PDP Faces Crises in Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, Lagos, Others

For the first time since 1998, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing massive crises over the choice of its governorship candidates in 29 of the 36 states.

The development forced the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party into a long meeting yesterday.

Earlier on Saturday night,  President Goodluck Jonathan, was solving intra-party wranglings on governorship primaries till 12.30am.

The party is worried about seemingly vicious battles for its tickets in at least 17 states.

The states are: Adamawa, Lagos, Bauchi, Imo, Abia, Delta, Ebonyi, Rivers, Cross River, Oyo, Ogun, Benue,  Nasarawa, Plateau, Niger, Enugu and Kwara.

The crises became more complex following President Jonathan’s reported failure to allow the outgoing governors pick their successors – in line with the pact he reached with them at the Presidential Villa to get his adoption for a second term. Topping the senators who got their ticket to recontest are Senate President David Mark (Benue) and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu).  Some of those who also won their tickets are:

 Senators Smart Adeyemi (Kogi), Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Danladi Sankara (Jigawa) and Enyinaya Abaribe (Abia), among others.

New entrants in the race are Ben Murray Bruce (Bayelsa), Chris Uba (Anambra), Ighoyota Amori (Delta), Buruji Kashamu (Ogun)and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi)

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) also elected yesterday its  senatorial standard bearers in Anambra – the only state the party controls.

Party chair Victor Umeh and former Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Executive Chairman Ernest Ndukwe won the ticket.

Major candidates who picked the APC House of Representatives tickets are Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos), House spokesman Zakari Mohammed (Kwara), Kwara State House of Assembly Speaker Razak Atunwa and former Minister Funke Adedoyin (Kwara).

Ndoma-Egba, seeking a fourth term,  was defeated in the Cross River State Central seat by House of Representatives Appropriation Committee chair John Owan-Enoh, who was supported by Governor Liyel Imoke.

Owan-Enoh polled 217 votes as against Ndoma-Egba’s 37 votes. Egbe Mark, with 20 votes, came last.

Former Rep Mao Ohuabunwa polled 103 to win the Abia senatorial seat held by Chukwumerije. At the primary held at Ohafia Local Government secretariat, his rival David Ogba Onuoha  won 67 votes while  Chukwumereije came a distant third with 21 votes.

Ugbesia, a protégé of PDP Board of Trustees chair Tony Anenih, lost then Edo Central ticket to Clifford Ordia who won 141 votes to the senator’s 61.

Amori floored Aguariavwodo with 237 votes to 46. Others are Solomon Edoja, who scored 41 votes and Chief Kate Erueh, who polled six votes.

Mr. Foster Ogola, with 69 votes, will take Lokpobiri’s seat if he wins the general election.

Murray-Bruce, the chairman of Silverbird, the entertainment outfit, with 138 votes, will take the place of Ikisikpo, who scored zero in the primary.

In Anambra and Ondo states, there were parallel primaries. 

 

The Pro-Governor Olusegun Mimiko group in Ondo State elected former Senator Bode Olajumoke for North District, incumbent Senator Ayo Akinyelure for Central and Mr. Yele Omogunwa for South.

The old PDP faction elected Dr. Olu Agunloye for North, Olusola Adegbesua for Central and Agboola Ajayi for South Senatorial District.

The old PDP through its newly appointed Publicity Secretary, Gani Mohammed, said they conducted their primaries due to the fact that their own delegates were declared by the court as authentic.

But, Mimiko, who monitored the process in the Central, addressed the party’s electoral panel headed by Adewale Afolabi in Akure, saying the crisis in the party was over.

Senator Usman lost to Dr. John Danjuma Laah who pulled 129 votes as against Nenadi’s 123 votes.

Senator Ahmed Makarfi representing Kaduna North Senatorial zone won the primary unopposed.

In Lagos the PDP picked 2011 governorship candidate Ade Dosunmu for (Lagos Central), Bisi Salis for (East) and Segun Adewale (West). 

 

First lady of Kogi State Mrs Faridah Ijeoma Wada floundered to a third position in the hotly contested House of Representatives ticket for Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency in Imo State. 

 

Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West) won his return ticket. He defeated Tolorunju Faniyi by 216 votes to 77 to retain the PDP ticket