TheNewsGuru

Tag: Primary Elections

  • PDP primaries: Oborevwori is preferred candidate – Okowa’s aide

    PDP primaries: Oborevwori is preferred candidate – Okowa’s aide

    As the governorship primary election of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gets underway in Delta State, Mr Ossai Ovie Success, Special Assistant to the State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa on Media has described Chief Sheriff Oborevwori as the preferred candidate.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mr Success made this known on Wednesday as rumours emerged that the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly had withdrawn out of the race for the PDP governorship.

    “Dear our esteemed delegates pls disregard any text alleging that Rt Honourable Sheriff Oborevwori has stepped down. It is the handiwork of our detractors. Sheriff Oborevwori is very much in the race and remains the preferred,” the Governor’s aide posted to his official Facebook profile.

    Earlier, reports had emerged that Oborevwori along with the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, Senator James Manager, and the Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro had stepped down from …the race.

    TNG reports, however, at the time of filing this report, no aspirant had dropped out of the race as the PDP is concluding accreditation at the Event Centre, Asaba, awaiting voting to begin proper at the Stephen Keshi Stadium.

  • Violence disrupts Abia North PDP Senatorial primary election

    Violence erupted midway into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ) primary election for Abia North Senatorial District on Tuesday, bringing the exercise to an abrupt end.

    The three-member ad hoc delegates election was organised at the Ohafia Local Government Headquarters, near 34 Army Brigade.

    The party had earlier concluded a rancour-free rescheduled House of Representatives primary election for Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency under tight security.

    Barely one and half hours later, the primary election committee proceeded into the senatorial primary with the accreditation of delegates from Arochukwu, Bende, Isuikwuato, Ohafia and Umunneochi Local Government Areas that make up the district.

    The process began with Umunneochi delegates and was immediately followed by Isuikwuato delegates.

    However, trouble erupted midway into the process, over arguments surrounding alleged non qualification of some delegates from the area.

    The argument degenerated into a serious fight, in spite of the frantic efforts of the military personnel deployed to maintain the peace and security at the venue.

    The free-for-all that ensued and the firing of some shots into the air to restore nomalcy, caused stampede.

    Members of the election committee, officials of the INEC on hand to supervise the exercise as well as delegates, newsmen and observers at the venue scampered into safety.

    The scenario, however, turned more chaotic when security operatives began to chase everybody out of the premises with clubs, whips and rifles.

    The contest was between a former lawmaker, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, and the lawmaker representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, Rep. Uko Nkole.

    While Ohuabunwa aspires to return for a second term in the Upper Chamber, Nkole, who is doing his second term, seeks to go to the Senate.

    The Police Spokesman in the state, SP Godfrey Ogbonna, said he travelled out of the state and was not aware of the incident.

    But his counterpart in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ndukwe Agu, said he heard about the development but declined further comments.

    According to Agu, the command has yet to receive a formal report of the incident from the Ohafia Division of the corps.

    Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the Abia House of Assembly, Mr Ifeanyi Uchendu, has clinched the party’s ticket to run for a second term in the state assembly.

    He polled 36 votes to defeat his closest rival, Kelvin Jumbo, who scored 28 votes.

    The two other aspirants, Mr Samuel Anya, and the only female aspirant, Love Ezema, got three votes and nil, respectively.

  • 18 aspirants jostle for PDP governorship ticket in Plateau

    Eighteen aspirants are jostling for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket in Plateau, the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr John Akans, said on Wednesday in Jos.

    Akans said the PDP was set for the governorship primaries scheduled to hold at Langfield Events Centre in Jos.

    The publicity secretary said a total of 621 delegates would elect the PDP governorship candidate for the 2023 election.

    “All is set for the election, the Electoral Committee headed by PDP North Central Vice Chairman, Mr Theophilus Shan, is already on ground.

    “We had a very successful State House of Assembly, House Representatives and Senate primaries across the state that produced candidates for state and federal constituencies as well as the Senate.

    “Winners have emerged and losers have accepted their fate and have agreed to work for PDP success in the general elections.

    “The success was achieved largely because of the transparent nature of the entire process.

    “We hope to achieve same success in the governorship primary today,” he added.

    The state Organising Secretary, Mr Yakubu Chocho told NAN that the local organising committee had met with the aspirants on Tuesday night.

    “We assured them that we will not do anything that will tarnish the image of anybody.

    “We pleaded with them that whoever wins, the rest should join hands with him so that PDP can win the governorship seat,” he said.

    The governorship aspirants include Chief Jonathan Akuns, Latep Dabang, Dauda Gotring, David Paradang, Timothy Golu, Kefas Ropshika, Ephraim Dewa and Jack  Pam.

    Others are Shadrack  Best, Caleb Mutfwang, Bagudu Hirse, Satu Jewun, Mazadu Bako, Vincent Nanle, John  Sura, Jeremiah Gushop, Alexander Ladan and Alfred Damiyal.

  • 2023: Teejay Yusuf speaks after defeating Dino Melaye to clinch PDP Kogi West ticket

    2023: Teejay Yusuf speaks after defeating Dino Melaye to clinch PDP Kogi West ticket

    Representative T. J. Yusuf, now Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday said the people of Kogi West Senatorial District should expect God’s divine intervention in the 2023 general elections.

    Yusuf made the declaration while addressing delegates shortly after the PDP Senatorial primary held in Kabba, where he floored his strong rival, Dino Malaye, and two others to clinch the party’s ticket.

    The Rep member pulled a total of 163 votes to Malaye’s 99 out of 265 votes cast in the election conducted at the Olonijola event center Kabba, Kogi.

    Yusuf, who dedicated his Victory to the Almighty God, said, “My trust is in God’s divine intervention to see me through to the National Assembly elections come 2023.”

    “Only God elevates a person or gives power to a man and I believe He that did this for me today, will by His Grace do it for me again in 2023,” he said.

    He thanked the delegates for counting him worthy and voting for him above others.

    Yusuf also thanked the leadership of the PDP from the National level down to the ward level for conducting a peaceful, free and fair primaries in the state.

    He also expressed appreciation to members of his family and supporters for their strong support to him during the primary.

  • PDP aspirant withdraws from guber race, asks party to refund N21m used to purchase forms

    A PDP member, Amb. Wilfred Bonse, has withdrawn from contesting the 2023 governorship election in Cross River, asking the party to refund the N21 million used to purchase forms.

    Bonse in an interview in Abuja on Tuesday, linked his demand to “unfair treatment” from the party to deny him participating in the forthcoming governorship primary in Cross River.

    According to an official of the party, the fee for nomination and expression of interest forms are non refundable.

    Bonse said that the party had refused to disqualify or clear him to contest in the forthcoming party’s primary election which was schedule for Wednesday.

    “I am requesting the party to refund the sum of N21 million I paid for the expression of interest and nomination forms I bought.

    “If I had, for instance, been given a fair chance to participate in the primary, and I lost, I will not have had an issue. But then, I am being stonewalled at every point.

    “A Board of Trustees (BOT) member has given letter to PDP, urging them to reconsider my issue in order not for the party to lose governorship election in the state considering my pedigree.

    “But it has fallen on deaf ears and the time is very close. As I speak, we have less than seven days to the primaries.

    “The new Electoral Act provides for clearance to be done seven days to the primary and my name to be sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    “So, my understanding of what is happening is not something I probably want to say on camera, but it is obvious that certain persons are seriously intimidated by my candidacy.

    “They are playing some underhand games to try to stall me from participating in the primary.

    “But Cross River is bigger than any person. It is also bigger than any party. So we move,” he said.

    He disclosed that he would be seeking his ambition on other more “commodious political party platform”.

    Bonse added that he had also made his request known in a letter and submitted to the National Chairman, PDP, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, which was received, acknowledged at the party’s national secretariat, Abuja.

    In the letter, the aspirant said he was withdrawing to contest the election on the platform of another party, as all avenues to seek justice in PDP proved abortive in an obvious attempt to deny him participation in the primary.

    “Having exhausted all avenues of consultation and appeal within the party without success, I am withdrawing my ambition to contest for gubernatorial election for Cross River State on the platform of PDP.

    “I am hereby defecting from the PDP to another political party with my followers who are in their hundreds along with their followers by extension

    “I had hope in view of the PDP ‘New Generation Operation Rescue Nigeria, Join the PDP Mantra for a level-playing field that will see the emergence of the best man for the job.

    “An individual that will swing power from the hands of the ruling APC to PDP in Cross River State, but going by my experience. I was obviously wrong.

    “That is why I requested for a full refund of all sums paid by me in respect of my botched expression of interest and nomination forms for participating in the primaries of the party totaling N21,000,000,” the letter stated.

    The letter was titled, “Notice of Withdrawal of Interest to Participate in the Governorship Primaries of Cross River State”.

    He also copied the party’s National Organising Secretary, Financial Secretary, National Publicity Secretary and Deputy National Secretary.

    Asked if he was invited for the party’s screening, Bonse said ‘yes’.

    He added that at the point of screening, he was requested to provide his receipts of tax clearance certificate, voters card and birth certificate with court attestation, which he presented.

    He said the screening committee also requested for his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate, which he explained that he had already requested for and NYSC assured him it would be processed as soon as its portal was opened.

    “But they had hung upon that particular point, just kept us down to the point where it is becoming very ridiculous to say the very least,” Bonse said.

    On his next line of action, Bonse said it would be communicated in the next 24 hours, adding that he was consulting with stakeholders.

  • UPDATE: PDP governorship primary election gets underway in Delta

    The governorship primary elections of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have started in Delta State, amidst a very calm and peaceful atmosphere.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the PDP governorship primary election is taking place at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, the State capital.

    However, accreditation of delegates, who will decide who flags the PDP governorship ticket in Delta for the 2023 elections, is taking place at the Event Centre Asaba.

    The party had in a statement released by Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza, State Publicity Secretary of the PDP warned anyone not directly involved with the primary election to stay away.

    The statement reads in part: “anyone who is not directly involved with the primaries is strictly advised to stay away from or near the perimeters of all aforementioned venues until the exercise is duly completed”.

    TNG reports aspirants cleared by the screening committee of the PDP for the guber primary elections in Delta are the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori; former Principal Secretary to late President Musa Yar’Adua and former Chief of Staff, Delta State, Olorogun David Edevbie, the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator James Manager, and Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barr Kingsley Otuaro.

    Others are Chief Bradus Amakazi Angozi, former Commissioner for Agriculture; Peter Mrakpor, former Delta State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; Fred Majemite, Delta State former Commissioner for Housing; Chris Iyovwaye, former Managing Director of Wellmann Group; Omizu Odebala, former Sapele Council Chairman; Onajefe Gift Edejewhro; Lucky Idike, and Abel Esievo.

    TNG reports many Deltans have tipped Oborevwori as the most preferred aspirant. It has been rumoured that he is the choice of incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

    However, he is expected to face stiff competition from Edevbie, who has been said to be the preferred choice of former Governor James Ibori, who is perceived to be the leader of the PDP in Delta.

  • PDP primaries: Gov Ikpeazu wins Senatorial ticket

    Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu on Tuesday picked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket to contest for the Abia South Senatorial District seat in the 2023 general election.

    Gov. Ikpeazu, the lone aspirant, emerged unopposed as the party’s candidate at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba.

    Chief Ndidi Okereke, the Returning Officer, while announcing the result, said 198 delegates were accredited for the exercise.

    Okereke said Ikpeazu polled a total of 198 votes and emerged unopposed as the winner of the primary election.

    Speaking after the exercise, Ikpeazu thanked the party leadership, and lauded the conduct of the election which he described as “clean and transparent”.

    He said he was poised to evolve programmes and policies that would change the fortunes of Abia South Senatorial District in the days ahead.

    Ikpeazu said he would deliver quality representation and protect the interest of the people, if he emerged winner at the 2023 senatorial election.

    “I want to thank the delegates from the six local government areas and dedicate this victory to our statutory delegates.

    “They have been excluded from today’s exercise not because of any wrong on their part but because of some laws that have not received assent from Mr President.

    “I am particularly interested in women, youths and the voiceless. I pray that Almighty God will through the instrumentality of the mandate you have given me, the power, strength, opportunity and privilege to serve Abia South people to the best of my ability,” he said.

    The exercise which started at 3:45 p.m. was peaceful and conducted under water-tight security, as 198 delegates from six local government areas in the senatorial district participated.

    The areas include Aba North, Aba South, Obingwa, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East and Ukwa West.

  • PDP primaries: The gang up is unimaginable – Dino Melaye reacts after losing Kogi West ticket

    Dino Melaye has said “the gang up” against him was “unimaginable” after losing the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) ticket for Kogi West Senatorial District to Teejay Yusuf.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Melaye made this known via his official Twitter handle shortly after the primary rerun on Tuesday, while also congratulating Yusuf for pulling through.

    “The Primary has been fought and won. I congratulate Hon. T.J YUSUF and thank all those who voted in the first and second ballot for me. The Gang up is unimaginable but l give God praise. God bless you all,” Melaye tweeted.

    TNG reports Yusuf polled 163 delegate votes to defeat Melaye who polled 99 votes in the primary election rerun held today.

  • PDP primaries: TeeJay floors Melaye to win Kogi West PDP Senate ticket

    PDP primaries: TeeJay floors Melaye to win Kogi West PDP Senate ticket

    Tajudeen Yusuf has floored Dino Melaye in the primary election conducted by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Kogi West Senatorial District.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the primary election of the PDP for Kogi West had earlier ended in a deadlock.

    However, Yusuf polled 163 delegate votes to emerge victorious over Melaye who polled 99 votes in the primary election rerun.

     

    Details shortly…

  • PDP primaries: Afe backs Oboro after losing PDP Reps ticket to her [VIDEO]

    Efe Afe has pledged his support for Evelyn Oboro after she defeated him to clinch the ticket of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to run for the Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency seat in the 2023 General Election.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Oboro defeated Afe on Tuesday in a rerun conducted by the PDP after the primary election of the party for the constituency ended in a deadlock yesterday.

    Speaking shortly after the results were announced, Afe stressed that whoever got the ticket deserves it, adding that Oboro worked seriously for the ticket.

    Watch video below: