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Tag: Presidential Campaign

  • Doyin Okupe deserves a better exit – LP campaign DG, Osuntokun

    Doyin Okupe deserves a better exit – LP campaign DG, Osuntokun

    The Director-General of the Labour Party presidential campaign council, Prof Akin Osuntokun has said his predecessor, Doyin Okupe deserves a better exit.

    Osuntokun made the statement while featuring on the Channels Television Politics Today programme on Wednesday.

    Recall that a High Court in Abuja had sentenced Okupe to two years imprisonment for breaching the money laundering act.

    Following the judgment, Okupe resigned from his position as the DG of the Labour Party presidential campaign council. In his stead, Osuntokun was appointed.

    “It is a bitter-sweet experience. Bitter in the sense that he had to leave in those circumstances. And, of course, you heard the first judgement that was essentially exculpating the person standing before her (Judge). She said it was an honest mistake; that was the judge, not the lawyer of the defence.

    “Thus, in such circumstances, it is not a good thing. He deserves a better exit than that,” Osuntokun said.

  • Wike in fresh attack, seals Atiku campaign office in Rivers

    Wike in fresh attack, seals Atiku campaign office in Rivers

    Governor Nyesom Wike in a face-off with the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, sealed the Presidential Campaign Council office in River State.

    The office is located along Onne Road in the New Government Reservation Area (GRA), Port Harcourt.

    Wike gave the order after turning down a request by the Campaign Management Committee in the state.

    Wike had sealed off the campaign office based on Executive Orders 21 and 22.

    The Order stipulates that no political party office or campaign office should be located in a residential area of the State.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers had written an application seeking approval to use the office premise for its political activities.

    The application had been ignored for months until the venue was sealed on Friday.

    The media team of the state’s PCC described the seal on the office as anti-democratic and a violation of free expression.

    “The public is hereby informed that the sealed premises had no billboard or poster, since the approval had not been given, yet it was sealed off, a sign that the delay in the approval is premeditated and computed to cause this sort of unlawfulness.

    “We condemn this act because it rubs off on our fundamental right to free expression of interest. Furthermore, this egregious move by the Rivers State Government, seen in the prism of politics, tends to militarise our democracy and renders our dear state politically recessive when juxtaposed with other states in the country,” the media team said in a statement.

    It further advised the leaders of the party in the state to seek legal redress per the provisions of the constitution.

    “We urge our dear leaders in the state to challenge this illegality in a court of competent jurisdiction so that friction can disappear from our political space.

    “The right to campaign for preferred candidate is enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria, which is the grand norm from which every other law derives its power.

    “Thus, every clash between the Constitution and any other made law should be resolved in favour of the Constitution. The Rivers State Government, we dare say, is subject to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended).

    “It is our duty to remind Gov. Wike and his co-travelers that they, like everyone else, are subject to the Laws of Nigeria.

    “Meanwhile we charge the Rivers State PDP PCC, our dear leaders, to see to it that this unlawful disruption of campaign activities does not rattle their cage. They must continue to function as they always had prior to the existence of the Secretariat.

    “Tyranny will expire in our state. If the Nazi Regime could die in Germany, then this facsimile of such will die even much faster to the glory of God and liberty of Rivers State,” it added.

  • Lagos PDP inaugurates Presidential Campaign C’ttee

    Lagos PDP inaugurates Presidential Campaign C’ttee

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State on Friday inaugurated a 103-member campaign committee to mobilise votes for the party, ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    The party’s Assistant Legal Adviser, Mr Mustapha Okandeji, who inaugurated the committee in Ikeja, urged them to labour night and day to return the party to power.

    Okandeji urged the committee to be guided by the party’s constitution and relevant electoral law and guidelines.

    He also urged them to mobilise votes for the PDP’s Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.

    The Chairman of the committee, Mr Adedeji Doherty, said it was time for the party to return to power at the federal level and also take over Lagos state.

    Doherty, who described the forthcoming election as another challenging season for the party, said PDP had, for the past seven and a half years, been kept out of government at the centre.

    “We need to work very hard in conjunction with other PDP state chapters to return our party to power at the federal level, for the good of our country and the Nigerian people.

    “The challenge before us today, therefore, is to work hard and reverse the electoral misfortunes that I have called your attention to,” Doherty said.

    According to him, the Lagos state chapter must make a difference and win the state for PDP.

    He said the twin structure of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) and the Presidential Campaign Management Committee (PCMC) being inaugurated would do the party proud.

    Doherty expressed the committee’s resolve to galvanise the party towards winning all elections in the state.

    He promised to work with the party’s governorship candidate, Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor), who would be serving on the council as Vice Chairman.

    He also promised to work with the State Director of PCMC, Chief Atolagbe Animashaun, and other reputable and experienced leaders to mobilise votes for PDP.

    The chairman said that the committee would not be intimidated by the activities of the ruling party, saying that the opposition party would not engage in violence but focus on campaigns to the electorate.

    He noted that the PDP was offering to Lagos residents the best combinations in the 2023 Presidential/Vice Presidential candidates.

    According to him, Abubakar and Okowa are pan-Nigerians and well experienced, resourceful and healthy.

    “I make bold to say they are way ahead of anyone being paraded by the other parties, and will get to work immediately they become elected at the Feb. 25, 2023 general elections.

    “We make a clarion call to the people of Lagos State today that the time has come to free themselves from the shackles.

    “It is time to say “enough is enough” to the APC by voting for all the candidates of the PDP in the 2023 elections.

    “Let me, on behalf of myself and my colleagues, appeal to all leaders and members to close ranks and come together for the great task at hand,” Doherty said.

    According to him, it is an undeniable fact that leaders of the party had  hurt one another in one form or another.

    “Some have suffered certain losses, the consequences of which we are yet to totally put behind us,” Doherty said.

    He said that the party leadership shared in the pains of everybody and appealed to all aggrieved members, including aspirants in court, to make more sacrifices to the party.

    “I know that for some of us who feel badly hurt, it is not an easy option considering the far length that you’ve gone, but I say with my head bowed that you can do it to show greater love for our party,” he said.

    Also speaking,, the PDP’s governorship candidate, Adedeji, appealed to all aggrieved party members to shield sword, and urged them to work for the victory of the party at the polls.

    “It is time for the party to move forward,” he said.

    The campaign council is being assisted by 18 directorates in the campaign committee, headed by a deputy director.

    The directorates and their heads include: Media and Publicity (Oluseun Soyinka), Field Operations (David Vaughan), Research and Strategy (Rahman Owokoniran), Volunteer Groups (Taiwo Kuye).

    Also inaugurated were: Finance (Alaketu Adedoyin), Election Management (Capt. Olatunji Shelle) and Religious/Cultural Engagement (Hajiya Safurat Abdul-Kareem).

    Others were: Documentation/Reporting (Dr Adetokunbo Pearse), ICT/Situation Room (Niyi Adams), Training (Wole Adewunmi),

    Also inaugurated included Non-Yoruba Speaking-South East (Jude Obiekwe), Non-Yoruba Speaking-South South (Odili Ofili), and Non-Yoruba Speaking- Arewa (Auwal Maude).

    The committees also included: Election Management-Ikeja Division (Sunday Olaifa), Election Management-Lagos Division(Tolani Animashaun), Election Management-Epe Division (Taiye Benedict).

    The rest were: Election Management-Ikorodu Division (Niyi Sotomiwa) and Election Management-Badagry Division (Adio Salami).

    Members of the committees included the  party’s state executive council and other leaders of the party in the state.

    Some notable leaders who made the list included Jimi Agbaje, Ade Dosunmu, Philip Aivoji, Gomez Adewale, Abimbola Ogunkelu, Dapo Sarumi, Bayo Williams, and Wahab Owokoniran.

    Otgers included Tanwa Olusi, Fatia Shodimu, Wellington Bankole, Tajudeen Obasa, Sola Osolana, Setonji Koshoedo, and Idowu Akinsanya among others.

  • Our party is undeterred by plots to disrupt Kaduna campaign – PDP

    Our party is undeterred by plots to disrupt Kaduna campaign – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is undeterred and standing shoulder to shoulder with the good people of Kaduna State who are set for the Presidential Campaign Rally.

    The party scheduled campaign programmes in Kaduna State to begin on Monday.

    This is contained in a statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja.

    He claimed the anti-democratic forces have been mobilised to cause tension and disrupt the party’s programmes in Kaduna Stat.

    ”Those behind the plot to disrupt our programme are uncomfortable and unhappy with the success of the ongoing reconciliation efforts, stability and popularity of the party.

    ”The PDP will never be distracted from its mission to rescue, rebuild and redirect Nigeria.

    “Our Party’s position is predicated on information at our disposal of how these anti-party elements who are not happy with the campaign successes achieved by the National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu and other Party leaders, have concluded plots to create an impression of crisis within the PDP by recruiting thugs to protest and disrupt scheduled programmes.

    ”The PDP has information of how these individuals, who were frustrated by the huge success of the PDP Presidential Campaign inauguration in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom last Monday, are bent on creating a situation to discredit the PDP Presidential Campaign Rally scheduled for tomorrow in Kaduna State,” the praty said.

    He saluted the people of Kaduna State for the overwhelming reception that they accorded Abubakar, his running mate, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa and other party leaders who had been in the state in the past two days ahead of the presidential campaign rally.

    “Our party implores all members, our teeming supporters and the public to be at alert.

    “We also urge security agencies to immediately set in motion machinery to forestall any attempt to disrupt the programmes,” the party said.

  • Ex-Army spokesperson who defended #EndSars killings included in Peter Obi’s campaign team

    Ex-Army spokesperson who defended #EndSars killings included in Peter Obi’s campaign team

    Former Nigerian Army officer, John Enenche who claimed photos and videos from the massacre of unarmed demonstrators at Lekki Tollgate were photoshopped has been included in Peter Obi’s presidential advisory council.

    Mr Enenche is a retired general and former director of defence information.

    On Wednesday, Mr Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour party, released a list of his campaign team, which had 1,234 names, including the army general appointed as a representative of the North-Central.

    Mr. Enenche’s appointment has triggered an outcry from the party’s supporters, insisting he is unsuitable to take up any position in Mr Obi’s campaign team due to his role in covering up the Lekki massacre in October 2020.

     

  • 2023: Mix up in Labour Party list, Dr Danladi Bako clarifies, says he’s a die hard APC member

    2023: Mix up in Labour Party list, Dr Danladi Bako clarifies, says he’s a die hard APC member

    Dr. Danladi Bako, Co-Director, Strategic Communication, All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council says he remains a loyal and committed member of the party.

    Bako, who was also a former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission ( NBC) made the rebuttal in a statement he issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)on Thursday in Abuja.

    Bako, a former Commissioner for Information in Sokoto state, said: ”My attention has been drawn to a list circulating  containing names of Coordinators for the Labour Party Campaign Council.

    ”On the list is one Mr Danladi Bako ” as Coordinator, Gombe State. I, Dr Nasir Danladi Bako PhD OON, wish to state categorically that I recognize that there are other person’s with such an identical name with mine.

    ”Therefore, this statement is to clarify that I , Dr Nasir Danladi Bako PhD OON, is not the one referred to on the above list.

    ”I remain a loyal and committed APC member registered in my native ward – Sarkin Zamfara “A”, Sokoto South Local Government, Sokoto State.”

  • Labour Party reveals date to flag off presidential campaign in Nasarawa

    Labour Party reveals date to flag off presidential campaign in Nasarawa

    The Labour Party (LP) is set to officially begin its presidential campaign in Nasarawa State, on October 18.

    Mr Alexander Emmanuel, State Chairman of the party told newsmen at a press conference on Thursday in Lafia that arrangements had been concluded for the exercise.

    According to him, the party chose Nasarawa for the presidential campaign flag off due to support the people of the state have shown to its presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi and his running mate, Yusuf Ahmed-Datti.

    He commended the party’s supporters across the country for their efforts thus far in canvassing for more support for the Obi/Datti ticket.

    “Just like how other states of the country have been massively supporting the Labour party’s presidential candidate, Nasarawa State was the first to organise street march in support of the Obi/Datti ticket.

    “And I think that should be the reason the LP’s national leadership choose Nasarawa state for the campaign flag off on 18 October, 2022,” he said.

    Emmanuel said that they were putting finishing touches to arrangement to ensure a hitch-free campaign flag off, adding that party supporters and other Nigerians were expected from across the country to grace the occasion.

    “So, I am urging everyone who have been yearning for a better Nigeria to come out in their numbers to welcome Obi/ Datti to Lafia on Tuesday, Oct.18, ” he said.

    The state chairman expressed optimism that the LP would win the 2023 general election given the confidence of Nigerians in Peter Obi and other candidates to turn things around for the better in the country.

  • Spare us a “Gbenga Daniel Part 2″, appoint Dokpesi – PDP Elders to Atiku

    Spare us a “Gbenga Daniel Part 2″, appoint Dokpesi – PDP Elders to Atiku

    A political support group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to revisit the composition of the Presidential Campaign Council.

    The group stated that this became necessary to avoid the mistake made in 2019 where the Director-General of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Gbenga Daniel, defected to another party.

    The group stated in a protest letter to Abubakar that he should make Chief Raymond Dokpesi the Director-General of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCO) 2023.

    The group which goes by the name “Elders Forum for Atiku 2023’’ titled its letter to Abubakar as: “Protest against the composition of directors in the national campaign management committee.’’

    The letter was signed by its National Coordinator, Pa Lawrence Okojie and the National Secretary, Mr A.K Peters.

    It stated in the letter that its attention had been drawn to the list of the newly-appointed directors in the National Campaign Management Committee (NCMC).

    “We, the Elders Forum for Atiku 2023 write to protest the composition of the Directors and Deputy Directors at the NCMC.

    “We strongly believe that proper considerations were not taken in arriving at these appointments as not all the Deputy Directors-General are duly committed in the matter.

    “We believe that competence, loyalty, sincerity, experience and resilience in the struggle should be the essential ingredients that should have been considered in the selection of directors and deputy directors of the NCMC.

    “We therefore strongly request that His Excellency should revisit these developments and do the needful to spare us a “Gbenga Daniel Part 2’’ in this 2023 presidential run,’’ the group stated.

    It advised Abubakar to ensure that a person of repute such as Chief Raymond Dokpesi is appointed the Director-General Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCO) 2023.

    It added that the group believed in the capacity of Dokpesi to mobilise and work with everyone for the success of the PDP at the 2023 general elections.

    “It is on record that from national sensitisation to the success at the presidential primary, the galvanising role of Dokpesi as leader of the Presidential Technical Committee cannot be undermined moving forward,’’ it added.

    Okojie, who led members of the forum in a protest to submit the letter at the Abuja residence of Abubakar on Wednesday, told newsmen that the PDP needed Dokpesi to coordinate the affairs of APCO.

    He said that even before anyone identified with the Abubakar presidential ambition, Dokpesi took it upon himself to mobilise support for the candidate and carried everyone along.

    Okojie said that the forum with its coordinators in all the 36 states and members across the grassroots was ready to work in all the polling units for the success of Abubakar.

    The National Women Leader of the forum, Deborah Makinwa, said they needed Dokpesi to continue where he stopped.

    Makinwa who said that she had been supporting Abubakar from Zero party to now, urged him to employ more women into his campaign council.

    Some of the inscriptions on the banners carried by the protesters were “we want Dokpesi to remain the champion of the presidential campaign’’, “activate the presidential campaign without delay’’, “allow the D-Gs to choose their Deputy Directors’’.

  • Ayu hands over PDP flag to Atiku as presidential campaign kicks-off in Uyo

    Ayu hands over PDP flag to Atiku as presidential campaign kicks-off in Uyo

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), kicked off its 2023 presidential campaign in Uyo on Monday with its candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar handed the party flag by the national chairman, Iyochia Ayu.

    Atiku appealed to Akwa Ibom people and all Nigerians to vote for the PDP to restore unity, salvage the economy, and ensure the security of the nation.

    He said Nigeria’s economy was better under the PDP and urged voters to return the party to power.

    “Today, we are inaugurating our campaign to rescue Nigeria from poverty, insecurity, and bad governance. Therefore, I urge you to vote for the PDP.

    “When you vote for PDP there will be no more hunger and insecurity.

    “If you vote for the PDP there will be unity in Nigeria,’’ Atiku said.

    Also addressing the rally, National Chairman of the party, Sen. Iyochia Ayu, thanked Nigerians for turning out for the flag-off of the campaign.

    Ayu said PDP’s campaign train was leaving the station slowly to enable those who were yet to get on board to join the train.

    He said Nigerians were anxiously waiting for PDP to return to power to rescue the country and to restore the economy.

    “We will restore the economy and there will be jobs for the teeming youths of this country; we need your support to restore the country. PDP will not disappoint you,’’ Ayu said.

    In his welcome remarks earlier, Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom said that the PDP’s presidential candidate has the capacity to unite the country.

    Emmanuel, also the Chairman, PDP Campaign Council said that the campaign was to revitalise Nigeria and to restore hope to the country.

    He urged Nigerians to support the presidential candidate of the PDP to eradicate poverty; hunger and insecurity from the country come 2023.

    “Today, we flag off the campaign to bring hope to Nigerians. All Nigerians are expected to join the movement to rescue the country. Nigeria is a great country.

    “We call on all Nigerians to join hands and build Nigeria and bring the country back. We need the president who knows the solution to our problems,’’ Emmanuel said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highpoint of the campaign was the handing over of the PDP flag to Abubakar by Ayu.

  • 2023: Onanuga, Alake, Keyamo to lead APC Campaign media directorate

    2023: Onanuga, Alake, Keyamo to lead APC Campaign media directorate

    The composition of the Media and Communication Directorate of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu-Kashim Shettima 2023 presidential campaign has been announced.
    Mr Bayo Onanuga,  Director, Media and Communications,  Tinubu Campaign Organisation in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said the directorate approved by Sen. Bola Tinubu, All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate,  was made up of three departments.
    This, he said, included Public Affairs, Media and Publicity and Strategic Communication.
    “In the approved directorate, Bayo Onanuga, the Managing  Director of The News/PMNews and former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) will continue his role as Director of Media and Publicity.
    “Dele Alake, a former Commissioner of Information and a veteran editor will serve as Director of Strategic Communication. He served in this role for the President Muhammadu Buhari campaign from  2014 to 2015.
    “Minister of State for Labour, Mr Festus Keyamo will continue his role as spokesman of the campaign as Director of Public Affairs,” he  said.
    He  said the directorate would also have six deputy directors that included Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, Deputy Director, Communication Strategy, Hannatu Musawa, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Kehinde Bamigbetan, Deputy Director, Media relations.
    The statement added that Malam Modibbo Kawu would be Deputy Director of Media and Publicity, while Mohammed Bulama would be in charge of multi-media and Seun Olufemi-White the Deputy Director New Media.
    He further added that the tripodal arrangement, the first in a presidential campaign, had a line of other assistant directors and senior officials representing the country’s various regions with job specifications spelt out.
    “The campaign structure will also soon unveil representatives and spokesmen in all states of the federation,” he  said.