Politics

One Feared Dead, Four Journalists Arrested As Edo PDP Holds Parallel Primaries

Published

4 years ago

May 23, 2022

Four journalists were on Monday arrested at the venue of the primary for Edo South Senatorial seat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benin City.

The Journalists, namely: Sunny Ohioze of AIT and his cameraman, Deborah Coker of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and Ogbom of ITV for allegedly covering parallel senatorial primaries.

They were covering the primary conducted by the faction loyal to Dan Orbih, Vice Chairman, South-South of the PDP when they were arrested.

Unconfirmed reports say one of the PDP delegates was allegedly shot dead at the venue of the primary conducted by the Orbih faction.

It was gathered that the four journalists were arrested by the police on order of the head of the Edo Security Network and were taken to the Command, Intelligence Rapid Response Squad at Oko Central in Benin where they were interrogation and detained for over five hours before they were left off the hook.

Deborah Coker, one of the journalists arrested lamented: “We were arrested, detained for about five hours and interrogated on trump up accusations that we went to cover a parallel primary. We were interrogated on why we went to cover a parallel primaries and who invited us to cover it after which we were whisked away by the police.”

Confirming the incidents, Police Public Relations Officer, Edo State Command, SP Bello Kontongs, admitted that the journalists were arrested by his men but were later released.

He, however, did not disclose why the pressmen were arrested, as he said he was not in town so he didn’t bother to ask the reason the journalists were arrested.

On the report of death of one of the delegates, the PPRO said no death was reported and if there was one his office has not been briefed.

Meanwhile, the primary conducted by the Obaseki’s faction held at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in. Benin City, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen polled 113 votes to defeat the incumbent, Senator Matthew Urhoghide who garnered 103 votes.

Ogbeide Ihama was returned unopposed in senatorial primary conducted the Dan Orbih faction where they were reportedly attacked.

In Edo North, Pascal Ugbome got 140 votes to defeat Tony Ezekiel and Wilson Osigwe who got 11 and 47 votes in Dan Orbih’s faction respectively, while in Obaseki’s faction, Mrs. Victoria Edelokun was returned unopposed.

In Edo Central, Clifford Ordia was returned unopposed in Obaseki faction. While Mike Onolememen defeated Friday Itulah with 123 to 17 votes in Orbih’s faction.

Politics

PDP Issues Certificate Of Expulsion To Wike, Fayose, Anyanwu, Others

Published

3 days ago

December 3, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it has issued certificate of expulsion from the party to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other 10 members earlier expelled from the party.

The party National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen after the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

The other members, according to him, include the embattled National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, the Legal Adviser, Kamarudeen Ajibade, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

They also included Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah Nnanna, George Turna and Chief Dan Orbih, expelled during the party National convention in Lagos.

Turaki said that the original copies of the certificate had been dispatched to the owners through a courier service to serve as proof that they were expelled from the PDP.

“We have taken note of the fact that Nigerian law frowns on dual membership of political parties, and so we have sought to make it easy for them.

“Now that they are no longer members of our party, and now that the National Convention, which is the highest decision-making organ of our party, has expelled them, we have decided to issue them certificates of expulsion.

“So, when they go to register with other political parties in Nigeria, they will show these certificates as proof that they are no longer members of the PDP.

“By that, those parties will not accuse them of trying to belong to more than one political party,” he said.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services, and other government agencies, to take note.

“Very soon, members of the society will be informed via proper disclaimers that any person henceforth who decides to do business with them, any or all of them, does so at his or her own risk.

“They are no longer members of the PDP. They have been expelled,” he added.

He added that the NWC also reviewed some of the cases filed against the party and lawsuits instituted by the party, particularly the one that related to the “unlawful and illegal” closure of the party’s national Secretariat, the Legacy House, and the Wadata Plaza.

“The brief we received from our lawyers is that we are on sound ground, and that very soon, the law will take its course,” he said.

Turaki said the NWC was prepared to be saddled with the responsibility of performing its functions as the leading opposition party in Nigeria.

“We are going to provide a credible alternative to Nigerians. We are going to provide credible leadership to Nigerians by the special grace of God from 2027,” he said.

Politics

Adebayo Adedamola Wins Osun PDP Governorship Primary

Published

4 days ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola, popularly known as FRYO, has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for the August 8, 2026 governorship election in Osun State.

The primary election took place in Osogbo on Tuesday amid heavy security presence.

Announcing the result, chairman of the primary election committee, Humphrey Abba, stated that Adebayo secured 919 votes out of 957 accredited ballots, giving him a clear victory in the contest.

Explaining that there were 20 void votes following the withdrawal of one of the candidates, believed to be Governor Ademola Adeleke, Abba added, “The candidate that got the remaining votes is Adebayo Adedamola with 919 votes and he stands elected and returned.”

DAILY POST reports that despite announcing his resignation from the party, Adeleke’s name appeared on the ballot paper for the PDP governorship primary.

Party officials said the exercise was conducted in accordance with established guidelines, with accredited delegates participating in the voting process.

Adeleke announced his resignation in a letter dated November 4, 2025, and addressed to the PDP leadership at his ward.

On Monday, Osun PDP chairman, Sunday Bisi, had announced that the governorship primary slated for Tuesday, December 2, 2025, has been postponed due to leadership crisis at the national level.

But a faction of the party went ahead with the exercise in Osogbo on Tuesday.

Politics

Gov Adeleke Resigns From PDP

Published

5 days ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial primaries of the party.

Adeleke’s resignation letter, dated November 4, 2025, sighted by Tribune Online was addressed to the PDP ward chairman for Ward 2, Sagba Abogunde, Ede, Osun State.

According to the letter, the governor’s resignation was based on “the current crisis of the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).”

According to the letter, titled: “Resignation of my membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’ read, “Due to the current crisis of the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I hereby resign my Membership of the People’s Democratic Party with immediate effect.

“I thank the People’s Democratic Party for the opportunities given to me for my elections as a Senator (Represented Osun West) and as Governor of Osun State under the People’s Democratic Party.”