Politics

Crisis Brews In PDP Over Convention Panel

Published

3 years ago

May 11, 2022

Editor

Trouble is brewing in the Peoples Democratic Party, over the composition of the Presidential Primary Election Committee.

Vanguard gathered that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has registered his displeasure with the Sen. Iyiochia Ayu-led National Working Committee, for allegedly denying Rivers State a slot in the panel.

A source familiar with the matter who confided in our correspondent, said, “ Wike is very angry and he has made this known. In fact, he confronted the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who stood in as guarantor for Ayu at the time he was elected.

“ He told Ortom, ‘You brought this man, see what he is doing? ‘

“It was a serious oversight but Wike does not see it that way. And you can’t ignore his concerns because, how do you explain the presence of Representatives from Sokoto, Kwara and other states where other presidential aspirants come from, how else can you explain the absence of a representative from Rivers State which bears the golden egg?

“As far as he is concerned, the party chairman who is a known ally of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, maybe playing a dangerous game. “

It was equally gathered that this, among other issues, was responsible for the delay in the commencement of the Caucus, BoT and 96 NEC meeting.

The series of meetings were scheduled to begin with a caucus meeting at 10am but were shifted by a few hours to enable for wider consultations and resolution of the seeming impasse.

Another party source said, “You are trying to make a storm out of a tea cup. There is no issue here, whatever list is prepared, we will meet and agree on it before it is ratified by NEC, it is a none issue.”

When the meeting reconvened at 8:15pm, the atmosphere was more relaxed as members filed into the NEC Hall.

In his opening remarks before it went into a closed session, National Chairman of the party, Sen. Iyiochia Ayu, commended party members for their support for the changes brought about by the new leadership of the party.

He admitted that his team has been “under pressure “ to ensure that things are done properly to enable the party take its rightful place in the scheme of things.

Ayu promised to continue to improve on existing physical structures of the party as well and create a conducive atmosphere for the party to return to power in 2023.

Also, the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Aminu Tambuwual in his remarks said, “The mood of the party now is that we are all being mobilized for a successful National Convention. We as governors of the party will continue to work towards success of our programmes.”

In his remarks, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, said, the meeting was convened to enable the party take “critical decisions on issues affecting our party in our march towards rescuing our country. “

Those at the meeting include: Former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo, former Senate Presidents, David Mark, Bukola Saraki, Pius Anyim and Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), UdomEmmanuel (Akwa Ibom) among others. The meeting was still on as at 9:45 pm.

Politics

Jonathan, Obi Can’t Match APC’s Strength For 2027 – Mustapha Salihu

Published

7 hours ago

August 11, 2025

Editor

The National Vice Chairman (North-East) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, has dismissed the chances of former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi emerging as strong contenders for the 2027 elections under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking in an interview on Arise News on Sunday, Salihu described the PDP as technically non-existent and argued that neither Jonathan nor Obi possessed the political capacity to challenge the APC’s structure and readiness.

“Jonathan is a gentleman and a patriotic Nigerian, but when it comes to performance, the difference between his six years and President Tinubu’s two years is clear,” Salihu said.

“We inherited what seemed like insurmountable security and economic challenges, yet we have stabilised critical sectors, taken courageous decisions, and achieved visible results. Jonathan does not have the political acumen to take the tough decisions required at this time.”

Salihu claimed that those urging Jonathan to return to the PDP were driven by personal interests rather than concern for Nigeria.

“Some of them were part of his government and want to rule the country by proxy. Nigerians will not subscribe to that,” he said, adding that the deep divisions within the PDP make a Jonathan candidacy unrealistic.

On Obi, Salihu criticised his post-2023 political strategy, saying the former governor lost the momentum he had after the last election.

“Obi had a near revolution in 2023 with massive youth support, but after losing, he abandoned his governorship candidates. If he had supported them, he could have had at least seven governors today as a launchpad for the future. Instead, he made alliances that did not benefit him, and now he lacks the structure to contest and win a presidential election in Nigeria,” he stated.

The APC chieftain insisted the ruling party was fully prepared for 2027.

“We are not panicking or shaking. We have the structure, leadership ability, achievements, and organisational capacity to prosecute an election any day, any time. No party in Nigeria today can match the APC,” he added.

Politics

Alleged ₦3.51bn Travel Expenditure: Ignore PDP’s Claim On Okpebholo, Edo APC Tells Residents

Published

11 hours ago

August 11, 2025

Editor

Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged residents of the state to ignore PDP’s allegation that governor of the state, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has spent a whopping ₦3.51bn on travels in the last eight months.

In a statement signed by
Emperor Jarrett Tenebe,
State Chairman of the party, and made available to INFO DAILY in Benin on Monday, the APC said such claims were imagination of the PDP, adding that it “exposed their poor and lack of understanding of broader key economic indicators—which reflected in their negative impact on Edo State people throughout their disastrous eight years administration.”

Tenebe, who said the state governor has not embarked on any foreign trip since he assumed office on November 12, 2024, stressed that Okpebholo has demonstrated prudence since taking over from the opposition party.

He said: “For the records, the APC administration led by His Excellency Senator Monday Okpebholo has demonstrated financial prudence since taking over from the PDP abstracted-MOU ‘419’ government on November 12, 2024.

“Accusing the present administration of wasting ₦3.51bn on imaginable ‘travels’ when the governor has not embarked on any foreign trip since November 12, 2024, shows that the half a dozen PDP renegades are obviously suffering from an acute form of hallucination which is associated with neurological disorders, due to the effects of overdose of substances and post election defeat syndrome.

“Our party, the APC wishes to place on record that Senator Okpebholo is a grassroots leader who is interested in finding home grown solutions to reposition the various sectors for measurable growth in the shortest possible time.”

The APC State Chairman, who noted that the current admission is interested in development across the state and nothing else, Okpebholo will never siphon resources meant for the development of the state.

He added: “The APC government in Edo State is only interested in all round development of the 18 local government areas in line with global best practices.

“Governor Okpebholo will not continue in the habit of siphoning the state’s resources through fictitious globe trotting as witnessed in the last PDP administration.”

Politics

Ovia By-election, Litmus Test To APC Success In 2027, Says Edo Deputy Gov

Published

2 days ago

August 10, 2025

Editor

The deputy governor of Edo state, Hon. Dennis Idahosa has described next Saturday’s Ovia federal constituency by-election as a litmus test for the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 general elections.

He, therefore, said that the leadership and members of the party must do all that is necessary in terms of mobilisation and canvassing for votes to secure victory for the APC.

The deputy governor stated this at the party’s flag off campaign for the bye-election in Ovia South West on Saturday.

He noted that on the part of the government, Governor Monday Okpebholo has embarked on infrastructural transformation of the federal constituency to make life more meaningful for the people.

At Siluko Ward, Idahosa told the electorates that aside having a high population, the community is one of the gateways into the state and therefore need to open up the area for development.

He said that the only support needed for the governor to do more is to work for the success of the APC on Saturday.

“Saturday’s by-election is to show our preparedness for the 2027 general elections. I want it to be a 100 perxent win for the APC.”

He said: “Be reminded that all the good things that have come to Siluko ward were facilitated by the APC government.

“We are not taking this election for granted. When you get home, tell your family and neighbours that APC is one way, vote for Omosede Igbinedion, the only female candidate for the National Assembly from Edo state.”

On her part, the party’s candidate foe the poll, Igbinedion, while describing the deputy governor as a grassroot politician who has worked for the transformation of the federal constituency.

She appealed to the people not to relent on their support for the deputy governor, as well as the APC for more infrastructural development.

“Even in the cause of this campaigns, he (Idahosa) has brought some more projects to our communities.

“With you votes on Saturday, I am going to complement his efforts in Abuja for the total transformation of our constituency,” she promised.

Similarly, Senator Neda Imasuen asserted that as a second term member of the house, Igbinedion would be able to identify lapses she made in her first term and correct them and influence projects for the betterment of her constituents.

The council Chairman Hon. Nosakhare Edobo, said that the governor has shown commitment to the people to deserve their support.