One time National chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Barnabas Gemade has dumped the party and moved to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) where he picked up the senatorial primary ticket.

Gemade won the party primary of the APC for the Benue North East senatorial zone today and will contest against incumbent governor, Gabriel Suswam during next year’s general elections.

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As all are set for the Presidential primary election of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), a frontline contestant, Atiku Abubakar has called for fair, free and credible primary.
Atiku, who is Nigeria’s ex Vice President advised APC not to leave any stone unturned in its quest to ensure free, fair and credible presidential primary tomorrow which he said, would provide the impetus for enthroning the change that Nigerians have clamoured for.
In a press statement issued by his media office in Lagos today, Atku welcome the national delegates of the party to its national convention to be held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.
“I do not need to overemphasize the importance of tomorrow’s event and the impact which the choice you make at this historic event will have on both our party and the nation at large,” Atiku told the delegates.
He stressed that the choice the delegates will make tomorrow will set the country on the path of enthroning the much-needed change for socio-economic and political progress and development.
“The choice you make, the aspirants you choose to fly the flag of our party at tomorrow’s (Wednesday) presidential election will make the difference between victory and defeat for our party. It will also determine whether the teeming population of Nigerians will get the political change they are yearning for to give them the opportunity of a better life.”
He charged the delegates to be guided by the fact that for the past 16 years, Nigerians have been forced to live under the most oppressive and despicable system of governance during which the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) rode rough shod over the nation and used the nation’s resources as they liked.
“The result of PDP’s misrule and disregard for the people of Nigeria is the sorry state in which we find ourselves today and we cannot afford to thread this path again,” Atiku said adding that he remains the best choice of the delegates to lead charge for the change that will enthrone an inclusive Nigeria for all.
He assured the delegates that he will make good on his commitment as enshrined in his policy document in critical areas of infrastructure, education, health, social services and employment in particular to the teeming army of unemployed youth.
He bemoaned that austerity is the clearest indication that the so-called transformation agenda of the Jonathan government has failed.
“Perhaps, the worst thing that this government has done to our country and our people is the imposition of austerity measures on a people who have been battered by poor government policy, waste and monumental corruption in the past 16 years.”
Atiku called on the delegates to pitch their tents with him in the quest to begin the arduous task of pulling the country back from the brink and setting it on the path of progress, economic rejuvenation and development.
“Let us put an end to continuous poverty, austerity and insecurity by making a sound choice for the APC. The envisaged change starts today by the choice that you make.”

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Eight governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), today, boycotted the Ogun governorship primary election which to pick a candidate for the 2015 elections.

They Asiwaju Tony Ojesina, Prince Yanju Lipede, Dr. Remilekun Bakare, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Ishola, Dr. Yomi Majekodunmi, Professor David Bamgbose,  Isiaq Akinlade, Alhaji Rafiu Ogunleye and former speaker of the House of Representatives and Dimeji Bankole.

Also absent at the primary were the former Nigeria President, Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-governor Gbenga Daniel whose names were mentioned.

However, in spite of cancellation of the primary by the party”s National Working Committee following the confusion over the delegates list, the state branch of the party went ahead to elect the former governorship candidate of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) in the 2011 election, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka as its governorship candidate in the state.

The primary which was held at the party Secretariat, Kuto, Abeokuta was monitored by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The winner of the primary polled 705 votes to defeat Jelili Kayode Amusan and Omoba Segun Adewale who scored 151 and zero votes, respectively. Over 900 delegates voted in the Ogun PDP governorship primary.

The election was  held under tight security provided by heavily armed anti-riot policemen, men of the State Security Service and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Delegates were thoroughly frisked by stern-looking security agents who manned the gates to the PDP state secretariat venue of the primary which kicked off at about 2:25pm.

The PDP National Working Committee had earlier in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary; Olisa Metuh announced the cancellation of the Ogun governorship primary.

Metuh said that the Ogun PDP governorship primary had not been authorized by the party’s national headquarters, warning that the exercise which had been declared null and void would amount to a nullity.

The PDP national publicity secretary said that a new date for the conduct of the Ogun PDP governorship primary would be announced later by the party national leadership.

In his opening remarks before voting commenced, Chairman of Ogun PDP, Chief Bayo Dayo assured that the primary election would produce a credible governorship candidate for the party in the state.

Bayo who told newsmen earlier that he was not aware of the directives of the PDP NWC cancelling the primary expressed confidence that the party’s standard bearer would defeat the incumbent Governor Ibikunle Amosun in the 2015 governorship election in the state.

“Today will mark the beginning of good things in the party. By 2015, we’ ll drive this APC government away. My ambition is to have PDP returned to power in 2015,” Bayo said.

One of the aspirants who participated in the governorship primary election, Amusan who stormed out before the announcement of the full results said that he had accepted the outcome.

In his remarks, after he was declared winner,  the  PDP governorship candidate said that his election as the party’s standard bearer for next year’s poll followed due process and was conducted in observance of the rule of law. [myad]