Abaribe calls for level playing field for PDP governorship aspirants in Abia

Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, PDP governorship aspirant in Abia, has appealed to leadership of the party in the state to create level playing field for all its aspirants during the governorship primaries.

Abaribe made the appeal in Umuahia on Friday at the party’s secretariat where he formally declared his intention to contest the 2015 governorship election in the state.

He said that a level playing field would lead to the emergence of a credible and qualified candidate.

He said although he supported zoning of the governorship position in 2015, the position should be won by merit.

Oyegun pledges to reconcile aggrieved members of APC

 

The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun, on Friday promised to reconcile aggrieved members and keep the party united.
Oyegun made the promise when he paid a courtesy call on Gov. Adams Oshiomhole in Benin.
Oyegun said his priority was to bring back all those who were disgruntled after his election as chairman of the party.

Akwa Ibom signs new hotel management contract with Starwood International

Akwa Ibom Government has signed an agreement with American leisure and hospitality company, Starwood International, for the management of its four-point Sheraton Hotel under construction at Ikot Ekpene.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agreement was signed by the Special Duties Commissioner, Mr Emmanuel Enoidem and Starwood’s Vice-President, Mr Hassan Ahdab on Friday in Uyo.

"check the behaviour of politicians" says Fayose

 

The governor-elect of Ekiti state, Mr Ayo Fayose, has called on INEC and security agencies to brace up ahead of the 2015 general elections to check the behaviour of politicians..
Fayose made the call on Thursday in Abuja at a forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that politicians are predisposed to playing’ rough’.
“Politicians are not good. It is the referee that controls the game. When you get to the field every potential politician wants to play rough, it is the referee that checks the excesses of all of us.

"My administration would make use of Technocrats" says Fayose

Ekiti state’s governor-elect, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has pledged to run an all-inclusive government in order to move the state forward.
Fayose told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja on Thursday that good governance would be better done when the state administration was broad-based.
The governor-elect said his administration would make use of technocrats within the party and not from outside.

I don't recognize Professor Olawale Oladipo as PDP National Secretary

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Wednesday told a Federal High Court in Lagos that it does not recognise Professor Olawale Oladipo as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ekiti State election was "marred by irregularities" says Aregbesola

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has stated that the just concluded governorship election in Ekiti State was marred by irregularities.
The governor noted that the All Progressives Congress lost to the PDP due to fraud but argued that it would be impossible to rig him out of office in the August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun.
The governor spoke in Ikirun on Tuesday during the continuation of his campaign which was held in the town.

Court suspends PDP’s case against five defecting Governors indefinitely

 

An Abuja Federal High Court on Tuesday adjourned indefinitely hearing in a suit instituted by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) against five governors who left its and defected to All Progressives Congress (APC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that PDP had sued the governors, asking the court to declare their seats vacant on account of their defection.

They cant win rivers - APC

 


The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State Chapter, has dismissed as a fluke, last Saturday’s dislodgement of the party by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the governorship election in Ekiti State.
“This development, which was unexpected, does not portend anything any danger for the APC in 2015, especially in Rivers State. The Ekiti election has come and gone and we have learnt our lessons which will ensure better outings in other elections. That election will go a long way to unite and strengthen us the more to present a better APC to Nigerians for the battle to rescue and reposition Nigeria gets hot,” Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said.

“The Ekiti election is a reflection and determination" says Jonathan’s aide

 

Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on youth and student matters, Comrade Jude Imagwe, yesterday called on politicians to emulate Governor Kayode Fayemi of the Ekiti State.
The aide said by accepting the results of the last Saturday’s governorship election, Governor Fayemi won himself a place in the country’s history.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Convention Planning Committee of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Abuja, Imagwe said “Accepting defeat in a free and fair election is an act that must be emulated by all political players.”

Fayemi is an unusual Nigerian

 

Ekiti State Governor-elect, Mr Ayodele Fayose yesterday described his opponent at the just concluded governorship election, Kayode Fayemi as an ‘unusual Nigerian.’
Both leaders spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital when the governor elect visited Fayemi in his office to set the stage for a transition plan.
Fayose was accompanied by Ekiti PDP chair, Makanjuola Ogundipe and Minister-designate, Dayo Adeyeye.
Fayemi vowed to sustain his programmes and policies for the state’s development till the end of his tenure in October.

Aminu Tambuwal been harassed by soldiers

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal had a clash with some soldiers in Kaduna on Monday after they insisted his official car be searched before being allowed into a hotel.
It was gathered that the speaker, who was in a flagged car to the venue of an international conference on security, was asked to stop for security checks while other VIPs and invited guests drove past the same route unperturbed.

"Fayose still has case to answer" says EFCC

Despite wining the last Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has said the governor elect, Ayodele Fayose still has case to answer.
The financial watchdog said it had not dropped corruption charges against the governor-elect.

"He promise to serve one year" - Sen Adamu

Senator Abdullahi Adamu was the governor of Nasarawa State from 1999-2007, and a former secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees. He says contrary to the denials, President Goodluck Jonathan did sign an agreement to run for only one term as president in 2010. He also speaks on the challenges the All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing from the PDP in Nasarawa State and his relations with Information Minister, Labaran Maku.  Excerpts:

You did say recently that you were present at the meeting where President Goodluck Jonathan agreed to serve for only one term in 2010, can you tell us more?
I was part and parcel of that meeting. I was not the secretary or chairman of the party at that time but I was present at the meeting. The issue arose when people from the northern part of the country who were members of the meeting came up with the argument that the PDP has enthroned zoning and that after former President Olusegun Obasanjo, it was late Umaru Musa Yar’adua who had opportunity to be president as a northerner but as God would have it, he didn’t live to see his tenure through.

PDP moves to counter APC’s move to save Nyako

Stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State and their counterparts in the All Progressives Congress (APC) are engaged in last minute maneuvers to sustain their strategies on the bid to either impeach or save Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy Bala Nglari from impeachment.

APC governors met Thursday night to device strategies towards frustrating the move while legislators from the state also met separately for the same purpose.

"I left Kano because of illness" says Bayero

 

Eldest son of late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero, yesterday spoke on why he left the state after the selection of the former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Sanusi, whose name was among the three submitted by the Kano Emirate Kingmakers to the Kano State governor, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, for consideration as successor of his late father in an interview with Daily Trust yesterday, said he left the state not because of illness as widely reported.

APC promise to re-strategise for future election

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that it will re-strategise for future elections after Saturday’s defeat of its candidate and incumbent governor Kayode Fayemi.

Fayose "justify the mandate of the people" says David Mark

Senate  President David Mark has congratulated the governor-elect of Ekiti State, Peter Ayo Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over his victory at Saturday’s governorship election.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu congratulate Mr. Ayodele Fayose on his victory.

Deputy Senate  President Ike Ekweremadu, has congratulated the winner of the Ekiti State governorship election, Mr. Ayodele Fayose on his victory.

PDP describes Fayose's victory as "well deserved"

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated the newly elected governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Peter Fayose, describing his victory at the Saturday’s election as well deserved.

This is a "boost for the nation’s democratisation process" says Abdul-Jelili Adesiyan

Police Affairs Minister Abdul-Jelili Adesiyan, has congratulated the governor-elect of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, describing his victory as a boost for the nation’s democratisation process.

The minister, in a statement yesterday, said Fayose’s victory signified a defeat awaiting Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the August 9 gubernatorial election.

"lawmakers reiterated commitment"

Speakers of state legislatures in Nigeria at the weekend rose from a retreat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, insisting financial autonomy is a necessary ingredient for the effective discharge of their constitutional duties.

In a communique issued at the end of the speakers’ retreat with the theme ‘The Role of the Legislature as Instrument of Stability in Democratic Governance,’ the speakers agree that only financial autonomy could shield them from the  overbearing influence of the executive.

Who owns this seat?

 

As the people of Ekiti State decide on who their next governor would be through their votes, the three major political parties in the state have been grossly engaged in a battle of wills with each party believing it would win in today’s election.

Zamfara governor’s aides resign, join PDP

Governor Abdulaziz Yari

 






Three aides of Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State yesterday resigned their appointments and defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The resignation is coming barely a week after the caretaker committee chairman of PDP in Zamfara, Alh Adamu Danja, hinted that many officials of the state government would be defecting to the PDP.
The three aides are Shehu Adamu Yanware, Director General, Inter Party Relations, Mustapha Sani Bukkuyum, Director General,  Office of the Executive Governor as well as Haruna Muhammad Jangebe, Director General, Non Governmental Organizations.

Options before Mu’azu

Adamu Mu’azu

Demands on the PDP national chairman to intervene in the stalemate in the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the party over who should be the party’s flag bearer in 2015, has put Mu’azu in a dilemma as pressure from the two opposing  sides appears overwhelming.

“We had called for his resignation and or impeachment times and over before now" says SASM

The Save Adamawa State Movement (SASM) has described the impeachment notice served on Governor Murtala Nyako by the State House of Assembly as a welcome development.

The Movement in a press statement issued in Abuja noted that all the facts adduced by the legislators are key issues members of the issues it has been raising on the governor for about two years now.

Niger APC threatens to expose state Assembly

Niger State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has threatened to expose what is described as the rot in the State House of Assembly following Tuesday’s suspension of the minority leader, Mohammed Nurudeen Umar.

Group call Mu’azu to reposition the party

A group; Kwara Unity for Freedom has called on the national leadership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to reposition the party in Kwara State to enhance its success in the 2015 general elections.

"APC has little or no faith in the promises and commitment of the PDP"

Newly elected national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Oyegun was yesterday inaugurated with other members of the party’s new National Working Committee (NWC).

Oyegun in a speech at the inauguration said the APC has little or no faith in the promises and commitment of the PDP led government to conduct a free and fear election in Ekiti.
 He said with the recent development beginning from attacks on APC members and other tactics, there is a need for explanation by the PDP on its intentions during the Ekiti elections.
“The All Progressives Congress, APC, will not accept the outcome of the election in Ekiti unless the authorities provide convincing explanations to the series of questionable developments in recent times,” he said.
The chairman said his  first message to President Goodluck Jonathan is to discontinue the dangerous trend being pursued by the PDP as the fall out  will be disastrous for Nigeria’s democracy.

Yobe Lawmakers set to defect to APC

Rep. Ali Yakubu Mainasara, representing Potiskum/Nangere Federal constituency of Yobe State, is set to defect from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Daily Trust learnt in Abuja yesterday.

"Lets support him and ensure that peace reign" says PDP

Former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday told a group campaigning for President Goodluck Jonathan against 2015, to marry its talks with actions.

The governor is in favour says Mr. Patrick Udomfang

 

Director of legal services at the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr. Patrick Udomfang has accused aides of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio of scheming to set the governor against him.

Udomfang, a former commissioner for local governments and chieftaincy affairs in the state, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja, was reacting to a report in an online portal quoting him to have endorsed Chief Umana Okon Umana for the 2015 governorship election in the state.
The governor is in favour of the position being zoned to the Eket senatorial district while Umana hails from Uyo senatorial district.

The first free and fair election in Nigeria

 
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State. His name, Kashimawo, means "Let us wait and see". Moshood Abiola was his father's twenty-third child but the first of his father's children to survive infancy, hence the name 'Kashimawo'. It was not until he was 15 years old that he was properly named Moshood, by his parents.

"The problem in APC is very glaring"says Alhaji Usman Abubaka

 

Alhaji Usman Abubakar, popularly known as ‘Young Alhaji,’ has contested several elections in Benue State since 1999. He explains why he recently dumped the APC and shed light on consultations for him to join another party. Excerpts:

What informed your decision to quit the APC?
The problem in APC is very glaring; it is greed and inordinate ambition. Senator George Akume who is our leader in Benue state has never been an opposition politician, he belongs to mainstream politics of PDP during his tenure as governor and even during his first tenure as a senator. It was when he was rejected in PDP, that he came to join us in the defunct ACN, because of his former position as the governor of the state; we gave him the honour and respect to become our leader. However, in the real sense, he was never qualified to lead opposition struggle in the state. When he joined us, he started the PDP style of imposing candidates and ensured that only his own views prevail.

"The arrangement has done justice for the members of the party." says Senator Abdullahi Adamu

 

All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders have commended the party on arriving at an amicable solution on the zoning of leadership positions in the party.

Speaking to Politics9ja separately after the party’s stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja yesterday, the party leaders expressed happiness over the way an agreement was reached to solve the issue during the meeting.
Alhaji Baraje said the party members have demonstrated a sense of maturity in the conduct of the affairs of the party especially on the adoption of zoning which will give all the sections of the country a sense of belonging.

"WE don't recognize the congresses that brought the Hassan Ardo-Jika led exco of the party."

A faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State has inaugurated a parallel executive committee, saying it does not recognize  the earlier congresses held in the state.

Inaugurating the executives in Jalingo Monday, the APC factional chairman, Comrade Saleh Bin-Ahmad, said the group does not recognise the congresses that brought the Hassan Ardo-Jika led exco of the party.
The faction has Sale Bin-Ahmad as its state chairman; Jephtha Yakubu Bakura as deputy state chairman, and Engha Zabadi as state secretary, among others.
He said the executives emerged on consensus basis from across the 168 wards in the state as well as from the Yangtu Special Development Area.
The factional state chairman, said his group had earlier raised fundamental issues regarding the changing of names of state delegates during the state congress exercise ‘which if properly handled would have led to successful congress with credible leadership’.
“However, it was neglected despite the appeal committee sent by the National Secretariat report attested to the allegation I.e. the congress chairman was biased in favour of Hassan Ardo. Prior to the state congress, we noticed massive changes in the state delegate names”, Ahmad said.
He said that the Appeal Panel report which looked into their petition to the National Secretariat was not implemented and that they would not fold their arms and watch APC in the state ‘being manhandled’.
He said, his group will be proceeding to the national secretariat of the party in Abuja to take part in the national convention slated for June 12, 2014.
When contacted, Taraba State Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Hassan Ardo Jika said he and his executive members don’t need the recognition of the group, stressing that he was recognised and inaugurated by the party national body in Abuja on June 6.

"It's time for we women to rule"

Halimat Ikuji Alfa

Halimat Ikuji Alfa is a member of SURE-P committee from Kogi State. She spoke on her desire to contest for the Kogi East senatorial seat and the challenges women face in politics among others issues. Excerpts:

Court of Appeal dismissed the case between Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwasa of Kano State and two others

 

The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna, has dismissed a case between Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwasa of Kano State and two others over his eligibility to have contested as governor.

Daily Trust recalls that Hassan Sani Indabawa and Suleiman Mohammed are contesting Kwankwaso’s eligibility to contest the governorship position of the state.

"WE will fight the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan"

The five state governors who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last year will fight the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan, a spokesman has said.

“We have noted President Jonathan’s claim made last Thursday at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the PDP in the federal capital, to the effect that PDP is not missing us, as well as his boast that some of us cannot win even our wards during elections,” said spokesman for the defunct nPDP, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, in a statement.

"There is no place for APC in Imo state"

Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, yesterday said there is no alternative political party to the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the State that would take it to the promise land.

"Bamidele never got the support of his kinsmen."

Political appointees from Iyin Ekiti, in Irepodun/Ifelodun council area of Ekiti State at the weekend distanced themselves from claims by the governorship candidate of the Labour Party Rep. Michael Bamidele that his decision to run as governor was a collective decision of the people of the area.

“Senate is not a place I really want to go back to except APC becomes the majority."

 

Wife of former governor of Lagos State, Oluremi Tinubu, said yesterday that she may not return to the Senate next year if the rot in the upper chamber persists.

Mrs Tinubu who currently represents Lagos Central Senatorial District in the senate, said she is depressed with various activities that go on in the Senate daily.

Empowering Amaechi’s foot soldiers for 2015

 

Ahead of 2015, Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi is providing ground for a possible handover to his new party, but would the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is laying claim to the state, allow the pendulum to swing?