TheNewsGuru

Tag: SDP

  • SDP calls for cancellation of Ondo LG election

    SDP calls for cancellation of Ondo LG election

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State has called for the immediate cancellation of the Saturday’s Local Government elections in the state.

    Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) had conducted elections into the chairmanship and councillorship seats in all the 18 local government areas of the state.

    The commission on Sunday announced that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won all the chairmanship and councillorship positions, defeating other 12 political parties that participated in the elections.

    The state Chairman of SDP, Mr Ebenezer Akinbuli, at a news conference on Monday in Akure, described the conduct of the elections as “a show of shame, concocted by the ruling APC-led government under Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.”

    Akinbuli said the council polls were marred with widespread irregularities, harassment and intimidation by the APC party agents.

    “We want to condemn the ‘selection’ that took place in Ondo State on Saturday. There was no election in the state as far as we are concerned because what happened was a pure show of shame, and that is why we are calling for the immediate cancellation of the polls.

    “Also, we are calling for the removal or honourable resignation of the State Chairman of ODIEC, Mr Joseph Aremo. We’ve engaged him and he assured us, as a political party, that he was going to be a fair umpire, but it’s unfortunate that he didn’t do as promised.

    “We call for the cancellation of the polls because all the polling units across the 18 local governments were floored with all manner of irregularities and Electoral Officers were not given the sheets to write the results of the elections,” he said.

    Akinbuli noted that there was no adherence to the rules guiding the elections by ODIEC.

    “The just concluded local government election was a total fraud, the councillorship and chairmanship candidates were mandated to pay tax heavily to the account of the state government for the election, not knowing that they will use the money to defraud us.

    “We are going to file a petition personally against the ODIEC Chairman, Mr Joseph Aremo, for his involvement in this election and we are also going to challenge the outcome of the election,” he said.

  • SDP rejects Ondo election results, heads to tribunal

    SDP rejects Ondo election results, heads to tribunal

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its governorship candidate in Saturday’s governorship poll in Ondo State, Chief Bamidele Akingboye, have rejected the outcome of the election.

    The state chairman of the SDP, Mr Gbenga Akinbuli, who spoke at a press briefing on Monday in Akure, called for immediate cancellation of the election.

    Akinbuli, who described the election as a slap on democracy, alleged that voters were intimidated and harassed at Ward 10 Unit 19, Ondo West Local Government Area of the state.

    He said that voters were offered between N7,000 and N10,000 at the polling unit where he voted. Akinbuli also alleged that agents of the party were chased from many polling units across the state.

    He stated that it was laughable for the party’s candidate to score two votes in Okitipupa where he hails from.

    “How come the SDP got zero votes in Ilaje? The thugs chased everybody away from the polling units. People were scared of coming out to cast their votes.

    “Security agents  at polling units could not do anything. They chased out our agents from the polling unit. We are saying the election was marred by gross malpractices, vote buying, and electoral intimidation.

    “We are going to court. We are asking for the cancellation of the election. It was a show of shame. It was buyers and sellers day in Ondo,” he stated.

    Akingboye, the candidate of the party, said he would ask the court to declare him the winner of the election. He said he was shocked at what happened during the conduct of the election.

    “What I saw yesterday was shocking to me. If you look at what the TVC played out on the news yesterday, even an APC chieftain was about beating me up, but I just had to play maturity. It was a sad story.

    “In my unit in Okitipupa –Ward 2, Polling Unit 10–  they were doing an open auction. I told them that as a credible person, someone who has integrity, I would never partake in unlawful acts in Nigeria.

    “I’m asking that they should declare me the winner of this election, because people were supposed to vote for me, but they chased all our party agents out of the polling units and thuggery was the act of the day.

    “I’m considering myself as the winner of this election and INEC should declare me the winner of the election,” he said.

  • Ondo: SDP guber candidate casts vote, states expectations

    Ondo: SDP guber candidate casts vote, states expectations

    Otunba Bamidele Akingboye, Governorship Candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) says he expects nothing short of credible election in the ongoing governorship poll in Ondo state.

    Akingboye made the  remark on Saturday after casting his vote at exactly 9:00 a.m. at Unit 10, Ward 2, Okitipupa area, Ondo state.

    He, therefore, tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders in the electoral process to ensure conduct of credible election.

    Akingboye said if the process is credible, he would accept the outcome of the election even he did not emerge winner

    “I am optimistic to win so as to deliver my people from hunger and poverty. This is one of the reasons why I worked very hard to get the  ticket of SDP,” he said.

    The candidate commended INEC for punctuality at the voting unit, dedication to duty and deployment of  Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS).

    He lauded the security agents for beefing up security around all polling units for safety of INEC staffers and voters

    Akingboye also commended the turnout of voters, assuring that more people  would still come out to exercise their franchise.

  • Few weeks to Ondo guber polls, SDP deputy gov candidate dumps party

    Few weeks to Ondo guber polls, SDP deputy gov candidate dumps party

    Few weeks to the gubernatorial election in Ondo State, the deputy governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Mrs. Susan Gbemisola Alabi, has resigned her membership from the party.

    Alabi disclosed this after notifying the governorship candidate of the party, Bamidele Akingboye of her decision to step down as his running mate in a letter addressed to the party’s standard-bearer and National Chairman of the party, Shehu Musa Gabam.

    In the letter addressed to Akingboye, Alabi stated that her resignation from the party takes immediate effect.

    She, however, did not indicate the reason why she dumped the party or her next political destination.

    The letter dated October 2, 2024 read: “In furtherance to the discussion you had with me and the advise you gave me on the morning of Friday 20th September, 2024, I hereby formally resign as the Social Democratic Party Deputy Governorship Candidate for Ondo State in the 2024 governorship election. The resignation takes immediate effect.

    “I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to run alongside you. Your leadership has been inspiring and I have learnt a lot on this journey. As I step away, I wish you the very best in your future endeavours. I am confident that you will continue to make a significant impact on our great state.”

    Alabi in the letter addressed to the national chairman of SDP, said: “I am writing to formally resign from my membership in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) effective immediately.

    “This decision was not made lightly as I have valued my time with the party. However, after careful consideration I believe it is in my best interest to pursue new opportunities and directions.

    “Please also note that I have given notice of my resignation as the SDP Deputy Governorship Candidate in the 2024 Governorship election to Otunba Bamidele Akingboye (OBA), the SDP governorship candidate.

    ” I want to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity and for your support during my time in SDP. Thank you for your support and camaraderie during my time with SDP. I wish the party continuous success in its future endeavours.”

  • Kogi Gov Ododo’s thugs beat SDP’s Murtala Ajaka at Supreme court [VIDEO]

    Kogi Gov Ododo’s thugs beat SDP’s Murtala Ajaka at Supreme court [VIDEO]

    Murtala Ajaka, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the November 2023 Kogi State election, was on Friday attacked at the Supreme Court.

    TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) learnt that suspected hoodlums had gained entrance into the court premises, attacking the governorship candidate shortly after the court declared Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected Governor of the state.

    In the video that surfaced, Ajaka’s team is seen struggling to rescue him, as thugs trail behind, hitting him while he was making his way out of the court.

    Watch the video below;

     

    TNG earlier reported that the Supreme Court affirmed the victory of Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship election held in Kogi.

    A five-member panel of the apex court, in a judgment, held that the appeal by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and  its candidate, Muritala Ajaka, marked: SC/CV/654/2024 was without merit and proceeded to dismiss it.

    The apex court also dismissed the appeal by the Action Alliance (AA) and its candidate in the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship election in Kogi, Olayinka Braimoh, seeking to void the victory of Gov. Ododo in the poll.

    A five-member panel of the apex court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Sadiq Umar, held that the appeal by the SDP and Ajaka, marked: SC/CV/654/2024 was without merit and proceeded to dismiss it.

    Justice Umar, who wrote and read the lead judgment, resolved all the three issues identified for determination in the appeal against the appellants.

  • SDP woos sacked Senate Chief Whip

    SDP woos sacked Senate Chief Whip

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has invited the just removed Majority Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Ali Ndume, to join its fold.

    The National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, extended the invitation at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja.

    Gabam said that the SDP condemned the removal of Ndume as Chief Whip of the Senate for criticising government, its programmes and policies.

    He said that the SDP considered the advice by leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) that Ndume was free to join any opposition party as an act of intolerance.

    Ndume representing Borno South (APC-Borno) was on Wednesday removed as the Majority Whip of the Senate and replaced by senator representing Borno North, Sen. Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno).

    The decision followed a letter entitled “Complaints Against the Unbecoming Utterances of Sen. Ali Ndume” read by the President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio, during plenary on Wednesday.

    The letter was signed by the APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje and the National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru.

    Gabam said that Ndume’s criticism of the government’s policies and their impact on Nigerians was not only legitimate but also a testament to his commitment to the well-being of the citizens.

    He said that instead of replacing Ndume as the Chief  Whip of the Senate, the APC and government should have looked into the genuine issues raised by him and addressed those matters that concerned Nigerians.

    “The SDP believes that criticism is essential to a healthy democracy, and we will not stand idly by while the APC seeks to stifle dissenting voices.

    “We extend an official invitation to Sen. Ndume to join our party and continue his quest for social justice, good governance, and the entrenchment of democratic principles.

    “To Sen. Ndume, we say: your courageous stand against the APC’s authoritarian tendencies is laudable, and we welcome you to our fold.

    “Together, we shall continue to advocate for the rights of Nigerians and ensure that our democracy remains vibrant and inclusive,’’ he said.

    Gabam said that Ndume was not just a very ranking senator but one of the most experienced parliamentarians in Nigeria today.

    He advised APC and the Presidency to embrace criticism, listen to the concerns of Nigerians, and work towards building a more inclusive and participatory democracy.

    He said that the removal of Ndume was of grave concern that does not augur well for the Senate and the executive.

    He likened it to the suspension of Sen. Abdul Ningi was suspended for raising an issue of alleged padding of the budget.

    “Recently, president of the 9th  Senate, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, also raised serious concern and Sen. Adams Oshiomole suffered similar fates for speaking truth to power.

    “This trend is alarming and undermines the principles of democracy and fair hearing,” he said.

    He advised the ruling party to listen to voices of Nigerians saying “building a democracy is not an individual affair, but a collective responsibility.’’

    Gabam also hailed the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming the financial autonomy of the local government in the country, describing it as victory for democracy.

    While commending the Federal Government for initiating the suit, Gabam appealed to state governors to immediately comply to ensure that the third tier of government was in control of its financial affairs.

  • SDP hails supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy

    SDP hails supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) welcomes the landmark ruling of the Supreme Court in favor of financial autonomy for local governments in Nigeria.

    In a statement issued by the media assistant to the national chairman of the party, Olugbenga George , said the statesman was in high spirits upon the announcement of the appellate court’s decision.

    Also, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, national chairman of SDP said the decision marks a significant milestone in our nation’s journey towards true federalism and grassroots development. The SDP believes that this ruling will empower local governments to deliver essential services and bring development closer to the people.

    “We commend the Supreme Court for upholding the constitution and the federal government for pursuing this important initiative. We also acknowledge the states’ governors for their efforts, despite our differences”.

    “The SDP remains committed to decentralization, good governance, and the empowerment of local communities. We will continue to advocate for reforms that promote democracy, accountability, and the well-being of all Nigerians” .

    ” This ruling is a victory for the people, and we celebrate it as a step towards a more prosperous and inclusive Nigeria” .

     

  • Ajaka vs Ojoko: Kogi tribunal picks May 27 to deliver judgment

    Ajaka vs Ojoko: Kogi tribunal picks May 27 to deliver judgment

    The Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has picked May 27 to deliver judgment in the petition filed by Murtala Ajaka the Social Democratic Party (SDP) against the election victory of Governor Usman Ododo.

    Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu led three man panel announced the date on Thursday in Abuja in a message communicated to counsel to the parties through its secretary, David Mike, and made available to newsmen.

    Recall that the Kogi state gubernatorial election was held on the 11th of November, 2023 and the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC)  Ododo was declared winner by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) beating his closest rival, Ajaka of the SDP with a wide margin.

    Ajaka, dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, had filed a petition before the tribunal, challenging Ododo’s victory.

    The case, which commenced in December 2023, came to its highest point on May 13 when SDP, Ajaka, APC, Ododo and INEC adopted their final written addresses, after which the tribunal reserved judgement in the petition.

    The APC and Ododo had prayed the tribunal to dismiss Ajaka and SDP’s petition in its totality, claiming that it lacks merit.

    INEC, Ododo and the APC had, through their lawyers; Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN; Joseph Daudu, SAN and Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, respectively, had told the tribunal so while adopting their final written addresses and presenting their arguments against the petition.

     

  • Oyebolu emerges as SDP candidate for Ondo governorship poll

    Oyebolu emerges as SDP candidate for Ondo governorship poll

    Dr Segun Oyebolu, has won the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ticket for the Nov. 16 Ondo State governorship election.

    Mr Joseph Achille Abu, the Chairman of the party’s governorship primary election committee, stated this at the end of the primary election in Ondo on Saturday.
    Achille said that Oyebolu scored 53 out of the 64 votes at the primaries to emerge winner.

    He said that 64 delegates drawn from the 18 Local Government Aeas (LGA) of the state participated at the primaries.

    He expressed satisfaction with the turnout of party delegates across the state, saying that the turnout was impressive and showed the party’s readiness to conquer the state at the election.

    “SDP is determined to win the Nov.16 governorship election in Ondo State.

    “Our party is the only party that can rescue Ondo State from being a civil servant state to an industrial state,” he said.

    In his acceptance speech, Oyebolu appreciated the party delegates for the confidence reposed in him.

    “I promise to build a formidable campaign team that will dislodge the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) led government in the state, and build a new Ondo State.

    “And I am also assuring our party’s leaders and people of the state that our administration will bring back the good old days of the state, if elected as governor,” he said.

  • Kogi tribunal: Ododo opens defence, tenders documents against SDP, Ajaka’s petition

    Kogi tribunal: Ododo opens defence, tenders documents against SDP, Ajaka’s petition

    Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi, on Wednesday, tendered bundles of electoral documents in seven disputed local government areas (LGAs) in defence of his victory in the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship election in the state.

    Ododo, through his lawyer, Paul Daudu, tendered the documents at the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja to open his defence against the petition filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Murtala Ajaka.

    It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, on Nov. 11, 2023, conducted the Kogi governorship poll.

    However, the SDP and its governorship candidate in the poll are challenging the declaration of Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the poll.

    In the petition, INEC, Ododo and APC are listed as 1st to 3rd respondents respectively.

    INEC had on Tuesday closed its defence in the petition by SDP and Ajaka, after its counsel, Uchenna Njoku, tendered several documents to support the victory of the governor.

    Njoku had told the three-member panel, headed by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudo, that electoral umpire would not be calling any witnesses after assessing the case of the petitioners.

    Justice Birnin-Kudo, who declared the commission’s case closed, adjourned until today for Ododo to open his defence.

    Upon resumed hearing, Ibrahim Mohammed, SAN, who led Ododo’s team of lawyers, told the panel that Daudu would be conducting the proceedings.

    Daudu informed the tribunal of the 2nd respondent’s readiness to open his defence.

    The lawyer said he would commence this with the tendering of the certified true copies (CTCs) of the documents which had also been served on the petitioners.

    “It is only fair for them (petitioners) to peruse these documents to enable us take off,” Daudu said.

    He, therefore, sought a stand down of the hearing for about 30 minutes to allow the petitioners (SDP and Ajaka) peruse the documents.

    Pius Akubo, SAN, who appeared for the petitioners, did not oppose the application.

    Justice Birnin-Kudo subsequently stood down the matter.

    However, while the inspection of the documents was ongoing, the tribunal, through its secretary, announced the adjournment of the matter until Thursday for continuation.