Politics
March 19: PDP’s Strategy For Victory In DELGA
As the March 19, 2016
date set by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the re-run legislative elections in Rivers State draws closer, all the stakeholders in the political process seem to have woken up to the realisation that they cannot do the same thing the same way and not get the same result. This is clearly evident in the obvious reviews and reworking of some of the strategies adopted by the various stakeholders in the April 11, 2015 exercise annulled by both the Election Petitions Tribunal and Court of Appeal.
Part of the reworked strategies by INEC is the new guideline for accreditation and casting of ballot to take place simultaneously. The security agencies through the Police Commissioner in the State have also issued fresh assurances of their preparedness to ensure a safe and conducive atmosphere for a smooth exercise. Of course, there are many who believe that the immediate goal of the sustained hunt for suspected criminals and the invasion of their suspected hideouts across the State by the military is more political than security.
The political parties and their candidates on their part have raised the quantum and tempo of their activities and have since started criss-crossing and even double-crossing, their constituencies and opponents to enhance their electoral fortunes.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Degema Constituency seat in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Dr Farah Dagogo, and his train were at Ogurama, the headquarters of Ward 187, Degema Local Government Area, last weekend, where he disclosed to The Tide his strategy for winning the March 19 re-run election.
Dagogo who spoke to The Tide at the sidelines of his political to the community and the reception of defectors from the All Progressives Congress, APC to the PDP said that at the heart of his strategy was his resolve to engage with the electorate directly and persuading them to accept his proposal for a better deal and thereby earn their votes.
“For you to win election, you must win the minds of the people and for you to win the minds of the people, you must engage with them to sell yourself and your proposal through face to face dialogue,” he said, adding that this was important in order to build “a relationship of trust and confidence with the people which will make it easier for them to freely give their mandate to you to go and represent them.”
According to the Tombia born politician, this is the philosophy behind the PDP taking is candidates and supporters to all the wards and communities in the LGA to meet with the people who ultimately reserve the power to decide their political fate and fortune.
Dr. Dagogo who regretted losing the April 2015 election at the Court of Appeal said even though he believed he won the election fair and square, he had put the incident behind him in submission to the rule of law and advised his supporters to continue to conduct themselves peacefully and abide strictly by the electoral guidelines.
“Of course, I keep advising everybody that a free and fair election is what we want and that we must eschew violence and conduct ourselves peacefully as we go out to vote,” he said and charged his opponents to also preach and commit to a violence-free polls.
In the same vein, the aspiring lawmaker enjoined the electoral umpire, INEC, to live up to its promise of a level playing field for all parties and contestants and to ensure that electoral materials are not diverted to undesignated and unlawful places. He called on the security agencies to intensify their efforts in order to inspire confidence in the people to go out and exercise their franchise.
Also speaking with The Tide, a chieftain of the PDP in the LGA, Chief Ombo Benebo expressed confidence that his party would have nothing less than a landslide victory going by the level of work they had done.
“We’re confident we will win the election because we have been everywhere to sell our candidate to the people and everywhere we have gone, the reception has been overwhelming,” the veteran politician explained, adding that the work had been made easier by the disposition of the candidate and his performance during his few months in office at the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He said that apart from effectively representing his constituence, the State House of Assembly candidate of the PDP in Degema had relieved parents in the LGA of financial burdens by paying the fees for all students enrolled for the forthcoming Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE) while he has concluded plans to do the same for those preparing for the Junior WAEC.
Chief Benebo decried electoral violence in all its ramifications, insisting that it was no longer fashionable for politicians to resort to unlawful means to secure electoral victory.
“This is not the time to use violence to win elections. That era is gone. Now everyone is required to go and sell their candidates to the people o accept them for what they can do for them,” he reiterated, pointing out that “we are going to the field for the people to freely make their choice.”
The party stalwart appealed to INEC and the security agencies to live up to their constitutional responsibility and resist acceptance to compromise them one way or another.
“We’re sincerely pleading with INEC to come with clear hands. They should be prepared to declare results that come from the polling units only and not any written results from anywhere else,” he said, adding that “we will stand to resist the acceptane of any written resuls by
Opaka Dokubo
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Monday, passed a vote of confidence in Mojisola Meranda as the Speaker of the Assembly.
The lawmakers expressed their confidence in her leadership at the plenary, which Rt Hon. Meranda presided over amidst tight security.
The Tide’s source reports that there was a growing tension at the assembly as legislative workers protested against the alleged plans to remove Rt Hon. Meranda as the Speaker of the Assembly.
The legislative workers also clashed with the operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) who, in the early hours of Monday, stormed the assembly and sealed Rt Hon. Meranda’s office alongside that of her Deputy and the Clerk.
Our source had reported how armed security personnel took over the complex at Alausa, Ikeja, leading to palpable tension among the lawmakers and workers of the assembly.
There are indications that the ongoing imbroglio at the assembly following the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker on January 13 has not abated.
The Monday’s drama came a few days after Mr Obasa, who was removed for alleged abuse of office and corruption, dragged the state lawmakers to court, challenging his removal as the Speaker of the Assembly.
There are alleged plans to return Mr Obasa as the Speaker, a development which has further heightened tension at the assembly.
The Tide’s source reports that when Meranda arrived the assembly complex amidst tight security around 11:15 am on Monday, many legislative workers showed solidarity with the first female Speaker over alleged plans to remove her.
“Meranda we want”, “Meranda We want”, the workers were chanting in a short video clip.
Rt Hon. Meranda visibly overwhelmed by emotion was surrounded by her security details amid the chaotic atmosphere.
Inside the chamber, officials of the DSS clashed with the legislative workers, leading to commotion.
The DSS officials, dressed in black jackets and helmets and armed with weapons, struggled with the workers at the door.
The Tide’s source gathered that, with support from the legislative workers, lawmakers had earlier forced their way into the chamber around 12:30 pm.
It was further gathered that Rt Hon Meranda and about 32 members were present at the plenary.
A short video clip of the plenary showed that all the lawmakers in attendance had passed a vote of confidence on Rt Hon Meranda.
“Madam Speaker, all members standing before you, I move a motion to say that we do pass the vote of confidence on Rt Hon Mojisola Lasbat Meranda”, a lawmaker said.
The motion was supported by all members in attendance.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, on Monday, traded words over the alleged killing of three persons.
Members of both parties were locked in battle for the control of some local government secretariats. While two persons were killed in Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government Area, another was killed in Irewole Local Government Area.
There had been tension across the state over the Court of Appeal judgment in respect of the sacked APC council chairmen and councillors.
While the PDP claimed that the Feb. 10 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure, did not reinstate the sacked APC chairmen and councillors elected in 2022, APC insisted on their return.
Speaking with journalists in Iragbiji, Korede Ajeigbe, the commissioner for government affairs and protocol, claimed that two PDP members were killed while trying to prevent APC members from taking over a secretariat.
Mr Ajeigbe also said that six PDP members were seriously injured and were currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
APC, however, alleged that PDP members attacked its members while trying to enforce the Court of Appeal judgment.
Addressing a news conference in Osogbo, Bayo Adeleke, a chieftain of the APC, claimed that one of the party’s prominent members was killed during the crisis.
He also alleged that another member of the party, Remi Omowaye, escaped an assassination attempt in Ilesa.
Mr Adeleke, a former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, urged the state government to allow peace to reign by allowing the APC chairmen and councillors to return to office.
Another chieftain of the party, Jamiu Olawumi, claimed that APC chairmen had resumed in 15 local governments of the state.
This claim, however, could not be immediately verified.
When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, CSP Yemisi Opalola, said she was yet to be briefed on the alleged killings.
Ms Opalola, however, said police officers had been deployed to all the local government secretariats in the state to prevent breakdown of law and order.
Meanwhile, Gov. Ademola Adeleke has directed workers as well as politicians to stay away from local government secretariats to avoid further bloodshed.
Mr Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said only security agents would be allowed to keep watch at the secretariats.
He condoled with families of victims of the crisis.
Leader of the 8th Opobo/Nkoro Legislative Assembly, Barrister Samuel Nengia, has passed a vote of confidence on the Chairman of the LGA, Dr. Enyiada Cookey-Gam, as he marked his first one hundred days in his second term in office.
Speaking with newsmen recently in Port-Harcourt on Dr Cookey-Gam and the celebration of his first one hundred days in office, among other people-oriented development projects and programmes, Nengia argued that the Chairman and his team have recorded unprecedented developmental strides, which includes infrastructure transformation, empowerment, security, human capital development, payment of the approved N85,000. 00 minimum wage to Opobo/Nkoro workers’, among others.
He pointed out that his commendation was apt as the activities of the Chairman had been monitored and discovered to reflect the expectations and yearnings of the people, especially, the promotion of council staff, the refurbishment of the Assembly Complex to standard, the construction of Corpers’ Lodge, the provision of effective transportation system for the well-being of the people in the area.
Hon. Nengia, representing Opobo/Nkoro Ward 6, averred that the people of the LGA could now sleep with their eyes closed owing to Dr Cookey-Gam’s achievements in in the security sector.
He added that the vote of confidence the Council’s number one citizen would strengthen him to deliver more democratic dividends to Opobo/Nkoro people.
He admonished Opobo/Nkoro people to rally support for the Chairman to perform creditably well for the well-being of the electorate in the area.
Meanwhile, Barr. Samuel Nengia, has thanked Governor Siminalayi Fubara for appointing three illustrious sons of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area into positions of trust vis former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja, as Chairman, Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission; former Secretary of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, Engr. Edward Namiesimagha, as Chairman, Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) and Surveyor Peter Ogolo, as Surveyor-, General of the state.
Hon. Nengia, who described the appointments as well deserved, however, enjoined the appointees to bring their leadership wealth of experience to bear in the herculean tasks of reviving their various areas of jurisdiction.
Bethel Toby