Politics

Ogun PDP congress: Court warns against undermining its integrity

Published

3 weeks ago

September 28, 2024

Ahead of today’s State Congress of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta this Friday warned the party against undermining the integrity of the judicial process.

Delivering a ruling in Suit No. FHC/AB/CS/134/2024 between Chief Folorunsho Iseoluwa Akande and Ors. v. PDP and Ors., the Hon. Justice Abiodun Adeyemi said, “On the issue of preserving the RES which is the major fear of the Plaintiffs, the RES in this matter is not perishable like food, nor is it irreparable like pulling down a building.

The subject matter relates to party Congress and the recognition of members in compliance with certain laws. I am fully aware of the powers vested in the Court to set aside any act done outside the provisions of the law. I believe the Court shouldn’t make any positive orders until the issue of Jurisdiction is settled.

“Consequently, I admonish parties to take note of the fact that this Court is now fully seized of this matter and to refrain from taking any steps that will disturb the RES or undermine the integrity of the judicial process…”

This ruling came on the heels of the dispute that has dogged the Ward and Local Government Congresses held on the 31st August 2024 and 14th September 2024 – in the build-up to the state congress.

The party held parallel ward and local government congresses across the 236 wards and 20 local government areas.

In Ogun State, there are two major factions. The one led by the 2023 governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, and the coalition led by the trio of a former PDP governorship aspirant, Otunba Jimi Adebisi Lawal (JAL); the 2023 deputy governorship candidate, Hon. Abdulkadir Adekunle Akinlade and the immediate past State Chairman, Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele.

It was gathered that in all the wards and LGAs, two sets of executives emerged for the 17 ward Exco positions in all 236 wards and the 18 available Exco positions in each of the 20 local government areas

The foundation for the parallel congress was said to have been laid by the alleged refusal to make use of the registers authenticated by the national leadership of the party for the Ward Congress which is in favour of the Lawal-led group.

Politics

PDP Govs Broker Truce, Instruct All Members to Revert to Status Quo

Published

23 hours ago

October 16, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum has instructed all feuding members within the party to return to the status quo.

The directive was issued by the forum’s chairman, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, following a meeting of PDP governors that extended into the early hours of Tuesday.

Governor Mohammed clarified that while disagreements are inevitable in any political party, such issues can always be resolved amicably.

“There is no crisis,” he said, emphasizing that the party’s various groups, including the Governors, Board of Trustees (BoT), and National Assembly caucus, have reached a consensus for the National Working Committee (NWC) to restore the status quo.

Mohammed added that all suspensions within the party have been nullified, signaling an effort to maintain unity within the PDP.

Further details on the outcomes of the meeting are expected later.

Politics

PDP Crisis: Damagun’s Faction Demands Arrest of Factional Acting Chair, Others

Published

23 hours ago

October 16, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Umar Damagum is calling for the arrest of Yayari Mohammed for impersonation and breaching a court order.

This demand follows a recent ruling from an Abuja Federal High Court that barred the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) from removing Damagum as the party’s Acting National Chairman.

Acting National Publicity Secretary Abdullahi Manga expressed this stance during a press conference in Abuja, emphasizing that Mohammed’s actions contravene the court’s directive.

“The security agencies should act against Mohammed and others for impersonation and violation of court order,” he stated, asserting that there are no alternatives left but to involve law enforcement to uphold the rule of law.

Manga clarified that the court order was issued prior to Damagum’s suspension, asserting, “The court order came before the supposed suspension. We were all here when the suspension came, and that was far after the court order.”

Politics

Edo 2024: We’ll reclaim our stolen mandate –PDP

Published

24 hours ago

October 16, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, has expressed confidence in reclaiming what he described as the party’s “stolen mandate” from the September 21 governorship election.

During a press briefing in Benin City, Aziegbemi revealed that the PDP has successfully filed a petition before the Edo State Election Tribunal to challenge the results, which he labeled as electoral robbery.

Aziegbemi also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to stall the court-ordered inspection of election materials at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office, asserting that the PDP had outmaneuvered the APC’s alleged ploys. “We have begun the journey to reclaim the people’s mandate… The tribunal will give us our mandate based on overwhelming evidence,” he stated.

Further, Aziegbemi criticized the APC for disrupting processes at INEC, questioning why they would oppose transparency if they truly won. “If you won, why fight hard to stop the other person from inspecting the process?” he added.

As the PDP continues to gather evidence for the tribunal, Aziegbemi warned of further political arrests aimed at undermining their efforts but assured weekly updates to keep the public informed.