PDP Nat’l Convention: Ex-minister, Abubakar, Ben Duntoye loses Publicity Sec bid
… Yinka Aluko emerges ex-officio
Immediate past Minister of National Planning, Professor Abubakar Suleiman and former Commissioner for Information in Kwara state, Comrade Ben Duntoye both lost out of their bid to become the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday.
Suleiman and Duntoye were among those seeking to head the office of the opposition party’s mouthpiece which was zoned to the north central.
They lost the position of the Publicity Secretary of the party to Kola Ologbondiyan from Kogi state and former Thisday staff.
Uche Secondus emerged as the substantive chairman of the party after polling over two thousands votes.
Former gubernatorial running mate for the party during the 2015 election in the state, Yinka Aluko however emerged as an ex-officio member which is non elective.
Speaking on the issue with National Pilot last night from Abuja, the state chairman of the party, Iyiola Oyedepo said everybody cannot be accommodated in the national executive adding that it will not in any way limit the influence of the party at the national level.
According to him, it’s unfortunate but the party will move on.
Some members of the state chapter of the party had decried the failure of the party to harmonise its position on the issue.
The PDP elected its National officers on Saturday at an elaborate ceremony held in eagle square, Abuja which attracted top officers of the party including former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Full list
- National Chairman – Prince Uche Secondus
- National Deputy Chairman South – Elder Yemi Akinwonmi
- National Deputy Chairman North – Sen. Gamawa Babawo Garba
- National Secretary – Sen. Ibrahim Tsauri
- Deputy National Secretary – Dr. Agbo Emmanuel
- National Treasurer – Hon. Aribisala Adewale
- Deputy National Treasurer – Alhaji Wada Masu
- Financial Secretary – Ibrahim Husseini Maibasira
- Dep. Fin. Sec. – Hon. Irona Alphonsus
- Nat. Org. Sec. – Col (Rtr) Austin Akobundu
- Dep. Nat. Org. Sec. – Barr. Hassan Yakubu
- Publicity Secretary – Kola Ologbondiyan
- Dep. Nat. Pub. Sec. – Hon. Diran Odeyemi
- Nat. Legal Adviser – Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem
- Dep. Nat. Legal Adviser – Barr. Ahmed Bello Liman
- Nat. Auditor – Mal. Adamu Mustapha
- Dep. Nat. Auditor – Miss Divine Amina Arong
- Nat. Women Leader – Hajia Mariya Waziri
- Dep. Nat. Women Leader – Umoru Adizet Hadizat
- Nat. Youth Leader – Rt. Hon. Udeh Okoye
- Dep. Nat. Youth Leader – Umar Babangida Maina
… PDP, APC trade words
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have continued to exchange words over the latter’s national convention held in Abuja on Saturday.
The APC in a press statement by its Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi after the convention, accused the opposition party of being a leopard that cannot change its spot and brazenly perpetrating systematic rigging and votes buying.
Both Abdullahi and Ologbodiyan were former staff of Thisday newspapers.
The APC said that “abnormalities that trailed the PDP National Convention have further exposed the PDP as a party not ready and willing to change.
“Indeed, the PDP has once again displayed itself to the generality of Nigerians that it is a party with corruption deeply rooted in its DNA.
“Again, it is tragic that the PDP which used to pride itself as “the biggest political Party in Africa” has now been reduced to a regional party.
“By frustrating South West chairmanship candidates, it is unfortunate that the PDP has decided to punish the South West for not voting for the Party in 2015.
We urge members of the PDP that can pass the integrity test to join the APC so that we can together bring about the much-needed Change the country deserves”, he added.
But the PDP in its response said the ruling party is jittery and only clutching on straws’ for survival having been outrightly rejected by Nigerians.
“It is indeed laughable that the APC which has roundly failed in not only managing the affairs of the country but also its own internal issues would recourse to panic mode just because the PDP has succeeded in uniting its fronts by conducting of a very credible elective National Convention.
“We were very much aware of the plots by the APC to scuttle the convention and failing it has resorted to a failed attempt to discredit an elective convention that has been adjudged as creditable, novel and laudable by political stakeholders and lovers of democracy across the nation.
“Is it not disgusting, reprehensible and embarrassing that the APC that has repeatedly failed to hold meetings, congresses and convention in the last three years and has flagrantly continued to violate its own constitution is questioning our party’s rights to perform her legitimate and constitutional obligation?
“Which impunity could be higher than APC violating its constitution? It is strange that APC could be moralizing on the principles of social justice whereas its actions against Nigerians are a complete departure from the norms.
It is important for this spokesman of a failed party and his pack of incompetent members to reminisce on the needless pains and suffering they have inflicted on Nigerians rather than being jittery over the successful outcome of the PDP’s elective national convention.
… Atiku, Dokpesi congratulate Secondus
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and founder of Daar Communication Chief Raymond Dokpesi have congratulated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus and other officials elected at the party’s just concluded national convention.
Atiku, in a congratulatory message, described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the enemy of Nigeria.
He said it would take a united and coherent PDP to sack the APC government in 2019.
The former vice president, in the statement released by his media office yesterday, said the immediate challenge before the PDP newly elected national officers was to run an all-inclusive administration, where the various interests within the party can find accommodation.
He added that Nigerians are looking up to the PDP for unity in the party, “because it takes a united and coherent PDP to sack the APC government in 2019”.
The statement said: “Our great party, the PDP, is, again, at the threshold of an historical moment. Just as we mobilised to put an end to prolonged military rule in 1999, the people of Nigeria at this moment look up to us to rescue the country from the mis-government of the APC.
“Arising from our elective congress, there should be no victor and no vanquished. Our paramount attention should be focused at sacking a government that deceived the people of Nigeria into power by promising our youths three million jobs annually, only to deliver three million job losses annually; a government that is repeatedly living in denial of its commitment to restructuring. We must be united to take power back to where it belongs: the Nigerian people.
“As members of the PDP, we must take pride in being able to hold a national convention and in so doing live up to the bill of being a truly democratic political party. Our major opponent has not been able to achieve this feat and I join millions of our party members to congratulate the Ahmed Makarfi-led national caretaker committee.
“I understand that there are complaints and grievances from many of the co-contestants in the congress. I am aware that the PDP has a mechanism for addressing such complaints and it is important that such avenues of redress are made available for members to explore without let or hindrance.”
Dokpesi, who contested the PDP National Chairmanship position and lost, congratulated the winner.
Dokpesi, who had earlier faulted the process of the party’s National Convention held in Abuja on Saturday, declared that “the delegates have spoken”.
He said: “I appreciate the delegates for voting at the convention and congratulate the newly elected National Working Committee of the PDP led by Secondus.
… Come join us, Labour Party woos Buruji after PDP suspension
Barely 48 hours after Buruji Kashamu was suspended for one month by his party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), said it is ready to accommodate the controversial politician into its fold.
The top member of the of LP and former national chairman of the party AbdulKareem Abdulsalam, extended the gesture to Kashamu at a press conference held on Sunday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Abdulsalam while responding to questions from journalists said the gesture to accommodate Kashamu, wanted for drug related offences in the US, to Labour Party, was open if he signifies interest.
“Kashamu is free to come and join us. He is a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We shall accommodate him if he is willing to be part of us. Even if NUJ members show interest to join us, we shall accommodate you all,” he declared.
“We have not met with him and we have not discussed anything, if he wants to come to our party as a patriotic Nigerian, a distinguished senator of the federal republic of Nigeria, he’s most welcome,” he said.
Speaking further, he said the Labour Party has been rebranded ahead of the 2019 general elections, describing it as a saviour of the masses.
The politician also spoke on his party’s preparation for 2019.
“The leadership of Labour Party in Ogun state is setting the ball rolling for the commencement of congresses in wards, local government areas and state,” Mr. Abdulsalam said.
“We are sure of repeating the glorious feat recorded in Ondo state when Governor Mimiko won governorship election in Ondo for two consecutive terms under the platform of Labour Party against all odds. We therefore strongly believe that Labour party is the party to beat in Ogun State in 2019 general election,” he said.