Politics

Obaseki Vs Shaibu: PDP Leaders Knock Edo Deputy Gov Over Impeachment Saga

Published

2 years ago

August 13, 2023

Editor

Leaders of Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have scolded the Deputy Governor of the State, Philip Shaibu, for approaching the Court over allegations that the Governor, Godwin Obaseki, is about to impeach him without exhausting dispute resolution mechanisms of the party.

The leaders who met on Sunday, in Igueben Local Government Area, were drawn from Edo Central Senatorial District of the State.

Chieftains of the PDP in attendance at the meeting include Chairman, Edo State PDP, Hon. Tony Aziegbemi; former Chairman, PDP Board of Trustee (BOT), Chief Tom Ikimi, former Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Sen. Clifford Odia; former House of Representative member representing Esan South East/Esan North East Federal Constituency, Sergius Ogun and former House of Representative member representing Esan Central, Esan West and Igueben Federal Constituency, Hon. Joe Edionwele, among others.

In a communique after the meeting, they said: “An Extraordinary Meeting of leaders of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo Central Senatorial District held today, the 13th of August 2023, at Igueben and topical issues affecting the Party in the State were reviewed.

“During the meeting, a vote of implicit confidence in the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, was moved by Chief Francis Ulinfun and seconded by Elder Johnny Abhulimen. The motion was unanimously passed by all the leaders in attendance on behalf of the Party in Esanland.

“The meeting noted with satisfaction the speedy and effective progress being made on the peace and reconciliation efforts to unite the contending forces within the Party, particularly in Esanland.

“However, the deteriorating relationship between our Governor, His Excellency Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy Rt Hon Philip Shaibu, was noted with utmost dismay.”

They added: “It is the collective view of the entire leadership of PDP in Edo Central that the controversy was unnecessary and avoidable, considering that the central issue of contention has to do with the issue of Governorship succession at the end of the current tenure.

“The reason for this is our strong belief that the strongest consideration for making the choice is Equity in addition to other factors related to competence and individual acceptability. From our interactions with our brothers from Edo South and Edo North, there is already a consensus that the next Governor will emanate from Edo Central Senatorial District principally because it is on record that Edo Central has not legally produced a Governor for our dear State since the inception of this democratic dispensation in 1999.

“Besides, we believe that the process of making such a choice can be achieved by the leadership of the Party in a cordial and reasonable atmosphere rather than resorting to intimidation and blackmail. Moreover, we condemn in very strong terms, the act of resorting to Court without exhausting the options provided in our Party Constitution for dispute settlement. In any case, the Governor has confirmed that he has made no move to impeach his Deputy and we believe him.

“We therefore urge the Deputy Governor to withdraw his suit forthwith and seek a political solution to the problem with his Principal. We are confident that the leadership of the Party in the State has the capacity to resolve whatever may be the issues between our leaders in Government.

“Finally, his Excellency Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has expressed his firm resolve and determination to finish well and strong; we hereby identify with him in that resolution because we believe that nothing short of that will augur well for us, the Party and our dear State. We therefore urge all men and women of goodwill to join hands with his Excellency to ensure success to make Edo great again.”

Politics

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

Published

10 hours 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

12 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

12 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.