Presidential election: I like LP’s Obi but he’s no match for Atiku – PDP’s Momodu

By Christiana Ekpa

Aspokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Momodu, has revealed that he likes the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi because he continues to give respect to whom it is due.

Despite lauding Obi’s respectful disposition, Momodu maintained that the Labour Party flag bearer is not in the same league as the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

He added that it would be almost impossible for the former Anambra Governor to win the presidential election on Saturday.

The veteran journalist spoke while fielding questions on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Thursday.

Momodu said, “Peter Obi said he is the best for the job but what do I expect him to say? But he knows his senior.

“He knows he is not in the same league as Atiku Abubakar, that is why he agreed to be his running mate last time, and he hasn’t told us that he discovered something on tour while he was running mate.

“He continues to give respect to whom it is due, and that is the way it should be. I like Peter Obi

By Musa Baba Adamu

for that.

“I know it is going to be almost impossible for him to win [the presidential election], state.

By Christiana Ekpa

The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Cross River State, Venatius Ikem, has said he has no confidence in the police to do their job efficiently during the general election starting tomorrow.

He spoke soon after the Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone Six, Jonathan Towuru, cautioned all political leaders and their supporters in the state ahead of the commencement of the general election to refrain from violence, assuring that the police are ready to provide security.

Two days ago, the country home of the PDP chairman in Obudu town was vandalised, riddled with bullets and an aide to the chairman was critically injured.

Ikem said that the police can execute their responsibilities but are unwilling to do their job.

“I have no confidence in the police that they will do a nice job during the general election.

“It is not that they don’t have the ability but are simply unwilling to do their job. The reason is best known to them.

“There has been brazen violence by hired political thugs. We’ve complained and lodged reports with the Obudu DPO, yet there has been no response, arrests or invitation of the deadly gangs that roam the streets of Obudu, driving around shooting. These boys are known faces.

“One of them even manhandled and murdered a police officer, which he even confessed to. But he was merely detained and next day released,” he lamented.

Ikem said that if the police do not act to contain the violence, the acts may escalate.

Election: Rivers PDP Rep arrested with $500,000 alleged Atiku money, sharing formula

By Christiana Ekpa

Hours before the presidential election, a member of the House of Representatives, Chinyere Igwe has been arrested with $500,000 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Igwe, who represents the Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 2, is also one of the campaigners of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP presidential candidate, Atiku

Abubakar.

He was arrested on Friday during a stop-and-search operation along Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

The Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace IringeKoko, confirmed the development to journàlists. According to her, “investigation is ongoing, and he will be charged to court when the investigation is completed.”

The immediate past Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Joseph Albasu Kunini, has described those going about discouraging eligible voters not to vote for the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), as devil-incarnates.

He made the assertion, Friday in Lau local government council of the state while canvassing votes for persons jostling for one position and the other on the platform of the ruling party in the but I am not God. You see, the configuration of Nigeria is what has convinced me that Atiku has a great chance.”

The former speaker who contested the governorship ticket of the PDP but did not succeed urged his constituents to vote massively for all the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the polls.

While urging his constituents not to be misled by those he described as “devil-incarnates who tell them not to vote candidates of the PDP at the polls, Kunini said, Lau council has remained a stronghold of the PDP since 1999.

“Hence nobody should bamboozle the people by doing mixed voting which in popular parlance is called “wake wake.

“Let me tell you, the Yandang community, today we are in your land. So vote for PDP from top to bottom. Listen, and vote for PDP from top to bottom.

He also urged his constituents and the state at large to desist from acts capable of igniting crises before, during and after the general elections scheduled to commence Saturday, the 25th of February.

Zamfara PDP governorship candidate’s wife, aides allegedly attacked by thugs in Gusau

By Musa Baba Adamu

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal Dare has alleged an attack on his wife and her entourage by suspected thugs.

The incident which reportedly took place in Gusau was said to have involved Dare’s wife, her aides and other innocent passersby.

Dare who disclosed this to newsmen during a press briefing at his residence said the attack resulted in various degrees of injuries.

He alleged that the attack was government-sponsored, claiming it was a result of the political popularity the PDPD has so far gained in the state.

“I have already reported the ugly development to the security agencies in the state, I am waiting for their response”, he said.

The PDP governorship candidate claimed he was very sure that the arms and ammunition used in attacking his wife’s convoy were procured by the state government.

He urged his teeming supporters to remain calm and focus on the electoral processes, saying that the APC-led government has engaged in a do or die politics in the state.

He advised security agencies in the state to thoroughly investigate the matter and prosecute the perpetrators.

Reacting to the allegation, the Commandant of the State Anti Thuggery Agency, Mohammed Bello Bakyasuwa denied the report, saying that the claim was baseless.

Bakyasuwa at about 12:30am on Friday, a group of people including the wife of the PDP governorship candidate were caught with dangerous weapons and were arrested.

He alleged that two AK47 rifles were recovered from the political thugs and that five of his operatives sustained various degrees of injuries in the operation.

“I did not see it as an attack. They attacked us first and in selfdefence, we arrested some of the alleged criminals. The incident happened between the Tudunwada and Samaru areas of Gusau.

“We were not meant to arrest anybody but their noises, shouting that if not Dauda Dare, Zamfara State could not produce any governor that was what attracted our attention”.

He assured the people of the state that the forthcoming general elections will be conducted peacefully without any rancour.

“This forthcoming general elections wouldn’t have been held if not that we match the political thugs’ action for action. So we are prepared to make this election very peaceful”.