₦airaland Forum

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki over the weekend received scores of defectors from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

While receiving the defectors, Saraki claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will surely defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State at the next year’s governorship election.

Bukola Saraki, a former governor of Kwara state, said the current government of Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq has performed terribly below expectation and has given the PDP, the opportunity to regain what was lost.

Saraki said, “Kwarans have bitterly learnt their lessons now. I am confident that PDP will send APC away from the Government House in 2023 by the grace of God.

The former Senate President said, “The love of Kwara informed your defection today to the PDP and we will all work together for the betterment of the state.

The APC defectors were led by one Kayode Ogunlowo, a loyalist of Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed.

Explaining the reasons for their defection to PDP, Kayode Ogunlowo said that the APC he alongside others laboured hard to enthrone in 2019 has been victimising them.

“The APC we worked hard for in 2019 has not been able to reciprocate our good gesture. Instead, the party led by Governor AbdulRaman Abdulrazaq decided to vitimise use. The governor decided to haul abuses on us. He decided to charge to court and detained us in prison custody.”

“As I am talking to you majority of our members were disenfranchised during the voter’s registration and revalidation exercise.

No fewer than 10,000 members of All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress(ADC) and Allied People’s Movement (APM) in Ogun State, on Friday formally dumped their parties and joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The decampees, who resigned their membership of All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) declared their support for the governorship candidate of PDP, Hon. Ladi Adebutu.

The decampees, led by former Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Tola Banjo from Amosun’s group; Saka Ahmed from Osoba group and Yinka Asaye from Abiodun’s group, were received amid funfair and jubilation at the party secretariat in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital, by the Chairman of PDP, Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele, Adebutu and other leaders of the party in the state.

Other decampees include: the governorship candidate of LP in the 2019 election, Modupe Sanyaolu and former councillors under the Amosun – led administration between 2016 – 2019.

Handling over the party’s flag to the decampees, the party chairman described the gale of defections as symbolic, historical and a partnership that would take PDP to Oke Mosan in 2023.

On his part, Adebutu lamented the spate of insecurity, unemployment, kidnappings, bad roads, and lack of quality healthcare services in the state.

He described the Abiodun-led administration as a failed government and called on the people of the state to vote him out in 2023.

Adebutu urged aggrieved members of the APC and other members of the opposition parties to join the PDP in defeating APC in the next election.

He assured the decampees of fairness, saying “everyone has equal rights in this party and our Permanent Voters Card (PVC) is our way to freedom”.

“We all know that all is not well with governance in Ogun state. Don’t be deceived by this government, we are going to give them the Osun treatment”, Adebutu said.

In his remarks, the deputy governorship candidate of the party, Hon. Abdulkadir Akinlade said PDP will not only defeat APC in 2023, but also send the party into early retirement.

Akinlade said, “there is a lot happening now across the state, what is happening is what they call transfer window in the EPL, but don’t be bothered by their (APC) moves, they are only recruiting expired politicians into their party.

“We are not going to struggle with them (APC), we are going to beat them and ensure that we relegate them come 2023.”

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) Northeast Zonal Secretary, Yusuf Sheriff Modu popularly called Sheriff Banki on Thursday dumped the for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Banki who was also a State House of Assembly aspirant disclosed his defection ahead of the 2023 general election in a letter he addressed to the Chairman, Buduwa Bula Chira Banki
Bama Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State, Alhaji Babagana Kulami.

According to him, his defection was for personal reasons, adding that he would use his wealth of experience to advance the cause of his new political party.

Sharing his resignation on his known Facebook page on Wednesday, Banki also wrote: “Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

“The time has come for me to open a new page of my life…. . I know some of my well wishers will be happy while some will be disappointed. However I took the best decision.”

His supporters and loyalists promised to follow him to his new party in reaction to Banki’s defection.

A member of the State Executive Committee of the APC, Rasheed Ogunbiyi and other prominent stakeholders of the APC in Ibarapa zone have dumped the party with their supporters and pitched their tent with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, citing the lack of internal democracy and manipulation of the party primaries in the APC.

Ogunbiyi, who is the Senatorial Youth Leader of the APC joined the PDP together with Hon Gbeminiyi Olaniyan, a party leader from Ibarapa Central and Hon Semiu Oladeji, the party secretary in Ibarapa Central, together with hundreds of their supporters.

The newly defected chieftains were hosted by Mógaji Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, the Senatorial candidate of the PDP for Oyo South Senatorial District.

In his remarks, Tegbe assured them of a pride of place in the PDP and reward for their efforts.

Adamawa Legislator representing Fufore/Gurin constituency, Hon. Shuaibu Babas, on Monday, dumped the oppsition All Progressives Congress(APC) to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

You would recall that Hon. Babas who won election in 2019 under APC platform, sought second term under the party but was defeated during the primary election which was conducted in May, 2022.

The legislator in a letter to the assembly which was read at the resumed plenary by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aminu Iya Abbas, said he was constrained to leave APC due to injustice meted to him during the party primary.

Hon. Babas said that his former party failed to conduct free and fair primary election in his constituency, and that he was left with no option than to leave the party and join another political party of his choice.

The Speaker of the assembly however congratulated him for joining the ruling party in the state and urged him to feel at home.

OSUN:

The division between Oyetola and Aregbesola, which played out in penultimate week’s poll, would remain an issue even during next year’s general elections.

Efforts to reconcile the two gladiators proved abortive, partly leading to the party’s defeat.

Aregbesola and his faction, The Osun Progressive, TOP, were said to have mobilised for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the APC presidential primary election, which Tinubu eventually won. The group was said to be indifferent to APC during last week’s election.

OGUN:

The crisis currently rocking the Ogun State chapter of APC began in 2018 due to the disagreement between groups loyal to Governor Dapo Abiodun and his predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

In the build-up to the 2019 gubernatorial election, Amosun loyalists left APC and migrated to Allied People’s Movement, APM, to actualise their dreams.

After the election, the group returned to APC, but refused to align with the leadership of Chief Yemi Sanusi.

Amosun’s loyalists did not participate in all the party’s congresses, from ward level to the state conducted by the Abiodun-backed group.

They, Amosun’s loyalists, held parallel congresses. Also, the group refused to participate in primary elections held to choose party candidates for different elective positions in the 2023 general elections.

As preparations for the elections gather momentum, the two factions have renewed their rivalry with Amosun’s camp plotting to stop the re-election of Abiodun.

The Amosun group tried all it could to prevent the Abiodun-led faction from deciding the candidates for various positions across the state. But Abiodun, whose group controls the party structure, has vowed that Amosun and his people will fail.

OYO:

There are pending cases in courts arising from the recently conducted party primaries and congresses. Aggrieved party members are challenging the outcomes of the elections.

The matter is a source of worry to the party leadership given the insistence of embittered members on getting what they termed justice.

Following the primaries that produced Teslim Folarin as APC flag bearer and other candidates, many aggrieved APC leaders alongside their followers have dumped the party for the PDP, Accord Party, AP, Social Democratic Party, SDP, and New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP.

They had accused Folarin of hijacking the party structure.

Having realised the implication of going into the election divided just like in Osun, the party inaugurated a 24-man peace and reconciliation committee led by Senator Olufemi Lanlehin to resolve all post-primary election disputes and ensure its success in next year’s elections.

Since the inauguration of the committee, Sunday Vanguard reliably gathered that its members have been working to bring all the aggrieved party chieftains back to the fold.

ABIA:

Peace seems to have eluded Abia State APC. The tussle for who is the authentic governorship flag bearer of APC in the state is tearing the party apart.

Leaders of the two factions had met at Ntalakwu in Ikwuano council area where they resolved their differences and confirmed Chief Ikechi Emenike as the party’s sole governorship candidate for the 2023 election and Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu as the state Chairman of the party.

The APC in the state had been divided into two factions led by Senator Chris Adighije and Emenike.

However, the peace meeting was boycotted by the Chief Whip of the Senate, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, and the then Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uche Ogah, who belonged to the Adighije faction. A group led by the Secretary of the former Adighije-led group, Perfect Okorie, said his group was not a party to the peace meeting.

Emenike emerged during the party’s governorship primary conducted by the panel set up by the national leadership of the party. Chairman of the APC governorship primary election committee for Abia State, Chief Tony Obiefuna, who declared the result of the primary election in Umuahia, disclosed that Emenike polled 672 votes to defeat Chief Emeka Atuma, Daniel Eke, Chief Obinna Oriaku, and Ogah.

A few hours after the exercise, Ogah also emerged in a parallel governorship primary conducted by a faction of the party.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that Ogah and another governorship aspirant, Chief Daniel Eke, had resorted to litigation to boost their chances of displacing Emenike as the authentic flag bearer of the party.

Eke and Ogah had filed separate suits at the Federal High Court seeking to be declared as the governorship candidate of the party. Eke’s suit came after the peace meeting at Ntalakwu.

Eke has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia to stop both Emenike and Ogah from parading themselves as governorship candidates of the party. Eke, in a suit marked FHC/UM/ 18/96/2022 wants the court to declare the outcomes of the two parallel primaries as unlawful and invalid, stressing that it did not follow due process.

Ogah is kicking against the recognition of Emenike as governorship candidate by the national leadership of the party, insisting that he remains the authentic flag bearer having emerged from direct primaries.

Recently, the Court of Appeal, Owerri, dismissed a motion filed by Ogah, seeking leave to challenge the judgment of the Abia State High Court which affirmed Emenike’s candidacy.

Two chieftains of the party, Ugochukwu Okoroafor Okoro and Egwu Clifford Chukwudi, have also filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Umuahia, against Emenike and three others as defendants, alleging that their names were removed as delegates for the party primaries.

It is not known whether elders of the party in the state such as Kalu, Nkiru Onyejeocha,Senator Chris Adighije, Friday Nwosu and Stanley Ohajuruka, among others, have made any effort to resolve the crisis.

KANO:

Kano State chapter of APC is faced with a lot of hurdles ranging from backlogs of suits to gale of defections among others.

There are fears that if the issues are not properly addressed, they may affect the chances of the party in the general elections.

Reliable information available to Sunday Vanguard revealed that a total of eight court cases were filed against the party at the various law courts.

The Secretary of APC in the state, Ibrahim Zakari Sarina, at a meeting recently, revealed that the party is currently facing eight court cases filed by some aggrieved members.

Sarina expressed concern that the court cases may affect its chances of winning elections.

His words: “The issue of lawsuits is a serious concern because we know how it creates problems for a party. This is not in Kano alone, court cases against APC are everywhere across the country. We saw how APC members dragged the party to court in many places in this country.

“In Kano, we have had at least eight court cases so far. We do not know what is going to happen tomorrow, but we are facing eight court cases in this state filed by aggrieved party members.

“This has a repercussion because you could win an election but a court judgement may be against the victory. We, therefore, call on the APC national body to see how it would resolve this issue of court cases.”

As a result of differences in the party, many chieftains have defected.

Those who dumped APC in Kano include former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau and his followers, ex-Speaker, Alhassan Rurum, former Chief of Staff to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, Ali Makoda, former SSA to President Muhammadu Buhari, Kawu Sumaila, and former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa.

KADUNA:

The Kaduna State chapter of the APC is also experiencing crises. After the governorship primary in the state, an in-law to President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Sani Sha’aban, had protested against the congress which produced 2,619 delegates.

A few days ago, no fewer than 15 of its chieftains dumped the party over what they described as lack of internal democracy.

The chieftains who left the party include Mallam Audu Bode, Alhaji Shuabu Ahmed, Habila Latu, Boniface Ubandoma, Mr. Yakubu Simon, Jashua Peter, Camio Bitrus, Patrick Paul (Pato), Mr. Samuel Wyah, Zaka Makoshi, Jonathan Fedelix, Barnabas Samuel (Barry), Shua’ibu Yusuf, Alexander Danladi Lulu and Samuel Ibrahim.

APC Legal Adviser in Jema’a Local Government Area, Ibrahim Samuel, in a letter addressed to his Ward Chairman, said: “My decision to dump APC was based on the internal crises in the party, lack of internal democracy and total disrespect”.

Two others, Barnabas Samuel and Ibrahim Samuel Oganto, in a statement also said the names that emanated during the party congress were different from the ones agreed to be used for primaries.

Meanwhile, a reconciliation committee has been set up to address the grievances of members in the state.

They are to resolve all post-primary election crises in Kaduna.

North-West Zonal Publicity Secretary of APC, Malam Musa Mailafiya Mada, disclosed this.

His words: “The committee will be saddled with the responsibility of reaching out to co-contestants of all the elective positions who did not win their primaries for the forthcoming 2023 general elections and other aggrieved party members in the state.

“The Local Government Reconciliatory Committees will also be constituted afterwards.

Respected party members were nominated by the participants for the task and the governor assured the meeting of his readiness to give the necessary support for the success of the committee’s assignment before the campaign starts.”

KEBBI:

The internal wrangling in Kebbi APC predated the party primaries. The party was already factionalised before the exercise. But issues came to a head after the primaries, leading to the defections of its key leaders including former Governor Adamu Aliero.

The ex-governor and his supporters defected to the PDP as a protest against what he claimed was done to him.

There has been a gale of defections in Kebbi APC. A few days ago, thousands of its members dumped APC in Gulma town in Argungu Local Government Area.

The defectors were led by Alhaji Mansur Adamu Gulma Yargyra, a former House of Representatives aspirant. Mansur, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, said he left the APC due to injustice allegedly done to many members.

Receiving the defectors in Gulma, a former Senate Leader, Senator Yahya Abdullahi, expressed joy over their defection, saying their coming into the PDP meant they are comfortable with the leadership he exhibited while in APC.

AKWA IBOM:

Akwa Ibom State chapter of APC has been in the news over the outcome of the recently concluded primaries.

This situation has deepened the ill-feelings between key stakeholders of the party who participated in the exercise and their teeming supporters.

Immediately after the party primaries, one of the aspirants and immediate past Senior Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Senator Ita Enang, approached the court to seek redress over the outcome which produced Mr. Akan Udofia as APC governorship candidate.

Similarly, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police and senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom APC North-West Senatorial District seat, Udom Ekpoudom, is challenging the rerun senatorial primary in which Sen Godswill Akpabio, immediate past Niger Delta Affairs Minister, is laying claims to its outcome.

Akpabio, after stepping down for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu during the presidential primary in Abuja, had returned to Akwa Ibom to participate in the said rerun.

There are concerns in some quarters that the candidacy tussle and exit of key stakeholders from the party may affect APC’s outing in the forthcoming elections.

A former National Secretary of the party, Senator Akpan Akpanudoedehe, had earlier dumped APC on account of a high-wire intra-party squabble.

RIVERS:

In Rivers, the differences among party leaders are still unresolved. The matter, which is solely a battle over who controls party structure, seems to have defied all efforts at resolving. Up until now, camps loyal to the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and Senator Magnus Abe, are against each other in the battle for APC’s soul.

The crisis took a different dimension last week when notable members of the party took turns to tender their letters of resignation.

Apart from Prince Tonye Princewill, an ally of Amaechi, who attributed his resignation to the APC Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, others did not state clearly the reason for their resignations.

Others who dumped APC in Rivers include a former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, a former member of the House of Representatives, Chidi Wihioka; ex-member of the House Representatives, Chigbo Eligwe; Golden Chioma, a former Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party and one-time member of the Rivers State House of Assembly; Dr. Dawari George, a former member of the House of Representatives, and Mr. Marvin Yobana, a prominent youth leader in the Ogoni axis of the state. Others are Owen Obediah, a lawyer and former CTC Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area; King Tony Gboms, a chieftain of the APC in Obio Akpor Local Government Area; Chief Friday Nkee-ee Numbari, a former member of the state House of Assembly, and Mr. Celestine Akpobari, a prominent right activist.

At the last count, no fewer than 50 APC members have left the party.

NASARAWA:

In Nasarawa, the APC has been dragged to court over post-primary elections issues.

A House of Representatives aspirant, Mohammed Al-Basir, has taken the party to Federal High Court over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the primaries in the state.

Other aspirants who weren’t satisfied with the outcome of their elections are also kicking.

Nonetheless, Governor Abdullahi Sule isn’t relenting in ensuring the party is united ahead of 2023 elections.

BENUE:

In Benue, the emergence of Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia as APC governorship candidate seems to have stoked a crisis among party stakeholders.

Leaders like Senator Barnabas Gemade, who contested the election, had kicked against Alia’s candidacy.

He had maintained that the party failed to hold the gubernatorial primary election as stipulated by the guidelines of APC.

The choice of Sam Ode as a running mate to Alia is also a source of contention in Benue South. Stakeholders from the zone rejected him, insisting they have not had any conversation with him and wondered why he was declared the deputy governorship candidate.

Others:

Other states where intra-party crisis seems to also constitute a threat to APC as 2023 approaches include Ebonyi, Kwara, Imo, Cross River, Bauchi, Zamfara and Gombe. The party faces tough battles in these states as the 2023 elections approach. Checks revealed that except aggrieved members are pacified, the party’s performances may be close to the Osun scenario.

• Things fall apart in Kaduna, Kano, Ogun, Kwara, Imo, A’Ibom, Ekiti, Rivers,

Kebbi, Yobe, Zamfara , others

By Charles Kumolu, Dayo Johnson,Bashir Bello, Chioma Onuegbu, Shina Abubakar,James Ogunike,

Ugochukwu Alaribe& Haruna Aliyu

If the claim by the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, that in-fighting in the Osun State chapter of the party led to its electoral defeat is anything to go by, APC risks suffering the same fate in 20 states.

The reason is not far-fetched. Many state branches are enmeshed in intra-party crises resulting from unresolved supremacy battles and fallouts of recent party primaries.

Investigations across the country show that notwithstanding the call by President Muhammadu Buhari on members to sheath their swords, the aggrieved are not taking their plight in good faith.

While some have dumped the party for other folds, especially the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, others remain but may work against the party in the next elections like in the Osun election where party faithful were alleged to have worked against APC.

Failure

Adamu had said internal wrangling between staunch PDP members in Osun led to the party’s failure in the governorship election.

In an interview with BBC Hausa Service, he explained that aggrieved party stalwarts said they would not vote if what they wanted was not done.

His words: “There’s a misunderstanding between party members, the APC juggernauts in Osun State APC. These juggernauts have been quarrelling, accusing each other.

“But we were defeated not because we are not good at politics. It was because of what happened between some party members close to the election.

“This has shown that we have a big task ahead. We must see what we can do and change our tactics.

“We must look at ourselves; see if what we are doing in this political journey is right.

“What are those things that are not right? What needs to be corrected so that we get what will lead to success in our journey?”

Sunday Vanguard had reported that PDP candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, scored over 400, 000 votes to defeat APC’s Adegboyega Oyetola who had 375,027 votes. Long before the governorship election, the party had been factionalised in Osun. Oyetola, the incumbent governor, is at daggers drawn with his predecessor, Rauf Aregbesola, who is the Minister of Interior. The crisis divided the party in Osun into two camps.

Party congresses

In October last year, ahead of its convention, APC inaugurated a national reconciliation committee to reconcile aggrieved members.

Then-Caretaker Committee Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni, explained that the committee was set up to reconcile members who were aggrieved over the outcome of the party’s congresses.

At the end of its work in January this year, the body suffered a setback as the crises were far from over, especially in states like Zamfara, Osun, Kwara and Akwa Ibom.

Sunday Vanguard had reported that some state chapters like Bauchi claimed members of the panel didn’t visit the state.

Meanwhile, the states identified as still troubled by Sunday Vanguard include Lagos, Kano, Gombe, Kaduna, Bauchi, Zamfara, Kwara, Kebbi, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Cross River, Imo, Benue, Nasarawa, Abia and Akwa Ibom.

LAGOS:

Unease currently pervades the Lagos chapter of the APC, the strong hold of its presidential candidate and National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, following protests by different groups over alleged discrepancies and manipulation perpetrated in the primaries that produced various party’s flag-bearers for the 2023 general polls.

Members of the Governor’s Advisory Council, GAC, and executive members of the party in Lagos had called for a reconciliation meeting as a result of ill-feelings created based on the outcome of the primaries which produced Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat as governorship and deputy governorship candidates respectively and other candidates, with a view to closing cracks and reconcile aggrieved members.

The aggrieved parties have kicked against what they called giving tickets to “anointed candidates” over popular will of members by APC leaders.

A reconciliation meeting, however, ended in chaos as suspected political thugs, allegedly sponsored by aggrieved parties, particularly from Lagos Mainland, stormed the venue of the stakeholders’ meeting on Monday at the party’s Secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba.

The thugs were allegedly from two contending factions of the party from Lagos Mainland, with a retiring member of the House of Representatives (name withheld) said to be the leader of one of the groups.

Hamzat, subsequently, calmed frayed nerves in the ensuing melee when he arrived at the state party’s Secretariat. There was an earlier report that the deputy governor was attacked by the thugs to register their displeasure which had been debunked by Hamza’s aide.

The deputy governor, subsequently, after restoring normalcy, handed the meeting over to GAC member and leader of the party in Lagos Central, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, with the mandate to intervene in the crisis and resolve the lingering crisis pending further action.

Another prominent APC leader, Fouad Oki, also addressed the gathering on the need for aggrieved parties to sheath their swords and allow peace to reign in the party as reconciliation has commenced.

Sanwo-Olu, who was absent at the meeting, is expected to preside personally over the the rescheduled meeting at a later date.

Speaking on the crisis, a stakeholder who preferred anonymity, stated, “The Local Government in question is Lagos Mainland which has several knotty issues that need to be cleared and managed.

“The protest is a normal occurrence in situation like this, as party members, it was bound to be, but the deputy governor was able to handle the situation by calming the situation tentatively.”

ONDO:

The alleged imposition of “anointed” candidates during the last national and state assembly primary elections by the leadership of APC in Ondo State polarised the party.

This happened despite the report of a committee set up by the party’s leadership to interface with all stakeholders across the three senatorial districts.

The panel ruled out consensus and supported the conduct of primaries.

Although Governor Rotimi Akeredolu denied imposing candidates, aspirants who lost out in the elections across the 18 council areas claimed that state and party machinery were deployed in support of the “chosen ones”.

One of the aggrieved aspirants told Sunday Vanguard that during a stakeholders meeting held with all the aspirants, the governor and the leadership of the party, led by the state Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, told many of the aspirants not to re-contest owing to complaints from their constituencies of non-performance.

However, Akeredolu reportedly told those who didn’t agree with the decision to test their popularity at the primaries. But they were said to have been shortchanged as the leaders in many of the council areas voted for consensus as against the conduct of primary elections agreed upon by the committee.

Delegates were shocked in many constituencies as designated venues were desolate on the day of the primary, only for results to be announced later.

State Publicity Secretary of the party, Alex Kalejaye, said: “To ensure victory for the party in 2023, the Ondo State chapter, shortly after the recent primaries, set up a formidable reconciliation committee.

“It is a 7-man Committee, under the chairmanship of a former deputy governor, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo.

“The team has the mandate to consider, and dispassionately too, the issues that cropped up before, and during the exercise, identify all the aspirants that are embittered by the process, and look into their grievances.”

Also, the state party Chairman pleaded with aggrieved aspirants, who have challenged the outcome of the primaries in court, to withdraw their suits for out-of-court settlement.

Irrespective of the peace efforts, aggrieved party faithful are adamant in pursuit of what they called justice.

EKITI:

In Ekiti, the Dayo Adeyeye – led pro-Tinubu South West Agenda for Asiwaju, SWAGA, had constituted itself as a parallel state executive council of the APC. And there are fears in many quarters that the division may result in electoral defeats for the party in 2023.

Meanwhile, the Publicity Secretary of the party in Ekiti, Segun Dipe, said all contending issues would be addressed.

He said: “Our presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, is leading the charge for reconciliation and appeasement of aggrieved party members.

“Grievances of aggrieved members in the last gubernatorial, national and state assembly primaries are being addressed.

“Machinery has been set in motion to ensure that aggrieved members are attended to."

Hon. Hafiz Oladejo, a staunch supporter of Mogaji Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe today led hundeds members of his group, Gbagbe-Osi Solidarity Movement who were former members of APC to formally join the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibadan North West Local Government area.

The declaration ceremony took place during the weekly PDP Ward 8 meeting in the said local government held at NW5 Baptist Primary school, Inalende,Ibadan.

In his remark at the meeting, Hon. Oladejo noted that the decision to leave his formal party was a hard one for him because he had never thought of leaving the party but he had to do so with all his followers from ward 1 to 11 in Ibadan North West Local Government so as to support the senatorial ambition of his leader, Mogaji Joseph Tegbe who is the senatorial candidate of the PDP for Oyo South Senatorial district and to work for the second term bid of Engr. Seyi Makinde as the Governor of Oyo State.

He thereafter directed all members of his Gbagbe Osi Solidarity Movement in the said local government to henceforth start attending the PDP meeting in their various wards and be fully committed to the success of the party in coming elections.

Hon. Oladejo thereafter donated a brand new public address system to the party in ward 8 as a symbol of their formal declaration and commitment towards the success of the party.

Mogaji JosephTegbe whose message to members of the party was also delivered by Hon. Oladejo, assured the teeming members that their welfare would remain paramount to him if elected as the Senator to represent the Oyo South Senatorial district in 2023 election.

In their remarks, the leader of the House in Ibadan North West Local Government, Hon. Kazeem Arowodana, Ward 8 Chairman, Mr Sunday Ibe and leader Mojeed Oladejo, all congratulated Hon.Oladejo for jettison his own ambition to support the senatorial bid of Engr. Joseph Tegbe in the PDP.

They assured the new entrants of having equal rights and opportunities and to enjoy same benefits like the old members in the party.

Other members of APC that defected with Hon. Oladejo included Jeleel Asudemade, Ismail Abubakar, Muhammed Ayilara, Adekunle Tajudeen, Rauf Olagbaju, Mrs Ayilara Bolanle, Yemisi Adeola and Sakiratu Orimadegun.

North Central AP leaders and critical members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) under the aegis of the North Central APC Forum has called on Governor Simon Bako Lalong to reject his appointment as the Director General of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Organization because that is an insult to the region.

Speaking on behalf of the forum in Jos the Plateau State capital, Saleh Mandung Zazzaga, said since last year they have been canvassing for the emergence of the next President from the zone, because it was time for the zone to produce the next president of the country come 2023.

He explained that their initial stance was not to compromise the 2023 Presidency for any other position because apart from the military era, the region since this democratic dispensation hasn’t actually produced either the president or the Vice President, but has largely contributed to the democratic growth in the nation.

Zazzaga noted that it then became obvious that their push for the presidency could not be actualized since the APC, in a way of mutual understanding, considered the Southern part of the country for the presidency. But they immediately began to canvass for the Vice Presidential slot which the zone was eventually not considered too as it went to the North East.

So, he said, if the North Central is not good or qualified enough for the presidential ticket because the party thinks nobody from the region has the political weight to pull votes from the Northern region for the party come 2023, how come then has the party or presidential candidate in the person of Tinubu become so trustful of someone from the region to become the presidential campaign organization Director General?

“Our concern in the 2023 elections is that of North Central as either the President or Vice President, but we were denied because they consider us either not qualified or competent enough. But as soon as it comes to Director General of the presidential campaign we suddenly become the most qualified.

“Ironically, it is the same Governor Simon Bako Lalong whom we have been canvassing support for as either President and then later as a presidential running mate/vice president, but the party discarded our call, that is suddenly been appointed as the Director General of the party’s presidential campaign organization. We spent lots of resources pushing for either the presidential slot or vice president at different times and it was all over the media since last year.

“We therefore consider Lalong’s appointment as insulting, degrading and making the region irrelevant in the political calculation of the country. We won’t accept this because this is quite unfair and sort of relegating our people to the background.

“That is why we are calling on Governor Lalong to reject this offer, and those celebrating his selection from the region should desist henceforth because this is a great slap on our face.

“We have been pushing for the good of the region in national political affairs all along, but those who have neither lend their voices, time and resources to our cause are busy celebrating the ‘relegation’ of our region in this 2023 elections at the national level. This is quite insensitive, unfortunate and regrettable,” he said.

Zazzaga further pointed out that as a forum with a mission to uplift the North Central zone, they have been engaged in initiating political and empowerment activities that would benefit the region, and that they will not back down on their mission for the region.

He said they remain loyal to the APC and have been working for the success of the party in one way or the order, but that they equally work with others irrespective of party affliction for the peace and progress of the North Central region.

He explained that forming a forum to project the North Central region is legitimate, pointing out that even among the governors, legislators and local government chairmen, there have forums to represent their divers regions, wards and interests.

The Adamawa State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has warned advocates of rotation of the presidency to the South that critics of APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket may scuttle that possibility.

The state chairman of the party, Alhaji Ibrahim Bilal, urged southerners in particular not to be misled into helping to keep the presidency in the North by contributing to the failure of the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Bilal told newsmen in Yola that the real intention of the Muslim-Muslim ticket critics is to ensure the retention of power in the North under the guise of rejecting the party’s same-faith presidential ticket.

Bilal told a select group of journalists, Saturday, that it is more in the interest of the South to support Bola Tinubu’s presidency after eight years of northern domination of the Aso Villa.

“Southerners should not be misled to miss the shot at the presidency by the row caused by Bola Tinubu’s decision to settle for Kashim Shettima, a northern Muslim as his running mate,” Bilala said.

Bringing another angle to the controversy rarely considered, Bilal said “The potency of the office of the Vice President largely depends on the disposition of the president, what many have jocularly refer to in some forum as ‘spare tyre’.”

He reiterated: “We question the motives of those behind the agitations to scuttle the presidential bid of the party’s flag bearer, because their real objective may be to maintain the status quo.”

He urged the party to do everything humanly possible to placate the Christian bloc within the APC, while expressing disappointment that the attempt to sabotage Tinubu’s presidency is coming from influential politicians from the North East, particularly Adamawa State.

More than 50 women, former stalwarts and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Esit Eket, have decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), sighting undemocratic practices, victimization and lack of a future for the APC in the State.

The decampees, who described the PDP in the State as a party of the masses, were received on behalf of State leadership of the party by the Esit Eket chapter chairman of PDP, Hon. Etang Nkanga, and the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Welfare Dr. Ini Adiakpan, at the residence of the Commissioner, Ekpene Obo, in Esit Eket Local Government Area, Tuesday.

Highlighting their reasons for decamping, the defectors stated that they were happy to return to the PDP which, in their words, “still remains a religion in Akwa Ibom State”.

They maintained that for them to have relevance and political future going forward, it was necessary that they belonged to the right family, where they freely can contribute their quota to the growth and development of the State and country.

Mrs. Ikwo Emmanuel Jimmy, who led the women returnees, appreciated the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for his largeheartedness and patriotic commitment to development of the state. She also appreciated the Commissioner of Women Affairs, and the PDP State Chairman, Hon. Aniekan Akpan, for accepting them back to the party.
She said: “PDP is the party of the people; party of sustainable development; party of hope; and party of continuity, especially as all is now set for Pastor Umo Eno to perpetuate the legacy of Gov. Udom Emmanuel in 2023”.

They unanimously vowed to support the administration and the succession plan of Governor Udom Emmanuel.
Speaking earlier on receiving the returnees, Dr. Adiakpan expressed delight for their decision to return to the party, observing that they have made a good decision to come back to PDP as the the party is the best place to be.

The commissioner equally appreciated Governor Udom Emmanuel for his commitment to the welfare and growth of Akwa Ibom people.

“On behalf of my principal, His Excellency, Gov. Udom Emmanuel, I heartily welcome all of you. Let me categorically assure you of His Excellency’s readiness and benevolence to empower you. Expect more empowerment programmes in which you will be captured and empowered”, she stated.

The elated Commissioner further urged the women to support the governor’s Completion Agenda as well as the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP, Pastor Umo Eno. To achieve this, Dr. Adiakpan asked the people to get their PVCs because that is the only way their voices will be heard.

Also speaking was Hon. Etang Nkanga, who welcomed the women officially to the party, stating that PDP’s umbrella is big enough for all.

He said that in PDP, there is peace and unity of purpose and everyone is his brother’s keeper. He also impressed upon them the need to safeguard their PVCs and ensure that Pastor Umo Eno and other PDP candidates are voted at the forthcoming general elections.

Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming governorship election in Zamfara State, Dr Dauda Lawal, has debunked claims making the rounds on Facebook that he would soon defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

On the 26th of May 2022, Lawal clinched the PDP governorship ticket to contest for the office of the governor of Zamfara State in the 2023 general election.

In a statement issued by the Dauda Lawal Media Office (DLMO) on Saturday, it said the claims were false and mischievous and aimed at misleading the public.

The DLMO assured that Lawal is still in the race and will see it to a logical conclusion come 2023, adding that PDP would win and govern Zamfara State, considering his fast-growing popularity and political might across the state.

The media office stressed that Lawal is ready and confident in his cause to unseat the ruling APC, to wipe away the tears that the incumbent administration has inflicted on the people.

The statement read, “To our dear supporters and party members of Zamfara State, do not listen to any rumour purporting that Dr Dauda Lawal is making plans to defect to the APC. This is an absolute fallacy and could only have happened in the imagination of the rumour peddler.

“Peddling rumour of Dauda Lawal’s defection is a sign that the ruling APC in Zamfara State is already jittery, having seen the massive acceptance of Lawal and the PDP across the length and breadth of Zamfara State.

“We call on the good people of Zamfara to ignore any rumour claiming that our candidate has perfected plans to defect to any party or that he is no longer in the race.

“Dauda is very much in the race, and he is winning, by the special grace of Allah and the support of the good people of Zamfara State.”

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Chief Princewill Ukaegbu has dumped the party for the Action People’s Party (APP).

Impeccable sources within the party told our correspondent that Ukaegbu is expected to officially make the announcement in a matter of days.

Ukaegbu, a former Chairman of Umuahia North Local Government Area is a grassroot politician and mobilizer.

A party source told our correspondent that his defection is a big boost to the governorship candidate of the party, Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu.

“Mascot is becoming very popular in the governorship race. It is a straight forward race between him and others.

“Abia only witnessed good governance during Orji Uzor Kalu’s era. What we are having today is a big joke. It is time to return the state to its lost glory,” the party source added.

His defection is coming days after the All Progressives Congress (APC) told its leaders in the Abia State to put their house in order.

APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu gave the charge on Wednesday night at the national secretariat of the party while inaugurating an eight-man Abia Reconciliation Committee led by Senator Chris Adighije.

Using the Abia State crisis as a point of reference, the chairman charged all the leaders in the South East geo-political zone to rise above differences and work for the victory of the party in the region in 2023.

APC Members decamp to PDP in Remo town of Ogun State.
@ladiadebutu for Governor Ogun state 2023.

The immediate past Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Audu Sule Katagum, has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Naija News reports that some former commissioners and aides of the former Governor of the state, Abubakar Mohammed, also defected to the PDP.

Receiving the defectors at the Government House, Bauchi on Thursday, Governor Bala Mohammed applauded them for joining the ruling party in the state.

Mohammed also expressed gratitude to them for finding it worthy to dump their former party and join the ruling party in the state.

Reacting to the development, the PDP Chairman in the state, Hamza Koshe Akuyam, welcomed the defectors to the party, adding that the defection means a lot to the party leadership.

He expressed confidence that their coming will add value to the successful victory of the party in the next year’s general elections in the state.

“We are grateful to Almighty Allah for this day which is historic to us, and it means a lot to us as PDP party in Bauchi state,” he said.

• The forthcoming 2023 presidential polls is becoming as dicey as its get with different entangled to the build-up

• In the camp of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), there have been a series of defection over the past few weeks

• One of the most recent defection is that of Honorable Abdu Musa Msheliza, a former lawmaker who left the APC for arch-rival, PDP.

Borno, Maiduguri - Once again, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu may have just suffered yet another setback in his campaign train following the defection of one of his allies.

Hon Abdu Musa Msheliza, a former member of the House of Representatives and a committee member of the Tinubu Support Group in Borno State has switched camp to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Leadership newspaper reported.

According to the report, Msheliza stated that his exit from the APC is due to the fact that he wants an environment where justice, fairness, equity, and consultative decisions are made in the process of political leadership.

Why I left APC, Msheliza reveals He stated that he will not be a partaker of such politics where an individual hand-picks a leader for the people instead of allowing the people to select their own choice of candidate.

Msheliza said: “I am a lover of justice, fairness, equity, and consultative decision-making processes in every leadership selection process, and the people should take center stage in deciding who they elect as their leaders, and not somebody or some people sitting somewhere picking and appointing who is presented as candidates in a democratic Nigeria of 21st century.

“As such, I hate the politics of suppression, and subjugation, where democrats cannot be allowed to test their popularity freely and openly. “That is the reason for leaving the ruling APC for the PDP where ownership of leadership selection processes belongs to the people.”

He, however, promised the leadership of the PDP and the entire PDP members in Borno state that he will do everything within his reach to support the party at any length to ensure the victory of the party in the 2023 polls.

Msheliza charged citizens of Borno State to stand their ground and vote for their preferred amid the growing intimidation and threats. He urged them not to shun the electoral process but to be active participants in the forthcoming general elections. He said citizens must pay the price of protecting their votes at polling units in order to secure the dividend of democracy.

Legit.ng gathered that Msheliza has been issued his membership card in his ward, thereby, certifying him as an eligible member of the PDP. The former lawmaker served as a legislator at the state house of assembly as well as twice as a House of Representatives member (Askira Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency).

A former member of the House of Representatives and steering committee member of the Tinubu Support Group in Borno State, Hon Abdu Musa Msheliza, has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to work for the party candidates including the Borno South Senatorial District flagbearer, Hon Kudla Satumari Haske.

Msheliza, who is also a two-term member of the Borno State House of Assembly representing Hawul State Constituency and later represented Askira Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, until leaving the APC, was a member of the steering committee of Tinubu Support Group (TSG) heading Borno South.

Msheliza who was an aspirant for House of representative, Askira Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency in the just concluded APC primaries, where he was not allowed to partake in the primaries is an astute grassroot politician with track record of citizen’s engagement in representation.

The politician who has over the past two decades of active politics, built an empire with his love for justice and fairness as key attributes of participatory democracy, has already obtained his membership card of the PDP.

“I am a lover of justice, fairness, equity and consultative decision-making processes in every leadership selection process, and the people should take center stage in deciding who they elect as their leaders, and not somebody or some people sitting somewhere picking and appointing who is presented as candidates in a democratic Nigeria of 21st century, ” Msheliza said while giving reasons for leaving the APC.

“As such, I hate the politics of suppression, and subjugation, where democrats cannot be allowed to test their popularity freely and openly,” he said.

READ ALSO Be Magnanimous In Victory, Engineer Sule Advises Nasarawa Central Member-Elect
“That is the reason for leaving the ruling APC for the PDP where ownership of leadership selection processes belongs to the people.

“The recent happenings in Borno state has shown that, fairness, justice, equity, is not characteristics of modern democracy, but exhibition of draconian ways of suppressing independent minded democrats and politics of impositions in the state which made the political environment in APC to be inhabitable to anyone that desires fairly and justice.

“This necessitates his exit even after being appointed as key steering committee member of the Tinubu Support Group for 2023 general elections,” Msheliza said promising to deploy his entire campaign network in his immediate constituency and the entire state to ensure they work together with the teaming supporters and Stakeholders of PDP in Borno State to deliver the state to PDP in 2023.

Msheliza called on the good people of Borno State to reject any form of intimidation, imposition, threat, and rigging by participating actively in the election right at their polling units and demand for fairness and justice at every level.

“This is the price citizens must pay to safeguard democratic principles that gives birth to good governance through sound leadership,” he said.

Reviewed by the Zonal Chairman of Borno south Into the PDP and had collected his membership card at his ward.

Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, who served as Osun State Commissioner for Finance during the first term of ex-governor Rauf Aregbesola, on Wednesday, announced his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party.

Bolorunduro, an ally of Aregbesola, had a running battle with the administration of Governor Gboyega Oyetola, especially regarding state debt portfolio, and when the state government decided to subject some of the mega schools built by the previous administration to integrity test.

Speaking to newsmen in Osogbo, where he disclosed he had dumped the All Progressives Congress for the PDP, Bolorunduro said the current ruling party in Osun State had gone beyond redemption with deceit, injustice and lack of fairness.

The ex-finance commissioner said the leadership of the APC in the state had sidelined him to the extent that he was not involved in the matter concerning it even in his ward.

According to him, the decision to quit the APC was not for political patronage in his new party, adding that having consulted with his followers and families, it was agreed that he should move to the PDP.

He said, “I have been in APC for eight years (after I left office) without any patronage, benefits or appointment, yet I worked for the party in the 2015 and 2019 federal elections. I can survive outside government and very well too.

“My records are there in Zenith Bank, where I pioneered different financing groups (upstream oil and gas, Telecom, power sector, infrastructure group) at different times, when God allowed me to conquer one front after another. My adrenalin is usually fired by new challenges.

“I have consulted widely with my followers, admirers, friends and families, who felt we should pitch our tent with the PDP, to join this party and to work with them to shine the light (Imole Osun). We would have done this before the 2022 gubernatorial election, but knowing ‘them’ it was better ‘to err on the side of caution’, for us to have today, tomorrow and future.”

In Bauchi state, over 5000 women in All Progressives Congress (APC) have defected to the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Spokesperson of the decampees, Fatima Mohammed said their resolve to join the PDP was as a result of the failure of the APC led federal government to fulfil its campaign promises of lifting Nigerians out of poverty, hunger among others.

She assured that the 5,000 women decampees would work tirelessly towards ensuring the victory of the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state and other candidates of various elective positions in the party in the forthcoming general elections.

The converner of Atiku Door-to Door Mobilization Forum, Ambassador Imran Abdullahi Idris who facilitated the defection of the decampees, commended the foresight of the women for dumping their former party, APC to join the PDP and promised to carry them alone for the victory of PDP candidates in general elections.

“I am highly delighted to receive you today in my office for your official defection from APC to PDP, this is a great honor to us in the Atiku Door-to Door Mobilization Forum and I want you as women to encourage your children to obtain their permanent voters cards for them to voted APC out of power in 2023.

“APC has failed Nigerians and we believe that, His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar can provide us with the required leadership we want for our collective interest and in our forum we are also committed to mobilize support for his victory against other candidates.”

Imran said his forum has since embarked on an intensive awareness campaign on permanent voters card on the need for citizens to obtain their cards to enable them participate fully in the next year’s general elections.

The converner who solicited for votes of Nigerians to all the PDP candidates, believed that, with Atiku Abubakar as the next president, Nigeria will be a great county with a robust people-oriented approach by the government.

Former Commissioner for Finance in Osun State, during the last Adminstration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregberola Hon Adewale Bolorunduro dumps the APC for the PDP, holds a Press Conference today.

Reports reaching Osun Daily News confirmed that a former Commissioner for Finance in the state, Dr Wale Bolorunduro is set to dump the broom camp to join forces with the Newly Elected Governor Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke in the PDP.

The Former Commissioner hails from Ere Ijesa in Oriade Local Government and has hundreds of supporters across the LG and States. he serves under the first term of Ogbeni Aregbesola and hes fondly called O’MONEY.

READ ALSO: APC Chieftain Lambast Wike On Threat To Expose PDP Convention Dealings

All his cell phone numbers were busy as at the time of writing this report.

More details later.

[b]Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, Monday, said the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, lacked the capacity to win the 2023 general elections in the State.

Abe also disclosed that it was on this premise that he dumped the party.

The former APC chieftain made these declarations in PortHarcourt, capital of the State, while featuring on a live television programme in the State.

Abe, however, said Governor Wike would not solely determine who would succeed him in 2023 general elections but the majority of the people of the State.

In his words, “If the President of Nigeria, who is more powerful than the governor cannot decide who will be the next President to succeed him, then the governor of Rivers State will not decide who will succeed him.

“That issue will be decided by the people of Rivers State. And let me also quote the governor himself, he has said on different occasions that he will allow the people of Rivers State to decide his successor and I know him as a man of his word.

“I believe that he will do everything possible to create an atmosphere in which those who are interested in succeeding him regardless of their political party will have a fair chance to contest”.

Abe, who is believed to have joined the Social Democratic Party, SDP, to actualise his gubernatorial ambition also expressed the hope to be Wike’s successor in 2023.

He said, “What chances do I have in the State? Very bright chances. I always win elections. I don’t lose elections in Rivers State. The contest is always tense because the contest of power is always tense but somebody must win.

“The important thing is that we should allow the people of Rivers State to decide. I am ready to abide by whatever the people of Rivers State will decide. I am ready to submit myself.

“I don’t even want to lead a people who don’t want me to lead them, because the kind of dreams and visions that I have for my state is such that I need the people to work with me for us to be able to achieve anything.

“So if they don’t choose me and I impose myself on them, I know that the plans we are making will not work because I need their support and I need them to work with me.

“I don’t want to be a leader who is going to where the people are not going. So I don’t even want to be the governor without the endorsement and strong support of Rivers people.

“So, I am presenting myself to them; I will tell them the plans we have. I will tell them what I think we can do with the state. I will tell them where I think we can be going to and if they are interested in coming with me, then we will go. If they are not interested, it’s not a problem.

“But, rather than stay and continue to waste the time of Rivers people with APC that has not shown any capacity in Rivers State to be able to
overcome any challenges and deliver on the electoral expectations of its members, I have decided to go and do what a politician should do, which is to look for a platform that will give me the privilege and the opportunity to fly their flag and present myself, my ideas and our commitment to the people of Rivers State, that’s where we are.

“The future of our State is important to all of us. 2023 elections present us with a unique opportunity to come together as Rivers people”.

The Coalition of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar Support Group on Sunday began an enlightenment campaign on Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.

Atiku on May 28, emerged as the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 elections at the party’s National Convention.

The group leader, Alhaji Umar Aliyu (Wamban Ya’uri), while inaugurating the campaign in Sokoto, said the activity was part of their commitment towards engaging Nigerians to elect credible leaders.

“Our desire is to educate the society on the need to ensure full participation during the 2023 general elections and make the right decision for our country’s future.

“This could only be achieved by coming out boldly and together to elect leaders who have the desire and commitment to address our numerous challenges.

“Therefore, with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, we are confident to reach all Nigerians because he is the one we trust can deliver our mandate to address the country’s challenges,” he said

Also, Hajiya Hassana Abubakar, one of the Coordinators, Fully and Truly Atikulated Group, said the enlightenment campaign targeted no fewer than 80,000 eligible voters across each of the three states.

“We are fully committed to ensure that our people are engaged to generally participate in the coming election.

“Our aim is to ensure that people from the three states have the full access of choosing the leaders of their choice in the coming 2023 general elections.

“As such, we urge all who are eligible to obtain their PVC, being the only weapon of the masses to decide on who is to be their leader,” she said.

On his part, Malam Nura Faisal, another Coordinator, appealed to Nigerian youths not to allow politicians to engage them in any form of violence before, during and after the election process.

“We should ensure that the process remains peaceful and orderly in order to be able to produce the leaders we desire for our country,” he said.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Dr Tom Otuka, has dumped the party for the Action People’s Party (APP).

Otuka would be formally received into the party on Saturday, July 23, at Ndoki Resort Ohanso- Ndoki by the governorship candidate of the party in Abia State, Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu.

Dr Tom Otuka was the deputy governorship candidate to Ikechi Emenike – a factional governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 gubernatorial election in Abia State.

Otuka is a Russia-trained medical doctor and grassroots politician from Ndoki in the Ukwa East Council Area.

Recall that the Action People’s Party, APP had announced Prof. Osondu Akoma, from Ndoki as the deputy governorship candidate and running mate to the governorship candidate of the party, Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu.

Ngwa Groups has also extended solidarity with Kalu and APP on Akoma’s emergence as Abia deputy governorship candidate

The Ngwa United Alliance (NUA) has expressed gratitude to Kalu and Action People’s Party (APP) for supporting a party’s stalwart, Prof Osondu Akoma to emerge as Deputy Governorship Candidate for the 2023 general election.

Akoma, a dedicated, committed, well-respected academician and technocrat from the Ukwa bloc of Abia South senatorial district will be running on the same ticket as the Former Chief of Staff to Abia state Government, Mascot Kalu, who is the governorship candidate.

Speaking to reporters in Umuahia recently, a leading member of NUA, Chief Apollos Jacob, described Akoma as a result-oriented man who over the years, has put his experience of service to the development of humanity.

He expressed confidence that APP’s choice of Prof Osondu Akoma as running mate to Mascot Kalu for the 2023 governorship election will ensure victory for the party.

According to Jacob, “On behalf of Ngwa United Alliance, I want to express my unreserved gratitude to Mascot Kalu for standing by his words to ensure that credible leader from Ukwa Ngwa emerged as running candidate of the Enyimba party, APP for the coming elections in 2023.

“Prof Osondu Jacob’s emergence as deputy governorship candidate is a welcomed development because he is a man who has the interest of Abia State and all Abians at heart. He is from a responsible Christian family as his father is a retired Venerable in Anglican Church .

“Kalu and the APP made the right choice because Akoma has the ability to unite the Ngwa people and I believe that with this development, even the aggrieved people from the area will all support the party because he is a great leader.

“Without an iota of doubt, his emergence as running mate to Kalu , is a sure determinant of victory for APP and I want to assure him of NUA’s continuous support and loyalty to actualise his political aspirations of the betterment of our dear state and Nigeria at large,” he said.

The Bauchi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday lost 7,000 members in Bauchi Local Government Areas of the state to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The leader of the defectors, Mallam Adamu Dako, in company of his supporters, said they decided to join the PDP due to the “injustice meted on them by the APC leadership”.

Dako, who was tagged youth leader, said they left the APC because of the undemocratic principles of its leaders.

He pledged to work towards the success of PDP in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

Receiving the defectors at the Bauchi Local Government Secretatiat of the party, Bauchi State Governor Senator Bala Mohammed assured them of fairness and equity in their new party.

He added that the PDP remained an indivisible and united party in the state.

Represented by his political adviser Honourable Abubakar Faggo at the event, the governor said: “Today Adamu Dako when one sees the mammoth crowd that accompanied you, he is reassured of the success of the party at all levels In 2023.

Fago, who was flanked by the Special Adviser Projects Monitoring Musa Ahmed Azare, said “As new members, I assure you of all rights that accrue to the rest of our members. We will ensure that you benefit from every opportunity regarding the welfare of members without sentiments”.

They gave Dako APC membership cards and pledged to register the remaining defectors at their wards.

Reacting to the defection of the APC members to PDP, the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Adamu Aliyu Jalla, challenged the PDP and Dako to mention the names of the 7,000 APC members he defected with.

“The crowd that accompanied him to the secretariat of PDP, there is no badge on their faces that shows that they are members of APC.

“We agree he left the party alone, even people with offices that left the party they left alone and left their supporters in APC. Our record is intact we have confirmed all our members are still with us.”