Politics Fri

Politics Friday page 1 Brief contd page 4 pix- Isa Yuguda, Mohammed Adoke, Sambo
How national officers sabotaged Jonathan’s election, by Mai’auduga, DG Jonathan Campaign Organisation
How national officers diverted N230 million Jonathan campaign funds in Bauchi- Mai’auduga

The Director General of Jonathan /Sambo Campaign Organisation in Bauchi South Senatorial District Alhaji Bala Abdullahi Mai’auduga has given reasons why the party lost out in the just concluded general election in the state alleging that national officers of the party from the state sabotaged their campaign activities which led to the failure of the party in the state.
The party chieftain made the allegation at a press conference in Bauchi, saying: “even though there is a clamor for change but our campaign was sabotaged by the national leadership of the party that diverted over 230mn campaign funds from the Presidency by national officer of the party, and all efforts to recover the money failed”
He stated that if the amount of support given to the state was not diverted, it would have assisted a lot in winning the heart of the electorate to vote for the party, adding: “but in our case, apart from diverting the funds, the officers also campaigned against PDP candidates in the state”.
Mai’auduga who is also the Director General of Governor Isa Yuguda and PDP Governorship candidate campaign Organisation in the zone said the state leader of the party, Mallam Isa Yuguda, his supporters and entire PDP supporters in the state have the intention to remain in PDP and correct the failure of leadership affecting the party at the top which led to its failure.
He said: “after the election, we have analysed everything and discovered sabotage from national officers and Abuja politicians who are indigenes of the state. The people of Bauchi are happy with the developmental projects like International Airport, Specialist Hospital, University and Teaching Hospital projects executed by the outgoing administration, and provision of sustainable peace and we intend to remain with the masses in PDP and offer good opposition for the improvement of democracy in the state.”
While congratulating Jonathan for conceding defeat which makes him a hero in Africa, the Director General said they are ready to work harmoniously with the incoming administration and they will always offer constructive criticism and advice for the development of the state.
He congratulated Governor Yuguda for exhibiting the sense of patriotism and maturity which help to stabilised the polity before, during and after the elections and pledged their support and loyalty to the party.
Politics Friday page 1 brief, Contd page 2 Pix- Kuye, Agbaje, Ambode
Lagos election was a battle between PDP, INEC and security agents – PDP
Why APC cannot celebrate their victory in Lagos
Chief Taiwo Abayomi Kuye is the Financial Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in Lagos, in this interview, he spoke on the loss of the election in the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC) saying his party contested against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agents and not APC. Excerpts:
Why the party is heading for the tribunal?
We came to INEC to complain about irregularities and up till now, INEC cannot give us a definite answer. The other day I said it, that part of their game plan were the irregularities that characterized the governorship elections. In preparation for the election, there was a meeting between all the local government electoral officers and other chieftains of the party, where they planned in favor of APC. We discovered this in about 11 local governments, whereas in the governorship, we busted it in about 14 Local Governments.
PDP stronghold in Lagos?
The PDP stronghold in Lagos is more than 13, 14 local governments to be precise. There are Igbos in Lagos: Epe, Ajeromi, Agege; there is no part of Lagos you won’t find them. The same pattern of rigging was used by the APC. The five local government areas that were left out were areas they cannot change the figures because they were really dealt with. But in areas like Mushin, Kosofe where they were defeated with 5,000, they just went to INEC booths and added figures, unlike in Ajeromi and others where they lost with 20,000 votes. There they cannot do anything cynical. I stand to tell you that our stronghold cut across more than 14 local governments in Lagos, and we have won that election. That is why on the part of APC there was no celebration.
Why then did PDP candidate congratulate Ambode, if he didn’t accept the outcome?
Congratulations does not stop anything, it only shows that Jimi Agbaje is a statesman by doing so.
Is PDP not crying over spilled milk?
We have not lost, go to all nooks and crannies of Lagos, everyone will tell you that they voted Jimi Agbaje. All these and more are the true facts that we are presenting to the tribunal.
Is there still unity within PDP with current happenings in the party?
We are united. Obanikoro is a leader here, Bode George is also the party’s leader in Lagos and south west, so we are going nowhere. Anyone who jumps ship because APC is now at the center, such a person is making a fool of himself or herself. Anyone who makes such a stupid mistake would have himself or herself to blame in the nearest future. Likewise, I stand to be the last person to remain in PDP, even till tomorrow.
So, how was Lagos State won and lost again?
Lagos State belongs to us, everyone saw it, and all classes of people saw that Jimi Agbaje was voted as the governor. But it was a battle between PDP, INEC, the security agencies in Lagos and not APC.
When are you going to the tribunal?
We have 21 days after the election. It is a 3-member tribunal and I have the list of members. We will file our papers before the deadline expires.
Future of PDP in Lagos?
Our landslide victory in the council elections sent a signal to APC, we won more than 12, 13 local government chairmanship, and more than 180 councillorship. But their leader said: ‘go and give them 18 councillorship, they cannot preside over anything in Lagos’. All these will come to an end when we come back from the tribunal.

Politics Friday page 2- Pix- Samson Osagie
Don’t resort to violence, APC candidate begs supporters
The senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo South and incumbent Minority whip in the House of Representatives, Mr. Samson Osagie has appealed to all his supporters, and well wishers not to resort to violence over the last election in the state.
In a statement in Benin, the Edo State capital, he asked them to await the outcome of decision of the party leaders and elders over the conduct of the March 28 and rescheduled April 11 National Assembly elections in the state.

Samson Osagie
Osagie noted that Edo people have spoken and loudly too, “but not without some misgivings about some of the results, particularly, from Oredo and Ikpoba Okha local government areas”.
He commended the state governor Adams Oshiomhole and the leadership of the APC for according him the opportunity to serve the nation and Edo people in the capacity as he presently does at the Green chamber of the National Assembly and for the veritable platform to aspire to the senate seat, adding that “with the outcome of the just concluded elections, we have convincingly shown that change is indeed possible.
Osagie also lauded the doggedness of all the 21 newly elected APC legislators for emerging victorious at the state house of assembly polls, especially, the electoral feat of Mr. Patrick Asoweri on his election into the House of Representatives to represent Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode federal constituency.
“It is pertinent at this point to express my unlimited gratitude and appreciate the inestimable support of our leader, my mentor, the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The desire to live up to his standards saw me thus far. Once again, thank you my Comrade Governor,” he said.
“I will like to thank my campaign organization led by Hon. John Jesourobo and the ward and local government coordinators who toiled day and night during the campaigns in order to ensure victory. I cannot thank you all enough.”
His words: “On the outcome of the senatorial election, as a true party man, I am awaiting the decision of my party on the direction to go. I therefore urge all my supporters, friends, well wishers and all those who felt a sense of disappointment to remain calm, resolute and law abiding as light must triumph over darkness.”

Politics Friday- Page 1 cover contd P3, P4 Pix- Buhari, Jonathan, Muazu, John Odigie-Oyegun

PDP accepts APC challenge: To be formidable opposition

PDP to take back power in 2019

We cant be blackmailed- APC

In what appears to be the acceptance of a direct challenge by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the ruling party has unfolded plans to rebuild the party from its ruin ahead of the 2019 general election.
The APC had on Monday admonished the PDP to stop being a cry baby and come to terms with the cold, hard reality that its fortunes have since plummeted and that it is now in opposition.
This followed lamentations by the chieftains of the PDP over its loss in the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections and the April 11 governorships and houses of assembly polls where it was roundly defeated by the opposition party.
But the PDP at a well-attended meeting in Abuja on Wednesday put the disastrous result of the elections behind it and resolved to take the party back to its lofty heights.
Consequently, a committee to reposition the party following its not-too-impressive showing in the recently-held general elections is underway. This is in a fresh bid to rebrand the party and make it strong enough to take over power back from the APC in 2019.
The plan was unfolded at the end of the meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), National Vice Chairmen and State Chairmen of the PDP in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by Amb. Ibrahim Kazaure and Dr. Emmanuel Agbo for National Vice Chairmen and State Chairmen respectively, indicated that the meeting assessed the outcome of the 2015 general elections and accordingly resolved not to allow the temporary setback affect the party’s contributions to the democratic development of the country.
The meeting also commended and appreciated the patriotic stand taken by President Goodluck Jonathan after the elections as another milestone in the party’s contributions to peace, stability and progress of the nation. But it was quick to condemn the widespread anomalies and irregularities that characterised the elections in most states to the disadvantage of the PDP despite being the incumbent government.
It therefore resolved to give full backing to the various pursuits of redress in this regard within the ambit of the law and tenets of democracy and consequently directed all PDP candidates who believed that they were shortchanged to channel their reports through their state chairmen as it resolved to resist undue harassments, witch-hunt and any form of intimidation or undemocratic tendencies from the opposition aimed at bringing down PDP members psychologically.
Acknowledging the subterranean moves by the APC to undermine the structures of the PDP across the country with the sinister singular motive of allegedly imposing a one-party state in the polity, the meeting strongly cautioned the APC and its leader, General Muhammadu Buhari against any action or inaction that could threaten or erode the gains of democracy and personal freedom that have been established by the PDP government in the last 16 years.
The meeting resolved to galvanise the structures of the party and give full support to PDP candidates in the supplementary governorship elections in Abia, Taraba and Imo states as well as resist any undemocratic plot to manipulate the process against the party.
The meeting called on INEC and other stakeholders involved in the supplementary elections to be forthright, transparent and ensure that the will of the people in the affected states are not in any way subverted.
It resolved to give all necessary support to the national leadership of the party under the chairmanship of Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu to enable them re-engineer and rebrand the party for the task of regaining power by 2019.
In view of the above, the meeting charged all members of the party to continue to work harmoniously with their leaders at all levels especially at this critical time, while channeling any grievances to the appropriate organs in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution
The meeting condemned in its entirety the attitude of fair-weather and unprincipled members who are rushing to the APC. It noted that such members are saboteurs and moles who worked against the PDP in the general election.
The meeting saluted the courage and faith of committed and dedicated members even in the face of the setbacks and intimidations and assured them of adequate protection of their inalienable rights as citizens in a democracy.
The meeting accordingly resolved to set up special committees on the repositioning of the party.
However in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC urged PDP to stop complaining about alleged harassment and intimidation by the APC, when it should be strategising about the daunting task ahead of it.

It said the truth of the matter is that the PDP is scared stiff of being in opposition, adding: ”We don’t blame them as they have neither the capacity nor the commitment to be in opposition. A party that stood for nothing but looting and rent collection will naturally be afraid of being in opposition, where there is nothing to loot or rent to collect.”

APC advised the PDP to understand that it is not by repeating obvious lies that an opposition party can be effective, but by being creative, knowledgeable, resourceful and above all credible. It is not by cheap blackmail, but by being resilient.

”This is why we wish to extend to the National Working Committee of the PDP a free orientation, just as we have offered the party’s spokesman a free crash course in how to be an opposition party spokesman. The theme of the orientation for the PDP NWC members will
be ‘transiting from the ruling party to an opposition party’

”In the first instance, there is no substitute for experience. Also, we believe that democracy will be deepened only when there is cooperation between the governing party and the opposition, hence the offer,” the party said.

APC slammed the PDP for daring to complain of harassment and intimidation by the APC, saying if any party is guilty of harassment, intimidation and impunity before, during and after the 2015 general elections, it is the PDP.

”Have they so soon forgotten the reckless show of shame by their OPC lackeys with the full support of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos or the mindless bombings and killings of APC members in Rivers and Gombe states, among others? Only on Monday, APC supporters were again reportedly killed in Rivers and Kaduna states.

”Haven’t the folks in the PDP seen the pictures being circulated of their (PDP) supporters brandishing machetes in broad daylight during the party’s campaign in Aba on Tuesday (21April)?” it queried.

APC also described as laughable the allegation by the PDP that the APC is trying to turn the country into a one-party state by luring and making irresistible offers to the leadership of the PDP.

”The truth of the matter is that the leadership of the PDP is not even waiting to be approached before fleeing to the APC. PDP leaders and members are falling over themselves shamelessly and swearing undying allegiance to the APC. Well, in case they did not get the message of the President-elect and our National Chairman, we want to repeat it in very blunt terms: PDP leaders and members, you are not welcome in APC. Please stay in your party, but if – as we suspect – you cannot survive in opposition, then take a walk, quit politics,” the party said.

APC also reacted to the whining of the PDP concerning alleged plan by the APC to use the Election Petition Tribunals ‘to truncate and subvert the freely given mandate by the people in the states and constituencies’, saying it amounts to blackmail.

”No amount of blackmail from the PDP will dissuade us from seeking redress in the Election Petition Tribunals, especially in states where the whole world knows there were no elections. Since we don’t believe in self-help like the PDP, we see a recourse to the Tribunal as a lawful means of giving vent to our rejection of the massive electoral malfeasance and the resort to violence in some states

”In case the PDP, beaten and battered by electoral pummeling, has forgotten, the recourse to the Tribunals to seek redress is the only lawful means of resolving electoral disputes. Anything else amounts to self-help, which is not our forte,” the party said.