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Tag: primaries

  • 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

  • Osun APC primary: Accreditation begins with massive turn out

    Osun APC primary: Accreditation begins with massive turn out

    Accreditation of members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the Saturday Governorship primary in Osun, began on a peaceful note with a large turnout of party members in many parts of the state.

    Correspondents monitoring the exercise in Osogbo, Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Ikirun, Ede, Iwo, among other towns in the State, reports that party members were seen in queues, waiting to be accredited in many of the areas visited.

    The Governor of Kwara, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who is leading a seven-man committee for the Saturday’s APC governorship primary in Osun, had promised free, fair and credible exercise.

    AbdulRazaq gave the assurance at a stakeholders’ meeting on Friday in Osogbo.

    The three aspirants for the primary are Gov. Gboyega Oyetola; former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti and Mr Lasun Yusuf, former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives.

    Sen. Julius Ucha, Secretary of the Committee, had at a stakeholders’ meeting said the primary would be conducted through open secret ballot system.

    Ucha also said that accreditation of party members would commence between 8.00 a.m and 12.00 p.m, while voting would commence immediately and end by 2.00 p.m.

    Also, the APC Chairman in the state, Mr Gboyega Famodun, had said the primary would take place in 332 wards across the 30 local government areas of the state.

    However, at Ward 7 Alaagba, Osogbo, large numbers of party members were seen waiting to be accredited.

    There was heavy presence of security personnel around Osogbo, the state capital and other major towns visited.

    It was also gathered that officers of the Nigeria Police Force and other security personnel were positioned in strategic locations to maintain law and order during and after the primary.

    At Ward 001, Laro, Osogbo, party members also turned out in large numbers and were seen on queues, waiting patiently for their accreditation before voting.

    Commenting, Mr Raheem Adeniyi, the Electoral Officer at the Ward 001, Laro, described the exercise as peaceful.

    Adeniyi said that there was no reported cases of violence or crisis at the ward.

    Also, Sen. Ajibola Bashiru (APC-Osun Central), commended the party members for their impressive turn out.

    Bashiru, who is also the Senate Spokesperson, told newsmen while monitoring the exercise that he was happy with the turn out and the peaceful conduct of the party members.

    “With this turn out, you can see the beauty of direct primary. In all the wards I have visited so far, the turn out is impressive and peaceful.

    “I want to appeal to those who might not win this primary to take it in good fate, so as to move the party forward,” he said.

    In his reactions, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Olalekan Badmus, described the turn out as impressive.

    Badmus, at his Ward 3, Apohun, said he was confident that Oyetola would win the primary.

    At Ile-Ife, NAN reports that at about 10.00 a.m at Akarabata Ward Collation Centre, party members were already waiting for INEC officials to arrive for accreditation.

    At St Gabriel C&S Primary School, Ita-Yemoo, Moore Collation Ward, Ife East Local Government, the three INEC officials were already accrediting the electorate.

    Commenting, the former Commisioner for Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Sikiru Ayedun, appealed to the party members to cast their votes peacefully and shun any act of violence during the exercise.

    Also, a former Chairman, Ife East Local Government, Adebusola Adeyeni, appealed to the voters to maintain peaceful coexistence, while casting their voters.

    Adeyeni said they were one family and should not fight one another, adding that election would come and go, but lives remain the same.

    “Voters doesn’t need to fight themselves, but to embrace peace and unity,” he said.

    According to him, the candidates are members of the same party and more or less a family, so there’s no cause for alarm.

    In his comments, Mr Olajide Adeyeye, representing Ife East State Constituency at the House of Assembly, said that Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola has been performing excellently well and running the state harmoniously.

    Adeyeye said that people were ready to cast their votes and leave as expected, pointing out that there was no violence.

  • Why I will not leave APC despite Ekiti primary charade – Sen. Bamidele

    Why I will not leave APC despite Ekiti primary charade – Sen. Bamidele

    Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, one of the aggrieved governorship aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Jan. 27 primary in Ekiti State has said he will not leave the party.

    Senator Bamidele, however, said on Friday in a statement he issued in Ado-Ekiti that he was no longer interested in dragging the party or individuals to court over the outcome of the exercise.

    Bamidele, the current senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, stated that he had to change his earlier position after critical stakeholders intervened and appealed to him to have a rethink.

    Consequently, he said he would no longer be challenging the victory of the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, who emerged victorious at the primary.

    This, he stated, was for the sake of unity and cohesion in the APC in the state.

    Bamidele explained that though, he still harboured resentment about the primary election, he would not seek redress in court, or defect from the APC.

    He, however, still described the exercise as a “sham, a charade and flagrant abrasion of democracy ethos’’.

    Bamidele, a former Commissioner for Information in Lagos State and one-time member of House of Representatives, is currently Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters.

    Shortly after the governorship primary, he threatened to head to court to challenge the outcome.

    Bamidele maintained that his latest action did not mean he had abandoned the struggle to right the wrongs and make the party truly democratic.

    “In spite of my strong convictions as expressed earlier, I have come to some irreversible conclusions.

    “And these are the messages I need to pass on to all and sundry today as I temporarily break my silence on the way forward.

    “One is to say that I have chosen to drop the option of going to Court to sue the party.

    “The other is to make it crystal clear to everyone that both my supporters and I will not defect from APC.

    “Details of the reasons which informed these choices will be communicated at a later date when my supporters and I address Ekiti State people. It is not just about me.

    “It is about the unity and progress of Ekiti State and her politically undermined and economically afflicted people.

    “It is also about ensuring that the ground is not prepared for reactionary beneficiaries to take advantage of seeming lack of capacity to manage our affairs as a ruling party,’’ he stated.

    “I also must coordinate and lead my own aspect of this popular struggle to ensure that my supporters and stakeholders who had been isolated from the mainstream of the party become relevant again.

    “Anything short of that can only be a highway to nowhere.

    “We have all contributed so much to building this party in Ekiti State and the management as well as its decision-making process cannot be an exclusive preserve of a few.

    “This is the new reality and those in control, including our national leadership must accept it or it becomes a popular subject matter of a struggle around which a popular movement must be built.

    “This is where I stand,’’ he added.

  • Ekiti primaries and defeats of the big guns – By Ehichioya Ezomon

    Ekiti primaries and defeats of the big guns – By Ehichioya Ezomon

    By Ehichioya Ezomon

    In Ekiti politics, every notable politician claims to be a kingmaker. None, at least openly, acknowledges having been assisted by others to climb the ladder to where they’re politically.

    That’s why at every election, they, too, want to be the king, as witnessed in last week’s primaries by the two dominant political platforms, for the June 18, 2022, governorship poll in the state.

    So, to keen watchers of the polity, the results of the primaries weren’t much of a surprise, but the bombshell is the free-fall of the big-name and mighty politicians that took part in the processes.

    In spite of the larger-than-life image carved for themselves, many of the aspirants, without even casting a ballot, had foreseen defeats, but hoped, like all Nigerian politicians, that a miracle could happen.

    In the run-up to the contests, all the boastful politicians had literally written, in their favour, the outcomes of the primaries of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), respectively.

    But when the real balloting were held by the PDP on Wednesday, January 26, and the APC on Thursday, January 27, in that order, the politicians, not short of excuses, fell like a pack of cards.

    During the campaigns for the primaries, politicians on both divides had complained about the processes being manipulated against them by the state leaders of the PDP and APC: former Governor Ayodele Fayose and Governor Kayode Fayemi.

    Specifically, the aspirants, while presenting themselves as “the best man/woman for the job” of governor, had accused the past and current governors of “anointing” their favourites, for whom they’re gaming the processes ahead of the primaries.

    The PDP aspirants alleged scheming of the congresses by Mr Fayose, to favour his protégée, Otunba Bisi Kolawole, at the primaries, and to swing the June poll for the rival APC.

    They alleged that Fayose had received a princely amount from Governor Fayemi, in order for the PDP to present “an unviable candidate,” for a “walk-over” by the APC at the June election.

    Repeated interventions by the national headquarters and South-West branch of the PDP didn’t seem to work, as the allegations continued into the primaries on January 26 in Ado-Ekiti.

    For instance, a key PDP aspirant, representing Ekiti South, Senator Abiodun Olujinmi, playing the hot-button gender card, “and an unfair resolution of matters arising from a lingering controversial congress of the party,” pulled out of the primaries before kick-off.

    In a press interview, she said the list prepared for the primary election put her at “a disadvantage,” as her local government “is left with only 12 delegates,” as decided by the party leadership.

    In other words, Olujinmi, besides seemingly relying solely on the votes of delegates from her local government, had banked on being treated specially as a female, to gain the PDP ticket. And sensing that none of her expectations would materialise, exited the poll.

    When the results of the delegate primaries were called, the sceptical aspirants’ misplaced claims to political formidability, rather than their fears, were overwhelmingly debunked.

    Fayose’s anointed candidate, Otunba Kolawole, a former member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, who resigned as the PDP chapter chairman to contest in the primaries, trounced former Governor Segun Oni and others, including Senator Olujinmi.

    The Chairman of the Primary Election Committee and Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, declared Kolawole as the winner of the election, having polled 671 votes against 330 votes by Chief Oni, who placed second.

    While former Deputy Governor to Fayose and PDP’s candidate in the 2018 polls, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, came third with 93 votes, Adewale Aribisala scored 56 votes, Kayode Adaramodu 10 votes, Kazeem Ayodeji six votes, Olujimi two votes, and the remaining four aspirants ostensibly got their self-cast ballot of one vote each.

    Oni, who succeeded Fayose in his first coming as governor between 2003 and 2006, rejected the results, on the grounds that the delegates’ register was mutilated and many delegates’ names were missing from the register.

    Slamming the results, the Director-General of the Segun Oni Campaign Organisation, Mr. Yemi Arokodare, accused Governor Emmanuel of threatening to “arrest and lock up some 32 “automatic delegates,” even as the governor “deliberately” allowed Fayose “to sit in the hall after he has voted,” a situation, Arokodare said, was against the rules earlier pronounced by Emmanuel.

    “Udom (Emmanuel) allowed aides of Fayose to sit in the hall purposely to intimidate other delegates,” Arokodare said, alleging, as Chief Oni had done prior to the primaries, that Fayose was chairman of the primary committee that oversaw Emmanuel’s election in Akwa Ibom, and that the Ekiti PDP primary poll was “a payback for Ayo Fayose. “It’s a similar story in the APC, but more intriguing, as seven of the eight aspirants pulled out in the morning of the primaries, over alleged manipulation of the processes in favour of Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, reportedly backed by Governor Fayemi.

    The primaries were almost a repeat of the 2018 experience, in which political thugs, engineered by aspirants, who smelt defeat at the poll, disrupted the franchise, with security agents deployed to the venue standing by while the mayhem persisted.

    So, the big guns, who called for the stoppage and cancellation of the primaries, were trounced by Oyebanji, immediate past Secretary to Ekiti State, who resigned to contest in the primaries.

    The results, as announced by the Chairman of the Primary Election Committee and Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State, showed that Oyebanji won in all 16 local government areas of Ekiti, securing 101,703 votes from the 107,877 accredited members.

    The breakdown of the results for other aspirants are as follows: Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, 760 votes; Mr. Femi Bamisile, 400; Mr. Kayode Ojo, 767; Sen. Adedayo Adeyeye, 691; Mr. Bamidele Faparusi, 376; Mr. Ademola Popoola, 239 and Chief Oluwasola Afolabi, 47 votes in the “Option A4” variant of direct primary adopted for the poll.

    Governor Badaru expressed shock that the aspirants boycotted the primaries he said were free and fair, noting that, “as we have earlier promised, we have ensured a level-playing ground for all aspirants.”

    He denied allegations by the aspirants that they weren’t consulted, saying that 20 names each were submitted by the aspirants, “and added to the list of Returning Officers and they were all captured.”

    Badaru explained that a meeting between the committee and the aspirants, slated for the primary morning, was cancelled “because there was security report that the venue was tensed,” and the committee called for security assistance to arrest the situation.

    As winners and losers in the PDP and APC await intervention of their parties’ Appeals Committees, either to approval or cancel the balloting, the January 26 and 27 primaries have indicated that when “push comes to shove,” many politicians are mere paper tigers.

    Consider the performances of Chief Oni, Senator Olujinmi, Chief Adeyeye and Mr Bamisile (who vigorously canvassed zoning the governorship to Ekiti South), hiding under nebulous allegations of hijacking and manipulation of the processes, to boycott and/or reject the primaries they’d vowed they’re the aspirants to beat.

    Particularly noteworthy is Governor Fayemi’s acceding to the agitation for direct primaries in the APC, mostly championed by Senator Bamidele, who expressed optimism that the contest would be credible, only to join six other aspirants to shun the voting.

    Finally, the primaries have revealed that there’re “real kingmakers” in Ekiti politics in Mr Fayose and Governor Fayemi. Though Fayose, as incumbent, had “anointed” Prof. Olusola in 2018, it’s the backing, out of power, for Otunba Kolawole that’s proved his political mettle.

    Similarly, Dr Fayemi’s crowing of himself as candidate of the APC in 2018 was largely ignored, but this time, he’s deployed the power of incumbency to produce a candidate, who, like Fayose’s candidate, might receive the crown jewel in the June 2022 poll.

     

    * Mr. Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

  • Lagos APC set for LG primaries

    Lagos APC set for LG primaries

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State is set for local government primaries across the 377 wards in 57 councils.

    No fewer than 338 chairmanship and over 1, 200 councillorship aspirants have appeared before the Screening Committee in the last two weeks.

    The Appeal Committee is headed by former Deputy Governor Olufemi Pedro.

    The Pedro panel has concluded its assignment by giving failed aspirants the opportunity to ventilate their grievances.

    The Secretary of the Lagos State chapter of the APC, Lanre Balogun, said the party was ready for the primaries holding tomorrow.

  • PDP postpones primaries in four states indefinitely

    PDP postpones primaries in four states indefinitely

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has postponed its scheduled party primaries in Niger, Ekiti, Taraba and Sokoto States indefinitely.

    This was contained in a letter titled: “Re: Re: Year 2020 Party Congresses in 26 ( Twenty Six) Chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Postponement of Party Congresses in Ekiti, Niger, Sokoto and Taraba States” addressed to the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, on Monday, July 27th.

    The statement was signed by the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, and National Secretary, Senator Umar Tsauri.

    In the letter which was received and acknowledged by INEC on Tuesday, the party said it was postponing the primaries in the four states because of “unforeseen circumstances.”

    The letter reads in part: “Please refer to our earlier letter with reference No: PDP/DOM CF. 2/VolIC/20-094, in which we informed the Commission (INEC) of our Time table and schedule of activities for the completion of the outstanding congresses of our party.

    “Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are compelled to postpone our planned congresses in the aforementioned states.

    “We will communicate to the commission as soon as a new date is fixed.”

    Meanwhile, the reason for the postponement might not be far from the battle for supremacy in the four states.

    The party stalwarts in the four states especially in Ekiti State were engaged in a war of attrition over the control of the party structure with some state chapters conducting parallel Congresses.

    Only recently the faction loyal to former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose won a court case against the Senator Olujimi-led faction.

    It was learned that the national secretariat of the party is trying to first broker peace among feuding party members in the affected states before setting a date for the congresses.

  • 9 political parties conclude primaries in Edo

    9 political parties conclude primaries in Edo

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo, Mr Johnson Alalibo, said nine political parties have so far concluded their party primaries and set to contest the forthcoming governorship election scheduled for Sept. 19, in the state.

    Alalibo disclosed this on Thursday at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium venue for the People’s Democratic Party’s primary in Benin.

    Alalibo who was at the stadium to monitor the the PDP primary, stated that about 15 political parties notified the commission to field candidates for the governorship elections in the state

    “Out of the 15 political parties, about nine would have at the end of today concluded their primaries and set for the elections.

    “Some of the parties are the Zenith labour party (ZLP), All Progressives Congress (APC) and hopefully the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) at the end of the primary today among others.

    “INEC is empowered by the law to monitor any election in the state, hence my presence here today.

    “So far, the process is very satisfactory in the sense that the conduct of the primary is in line with the electoral law and guidelines of the COVID-19 measures against the pandemic.

    “The commission is ready and working hard to ensure that the election is held in a peaceful environment,” he said.

    On the plethora of cases in court, the INEC REC, said the cases would be decided by the courts, adding that INEC was committed to obeying court orders.

    Alalibo further explained that in order to ensure free and fair election, the commission had constituted an Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) at the headquarters.

    “The committee has come up with new security guidelines on elections and it has been adopted last week.

    “At the state level we are to start ICCES meetings hopefully by next week and all the security agencies and INEC are members of the committee, but the lead security agency is the Nigerian police force.

    “A new policy within the context of COVID-19 has been put in place for the conduct of the election amid pandemic,” he added.

    According to him, we are not going to update the voter register, we are reverting back to the register we used in conducting the 2019 election.

  • Edo 2020: All political parties must obey govt gazette in conduct of primary elections – Shaibu

    Edo 2020: All political parties must obey govt gazette in conduct of primary elections – Shaibu

    The Edo State Government has reiterated that all political parties in the state must obey the regulations spelt out in its gazette, aimed at curtailing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), in the conduct of their primary elections ahead of the September gubernatorial election in the state.

    The Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, made the call while receiving his Bayelsa State counterpart, Sen. Lawrence Ehwujakpo, who is in the state for his party, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) ward congresses.

    Shaibu, who commended the PDP for following the guidelines in the gazette, urged all other political parties to follow suit as the regulations will help in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 and keep Edo people safe.

    “We got a letter from your party, the PDP, requesting to make use of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for its primary election. Governor Godwin Obaseki approved the request because the party obeyed the rules and regulations set by the Edo State Government.

    “I therefore use this opportunity to tell other political parties to obey the gazette in the state, which is now a law. Just as you have obeyed, we are asking and calling on other political parties to obey the law. Any political party that disobeys the law will not hold its primary election in the state as the gazette must be respected.”

    He continued: “The life of Edo people is more important than the political ambition of any politician or wishes of political parties. We need to be alive to play politics; we need to live to vote and be voted for in the election. The rules to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the gazette must be strictly followed to keep Edo people safe at this period.”

    Shaibu commended the Bayelsa State Government for the unity, progress and development the people are enjoying, noting that the Governor Godwin Obaseki led-state government is also ardently pursuing the development and progress of the state.

    “Development does not have a political party, neither does progress. But parties exist to act as vehicles to actualize the wishes of the people in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “We would fight for the development and progress of Edo State. No element or person will stop our progress because Edo people come first in the agenda of this administration. We will stand against anything that will stop progress and development in the state,” he added.

    The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen. Ehwujakpo commended the developmental strides of the Obaseki-led administration, assuring of his state’s continued support for the progress in Edo State.

    “We associate ourselves with progress and development. Your administration is fighting to ensure that the development of the state continues, which is commendable,” he added.

  • Guber poll: APC fixes dates for Edo, Ondo primaries as INEC retains timetable

    Guber poll: APC fixes dates for Edo, Ondo primaries as INEC retains timetable

    The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has announced Monday, June 22 and Monday, July 20 for its governorship primary elections in Edo and Ondo states respectively.

    Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said the timetable and schedule of activities regarding the elections in both states remains unchanged.

    National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Festus Okoye in a statement on Tuesday night said the commission had met earlier in the day and deliberated on a wide range of issues including the conduct of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections, as well as the nine outstanding bye-elections in different parts of the country.

    He said; “The Commission deliberated extensively on a Policy Framework that will guide its operations, activities and engagements with critical stakeholders in view of the COVID-19 Pandemic and its impact on the electoral process in Nigeria.

    Based on this, the Commission will on Thursday 21st May 2020 issue a Policy Framework for engagement with stakeholders, the conduct of the two ends of tenure governorship elections, outstanding bye-elections and future electoral activities.

    “The Commission reiterated its commitment to conduct the Edo and Ondo governorship elections on 19th September and 10th October 2020 as contained in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities released on 6th February 2020.

    “We reassure Nigerians of our resolve and determination to provide the requisite guidance, innovation and leadership in conducting elections in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Commission is committed to fulfilling its constitutional responsibility of conducting elections but without jeopardizing the health and wellbeing of citizens, stakeholders or its valued staff. “The Commission will accelerate consultations and engagements with political parties, civil society organizations, security agencies and health authorities as soon as its Policy Framework is finalized this week.

    “We again urge everyone to remain safe and healthy by complying with all the guidelines and protocols issued by the health authorities”, said.

    APC in a notice by its National Organizing Secretary, Emma Ibediro fixed the cost of its nomination and expression of interest forms for N22.5 million cumulatively.

    While there is no separate charge for running mates, female and physically challenged aspirants were however given a 50 per cent rebate.

  • (TNG X-RAY) Edo 2020: Drums of war as primaries draw closer

    By Emman Ovuakporie
    The apex electoral body, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has drawn its timetable for Edo State guber poll and the drums of war has engulfed the heartbeat of the nation.
    The signals so far clearly indicate that it is going to be battle royale.
    According to the timetable, campaign starts on June 21st coincidentally the birthday of one of the aspirants.
    The ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress,APC, is grappling in the dark as there’s no love lust between the incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki and the comrade chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole.
    This is an indicator that it may not be a smooth sail for Obaseki who has seized every opportunity to rubbish the man who single handedly made him governor.
    Only recently, the Edo State Governor described his benefactor as a pathological liar and the APC leaders replied calling him a serial liar and he should give account of over N30billion which he allegedly collected from the centre.
    Multiple sources close to one of the camps told Thenewsguru.com, (TNG) that except the APC leaders all suddenly drop dead “that’s when Obaseki will get the ticket, he can go elsewhere but definitely not in APC.
    “We are leaving no stone unturned despite the fact that we know the man has a war chest in his possession but we have the structure to rattle him to a standstill.
    Recently, the APC leaders in a statement signed by 19 leaders on behalf of several leaders in the state dismissed Obaseki as a non-starter not to be taken seriously.
    The statement was signed by who is who in Edo State, a dangerous signal to Obaseki’s camp.
    Using the instrument of state, the Obaseki camp via a judicial commission report replied the leaders that the recommendations of the Commission will be carried out to the end.
    Pointing an accusing finger at the former governor of the state, the only comrade governor Nigeria ever produced.
    But the APC leaders appear undaunted as they plot on how to remove Obaseki from Denis Osadebey Government House.
    As it’s now, weeks away from the ultimate primaries the APC is still grappling in the dark.
    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP almost 12years after losing its radar in the state has remained rudderless.
    Going by the calibre of politicians gunning for Obaseki’s job that best could be described as midgets in Edo politics hope of any tangible change still hangs in the air.
    The PDP is just waiting for the outcome of APC primaries like the patient vulture to devour the remains of the APC which is a tall dream.
    The APC will not create room for errors as the only surviving state in the oil rich Niger Delta.
    The PDP will continue to wallow in confusion patiently waiting to apply the Benue Ortom option which is a big political gambit except the centre is willing to look the other way.
    But looking at the roll call of political giants in the APC eyeing Obaseki’s job, APC’s major challenge will be who to crown as their guber aspirant.
    Nigerians are fervently waiting to know how the APC comrade Chairman will waddle through the waters to replicate the Ambode experience in the heartbeat of the nation.