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Atiku, Tinubu, Obi should step aside from contesting 2027 presidential election – Okonkwo

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A former member of the Labour Party (LP) Kenneth Okonkwo has asked President Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step aside from vying for the presidential seat in the next election.

Okonkwo was a spokesman of the LP presidential campaign team in the 2023 general election, working alongside Obi who flew the party’s flag in that poll.

But two years down the line, the Nollywood actor-turned-politician has backtracked from his support for Obi, asking the LP chieftain, Atiku and Tinubu to step aside for other candidates in Nigeria’s next round of elections.

When asked on Channels Television’s Politics Today if he still wants the trio to give way for other candidates in the next general election, he said, “I said it and I maintain it because in Nigeria, people will not give you their mandate and you treat it with levity.

“You must do everything decisively to secure it. Unfortunately, nature has bestowed on us the duty that in Nigeria, you will not only win an election, but you have to fight for your mandate,” Okonkwo said on Tuesday.

The former LP chieftain said though he worked with Obi in the 2023 election, that is now in the past.

“I still maintain that. Whatever happened in 2023 should stay in 2023, ” the actor said, ruling out backing the former Anambra State governor in the next round of general polls in Nigeria.

Kenneth Okonkwo

Why I Resigned from Labour Party’ – Okonkwo

Okonkwo was a key member of the Labour Party – the party that took the political space by storm in the last election. Obi came third in that exercise, garnering over six million votes with the majority of his support base being youths.

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However, Okonkwo resigned from the party on Tuesday, citing internal rambles in the Labour Party.

The former member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ruled out returning to the ruling party.

“I resigned [to leave APC] on principle,” Okonkwo insisted but gave only one condition to return to the party.

“Let me tell you, I will be the first person to admit if the APC changes today and is doing well for Nigeria,” he said, accusing the ruling party of failing to address the country’s challenges.

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El-Rufai Doesn’t Believe In Democracy  —  SDP Youths

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… Reject ex-gov defection
… Insist his anti-people policies undermines democracy

A coalition of youths within Nigeria’s Social Democratic Party (SDP) has vehemently opposed the recent defection of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, asserting that his “history is littered with anti-democratic tendencies and a disregard for inclusivity.”

El-Rufai officially joined the SDP earlier this week after publicly criticising the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and engaging with opposition leaders. However, his defection has ignited significant backlash among certain party members, particularly within the SDP Youths and Supporters Coalition.

In a statement released on Friday, the coalition, led by its president, Comrade Abdulsamad Bello, labelled El-Rufai as “unfit and morally unqualified” to be part of the SDP, citing his so-called “anti-democratic record” during his tenure as governor.

“We categorically reject El-Rufai’s entrance into our party. He comes not as a reformer but as an undertaker, seeking to undermine the SDP before it even has the opportunity to flourish,” Bello stated.

The coalition further condemned the party’s leadership for what it termed a “clandestine deal” that facilitated El-Rufai’s defection, warning that his involvement could jeopardise the party’s stability.

“El-Rufai has consistently demonstrated a lack of belief in democracy. His track record of suppressing opposition voices, sidelining party members, and enforcing his will through coercion is well-documented,” Bello continued.

“It is astonishing that the leadership of our party would permit itself to be infiltrated by someone whose time in office was characterised by impunity, authoritarianism, and a blatant disregard for democratic principles.”

Tensions have already flared following the former governor’s entry into the party. On Wednesday, his supporters staged a protest at the SDP national headquarters in Abuja, demanding the resignation of the party’s national secretary, Olu Agunloye.

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According to the youth coalition, this incident is indicative of El-Rufai’s attempt to assert control over the party’s leadership.

“Merely days after joining our party, El-Rufai is already pushing for a leadership change. He is demanding the resignation of Olu Agunloye, despite the party having its own internal mechanisms for addressing such issues.

“This is a clear indication of his desperation to dominate the SDP and reshape it in his own image,” the statement asserted.

The group accused El-Rufai of utilising the SDP as a vehicle for his personal political ambitions, particularly in light of his recent criticisms of President Bola Tinubu and the APC.

“El-Rufai’s departure from the APC and his calculated entry into the SDP is nothing more than a desperate attempt to rebrand himself politically,” Bello remarked.

“The same individual who previously derided opposition leaders and dismissed them as irrelevant is now seeking refuge among them. His hypocrisy knows no bounds.”

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PDP Accuses Sokoto Govt Of Overdraft To Meet Up Obligations

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BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

The Sokoto state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have accuses the ruling All Progressive Party  (APC) led government of resorting to overdraft before meeting it’s obligations.

Making the allegation in a press release signed by the PDP’s Publicity Secretary, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, the party expressed gave concerns on the development saying, this is coming at a time when huge amount of money is coming into the state from the federation account every month.

“”The PDP is constrained to accord credence to the widely held claim that the State Government currently resorts to overdrafts to meet up with its obligations to civil servants and pensioners. We view this as an alarming development, considering the unprecedented funds that accrues to the State from Federal Allocations monthly, without any visible competing expenditure on real development projects”.

While decrying that their sympathy also goes out to all employees in the state who are yet get their February salary, PDP said, as things stands,  some civil servants might not get paid even after fasting.

This, according to the party,  could be linked to the ongoing politically initiated workers verification exercise which has made life very biting for some workers perceived to be apologetic to the PDP.

The release from Hassan Sahabi Sanynnnawal read in part, “‘It is with deep sympathy for state government employees and concern over the condition of the Sokoto State civil service that the People’s Democratic Party in the State wishes to express indignation over the repeated failure of the Sokoto State Government to promptly pay monthly salaries to its employees.

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“‘This sad development which reared its ugly head, since the APC administration of Ahmed Aliyu made a belated attempt to pay the national minimum wage, has now become the norm. We note that salaries are now  delayed up til the middle of the new month, along with a backlog of unpaid workers from the previous month.

”The PDP is constrained to accord credence to the widely held claim that the State Government currently resorts to overdrafts to meet up with its obligations to civil servants and pensioners. We view this as an alarming development, considering the unprecedented funds that accrues to the State from Federal Allocations monthly, without any visible competing expenditure on real development projects””.

Continuing, Hassan said, ”Most regrettable is Ahmed Aliyu’s failure to pay February salaries way into the month of March and the beginning of the sacred month of Ramadan, which is the first time in the history of Sokoto State. It is additionally regrettable that many civil servants are still unpaid, as the middle of the fasting approaches”‘.

He therefore submitted that, the development negates the governor Ahmed Aliyu’s pledge of prompt settlement of salaries to show a gross deviation from his lofty campaign promises to the people of the state.

 

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PDP yet to conduct South-South zonal congress- Damagum

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday, inaugurated its South-South Caretaker Committee, saying it is yet to conduct its congress for the zone.

The PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, stated this while inaugurating the Chief Emmanuel Ogidi-led PDP South-South Zonal Caretaker Committee at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

“I want to use this opportunity to tell us that there was no election in the south south as far as this party is concerned.

“I have to make this clear because the tenure of the zonal committee has expired and we still have a few weeks or a month or so to hold the congresses, hence the necessity for this caretaker committee.”

Danmagum advised the zonal caretaker committee members not to be biased or take sides with any member.

He urged them to be diligent in the execution of their duties and come up with an all-inclusive election for new executive committee of the zone.

“ I have no doubt that you will be diligent in your responsibility and usher in the new, soon-to-be-elected executive committee of the zone,’’ he said.

Damagum described PDP as a party to beat, urging its leaders not to be afraid of constructively engaging the ruing party.

“Nobody is going to change your destiny for you other than yourself. So please, let’s be up and doing. Don’t fear anyone, Nigeria belongs to all of us. There’s nobody who is a better Nigerian than you are.

“It’s all an opportunity and if you put your acts together, the path is very bright, we will reach the destination,’ Damagun said.

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In his remarks, Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, represented by his Deputy, Monday Onyeme, also tasked the committee to discharge its duties in a manner that would further unite the party in the zone.

“It is my prayer that this new caretaker committee will discharge its duties very favorably to the extent that our great party will become more united and continue to win elections in the south-south just as we used to.

“It is my belief and that come 2027, all the six states of the south-south will belong to PDP,’’ Oborevwori said.

The Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) Sen. Adolphus Wabara said inauguration of the caretaker committee was not about the 2027 general elections but to get PDP right.

“It’s about PDP as a platform. If we get it right, 2027 is just for us to pick,’ he said.

The Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, described the inauguration as inspiring and a signal that the PDP is on the trajectory of regaining its winning ways.

Moro assured the party of the continued support of PDP lawmakers in the national assembly.

The chairman of the caretaker committee, however, pledged that the members would discharge their responsibility passionately with all fairness, saying “we will give everyone equal opportunity.

“I want to give thanks to God Almighty for this opportunity to serve and also to the National Working Committee for approving us.

“I want to assure you that by the grace of God, we will discharge our duties dispassionately to the glory of God.

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I want to thank everybody present. I will assure you that what is expected of us, we are going to do it,’’ he said.(NAN)

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