Politics

NNPP, alternative to APC, PDP — kwakwanso

Published

11 months ago

April 7, 2024

Former presidential candidate and national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwakwanso, has described his party as the alternative party to bring a breath of fresh air to the citizens, especially to Nigeria as a country.

The former Kano State governor made the remarks at the party’s national convention, which was held at the A-Class Event Centre, Maitama, Abuja, on Saturday.

The convention, attended by members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), chairmen of the 36 states and FCT, and federal and state lawmakers, affirmed the appointment of the party’s national executives led by Ajuji Ahmed as the acting national chairman, ratified the constitution of the party, the party’s slogan, and the logo.

Kwakwanso described the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as birds of the same feather who, through their unpopular and inhumane policies, have brought untold hardship to Nigerians. He said that while the PDP is a failed party, the APC is already a failing party.

He affirmed that the NNPP remains the fastest-growing party in Nigeria that understands the importance of education to tackle poverty as well as securing the lives and property of Nigerians, with the aim of ensuring a united, stronger, more peaceful, and more prosperous Nigeria for all.

“We are all aware that PDP has completely failed. Many of us decided in 2014 and 2015 to bring in some positive changes. Unfortunately, we have seen what happened from 2015 to date. This is the same APC government.

Therefore, as far as we are concerned, we have a failing party, which is the APC. We believe that this country requires an alternative to the APC and, of course, the PDP, which is the only party, in my opinion, and based on facts, because the NNPP today is the fastest-growing party in this country.

“And I also believe that even beyond this country, that is the only hope as we stand today. In many parts of this country, especially in northern Nigeria, particularly in my own part of the north, so many people have been chased out of their homes, and so many have been killed.

Some are in the bushes now, in the forest, under the care of bandits and other criminals. And it looks like many people don’t care. It is even becoming a normal thing to go and pick people up in their homes, on the roads, in the markets, and so on.

I believe it is only in this country that this sort of nonsense is happening. And it is the responsibility of every government—a responsible government—to ensure the peace of its people.

“I personally believe, as a former minister of defence in this country, as a former chief security officer of Kano State for eight years, and so on and so forth, that we have adequate resources, we have enough manpower, and we have all that it takes to protect Nigerians from peace in this country today.

So it’s an opportunity for me to ensure that we bring on board a united, stronger, more peaceful, and more prosperous Nigeria for all of us. Let me say that this party will continue to unite. Its members will continue to be fair and just to all of us.

All our members will continue to have an internal democracy within the party so that everybody is given an opportunity to attain his or her position.

“Let me also, at this point, thank all of you for selecting me to be the national leader of our party. I’m so proud. I’m so happy. And I want to assure you that I will do whatever it takes to ensure that this party grows from strength to strength,” Kwakwanso said.

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, while thanking those who stood by the party during the campaign periods and litigation, said the NNPP is the third largest party in Nigeria, with about 21 federal legislators, almost 30 state legislators, one executive governor, and one deputy governor.

“We want to thank those who supported us in different ways during our campaigns and throughout the litigation period. We thank God Almighty that in the end, justice prevailed and the will, wishes, and aspirations of the people as expressed in the ballot eventually carried the day. I want to thank and congratulate all the party faithful and volunteers for their commitment and the success of our party.

“Today, let me say that our party is the third largest party in Nigeria, with about 21 federal legislators, almost 30 state legislators, one executive governor, and one deputy governor. This, I must say, was made possible because of all of you.

Because of your support and understanding, the members who have given their all to ensure that our party, which was unknown to the majority of Nigerians, has become the darling and the party to watch because of the quality of people that congregate in its vault. Our party is the fastest-growing political party in this country.

“Let me, at this juncture, pay special tribute, of course, to our national leader, His Excellency Distinguished Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwakwanso, who provided the compass to guide our navigation and our eventual successes. We therefore thank him purposefully for his quality leadership and selfless guidance.

We pray fervently to Allah to increase his health, wisdom, and longevity. Distinguished delegates, in spite of over eight months of litigation that was deliberately inflicted on us to undermine the smooth running of government in Kano State, we are able to make some appreciable achievements in fulfilling our campaign promises.”

Politics

Ex-Delta Reps member Ossai dumps PDP for APC

Published

2 days ago

February 23, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A former member of the House of Representatives from Delta State, Hon. Dr. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, has dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ossai, who represented the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency of Delta State for three consecutive terms from 2011 to 2023, cited the need to align with a party he believes is better positioned to serve his constituents, Delta State, and Nigeria as a whole.

During his tenure in the National Assembly, Ossai held key leadership positions, including Chairman of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges in the 8th Assembly and Chairman of the House Committee on Treaties, Protocols, and Agreements in the 9th Assembly.

However, his political career faced a major setback when he was blocked from securing a return ticket in the 2022 PDP primary elections—an outcome he attributes to internal party politics allegedly driven by former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and other influential stakeholders.

In his resignation statement, Ossai expressed deep dissatisfaction with the direction of the PDP, describing it as “rudderless, cantankerous, envious, and lacking vision.”

He stated: “After deep reflection and wide consultations with my family, political leaders, supporters, and associates, I have decided to resign from the PDP and heed the patriotic call to join the largest progressive family in Africa, the APC.”

Ossai emphasised that his move was driven by a commitment to good governance and national development.

Politics

Wike excited as Orbih is re-elected PDP S/South Chairman

Published

2 days ago

February 22, 2025

Naijablitznews

The re-elected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-South Zonal Vice Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, has described the ongoing crisis within the party as self-inflicted.

He noted that the party’s constitution had been disregarded in favour of personal interests by a few members.

Speaking at the South-South Zonal Congress of the PDP in Calabar on Saturday, Orbih urged party faithful to make the necessary sacrifices to revive and strengthen the party.

He called for the election of officers who would uphold the party’s constitution in the zone, emphasising that such individuals must also have the fear of God.

Orbih said: “We must follow the party’s guidelines if we are to revive it. These guidelines are subject to the constitution.

“The power to elect new officers of the party is not subject to anything but the constitution.

“We must start rebuilding the party from here. The party cannot dictate who an individual should associate with, nor determine their friends or enemies.”

Similarly, Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, noted that, by all indications, the party remained strong in the zone.

He commended Orbih and his re-elected executive members for maintaining the party’s stability in spite of its challenges.

He, however, urged the party’s leadership to speak truth to power if it truly sought to regain its lost glory.

Wike added that the zonal congress held in Calabar would be the last to elect the Zonal Working Committee.

“Presently, we have leaders who can’t speak the truth and are full of betrayal.

“No part of the constitution says that congress should not be held when some persons are indisposed. No any other congress will hold after this.

“This is our job. This is our terrain. We are not new to this. The constitution didn’t say national working commitee shall conduct the zonal congress.

“This is the final congress in the South South. We don’t need quantity but quality,” he said.

In his address, former Governor of Cross River, Mr Donald Duke, urged PDP members in the zone to remain focused and fully committed to the party.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Orbih and all the immediate past zonal officers, who were elected four years ago in Port Harcourt, were re-elected during the congress in Calabar.

They were all returned unopposed, but an election was conducted to reaffirm their positions.

The zonal executive consists of 10 members, in addition to six ex-officio members.

The congress was attended by former governors, former and serving members of the National Assembly, among others.

GWG.ng however, reports that the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said the outcome of the Calabar purported congress was null and void.

Ologunagba said that the party NWC’s attention was drawn to a reported social gathering in Calabar, Cross River where the organisers falsely claimed same to be the PDP South South zonal congress .

He recalled that the NWC at its meeting on Thursday, in exercise of its powers under Section 29 (2)(b), pursuant to Section 31 (2) (c) and (j) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) postponed the conduct of the South South zonal congress from the earlier scheduled date of Feb. 22.

Ologunagba said that the postponement was to allow for further consultation on critical issues relating to the smooth conduct of the congress in the Zone.

He had earlier been tackled by Orbih who claimed that the NWC of which he is a member never met to give directives on the zonal congress.

Politics

THREAT! FG tells Gov Adeleke to stop LG poll

Published

4 days ago

February 21, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has cautioned Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, against proceeding with a fresh local government election, describing the move as unconstitutional and legally untenable.

Fagbemi, in a statement on Thursday, emphasised the legal implications of the recent Court of Appeal judgment delivered on February 10, 2025, which returned the initially sacked local government officials.

The appellate court overturned an earlier Federal High Court ruling that had nullified the election of local government officials under former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, declaring the suit incompetent and striking it out.

By implication, the ruling restored the previously removed elected officials to their offices.

The AGF while expressing concern over Adeleke’s insistence on conducting new local government elections on February 22, 2025, argued that the reinstated officials’ tenure remains valid until October 2025, rendering any attempt to replace them a direct violation of the Nigerian Constitution.

Fagbemi criticized the governor’s handling of the situation, urging him to uphold law and order rather than escalate the crisis.

Referencing a recent Supreme Court decision affirming local government autonomy, Fagbemi warned that any fresh election under the current circumstances would be invalid and urged the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to halt its plans.

“The constitutional order that existed before the dissolution must be restored immediately since the judgment upon which the governor acted has been declared a nullity,” Fagbemi stated, emphasizing that the Court of Appeal’s decision is superior and legally binding.

He called on Adeleke to respect the rule of law, stressing that political disagreements should not lead to unnecessary conflict.

The AGF also expressed his readiness to engage with the Osun State government in dialogue to ensure a peaceful resolution to the crisis.