Politics

Edo Guber: APC recruiting fake INEC staff to tamper with BVAS – PDP alleges

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has alleged that the All Progressives Congress, APC, has perfected plans to recruit youths as fake staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to tamper with Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during the September 21 governorship election in the state.

The state chairman of the party, Dr Anthony Aziegbemi made the allegations on Friday at a press briefing in Benin City.

Aziegbemi alleged that the party’s intelligence unit uncovered the APC’s sinister plans to recruit the youths as fake INEC staff and technical support staff.

He said the aim of the fake staff was to tamper with the BVAS Machine on the Day of Election to beef up the number of accredited voters of APC on the BVAS machine.

“We wish to draw the attention of INEC and Edolites to the sinister plan of the APC which has been uncovered by our intelligence unit.

“APC has perfected a plan to use fake INEC Staff posing as Technical Staff to tamper with the BVAS Machine on the Day of Election to beef up the number of accredited voters on the BVAS machine.

“APC knowing that they cannot win the election has resorted to rigging plans which will terribly fail,” he said.

Aziegbemi, who also alleged that APC, instead of uploading human beings as polling agents uploaded “emojis”, added that the party did not upload agents on the INEC designated portal in 3,037 polling units and in 17 LGAs.

He alleged that the party only uploaded polling agents in 1,482 polling units and in one local government while PDP uploaded in 4,378 polling units.

According to him, in all, APC did not do the right thing in 3,037 polling units. PDP did the right thing in 4,378 polling units, but did not get it right in 141 polling units.

He, however, called on INEC not to allow any political party or all political parties that do not meet the requirements of uploading polling units agents to substitute or effect any change of party agents.

He advised INEC to allow political parties to bear the consequences of not meeting the requirements as stipulated by the electoral act.

The PDP chairman, also urged INEC to publish the names, pictures and posting of all its technical support staff before the election to avoid APC allegedly using fake staff to tamper with BVAS.

He vowed that failure to do so, the party would not accept anybody to get close to the BVAS except the presiding officers.

Reacting to the allegations, Prince Kassim Afegbua, APC campaign council, media director, alleged that PDP just told the public what they are planning to do.

Afegbua said the bad news was that the APC is monitoring them bumper to bumper.

“We have told the world before now that Governor Obaseki brought hackers and cloners to Edo, with the aim of ensuring that the BVAS are tampered with, while also cloning our candidate’s voice.

“Now, they saw that is not working, they now want to device another method. By Monday and Tuesday, they have perfected plans to stage protest across the state asking that their criminal elements should not be arrested.
“Those who were fingered in the killing of Inspector Onu Akor are running away from investigation.

“They are afraid of facing the consequences of their action, hiding in Edo state government House for fear of arrest.

“They are coming up with these allegations to distract attention but unfortunately, we are following them up. We get details of their meeting everyday.

“We exposed the voice notes of their so-called Edo Security Network directive to their armed personnel, telling them to hide their guns. The game is up for them.

“Tell them to go and face their campaigns and stop using Edo monies to hire Rema to beef up their campaigns”,he added.

On his part, Timi Wariowei, INEC spokesman in Edo State, said the Chairman of the Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, would be presiding over an enlarged stakeholders meeting in Benin City.

He said the meeting will hold on September 11, 2024 and that the PDP state chairman can raise the issues there.

Politics

Saraki heads 7-member PDP reconciliation committee

The Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum (PDP-GF) and former governors have named former Senate President Bukola Saraki as the head of a seven-member reconciliation committee.

The PDP-GF Chairman, Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, announced this while briefing newsmen after the forum’s crucial meeting with former governors, on Sunday night in Abuja.

Mohammed said that the seven-member committee was mandated to reconcile aggrieved members ahead of the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting schedule for May 27 and the forthcoming national convention in August.

“We are here with all the governors elected under the party, that are still in the party and a substantial number of former PDP governors, with our leaders, the chairman of the party, and some members of the National Working Committee (NWC).

“We discussed some of the issues relating to our party, some existential issues, of cours,e that have been circulating in the media and among us, so that we will be able to navigate smoothly for the NEC scheduled to take place on May 27 and by August, we will have an early convention.

“So many issues and reports have been made, and it is an opportunity to close ranks, and to make sure that at least there is no ill feelings, there are no qualms, there are no misgivings between the leaders of the party.

“Governors of the party have reached out to our colleagues who have been there before, who have more experience.

”Whatever suggestions or opinions they may have, will go a long way in giving an added impetus to the actualisation of our NEC, and our convention that is scheduled to take place on specific days.

“We want to reassure our teaming supporters that the PDP is working, the PDP is united,” Mohammed said.

Answering questions on the recent defection of Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta and others to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mohammed said the party was working not only to strengthen it structures, but also reclaim its states.

“Well, this is some of the manifestations in a democratic set-up like this that we have, and this is what is forcing us to come together.

“Rather than diminishing and weakening, it is making us stronger, and we will make sure at least those chapters where we have history, where we have structure, are not left alone.

“They will be able to produce governors of the PDP by the grace of God, because we will be providing the level playing field in the next convention that is coming up” he said.

On what specific issues were discussed at the meeting, Mohammed said:”I cannot tell you all the issues that we discussed.

”We discussed unity. Definitely there are some ill feelings, and we are not here to hide things under the carpet. You know some of them.

“Some of the litigations in court, some of the misgivings between party members, and of course, we wouldn’t want to blame the APC for causing crisis, but they are likely to be the ones. We are not saying they are,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other members of the committee are governors Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Caleb Muftwang of Plateau, and Peter Mba of Enugu State.

Other members are Sen. Seriake Dickson, Sen. Ibrahim Dankwambo, and former governor of Abia State, Chief Okezie Ikpeazu.

Others in attendance of the meeting held at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, include governors of Enugu, Zamfara, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, Osun and Oyo states.

Others are the Minister of FCT Nyesom Wike, and the Secretary of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and former governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi.

Others are Sen. Aminu Tambuwal, Sule Lamido, Okezie Ikpeazu, Samuel Ortom, Gabriel Suswam, Seriake Dickson, Sam Egwu, Liyel Imoke, Achike Udenwa, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Adamu Muazu and Idris Wada.

Also at the meeting were party acting National Chairman of the party, Urmar Damagum, and other members of the PDP National Working Committee, including the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature; and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade. (NAN)

Politics

Ondo NNPP guber candidate, Edema quits party over alleged betrayal

The candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, in the November 16, 2024, governorship election in Ondo State, Olugbenga Edema, has quit the party over alleged betrayal by the party’s leadership.

Edema resigned from the party a few days after the Appeal Court, Akure Division, dismissed his suit after challenging the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The suit was struck out by both the Federal High Court and the appellate court following the sudden withdrawal of NNPP from the case.

Edema had premised his suit on an interpretation of Section 15 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) asking the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw Aiyedatiwa’s nomination.

In a resignation letter addressed to the chairman of NNPP, Mahin Ward 11 Ilaje Local Council Area of Ondo State, the former gubernatorial candidate hinged his decision on the manner in which he was treated by the party in the course of the case.

Edema said, “Since joining the party in June, 2024, the party has been characterised by internal wranglings and rancour that have stunted the growth of the party; this is not healthy for any serious-minded party that intends to win elections, which is the major objective of all political parties.

“Furthermore, the activities of the leadership of the party negate the ethos of political parties, which is to form government at various levels. Since my over 35 years in active political party participation, I have never seen a political party with a leadership so treacherous as to the extent of frustrating its candidate by withdrawing a legitimate case in court in favour of an opposing party against its candidate.”

Politics

PDP installs new BoT members as govs meet to resolve crisis

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to inaugurate newly appointed members of its Board of Trustees (BoT) today (Monday) in Abuja.

This development was disclosed in a circular signed by the PDP’s Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, and exclusively obtained by The PUNCH.

Dated 11 May 2025, the document confirmed the inauguration would take place at the National Executive Committee Hall, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, by 11 a.m.

‘With reference to the subject above, please be informed that the PDP Board of Trustees has scheduled the inauguration of its new members.

‘The event is set to take place on Monday, 12 May 2025, at the NEC Hall (Ground Floor), PDP National Headquarters’, the circular read.

The ceremony follows a report by The PUNCH on 9 February, which revealed that 85 out of 127 PDP BoT members had been inactive in party affairs.

The inauguration aims to reenergise the board amid rising internal challenges.

According to Section 31(5) of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended), the BoT serves as the conscience of the party, responsible for maintaining high standards of morality and image, advising on policy direction, mediating disputes, and safeguarding party assets.

Section 32(1) details the BoT’s composition, which includes former Presidents and Vice Presidents, past and serving National Chairmen, Senate Presidents, Speakers of the House, founding members, and other key figures from all geopolitical zones and states.

According to Sections 32(10-11), the BoT can convene meetings at the request of its chairman, half its members, or upon NEC resolution.

A quorum requires two-thirds of members drawn from at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s states.

The current BoT Chairman, former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, has led recent reconciliation efforts amid a crisis over the position of National Secretary.

His moves have faced pushback from party members who argue he lacked the necessary quorum.

Meanwhile, several PDP governors and prominent party stakeholders gathered in Abuja on Sunday for a high-level meeting at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge to discuss the party’s internal crisis and path forward.

Governors present include Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Peter Mbah (Enugu), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).

The meeting was chaired by Bauchi State Governor and PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman, Bala Mohammed.

Notable attendees also include PDP acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, BoT Secretary and former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi, and several past governors, including Bukola Saraki, Aminu Tambuwal, Sule Lamido, Udom Emmanuel, Samuel Ortom, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Seriake Dickson, Babangida Muazu, and Adamu Muazu.

The gathering, convened at the instance of the PDP Governors’ Forum, follows resolutions reached in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital and is intended to unify stakeholders ahead of the party’s National Elective Convention and the NEC meeting scheduled for 27 May.

Discussions are expected to cover the dispute over the National Secretary position, recent defections, and strategic preparations for future elections.