Politics
PDP BoT submits report this week, rules out Ayu’s removal
The reconciliation committee set up by the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party to meet with aggrieved party members, especially Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his allies, may submit its report this week, Sunday PUNCH has learnt.
It was, however, gathered that the committee ruled out the possibility of removing the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, as demanded by Wike as a precursor to further negotiations.
One of our correspondents learnt that due to the timing, especially with the commencement of campaigns, the committee believed it would be counterproductive and damaging to the party if Ayu was forced out of office before the elections. The committee believed the only way out was to pacify Wike to show understanding.
A member of the committee, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, said the panel was able to establish that the party’s leadership mismanaged the crisis that erupted after the presidential primary. The crisis stemmed from Wike’s dissatisfaction with the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate and his choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate.
Independent of the previous committee set up by the party to meet with Wike to resolve the crisis, the then Chairman of the BoT, Walid Jibrin, early in August set up another committee whose members were drawn from the BoT to intervene in rifts in the party.
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The Adolphus Wabara-led committee has concluded its reconciliation tours that took it to Ibadan, Makurdi, Umuahia, Enugu and Port Harcourt to meet with governors Seyi Makinde, Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Wike of Oyo, Benue, Abia, Enugu and Rivers states, respectively. The committee, according to findings, would meet with the National Working Committee before presenting the report.
However, the source said, “We have started putting the report together. We hope to get it ready next week (this week). We agreed not to talk to the press about the issue. We are making progress.
“We listened to Wike and I must admit that he has good intentions for the party and our presidential candidate. When we met him, he explained his grievances to us and we almost agreed to everything he said. It is the fault of our leaders. They did not handle it well.
“They ought to have called him and others immediately after the primary and hold meetings with them. We cannot do without him. We need him in our campaign council. He has charisma for campaigns, he has people around him and he also has some governors with him, and the money to spend.
“But I think it is too late in the day to ask Ayu to go. It is practically not possible. We may have to listen to him and appeal to others like Wike to allow us to manage the situation now because we cannot afford to lose the elections.”
Meanwhile, despite the meetings between Atiku and Wike within and outside the country, and subsequent meetings of their allies, the crisis has yet to be resolved.
In further demonstration of their dissatisfaction with the party over Ayu’s continued stay in office, Wike and his allies boycotted the inauguration of the party’s presidential campaign council on September 28.
Apart from Makinde, who openly demanded Ayu’s removal, Ortom on Friday asked the national chairman to either resign or beg if he must retain his seat.
Wike’s camp adamant
Speaking on the likelihood that Ayu may retain his seat based on sources in the committee, an ally of Wike, Senator Olaka Wogu, said the group would have to meet to decide on the next line of action. He noted that it would be unfortunate if the party failed to address their concerns.
He told one of our correspondents, “There is no way anybody can tell what the Wike group will do. That will only emerge when the group meets. We have a group and the stakeholders own the process. Wike is not by himself; there are other governors, former governors, senators, BoT members and prominent members, who are sympathetic to his cause and are star members of the party.
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“The issue is, what do they want to do with this defiance; do they want to stand against it or accept it? But like I said, whatever the group decides will be a product of consultation.
“Certainly, you can expect that if that (Ayu’s refusal to step down) is the position the party has taken, in spite of the hue and cry of these members of the party, it’s unfortunate and regrettable and it is something that the Wike people are likely to view in those lights.”
Asked when the group might meet, he said he was unaware of the next meeting date, noting that its meetings were usually informed by developments. “I don’t think there is any day that at least one important member of the party is not talking to Wike. He is continually being spoken to by very senior members of the party and indeed Nigerians,” Wogu added.
On whether or not the Wike group would concede the party’s decision, he said, “Every opinion is legitimate to the opinion holder, so those who feel they should concede have their reasons and the Wike group not conceding has its reasons too. The Wike group members have not asked anything for themselves; it has been on the basis of equity, justice, fair play, unity and honour. You said you would do this, do it.”
He said the group’s demands were not personal, adding that when people stand on principles, it could be a lonely road and it could be misunderstood, but that the other party should also have a rethink.
PDP, Atiku speak
Meanwhile, the PDP Presidential Campaign Council says it is reaching out to all stakeholders to enlist their support for the elections.
Asked if the council was reaching out to former President Goodluck Jonathan, who has not been seen partaking in the party’s activities in recent times, the Media Adviser to Atiku, Mr Paul Ibe, said, “Nothing will be off the table; whatever will be for the good of the PDP and the nation will be done. Everything will be done to ensure that whatever outstanding issues are resolved.”
When asked if the former President was still a member of the party, considering insinuations during the party primaries that he was holding talks with the APC, Ibe stated, “Has Jonathan told anybody that he is not a member of the party? So, nothing has changed.”
Politics
Oyo local govt poll: PDP wins all chairmanship seats
Oyo local govt poll: PDP wins all chairmanship seats
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has achieved a landslide victory in the Oyo state local government election.
This is as the candidates of the PDP won all the chairmanship positions in the 33 local government areas of the south west state.
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The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, conducted the election on Saturday.
OYSIEC on Sunday declared PDP candidates as winners of the election in all the 33 LGAs.
The results were announced at OYSIEC’s office in Ibadan, the state capital.
Oyo local govt poll: PDP wins all chairmanship seats
Politics
BREAKING: Agboola wins Ondo PDP primary
BREAKING: Agboola wins Ondo PDP primary
A former deputy governor in Ondo state, Hon Ajayi Agboola has won the ongoing People’s Democratic Party governorship primary election in the state.
He polled 264 votes of the 621 votes cast during the contest.
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The former Scretary General of the Pan Yoruba Socio-Political Group, Afenifere, Chief Sola Ebiseni may come second in the contest.
Agboola was the former deputy governor to the late governor Rotimi Akeredolu before they parted ways following irreconcilable differences.
Attempt to impeach Ajayi during the crisis between him and the late Akeredolu failed
BREAKING: Agboola wins Ondo PDP primary
Politics
BREAKING: APC NWC in peace talks with Aiyedatiwa, other Ondo gov aspirants
BREAKING: APC NWC in peace talks with Aiyedatiwa, other Ondo gov aspirants
The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) is currently holding a closed-door peace meeting with Governor Lucky Ayiedatiwa and fifteen other aspirants in the April 20 Ondo state governorship primary election.
All the aspirants but Hon. Wale Akinterinwa and Hon. Isaacs Kekemeke are in attendance.
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Those in attendance are Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, Olusoji Adewale Ehinlanwo, a former member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Olugbenga Omogbemi Edema, and business magnate, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunsho.
Others are Engr. (Mrs.) Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo, Hon. Akinfolarin Mayo Samuel, legal luminary, Chief Olusola Alexander Oke, SAN, Ohunyeye Olamide Felix, and Barr. Morayo Lebi.
Also in attendance are Garvey Oladiran Iyanjan, Prof. Francis Adebayo Faduyile, and Engr. (Mrs) Judith Folakemi Omogoroye, President Unilag Alumni (Worldwide), Engr. Ifeoluwa Olusola Oyedele and Hon. Omo’Oba Okunjimi Odimayo John.
BREAKING: APC NWC in peace talks with Aiyedatiwa, other Ondo gov aspirants
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