The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, has lauded Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi over the successful conduct of the Ondo State Governorship primaries of the party.

Ganduje stated this when he received the report of the State Governorship Primary Election Committee from Ododo in Abuja on Tuesday.

He also commended members of the committee for a job well done.

“You have made history because this is your first national assignment outside Kogi, we thank you and your members for giving the assignment your best.

“On our part, we followed the Constitution to ensure that no loophole was observed during the exercise, I followed you and your team closely from our observation room.

“And you followed the procedure from the collation, this report is very important to us, we will study it and there after, a Certificate of Return will be issued to the winner of the primary,” he said.

The National Chairman called on the other aspirants and the party’s stakeholders to join forces with the winner of the primary election, Gov. Lucky Ayedatiwa, to ensure total victory at the Nov. 16 governorship election.

Earlier, Ododo thanked members of the party in the state for their cooperation and support, expressing optimism that the APC would record landslide victory in the election.

He also called on other aspirants to and join forces with Ayedatiwa, to ensure the party’s victory in the election.

“I hereby submit the results confirmed from 18 Local Government Areas of the state, which covered the whole activities that happened during the primaries, the aspirants and their votes.

“I thank the party’s leadership for giving the committee the opportunity to serve, I am ready to perform in any other national assignments in future,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa got 48,569 votes to beat his closest rival Mayowa Akinfolarin, who polled 15,343 votes in the election, while Olusola Oke came third with 14,865 votes.

A former governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

In his resignation letter addressed to the PDP chairman in Mbutu Ward, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of the state, Ihedioha cited a misalignment between his personal beliefs and the current trajectory of the main opposition party.

The former governor expressed his dedication to the advancement of democracy and good governance in the country despite his decision to step away from PDP.

According to Ihedioha, having been a member of the party since its inception in 1998, he has contributed immensely to the growth and evolution of the party.

The former governor, however, lamented recent developments within the PDP, stating that it has deviated from its core principles.

He voiced concerns over the party’s inability to enact internal reforms, uphold its own regulations, and effectively oppose the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

“Regrettably, in recent times, the party has taken on a path that is at variance with my personal beliefs. Despite my attempt to offer counsel, the party is, sadly, no longer able to carry out internal reforms, enforce its own rules or offer credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress.’

“It is in the light of the foregoing, that I am compelled to offer my resignation from the People’s Democratic Party effective immediately.

“While the decision was difficult to take, I, however, believe that it is the right one. Despite this resignation, I will always be available to offer my services towards the deepening of democracy and good governance in Nigeria”, the letter added.

By Rauf Oyewole, Bauchi

The Acting Chairman, Bauchi State chapter of the Labour Party (LP), Alhaji Mohammed Sabitu Aliyu has said that the party is poised at overhauling its internal democracy for a formidable outing in 2027.

Sabitu said this in Bauchi on Monday while addressing some supporters, support groups, aspirants who contested for various positions in the 2023 polls and other stakeholders of the party from across the local government areas of the state who gathered for Sallah/Easter get together organised at the party’s secretariat.

He said that, “We are working tirelessly not only to ensure that the Labour Party is united but to brighten its chances in future elections in Bauchi state and in the country in general. LP is a party with so much promise and that is the more reason we are assiduously working to bring everyone on board towards a successful outing come 2027.”

The LP chairman also enjoined all the aggrieved party stakeholders to think of the party above all other interests.

While explaining why he believed the Labour Party is more popular than other political parties in the country, he said the party’s popularity stems from the frustration of Nigerians with other political parties, including the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

According to him, “The future of the Labour Party is bright. Nigerians have tried PDP and APC and are now more aware, informed and more experienced, and they now know better that the only hope of the common man is the Labour Party.

“I’m assuring Nigerians,we know the problems, challenges and they have been identified, and the modalities and mechanisms are on ground to tackle them if given the opportunity to govern the country.”