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PDP crisis: No respite for Atiku, as Bala Mohammed clings to Wike camp

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The meeting between Atiku Abubakar and Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State on Tuesday, may not have cemented the gulf between the two camps ahead of the 2023 presidential elections, signals coming from both quarters seem to be suggesting.

Following a letter the governor wrote to the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), revealing underhand activities of the camp of the former Vice President, who is the presidential candidate of the party to undermine his second term bid in the state, the latter had quickly moved in to contain the situation.

But it has turned out that this move might not be enough, as there seems to exist a reasonable suspicion between them, arising from the fallout of the May 2022 primaries in which both contested for the presidential ticket.

It has now emerged that Mohammed, who was the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under President Goodluck Jonathan, is not completely out of the influence of his former boss, who is believed to be bearing grudges against the former VP in the way he helped to edge him out.

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In fact, it is believed that the camp of Atiku, is actually harbouring the suspicion that the former Minister shunned the attempt to withdraw for Atiku in the run for the primaries, even after being persuaded to do so by some powerful forces from the North, is in line with this development.

This development, is believed to be one of the reasons, Atiku, and his men, are said to be tilting their support towards the All Progressives Congress (APC) propping up its governorship candidate in the state, Abubakar Sadiq, an Air Vice Marshall, who retired recently as the Chief of Air Staff (CAS).

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It is this realisation, on the other hand that has also seen Mohammed push further, part of which was his letter to the PDP apparatchik, through which he warned of grave consequences if the Atiku continued to support his opponents, sources close to the two camps, have said.

“What you see is cosmetic, because both camps is supicious of the order despite the meeting. Why do you think Bala didn’t step down for Atiku like Tambuwal did? It is true that Atiku is aligning with the APC because they don’t trust him. They suspect that he is a Jonathan man and being a Jonathan man, means that he has to be watched.

“On his part, Bala knows the threat against him from such an alignment and that is why he is making the move to try and blackmail them. So, what you see in the picture of the two of them being together, is just for the optics. They both know what is on ground. You see the way the governor reacted to the Wike group. He never rejected them, which tells you a lot of things. Just keep your ears to the ground,” one of the sources told Whirlwindnews.

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Speaking after the visit of Wike and his group, known as PG-5, on Wednesday, the governor said: “As a loyal member of the party, I felt betrayed, hence the letter to seek for redress. The letter was written with all honesty, sincerity and a deep sense of fidelity. That was why the party invited me to discuss with its presidential flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in Abuja.

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“We discussed extensively and I have gotten some explanations because the letter I wrote was not only written by me, it was written by the PDP family in Bauchi State, the government of Bauchi State, and that is why I was there.”

Speaking on his link with the group, he said: “The Governors of G5, they called themselves ‘Integrity Group’. I’m supposed to be with them but they excommunicated me for some reason best known to them. But I’m highly connected with them, each and every one of them.

“There is no day that I don’t call to speak with each of them. The G-5 governors always look out for others in the Governors Forum, saying ‘we have something in common.’ When you know that you have people behind you, of that stature and that calibre, you feel fulfilled.”

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Okpebholo hails Tinubu, Ribadu, Sani, over safe return of abducted Kaduna students

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Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the September 21,  Edo State governorship election, has congratulated Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna State, and the people of his state, on the successful rescue of the abducted Kuriga school children.

Okpebholo, the Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, who is popularly known as Akpakomiza, also praised the gallantry of the security agencies, particularly the Nigerian Army, involved in the rescue, as well as the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

The Edo APC governorship  hopeful, stressed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deserved to be appreciated for the priority that his administration has accorded security of the lives of Nigerians in the efforts being made to arrest criminalities in the country.

He believed that with the support of Nigerians and prayers, the current efforts by the APC administration would eventually rid the country of insecurity and usher in national prosperity in no distant time.

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On the forthcoming governorship election in Edo state, Okpebholo promised to make security as one of the major focal points in his campaign, as a precursor to his eventual victory in the forthcoming polls.

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BREAKING: Police humiliate, arrest Abure *LP fingers Apapa’s camp

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There is a grand plan to stop the Labour Party (LP) from participating in this year’s governorship election in Edo State, its leaders said on Wednesday, in reaction to the arrest and humiliation of Julius Abure, its National Chairman in Benin, the Edo State capital by security operatives.

Against the backdrop of a video which emerged on the same day, where Abure was seen been dragged on the floor by security operatives said to be from the police and the Department of State Security (DSS), the party also fingered Lamidi Apapa, who is also laying claims to the leadership of the party.

Though no reason was given for the arrest, the party offered one saying it came as a result of a letter of protest written by Apapa to the authorities, on the heels of the primaries to choose its candidate for the election, adding that the aim was to prevent it from participating in the polls.

Channels Television, quoted Obiora Ifoh, spokesman of the party as saying: “The Labour Party on Tuesday had a very successful delegate election in Benin ahead of the party primaries scheduled to hold on Friday. The party Chairman only this morning along with party governorship aspirants also kept a scheduled security briefing with the Department of the State Security.

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“Abure was however arrested after the meeting by a combined team of DSS and Police officers. Abure, Ogbaloi and their aides were also manhandled. The arrest of the party’s officials was in connection to a protest letter by one of the expelled member of the party loyal to Lamidi Apapa camp. It is to frustrate the primary process and possibly interrupt the party’s participation in the governorship election.”

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Only recently, Abure, had been embroiled in another crisis following an allegation of fraud in relations with the party finances, from Oluchi Opara, National Treasurer, who has since been suspended, after she directly accused the party boss of financial malfeasance, forgery and embezzlement of the party’s funds realised during the 2023 presidential election.

Abure and the party had denied the allegations even as Opara insisted that the national chairman should account for both naira and dollar donations to the party in the last poll.

LP presidential candidate in the last poll, Peter Obi, had said external auditors would probe the party’s financial books.

The LP leadership while denying any form of malfeasance denied for instance that it raised N3.5billion from donations and sales of forms for last year’s elections and accused her of being an agent of those intent on distabilising the party, especially the Apapa camp.

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BREAKING: PDP Chairman dies!

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Death has hit hard at the the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with the death of Fatai Adams, chairman of the party in Ondo State, in the early hours of Wednesday.

Though details of his death have not been revealed, The PUNCH, quoted Kennedy Peretei spokesman of the party in the state who confirmed the incident as saying the party would soon make official communication to the media on the matter.

“Yes it is true but we will soon communicate you properly on the incident,” Peretei said of the ex-party boss, reportedly suspended last month by the State Working Committee (SWC) for allegedly involving in some anti-party activities.

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