There are strong indications that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are in confusion and torn apart over the forthcoming presidential primary, slated for June 1.

The major point of disagreement is the mode of primary, the party would adopt. While a clique are averse to consensus option, some others are relentlessly pushing for it and their position seems to align with the body language of  the leader of the party and president, Muhammadu Buhari.

The governors in an apparent move to find a common ground were locked in a protracted crisis meeting on Monday night.

The meeting which was held at the Kebbi state governor’s lodge was presided over by the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), Alhaji Atiku Bagudu.

The meeting which lasted till about 12 mid night seemed not to have resolved the issue as most of the governors who left with stern faces also refused to talk to the media.

Sources in the ruling party revealed that the meeting of the governors was a prelude to another one they had with President Muhammmadu Buhari on Tuesday.

Though, the outcome of the meeting with President Buhari was not made public, sources close to the party said most of the governors may not have been satisfied with the meeting whose crux was again to decide on the mode of the presidential primary.  The president a source said is inclined to a consensus option.

Following the president’s meeting with the governors was that with the 25 presidential aspirants and the one with the leadership of the National Assembly.

The APC has been in a fix over the mode of primary to apply in selecting its presidential candidate. The party has been unable to screen its 25 aspirants who purchased the N100 million  nomination forms.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party also met on Monday without resolving the issue. Interestingly, Monday was the day the party had earlier scheduled to conduct the screening but on Sunday before that day, the party through the National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Felix Morka issued a statement postponing the exercise indefinitely.

During the NWC meeting, sources say the members did not also agree on a common position which allegedly led to minor disagreements and shouting match among some members.

The party again on Tuesday was to issue yet another statement in what it termed “Revised Timetable” for the primary elections only have date and time for the governorship, State Assembly and National Assembly elections, but remained silent on the presidential election.

The NWC members were largely handpicked by the governors and other stalwarts of the party and it was arguably the interest of those who brought them to the NWC they were all protecting. 

The party appears to be interested in having a consensus candidate but there are very strong indications that most of the governors and the aspirants are kicking against the idea.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given the parties on or before June 3 to submit the names of their candidates for the general elections.

Godwin Okeh, Abakaliki

The 3-Man Ward Elected Delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi, have appealed to the party’s national leadership not to tamper with the court’s approved list of the three-man ad-hoc delegates and National Delegate of the state ahead of it primaries.

The delegates Led by Ogbonnaya Odii had on May 19 obtained court oder allowing the delegates list from the three-man ah-hoc ward congress of the party.

  

The Delegates obtained an order from court restraining the people’s democratic party from using any Delegate list  for the 3-Man Ward Ad-hoc Delegate and National Delegate (Local Government) congress that is not monitored by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The Delegates from the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi, made the appeal while speaking with newsmen in Abakaliki on Monday.

Mr Ogbonnaya Odii, Leader of the elected 3-Man Ad-hoc Delegates in Ebonyi State, said the call became necessary for the party to achieving smooth and peaceful conduct of elections ahead of the 2023.

Odii noted that the list as backed up by Court Order stood the authentic delegates.

According to him: “The court oder have been obtained and we’re calling on the National Leadership of our dear party to make use of the list as approved by Court.

“The National Working Committee of our party should obey the court and not to tamper with the delegates list for the interest of peace amongst members.

“We also urge the state Chairman of the party Barr Silas Onu to encourage the National Leadership of our party to obey the court order in the interest of  peace and building of the party. This will allow peace to reign in Ebonyi during the primaries and the general elections,” Odii added.

Mr Emmanuel Uka, Leader of Elected National Delegates in  Ebonyi State urged stakeholders of the party to join hands to strengthen oneness ahead of party primaries.

Uka noted that PDP in Ebonyi was united to win in all positions during the general elections and urged the party’s national leadership not to tamper with delegates list as approved by competent Court of record ahead of its primary elections.

“The leadership of our party should allow the people to choose their leaders come 2023,” Uka advised.

By Yagana Muhammad, Yola.

The speaker Adamawa state house of Assembly, Hon Aminu Iya Abbas Wins PDP Adamawa central Senatorial Ticket.

Hon Aminu Iya Abbas, House of Assembly Member Representing Uba – Gaya constituency in the state has won the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP primary elections for Adamawa central Senatorial Zone.

The speaker defeated former house of representative member in the national assembly who represented Yola north, Yola South, Girei federal constituency, Hon Auwal D tukur in 1999.

He scored a total of 125 votes to clinch the ticket at the expense of Hon Auwal D tukur with 54 votes and Barr DD Azura 1 vote, Hon Daniel Bwala with 4 votes.

The other aspirants are Chubado Murtala Moddibo, Hon Abubakar Ibrahim Gwal and Hon Mustapha Ibrahim Baba 10 who went with 13, 3 and 32 votes respectively.

While the serving senator of Adamawa southern  Senatorial Zone, Senator Binos Yaro defeated his only opponent Prince Peter Fwa with a landslide victory of 235 vote against fwa 55 votes.

Rev Amos Yohanna wins the party ticket with 123 votes to be the flag bearer in northern senatorial zone by defeating Zira Maigadi, Hon Aji Wampana and Philip Alongo who score 28,18 and 2 respectively.

The eight (8) house representative seats were won by the incumbent member of Madagali- Michika constituency Zakaria Dauda Nyampa, Ganye , Jada, Toungo and Mayo-Belwa by Muhammad Inuwa bassi Gombi, Hong by former Speaker and acting Governor Amb James Shauibu Barka.

Others are Yola north, Yola south , Girei constituency by hon Muhammad Abba Girei, that of Numan, Lamurde and Demsa by the seating member Komati Laori.

The former Algon chairman Hon Rufai Jingi won the Mubi North, Mubi south, Maiha to be the party flag bearer of the PDP in the forth coming General elections and the former SSG Kobis Ari Thimnu won that of Guyuk-Shelleng federal constituency.