Politics

Why I Resigned As PDP BoT Chairman – Jibrin

Published

2 years ago

October 3, 2022

Editor

The immediate past chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Walid Jibrin, on Monday, opened up on why he resigned from his former position.

He said he resigned as the BOT chairman for the unity and oneness of the party, saying that “I created unity for the party.”

Jibrin declared that the decision was made to ensure the party’s presidential candidate emerged victorious in the 2023 elections.

He said, “We should never be sectional at all. If I left my position to allow others, based on my concern for Nigeria, and our party to be stronger, so, I have no regret of relinquishing my position.”

This is as he asked members of the just inaugurated Atiku-Okawa Presidential Campaign Council to immediately hit the ground running ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

According to Jibrin, in a statement released to journalists in Kaduna State, members of the just inaugurated PDP Presidential Campaign team should leave Abuja for their respective states, work and deliver votes for the party’s presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidency.

Jibrin, who was recently appointed to head the Nasarawa State Presidential Campaign Council, noted that members remaining in Abuja might not augur well for the party while assuring Nigerians that the PDP campaign would be issue-based.

This was as he assured that the current crises rocking the party, including that of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, others were surmountable as “what is happening in the PDP” was a normal family matter.

Jibrin added that all the crises bedeviling the party ahead of the 2023 general election, would soon be a thing of the past.

“And I want to assure Nigerians that what is happening in PDP is never a problem but a normal family matter that would be solved very soon. Never, ever mention that PDP has any problem. We shall soon take over from the ruling party. Nigeria shall move forward. Cheers. May God bless all of us,” he said.

The former BOT boss also admonished members, especially the National Executive Council to remain calm in the face of the crisis rocking the party.

“I am happy to announce that Nasarawa State has appointed me to be the Chairman of the Presidential Campaign – I will lead all elders, women, and youths.

“I have started my duty in that respect and I call on all members of the Presidential Council, not to remain in Abuja, we should all go back to our units, wards, local government areas, and states, to ensure that we win our states, hands down.

“Remaining in Abuja may not augur well for us. May I also advise every one of us, EXCO, elders, youths, and others in Nasarawa State, to brace up? And may I assure Nigerians that the PDP campaign will be issue-based and all units must key into it.

“It is important that PDP remains Calm and strong; talk with one voice, and remain focused to follow the path and objectives of the Party. And to make sure all the elections are won in 2023, especially winning of the Presidential Election and encouraging, voting for Atiku Abubakar (The Waziri Adamawa) to become the President of Nigeria.

“All organs of the party must therefore create oneness and greatest positions of the party. All our elders, leaders, Youths, and all women of the party must talk with one voice and must never create any division from now on, and within the NWC.

“The NWC, which must always show a good example in all party activities; once an issue has been discussed and agreed upon, all members must abide collectively. They should never allow any person or group to use them, no matter the position of the Person.

“All Members of the party, no matter what, must accept what positions are being held and taken by the NWC, and the NWC should not come out and what they agreed; particularly by few Members of the NWC. This is not encouraging at all in our party.”

Also, the PDP Chieftain commended the Akwa-Ibom State Governor for accepting to be the Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council as well as Alhaji Amini Tambwual, the Governor of Sokoto State, and PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman; who is the Director-General.

“I also commend the Bauchi State Governor who is also a staunch Member and Director of the Presidential Campaign. I also congratulate Chief Imoke. I congratulate all members of the campaign team, including myself who has resigned, but i took it upon myself to promote the unity of our party,” he added. ENDS…
PUNCH

Politics

JUST IN: Ex-PDP Deputy National Chair, Oyedokun Defects To APC

Published

5 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Editor

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, has resigned his membership of the party and announced defection to the All Progressives Congress.

Oyedokun, a notable personality within the political circle in Osun State and beyond, said he decided to dump the PDP after consultation with his loyalists.

He said he would be joining APC, where his experience, efforts, and leadership roles would be valued and appreciated.

His resignation letter addressed to the National Chairman of the PDP through the ward, local government and state chairmen of the party obtained late Thursday further read, “As a functional member and leader of PDP (Ward 13, Jagun/ Osi-Bale Ode, Odo-Otin South Local Government, Osun State,) whose high electoral productivity and value have been credibly and positively acknowledged in my ward, across the local council, state and country-wide for the enhancement of the fortune of the PDP, I have the honour (though with pain) in announcing the renunciation of my membership of the party on principle, having observed that the ideals of we, founding members, had been sorely contaminated.

“In taking this step which is not even without due consultation with my teaming loyalists in the PDP, I have consequently decided to shift my allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC) where I believe my experience, efforts and leadership roles would be valued and appreciated.”

Oyedokun’s defection to the APC is coming at the time the aspirant he supported during the 2022 Osun governorship primary of PDP, Mr Dotun Babayemi is also moving to the national ruling party.

Osun APC said on Wednesday that Babayemi and his supporters would be dumping PDP and joining the party at a rally scheduled to be held in Osogbo on Friday.
PUNCH

Politics

Poll: APC Has No Sellable Candidate, Nothing To Campaign On – Edo Govt

Published

3 days ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

The Edo State Government claimed on Monday that the All Progressives Congress, APC, has no credible candidate for the September 21 governorship election.

This was an assertion made by the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, at a press conference in Benin City.

Nehikhare also alleged that the party is using lies and propaganda as its campaign strategy.

According to him: “The only APC strategy for the governorship election is to resort to lies and propaganda. When a party takes lies and propaganda as an election strategy, it means it has nothing to offer the people. The party lacks people with character, capacity, and intellect.”

The commissioner who took journalists through a screened shot WhatsApp chat said: “What we have here is the official APC WhatsApp platform, their own people screenshot their discussion. One of them who has a conscience asks, is this the only thing we have?”

Nehikhare, who said APC is ashamed to campaign for its candidate, noted that, as of today, nobody had heard of what the party has for the state.

“All we heard is how they are going to help their paymaster, lies and propaganda that will not help the state,” he added.

He opined that lies and propaganda are not strategies the opposition party, like APC, can use to win the September 21 governorship election.

The commissioner, who warned against misinformation and fake news ahead of the governorship election, urged media practitioners to be neutral in matters concerning lies and propaganda.

He, however, noted that Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration has a lot of achievements to market and sell its candidate for the election.

Politics

Defection: Edo Govt, Ex-PDP BoT Member, Idahosa In Verbal War

Published

3 days ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

Edo State government and a former member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustees, Charles Idahosa, on Monday traded words over the latter defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Recall that Idahosa resigned
formally resigned who had last month resigned from PDP, rejoined the APC on Monday in Benin City.

Speaking during his formal presentation to the APC in Benin City, he noted that he left the party four years ago due to internal crisis.

Idahosa added that he dumped the PDP because of what he described as the “damning deeds of the Obaseki-led administration in the last four years”.

He took a swipe at Obaseki for saying that PDP would win the forthcoming September governorship election with 80 per cent of votes.

“I thank God, four years later we all are wiser now. Like the Secretary said, I was a founding member of ACD, ACN and APC. The damage we did four years ago, the APC never remained the same.

“But I am glad we are back to the family. I was nominated to the Board of the Railway when I was in the APC. When I moved to the PDP, I wrote to resign my membership but it was rejected and showed my wide acceptance.

“At 71, I am not here to contest position with anybody, I am here to work. I want to urge APC to keep their eyes on the ball. It is not over until it is over.”

While lambasting Governor Obaseki for his comment that those leaving PDP have been given money, he noted that his greatest regret was not allowing the governor to resign after his first four years in office.

“When he came to beg me like a weather beaten chicken, how much did he give to me? Anytime he goes religious gathering he would say those leaving PDP have been given money.

“He came to me three times in my house to say he wants to resign, that he was tired of being governor but I appealed to him, telling him it was not about him but Benin interest.”

But in a swift reaction, the state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare alleged that Idahosa was never a PDP member.

Nehikhare noted that Idahosa was also never a BOT member of the party, because the party in the state rejected his nomination.

He alleged that it was as a result of the rejection that he found his way back to APC.

“I heard that he claimed to be a member of BOT of PDP but I want to challenge him to tell us when he was sworn in as a member of PDP BOT. He was not a fit and proper person. Even though he was nominated he was shunned by the party.

“It was this that drove him back to APC which he never left in the first place. He was holding on to the board appointment which was offered him while in APC prior to 2020 governorship election.

“He has reached the end of his political career. He has nothing to offer any political party or any group he joins because he believes in bread and butter politics,” Nehikhare said.