Politics

Akeredolu’s Absence : Ondo APC, PDP In Verbal War

Published

7 months ago

October 15, 2023

Editor

The ruling All Progressive Congress and the opposition People Democratic Party in Ondo state, have disagreed over alleged plans to instigate crisis following the continued absence of governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s in the state, after his return from medical vacation abroad.

Recall that the People’s Democratic Party in the state have kicked against the continued absence of governor Rotimi Akeredolu in the state since his return from his medical vacation abroad.

Akeredolu has remained in his lbadan, Oyo state, residence since his return.

But the ruling APC, has assured the people of the state that governor Akeredolu will be back in the state ” in a matter of days adding that he has been discharging his official duties, irrespective of his location

The Publicity Secretary of the ruling APC in the state, Alex Kalejaye, in a statement, weekend, in Akure, alleged that the party has uncovered plan by the opposition party to instigate crisis in the state in order to portray the party in bad light ahead of next year’s governorship election.

Kalejaye, said that some PDP leaders have entered “into unholy alliance with some elements in APC to foment avoidable crisis in Ondo State.

According to him ”The ruling All Progressives Congress (apc) in Ondo State has uncovered the plans by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to instigate crisis in Akure, the State capital, on Monday.

“The essence of the arrangement, it was further gathered, is to create a semblance of political instability in the peaceful State, in addition to portraying the ruling party in bad light, ahead of governorship election, coming up next year.

“It has come to our knowledge that some PDP chieftains, who have started making huge contributions, in collaboration with some players within our fold, have finalised plans to destabilise the Sunshine State.

“The chapter explained that Ondo State has thus far been peaceful, organized, and enjoyed enviable political stability, and industrial harmony.

“It is unbelievable that the main opposition party, PDP, that is engulfed by leadership turbulence in Abuja, will prefer to go into unholy alliance with some elements in APC to foment avoidable crisis in Ondo State.

“Disturbed by the information, the State chapter, in an emergency meeting on Sunday, condemned in strong terms such thoughts and plans to instigate political upheaval and create disaffection among the people.

“Ondo APC argued that the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has been discharging his official duties and responsibilities without any hitch, irrespective of his location.

“The party also expressed appreciation for the understanding and prayers of the good people of the State for the admirable governor.

“We are very optimistic that our Governor; your performing Governor, will be in our midst in a matter of days,” the party assured.

“It is imperative to state that any political gathering or activity at this time could easily be hijacked beyond the control and capacity of the organizers.

“We therefore call on security agencies to be vigilant and ensure that every gathering is well guided, and closely monitored for compliance.

“The party is confident that the APC-led government in Ondo State will continue to invest in projects that have direct bearings on the welfare of the public. We will also not relax our commitment to the State workforce.

Akeredolu should come out or resign honourably – PDP

In a swift response, the Publicity Secretary of the opposition PDP in the state Kennedy Peretei denied allegation of planning to foment crisis in the state.

Peretei said that the ruling party “is populated by shameless people.

According to him “The Governor has been absent from his duty post since April this year, yet they are comfortable with the total collapse of governance in the state.

“The Governor has not been seen in the state since April, this year.

“The PDP is known for its peaceful and developmental strides in the State. We cannot be accused of planning to create crisis in the state.

“It is clear that APC is afraid of their own shadows having failed to meet the expectations of the people.

Peretei said that ” if they know where Akeredolu is, they should ask him to come out or resign honorably.”

Meanwhile, an unconfirmed source alleged that the opposition party and the ruling party planned to stage protests in the state for and against the absence of governor Akeredolu in the state since his return from his medical vacation abroad.

VANGUARD

Politics

JUST IN: Ex-PDP Deputy National Chair, Oyedokun Defects To APC

Published

5 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Editor

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, has resigned his membership of the party and announced defection to the All Progressives Congress.

Oyedokun, a notable personality within the political circle in Osun State and beyond, said he decided to dump the PDP after consultation with his loyalists.

He said he would be joining APC, where his experience, efforts, and leadership roles would be valued and appreciated.

His resignation letter addressed to the National Chairman of the PDP through the ward, local government and state chairmen of the party obtained late Thursday further read, “As a functional member and leader of PDP (Ward 13, Jagun/ Osi-Bale Ode, Odo-Otin South Local Government, Osun State,) whose high electoral productivity and value have been credibly and positively acknowledged in my ward, across the local council, state and country-wide for the enhancement of the fortune of the PDP, I have the honour (though with pain) in announcing the renunciation of my membership of the party on principle, having observed that the ideals of we, founding members, had been sorely contaminated.

“In taking this step which is not even without due consultation with my teaming loyalists in the PDP, I have consequently decided to shift my allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC) where I believe my experience, efforts and leadership roles would be valued and appreciated.”

Oyedokun’s defection to the APC is coming at the time the aspirant he supported during the 2022 Osun governorship primary of PDP, Mr Dotun Babayemi is also moving to the national ruling party.

Osun APC said on Wednesday that Babayemi and his supporters would be dumping PDP and joining the party at a rally scheduled to be held in Osogbo on Friday.
PUNCH

Politics

Poll: APC Has No Sellable Candidate, Nothing To Campaign On – Edo Govt

Published

3 days ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

The Edo State Government claimed on Monday that the All Progressives Congress, APC, has no credible candidate for the September 21 governorship election.

This was an assertion made by the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, at a press conference in Benin City.

Nehikhare also alleged that the party is using lies and propaganda as its campaign strategy.

According to him: “The only APC strategy for the governorship election is to resort to lies and propaganda. When a party takes lies and propaganda as an election strategy, it means it has nothing to offer the people. The party lacks people with character, capacity, and intellect.”

The commissioner who took journalists through a screened shot WhatsApp chat said: “What we have here is the official APC WhatsApp platform, their own people screenshot their discussion. One of them who has a conscience asks, is this the only thing we have?”

Nehikhare, who said APC is ashamed to campaign for its candidate, noted that, as of today, nobody had heard of what the party has for the state.

“All we heard is how they are going to help their paymaster, lies and propaganda that will not help the state,” he added.

He opined that lies and propaganda are not strategies the opposition party, like APC, can use to win the September 21 governorship election.

The commissioner, who warned against misinformation and fake news ahead of the governorship election, urged media practitioners to be neutral in matters concerning lies and propaganda.

He, however, noted that Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration has a lot of achievements to market and sell its candidate for the election.

Politics

Defection: Edo Govt, Ex-PDP BoT Member, Idahosa In Verbal War

Published

3 days ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

Edo State government and a former member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustees, Charles Idahosa, on Monday traded words over the latter defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Recall that Idahosa resigned
formally resigned who had last month resigned from PDP, rejoined the APC on Monday in Benin City.

Speaking during his formal presentation to the APC in Benin City, he noted that he left the party four years ago due to internal crisis.

Idahosa added that he dumped the PDP because of what he described as the “damning deeds of the Obaseki-led administration in the last four years”.

He took a swipe at Obaseki for saying that PDP would win the forthcoming September governorship election with 80 per cent of votes.

“I thank God, four years later we all are wiser now. Like the Secretary said, I was a founding member of ACD, ACN and APC. The damage we did four years ago, the APC never remained the same.

“But I am glad we are back to the family. I was nominated to the Board of the Railway when I was in the APC. When I moved to the PDP, I wrote to resign my membership but it was rejected and showed my wide acceptance.

“At 71, I am not here to contest position with anybody, I am here to work. I want to urge APC to keep their eyes on the ball. It is not over until it is over.”

While lambasting Governor Obaseki for his comment that those leaving PDP have been given money, he noted that his greatest regret was not allowing the governor to resign after his first four years in office.

“When he came to beg me like a weather beaten chicken, how much did he give to me? Anytime he goes religious gathering he would say those leaving PDP have been given money.

“He came to me three times in my house to say he wants to resign, that he was tired of being governor but I appealed to him, telling him it was not about him but Benin interest.”

But in a swift reaction, the state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare alleged that Idahosa was never a PDP member.

Nehikhare noted that Idahosa was also never a BOT member of the party, because the party in the state rejected his nomination.

He alleged that it was as a result of the rejection that he found his way back to APC.

“I heard that he claimed to be a member of BOT of PDP but I want to challenge him to tell us when he was sworn in as a member of PDP BOT. He was not a fit and proper person. Even though he was nominated he was shunned by the party.

“It was this that drove him back to APC which he never left in the first place. He was holding on to the board appointment which was offered him while in APC prior to 2020 governorship election.

“He has reached the end of his political career. He has nothing to offer any political party or any group he joins because he believes in bread and butter politics,” Nehikhare said.