Defection Tsunami Hits Edo PDP As Tony Anileh, Other Leaders With Over 3000 Members Defect To APC

Chief John Odegie-Oyegun has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is dead following the mass defection members of the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC). 

Vanguard reports that Oyegun made this comment when he received more than 3000 PDP leaders into the APC in Oredo local government area in Edo state. 

Some of the top PDP members who defected to the APC include Mr. Ebima Ogbeide, Tony Anileh, (Not Tony Anenih) Madam Goldenpenny, Pius Izemwingie, Ikponmwonsa Usiobafoh, Mrs. Vero Aguebor, Wilfred Enabulele, secretary ward 5, and Mr. Ebima Ogbeide. 

Chief John Oyegun The chairman of the APC said the party was still ready to accommodate as many PDP members who were interested in leaving. “Massive development has already started in the state, and we welcome people who have the interest of the state and are progressive minded to join to continue with this development. 

Looking at the calibre of leaders defecting, I laugh when I see PDP boast of winning. Honestly, they are dead and buried in Edo.” Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo also confirmed that the PDP was now irrelevant in the state and it was impossible for the party to win. 

He said: “The defection of Dennis Evbuomwan, the Oredo PDP leader, marked the end of the party in the state. For me, the coming of Evbuomwan, and other leaders of the PDP in Oredo, along with their unit leaders, means they are here with a complete story. 

The unit heads are the real people in the field. A few weeks ago, Alhaji Abubakar Momoh led thousands of members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the PDP. Momoh who was the senatorial candidate of SDP in the last general election in Edo North led mem­bers and supporters to resign en-masse from the party to join the PDP at a campaign rally held at Royal block Court­yard at Auchi in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

“We decided to join the PDP because it has a candidate that will help Edo State get out of where it is today which is not comfortable. That candidate is a person who I believe will help to move Edo forward.”

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VP Osinbajo, Southwest Ministers, Govs., APC SHOCK Buhari; Back Restructuring of Nigeria Clamour

Apparently opposing to the view of President Muhammadu Buhari on the current political and economic structure of Nigeria, the Southwest Zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday  join several other Nigerians who have been calling for the restructuring of the nation, but insist on TRUE FEDERALISM. 

The party leaders made the call at their conference held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

They also called for free and compulsory education in primary and secondary schools in Southwest states and pledged to conduct a free and fair primary for aspirants to political offices in Ondo State.

The conference was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was represented by Senator Babafemi Ojudu, special adviser (political) to President Muhammadu Buhari, Governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo). Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun was represented by his deputy Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, The National Newspaper published

Ministers Adebayo Shittu (Communications) and Kayode Fayemi (Solid Minerals) also attended.

APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun was represented by Deputy Chairman (South) Chief Segun Oni, who led party leaders in the six states of the Southwest.

In an eight-point communique, the party posited that “meaningful progress and socio-economic development of the Nigerian nation is unattainable without restructuring the extant, largely unitarian geo-political arrangement. “It is by such re-arrangement, leading to genuine and true political and fiscal federalism that the innate energies of the people of Nigeria can be released and new vistas of human development opened up.”

Setting the tone for the discourse, Ajimobi, called on the party in the zone to engage political office holders regularly and make meaningful input in policy formulation and delivery.

He said the party must organise leaders and members to talk together, think together and share ideas and thoughts on how to offer better governance to Nigerians.

He said: “Let our party create avenues to have position papers on policies. President Buhari is one simple individual that is corruption-free. He has integrity. He is completely simple. It is clear he is the best for this time. But we must help him by conversing with him always through the instrument of the party presenting position papers. We must participate more in the APC-led government.”

Aregbesola said without a restructuring of the country, only little can be gained by all stakeholders in the current arrangement.

He lamented that most states are spending their resources to maintain the civil service whose population is scarcely more than 10 per cent of the total population. “That is why we must restructure Nigeria.” He said.

As revenues plummets, Aregbesola said the situation offers opportunity for the Yoruba to revitalize the concept of working for whatever they earn.

His words: “We must make earning for living a core concept. Let Southwest start and lead in reviving this concept. Work for what you earn.”

Vice President Osinbajo said this administration did not fully appreciate the enormity of the corruption and decadence in governance until it took office last year.

He said the pains of today was a result of “yesterday’s mismanagement of the commonwealth of our great country.”

But he said President Buhari was aware of the pains of citizens. The Vice President assured Nigerians that a glorious dawn awaited them.

Osinbajo pleaded with citizens to show understanding and be patient as the administration works to make the country better.

“Change is not easy. But we are not relenting until we achieve a better life for all Nigerians. The change that we advocate will be irrevocable when we are finally done.” He said.

Assuring that the desired change was already here, Osinbajo said some investors have shown interest in building refineries in Nigeria.

He also pointed out that current improvement in power supply is a result of the efforts of the government, adding that the government was committed to the implementation of the health insurance scheme, diversification of the economy, infrastructural development and job creation.

Chief Odigie-Oyegun told party men to educate their followers and members of the public that the ‘change’ mantra is not an event but a process which takes time to be fully achieved.

He promised that recommendations of the meeting would be considered at the national secretariat of the party.

In his welcome address, the National Vice Chairman (Southwest) Chief Pius Akinyelure, said the contribution of the Southwest Zone to the success of the APC at the national level was not in doubt.

But as change agents, Akinyelure said the party leadership in the zone was not under illusion that greater efforts are not needed to put the nation back on track.

He commended governors in the region for sustaining its economic relevance in Nigerian through their popular policies.

Akinyelure also called on feuding governorship aspirants in Ondo State to come together and allow peace to reign. He assured them that the party would conduct a free and fair primary and urged aspirants to support anyone that emerges as the party’s candidate.

In the communique , the party said in view of its huge contribution to the ideological and policy thrust of the APC as well as the enthronement of the party at the federal level, the Southwest Zone must become more engaged with, and engaging in, influencing the affairs of the party and government at the national level.

It added: “The need for diversification of the economy has become mandatory for the successful enthronement of true political and fiscal federalism with each geo-political zone exploring its resources for maximum development.

“The primary role of quality education in the progress and development of a people was acknowledged. However, it is most disturbing that the present Southwest Zone that used to commit as much as 30 per cent of its budget to education is no longer able to achieve such level of support. The conference agreed with the submission of the guest lecturer that primary and secondary education should be made compulsory and free in the Southwest zone.

“In considering the importance of the upcoming governorship election in Ondo State on November 10, the conference made a passionate appeal for the unity of party members throughout the exercise towards the emergence of the party’s candidate. Specifically, the conference pledged the commitment of the leadership of APC Southwest zone to a free and fair process in picking the candidate of the party for the election. It also appealed to all aspirants to rally and give full support to the successful aspirant in order to face the November 10 election with the full force of the party as it is imperative to bring the government of Ondo State into the fold of the progressives.”

Also at the conference were: former governor of Old Ondo State, Chief Bamidele Olumilua; former deputy governors and Chief Ayo Fasanmi.

Others are chairmen of the party in Oyo (Chief Akin Oke); Ogun (Chief Rokeeb Adeniyi); Lagos (Chief Oladele Ajomale); Osun (Chief Gboyega Famodun) and Ekiti (Chief Jide Awe); National Legal Adviser Dr Muiz Banire;  Senator Ganiyu Solomon; Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora;  Chief Tajudeen Olusi, members of the House of Representatives, Houses of Assembly and political office holders.

Excerpted From TheNation

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Oyegun: The WORST Mistake I've Ever Made As APC Chairman

The national Chairman of the ruling All progressives Congress, APC has recounted among others the worst mistake he had ever made as the party's chairman.

Oyegun in an interview with the Daily Trust shared that his decision to call the meeting that took place on the the National Assembly was inaugurated.

"There are lots of decisions, not just one, some of which are private. If you want to limit it to the recent past, I would say the decision to call the meeting that took place on the day the National Assembly was inaugurated."
"That was a bad mistake. I was persuaded and I agreed to call that meeting. Had it been it did not take place, we probably won’t have a PDP person there today as the deputy Senate president."
"The anger within the leadership of the party may not have turned out as strong as it became," Oyegun said

It would be recalled the that APC summoned all it National Assembly members on June 8th 2015 in a bid to pass in a bid to pass instruction on who emerges what at the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Meeting which was boycotted by Senate President Bukola Saraki and few of his APC loyalist.

Saraki's group, while other APC lawmakers were holding meeting with the party leaders, conspired with the PDP Senators, conducted election with the forged Senate Standing rule that ushered him and Ike Ekweremadu as the Senate President and the deputy respectively.

CCT Trial: Jittery Saraki In All Night Secret Meeting With Buhari, APC Leaders At Aso Rock

A very crucial meeting, which may not be unconnected with the trial of the embattled President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki yesterday held at the Aso Rock, Abuja, News Punch understands

The meeting, which was also reported by The Nation Newspaper has it that President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday night held a closed door meeting with some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting started around 9.13 p.m when the President arrived the First Lady Conference Room, venue of the meeting.

Those at the meeting when it started included Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

Others include Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari and Senate Leader, Ali Ndume.

Also at the meeting were the National Chairman of APC, John Odegie-Oyegun, Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, and former Minister of Information, Tony Momoh.

The meeting was also attended by the APC Deputy National Chairman North, Shuaibu Lawali, and APC Deputy National Chairman South, Segun Oni.

The meeting was in progress at the time of filing this report.

However, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a prominent Chieftain of the APC was not in attendant.

Saraki is facing corruption trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on 15-count charge over assets fraudulent assets declaration

Saraki Helpless, Ouster Looms As Akpabio, 76 Senators Queue Behind Buhari, APC

The impeachment of the embattled Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki may from now become reality as a total number of 77 senators, including the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, out of 109 have reportedly pledged their loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari, and apparently endorsed Saraki's successor, which will likely be from the ruling All Progressives Congress.

As reported by theNicheNG, Saraki is likely to resign after the May Day holiday, but should in case he remain adamant, plot has been perfected to get him impeached, our source says.

New Punch learnt that many senators who have been in solidarity with him since his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), have now agreed to support his impeachment

Saraki has tried without success to let himself off the hook of the CCT where he faces alleged false declaration of assets.

His support base among his colleagues has diminished in the past three weeks, even when some still talk openly of their resolve to stand by him till the end.

Up to 77 senators have reportedly teamed up with President Muhammadu Buhari to get rid of Saraki.

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, recently told a newspaper that Saraki will not get sympathy from the party in his travails.

Asked if his removal will not provide an opportunity for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to enthrone one of its own as Senate president, Oyegun said the APC would not be bothered by such a scenario playing itself out, but the party is doing everything to ensure the matter does not get to that stage.

A party source told TheNiche that the Presidency, which has distanced itself from Saraki, has engaged in what he called “harvest”.

According to the source, Buhari’s allies are wooing PDP senators, especially those from the South East and South South, to defect to the APC to shore up numerical strength of the party in the Senate.

The APC currently has 64 out of the total 109 Senators – which is short of the two-third majority of 73 to impeach Saraki.

But it seems the “harvest” is paying off as 77 senators from across party lines are now reportedly in Buhari’s column in the Saraki must go campaign.

The senators, allegedly led by Godswill Akpabio (former Akwa Ibom State governor), were said to have held a meeting with Buhari in the Villa on the night of Wednesday, April 27 and pledged their support for his anti-graft war.

News Punch had earlier reported  that Akpabio Forms, Champions New Group Of G-77, Vows To Work With Buhari

“They said they have discovered that Buhari meant well in his anti-corruption war and that they have to support him,” a source disclosed.

Asked when the senators may begin moves to fire Saraki, the source said it may be after the May Day holiday.

Some senators loyal to Saraki had reportedly met in Abuja a few weeks ago and decided to ask him to resign in the interest of the office of the Senate president.

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Kogi Gov. Bello Dumps APC Members, Appoints 45 PDP To Cabinet, Party Declares War With The Gov

The Kogi state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has written to John Odigie-Oyegun, the national chairman, vowing never to have anything to do with Yahaya Bello, the governor, again.

They accused Bello of giving power back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through the back door, alleging that all the 45 appointments made so far were from the ousted ruling party.

At the meeting held on Monday and attended by 33 state exco members and the 21 LGA party chairmen, the party leaders also alleged that Bello is responsible for the crisis in the house of assembly which has not been able to sit because of a leadership tussle.

The federal house of representatives has decided to take over the duties of the assembly, citing constitutional provisions.

Here are the highlights of the communique from the exco meeting made public of Saturday:

• That the State government is not carrying the party structures along in his policy directions, appointments and general governance.
• That we are in the power but still in opposition.
• That we fought power from the PDP only for Governor Yahaya Bello to give back the power to the same PDP.
• That all the 45 appointments made so far by his Excellency, Gov. Yahaya Bello are given to PDP members.
• That there is crisis between our  members in the State house of Assembly instigated by the State Governor.

RESOLUTIONS

• That a communiqué be issued from this meeting to the National Secretariat National Leaders and the Presidency making these observations known to them.
• That since we are not prepared to allow our party to die, we should go back to our various levels and energize our structure and tell them to remain calm, steadfast and committed to the ideals of the party.
• That the State EXCO should cry out for help to the National Secretariat National Leaders and the Presidency.
• That we should invite all our members in the State house of Assembly and intervene with a view to uniting them.
• That we will henceforth have nothing to do with government of Yahaya Bello.
• In view of the above, we plead to the National Leaders and Presidency to consider the State’s ministerial nominee from legacy party so our party will not collapse.

TheCable

Saraki Shuns APC NEC Meeting

Senate President, Bukola Saraki and some governors of APC controlled states, particularly from the southern part of the country as well as some national leaders of the party failed to attend the crucial meeting of the National Executive Council of the APC in Abuja.

There was heavy security around the national secretariat of the party ahead of the meeting with only a few journalists covering the party allowed into the secretariat to cover the meeting on Thursday.

The National Chairman of the party Chief John Odigie Oyegun who arrived the secretariat at exactly 9.10 was subjected to security checks by the Presidential guards before being allowed into the building.

Also absent at the meeting were Deputy Speaker, Suleiman Lasun,  House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, Deputy Whip of the Senator, Francis Alimikhena among others.

Those who attended the NEC meeting include Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Ado Doguwa, Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, former Zamfara state governor, Senator Ahmed Sani and labour leader, Hon. Peter Akpatason, Senators Dino Melaye and Binta Masi Garba.