Politics
Wike, others not keen on truce with Atiku
Atiku, who last Thursday expressed optimism of reconciliation with the Group of Five (G5) governors, was yet to open fresh talks with the aggrieved state executives, who met in Enugu on Friday.
The governors are: Nyesom Wike, Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu. They are demanding the exit of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the party’s National Chairman as condition to join the PDP Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).
Mohammed, who hosted the G5 governors last week, is said to be non-committal on where he is headed.
It was learnt that the Bauchi helmsman was uncomfortable with the sentiments expressed by one or two members of the G5 on the Fulani.
There were fears that with the internal wrangling in local chapter of the PDP in Bauchi State, it will be tough for Mohammed to take a definite position on G5 option.
READ ALSO:
- Gunmen kill ex-Benue Polytechnic deputy rector, LG information officer
- SSS watching #BBNaija instead of collecting intelligence – Sowore
- NDLEA intercepts Tramadol consignment from Pakistan at Lagos airport
A source, who spoke in confidence, gave insights into why the five aggrieved governors have not been keen on reconciliation with Atiku.
The source said: “The G-5 governors are not keen or excited to reconcile with Atiku because there are no new terms from the PDP candidate. The only offer is that the National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu will sign an undertaking to resign after the 2023 poll. They felt it was not substantial.
“It means that there is nothing new other than the propaganda of Atiku’s camp that there will soon be reconciliation.
“Atiku’s shuttle to former President Ibrahim Babangida for intervention may not achieve much because some of the governors are not comfortable with a former Minister of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, who was the facilitator of the visit to Minna. They know him as “incurably” loyal to Atiku rather than being a peacemaker.
“The crisis is deep-seated and it has festered beyond what anybody or group can resolve. It is most likely that the two sides will meet in the battlefield.
“Though the BoT chairman, ex-Senate President Adolphus Wabara managed to prevail on Governor Nyesom Wike to stop the live coverage by TV stations, the governor did not spare a former leader of PDP in the team, he tongue-lashed the leader in a despicable manner.”
READ ALSO:
- Kaduna terrorists kill abductee, demand N10m ransom to release corpse
- FG to complete 13 federal roads, prioritise railway projects
- Man kidnaps eight-year-old son, demands ransom from wife
- Troops Kill 2 Terrorists, Clear Camps In Kaduna
As at yesterday, one of the strategists of the G5 said: “The former VP is yet to open fresh talks with Wike and others. These governors are just reading the story of reconciliation in the media without concrete action.”
The Bauchi governor may not team up with the G5 because of the delicate politics of the state.”
A former minister said: “Mohammed was non-committal to Wike and four others. He left the invitation by the G5 hanging and the governors decided to be watching.
“It was predictable because Governor Bala cannot join a group which will be abusing Fulani. He made his feelings known on anti-Fulani comments. No wonder, Governor Samuel Ortom seized the opportunity of Bauchi visit to say that he was misquoted.
“If Mohammed joins the G5, his second term aspiration will be in a precarious state. He is battling for survival. Despite his good performance, some forces are against him in the state, including some strategic PDP leaders like Adamu Muazu (a former PDP National chairman of PDP) and ex-Speaker Yakubu Dogara. With internal wrangling in Bauchi chapter of PDP, he decided to bid time to weigh options.
“But the G5 governors told Mohammed that they have left their doors open. They said he can come to the camp anytime.”
The Nation
Politics
PDP crisis: Two ex-Senate presidents lead fresh plot to oust Damagum
PDP crisis: Two ex-Senate presidents lead fresh plot to oust Damagum
Two former Presidents of the Senate, Chief David Mark and Dr Bukola Saraki are leading a fresh charge aimed at removing Amb. Umar Damagum as the Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The push by Mark and Saraki has received the backing of prominent stakeholders, including the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang and other political office holders elected on the platform of the PDP.
Similarly, former governors from the Northcentral zone who served on the party’s platform have also aligned forces with the group.
Rising from a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Thursday night, the party chieftains resolved to produce a candidate from the zone early 2025 to replace Damagum.
According to them, the move to replace Damagum with a substantive chairman from the Northcentral, has received the endorsement of key party stakeholders from the Northwest and the Northeast zones.
Among those being projected as potential candidates to take Damagum’s seat include Mark; a former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam; and a former House of Representatives member from Nasarawa State, David
David Ombugadu.
A communique issued after the meeting, said the stakeholders
reviewed the festering crisis in the party following the exit of the erstwhile National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
Ayu lost his seat to the crisis triggered by disagreements over the emergency of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 general election.
READ ALSO:
- Ibadan stampede: Ooni reacts after arrest of ex-wife
- Suspected witchdoctors arrested over attempt to ‘bewitch’ Zambia’s President
- Farotimi: Advocacy group wants UK college to break ties with Afe Babalola
The crisis has continued to deepen with the apparent overbearing influence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike on the Damagum-led national leadership.
The Northcentral stakeholders argued that Damagum’s continued occupation of the office breached provisions of the PDP constitution.
The communique states in part, “The PDP’s constitution clearly states that succession of offices in the party at all levels is largely to the extent that any vacant position can be replaced by appointment from the zone, as per Section 47 (6) of the party.
“The party is guided by its constitution at all times. Therefore, the leadership of the party needs to rise up to the occasion to restore goodwill and cohesion in the party by making necessary sacrifices and compromises to restore confidence and cohesion in the party.
“It is in the light of this that the stakeholders of the Northcentral Zone appeal to the conscience and goodwill of our compatriots in other zones of the Northern region to restore the seat of the chairmanship of the party back to the Northcentral Zone to serve out its tenure.
“That the stakeholders must strive to build consensus to get the buy-in to the position of Northcentral zone.
“The Northcentral is united and will strive to preserve the PDP as a veritable platform for good governance in Nigeria.”
The meeting, which was attended by Governor Muftwang, also had former Governors Jonah Jang (Plateau), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Idris Wada (Kogi) in attendance.
Others at the meeting included the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro; incumbent PDP National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); and a former Information Minister, Prof Jerry Gana.
Also at the meeting were former senators Tunde Ogbeha, Philip Aduda, Suleiman Adokwe, Dino Melaye, Mohammed Onawo and Peter Jiya.
READ ALSO:
- Yahaya Bello walks home after release from Kuje prison Friday evening
- Fire kills family of three in Ibadan
- Court stops suspension of Edo LG chairmen
Similarly, former Ministers, Labaran Maku and Sarah Ochekpe also attended the meeting. Other stakeholders like Simon Mwadkwon, Mrs. Margaret Icheen, Mr. Raymond Dabo, Maika Jiba, and Isa Dobi were also present.
Damagum, who is from Yobe State in the Northeast zone, emerged Acting National Chairman in March 2023 following the exit of Ayu who is from Benue State in the Northcentral zone.
Damagum was the PDP Deputy National Chairman (North) before his appointment as Acting National Chairman.
By virtue of Section 47 (6) of the party’s constitution, he ought to have relinquished the seat for a substantive National Chairman from the Northcentral zone where Ayu hailed from.
The Section reads: “Where a vacancy occurs in any of the offices of the party, the Executive Committee at the appropriate level shall appoint another person from the area or zone where the officer originated from to serve out the tenure of the officer.”
Ayu was elected chairman in 2022 for a four-year tenure that should expire in 2026 before his tenure got truncated in 2023.
Several moves by critical organs of the party, including the PDP Governors Forum, the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the National Caucus to replace Damagum have been thwarted by the Acting National Chairman, allegedly with the backing of Wike.
Miffed by the development, the PDP Governors Forum, led by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, had, a few weeks ago, directed the Damagum-led leadership to convene the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting latest by February 2025.
The NEC meeting has suffered four postponements between August and November 2024, as Damagum, who is supposed to convene the meeting has been evasive.
The power to ratify any candidate chosen by the Northcentral zone to replace Damagum is vested only in the NEC.
PDP crisis: Two ex-Senate presidents lead fresh plot to oust Damagum
Politics
PDP expels South-East national vice chairperson over anti-party activities
PDP expels South-East national vice chairperson over anti-party activities
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oguduokwor Ward, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has officially expelled Ali Odefa, the suspended National Vice Chairperson of the party in the South-East, following allegations of anti-party activities.
Odefa had been suspended on September 11, 2024, by the ward executives, a move that was later upheld by the Federal High Court in Abakaliki. In its ruling on November 29, 2024, under suit number FHC/AI/CS/182/2024, the court affirmed the legitimacy of his suspension.
On Wednesday, Onyeka Ovuta, the Acting Chairperson of the PDP in Oguduokwor, announced Odefa’s expulsion in a statement. Ovuta explained that the decision followed recommendations from the party’s disciplinary committee, which confirmed the allegations against Odefa.
READ ALSO:
- Your information on $1bn investment misleading, Dangote Refinery replies NNPCL
- Many die at Ibadan children’s Christmas party stampede, organisers arrested
- BREAKING: Qualified bidders emerge in 2022/2023 oil licensing
The party announced that Mr Odefa by the virtue of his expulsion, “ceases to be a member of the party.”
Reacting, Mr Odefa laughed off the expulsion, stating that those who announced it were “frustrated charlatans”.
He said the expulsion cannot stand because “it did not take place in the ward but in Abuja”. He said those who made the announcement against him were not ward executives of the party.
“Let them come home come and announce it. Or is our ward now located in Abuja?”
PDP expels South-East national vice chairperson over anti-party activities
Politics
INEC recognises Sylvester Ezeokenwa as APGA national chairman
INEC recognises Sylvester Ezeokenwa as APGA national chairman
Sylvester Ezeokenwa has been reinstated as the national chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).
Ezeokenwa was reinstated by the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, December 17.
According to Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, the commission had been served with the judgement of the Supreme Court.
The apex court judgement with the Appeal No. SC/CV/824/2024 APGA & ANOR vs OYE & ORS was delivered on November 27, 2024.
The court ruled that Ezeokenwa should be recognised as the national chairman of the party.
READ ALSO:
- Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. crowned FIFA Player of the Year
- Rashford hints at Man United exit
- CSOs urge Lagos AG to appeal court’s decision upturning Olaleye’s rape conviction
“In compliance with the judgement of the apex court, the Commission has restored Barr. Ezeokenwa as the Chairman of APGA and restored his name on our website accordingly,” the INEC commissioner said.
He also stated that the reisnstatmemt of the new chairman would automatically lead to the withdrawal of the recognition of Njoku as the national chairman of the party.
The court also upheld an earlier judgement of the appeal which did not confer any enforceable rights on Njoku.
If also awarded N20 million each against the appellaants.
INEC recognises Sylvester Ezeokenwa as APGA national chairman
-
Railway22 hours ago
Lagos Rail Mass Transit part of FG free train ride – NRC
-
metro2 days ago
Court stops customs from seizing imported rice in open market
-
metro3 days ago
FG transfers electricity market regulatory oversight in Lagos to LASERC
-
metro2 days ago
Ibadan stampede: Tinubu orders probe as death toll hits 40
-
metro1 day ago
Ibadan stampede: Ooni reacts after arrest of ex-wife
-
metro2 days ago
Afe Babalola: Court grants Dele Farotimi bail, barred from media interviews
-
metro23 hours ago
NIMC warns against extortion, reaffirms free NIN enrollment
-
News2 days ago
Adebayo Ogunlesi, 2 other Nigerians make Forbes 50 wealthiest Black Americans list 2024