Politics

Uproar As Edo PDP Expels Shaibu, Orbih, Others

Published

1 week ago

June 20, 2024

The Edo State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party on has expelled a former deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, for alleged anti-party activities.

The PDP SWC also expelled the South-South Vice Chairman, Dan Orbih, while it also upheld the expulsion of a former member of the House of Representatives, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, by Ward 2, Oredo Local Government.

The decisions were taken on Wednesday at the PDP SWC meeting in Benin.

Present at the meeting were the Chairman of the Edo PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, and seven other members of the SWC, including Tony Anenih Jr., who joined the meeting virtually.

Aziegbemi said that the trio was expelled for anti-party activities, noting that they had shown that they were no longer in the party and there was no need to keep them in the PDP.

He said that the party would not be affected by their expulsion in the September 21 governorship election in the state, adding the party was well positioned to win at the poll.

The Edo PDP chairman said, “Dan Orbih was expelled because he has been asking members of the PDP to join the opposition party. He also took an appointment as the governing council member of a third-tier institution without recourse to the party before accepting the appointment.

“Shaibu donated about 15 vehicles to the All Progressives Congress and has also been abusing and disrespectful to the leaders of the party in the state. Someone who does these things cannot be termed a true party man.

“Also, Ogbeide-Ihama donated his building on Sakponba Road to the APC for campaign purposes. The building currently bears the billboard of the APC candidate and his running mate.

“The party is working with other stakeholders to ensure that the party wins the election in September.”

The SWC’s decision came days after Shaibu openly declared he would be working for the APC to win the September 21 governorship election while labelling the PDP governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, an outsider and a product of godfatherism.

Orbih, on his own, leads the Edo PDP Legacy Group, which had vowed to stop Governor Godwin Obaseki from influencing or installing a successor.

The expulsion of Ogbeide-Ihama by the SWC, however, generated an uproar as the PDP leadership in the Oredo Local Government Area of the state faulted the ex-federal lawmaker’s expulsion.

They declared the suspension null and void and urged the group behind the act not to cause confusion in the local government.

The chairman of the PDP in the local government, Oduwa Igbinosun, after an emergency meeting in Benin on Wednesday, stated that the local government exco attention was drawn to a purported expulsion of Ogbeide-Ihama by a faceless group led by one Lawrence Aguebor, which according to him prompted the exco to set the record straight.

He explained that the said Lawrence was an ex-official of the ward, and lacked the authority to suspend or expel anyone.

Igbinosun added that the National Working Committee of the party had extended the tenure of all elected excos and made ratification for them to act as a caretaker committee.

Similarly, the executives of the PDD ward 2, in Oredo local government disowned the purported suspension and expulsion of the two-term federal lawmaker.

Secretary of the ward, Mr. Jesuobo Obadigie, who stated this on behalf of the executives, said no such action was carried out.

Flanked by the 12 members of the ward exco, Osayande said: “Honourable Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama remains not just a member, but a prominent and formidable leader of the party, and continues to enjoy the total support of the members in Ward 2.

“It is expected that anyone who loves the party should at this point be focused on actions that will unite the party ahead of the September governorship election.

“This is to warn mischief makers and impostors to desist from their criminal and divisive actions that could cause potential harm.”

The chairman of PDP in the ward, Prince Elemah said he didn’t sign any document against the Rep, adding, “Ogbeide-Ihama remains our leader and a bonafide member.”

Politics

Guber Polls: PDP Inaugurates National Campaign Councils For Ondo, Edo

Published

4 hours ago

June 27, 2024

Editor

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Amb. Umar Damagum, has denounced a statement credited to President Bola Tinubu, to the effect that he would take Edo for his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Damagum, who spoke during the ongoing inauguration of the National Campaign Councils for Ondo and Edo States, in Abuja, on Thursday said the President and his party should be made aware that “Edo, no be Lagos.”

He said the ruling party should also be made aware that the PDP and the people of the two states would not allow anyone to “grab, snatch and run” with their mandate.

The party chairman equally said the people of Edo State were pleased with the record of performance of the outgoing PDP government led by Godwin Obaseki and were prepared to reward the party with their votes.

For Ondo State, he said the PDP and its members in the state had learnt their lessons from the last four years in opposition.

Damagum said, “Today, we are inaugurating these two campaign councils. I just have two or three words to say to you. Most of those of you that are selected have done this job before and have done it effectively.

“I want to remind you that the party you belong to is truly a democratic party.

“From the way these candidates emerge, it has shown that we are truly democratic. And also this should give you the faith that what you are going to embark on will yield the desired fruits.

“I’ve just been watching the remarks especially on Ondo, Amin Edo, where the President said he’s taking Ondo for his patch.

“Like we’ve always said, he has tried it before, and we have a slogan that ‘Edo no be Lagos.’ So, I want to use this opportunity to stress that we are in a democratic dispensation and there are rules that have to be adhered to.

“We will not sit down and allow anybody to snatch, grab, and steal. We will be battle ready for any thief that rares his head to steal our fortune.

“We have done so well in Edo State. We thank the Governor. We are very proud of him. And our records in that state speak volumes.

“And it is part of our pride. And it will be one we will use to continue giving them that dividend that they have enjoyed during Godwin Obasiki.

“So Edo is there for us because we have done very well and we will take it back to the PDP. Edo State has always been PDP.”

In his remarks, the party’s National Organising Secretary, Capt. Umar Bature (Retd), said the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri will chair the Edo State Campaign Council to be assisted by his Delta.

State counterpart, Sheriff Oborevwori and Dr. Agu Kefas of Taraba State.

He also said. “Mr. Chairman, he has about 148 members and we pray for the success of this committee.

“The committee from Ondo is chaired by Senator Ademola Adeleke, who unfortunately has not been feeling well to attend today. He made sure that his deputy will attend.

“We have Barrister Caleb Muftwan from Plateau will also be deputy and as well as Dauda Lawal from Zamfara State will be the second deputy.

“This list has about 177 members. Ondo is very large and we believe the composition of this membership will have cut across all our party members in those two states and we pray that we deliver these states.“

While speaking on behalf of the campaign councils, the Chairman for Edo State , Governor Ahmadu Finitiri of Adamawa State, said, “We are ready for Edo. We will not leave anything to chance. We will leverage on Obasaki’s performance.

“We have a low hanging political fruits in the two states. We should go with all seriousness.

“We will match APC. With technology, rigging is very minimal. PDP has bright chances in the two states. Edo has registered over 2000 since new registration has started.”

Speaking earlier, a member of the PDP National Executive Council who is also a member of the campaign team, Chief Tom Ikimi, said, “On behalf of those state members who are here, I salute you all. I’d like to thank the working committee for this occasion.

“That is the inauguration of the campaign council, national campaign council for Edo State. Let me assure you that we have already won the election in Edo State.”

Politics

PDP Failed Rivers State – Fubara Laments

Published

7 hours ago

June 27, 2024

Editor

Rivers State governor, Siminialayi Fubara has claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has failed the state.

Fubara said this while receiving a delegation from the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, led by Senator Orji Uzo Kalu, on Thursday.

The governor who was reportedly disappointed at the party’s silence on the crisis between him and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, said the state would from now on, stand on its own soil and defend its democracy.

He said that Rivers was currently relying on a mass movement based on truth and consistency instead of party politics.

Fubara said: “In our state today we are no longer doing party. We are doing a movement, so you don’t blame me if I don’t go to the side of the party too much.

“The party has failed us here, so what we are doing here is to stand with our two legs on the soil of Rivers State, so that we can defend democracy.”

Politics

Edo Guber: Court Upholds Kadiri As LP Deputy Governorship Candidate

Published

7 hours ago

June 27, 2024

Editor

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday affirmed Prince Yusuf Kadari, SAN, as the deputy governorship candidate of the Labour Party, LP, for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State.

The court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite, held that the LP was within its rights when it nominated Kadiri as the running mate to its flag-bearer for the election, Olumide Akpata.

Justice Nwite held that the electoral body had no right to reject Kadiri’s nomination since the party acted in line with provisions of both the Electoral Act 2022 and the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Recall that the governorship candidate of the LP, Akpata, had picked Kadari as his running mate for the election slated for September 21.

Even though Kadiri’s name was forwarded to INEC by the party, however, the electoral umpire published Alufohai Oluyinka Faith as the deputy governorship candidate of the LP.

Realizing the error, the party wrote the electoral body, asking it to replace the name it published with that of the candidate it nominated and forwarded to it.

Following the failure of INEC to comply with the directive, LP brought the case before the court.

Delivering his judgment in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/556/2024, which had INEC as the sole defendant, Justice Nwite faulted the Commission for its refusal to make the requested substitution.

He held that Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2022, gave the room for a political party to within 90 days to a scheduled election, write to INEC to demand the withdrawal of a candidate whose name was already published.

The judge held that evidence before the court showed that the LP did not act outside the provisions of sections 29, 31, 32 and 33 of the Electoral Act 2022.