Politics

APC’ll Lose Edo Gov Poll Like Kano Defeat – PDP

Published

2 years ago

January 17, 2024

The Peoples Democratic Party, on Tuesday, told the All Progressives Congress to perish its thought of reclaiming Edo State in the upcoming September 21, 2024 governorship election.

The PDP was reacting to the vow by the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and ex-Edo governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, that they were determined to reclaim Edo State, adding that the state belongs to the party.

While mocking Ganduje, the PDP said he and the APC were defeated in Kano State in the last governorship election, so would they be shamed in the upcoming Edo poll.

Ahead of the governorship election, the APC has fixed its primary to pick its governorship candidate for February 17.

The APC, through its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Mesoko, announced on Tuesday that the party had opted for direct primaries to produce its governorship candidate for the state.

Mesoko said, “After due consultations with Edo State APC stakeholders, the NWC has approved direct primaries as the mode of election to be used to produce the governorship candidate of the party for the state.”

The PDP, on its part, will pick its governorship candidate at a congress scheduled for February 22.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting late Monday night in Abuja, the APC National Chairman, Ganduje, said the party was ready to reclaim Edo State.

The APC was the ruling party in Edo State until 2020 when Governor Godwin Obaseki defected to the PDP and won his second-term election on the opposition party’s platform.

Ganduje, speaking on Monday in Abuja, said, “Edo is an APC state. Now we have to take Edo back. We have only one state from the South-South for the greatest party in Africa, it’s not acceptable. We were able to get only Cross River State. After crossing so many rivers, we succeeded in getting Cross River State. But Edo State, we must get it,” he said.

Ganduje declared that it would not be business as usual, adding that the APC was a progressive party with clear-cut objectives.

He stated, “We have to improve our internal democracy; we have to deepen and widen it. We need to understand the party and its manifesto; its rules and regulations. We need to understand its philosophy. We need to move towards having a party ideology so that we will not be an ordinary political association whereby everybody can come in just to win the election. You have to believe in the doctrine of the party, become a full member of the party.

“To widen it, we need to increase our followership. So internal democracy is very very important. We have to be transparent and at the same time, we have to also adopt a guided democracy where we can discuss issues so that we limit, if possible, the number of contests. Even though it’s not a crime if we have a large number, the party will get more revenue but that’s not the issue.”

On the number of APC Edo governorship aspirants, Ganduje said, “The issue is that if we can leave it through agreement, the better for us.

“Some know that at this material time, maybe because of the location; maybe because of some antecedents, they may not be the best candidate at the moment. That doesn’t mean they will never be a good candidate but through that consensus, we will be able to narrow down so that we have candidates.”

Also speaking, Oshiomhole alleged that the APC’s defeat in the 2020 governorship was caused by some party members.

He said, “We are particularly determined; as you can see, everybody here has a robust past and even present. We are determined to reclaim Edo State. I used the word reclaim because Edo is ours. We lost it due to several factors some of which were caused by some APC elements.

“Nobody needs to lecture Mr Chairman on this because even as a governor of Kano State you offered to lead the last campaign and even relocated. Almost all the Kano State executive council members relocated to Benin for days just to ensure that the last governorship election that we won it, but unfortunately not everybody believes in party participation to the extent that you did.

“On our part, we have tried to initiate dialogue among our aspirants. It is no secret, that at the time we had the dialogue, I think they (aspirants) were 27. I learned it has increased to 29 now. The process is ongoing, and the struggle continues. So we are looking forward to a healthy celebration.”

But reacting, the PDP Deputy National Youth Leader,Timothy Osadolor, said Ganduje and Oshiomhole were living in the past.

The Edo State PDP chieftain said the APC and other political parties would come far behind in the poll.

He said, “The man, Comrade Aliyu Oshiomhole, is the man giving you the big and bogus talks. He should know that that era is long gone. That era was brought to an end by Oshiomhole himself and his dictatorial and godfatherism tendencies.

“The Edo people are a Republican set of people. They don’t bow to godfathers. They don’t take any nonsense from anybody who wants to serve as an overlord. The only overlord the Benin people recognise aside from God Almighty, I think is the Oba of Benin; every other person is equal before them.

“As such, if you need anything from them (Edo people), you must have the power of conviction and persuasion and not the power of coercion. The minute you start using coercion or intimidation, rest assured that the Edo man in every Edo man will rise and defeat you and that is what has happened to the APC.

“Ganduje and Oshiomhole are still living in the past. Edo is PDP, and PDP is Edo. As we speak today, 192 councillors in the last elections in the 192 wards were cleared by the PDP. The 18 local government councils of the 18 local governments in the Edo State were claimed by the PDP. It had never happened like that in the history of Edo State since 1999. So it shows an overwhelming confidence and capacity and belief in the PDP family by the Edo people.

“Let me remind Comrade Oshiomhole and his adventurous friend from Kano, Ganduje, and the APC that Edo is not Lagos.”

He queried how Ganduje who couldn’t win Kano for the APC, would win Edo for the party.

Osadolor added, “Edo people will vote for the PDP again and again because they are enjoying good governance today. Yes, the quality of roads, the quality of the health care facilities, and the primary health care facilities speak volumes. And the worldwide recognitions by world bodies speak volumes. And the governor in his frugal nature has made sure Edo is one of the most sustainable, most vibrant states economically in Nigeria today. So, all of these are things that are credited to PDP in Edo.”

Politics

Ekiti 2026: APC Aspirant Slams Oyebanji For Threatening Party Leaders

Published

1 hour ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

An All Progressives Congress aspirant in the 2026 governorship election, Kayode Ojo, on Sunday, tackled Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, for threatening party chairman in the local government area and wards not to entertain any other contender.

Ojo, who said that the governor’s waning popularity had pushed him to desperation, said, “This threat is not only ludicrous, but also vexatious and aptly demonstrates to all and sundry that the governor intends to turn the APC into his private fiefdom and family inheritance.”

The APC aspirant, represented by the Chairman, Consultative Forum of Kayode Ojo, Olukayode Oluyemo, who spoke at a press conference in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, expressed confidence that Ojo would win the party’s October 27, 2025 primary election despite alleged attacks and harassment from Oyebanji’s camp.

He restarted his determination to govern Ekiti State to redress what he called “the inexplicable stagnation ravaging Ekiti State despite the huge monthly allocation from the Federation Account as well as the state’s potential for development and growth.”

He spoke in reaction to a statement credited to Oyebanji on Friday while receiving his APC expression of interest and nomination forms from a group within the Ekiti State University Alumni Association, which obtained the forms for him.

Oyebanji was quoted to have said, “I want to see the local government, I want to see the local government chairman and the ward chairman of APC that will open their doors and offices for these people. I want to know the party member that will receive them.”

But Ojo described the governor’s threat as a “violation of APC Constitution on the issue that members of the party are free to associate and to hold meetings with any aspirant in as much that they belong to the same party. We are members of APC, I don’t see why the governor is violating this constitutional provision.

“It is our party, so we are calling on the national executives of our party in Abuja to caution him so that he will not destroy APC.

Politics

Benue Assembly Gets New Speaker

Published

3 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Benue State House of Assembly on Sunday elected Alfred Emberger as its new speaker.

The appointment came shortly after the resignation of the former speaker, Aondona Dajoh.

The new speaker is one of the four members suspended last Friday for attempting to remove the former speaker.

At the plenary session held on Sunday and presided over by the deputy speaker, Lami Danaldi-Ogenyi, the house resolved to lift the suspension on the four members.

The majority leader, Saater Tiseer, who said that the plenary was an emergency one, moved a motion for the lifting of the suspension on the four members and was seconded by Samuel Jiji of Logo state constituency.

The deputy speaker said, “Following the motion raised by the majority leader and supported by members of the house, this house has resolved to lift the suspension of the four members.”

After lifting the suspension, the four members were ushered into the chamber, and the nomination of the new speaker was announced.

A member representing the Makurdi South state constituency, Douglas Akyaa, moved a motion and nominated Emberger for the position of new speaker, seconded by Abu Umoru of the Apa state constituency.

While there was no other nomination, the new speaker took the oath of office administered by the Clerk of the house, John Hwande

The new speaker, in his acceptance speech, commended the former speaker for his service and commitment to the progress of the house and the people of the state.

He further said, “To my esteemed colleagues, I assure you that this leadership will be anchored on inclusiveness, fairness and respect for diverse opinions.

“This house under my watch will work harmoniously with the executive and judiciary while maintaining our independence in line with the principle of separation of powers.”

Politics

JUST IN: Benue Assembly Speaker Aondona Dajoh Resigns

Published

3 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Aondona Dajoh, has resigned from his position.

According to Channels TV, the resignation is contained in a letter dated August 24, 2025, and titled “Resignation as the Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly.”

Dajoh said his decision was made in good faith and in the interest of the state.

“I write to resign my position as the Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, effective today, August 24, 2025. This is done in good faith and in the best interest of the state. I want to appreciate my dear colleagues for the opportunity they gave me to be the first among equals,” the letter, personally signed by Dajoh, read in part.

Dajoh, who represents Gboko West State Constituency, pledged to continue serving as a legislator.

“I pledge to remain committed to my duties as a legislator and representative of Gboko West State Constituency,” he added.

Details about who will replace Dajoh had not been released at the time of filing this report.

The House is expected to follow its standing orders to fill the vacancy and name a new speaker in line with legislative procedure.