Politics

PDP, APC And 2019 Elections

Published

9 years ago

November 11, 2016

The All Progressives
Congress (APC) in its usual blame game has been accusing the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led government of plunging the country into the current economic predicament. The APC, in a statement released to newsmen in Abuja recently, warned the PDP to stop making insensitive comments about the economy as the APC government is conscious of the hardship its citizens are faced with.
Reacting to the so-called “orchestrated and insensitive comments by the PDP on the economy, the APC through its national secretary, Mai Mala Buni said: “In spite of PDP’s orchestrated and feeble attempts to blackmail the current administration and twist facts, the reality remains that the prevailing socio-economic hardship faced by Nigerians is a direct hardship faced by Nigerians is a direct consequence of the mismanagement of the economy.
“It also includes the unprecedented looting of the country’s commonwealth perpetrated under PDP’s watch. The PDP’s attempt to turn truth on its head is fraudulent, insensitive and an insult to Nigerians. For the umpteenth time, the PDP must own up to its transgression and apologise to Nigerians”, he said, urging Nigerians to be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari.
But former President Goodluck Jonathan recently debunked APC’s blame insinuations, saying that the current economic recession in the country was unprecedented.
The chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and governor of Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha, on Monday, October 24,2016, said the APC had taken responsibility for Nigeria’s economic downturn. He said although some of the problems predated the present administration, the party must take responsibility without shifting blame.
Okorocha who spoke with State House correspondents shortly after leading the APC governors to a closed-door meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja said: “This was not a problem brought by APC government, it is a problem that has existed long before APC came to government and we are only trying to clear the mess of the past. But we must take responsibility and we must never shift the responsibility to anybody. As APC, we are responsible for everything happening in Nigeria. We are responsible for the good, the bad, the ugly, but we are promising Nigerians that we shall fix it”.
While admitting that Nigerians were passing through difficult times, Okorocha said there was no surgery that was not painful, adding that Nigerians were experiencing pains because the country was going through what he called “a very serious economic surgery”. The Imo State Governor asked Nigerians to be more patient with the present administration.
The truth remains that no matter the allegations leveled against the PDP-led administration in the past 16 years, Nigerians never had it so tough and rough economically. With the present economic situation, no one knows where the country is headed. Inflation rate is on the high side and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate is awful. I think it’s high time the APC-led administration clipped the wings of this hydra headed economic monster called recession before it suffers a mass drift of its members to the PDP before the 2019 general elections.
Nigerians have run out of patience as there is astronomical rise in inflation and unemployment rate, and socio-political temperature in the country. One area where the opposition Peoples Democratic Party can take free-ride or optimum advantage to actualize its struggle of taking over power in 2019 is in the fact that Nigeria has been punch drunk by the ruling APC. The country has been plunged into economic coma which only God can bring her back to life. For 18 months after taking over government, the APC is yet to grasp or have the strong political will to fix the nation’s economy.
Already, with eyes firmly focused on the Presidency, the PDP is working assiduously towards taking over Aso Rock in 2019. The party stands a better chance and firmly to retrieve its stolen mandate in the 2015 election.
In a communiqué issued at the end of a one-day South-West PDP stakeholders and Elders Meeting held in Gazo Event Centre, Toll Gate, Ibadan, Oyo State, the party decided that irrespective of the various challenges facing the party at the national level, the party’s leadership vowed to remain in PDP with a view to taking over power in Nigeria in 2019.
2019 is around the corner and ahead of this politically-charged and highly volatile socio-economic environment lies a fiercely loyal-but-highly- critical support base for the PDP. One of the major challengs in running Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape is that of ensuring that best practices are employed to boost the economy.
There are strong indications that PDP is bouncing back to life. At a meeting convened by the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT) members from South-West, on the platform of South-West PDP Forum, the members and leaders of the party were urged to close ranks and work together as a solid and united team to sustain the control of Ondo State in the forthcoming gubernational election and take over their stolen mandate at the Aso Rock come next election in 2019. The forum called on the state chapters of the party to replicate this type of meeting in their respective states to resolve all internal grievances.
The party’s former national deputy chairman, Chief Shuaib Oyedokun, in his welcome address at the meeting, urged the two factions in the PDP at all levels to unite in order to avoid monumental loss in the forthcoming elections.
The meeting, he explained, was “purely the initiative of the south-west members of the Board of Trustees, which is a replica of what the main body is doing at the centre, and an extension of the National Reconciliation Committee”.
He said: “PDP is not dead and will not die. Therefore, be wary of poachers, else, you are misled. Neither the APC nor any other emerging party will subdue the PDP any more because when we rise, neither APC nor any new party would have any more lie to tell Nigerians”.
He explained that the meeting was an honest attempt to call members of the party back on track after the Port Harcourt convention saga and the lull that followed it.
Onyedokun commended the national body of PDP and enjoined members to identify with the peace moves initiated by Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National caretaker committee and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff’s committee.
It is unfortunate that when the ruling APC should be settling down to delivering on its mandate, it is struggling with the economy and other less important issues. The party is without any remarkable policy accomplishments.
Under its watchful eyes, remedial measures relative to reducing the cost of governance, fiscal reform, improving power supply, growing the non-oil sector, generating wealth and employment to rejuvenate the economy are hardly applied. Buhari rather than save Nigeria from the shackles of misery and Senator, has been concentrations on endless journey of recovering so-called looted funds Nigerians are yet to know where they are channeled ok.
Governor Okorocha’s courage and true confession that the APC should take responsibility for economic downturn is quite commendable but the party has to work harder and ensure that the economy bounces back.
On its part, the PDP should do everything possible to put its hose inorder bearing in mind that the country is also suffering due to the leadership crisis rocking it. As the main opposition party, the PDP is supposed to be a key party in rallying bipartisan consensus on critical national issues, especially salvaging the country’s ailing economy. Political parties are vital in sustaining any truly democratic government.
Nigeria needs a more streamlined government that will rehabilitate the country’s poor roads, approve plans for new ones, ensure sustained power supply, revive the economy and eradicate poverty improve infrastructure, among other things. It is believe that from the present happening in the country, the PDP would have learned its lessons which would strengthen it to get hold of power and deliver to the people if it re-emerges in 2019.
Viewing what is happening now, one is forced to say that the APC family is more or less of amateur politicians with shallow political foundation and cracks. They are likened to street boys who fill potholes with sand or rubble and hold out their palms for tips from the motorists who roll slowly by, but their amateur repair work rarely survives the first downpour. So, in the middle of the day, the streets are horribly gridlocked. The PDP, like the local arm of the global beverage giant, was very helpful but some selfish Nigerians, did not care to know, hence the clamour for change.
Nigerians now find themselves in a car with no cooling breeze coming through the windows, it is monstrously humid. After five minutes in the cab, they are sweating like a pig in a plastic jogging suit. Under Nigerian concept, it may not be easy to move the country to the right direction until the right person arrives.

Shedie Okpara

Politics

Senate Urges Tinubu To Sack CAC Boss

Published

3 days ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

The Senate yesterday urged President Bola Tinubu to remove the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Hussaini Magaji, over what lawmakers described as a persistent refusal to appear before its Committee on Finance.

The resolution followed a motion raised by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu during a session where members of the President’s economic team were present for engagement with the committee.

Tension rose at the commencement of the meeting when agency heads were introduced and senators observed the absence of the CAC Registrar-General, who had been invited to account for the commission’s activities, particularly on revenue matters.

Moving the motion, Kalu expressed anger over what he termed repeated disregard for legislative oversight, accusing the CAC boss of consistently avoiding invitations to appear before the committee.

He said, “Since I came to the Senate, this CAC man has always given excuses that he is in the Villa or going to London. He is not above the law. This man is not coming to the Senate. Look at the ministers of finance and budget. They are both here. We summoned them and they came.

“But this man thinks he’s bigger than the Senate. We’re not going to take that rubbish again. He had refused on so many occasions to honour our invitation to appear before this committee. We have issues with the reconciliation of the revenue of CAC.

“I move a motion that the man should be reported to Mr President and ask for immediate removal because we cannot continue with him. Is that what we’re doing here? He should come and give us an account of what he had done.”

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, corroborated the concerns, pointing to unresolved discrepancies in the reconciliation of the commission’s revenues.

He noted that despite several invitations, the registrar-general had failed to show up to address the issues raised by senators.

“The registrar-general of the Corporate Affairs Commission has refused on so many occasions to honour the calls, invitations or summons of this most important committee.

“There are only about three committees that are in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Committee of Finance is one of those committees. Sections 88, and 89 have given us these powers.

“And as registrar-general, we have issues with the reconciliation of their revenue. Anytime he is invited, he will give us one reason or another, and he will send junior officers to come and talk to the Senate. That cannot be accepted,” he said.

In a further show of frustration, Senator Adams Oshiomhole proposed that the Senate escalate the matter by withholding approval of the CAC’s 2026 budget pending the registrar-general’s personal appearance before the committee.

Oshiomhole also suggested that the commission be restrained from spending its internally generated revenue without prior approval of the national assembly.

“This senate should decline to appropriate anything in the 2026 budget until we are satisfied that he has accounted for previous money and spending properly.

“And should he spend money that is not appropriated, he should be heading to Kuje prison,” Oshiomhole said.

The motion urging the President to remove the CAC Registrar-General was subsequently put to a voice vote and adopted.

The development underscores renewed assertiveness by the Senate in exercising its constitutional oversight functions, particularly over revenue-generating agencies.

The Corporate Affairs Commission, which regulates companies and business registrations in Nigeria, is a key contributor to non-oil revenue, making accountability and transparency central to its operations.

News

Amend Constitution To Accommodate State Police, Tinubu Tells Senators

Published

3 days ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

President Bola Tinubu has appealed to the leadership of the 10th Senate to amend the constitution to provide a legal framework for the establishment of State Police to tackle insecurity nationwide.

President Tinubu made the appeal during an interfaith breakfast with senators at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday.

The president said that the creation of State Police has become urgent to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges, strengthen grassroots policing, and enhance states’ capacity to respond swiftly to threats within their jurisdictions.

He noted that a decentralised policing structure would complement existing federal security architecture and promote intelligence-led, community-focused law enforcement.

“We are facing terrorism, banditry, and insurgency. But we will never fail to make a right response to this cause. What I will ask for tonight is for you (Senators) to start thinking how best to amend the constitution to incorporate the State Police for us to secure our country, take over our forests from marauders, and free our children from fear,” he said.

The president commended the cordial relationship between the Executive and the Senate, saying that unity is needed to defeat terrorism and banditry in the country.

“It is a good thing that we are working in harmony, we are looking forward to a country that evolves, a country that takes care of its citizens and protects all.

Tinubu thanked the Senate for its unflinching support towards achieving various economic reforms of his administration, especially the fuel subsidy removal and tax reform policy.

“I have a lot of credit for bold reforms. Without your collaboration and inspiration, those reforms would not be possible. We are reformists together. What we gave up and what we stopped is monumental corruption in the subsidy system. We don’t want to participate in monumental corruption and arbitrage foreign exchange.

You don’t have to chase me for dollars; you could see what Nigeria is today. You should be proud, and I am glad you are. What we are enjoying is a stable economy, and prosperity is beckoning us. We need to work hard, and this attendance means a lot to me,” the president said.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, commended the president for hosting the leadership of the Senate to the Interfaith breaking of fast.

He commended President Tinubu for providing the visionary leadership the nation needs at this critical time, stating that the administration’s bold reforms have now brought more revenue to governors at the sub-national level for the development of critical infrastructure.

The Senate President prayed for the administration, and for the nation’s peace and prosperity.

Politics

FCT COUNCILS’ ELECTIONS: PDP WINS GWAGWALADA CHAIRMANSHIP AS APC SECURES AMAC, BWARI

Published

7 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

Alhaji Mohammed Kasim, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has won the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Philip Akpeni, the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced the results on Sunday morning.

Alhaji Kasim polled 22,165 votes to defeat Alhaji Yahaya Shehu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 17,788 votes.

Alhaji Biko Umar of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) scored 1, 687 to come in third place.

“I am the returning officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Gwagwalada chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026,” Akpeni said.

“That Mohammed Kasim of PDP, having certified the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”

In the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Christopher Maikalangu, the APC candidate, was declared the winner of the chairmanship poll with 40,295 votes.

Andrew Abue, the Collation Officer for AMAC, said Hon. Maikalangu, who is the incumbent AMAC chairman, was returned elected having scored the highest number of votes cast.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) came second with 12,109 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 3,398 votes.

According to Abue, the total number of valid votes in the chairmanship poll was 62,861, while the total votes cast stood at 65,197.

He added that the number of registered voters in AMAC was 837,338, while the total number of accredited voters was 65,676.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr. Joshua Ishaku of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Bwari Area Council Chairmanship election.

Announcing the result on Sunday in Bwari, the Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Mohammed Nurudeen, stated that Ishaku polled a total of 18,466 votes to emerge victorious in the February 21, 2026 poll.

“I am the Returning Officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Bwari chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026. That Joshua Ishaku, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Nurudeen said.

According to the results declared, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 4,254 votes, while the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) polled 3,515 votes to place second and third respectively.

The declaration adds to the series of results emerging from the 2026 FCT Area Council elections, as political parties assess their performance ahead of future contests.

INEC UPLOADS 2,602 OF 2,822 FCT CHAIRMANSHIP RESULTS ON IReV

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had uploaded 2,602 out of the 2,822 expected polling unit results from Saturday’s chairmanship elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as at 5:55am on Sunday, data retrieved from its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) showed.

According to The Tide source, the figure represents an overall upload rate of about 92.2 per cent across the six area councils of the territory.

A council-by-council breakdown indicates that Municipal Area Council recorded the highest number of submissions in absolute terms, with 1,309 of 1,401 polling unit results uploaded, representing 93.43 per cent.

In Gwagwalada Area Council, 330 of the expected 338 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 97.63 per cent — the highest upload rate among the six councils.

In Bwari Area Council, INEC uploaded 463 of 485 polling unit results, translating to 95.46 per cent.

In Abaji Area Council, 129 of 135 polling unit results had been uploaded as at 5:55am, representing 95.56 per cent.

In Kwali Area Council, 164 of the expected 201 polling unit results were available on the portal, representing 81.59 per cent.

In Kuje Area Council, 207 of 262 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 79.01 per cent — the lowest rate among the six councils as at the time of review.