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Politics

Gov Ticket Tears Delta PDP Apart, Ibori, Okowa Part Ways

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There are fears among the Peoples Democratic Party members in Delta State that the name of the party’s governorship candidate may not be on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s list come 2023 general elections following the cold war between two leaders of the party in the state, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and one of his predecessors, James Ibori.

The battle deepened on Friday, July 22, 2022, when INEC published the particulars of the candidates nominated by political parties for the 2023 governorship and state Assembly elections in all the constituencies nationwide.

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Surprisingly, the details of Sheriff Oborevwori, who won the party governorship primary and had his name submitted to the INEC, were not among those published by the electoral umpire as eligible to contest the governorship election in 2023.

The PUNCH reports that PDP members are worried that the party may not participate in the 2023 governorship election in the state.

The state’s INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Monday Udoh-Tom, confirmed that the PDP in Delta had yet to have a candidate for next year’s governorship election, adding that there were no details of any candidate for the party.

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He stated, “We have no particulars of any candidate for the PDP as far as the governorship election is concerned because they (PDP members) are in court. When the matter is determined, we will have the particulars of one of them.

“You will recall that there was a court judgment that disqualified one of them, and he filed for a stay of execution and also appealed the judgment.

READ ALSO: Delta Gov Poll: INEC Receives Court Order Declaring Edevbie As PDP Candidate

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“As a result, we cannot act on the case of the PDP for now until the Appeal Court delivers judgment,” Udoh-Tom said.

The current Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Oborevwori, won the PDP governorship primary on May 25 but his closest rival and former Chief of Staff to Okowa, David Edevbie, approached an Abuja High Court seeking Oborevwori’s disqualification on grounds of discrepancies in the certificates he presented.

The High Court subsequently granted Edevbie’s prayers by disqualifying Oborevwori and declaring the plaintiff as the party’s candidate.

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Although Oborevwori filed an appeal against the judgment, Edevbie’s supporters have been jubilant, claiming that INEC recognised their principal as a candidate by issuing him form E13B.

Edevbie was the commissioner for Finance in Okowa’s first tenure, Chief of Staff in his second tenure, and now Ibori’s anointed candidate.

Although he was in the United Kingdom serving a prison term, Ibori could be said to be instrumental in the election of Okowa as the state governor in 2015.

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The PDP in Delta State last Saturday held its mega rally in Ozoro in the Isoko North Local Government Area of the state to unveil its governorship candidate and receive defectors from the opposition political parties but got disappointed on Friday as its candidate’s name was missing from the list.

But prominent party leaders boycotted the rally even as there was no official unveiling of the Delta PDP governorship candidate as expected.

Among those absent from the rally were Ibori; a former Governor of the state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan; Senator James Manager, representing Delta South; and the state Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro.

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Dignitaries at the mega rally included the Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu; Oborevwori; and House of Assembly aspirants; party leaders; and political appointees across the three senatorial districts.

Addressing the party members, the vice presidential candidate of the party, Okowa, said the victory of the PDP in the just concluded Osun State governorship election was to make a statement to rescue Nigeria.

Okowa, who received the defectors from the All Progressives Congress and All Progressive Grand Alliance, boasted that a similar victory would happen in the state where the party would win the governorship, national and state assembly seats, and others.

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Okowa, who was miffed by recent remarks that the party in the state was dying, said, “I heard some people saying the PDP is dying in Delta State. Why are they deceiving themselves?” People will come out to vote for the PDP in all the local government areas in the state.

Whatever is going on in the party today is a normal democratic process; so, there is nothing to worry about, no cause for alarm, and no cause to fear.”

“We are not boasting but on the day of the election, our people will come out and vote, and in the next election, we are going to win all available seats-from the Assembly to the Presidency.

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READ ALSO: PDP Drowning, Dying Gradually In Delta, Says Senator

“In 2019, they (the opposition) got two local government areas, but in 2023 we will win the entire 25 local government areas.

“It is about Nigeria, youths, women. We cannot continue to suffer. Enough is enough. Those who have just joined us are members of the party, with no discrimination. “In September, the campaign will start. You will hear us loud and clear,” Okowa assured.

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“2023 is about youths and women of Nigeria and we cannot continue to suffer and stay hungry. We must definitely move forward, “he stated.

The state Chairman of the party, Mr Kingsley Esiso, urged party faithful to remain calm, adding that INEC had asked stakeholders to be calm until court processes were exhausted.

He stated, “As the state chairman of this great party, it is my responsibility to educate our people on the developments in the party.

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“Some weeks ago, our party conducted one of the freest and fairest governorship primaries in Delta State, and a candidate emerged, and our party has dutifully submitted the name of that candidate.

“It is our responsibility to stand and defend the outcome of that primary. The issue before the court has nothing to do with the integrity and credibility of that primary.

“By the action of INEC on Friday, we have been told in the PDP to wait patiently for the outcome of the court judgment,” he stated.

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Meanwhile, the Director of Operations of the David Edevbie Campaign Organisation, Mr. Julius Akpovoka, blamed the party for taking sides in the suit challenging the eligibility of Oborevwori.

Akpovoka, who said this during a chat with journalists in Asaba last week, said Edevbie was very happy when he came out second at the primary.

He said, “It is a case of a second to be the first. We are happy that Edevbie came out second after the primary because we know that Edevbie’s name must be on the ballot list. I am the principal agent for Edevbie. The primary was transparent. We know that the second position is close to the first position based on the facts of the case.

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“All of us are members of the PDP, so Edevbie is now the candidate of the party. This is what everyone should embrace. In no time, our principal will embark on reconciliation to bring everybody together.

“ Oborevwori’s case is not new. It is also clear that there are discrepancies in his certificates. We are not shocked by the judgment of the high court.”

“I don’t see the Supreme Court dismissing the judgment of the High Court because the matter was very clear. It is a case of age and discrepancies in certificates. The party should do its best if it wants to win the election. In football, you cannot leave your best player on the bench and play second best. You will lose the game. That’s what we are facing.”

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With the raging war, there are speculations that Okowa may be considering adopting a plan B in the event of Oborevwori’s failure at the Appeal Court.

The speculations are coming against the backdrop of rumours that Okowa’s immediate past Chief of Staff, Mr. Festus Agas, had reportedly picked up the governorship form to contest under the Accord party.

READ ALSO: Sacked Delta PDP Gov’ship Candidate Approaches Appeal Court

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A social analyst and human rights activist, Mr. Victor Ojei, in an interview with The PUNCH, said with the look of things, the PDP may not have a candidate in the 2023 general election.

He said, “The reason why the PDP candidate was not on the list was possibly INEC received letter from Edevbie notifying them about the court judgement.As I speak to you now, the judges are on vacation, which most likely to end in the second week of September.”

Another political analyst, Mr. Peter Ejiro, described the development in the PDP as supremacy battle between the two leaders of the party in the state.

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My brother, what you see now playing out in the PDP is a battle of supremacy. Don’t forget that recently a Commissioner in the state said that Ibori is not Okowa’s godfather.”

PUNCH

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Politics

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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‘Peace Has Returned To Rivers’ — Wike, Fubara Speak After Meeting Tinubu

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After months of political tension and division in Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, have publicly declared an end to their rift, assuring residents that peace has finally returned.

The truce followed a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Thursday night, where both leaders, along with other stakeholders, reached a resolution to work together for the state’s progress.

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Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, expressed gratitude to God for the breakthrough.

READ ALSO: Fubara Exonerates Self From Pipeline Vandalism, Blames Wike For Crisis In Rivers

Wike said, “I want to give God the glory that today is the 26th of June 2025, that peace has finally returned to the state. We all agreed to work together with the governor, and the governor also agreed to work together with all of us. We are members of the same political family.”

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He acknowledged that disagreements are part of politics but emphasised that the resolution marked a fresh start for the state.

He said, “Just like humans, you have disagreements, and then you also have a time to also settle your disagreements, and that has been finally concluded today, and we have come to report to Mr President that is what we have agreed.

READ ALSO: Wike Revokes 4,794 Land Titles Over Non-payment Of Ground Rent In FCT

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“So for me, everything is over, and I enjoin everybody to work together with everybody. There is no more acrimony; there is nothing to say. We have disagreed; we have all agreed on everything, so thank God. For me, it’s a day we have to thank almighty God.”

Governor Fubara, who also spoke to journalists, said the return of peace is crucial to the state’s development.

He said, “For me, it’s very important that this day has come to be. What we need for the progress of Rivers State is peace, and by the special grace of God this night, with the help of Mr President and the agreement of the leaders of the state, peace has returned to Rivers State.”

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Fubara pledged to do everything within his power to sustain the peace, describing it as a step toward lasting stability and governance in the oil-rich state.

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