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Tag: PDP

  • Buhari not responsible for Nigeria’s woes – PDP Governor

    Buhari not responsible for Nigeria’s woes – PDP Governor

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Sunday urged Nigerians, especially political leaders, to stop blaming President Muhammadu Buhari for Nigeria’s challenges.

    Okowa spoke in Benin at the end of a seven-day convention of the Rock of Ages Christian Assembly International (RACAI).

    The convention had the theme: “Too Faithful to Fail”.

    The governor, a member of the opposition PDP, said that Nigerians should support the president instead of the ‘undue’ criticism.

    He urged Christians to constantly pray that the nation would surmount its numerous challenges.

    According to him, Delta had many challenges shortly after he took over power, but the challenges were surmounted with the help of prayers.

    “I refused to be disturbed or regret being in power at that difficult moment. Apart from plans made to tackle the problems, we embarked on prayer, especially the one we organise every May 29, since 2015.

    ImageFile: Gov Okowa calls on FG to formulate policy to check herdsmen menace

    “This is a way to say thank you God, we still believe and trust in you. The church must continue to pray for this country.

    “If you do not pray and you continue to complain about the nation’s woes, you are not a Christian.

    “When our nation is sick, we as a people are also sick. We should take the burden of the country as that of ourselves,” he urged.

    The Pastor of RACAI, Charles Osazuwa, said that it was time Nigerians took responsibility of proffering solutions to the nation’s numerous challenges.

    He said that the convention was to sensitise Nigerians to the need to contribute their best to solving the country’s problems.

    “In the course of this conference, knowledge has been imparted on the people; when the people apply it, it will make a significant difference in their lives and that of the country.

    “It is time for individuals to rise up to take responsibilities rather than complain,” he urged.

     

  • JUST IN: Former Bayelsa PDP chairman assassinated

    A former Acting State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Bayelsa State, Mr. Christopher Hobobo, has been assassinated.

    He was reportedly assassinated in his residence on PDP Road, Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Hobobo, who hailed from Agbere town in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state was allegedly stabbed to death by unknown assassins in the early hours of Wednesday.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the assassination of Hobobo is coming within one month after a similar assassination of a Yenagoa-based broadcast journalist, Mr. Famous Giobaro.

    According to a report by The Punch, Hobobo’s gate was forced open by the assailants before gaining access to his sitting room, where they allegedly stabbed him several times in the chest.

    It was learnt that his killers refrained from using the gun to kill the former acting Chairman of the PDP in order not to attract the attention of his neighbours.

    It was also learnt that after the incident, family relations and friends, who thronged to the house as early as 7 am invited police.

    A team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer, Ekeki Division, was said to have removed the deceased’s corpse amidst wailing from sympathisers and neighbours.

    Two family members, Mr. Desi Tambrebofa and Mr. John Gidi, expressed shock over the manner Hobobo was brutally murdered.

    They described the deceased as an easy going man, saying that the assassins had murdered sleep.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Amba Asuquo, who had visited the scene of the crime, assured the family members that the police would fish out the perpetrators of the crime.

    The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.

  • Drama as another House of Reps member, Edward Pwajok dumps PDP for APC

    Drama as another House of Reps member, Edward Pwajok dumps PDP for APC

    Another House of Representatives member, Hon. Edward Pwajok, on Tuesday officially decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

    In his defection letter read by the Speaker of the house, Mr Yakubu Dogara, during plenary, Pwajok said he was leaving the PDP due to the crisis in the party.

    According to him, there are many divisions in PDP, from national level between Sheriff and Makarfi factions to Plateau, between Badung and Sango factions.

    In a swift reaction, the Minority Leader of the House, Mr Leo Ogor (Delta-PDP), raised a point of order to fault Pwajok’s claim that the PDP was factionalised.

    He said that going by the Appeal Court’s judgment, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff is the National Chairman of the PDP.

    Ogor, therefore, urged Pwajok to vacate his seat.

    “We are presently in court and you are aware that Sheriff is the chairman of the party.

    “I find it totally unacceptable and we demand that Pwajok vacates his seat,” he said.

    But, welcoming Pwajok to APC, the Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos-APC), urged more PDP legislators to capitalise on the crisis within the party to cross over to the ruling party.

    In his remarks, Dogara said that the legality of Pwajok’s defection would be left for the court to decide.

    Plateau Governor, Mr Simon Lalong, who was at the chamber to witness the defection, later told newsmen that Pwajok’s defection would open the floodgate for other PDP legislators from the state to join APC.

    Lalong said that some other PDP legislators in the state were ready to move to the APC.

    Also speaking to newsmen, Pwajok said that he was ready for the PDP if the party approached the court over the matter.

    He said, “Section 68 (1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution is clear that where there are divisions in a party, a member can defect to another party.

  • Forget about whistle, we’ll blow trumpet against your govt, PDP replies Ortom

    Forget about whistle, we’ll blow trumpet against your govt, PDP replies Ortom

    Sequel to challenging his critics to blow the whistle against him (Governor Ortom) or any of his appointees in government, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State has vowed to blow the trumpet and not the whistle against the state governor, Samuel Ortom over his activities in the state.

    The party said the sound of whistle might not be quickly heard considering the ongoing financial misappropriations under the watchful eyes of Ortom in Benue.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Ortom had dared those accusing him of corruption to expose him or any of his appointees by blowing the whistle.

    “I have tried to run an open and transparent administration. Anyone with a case of corruption against me or any of my officials should blow the whistle and get the approved five per cent reward,” Ortom had said.

    Reacting, however, the media director of Sunday Onaji campaign team, the chairmanship aspirant of the PDP in the forthcoming Local Council election in the state, Sunday Itodo, said Ortom has proven that he is no competent to lead the state.

    He said, “We read with shocks the recent call by the state governor, Samuel Ortom that people should expose him through the whistle-blowing policy if he or any of his appointees are found to have stolen any public money.

    “This is a case of the wicked man running while no one is after him. The governor should not forget the adage that says he who fetches ant-infested firewood should not complain when the lizard storms his house.”

    “The governor is calling on people to blow the whistle but we will blow not just whistle, but trumpet because the sound of the whistle might be too low, considering how Ortom has ruined the state within his two years in power.

    “Ortom should be ready to explain to the anti-graft agency why civil servants in the state now beg to survive despite obtaining loans, intervention funds and the Paris Club refund allocation.

    “Ortom has proven that he is truly not capable of leading the state and should be ready to follow the exit door, come 2019,” Itodo said.

  • ‘PDP says it will win future elections…’

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State on Sunday expressed optimism that it would win all future elections in the state.

    Some chieftains of the party in the state said at a zonal meeting in Awgu for Enugu West that the party would continue to control the state in spite of recent political realignments in the state.

    The Deputy Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Chief Donatus Uzogbado, said that the party was not envisaging any challenge from any of the opposition parties in the state.

    Uzogbado said that the faithful needed not fret over recent events where some members defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that PDP was “still on ground”.

    “The APC challenge is no challenge to us. In fact, the 2019 elections is going to be the easiest for our party in the state,” he said.

    Also, the Chairman of Aninri Local Government Area, Mr Chidi Ekwe, said that the unprecedented peace and unity in the party would be the tonic for its successful outing of the party in future polls.

    Ekwe hailed the exemplary relationship between Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, saying that the state had not had it so good.

    “We at the local government are trying to replicate the good works of the governor in our various councils,” Ekwe said.

    The Commissioner for Water Resources, Chief Charles Egungbe, said that the PDP had a well-thought out secession plan which could not be thwarted by any of the opposition parties.

    Egungbe said that there was nothing to fear as the PDP was synonymous with the state, adding that the second term of the governor was assured.

    He, however, urged the party faithful not to rest on their oars or remain indifferent if the PDP must be successful.

    “Our loyalty is with Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and we shall keep supporting him,” Egungbe said.

    The member representing Aninri constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Toby Okechukwu, said that Enugu West was a no-go area for the opposition parties.

    Okechukwu said that politicians in the area were so focused that even without a political party they could decide where their allegiance stood and would not waiver.

    “However, we will do our best to make sure that the party continues to prosper. Our support for the governor is not in vain. We are with him because of what he is doing,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the party leadership in the zone received some members of opposition parties in the state who defected to it at the event.

    One of them, from All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mrs Ijeoma Chukwu, said that her decision to join PDP was borne out of conviction that it was the party of the moment in the state.

    Chukwu, who was APGA’s candidate for the Enugu West senatorial election in 2015, said that her former party was dying.

    “We have decided to join the PDP because of some reasons. I love my former party, APGA, but it is unfortunate the party is gradually dying,” she said.

  • How APC defeated Jonathan, others in 2015 – Oyegun

    How APC defeated Jonathan, others in 2015 – Oyegun

    The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun, on Friday said that the party defeated former President Goodluck Jonathan and his party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by selling messages of hope and true transformation to Nigerians.

    Oyegun said this in Abuja while delivering his opening remarks at a two-day External Communications Workshop for State Publicity Secretaries of the Party.

    According to the chairman, the efficiency with which the then APC spokesmen managed the communication systems of the party during the last general elections was what provided the impetus for the party to be the first political party in the history of Nigeria to unseat an incumbent President.

    He said: “As you are aware, our party is the first in the history of Nigeria to unseat a ruling party.

    “We achieved that feat because of what you did and because of the effectiveness of our communication system across the states.

    “We were able to sell the Change agenda to Nigerians, a message of hope and true transformation built on efficient management of government resources.”

    Oyegun further urged the party spokesmen not to relent in their efforts but continue to sell the programmes and vision of the party to Nigerians even with greater vigour.

    He stressed that there was need to convince the people to support the policies and programmes of the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, and also to articulate the achievements of APC state governors APC so as to deepen the understanding of the people.

    “Now that we are no longer in the opposition but have formed the government at the federal level and in 24 states, there is more work to be done.

    “We need to sell our programmes and vision to our people even with greater vigour. We need to convince them to support the policies and programmes of the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “We need to properly articulate the achievements of our respective state governments and sell the programmes of our Party to the people. We do not have to wait till the next election cycle to do this.

    “This is the time to prepare for the next election by constantly and effectively communicating the achievements and plans our state governments to the people,” Odigie-Oyegun said.

  • Sheriff, Makarfi congratulate Ekweremadu as he clocks 55

    The Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff and Senator Ahmed Makarfi led factiosn of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have congratulated Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on his 55th birth anniversary.

    In separate messages, National Chairman of the party, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff and the Chairman, National Caretaker Committee, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, on Friday in Abuja, felicitated with Ekweremadu.

    Makarfi, in a statement by the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Dayo Adeyeye, commended Ekweremadu for his “outstanding contributions to the development of the legislature and the country”.

    He described him as a “fighter for good causes”.

    “We are indeed proud of his achievements as one of the pillars of the PDP, working with all the stakeholders to revive, rejuvenate and move the party to greater heights.

    “We believe in his leadership qualities and urge him to continue with his services to humanity,” Makarfi added, and wished Ekweremadu good health, long life and more years of fruitful service to Nigeria.

    Similarly, in a statement by Dr Cairo Ojougboh, his deputy, Sheriff said Ekweremadu was a true democrat and a man of honour.

    Sheriff said that the PDP was very proud of the way Ekweremadu had carried himself in the Senate.

    “He brought a wealth of experience into the 8th Assembly.

    “He is a stabilizing force in the Senate, who has helped to streamline difficult issues in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.”(NAN)

  • Lagos Council polls: We are watching, you won’t have your way, PDP replies Tinubu

    Lagos Council polls: We are watching, you won’t have your way, PDP replies Tinubu

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had said it won’t allow the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to have its way in the forthcoming Lagos Council polls scheduled for July 22.

    Mr Taofik Gani, Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Lagos State, told newsmen in Lagos on Friday that the party, despite some internal problems, would put up a good show in the elections.

    He said that the electorate, and not the APC chieftain, would decide the outcome of the elections, and the PDP still had its following in the state.

    Gani said that the PDP would continue to insist on free and fair elections.

    “PDP is a party to reckon with in the state, we are watching them and we will not allow them (APC) to have their way,“ he said.

    Gani said that the Moshood-Salvador camp of the party was working for the unity of the party and would do everything within its powers to ensure members stayed as one.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Tinubu had on Wednesday while addressing a crowd of APC supporters at a stakeholders meeting said that the PDP would win nothing in the July 22 election, as APC would sweep the polls.

    He said that though the party lost some state and national legislative seats to the PDP in some constituencies in the 2015 elections, the APC was working to win back support in the affected councils.

    “We have asked our leaders in those local governments to examine what went wrong and work together to chart a new course to ensure APC win back those councils,” he had said.

    Meanwhile, the two factions of the PDP in Lagos are accusing each other of stalling efforts being made to present a united front ahead of the July 22 local government elections.

    The Chairman of a faction of the party in the State, Mr Segun Adewale (Aeroland), alleged that the Moshood Salvador faction of the party was not working for the success of the party in the forthcoming election.

    Adewale told newsmen on Friday in Lagos that the Salvador faction, aligned to the Ahmed Makarfi-led national PDP Caretaker Committee, had frustrated all reconciliatory efforts to present a strong showing of PDP at the polls.

    “I am the authentic chairman of the PDP in the state because the court has pronounced the Ali Modu Sheriff faction to which I belong as the authentic national leadership.

    “That is the status quo and I remain the state’s chairman except the apex court gives a contrary judgement.

    “Even with that, the council polls are coming and I have made reconciliatory efforts to the Salvador’s faction so that the council can do well at the poll,’’ he said.

    According to him, the Salvador faction has, however, kept on frustrating the efforts.

    Adewale, who contested the Alimosho Federal Constituency seat in 2011 and Lagos West Senatorial seat in 2015, losing to Sen. Olamilekan Solomon on both occasions, said his faction was, nonetheless, doing all its best for the PDP to do well at the polls.

    He urged the party’s supporters to remain steadfast, urging them to work relentless for the success of the party at the polls.

    Reacting, Gani described the allegations by Adewale as falsehood.

    Gani said the Salvador group was the first to initiate a peace process ahead of the polls but that the Adewale group shunned all efforts and boycotted meetings arranged by Salvador.

    “If there is any faction frustrating the peace process, it is the Adewale group. We were the first faction to initiate a peace process and we arranged meetings at Protea Hotel to ensure we do well at the polls but the other group boycotted.

    “While we were doing that, the Appeal Court pronounced the Sherrif Group to which Adewale belongs as the national leadership of the party, and this made the issue more problematic.

    “The other group started seeing themselves as the faction with legitimacy and leverage at the party in the state; they started dictating to everybody even when the matter is at the Supreme Court.

    “They invaded the secretariat with some people and forced people out. They did not have respect for us and the elders of the party and are scuttling efforts for the party to be one,’’ he said,

    He, however, said the only way forward for the party to come together and put up a strong showing at the council polls was for both parties to recognize and respect each other to achieve a common goal.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has fixed July 22 for the poll and July 29 for runoff.

     

     

    NAN

  • Senator John Enoh dumps PDP for APC

    Senator John Enoh dumps PDP for APC

    Senator representing Cross River Central, John Enoh, has cross-carpeted from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    Enoh, who is the Chairman of the senate committee on finance, made the announcement on the floor of the Upper Legislative Chambers on Tuesday.

    The lawmaker disclosed that he had registered as a member of the APC in his ward.

    Reacting to Enoh’s defection, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki wished him well in his new political party, the APC.

    “I wish him fruitful service to his people on the platform he has chosen,” Saraki said.

  • No decision to adopt new political platform, says PDP’s BoT

    The Board of Trustees(BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], says no decision has been taken to adopt an alternative platform because of the leadership crisis rocking the party.

    The PDP BoT Chairman, Sen. Walid Jubrin made the clarification in a statement he issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The Supreme Court​ has adjourned its sitting on the party’s leadership tussle till May 24.

    Jubrin expressed the BoT’s commitment to follow all legal processes that will help redeem the party’s image “as anything not built on truth will fail and falsehood will crush.

    “The attention of the PDP BoT has been drawn to series of publications alleging that PDP has adopted a particular political party just newly registered as its fold back position .

    “I want to make it very clear that PDP has never formed any alternative party.

    “If it has to agree on something like that, all organs and forums of the party viz BoT, National caucus, PDP Governors Forum, National Assembly caucus have to be consulted.

    “The PDP States chairmen forum, former ministers forum, former Governors forum, various youth forums, elders forum nationwide, women’s forums etc will also be fully consulted before such a very sensitive decision is taken,” Jubrin said.

    He assured all party supporters that the BoT has accepted the judicial processes going on at the Supreme Court​ as the only option left to the party to resolve the persistent crisis.

    “We are very confident that the Supreme Court shall freely and independently take fair decision which will be historic in Nigeria’s democracy.”

    He also assured all PDP members that the BoT remains resolutely united and absolutely loyal to the party.

    “Any child that does not allow his mother to sleep, he too will never sleep.

    “I want to further assure our members and supporters that we shall keep them informed of any development before any action is taken .”

    Jubrin also congratulated PDP governors who won all seats in recent local government elections in their states .