Politics

2023: Dele Momodu Hits APC, Tinubu Hard

Published

3 years ago

November 2, 2022

Editor

The Director of Strategic Communications of the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Momodu, has said the All Progressives Congress and its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, cannot unite Nigerians.

Momodu in a statement obtained by The PUNCH, dated Wednesday, November 2, 2022, and titled, “Atiku: APC’s Shettima Suffering From Amnesia – PDP Campaign Organisation,” expressed worry over what he described as an “open disdain for the democratic and voting rights of certain ethnic groups within their domains.”

The PDP campaign director was reacting to the remarks credited to the APC presidential candidate and his running mate on Tuesday at an event in Lagos, where the duo said the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, could not unite Nigeria.

Momodu said, “It is our belief that Alhaji Shettima, in a moment of deliberate amnesia, must have tried to point fingers at the specks in another man’s eyes while studiously ignoring the giant logs in his own eyes.”

Momodu described the APC as a disorganised party with chieftains openly apologising to Nigerians for the undiminished damage it forced on Nigeria since 2015 which resulted in a mass exodus of APC members to the Peoples Democratic Party.

He further stated, “It took almost forever for APC to achieve the simple task of constituting its Presidential Campaign Council, due to the total lack of unity in their party. It is very obvious that APC has become completely rudderless and many self-respecting members are jumping ship and being recovered by PDP.

“How can these APC candidates ever unite Nigerians when they’ve shown open disdain for the democratic and voting rights of certain ethnic groups within their domains?”

The statement further said that APC and its candidates have been shrouded in secrecy and they are just unable to tell Nigerians the truth about anything, stressing, “how can Nigerians be expected to place their faith in such mysterious characters?”

Momodu added, “How can these APC candidates ever unite Nigerians when they’ve shown open disdain for the democratic and voting rights of certain ethnic groups within their domains?

“Everything about APC and its candidates has been shrouded in secrecy and they are just unable to tell Nigerians the truth about anything. How can Nigerians be expected to place their faith in such mysterious characters?”

On the allegation by Shettima that Abubakar could not be trusted with the economy of Nigeria. The director stated that “no heresy could be worse than this. Nigerians would want to know what businesses the APC candidates have managed personally and successfully alleging with the exception of living outlandishly on government booty and largesse.

“Atiku Abubakar started business as a teenager and served meritoriously as a government officer in the customs where he assisted so many Igbo traders, according to available testimonies.

Momodu queried how APC could be expected to guarantee the safety of lives and properties when right under the watch of Shettima as Governor of Borno State the terrorist group, Boko Haram, became an intractable menace and Nigeria is yet to fully recover today.

He noted that the PDP is extremely proud of its antecedents and former vice president and his running mate are fully ready to recover Nigeria from the hands of the “most incompetent leaders in the history of Nigeria.”

Continuing, Momodu maintained, “Alhaji Shettima alleged that Atiku Abubakar cannot be trusted with the economy of Nigeria. No heresy could be worse than this.

“Nigerians would want to know what businesses the APC candidates have managed personally and successfully except living outlandishly on government booty and largesse.

“In Atiku’s private life, he remains one of the biggest employers of labour in Nigeria. He has brought jobs to Nigerians instead of shipping jobs out.”

“How can APC be expected to guarantee the safety of lives and properties when right under the watch of Alhaji Shettima as Governor of Borno State, Boko Haram became an intractable menace and Nigeria is yet to fully recover to this day?

“PDP is extremely proud of its antecedents and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Ifeanyichukwu Okowa are fully ready to recover Nigeria from the hands of the most incompetent leaders in the history of Nigeria,” he added.

Politics

By-Election: Edo Is Home To APC — Deputy Gov, Idahosa

Published

8 hours ago

August 14, 2025

Editor

The deputy governor of Edo state, Hon Dennis Idahosa, says irrespective of the setback experienced during the immediate past administration of the state, Edo is originally home to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Friday Aghedo, Idahosa stated this during the final campaign round for the Ovia federal constituency by-election in Ovia South West local government area that took place at Iguobazuwa.

The deputy governor expressed optimism that the party will come victorious in the bye-election scheduled for Saturday.

Idahosa, who was the occupant of the seat before his election as the state’s deputy governor, said he was sure of the APC candidate, Hon Omosede Igbinedion, securing a minimum of 90 percent votes for the by-election.

“All that is needed is for us to fully mobilise and encourage our supporters to come out enmass to exercise their civic responsibilities on Saturday.

“It is very obvious that from our engagement with the people these past days and across various communities in the federal constituency, we are sure of not less than 90 percent of total votes cast.

“In fact, is not for the misdeed of the immediate past administration, Edo is home to the APC, it has always been right from the AC to ACN, and before the APC”, Idahosa stated

Meanwhile, the APC candidate for the bye-election, again reiterated her commitment to the betterment of the federal constituency.

Omosede Igbinedion noted that her synergy with the deputy governor was sure to attract developmental projects to the federal government.

She appealed to the people to come out on Saturday without fear or intimidation, to do what is required of them, cast their votes for the progressives party.

Notable leaders at the grand finale of the campaign at Iguobazuwa were the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, Deputy Speaker, Hon. Osamwonyi Atu, former deputy governors of the state, Dr Pius Odubu, and Chief Lucky Imasuen.

Others are Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the party former governorship candidate,Mr Lawrence Okah, the state Secretary of the party, Senator Neda Imasuen, Chief Billy Osawaru, amongst others.

Politics

Osun LG Crisis: INEC To Relocate CVR Centres, Releases Gov Poll Timetable

Published

1 day ago

August 13, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission in Osun State said it will relocate registration points for the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration exercise from local government secretariats currently under lock.

Osun LG secretariats have been shut since February 17, 2025, due to a tussle between the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress over control of councils.

The APC had claimed that the February 10, 2025, decision of the Court of Appeal, Akure, had returned its candidates elected in the October 15, 2022, local government elections, but sacked by the Osogbo Federal High Court in December 2022.

But the PDP insisted that the officials who emerged on February 22, 2025, are legally recognised to manage the affairs of council areas in the state.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo, the state capital, on Wednesday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mutiu Agboke, said the affected INEC offices had been identified and would be moved to alternative locations to ensure the CVR proceeds without disruption.

Agboke said, “The CVR will start on the 18th day of August, 2025, with online registration.

“By this, the prospective registrant will visit www.cvr.inecnigeria.org to supply the necessary information about himself or herself.

“Thereafter, he or she will generate a slip to take to INEC local government office within his place of residence.

“Later on the 25th of August 2025, the registrant will visit the local government office for his or her biometrics, i.e the fingerprint and the facial.

“INEC offices located inside local government secretariats are not shut down.

“However, INEC has harvested the number of those local government offices. We want to bring them out of the LG secretariats. We are working on that. Our headquarters had requested for their details and we have forwarded to them.”

Agboke also announced that activities for the August 8, 2026, Osun governorship election have officially begun, with notices posted in all INEC LG offices.

Party primaries are scheduled between November 24 and December 15, 2025, while submission of candidates’ particulars will run from January 15 to February 9, 2026.

He stated, “This is necessary to enable political parties democratically nominate candidates for the election as required by section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022. The submission of forms EC9 ( personal particulars of candidates) and EC9B (Names/list of nominated candidates) online at the nomination portal of the commission at 9 am on the 15th day of January, 2026, to 6 pm on the 9th February 2026.

“Access code for the submission of nomination forms shall be available for collection on 15th December, 2025, at the headquarters of the commission. I implore all the political parties and other stakeholders to follow the timetable for the 2026 Governorship Election for Osun State with a view to tracking the various activities contained therein. Copies of the timetable shall be made available to the political parties at this meeting in a short while. The 2026 Governorship election shall be conducted on the 8th day of August,2026.”

He appealed to political parties and other major stakeholders to work against the menace of vote buying, saying the electorate should be educated not to sell their votes.

The REC also called on all stakeholders to continue supporting INEC in the state for it to deliver a credible election, noting that the commission alone cannot deliver a peaceful and successful election without their cooperation.
(PUNCH)

Politics

JUST IN: Total Loyalty Non-negotiable, PDP Tells Members

Published

1 day ago

August 13, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party has warned that it will not tolerate disloyalty from any member, stressing that total commitment to the party’s cause is non-negotiable.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba said the party will rely on its constitution to ensure members remain committed to its cause.

Responding to a question about the recent conditions set by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for the success of the November 15 and 16 National Elective Convention, Ologunagba emphasised that the PDP is about the people, not any individual.

He said, “We have zero tolerance for anti-party activities. We expect and demand total loyalty from all our members. Anything short of that will not be tolerated, and we shall invoke the relevant sections of the party’s constitution to enforce this.”

Details shortly…