Nigeria: Leading opposition party, PDP, rejects election results
Declaration of Saturday presidential and national assembly election results are underway in Abuja.
Although the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is showing some strength in the declared states and the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), the party has rejected the results, saying they do not tally with the results they already collated.
On Sunday, PDP presidential candidate and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar said he was leading the polls.
The National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, in a press briefing currently ongoing said the results being announced by INEC are inflated in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. According to Secondus, the results have fraught with “irregularities” and therefore, “incorrect and unacceptable.” According to him, “Our collation centres have the original results from all the polling units in the country. That is from where are going to reclaim our results,” he said. “The results are incorrect and unacceptable to our party. Officials of the APC working with INEC have decided to alter results to affect our people. This must now be resisted by every well-meaning Nigerian. “INEC must live up to its responsibility. They are under pressure. We have the facts and when the time comes, we begin to release them.”
PDP Governor of Taraba State, Darius Dickson Ishaku
Nigeria: PDP alleges plans by APC to derail elections in Taraba, other states
Main opposition party in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) is working to instigate violence in PDP strongholds in order to derail imminent election in such states as Taraba.
In a text of a press conference release to the media on Saturday by the PDP Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said of particularly reference are the activities of APC’s governorship candidate in Taraba state, Sani Abubakar Danladi, who has now resorted to violence having realized that there is absolutely no hope for him and his party in the March 2, 2019 governorship election.
“Gentlemen of the press, we have called you to alert the nation of the atrocious plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to unleash mayhem and get elections stalemated and postponed in some strategic states of the federation.
Of particularly reference are the activities of APC’s governorship candidate in Taraba state, Sani Abubakar Danladi, who has now resorted to violence having realized that there is absolutely no hope for him and his party in the March 2, 2019 governorship election.
It is an incontrovertible fact, known to all, that Taraba state is a long established stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that Governor Darius Ishaku has the undiluted backing of overwhelming majority of the electorate across the state, due to his sterling performance in office”, the party said.
The PDP added: “Being exasperated and frustrated by the popularity of the PDP and Gov. Ishaku, the APC, which is stuck with the most unpopular candidate in the election, is bent at triggering confusion and bloodletting so as to ambush and truncate the electoral process in the state, not minding the human and material damage such portends.
The PDP has full information of how the APC is working with enemies of Taraba state to inject confusion and escalate insecurity in the state so that the governorship election will be deferred to enable the federal authorities and security agencies have the opportunity to perpetrate the type of massive rigging that took place in Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections in 2018 and award victory to the APC.
The APC Governorship candidate, who is also personally well reputed for acts that contravene free and fair elections, has been boasting that he has the backing of the Federal Government and some godfathers in Abuja, who have no stake in the peace, unity and development of Taraba state in this ignoble project.
On Thursday January 17, 2019, the APC, hiding under the guise of campaign unleashed mayhem on Wukari, a major town in Taraba state. Right from Gindin Dorowa, about 40 kilometers to Wukari City, thugs recruited by the APC governorship candidate, went on shooting spree, destroying PDP billboards all the way to Wukari.
From the Wukari Yam market, APC thugs continued shooting their way into the town as if they were on a mission to conquer the town, while destroying PDP campaign materials including billboards, posters.
The shooting and unbridling of mayhem continued until they arrived to the city center and close to the Aku Uka Palace where another political party was also holding a rally, just as they did in Karim on December 26, 2018 during which they prevented the PDP senatorial and House of Representatives candidates from campaigning.
It is important to note that pandemonium broke out when, in the course of the shooting in Wukari, a member of the PDP was killed. At this point a crowd in sympathy to the victim rushed to the scene; panic took over, a vehicle carrying some APC thugs tried to beat a retreat and in the process crashed into another vehicle and caught fire. Other vehicles, which wanted to rush out of the scene got trapped and were torched from the fire spreading from the already burning vehicle.
We invite Nigerians to note that the grand plan by Sani Danladi and the APC is to cause confusion during the campaigns since they have no chance of winning the March 2, election.
This is the reason APC governorship candidate in Taraba state, Sani Danladi has not signed the peace accord, which was initiated by the Taraba state police command and the INEC to ensure peaceful campaigns and election.
It is instructive to note that the APC in Taraba state has always been known with political thuggery, for which even other governorship aspirants in the APC had openly accused the party.
The PDP wants the APC, its governorship candidate in Taraba state, Sani Danladi and their godfathers in Abuja, to note that the people of Taraba state will not surrender their freedom and rights to the APC.
Let it be stressed that Taraba state as a stronghold of the PDP will never, in any way whatsoever, succumb to the machination of the APC as the people are ready and fully alert to confront and resist the APC and its candidate, with all the means and energy necessary and available in the defence of their mandate which they have freely given to the PDP.
The PDP insists that the governorship election in Taraba and indeed all states of the Federation scheduled for March 2, 2019 will hold on the fixed date. In the same vein, the PDP and the people of Taraba state will never accept any result that does not reflect the reality already expressed by the people.
The PDP therefore urges the National Peace Committee to note the infractions by the APC in Taraba state and speak out in the interest of peace, particularly given the security situation in the North East, especially now that Nigerians know who to hold responsible, should there be a break down of law and order in the state.
Finally, the PDP charges President Buhari and the APC leadership to counsel their governorship candidate in Taraba state, as well as rein-in their thugs, as there is no way they can have their way in Taraba state. Any move to undermine the resolve of the people, might come with very dire consequences”, said PDP.
Ahead of Saturday’s House of Representatives bye-election in Irepodun-Isin-Oke-Ero-Ekiti Federal Constituency of Kwara state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it bust agents of the Buhari Presidency as they smuggle in sacks of Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) sensitive materials to the All Progressives Congress (APC), in their on-going plot to rig the election.
“Agents of the Presidency and those of INEC were caught in a Police helicopter, which landed at St. Paul’s Primary School, Omu Aran, as they deliver bags of INEC’s sensitive materials into a vehicle belonging to APC’s candidate, Abdulraheen Tunji Ajuloopin.
The PDP has full details of the INEC agents and our members are monitoring the movement of the materials in this provocative act”, the PDP said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan on Wednesday.
The PDP charged INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to immediately give account of all the sensitive materials for the election as the people of Kwara state insist on the release of all materials only in the full glare of stakeholders.
The party said this act already, has triggered tension in the area and we invite all Nigerians to hold INEC, the police, the Buhari Presidency and APC responsible, should there be any breakdown of law and order in the area before, during and after the election.
PDP Primaries has produced Atiku Abubakar as PDP presidential flag bearer in 2019
Nigeria 2019: PDP successful primaries send jitters to ruling party
What is never expected happened in the Port Harcourt venue of the Presidential primaries of the Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The party had a peaceful national convention which produced former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the PDP flag-bearer in the coming presidential election February 2019.
Atiku has contested to fly a party’s flag since 2003, a desire which has sent him on some political journey with serious political wilderness experience.
Speculations were rife that the PDP may not be able to manage the huge presidential aspirants who are eminently qualified to fly the flag. 12 presidential aspirants including Atiku contested for the ticket which Atku won overwhelmingly.
The ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) is not quick to make any remarks about the candidate of the PDP for the election or prick any hole in the process which produced Atiku.
The former vice president scored 1,532 votes, more than double that scored by his closest challenger, Aminu Tambuwal, who had 693 votes. Senate President Bukola Saraki came third with 317 votes.
Speaking on behalf of the other aspirants, Mr Saraki, at the venue of the convention, pledged to support Atiku
“You truly deserve this,” he told Mr Abubabakr.
“On behalf of al of us, we congratulate you.”
Earlier Mr Abubakar had thanked his co-contestants and pledged to call on them in his efforts to help the party win the 2019 presidential election.
In response to that, Mr Saraki said “even if you don’t call us, we are here to work with you.”
The senate president took a jibe at “doubting Thomases” who suggested that the convention would lead to some of the presidential aspirants walking away from the party.
“We are all here,” he said. “We are only working with you (Mr Abubakar) to victory.”
Osun re-run: PDP going to court, candidate will participate in election, says PDP Scribe
While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (as a political party) will contest the outcome of Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Osun State, PDP’s candidate in the election, Ademola Adeleke will contest in the re-scheduled election which will take place on Thursday.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, confirmed to Discover Africa News on Tuesday that “PDP is going to court but the candidate will participate in the election. This is the position of the PDP National leadership”.
This clears some speculations about the PDP position about the Thursday election where its candidate won the majority votes.
The PDP declared it would seek legal redress following Sunday’s declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the Osun State governorship election was inconclusive.
The party has maintained that its candidate, Ademola Adeleke, defeated his All Progressives Congress (APC) rival, Gboyega Oyetola.
“Our electoral law is clear that once an election result is declared, INEC is bound to return a winner. INEC, in trying to play the card of the defeated APC, contravened the law by refusing to announce a return, even when the declared results have thrown up a winner,” the party said in a statement released by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.
The PDP added: “Section 69 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) states that inter-alia, in an election to the office of the president or governor whether or not contested and in any contested election to any other elective office, the result shall be ascertained by counting the votes cast for each candidate and subject to the provisions of sections 133, 134 and 179 of the constitution. The candidate that receives the highest number of votes shall be declared elected by the appropriate Returning Officer.
“Concurrently, Section 179 (2) (a) (b) of the constitution directly prescribes that a candidate for an election to the office of governor of a state shall be deemed to have been duly elected where there being two or more candidates – (a) he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and (b) he has not less than one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the local government areas in the state.”
According to the PDP, “INEC’s action in declaring a concluded election as inconclusive is therefore an annulment, totally duplicitous, constitutionally illegal, ultra-vires and as such null and void.”
The party consequently demanded the arrest and prosecution of the election’s Returning Officer, Prof. Joseph Fuwape, for allegedly succumbing to the pressure of the APC and declaring the poll inconclusive.
“We demand that INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu immediately summon the courage to do the needful by declaring our candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, as winner,” the party added.
The PDP’s decision seemed to align with the opinion of some lawyers who argued that INEC should have announced Adeleke as winner.
Buhari N45 million nomination form is a publicity stunt, says PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged the use of a shadowy group as a front to purchase the N45 million All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential nomination form for President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as a worn-out stunt, smacking of fraud and worsening the already battered image of the President.
The party said President Buhari can no longer play the pro-poor gimmick which his followers have always presented to Nigerians.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said already, people are daily confronted by the flaunting of affluence and material wealth by the President and those around him, while betraying and abandoning millions of poor Nigerians who, unfortunately, put their trust in him in 2015.
“Nigerians are aware that the very expensive personal effects, including posh jewelries daily paraded by his close relatives betrayed the gimmick of using an unregistered group, pieced together to execute another failed pro-poor stunt to sway Nigerians.
“Moreover, the PDP urges the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to note that the purchase of the N45 million form by the group directly violates section 91 (9) of the Electoral Act which provides that “no individual or other entity shall donate more than One million naira (#1,000,000) to any candidate.”
Since President Buhari has not publicly disowned the purchase of the form by the group, the PDP charges INEC to, within the next 24 hours, hold him culpable and make him to face the appropriate sanctions for the violation of electoral laws.
Finally, it is unfortunate that President Buhari and his handlers, in their desperation to hang on to power, even when they have been rejected, have reduced themselves to objects of public ridicule with their many bloopers ahead of the 2019 general elections”, it said.
Meanwhile, the party has cautioned the ‘factional’ National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, to rein in his party thugs, who the APC detailed to disrupt activities at the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja.
“The PDP said while it can understand that the APC has been distraught over the renewed surge of Nigerians to the platform of our repositioned party of choice; which signposts our inevitable victory in the 2019 election, the ruling party’s resort to banditry and violent attack on our secretariat is a handshake taken beyond the elbow and will not be tolerated.
The whole world witnessed with dismay, how APC thugs, brandishing their party’s famished brooms and charms; armed with machetes and other dangerous weapons stormed our national secretariat which has become a beehive of activities and attacked and wounded our members and supporters before they were dispelled by security operatives.
The PDP had repeatedly warned against APC’s proclivity for violence and unprovoked attacks, but we never imagined that their desperation for power will drive them to the insanity of attacking our national secretariat.
Intelligence report available to the PDP shows that the thugs were assembled and mobilized from the National Secretariat of the APC.
We therefore charge security agencies, who also witnessed this attack, to immediately investigate this development, arrest and prosecute all individuals and officials of APC connected with the attack.
Moreover, the unleashing of thugs by the APC against our law-abiding party members and supporters, is particularly revealing of those behind some of the violent attacks on innocent Nigerians in various parts of the country.
Finally, while the PDP appreciates the overwhelming support by Nigerian’s across board, our party restates the determination to dismantle all forces of intimidation and rigging machinery of the APC ahead of the 2019 general elections”, the PDP said.
Buhari’s “Vacation”, Ploy to Inflict Impunity On NASS, Impeach Saraki, Ekweremadu—PDP
Nigeria’s opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari’s two-week vacation in London was designed as an alibi to exonerate him from planned political illegalities, forceful invasion and mayhem about to be visited on the polity and particularly, the National Assembly.
In a statement on Thursday, the party said it is aware of plots already perfected in a meeting, on Wednesday night, between the Presidency and some compromised All Progressives Congress (APC) senators, who are now in the minority, to forcefully reconvene the Senate with protection from security agencies, with a view to impeach Senate President Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.
“The PDP knows that the desperation to illegally take control of the National Assembly is part of the design to undermine our democratic institutions and completely foist a dictatorial regime on our nation.
The planned invasion is also a bid to cover the atrocious and humongous corruption of the Buhari administration, which the National Assembly is set to expose”, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said in a statement.
The party added: “The PDP has been reliably informed about how these APC senators, especially members of the Buhari Parliamentary Support Group (BPSG), have been provided with huge sums of money, illegally lifted from repatriated funds, to carry out this nefarious act under the guise of urgent need to approve funds for the 2019 general elections.
It is clear that President Buhari and the APC are hugely terrified and distressed by the gale of defections from their fold and have resorted to underhand methods, threats and intimidation, irrespective of the damage being inflicting on the polity.
Having been demeaned by the widespread condemnation of the recent siege on the residences of the Senate President and Deputy Senate President, in addition to the invasion of the Benue State House of Assembly in a failed attempt to impeach Governor Samuel Ortom and forcefully take over the state, President Buhari is now jetting out of the country so as to appear innocent and oblivious of the political terrors about to be unleashed on the National Assembly.
This is the same leader who, in 2014, applauded the defection of PDP members, including then leaders of the National Assembly, into his APC, describing the movement, then, as “good for democracy”.
Today, his administration is hounding and harassing citizens for daring to defect from his failed party.
Besides, Nigerians will recall that the PDP had earlier alerted of plots by President Buhari to enmesh the 2019 general election in controversy by asking for virement of funds already approved in the 2018 budget for development projects instead of sending a fresh supplementary budget for the election.
If the Presidency means well for Nigeria, it should have sent a supplementary budget and duly write the leadership of the National Assembly instead of plotting to forcefully take over the federal legislature and push our nation into serious constitutional crisis.
Despite their planned alibi, the PDP states that President Buhari must be held responsible for any abuse of power, disregard for rule of law and assault on democratic institutions, even in his absence from the country
Finally, we wish to remind President Buhari and the APC that the PDP is now in incontrovertible majority in the Senate and we are ready and able to protect our democracy with all instruments available in the constitution and parliamentary rulebooks”, it added.
FILE PHOTO: Consequently, the party, PDP, directs that its flags at all its offices and formation at all levels across the country be flown at half-mast during the period in honour of the victims”, the statement read.
Plateau Killings: PDP Declares 7 Days Mourning, flies flags at half-mast
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared seven days of mourning over killings in Nigeria.
In a testament on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said it has directed that flags should fly at half-mast at all PDP offices nationwide. The Nigerian military on Wednesday paraded three suspects in connection with the killing of over 200 persons and arson where more than 50 homes were burnt down.
“National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declares a seven-day mourning for the victims of the gruesome killings of innocent Nigerians by marauders and bandits in Plateau state and other parts of the country
Consequently, the party directs that its flags at all its offices and formation at all levels across the country be flown at half-mast during the period in honour of the victims”, the statement read.
The PDP also urged the people of Plateau state to exercise their rights as global citizens, work with other public-spirited Nigerians and groups and take President Muhammadu Buhari and his government to the International Court of Justice at the Hague for acting helpless in the face of continuous mass killings in our country.
“The PDP firmly holds that the life of every Nigerian is sacred. All Nigerians must be protected whether they are Birom, Basange, Igbira, Tiv, Idoma, Hausa, Igbo, Fulani, Gbagyi, Yoruba or from any other tribe whatsoever.
The fundamental duty of government all over the world is the protection of lives and we can no longer afford to continue to fold our hands while compatriots are daily hacked down by marauders”, the party said.
The PDP believes that Governor Oshiomhole is being officially shielded from investigation by the Buhari Presidency
PDP to Buhari: Prove Your Anti-Corruption Fight With Oshiomhole’s Case
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to prove the sincerity of his fight against corruption by directing the investigation and arraignment of former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole over allegations of corruption.
The party said in a statement by Kola Ologbondiyan Thursday night that Nigerians were stunned to learn that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had to be dragged to court by an Edo state based anti-corruption crusader, Bishop (Dr) Osadolor Ochei, seeking the court to compel EFCC to act on petitions against the former governor and commence his investigation and prosecution.
The PDP believes that Governor Oshiomhole is being officially shielded from investigation by the Buhari Presidency.
The party therefore invites Nigerians to join the call for the investigation and prosecution of the erstwhile governor over the weighty allegations against him.
“PDP condemns the official shielding of Oshiomhole, whom President Buhari had anointed as his preferred National Chairman of the dysfunctional All Progressives Congress (APC), in spite of the public knowledge of the corruption allegations against him.
We challenge the Presidency to come out clear on its involvement in the efforts to protect former Governor Oshiomhole as well as other APC members from prosecution over corruption allegations.
Oshiomhole must be made to provide answers to allegations that he built a sprawling mansion worth more than N10 billion in his hometown as well as allegedly constructing another expensive building said to worth over N500 million along Okoro-otun Avenue in Benin City.
He should answer to allegations by Bishop Ochei that he approved a highly inflated contract and payment, without due process, of N1.88 billion for the construction of hostel rooms at the Edo State University, Iyamho; that he allegedly approved an inflated N1.22 billion contract for the building of the Teaching Hospital in the same institution as well as an alleged diversion of N1.2 billion approved for the construction of a new accident and emergency ward complex and renovation of existing structures in the Central Hospital, Benin City.
The PDP insists that Comrade Oshiomhole must be made to provide answers on the handling of the N25 billion he allegedly borrowed from the Capital Market through issuance of bonds; the alleged inflation of contract sums for various road projects in the state as well as allegations that he acquired properties in United States, South Africa and Dubai worth billions of U.S. dollars”, the party said.
Speaker of the House of Representatives supporting Not too Young to Run
PDP claims ‘Not Too Young To Run’ initiative
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lampooned President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for attempting to parade themselves as the architects of the ‘Not Too Young to Run Act’, which was sponsored and pursued by the PDP members in the National Assembly and State houses of assembly.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan on Thursday, PDP said it is instructive to note that President Buhari had no input whatsoever in the bill; never showed any support or enthusiasm towards the initiative and had no option than to perform a mandatory constitutional duty of assenting to the bill, as a clear reflection of the mood of the nation, given that the bill had already found an easy passage to the crucibles of the required approval of two-third of states in the federation.
“This development is indeed a democratic victory for the Nigerian youths over forces, particularly, the APC, that had hitherto disdained and disregarded them as lazy and inconsequential, but had to succumb to the dictates of the law and pressure by the youths and the PDP.
“The party commends the sponsor of the bill, Hon. Tony Nwulu (PDP, Lagos), other legislators who supported the process and the resilience of the Nigerian youths in getting the initiative through, in line with the vision of the PDP to allow younger Nigerians to actively participate in elective positions in governance at all levels.
In preparation for the passage of the bill, the PDP had since launched our ‘Generation Next Movement’, which has already put younger Nigerians at vantage positions to participate in elective positions ahead of the 2019 general elections.
In line with the ‘Generation Next Movement’, the rebranded PDP among other pro-youth incentives, has since approved certain critical clauses and waivers so that the young people will actively vie for positions in the 2019 general elections.
In line with our dream of providing enabling environment for youths participation in elections and governance, our party, after winning in 2019, will further lower the age qualification to entrench our vision that ‘whoever can vote can be voted for’, which is a global standard.
The PDP therefore urged the Nigerian youths to immediately take advantage of the Generation Next platform and incentives already established by the repositioned party and actively participate in the collective quest to rescue our nation from the misrule of the APC”, the party said.
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