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Tag: PRP

  • 2023: I’ll repeat my father’s feat 30 years after – MKO Abiola’s son boasts

    2023: I’ll repeat my father’s feat 30 years after – MKO Abiola’s son boasts

    Mr Kola Abiola, presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) said on Wednesday in Abuja that the party would win the 2023 presidential election.

    Kola, scion of deceased Chief MKO Abiola said PRP’s victory would be synonymous with that of his deceased father on June 12, 1993.

    He made the assertions when he and governorship candidates of the party received their Certificates of Return from the chairman of the party, Alhaji Falalu Bello.

    Abiola who noted that it would be 30 years in 2023 since his late father won the presidential election, said “there is going to be a repeat in 2023.’’

    “It reminds me of 1993. A lot of people came out for the first time to vote because of MKO. We are going to have a repeat of that in 2023.

    “If we can win it then, we should win it now,’’ he said.

    He said that the biggest role the PRP would play at the general elections was to serve as a bridge for current generation of Nigerian youths.

    “We are going to bring the younger generation into politics, governance and leadership.

    “I’m appealing to youths to regard us as the vehicle of change; we should make sure that at the next election, we have the highest voter turnout.

    “By this, we will make your voices and number count,’’ he said.

    Abiola urged the party’s governorship candidates to ensure that youths obtained their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    “This is the only party that doesn’t have any encumbrances. We will use that to build the future of Nigeria.

    “We are a national party. To everybody’s surprise, we had 3,625 delegates at the primary elections.

    “We are present in every local government area. We have 22 candidates for governorship elections and we have more than 500 candidates vying for other different offices.

    “In the history of the PRP, this is the largest so far till date,’’ he said.

    PRP’s gubernatorial candidate in Cross River, Mr Usani Usani, urged the electorate to “assess who they want and vote for that person irrespective of party.

    “There are no two major parties as insinuated in some quarters. Nigeria has 18 registered political parties which are all active.

    “I believe PRP has got what it takes to rule this country,’’ he said.

    Earlier, Bello said the PRP is ready to offer leadership at all levels.

    “We can compete with all parties to give the nation a new lease of life. Our candidates will win in free and fair elections,’’ he stressed.

  • 2023: Late MKO Abiola’s son wins PRP presidential ticket

    2023: Late MKO Abiola’s son wins PRP presidential ticket

    Mr Kola Abiola has emerged as the 2023  presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP).

    He won against  Usman Bugaje, Patience Key and Col. Gboluga Mosugu (rtd) to pick the PRP ticket.

    Abiola, is the first child of late  Chief M.K.O. Abiola, acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled presidential election.

    While Abiola got 2,097 votes from across the 36 States including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bugaje came second with 813 votes while Key and Mosugu got 329 and 263 votes to emerge third and fourth, respectively.

    A total of 3,625 delegates were accredited with 3,519 valid votes and 141 invalid votes

    The collation was witnessed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),

    Speaking before the collation of the results, PRP National Chairman, Mr Falalu Bello, said the delegates from the 36 states and the FCT voted for the aspirants from their respective states.

    This, he said was with the permission from INEC to save cost.

    “We want to make the whole process nearer to the delegates. The delegates are in the states. So that is why we decided that the primary election   will take place in the 36 states and the FCT.

    “Definitely, having it in the states, rather than bringing them here, is more convenient for them.

    “We set up 37 committees headed by the nominees from the national executive committee in the states along with the state organising secretaries to conduct this exercise in the states,” Bello said.

    Bello further said  the aspirants had promised to support whoever emerged as the party’s candidate.

    He added that the party decided not to zone its presidential ticket to any of the six geo-political zones across the country but to look for a candidate who was capable, competent and enjoyed wide acceptability across the country.

  • Kola Abiola emerges PRP presidential candidate

    Eldest Son of the late MKO Abiola, Kola, has emerged as the presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP).

     

    He won against Usman Bugaje, Patience Key and Col. Gboluga Mosugu (rtd) to pick the PRP ticket for the February 25, 2023 poll.

     

    While Abiola got 2,097 votes from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bugaje came second with 813 votes. the president of Nigeria.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) had reported that Kola said he draws inspiration from his deceased father, Chief MKO Abiola, to take interest in the 2023 presidential election.

     

    The aspirant said that he would leverage the ideals of the PRP to change the dynamics of politics in Nigeria and breathe fresh air into Nigerians.

     

    “PRP is the oldest party in Nigeria today and I am in the party for the right reasons. We want to prove that things can still be done rightly. We represent a fresh idea,’’ Kola said.

     

    He said that if voted as the president, he would ensure the full participation of youths in governance.

     

    “I will like to see a repeat of the June 12, 1992 presidential election and the only way to do this is to reach out to youths. I will mobilize our youths to come out and vote because they constitute more than 60 percent of Nigeria’s population,’’ Kola said.

     

    He further said that his decision to contest on the platform of the PRP was a way of showing the youths that things were done rightly in Nigeria in the past.

    Kola
    Kola Abiola

     

    “I joined PRP because it will deliver a lot more than me. I will do my best to get more Nigerians involved in running the country. My personal target is to make sure that 40 percent of elective positions at the 2023 elections are won by PRP candidates,” he added.

     

    Kola said that if elected as the presidential flag bearer of the PRP, he would campaign with every PRP candidate across the country.

     

    “We will not do it by throwing money around, but by mobilizing those at the grassroots,’’ he said.

     

    According to the PRP Southeast Zonal Chairman, Mr Peter Okafor, Abiola is one of the best brains in the presidential contest.

     

    Okafor said that Nigerians needed a president that would correct the misgovernance of the past, adding that the aspirant would deliver if given the mandate.

  • 2023: Why I want to be Nigeria’s president – Son of late MKO Abiola

    2023: Why I want to be Nigeria’s president – Son of late MKO Abiola

    Son of late Chief MKO Abiola, Kola Abiola, who is a presidential aspirant on the platform of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), has opened up on why he wants to be the president of Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Kola, who made this known on Thursday in Enugu at a meeting with PRP’s delegates, said that his deceased father’s foray into politics was an encouragement for him.

    Kola said he draws inspiration from his deceased father, Chief MKO Abiola to take interest in the 2023 presidential election.

    The aspirant said that he would leverage on the ideals of the PRP to change the dynamics of politics in Nigeria and breathe fresh air into Nigerians.

    “PRP is the oldest party in Nigeria today and I am in the party for the right reasons. We want to prove that things can still be done rightly. We represent a fresh idea,’’ Kola said.

    He said that if voted as the president, he would ensure the full participation of youths in governance.

    “I will like to see a repeat of the June 12, 1992 presidential election and the only way to do this is to reach out to youths.

    “I will mobilise our youths to come out and vote because they constitute more than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population,’’ Kola said.

    He further said that his decision to contest on the platform of the PRP was a way of showing the youths that things were done rightly in Nigeria in the past.

    “I joined PRP because it will deliver a lot more than me. I will do my best to get more Nigerians involved in running the country.

    “My personal target is to make sure that 40 per cent of elective positions at the 2023 elections are won by PRP candidates,” he added.

    Kola said that if elected as the presidential flag bearer of the PRP, he would campaign with every PRP candidate across the country.

    “We will not do it by throwing money around, but by mobilising those at the grassroots,’’ he said.

    Earlier, the PRP Southeast Zonal Chairman, Mr Peter Okafor, described Abiola as one of the best brains in the presidential contest.

    Okafor said that Nigerians needed a president that would correct the mis-governance of the past, adding that the aspirant would deliver if given the mandate.

    In a vote of thanks, one of the gubernatorial aspirants of the party in Enugu State, Mr Chukwunonye Ogbe, said that Nigeria needed a leader that would redeem the country.

    TNG reports Chief MKO Abiola was the presidential candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party at the 1992 presidential election.

    He was the acclaimed winner of the election, adjudged to be the most credible in Nigeria’s history.

    The election was, however, annulled by the head of the then military junta, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

    MKO Abiola died in detention on July 7, 1998, the day he was due to be released. The military detained him for declaring himself Nigeria’s president in spite of the annulment.

    Meanwhile, the PRP is scheduled to hold its presidential primary election on June 5.

  • 2023 Election: Former chairman NIDOA joins presidential race

    2023 Election: Former chairman NIDOA joins presidential race

    The former Chairman, Board of Directors, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Americas (NIDOA) Patience Key, has joined the presidential race by purchasing the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) expression of interest and nomination forms.

    Key, who was speaking to newsmen shortly after obtaining her nomination forms at the party national secretariat on Thursday in Abuja, said that she would prioritise tackling insecurity, poverty and injustice.

    She was accompanied to the party secretariat by her supporters from different states.

    Key said that the three agenda were in line with PRP’s constitution and programmes.

    “Number one is peace. Why I say peace is because with the chaotic situation we see ourselves, security is basic. To be able to gain peace, we need to look at the root causes of this problem.

    “We need to put together structures to be able to tackle and erase poverty in our country through education, healthcare and building structures.”

    Key, who was the first to obtain the party’s presidential nomination form, also pledged to address inequality in the country, especially gender bias facing women and marginalisation causing some parties in the country to be demanding for secession.

    “The third one is wealth creation. A nation that does not produce anything cannot grow.

    “Yes, we are the giant of Africa in terms of our population; the population alone is not going to make us what we need to be if we don’t produce; if we are not industrialised, if we don’t build capacity.

    “I believe that the number one thing is wealth creation, building the potential because Nigerian has talents.

    “We have great population and with our population, we do not need other country to survive. We just need to do the right thing and so on.”

    Key said that she decided to contest on the platform of PRP because the party had ideology and structures in the 36 states, the FCT and 777 local governments needed to win elections.

    “Also the way Nigerians are looking at the next election, it is no more just about party. They are looking at individuals. They are looking at what this person or group has for us.

    “And for the 18 political parties that we have, you see that PRP has the oldest ideology and the best identity. We have stayed on course, since inception, we have not shifted.

    She said that these and many other characteristics were presently attracting many great Nigerians to the party.

    Key commended Nigerians both within the country and those in the Diaspora for contributing toward the purchase of her nomination forms, said such gesture had energised her to join the race, adding “nothing can stop me’’.

    The Party National Secretary, Babatunde Ali assured all the aspirants of free, fair and credible primaries from where the party’s presidential candidate would emerge.

    “Our circular is already out. Our guideline is already out and it is going to be by indirect voting. Delegates are going to vote and whoever wins, I can guarantee you, PRP will give it to that person.

    “In our party, the first principle is value and quality of human beings. It does not matter if she is a woman. If she wins she will have it.”

    Ali advised aspirants running on the platform of the party not to run manifestoes that were not in line with the party’s documents.

    The documents, according to him include its constitution, programmes and principles, “which are always together’’.

    He also advised the aspirants that the party supremacy must also be honoured at all times.

    “In the Constitution of PRP, the president, the governors, elected officials and others are members of the National Working Committee and the chairman of the party is the leader,” he said.

  • PRP cautions public on fraudulent nomination fees in circulation

    PRP cautions public on fraudulent nomination fees in circulation

    The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has cautioned the public on fraudulent nomination fees in circulation, describing a circular pegging its nomination fees for elective public offices at a certain amount as fraudulent.

    National Chairman of the PRP, Mr Falalu Bello in a statement in Abuja on Monday, said the purported fees were N500,000 and N200,000 for presidential and governorship positions.

    “N100,000 and N80,000 for Senatorial and House of Representatives; while N70,000 is for House of Assembly seats.”

    He said: “The attention of the PRP has been drawn to a fraudulent circular designed and circulated by some duplicitous elements that intend to scam unsuspecting members of the public.

    “For the records, this crooked circular did not emanate from the PRP. It is a handiwork of mischief makers who are bent on creating confusion so as to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

    “The party, therefore, cautions the public on the said publication.”

    Bello explained that in compliance with the notice of the 2023 general elections released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PRP on April 16, published guidelines for the sale and cost of its forms.

    He said the cost of the nomination forms was, House of Assembly-N100, 000; House of Representatives- N250,000; Senate– N1,500,000; Governor-N2,500,000 and President-N10,000,000.

    “It was further clarified in the guidelines as released by the party that in addition to the cost of nomination forms, each aspirant will be required to pay five per cent of the nomination form fee, for expression of interest form.

    “All aspirants living with disabilities shall be offered nomination and expression of interest forms of the party free of charge.

    “All female aspirants will be charged only 50 per cent of the stipulated costs for nomination and expression of interest forms.”

  • ‘I want to disrupt the political process’ – Kola Abiola returns to politics

    ‘I want to disrupt the political process’ – Kola Abiola returns to politics

    Mr Kola Abiola, eldest son of the late MKO Abiola, presumed winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, has joined the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

    Abiola was formally accepted into the party on Thursday at its National Secretariat, Abuja by Mr Falalu Bello, the National Chairman of the party.

    Bello said: “I formally welcome you into our fold. Your antecedents speak volumes.”

    Earlier, Abiola said: “Today makes my formal inroad after, 27 years, back into politics.

    “I particularly picked to come back into politics through the PRP for some good reasons.

    “I have gone back to the history of Nigeria to look at the party that truly represents Nigeria.

    “I have gone back and I have found out that the oldest living party is the PRP; it still holds those ideals of what Nigeria and democratic practice should be like.”

    According to him, it is a party that was started by the people and truly for the people. It is a party that has showed first, as its priority, internal democracy.

    “I have come back to PRP to show Nigerians that not too long ago, we did things in the right way and the new entities that have come together nowadays forget that there was Nigeria that did things right.

    “I am one that believes in an equal opportunity be it employment, be it business, equally in politics and I believe this party represents all of these.

    “Everybody should have equal opportunity, irrespective of age, religion and ethnicity and that is represented here,” Abiola said.

    While raising concern over the low participation of youths in politics, he said: “We have a youth population that has been caught out of the system, the political process.

    “The first thing I want to do is to disrupt the political process, to disabuse the minds of the youth on godfatherism.

    “The way to do this is to give the true owners of Nigeria, that is, the 18 to 36 years age group that makes up over 75 per cent of the population, an opportunity for their voices to be heard and their numbers to count.”

    He said PRP is the only party that could give youths such opportunity to make their numbers count.

  • 2023: Why I am running for President of Nigeria – PRP president aspirant

    2023: Why I am running for President of Nigeria – PRP president aspirant

    Mrs Patience Key, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) has opened up on why she is running for President of Nigeria in the 2023 general elections.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mrs Key, a presidential aspirant of PRP based in the diaspora made this known in an interview in New York on Tuesday.

    Key revealed her administration will implement a 3-point agenda of peace, equity, and wealth creation (PEW) if elected in the 2023 election.

    She said as president, she would give Nigerians the room to hold her accountable for the delivery of the agenda.

    “From my vast experience, juxtaposing successful national development models across the world with Nigeria’s peculiar situation today, I have identified three core interwoven concepts.

    “I believe the concepts should constitute the focal points of the desired roadmap to Nigeria’s redemption and rapid transformation, namely, Peace, Equity, and Wealth Creation (PEW),’’ she said.

    The aspirant said she would use her leadership experience of more than 15 years in the U.S. to provide the right kind of leadership for the country.

    “As a community leader and the former Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation in the United States, I worked with fellow Nigerians and other Nigerian professionals, ethnic, religious, and business organisations.

    “I related with the government in power by virtue of my office. These interactions have given me better insights into the Nigerian nation, the issues, and governance.

    “I was equally opportune in the intervening period, to interact with individuals and groups of people from other developed nations including the United Kingdom, France, Canada, New Zealand, and Germany to name a few,’’ she said.

    She added that her leadership experience and exposure had afforded her the opportunity to critically study how nations develop, and to have an understanding of what life is like for the citizens of the developed nations.

    “I was very mature before leaving the shores of Nigeria, and I have returned home on countless occasions. That has given me the dual benefit of being in touch with the realities of our times back home.

    “That is probably why I am utterly discontented with the situation in Nigeria,’’ Key said.

    Key said the economic and security challenges in the country inspired her to declare her intention to run for the presidency in a male-dominated country as Nigeria.

    “Since our independence from the colonial masters, there have been unrests in the system which makes it look as if we are still under colonialism as opposed to freedom.

    “Nigeria has seen various leaders. And these leaders have served the country to the best of their abilities.

    “But you see, there is room for improvement in all things – leadership inclusive,’’ she said.

    She urged Nigerians to make wise, conscious, and constructive decisions as they vote in a new president in 2023 towards overcoming poverty, hunger, and the prevailing security challenges.

    “I am not a regular politician. I am a leader who understands great management. I also know that the office of the president in any nation is not gender-specific, Nigeria inclusive.

    “I see impoverishment in a nation with so much abundance, I see people die of preventable diseases, I see so much chaos and insurgency in friendly and happy communities.

    “I see communities agitating for self-determination, separatism, and referendum because the people feel marginalised, secluded, unprotected, and disrespected.

    “I see a vibrant and huge population of unemployed and brutalised youths, I see a nation whose human talents remain subservient, and a nation whose rich natural resources are used to develop the western world.

    “I see an abundantly rich nation wrongly tagged the poverty capital of the world.

    “All these and more are what inspired me to run for the President of Nigeria,’’ she said.

    Key declared her intention to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Nov. 23, 2021, at her ancestral home, Ekekhen in Igueben Local Government Area, Edo State.

  • Two serving federal lawmakers dump political parties for APC

    Two serving federal lawmakers dump political parties for APC

    Two lawmakers at the House of Representatives, Rep. Blessing Onuh (APGA-Benue) and Rep. Yakubu Abdullahi (PRP-Bauchi) have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Announcing her defection on Tuesday at the floor of the House, Onuh said she left APGA due to leadership crisis in the state chapter of the party.

    She said that she consulted widely before taking the decision to leave the party.

    Also speaking, Abdullahi said he defected from PRP due to division, internal wrangling and infighting resulting in factionalisation of the party.

    The main opposition party at the House, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not raise objection on the defection.

  • We won’t participate in Kano 2021 Council Poll – PRP

    We won’t participate in Kano 2021 Council Poll – PRP

    Kano State Directorate of Peoples Redemption Party has resolved to boycott the January 16, 2021 election into the local government councils in the state.

    A statement signed by the Party Chairman, Comrade Sammani Shariff Bashir said after careful considerations of the unfolding issues surrounding the preparation of the elections into the local government councils by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), the Kano State Directorate of PRP has resolved to boycott the election.

    “Indeed, the PRP in Kano State is fully convinced that contesting for the election is tantamount to waste of time and resources in view of some reasons,” he added.

    One of the many reasons for the boycott of the council poll as stated by Comrade Sammani include the issue of local government autonomy which he said is the thrust of PRP campaign in the 2019 general election.

    Other parts of the statement read:

    The party took that decision on the believe that the current dispensation where the State Governors dominated and plunder the subvention accrued to the local governments from the Federation Account is one of the major causes of wide spread poverty and underdevelopment in the states.

    While on the other hand, state Governors have become emperors that run the local governments based on their wishes and caprices. This scenario made rigging of the local governments’ election by the incumbent governments a do or die affair. This is the reason why the history of the conduct of local government election is always marred by fraudulent and violent activities.

    Success of any elections is attributed to a large extent by the openness and transparent nature of the exercise. While the honesty and fairness of the umpire remained a deciding factor to the credibility of the election. But to our greatest disappointment, the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) is being staffed by cronies and sympathizers of the incumbent government, therefore conducting a free, fair and credible election is actually a mirage.

    It is a public knowledge that no matter the effort of the State Independent Electoral Commission in attempting to ensure the conduct of a credible election, at the end, the incumbent government usually hijack the process and announce its candidates as winners of the election that was actually not concluded, thereby relegating the KANSIEC officials to the back row.

    This attitude is clearly demonstrated recently by a Commissioner in the APC government who arrogantly and without shame congratulated the APC candidates and stressed that they have already won the election that has not even started.

    It should also be noted that the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission charge the sum of N250,000 for the purchase of form for any person wishing to contest the position of the council Chairman, while that of a counselor cost N150,000 Naira.

    PRP is of the opinion that KANSIEC is not a money-making venture. As such it should not charge anything from the contestants because our people cannot afford such a huge amount, especially as our people leaving in the rural areas are subjected to all sorts of deprivations, while at the same time, huge amount of money is set aside by the State government for the exercise.

    The PRP is highly disappointed with the conduct of primary election in the APC and in preparation for the forthcoming local government election. The party demonstrated a total lack of internal democracy. We believe that a party that could not be fair to its members could not be fair to the opposition. This is a clear pointer to the fact that the KANSEIC dominated APC government cannot conduct free, fair and credible electio

    The PRP is highly disappointed and condemned in strongest terms the role being played by some smaller parties during the conduct of local government election in Kano State. These political parties under the platform of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Kano

    State had been complicit to the conduct and legalizing fraudulent elections for a meager material gains. Their role and participation in such a fake election is quite condemnable and therefore, we urge all parties that are worth their names to boycott the election and save their faces.

    The PRP finally appeals to its members and candidates who have been working tirelessly, mobilizing the people in the grassroots to bear with such a painful decision taken by the party.

    The party also calls on patriotic Kanawas to completely boycott the process of this drama sketch being organized by KANSEIC in the name of election into the local government councils.