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Tag: PDP National Chairman

  • PDP National Chairman sheds light on his faults in party’s corruption allegations

    PDP National Chairman sheds light on his faults in party’s corruption allegations

    Following allegations of corruption and mismanagement of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, funds leveled against the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, he has admitted to having faults, stressing that “stealing is not one of them”.

    Breaking his silence over allegations of corruption and mismanagement of party funds, Ayu said the allegations were unfounded because although as a human being he had his frailties.

    He spoke against the backdrop of allegations that housing allowances paid to members of the party’s National Working Committee were hush money to cover up malfeasance.

    According to him, he took over the reins of the leadership of the party to restore its lost glory and propel it back into office because the PDP was not designed to play Opposition politics but to win elections and provide purposeful leadership for the country.

    Ayu spoke while welcoming the Forum of Elected Ex-Officio Members of the party who paid him a solidarity visit at the PDP National Headquarters, on Friday.

    This was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Communications), Simon Imobo-Tswam.

    Ayu also revealed that he has instructed the Finance Department to maintain and update the party’s income and expenditure account for presentation to the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) at the first-year anniversary of the present NWC in December.

    Ayu said although he has many faults as a human being, stealing was not one of them, adding that the present NWC is being guided by the principles of transparency and accountability.

    The party chairman said, “The PDP was not founded to be in opposition. We founded the party to access power and develop the country. And my historic task is to return the party to power. I won’t be Chairman forever. For now, my preoccupation is to return the Party to power. I did not come to steal. My public service record is there.

    “I have been a leader of the National Assembly. I have been a minister many times. As a person, I have many faults, but stealing is not one of them. I am conscious of my place in history, and the NWC that I lead is guided by the twin principles of transparency and accountability.

    “You may be reading many things and expecting my reaction. If we don’t always talk, it is because we want to maintain and build cohesion in the party. We don’t want continuous altercations in the PDP Family. Our eyes are on the big picture i.e. winning the 2023 general elections.”

    He further said, “Therefore, let us not lose focus. Let us keep our eyes glued to the big picture. Everything else is secondary. We took office because there was a crisis in the party.

    “And we don’t want to keep moving from crisis to crisis. It’s not good for the party. We can’t be in perpetual crises, especially where the crisis is artificial.”

    He added: “The NWC met and discussed the issue of Housing Allowance. It was unanimously agreed that no bribe or any form of illegality took place. A statement has since been issued to that effect. The matter has now been laid to rest.”

    Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Forum, Hon. Yunana Iliya, said the members were at the party secretariat to express solidarity with the National Chairman and pledged their unalloyed loyalty to the Ayu-led NWC.

    “We stand by the recent Vote of Confidence passed on you by the highest decision-making body of the party, the National Executive Committee (NEC), and we urge all party faithful to close ranks in PDP’s rescue work,” he added.

  • PDP has reclaimed its stolen mandate in Osun – Ayu

    PDP has reclaimed its stolen mandate in Osun – Ayu

    The National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu has described his party’s victory in Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State as the reclamation of a victory it was robbed of by the courts four years ago.

    Ayu stated this in a statement he personally signed on Sunday in which he reacted to the result declared by INEC early on Sunday morning.

    He thanked PDP stakeholders, particularly the Vice Presidential candidate of the party for next year’s election and Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for his steadfastness and standing by the PDP.

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    Ayu said, ‘With OSUN DONE, NEXT VILLA,’ a statement that further demonstrates PDP’s resolve to kick the ruling APC out of power in 2023.

    The statement reads, “Ladies and gentlemen, yesterday, being the 16th day of July, the good people of Osun state went to the poll to elect their governor.

    “A few hours ago, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the PDP Gubernatorial Candidate, Sen. Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke as duly elected.

    ‘A few days ago, the defeated and outgoing Governor, HE Adegboyega Oyetola and his party, the APC, did everything to frustrate us. This included denying us the use of any public facility in the state capital for our mega-rally.

    “We had to use the party’s state secretariat. As it were, we couldn’t have access to the stadium, but we had access to the people’s hearts, loyalty and votes.

    “The convincing win of 403, 371 against Gov. Oyetola’s 375, 027 is ample proof of that.

    “Twelve years ago, specifically on 26th November, 2010, the PDP lost Osun state – not through the ballot-box – but via a judicial coup (ruling).

    “That coup (ruling) terminated the action-packed tenure of HE Olagunsoye Oyinlola. And since then, Osun has been frozen in executive misrule and underdevelopment.

    “Four years ago, the PDP won the governorship, but our Candidate, Sen. Adeleke, was robbed of victory in broad daylight. We went back to the drawing-board, and today, we have reclaimed our victory.

    “Today is, therefore, not just a day of double restoration – it’s a day of redemption too. It restores PDP to power and redeems the Osun people from the scourge of mediocrity, empty promises and excuses.

    “I congratulate the two-time winner, the tenacious Adeleke. I congratulate the good people and residents of Osun state. I hail every party stakeholder who stood with us in action,prayers and hope.

    “You have kept faith with the PDP. You refused to be intimidated. You refused to be bought over with foodstuffs and 30 silver coins. You said no to thuggery and vote-fraud. You have done well.

    “I thank the PDP National Campaign Council for the Osun State Governorship Election, headed by HE Gov. Duoye Diri, for a superlative performance. I thank our Vice Presidential Candidate Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa for tireless work.
    PDP is proud of all of you.

    “You have helped to return PDP to power after 12 years. You have returned hope to Osun state. But beyond this, you have renewed the quit notice on the reigning APC Federal government. PDP first issued the quit notice in December last year when this present leadership assumed office.

    “This election was a referendum on the disastrous APC stewardship, and proves conclusively that Nigerians want PDP back. And, indeed, PDP is coming!

    “I also salute the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as security agencies for toeing the path of neutrality and ensuring that the votes counted.

    “The task before us now is to transit from Opposition to Governance . This we shall do.”

    Ayu used the opportunity to call on Nigerians to join the PDP for the country to rise again.

    “We call on all PDP members and all Nigerians to join the moving PDP train. Don’t be left behind. Our NEXT destination is ASO VILLA.

    “With PDP,” Nigeria shall rise again. Indeed, she is already rising. Osun people have spoken. The rest of Nigeria shall speak with a resounding Voice on 25th February 2023.”

  • BREAKING: Ex-Senate President Iyorchia Ayu Emerges PDP National Chairman

    BREAKING: Ex-Senate President Iyorchia Ayu Emerges PDP National Chairman

    A former President of the Senate, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, has emerged as the new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Senator Ayu, a consensus candidate for the position, took over the leadership of the main opposition party alongside 20 others elected into various positions within the PDP National Working Committee.

    The new set of leaders were elected at the party’s national convention which began on Saturday and lasted till the early morning of Sunday.

    Hundreds of party delegates participated in the election of the new national officers at The Eagle Square in Abuja.

    This is the list of the consensus candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, national convention taking place at Eagle Square, Abuja.

    1. Iyorchia Ayu- national chairman

    2. Umar Iliya Damagum- deputy national chairman (North)

    3. Taofeek Arapaja- deputy national chairman (South)

    4. Samuel Anyanwu (national secretary)

    5. Ahmed Yayari Mohammed (national treasurer)

    6. Umar Bature (national organizing secretary)

    7. Daniel Woyegikuro (national financial secretary)

    8. Stella Effah-Attoe (national woman leader)

    9. Mohammed Kadade suleiman (national youth leader)

    10. Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade (national legal adviser)

    11. Debo Ologunagba (national publicity secretary)

    12. Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel (national auditor)

    13. Setonji Koshoede (deputy national secretary)

    14 Ndubisi Eneh David (deputy national treasurer)

    15. Ibrahim Abdullahi (deputy national publicity secretary)

    16. Ighoyota Amori (deputy national organizing secretary)

    17. Adamu Kamale (deputy national financial secretary)

    18. Hajaja Yakubu Wanka (deputy national woman leader)

    19. Timothy Osadolor (deputy national youth leader)

    20. Okechukwu Osuoha (deputy national legal adviser)

  • BREAKING: PDP zones national chairmanship slot to north

    BREAKING: PDP zones national chairmanship slot to north

    The National Zoning Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has zoned its national chairmanship slot to the northern region of the country.

    This decision was contained in a communique issued on Thursday following the meetings of the committee held in Enugu and Abuja.

    “The decision of the PDP Zoning Committee is in line with the Constitution of the party on zoning and rotation of party and national offices in the interest of justice, equity, and fairness,” the statement read.

    “Consequently, the current offices being held by officers in the southern zones of the country, namely South West, South East, and South South zones, should swap places with the offices currently in the northern zones of Nigeria, namely North West, North East, and North Central zones.”

    The committee is headed by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, while Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, and Zamfara State Deputy Governor, Mahdi Mohammed, are deputy chairman and secretary respectively.

    Constituted on September 9, it was given the mandate to zone national offices to be contested by all PDP members at the party’s forthcoming national convention.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the party’s National Executive Committee had announced October 30 to commence the exercise.

    However, the mandate of the committee does not include zoning of the offices of the president, vice president, as well as other executive and legislative offices in the country.

    The committee stated that its decision to zone the party’s offices does not in any way affect the executive and legislative offices in Nigeria.

    It explained that the zoning of offices within the PDP has traditionally been between the North and South of the country.

    The committee thanked the party’s leadership, especially the National Executive Committee for finding its members worthy to serve the PDP in that capacity.

    “We shall pass on our recommendations to the National Executive Committee of the party through the National Working Committee of the party,” the communique added.

  • Secondus reacts to fresh order stopping him from parading self as PDP National Chairman

    Secondus reacts to fresh order stopping him from parading self as PDP National Chairman

    Embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus has reacted a court order restraining him from acting or parading himself as the leader of the opposition party.

    His reaction follows the ruling of Justice Okogbule Gbasam of the Degema Division of the Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.

    “If Secondus and the party are taken to court, they will defend themselves,” Secondus’ media aide, Ike Abonyi, said in a statement on Monday.

    “PDP and Secondus are not afraid of court; this party is a child of history, owned by Nigerians, bigger than any individual or group, including desperadoes.”

    Abonyi, however, claimed that the story of the restraining order originated through the special assistant on media to the Rivers State Governor.

    Justice Gbasam made the order while ruling on a motion ex parte marked PHC/2183/CS/2021 and filed by four persons – Ibeawuchi Alex, Dennis Amadi, Emmanuel Stephen, and Umeziriki Onucha.

    Secondus and the main opposition party were listed as the first and second respondents to the suit.

    Amid calls for the resignation of the PDP national chairman, seven national officers of the party resigned from their roles on August 3.

    The affected officers claimed that they were being side-lined and treated unfairly by Secondus, but the PDP national chairman denied the allegation.

    Two days later, members of the PDP Board of Trustees held an emergency meeting to resolve the crisis in the party.

    Barely a few weeks to the meeting of the party leaders, the controversy took a new twist with the court order restraining Secondus from parading as the PDP national chairman, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

    Justice Gbasam also made an order restraining the PDP national chairman from parading as a member of the party, or other related functions.

    He also granted the request to serve by substituted means all orders made by the court on the respondents and by publishing same in a newspaper.