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  • Anambra Guber: Electorate told to shun ‘money for vote’

    Anambra Guber: Electorate told to shun ‘money for vote’

    Chief Jeff Nweke, candidate of Action Alliance (AA) party in Nov. 8 Anambra governorship election has urged  the electorate to reject financial inducement and vote for the candidate that will deliver dividends of democracy.

    Nweke made the call after service at Hear the ‘Word of God by Fire’ Church in Awka on Sunday.

    He said any politician who offered money to get the vote of the electorate would first of all use public money to replenish his pocket and would not be answerable to the masses.

    According to him, reject monetary inducement, those who buy your votes will steal your money.

    “Nobody with good intentions will give you money to vote for him, vote according to your consciences, vote the person you are sure will work for you.

    “Vote buying breeds bad governance and that is why there is poverty, insecurity, underdevelopment, social vices, crime and cultism in the society today,” he said.

    Nweke said it was an unfortunate paradox that while statistics showed increasing GDP numbers and reality showed that the standards of living of the people was decreasing.

    He promised to invest in security, agriculture, education, and social security if elected.

    The candidate said the people also have role towards making the society a better place by actively engaging in the political process and obeying the laws of the land.

    “GDP numbers must reflect the better standard of living of the people.

    “Politicians confuse people with GDP per capita which is what everybody will get if the assets are shared but it is not reflecting in their lives,” he said.

  • Omolere emerges AA candidate for Ondo guber election

    Omolere emerges AA candidate for Ondo guber election

    Mr Akinuli Omolere has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) Party for the Nov. 16 Ondo state governorship polls.

    Mr James Vernimbe, the Party’s Chairman of the Primary Election Committee, said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

    He said that the election was monitored by observers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and party supporters in the state.

    “Total number of delegates at the primary election was 90, total number of accredited delegates, 73, total votes cast 73, total number of valid votes 73, total number of invalid votes Nil, mode of election Option A4.

    “Akinuli Fred Omolere emerged winner with 45 votes against Adeyemi O. Adetunji, Festus Oke Olusegun and Duke Oyinbeinyefa who scored 16, 7 and 5 votes respectively, ” he said.

    Vernimbe commended the conduct of the other aspirants and their agents and urged them to support the party’s candidates to emerge victorious at the guber poll.

    He also expressed optimism in the ability of the candidate to triumph at the polls.

  • Edu’s saga, a major test for Tinubu’s administration-AA

    Edu’s saga, a major test for Tinubu’s administration-AA

    The Action Alliance (AA) says the alleged diversion of N585million by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Betta Edu, is a major test for President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

    Mr James Vernimbe, the AA National Secretary, said this on Thursday in Abuja.

    Vernimbe said that the incident was an opportunity for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to prove to Nigerians that it was ready to fight corruption.

    “The Action Alliance commends the government for suspending Mrs Betty Edu over the alleged diversion of N585million poverty alleviation funds. This is commendable.

    “However, the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, should also be suspended for his involvement in the alleged siphoning of N438m funds meant for the masses under the guise of consultancy and verification.

    “His company benefitted from the bazaar, though he has denied saying he is no longer a board member, that he is only a shareholder and that he resigned about four years ago.

    “But for the purpose of transparency, the president should also suspend him and allow for an independent investigation into the N438million awarded to his company for consultancy fee for unsubstantiated verification of households in the country,’’ he said.

    He added: “Every person that will be mentioned during the investigation and other indicted persons in the alleged diversion of the N585.18 million should be investigated and prosecuted.
    “The Tinubu administration should reassure Nigerians of its political will to fight corruption and protect its integrity at all cost by ensuring that guilty persons in this case are prosecuted.”

    He urged the president to ensure that looted funds were recovered and channeled into programmes that would directly improve the lives of the masses.

    Vernimbe urged the media to play key role in the fight against corruption by mainstreaming corrupt practices and alleged offenders.

    He said that those whose names were mentioned should not be allowed to continue to grant media interviews with the aim of distracting investigations exonerating themselves from blames.
    He urged individuals who were indicted to willfully turn-in themselves to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a thorough investigation without any fear of intimidation.

     

  • Kogi Poll: AA candidate, Braimoh speaks on his arrest on election day

    Kogi Poll: AA candidate, Braimoh speaks on his arrest on election day

    The Governorship Candidate of the Action Alliance, AA, in the Kogi State election, Olayinka Braimoh has explained how he was arrested and detained on Saturday, disenfranchising him.

    Olayinka Braimoh, the gubernatorial candidate of the Action Alliance, AA, in the Kogi State election has finally broken his silence on his arrest and detention on Saturday, November, 11.

    Braihmoh explained how he was arrested and disenfranchised.

    Recall that the AA gubernatorial candidate was arrested earlier in the day by security operatives.

    Braimoh in a video said nothing incriminating was found on him.

    “I was disenfranchised, illegally locked up in Kabba Area Command for over eight hours and my security details denied bail,” he lamented.
  • Abia AA demands annulment of House Dep. Speaker, Kalu’s election

    Abia AA demands annulment of House Dep. Speaker, Kalu’s election

    The Action Alliance (AA) in Abia has asked the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia to annul the election of the House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Mr Benjamin Kalu of APC.

    The party hinged its demand on the alleged exclusion of its name and logo from the ballot for the February 25 poll.

    Mohammed Ndalahi (SAN), the Counsel for the party’s candidate, Mr Ifeanyi Igbokwe, made the request during the tribunal’s sitting on Saturday.

    Speaking under cross-examination by Ndalahi, the deputy speaker, Kalu, and APC witness, Cyril Kwubiri, alleged that Igbokwe was not validly nominated by AA, hence did not participate in the election.

    Kwubiri, however, admitted that none of the documents he tendered in court to support his claim that Igbokwe was not validly nominated emanated from APC.

    The three-member panel, led by Justice Samson Gang, adjourned sitting to Aug. 14 for the adoption of the final written addresses by all the parties.

    Also, speaking under cross-examination in another suit challenging his eligibility to participate in the election, Kalu denied forging his credentials contrary to the allegation by the Labour Party Candidate, Chief Frank Chinasa.

    Chinasa had alleged in his petition that the credentials presented to INEC by Kalu had fatal discrepancies.

    He, therefore, urged the tribunal to nullify his election, arguing that he was unfit to participate in the poll.

    The tribunal on Thursday, admitted in evidence, nine different documents tendered by Chinasa to support his petition that Kalu’s credentials were fraught with discrepancies in names.

    The petitioners had argued that Form EC9, submitted to INEC by Kalu, bore ‘Osisiogu Benjamin Okezie’.

    They further posited that other documents, including his birth certificate, first degree certificate, NYSC Certificate and WASC bore ‘Kalu Benjamin Okezie’, and ‘Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu’, respectively.

    In his defence, Kalu tendered seven documents, including the judgment of an Abia High Court, confirming his change of name.

    He also tendered a Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria official gazette number 49, volume 107 of 26th March 2020; letter from the Supreme Court; newspaper publication and a Deed Pool – all confirming harmonisation of his name.

    He faulted the CTCs of the petitioners’ exhibits alleging discrepancies in his documents, saying they did not bear stamps from the issuing institutions.

    Counsel for APC, Vigilus Nwankwo, also told the tribunal to reject the said CTCs since they lacked INEC stamp.

    In the same vein, the INEC Counsel, Ogochukwu Onyekwuluke, disowned the documents, pointing out that the petitioners’ CTCs did not bear the commission’s stamp.

    All the seven documents were admitted by the tribunal as exhibits, in spite of an objection by Chinasa’s Counsel, Yunus Usman (SAN).

    Usman said they would incorporate the reasons for their injection to the admissibility of the documents in their final written addresses.

    The matter was adjourned to Aug. 14 for adoption of the final written addresses by all parties.

    NAN

  • Plateau AA governorship candidate, others defect to APC

    Plateau AA governorship candidate, others defect to APC

    The governorship candidate of Action Alliance (AA) in Plateau, Mr Amos Adamu, and his supporters, have defected to All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Similarly, some members of working committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADP) and officials of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) with their supporters have also joined force with the APC ahead of Saturday elections.

    Adamu, who spoke at a brief ceremony in Jos on Wednesday, said that the decision to rejoin the APC with his supporters was to work for the victory of APC governorship candidate, Mr Nentawe Yilwatda.

    Adamu said that Yilwatda “has the potential to pilot the affairs of the people of Plateau at all levels.

    “It is on that note and for the interest of the good people of Plateau that I am stepping down my ambition to support somebody that I believe can do better than me at this moment in time.

    “I will go back to my unit, ward and the entire 17 local governments and mobilise our supporters to work assiduously to ensure that Yilwatda emerge as the next governor of Plateau”.

    Also speaking, ADP State Chairman, retired Capt. Fire Venmap, said that he also defected with the party executive members to join Yilwatda in actualising the victory of APC in the state.

    Venmap said that he was returning home (APC) because he was one of the people that formed the APC in the state.

    “I want to proudly tell you that we are giving 100 per cent of our support for the victory of Yilwatda/Botmang on Saturday,” he said.

    The state NNPP Treasurer, Mr Luka Abok, said that they were in APC because it remained the party to beat in Plateau.

    Abok described Yilwatda as a competent hand that could transformed the fortunes of Plateau and they needed to team up with him.

    APC State Chairman Chief Rufus Bature who welcomed the defectors, said they were home in APC and would enjoy all privileges with other members.

    Bature assured them that the party would not take their return to the APC for granted, pointing out that “every single person is important to the party.

    “I assure you that we will work together so that Plateau will be better at the end of the day because of the quality material we have as governorship candidate.

    “I am sure that you have seen those qualities that is why you have collapsed your structures to joined forces with the APC,’’ he added.

  • AA says alliance with PDP is only for presidential race

    AA says alliance with PDP is only for presidential race

    Action Alliance (AA) party, has said that its merger and alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was only for the presidential race, while the party remained a single entity in other elective positions.

    This is contained in a communique issued on Thursday in Abuja by Mr. James Vernimbe, the AA National Secretary.

    Vernimbe said that the decision was a unanimous resolution arrived at after the party’s National Think Tank Committee (NTTC) meeting held on Feb. 17.

    “The NTTC meeting of the party held on 17th February 2023, and unanimously among other things resolved as follows.

    “That the party will support PDP and the Alhaji Atiku Abubakar/Senator Ifeanyi Okowa ticket for the 2023 general election.

    “This is because the PDP and Atiku Abubakar/Ifeanyi Okowa have agreed to run government of national unity.

    “This alliance is only for the 25 February 2023, Presidential Election, and every other legislative/executive positions of the party for the 2023 general election is to be contested by the candidates sponsored by the party.

    “Except where necessary, the party at that level can form alliance with other political parties with due consultation with the national leadership of the party before such endorsement will be made,” he said.

    He urged all AA members across Nigeria and beyond to mobilise and vote for the PDP presidential candidate.

    Vernimbe also said that the resolution of the NTTC is in the overall best interest of the party and that it supersedes any other that may be put forward by any person or group of persons claiming to be speaking for AA.

    He added that the resolution is also binding on all AA members across Nigeria and beyond.

    According to him, the party’s presidential candidate, Dr Hamza Almustapha, had left the party in a state of helplessness and confusion with his lack of interest to contest and win the presidential election.

    “Dr Hamza Almustapha, presidential candidate of the party, based on collective acknowledgement of the highest caucus of the party, has not put all the required technical input to show seriousness in contesting the 2023 presidential election.

    “Because since he emerged as presidential candidate of the party on 9 June, 2022, he has not shown any seriousness that he is contesting to win.

    “This informed the decision to support Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of the PDP for president and vice president, who have approached the party for collaboration among all the other presidential candidate,” he said.

    He added that “no individual, no matter highly placed, can put a registered political party in a situation of complete helplessness such as being neither here nor there, particularly as it relates to change of guard or formation of a new government.

    “The party remains supreme and shall always defend and protect the interest of its member,” he said.

    The national secretary urged Nigerians to support Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and his team in ensuring that the 2023 general elections was free, fair, transparent, credible and violent free.

    He also urged all security agencies on election duty to remain neutral and protect all Nigerians irrespective of party and religious affiliations before, during and after the elections.

  • 2023: Court affirms judgment sacking Al-Mustpha, others as AA candidates

    2023: Court affirms judgment sacking Al-Mustpha, others as AA candidates

    A Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Thursday, rejected an application to set aside its Nov. 4 judgment recognising the candidates produced by Dr Adekunle Rufai Omo-Aje-led leadership of the Action Alliance (AA) party.

    Justice Zainab Abubakar, in a ruling, held that the application filed by Kenneth Obidiche Udeze-led factional leadership lacked merit.

    Justice Abubakar had in the Nov. 4 judgement ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept the candidates submitted for 2023 general elections by the Omo-Aje leadership of the AA.

    The judge also directed the electoral umpire to reject those candidates produced by the factional leader, Udeze, among whom is Major Hamzat Al-Mustpha (rtd.).

    But Udeze, whose suspension and expulsion as the AA national chairman had been upheld in two judgments of the Court of Appeal, had applied to the FHC, Abuja to set aside the Nov. 4 judgment, claiming it was obtained by fraud and that he was still the party’s national chairman.

    Delivering the ruling on Thursday, Justice Abubakar said that, with the two subsisting judgments of the Court of Appeal and another decision by a FHC in Abeokuta, Udeze cannot lawfully lay claim to being the chairman of the party.

    The two judgments of the Court of Appeal were delivered on Jan. 7 and Nov. 11 while the ruling by the Abeokuta FHC was delivered on Sept. 8 by Justice J. O. Abdulmalik in a suit marked: FHC/AB/CS/120/2022.

    The judge held that her earlier judgment delivered on Nov. 4 was not obtained by fraud as claimed by Udeze.

    She described Udeze as a busy body and meddlesome interloper, trying to interfere in the affairs of the party from which he was suspended and later expelled.

    Abubakar consequently dismissed the suit.

    Al-Mustapha, the former aide to late Gen. Sani Abacha, won the presidential primary election of the party conducted by Udeze faction with a total of 506 votes, defeating Samson
    Odupitan, his only opponent, on June 9 in Abuja.

  • 2023: I am not contesting to shelve votes for Atiku – AA presidential candidate

    Major Hamza Al Mustapha (rtd), Presidential Candidate of Action Alliance (AA) has debunked insinuations that he was contesting the 2023 presidential election to shelve vote for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

    Al Mustapha, who is former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to late General Sani Abacha, made the clarification during his consultations with senior members, academia from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, religious leaders and other political stakeholders in Zaria, Kaduna State.

    He said his party would not compromise Nigeria in the hands of people who care less about its future, adding that Nigeria had presented new formulas for identifying qualities of leadership, the idea of having a political platform as a determinant factor for people to emerge into power had gone.

    “Today, we are in a new order scientifically, and I believe we are here; the present situation in Nigeria, the attitude, thinking and feelings of Nigerians show that the new formula has come to stay,’’ he said.

    He added that the new formula was having quality in terms of which candidates and the people’s choice should be.

    “We are not compromising Nigeria in the hands of people who care less about the future

    “We are all contestants but who knows who we are and we know our commitments; the experiences we have had and understanding of the new world order where we can introduce a lot more for the country to progress.

    “The demarcation would be seen as crystal clear when tomorrow comes, that is why we believe we can do it.

    While interacting with Malam Ahmad Bamalli, Emir of Zazzau, the candidate said he was in the palace to obtain a blessing and advice from the royal father over his political ambition.

    He said the Nigerian constitution needed a review to provide additional roles for the traditional institution.

    He noted that the institution established a good system of governance prior to colonial era but the present constitution disrobed their power, hence some of the socio-economic challenges bedeviling many parts of the country.

    He said it would not be difficult to address the challenges because traditional rules had constitutional roles in the past but were removed due to the interest of some few people.

    According to him, the Action Alliance when voted into power, would work to provide more constitutional roles to the traditional institution.

    Malam Ahmad Bamalli commended the presidential candidate for the visit and prayed for God Almighty to bless his political ambition.

    Bamalli said as an emir, he was like a father to all but implored his subject to vote for candidates that would take the country to greater heights and address myriad of challenges affecting many parts of the country.

    He noted that the country was in dire need of just and dedicated leaders who would work hard to address these challenges.

    Bamalli also lamented over the lack of single voice that signified regional leadership in northern Nigeria, adding that the Late Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, left Alhaji Aliyu the Makama of Bida.

    He, therefore, prayed for God to give the country leaders like the Late Ahmadu Bello the Sardauna of Sokoto who went into politics to improve the condition of his region and country at large.

  • Action Alliance gets new National Chairman

    Action Alliance gets new National Chairman

    The Action Alliance (AA) on Sunday held its national convention in Osogbo, where Mr Adekunle Omoaje emerged National Chairman, and other executives were elected to pilot affairs of the party.

    Speaking with newsmen shortly after the election, the newly-elected National Chairman of the party said the new executives would reposition the party for greater achievements in the nation’s political arena.

    Omoaje said that the new party executives would work assiduously to bring in more youths into their fold.

    “After our swearing-in today, we will start massive registration of members into our party. AA is a household name among political parties in Nigeria. We will use the influence of all our elders and leaders to attract more people, especially the youth, to the party, by God’s grace,” he said.

    At the national convention of the party, Mr Suleiman Abdulrasheed emerged the National Secretary and Mrs Deborah Banjo, the Deputy National Secretary, while Alhaji Ibrahim Isha and Mr Obaro Samuel became the National Treasurer and National Financial Secretary respectively.

    Other new executives of the party are Abdulwasiu Adeyemi, National Deputy Financial Secretary; Mr Olaniyi Fadahunsi, National Auditor; Mr Olu Omotoso, National Publicity Secretary and Mr Rufai Abiodun, Legal Adviser.

    The remaining new executives are Hajia Aisha Abdullahi, Deputy National Women Leader; Dr Mike Madu, National Youth Leader; National Vice Chairman, South-West, Mr Joshua Adewale, Mr Solomon Oken, National Vice Chairman, South-East and Mr Bright Owobrie, National Vice Chairman, South-South.

    A large number of delegates across the country were present at the convention. The new national executives were elected through voice votes.

    New National Chairman speaks on party deregistration by INEC

    Meanwhile, the new party chairman has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to as well wield its big stick against big political parties flouting its rules rather than being a bully to smaller political parties.

    The new National Chairman of the AA made this comment shortly after his emergence, stressing that having over 70 political parties is not healthy for the nation’s political landscape.

    He charged the electoral commission not to be partial in wielding its big hammer against any political party that flout it’s rules and regulations.

    According to him, parties are not deregistered based only on poor performance during elections, but also for issues such as lack of financial transparency, spread of office and officials among others.

    He said parties including the big two flouted the commission’s financial rules with impunity, saying until INEC sanctioned the big parties before it could be taken seriously on sanitising the polity.

    “INEC should demonstrate its seriousness by going after the big parties, sanction them for flouting its rules on party finances and many other rules. With this, the smaller parties would sit tight. INEC behaves like a bully against the smaller parties and is scared to touch the big ones.

    “I am for five political parties so that if you are blocked from contesting on the big platforms by the super-rich, there would always be an alternative platform to test ones acceptability,” Omoaje said.

    Speaking on his ambition for the party, Omoaje said with the support of other executive members, the party embark on membership registration with a view to preparing the party for future elections.