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Politics

Edo Poll: Drama In LP, Idahosa Emerges Gov Candidate in Parallel Primaries, Apapa Submits Asemota’s Name To INEC

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Idahosa kicks against Apapa’s action

The last is yet to be seen of the unfolding drama in the Edo State Labour Party (LP) as Alhaji Lamidi Basiru Apapa faction as two candidates have emerged as governorship candidates for the Edo State governorship election scheduled to hold on September 21, 2024.

This is as the Abure-led faction of the party on Friday, February 23, 2024, declared Olumide Apata as it governorship candidate following the primary election conducted in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

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In a parallel election held in Benin City yesterday, Saturday, February 24, Dr Hilton Idahosa, emerged as the winner, with 917 votes.

His closet rival scored 17 votes while the third contender garnered 12 votes.

READ ALSO: Edo Guber: Apapa’s LP Faction Unveils Another Candidate

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However, in a twist, Apapa, who was not present during the primary election held yesterday, reportedly wrote a secret letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), dated Thursday February 22, 2024, in which he submitted the names of Barrister Anderson Uwadiae Asemote and Barrister Monday Ojore Mawah as governorship and deputy governorship candidates respectively of the party.

The letter signed by Apapa, as Acting National Chairman, and Alhaji Saleh Lawan, as Acting National Secretary, reads in part: ‘‘We write to submit the names of our candidates that emerged from our governorship primary election conducted today (February 22, 2024) in Benin, Edo State.

‘‘You will recalled that we had earlier notified the Commission about the conduct of our party governorship primary today and we hereby forward the names of our party flag bearer for the September 21, 2024 governorship election.’’

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Reacting to this development, Idahosa, who is a United Kingdom-based lawyer, described the purported letter from Apapa as fake.

READ ALSO: [BREAKING] Edo Guber: Labour Party Aspirant Withdraws From Race, Cites Monetisation 

He explained that the primary election which was earlier slated for Thursday, February 21, 2024, was shifted to Saturday February 24, to allow for exigencies.

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According to him, there was no primary election conducted on Friday February 22, as purported in the said letter from Apapa to INEC.

He said that the election in which he emerged as a candidate was conducted by the Labour Party state officials at the secretariat of the party on First East Circular Road, Benin City.

Idahosa noted that the said letter is the handiwork of mischief makers who are bent on causing disaffection within the ranks of the party.

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Idahosa further noted that he has the backings of the state leaders and the party members, as well as that of Apapa and his team, disclosing that the true position will be made known in the coming days as his team is in dialogue with both the Apapa team and leaders of the party in the state.

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Worst Of PDP Defections Yet To Come – Saraki Warns

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Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Reconciliation Committee, and former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has warned that more defections from the party may still occur, even as efforts continue to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Saraki made this known during an interview on Arise TV on Friday.

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He said: “PDP would likely see one or two more defections, and we should prepare ourselves for that; there is a possibility.

“We haven’t seen the worst of the defections for PDP. We would probably see maybe one or two governors who will defect, and we might see some senators who will defect.

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

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He, however, described the timing of the crisis as an advantage, arguing that it gives the PDP time to recover and rebuild before the election cycle begins in full swing.

For some of us, this happening early in PDP is an advantage. We are lucky that this is not happening, let’s say, late 2026; we would not even have had time to recover and regroup,” he said.

We have just under two years to the election, and we are lucky to have that. I think, with a lot of commitment and understanding, it is not a lost cause.

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“A party with over 26 years of history that has been around, the largest party, we will definitely have low times like this.”

READ ALSO:Saraki Heads Seven-member PDP Reconciliation Committee

Despite the turbulence at the national level, Saraki said the PDP remains strong at the grassroots and across state structures.

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He said: “When you go round the country, the state chapters, the local government chapters, the party is still very strong in the grassroots. In some areas in the country, they are not even aware of what is happening at our level, in Abuja.

“The reactions we are seeing at the grassroots give us a lot of encouragement. But what we need to do is to get to the bottom and start to build.”

READ ALSO:Aid Reveals What Peter Obi Discussed With Atiku, Saraki, Lamido During Visits

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He added that the party is already laying the groundwork for the 2027 elections but warned that the stakes go beyond just party survival.

This is not just about resolving today’s issues. It’s about building for the future. The next convention must not be business as usual. We must bring in new, younger faces who represent the future of this party.

“If PDP fails, Nigeria edges closer to a one-party state. And that would be a disaster for democracy.”

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CSO, PDP Bicker Over Fagbemi’s Stand On Osun LG Crisis

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An Osun-based civil society group, The Osun Masterminds, has urged the State Government to respect the opinion of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, regarding the leadership crisis rocking local government areas in the state.

The group said Fagbemi, being the number one law officer of the federation, his opinions on issues relating to law are not just official, but are also binding.

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This was disclosed by the Executive Director of the group, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, while speaking with journalists at the monthly media briefing of the organisation held in Osogbo on Friday.

READ ALSO:Osun APC, PDP In War Of Words After Adeleke, Tinubu’s Meeting

Oyedokun-Alli, who said accused the state government of disregard for, not just the Appeal Court, but also the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, adding that the group has studied several legal positions on the Osun local government disputes and came to the conclusion that the government was swimming against the tide of clear court pronouncements.

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We are to point out, however, that the utter disregard for, not just the Appeal Court, but also the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, by the Osun State Government is a matter of grave concern. Where we understand that the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, is the number one Law Officer of the Federation, we must realise that his opinions are not just official, they are also binding.

“We have studied several legal positions on this matter, especially from highly revered silks who have dissected the pronouncements of the Court, and one thing remains obvious – the Osun State Government is swimming against the tide of clear Court pronouncements.

READ ALSO:IG Squads Occupy Secretariats As Osun LG Poll Crisis Rages

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“The question that begs answers, however, is why the Osun State Government is so unwilling to work with Local Government Chairmen elected under a different political platform. Where we respect the principles of separation of powers, should we not be willing to work together even if the political parties are not the same? Has the APC-led Federal Government refused to work with the Adeleke Government because it is of the PDP?”, Oyedokun-Alli said.

Calling on the stakeholders to prevail on the Osun State Government to end the LG crisis, Oyedokun-Alli, however, urged the residents, regardless of party affiliation, to cohabitate in peace.

Responding to issues raised by the group, the spokesperson for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Oladele Bamiji, said TOM was a partisan organisation that has consistently supported the All Progressives Congress in the state.

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READ ALSO:Osun LG Crisis: Council Boss, PDP Trade Accusations

Bamiji further said, “Their so-called ‘civil society’ posturing has long collapsed under the weight of its hypocrisy and shameless servitude to the dictates of APC in Osun and beyond, and it is sad they are dead to their dented image out there.

“TOM has again confirmed to the people of Osun that it is nothing but a busy body propaganda irritant of the APC, issuing monthly rankings, not out of civic concern but to earn its monthly stipend from its political sponsors.

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“We find it laughable and frankly disturbing that any group claiming to possess civic literacy would hold binding the personal opinion of a political appointee like the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, over and above the ruling of a competent court of law.”
(PUNCH)

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BREAKING: Confusion As APC Chair, Ganduje Resigns

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National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has resigned from his position, Saturday Vanguard has learned.

Although the exact circumstances surrounding his resignation remain unclear as of press time, a senior party official confirmed the development, stating simply, “Yes, it is true. He has resigned.”

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READ ALSO: FCT Polls: APC Releases Names Of Primary Election Committee Members

Sources revealed that Ganduje’s personal belongings were earlier moved from his office at the APC national secretariat, further fueling speculation.

The development has thrown the party’s headquarters into confusion, with staff and visitors visibly shocked by the unexpected news.

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