TheNewsGuru

Tag: PDP

  • Katsina APC Treasurer, 4,000 supporters defect to PDP

    Alhaji Nasiru Usman, Treasurer, Katsina State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with 4,000 others.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the defectors presented themselves to the Kankia Local Government chapter of their new political abode, on Saturday.

    Speaking on behalf of other defectors, Usman said that they decided to jump ship because the APC neglected them.

    “It is a fact that I led many others in the struggle that ensured victory for the APC in the 2015 general election.

    “I campaigned vigorously against the then PDP candidate, Musa Nashuni, who is from my own local government – Kankia – and ensured he lost even his village, to Aminu Masari of APC.

    “However, after the polls and the subsequent assumption of Masari as governor of Katsina State, majority of us were neglected by the APC.

    “In my own case, some party stalwarts in Kankia went to the party’s state headquarters and ensured that I was suspended from its fold, for reasons best known to them.

    “I have been on suspension for 14 months, with the state office refusing to recall me as directed by the Northwest Zonal Chapter of the party, following my successful petition against the illegal action,” he said.

    He said that his defection to the PDP was not to contest for any position.

    “We left the party because of neglect. The 4,000 people defecting with me are from the 10 political wards of Kankia,” he said.

    Nashuni, Masari’s PDP rival in 2015, who also spoke, said that the PDP would not repeat the mistakes that led to the loss of the 2015 elections.

    Nashuni urged PDP members to remain focused, steadfast and united so as to be able to wrestle power from its rivals in 2019.

    Alhaji Salisu Majigiri, who received the defectors, promised a level playing ground for all PDP members.

    “In PDP, we are one and the same and have equal opportunities at all time,” he said.

     

    NAN

     

  • Kogi guber ticket: Faleke floors PDP in court

     

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a suit by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its member Mutiu Okunola challenging James Faleke’s nomination as the All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy Governorship candidate in Kogi State.

    The suit complained that Faleke’s nomination constitutes double nomination as he retains his seat as a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in Lagos.

    The plaintiffs asked the court to compel Faleke to vacate his seat as a member of the House.

    According to a report by Daily Post, Okunola and PDP sought a declaration that the transfer of Faleke’s membership from Lagos to Kogi by INEC automatically terminated Faleke’s membership of the Ikeja Federal Constituency and consequently extinguishes his continued representation of the Constituency in the House.

    But, the defendants said the subject matter of the action was academic as it was already decided at the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal where the plaintiffs lost.

    In his judgment, Justice Abdulazeez Anka held that the intention of the draftsmen as it relates to Section 37 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) is to the effect that double nomination is as regards one candidate being nominated to contest an election under two different political parties.

    The judge said where a candidate is nominated for an election while still holding an elective position under the same political party does not amount to double nomination.

    According to the judge, only a member of the same political party that made the nomination can challenge the nomination of a candidate.

    Justice Anka held that the issue of whether the transfer of data by INEC of a registered voter from one constituency to another can constitute a ground to disbar a person from holding an office was academic as no law was provided by the plaintiffs’ counsel to show that a candidate or a voter whose data has been transferred by INEC would be disbarred from continuing to hold the office.

  • PDP clears 13 seats declared in Taraba LG elections

     

    The Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission has declared candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP winners of the 13 local government chairmanship seats so far collated and announced.

    Dr Philip Duwe, the Chairman of the commission, announced the results of the Feb. 25 council polls in Jalingo on Sunday.

    Duwe declared Alhaji Mohammed Umar as Chairman-elect of Gashaka, Mr Nicholas Waniyafiwani, Lau, Alhaji Abdul Boboji, Jalingo, and Mr Danladi Suntai as Chairman-elect of Bali Local Government.

    Others are Slhaji Salisu Dogo, Ardo-Kola, Mr Joseph Mika, Yorro, Mr Adi Daniel, Wukari, Mr Christopher Koshombo, Zing, Alhaji Yahuza Yahaya, Gassol and Mr Nashuka Musa for Donga.

    Duwe also declared Mr Shiban Tikari as chairman-elect for Takum, Mr Stephen Agya, Kurmi, while Rimansikwe Karma was declared Chairman-elect for Ussa Local Government.

    Results from Sardauna and Karim Lamido Local Governments are still being waited, while the exercise was suspended in Ibi Local Government after violence broke out during the exercise.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the All Progressives Congress won three councillorship seats in Jalingo, with the SDP winning one councillorship in Zing, while the rest were cleared by the PDP.

     

    NAN

  • How Osinbajo ignored Jonathan’s call to allow PDP use ICC – Fani-Kayode

    Former Minister of Aviation and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has said Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo ignored calls from former President Goodluck Jonathan to prevail in allowing leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP use the International Conference Centre, ICC, Abuja for their stakeholders meeting on Monday.

    Fani-Kayode said that Jonathan had called Osinbajo after officers of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, ‎barricaded the entrance to the venue for a PDP stakeholders meeting, but he (Osinbajo) was indifferent, and did nothing about the situation.

    The frontline opposition figure revealed this via his Twitter handle @realFFK. He tweeted: “On the day that @OfficialPDPNig was blocked from meeting at the ICC by the police, @GEJonathan called President Yemi Osinbajo to complain.

    “Sadly, Osinbajo did nothing about it. The encouraging news is that @GEJonathan tried his best and showed deep concern. That is leadership.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Ahmed Makarf-led faction on Friday convened a stakeholders meeting after an Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State declared Ali Modu-Sheriff as the recognized chairman of the party. The meeting was scheduled to hold at the ICC on Monday but was however barricaded by officials of the Nigeria Police Force who maintained that there were intelligence reports that both factions (Makarfi and Sheriff) of the PDP were planning to stage a meeting at the same venue (ICC) and it had to barricade the venue (ICC) in the interest of the peace of the nation.

    However, following the barricade, the meeting was later moved to the Ekiti State Government lodge.

     

  • We are praying for PDP not to fall apart – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), has claimed they are praying that the current leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), does not lead to its crumbling.

    In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, in Abuja yesterday and obtained by TheNewsGuru, APC said it was important for PDP to be alive and provide stiff opposition.

    It said: “we pray for them to put their house in order soon because we believe that democracy is better served when the opposition is alive.

    “However, we also know the PDP can only begin to take steps towards recovery if they stop peddling conspiracy theories and blaming imaginary enemies.”

    Abdullahi also denied claims made by the Ahmed Makarfi faction that they were behind the sealing-off of the International Conference Centre, venue of the faction’s stakeholders’ meeting.

    “Neither of these allegations is true in any respect, the Police does not take instructions from the APC.

    “The police have explained why they stopped the Makarfi group from meeting at the ICC.

    “If the factional PDP is dissatisfied with the police explanation, they could seek further clarifications from the police or pursue alternative means of redress,” the APC said.

    It added that so far, the Makarfi faction had not provided any proof of the allegations against the APC.

    The statement added that this was “especially so considering that Makarfi and his group had in their ranks, individuals who are experienced to know that without evidence, such allegations can easily be dismissed as baseless.

    “Such allegation without evidence can, therefore, be ignored by all right thinking members of the public, including the APC.”

  • Uba defects to APC as PDP senate caucus kicks

    The Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Andy Uba on Tuesday formally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, on the floor of the Senate.

    This was revealed by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki who read Uba’s defection letter to the hearing of the senators.

    Saraki said Uba was exploiting section 68(1)(G) which has been validly tested in the Supreme Court, adding that he has already enrolled his membership with APC in his ward.

    However, in a swift reaction, Senate Minority leader, Godswill Akpabio, through Order 43, informed the Senate that Andy Uba should relinquish his seat having gotten the mandate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

    The former Akwa Ibom State governor explained that the mandate belongs to the PDP, hence Uba can’t continue to sit as Senator on the platform of the APC, stressing that if he fails to give up the seat, they would go to court.

    “Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, the mandate belongs to the PDP, and by virtue of what has happened, he has to surrender his seat, else we will go to court to contend for it,” he said.

    The Minority Leader also advised the Senate President to remove Uba as Chairman of Public Accounts Committee to save the Senate of any confusion.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Public Accounts Committee headed by Uba is the only Committee in the Senate and House of Representatives that reflects in the constitution and is always headed by the opposition.

  • Buhari’s govt made Naira Africa’s worst currency – Ekweremadu

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration of making the Naira Africa”s worst.

    Ekweremadu said the economy had suffered more crisis under the new government than any government.

    Ekweremadu stated this at the Peoples Democratic Party’s national stakeholders’ meeting held at the Ekiti State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, yesterday.

    He was quoted by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, as saying, “They told us that one US dollar would be one naira when they take over. Has that happened?

    “Today, our currency is the worst currency in the whole of Africa. Is that the type of democracy we looked forward to? I can see a situation where the price of oil is going up and the value of naira is going down. What type of economics is that?”

    Ekweremadu, called on members of the PDP faithful to remain strong as the party would “work with Nigerians to restore true democracy and hope to our people.”

    He said, “I believe that with determination and sticking together, we will triumph and Nigeria will be better for it.”

    He also said the solidarity of all key organs of the PDP for the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee, despite the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal on the party’s leadership tussle, showed that “it is not the hood that makes the monk.

    “Such flagrant manipulation of critical institutions of democracy is not only dangerous, but bad news for the nation’s democracy.‎”

  • Makarfi remains PDP chairman, Judiciary cannot dictate for us – Fayose

    The Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governors Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has said Senator Ahmed Makarfi remains the authentic chairman of the party regardless of Friday’s Appeal Court ruling.

    Fayose said this at the stakeholders meeting convened by the Ahmed Makarfi led faction of the party.

    He also warned the Nigeria Police Force, NPF and other sister security agencies to stop disrupting venues of the party events to avoid unrest in the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that following the judgement of the Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Friday declaring Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff as the recognized chairman of the party, the Makarfi led faction convened a stakeholders meeting scheduled to hold on Monday (today) at the International Conference Centre, ICC in Abuja but the venue was barricaded by officials of the Nigeria Police Force before party leaders could get there.

    The meeting was however reconvened to hold at the lodge of the Ekiti State governor in Abuja.

    Fayose said he warned Nigerians against voting in the All Progressives Congress, APC but was tagged as a bad person because he always speaks the truth.

    “I warned Nigerians against voting in President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC candidates in general but they didn’t listen. They called me all sorts of names but I am not bothered. I will keep saying my mind and nobody can intimidate me. Now that they have voted in the APC, look at what they have turned our beloved nation to within a space of just two years. It is really unfortunate but we still on ground to win back the presidency come 2019″.

    Fayose also said despite torrents of phone calls he had received to settle with the Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff faction, the Makarfi faction of the party will contest the Appeal Court ruling at the Supreme Court.

    Also speaking, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State advised party members not to be discouraged by what is happening in the country. He said despite intimidations, the party should be resolute in its pursuit of good governance to the people. He said that the PDP is on ground to win elections in virtually all the states of the federation as Nigerians have learnt their lessons from the 2015 elections.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Governors Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State), Nyesom Wike (Rivers State), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa State) all made it to the meeting. The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, Senator Ben Obi, Chief Bode George, and other important party chieftains made it to the stakeholders meeting.

  • Police stop PDP stakeholders meeting, barricade ICC

    The Nigeria Police Force on Monday barricaded the International Conference Centre, ICC, Abuja, venue of the scheduled stakeholders meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP especially those loyal to the Makarfi led caretaker committee.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the meeting was scheduled to address the Appeal Court ruling in Port Harcourt which declared Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff as the national chairman of the opposition party.

    However, following the barricade, the leadership of the party rescheduled the meeting to the Ekiti State Governor’s lodge in Abuja.

    Details later…

  • We’ll conduct PDP’s national convention soon – Sheriff

    Reinstated National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, said he would organize a national convention of the party within the shortest time.

    He said the convention was imperative as it would enable interested party members to aspire for positions.

    Sheriff, who addressed a news conference on Saturday in Abuja, said that Friday’s Appeal Court judgment in Port Harcourt affirming his chairmanship of the PDP was the beginning of good things to come to the party.

    He said that he was not interested to be chairman of the party, but was more interested in reuniting the members and made sure the party had credible leaders, who would make it win the 2019 elections.

    He said that following the judgment, he had received many telephone calls from PDP leaders and that he had also reached out to many persons over the unity of the party.

    “All the leaders of the party will be consulted between now and the next one week and we will come out with a firm roadmap that will lead to successful convention.

    “I can assure you that within the shortest possible time we will organize a successful national convention so that people can aspire for whatever positions they want.

    “Regarding the ruling of the Appeal Court on Friday, I want to assured that nobody is victor and no one is a loser.

    “ In fact, I have spoken to almost all the people that are affected by the court decision and assured them of my readiness to work with them to ensure that the party returns as one family,’’ Sheriff said.

    He added that he would also reach out to the party’s reconciliation committee to ensure that it came up with roadmap leading to the national convention.

    Sheriff said that though he had full confidence in the country’s judiciary, he believed that litigation was not the best way to settle a dispute.

    “I am determined to make my honest contributions to the success of this party. By doing that, I am ready to make any sacrifice for the success of this party.

    “We don’t want PDP to lose elections again. It is painful to lose elections.

    “We need people to patronize our party, democracy is about people, you either give them their right or they leave.

    “What we are trying to do is to give the party back to the people,” he said.

    The chairman announced that all states congresses held prior to the Port Harcourt national convention remained valid, adding that congresses would only be conducted in states where it was not held.

    He, however, warned those speaking for him on the social media to desist from that in order not to compound the problem of the party.

    He advised that people should not look at the leadership tussle as fight between him or Makarfi or any other leader of the party.

    On the reopening of the locked PDP national secretariat, Sheriff said that it would be done as soon as an order on it was given by the Police.