Global Naija Info

Senator Ken Nnamani Some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South East have described the defection of a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, to the party as a `welcome development’. The APC chieftains, who spoke in separate interviews with newsmen on Tuesday in Enugu, said that the gale of defections by South East politicians to the ruling party was good for the zone. Mr Osita Okechukwu, Director-General, of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), said the APC welcomes with open arms the political bigwigs who had found it worthy to identify with the progressives. Okechukwu, however, called for caution in order not to admit those who participated in dislocating and subverting the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP). “My fear is that those who have excess baggage may also wittingly or unwittingly infect the APC in Enugu State with such anti-democratic and less than transparent tendency,” he said. Okechukwu described Nnamani as `a politician with high integrity’...

APC The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi, has commenced moves to lure two prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the party. Alhaji Sani Hukuma, a chieftain of the APC, and chairman, Kebbi State APC elders’ forum, made the disclosure on Friday in Birnin Kebbi while addressing newsmen. He said that the leadership of the party is making efforts to lure Alhaji Saidu Dakingari, the former governor and Alhaji Musa Dan-Illela, PDP state chairman to defect to the APC. “Yes, I led a delegation to the state chairman of the PDP; he organised an unprecedented dinner to welcome us to his house. “We are still consulting the former governor Alhaji Saidu Dakingari to join our fold in order to move the state forward. “As soon as the consultation is over, the opposition is over in Kebbi,” he said. Hukuma said that Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, the incumbent governor, supported his predecessor during his (Dakingari’s) two terms in office. “Some hypocrites, who were bent ...

PDP logo Having won seats in the House of Assembly and House of Representatives in the last general elections, the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has boasted that it is better positioned to win if any election is conducted in the state now. The Publicity Secretary of the party, Taofik Gani who stated this during an interview, added that the catchment areas of the PDP in Lagos State were well outlined now and that the party was working hard to increase the catchment areas. He took a swipe at the All Progressives Congress, APC, led government in the state for failing to conduct council elections at the expiration of the tenure of democratically elected council chairmen. “The Lagos State PDP is well prepared for the council elections. We were expecting that local government elections would be conducted at the expiration of the democratically elected council chairmen but for whatever reasons, the former Governor Raji Fashola shied away from conducting the el...

PDP-logo As at the last count, not less than 60 aspirants have signified interest in contesting for chairmanship and councillorship positions in Ikorodu Central Local Council Development Area, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, in the forthcoming local government elections. The party which is trying to dislodge the ruling party despite its internal challenges, assured that factions within its fold are resolving their problems. PDP chairman in the area, Adesina Musiliu, dismissed insinuations that the crisis at the national level would affect the chances of the party in the elections. “The internal crisis has nothing to do with the growth of the party, and I want to assure you that if the election is free and fair, we have all it takes to win,” he said. He assured that if elected, PDP would fix bad roads in the area, adding that it would also renovate the many primary schools in the area, which he said were in bad shape. He said his party would address the concern of the people as regards...

Chief Abdukareem Adebisi Akande President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated elder statesman and founding Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Abdukareem Adebisi Akande, as he turns 78 years on Jan. 16. This congratulatory message is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the president. Adesina said Buhari joined all members of the APC, friends and immediate family of the eminent leader in celebrating the birthday of Akande. The president noted with delight that Akande was one of the pillars of the opposition party that had successfully ensured a round victory and smooth transition to unseat an incumbent president in 2015. According to him, Akande’s wisdom, sacrifices, patriotism and commitment to the unity and development of Nigeria will always be remembered by posterity. Buhari affirmed that Akande’s present role in the APC as a strong, visionary leader, a reconciling voice...

President Yayah Jammeh of Gambia Gambia’s outgoing President Yayah Jammeh will not step down when his mandate which ends on Jan. 18, in spite of his electoral defeat, the Information Ministry said on Thursday. The autocrat, who ruled the small West African nation for 22 years, will remain in office until the Supreme Court decides on a petition filed by Jammeh. According to the statement, Jammeh is challenging the result of the Dec. 1 presidential election. President-elect Adama Barrow, a former real estate agent who was little known before he announced his candidacy, meanwhile reiterated he is planning to take office on Jan. 19, as scheduled. Earlier, Gambia’s current dysfunctional Supreme Court adjourned hearing Jammeh’s petition till Jan. 16 since only one of a required minimum of five judges were present. Experts, however, believe it will be highly unlikely that four additional judges will be present on Monday. This is because the Supreme Court has not been operational sinc...

Ahmed Wadada A three-term member, who represented Karu/Keffi/Kokokona Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ahmed Wadada, has moved from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking on Thursday at the APC State Secretariat in Lafia, Wadada said he was attracted to the party as a result of the developmental strides of the APC-led government at the national and state levels. He said that his decision to decamp with all his supporters was done in consultation with the critical stakeholders and communities from his constituency. Wadada said that, though he was in PDP for more than 16 years, he dumped the party due to his concern and love for his people and in response to their calls. He said that it was not a one-way traffic as he benefited a lot from the PDP while he was there, adding that the party had also benefited so much from him. “The name I have today, the honour I have today and the credibility I have today, all came due t...

Dr Jerry Gana The Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not change its registered name for a mega party, Prof. Jerry Gana, has said. Gana, who chairs the PDP Strategic Review and Inter-party Affairs Committee, made statement on Thursday in Abuja in an interview with newsmen during a meeting of the committee. Asked for his comment on the recommendations of the committee on the issue of mega party, Gana said that the party’s relationship with other political parties would be based on principle and cleared ‎guidelines. He said: “on the progress of the alliance, I will not like to give details of what is being recommended, but the PDP is desirous of attracting all lovers of democracy across the country as we move forward. “There are details I cannot divulge at the moment because the committee’s recommendations will be passed on to the party leadership. It will not be wise to disclose the details before we submit the report. “On the issue of meg...

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State The Court of Appeal Abuja has reserved judgment on a suit challenging the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Enugu State governorship primary that produced Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as candidate. Sen. Anyogu Eze, an aspirant in that contest, had filed the appeal at the appellate court. Justice Tinuade Akomolafe-Wilson, who led the 3-man panel on Thursday, reserved the judgment after counsel to the parties had adopted their written addresses. Akomolafe-Wilson said parties would be duly informed when the judgment was ready. Eze had prayed the court to remove the governor, adding that he (Ugwuanyi) was not validly nominated by the PDP to contest the April 11, 2015, governorship election. According to him, the governor emerged from an invalid primary election conducted on Dec. 8, 2015, by strange people who had claimed to be leaders of the party. Mr. Adebayo Adelodun (SAN), counsel to Eze, said Ugwuanyi was merely picked by some persons at the Na...

Justice Ayotunde Philips, Chairman, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC). The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged the state Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to announce the date and guidelines for the conduct of election into the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas within 14 days. The party threatened to call for sack of members of the electoral body led by Justice Ayotunde Phillips (retd.) if it failed to do so. The party’s publicity secretary, Mr. Taofik Gani, in a statement, said the call became necessary following the recent Supreme Court judgment which reiterated the illegality and unconstitutionality of unelected persons to govern local government areas in the country. The party threatened that it would sponsor the removal of the present LASIEC board particularly to prevent disobedience to the councils’ bye laws and authorities. The party added that the tenure of the last democratically elec...

Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh President Yahya Jammeh, who has ruled The Gambia for 22 years, has conceded defeat to opposition leader Adama Barrow, the chairman of the electoral commission said on Friday “It’s really unique that someone who has been ruling this country for so long has accepted defeat,” Alieu Momar Njie told reporters.

Mr. Babatope Akinyele, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be neutral in the conduct of Saturday Ifako/Ijaiye Federal Constituency by-election in Lagos state. Akinyele gave the advice on Thursday in Ifako/Ijaiye while speaking with newsmen on the sideline of the stakeholders’ forum organized by INEC on the forthcoming exercise. He expressed delight on the preparedness of the commission for the election. “I believe INEC is ready. With what I see on ground, INEC is ready for this election and I don’t see anything otherwise,” he said. The candidate, who urged voters to come out en masse to vote for PDP, promised to bring ‘’real transformation’’ to the area if voted. He said that he would influence real change to the area in terms of road infrastructure, quality representation and empowerment. “I know what the people need. I know the basic things people expect from the government and these will be my pri...

PDP-logo The Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has resolved to challenge the outcome of the Saturday Ondo State governorship election at the tribunal. The party in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dayo Adeyeye, said this in Abuja on Monday. Adeyeye said that the faction had instructed its candidate in the election, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, to be joined by the state chapter of the party for the legal battle. The faction which called for the total cancellation of the election results said, “we vehemently reject the results of the Nov. 26 gubernatorial election in Ondo State. “The election and all actions leading to it fall short of laid down principles guiding conduct of elections in Nigeria.” Adeyeye recalled that PDP persistently called for the postponement of the election for at least two weeks to enable it campaign and prepare properly for the exercise. He said that the refusal of INEC to grant the postponement...

Prince Eze Madumere The Deputy Governor of Imo, Prince Eze Madumere, on Monday, said the All progressives Congress’s (APC) victory in the Ondo gubernatorial elections “is a victory for democracy”. Madumere told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja while reacting to the election results. He said that the victory was a referendum by the people of Ondo to join the ‘progressives’ in re-engineering Nigeria. “First and foremost, I want to congratulate the governor-elect on his resounding victory at the polls. I also felicitate with our great party; All Progressives Congress (APC). “I congratulate specially the good people of Ondo for honouring the call to join hands to rebuild the state and Nigeria at large,’’ Madumere said. The Imo Deputy Governor, who congratulated Chief Rotimi Akeredolu on his well-deserved victory, said that his victory was a testimony of the giant strides of President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government. He expressed confidence in the political vibranc...

APC The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi, has dismissed insinuations of any dispute between Gov. Atiku Bagudu and his predecessor, Sen. Adamu Aliero. The Chairman of the APC Elders Committee, Alhaji Sani Zauro, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, on Monday, that the speculations were the handiwork of mischief makers and dissenters within the party. The former and present governors had maintained a cordial relationship aimed at improving the fortunes of the party,’’ he added. He said the governor and his predecessor were working in harmony to ensure that the party wins future elections to further unite the party, adding that “mischief makers have no place in the APC”. Zauro said the party would introduce modalities to ensure unity and respect for leadership as well as work towards the attainment of more victories in the future. He said the elders’ committee had met with Bagudu and would implement strategies that could improve the welfare of members. The APC chairman, therefor...

Akeredolu after winning in his polling booth Mr. Philip Nyam, a Public Affairs Analyst, based in Abuja, on Monday, said that the conduct and outcome of the Nov.26 Ondo state Governorship showed that democracy was maturing in Nigeria. Nyam made the remark on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja while reacting to the just concluded governorship in that state. He added that the successful and peaceful conclusion of the election was indicative of the improved performance of INEC in organizing elections in the country. “Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu’s victory is a clear sign that democracy is maturing and that INEC has improved with each election‎. “This is because some of the lapses we saw during the Edo gubernatorial election have been taken care of,” he said. Nyam added that the victory of Akeredolu was a clear sign that Nigerians still had faith in the ability of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a party that delivered on its promises to the people. ...

Dakuku Peterside, NIMASA DG Dr Dakuku Peterside, the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has congratulated Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) of the APC for winning the Ondo State governorship election. In a statement made on Sunday in Abuja, Peterside maintained that the APC would have won the state in any free, fair and credible election devoid of violence and intimidation. He called on the governor-elect to be humble in his victory and see his emergence as the wish of the people of the state to chart a new course in the realization of their hopes and aspirations. “The people of Ondo State have spoken in loud and clear voice. They have chosen the candidate of their choice in a free and fair manner. “I have always said that APC will win any free and fair contest. I congratulate the people of Ondo State and Chief Rotimi Akeredolu for this victory. “I call on Chief Akeredolu to see his victory as that of the entire Ondo State people. “The ...

Mr Eyitayo Jegede, PDP Governorship candidate for Ondo State Eyitayo Jegede Following Wednesday’s Appeal Court judgment, the Eyitayo Jegede’s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is rushing gubernatorial election campaigns in Ondo to beat Friday night deadline. The Appeal Court in Abuja declared Jegede the authentic PDP candidate for the poll slated for Nov. 26. The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace Jimoh Ibrahim’s name with that of Jegede. Before the judgment, INEC approved Ibrahim as the PDP candidate for the election. Jegede’s campaign jingles and promos rented radio and television airwaves immediately after the judgment. A NAN correspondent who went round Okitipupa on Thursday observed that Jegede’s campaign train was in the town and its environs. Jegede’s campaign team sang his praises and distributed fliers on his election bid. His supporters were also jubilating, dancing and singing different campaign songs. Meanwhi...

Mr Eyitayo Jegede, PDP Governorship candidate for Ondo State The Supreme Court on Thursday further validated the candidacy of Mr. Eyitayo Jegede as the PDP flag bearer in Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State. This was sequel to the striking out of all the pending interlocutory appeals filed by the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the party. Justice Walter Onnoghen, leading four other justices of the apex court, held that Wednesday’s judgment of the Court of Appeal on the main appeals rendered the interlocutory ones academic. Onnoghen held that it was against the rules of the court to determine interlocutory appeals and motions when a lower court had decided on the substantive issues. “To this end, all interlocutory appeals relating to the Ondo State PDP governorship crisis and the leadership tussle of the party at the national level are hereby struck out. “The contending parties are ordered to go back to the lower court and do the needful. “That would mean filing notice o...

Chief Yele Omogunwa Chief Yele Omogunwa, the PDP Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District of Ondo State, on Thursday, confirmed his defection to All Progressives Congress (APC). Omogunwa confirmed his defection in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure. The lawmaker, who was a former Commissioner for Works in Ondo State, said that he had formally joined APC at his hometown, Ode-Irele in Irele Local Government Area of the state. “It is very correct that I have decamped to APC and it was done in my country home, Ode-Irele. “I am no more in PDP, but now a bonafide member of APC. My reasons for joining APC are personal,” he said. NAN reports that with the defection of Omogunwa, all the three Senators representing Ondo State at the upper chamber of National Assembly, are now members of APC. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Nov. 26 for the Ondo State Governorship Election.