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

N’Assembly committee Approves New State For S’East

Published

2 days ago

October 26, 2025

Editor

The Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review has approved the creation of an additional state in the South-East geo-political zone.

According to a statement by the media unit of the committee, the resolution was reached on Saturday at a two-day retreat in Lagos, where it reviewed 55 proposals for state creation across the country.

The session, chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and co-chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, resolved that, in the spirit of fairness and equity, the Federal Government should create another state for the region.

Kalu, who joined other lawmakers to champion additional state creation for the region, argued that a new state would give the people a sense of belonging.

When created, the South-East will be at par with the South-South, South-West, North-Central, and North-East zones, each having six states.

The South-East is the only geo-political zone with five states comprising Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.

The North-West comprises seven states: Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Jigawa.

According to the statement, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) moved a motion for the creation of the new state, which was seconded by Ibrahim Isiaka (Ifo/Ewekoro, Ogun State) at the retreat.

“The motion received the unanimous support of committee members and was adopted,” the statement read in part

Similarly, the committee also established a sub-committee to consider the creation of additional states and local government areas across all six geo-political zones, noting that a total of 278 proposals were submitted for review.

Speaking at the event, Jibrin urged members to rally support among their colleagues at the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly to ensure the resolutions sail through during voting.

“We need to strengthen what we have started so that all parts of the country will key into this process.

“By the time we get to the actual voting, we should already have the buy-in of all stakeholders—from both chambers and the state Houses of Assembly,” the Deputy Senate President was quoted as saying.

Politics

PDP Unveils 13-member Screening Panel For National Convention

Published

2 days ago

October 25, 2025

Editor

According to a statement issued on October 25, 2025, by the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) and signed by its Chairman, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who is also the Governor of Adamawa State, the screening exercise will take place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

The committee will be chaired by Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), a former Ondo State governorship candidate and respected legal luminary.

He will be assisted by Hon. Mohammed L.S. Diri (SAN) as Deputy Chairman, while Mr. Asue Ighodalo, Esq., will serve as Secretary. Jacob Otorkpa was named Deputy Secretary.

Other members of the committee include: Emmanuel Enoidem (SAN), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Chief Mrs. Aduke Maina, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Achike Udenwa, Haj. Maryam Inna Ciroma, HM. Felix Hassan Hyat, HM. Zainab Maina, and Chinedu Nwachukwu, who will also serve as Administrative Secretary.

The statement noted that the selection reflected the PDP’s commitment to transparency, integrity, and internal democracy in the build-up to its national convention.

“The NCOC notes and expects that the exemplary conduct and strict adherence to rules and regulations during this very crucial assignment will justify the confidence reposed by the Party in members of the Committee,” the statement read.

Fintiri assured party members that the screening process will be conducted with the highest standards of fairness and impartiality, underscoring the PDP’s resolve to strengthen its democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“This exercise is crucial in ensuring that only credible, competent, and loyal members emerge to steer the affairs of our great party,” Fintiri stated.

Politics

Why I Refused To Endorse El-Rufai As My Successor — Obasanjo

Published

2 days ago

October 25, 2025

Editor

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed how he turned down a suggestion to endorse former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, as his successor.

Speaking on Friday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the second edition of the annual Ajibosin Platform symposium themed “Importance of Leadership in Governance”, Obasanjo disclosed that former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, had recommended El-Rufai for the presidency, but he rejected the idea.

Chidoka, who delivered the keynote address at the event, had earlier narrated how El-Rufai introduced him to Obasanjo at the age of 34, an encounter that led to his appointment as the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Addressing the audience, Obasanjo took a playful jab at Chidoka for leaving out the El-Rufai story.

“Let him tell you. He didn’t mention that. He was pushing when I was leaving government that his friend, El-Rufai, should be brought in as my successor,” Obasanjo said.

Turning to Chidoka, who was seated among the panelists, he asked, “No be so (Is that not true)?” The former minister nodded in agreement.

Obasanjo explained that he dismissed the suggestion because he believed El-Rufai still needed time to grow politically.

“I did not yield to the pressure. Later, he said, ‘I suggested this person, why didn’t you agree?’ I said El-Rufai needs to mature. You remember?

“When I left government and, many years later, he saw the performances of El-Rufai, he came back to me and said, ‘You’re absolutely correct. El-Rufai needed to mature.’”

The former president, however, commended Chidoka, El-Rufai, and other former aides for their “special attributes,” which he said contributed to the success of his administration.

Speaking further on leadership, Obasanjo emphasised character, exposure, experience, and training as essential qualities of effective governance.

Obasanjo said, “It’s only in politics that I found out there is no training for leadership. Even among armed robbers, I was told there is apprenticeship.

“But it’s only in politics that there is no training in leadership. That’s not good enough.”

El-Rufai served under Obasanjo’s administration as the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) before becoming the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between 2003 and 2007. When Obasanjo was leaving office in 2007, he instead backed the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as his preferred successor.

In his address, Chidoka blamed Nigeria’s development setbacks on excuses and what he described as the politics of alibi.

“Leadership finds its true measure not in speeches or charisma but in the systems it leaves behind.

“Moral conviction must translate into the everyday machinery of governance—rules, routines, and institutions that make competence predictable and corruption difficult.

“Nigeria’s problem has never been a shortage of ideas; it is the absence of systems strong enough to outlive their authors,” he said.

He urged leaders to prioritise accountability and measurable results.

“We must therefore make leadership accountable not to rhetoric but to results: measure by building national dashboards and accountability systems that track every promise, every budget, every outcome. Monitor by strengthening the institutions that evaluate government performance and expose complacency,” he said.