POLITICS
Bayelsa PDP debunks rumour of planned mass defection of members to APC
The Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied a report that more of its members are planning to defect to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC.
A socio-political movement, Bayelsa Great House, was reported at the weekend to have said the party’s former Chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba (retd), who recently defected to the APC, was wooing other key stalwarts to join him.
But in a statement on Sunday, the state Secretary of the party, Keku Godspower said the claim was false since PDP’s leadership and members were behind Governor Seriake Dickson and were committed to his re-election.
Godspower said Inokoba did not have the political strength to swing the support of PDP members for the APC.
The PDP secretary described the former chairman and other defectors as selfish, who engaged in anti-party activities for some time.
He said: “We wish to state categorically that contrary to a newspaper report, no member of the Bayelsa State Working Committee (SWC) or the purported non-working committee and our members across the state were considering leaving the party.
“We want to make it clear that contrary to the propaganda, all the organs of the party at all levels are intact and are fully behind the re-election of Governor Dickson. Inokoba and his phantom Bayelsa Great House are political charlatans who will be disgraced in due time.”
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has disclosed why President Muhammadu Buhari loves Rotimi Amaechi, the outgone Minister of Transportation.
Rufai disclosed that Buhari loves Amaechi due to his decision to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, during the era of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He disclosed this when Amaechi met with APC delegates from Kaduna ahead of the party’s national convention.
El-Rufai recalled wooing Amaechi and some other governors into the APC during the PDP administration.
“Let me tell you my history with Amaechi. When we started discussing with the G-7, the seven governors that wanted to defect to the APC, I was holding nocturnal meetings with Amaechi and Governor Nyako of Adamawa State until we got five of them to move to our party, and that was the game-changer.
“And for you to understand how difficult it is, imagine Amaechi of Rivers State from the same South-South with incumbent President Jonathan.
“He made the sacrifice to move to our party. It was a game-changer. This is part of the reason President Buhari loves Minister Amaechi till tomorrow,” El-Rufai said.
Former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has denied stepping down from the 2023 presidential election for the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.
Amosun stated that he is not in the presidential race to align with Tinubu or any other aspirant of the APC.
Amosun also denied obtaining the APC senatorial form, saying he did not attend the screening exercise organised for APC senatorial aspirants, as being peddled by some individuals.
There were rumours over the weekend that Amosun had agreed to step down for Tinubu, having been screened and cleared for the Ogun Central senatorial race.
But, in a swift reaction, Amosun debunked the rumour spreading on social media, saying the “two news stories are false.”
According to a statement signed by his media aide, Bola Adeyemi, he said that the Ogun Central Senator “procured only the forms for the presidential ticket of the APC and did not attend the screening exercise for Senatorial aspirants because he is not one.”
While urging Nigerians to dismiss the “false news”, Adeyemi maintained that “Amosun is in the race for the presidential ticket of the APC and has no plans to align with any politician in the race.”
Dame Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs, has dropped her senatorial ambition.
Tallen made this known in a statement she issued on Monday.
The minister had purchased the All Progressives Congress (APC) form to contest the Plateau South Senatorial election.
According to her, after consultations with her constituents, she has decided to withdraw from the race.
The statement read in part: “I remain resolute as I continue to relish the opportunity to serve Nigerian Women in my capacity as Minister of Women Affairs under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Consequently, I wish to inform you all that following broad-based consultations and interventions from critical stakeholders, I have decided to withdraw from running for the senatorial seat, mindful of our accomplishments and the notable progress we have recorded under my stewardship at the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.”
-
POLITICS9 hours ago
Women affairs Minister, Pauline Tallen withdraws from senatorial race
-
BUSINESS1 day agoNigeria issues new guidelines on cryptocurrencies
-
ENTERTAINMENT1 day agoAMVCA 2022: Ramsey Noah’s Rattlesnake, Funke Akindele win big [Full list of Winners]
-
SPORTS1 day agoBundesliga: Lewandowski confirms Bayern Munich exit
-
NEWS1 day ago2023 : We are against Muslim-Muslim ticket, handover to Christian – PFN tells Buhari
-
NEWS1 day agoMalami, Ngige deny tendering resignation letters as Ministers
-
NEWS1 day agoSoludo visits Nnamdi Kanu in detention
-
NEWS1 day agoKukah suspends Catholic masses in Sokoto