Relative Peace Marks PDP’s N’Assembly Primaries

Relative Peace Marks PDP’s N’Assembly Primaries

07 Dec 2014

 PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu

•Anambra primaries hold Sunday

•Party moves Adamawa primaries to Abuja

Our correspondents

The Peoples Democratic Party’s primary elections, which held Saturday in nearly all the states of the federation to determine the party’s flag bearers for 2015 National Assembly elections, were generally peaceful even though pockets of violence characterised the exercise in a few of the states.

In states,where the primaries for the federal legislative houses were unable to hold, arrangements have been made for rescheduled elections. Specifically, the primary election for Anambra state will hold this Sunday while that of Adamawa state will be conducted in Abuja because of insecurity caused by insurgency in the state.

As the primaries were going on, Senate President, David Mark, admonished politicians and other Nigerians to work towards a free, fair and credible election. According to him, that is all that is needed to safeguard and sustain democracy in Nigeria.

It was all jubilation in the camp of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Governor of Plateau State, Jonah David Jang, as his men swept all the party’s primary elections results for the House of Representatives positions in the state.

Results available to THISDAY showed that Barrister Edward Pwajok, who was the Governor’s Commissioner for Justice, floored all other candidates to clinch Jos South/Jos East constituency in the primary elections.

Similarly, Honourable Timothy Golu, another Jang’s man defeated his opponent to win the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam federal constituency, while Jang’s former Permanent Secretary-Security, Mr Istifanus Gyang emerged unopposed winner of Barkin Ladi/Riyom constituency.

Also, Solomon Maren, Jang’s former commissioner for Housing and Urban Development equally floored other aspirants to clinch Mangu/Bokkos federal constituency, even as Honourable Beni Lar, also a loyalist of the Governor, emerged the winner of the Langtan north/Langtan South constituency ticket.

Johnbull Shekarau, former Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, and another loyalist of the Governor also emerged winner of the ticket for Mikang/Shendam/Quan’pan constituency.

While the result of the Jos North/Bassa constituency was still being expected as the time of this story, Wase constituency was reportedly postponed for security concern.

Remarking on the outcome of the elections, a political analyst, Barrister Joshua Bulus associated the landslide victory of the Governor’s men to hard work and vigorous issue-based campaign. He said, the results were an affirmation to the fact the governor is still in firm control of the party structure in the state. He also described the outcome as “a pointer to what is expected in the Senate and Gubernatorial primaries slated for today and tomorrow.”

Similarly, the party’s Organising Secretary in the state, Mr. Michal Dachomo, who also expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the exercise attributed the successes to the combined efforts of the stakeholders of the party.

Chairman of the party’s committee on National Assemblies Primaries in Plateau State, Alhaji  Ibrahim Sidi Bamalli,  who led four other members from Abuja, also commended the National Assembly delegates and supporters of the party for conducting themselves peacefully and maturely  during the exercise.

The chairman who spoke with journalists shortly after monitoring the exercise with his team across the federal constituencies in the state said:  “So far, so good, except for a little issue concerning delegates lists in Jos North/Bassa federal Constituency, which has been resolved, Plateau State has conducted a credible House of Representatives Primaries and  I am impressed with the turnout of events.”

In Sokoto State, PDP conducted primary elections for the House of Representatives in five out of 11 federal constituencies in the state.

Its Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma, made this known to newsmen while commenting on the primary elections.

He explained that consensus was reached in Sokoto-north/ Sokoto-south, Kebbe/ Tambuwal, Rabah/ Wurno, Binji / Silame, Kware/ Wamakko and Yabo/ Shagari.

Milgoma said the five federal constituencies where elections were conducted included: Isa/Sabon-Birni, Gada/Goronyo, Bodinga/Dange-shuni /Tureta, Tangaza /Gudu and Illela /Gwadabawa.

The chairman disclosed that the elections were even conducted in areas where consensus was reached but to only ratify the decision of the delegates and the members of the party.

“The truth of the matter is that we have made adequate arrangements to ensure the success of the elections and fair play to all, as PDP is a law abiding party,”he said.

THISDAY checks revealed that the elections were conducted in the state peacefully devoid of violence. THISDAY gathered that at least 10 members of the PDP were seeking to be elected as members of the House of Representatives for the first time.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who was in Enugu State to cast his vote at Awgu local government headquarters venue of the primary election, described the exercise as free, fair and peaceful.

Three incumbent members of the House of Representatives from Enugu state emerged as candidates of PDP in the party primary election held in the state.

They include, Ambassador Kingsley Ebenyi for Enugu-East/Isiuzo, Toby Okechukwu for Awgu/Aninri/Oji-River and Princess Stella Ngwu for Igboetiti/Uzo-uwani federal constituencies.

This came as some aspirants especially incumbents however reportedly held parallel primaries where they announced themselves as winners.

Also, the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly and Governor Sullivan Chime’s nephew, Chime Oji emerged candidate for Enugu North/Enugu South, while Hon. Dennis Amadi emerged as candidate in Udi/Ezeagu constituency.

Also peaceful were the elections in Edo State, where two incumbent members of the House of Representatives lost while Omosede Igbinedion, the daughter of billionaire businessman, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, emerged PDP candidate.

The primaries in Edo literally recorded some disappointments. Incumbent legislators representing Esan Central, Esan West and Igueben, federal constituency, Patrick Ikhariale, lost.

Ikhariale, who is the House Committee Chairman on Power, polled 20 votes to lose to Chief Joe Ediowe, who polled 64 votes.

Also, Friday Itulah, representing Esan South East and Esan North East federal constituency got 33 votes to Celsius Oboh, who garnered 55 votes.

The two House members defeat according to THISDAY investigation was because they were seeking for thirds term which did not go down well with their people.

Omosede Igbinedion emerged PDP candidate in Ovia federal constituency after defeating others who contested along with her.

The primary elections in Ogun State were held amid tight security. Stern-looking security men were seen around the venues of the primaries following the alleged plan to disrupt the exercise

The primary that was held for Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi-Owode federal constituency, had four aspirants participated while three withdrew.

The primary was won by Olaleye Ibrahim who polled 56 votes while Rahman Abiola scored 45 just as Oyekunle Zacheus and Abiodun polled 21 and 10 respectively.

At the primary, which was held for Abeokuta South Federal constituency,  Abayomi Ajayi won the election as he polled 33 while a former Speaker of  state  House of assembly,  Titi Oseni abruptly withdrew at the last minute.

In the same vein, suspecting that violence may erupt during yesterday’s House of Representatives primaries, the Ekiti State Police Command beefed up security in all the six Federal Constituencies in the State.

The Police Commissioner, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, also deployed large number of anti-riot policemen to the party’s secretariat located in Ado Ekiti capital city, to prevent imminent attack.

When journalists visited the headquarters of the Federal Constituencies located in Ido, Ikole, Aramoko, Ado, Omuo and Ikere Ekiti, there was heavy presence of anti-riot policemen, which signalled that crisis was brewing in the party.

Hell was let loose in the streets of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital as suspected political thugs engaged men of the Nigerian Police in an all-out battle at the state secretariat of PDP during a bid to hijack election materials for the House of Representatives primaries yesterday.

The State Commissioner of Police, Ntomchukwu;  the state chairman of the PDP, Col. Sam Inokoba; his state secretary, Mathew Keku, and some newsmen were trapped inside the secretariat building as the battle raged for almost two hours as residents took to their heels to save their dear lives.

During the battle the suspected thugs held the members of the Electoral Committee of the Party deployed to the state for the conduct of the Primaries hostage.

It took the combined team of armed mobile policemen and soldiers to over-power the thugs.

Following the incident, news of a possible cancellation of the primaries rented the air, but the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Osom Macgbere, dismissed the claim, assuring that the primaries were conducted and they were peaceful.

Likewise, five delegates of PDP in Kwara State were said to have been  assaulted by suspected thugs allegedly sponsored by rival opponents in the National Assembly primary elections of the party.

Already, the five affected delegates had been rushed to a private hospital in Ilorin for urgent medical attention.

THISDAY checks revealed that, the wounded members of PDP were elected delegates from Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state.

Primary elections could not hold in Oyo State  because of a  late Friday’s ruling in Abuja which again threw spanner into the conduct of the primaries.

A judgment  was delivered on Friday by Justice E.S. Chukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja in favour of one aspirant in the party by adopting a report submitted by member(s) of electoral panel that conducted the party’s re-scheduled congress.

In Abia State, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu withdrew from the senatorial primary election, saying that the whole process had been flawed ab initio with the existence of “fictitious delegates list” and therefore the outcome would be meaningless.

Nwaogu, who is the incumbent Senator representing Abia Central, announced her boycott at a press conference in Aba. She noted that with the way the ward congress was “manipulated” in Abia her participation in the primary election would not reflect her true acceptability and popularity.

However, while addressing delegates to the  PDP House of Representatives’ primary election  in his home town, Otukpo, Benue state, Senator Mark  said “We have come to the inescapable conclusion that  democracy is the way to go.”

He expressed satisfaction with the orderly conduct of the election and urged his people to sustain such good conduct in the forthcoming elections.

According to Mark, “I always want to lead by example. You can see from the conduct of my people here that my constituency is most peaceful. You cannot find us quarreling or creating an atmosphere of disaffection because we do things in a dignified manner.

“ We believe in justices , equity and fair play. Above all , we allow the will of God and the people to prevail. For us, the people are the kings and we act in tandem with their wishes and aspirations “.

Senator Mark was of the view that should all political actors follow the law and the wishes of the electorate, there would be less rancour and acrimony in the polity.

Meanwhile, Adamawa state stakeholders of PDP have thrown their weight behind the decision of the national leadership of the party to conduct all primaries for the state beginning from today (Sunday) in Abuja.

In a dramatic twist yesterday, the National Working Committee (NWC) said it will move all primaries in Adamawa to Abuja and postponed Anambra state National Assembly primary earlier slated to hold yesterday.

The Adamawa state delegation led by Senator Jonathan Zwinginna was at the national secretariat of the PDP to hail the decision of the party.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after they were hosted by the leadership of the party, Zwinginna debunked insinuations that the decision was to pave way for the emergence of former chairman of anti-graft agency Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.