NEWS REEL: WEDNESDAY MORNING NEWS HEADLINES...

After collecting their N24m, PDP rejects two presidential aspirants

A fresh crisis is brewing in the Peoples Democratic Party over the insistence of some of its members to contest its presidential primary with President Goodluck Jonathan.

But the national leadership of the party has refused to sell its presidential nomination and expression of interest forms to two other presidential aspirants.

Two of the aspirants, Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa-Balewa and Prof. Akasoba Duke-Abiola, were at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja on Tuesday to purchase the forms, but they were turned back.

First to arrive was Tafawa-Balewa, who hails from Bauchi State. He is also the son of Nigeria’s First Republic Prime Minister, the late Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa.

It will be recalled that all the caucuses of the party, including the National Executive Council had endorsed President Jonathan as its sole presidential candidate.


Tafawa-Balewa had on September 21 condemned the action, which he said was a plot by the leadership of the party to frustrate other presidential aspirants.

He insisted that he would not be intimidated by such a decision and vowed not to be cowed.

He wondered the type of democracy that was being practised by the PDP.

He had asked, “What type of democracy do we have? Is the PDP a communist party? Where is the place of internal democracy?”

On Tuesday, Tafawa-Balewa stormed the party’s national secretariat with his supporters and bank tellers, with which he had hoped to purchase the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms.

The bank tellers indicated that he deposited N22m into the account of the party with Zenith Bank.

The breakdown of the fees showed that he paid N20m as nomination fee and another N2m for the expression of interest form.

He paid the money into the party’s account Number 1012436478 with the Zenith Bank.

Rather than being issued his forms, the aspirant claimed that he was told by officials of the party that the forms were not ready.

The party is expected to stop the selling of forms to all the aspirants on Thursday (tomorrow).

Tafawa-Balewa said he was told that all other forms were on sale except the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms.

He said, “I have paid for my forms. I was however told that they don’t have the forms ready. No matter, I am still here. I will send some of my people here on Thursday to come and pick the forms.”

He said he went to the office of the Secretary of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, and the National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, but was denied the forms.

Asked whether he was not aware that all the party organs had endorsed the President, Tafawa-Balewa said those organs were mere little organs of the party and were not superior to its Constitution.

Speaking on the refusal of the party to present her with her forms, Duke-Abiola, who is one of the widows of the late Chief MKO Abiola, described the action of the party as questionable.

Displaying the Diamond Bank Teller with which she paid her N2m to the party’s bank account, Duke-Abiola wondered why the party would issue her receipts and refused to sell the forms to her.

Female aspirants, like her, are expected to pay just N2m for the expression of interest form while the nomination form is free for them.

The party claimed it took the decision to encourage female aspirants to run for elective offices.

The presidential aspirant said she was told by the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and Mustapha that the party printed only one form.

She said, “I have the receipt from the party after paying my money. But they said they printed only one presidential nomination form, even though the guidelines do not say that.

“The NOS and the National Chairman said the party printed only one form. I asked that they should give the one they printed to me since I was there. They laughed and said whether I didn’t know who they printed it for. This is a fraud.”

She said that she would not ask for a refund of her money, but that the party must sell the forms to her, having paid for them since she said there was vacancy in Aso Rock.

In his reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, said he was not aware that the aspirants came.

He said he would need to find out from Mustapha before he could react to the allegations.


I CAN DIE FOR DEMOCRACY TO BE STABLE IN NIGERIA-DAVID MARK.

The Senate President, David Mark, has reiterated his preparedness to lay down his life to ensure the growth, sustenance and and stability of democracy in Nigeria.
Mark also restated his commitment to ensuring the creation of Apa state for the people of Benue south senatorial district.
He spoke when he hosted Idoma stakeholders in Otukpo, after receiving the nomination and declaration of interest form bought for him by the nine local government council chairmen in the Benue south senatorial zone.
Mark said that the creation of a separate state for the Idoma people of Benue state was of utmost priority to the children, youths and the elderly of the zone who had over the years craved for a separate stated of their own.
Mark said, “I am overwhelmed by the show of love, encouragement and support you have shown me by this singular act of purchasing these forms and in unison asking me to go back to the senate.
“The enormity of the responsibility you have entrust in me entails that I must be fair, just and unwavering in my leadership and and also attain the wishes and aspirations of our people.
“I humbly accept to run in the forthcoming senatorial election in line with your wishes and aspirations, I will strife at all times to ensure that the dividends of democracy did not elude our people.
“As we continue to strive to attain set objectives, I would want to affirm that if you my people ask me to lay down my life for the growth, sustenance and and stability of democracy and for the creation of Apa state, I will willingly do that, because without you, there is no me.”
In his speech, the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, who led PDP Stakeholders and council chairmen to purchase the forms in Makurdi urged anyone with senatorial ambition from area to shelve it, noting; “because such an ambition would be contrary to the wishes of the people of Idoma land.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com

NEGOTIATIONS STILL ON FOR THE RELEASE OF THE CHIBOK GIRLS..

In spite of serial violation of the ceasefire agreement between the Boko Haram sect and the Federal government, the Federal Government insisted yesterday that negotiations were still ongoing between it and the Boko Haram sect on the release of abducted Chibok schoolgirls.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke, who addressed state House Correspondents after a meeting of the National Security Council in Abuja said the service chiefs briefed the council on the negotiation between them and the sect.
He said the recent violation in no way violated government’s resolve to ensure the safe release of the girls.Yesterday’s meeting was attended by the service chiefs; the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Suleiman Abba; National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki; the Minister of Defence, Aliyu Gusau; the Director General, State Security Service, Mr Ita Ekpeyong and the Chief of Defence staff, Alex Badeh.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, declined to speak to correspondents after the meeting which lasted about two hours.
Badeh had a couple of weeks ago announced that Boko Haram had agreed to a ceasfire and directed all field commanders to respect it. Following suspicion that the group negotiating with the government was not the right one, the self acclaimed Secretary General of Boko Haram, Mallam Danladi Ahmadu, last Friday insisted that the group’s ceasefire agreement with the Federal Government was on course.
He disclosed that the final meeting between the group and the Federal Government to finally seal the ceasefire agreement had been scheduled for last Monday in Ndjamena, Chad to be supervised by the Chadian leader, Idris Derby. Ahmadu who spoke in the Hausa service of the Voice of America, VOA, assured that an enlarged meeting of the group had been fixed to prepare ground for last Monday meeting with the Federal Government that would lead to eventual release of the girls to Chadian President, Idriss Derby for onward presentation to the Nigerian government.
The high expectation was however dashed as the girls were not released last Monday as promised by Boko Haram’s representative.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com

Despite own majority, PDP admits it can’t force Tambuwal out; counts on court

Its majority status in the House of Representatives far from overwhelming after a series of defections, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, acknowledged Tuesday it may lack a required two-third support to force out the speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, who decamped from the party Tuesday.
Mr. Tambuwal dumped the ruling party for the opposition All Progressives Congress, citing factionalization within the party in his home state, Sokoto.
In its response, the PDP national leadership said the “honourable and responsible” action for the speaker would be to resign from his position.
The party did not state its reaction if the speaker refuses to voluntarily quit.
But amid concerns over a possible impeachment of Mr. Tambuwal, the PDP leadership in the House said while the party remains in control of the lower house of parliament, the idea of unseating Mr. Tambuwal may not be as simple.
An impeachment of the speaker would require 240 out of the 360 members to agree on the move.
Currently, the PDP leads with 189, while the APC has 159 members. Smaller opposition parties cover the remaining slots.
Any impeachment move would mean the PDP must reach out to the APC for support, were to able convince all its members and those of the smaller parties, many who are Mr. Tambuwal’s allies.
“I think we need to be mindful of the constitution,” said deputy Majority Leader, Leo Ogor, on impeachment concerns. “According to the constitution, you would need a two-third majority to remove a sitting Speaker. Do we have two-third? That is another matter we need to ponder over.”
He said the party would instead await a pending decision by a federal court on previous defections by lawmakers from the PDP to APC.
“We await the ruling of the court on the matter. And I think this is one great opportunity for us to call on the Judiciary — they are also an arm of government — that justice delayed is justice denied. And if this subjected matter is before them, it behoves on them to make the necessary interpretations so that we can lay this issue to rest in respect of defection,” Mr. Ogor said.
He added: “It is extremely important. But for us as members of the PDP, we believe that we will continue carrying on the responsibilities of our party.”
Mr. Tambuwal defected formally at Tuesday’s plenary, ending months of speculation and denials, and becoming Nigeria’s first speaker from an opposition party.
A three-term member of the House, Mr. Tambuwal had long been alienated from the ruling party, PDP, repeatedly missing party functions and publicly criticising officials of the party on whose platform he rose to power.
Speculations he will dump the PDP reached its zenith more than a week back when the speaker attended an APC meeting in his home state, Sokoto, and publicly acknowledged doing so.
Mr. Tambuwal said he took the decision on the invitation of the state governor, Aliyu Wammako, after he was snubbed by a visiting PDP delegation to the state, led by Tony Anenih, the Board of Trustees chairman.
Despite associating with the APC for months, Mr. Tambuwal had consistently denied moving to join the APC. Those denials are believed to have been informed by his concerns over his position as speaker.
On Tuesday, when the speaker finally decided to quit PDP, it was dramatic.
With widespread news reports of his likely defection, Mr. Tambuwal maintained a calm presence at the House, giving no indication the decision was irreversible this time.
Unlike other defections usually announced before the take-off of the days’ business in the House, the speaker delayed his announcement until the last minute of deliberations, as the house moved to adjourn.
“Before I hit the gavel on the motion for adjournment, I want to make this formal announcement to this House,” he began. “Based on the provision of the 1999 Constitution, and having regards to the development of PDP in my own state, Sokoto State, I hereby announce my membership with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Let me register my profound appreciation to all of you my colleagues for the unflinching support you have continued to extend to me for the overall national interest and development of our democracy. May almighty God continue to guide us all,” Mr. Tambuwal said.
The House adjourned to December 3, a decision some lawmakers interpreted as an attempt to neutralise any attempt by the ruling party, PDP, to move against him.
The APC caucus in the house, which welcomed the defection, said the adjournment was to allow members attend to pressing political needs and well as state needs like preparations for the 2015 budget, expected there shortly.
“We welcome and applaud the Speaker’s decision. Ever since the crisis started in PDP which led to the formation of the ‘New PDP’, and the defection of five PDP Governors, 37 PDP members of the House of Representatives to the APC, and the formal merger of the ‘New PDP’ with the APC, we had all along known that this day will come,” the party said in a statement by House Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila.
“We are proud to acknowledge that the Speaker remains not only a member of the House of Representatives but also its Speaker. This position is consistent with the law and practice in a Presidential System of Government.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Constitution requires only that ‘Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be elected by members of that house from among themselves’. Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has been a Speaker for all the members, all the political parties and for all Nigerians and will so continue.
With concerns about Mr. Tambuwal retaining his position, the APC acknowledged that more than ever before there is need for vigilance and focus on the concerns of the Nigerian people who elected all of us.
The deputy PDP leader, Mr. Ogor, said the PDP will also watch further, and definitely will see what happens.
“Let’s look and see how he manages the House. We will watch him with eagle eyes and interpret every action that he takes”.
Separately, the House Leader, Mulikat Adeola-Akande, said the party will take a decision on Mr. Tambuwal’s defection at an “appropriate time”.

NO PLANS TO FIELD MUSLIM-MUSLIN TICKET- APC



The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, has dismissed insinuations that the party was planning to field a Muslim-Muslin ticket in the February 2015 presidential election.
He described as “very unfortunate,” but unnecessary the controversy which trailed the interview granted an online newspaper, The cable, by a leading presidential aspirant of the party, Muhammadu Buhari, in which he said he would keep an open mind on the issue of his party’s presidential candidate and running mate.
Mr. Buhari, a Muslim, had in the interview, said he had demonstrated to Nigerians in the past that he was not a religious fundamentalist by picking Christians as his running mates in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections in which he ran.
“Nigerians will always uncover impossible room for manoeuvre for politicians. I had to face one of the governors during one of our party’s meetings [over the issue of religion],” Mr.Buhari, Nigeria’s former head of state between 1983 and 1985, said.
“In 2003, I chose Okadigbo as my running mate. He was a Roman Catholic. He was an Igbo. In 2007, I picked Ume-Ezeoke. He was a Roman Catholic. He was an Igbo. And in 2010, I chose even a pastor. Pastor Tunde Bakare.
“Honestly, what do Nigerians want me to do? If they don’t believe I’m not a fundamentalist, what else can I do?”
He recounted that the late Moshood Abiola, a southern Muslim, picked Babagana Kingibe, a northern Muslim, as his running mate in the 1993 presidential election.
The Muslim-Muslim ticket won the election generally considered the fairest and freest election in Nigeria’s history.
There had been speculations that Mr. Buhari might be looking in the direction of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, who is also a muslim, or his predecessor, Bola Tinubu, also a Muslim as his as his running mate, if he picks the APC ticket in the December presidential primary of the party.
However, a former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Sunday warned parties against fielding candidates of the same religion, saying it was dangerous for the country.
“Sensitivity is a necessary ingredient for enhancement of peace, security and stability at this point in the political discourse and arrangement for Nigeria and for encouraging confidence and trust,” Mr. Obasanjo said.
“It will be insensitive to the point of absurdity for any leader or any political party to be toying with Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian ticket at this juncture,” Mr. Obasanjo said.
“Nigeria cannot at this stage raise the spectre and fear of Islamisation or Christianisation. The idea of proselytisation in any form is a grave danger that must not be contemplated by any serious-minded politician at this delicate situation in Nigeria, as this time is different from any other time.
“Therefore, disregarding the fact that there are fears that need to be allayed at this point will amount not only to insensitivity of the highest order but will also amount to very bad politics indeed.”
But Mr. Odigie-Oyegun said the APC had never contemplated fielding a presidential and vice presidential candidates who belong to the same faith and that the current debate over the matter was just a distraction to the party.
He explained that the party was pre-occupied with the process of choosing its presidential candidate and that it had not toyed with the issue of who becomes the running mate yet.
“You know what triggered these things. It is very unfortunate. We are trying to get a presidential candidate now. Once that is sorted out, the issue of running mate becomes a simple matter,” the APC national chairman told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview on Monday night.
He said Mr. Buhari might have been misunderstood on the matter, stating, “It is his usual way of speaking. You know he is a straightforward man. It (running mate) is not an issue. But that is his own way of putting it and should not be misunderstood.”
Mr. Odigie-Oyegun said the APC has a mission of rescuing the country from alleged mis-governance and therefore would neglect any segment of the country by being insensitive in the choice of candidates for the elections
According to him, “We want to rescue this country; we want to save this nation. And so we will not do anything to make us loose votes, especially from a very large segment of the society. That is the simple truth. We don’t have to.
“We are looking at somebody who will contribute to winning the election. These things are commonsensical things that will be taken care of when we get to that bridge.”
On the reaction of Mr. Obasanjo to the issue, the APC national chairman said the former president’s comment on the matter was a non-issue for his party but generally okay.
He stressed, “We, as a party, haven’t gotten to that bridge. People shouldn’t forget that we are a new party. We do not want these distractions. We are taking all those issues gradually.”
Asked if the party was planning to pick a former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, as the running mate to Mr. Buhari, Mr. Odigie-Oyegun said, “I’m the national chairman. Whoever we will choose as our presidential candidate, whether it is Buhari, Atiku, Kwankwaso, Rochas Okorocha or any other person, the party will then sit down with him and say this is the type of running mate that will contribute maximally to the success of the party in the election.”
He denied claims that the party was reluctant to address the issue and that an official of the party was mandated to clear the air on the issue, but refused.


Declaring presidential bid, Kwankwaso blasts Jonathan as ‘incompetent, divisive’


The governor of Kano State, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, on Tuesday in Abuja, formally declared his intention to seek the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the February 2015 election.
He lampooned the Goodluck Jonathan-led federal administration, which he described as incompetent and divisive, saying the government had led Nigeria on the path of corruption and economic woes.
Mr. Kwankwaso becomes the third aspirant on the platform of the Nigeria’s main opposition to formally declare his presidential bid.
A former vice president, Atku Abubakar, and a former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, had on September 24 and October 15, respectively publicly proclaimed their interest in the presidential contest.
Mr. Kwankwaso, who will round off his second term as governor in May next year, told a crowd of supporters and representatives of the APC leadership at the Old Parade Ground in Abuja that the clarion call by patriotic Nigerians from across the country motivated him to seek the APC nomination as the party’s presidential flag bearer for the February 14, 2015 election.
He said the craving to serve and save Nigeria drove him into politics 24 years ago when he resigned from the Kano State civil service as principal engineer.
Stating that the call to save Nigeria had never been “louder, clearer and more unambiguous than now,” Mr. Kwankwaso said governance had been reduced to mediocrity; incompetence and impunity.
He said, “I am offering myself and soliciting the support of all patriotic Nigerians to join Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on this difficult journey to reclaim our country from the clutches of incompetence and destruction and return it onto the pedestal of Peace and Progress.
“I have no doubt in my mind that this journey is difficult and arduous. I have no illusion about the enormity of the challenges. But to save our country, we must walk the journey, however difficult. And we must confront and defeat all the challenges, however, monstrous they are. Yes, we must.”
The governor said the impunity with which corruption was being perpetrated, promoted, and protected by the present PDP administration “leaves no patriotic Nigerian in doubt that the government is working deliberately and with determination to impoverish Nigerians”.
Mr. Kwankwaso stated that the transparency with which his administration was running the affairs of Kano State and the results that the entire country was seeing, were a testimony to his administration’s doggedness in fighting corruption.
On the economy, the aspirant alleged that the PDP administration had continued to churn out deceptive statistics to give it a clean bill of health.
According to him, “They are all conjectures. The reality on the ground is at sharp contrast with the cooked up statistics. The fiscal policy of the present administration is more than disastrous. Its micro and macroeconomic policies are as vacuous as they are deceptive. Budget performance is more than qualified to be in the Guinness’ Book of World Records of fiscal indiscipline and poor performance.
“How can we attain development when only a tiny percentage of our budget is allocated for Capital Project and even that is not properly implemented? How can we grow when the wealth of the nation is being stolen by the very trustees to the wealth? Where on this planet do we have a nation so endowed and yet again so impoverished?”
He also accused the PDP of neglecting the women, children and the elderly in the country.
Mr. Kwankwaso said the APC had what it took not only to stop the alleged PDP misrule but also to reverse the “stinking rot and decay that is suffocating the country.”
According to him, the opposition party, which he joined from the PDP, in November 2013, was the only one built with Nigeria and Nigerians in focus.
“This is expressed succinctly in the Ten Commitments of the APC and also encapsulated concisely in the mission statement of our party,” he said.
“We are the only party that practices internal democracy that believes in equal rights that value our cultural diversities that respect our religious varieties that abides by the rule of law, and that believe in free and fair election as the only lifeline for sustaining democratic legitimacy.
He said the first priority of the country now was to restore peace and security in every corner of the land.
He noted that as a government, “we cannot afford to live in denial. Insecurity is escalating at an alarming rate. Little wonder rag-tag insurgents are taking over cities and towns in the Northeast.”
“My experiences as Nigeria’s Defence Minister and as Special Adviser on war-torn Darfur and Somalia have shown me that securing a nation and fighting and defeating armed insurgents is only achievable if the forces are professionally mobilized, properly kitted and equipped, highly spirited, and correctly armed with intelligence and munitions.
“My experiences have shown me that technology must be deployed in addition to mobilizing and cultivating the support of local communities. Cross-border intelligence is a veritable ingredient necessary to defeat armed insurgents.
“Relegating the welfare of the Armed Forces and the Nigerian Police Force to the background only helps in compounding the phenomenon. And where low morals meet poor quality equipment and kits, no doubt the insurgents will have an edge.”


 Fire guts federal ministry of works building in Lagos



The Federal Ministry of Works building in Lagos is currently on fire.
It is not clear whether there are casualties.
The south-west spokesperson for the National emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Farinloye, in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES confirmed the incident.
He said efforts are on to extinguish the fire.
“Men of the federal and state fire service are currently on the scene but we don’t know the cause of the fire. We would ascertain that once we are able of extinguish the fire and begin investigation” he told our reporter over the phone.
The multi-storey building is located behind the popular Tafawa Balewa square in Lagos Island.


NLC boss slams Buhari, Obasanjo over Muslim-Muslim ticket row




Vice-President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Issa Aremu, has said it was wrong for a former Head of State and a presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to have said that he would not mind a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.

He also said that it was inappropriate for a former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a to have warned against a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Aremu spoke in an interview with journalists during the 26th Annual National Education Conference of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria and the Nigeria Textile, Garment and Tailoring Employers’ Association in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Tuesday.

He said that religion should not be a consideration or a factor in choosing candidates in the 2015 elections.

According to him, using religion as a basis for choosing candidates could lead to further problem as there are different groups or sects in Islam and Christianity.

Aremu said only the constitutional provision should be adopted in choosing candidates.

He said, “It is wrong for both former President Olusegun Obasanjo and General Muhammadu Buhari to have mentioned Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian ticket for the 2015 presidential elections. It is a wrong mindset, just like Obasanjo was wrong to say we need Muslim-Christian balance. The balance Nigeria is looking for is good governance balance. We are looking for a president as defined in Nigeria’s Constitution regardless of religious background, who is willing to guarantee the welfare and security of Nigerians.

“The problem of their age as well as the bankruptcy of the age of their ideas; modern Nigerians are ordinary people who settle everywhere to work anywhere. For example the way Obasanjo became head of state in the unfortunate coup of 1976 nobody looked at religious issue, we just moved on as he was the next in command to the late General Murtala Mohammed.”

“If it were today’s Nigeria people would be reading double meaning into it and they would put the country in jeopardy. In this country, the late Moshood Abiola never saw his presidential ticket with that of Baba Gana Kingibe as Muslim-Muslim stuff and the whole country voted for them. In fact, Abiola had votes almost 90 percent in largely Christian dominated area of Akwa Ibom State. People followed Abiola because of his avid commitment to good governance and ability to say farewell to poverty. For me that is the issue and I want to say let’s change the debate from that unhelpful narrow religious divide to serious issue of constitution.

“The two Generals’ comments clearly show lack of civility. Whoever will drive our democracy must be strong civilians who have civil outlook. We are tired of these Generals who will heat up the polity. Their language is not civil. No serious civilian will be talking of North-South candidates or Muslim-Christian candidates. Civilians fought for our independence for us, not soldiers. So if civilians fought for independence for us they should run it for us.”

‘Akinjide sold Ladoja to Patience Jonathan’




A political group in support of the return of a former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, in 2015 on Tuesday alleged that the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide, was behind the move to ensure that another former governor, Rashidi Ladoja, emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party candidate.

Ladoja is the National Leader of the Accord Party and the party’s governorship candidate. The PUNCH reported on Monday that Patience Jonathan had reportedly tried to persuade a PDP leader in Oyo State, Yekini Adeojo, as well as some governorship aspirants, including Alao-Akala and Teslim Folarin, to accommodate Ladoja in the party during a meeting at Aso Rock in Abuja.

The group, Team Akala, said Akinjide was taking advantage of her relationship with the wife of the President to sell Ladoja to the PDP.

It said, “The information being circulated by loyalists of Senator Rasheed Ladoja is not true. The outcome of the two meetings held with both the First Lady and Senate President, David Mark did not in any way pick Ladoja as the flag bearer of the PDP.

“The meeting with the President’s wife was precipitated on the attempt by the Minister of State for FCT, Chief Jumoke Akinjide, to force the Presidency to adopt Ladoja. The meeting was informed that Ladoja is the National Leader of Accord Party and the governorship candidate of the party in the state for 2015 election and the move to lure him in was rejected.

“The meeting concluded that the former governor, who contributed to the loss of PDP in 2011, should return to the party through the normal process and vie for the ticket.

“The party was advised to either reduce the number of its governorship aspirants to two or three or agree on a consensus candidate, whose political structure is strong enough to win in 2015. We are of the strong opinion that Alao-Akala is the man that can do that perfectly.”