Nigerians across political divide were yesterday united in grief as they mourn Chief Ojo Maduekwe, the former chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who died on Wednesday at the age of 71.

Runner-up in the penultimate Monday’s governorship primaries of the PDP, Mr. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, has described his purported suspension by the party in the state as laughable.

THE crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has become messier with the Edo State chapter of the party led by Chief Dan Orbih suspending one of the governorship aspirants, Mr. Matthew Iduoryeikemwen and recommending disciplinary measures for a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Ehiozuwa Agbonnayima.

The Edo State chapter of the PDP has called on the House of Representatives and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite action on its investigations into the alleged N5.5 billion deal involving the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

Mr Matthew Iduoroyekemwen, who came second with 13 per cent of the votes in last Monday’s governorship primaries of the PDP is set to cause heartaches for the party with his decision to purchase the governorship form of the rival primary being organised by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff led faction of the party.

Power tussle in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened, yesterday, as the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee dismissed the suspension of the Edo State Executive Committee of the party by the Ali Modu Sheriff faction.

Barrister Mohammed Owolabi Salis, by now, is no longer a newcomer to Lagos politics, having battled to clinch the governorship ticket of his party, the PDP about three times in which the prize had eluded him. In the run-up to the 2015 elections, Salis, a US-based accountant and lawyer did not even contest the primary elections as he had done previously; he opted to “siddon look,” like late Chief Bola Ige did. In the conversation below, Salis, who was home a few weeks ago bared his mind on prevailing issues.

CHIEF Olabode George does not mince words when it comes to national issues. George, a former Military Administrator of old Ondo State and former deputy national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in this interview, bares his mind on burning national issues ranging from matters around the embattled former national chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, the ordeal of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and the face-off between the Presidency and the legislature.

PASTOR Osagie Ize-Iyamu, former national vice-chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN yesterday emerged the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 10 governoship elections, affirming that the end of the Adams Oshiomhole era was at hand.

Accreditation of 740 delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), who will elect the party’s candidate for the Sept. 10 governorship election in Edo began on Monday in Benin.