengthen the party structure. Shortly after its inauguration, the Committee’s mandate was expanded to include the design of progressive strategies as means of reinventing the all-inclusive and broad-based foundation of our party as a basis for success in future elections and the delivery of real solutions to the problems confronting our country.

    3. Upon its establishment, I was privileged to be named Chairman to head a Committee comprising men and a woman of integrity and influence drawn from the six geo-political zones namely former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Senator Liyel Imoke; former Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema; former Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo; and former Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, with Hon. Linus Okorie as Secretary.

    4. The NRSC was established against the backdrop of the poor state of our party as demonstrated by the intra-party conflict in many state chapters, disillusionment with the party by many members and by the Nigerian populace, and the inability to attract new members, and the loss of key stakeholders. Our party was described in the media as “hemorrhaging”, at the time.

    5. Together with these men and woman, we have traversed the length and breadth of our dear country meeting with critical stakeholders of our party to identify the stress points that have caused conflict at various levels of the party structure and work together with these stakeholders to resolve them. While doing so, we have repeated the same message to stakeholders of our great party everywhere – that it is only with great patience, forgiveness, and the spirit of sacrifice for the greater good that we can rebuild our party, restore the confidence of the Nigerian people in us and set out on the important task of rescuing our country. Everywhere we have gone, we have repeated Abraham Lincoln’s wise words “We are not enemies but friends. We must not be enemies. Though our passions may strain, they must not break the bonds of our affections.”

    6. Mr. Chairman, our committee is pleased to report that this message was well-received across the country and formed the foundation for the resolution of drawn-out crises between rival groups and the reconciliation of discontented stakeholders. We are pleased to report that our committee was able to work with stakeholders in several state chapters like Borno, Ogun, Ondo, Niger, and Plateau to resolve the crisis that had plagued the party for years. In other states like Cross Rivers and Yobe, we have been able to work with stakeholders to rebuild the firm foundation of our party after some members defected. And in some states, while we may not have been able to completely resolve the crises, we have been able to get contending factions to engage in dialogue and set them on a sure path to genuine reconciliation.

    7. In the course of our activities, we also met with critical stakeholders and organs of our party and listened to their grievances. We received their suggestions on how best to remodel and reposition our party as the best vehicle for the delivery of sustainable development and good governance to Nigerians.

    8. On the strategy side, it was the committee that recommended to the last NWC the need to slash the nomination and expression of interest fees payable by youths who are aspiring to various public offices in other to encourage members in that demographic to seek elective offices on the platform of the party. It should be recalled that our recommendation came after we had a meeting with the youth leaders and other youth groups within the party. That recommendation which was accepted by the NWC has since been copied by other parties.

    9. Mr. Chairman, the report we have come to submit today contains a detailed breakdown of our deliberations with the key stakeholders, members, and organs of our party; the issues that were raised, and our recommendations to ensure that these issues are conclusively resolved to the benefit of our great party.

    10. Mr. Chairman, we need to point out that while so much has been done there is still so much to do. Our party has recently commenced the journey towards electing candidates to contest on the party’s platform in the 2023 general elections at the presidential, gubernatorial, national assembly, and state houses of assembly levels. We have discovered that the conduct of primaries to elect candidates to represent the party has been a source of great intra-party conflict and friction in the past, resulting in the PDP being severely weakened and hampering its chances of success in previous elections.

    11. Mr. Chairman, we believe that you and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) are men and women of great courage and integrity who have displayed a commitment to our great party, its ideals, and values. We want to advise that the party leadership should at all times adhere to the principles of equity, justice, fairness, good conscience, and inclusiveness. The leadership should always be transparent in taking decisions such that those not favoured by the decision can at least see that they have been given a fair hearing and those whose cases prevail can see that they won on merit, therefore having to be magnanimous in victory.
    12. We urge you, Mr. Chairman, and other members of the NWC to ensure a thorough and extensive scrutiny process in the selection of the people who will be sent to go and conduct the primary elections in the various states as we prepare for the 2023 elections. They must be people who will be fair to all and adhere strictly to democratic tenets. Sanctions should be meted out to those of them who by their actions create a crisis in any state.

    13. Also, we need to mention that time did not allow us to dwell much on the area of strategy. We had so much to do in the area of reconciliation. It is therefore our recommendation that the party leadership should explore the idea of setting up a standing committee to advise it from time to time on the issue of strategy, particularly as we prepare for the 2023 general elections.

    14. Let us commend the efforts of the NWC on some of the key steps you have taken to reposition our great party, particularly as they are in line with the recommendations of this committee which you will find in the report we are submitting to you. One example of such great steps is the revival of the defunct People’s Democratic Institute (PDI) to serve as a policy think-tank and centre of the party.

    15. My colleagues and I are grateful for the opportunity to be of service to our great party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, its leadership, all its members, and by extension, the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who have long desired peaceful resolution of the crises plaguing the party and our party’s return to the helm of the ship of the Nigerian state to successfully navigate the nation and her people towards sustainable socio-economic and political development.

    16. Thank you. Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Long Live PDP

  • Follow Buhari’s roadmap, VON DG charges Adamu-led NWC

    Follow Buhari’s roadmap, VON DG charges Adamu-led NWC

    The Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu has appealed to Sen. Abdulahi Adamu led new National Working Committee (NWC) of All Progressive Congress (APC), to follow the roadmap of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Okechukwu made the appeal Sunday while addressing journalists at the Eagle Square Abuja on the outcome of the just concluded APC convention.

    While congratulating Adamu and members of the new NWC, Okechukwu enjoined the new APC leadership to diligently follow Buhari’s roadmap while conducting the forthcoming primaries of the party.

    He opined that the key items in the roadmap of the president- adherence to the doctrine of internal democracy and equal opportunities- would ensure that the forthcoming party primaries were not hijacked by highest bidders.
    Okechukwu admittethat money bags were seemingly unavoidable in Nigeria’s body politics, but acknowledged the possibility of conducting free, fair and transparent party primaries in the country.

    He said, “My confidence is predicated on the premise that Distinguished Senator Adamu and his team will follow Mr President’s roadmap because he (Adamu)headed the Reconciliation Committee and some members like the National Organising Secretary are with him. Therefore handy with the Report, it will be easier for NWC to navigate.”

    “For me the NWC should first address the recommendations of the Reconciliation Committee Report so as to engender trust and guarantee genuine peace instead of peace of the grave yard in many states before embarking on the primaries.”

    Okechukwu faulted claims that there was no time to waste on reconciliation, describing it as indispensable to the actualisation of Mr President’s roadmap.

  • How new PDP NWC will operate — Ayu

    How new PDP NWC will operate — Ayu

    The National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, says the new National Working Committee (NWC) of the party will be guided by consultation, team-work, internal democracy and national interest.

    Ayu stated this in his address at the inauguration of the NWC in Abuja on Friday, assuring that the new team would strengthen the party’s internal democratic processes.

    “We shall endeavour to reach out to all party members, young and old, male and female.

    “This NWC will create alternate platforms within the party to actively engage the young people and our women.

    “They will be engaged, not only for mobilizing and winning elections, but for advocacy, policy formulation and the design of a new development agenda for the party.

    “We shall return the party to vigorous discussions; pay serious attention to new thinking and the implementation of policies and programmes that will secure and improve the quality of life of all Nigerians,” Ayu said.

    He said that the Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI) would be revived and strengthened to drive the process.

    The national chairman said that before the next election cycle, the new NWC would present a PDP manifesto that would bring back hope to the people.

    Ayu, who added that “PDP is back to rescue and rebuild Nigeria”, urged Nigerians to keep their faith in one, united Nigeria.

    He expressed optimism in the return of the party to power by 2023, saying a PDP administration would change the narrative and unite the people.

    “We will deepen the content of our democracy. We will rebuild our collapsed economy. We will make Nigerians the focus of development,” Ayu said.

    He called on all non-PDP members to join the party, saying “our umbrella can accommodate all of us.”

    Ayu also urged all PDP members who left to come back home; saying the party’s doors were still open.

    He appreciated all members of the PDP across Nigeria for their prayers, support and commitment in ensuring the emergence of the new NWC under his leadership.

    The national chairman appreciated the outgoing NWC and other party leaders in ensuring a hitch-free National Convention.

    Highlights of the occasion include presentation of Certificate of Return to all the new NWC members.

    The outgoing National Secretary, Sen. Ibrahim Tsauri, also handed the PDP Registration Certificate over to the new National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.

  • PDP picks date for inauguration of new NWC

    PDP picks date for inauguration of new NWC

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is set to inaugurate its National Working Committee (NWC), next week Friday.

    In a statement on Saturday, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party’s spokesman, said the valedictory service of the outgoing NWC will hold on December 8, while the swearing-in of the newly elected NWC will hold on December 10.

    “Consequent upon the successful conduct of the October 30 and 31 2021 elective National Convention and in keeping with due process of internal democracy, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approved the schedule of events for a smooth transition from the outgoing to incoming national officers of the party,” the statement reads.

    “Accordingly, the Valedictory Session of the outgoing National Working Committee (NWC) has been scheduled to hold on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at the NEC Hall of the National Secretariat, Abuja at 11 am.

    “Correspondingly, the presentation of Certificate of Return and Swearing-In Ceremony of the newly elected national officers has been scheduled for Friday, December 10, 2021, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, by 9:30 am.

    “All party leaders, critical stakeholders and our teeming members nationwide should note this accordingly.”

    At the end of the PDP national convention held in October, Iyorchia Ayu, a former senate president, emerged as the National Chairman of the party.

    Taofeek Arapaja, a former deputy governor of Oyo State, was elected as Deputy National Chairman (South), while Umar Damagum, former governorship candidate of Yobe, emerged as the Deputy National Chairman (North).

  • PDP national auditor denies accusing Secondus, NWC of financial impropriety

    PDP national auditor denies accusing Secondus, NWC of financial impropriety

    Mr Adamu Mustapha, National Auditor of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has denied accusing the National Chairman of the party, Mr Uche Secondus of financial impropriety.

    Mustapha said this when he addressed newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the media had recently be awashed of crisis rocking the major opposition party since Mustapha released the memo.

    Clearing the air, Mustapha denied alleging any form of misdemeanor against any member of National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

    “My attention has been drawn to misleading reports in a section of the media on three memos I presented to the NWC for deliberation.

    “To say the least, I am shocked that routine memos can be so mischievously misrepresented in the media ostensibly to achieve a sinister purpose against our party.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, all the issues raised in the memos were exhaustively deliberated in the NWC meeting.

    “The deliberation was conclusive because on all the items raised, approvals were sought and granted by both the NWC and the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our great party.

    “I want to state clearly, that I did not make any allegations of any form of financial impropriety against the National Chairman, neither did I made allegation of any form of misdemeanor against members of the NWC,” he said.

    Mustapha said that the NWC was not divided as it was working in the collective interest of PDP.

    He also urged media practitioners to always crosscheck facts, before going to press to avoid misleading the public.

  • PDP boils over poor management by Secondus

    PDP boils over poor management by Secondus

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday held a stormy meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) that put the national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus on the spot.

    The NWC was split over Secondus’ management of the party and prospects of leading it to victory in 2023.

    The NWC it was gathered was divided over what some members alleged as the party’s incapacity to take opportunity of the gaffes of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on account of what they alleged as the poor leadership.

    The issue of leadership apathy was compounded by the management of the party issues notably, crises in some Northern chapters of the party and the continued suspension of some members of the National Assembly.

    Other issues alleging financial misconduct were raised at the meeting, but those issues were according to sources in the meeting overshadowed by what was alleged as the lethargy in the leadership of the party.

    The PDP had suspended Ndudi Elumelu, Wole Oke, Lynda Ikpeazu, Anayo Edwin, Gideon Gwadi, Toby Okechukwu and Adekoya Abdul-Majid for allegedly backing the emergence of Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the House of Representatives against the intentions of the party.

    Whereas the PDP had nominated Kingsley Chinda for the position of minority leader and also proposed Chukwuka Onyema as Deputy Minority Leader, Yakubu Barde as Minority Whip and Muraina Ajibola as Deputy Minority Whip.

    However, Speaker Gbajabiamila spurned the PDP’s nominees and endorsed the list led by Elumelu with Toby Okechukwu (Enugu) as Deputy Minority Leader, Gideon Gwani as Minority Whip and Adesegun Adekoya as Deputy Minority Whip.

    At the NWC meeting on Tuesday, Secondus was, however, on the spot on lifting the suspension as the proposal seemed to put him between the devil and the deep blue sea.

    Lifting the suspension is bound to raise issues with some governors who accused the National Assembly ‘rebels’ of having betrayed the party during the election that brought Gbajabiamila.

    Secondus has reportedly been at discord with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and it was feared that lifting the suspension would further put him in trouble with the governor.

    The meeting which was supposed to last between 12 noon and 2.00 p.m. lasted at least two more hours as the NWC tried to mollify hot tempers as the PDP NWC was split over Secondus.

    “It was a stormy meeting and at least two prominent national officers threatened to resign saying that they would not want to be dragged down with what is happening,” a source present at the meeting disclosed.

    “Most of the issues we have especially in the North have to do with poor party management,” one official present at the meeting who did not want to be named said.

    Jigawa and Kano States are two of the prominent states which have been riven with crises.