PDP supporters shout 'Atiku Atiku' at G-5 govs rally for Makinde – Newstrends
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PDP supporters shout ‘Atiku Atiku’ at G-5 govs rally for Makinde

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2 years ago

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Aggrieved five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, popularly called G-5, were on Thursday embarrassed by the shout of ‘Atiku, Atiku’ from the crowd of party supporters at a rally organised by the G-5 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Atiku Abubakar is the PDP presidential candidate for the February 2023 election.

The Thursday’s forum was the official launch of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s second-term bid.

The governors had fallen out with their party’s leadership over the outcome of the presidential primary that produced Atiku. Thus, his name was, obviously, the last thing they wanted to hear among their supporters at Thursday’s rally.

Thisday reports that when supporters were asked to vote other candidates of the party, to the exclusion of the former vice president, the crowd at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, venue of the rally, reacted swiftly in open resistance.
The deafening cries of “Atiku” was a major blow to the G-5, comprising Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Makinde, and Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

And contrary to the widely held belief that the five governors were working against the main opposition party, Ortom said the group was still committed to the party.
He said they were working round the clock to ensure that PDP won all elections in their respective states.

In Abia State, PDP supporters in Ikpeazu’s hometown, affirmed their backing for Atiku, in yet another blow for the dissenting governors.
But in Rivers State, Wike finally approved Atiku’s campaign in the state after an initial resistance.
The G-5 governors, who were all in attendance at the Ibadan rally, in their separate remarks at the re-election campaign tagged, “Omituntun 2.0: Sustainable Development,” were silent on the candidate to support in the forthcoming presidential election.
The Ibadan rally was well attended by party members from within and outside the state, hundreds of thousands of citizens, howeverIn his speech at the rally, Wike, who is the leader of the G-5, said, “Vote for Seyi, vote for the House of Representatives, vote for the House of Assembly. The other one, Seyi, would talk to you. No be so?”
But in response, the crowd started shouting, “Atiku, Atiku, Atiku…” Even when Makinde mounted the podium and tried to douse the strong opposition chants by shouting “PDP”, the response from the crowd was “Atiku, Atiku, Atiku…”
However, Ortom said the G5 governors and other members of the party working with them in the integrity group were “committed members of the PDP in their various states” and would work to ensure that candidates of the party in their states were elected in the forthcoming polls.
The Benue State governor stressed that the problem of PDP at the national level was being prolonged by the failure of the party’s leadership to deploy its internal conflict resolution mechanism to settle issues that arose after the national convention.Ortom was full of praises for Makinde’s commitment to the development of Oyo State. He expressed optimism that the people of the state would return him for a second term.
He thanked the people of Oyo State for their support for PDP and Makinde, pointing out that their massive turnout at the campaign flag-off was an indication that the election in March was a done deal for the party.Ortom said the G5 governors’ decision on the presidential candidate to support would be made public “at the appropriate time”. He declared that apart from the presidential election, the G5 governors would work for all PDP candidates in the 2023 general election.
The Benue State governor stated, “We have challenges with our national leadership. They have failed to resolve the internal crisis in the party arising from the party’s national convention. We shall make our resolve on this known at the appropriate time.”Ortom asked the people of Oyo State to compensate Makinde with their votes for his good performance in the past three years and seven months by reelecting him in the March 11 election.
Wike, on his part, said the people of Oyo State should await the directive of Makinde on who they should vote for in the February 25 presidential election. He said as far as he was concerned, there was no other political party in Oyo State apart from PDP.The Rivers State governor said the only way for the people of the state to appreciate Makinde was to vote for him.Makinde, in his remarks, appreciated the people and party faithful for entrusting the destiny of the state to him. He assured that more development projects and programmes will be witnessed in the state if he was reelected for another term of four years.
Makinde said he jerked up the state’s internally generated revenue from about N1.7 billion to N3.8 billion as at November last year. He promised to do more for Oyo State and its people if reelected, saying he has fulfilled all his campaign promises in his first term.He stated, “In my first term, I promised you the following on agenda Omituntun 1.0 known as accelerated development: economic prosperity, education, improved infrastructure (Awotan, Akobo, Moniya/Ijaye Road), GSM salary date, safe and secure environment (Amotekun), gainful employment with total fulfillment.“My second term will be towards total socio-economic upgrade in the state. This is formally known as the Omituntun 2.0, a sustainable development.”
The PDP supporters in the hometown of Ikpeazu avowed their support for Atiku.
Earlier, the PDP governorship candidate in Abia State, Prof. Uche Ikonne, visited Atiku and pledged loyalty to him.
PDP supporters in Obingwa Local Government Area said they had not only adopted, but also vowed to deliver Atiku in next month’s election.
According to them, party remains supreme in everything, hence, they have no option than to support the party’s standard bearer as party faithful.
In a campaign video, addressing party faithful and stakeholders at Abala Primary School, the chairman of PDP in Obingwa, Seth Agomuo, declared the loyalty and unflinching support of the party members for Atiku.
Agomuo said PDP in the council would give their block votes to all the party’s candidates in the different elections.
He said, “As a party chairman, and a true party man here in Obingwa, I want to clarify something. As far as I’m concerned, and a true party man, candidates have emerged after contested primary elections, such candidates now belong to the party and the party will support them.
“That’s the truth. I’m a true party man. Whether you love the candidate or hate him, that doesn’t matter as long as he emerged from a primary election conducted by the party.
“So, as far as I’m concerned and as far as I’m the PDP chairman in Obingwa, we shall only vote for PDP candidates, from Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to the Senate, House Representatives, governor, and state House of Assembly.
“We are PDP and that’s our stand. We’re Igbos, but our party comes first before any other thing.”  The G-5 governors had vowed that Atiku’s presidential bid would not get their full support unless the party’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu vacated his position for a southerner, to ensure equity in the party hierarchy.

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Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara

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1 day ago

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December 28, 2024

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike

Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has shed light on his role in the removal of Uche Secondus as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking at a PDP gathering in Rivers State, Wike explained that his decision was fueled by Secondus’ opposition to Siminalayi Fubara’s governorship ambition in 2023.

According to Wike, Secondus had pushed for his cousin, Tele Ikuru, to secure the PDP ticket for the governorship position, a move Wike said he could not support. This, he revealed, was the primary reason he championed Secondus’ ouster from the party’s leadership.

Reflecting on the ongoing tensions between himself and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Wike accused Secondus and former Rivers Governor Celestine Omehia of hypocrisy. He alleged that the duo only began backing Fubara after benefiting personally from the relationship.

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Wike, who was once a close ally of Fubara, claimed that Secondus and Omehia were the true enemies of the governor, not him. He criticized their actions, arguing that their newfound loyalty to Fubara was insincere.

“I heard Secondus recently in Bori, saying I awarded the Bori Internal Road as governor. I paid 50% with the hope that we had a governor we all supported to continue the projects,” Wike said.

He continued, “Secondus claimed his enemies are the governor’s enemies. But who are the enemies of the governor? Secondus, who initially opposed him becoming governor and wanted his cousin, Tele Ikuru, to get the position?

“I orchestrated Secondus’ removal as PDP National Chairman when he tried to impose his cousin as governor. Now he calls himself the governor’s friend while labeling me the enemy. To God be the glory,” Wike declared.

 

Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara

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APC reacts to Kwankwaso’s statement to reduce party’s votes in 2027

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2 days ago

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December 27, 2024

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APC reacts to Kwankwaso’s statement to reduce party’s votes in 2027

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano state has dismissed claims by former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) will significantly reduce APC’s votes in Kano State during the 2027 elections.

Reacting in a statement on Thursday, Abdullahi Abass, chairman of the state chapter of the party said Kwankwaso’s assertion is laughable and nothing but a mere daydream. Abass called on Kwankwaso to focus on reclaiming his membership in the NNPP rather than making unfounded claims.

The APC described Kwankwaso as a political refugee clinging to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in a futile attempt to regain relevance. They warned Kwankwaso that the APC would not allow a repeat of the alleged vote manipulation and allocation that created the impression of NNPP’s influence in Kano State during the 2023 general election.

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“Our teeming supporters in the APC have no cause to worry about Kwankwaso, who has been booted out of the NNPP due to his cluelessness and self-centredness. We expect Kwankwaso to keep wondering why he has become a wanderer in the political terrain,” the party chair said.

“He ran away from APC because he couldn’t fit into our progressive ideals. His overbloated ego and domineering posture forced him to abandon the PDP, and he has now become a political refugee because the NNPP refused to accommodate him.”

Kwankwaso had on Wednesday received some political decampees at his residence. During the event, he claimed that the NNPP was now formidable enough to diminish APC’s influence in the state.

“If the PDP could struggle to receive 15, 000 votes in the 2023 Presidential elections in Kano, APC would not only receive below expectations but would receive the most embarrassing votes in the 2027 elections in Kano,” he stated

“NNPP achieved tremendous success in the presidential and governorship elections despite being a new political platform with a late start to its campaign. APC will be diminished in Kano in 2027,” he added.

 

APC reacts to Kwankwaso’s statement to reduce party’s votes in 2027

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Kwankwaso: APC will struggle to get 15,000 votes in Kano

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2 days ago

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December 27, 2024

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Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

Kwankwaso: APC will struggle to get 15,000 votes in Kano

Ahead of the 2027 general election, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso said his party would work tirelessly to ensure that the ruling party, All Progressive Congress, APC, struggle to secure less than 15,000 votes in Kano State.

The APC, has, meanwhile, asked Kwankwaso to channel his energies towards reclaiming his membership in the NNPP not day dreaming over claims to relegate the APC in the state.

Kwankwaso while receiving delegates of the NNPP from the Kano North senatorial district at his Miller Road Mansion in Kano, acknowledged the hard work of the party during the 2023 elections, which resulted in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, struggling to secure only 15,000 votes in Kano.

He said: “Now, it’s turn to diminish APC’s influence. We will work tirelessly to ensure their votes are reduced to less than 15,000 in Kano by 2027.”

He encouraged his supporters to remain focused on delivering results that would secure the party’s success in future elections.

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The leader of the delegates, Abdul Bichi, told journalists that the visit was to renew their loyalty to the national leader of the NNPP, Kwankwaso and to distance themselves from former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr. Abdullahi Bichi.

Abdul said they had parted ways with Bichi since his removal from office.

“It is true we are supporters of the former SSG, and we are from the same constituency as Dr. Bichi, but we have decided to distance ourselves from him since he is no longer with the government.

“We have come here to see our national leader and founder of Kwankwaso in solidarity and to renew our total loyalty to him. We have come to say we are not leaving our party. We are not going with the SSG,” Abdul said.

Channel your energies towards reclaiming your NNPP membership, Kano APC slams Kwankwaso
Meanwhile, Chairman, Kano State chapter of Abdullahi Abass, has hit back at Kwankwaso, urging him to channel his energies towards reclaiming his membership in the NNPP not day dreaming over claims to relegate the APC in the state.

Abass in a statement yesterday, said: “Our teeming supporters in the APC have no cause to worry about Kwankwaso who has been booted out of NNPP due to his cluelessness and self-centeredness. We expect Kwankwaso to keep wondering why he has become a wanderer in the political terrain.

“He ran away from APC because he couldn’t fit into our progressive ideals. His over-bloated ego and domineering posture forced him to abandon the PDP and he has now become a political refugee because the NNPP refused to accommodate him.”

Abass ssured that the APC was already waiting in the wing to not only reclaim Kano State but save the people of the state from the undue influence of Kwankwaso from his Miller Road castle.

Kwankwaso: APC will struggle to get 15,000 votes in Kano

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