Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: PDP

  • Edo Guber Poll: Three Commissioners dump Obaseki, root for Ize-Iyamu

    Edo Guber Poll: Three Commissioners dump Obaseki, root for Ize-Iyamu

    Three Commissioners of Edo State Oil Gas Producing Area Development Commission (EDOSOGPADEC) have resigned their position on Monday, and declared support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

    The commissioners are: Emmanuel Odigie, Rilwanu Oshiomhole and Osamwonyi Atu, representing Edo Central, Edo North Senatorial districts and Orhionmwon constituency respectively.

    Atu, in his resignation letter, said his decision to leave the Obaseki administration was to attend to family issues which has become necessary.

    Few hours after their resignations, the trio declared support for Ize-iyamu, promising to campaign and work for the victory of APC in the September 19 governorship election.

    Below are the resignation letters by the three Commissioners.

    By Idowu Sowunmi

  • Jegede clinches Ondo PDP ticket, to battle Akeredolu in Oct poll

    Jegede clinches Ondo PDP ticket, to battle Akeredolu in Oct poll

    A former Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Eyitayo Jegede, has won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in the state.

    With this victory, Jegede is expected to slug it out with the incumbent Ondo State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, at the October 10 governorship election in the state.

    Announcing the result of the primary election, Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who’s also the Chairman of the Electoral Committee and Returning Officer, said “the exercise was peaceful, free and fair, and was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of PDP.”

    He said: “By the powers conferred on me as the Chairman of the Electoral Committee and Returning Officer for this exercise, I announce that Jegede Eyitayo Olayinka, having scored the highest votes cast and met all the requirements of our party’s guidelines for the conduct of this election, is hereby declared winner of the PDP Governorship Primary Election in Ondo State, and is returned elected.”

    In a keenly contested primary in Akure on Wednesday, Jegede defeated other contestants, polling 888 votes, while Ondo State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, got 657 votes; and PDP National Vice Chairman, Eddy Olafeso, came third with 175 votes.

    Other aspirants include: Bode Ayorinde (95 votes); Banji Okunomo (90); Boluwaji Kunlere (33); Sola Ebiseni (29); and Godday Erewa (14).

    While appreciating the aspirants and delegates for their comportment and commitment to the success of the exercise, Ugwuanyi urged all the aspirants to close ranks and work for the victory of PDP in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

    In his acceptance speech, Jegede thanked the people of Ondo State, his fellow aspirants and party delegates, for the victory.

    He also commended members of PDP Electoral Committee led for “a very transparent exercise.”

  • Ondo PDP: 114 delegates support Jegede, Ajayi dismisses new member claim

    Ondo PDP: 114 delegates support Jegede, Ajayi dismisses new member claim

    A Peoples Democratic  Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in  the October 10 election in Ondo State, Eyitayo  Jegede, seems to have things looking bright for him ahead of the party’s primary election on Wednesday with 114 delegates backing his candidacy against others,  one of which is the incumbent Deputy Governor,  Agboola Ajayi, who recently resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The endorsement is from delegates representing Akure South Local Government Area of the state, who pledged to vote for Jegede in tomorrow’s primary election.

    In a remark by a former deputy governor of Ondo, Otunba Omolade Oluwateru, Jegede was described as having paraded the best qualities and deserved to win the party’s primary.

    Jegede was said to be a trustworthy personality because he has sustained his loyalty to the PDP despite losing the governorship election in 2016.

    Oluwateru, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Uganda and a member of the PDP Board of Trustees said:

    “This is a golden opportunity for you, to tell the entire people of Ondo State that Akure has an exceptional son who can fulfill the yearnings and aspirations of the masses of the state.

    “We have all been behind Jegede all this while because we can see ahead, that the people of the state stands to gain much in terms of employment generation, social infrastructure, agricultural revolution, solid health services, educational growth, among others,” he said.

    Also,  a legislator who represents Akure South/North Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Adedayo Omolafe, said Jegede was a leader who gives priority to the welfare of his followers.

    Another lawmaker who represents Irele/Okitipupa Federal Constituency, Hon. Ikengboju Gboluga, disclosed that he was a beneficiary of the generous disposition of Jegede.

    Jegede however, stated that the Deputy Governor of the State, Agboola Ajayi was not a threat to his ambition.

    “In all my career, I have never been found wanting and I have overcome greed in any appearance.

    “If you cast your vote for me in this primary election, and if I eventually win the governorship race, nobody will be forgotten in terms of spreading the dividends of democracy”, Jegede assured his supporters.

    A statement emanating from the camp of Deputy Governor Ajayi’s campaign organisation, has warned against disparaging comments against any of the aspirants of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    The statement, signed by the Director-General of the organisation, Dr Kola Ademujimi reiterated that the aim of all PDP aspirants was to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and not to fight one another.

    Ademujimi, in the statement dismissed comments that Ajayi is a new member of the PDP. He noted that the assertion was incorrect, stating that Ajayi was a foundation member of the PDP.

    “From 1998 when he joined the PDP, till 2016 when political exigencies drove him out of the party, he has conducted himself as a bridge-builder and a conscious networker in and out of party and politics.

    “His humility, uncommon large-heartedness and generosity, palpable political dexterity and convincing demonstration of political sportsmanship have consummated his wide acceptance within a short period of his return to the party he helped uphold its umbrella for 18 years.

    “We are thankful for this uncommon show of love and trust, which we at the Alfred Agboola Ajayi Campaign Organisation (3ACO) have enjoyed across the 18 LGAs during our statewide tour and assure you that we will never take it for granted.

    “The ACO is proud of the untiring and creative strategies with which we presented our aspirant as a competent grassroots politician who rose through the ranks to serve in many executive positions at both the party and government levels.

    “His legislative experience as a former member of the House of Representative added to his widely accepted political resume of over three decades among our party members.

    “Our campaign issues were purely about positioning our party as a formidable, organised and victory-ready political platform for the sustainable development of party men and women as well as the non-partisan masses, technocrats and civil servants of the Sunshine State,” he said.

    Ademujimi emphasised the need to have a rancour-free election that is truly democratic , transparent, fair and generally credible; urging members to pray for the process.

  • Bayelsa Governor rejoices after Supreme Court verdict

    Bayelsa Governor rejoices after Supreme Court verdict

    Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, Tuesday celebrated and commended Justices of the Supreme Court for their uprightness.

    He described the verdict of the Supreme Court as the triumph of democracy.

    Diri, who spoke to journalists in Abuja shortly after the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by Chief Ndutimi Alaibe against his victory at the September 3, 2019 governorship primary election of the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP), explained that the incident has deepened democratic ethos in Nigeria.

    The governor noted that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man in the country.

    “Clearly and transparently, the Justices have displayed uprightness. They have also displayed that the Supreme Court is indeed the last court in Nigeria.

    “I want to appreciate them and I believe and pray that God will continue to guide them, use them to do justice to all manner of people,” he said.

    Diri also appreciated Bayelsans home and abroad as well as lovers of the state government for their prayers and promised not to fail them.

  • You’re unfit to lead an agency like EFCC, PDP condemns Magu

    You’re unfit to lead an agency like EFCC, PDP condemns Magu

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Saturday said the President Muhammadu Buhari-Federal Government must not cover for the indicted Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), but ensure that he answers for alleged corruption, reported violation of rules, victimisation of Nigerians and stealing of recovered funds for which he has been suspended.

    “What Nigerians expect at this time is for the Federal Government to ensure Magu’s prosecution in court as well as take necessary and decisive steps to restore the integrity of the EFCC by ensuring that Magu’s replacement as EFCC Chairman is thoroughly screened to avoid the ills and violations experienced under the suspended acting chairman,” PDP said.

    The party described Magu as not only being unfit to lead an agency like the EFCC, but has also allegedly “reduced the anti-corruption agency to a house of corruption and a partisan witch-hunt organisation that thrives in violation of rules, abuse of investigation processes, manipulation of court procedures as well as a vehicle to harass and extort money from innocent Nigerians.”

    The opposition party stated that “Magu should be made to provide answer to allegations in the public space that he was more interested in securing politically induced convictions rather than justice, for which he allegedly turned EFCC into a terror house where innocent Nigerians are harassed with trumped-up charges and convicted on media trial even before being allowed to defend themselves in court.”

    The party said: “There are also allegations of violation of rights, including allegedly making his victims to make statements in custody without the services of their lawyers. This is in addition to insinuations in the public that the indicted EFCC boss was also harassing certain judges to get conviction on cases.

    “Similarly, there are several cases of officers and ranks of the commission whose employment in the service were unjustly suspended or terminated.”

    PDP accused Magu og destroying “the integrity of the anti-corruption agency with his manifest selective fight against corruption, in which no member of the current administration, including those who have been openly indicted for corruption, has been prosecuted by EFCC.”

    “Nigerians can recall that under Magu, the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, was bold to state that once a corrupt person joins the APC, all his sins are forgiven.

    “Moreover, the memo by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, detailing charges of diversion of recovered funds, secret sale of seized property and insubordination among others now validates the position of most Nigerians that Ibrahim Magu lacks the required discipline, exposure and experience to head an agency like EFCC,” the party added.

    PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, also urged “an investigation into the alleged connection between the indicted EFCC boss and certain judges handling EFCC cases, while calling on the judiciary to sanitise the courts in this direction.”

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • EFCC: DCP Mohammed Umar resumes as Acting Chairman, PDP berates Govt.

    EFCC: DCP Mohammed Umar resumes as Acting Chairman, PDP berates Govt.

    A Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mohammed Umar, has been appointed as Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The appointment of Umar by President Muhammadu Buhari comes after Ibrahim Magu, who is being investigated for alleged corruption, was suspended.

    Recall that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Abubakar Malami had In his petition against Magu recommended to the President three candidates to replace the now suspended Acting Chairman, Umar’s choice as Acting Chairman is a deviation from that list.

    Mohammed, who, until his appointment, was the Director of Operations at the anti-graft agency, resumed duties yesterday, Wednesday.

    The presidential probe panel headed by Justice Ayo Salami, is specifically looking into sundry documents and meeting with persons connected to the case at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Reports have it that access to the premises of where the probe panel is sitting was heavily guarded by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

    However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded that the Federal Government immediately begin prosecution of Magu.

    The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, yesterday, observed that the alleged diversion of recovered funds and fraudulent sale of assets seized by the EFCC among other forms of sleaze, as detailed in the memo by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, as well as the DSS report on Magu’s activities, further exposed the racket that the fight against corruption had become under the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

    It stated that Magu’s indictment reinforced its position that the hyped corruption war by the EFCC under Magu had been a huge scam.

    Also, an arm of the party known as the Peoples Democratic Party Youth Alliance (PDPYA) called for immediate resignation of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for his involvement in the case. Magu, who is under probe on a 22-count charge of fraud, alleged that he gave N4 billion out of the N39 billion he recovered to Osinbajo.

    In a release made available to newsmen yesterday, Kalu said the development was clear evidence that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration had only been paying lip service to the corruption fight.

    In the same vein, former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has asked security agencies to tighten the noose around Magu, for him not to escape. Fayose yesterday called on the DSS, the police and other security agencies to place the suspect on the country’s watch list, so that he would not disappear into thin air.

    This is just as the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) called on the panel to be thorough and fair in its investigation. According to the Executive Director, CISLAC, Auwal Musa (Rafsanjani), while it is unclear what the real issues are, “CISLAC is concerned about the conflicting signals it sends to Nigerians. Being that Magu heads a very sensitive position in a government agency tasked with the investigation of financial crimes, it is thus pertinent that the case be handled with all diligence and transparency to ensure that the gains in the fight against corruption are not lost in the battle for supremacy and political advantage.”

  • Saraki carpets APC on offensive claim, denounce link with Hushpuppi

    Saraki carpets APC on offensive claim, denounce link with Hushpuppi

    Nigeria’s former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has described as irresponsible and cheap politics the statement credited to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and signed on its behalf by one Yekini Nabena in which it tried to link him with a cyber-crime suspect, Ramon Abbas who was recently arrested in the United Arab Emirates and extradited to the United States.

    Saraki in a statement issued in Abuja today stated that he has no form of association with the said suspect, Ramon Abbas otherwise known as Hushpuppi and neither does he know him in any way.

    “The statement credited to the APC, the ruling party in our country, is one of the ways by which our anti-graft agencies are weakened and why the fight against corruption in the country is often viewed with suspicion by the international community.

    This is because when these cyber-crime suspects were operating freely and openly displaying wealth, the APC saw nothing bad in their activities. Also, the party at that time did not deem it necessary to call on the anti-graft agencies to investigate their activities.

    “Also, since the arrest of those cyber crime suspects and the subsequent damage to the image and the economy of Nigeria as well as the crisis it created for Nigerians engaged in lawful businesses across the world, the ruling party had been muted.

    “The only time the APC deemed it necessary to make a statement was when it thought it should play dirty, cheap and irresponsible politics, Saraki stated.

    The former Senate President had on July 1 publicly reacted to the recent arrest alleged internet fraudster in an Op-Ed article published in a Nigerian Newspaper, Daily Trust, titled “Cyber Criminals: Confronting The Few Who Dent Many”.

    Dr. Saraki had in the article, strongly condemned the activities of cyber criminals and called on the law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to make decisive interventions to checkmate their activities.

    According to the media aide of the ex-Senate President, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki enlisted a research institution, the Politeia Institute, whose board he chairs to commence a research on the best ways to tackle the menace.

    Olaniyonu, while carpeting the APC, described Saraki’s intervention as noble.

    “Such a noble intervention in tackling a menace is what Dr. Saraki believes in, not mudslinging and playing politics at the expense of the nation’s image. At this point, we call on the APC leadership to rein in the so-called Yekini Nabena and compel him to desist from making and circulating such malicious, odious and offensive claims”, he said.

     

  • PDP Primary: National Chairman presents Certificate-of-Return to Gov. Obaseki – Pictures

    PDP Primary: National Chairman presents Certificate-of-Return to Gov. Obaseki – Pictures

    Ahead of the September 19 governorship election in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki has received his Certificate of Return from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The certificate was issued on Saturday by the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    This was confirmed on the party’s Twitter handle.

    READ ALSO: Just In: Suspended APC chair, Oshiomhole accepts buhari backed NEC’s decisions

    Secondus also presented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination form to the governor.

    PDP National Chariman, Uche Secondus presents the Certificate of Return to Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki on June 27, 2020. Credit: PDP
    PDP National Chariman, Uche Secondus presents the Certificate of Return to Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki on June 27, 2020. Credit: PDP
    PDP National Chariman, Uche Secondus presents the Certificate of Return to Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki on June 27, 2020. Credit: PDP
  • APC Crisis: Oshiomhole camp fights back, dismisses NEC meeting as PDP mocks Buhari

    APC Crisis: Oshiomhole camp fights back, dismisses NEC meeting as PDP mocks Buhari

    Idowu Sowunmi

    Members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to the suspended National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, has reaffirmed their strong opposition to the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting called by the party’s factional Acting National Chairman, Victor Giadom.

    This was coming as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) berated President Muhammadu Buhari for violating his oath of office by using the Federal Executive Council (FEC) Chambers and government resources to conduct the affairs of his party.

    NWC, in a statement by the factional Acting National Chairman, Hillard Eta, and the Acting National Secretary, Waziri Bulama, explained that they were consulting their lawyers and other stakeholders on the dissolution of NWC and other decisions taken at the NEC meeting on Thursday.

    They insisted that the NEC meeting was illegally convened by the suspended Deputy National Secretary of the party, Victor Giadom.

    Giadom’s NEC meeting attended by Buhari, among others dissolved the 18-member NWC and other decisions.

    “The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress wishes to reiterate its earlier position that Chief Victor Giadom has no authority whatsoever to convene a meeting of the National Executive Committee of our great party.

    “Article 25(b) of the constitution of the APC is explicit that only the National Chairman or the National Working Committee is given the prerogative of summoning meetings of the National Executive Committee of the party either for statutory quarterly meetings or for emergency meetings. The same provision of the constitution makes it compulsory for a notice of minimum of 14 days in respect of statutory quarterly meetings and seven days in respect of emergency meetings.

    “We note that Chief Victor Giadom had convened and conducted a virtual meeting purportedly to be a National Executive Committee meeting of our party wherein certain far-reaching resolutions were purportedly reached. While the National Working Committee is studying the unfolding drama, it will be consulting with stakeholders and team of lawyers on the next line of action.

    “Therefore, all members of our great party and concerned Nigerians are urged to remain calm pending the outcome of the consultations.”

    Other NWC members privy to the statement apart from Eta and Bulama include: the National Vice Chairman (North-west), Inuwa Abdulkadir; National Vice Chairman (South-west), Bankole Oluwajana; and the National Vice Chairman, (North-central), Ahmed Wambal.

    Meanwhile, PDP has condemned the use of public facilities by the President to host the NEC meeting, saying it’s the height of corruption.

    “Our party describes this action of Mr. President, in using public facilities and resources for APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, as the height of corruption as well as a desecration of the sanctity of the seat of power and our national values,” the opposition party said.

    PDP added that “never in the history of our nation has governance been so devalued to the extent of using the hallowed chamber of the highest executive body in the country, where high-level executive decisions are taken, for an illegal, wrongly constituted and Nicodemus meeting of a political party.”

    The party said: “This shameful development is a further manifestation of the level of impunity, recklessness, disrespect for rules and disdain for our laws by the APC administration, whose latest action exposes a move towards instituting the art of running processes and programmes through illegality, illicitness, illegitimate and unlawful means driven by crude force and naked power.

    “Furthermore, it is an indefensible double standard for President Buhari, whose administration has been hounding and prosecuting innocent Nigerians for allegedly using public resources for activities of their political parties, to use the resources and facilities of the FEC chamber for his party’s NEC meeting.

    “It is even more distressing that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, is part of this desecration of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) by functioning as a notary public to a political party and using official facilities of FEC chamber to administer oath of office to a functionary of a political party, in total disregard to his oath of office, the code of conduct prohibitions under the 5th Schedule and extant public service rules.

    “This is the same Attorney General, who has been prosecuting others for alleged but unsubstantiated use of public resources for  activities of their political parties.”

    PDP noted that by using government facilities and resources to promote the activities of his party, the Attorney General has become culpable of the same offence for which he has been prosecuting innocent Nigerians.

    “Malami has therefore become ethically challenged to continue in office as the Chief Law Officer of our nation.

    “Our party therefore demands that the Attorney General should immediately resign from office and surrender himself for prosecution

    “It is even more disgraceful that the furtive APC NEC meeting at the FEC Chamber was convened in total violation of the APC Constitution, which prescribes 14 days notice for regular NEC meeting and 7 days notice in the case of an emergency meeting under Article 25 (b) (i) and (ii) respectively.

    “Such a coup against their own party’s constitution renders the purported APC NEC meeting illegal and decisions taken therein, a complete nullity.

    “Significantly, the kind of marshal orders and threats which President Buhari was issuing out at the so called NEC meeting without allowing for a debate was a sad reminder of his days at the Supreme Military Council in 1984.

    “This raised questions on the democratic content of the charade called a NEC meeting by the APC.

    “Moreover, now that the Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni, has been sworn in as the Chairman of APC Caretaker Committee, he has made himself a full administrative officer of the APC and as such, should immediately resign as the Governor of Yobe state, in keeping with Article 17 (iv) of the APC Constitution which prohibits such dual mandate,” PDP said.

    The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, counseled APC leaders to note that “Nigeria is a nation governed by law and as such their party will not be allowed to use their crisis to destroy our democratic order.”

  • PDP Primary: Court stands down suit seeking to stop Obaseki

    PDP Primary: Court stands down suit seeking to stop Obaseki

    As the political standoff within the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State unfolds, there is indication that embattled Governor Godwin Obaseki may finally participate without hindrance, in the party’s governorship primary election scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday.

    This comes after the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt granted the request by one of the governorship aspirants, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, to have the matter stood down to enable an out of court settlement.

    Ogbeide-ihama had filed a suit seeking the court to bar any member of the party that has purchased forms but not screened within the time stipulated to contest the PDP primary.

    Ogbeide-ihama’s suit was granted accelerated hearing by the court yesterday. However, before the hearing on the application today, Wednesday, Ogbeide-Ihama’s counsel requested that the court stood down the case for some time.

    The presiding judge, Justice Emmanuel Obile, granted the prayers after the counsel to all the defendants aligned with the request.

    Governor Obaseki, having defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) got a waiver of the PDP to join the race under its party.

    Meanwhile, a High Court of Justice in the Ekpoma judicial division on Tuesday restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from excluding Governor Godwin Obaseki and the other cleared aspirants from participating in the Edo State governorship primary.

    The court ordered that the PDP and the electoral umpire should not exempt any of the aspirants who have been cleared by the party from participating in the gubernatorial primary slated for the 25th June 2020.