Politics

Court restrains Secondus from parading as PDP National chairman

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Prince Uche Secondus has been restrained from parading himself as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), or even as a menber of the party.

The injuction was granted on Monday by Hon. Justice O. Gbasam of the Degema Judicial Division Vacation Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The development followed a suit filed by Ibeawuchi Ernest Alex, Dennis Nna Amadi, Emmanuel Stephen and Umezirike Onucha against Uche Secondus (1st defendant) and the PDP (2nd defendant).

The judge, after reading the affidavit in support of the motion of ex parte as well as hearing the submission of H.A. Bello, Counsel to the Applicants, granted the interim injunction barring Secondus from participating in party activities.

An order restraining the 1st Defendant from parading himself as member of the 2nd Defendant or the National Chairman of the Defendant or performing the functions of national chairman of the 2nd defendant or calling, attending or presiding over any meeting of the 2nd defendant or any committee of the 2nd defendant at the Ward, Local Government or State level or calling for any Ward, Local Government or State Congress of the 2nd defendant or setting up committees for such Congresses or participating in any activity of the 2nd defendant whatsoever whilst on suspension as a member of the 2nd defendant pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction,” the order read.

The judge further granted leave to serve, by substituted means the originating summons, motion on notice, all orders made by the court and all subsequent processes on the respondent by pasting same on his gate at No.1 William Jumbo Street, Old G.R.A Port Harcourt.

Politics

Sanusi’s statement confirms our position on Buhari’s govt – PDP

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said on Wednesday the recent comments credited to the deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on the mismanagement of the nation’s economy by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration confirmed its position on the poor performance of the government in the last six years.

Sanusi, who spoke at a colloquium to mark his 60th birthday in Kaduna last Sunday, said the current administration had erased the country’s economic gains in just five years.

The PDP, which reacted to the ex-Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor’s position in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Sanusi’s declaration directly reflects its position and that of the majority of Nigerians on the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The statement read: “The dire situation is now beyond politics. The PDP calls on more stakeholders to speak out irrespective of ethnicity, creed, and political party affiliations, so as to save the nation from a total collapse.

“The Buhari Presidency and the APC have, in the last six years, only succeeded in destroying every sector of our national life with their manifest incompetence, unbridled corruption, treasury looting, impunity, exclusionist and restrictive economic policies that have brought our nation to her knees.

“Nigerians can recall that the PDP handed over a robust economy, rated the largest hub in Africa and one of the fastest-growing in the world with Fitch B+ rating and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $574 billion to President Buhari and the APC in May 2015.

Sadly, in the last six years, the Buhari-led APC administration has reduced our productive sectors to complete wreckage with alarming 33.3 percent unemployment and 17.38 percent inflation rates.

“Over 60 million hitherto flourishing businesses folded up and the naira crashing from N167 to a dollar in 2015 to N512 under the APC corrupt and directionless watch.

More depressing is that the corrupt APC administration has practically erased all the gains of the debt repayment achieved by the PDP, returned our nation to a beggar state and mortgaged the sovereignty of our country with reckless borrowing and accumulated N33.107 trillion.

“Life has become so unbearable in Nigeria under President Buhari and the APC, that more than 82.9 million Nigerians are no longer able to afford their daily meals and other necessities of life, with our nation now ranking as the poverty capital of the world and 98th out of 107 in Global Hunger Index.

Today, under the APC, a litre of fuel that sold for N87 under the PDP now sells for N165, a bag of rice that sold for N8,000 now sells for N30,000, a measure of garri and beans which sold for N150 and N250 now sells for N600 and N800 respectively; a measure of maize and guinea corn which sold for about N150 now sells for N400, a kilo of meat which sold for about N800 now sells for about N2,300 while a 12.5 kg of cooking gas which sold for N3,000 now sells for over N6,000, all thanks to the incompetence and corruption of the Buhari-led APC administration.

“Furthermore, the compromises of the APC administration have led to the escalation of terrorist activities, banditry, kidnapping, killings, bloody agitations as well as other acts of violence that have turned our nation into a large funeral parlour, with no hope in sight.

Indeed, this is not the way our nation should go. The PDP, therefore, urges more Nigerians to speak out to rescue our nation from this fast descent to a failed state.”

Politics

PDP accuses Buhari of disrespect for signing PIB

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In the wake of the approval of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the President of a lack of respect over the mandate.

The party stated this in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, on Tuesday in Abuja in reaction to the signing of the PIB into law by Buhari.

He expressed surprise that Buhari ignored the huge outcry by the majority of disenchanted Nigerians and signed the bill as passed by the National Assembly into law.

He noted that the signing of the law in spite of widespread public rejection amounted to “endorsement of imposition, lack of respect for the people and the tenets of democracy as a system of government’’.

Ologbondiyan added that signing the bill into law was not in the interest of oil-producing communities, particularly in the face of the challenges they faced as a result of oil exploration.

“Mr President could have returned the bill to the National Assembly with a request that it is made to address the demands of the oil producing communities.

“Our party fears that the new law cannot guarantee the desired stability and development in the oil and gas sector as well as respite in the Niger Delta region.

“The PDP calls on President Buhari to salvage the situation by immediately forwarding an amendment bill to the National Assembly to reflect the true wishes and aspirations of every segment of our nation,” he said.

Politics

APC dismisses PDP’s claim on alleged plan to rig 2023 elections

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The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday described as baseless the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) claim on the alleged plan by the ruling party to rig the 2023 general elections.

The PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, had on Sunday accused the APC of plotting to rig the elections after the National Assembly gave conditional approval for electronic transmission of election results in the country.

He said the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has no plan to organize free and free elections in the country.

The National Secretary of APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, John Akpanudoedehe, who reacted to the allegation in a statement in Abuja, said the PDP had already conceded defeat before the 2023 elections.

Akpanudoedehe said: “The idle conspiracies and wild allegations being bandied by the PDP on the procurement of e-voting machines and plans to rig the 2023 elections are clear testimonies that the PDP has already conceded election defeat long before the 2023 electioneering process.”

He noted that the PDP had since resorted to several diversionary strategies just to remain in public reckoning.

He listed the recent case filed against the APC national caretaker leadership which had been dismissed by courts as one of the few strategies adopted by the major opposition party to remain relevant in the nation’s space.

Akpanudoedehe, however, assured Nigerians that the party has no plan to rig the 2023 elections.

He added: “Our latest victory is the by-election for the House of Representatives seat in Lere Federal Constituency in Kaduna State.

“Going by PDP’s past and current antecedents, it is obvious that Nigerians will continue to reject the party.

PDP’s rejection is further reinforced by APC’s widely accepted and hugely successful membership registration exercise which has recorded APC membership strength of over 40 million.”

Politics

‘Admit Buhari’s failure on security,’ PDP tells Masari

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday asked the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, to stop his empty lamentations over the persistent banditry in the state.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP challenged the governor to tell President Muhammadu Buhari that he has failed Nigerians.

Masari, according to the party, is doing a great disservice to his people and other victims of banditry in the country by refusing to tell the President the truth about his failures.

The statement read: “It is indeed a distressing and colossal mark of failure that President Buhari’s home state, Katsina, is being taken over by bandits, who are now over-running local governments, killing, raping, maiming, and pillaging innocent citizens, while Mr. President, who promised to lead the fight against insurgency from the fronts, continues to recede deeper into the safety and comfort of Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“It is totally upsetting that while Mr. President is busy with his unnecessary rhetoric in Abuja, bandits, according to Governor Masari, are having a field day in persistent attacks on 10 local government areas, killing and robbing innocent citizens on daily basis.

While it is common knowledge that President Buhari has failed and especially, in his three-pronged focus of security, economy, and anti-corruption, it is however regrettable that his administration could be so aloof, cold, and unperturbed as bandits ravage our citizens in most states and particularly in Mr. President’s home state. What a failure!

“President Buhari and Governor Masari must know that there is no way history will be kind to them and their party, the APC, for their incompetence, insensitivity, and failure in governance, which have brought so much devastation to our dear nation.

“The PDP for the umpteenth time calls on President Buhari to wake up to the responsibilities of his office, pick himself up, and lead from the front in the fight against insurgents, in line with his campaign promise. He should either shape up or ship out.

Our party, however, urges Nigerians, especially the people of Katsina state not to resign to despondency over President Buhari’s failures, while charging our gallant troops to remain strong as we work hard to rescue our nation from the misrule of the APC, which has led to the escalation of woes in our country.

Politics

Ekwunife heads PDP campaign council for Anambra election

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appointed the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Uche Ekwunife, as the director-general of its campaign council for the state’s governorship election.

The Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, disclosed this to journalists at the end of a meeting held at the Abuja residence of the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus.

He said the decision was taken at a meeting the PDP national leadership held with governors, and some of the party’s aspirants in Anambra.

Fintiri expressed satisfaction with the party’s preparation for the election and the reconciliation of all aspirants in the election.

The governor said: “We carried out the directives of our governors and reconciled all the aggrieved aspirants and it was unanimously agreed that Ekwunife be appointed the campaign director and she is so appointed.

“With her appointment, the campaigns for PDP recapturing of Anambra will soon kick-off. All aspirants have been reconciled.

Anambra state belongs to the PDP and this will be confirmed at the November 6 governorship election.”

In his remarks, Secondus expressed the confidence that PDP would win the Anambra election.

He urged the aspirants to forget the past and be work for the success of the party in the election.

The PDP governorship candidate in Anambra, Valentine Ozigbo, said the party would win the election following the reconciliation of all aggrieved members in the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier excluded the PDP from the election after Ozigbo and Ugochukwu Uba laid claims to the party’s ticket for the poll.

Ozigbo won the primary election organized by the PDP national leadership while Uba, a former senator, was backed by a faction of the party in the state.

The Anambra State High Court had in July asked the commission to recognize Uba as PDP candidate for the election.

Politics

Ekiti govt warns PDP against politicisation of insecurity

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The Ekiti State government on Saturday warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against undue politicisation of matters bordering on the security of lives and property in the state.

The Senior Special Assistant on Inter-party Relations to the Governor, Sam Oluwalana, made the call during a chat with journalists in Ado-Ekiti.

Oluwalana appealed to the party to refrain from comments that could people the impression it as mocking victims of insecurity in the state.

The governor’s aide was reacting to the PDP criticising the government over the recent spate of insecurity in the state.

The party had in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary in Ekiti, Raphael Adeyanju, accused the state government of having an agreement with the bandits killing and kidnapping people on daily basis in the state.

The party lamented that Ekiti, hitherto regarded as the most peaceful state in the South-West, had turned into a haven of bandits and political thugs.

The statement read: “Time has come for stakeholders in the state to confront Governor Kayode Fayemi and ask him whether or not he has an understanding with these marauding bandits not to touch them.”

In his reaction however, Oluwalana said the politicisation of the state security challenges will do no one any good.

He said: “For PDP to have politicised this type of issue, where life was lost, showed that it is irresponsible and lazy. The issue of insecurity is one that affects the entire country, and Ekiti is not an exemption.

“I want to say that the governor is working hard to secure the lives of citizens and we should all join hands with him to ensure that criminals are exposed, rather than making political comments capable of heating up the system.”

Politics

Embattled Secondus blasts PDP youth leader for insisting on chairman’s resignation

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The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has reacted to threats by the party’s National Youth Leader, Ude Okoye, that he (Okoye), would resign from the party if Secondus does not resign as the party chairman.

Secondus who addressed Okoye’s threat and calls for him to resign, advised the national youth leader to stay true and “obey to his sponsors” rather than fixating on him.

In a statement signed by his media adviser, Ike Abonyi, in Tuesday, Secondus questioned Okoye’s rationale in asking for his resignation.

The media office of the National Chairman has described as unfortunate the statement from the party’s National Youth leader calling on the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, to resign from his position.

The media office wonders why it took the national youth leader three and half years before realizing that the national chairman is incompetent or that he is enriching himself.

“The agenda of Hon. Ude- Okoye and his sponsors are to take this party back to Egypt but they have failed because the party is focused and unwilling to look back as they match towards regaining power.

The party structure is intact and anybody who allows him or herself to fall to the inducement for an interim administration in the party will be disappointed because the stakeholders are not ready to go backwards any longer.

“The media office advised media houses to look out for anti-democratic operatives who think they can use the money to destroy this party and play into the hand of the inept ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC,” the statement read.

Politics

Secondus tears PDP apart, as another exco member threatens to dump party

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Youth leader, Udeh Okoye, has threatened to dump the party if the National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, fails to resign from his position.

In a statement he issued on Tuesday, Okoye accused Secondus of lacking the capacity to take the party to the next level, describing him as a weak and incompetent leader.

“He (Secondus) is not willing to take us anywhere, he is just there to make sure he enriches himself. I am here to make it very clear to all Nigerians that if Secondus does not resign, i am going to leave the party and resign for him to eat the party and own the party.

“The governors, if they don’t wade into this matter right now, if the leaders don’t wade into this matter right now, I assure every Nigerian that within the next 3, 4 days, my letter will be public,” Okoye said.

The PDP youth leader’s threat came shortly after seven members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP resigned after calling for the removal of Secondus.

The seven officers who resigned includedthe Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Deputy National Financial Secretary, Deputy Women Leader, Deputy National Auditor, Deputy National Organising Secretary and the Deputy Legal Adviser.

The aggrieved PDP executives had variously complained about the inept leadership of Secondus, asking him to immediately relinquish his position as the party’s national chairman.

Politics

PDP governors call for calm as seven national officers quit party

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum on Tuesday night appealed to party stakeholders to remain calm following the resignation of seven members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

The seven officials – the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Diran Odeyemi; Deputy National Legal Adviser, Ahmed Bello; Deputy National Women Leader, Umoru Hadizat; Deputy National Auditor Divine Amina Arong; Deputy National Organizing Secretary, Hassan Yakubu; and Deputy National Financial Secretary, Irona Alphonsus; resigned from their positions on Tuesday.

They cited the poor handling of the PDP affairs by the party’s National Chairman, Uche Secondus; as the major reason for their decision to resign from key party organ.

The Chairman of the PDP Governor’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal, who reacted to the development in a statement, urged all aggrieved members of the party to hold their peace as efforts are ongoing by stakeholders to resolve the crisis.

He said the forum received with regrets and sadness the recent rumblings in the PDP.

He said: “The governors hereby call on all members of the party and indeed all stakeholders to remain calm in the face of the developments.

“We plead with all aggrieved persons and those with the interest of the PDP at heart to keep their gun powder dry.

“Efforts are being made in consultation with members of the PDP Board of Trustees and other stakeholders to resolve all contending issues.”

Tambuwal said the governors would hold an emergency meeting soon to discuss the affairs of the party and the way out of the current crisis.

Politics

‘Don’t compare us with failed PDP,’ APC tells Jega

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The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday cautioned the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to stop attacking the party because of his political interest.

Jega had in a chat with journalists advised Nigerians not to vote for the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections.

He described the two parties as failures.

The ex-INEC chief encouraged Nigerians to support the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), saying the party has the solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.

But in a statement issued by the National Secretary of its Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), James Akpanudoedehe, APC counseled the ex-election umpire against its comparison with the PDP.

It also described Jega’s statement as an uncontrolled, wrong, and untenable political outburst.

The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to an uncontrolled, wrong and untenable political outburst by a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, in which he lumped the All Progressives Congress (APC), together with the failed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

While the PDP failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians as a government and opposition party, the APC is thriving, healthy, and assiduously cleaning the massive mess left behind by the PDP which failed to deliver democratic dividends to the people of Nigeria after being in charge of the country for 16 years.

“While Prof. Jega is right about the PDP, a party under which he served as the chairman of the nation’s election management body, we reject his comparison of the APC with the PDP.

“Prof. Jega got his facts wrong and mixed up in his baseless comparison of the PDP with the APC.

“While we do not intend to join issues with Prof. Jega, we encourage him to engage in genuine scholarly research and come up with evidence-based conclusions on the progressive orientation of the APC.

“It is however instructive to note that having recently abandoned his academic pursuit and blindly plunged into the arena of PDP’s brand of politics, the erstwhile electoral umpire as a politician can make such political statements occasionally while trying to launch his political career in a mushroom political party.

“The APC is a strong, united, popular, and focused political unit. Hence, the Professor should note the political lesson that maligning the APC would not provide him with a springboard to achieve his desires. Nigerians are wiser and remain the ultimate judges.”

World News

‘Show genuine repentance for the 16-year misrule in Nigeria,’ APC tells PDP

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday challenged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to humbly accept its defeat in the Ondo State governorship election.

The Supreme Court had last week upheld the victory of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in October 10, 2020 election in the state.

But three out of seven justices in the apex court’s panel ruled against the governor on the petition against him.

In its reaction to the ruling, PDP commended the Supreme Court justices for upholding the integrity of the nation’s judiciary.

The party claimed that the justices agreed that the Chairman of the APC Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni violated 1999 Constitution by holding two separate positions at the same time.

Mala Buniis also the governor of Yobe State.

But in a statement issued by the Secretary of the APC Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, John Akpanudoedehe, the party urged the PDP to accept its defeat at the Supreme Court in good faith rather than attempting to constitute itself into an alternate court of law and misinterpreting the apex court’s judgments.

APC described the PDP as an “old, lonely, toothless and hungry Hyena” which had become rudderless, saying it would not join issues with the major opposition party on the status of Mai Mala Buni-led committee.

The party urged its major rival to show genuine repentance its 16 years misrule in the country.

The statement read: “The Peoples Democratic Party PDP is an old, lonely, toothless, and hungry Hyena wandering aimlessly in the jungle of political wilderness. Nigerians are fully aware of its antecedents and will never take it seriously no matter how much empty noise it makes.

We note how arrogantly the PDP has become an interpreter of the laws of the nation with ignorant comments on the recent Supreme Court judgment which affirmed the election victory of the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu SAN and dismissed the PDP’s case on the grounds that it was incompetent.

Instead of being humbled by that defeat, the PDP has turned itself into an alternate court by misrepresenting the decision of majority members of the Supreme Court that did not hinge its ruling on Section 183 of the 1999 constitution as the PDP labours to spin.

“Our position stands. It is not our intention to join issues with self-proclaimed interpreters of our laws which unsurprisingly now includes the PDP on the status of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC ) and its membership. The apex court ruling had no bearing on the validity or otherwise of the APC CECPC chaired by Governor Mai Mala Buni.

While the PDP and their fellow travelers labour to sell their falsehoods, backed by solid legal guidance, APC is on good grounds to conduct its Congresses leading to the National Convention.

“One asks, is the PDP now a Court of Law? It is a reflection of their propensity to hang on straws and murky thinking which shows that they should not be trusted with power again because they have no capacity to think clearly, talkless of running a country properly.

“The PDP is apparently using these baseless comments on the APC leadership to distract attention from its depleting fortunes and rudderless leadership which has led its members and leaders to abandon the failed opposition in droves for the APC which is providing Nigerians with purposeful leadership, rebuilding the nation and institutionalising the rule of law.

That the Uche Secondus-led PDP leadership is currently grappling with a serious crisis of confidence among its members and leaders is no longer news. However, we offer free advice: imbibe internal democracy; have focus; shun corruption and be orderly in your conduct as a sign of repentance and atonement for wasting 16 years misgoverning our country.

“The APC’s internal democracy and progressive politics which has been deepened by the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led leadership of the APC CECPC has demonstrated its sterling organisational capability which led to credible ward congresses. On the other hand, the PDP is so disorganised that it is unable to complete its abandoned national secretariat.

PDP has reached the end of its political road and Nigerians will never trust it again with the governance of this country.”

Politics

Governor Ayade dumps PDP for APC

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Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade has decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ayade made this known on Thursday morning after a closed-door meeting with six APC governors and some members of the National Assembly who visited him at the Government House.

The governors who visited Ayade include Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State; Hope Uzodinma of Imo State; Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State who is also the APC caretaker Chairman; Simon Lalong of Plateau State; Mohammed Abubakar of Jigawa State, and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.

He was elected as the governor of Cross Rivers State under the platform of the PDP in 2015.

Ayade was reelected in 2019 under the platform of the same political party.

Ayade is the second sitting governor to have move to the ruling APC in recent months.

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State also left the PDP Six months back.

Politics

PDP urges DSS to investigate Akpabio

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has implored the Department of State Services (DSS) to commence investigations into the activities of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio over alleged terror links.

According to the PDP, “Akpabio has shown that he has certain information regarding the spur for escalated acts of terrorism in our country, our party urges the DSS and other security agencies to immediately invite him for questioning so as to expose the politicians in his party that are behind the ugly situation in our country.”

This was contained in a statement issued by the PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan on Friday.

Ologbondiyan also urged the secret service to compel Akpabio to “name politicians in the All Progressives Congress that are behind the acts of terrorism and banditry ravaging our nation.”

There is self-professed evidence that Senator Akpabio is privy to certain terrorism-related information which he must be made to share with the DSS as well as other security agencies,” the statement partly read.

According to the opposition party, this call was in response to comments attributed to Akpabio who stated that the acts of terrorism in Nigeria were “politically motivated.”

“It is instructive to state that Senator Akpabio’s revelation provides more insight into the alleged affiliation of APC leaders with terrorist elements, who had reportedly infiltrated our nation after being imported from neighboring countries by the APC, as political mercenaries, to assist it in unleashing violence to rig the 2019 general elections.

The PDP invites Nigerians to note that the APC and its leaders have failed to account for these mercenaries and have remained silent despite widespread demands by Nigerians asking the APC to return these killers to wherever they brought them,” the statement added.

Politics

PDP NEC Passes Vote Of Confidence On Secondus

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The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has passed a vote of confidence on its National Chairman, Uche Secondus.

During its emergency meeting on Thursday in Abuja, it also endorsed the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Secondus, and warned members of the main opposition party against those it described as “agents of distraction and division.”

“NEC unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus as well as the member of the National Working Committee (NWC),” the PDP tweeted on its official handle.

The party’s NEC also lauded the NWC for staying “focused and purpose-driven in piloting the affairs of the party.”

During the 91st NEC meeting, the PDP also appointed Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State as the Chairman of e-registration committee while the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri will work as the Vice Chairman of the Committee.

Politics

PDP Asks Buhari To Declare State Of Emergency On Security

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The Peoples Democratic Party has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on security over the growing spate of attacks and kidnappings across the country.

In a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee of the party on Thursday in Abuja, PDP’s spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, backed the call by the House of Representatives for the President to urgently fix the worsening insecurity.

“NEC urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately declare a national state of emergency on security,” the statement partly read.

“NEC also urged President Buhari to, without delay, convoke a national conference on Security so as to galvanize ideas and options to tackle insecurity in our country.

“NEC lamented the heightened insecurity pervading all parts of our nation due primarily to the misrule of President Muhammed Buhari and All Progressives Congress as well as their failure to decisively tackle the menace of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, bloodletting and acts of violence in our country.

“NEC further commended the efforts of governors, senators, House of Representatives members and other officials elected on the platform of the PDP in forcefully seeking solutions to the spate of insecurity in our country.”

Nigeria has been experiencing a series of security threats ranging from terrorism, banditry, militancy, cultism among others in several parts of the country.

The country has been battling terrorism for more than a decade which has killed 36,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands in the northeast.

The Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) split from the jihadist group Boko Haram in 2016 and has since become a dominant threat in Nigeria, attacking troops and bases while killing and kidnapping passengers at bogus checkpoints.

On March 1, jihadist fighters burnt down a United Nations humanitarian compound in the town of Dikwa after dislodging troops, killing six civilians.

Nigeria’s jihadist violence has spread to neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Niger, prompting a regional military coalition to fight the insurgents.

Politics

South-East is for PDP —Ologbondiyan

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has revealed that it is optimistic about winning the Nov. 6 Anambra governorship election and revamping the state.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said this in a statement issued by Assistant Director (Head of Unit), Publicity Department, PDP, Richard Ihediwa on Sunday.

Ologbondiyan, playing host to a coalition of Anambra youths under the aegis of Anambra Youth Initiative For Good Governance, in Abuja, said the “PDP presents the hope for the state to rebuild and realise its full potentials”.

He said that the victory of the PDP in the recent Abia National Assembly by-election was a signal that the South East was for PDP.

According to him, the assemblage of leading aspirants and the surge of the people to the PDP, clearly indicate their resolve to elect the next governor of the state on the platform of the PDP.

The reality of the direction the Nov. 6 governorship election in Anambra will take is already manifest.

Ndi Anambra are very industrious, resourceful, and inventive people and they have collectively realized that they can only achieve their full potentials on the platform of the PDP.

This is particularly given our robust manifesto and wealth creation principles of inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, massive infrastructural development and empowerment of the people.

“Across our nation today, it is only PDP governors that are commissioning legacy projects,” he said.

According to him, projects upon projects are being commissioned by the party on daily basis in line with its manifesto in different states of the federation.

He said that the states included Rivers, Bauchi, Sokoto, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Benue, Abia, Adamawa, Edo, Oyo, Cross River, Zamfara, Enugu, Taraba, and Delta.

Ologbondiyan added that PDP states were opening new development and investment frontiers in critical sectors, including agriculture, aviation, energy, power, healthcare, education, real estate manufacturing, and massive industrialisation.

“This is why Ndi Anambra have firmly resolved to rally on our platform to revamp and move their state towards realizing its full potentials in all spheres of life,” Ologbondiyan stated.

Politics

PDP appeals to Taraba workers to suspend strike

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State on Friday appealed to striking workers in the state to suspend the action.

The PDP Chairman in the state, Rev. Kefas Agbu, who made the call during a chat with journalists in Jalingo, urged the workers to embrace dialogue on their demand for the payment of N30,000 minimum wage and other welfare packages in the state.

Agbu expressed regret that the workers’ strike had virtually closed all economic activities in the state.

He said: “I appeal to labour unions in the state to suspend the industrial action and embrace further dialogue in resolving the matter.

“I know that the delay in the implementation is due to other competing demands from key sectors of the economy, which the state government is fixing.”

The PDP chief also condemned sycophants and mischief-makers trying to destabilise the party in the state.

“Some people will just want to create an atmosphere of crisis and I don’t know what they stand to gain. We are a one united family in Taraba.

“When I took over as chairman last year, I constituted a committee to assess the structure of the party and issues that needed attention.

The committee submitted its report and we further constituted a White Paper committee which has also submitted its report.

The blueprint of the committee is out for action and the content of the report is being implemented.

“We are repositioning the party to maintain the winning trend as far as we can,’’ Agbu added.

Politics

No riffraff can sack me from PDP —Iwuanyanwu

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An elder statesman and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, on Tuesday, said nobody can sack him from the party, noting that he is a life member of the party’s Board of Trustees.

He also stated that he has committed his winner time working for the success of the party.

Speaking during a visit by the caretaker committee of the Imo state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in his office in Owerri, the party chieftain said he was made a life BOT member of the PDP because of his commitment to growing the party.

He said, “I did not say I regretted voting for the PDP during the Imo state governorship election in 2019.

I did not also say I regretted voting for an Owerri zone man during the 2019 governorship election. I was quoted wrongly in the media and, because of this, a pack of riffraff has been calling for my sack from the PDP.

“No riffraff can sack me from the PDP. I am a life BOT member of the PDP. I know the prominent role I played in making sure that the party won the 2019 Imo governorship election.”

Earlier, the chairman of the caretaker committee of NUJ in the state, Precious Nwadike, said the union was happy with the elder statesman’s role in maintaining peace in the society.

Politics

Omo-Agege warns APC against repeating PDP’s mistakes

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Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy President of the Senate, has cautioned the All Progressives Congress(APC) against past mistakes of the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Omo-Agege, gave the charge in an address at the APC South-South Town Hall Meeting for Constitution Review in Asaba, on Sunday, March 28.

He said that the move to review the APC constitution was to make it a peoples oriented party that created equal opportunities for all members.

He noted that the decision of the national leadership of the party to review the party’s constitution was born out of the imperative of receiving contributions at the grassroots levels to make a working document that would provide equal opportunities for all.

To this end, the Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), ably led by Gov. Mai Mala Buni has underlined the sacrosanct need for reviewing the party constitution to meet the current realities of nation’s political space and increase the need for intraparty relationship and efficiency.

History beacons on our great party. It is the first ever opposition party to unseat an incumbent party in the life of our nation, Nigeria.

“Fellow party men, remember that the PDP had confidently said that it would be in power for 60 years. It took the resolve and determination of a strong-willed nation and its people to upstage that confidence.

“Now there is a lesson that we must bear in our subconscious and which should give centrality to our thoughts and deeds,” he said.

Omo-Agege added:”Nigeria has shown that it has come of age in terms of political maturity; politicians and political parties must deliver on their mandates and their promises or face removal, just as it happened in 2015.

Yet, politicians must be given the enablement to so perform. This is why we must provide a working manual (Constitution) that is fully integrative not only of the obligation and responsibilities of party men and women but also of their rights and privileges.”

He added that the party should be guided at all times by a people-oriented constitution.

“Such that as we work, the APC would be so positioned to provide an irresistible appeal to all persons desirous of inclusive and purposeful political participation,” he said.

He charged the Constitution Review Committee, to consider all areas that had been contentious in the exiting party constitution.

The first, by no order of importance is the need to strengthen the organs of the party with clear cut and non-overlapping duties amongst the organs.

“Another is that of power devolution down the grassroots. Our party today has 12 million Nigerians strong and growing, the review needs to give specific functions to the zonal structures of the party such that power trickles down to the ward levels,” he said.

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