Politics

Edo Poll: APC, Govt Clash Over Boycott Of Peace Accord

Published

10 months ago

September 13, 2024

The All Progressives Congress on Friday stated that it welcomes Governor Godwin Obaseki’s decision to boycott the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

Director of Media for the Edo APC Campaign Council, Kassim Afegbua, made this known in a statement, expressing hope that the governor’s decision would work against him.

The statement read, “We have just been informed that Governor Obaseki has threatened to boycott next Saturday’s gubernatorial election unless the State Commissioner of Police and the Resident Electoral Commissioner are removed from office.

“These demands by Governor Obaseki are rogue, ludicrous, ridiculous, self-serving, egocentric, and palpably insulting to the good people of Edo State.

“It is laughable that Governor Obaseki, who is not a candidate in this election, is attempting to dictate the terms of the election. He is trying to be clever by half, believing he can choose his referee in a contest where his godson, Asue Ighodalo, is a candidate.

“We wish to state unequivocally that the people of Edo have full confidence in the Resident Electoral Commissioner, as well as the Commissioner of Police.

“Both officers have been working diligently to ensure the September 21 election is hitch-free, fair, and credible. We commend them for their efforts so far and for withstanding Governor Obaseki’s attempts to influence them to serve his selfish interests.

“Obaseki’s latest threat stems from frustration. He appears to have forgotten the meaning of ‘NO,’ hence his threats to withdraw.

“We also commend the Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun, for the bold decision to disband the Edo Security Network, which had been operating like a rogue squad in the state. We are committed to a peaceful, free, and fair election.

“We welcome the PDP’s planned boycott of the September 21 gubernatorial election and hope it counts against them. We urge all our members to remain calm and confident as we look forward to victory for the APC.

“Governor Obaseki and his godson are simply trying to create self-serving rules for themselves. Elections are not a do-or-die affair, but a process of selecting who will move Edo State forward.

“We are confident of victory in both the election and governance. Should Obaseki and his party, the PDP, backtrack on their boycott threat, we will conclude that they are simply failed politicians, attempting to salvage their situation.”

Responding, Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser on Media Projects to the governor, said Afegbua’s comments made him sound like the mouthpiece of the police, and his stance confirmed a wilful collusion.

He stated, “The Edo State Government has noted the childish and infantile attempts by the Director of Media of the Edo APC Campaign Council, Kassim Afegbua, to misinterpret the events of September 12 regarding the signing of the Peace Accord ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.

“It is perplexing that Afegbua is now standing in for the Nigerian Police, claiming that the Peoples Democratic Party has boycotted the September 21 election in Edo State.

“It is curious that Afegbua would descend to such a low level to carelessly interpret the Peace Accord signing, organised by the National Peace Committee led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, in Benin City, as an act of election boycott.

“We clarify that the PDP did not boycott the election, but rather refrained from signing the Peace Accord until the conditions we put forward for ensuring a level playing field were met. This is a reasonable request under the circumstances.

“For anyone still in doubt, why is the Inspector General of Police suddenly rushing to charge individuals his office has held in custody for nearly two months, following our refusal to sign the Peace Accord?

“Afegbua’s comments indicate that the APC is in collusion with the police. His commendation of the Police Chief confirms the APC’s and the Police’s sinister plans for the election.

“We reiterate our position that the IGP and his ‘Rogue Contingent’ are playing out the APC’s script to use ‘Federal Might’ to manipulate the election. This must be resisted by the people of Edo State on September 21.

“Only a level playing field for all participants in the election will ensure justice for the people of Edo State as we approach the polls.”

Politics

Damagum Is PDP’s Problem – Ex-Benue Gov Suswam

Published

35 minutes ago

June 25, 2025

Editor

Former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, on Wednesday declared that the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Umar Damagum, is the problem of the party.

Suswam, who insisted that Damagum is not a leader, said the party has been drifting downwards since he assumed the role of acting National Chairman.

Featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the former governor said, “There is no integrity in the leadership of PDP, I’m happy that Wike said it.

Politics

Confusion In PDP As NWC Counters Damagum, Rejects Anyanwu’s Reinstatement

Published

2 hours ago

June 25, 2025

Editor

The National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has dismissed claims that the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Monday, June 30, 2025, has been postponed.

A statement signed by key members of the NWC on Wednesday also denied reports that Samuel Anyanwu has been reinstated as the party’s National Secretary.

The NWC said the statement comes in response to a press briefing earlier in the day by the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.

DAILY POST reports that Damagum had announced the postponement of the NEC meeting and said Anyanwu is to resume as National Secretary.

Rejecting Damagum’s declarations, the NWC said his pronouncements were contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which scheduled the next NEC session for June 30 and referred all matters concerning the National Secretary’s office to that meeting.

“The pronouncements by the Acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the Party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC),” the statement read.

Citing Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), the NWC emphasized that NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party after the National Convention and that its resolutions are binding on all members and organs of the party.

The NWC described the announcement regarding Anyanwu’s resumption as “misleading” and reaffirmed that the matter remains under the jurisdiction of the forthcoming NEC meeting.

The statement was jointly signed by Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, Acting National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, National Treasurer, Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Auditor, Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel, and National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, among others.

Politics

FCT Polls: APC Releases Names Of Primary Election Committee Members

Published

3 hours ago

June 25, 2025

Editor

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has unveiled names of members of its primary election committees for the 2026 Federal Capital Territory, FCT, chairmanship polls.

This was contained in a statement on its official X handle on Wednesday.

The committees, appointed for the six area councils, are made up of chairmen, secretaries and members.

The statement said that an inauguration ceremony for the appointed chairmen and secretaries took place on June 25 at the APC national secretariat in Wuse 2, Abuja.

“For Gwagwalada area council, the committee will be chaired by Hon Shafi’u Duwan, with Hon Yahaya Shehu Maradun as secretary,” the statement read.

According to the statement, in Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, Habibu Ibrahim will spearhead the committee, while Margaret Duru will serve as secretary.

It added that Austin Agada will chair the Bwari area council committee, with Sanusi Sa’idu Kiru as secretary.

In addition, the statement revealed that in Abaji, Hon Afolarin Mayowa Samuel would oversee the committee, while Hon Abdullahi Maharazu will act as secretary.

For Kwali, the statement named Akombo Benedict Imoter, as the committee chairman, and would be assisted by Hon Gambo Rimi as secretary.

Barr Yakubu Bello chairs the committee for Kuje area council, while Engr Umar Shehu will serve as secretary.

It will be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, On January 22, said it had fixed February 21, 2026, for the conduct of the FCT area council elections.

According to the INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, the last area council election in the FCT was held on February 12, 2022, adding that the tenure of the current chairmen and councillors will end next year.

He further stated said the final list of candidates will be published on September 22, 2025, adding that campaigns will commence on September 24 and end at midnight of February 19, 2026.