Politics

2023: PDP Delegates Raise Alarm Over Alleged Plot To Move Venue For Guber Primaries To Army Barracks

Published

4 years ago

April 26, 2022

Some delegates for the May 21, 2022 primary elections of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Akwa Ibom State, have raised the alarm over alleged plot by the party to relocate the venue for the exercise from the usual Uyo Township Stadium to Army barracks Ibagwa in Abak council area of state.

The delegates described the move as unacceptable, a threat to democracy as well as a plot by the state government to disenfranchise perceived dissidents to their preferred aspirant.

Rising from a meeting held at Unique Gardens Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo on Tuesday, Mr. John Etefit, one of the statutory delegates, accused the state government of being desirous to impose its anointed aspirant on the party by forcing members to take the primaries to Ibagwa barracks.

He said, “After fruitless efforts to get most of us to support the aspiration of Pastor Umo Eno, hit a brick wall, subtle and open threats have been employed which we resisted and now the idea of taking the primaries to the barracks birthed.

“We were told by core supporters of the government preferred aspirant that their final joker is the barracks where only their supporters will be allowed access and others supporting other aspirants turned back and if they insist on getting in, then soldiers will be directed to unleash mayhem on them.”

Another statutory delegate, Mr Asuquo Ekanem, from Oruk Anam council area, lamented that democracy is fully under threat in the state alleging that “government is no longer appealing or lobbying us to accept their aspirant but asking us to wait and see if we will even have access to the venue, we were informed that we will hear our names mentioned but accreditation tags will be given to their men on ground and there is nothing we will do about it.”

Other delegates, who spoke with journalists at the end of the meeting, appealed to human rights groups, international community and other related bodies to turn their searchlight to Akwa Ibom state, “as the primaries may set the once peaceful state on fire and unprecedented carnage”.

Another delegate, Aniefiok Ekefre said, “Any venue outside the Uyo Township Stadium is not acceptable to us. It must be one man one vote at the primaries, let the popular and acceptable aspirant emerge. They told us that their preferred aspirant is the God’s choice for Akwa Ibom people, why arm-twisting the same people to embrace God’s choice? Akwa Ibom people are now wiser and ready to change the narratives, there will be no third term by surrogate and we are not leaving the party for opportunists.”

They further vowed to embark on mass protest and to petition the national secretariat of the party should the planned relocation of the governorship primaries to the barracks considered by the state chapter of the party hold.

However, the PDP state Publicity Secretary, Mr Borono Bassey, when contacted by our correspondent, said the matter is still in the realms of speculation.

“We are yet to decide on the venue for the primaries and so whatever you heard is purely speculation by outsiders at this moment. When the venue is released, we will communicate to members of the public,” Bassey said.

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Politics

PDP Crisis: INEC Rejects Turaki-led NWC

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it will not recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, citing existing court judgments and unresolved legal processes.

This was as contained in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by INEC Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The Commission stated that it could not act on demands to acknowledge or upload on its website the list of national officers said to have been elected at the National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan.

According to INEC, its position was guided by subsisting court decisions and pending litigation relating to the leadership crisis within the PDP.

The electoral body further noted that it would be improper to recognise any factional officers while the matter remains before the courts.

Politics

Govt That Fails To Protect Its Citizens Has No Business Remaining In Office – Kwankwaso

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has accused the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of lacking the political will to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Kwankwaso spoke on Tuesday in Kano while unveiling 2,000 operatives of the Kano State Neighbourhood Security Network.

He urged President Tinubu to “rise to the occasion and truly act as the Commander-in-Chief” in addressing banditry and other security challenges.

According to him, Nigeria’s military “remains one of the most gallant in the world,” having served in international peacekeeping missions in Darfur, Liberia, and other conflict zones.

However, he said the armed forces are not being adequately supported to perform optimally.

“Today, many innocent Nigerians are being killed, while the perpetrators walk freely as if nothing happened. The government must apologise to Nigerians for its laxity in the fight against insecurity,” he said.

Kwankwaso, who once served as Minister of Defence, added: “When I was Defence Minister, I knew the capability of the Nigerian military. They are courageous and professional but need clear direction, support, and political will to do the needful.”

He stressed that Nigeria’s armed forces had historically ranked among the best globally and urged the government to equip them properly to change the current security situation.

Kwankwaso also said that if elected president in 2027, he would recruit over one million additional military personnel to strengthen national security.

“Any government that fails to protect the lives and property of its citizens has failed woefully and has no business remaining in office,” he declared.

He further called on the Federal Government to integrate community-based security initiatives, like the Kano Neighbourhood Security Network, into the national security system to boost morale and improve intelligence-driven operations against criminals.

Politics

ADC Announces Temporary Closure Of Secretariat

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The African Democratic Congress, ADC , says it has temporarily closed its National Secretariat as part of the end-of-year break.

A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said full operations are scheduled to resume in the New Year.

According to the statement, the secretariat will close on December 23, 2025, and reopen on January 5, 2026.

The party, however, said essential skeletal services will remain available throughout the period, while all other official activities at the National Secretariat will be suspended to allow staff and party officials observe the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“This is to inform the public that the African Democratic Congress National Secretariat will close for the year on 23rd December 2025 and will resume full operations on 5th January 2026.

“During this period, only skeletal services will be available, while all other official activities at the Secretariat will be temporarily suspended,” the statement said.

The party thanked its members, partners and supporters for their continued loyalty and cooperation throughout the year, noting that their support remains critical to the growth and stability of the party.

The ADC also said it is committed to its ideals and to democratic engagement as it prepares for activities in the coming year.