PDP Archives

May 26, 2023

Supreme Court to PDP: You are meddlesome interloper, busybody

PDP, Supreme Court, VP elect Kashim Shettima

The Supreme Court berated the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on Friday, describing it as a meddlesome interloper and a busybody who declined to mind its own business.

The court handed over the stinging rebuke while delivering its decision in a suit by the PDP, challenging the alleged double nomination of Kassim Shettima, the Vice President-elect.

The apex court agreed with the lower courts that the PDP lacks the locus Standi to institute such a case.

Justice Adamu Jauro who read the judgement, noted that the PDP acted as meddlesome Interloper and a busy body as it is an internal affair of the APC.

Two million naira (N2,000,000) was awarded against the PDP, even as the suit was dismissed for lacking in merit.

The Justices further held that the attitude of the PDP, amounts to misleading the court, describing the move as “sad”.

Shettima withdrew his senate nomination on 6th July 2022 and was subsequently replaced. At this point, he was no longer a candidate for the Senate, and as such his position as vice president, did not constitute a multiple nomination breach.

On the case of Uche Nwosu which the PDP relied on, the Supreme Court Justices reminded them that they made the decision as at that time and are fully aware of the details.

Uche Nwosu in his case, got nominated by two political parties for different positions. They held that the the suit of the PDP, was bound to fail right from the trial court, to the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court.

The Justices further held that the action of the PDP was painful as it used the social media to set a trap for the Apex court to blackmail it, describing this situation as unfortunate and uncalled for.

According to the judges, a political party has no right to challenge the action of another party, or the decision of INEC, in respect of another party.

They added that for a person to have locus standi to challenge the nomination process of a political party, the person must be a neutral person and an aspirant to that position, and a member of the party.

The justices held that no matter the pains of the PDP on how the APC conducted its primary elections and nominated its candidate, the PDP must remain as an onlooker.

They also reminded the PDP of the same issue in 1999 where Atiku Abubakar was nominated for the seat of Governor, but later moved on to become the Vice Presidential Candidate to Olusegun Obasanjo.

In that case, Atiku’s running mate – Boni Haruna took over the Governorship Nomination. INEC wanted to conduct a fresh election then, but the party kicked against it until it got to the Supreme Court.

The court asked the opposition party rhetorically what has changed since 1999.

The PDP had in its suit, claimed that Shettima’s nomination as Tinubu’s running mate, was in breach of the Provisions of sections 29(1), 33, 36 and 84 (1)(2) of the Electoral Act 2022.

However, the court in its ruling stressed that the matter is not the business of the opposition party.

Source: Channels TV

April 10, 2023

PDP senator says party deservedly lost 2023 general elections

PDP, Sen. Obinna Ogba

Sen. Obinna Ogba (PDP–Ebonyi Central) said on Sunday that the party deservedly lost the 2023 general elections because of mismanagement of affairs by its National Working Committee (NWC).

Ogba told a news conference at his Nkalagu hometown in Ishielu Local Government Area that the NWC shot itself in the foot by the giving the governorship ticket to a “wrong candidate’’.

The senator, who lost the party’s governorship ticket after a protracted legal tussle decided by the Supreme Court, cautioned that the NWC should not suspend any member.

“The fact remains that it is the NWC members who deserve to be suspended starting from the national chairman.

“The national chairman lost his polling booth, ward. Local government area and state and the same thing applied to all the conspirators who offered tickets to whoever understood their language,’’ he charged.

Ogba added, however, that there was still hope for the PDP because it is loved by the people.

“What we need is the right leaders to manage the party’s affairs because no party is stronger than the PDP.

“The Labour Party made strides during the elections, especially during the presidential election because it had mainly our former members who felt annoyed at the state of things in the PDP,’’ he said.

He noted that PDP leaders supported the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for equity and fairness in the state’s power rotation formula.

“Political parties are only avenues to get to various political destinations.

“Leaders of the PDP in Ebonyi made us to believe that the northern district should produce the next governor and I am happy that those I supported won their elections,’’ Ogba said.

March 30, 2023

PDP makes U-Turn over Ortom, Fayose, Anyim, Shema

PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has made a volte-face over its recent disciplinary actions against top guns of the party.

The National Working Committee (NWC), with the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, reversed the referral of Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue State to the party’s National Disciplinary Committee.

The NWC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja on Thursday, also reversed the suspension of former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Pius Anyim, and others.

Ologunagba said that the PDP met on Thursday and extensively discussed recent developments in the party.

He said that the NWC recognised the imperativeness of total reconciliation among party leaders and critical stakeholders for a more cohesive party, in the overall interest of its teeming members and Nigerians in general.

“Consequent upon the above, the NWC reverses the referral of Gov. Ortom to the National Disciplinary Committee.

The NWC in the same vein reversed the suspension of Ibrahim Shema (Katsina State); Fayose (Ekiti State), Anyim (Ebonyi State); Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State) and Dr Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State)”.

Ologunagba said the decision was without prejudice to the NEC powers to take necessary disciplinary action against any party member at any time, pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

“The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our Party across the country to be guided by the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) as well as the new spirit and necessity of reconciliation, unity and harmony in our Party at this critical time.”

Ologunagba said the PDP must remain focused as it continued to take every necessary action to recover what it called its ‘stolen mandate’ and that of its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, through the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The PDP NWC under the suspended National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, had on March 24 referred Ortom to the party’s disciplinary committee.

The NWC also suspended Shema, Fayose, Anyim, Ityavyar and Aliyu, alleging anti-party activities in the 2023 general elections.

Ayu was, however, on Sunday suspended by the executive members of his ward, Igyorov Ward of Gboko Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, which he described as an exercise in futility.

He was suspended over alleged anti-party activities, failure to pay his annual subscription fees, and failure to vote during the just-concluded elections, among other offences.

The party, on Tuesday, appointed Deputy National Chairman, North, Damagum as its acting National Chairman in obedience to a Monday court order restraining Ayu from parading himself as the party’s national chairman.

March 28, 2023

PDP replaces Ayu with Damagum

Amb. Umar Damagum, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, PDP

The PDP has appointed the Deputy National Chairman, North, Amb. Umar Damagum as its acting National Chairman in obedience to court order restraining Sen. Iyorchia Ayu as the party’s national chairman.

The Party National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba announced this at a new conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

Ologunagba said the NWC at an emergency meeting on Tuesday, acknowledged the Order of the Benue High Court on March 27, with regards to the chairmanship position of the party.

“After a careful consideration of the Court Order and in line with Section 45 (2) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), the NWC resolved that Damagum assumes the national chairmanship of our party in acting capacity with effect from today, Tuesday, March 28.

“The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders, teeming members and supporters of our great party to remain calm and united at this critical time,” he said.

Damagum, in his remarks said that he would be in acting capacity pending the determination of the court on the matter before it.

“I will have a meeting immediately after this session with the NWC to check on what is happening within the party,” Damagum said.

Asked what Ayu came to do in the office earlier in the morning hours, Damagum said Ayu was not in the office to chair any meeting but might have come to pick his belongings.

Also asked of his agenda especially on the gale of suspension of some members of the party, Damagum said the NWC would meet on Wednesday, possibly to review it.

“What you are asking me is already on my mind, the NWC is meeting on Wednesday, in that meeting we will discuss and possibly review it,” Damagum said.

Other members of NWC at the briefing were the National Secretary, Sam Anyanwu; National Youth Leader, Mohammed Suleiman; National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature; National Legal Adviser Kamarudeen Ajibade; and National Treasurer, Ahmed Mohammed.

March 27, 2023

Home trouble for Ayu: PDP chairman suspended by Benue ward executives

Iyorchia Ayu, PDP

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Iyorchia Ayu, has been suspended with immediate effect by executives of his home ward in Benue state.

The ward suspended Ayu for anti-party activities after passing a vote of no confidence on him, in a move similar to the way Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was removed as chairman of APC.

The move was also similar to the way the PDP got rid of Ayu’s predecessor Prince Uche Secondus.

In November 2019 Oshiomhole was suspended by the APC leadership in his Etsako Ward 10 in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State for alleged anti-party activities.

His legal fight to retain his job ended with the appeal court ruling in June 2020, affirming his suspension as party member.

Similarly, Prince Uche Secondus, Ayu’s predecessor was suspended by Ward 5 of Andoni Local Government Area of the state, which is his primary base, after an extraordinary meeting of the ward executives on 31 August 2021.

Ayu’s ward in Benue appeared to be following the script.

Secretary of the party in Igyorov ward, Vanger Dooyum, said Ayu’s anti-party activities – alongside his allies – contributed to PDP’s loss in his ward and local government in the governorship election.

Ayu was also accused of not paying his annual dues as enshrined by the party’s constitution.

Twelve out of the seventeen exco members, including the ward chairman Kashi Philip signed the letter endorsing Ayu’s suspension.

They also alleged that the PDP chairman did not vote during the governorship and state assembly elections held on 18 March.

According to them, most of Ayu’s closest allies worked for the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) which resulted in the abysmal performance of the PDP in Igyorov Ward.

March 26, 2023

You are busy body: Appeal court knocks PDP in case against Tinubu, Shettima

PDP, President-Elect Bola Tinubu, Senator Kashim Shettima

The Court of Appeal, Abuja has dismissed an appeal by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking the disqualification of Sen. Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate, All Progressives Congress (APC), and his vice, Kashim Shettima, in the Feb. 25 election.

A three-man panel headed by Justice James Abundaga, in a unanimous judgment, held that the PDP failed to establish that its had locus standi to institute the case.

Justice Abundaga, who agreed with the submissions of lawyers to the respondents slammed the PDP as a busy body, who dabbled into issues that were internal affairs of the APC.

Justice Abundaga held that the trial court was right to have held that the PDP failed to establish its locus standi.

“The appellant, having failed to disclose its locus standi, this appeal fails and it is hereby dismissed,” he said and proceeded to affirm the judgment of the FHC.

The judge also awarded N5 million cost against the appellant’s lawyer, J. O. Olotu.

The PDP, in an appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CV/108/2023, had prayed the appellate court to reverse the Jan. 13 judgment delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja which dismissed its suit on the grounds that the PDP lacked locus standi to have instituted the suit.

While the PDP was the appellant, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC, Tinubu and Shettima were respondents in the appeal.

The PDP in the suit filed on July 28, 2022, challenged the validity of the Tinubu/Shettima ticket for the 2023 presidential election.

It argued that Shettima’s nomination as the running mate was in breach of the provisions of Sections 29(1), 33, 35 and 84{1)}(2)} of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended), claiming that Shettima had double nominations.

It claimed that as at the time Shettima was nominated as vice presidential candidate, he had not resigned or withdrawn his nomination as candidate for Borno Central Senatorial poll.

The party argued that Shettima’s nomination as a vice-presidential candidate as well as the candidate for the Borno Central Senatorial seat contravened the law.

The PDP, which sought an order disqualifying the APC, Tinubu and Shettima from contesting the presidential election scheduled for Feb. 25, equally prayed the court for an order nullifying their candidacy.

It further prayed the court for an order compelling INEC to remove their names from its list of nominated or sponsored candidates eligible to contest the election.

The defendants, in their preliminary objection, urged the court to dismiss the suit for want of jurisdiction.

They contended that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to institute the case, which invariably challenged APC’s decision and its nomination of candidates for the election, which were within the confines of the party’s internal affairs and thus, non-justiciable.

The issue determined in the appeal is one of the major planks of Atiku’s petition at the election tribunal.

The judges’ position is indicative of the fate that awaits the petition.

March 25, 2023

Anyim to PDP: Show remorse, sobriety for losing presidential election

Anyim Pius Anyim, PDP

Former Senate President Chief Anyim Pius Anyim has slammed the PDP National Working Committee for arrogance despite losing the presidential election.

Anyim, who was also a former secretary of the Government of the Federation, was reacting to his suspension by the party for supporting Ebonyi Governor-elect, Francis Nwifuru, a member of the APC.

“It is difficult to explain why the NWC is in a hurry to suspend party leaders without recourse to fair hearing without which its action is null and void.

“It smacks of arrogance for the NWC to put a bold face instead of showing remorse and being sober for leading the party to such colossal loss in the elections.

“This loss ultimately dashed the hopes and expectations of party members and Nigerians,” he said.

Anyim described the NWC’s action as disappointing, noting that its concern could have been how to embark on self appraisal.

“I thought the NWC could have been interested in undertaking a thorough appraisal on why it performed so poorly in the election.

“This should have been the case rather than seek to further divide the party through blames,” he added.

Anyim said he was proud to have supported Nwifuru to win the March 18 governorship election in Ebonyi.

In a statement he signed, he stated that he had no regrets supporting the APC candidate because it conformed with the existing power-rotation formula in the state.

“”The NWC imposed a candidate who is from the same senatorial district with the incumbent governor, contrary to the zoning formula in the state.

“Every effort made for the NWC to see reasons fell on deaf ears.

“I told the party’s national chairman on the day of our presidential rally in Ebonyi that I will boycott it because I cannot support a candidate the NWC imposed on the state.

“He said nothing and did not care that I did not attend the rally,” he said.

The former secretary to the government of the federation said that arising from the leadership style of the NWC, many party members worked against it including the committee’s members.

“It is, therefore, a display of innate cowardice for the NWC to choose soft targets to suspend and fear those who daily demonise it.

“It is difficult to explain why the NWC is in a hurry to suspend party leaders without recourse to fair hearing without which its action is null and void.

The PDP NWC on Thursday suspended Anyim alongside other prominent party members over alleged anti-party activities.

INEC chairman Yakubu, middle, and other officials of the agency

March 11, 2023

INEC to PDP: Go to court, stop attacking Yakubu

Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), PDP, Professor Mahmood Yakubu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to desist from making libellous allegations against its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, gave the advice on Friday in Abuja, while responding to PDP’s demand on Yakubu to resign from his position.

Oyekanmi said the call, the second by the PDP, was misplaced.

“Interestingly, the PDP did not provide any convincing evidence to back up all the spurious allegations it listed as Yakubu’s “infractions”.

“To be sure, the PDP failed to provide any evidence to substantiate the allegations of Yakubu’s brazen violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines, and criminal manipulation and alteration of election results”.

“The PDP also did not give the evidence to prove its claims that Prof. Yakubu “sabotaged the uploading and transmission of results from polling units,” he said.

Oyekanmi said that besides, the “several evidences” that the PDP claimed “abound in the six geo-political zones of the country where winning figures scored by the PDP were switched in favour of the APC” were also not laid bare.

“To be sure, INEC does not rig elections. Rather, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has, since its introduction, among other innovations, ensured the integrity of the electoral process by ensuring that only properly registered voters are allowed to vote on election day.”

Oyekanmi advised the PDP to toe the part of honour and pursue its case in court.

“It is common knowledge that the PDP has rejected the outcome of the presidential election and has vowed to challenge it in court.

“The path of honour for the party, therefore, is to pursue its case in court, armed with all the evidences at its disposal and wait for the court’s decision.

”But going about canvassing the same issues the party intends to plead in court on the pages of newspapers and calling for the resignation of the INEC Chairman is like putting the cart before the horse.

“More importantly, the PDP is hereby reminded that making libelous allegations against the person of the INEC Chairman is actionable. The party should henceforth desist from the practice,” Oyekanmi said.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba, addressing a press conference in Abuja said that the PDP had further reviewed the conduct of Feb. 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.

Ologunagba alleged that the elections were conducted in violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the results were manipulated to subvert the will of Nigerians.

He said PDP had reviewed the move by INEC to reconfigure the BVAS, erase and destroy evidence of the Presidential election.

He said the action was aimed at denying Nigerians and political parties, especially PDP and its candidate access to relevant information required to prosecute it case at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

Ologunagba called on Inspector General of Police and Director General of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) to immediately commence investigations into alleged electoral violations and manipulations by INEC.

He also called the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate allegations that certain top officials of INEC were heavily compromised financially to manipulate the electoral process.

March 2, 2023

PDP will challenge presidential election result: Spokesman

PDP

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the result of the Saturday presidential election.

The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba in Abuja on Thursday, said it had commenced action to seek redress in court.

Ologunagba said that the party also rejected the declaration of the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Bola Tinubu, as President-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Ologunagba said that the PDP demanded immediately withdrawal of INEC Certificate of Return issued to Tinubu and cancelation of the presidential election declaration in line with its powers under Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022.

“The Party Insists that INEC, in declaring the APC Presidential Candidate as winner, acted contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022 and the INEC Guidelines and Regulations for the conduct of the 2023 Presidential election.

“The PDP holds that Its Presidential Candidate, Abubakar clearly won the Feb. 25 Presidential election, having evidently scored the majority of lawful votes cast by Nigerians at the Polling Units.

“Sadly, the election was marred by deliberate malpractices, including the non-use of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC’s refusal/failure to transmit directly the results from Polling Units to its Server/Website in flagrant violation of Section 60 (4)(b) of the Electoral Act 2022.”

Ologunagba said that sadly, alleged violation of the Electoral Act by INEC as attested to by political parties, voters, Nigerians of all walks of life as well as local and international observers, paved the way for the alteration, falsification, switching of results and allocation of figures in favour of the APC.”

Ologunagba recalled how on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, INEC through its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, assured that results would be transmitted directly from the Polling Units to ensure the integrity and credibility of election results in Nigeria.

“By refusing therefore to transmit directly the results from the Polling Units, INEC violated the Electoral Act and its Rules and Regulation, compromised the process and marred the integrity and credibility of the election results.

“The PDP therefore asserts that consequent upon the violation by INEC of Section 60 (4) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and its Rules and Guidelines on the election, the results announced by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, having not been earlier transmitted directly from the polling units before the announcement, are ultra vires, of no consequence and cannot stand.

“Consequently, our party and its presidential candidate have commenced action for legal redress to reclaim our victory in the 2023 Presidential election.”

Ologunagba appealed to PDP supporters in Nigeria and across the world to remain calm, resilient, resolute and steadfast in the defence of democracy and the victory of PDP in the election

INEC officials at National Collation centre

February 26, 2023

Opposition parties’ attempt to discredit presidential election will fail–APC PCC

APC PCC, Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), Labour Party, PDP

PRESS STATEMENT

ALLOW INEC PERFORM ITS DUTIES: OPPOSITION PARTIES’ ATTEMPT TO DISCREDIT ELECTION WILL FAIL

We have noticed the disingenuous attempts by the opposition parties, spokesmen of their campaign councils and their hired talking heads on Television and Radio Stations to discredit the presidential and National Assembly elections conducted nationwide yesterday.

Noteworthy are spokespersons of Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council and the Peoples Democratic Party/Atiku Presidential Campaign Council.

Two persons we consider as respectable citizens, Professor Pat Utomi and Director-General of Peter Obi Campaign Council, Mr. Akin Osuntokun threw caution to wind by their inciting and incendiary comments on social media and TV stations where they have been making baseless and irresponsible allegations of electoral manipulations and other malpractice against our party and the electoral umpire, all in a bid to cause disaffection and civil unrest in the country.

We must also stress that we have noticed many partisan talking heads claiming to be Election Observers on radio and TV stations who are presenting skewed and patently false narratives about the general conduct of the election across the country.

Both Labour Party and PDP have accused INEC of conspiracy to rig election result in favour of our party, anchoring their allegation on the agency’s inability to upload election results on its website.

While we call on INEC to expedite action on the process of uploading the results, we want to state categorically that there is nothing unusual about the seeming delay.

INEC returning officers bringing the results to the National Collation Centre from the 36 states, may be contending with possible travel logistics as witnessed on Day One of the collation on Sunday, when only Ekiti state was ready with its result.

It is worth stating that election results have been announced and made public at polling units and duly signed by accredited party agents in line with the Electoral Law. There is no political party that does not have election results from all the over 176,000 polling units across the country except for few locations election didn’t hold. The Abuja Collation is merely ceremonial.

While the law stipulates that the INEC Chairman who is the National Returning Officer for the Presidential election should declare the result, it is also a fact that no party can claim ignorance about its performance from every polling unit through the Situation Rooms updates from party agents.

This brazen attempt to discredit this election that is adjudged to be the most peaceful, credible, open, transparent, free and most fair election in the history of our country will fail.

We suspect that the opposition parties making unnecessary fuss over the results of the poll are only afraid of facing the reality of their defeat. Elections are not a do or die affair. They are meant to be won by some and lost by some.

The 2023 Presidential election has been successfully conducted and results announced at polling units, wards, local councils and at the state level.

We advise politicians to allow the remaining part of the process to go on without intimidation and harassment of INEC.

We call on the security agencies to be alert and ruthlessly deal with anyone seeking to destabilise our country with reckless, subversive and obnoxious statements on the social media, TV and radio platforms.

Bayo Onanuga
Director, Media & Publicity
APC Presidential Campaign Council
February 26, 2023

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