Politics

2023: PDP, LP, APC Chieftains Trade Accusations Over Electoral Violence

Published

3 years ago

December 22, 2022

PDP, LP, APC Chieftains Trade Accusations Over Electoral Violence

Chieftains of the three leading political parties for the 2023 presidential election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have engaged in blame trading over the growing electoral violence in Nigeria.

A member of the PDP, Anthony Ehilebo; LP spokesperson Dele Farotimi; and an APC member, Ogenyi Okpoku spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday.

Okpoku, Farotimi and Ehilebo on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on December 22, 2022.

The PDP had in a press conference earlier accused the APC of instigating pre-election violence in the country ahead of the 2023 general elections. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, had referenced a video where the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu was captured telling party members to grab power at all cost.

Adding to his party’s allegations against the APC, PDP’s Ehilebo also alleged that the APC recruited many people known for fomenting violence in its election campaign council and unleashed them on the oppositions.

“We have come to know APC as a party that dwells on violence. For instance, I am from Edo State and there is a BBC documentary of a self-confessed Black Axe member who has been known in the past to terrorise Edo State, Benin in particular, by the name Tony Kabaka. He is the current APC state youth leader. When you have individuals like this spearhead the APC election machinery, we must raise all sorts of alarm so that we can protect our nascent democracy,” he said.

On his part, Farotimi said the Labour Party is not known for causing violence but has been on the receiving end from both the ruling party APC and the opposition PDP.

The LP spokesperson said, “We have never been accused of any form of violence whatsoever, but we have been the recipients of violence. We receive from the APC and the PDP but more have come from the party in power… It’s not something that started yesterday, it’s a culture and I think what is different this time around is that the people are more interested.”

However, the APC chieftain, Okpoku dismissed all the accusations of violence levelled against his party, and instead accused PDP of fomenting violence but shifting blames on the APC.

“To be frank, it is psychopathic for the PDP to accuse APC of fomenting violence. If you check out the state the these violence are being carried out, especially against INEC facilities, they are APC-controlled states. So, the APC-controlled state cannot foment crisis in its own state. It is the same PDP, knowing fully well that it has no chance of winning the 2023 elections, now decided to foment crisis and when they cause this violence they come out to play the victim,” Okpoku claimed.

Politics

Use Edo By-election As Template For APC’s Victory In 2027, Idahosa Urges Residents

Published

8 hours ago

August 7, 2025

Editor

Deputy governor of Edo State Hon Dennis Idahosa, has urged the people to show their readiness to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027 general elections by using the House of Representatives bye-election scheduled for August 16 as a template.

Idahosa hinged his call on the fact that Governor Monday Okpebholo had shown his readiness for governance within a year in office and deserved to be supported by the people.

The deputy governor stated this when the APC campaign team birthed at Uhiere, Okokhuo, and Isiuwa, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the Ovia Federal Constituency bye-election is for the people to show “capacity” and nothing more.

“The Executive Governor of our dear state, and my Principal, Monday Okpebholo, by the grace of God, through your support, has promised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 2.5 million votes.

“The efficacy of that promise starts on August 16 with the Ovia Federal Constituency bye-election.

“This is not a normal election, it is an election to show capacity. The results you give to Omosede unlocks the key to accessing the dividends of democracy.

“The margin of winning is important. This is why we are all here to convince you to ensure that we get at least 70 percent votes from the registered voters in this area,” he stated.

The deputy governor who led the APC team for the campaign said the party’s candidate, Hon Omosede Igbinedion, had the capacity to entrench the dividends of democracy to the area.

At Isiuwa, NIFOR Community, Idahosa praised the people for making the area an APC stronghold.

He said he was not there for the campaign but to introduce their daughter to them and asked them for their support to the party’s candidate for the bye-election.

Similarly, Idahosa also appealed to the people of Okokhuo community for support.

Omosede who was full of praises in visited wards, said “this is the first time, in a long while, since 2015, I am here with a broom, a symbol of development and advancement.

“You know, the umbrella is tattered and scattered, and you know the PDP has fallen. I am grateful to you all who took the time to be here.”

She told the people to hold her accountable for every campaign promise she made.

Politics

2027: Jonathan May Get Automatic Ticket, If… – PDP

Published

18 hours ago

August 7, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is reportedly considering offering former President Goodluck Jonathan an automatic ticket to contest the 2027 presidential election, if he returns to the party and plays a more active political role.

This was revealed by Daniel Woyengikuro, the PDP’s National Financial Secretary, during an exclusive interview in Abuja. Woyengikuro emphasized Jonathan’s continued influence within the party and the nation’s politics, describing him as the PDP’s national leader.

“Is he not the best candidate for us at this moment? He is not just a former president; he is the leader of the party now. Aside from [former President Olusegun] Obasanjo, the next person in line is him. Goodluck Jonathan is the national leader of this party,” Woyengikuro said.

He confirmed that the PDP has been consulting with Jonathan and his associates, aiming to bring him back into the party’s mainstream leadership as part of a larger strategy to reposition the party and address Nigeria’s growing political and economic challenges.

“Nigeria has reached a point where we need to salvage this country — for our generation and for those to come,” Woyengikuro added. “When we talk about the Southern Presidency, someone like Goodluck Jonathan stands out.”

When asked directly if the party would consider granting Jonathan an automatic ticket, Woyengikuro responded emphatically:

“For me, that’s what I firmly stand for. You can quote me anywhere — I want him to come. An automatic ticket for him, as it stands now. Because we must salvage both this party and the nation.”

He further asserted that Jonathan’s return would significantly reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.

Woyengikuro also praised Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, calling him a “vibrant leader” and a strong candidate from the South capable of bridging Nigeria’s generational divide.

“These are the two main individuals I stand for: Goodluck Jonathan and Seyi Makinde,” he concluded.

The PDP is expected to intensify its internal consultations in the coming months as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Politics

PDP Announces National Convention Zoning Committee Inauguration Date

Published

18 hours ago

August 7, 2025

Editor

The People’s Democratic Party, on Wednesday, announced that the inauguration of its National Convention Zoning Committee will take place on Thursday, August 14, 2025, as part of preparations for its 2025 Elective National Convention.

The party invites key stakeholders to a significant event aimed at shaping the party’s future leadership structure.

This is contained in a press release by PDP’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, on the party’s official X account.

The inauguration is scheduled to start at 12:00 pm WAT at the NEC Hall, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

The event will bring together PDP governors, members of the Board of Trustees, the National Working Committee, the National Executive Council, serving and former National Assembly members, as well as other key stakeholders.

“This is to formally inform and invite all our governors, BOT, NWC, NEC, serving and former NASS members, and all our stakeholders to the inauguration of the National Convention Zoning Committee (NCZC) of our great party,” the statement read.