Politics

PDP Rejects Allegations Of Militarising Election Process In Cross River

Published

2 years ago

March 8, 2023

The opposition PDP in Cross River State has vehemently rejected the accusations by the governing APC that it has connived with some retired military generals and police in the state to import armed soldiers for this weekend’s governorship election.

In an interview, the chairman of the PDP in the state, Venatius Ikem also rejected the allegation that his party and key leaders have been very violent and in fact, further planning to cause mayhem and attack dignitaries of APC before the election.

The Chairman of the APC, Alphonsus Eba had accused the PDP and key leaders of the party of being bloodthirsty, arming soldiers and planning mayhem, including the possible assassination of APC leaders.

He said the party will vehemently resist the retired military and police officers from intimidating his members and voters.

“The February 23, presidential election was marred by intimidation and broad day brandishing of arms during the exercise by the opposition party, PDP.

“The opposition party used retired military personnel who wants to play politics through gangsterism, cultism and intimidation to disenfranchise thousands of voters. This is unwholesome and barbaric.

“We are going to resist any attempts by a group of retired military personnel to militarise the gubernatorial election across the state.

“This time around we are ready and prepared to rise against any form of intimidation.

“I have written petitions to both the Inspector General of Police and Chief of Air Staff against their retired men for action”.

Reacting, Ikem said the APC chairman was crying out of frustration arising from his party’s monumental loss.

“We are not violent like his Party. They unleashed violence on us during the Senate Primaries. We didn’t respond, except by defeating them.

“They again unleashed violence on us during the House of Representatives by-elections for Ogoja/ Yala federal constituency elections. They enjoyed a pyrrhic victory for about 12 months and we went back to the drawing board, blocked all avenues for violence by mobilizing adequate security and they were thoroughly beaten despite the incumbent governor being on the ballot. What else do you expect him to do apart from crying?”

Politics

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

Published

7 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

9 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

9 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.