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PDP to voters: Thank you for rewarding Wike’s good work in Rivers
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed confidence in the outcome of elections held in Rivers State, saying the results uploaded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reflect what transpired in the field where voters freely cast their votes.
The Party, while dismissing the reactions to the election, said to be marred by irregularities and violence, said in Port Harcourt through the Director of Publicity and Communications of its Campaign Council, Ogbonna Nwuke that it is grateful to the people of Rivers State for their massive support.
Brushing aside the allegations of the other parties, who continued their protests at the state Collation Centre, as the cries of the indolent, the party said it was intended to discredit the votes, arguing that it was evident from the beginning that the, PDP would win convincingly because of the good works of Nyesom Wike, the state governor.
“First, we want to thank the good people of Rivers State for renewing the social contract previously entered into between them and the PDP. The results uploaded by INEC remains a true reflection of what transpired in the field regardless of the hue and cry of the opposition.
“What has transpired is evidence of the friendly bond that the PDP has cultivated over the years with the people, and proof of the heart – warming decision made by the people to deliver victory to the PDP.
“Most of the governorship candidates whose agents appeared at the State Collation Centre were simply there after losing hopelessly in the field to curry the attention of TV viewers and the press. Their cries are the cries of the indolent. While good men and women toiled day and night to guarantee victory, their principals laboured lazily, hoping that wishes would become horses.
“We want to place on record, the fact that their agents at the unit, ward and Local Government levels did not raise objections when the results were counted. Suddenly, these choristers emerged at the State Collation Centre and turned themselves into disgusting wailers.
“Nobody plants corn and hopes to reap wheat. Their rejection by the people in Saturday’s elections shows clearly that their campaign efforts did not resonate. Messages delivered by them were like crops spread by the planter which the Bible acknowledges landed on rocky and sandy soil.
“We are not surprised by the dress rehearsal that has been presented to the public. Knowing that they would never win, they set out from day one to discredit electoral processes set out by law, for the purpose of organizing free and fair elections, claiming they were skewed in favor of the PDP. While we sympathise with them, we wish to remind them that abuses do not win election. The grandstanding of leprous, dejected and rejected leaders who lost their teeming supporters on the road to the elections do not either.
“Elections are won in the units, in the wards, in the communities and Local Government Areas where the people reside. Elections are won through hard work, determination and commitment on the part of party volunteers. Our volunteers, it is on record, went door to door to secure the support and understanding of the masses.
“To the Rivers people who opened their doors unto us, and volunteers, including party men and women who believed in the vision and mission of the PDP, we owe a great gratitude. You are true victors of our evolving democracy.
“Given the outcome of the election in areas where results, have been released, there is no doubt in our mind that the Rivers people in whose hands absolute power resides fully accepted Sir Siminalayi Fubara and all the PDP candidates. We salute all our candidates and once again thank the good people of Rivers State for their abiding faith in the PDP ably led by Governor Nyesom Wike. The PDP assures the Rivers people that its elected officials would hit the ground running from day one.”
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BREAKING: All clear for Tinubu! S’Court dismisses PDP’s double nomination suit *Says, PDP a busy-body
For being a meddlesome interloper and a busy-body in bringing a case that was none of its business, the Supreme Court, on Friday slammed a N2million fine on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), over its suit demanding that the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 presidential election be vitiated.
The main opposition party, had claimed that Kashim Shettima, being a candidate in a Senatorial election in Borno and as well as the running mate to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate in the election, amounted to double Nomination, which is forbidden by the law.
Based on that, the prayed the apex court to declare the ticket null and void and the votes recorded for it in the election, through which they were declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), wasted, a prayer, which if it had succeeded, would pave the way for Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the party in the election to take over from Tinubu as the 16th President on Monday, when he is due to be inaugurated.
But the court, while dismissing the prayers, which originated from the Federal High Court Abuja, and travelled through the Court of Appeal, before it, agreeing with the positions of the lower courts which dismissed them on the ground of lacking in locus standi to institute the case.
But, Justice Adamu Jauro who read the Judgement, not only held that the PDP acted as meddlesome Interloper and a busy body as it is an internal affair of the APC, ordered the main opposition party to pay N2milllion, for its troubles, after establishing that its arguments tended to misleading the court, which was “sad”.
The court, which said it was aware of the case of Uche Nwosu, former governorship candidate in Imo State, the court, held that it did not applay in the instant case, as it agreed that Shettima withdrew his senate nomination on 6th July 2022 and was subsequently replaced and therefore, was no longer a candidate for the Senate before he picked up the running mate ticket, thus, making the allegation of multiple nomination untenable.
On the other hand, the court, held that Nwosu in his case, got nominated by two political parties for different positions, and having not being on all fours, PDP suit, was bound to fail right from the trial court, to the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court.
Accusing the PDP of attempts to use the social media to set a trap for the apex court to blackmail it, which he said was “painful, unfortunate and uncalled for,” the court said a political party had no right to challenge the action of another party, or the decision of INEC, in respect of another party, adding that for a person to have locus standi to challenge the nomination process of a political party, the person must be a neutral person and an aspirant to that position, and a member of the party.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is worried that the level of love Nigerians abroad share among themselves is not replicated at home, adding that a situation where they are quick to become friends outside and enemies at home, must be stop. The former President, who acknowledged how Nigerians in the diaspora were making the country proud in their different areas of endeavour, told participants at an evening reception held at New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, that Nigerians in the diaspora must conduct themselves as good citizens wherever they domiciled.
Obasanjo, whose views were captured in a statement by, Kehinde Akinyemi, his spokesman, expressed satisfaction over the unity exhibited among Nigerians in the United States of America, urging them to reciprocate such togetherness when they are back home.
The former President, said to have spoken on behalf of a delegation of eminent traditional leaders and academics that included the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Saka Matemilola, was quoted as saying: “Nigerian nationals are often very united when they are abroad, but something else when they return to the country, therefore, I want to urge all to be good citizens, not only where you are, but when also you come home to Nigeria.”
The exchange of handshakes between veteran actors Pete Edochie and Kanayo O. Kanayo with Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyey Ogunwusi Enitan, has spurred a flurry of reactions on social media, The Nation, is reporting.
The paper, which reviewed the viral video shared on Thursday, where Edochie and Kanayo approached Ooni’s table at Elizabeth Jack Rich’s 40th birthday party on Tuesday and exchanged Igbo “cultural” handshakes with the monarch, acknowledged the different meanings being read into it.
Social media users on Twitter took to the comment section of the video with some knocking the actors for disrespecting the tradition by exchanging handshakes with the monarch, while others praised Ooni for showing respect to the Igbo culture.
Man of Letters said: “Igbakeji Oorisa?! It’s acceptable that he received the cross-culture respect handshake with Pete Edochie because the man Pete carry, but what’s his excuse for doing it with Kanayo O Kanayo??”
Kelvin Odanz said. “Is this ceremony holding in the Ooni palace? I mean, if an Igbo man (from a culture that doesn’t bow to another man) meets the Ooni in the UK for instance, is it disrespectful if he chooses to greet the respected Oba in a way he was brought up to respect dignitaries?”
Another user Onyemauchi tweeted: “This man supposed be King for him community”
Another tweep tracesorba wrote: “Igbos don’t bow down to any man, An evolved or wise man is their our own Chi.”
BREAKING: All clear for Tinubu! S’Court dismisses PDP’s double nomination suit *Says, PDP a busy-body
Nigerians must allow the love they share abroad resonate at home – Obasanjo
Uproar, social media exchange of fire, over Ooni’s handshake with Pete Edochie, KOK
In the military, INEC boss and his team would be executed – Bode George *Why put Tinubu’s boy in charge of IT?
I’ve paid a price for joining Obi to rescue Nigeria – Datti-Ahmed *Weeps on TV
BREAKING: Sorry, you can’t contest 2023 election, Atiku tells Tinubu
