PDP suffers setback as over 1,200 dump party for APC in Edo

What looks like a hurricane swept through Epkeri land at the weekend as over 1, 200 members of the People Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Epkeri is a densely-populated riverine area of 10 communities in Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State.

APC and PDP

The decampees made up of women, youths and erstwhile PDP leaders, tore the umbrella, the party’s symbol into shreds because, according to them, it could no longer provide the desired shelter. They waved the broom, symbol of the APC, to the admiration of the leaders present.

The event was held at the Udaba community square, saw

Leader of the decampees, Sheik Muktar Ilenobe said he was the last oxygen of the PDP in the council, adding that now that he has been disconnected, the party has breathed its last. The Islamic educationist cum legal practitioner said he would ensure the disconnection of what he described as “smaller oxygen” sustaining the PDP across the wards.

Another leader, Chief P.F Abebe, who is also the chairman of the community, said he was coming into the APC with his followers, adding that “now that I have come, nobody is left in the PDP. If you hear PDP again in Udaba, you know it’s fake, no more PDP here. My movement today signifies PDP’s end, this is a party without national, state or local government presence, so why should I continue to be there, I have to leave to give meaningful and genuine leadership to my people”.

A female decampee, Mrs. Felicia Elestso caused emotional stir when she said she joined the APC of her own volition without anyone prompting as her conscience kept pricking her whenever she travelled on the asphalt road built by the APC government, whenever she sees the community lighted, whenever she drinks water from government’s pipes. She said she cannot see light and continue to grope in darkness.

The decampees were received by the lawmaker representing Etsako Central in the House of Assembly, Damian Lawani and the zone two leader, Alhaji Waziri Oshiomha.

According to Lawani, “there was no government presence here (Udaba) until the coming of the APC. The APC government brought light and road that opened up our community.

“We can see, touch and feel the APC in Epkeri land. So, no one will see light and road and continue to wallow in ignorance. Without begging the issue, APC is the party to belong to”.

On his part, Sir Oshiomha assured the decampees that the APC is a party of justice and none of them will be discriminated against.

PDP suffers setback as over 1,200 dump party for APC in Edo

Defection to APC won’t stop prosecution of corrupt politicians –Presidency

The defection of politicians accused of corruption from other political parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress will not stop them from being investigated and prosecuted, the Presidency has said.

Mr. Femi Adesina
| credits: sunnewsonline.com

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said this in an interview with one of our correspondents.

Adesina was asked if defection from PDP to the APC was enough to save those already implicated in the $2.1bn arms scandal from investigation and prosecution.

A former Minister of Sports, Chief Jim Nwobodo, who had been named as one of the beneficiaries of some funds distributed by a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, defected from the PDP to the APC on Friday.

Nwobodo said he was the Chairman of the Contact Committee of the PDP Presidential Campaign for the South-East, and the only fund received by the committee for its work was N100m from PDP’s National Chairman, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu.

Adesina, however, said the present administration’s anti-corruption fight would not be based on party affiliation, adding that the President would not encourage any cover-up.

“It is not in the nature of this administration to cover anyone who has questions to answer on corruption, irrespective of party affiliation,” he said.

The presidential spokesman explained that the release of a former military governor of Kaduna State and a chieftain of the APC, Jafaru Isa, by the EFCC had nothing to do with Isa’s relationship with the President.

Isa, who was quizzed by the commission, was said to have been released after he refunded N100m of the N170m he allegedly received from the embattled Dasuki.

“The EFCC is in a better position to tell you why Jafaru Isa was released. But it definitely has nothing to do with his relationship with the President. If that were the case, then he would not have been picked in the first place,” he said.

Meanwhile, the EFCC on Monday said it had not invited Jonathan for questioning in connection with the arms fund probe because no document had established a link between the former President and the distribution of the fund for other purposes other than arms purchase.

The acting Chairman of the commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, explained that the former President could not be arrested as some had canvassed as no document had been traced to Jonathan, giving any approval for the disbursement of the money for any other purpose than arms procurement.

Magu, who spoke with some online publishers in Lagos, added that those who had been quizzed so far in connection with the fund were people who either collected or redistributed the money for reasons other than the purchase of arms.

“All approvals by former President Jonathan did not mention that it was for political purposes. All the memos approved by him were for the purchase of arms,” Magu added.

Defection to APC won’t stop prosecution of corrupt politicians –Presidency

Anambra Rerun: Ekwunife, PDP candidate, defects to APC

The Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the March 28 general election, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, on Friday defected to the All Progressives Congress to contest the rerun senatorial poll for Anambra Central District.

APC and PDP

Ekwunife who was declared the winner of the March 28 senatorial election in the district by the Independent National Electoral Commission was also affirmed by the Election Petition Tribunal.

But following further petition by her opponent in the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh, Ekwunife’s election was nullified by the Court of Appeal, sitting in Enugu, on December 7, 2015.

The Court ordered for a fresh election in the district within 90 days.

The Court of Appeal Justices, A.D Yahaya, T.O Awotoye and B.G. Sanga, in their unanimous judgement of December 7, 2015 said, “So, whether it was the National body of PDP in Anambra State, the five man National Assembly electoral committee, or the care-taker committee that conducted the primary which produced the 11th respondent (Ekwunife) as the nominated candidate of the PDP to contest the election, it is immaterial.

“Since by paragraph 25 (1) of exhibit R1, it is the state special congress that should conduct the primary for the purpose of nominating a candidate to contest election into the National Assembly. The 11th respondent (Ekwunife) was therefore not the product of a valid primary and was therefore not duly and legitimately nominated. That has disqualified her from contesting the election into the Anambra Central Senatorial district.”

But speaking with our correspondent on the telephone on Friday, Ekwunife said,” It’s better now for me to join the APC. Let the heat be there. I’m already on campaigns for my return to the senate, to complete my contract with the people of Anambra Central Senatorial District.”

Anambra Rerun: Ekwunife, PDP candidate, defects to APC

Former PDP Spokesman, Ikem, Jedy-Agba Defect to APC

The ranks of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State has continued to deplete  as a former National Publicity Secretary of the party , Mr. Venatius Ikem, and a former governorship aspirant, Godwin  Jedy-Agba, have decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

APC and PDP

Ikem and Agba and thousands of their supporters decamped to the APC last Wednesday evening at a colourful ceremony in Obudu, about 400 kilometres from Calabar, the state capital.

Both politicians were received by the Chairman of the Central senatorial district of the APC, Hon. Cletus Obun, and the Obudu chapter Chairman of the party, Mr. Mathias Ugbelishor, at the function that was held at the Liyel Imoke Civic Centre.

The duo left the PDP about one week after the third republic Governor of the state, Mr. Clement Ebri, joined the APC.

Addressing his new party faithful, Jedy-Agba said the joined the party so as to contribute their quota to building the party and the state.

He promised to give in his best towards ensuring success for the APC in future elections.

On his part, Ekim said his spirit had long left the PDP because of the culture of impunity that crept into, it especially in recent year.

Ikem said though it took a while for him to formally declare his membership of the APC, he was waiting for the appropriate time to do so.

In a related development, a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Paul Adah, who represented Obudu/Obanliku federal constituency was alleged to have decamp to the APC.

THISDAY gathered that barring any last minute changes, the federal lawmaker who was in the National Assembly from 2003 to 2011 would decamp at a ceremony billed for Obudu on December 29 this year.

Former PDP Spokesman, Ikem, Jedy-Agba Defect to APC

1000 APC members decamp to PDP in Bayelsa

Barely 36 days to the governorship election in Bayelsa State, no fewer than 1,000 members of the All Progressives Congress in the state have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party.

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson

The defecting members, comprising 800 delegates at the APC governorship primary election held on August 22 and August 29 declared for the PDP at a ceremony which took place at Peace Park, Yenagoa on Saturday.

The defectors were led into the Peace Park venue by two prominent members of the APC, Senator John Brambaifa and Mr. Alex Ekiotenne.

They were received at the venue by Governor Seriake Dickson; Deputy National Chairman, PDP, South-South, Mr. Cairo Ojuigbo; Acting State Chairman, PDP, Mr. Serena Dokubo-Spiff; Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd.), among other PDP leaders.

Addressing the defectors, Dickson commended Brambaifa and Ekiotenne for returning to the PDP fold which they left about five months ago.

Dickson said, “We are happy that Brambaifa and Ekiotenne are back to the PDP. They have been prominent strategists for the PDP. Our government, Bayelsa PDP and Bayelsans are happy that we are now complete.

“While the storm lasted, I always remembered them for their patriotism towards Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation. With them, our restoration crusade is full and ready to sail. They led the foundation for the mass movements of some PDP members to the APC.

“Today, it is operation ‘Wind up APC in Bayelsa. This is just the beginning of winding up the APC in Bayelsa. We will continue to receive our brothers and sisters who were misled.”

The governor, who urged the crowd to observe a minute’s silence for the late former Governor of the state, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, said since Alamieyeseigha’s demise, was feeling a sense of emptiness.

He said: “But with these two persons, I am a bit consoled. If not for the way they harassed and killed Alamieyeseigha, he would have been here with us.”

In his remarks, Ekiotenne said with their return to the PDP, the APC in Bayelsa was buried.

1000 APC members decamp to PDP in Bayelsa

Defection galore as Zwingina, Gulak, Reps, others dump PDP for APC

The wave of defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC continued yesterday with senior members of the defeated ruling party taking their exit from the party.

APC and PDP

Among the heavyweight defectors that left the PDP yesterday was immediate past political adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, who initiated the Jonathan re-election campaign and subsequently made an unsuccessful bid for the governorship of Adamawa State on the platform of the party.

The gale of the defections came from Adamawa State and Ondo and Oyo states in the Southwest.

Besides Gulak, two serving senators, Ahmed Hassan Barata and Mohammed Bello

Tukur representing Adamawa South and Central respectively, a former Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, former minister of health, Dr. Idi Hong were among many other prominent leaders who jumped ship when President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari visited Yola, Adamawa State yesterday.

Olusola Oke leads the group

And in Ondo State, the PDP’s immediate past national legal adviser, Chief Olusola Oke led several others including his two wives, a member of the House of Representatives representing Okitipupa/Irele federal constituency, former Commissioners under the Late Dr Olusegun Agagu administration Princes Oladunni Odu, Ayo ifayefunmi, Olajide Ajana, former Senator Gbenga Ogunniya and Mrs Febi Adeyemi

Others included a former Head of Service Alaba Isijola and a former member of the House of Representatives, Abayomi Sheba among others.

In making his declaration, Oke confessed that he and his groups worked to ensure the defeat of the PDP in penultimate weekend’s presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

In Oyo, Rep, others jump boat

Also yesterday, prominent members of the PDP in Oyo State including a member of the House of Representatives, Afeez Jimoh, a former member of the House of Representatives, Folake Olunloyo-Osinowo, Tayo Sarumi, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan, PDP governorship aspirant, Chief (Mrs) Ayoka Lawani, Mr. Waheed Adeleke, former Chairman, Iseyin Local Government, among other party leaders from the Accord, Labour Party and PDP who joined the APC.

The mass defection of the politicians took place at an event held at the Mapo Hall in Ibadan on Wednesday. PDP member of the House of Representatives from Oyo State.

Adamawa defectors state case

The defectors in Adamawa State made their plans known at a press conference in Yola, the state capital yesterday.

Zwingina, who addressed the press on behalf of the defectors, said:

“After careful identification of the best in the current circumstances facing the state, we came to the conclusion that Bindow’s victory will pave the way for the desired restoration and positive change for the peace and development of the state.”

He explained that following the undemocratic tendencies of the candidate imposed on Adamawa State, by the PDP the serving senators under the party formed alliance with major stakeholders in the party to rally around the ambition of Senator Muhammad Umar Jibrilla Bindow.

The defectors alongside thousands of their followers said their choice of APC’s candidate was reached after careful scrutiny identify him as the best candidate for the job hence their total support for his ambition.

Zwingina noted that what motivated them to join APC was premised by the desire to address the myriad of challenges being faced in the state which include economic underdevelopment, insecurity, lack of infrastructure and political instability among others.

In his remarks, the Director General of Bindowo Campaign organization Alhaji Abdurrahman Abba Jimeta commended the defectors for their move adding that Adamawa indigenes will remain grateful to them for their courage to leave what he described as the “sinking PDP ship that wreaked havoc on the state for the past 16 years.”

Oke lauds turn-coats

Oke, who led the defectors in Akure, Ondo State said that his decision to join the APC was taken because he could not withstand the wind of change he claimed is blowing across the country.

“The wind almost blew me off, but I have now surrendered I can no more resist this change. This change that has blown in the federal must also blow in Ondo State.

Oke said forces of darkness fought against change to happen but “ the only thing that is permanent in life is Change.

“We have come to add value to the APC and salvage the state from bad and visionless leadership with broken promises across the state.

“Ondo State is the poorest in the Southwest because of lack of good leadership. Nothing is working, contractors have abandoned sites, no contract is awarded our youths have no job.

The Party Chairman Hon Isaac Kekemeke welcomed the defectors as he vowed that an APC government in the state would put an end to personalisation of governance.

Ex-Ondo deputy governor too

Also in the welcoming party was the deputy governor of the state, Ali Olanusi.

Reacting to the defection the Director of Publicity of the PDP in the state Ayo Fadaka described Oke’s action as disappointing.

Fadaka in a statement said Oke has made a short-sighted political mistake.

“We note with aghast the decampment of Chief Olusola Oke from our Party to the All Progressive Congress, to us it is a route that Oke should not in any circumstance embark upon but since he in company of his little band have chosen to do so, they are welcome to it.

“We equally feel duty bound to declare that we are disappointed that a man who operated as a major stakeholder in our Party could curiously elect to become a common joiner in a Party.

The mass defection of PDP stalwarts in Oyo State took place at an event held at the Mapo Hall in Ibadan on Wednesday.

Ajimobi receives defectors

The defectors were received by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, his counterpart from Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who represented the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari and the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

In their separate remarks, the defectors said they were leaving their respective parties for the APC because they discovered that only the APC held hope for the country and the state in particular.

Why I crossed over, by Olunloyo-Osinowo

In her own remark, Hon Olunloyo-Osinowo said all the members of the PDP in Ibadan South West and Ibadan North West constituency had decamped to the APC, stating that they identified with progressive ideology and believed that only the party would take the country to the promised land.

“God has deserted PDP and Nigerians have rejected it. That was why we left the party. The APC remains the only party that can take Nigeria to her land of destiny,” she said.

Another former PDP member of the House of Representatives and now a chieftain of the Accord Party, Hon. Sarumi said that his former party had become a sinking ship that would meet its final Waterloo at the governorship polls on Saturday.

 

Defection galore as Zwingina, Gulak, Reps, others dump PDP for APC

More governors to join APC - Wamakko

The Governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamakko has revealed that more governors have decided to join All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Wamakko

Without mentioning names, he made this revelation on Saturday in Wamakko Local Government Area while conducting the ward congresses.

He said that the ward congresses were held to ratify the consensus decision taken by the party’s candidates in the 23 local government areas of the state.

He said that the successful conduct of the exercise was a good beginning for the APC.

“The party will win all the elective positions at all levels during the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria,” he said.

Wamakko said that the members of the party in the local government took a unanimous decision that the adoption of the consensus arrangement was in the best interest of the party.

The chairmen of Tangaza and Silame local government areas, Alhaji Mohammed Sahabi and Alhaji Mani Katami respectively, said that the consensus arrangement would help to solidify the APC.

The duo, who spoke to newsmen in Gidan-Madi and Silame respectively, expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

The Chairman, Ward Congress Committee, Alhaji Muhammad Dan-Ango, said the exercise was concluded peacefully in the 244 electoral wards in the state. (NAN)

 

More governors to join APC - Wamakko

One of the APC founding members, Gundiri dumps party for PDP in Adamawa

Mr. Markus Gundiri, one of the founding members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa, has dumped the party for the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

Addressing newsmen on Monday in Yola, Gundiri said that his decision to defect to the PDP was based on “breach of trust and lack of accommodation’’ in the APC.

Gundiri, a gubernatorial candidate on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the Feb. 2012 election in the state, said his action was aimed at “strengthening democratic norms and principles.’’

He said that he was initially optimistic that the fusion of the ACN, CPC and ANPP to form the APC would provide a rare opportunity for the APC to defeat the PDP in the 2015 gubernatorial election in the state.

He listed “injustice and impunity’’ displayed by the interim committee of the APC as other reasons that forced him to dump the APC for the PDP.

Gundiri criticised the way the interim committee of the APC was constituted in the state without “due recognition and respect’’ for senior partners in the coalition that formed the APC.

He alleged that trained registration supervisors were not allowed to handle the APC membership registration in some local government areas of the state as demanded by law, adding that the exercise was cancelled in some local government areas.

He called on his supporters and the electorate in the state to support the PDP to move the state forward in 2015.

He said that arrangements were on to receive him and his supporters into the PDP. (0)

One of the APC founding members, Gundiri dumps party for PDP in Adamawa