Showing posts with label National Convention. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National Convention. Show all posts
PDP: ‘This is the best national convention in Nigeria’- Fayose
Ekiti state governor and Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Ayo Fayose, has come out to praise the organisers of the national convention, being held by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He made this statement in an interview with the African Independent Television (AIT), at the on-going national convention.
“This is the best national convention ever held in Nigeria. I listen to some people talking about list, I felt ashamed, I felt sad.
He also asked others to toe the line of Atiku Abubukar and return to the PDP.
Dokpesi kicks, says governors have decided winners of PDP convention
Raymond Dokpesi, a chairmanship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says governors have hijacked the convention of the party.
Addressing reporters at Eagle Square, Abuja, on Saturday, Dokpesi described the process as unfair.
He said delegates were given a list of candidates to support, and that the organisers of the convention had become helpless.
“Since we started voting about three hours ago, every delegate that is available has been provided with copies of what you have here. They call it ‘Unity List’ and all the names on the list are number one in all the cubicles for voting and this is supposed to be a list prepared by the governors,” he said.
“I have personally approached Gabriel Suswam, former governor of Benue state, who is involved in the management of the electoral process. He told me that he was taking necessary steps. He even told me that he collected this list from a governor who was distributing it.
“I also approached Governor Okowa of Delta state who is the chairman of the convention committee. He is also helpless. The names you find here is not unlikely what would be announced at the end of the day.
“The chairman of the convention committee said he is aware of the whole thing but there is little he can do. He is overwhelmed… This election has been seriously marred.”
Earlier, Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, said governors reserve the right to support candidates of their choice.
“I have a right to support any candidate of my choice, and I do not see how that can be said to be imposition,” he said.
“Making statements that some people have hijacked the party is not correct, with all due respect, we are not playing sentiments, the people know what they want.”
BREAKING: PDP chairmanship: Adeniran rejects electoral process, says ‘Unity List’ used to rig election
BREAKING: PDP chairmanship: Adeniran rejects electoral process, says ‘Unity List’ used to rig election
Professor Tunde Adeniran, a frontline candidate from the South-West contesting for the national chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has rejected the electoral process at the elective national convention of the party which held at the Eagle Square, Abuja, on Saturday.
Adeniran, who outrightly denounced the electoral process ahead of the announcement of results, described it as “fraudulent and unfair.”
The director of publicity to Adeniran, Mr Taiwo Akeju, told journalists at the Eagle Square, Abuja, that his principal “is against the use of a unity list, which he claims was used to rig the process.”
He called on the Board of Trustees of PDP to take over the affairs of the party the interim till such a time a fresh exercise that would acceptable for all is organised.
Handover PDP to BoT – Adeniran
Handover PDP to BoT – Adeniran
A former Minister of Education who was also a contestant for the office of National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, has called on the national leadership of the party to handover the affairs of the party to its Board of Trustees.
Adeniran stated this while protesting the outcome of the national covention where national officers were elelcted on Saturday night in Abuja.
The Director of Media and Publicity of Adeniran Campaign Organisation, Taiwo Akeju, who spoke on behalf of the former minister, rejected the entire electoral process.
He suggested that the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee should hand over the party to the BoT to conduct what he described as a credible election.
Akeju said, “We reject the entire electoral process of December 9, 2017. The election has been grossly compromised to achieve a predetermined end in line with the illegal Unity List prepared by Governors Nyesom Wike and Ayodele Fayose and foisted on the entire delegates.
PDP will reclaim its prime position in 2019 — Jonathan
Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday in Abuja said that the Peoples Democratic Party had returned from limbo and would reclaim power in 2019.
Mr. Jonathan said this in his address at the party’s a special national convention.
He said the party’s “achievements” while in power would rekindle the confidence of the electorate to vote it back in power in the 2019 general elections.
“The party is indeed back to reclaim its prime position as the party to lead Nigeria to greatness.
“As a human institution, we cannot claim to be perfect and as a political party, our accomplishments up to 2015 are clear for every Nigerian to see,’’ he said.
According to Mr. Jonathan, the achievements of the party while in power are ample evidence to demonstrate that PDP is a party of vision and accomplishments.
Highlighting achievements of the party, he said that elections conducted from 2011 by the government controlled by PDP met globally-accepted standard.
“We succeeded in doing that because of the leverage and the autonomy we gave to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“PDP is a party that wants to place Nigeria in a position to compete favourably with other countries,’’ he said.
On the economy, the former president said that PDP provided “focused leadership” through institutional and sectoral reforms which impacted positively on the country, especially in the last four years of our tenure.
“We tamed inflation at a single digit, maintained price stability, and drove the economy to become the largest in Africa.
“We also made Nigeria to be the number one foreign direct investment destination in the continent,’’ he said.
According to him, in 2012, PDP ensured that prices of food remained stable in spite of flood which affected 50 per cent of farmlands along the flood plains of river Niger and Benue.
Mr. Jonathan said the country was able to regain its goodwill internationally because the PDP pursuedprogrammes and policies that were not only rewarding but were copied by other countries across the globe.
“We can recall that our agricultural transformation agenda transformed key agricultural value chains, boosted local production and created a new generation of young commercial farmers.
“The introduction of electronic wallet checked corrupt practices in the distribution of fertilizer and enabled farmers to get fertilizer like all otheragro inputs.
“In the same vein, the YouWinprogramme empowered a crop of young Nigerians to go into entrepreneurship and in turn employed others,’’ he said.
Mr. Jonathan said although his administration did not block all the loopholes, it came up with “strong innovations” to fight corruption.
According to him, we introduced the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and the Treasury Single Account (TSA) which has helped to reduce corruption.
“Government is run by policies, the creative thinking, brains in the executive council and in the civil servants were harnessed to get to where we are.
“If elected in 2019, PDP will fight poverty and ensure that food prices are reduced,’’ he added, and urged Nigerians to partner the party to restore good life in the country.
Ladoja, Aderemi step down for Adeniran
Daily Trust gathered that the duo have now thrown their weight behind a former Minister of Education Prof Tunde Adeniran.
A former governorship candidate in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje had earlier withdrawn from the race.
Breaking: Gbenga Daniel withdraws from PDP chairmanship race
Breaking: Gbenga Daniel withdraws from PDP chairmanship race
A former Governor of Ogun State and frontline aspirant for the national chairmanship seat of the Peoples Democratic Party, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has withdrawn from the race.
Daniel’s withdrawal from the race was contained in a letter to the Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee and Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, on Saturday.
The letter, also copied to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, Senator Walid Jibril, reads: “As you are aware, in the last three months when I took the decision to contest for the post of the National Chairman of our great party, I have done what has been described in many quarters as most unprecedented. I traversed the length and breadth of our great country, in all the 36 states and the FCT, meeting with various stakeholders, leadership and party members, and setting up structures not just for my personal aspiration, but also to feel the pulse of Nigerians and test the strength and popularity of our party among the citizens.
“It was another learning curve for me because I discovered that in spite of our widely publicized pockets of internal challenges, many Nigerians are sincerely and justifiably looking for a credible alternative to the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), and most happily, the Peoples Democratic Party is still being looked upon as that credible and acceptable alternative.
“It was a great opportunity for me to spread the message of hope, renewing the confidence of not only our party members but also Nigerian citizens about our great party. I believe that I did what is expected of a loyal and committed party member to inject a new life into the party, refresh and reenergise it for optimum acceptance by the electorate.
“We are a political party, and a democratic one at that. Contest for for offices are expected to be competitive and this is what we have demonstrated sufficiently with the good number of very credible aspirants who have shown interests in all the various offices of our National Executive Committee to steer the ship of our party to victory in 2019. No doubt, we have suffered huge losses, from the control of some 25 States into only 11 states, capped with the loss of the Presidency in 2015. This, to me is the greatest challenge before our party, and regaining this lost glory is more important to me than any aspiration for offices.
“In order to sustain the new found peace and renewed confidence of Nigerians in our party and reduce the veiled but potential line of frictions, I consider it in the best interest the party to voluntarily withdraw from the Chairmanship race so that we can collectively look for and elect good leaders for the purpose of winning elections in 2019.
“Kindly accept assurances of my esteemed regards.”
Daniel’s withdrawal from the race was contained in a letter to the Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee and Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, on Saturday.
The letter, also copied to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, Senator Walid Jibril, reads: “As you are aware, in the last three months when I took the decision to contest for the post of the National Chairman of our great party, I have done what has been described in many quarters as most unprecedented. I traversed the length and breadth of our great country, in all the 36 states and the FCT, meeting with various stakeholders, leadership and party members, and setting up structures not just for my personal aspiration, but also to feel the pulse of Nigerians and test the strength and popularity of our party among the citizens.
“It was another learning curve for me because I discovered that in spite of our widely publicized pockets of internal challenges, many Nigerians are sincerely and justifiably looking for a credible alternative to the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), and most happily, the Peoples Democratic Party is still being looked upon as that credible and acceptable alternative.
“It was a great opportunity for me to spread the message of hope, renewing the confidence of not only our party members but also Nigerian citizens about our great party. I believe that I did what is expected of a loyal and committed party member to inject a new life into the party, refresh and reenergise it for optimum acceptance by the electorate.
“We are a political party, and a democratic one at that. Contest for for offices are expected to be competitive and this is what we have demonstrated sufficiently with the good number of very credible aspirants who have shown interests in all the various offices of our National Executive Committee to steer the ship of our party to victory in 2019. No doubt, we have suffered huge losses, from the control of some 25 States into only 11 states, capped with the loss of the Presidency in 2015. This, to me is the greatest challenge before our party, and regaining this lost glory is more important to me than any aspiration for offices.
“In order to sustain the new found peace and renewed confidence of Nigerians in our party and reduce the veiled but potential line of frictions, I consider it in the best interest the party to voluntarily withdraw from the Chairmanship race so that we can collectively look for and elect good leaders for the purpose of winning elections in 2019.
“Kindly accept assurances of my esteemed regards.”
Jimi Agbaje officially withdraws from PDP Chairmanship race (Official Statement)
Jimi Agbaje has officially announced his withdrawal from the PDP chairmanship race.
Below is the letter of withdrawal;
Our great party, The Peoples Democratic Party has from inception, adopted certain principles of zoning which have evenly balanced offices amongst the country’s geo-political zones. In line with such zoning and other parameters I have, at different fora, expressed my strong belief that the next National Chairman of our great party should come from the South West.
I am however convinced that with 7 out of all 9 aspirants coming from the South West, this multiplicity of contenders will work to the detriment of our zone when it comes to voting. Delegates’ votes split 7 ways will not produce a chairman from the South West. It, therefore, becomes necessary to prune our numbers down to no more than two.
With less than 24 hours to the convention, I have painfully decided to withdraw from the race hoping that others will join me in bringing down the number such that the South West can have a fighting chance of clinching the National Chairmanship of the PDP.
The support from serving & past governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, women, youth and opinion leaders has been tremendous. While sincerely thanking them for their unflinching loyalty, I empathize with the great disappointment they must feel at this decision. I plead that we all put the overall interest of PDP first.
I pledge my support to whoever emerges as the national chairman as determined at the national convention.
Kindly take this letter as my formal notice of withdrawal from the race for National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Kindly take this letter as my formal notice of withdrawal from the race for National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party.
PDP Chairmanship: Senators, Reps exchange blows at Akpabio’s residence
Ahead of the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), members of the National Assembly caucus of the party reportedly exchanged blows at the residence of a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, over the choice of the next national chairman of the party.
Akpabio, who is the Minority Leader in the Senate convened a session at his residence in Asokoro District, Abuja Thursday night on how to ensure a free and fair convention.
The session was attended by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Chairmanship aspirant, Uche Secondus amongst others.
A source who was at the meeting told The Nation that the discussion on chairmanship aspirants had barely started when an argument ensued leading to blows.
He said “The Senate Minority Leader convened the session in his house to enable us interact with all the aspirants on their programmes and form our opinion on who to vote for.
“We were barely settling down for the session when some members of the House of Representatives raised issues concerning some aspirants for the office of the National Chairman and others disagreed.
“The development led to shouting match and fisticuffs among some Senators and members of the House of Representatives.
“The rowdy session was witnessed by the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, and some of the aspirants in attendance, including a leading candidate, Prince Uche Secondus.”
Another source who pleaded anonymity said: “The meeting ended abruptly when some lawmakers started exchanging blows over who should lead the party.
“I think the clash was a carry-over of some political misunderstanding among some members of the National Assembly in some states over the choice of chairman for PDP. But we all bore the brunt of the fisticuffs.”
A member of the House of Representatives, who was hit at the session, said: “I think some of our colleagues at the session were just being overzealous by taking sides. They misread the intent of what we were to do.
“The assumption was that the session was meant to adopt a candidate for the Office of National Chairman of PDP.”
Akpabio’s spokesman, Mr. Jackson Udom,when contacted on the issue said he does not speak on political matters.
“Why can’t you get in touch with the Senate Minority Leader himself? I do not speak on party matters,” he said
PDP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN | South-West leaders compel Gbenga Daniel to step down for Prof. Tunde Adeniran
As the race for PDP Chairmanship tightens, Leaders from the South-West zone of Nigeria are prevailing on former governor Gbenga Daniel to step down for one of its leading candidates, Prof. Tunde Adeniran. Sources revealed.
One of the SouthWest leaders who spoke with our reporter on Friday night in Abuja on a condition of anonymity said, “The SouthWest can’t afford to go into the election divided. The goal is for us to have a consensus candidate that can match Uche Secondus”.
In a plot twist, another source revealed to our reporter that the main reason why Gbenga Daniel is adamant and would not want to step down for a consensus candidate is because, he’s working alongside governor Wike.
“How can an Odudua son work against his region and people because of personal interests? The source asked.
Professor Adeniran according to a PDP stalwart from North-Central is the ideal man for the job. His understanding of internal democracy and experience overtime as a former minister is what the party needs now, the source said.
You would recall that one of the leading aspirants for the People’s Democratic Party Chairmanship, Chief Bode George yesterday withdrew from the race citing desperation on the part of South-South leaders to impose a candidate on the party.
Chief George who announced his withdrawal from the race at a press conference in Abuja on Friday night, raised concerns about the fallout of the outcome of the convention.
Giving reasons for his withdrawal from the race, George said the South West is already cheated with the entrants of aspirants from the South-South.
He stands with the micro-zoning principle of the party, which has been jettisoned by centrifugal forces within the Southern region.
George also accused the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike of undermining members of the PDP in the South West on a national Television when he said the South West has never contributed anything meaningful to the success of the PDP.
As at the time of filing this report, there were speculations that former Oyo governor, Rashidi Ladoja, Jimi Agbaje, Former gubernatorial candidate of PDP in Lagos and Aderemi have all withdrawn from the race for Professor Adeniran.
2017 Convention: PDP elects new leaders ( LIVE UPDATES)
The Peoples Democratic Party is holding its national convention at the Eagle Square, Abuja, today.
Unlike the last convention in Port Harcourt which was doomed by lawsuits that went up to the Supreme Court, today’s event appears less controversial.
Delegates and other party faithful from across the country have been arriving at the nation’s capital for the big event since last week.
About 3,000 delegates — elected and statutory— are expected to vote to fill the positions of the national chairman and several other national offices.
An official list of all the candidates and their targeted offices is expected to be released later today.
The party has been under the supervision of different interim national executives since May 2015 when Adamu Mu’azu resigned as part of the fallout from the 2015 election woes.
Mr. Mu’azu, a former governor of Bauchi State, was confirmed as the party’s national chairman in January 2014.
Nine people were cleared to run in the race for the chairmanship, but some of them have started standing down since last night, amidst controversy over the party’s internal arrangements.
Taoheed Adedoja, Tunde Adeniran, Raymond Dokpesi, Jimi Agbaje, Gbenga Daniel, Olabode George, Uche Secondus, Rasheed Ladoja and Segun Aderemi have spent the last few weeks traveling the country to canvass support.
But Mr. George, a former vice-chairman of the PDP and serving member of its Board of Trustees, stepped down around 8:00 p.m. Friday, citing alleged injustice and disregard for gentlemen agreement amongst the party’s divergent blocs.
It is not immediately clear if he has urged his potential delegates to support a specific contender, but his anger was directed at Governor Nyesom Wike, who has been pushing for Mr. Secondus’ victory.
The PDP reserved the chairmanship for the south after resolving to let the presidential ticket go to the north.
There are indications that more candidates from the Southwest are on the verge of announcing their withdrawal to settle on a consensus from the zone.
Whoever the region picks would slug it out with either Mr. Secondus or Mr. Dokpesi or both at the convention ground.
Reporters from PREMIUM TIMES are at the Eagle Square and will be providing live updates of happenings there:
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