Politics

Peter Obi’s Supporters Ground Yenagoa With One Million-man March [PHOTOS]

Published

3 years ago

September 17, 2022

A coalition of supporters and stakeholders of Labour Party, (LP) presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, grounded Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on Saturday as they embarked on one million-man march in the state.

The crowd, which marched from Tombia Junction en route the Mbiama Yenagoa road and terminated at the Ox-bow lake, were with placards bearing various inscriptions.

At 8am, vehicular movement from the entrance of the state was already at a halt as youths, women, and men gathered to take instructions before embarking on the rally.

Speaking with DAILY POST, the coordinator of Concern Medical Practitioners, Dr. Frank Ogunuawe, said they were all out in support of Peter Obi, whom they described as the most credible and prepared man for the job, adding that the medical profession in the country is gradually collapsing.

He emphasized that the number of professionals in the sector leaving the country to work outside the shores of the country is quite threatening, while the few ones in the country are planning to go on strike due to some unresolved issues between them and the government.

He added, “Just imagine what will happen to most people who are sick due to sufferings inflicted on them by the hardship experience in the country; we should also remember that students of higher institutions have been on strike for the past seven months, so it’s time to stop the nonsense in the country by voting for a sincere person.”

The coordinator of Bayelsa West LP, Hon. Chris Ogosi, stated that the structure of the party is the hungry, crying, suffering masses of the country and with the masses, the dream of a better Nigeria is achievable.

“We all know that the greatness of a man is measured by the wisdom he has and not amount of money and Obi is the man that we know that build a better Nigeria amongst all that has indicated interest.”

The coalition Vice Chairman of all the groups, Mr. Dr. Charles Oyibo, noted that what is happening on the streets of Yenagoa today is to organise and sensitizing the people on the need to take back Nigeria.

“We are with the people and they are all out because of the fact that they are sick of what the current system is giving to the people; look at the poverty level, insensitivity of government, deprivation, and the fact that our children are at home while theirs are abroad. This is not about a political party but a movement to take back the country and give to the rightful owners who are the masses. This is a clear confirmation that the people are so tired, that is why we are seeing this crowd today who are not even paid. Every body came on account of their own conviction that it is time to do the needful.”

The state chairman, Mr. Eniye Zidougha, who addressed the crowd said, we have seen other states carry out their rally and what they are doing today isn’t different, adding that the cry of the people over insecurity, poverty, lack of power, ASUU strike and other failures by the government is the reason for the march.

He said the Obi movement became important to salvage the already mortgaged future of the citizens, adding that with their voter cards the people will vote their conscience at the forthcoming elections.

Politics

Why Bayelsa Gov Delayed Defection To APC

Published

5 hours ago

November 1, 2025

Editor

Facts have emerged on why the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, delayed his defection to the All Progressives Congress two weeks after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party.

A senior official of the APC at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja confided in The PUNCH that Diri had requested the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, to hand over the party’s flag to him in a formal reception.

According to the APC official, the arrangement for the official reception delayed the governor’s defection.

Diri had, on October 15, announced his exit from the PDP during an expanded State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa.

The governor said the decision followed “extensive consultations” with key stakeholders in the state, adding, “I am not resigning alone. I am here with Mr Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and all the members of our party in the Assembly who are with me on this. So today, I have formally resigned from the PDP for very obvious reasons.”

According to the APC official, who is involved in the party’s plan to receive Diri, the party is done with the arrangements to welcome the governor.

He said, “Governor Diri is coming to the APC, and he will join us on Monday. The party has put up a reception plan, and it is the wish of the governor that the Vice President hands over the APC flag to him. The national secretariat and the VP’s office have worked that out.

“The governor wants an official and befitting reception, and he deserves it. That is why he delayed his defection. But we are done with the arrangements.”

Similarly, one of the senior administrative officers at the APC secretariat in Abuja disclosed that arrangements were in place to receive the governor into the party on Monday.

“I am aware that the secretariat is preparing to receive Governor Diri on Monday. The governor wants an official reception, and we are working on it. As I am speaking with you, nothing will change the governor’s plan to join the APC,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State chapter of the PDP has insisted that its leadership would not join the governor in defecting to the APC.

The State Publicity Secretary, Ebiye Ogoli, while speaking with The PUNCH, said there was no reason to leave the PDP with Diri, stating that the party’s leadership remained strong.

Ogoli explained that the leadership decided not to defect with the governor because he is in his second term and will not be contesting again; hence, there was no reason to move with him.

“We are not defecting with the governor. We stand by our last statement. The governor did not compel anyone to move with him. Before we took the decision, we considered the fact that the governor is not contesting again and, therefore, there was no reason to move with him.

“The party remains strong. It is not true that we want to defect with him.”

Findings by Sunday PUNCH also revealed that three members of the State House of Assembly — Godbless Oyinke, Ted Elemeforo, and Wisdom Fafi — have refused to leave the PDP.

This is as the Deputy Governor of the state, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has dragged the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker, Abraham Ingobere; the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Matilda Ayemieye; the Bayelsa State Attorney-General, Biriyai Dambo (SAN), the Inspector-General of Police; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services before a Federal High Court in Abuja to avert a reported impeachment plot.

Ewhrudjakpo, who has remained in the PDP, said there was a plot by the lawmakers to impeach him because he did not resign his membership of the party with the governor.

The deputy governor, in an originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/221/2025, according to TheCable, sought interim orders of the court to restrain the State House of Assembly from removing or impeaching him in violation of Sections 188(5)–(9), (11), and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), on the grounds of his refusal to defect from the PDP to the APC or any other political party before the end of his tenure.

Ewhrudjakpo also asked the court to restrain the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, and the Bayelsa State Attorney-General from withdrawing his security protection as deputy governor, pending the determination of the motion on notice.

(PUNCH)

Politics

PDP NWC Suspends Legal Adviser, Anyanwu, Others Amid Convention Crisis

Published

7 hours ago

November 1, 2025

Editor

The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has suspended the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organising Secretary, Umaru Bature, for one month following a court ruling that halted the party’s planned national convention.

Disclosing this while addressing journalists, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the decision followed an emergency NWC meeting held on Saturday at the party’s office, Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja.

Ologunagba stated that in line with Section 36(2) of the PDP Constitution, the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, will assume the role of acting National Secretary, while the National Director of Legal Services, Jacob Otorkpa, has been assigned to manage the affairs of the Legal Department.

He stated, “The NWC has reviewed the party’s activities, especially in the recent past, and some decisions were taken. You will recall that on August 8, 2025, the party issued a reprimand to members over anti-party activities, and from then till now, the party reviewed the activities of some members working against the party, and the NWC reached the following decisions today.

“For all these anti-party activities as contained in the constitution of the party vis-à-vis the activities of those individuals, what we have identified as majorly constituting the offences under our constitution is that anybody who breaches any part of the constitution or manifesto, or says or does anything under Section 58 any member that says or does anything that will bring the party to disrepute, hatred, or contempt, disobeys or neglects to carry out lawful directives of the party or any organ or officer of the party, or engages in any conduct likely to cause disaffection among members of the party, or likely to cause disaffection in the conduct of the business of the party.

“The NWC considered these and other actions in line with the constitution of the party and came to the following decisions: The National Legal Adviser, Kamal Ajibade (SAN), is suspended for 30 days and is referred to the National Disciplinary Committee of the party. The Deputy National Legal Adviser, Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha is also suspended for 30 days in line with the constitution and referred to the Disciplinary Committee as may be necessary. During the period of suspension, they cease to function in the capacity of their respective offices.

“The National Organising Secretary, Hon. Umar Bature, is suspended for a period of one month and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee. The National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, is suspended for one month and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee. In the case of the National Secretary, pursuant to Section 36(2) of the Constitution as amended in 2017, the Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Arc. Setonji Koshoedo, shall act as National Secretary.
In the case of the Legal Adviser and Deputy Legal Adviser, the Director of Legal Services has been empowered and directed to oversee the department during the period of suspension.”

Recall that despite the plan to hold its National Elective Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, the Peoples Democratic Party remains engulfed in internal tension.

Supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, continue to express dissatisfaction with the leadership of the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum.

Their discontent stems from unresolved disputes over the South-South zonal leadership and the control of party structures in states such as Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau.

There are also deep disagreements over the micro-zoning formula ahead of the convention, further widening the rift within the party.

These lingering issues eventually escalated into a legal showdown aimed at stopping the convention from taking place.

On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an interim order restraining the PDP from proceeding with its planned convention in Ibadan until further notice.

Presiding over the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the convention must be suspended until the party aligns its actions with the provisions of its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act 2022.

The case was instituted by three aggrieved members of the PDP, Austin Nwachukwu, the Imo State PDP Chairman; Amah Abraham Nnanna, the Abia State PDP Chairman; and Turnah Alabh George, the PDP Secretary for the South-South zone.

They petitioned the court to halt the convention, arguing that it contravened both the Electoral Act and the party’s internal rules.

According to them, the PDP failed to conduct valid congresses in 14 states before issuing the notice for the convention.

In his final judgment, Justice Omotosho found merit in their claims.

He held that the PDP violated its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and INEC’s guidelines by failing to conduct proper state congresses and by neglecting to issue the required 21-day notice to INEC. Consequently, he ordered that the planned convention be stopped until the party rectifies all internal irregularities in line with the law.

Politics

JUST IN: PDP Factions Emerge, Anyanwu Group Suspends Damagum, Others

Published

7 hours ago

November 1, 2025

Editor

L–R: Chief Dan Orbih, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP scribe), and Hon. Umar Bature during a press conference following a factional PDP National Working Committee meeting in Abuja on Saturday.

The Peoples Democratic Party has plunged deeper into crisis as fresh divisions emerged within its leadership, with a faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announcing the suspension of the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and five other members of the National Working Committee.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday on behalf of the factional NWC, the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, announced the party’s National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, as the Acting National Chairman.

He stated, “Unfortunately, some people may say that the National Secretary, National Organising Secretary who has the responsibility of monitoring everything and the National Legal Adviser, who is responsible for all legal issues, were purportedly suspended.

“On this note, we decided to suspend the National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Ilya Damagum, for incompetence, financial misconduct, and disregard for court judgment. He has been suspended for one month and should face the Disciplinary Committee.

“Secondly, we also suspended the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, for issuing statements without the party’s approval, and the Deputy National Vice Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, has also been suspended.

“The National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyenguikoro, who has been involved in alleged financial misconduct, has also been suspended.

“The National Youth Leader, Sulaiman Kadade, and the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, have also been suspended for 30 days. All of them will be sent to the Disciplinary Committee to show cause why they should not be expelled.

“Therefore, we are announcing the National Vice Chairman (North Central) to serve as the Acting National Chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahman.”

Earlier, the NWC under Damagum’s leadership announced the suspension of Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and two other members.