Politics
Oyo PDP kicks as stakeholders pass vote of no confidence on Makinde
Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oyo State chapter met on Monday and passed a vote of no confidence on Governor Seyi Makinde.
The PDP members, in their hundreds, expressed displeasure at being neglected, sidelined despite working for the emergence of Makinde as governor.
The stakeholders also sued for peace in the forthcoming congress in the state on Saturday.
Rising from a meeting held at Jogor Centre, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the aggrieved PDP members, which included former majority leader in the House of Representatives, Honourable Mulikat Adeola-Akande; former deputy governor of Oyo, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi; Alhaji Rasheed Olopoeniyan, asked party members to mobilise en masse for the Saturday congress.
The meeting which was convened ahead of the Saturday congress of the PDP was attended by members of the party across the 33 local government areas in the state.
Other chieftains of the party at the meeting include Alhaji Nureni Akanbi, Engineer Femi Babalola, Elder Mattew Abioye, Princess Aderonke Adedoja, Asiwaju Adekola Adeoye, Alhaji Sarafa Olaoniye, Alhaji Ahmed Aranse, Alhaji Ajinawo, Baba Elisa, Chief Odeyemi, Alhaji Somope, Alhaji Bola Akinyemi, Hon Micheal Okunlade, Alhaji Riggogo and Alhaji Adele.
Akande-Adeola tasked party members to mobilise themselves for the Saturday congress of the PDP, adding that “go to your wards, mobilise your people. Don’t fight anybody. Record whatever happens and leave us to do the remaining in Abuja.”
In a communique issued at the end of stakeholders meeting, they concluded that “members are urged participate in the congress and conduct themselves in a peaceful manner throughout the exercise. The venue remains the ward meeting venues in each of the 351 wards in the state.”
Parts of the communiqué read by Okunlade read, “Members are urged to go to the congress venue on Saturday and conduct themselves in the most peaceful manner. The venue remains the wards’ meeting venues in each of the 351 wards in the state.
“If other members of the PDP turn up at the venue, they should jointly hold the congress together but nobody should engage in any form of hooliganism and brigandage. As members of the same party, we must relate as such.
“Members are assured that efforts are being made at the state and national levels to ensure that the ownership of PDP reverts to members of the party.
“The meeting prays for a peaceful conduct of the PDP congress which is scheduled to hold on Saturday, September 25 through October 16, 2021.
“The meeting rose with the passing of a vote of no confidence in the leadership of Engr Seyi Makinde of the Oyo State PDP.”
Meanwhile, the Publicity Secretary of Oyo PDP, Akeem Olatunji, regarded the views expressed at the Jogor meeting as those of the minority trying to hold the majority to ransom, which he described as an effort in futility.
Speaking with Nigerian Tribune after the meeting, Olatunji held that no critical stakeholder of the PDP was present at the Jogor meeting, adding that the attendees converged because of the fear of contesting in the forthcoming congress of the party.
He said the attendees at the meeting represented themselves for pecuniary gains cum ulterior motive, arguing that no authentic member of the PDP will cast aspersion on the Makinde leadership of the party.
Olatunji said: “None of them is representing PDP or PDP members. They are just a few members. In Oyo PDP, we have over 200 groups so if a group comes together like that, it shows they have ulterior motives, probably working for the opposition.
“There were no critical stakeholders of our party at the meeting. No state or lawmaker of the National Assembly was there; none of our party or ward chairmen was there so they are only representing themselves because of pecuniary gains. They already have a motive.
“We are not bothered because the governor has done his best possible to make everybody happy. It is not possible to score 100 percent so that is a minute number doing that.
“Governor Seyi Makinde and the PDP in Oyo State are waxing stronger. The reason they converged today is that they are afraid of going of the congress. They know they do not have the number. Some of them cannot boast of 30 people in a whole local government. That is just an effort in futility which they have already failed in.
“We are not having parallel congress and there is nothing like failed leadership. When going for congress, you can have various aspirants for a position.
“We expect people to come to the designated venue and whoever has the majority of delegates carries the day. Some people are running away from contests.
“Since the party and government have assured everybody of free and fair congress, why are they afraid? They should come to the polls if they are truly authentic members of the party.
“No authentic member of the PDP will cast aspersions on the leadership of Makinde and the government. We have a conflict resolution mechanism.
“In a situation where a few are trying to hold the majority into ransom, it is not going to happen. The beauty of democracy is that the majority will have their way while the minority will have their say. Whatever you are hearing is noise from the minority.”
Tribune Online
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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“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
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