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PDP Set To Self-Destruct, Reawakens Impunity, By Isah Odaudu

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The Uche Secondus led PDP NWC and the PDP caucus of National Assembly held meeting at the Transcorp Hilton today at which very far-reaching decisions were made.

Chief among the decisions is the resolution to grant automatic tickets to serving members of the National Assembly in States where the Party is not holding sway while allowing the Governors in PDP controlled States decide their preferred candidates.

This is clearly a return to the days of impunity which led to the ouster of the Party from Power in 2015.

Quite expectedly, a number of Party faithful are waiting for the formal announcements to ditch the party which is just recovering from the haemorrhage it experienced a few years ago.

Coming at a time when the ruling APC is opting for an all-inclusive Democratic process, it is clear that the APC will be the net-gainer in the end.

In Kogi State, the PDP will fail woefully in the event that it goes against its guidelines and constitutional provisions for party primaries as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.

The present occupant of some of the political offices especially Sen. Atai Aidoko Ali will not be allowed to return.

The people of Kogi East Senatorial District are tired and fed up with Aidoko’s kindergarten representation.

Elsewhere in the West, an aspirant had already issued a statement thus:

If the PDP National working committee will not conduct a free, transparent and credible primaries as laid down in the guidelines of the party and imposes Dino Melaye on us as a candidate in Kogi west senatorial district, as they now planned, l Will not sit and watch anyone destroy the excellent work we have laboured to do along with others in Kogi state to be sacrificed for his personal ambition. I will not hesitate with my massive supporters to pull out of PDP before the entire building collapse in the state. I came into the House of Representatives initially in 2011, through ACN which was a non-existing brand in my constituency, am prepared to start a new journey.

The above is not just a mere threat but a wake up call to the party hierarchy and its leadership to rescind from this unpopular decisions as it is capable of truncating the effort made so far to redeem the party’s image.

Imposition and all forms of impunity must be jettisoned by the NWC if we must make progress as a party as we cannot afford to repeat the failure of the general election in 2015 that ousted the party from the grip of the national government.

The grim reality is that we are drifting off the radar of political renaissance for a possible return to power with this political gangsterism and imposition.

We must make hay while the sun shines

Odaudu writes from Lokoja, Kogi State

BIG STORY

Senate Passes Bill For Ijebu State Creation For First Reading

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The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed a bill for the creation of Ijebu State, marking the first reading of the proposal during its plenary session.

The bill, which seeks to establish Ijebu as an independent state, was sponsored by Senator Gbenga Daniel, representing Ogun State.

Titled the “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth 1 Alteration) Bill, 2024 (Creation of Ijebu State),” the proposed legislation aims to carve out Ijebu from the current Ogun State.

The bill was introduced by Senate Majority Leader Michael Bamidele of the All Progressives Congress as the “fourth order of the day” during the plenary.

After reading the title of the bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio moved the proposal forward, passing it for its first reading and setting the stage for further legislative processes.

The bill will now undergo a series of discussions and evaluations before it can proceed to the next stages of approval.

The push for the creation of Ijebu State is part of a broader national discourse on the need for more state creation across Nigeria, particularly in regions where there are growing demands for administrative autonomy.

If the bill successfully progresses through the required legislative procedures, Ijebu, currently a part of Ogun State, could become a separate state with its own governance structures.

This development comes amid increasing calls for state creation in various parts of the country, with proponents arguing that new states could better address local needs, foster economic growth, and enhance political representation.

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BIG STORY

An Aspirant Gave Each Delegate $30,000 During PDP Primary In 2022 — Dele Momodu

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Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation Magazine, says he regrets spending about N50 million to buy the presidential nomination form of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2022.

Momodu spoke in a recent interview on Eden Oasis, published on Sunday.

The journalist and politician said the primary was heavily monetised, with a particular aspirant doling out $30,000 to each of the 774 delegates who voted during the election.

The politician stated that he would not vie for any party’s presidential ticket unless he is adopted as a consensus candidate.

“Experience is the best teacher. I have come to realise that there are powers that you can describe as principalities that control Nigeria,” he said.

“Unless a major political party decides to adopt me — where you have a consensus of people who say Dele Momodu is best suited to change and to lead Nigeria. Then I will consider it.

“But if I have to pick my money to buy a presidential nomination form of about N100 million… I spent about N50 million to buy the form for the last one.

“N50 million would have bought me a property. It was a waste. I didn’t get even one vote because everything was monetised.

“One of the candidates paid as much as $30,000 per delegate, and we had 774 delegates.

“So, how do you want to compete with them? They have stolen the country blind and are doing all kinds of deals to make money, especially those in the oil-rich areas.

“It is not easy. You can’t compete with them. That’s why they insult Nigerians anyhow because of the amount of money available to them in raw cash. There’s no country where people buy raw cash like Nigeria.

“The bulk of their money is not in any bank. So, they are not traceable to any bank. So, they have the money. If today you say to some politicians that you need $500 million to become a president, they will find it.

“So, people like us, where will I start from?”

Momodu was one of the presidential hopefuls of the PDP at the time. He did not secure any votes during the exercise.

Atiku Abubakar clinched the presidential ticket with 371 votes to beat his closest challenger, Nyesom Wike, now minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), who polled 237 votes.

Abubakar was defeated by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 presidential election.

Bukola Saraki, former senate president, scored 70 votes; Bala Mohammed, Bauchi governor, got 20 votes; Udom Emmanuel, former governor of Akwa Ibom, secured 38 votes; while Pius Anyim, former secretary to the government of the federation, polled 14 votes.

Sam Ohuabunwa, a businessman, alongside Momodu and Ayodele Fayose, the former governor of Ekiti, received zero votes.

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BIG STORY

We’ll Reintroduce Bill Seeking 6-Year Single Term For President, Governors Despite Rejection — Rep

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Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, a member of the House of Representatives, says the push for a six-year single term for president and governors will continue despite the bill’s rejection.

The bill, which was slated for a second reading during Thursday’s plenary session, was rejected by lawmakers in the Green Chamber.

Sponsored by Ikeagwuonu from Imo State and 33 other lawmakers, the bill also sought to amend Section 3 of the Constitution to recognize the division of Nigeria into six geopolitical zones.

Briefing journalists on Thursday evening, the lawmaker described the rejection of the bill as a “temporary setback.”

“The struggle to reform our constitutional democracy to be all-inclusive and provide an avenue for justice, equity, and fairness has not been lost,” he said.

The lawmaker added that voting against the bill by the parliament “does not put an end to agitation and hope that we will realise this objective.”

“This is a temporary setback which does not affect the campaign for an inclusive democratic process,” he said.

The Imo lawmaker stated that the sponsors of the bill will review the decision of the House and “find possible ways of reintroducing it after following due legislative procedures.”

“All I can tell Nigerians is that we will continue the advocacy and convince our colleagues to see reason with us. If elections are held in one day, it will reduce cost and rigging,” he said.

“If power rotates, it will help deescalate political tensions, and a six-year single term will go a long way in helping elective leaders focus on delivering their democratic mandate.”

“All hope is not lost, we will continue the advocacy, and we hope that when reintroduced, our colleagues will support it.”

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