₦airaland Forum

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun State has concluded plans to suspend Chief Derin Adebiyi, the factional Chairman of the party in the state backed by former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, over anti-party activities.

Multiple sources at the APC Secretariat confirmed that Adebiyi and other members of the party loyal to Amosun were discovered to have formed a list of delegates who participated in the primary election of African Democratic Party (ADC) in the State.

Recall that Amosun, a Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, had been at daggers drawn with his erstwhile associate and ally, Dapo Abiodun, who is the incumbent Governor of the State.

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is set to head back to the country to receive Ibrahim Shekarau into the major opposition party.

Shekarau, a former Kano state governor, is unsettled at the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and he is believed to be on his way out.

Atiku is expected to return from Europe on Sunday, where he met with Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state.

The former vice-president is billed to meet with Shekarau ahead of his official defection to the PDP.

Shekerau left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the NNPP in May 2022 after months of leadership tussle with Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano.

The senator representing Kano central said APC’s inability to settle the crisis between his faction and Ganduje’s camp resulted in his exit.

But his new alliance with the NNPP would prove to be short-lived. A few days ago, Shekarau opened up on his disgruntlement with the party.

He said the NNPP under the leadership of Rabiu Kwankwaso, the party’s presidential candidate, failed to integrate his supporters.

Shekarau accused Kwankwaso of betraying the agreement they had before his defection.

“I will never be a party to injustice. My integrity is utmost and not any political position that will make me compromise it and that of my people. Nobody will use position or money against my integrity,” he had said.

“Nobody will use money to change my conscience. I was a governor for eight years in Kano and people believed in my integrity.”

SHEKARAU, THE OLD PDP BOY

Shekarau’s imminent return to the major opposition party represents a full-circle moment for him

Until 2018, he was a member of the PDP, with his exit stemming from the internal rift in the Kano chapter of the party.

One faction was loyal to him while another was under the control of Kwankwaso, who was also in PDP at the time.

When he announced his defection, Shekarau blamed the national leadership of the party for failing to resolve the crisis following the controversial dissolution of the state executive committee.

DEFECTION BOOST FOR ATIKU

Despite being out of the office of governor since 2011, Shekarau is believed to still have a decent political structure in Kano.

The state, governed by Abdullahi Ganduje, has been controlled by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) since 2015.

With the 2023 elections fast approaching, the PDP is working to encroach into APC strongholds, especially as it contends with a yet-to-be-resolved internal crisis.

TheCable had reported details of Atiku’s recent fence-mending talks with Wike in the UK.

The PDP has been in turmoil since it held its presidential primary election in May.

Atiku clinched the party’s ticket after the dramatic withdrawal of Tambuwal from the race. Tambuwal had asked his supporters to support the former vice-president.

The crisis in the party escalated after Atiku chose Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta, as his running mate.

Party stakeholders had expressed concerns that Atiku ignored Wike — who was said to have been preferred by a majority of the PDP’s national working committee (NWC) members as the candidate for the position.

On Friday, TheCable reported that allies of Wike demanded the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the party, as a condition for a truce with Atiku.

Details have emerged from the meeting on Thursday between the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and the camp of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, over the crisis in the main opposition party.

The meeting was held over dinner in London at the Park Lane Carlton Hotel. Those from Mr Wike’s side at the meeting included Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State. Governor Ahmadu Fintiri accompanied the candidate.

It came hours after the Wike camp had met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi. Earlier on Monday, the camp had also had a parley with the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, who like Mr Obi was trying to reap from the crisis in the PDP.

PREMIUM TIME’s sources at the meeting with Atiku said the Wike camp told Atiku that it would only negotiate with him for its support if the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, steps down and is replaced by a candidate from a southern zone of the country.

Speaking on behalf of the group, one of the governors said the condition was to ensure that the party corrects the lopsidedness in its leadership before the campaigns begin and that it was in line with a pledge Mr Ayu made before he was elected by consensus at the party’s national convention last year.

The governor also accused Mr Ayu of polarising the PDP. He said contrary to the description of Mr Ayu by Atiku as the unifier of the PDP, the former Senate President is allegedly the most divisive figure to have occupied the party’s top office.

He said rather than seeking reconciliation of many aggrieved members of the party across the country, Mr Ayu had allegedly created new decisions with his aloofness and divisive leadership.

The group said Atiku needs to correct the imbalance in the PDP to demonstrate his willingness and capacity to unite Nigeria if he becomes president.

In his response to the remarks, our source said Atiku acknowledged that the party’s leadership is lopsided but said the provisions of its constitution mean that the anomaly could not be corrected through the resignation of the National Chairman.

According to the source, Atiku pointed out that the PDP constitution stipulates that the Deputy National Chairman from the home region of the National Chairman would step in if the office of the National Chairman becomes vacant.

But the Wike camp interjected to recall that a former national chairman, Okwesilieze Nwodo, had resigned from the position in 2011 following the election of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Deputy National Chairman from his region was overlooked in filling the vacancy.

After much back and forth, Atiku reportedly said he would consult and revert to the group.

According to our source, the meeting did not discuss the grievances peculiar to Mr Wike and other members of his group, insisting that the resignation of Mr Ayu was their condition for opening negotiation with Atiku.

Our source denied reports that Atiku had made some concessions to the group, stressing that the only issue discussed at the meeting was the condition that the group gave for any negotiations with Atiku.

The PDP has been rocked by the face-off between Atiku and Mr Wike over the outcome of the party’s presidential primaries and Atiku’s nomination of Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.

Mr Wike had accused Mr Ayu of manipulating the process to help Atiku beat him and was further infuriated after Atiku overlooked him in his choice of his running mate.

The two leaders had held two previous meetings and had also agreed to constitute a reconciliation committee to look at the issues in their quarrel, but those efforts did not yield fruits.

It is believed that the conflict has held back Atiku from constituting his campaign council, as he wants to unite the party towards the general election and assign Mr Wike a major role in his electioneering.

The crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) might soon dissipate, following what some stakeholders termed the encouraging fallouts from Thursday’s meeting between the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar and governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

The duo, alongside some governors, had been at loggerheads since May, 2022, when Atiku emerged as the presidential candidate of the PDP. The crisis escalated after Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, was unveiled as Atiku’s running mate on June 16. Meetings between loyalists of Atiku and Wike had failed to resolve the imbroglio, with Wike throwing brickbats at the former Vice President and his camp.

At Thursday’s meeting in London, United Kingdom, governors of Abia, Benue and Oyo States accompanied Wike to the meeting, while Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, accompanied Atiku.

There were other PDP stakeholders like Donald Duke who were in attendance. Twenty hours after the meeting, scanty details have emerged on what transpired. An ally of Atiku who’s familiar with the available outcome of the meeting, said both sides conceded grounds, particularly Atiku.

He said Atiku was able to prevail on Wike and other aggrieved governors to suspend their push for the removal of the national chairman of the PDP Iyorchia Ayu, until elections are conducted next year. He said Atiku hinged his argument on the dangers it will pose to the success of the PDP during next year’s elections.

The source said though Wike and his allies didn’t fully commit to the request, they might soft-pedal on their agitation for now. He revealed that Wike demanded some key positions for his camp when Atiku forms his cabinet if he emerges winner in next year’s presidential election.

The top PDP member, who also declined to reveal details of the deal, said Atiku agreed to the terms, but also demanded that Wike and PDP governors must play their part in ensuring that the party wins next year’s presidential elections. It was further gathered that Wike expressed misgivings about the attitude of Atiku’s supporters, who have been accused of fuelling the crisis.

“Wike mentioned their names and asked Atiku the roles the people have played since they left office in supporting the PDP,” the source said.

On the formation of the Presidential Campaign Organisation, the source said one of the governors from the South would be appointed as Director-General soon. He said it wasn’t clear if Wike has accepted the position to lead the campaign.

Giving more details, he said Wike and other governors secured a commitment from Atiku not to repeat the mistakes of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which has no regard for Federal Character.

His words: “Wike and other governors were clear on that. They told Atiku that the South was supposed to get the ticket. They told him that now that he has got the ticket, the South must get key positions in the National Assembly. “The North can’t have the position of the President, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Secretary to the Government of the Federation. APC did that in 2015. PDP must not repeat that mistake. That was part of what Wike told Atiku,” the source added. The PDP member said: “APC has been fuelling this crisis. They were happy when the crisis was festering. They didn’t want it to end. They must be licking their wounds now.

“Many thought Atiku wasn’t ready to make peace with Wike. That has been settled now. The crisis is not over yet, but the PDP has made serious progress.

“Unknown to many people, both Atiku and Wike’s camps settled for a neutral ground to hold this meeting. It was brokered by Adamawa State Governor, Fintiri, who is a close friend to both Wike and Atiku.

“That was how they arrived at London being the best venue. There were too many talks in Nigeria already and they didn’t want that. When they return, more meetings will be held. One thing is now sure and that’s the fact that no PDP governor or members will defect. PDP will go into this election as a united family.

“The next phase of the reconciliation will shock many Nigerians. Peter Obi is still a close ally of Atiku. There will be surprises in the coming weeks if on-going talks pan out well.

“I also suspect that the party may hold its National Executive Committee meeting before the campaigns will start in September. For now, we just have to wait and see.”

In a chat with our correspondent, spokesman for Atiku Campaign Organisation, Senator Dino Melaye, told Saturday Sun that all issues would be resolved. He also boasted that no governor elected on the PDP platform would ditch the party. Melaye said: “I can authoritatively tell you that no PDP governor will leave the party. It is one thing to woo people; it is another thing to get them. “They’re wasting their time. Nobody will leave the party.”

Meanwhile Saturday Sun gathered that the Atiku/ Wike London parley has created panic among supporters of the PDP national chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu. The national chairman’s men, who are also Atiku’s supporters, it was learnt, were shocked that Atiku could travel all the way to London to meet with Wike and his men.

Also, a statement by Atiku through his media aide, Paul Ibe, on Thursday, cautioning his supporters against making inflammatory comments that will jeopardise the unity of the party, it was gathered has heightened tension in the camp of the PDP chairman.

A highly placed party source told Saturday Sun that Ayu’s supporters, including a former North West governor, interpreted Atiku’s ‘London meeting with Wike and the statement cautioning his supporters against inflammatory statements, as a sign that Atiku wants to ditch the camp.

In the aftermath of the London meeting, Ayu, it was gathered has started making frantic efforts to mobilize some stakeholders to support him. The source said, barring any last minute change of plan, Ayu and some members of the NWC will be in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, today, to felicitate the wife of the governor on her birthday. The planned Benue trip, according to the source, is intended to serve as an avenue for a rapprochement between the Wike camp and the national chairman.

He said: “They are planning to visit Benue under the guise of felicitating the wife of the governor on the occasion of her birthday. But the Benue visit is just an opportunity for them to reach out to the pro-Wike governors, especially Ortom, as part of peace building efforts.”

MY ATTENTION HAS BEEN DRAWN TO THE DEFAMATORY, MALIGNING AND CHARACTER INJURIOUS PUBLICATIONS IN THE PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIUM, AS WELL AS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS ON MALICIOUS FALSEHOOD AND ALLEGATIONS ARISING FROM THE EXECUTION OF JUDGEMENT OF HIGH COURT OF ANAMBRA STATE IN SUIT NO: AG/94/2016, THROUGH THE BAILIFFS OF THE HIGH COURT OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY ABUJA ON 23/8/2022. IT IS FUNDAMENTALLY IMPERATIVE TO UNEQUIVOCALLY STATE IN CLEAR AND CATEGORICAL TERMS THE TRUE FACTUAL POSITION, THUS:

FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, I NEVER BORROWED N50,000,000 (FIFTY MILLION NAIRA ONLY) FROM PRINCE ARTHUR EZE, BOTH OF US ONLY ATTENDED A CHURCH SERVICE AT ST. JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH UGA, AGUATA L.G.A, ANAMBRA STATE DURING MY SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN IN THE BUILD UP TO 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS.

IN THE COURSE OF THE SAID CHURCH SERVICE, PRINCE ARTHUR EZE MADE A DONATION OF N50,000,000 (FIFTY MILLION NAIRA ONLY) TO SUPPORT MY SENATORIAL POLITICAL CAMPAIGN ON THE ALTAR AND THE ENTIRE CONGREGANT WERE ENGULFED WITH JOY AND HAPPINESS WHICH MADE THE OFFICIATING PRIEST EXTEND A WARM HAND SHAKE OF GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR HIS KIND GESTURE, WHICH I EQUALLY SENT A LETTER OF APPRECIATION DATED 22/2/2015 TO PRINCE ARTHUR EZE. THE LETTER IS HEREIN ATTACHED.

I WAS TOTALLY DUMBFOUNDED, SURPRISED AND FLABBERGASTED HAVING LEARNT THAT MY BOSSOM FRIEND AND BROTHER, HAD THROUGH HIS COMPANY ORANTO PETROLEUM LIMITED THROUGH WHICH THE SAID CHEQUE OF N50,000,000 (FIFTY MILLION NAIRA ONLY) WAS DRAWN HAD FILED AN ACTION ONE YEAR AFTER AT THE HIGH COURT OF ANAMBRA STATE, AGUATA DIVISION SITTING AT EKWULOBIA IN SUIT NO: AG/94/2016, THROUGH WHAT THEY CALLED (UNDEFENDED LIST) PROCEDURE OR LIQUIDATED MONEY DEMAND OR SUMMARY JUDGMENT PROCEDURE. THE PERTINENT QUESTION IN THE LIPS OF MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE, DO PEOPLE GO TO THE ROOF TOPS TO PRAISE OR THANK OTHERS FOR GRANTING THEM LOAN FACILITIES? HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE YOU SEEN THAT SECURED A LOAN FACILITY FROM A BANK OR AN INDIVIUAL AND WENT TO CHURCH PRAISING THE CREDITOR FOR GRANTING THEM SUCH A LOAN FACILITY WHICH WOULD ONLY BE REPAYED?

I QUICKLY ENGAGED MY LAWYERS WHO FILED MY DEFENCE ON THE MERIT DENYING THE ALLEGATIONS THAT THE SAID MONEY WAS A LOAN BUT A FREE WILL DONATION, UNFORTUATELY DESPITE OUR OBVIOUS DEFENCE AND ISSUES HAVING BEEN JOINED, THE TRIAL COURT REFUSED AND FAILED TO AFFORD US FAIR HEARING BY HAVING THE MATTER HEARD ON FULL BLOWN TRIAL WHERE WITNESSES WILL BE CALLED AND EVIDENCE LED, BUT PROCEEDED TO HEAR THE MATTER ON (UNDEFENDED LIST) PROCEDURE OR SUMMARY JUDGMENT PROCEDURE, THAT IS, HEARING THE CASE ON ONLY THE ALLEGATIONS AND DOCUMENTS FILED BY THE PLAINTIFF (ORANTO PETROLEUM LIMITED) WITHOUT CONTRADICTION. THE COURT WENT AHEAD TO GRANT ALL THE RELIEFS AND ENTERED JUDGEMENT IN FAVOUR OF THE PLAINTIFF ON 6/3/2017.

IN EXERCISE OF MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, I LODGED AN APPEAL AT THE COURT OF APPEAL ENUGU CULMINATING TO SENATOR ANDY UBA –VS- ORANTO PETROLEUM LIMITED, APPEAL NO: CA/E/197/2017, CHALLENGING THE SAID DECISION OF THE HIGH COURT OF ANAMBRA STATE AMONG OTHER THINGS, ON THE GROUND THAT THE SAID MONEY WAS A FREE WILL DONATION AND NOT A LOAN AS WELL AS A CHALLENGE THAT HEARING THE MATTER ON UNDEFENDED LIST WITHOUT MY INPUT AMOUNT TO BREACH OF MY FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO FAIR HEARING GUARANTEED UNDER SECTION 36 OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION OF NIGERIA (AS AMENDED), WHICH OCCASIONED A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE.

IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE, PARTIES FILED AND EXCHANGED THEIR RESPECTIVE BRIEFS OF ARGUMENT AND THE APPEAL SET DOWN FOR HEARING ON THE 26TH FEBRUARY, 2019. HOWEVER, THERE WAS AN INTERVENTION BY SOME ANAMBRA STAKEHOLDERS AND I WAS APPROACHED BY PRINCE AUSTIN NDIGWE (UZU-AWKA) WHO IS A MUTUAL FRIEND OF MYSELF AND PRINCE ARTHUE EZE FOR AMICABLE SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER OUT OF COURT.

I WAS THEREUPON, AFTER A MEETING BETWEEN MYSELF AND PRINCE ARTHUR EZE AT HIS ENUGU RESIDENCE WHICH WAS CHAMPIONED BY PRINCE AUSTIN NDIGWE (UZU-AWKA), INSTIGATED BY WAY OF ADVICE TO WITHDRAW THE APPPEAL ON THE GROUND THAT PRINCE ARTHUR EZE HAD THEN BECOME SATISFIED THAT THE MONEY WAS ACTUALLY A DONATION FOR MY SENATORIAL POLITICAL CAMPAIGN AND NOT A LOAN AS HE WAS MEANT TO BELIEVE EARLIER.

PRINCE ARTHUR EZE PERSUADED ME THROUGH THE SAID PRINCE AUSTIN NDIGWE (UZU AWKA) TO DISCONTINUE THE APPEAL AND IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE GOOD FAITH AND BROTHERLINESS, I QUICKLY INSTRUCTED MY LAWYER TO WITHDRAW THE APPEAL, DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE OUGHT TO EXTRACT TERMS OF SETTLEMENT AS A CONDITION BECAUSE THE APPEAL WAS AT THE CONCLUDING STAGE. CONSEQUENTLY, BASED ON THE NOTICE OF WITHDRAWL FILED BY MY LAWYER, THE APPEAL WAS DISMISSED BY THE COURT OF APPEAL ON 29TH FEBRUARY, 2019.

I WAS DEEPLY ASTONISHED AND SHOCKED BEYOND BONE MARROW WHEN I LEARNT THAT MY BROTHER AND MUTAL FRIEND, PRINCE ARTHUR EZE DESPITE HIS UNDERTAKINGS AT THE MEETING HAD RENEGED HIS PROMISES ON GENTLEMANLY AND BROTHERLY AGREEMENT WE HAD AND SURPRISINGLY SURFACED IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRIORY ABUJA, REGISTERED AND IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED THE SAID JUDGEMENT OF THE HIGH COURT OF ANAMBRA STATE, AGUATA DIVISION SITTING AT EKWULOBIA. THE SUBJECT MATTER OF MY APPEAL TO THE COURT OF APPEAL ENUGU, WITH THE SOLE INTENTION TO EMBARRASS, DEFAME AND REDUCE MY REPUTATION BEFORE THE RIGHT THINKING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC USING NUMEROUS HIRED SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

FOR PURPOSES OF CLARITY, I ATTACHED HEREWITH A VIDEO CLIP OF PRINCE ARTHUR EZE’S DONATION OF N50,000,000 TO MY POLITICAL CAMPAIGN FOR ELECTION INTO THE SENATE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA TO REPRESENT ANAMBRA SOUTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT IN THE SENATE OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, MADE AT ST. JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH UGA, AGUATA L.G.A, ANAMBRA STATE.

THIS IS CONTRARY TO THE INFORMATION BEING CIRCULATED IN SEVERAL PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIUM, AS WELL AS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO THE EFFECT THAT THE ABOVE SUM WAS A FREE INTEREST FRIENDLY LOAN, WHICH IS A CALCULATED ATTEMPT TO DEFAME AND MALIGN MY NOBLE CHARACTER AND HARD EARNED REPUTATION.

IT IS SHOCKING AND BAFFLING HOW A MAN WILL STAND ON THE SACRED ALTAR OF GOD AND DONATE TO THE POLITICAL ASPIRATION AND CAMPAIGN OF HIS BROTHER, OF WHICH THE OFFICIATING PRIEST EXTENDED A WARM HAND SHAKE OF GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR HIS KIND GESTURE AND LATER TURN AROUND TO DENY THE PURPOSE OF THE DONATION.

I HAVE DEEP RESPECT FOR RULE OF LAW AND SANCTITY OF OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM WITH UNBLEMISHED POLITICAL CAREER AS A DEVOTED PUBLIC FIGURE, FORMER GOVERNOR OF ANAMBRA STATE, FORMER SENATOR OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, FORMER SPECIAL ASSISTANT ON SPECIAL DUTIES AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS TO PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, AS WELL AS LOVING FATHER, DEDICATED CHRISTIAN AND LAW ABIDING CITIZEN OF THIS GREAT NATION, STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT JUSTICE WILL BE DONE IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS.

I THEREFORE CALL ON THE GENERAL PUBLIC, MEN AND WOMEN OF GOOD WILL AS WELL AS POLITICAL FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS, BUSINESS ASSOCIATES AND FAMILY MEMBERS, WITH ENDURING PASSION FOR JUSTICE, FAIR PLAY AND EQUITY, TO REMAIN CALM.

SEN. (DR.) SENATOR EMMANUEL ANDY UBA, MFR

Cross River @OfficialPDPNig is having their “5 million match”, it is a fitness and awareness walk in Calabar. We’re testing our mic ooh

LAMIDO CRACKING THE WALL OF UNITY IN PDP

We have observed with disgust the disdainful remarks made by the former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido about Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, during his recent interview on Channels television.

While, we cannot deny that Alhaji Lamido has an inalienable right to his personal opinion, we wish to declare that he, however, lacks the right to malign governor Wike, whose immense contributions to the sustenance of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is not in dispute.

It is rather appalling that at a time when concerted efforts are being made by lovers of true democracy and the unity of the party, to resolve some inherent contradictions plaguing the PDP, Alhaji Lamido and his cohorts, who have since lost their relevance in the polity, are busy creating friction and schism.

Governor Wike, has never claimed to be custodian of the over 3 million votes in Rivers State. But as the leader of the PDP and good people of Rivers State, anyone who underrates the governor’s political pedigree or dares to ignore his influence in the State and beyond, will be doing so at his own peril.

We wish to remind Alhaji Lamido that governor Wike has never left anyone in doubt about his capacity to sway the voters in Rivers State in a direction that benefits the people and the State, in the overall. When he speaks, Rivers people will listen, no doubt.

Perhaps, Alhaji Lamido thinks Nigerians are suffering from selective amnesia to have forgotten in a hurry, the ignoble role he and his cohorts played between 2014 and 2015, that culminated in the defeat of the PDP in 2015 general election.

We hope that he is not up in such scheme again to cause a repeat of that history. Otherwise, if Alhaji Lamido has any modicum of conscience, he won’t be making disparaging comments about governor Wike, whom many have described as the pillar of the PDP since 2015.

We wish to state without equivocation that no well meaning member of the PDP will describe governor Wike as ‘insignificant’ in the affairs of the PDP. With all modesty, only persons plagued by schizophrenia psychosis, will ascribe any form of relevance to Alhaji Lamido, under whose leadership the PDP has woefully lost two governorship elections in Jigawa State in quick succession.

Under Lamido’s watch, as a governor of Jigawa State in 2015, the APC governorship candidate, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, scored a total 648,045 votes to defeat his PDP opponent, Malam Aminu Ringim, who scored a total 479, 447 votes. Worst still, in 2019, governor Abubakar polled 810,933, while the PDP candidate scored 288,356.

Such records depict that Alhaji Lamido cannot and does not have such political following that will benefit the PDP. Those who want electoral victory for the PDP are not dampening the morale required for political offensive at APC, but Alhaji Lamido is cracking the wall of unity badly.

Let it be told that in 2015, governor Wike, as an opposition candidate in Rivers State polled 1,029,102 votes to defeat the then ruling APC governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside, who managed to garner a paltry 124,896 votes. And in 2019, the governor also won by landslide. This are marks of political sagacity and determination to keep PDP at a leading pedestal.

So, as the 2023 general elections beckons, we wish to advise Alhaji Lamido to redeem his battered political image by delivering Jigawa State to the PDP, if he can

Kelvin Ebiri

Special Assistant on Media to the Governor of Rivers State.

August 24, 2022.

President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear he will only campaign for the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 elections.

According to Garba Shehu, presidential spokesperson, Buhari will not recognise former members of the party or politicians who have court cases against APC candidates.

This was contained in a statement on Wednesday.

“The Presidency wishes to put it on record, and at the same time, reassure faithful party members that President Muhammadu Buhari remains a “disciplined soldier” of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and will, in all the coming elections, support only those candidates fielded by the party and no other,” the statement read in part.

It added that, “This is a warning to decamped party members and some others who are still in court against official candidates of the APC that they are on their own and nobody outside the party tent should link what they are doing to President Buhari.”

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is currently locked in a meeting with governorship candidates of the party across the 36 States of the federation.

The meeting is being attended by all PDP governorship candidates except the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, who is on vacation abroad.

However, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State also sent in his apologies, noting that he would join as the session continues.

The closed-door meeting is tagged an interactive session between the party national leadership and the party candidates ahead of the 2023 elections.

The meeting comes amid calls for the national chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, to step aside by Nyesom Wike’s camp, as part of conditions for resolution of the impasse over the choice of Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as the party’s presidential running mate.

Signs that the embattled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, may yield to pressures on him to quit have emerged as party stakeholders have begun to consider some Southwest candidates as his possible replacement.

Sources within the PDP confided in The Guardian that though the issue is yet to be decided, some party leaders are pushing for a Southwest person to replace Ayu, stressing that the consensus opinion of members is that Ayu should go.

He disclosed that party stalwarts are considering whether to empower the National Vice Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, to act as national chairman pending a mid-term convention or draft former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, who is known to be an ally of Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.

“When the various leadership caucuses meet in the coming week, decision would be taken on the matter. But, for now, it is general opinion of members that Ayu should go in the interest of the party. We have a tradition; so, whether Arapaja is to act or somebody else would come in does not matter. We need to unite and move the party forward,” he stated.

This position, however, poses its own problem as using the party’s Constitution to resolve this matter may yield nothing, because if Ayu were to go, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagun, Deputy National Chairman (North), will be the one to step in until a convention is held to properly constitute another executive, according to Section 45 (I and II) of the party’s Constitution.

Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin, dropped the hint about Ayu’s possible exit on Sunday, when he appeared on Channels Television programme, Sunday Politics.

While affirming that it was unfair for the PDP presidential contender and the party’s national chairman to come from the same Northern region of the country, the BoT chairman disclosed that a report on the matter is being awaited by the party’s national leadership.

Expressing his determination to ensure that peace and genuine reconciliation returns to the party, Senator Jibrin declared his readiness to even vacate his post to pave the way for PDP to achieve cohesion to win the forthcoming general elections.

He noted that the report on the crisis would be tabled to the leaders by next week, stressing, “when we find out that somebody is wrong in what has happened, we will come up openly to tell the party that it is wrong.

“Whatever we can do, we will do it in the interest of the party to make the party remain as PDP. To tell the truth, it will not be fair for the president of Nigeria to be from the north, the chairman of the party from the north and the BoT chairman from the north.”

As the party’s national caucus, BoT and National Executive Committee (NEC) plan to meet any moment from now, it was gathered that the recommendation of the various reconciliation committees will guide action on the matter.

It was also learnt yesterday that while the Wike camp made Ayu’s exit their cardinal demand, some members loyal to the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, insist that only through a mini convention after the general elections could Ayu be replaced.

Attempts to get Arapaja’s reaction to the development failed as the National Vice Chairman did not take calls or respond to SMS sent to his phone line. However, when contacted, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, said he was yet to know.

“Well, I am not aware of this. If it is happening, I will be in a position to know and it would be a decision of the organs of the party. And there is no such thing to my knowledge at this time.

“I am sure the NWC (National Working Committee) would have to meet, that is an organ of the party. Most likely, the NEC (National Executive Committee) will meet. The last meeting of NWC was last Thursday, the next one will be next Thursday and there is nothing like that on the agenda to my knowledge as at now,” Ologunagba stated.
BARELY four days after the Umaru Fintiri-led PDP peace panel met in Port Harcourt to reconcile the two factions of the party, an atmosphere of unease and anxiety has overtaken the party.

The camp of the Rivers governor has not just insisted that Ayu should resign, it is also seeking to be allowed to produce the next Chairman.

A check at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja on Monday revealed that the matter of the peace meeting dominated talks among several groups of party leaders and officials.

The Port Harcourt meeting according to a member of the NWC is “the beginning of the end” for the crisis, because the aggrieved leaders have laid bare their demands.

“What has also emanated from the meeting is that the speculation about the call for the resignation of Ayu as national chairman has been formally brought forward.

“It is now left for the other camp and the entire leadership of the party, including NEC to weigh the pros and cons and take a decision,” he said.

It was also learnt that the reconciliation process is being delayed by a new tussle over which camp produces the replacement to Ayu should he resign.

A NEC member disclosed that some disciples of Atiku prefer a member of their camp to be made chairman if Ayu resigns, but the Wike camp wants to produce the next chairman since the Atiku camp has already produced the presidential and vice presidential Candidates.

MEANWHILE, the chairman of PDP BoT, Walid Jibrin, insisted on Monday that Northern domination of the leadership of the party is unfair to other party leaders from the South.

Clarifying the statement he made on a television programme on Sunday night, Walid made it clear that it is unfair for the PDP to have its presidential candidate, national chairman and BoT chairman from the Northern part of the country.

At the moment, Atiku, Ayu and the BoT Chairman are all from the North. Even the deputy national chairman (North), who is constitutionally empowered to take charge should Ayu resign, is also from Yobe in Northeast.

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, a former governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, on Monday, described how another former governor of the State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, allegedly disappointed him and his supporters after joining the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in May 2022.

Shekarau, who spoke at a press conference in Kano on Monday, promised to announce his final decision of defection in few days.

The former All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, wh currently represents Kano Central in the Senate, met with the highest decision body, The Shura Council, at the weekend to discuss on issues related to Atiku Abubakar’s proposal for him to join the PDP.

The committee, under the chairmanship of Barrister Habib Shehu, had submitted its report for consideration.

Although LEADERSHIP is unable to confirm Shekarau’s next move, however, there are feelers that he will join the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Presidential candidates in the 2023 elections on Monday attended the Nigerian Bar Association’s annual general conference in Lagos.

Labour Party’s Peter Obi and the Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar appeared in person at the conference.

The NBA had earlier said two other presidential candidates – Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) – did not confirm their availability for the conference.

The 2022 NBA Annual General Conference, with the theme “Bold Transitions”, being held at the Eko Atlantic City until August 26.

The Shura Consultative Assembly, the highest decision-making body in Senator Ibrahim Shekarau’s political camp, has set five conditions for defections to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The conditions form part of Shura’s report to be submitted to Mr Shekarau on Saturday (today).

DAILY NIGERIAN had exclusively revealed Mr Shekarau’s plans to defect from the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP to PDP despite getting the automatic senatorial ticket of the former.

When Mr Shekarau broached the issue of his ongoing talks with PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, and the offers made to him before the Shura, insiders said the house was divided.

While others expressed reservations over defection to PDP, others supported Mr Shekarau’s move as “NNPP failed to accommodate Mallam’s loyalists in giving automatic tickets”.

Although the defection issue was presented to Shura as a fait accompli, the former governor nonetheless sought its recommendations before formal declaration.

A credible source who preferred anonymity told DAILY NIGERIAN that as part of the offers made to woo Mr Shekarau, Mr Atiku promised to appoint him as either Secretary to the Government of the Federation or Chief of Staff to the President.

The source added that Mr Shekarau would lead the PDP campaign in the North West, with a mandate to reach out and rally the support of religious and traditional leaders.

“You know Mallam has extensive network among the religious and traditional leaders in the North. With Mallam in charge of his campaign in the North, it will be easier for Atiku to gain support,” said the source.

A 21-member committee was last week formed to study the proposal and give a report on the development.

The committee, which was later expanded to a 30-man panel, had studied Mr Atiku’s proposals and delegated five most ranking members to set “five terms and conditions” for the senator.

“Key conditions among the five are: Shura members must be in all subsequent meetings with either Atiku or Tinubu and; Mallam will not defect until there is concrete agreement between Atiku or Tinubu on specific appointments to be given to Shura members. I remember these two issues are key among the conditions. It is no longer Mallam getting the appointment alone, his loyal disciples must also be accommodated.

“The conditions are set this time in order to avoid the mistakes of the past. Previously, Mallam joined PDP, APC and now NNPP without making any specific demands for his loyalists to be accommodated by way of automatic tickets or appointments,” said a source familiar with the conditions.

But a top associate of Mr Shekarau who pleaded anonymity told this newspaper that the defection plan was not initiated by the senator but the Northern elite.

According to the source, two issues – pressure from the Northern elite and his associates – necessitated Mr Shekarau’s defection to PDP.

“Mallam was particularly disturbed by internal grumbling about his being self-centered without negotiating positions for others Shura gives Shekarau 5 conditions for defection to PDP himself. While Malam was trying to manage the internal rift, then Northern elders started calling him to come and join hands with Atiku,” said the source.

Mr Shekarau’s spokesman, Sule Yau Sule, who had earlier told journalists that a decision would be taken within a week, could not be reached for comment on the development.