Politics

APC Leaders In Ondo Allege Plans To Disrupt Primary Election

Published

11 months ago

April 8, 2024

Ahead of the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), some leaders of the party in the state, said they have uncovered plans by some elements within the party to disrupt the shadow election of APC slated for April 20.

The leaders, led by Adewale Ibraheem, who raised the alarm, also expressed apprehension that the APC governorship primary scheduled to pick its candidate may be threatened and eventually aborted by thugs recruited by some elements.

According to the leaders, who disclosed that about 50 thugs have been recruited and deployed to each local government areas in the statel to scuttle the primary election.

Ibraheem specifically alleged the Red Beret supporters, who are the foot soldiers of governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, of planning to disrupt the APC primary election.

He said “It has come to our notice through a credible source in the camp of Aiyedatiwa Supporters that plans have been perfected by Aiyedatiwa’s political foot soldiers to scuttle the APC primary, baring any last minute counter moves.

“A meeting was held in Akure, and it was coordinated by a senior cabinet member in Akure. At the meeting, it was approved that anywhere in all the 18 local government areas of the state where the incumbent is unpopular and may lose election, the election in such place must be disrupted and the election must never be allowed to stand.

“Fund shall be provided to recruit 50 thugs in each of the 18 local governments, to forment trouble on 20th April 2024, and discredit the APC primary.”

“It is evident that Aiyedatiwa is losing out, and he wants to drag everybody down, including the APC in Ondo State.”

“His support base is weak, and the strategists to his aspiration are of the opinion that the power of incumbency be used to waste the fortunes of the APC in Ondo State,”

But in his reaction, the State Director of Information, Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organization-FSIC, Kayode Fasua, lambasted the group for sponsoring falsehood against Aiyedatiwa, saying it’s an attempt to give the governor a bad name so as to hang him.

Fasua who described the allegation as baseless and false, admitted that the group held a meeting but said “the meeting under reference was an Akure meeting held by APC members in the locality, to appraise the performance of the campaign efforts within the local government, thence far. Nothing more”

He however, stated that “desperadoes within the APC should readdress themselves and give vent to party rules and regulations, by stopping mudslinging Mr. Governor in the belief that he is a simple man, and can’t do anything.

“Party members bandying this cooked-up story are the enemies of the party. The death of former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) in December last year unsettled everyone.

“Yes, Aiyedatiwa is contesting the party’s next governorship ticket, but the enormous task before him does not give room for the conjecture of raising thugs or anything of the stuff. He is a busy man; one who closes work at 1:am and resumes 8:am”

It will be recalled that the national leadership of the APC has decided to conduct direct primary to elect the flag bearer of the party in the November gubernatorial election.

No fewer than 16 aspirants of the party, including the incumbent governor, Lucky, Aiyedatiwa, Wale Akinterinwa, Jimoh Ibrahim, Olusola Oke, and Isaac Kekemeike, have obtained the expression of interest and nomination forms, and they are to be screened soon.

The incumbent governor, who had wanted the procedural right of first refusal to be applied in his favour, will have to contend with 15 others for the APC ticket

As the clock clicks towards the deal-day, opinions are rife that Aiyedatiwa’s getting the ticket is as difficult as the horse passing through the eye of a needle, because of the issues relating to his WAEC certificate and relationship with his formal boss, Akeredolu.

It will also be recalled that the red cap beret adopted by Aiyedatiwa’s supporters was earlier described by concerned members of the APC as an insignia of a confrontational movement.

There have also been accusations of alleged sponsored attacks on people supporting other aspirants and their billboards by thugs loyal to Aiyedatiwa.

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.