Politics
Former Governor declares interest in PDP national chair position
Gabriel Suswam, former governor of Benue state, has declared his intention to run for the office of the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a statement issued by Bede Bartholomew, media aide to Suswam, the former governor expressed his desire to vie for the position during an expanded caucus meeting of the party, held at his residence in Katsina-Ala, Benue state, over the weekend.
He said Suswam is seeking to complete the tenure of Iyorchia Ayu, the suspended national chairman of the party.
“The meeting which was convened by the Zonal Vice Chairman Hon. Azua Ashongo, had about all stakeholders in attendance including the former governor of Benue State, HE. Sen. Gabriel Suswam, who announced his interest in the position of the national championship which by the law of the party is still domiciled in North Central and Benue in particular,” the statement reads.
Bartholomew said those who attended the meeting included Titus Uba, Benue PDP governorship candidate in the 2023 election; Margaret Icheen, member of the PDP board of trustees (BoT); and Maurice Tsav, north-central secretary of the party.
Suswam served as a member of the house of representatives from 1999 to 2007.
He was elected governor of Benue in 2007 and reelected in 2011.
In 2019, he was elected to represent the Benue north-east senatorial district in the senate.
Ayu was elected as the national chairman of the PDP in October 2021 to serve a term of four years.
According to section 47 (1) of the party’s constitution, each elected officer of the party “shall hold office for a term of four years and shall be eligible for reelection for another term and no more”.
Ayu was suspended from office in March 2023, after the executive members of Igyorov ward, Gboko LGA of Benue, passed a vote of no confidence on him over alleged anti-party activities.
The LGA executives claimed that Ayu worked against the success of the PDP in his ward during the 2023 elections.
They also alleged that he was not paying his membership dues and did not vote in the March 18 governorship and house of assembly elections in the state.
Ayu’s suspension was upheld by the court. He was stopped from parading himself as the party’s national chairman.
The party subsequently named Iliya Damagum as the acting national chairman.
Ayu was suspended after he declined calls by some members of the party to resign, following the presidential primary of the party in 2022.
Crisis broke out in the main opposition party after Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the party at the time, picked Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate for the 2023 election, overlooking Nyesom Wike who was recommended by a panel comprising national working committee (NWC) members and governors.
Wike polled second to Abubakar in the PDP presidential primary election in May 2022, after the last-minute withdrawal of Aminu Tambuwal, who asked his supporters to back the former vice-president.
A day after the primary election, Ayu openly celebrated Abubakar’s victory, describing Tambuwal as “the hero of the convention”.
Politics
Ihedioha’s Ex-CoS, Others Dump PDP For APC
A former Chief of Staff to ex-governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State, Chris Okewulonu, alongside Ihedioha’s former deputy governorship candidate, Chuma Nnaji, have defected to the All Progressives Congress.
The duo, alongside their supporters, defected on Friday.
At the APC secretariat in Owerri, the state capital, Okewulonu addressed party members.
He said “You will recall that a few months ago, I tendered my resignations, both as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, and as a member of its Board of Trustees,” Okewulonu stated.
“My decision to leave that party was taken after deep introspection, coupled with lengthy consultations with members of my family, my political colleagues, and my well-wishers.
“My decision was equally rooted in my conviction that the qualities which formed the essence of the PDP as a political party, and which ab initio informed my attraction to it, had been continuously eroded, totally degraded, and finally and irretrievably lost,” he said.
Okewulonu explained that his break from political activity allowed him to observe Imo’s political landscape critically.
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“In the light of the protracted disagreements and schisms in both of the parties which should, and were actually looked upon to constitute the frontline opposition parties in Nigeria, I found myself questioning whether, as a veritable statesman in the polity of Imo State and even Nigeria at large, I could afford to continue paying lip service to being a member of an ineffective, nearly non-existent opposition, whereas I could position myself to actively contribute towards improving the lives of my people,” he added.
He acknowledged Governor Hope Uzodimma’s leadership and his achievements.
“Five years down the road, I have come to the inescapable conviction that the 3R administration of Senator Hope Uzodimma has meant well for the people of Imo State, and has been doing its utmost to effectively and efficiently deliver the dividends of good governance to them.
“The humongous roads and other infrastructural interventions, and the human capacity building initiatives undertaken by the Senator Hope Uzodimma administration are eloquent testimonials to my belief and assertion,” Okewulonu said.
Uzodimma welcomed the defectors, emphasising the significance of their decision.
“APC was seen as a foreign party because of the unfortunate outing in the past. We became victims of mistaken identity. Today, the only party that meant well for Imo citizens is APC,” Uzodimma said.
He described the defection as a testament to APC’s growing influence in the state.
“Genuine members of the political class who want Imo to move forward are joining the winning party. The real state owners are coming back to the party. If we don’t solve the problem of our people, history will not forgive us,” the governor added.
Uzodimma praised Okewulonu and Nnaji’s decision to join APC, likening the development to recruiting elite players in sports.
“Conscience is an open wound that only truth can heal. I thank Okewulonu and Chuma Nnaji for joining our party. We have the Ronaldos and Lionel Messis in our party now,” he remarked.
Politics
Ganduje declares Tony Okocha APC leader in Rivers
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, has affirmed that Chief Tony Okocha is the leader of the party in Rivers State.
According to Ganduje, the executive committee headed by Okocha, an ally of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, minister, Nyesom Wike, is the Rivers State APC leadership structure recognized by the national secretariat of the party.
Ganduje made this declaration on Saturday in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of the newly elected state executive committee of the party.
The APC national chairman congratulated the newly elected members and explained the party’s decision to hold the inauguration in Rivers State instead of at the APC National Headquarters in Abuja.
Ganduje said, “I’d like to congratulate the newly elected members of our state executive.
“Traditionally in APC the inauguration of a state chapter is usually done at the state headquarters of the APC in Abuja.
“But as part of the change that we are introducing, we decided to inaugurate these elected executive members here in Rivers so that our party is rooted to the grassroots; so that there is no dichotomy between the national executive and the state exco.
“We are all working together and we don’t feel reluctant even to go to the ward level and undertake our function that is for APC.
He emphasized that the move signifies the party’s effort to strengthen ties between the national and state leadership, ensuring there is no division between the two structures.
Ganduje charged the state executive committee to prioritize internal democracy, highlighting it as a cornerstone of their responsibilities.
He also underscored the importance of fostering unity and inclusiveness within the party at the state level.
Ganduje added, “Therefore the state is our constituency. We need to embrace the state. We need to be in contact with the state. We need to be in harmony with the state.
“We need to synergise with the state and we need to be in love with the state. That is why we are here.
“As members and leaders of our party in the state, you know your basic responsibilities, your functions as spelt out by the constitution of our great party.
“You have to ensure that there is internal democracy. You’re to ensure that you look for new entrants into the party and look for members into the party.
“Use your political dexterity to ensure that our party moves forward. Strengthen the party in your constituencies. It is absolutely necessary. It is your responsibility to ensure that there is peace and you must ensure an effective conflict resolution mechanism. As leaders of the party, I believe you are equal to the task.”
Commenting on APC’s performance in the South-South geopolitical zone, traditionally dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ganduje noted that the APC has made significant progress, citing its control of Cross River and Edo states.
He further stated that Rivers State is the party’s next strategic target as it continues its expansion efforts in the region.
“You are from the South-South geo-political zone where the zone was dominated by the PDP.
“But you are fully aware that during the Buhari administration, we were able to take one state, Cross River, from the PDP.
“And in present President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration, we were able to win squarely in Edo State. Out of six states in the zone, we have recovered two.
“Rivers State is our target. Rivers, we are here for you. Rivers, you are on the way.”
Politics
Ganduje boasts, says we’re ready to capture Rivers State in 2027
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has boasted that the party’s target is to wrestle Rivers state from the grip of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) come 2027.
Ganduje made this known in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of the state working committee on Saturday. He was accompanied by top officials of the party who expressed their support for the new Exco in the state.
In his address, the party’s national South-South vice chairman, Victor Giadom, said the party is gearing up to take over the state.
This inauguration was held despite question marks around the legality of the process.
The national legal adviser administers the oath of office to the Exco.
In his vote of thanks, the leader of the Exco praises his team, saying they’ve done well,
For the national chairman, however, the aim is to bring Rivers into the fold and increase APC’s states in the zone to three.
Though the party’s NWC recognizes the Tony Okocha-led Exco, there is a court judgement recognizing Emeka Beke as the party’s chairman in the state which is yet to be vacated and it’s still unclear how that will affect the party going into 2025.
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