Atiku Continues Campaigns As Wike Group Meets In UK

AS the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaigns continue in Kaduna, the five aggrieved governors of the party, led by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike met on Thursday, October 13 in London, United Kingdom (UK).

  Wike, Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Samuel Ortom (Benue) have withdrawn their membership of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council (PDP-PCC), insisting on the resignation of the National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.

  In September, Wike, Makinde and Ortom met in London and the latest meeting is expected to take certain decisions ahead of next year’s elections, ostensibly in response to the decision of the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to flag off the campaign without the aggrieved governors.

  But efforts to reconcile Atiku and Wike’s allies continued, despite a failed attempt by the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), led by the acting Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara.

  Only on Wednesday, Atiku reportedly dispatch some leaders of the party, including former governor Peter Odili (Rivers) and James Ibori (Delta) to broker peace with Wike and his group.

  Wike has vowed to remain in the party, promising, however, not to have anything to do with the presidential campaigns unless Ayu quits.

2023: I’ve Accepted Atiku As Presidential Candidate, But Ayu Must Resign, Wike Insists

RIVERS State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has restated the call for the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, to resign his position as panacea to moving the party forward ahead of next year’s general elections

  Wike explained that he has accepted Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate, but insisted that Ayu must resign, saying that was the only precursor for reconciliation in the party.

  Speaking when he hosted the Cross River State candidates for governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly elections, as well as local government party chairmen at his private residence in Rumueprikom, Wike, according to a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said: “We have finished presidential primaries, we have a presidential candidate. Is Wike saying remove presidential candidate? Is Wike saying remove vice and presidential candidate? So, what are you begging me for? All I am saying, and I will continue to say, is that you have taken president, give us (national) chairman.

  “Nobody wants to speak the truth. If I am saying remove the presidential candidate, if I am saying remove the vice presidential candidate, then you will say why is he doing this.

  “I’ve accepted the presidential candidate, I have accepted the vice presidential candidate, what’s the problem again. You, fulfill your part. Let the South have something; that is all I’m preaching. You cannot have a presidential candidate, national chairman, director general of the campaign.

  “He (national chairman) said if the presidential candidate comes from the north, he will resign, which means he has had this in mind. Now, the thing has come to reality, resign, no. And people are saying go and talk to Wike.”

2023: Nigerians Want A Country That Works, Says Aniagwu

SPOKESMAN of the Atiku-Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has said that Nigerians were not interested in wrangling within political parties, but how to get the country working again.

  Speaking on a television programme on Wednesday, October 12, the Delta State Commissioner for Information noted that Nigerians were tired of the almost eight years maladministration of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government, adding that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, were committed in their quest to rescue, reset and rebuild Nigeria for the good of all citizens.

  He stressed that there was no crisis in the PDP, but plurality of opinions among members, which is guaranteed in every democratic governance, saying: “As a party, we are looking up to our leader, Atiku, to unite us as party and as a nation. Atiku’s quest to unite Nigerians is not just because of the votes, but because it is an essential ingredient of what we want to do to solve the myriads of challenges facing the nation.”

  Aniagwu said the PDP was far different from the APC, which had no regards for its members with dissenting views, adding: “You will recall how they were calling former speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, names for disagreeing with the party over same faith ticket.

  “Those who disagreed with us in the PDP, we granted them their democratic rights to express their opinion and we didn’t go ahead to cast aspersions on them.

  “As a party, we have acknowledged their concerns, which is why the former chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) had to step down, and we are appealing to them to allow us go into the elections as a united party and we will come back to resolve all the issues raised after winning the election, by the grace of God and the help of Nigerians.

  “Atiku is determined to move together with all stakeholders of the party and Nigerians in general, because in unity we can resolve all the challenges facing us as a people.”

  He commended the Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) and Governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel, and other stakeholders of the party for the massive mobilisation at the party’s campaign flag-off at Uyo, noting that the outing signposts the fact that the PDP meant business in its quest to rebuild the country and urged Nigerians to key into the rescue mission agenda for the good of the nation.

Labour Party Unveils Campaign Team, Says NCC Transcends Ethnic, Religious Bias

THE Labour Party (LP) and Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation has unveiled a 1,234-member National Campaign Council (NCC) for Labour Party, headed by Mohammed Zarewa as Chairman and Clement Ojukwu as Secretary.

  Director General of the Peter Obi Campaign Organisation, Dr. Doyin Okupe, retained his position, while Yunusa Tanko was appointed as the chief spokesman of the campaign, just as the party constituted a 27-man Presidential Advisory Council, headed by Prof. Pat Utomi.

  Ojukwu, at a pre-Campaign Press Conference, in Abuja, on Wednesday, October 12, also named the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, as Chairman of the Advisory Council of the NCC, while Oseloka Obaze was named General Manager.

  Ojukwu explained that the party carefully compiled this list to include the six geo-political zones, youths, people living with disabilities and women.

  Members of the NCC include Ayuba Waba, Bashiru Lamidi, Victor Lar, Ireti Kingibe, Farouk Ibrahim, Gbenga Daramola, Mrs. Dud Manuga, Saleh Lawal, Ken Robinson, Sola Ebiseni, Bitrus Boutrou, Olorunfemi Ayo, Godwin Agbasimelo, Moses Oriri, Harrison Adoga, James Apam, Bako Zazing, and Haruna Dabin.

  Also on the list are Joseph Golwa, Bitrus Kaze, Peter Ameh, Yakubu Usman, Danladi Bako, Joel Danladi, Yusuf Jajere, Nenadi Usman, Alex Oti, Victor Umeh, Tony Nwoye, Obinna Uzor, Afam Ogene, Val Ozigbo, Chijioke Edeoga, Barth Nnaji, Chris Anyanwu, Ezenwa Onyewuchi, Nnamdo Obiareri, Iniobong Udo, Augustine Okon, Patrick Okomiso and Yussuf Lasun.

  The rest include Tanko Yunusa, Kenneth Okonkwo, Modele Sarafa-Yusuf, Nnamdi Okosieme, Paul Mumeh, Tunde Odanye, Remi Sonaiya, Chris Asoluka, Ajaegbo, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Chris Eze, Sola Akinyede, Joel Danmusa, Femi Shaka, Femi Okunronmu, Kayode Ajulo, Valentine Obieyem, Emeka Ugwu-Oju and Segun Ojo, among others.

  Earlier, Okupe said the Obidient Movement, which currently drives the party’s presidential campaign, and Obi transcends ethnicity and religious bias.
  Okupe stated: “On May 30, 2022, Peter Obi was entrusted by the membership of our great Labour Party as its Presidential Candidate for the 2023 election , after the PDP had failed in courage to live up to the due process. In the dramatic sequence of these events, our candidate’s entry into this political race has resulted in an explosion of excitement across the vastness of Nigeria, in the Diaspora, and indeed the global community.

  “This has been lovingly and organically expressed in his overwhelming acceptance by the people of Nigeria, through the robust and endearing presentation of his record, personality, vision, policies and promise.

  “There is no doubt that this ascendancy of our presidential ticket, to prime position in the hearts and minds of the Nigerian people, has been fuelled by the patriotic zeal, vibrancy, creativity and shining example, in discipline, character and decency of the Obidient movement.

  “Unknown to many, a significant number of the youths and drivers of this movement are active members and supporters of the other political parties, such as the APC and PDP, who could not ignore the overbearing superiority in leadership quality, personal disposition, national appeal, private and public service record and the clear-cut expression of vision and governance solutions, which Obi and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed have come to represent, for all true lovers of progress and national rebirth.”
  He noted that the renewed zeal among Nigerians to change the narrative positively was largely inspired by the catalogue of failed promises and missed opportunities by successive regimes, saying: “The truth is that the errors of the past, have done painful incalculable damage, to the psyche of our people, the economy of our country, the peaceful existence and security of every citizen, and to the quality of our public services and our private lives.”