I was in talks with APC to dump PDP, says Gov Ortom

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State yesterday confirmed that he was in talks with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of the 2023 elections but later had a rethink.

The governor who disclosed this during the State Elective Congress of the party at Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi, said he suspended the idea after consultations with some of his close allies and the State Congress of the PDP.

Ortom said, he would communicate his decision not to leave the PDP to his “friends” in the APC.

“It is true that the APC has invited me to come back to APC and they are propagating that (he is leaving the PDP) and this is far from the truth. “I told them I will come and ask you (the state congress), do you want me to decamp to APC?”

The question which was followed by a resounding “No, no, no”, prompted the governor to say,

“So, I am comfortable with my people (PDP) and I will remain in PDP and I will communicate this to my friends in the APC and I will tell them that I consulted with you and you asked me not to leave”.

Ortom also said that he was humbled by the vote of confidence passed on him by the congress, adding, he will not fail the people.

God called me into politics to make Edo people smile again — Ize-Iyamu

Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the coming Edo State governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has said that joining politics is an expansion of his mission field, and that it is God's plan to wipe away the tears of Edo State people.

Ize-Iyamu made the statement
during a program on TVC, tagged “Big Talk with Osagie Ize-Iyamu”.


The gubernatorial candidate further cleared the air that there was no dispute between him and Oshiomhole, saying Oshiomhole already apologised to him and “when an adult apologises to you, you have to listen”.

When asked by the presenter why a Pastor was interested in the politics of Nigeria despite the seemingly ungodly things that happen in politics. Ize-Iyamu responded by quoting Proverbs 29:2 in the Bible, saying he was a righteous man and he would make the people of Edo State rejoice.



Meanwhile, Ize-Iyamu in an attempt to dissociate himself from a man whose attacks on him prior to 2016 governorship election in the State, is now being used by the same person he supported at the time against him, to undermine his campaigns, said He is capable of winning the coming election with or without Oshiomhole's contributions.

He said, "Let me first inform you that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, is not the face of the campaign. As you rightly know, I am the gubernatorial candidate and Mallam Gani Audu is the deputy.




“It is the PDP that keeps mentioning his name, talking about him and playing tapes as if he is the candidate. But I want to inform you that I am very well known in Edo. I have lived there all my life, I have been chief of staff, secretary to the state government and we also have a local Director-General of the campaign, Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe (retd.) from a Edo Central, who is well respected. And of course the national has also established a local council headed by no less a person than the governor of Kano. Of course, Adams Oshiomhole comes from Edo, he is an APC member and it is natural for him to campaign for our party but certainly he is not the face.



"Unlike what happened four years ago where maybe, the candidate could not speak and somebody had to speak for him. But anyone will tell you that everywhere i have gone, I have been the one speaking. So that statement is not correct.”

Kashamu: Nigerians are also watching to see how your end will look like — Fayose replies Obasanjo

Former governor of Ekiti state, Peter Ayodele Fayose, has condemned ex-President’s Olusegun Obasanjo’s reaction to the death of Buruji Kashamu, saying Nigerians are also watching to see how his end will look like.

Kashamu, a former senator from Ogun state, died from COVID-19 complications at a Lagos hospital on Saturday, according to Ben Murray Bruce, also a former senator.

In a condolence letter, Obasanjo said Kashamu’s life was a lesson for all as in his lifetime as he used “the maneuver of law and politics to escape from facing justice on alleged criminal offence in Nigeria and outside Nigeria”.

“But no legal, political, cultural, social or even medical maneuver could stop the cold hand of death when the Creator of all of us decides that the time is up,” Obasanjo had said, referring to Kashamu as “Esho Jinadu”, believed to be his real name before he became a fugitive from the US.

But Fayose said it was regrettable that Obasanjo could say that about the deceased “when he can no longer question him”.

He wondered why the former president did not utter such statements when Kashamu was alive.

He asked Obasanjo to stop acting like “a saint”, asking if the ex-president did not at some point collaborate with the deceased to do most of the things he did politically while he was alive.

“I commiserate with the family of Senator Buruji Kashamu for this irreparable loss and pray for the repose of his soul. The Almighty God will console those he left behind,” Fayose said.

“I also condemn the statement made by former President Obasanjo on his (Kashamu) death.

“It is regrettable that Obasanjo could say what he said about Buruji Kashamu after his death and when he can no longer question him. Why didn’t he say that when Kashamu was alive?

“Can Obasanjo say in good conscience that he did not at some point collaborated with Kashamu and most of the things he (Kashamu) did politically were not with his collaboration?

“Nigerians will watch out for Obasanjo’s own end. He should stop forming saint because he is not. He should also remember that his own end will come too and nobody knows how the end will be.”

Be Quiet — Presidency replies PDP over Ize-Iyamu

The Presidency has advised the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to first sack its incumbent governors and senators undergoing trials in courts just like the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, in order to have a moral ground to talk on corruption.

The PDP had on Friday described the endorsement of Ize-Iyamu by President Muhammadu Buhari as an act that encouraged corruption.

The party also condemned the presentation of a flag to the APC candidate in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, saying it validated its position that the Buhari administration was fighting perceived opponents and not corruption.

A statement by PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said: “Mr. President ought to have been aware that Ize-Iyamu is standing trial over allegations of corruption, in addition to the declaration by his party’s former national chairman that the APC candidate is a treasury looter who should not be trusted with the position of the governor of Edo state.

“The presentation of the flag to a person standing trial on allegation of corruption right in the Villa has shown to the world that APC is indeed the headquarters of corruption.”

Reacting on Saturday, a presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, asked the PDP to either keep quiet or withdraw the governorship nominations it gave to Ahmadu Fintiri and Bala Mohammed of Adamawa and Bauchi States respectively who were actually on bail from the criminal trial on several counts of fraud and embezzlement.

Just In: Oshiomhole was only useful because Obaseki was dumb — Ize-Iyamu

In what would be a huge blow for former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole's boastful claims of being the king maker in Edo State, governorship candidate of the APC in the September 9th election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has said he does not need the support of Oshiomhole to win the coming election.

Ize-Iyamu said he does not understand why the PDP and other oppositions keep fusing him with the former governor as though he relies on Oshiomhole's influence to come out victorious.


The APC candidate made the statement after his endorsement by President Buhari, for the September 19 governorship elections in the state.

While responding to a question on why Oshiomhole, is the face of his campaign despite the claim that he is a grassroots politician, said: “Let me first inform you that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, is not the face of the campaign. As you rightly know, I am the gubernatorial candidate and Mallam Gani Audu is the deputy.



“It is the PDP that keeps mentioning his name, talking about him and playing tapes as if he is the candidate. But I want to inform you that I am very well known in Edo. I have lived there all my life, I have been chief of staff, secretary to the state government and we also have a local Director-General of the campaign, Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe (retd.) from a Edo Central, who is well respected. And of course the national has also established a local council headed by no less a person than the governor of Kano. Of course, Adams Oshiomhole comes from Edo, he is an APC member and it is natural for him to campaign for our party but certainly he is not the face.




"Unlike what happened four years ago where maybe, the candidate could not speak and somebody had to speak for him. But anyone will tell you that everywhere i have gone, I have been the one speaking. So that statement is not correct.”

Oshiomhole has previously said Governor Obaseki was a mistake he wants to correct, and is not going away until his mission is complete.


Oshiomhole while addressing party faithful and supporters at a welcome home rally at Iyamho in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state, told the crowd that his immediate task now is to ensure victory for the party on September 19.

“I have come home for only one project, I am not going back to Abuja until the project is completed. I came back home not to rest, but to work. We are political lions, we must commit ourselves to returning Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to Osadebe Avenue," he said.

When looking for votes that's when you will remember Southern Kaduna — Aisha blast Atiku, PDP

Aisha Yesufu, Co-Convener of BringBackOirGirls, BBOG, on Saturday berated Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate over the persistent killings in Southern Kaduna.

Yesufu said rather than staying silent, Atiku and his supporters should come out and speak against the killings in Southern Kaduna.

The activist made the call in response to those calling up former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili over her silence in the face of fresh attacks in the area. 

In a tweet on her Twitter handle, the activist wrote: “When Dr Oby Ezekwesili @obyezeks marched against these killings alone and was harassed by DSS at villa gate you mocked her. Why don’t you call the Atiku Abubakar @atiku you said had structure? Abi his structure doesn’t get to stand for your rights?

“Where are the PDP leaders? Where are the Atiku’s people that go around shouting Atikulated when people are being killed in Southern Kaduna.

“Why won’t PDP and all those so-called leaders who wants votes come out and start talking about the Southern Kaduna killings.”

A fresh attack by unknown gunmen had led to the death of about 33 people with several others injured in Southern Kaduna.

Sen Kashamu is dead

Former senator who represented Ogun east in the eighth senate, Buruji Kashamu, has died of complications from COVID-19.

The senator's death was announced by Ben Murray-Bruce in a tweet on Saturday.

The tweet read, "I have just lost my good friend of forever to #COVID19 . Until his death, Sen. Buruji Kashamu and I were inseparable. He died today at First Cardiology Consultants, in Lagos. May his gentle soul rest in peace. I pray his family and loved ones the fortitude to bear this heavy loss.