Politics
2023: Obi, Kwankwaso Vote Spoilers For PDP – Fayose
Ayo Fayose, a former Governor of Ekiti State has described the presidential candidates of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party as vote spoilers for the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 elections.
Fayose said this on Channels TV’s ‘Politics Today’, Thursday night.
“Obi is a danger to watch out for. I don’t believe Obi will make 25 per cent of votes in two-thirds of the states of the federation.
“I’m not against Obi. I love him and he is a very vibrant leader. I don’t believe he will get the required 25 per cent of votes because of my permutation as Ayodele Fayose, but with God, nothing shall be impossible.
“Let me say Obi is more of chronic cancer to PDP and there is no denying it.
“Let me give you an analysis. In the South-West here, people might not like to hear that, I don’t see how PDP will win. Anybody deceiving us can continue to deceive us. I don’t see how the PDP will win in the South-East. The South-South will be a combination of all interests.
“Let me now come back to the key states of the North. Without deceiving ourselves, there’s so much work to be done in the North-Central. Both the PDP and the APC have picked a candidate either as president or vice president in the North-West, which is Kaduna and so forth, leaving the North-East.
“The NE is where you have the candidate of the APC, and Yobe and Borno, and so on. We give Adamawa State to our party. But don’t forget there’s another Kwankwaso who is a semi-cancer, that can equally upstage figures in the North. Even if they want to support us in the North, it’s not that the PDP will be running with the votes there.”
“So reconciling or negotiating with OBI will be a good thing. Finding a way to make peace with this Wike’s people too will be a good thing,” Fayose said.
Okai Austin, a key figure in Kogi State’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alongside his associates Okpanachi Jacob and Peter Onuma, has issued a formal apology to Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo after a media claim accusing him of diverting N13.4 billion from the state’s funds.
In a press conference held in March, the trio had made the explosive allegation, demanding that the funds be refunded.
However, on Tuesday, they withdrew the accusation and publicly apologized in a letter addressed to the governor.
READ ALSO: Isanlu-Fulani Crisis: Gov Ododo Holds Emergency Security Meeting
The letter, issued by Okai Austin on behalf of himself and his co-signatories, stated: “Upon further review and diligent comparison of the relevant facts, particularly those provided by the State Government concerning the disbursement of funds intended for local government development, I came to the realization, after much briefing and clarification, of the significant discrepancies in the information upon which the previous statement was based.”
The trio admitted that their earlier claim was based on inaccurate information and clarified that the funds in question were actually ₦3 billion, not ₦13.4 billion.
They also included documentation detailing the approved distribution of these funds, which was provided by the state government.
“We have no personal animosity, hatred, or ill feelings towards your government, personality, tribe, or any member of your family.
“We hold Your Excellency, Governor Usman Ododo, in high regard as the duly elected Governor of our esteemed state,” the letter continued.
Furthermore, they emphasized that their actions were not motivated by partisan differences or tribal bias, but rather from a genuine desire to participate in the democratic process and hold the government accountable.
The apology letter concluded with a full acceptance of responsibility: “We take full responsibility for any damage or inconvenience our assertions may have caused.”
The trio expressed sincere regret for any distress their earlier remarks might have caused the governor, his administration, or the people of Kogi State.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially endorsed Chief Jude Ezenwafor as its candidate for the November 8, 2025, Anambra State governorship election.
Ezenwafor, a real estate developer based in Abuja, was the only aspirant in the race and secured the support of all 853 accredited delegates from the 21 local government areas of the state.
The party’s primary election took place on Tuesday at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre in Awka.
READ ALSO: 2027: Okpebholo Assures Tinubu With Snatch Of 17 LG Chiefs From PDP
In line with party procedure, even though he was unopposed, delegates were issued ballot papers and asked to write down the name of their preferred candidate.
The voting began with 14 national delegates casting their votes before the state delegates took turns according to their local government areas.
Ezenwafor was declared winner by the head of the PDP National Committee overseeing the primary, Col. Chijioke Onwubuya (retd), who announced the results after the votes were counted.
Grateful for the party’s backing, Ezenwafor thanked the delegates and called for unity and hard work ahead of the election.
“I thank all the delegates for the massive support and their endorsement. We are going to work hard to ensure the party wins the governorship election,” he said.
Ezenwafor’s emergence follows his purchase of the party’s N40 million nomination form, making him the sole contender in the PDP’s governorship primary.
The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Comrade Julius Abure, has rejected claims of a leadership vacuum within the party, describing any such declarations as invalid.
Abure made this statement during the ongoing National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the party’s National Secretariat in Utako, Abuja, on Monday.
SEE ALSO: Appeal Court Upholds Julius Abure As Labour Party National Chairman
“There is no vacuum in the leadership of the Labour Party. The Supreme Court judgement did not say the tenure of the current NWC under my leadership has expired,” Abure asserted, reinforcing his position as the party’s leader.
He went on to address the so-called National Caretaker Committee, which some factions within the party have sought to install, calling it an “illegal body” not recognized by any law guiding the Labour Party.
“What happened in Umuahia, Abia State, was not a NEC meeting; as such, the so-called caretaker committee is an illegal entity,” Abure said, emphasizing that the actions taken in Abia were not legitimate.
“The purported caretaker committee is just a meddlesome interloper whose sole purpose is to destroy our party,” he concluded, seeking to reassure party members that the LP’s leadership remains secure under his tenure.
More to follow………….
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