POLITICS
Benue PDP LG Chairmen Endorse Utaan as Sole Nominee for National Chairmanship
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 23 Local Government areas in Benue State, on Wednesday, endorsed Conrad Terhide Utaan as sole nominee for the national chairman of the party from the State.
Speaking at a world press conference in Makurdi, the leader of the group, who is the PDP Chairman of Katsina-Ala local government area, Terseer Adigo, stated that for the party to rediscover its true identity and take back its pride of place, Utaan is the best option.
“As provided in section 47(6) of the PDP constitution 2017 as amended, the replacement for Dr Ayu must come from Benue State, to reinforce our great party’s commitment to equity, justice and fairness as the core principles upon which the party stands.
“We must take the lead in our various local government areas towards ensuring that first and foremost the laws of the party are implemented above group and individual interests in the party.
“We must be firm, bold and courageous in insisting on, and doing what is right, because only then will PDP be revived and made to function as a viable political party which will once again be attractive to Nigerians.
“When we took oath of office and oath of allegiance on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024, we pledged to at all times do the right thing, placing duty and loyalty to the party above every other consideration.
“It is in fulfillment of the oath we took that we have come together today to address the issue of the replacement of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the National Chairman of our great party, PDP.
“As provided in Section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution 2017 (as amended) the replacement for Dr. Iyorchia Ayu must come from Benue State, to reinforce our great party’s commitment to equity, justice, and fairness as the core principles upon which the party stands.
“Now, it is our firm conviction that since equity, fairness and justice cannot be fulfilled halfway, even in Benue State, the replacement of Dr. Ayu must come from the Senatorial District he hails from, which is the Benue North-West (Zone ‘B’).
“It was the wisdom of the leadership of the party at all levels that since Chief Barnabas Gemade and Chief Audu Ogbe had both previously served in the office of National Chairman of the PDP from Zones ‘A’ and ‘C’ of Benue State respectively, Dr. Ayu was given the nod to serve as National Chairman from Zone ‘B’.
“It is, therefore, our considered opinion that in continuation of, and fulfillment of the decision for equity, fairness and justice, a candidate from Zone ‘B’ of Benue State be the one to replace Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman.
“And having considered the fact that there is only one aspirant from the Benue Zone ‘B’ Senatorial District in the race to replace Dr. Ayu, we take the stand that the candidate be accorded the privilege of being the sole nominee of the PDP from Benue State to replace Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman.
“Therefore, in fulfillment of our civic duty as Chairmen of the PDP in the 23 Local Government Areas of Benue State, we individually and collectively openly and publicly today, Wednesday, 9th October, 2024, endorse that sole candidate from Benue Zone ‘B’ in the person of Engr. Conrad Terhide Utaan as the sole nominee of the PDP in Benue State to replace Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The All Progressive Congress (APC) Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Sen. Sunday Stephen Karimi, has disbursed over N24 million to support LG electioneering campaign activities across all the seven local government areas in his constituency.The seven local government areas include: Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu, Yagba East, Yagba West, Mopamuro, Kontokarfi/Kogi and Lokoja.
According to a statement by the Senator Karimi media team (DSSK), the fund is meant to support all the Chairmanship Candidates and their Vice, as well as all the Councilorship candidates in over 70 wards across the seven LGAs of Kogi west, towards the October 19th LG elections in Kogi State. It said N1 million was disbursed to each of the seven Chairmanship candidates, N500,000 to each of the Vice chairmanship candidates, and N200,000 to each of the over 70 councilorship candidates across the 7 LGAs in Kogi west senatorial district.The DSSK media team described Sen. Karimi as true people-centric Lawmaker who is committed to championing good governance and improving the well-being of his constituents especially at the grassroots.The DSSK Media team said: “Distinguished Senator Sunday Karimi’s generous contributions to the 7 Local Governments in Kogi west are highly commendable, especially in preparation for the forthcoming Local Government elections on October 19th.”These donations demonstrate Senator Karimi’s commitment to empowering local leaders and enhancing community development in Kogi West.”As a lawmaker representing Kogi West, senator Karimi has promised good representation, good roads, good medical facilities, empowerment, and many other dividends of democracy ¹.”His leadership and philanthropy have made a significant impact in the communities, and it is very clear that he is dedicated to serving humanity.”May Almighty God continue to guide and guard Senator Karimi’s path as he serves the people of Kogi West”.It would be recalled that Sen. Karimi handed over a newly built and well equipped military base to the Nigerian Army in Egbe, Yagba West LGA, to address rising kidnapping and banditry, and improve security in Kogi and some areas in Kwara State.The military forward operating base (FOB) was commissioned on Saturday in Egbe, by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja. By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
The leadership crisis rocking the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been resolved by the party’s Governors Forum and the Board of Trustees (BoT).This development was announced by the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Mohammed, who fielded questions from Journalists at the Private Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on his way to Ondo State for PDP governorship campaign, added that all members of the NWC have been directed to revert to the status quo before the crisis erupted last Friday. According to the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, “The crisis is over. The governors, Board of Trustees, and other organs have resolved that the NWC should revert to the status quo. They are now united.”The governor, accompanied by the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, while travelling to Ondo State for a PDP gubernatorial campaign rally, announced that suspensions from both factions had been lifted.Also speaking, Damagum confirmed that the crisis is over, adding, “The party is united, and no members of the NWC left before.”The mutual suspicion among PDP NWC members over alleged anti-party activities of the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum and the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwun boiled over last Thursday when some member almost engage in physical fight during the NWC meeting.Few hours later the National Publicity Secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba announced the suspension of Damagum and his replacement with Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the new Acting National Chairman.Damagum reacted by directing the National Publicity Secretary and the National Legal Advisor to “step aside” and to face a disciplinary panel.Daily Asset gathered on Tuesday that final decision in the leadership logjam in the party will be laid to rest when the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meet on October 24.The camp of the Acting National Chairman is believed within the PDP circle of working to ensure the meeting did not hold over possibility of NEC appointing a substantive National Chairman from the North Central.The PDP BoT at its meeting last Thursday advised the NWC to ensure the October 24 NEC meeting is held as earlier agreed by various organs and leaders of the party.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Radio Benue Chapel, has given an award to Chairman, Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Mr Richard Tombowua, for conducting credible local government elections. The chapel conferred the prestigious award of the ‘Defender of Democracy in Our Generation’ on Tombuwua on Tuesday in Makurdi.
The Chapel Chairman, Mr Paul Mandeun, commended the chairman for conducting a free, fair, and credible election on October 5. Mandeun stated that people should always try to celebrate an outstanding performance by the umpire and not just be quick to condemn when they feel the body has done wrong. The chairman acknowledged the spiritual eyes of Gov. Hyacinth Alia for appointing Tombuwua to head the commission.“We deem it expedient to acknowledge the spiritual eyes of Alia who figured out this achiever among many citizens for the onerous task that has shaped the history of democracy in Benue State,” Mandeun said.“We are here to inform you that we have watched keenly all the electoral processes.“It was under our watch that materials were deployed; we were at the polling units, not just at local government areas, with a critical eye looking out for compliance with the standard of conducting elections in an ideal democratic setting.“We are here today to affirm and pass its verdict after monitoring all the processes before, during, and after the polls. “You were not found wanting and also not short of best practices anywhere in the world.“On these bases, we authoritatively pass a vote of confidence on you for living far above board in conducting an election that is a model for other emerging democracies to emulate,” he said.Tombowua thanked the leadership of NUJ, Radio Benue Chapel, for recognising his worth and work during the election.He said he never knew that certain persons, like the media, which were critical stakeholders in society, were watching the conduct of the election.The chairman disclosed that they insistently followed the timeline amidst calls for postponement, saying that BSIEC remains independent at all times and nobody could interfere in the conduct of the election.He therefore wondered why people who were not home during and after the election were the ones alleging that there was no election in the local government areas.“We followed due diligence in the conduct of the election, ensuring that all results were collated before the declaration of the final result,” the chairman affirmed.He promised that the umpire body would continue to do its best, saying that the award was a source of encouragement and would spur them to do more.(NAN)
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