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Tag: APC

  • Buhari acknowledges hardship in the land

    Buhari acknowledges hardship in the land

    The Senate, on April 2, suspended Omo-Agege (Delta-APC) over a “dissenting comment’’ on decision of the Upper Chamber on adoption of conference report on INEC Commission Act (2010) Amendment Bill.

    Omo-Agege, however, went to court to challenge his suspension and the court, in its ruling, declared the action unconstitutional, saying that the Senate could not suspend a member beyond 14 days.

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said his administration would not disappoint Nigerians, saying everything possible was being done to ameliorate the hardship in Nigeria.

    Buhari stated this during an All Progressives Congress(APC) rally in Dutse as part of activities of his two-day working visit to Jigawa.

    He said that he was aware of the hardship faced by people as a result of the economic crunch and hike in prices of essential commodities.

    The President said that the Federal Government has stopped the importation of rice to encourage the local
    encourage local production and empower farmers.

    He thanked the government and people of Jigawa for their warm reception and support to the administration.

    In his remarks, Gov. Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa State reminded the people that President Buhari had been doing his best , adding that the economy of the country was in a mess when he (Buhari) took over.

    Badaru said as part of his contribution, the state government would continue to embark on projects that would impact positively on the lives of the people.

    “Recently, we introduced social security allowances of between N50,000 to N100,000 in all political wards
    to cater for immediate problems of people before approaching the government for intervention,” he said.

    He said these problems included minor repairs of boreholes and medication, among others.

    The governor said that the present administration would continue to remain focused in line with the policies and
    programmes of the Federal government.

     

  • Congress: Police invade, take over Imo APC secretariat

    There was panic on Monday in Imo State as operatives of the State Police Command took over the secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) located at the Imo State University Junction in Owerri.

    The development came on the heels of APC’s nationwide ward congresses held on May 5, which were marred by crisis in the state.

    The national leadership of the party had announced the postponement of the Imo State Local Government congresses which took place across other parts of the country last weekend.

    This is even as unidentified hoodlums last Friday allegedly set the party secretariat on fire amidst a downpour.

    The fire, which mostly affected the inner parts of the secretariat, was said to have destroyed vital party documents and equipment.

    The APC state chairman, Hillary Eke, said he had petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, over the fire at the secretariat on May 5.

    He had said that members of staff of the secretariat “identified those who launched an attack on the secretariat while the ward congress was going on across the 305 electoral wards in the state.”

    As at the time of filing this report, armed policemen were seen manning the entrance, with their Hilux van packed by the side.

    Nobody was allowed entry into the secretariat, even as the building was locked up.

    Also, no secretariat workers or party official was seen around.

    When contacted, the Police spokesperson, Andrew Enwerem, said that the Police took over the secretariat following the fire outbreak on Friday.

    According to Enwerem, the Command leadership had ordered a “thorough” investigation into the circumstances that led to the inferno at the secretariat.

    He said that in order not to compromise the process of investigation, the Police had to “temporarily” take over the secretariat

    Enwerem said, “We have temporarily taken over the secretariat following the fire outbreak.

    “The Police are investigating and in order not to jeopardise the investigation process, we have to take the secretariat over in the meantime.

    “This is to avoid any other attack on the secretariat and to make sure that peace is restored.”

  • 2019: PDP to meet ‘sidelined’ ‘new PDP’ members in APC

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it will meet aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) known as the new PDP as part of efforts to bring back aggrieved members to its fold.

    Recall that the group (N-PDP) in a letter to the chairman of the APC, John Oyegun alleged that they were being sidelined in the scheme of things by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government.

    The chairman of the opposition party, Uche Secondus, confirmed the desire of the party to meet the aggrieved APC members as they are ready to do everything legitimate with other opposition political parties, to wrest power from the ruling party.

    The media adviser to the chairman, Ike Abonyi, also confirmed this in a telephone interview on Monday.

    Members of the “New PDP” who moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013 and helped the party win the 2015 Presidential elections, lamented the lack of appreciation of their efforts by President Muhammadu Buhari and the party.

    Leading members of this group are former governors of Sokoto, Aliyu Wamakko; Kano, Rabiu Kwankwaso; Kwara, Abdulfatah Ahmed; Adamawa, Murtala Nyako and Rivers, Rotimi Amaechi amongst others.

    The group, therefore, gave a seven-day ultimatum for a meeting to be organised with the leaders of the party to address its grievances.

    “PDP is reaching out to all aggrieved members especially former members because they are doing everything to bring them back,” Mr Abonyi said.

    Speaking on where and when this meeting would hold, he said no date has been fixed yet.

    “The venue and date of meeting not yet decided but the party leadership is open to its returning members. As we always say the umbrella is big enough to accommodate everyone including new members.”

  • Congresses: APC, ‘an evil wind that blows no good’ – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as ‘an evil wind that blows no good.’

    The opposition party made the description in a reaction to the alleged violence, bloodletting and irregularities that trailed the ruling party’s just concluded congresses that held simultaneously across the country.

    It said the party was doing this by engaging in actions that instigate bloody conflicts and breakdown of law and order among Nigerians.

    The party said this in a statement on Sunday by its Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.

    The PDP expressed horror at the rate of violence which it claims has been “the way of the (APC) party since its emergence”.

    The statement read in part:

    “We are terrified by the spate of violence, mayhem, bloodletting and massive corruption associated with the All Progressives Congress (APC), both in governance and its internal activities.

    “Since its emergence, the APC and its leaders have continued to drag our nation towards a state of anarchy by engaging in actions that instigate bloody conflicts and breakdown of law and order among Nigerians, including in their fold as a party.

    “From the rascally attempt to overrun a court of competent jurisdiction in Port Harcourt, Rivers State to halt the wheel of justice, the burning of their own secretariat in Owerri, Imo state, the gruesome murder of their own members in Lagos and Oyo States to the malignant disputation and lust for power by its leaders across the nation, it is clear that the APC is not organic but a soulless mob without any form of conscience and integrity; an ‘evil wind that blows no good’.”

    According to the party, party congresses which are designed to allow members interface and resolve divergences amicably “has been an issue for the APC as it could not actuate this simplest tradition of political parties, making its congress a threat to our democracy.”

    “APC has become a symbol and harbinger of malevolence, which, by every indication, is on a sordid throttle of taking our nation to the long forgotten state of nature where only the mighty rules; the state of anarchy.

    “From its cannibalistic proclivities, the world can see why the APC and its insensitive federal government care less about the lives and welfare of Nigerians, resulting in the escalation of violence, bloodletting, mass killings, extra-judicial executions, persecution of citizens, abuse of human rights, constitutional violations, including invasion of the National Assembly as well as attack on federal lawmakers and judicial officers,” the statement added.

    The PDP charged Nigerians, “irrespective of creed, class or sectional persuasion, to be at alert, look beyond personal interests, rise in unison and use all democratic instruments to stop the APC in this dangerous drive to further wreck the nation and plunge it into a state of anarchy.”

  • APC crisis: There are disagreements, but no major problem – Osinbajo

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says the issues of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be resolved.

    Osinbajo said he does not think there’s a “major problem” in the party. He described the APC as a strong party that is committed to offering hope to the electorate.

    Laolu Akande, the vice-president’s spokesman, quoted him to have said this while fielding questions from journalists after the inauguration of President Maada Bio of Sierra Leone on Saturday.

    Akande quoted Osinbajo as saying, “in politics, as you know, there will always be tension, but the party is strong and the leadership and membership of the party are committed to ensuring it remains strong and continues to offer hope to the people.

    “I think a lot of the issues will be resolved as we go along.

    “This is the normal order of things; there will be disagreements, there will be those who may feel that they need certain preferences or certain things which may not have been done earlier on.

    “I don’t think there is any major problem.”

    Fatalities were recorded in Oyo, Lagos and Gombe states during the APC’s local government congress which held on Saturday.

    Days prior, thugs burnt the APC secretariat in Imo, forcing the postponement of the LG congress in the state.

    In Rivers, suspected thugs vandalised the high court, chased away judges, litigants and lawyers.

  • Kaduna LG Polls: APC widens lead, as PDP cries foul

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has widened its lead in the just concluded Kaduna Local council elections, winning Sabon Gari and Igabi local government areas.

    The returning officer for Sabon Gari local government, Dr Micah Victor announced Mohammed Ibrahim Usman of the APC as winner.

    Usman won with 20,576 votes against PDP’s Suleiman Ibrahim Gambo who got 9,580 votes.

    Similarly, Prof. Ahmed Babajo Kofa , returning officer for Igabi local government announced that Jabir Khamis of the APC was returned elected chairman of the local government.

    Khamis won with 47,630, against Abubakar Abubakar of the PDP Who got 2,449 votes.

    Meanwhile, detail results for Kaduna South and Sanga Local government areas are being awaited.

    However, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has cried foul of results released so far, stressing the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KADSIECOM) has altered results in favour the APC.

    “We reject the highly provocative, fraudulent and completely indefensible alterations of the final results and declaration of the @OfficialAPCNg as winner in areas clearly won by the @OfficialPDPNig in the Kaduna state local council elections held on Saturday.

    “From the reports of results at the polling centers, it is clear that the @OfficialPDPNig defeated the @OfficialAPCNg in most of the areas where elections held across the state, including Governor @elrufai’s ward where the PDP led with over 90% percent of the votes cast.

    “The results of the election is a clear testimony of our popularity in Kaduna state. As such, we reject the fraud by Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KADSIECOM) in altering the results in favour of the failed @OfficialAPCNg.

    “It is totally intolerable for KADSIECOM, working in cahoots with the discredited @OfficialAPCNg, to engage in the manipulation of the collation process by changing the figures and announcing final results that are different from figures tallied at the polling centers.

    “Such daylight robbery by the @OfficialAPCNg in Kaduna State is absolutely unacceptable, particularly, given the precarious security situation in the state.

    “Consequently, we caution KADSIECOM, to save the state from avoidable stress by resisting the APC, withdrawing all altered final results and announce only results that reflect the actual wishes of the people as expressed in the ballot,” the PDP stated.

     

  • APC holds parallel LG congresses in Oyo

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State on Sunday joined the list of states which held parallel local government congresses.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the National Congress Committee for Oyo State led by Mr Musa Halilu-Ahmed had on Friday shifted the congress to Sunday due to Saturday’s local government election in the state.

    NAN also reports that the APC in the state is presently divided into two factions, with one loyal to Gov. Abiola Ajimobi while the other tagged, “ Unity Forum, ‘’ has the Minister of Communications, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu, and some federal and state lawmakers as members.

    The polarisation of the party led to the different congresses, with the two groups holding the exercise at the APC secretariats and local government secretariats across the 33 local governments in the state.

    A NAN correspondent, who monitored the congresses, reports that the Unity Forum held the congress for Akinyele, Ibadan North West and Oluyole Local Government Areas at the APC secretariat.

    The Forum, however, held that of Ibadan North East Local Government at St. Imperial Primary School, Oluyoro, said to be the meeting venue of the party.

    The exercise was also conducted in the party’s secretariat across the state.

    The governor’s faction of the party held the exercise at the local government secretariat in Ibadan North East Local Government, Ibadan South West Local Government and Oluyole Local Government as well as council areas in the state.

    NAN, however, reports that APC congress committee members and INEC officials were sighted at the congress held by the group loyal to the governor.

    Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, the Secretary of the Unity Forum, told NAN that the congress was peaceful.

    He said that the committee sold forms to members of both factions, adding that his group held its congress at the APC secretariats in the 33 local government areas across the state.

    Olatunbosun also stated that the congress was successful and in accordance with the regulations of the party.

    But Mr Mojeed Olaoya, the State Secretary of the party in Oyo State, said that there was no parallel congress in the state.

    Olaoya, who also said the congress was held at only the local government secretariats in the 33 local governments across the state, added that he was unaware of any parallel exercise in the state.

    He said any congress held at places different from the local government secretariats in the 33 local government areas contravened the guidelines of the party.

     

  • APC denies alleged parallel LG congresses in Ebonyi

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), said no parallel local government (LG) congresses held in Ebonyi on Saturday to elect party executives.

    The congress committee chairman, Chief Nicholas Adekunle-Ajayi, stated this on Sunday in Abakaliki, while addressing newsmen.

    Adekunle-Ajayi, at a joint media briefing, with the State Party Chairman, Chief Eze Nwachukwu, described report of parallel congresses in Ebonyi as misleading, lacking in truth and without merit.

    Adekunle-Ajayi said that the congresses that held across the 13 local government areas were peaceful and successful.

    He affirmed that he supervised the congresses in five local government areas across the three senatorial districts of the state.

    The committee chairman said that other members of his team monitored the exercise in the remaining eight local government areas.

    He added that the reports submitted by the teams described the congresses as peaceful, credible and transparent.

    He said that the misleading reports were designed to undermine the huge success recorded by the party in the state by ‘enemies of the party.’

    “I, Chief Nicholas Adekunle-Ajayi, is the congress committee chairman appointed by the National Working Committee (NWC) and I’m the person who conducted the congresses in Ebonyi.

    “To the best of my knowledge, there were no parallel congresses in the state.

    “There is nothing like parallel congresses; parallel congresses can only exist if the national body of the party establishes two working committees for such congresses.

    “There is just one authentic congress committee chairman for Ebonyi and that person is my humble self,’’ he said.

    Meanwhile, Nwachukwu, the state chairman described the reports of alleged LG parallel congresses by two factions of APC in Ebonyi as originating from the figment of the imagination of peddlers of the rumour.

    He explained that APC has only one structure under the leadership of the Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.

    He told newsmen that Ebonyi APC LG congresses held on Saturday, May 12 and that it was peaceful, transparent and attended by a large crowd of members.

    “For records, we have no faction in APC in Ebonyi.

    “APC is one big family and we have our leader in the person of Onu.

    “The success of the wards and local government congresses have caused upset to the enemies of the party.

    “The misleading reports were designed to undermine and discredit the achievements of the party.

    “But I want to urge our party members to disregard the reports and focus on the forthcoming state congress.

    “Our congresses yesterday was a huge success,’’ he said.

    Nwachukwu commended the party faithful, stakeholders and leaders for making the exercise a huge success.

     

  • Fayose to Fayemi: Don’t celebrate yet

    Fayose to Fayemi: Don’t celebrate yet

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose on Sunday told his predecessor and current Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr.Kayode Fayemi not to celebrate yet, describing Fayemi’s victory, at the rescheduled governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress held on Saturday, pyrrhic.

    Fayose thanked the APC delegates that picked Fayemi for doing him great favour, saying they had made his task and pain of defeating an APC candidate much easier with the choice of Fayemi as their candidate for the July 14 gubernatorial poll.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, Fayose said the former Ekiti state governor’s victory has only positioned him to suffer a worse and more debilitating defeat than the one he dealt him in 2014.

    ” In 2014 when he was the sitting governor and I was not in power, I trounced him mercilessly. I gave him 16 – 0, defeating him in all the 16 local governments, including in his home town, Isan Ekiti, he did not win a single local government

    ” Now, I have been in power for more than three years and have served the people of Ekiti well. My legacy projects are there to speak for me, and for my party the PDP, as well as for our candidate in the July 14 governorship election, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka

    “I promise that Fayemi will suffer the worst defeat of his political career. after the July 14 election, he will not only suffer embarrassing defeat, he will go into political oblivion afterwards

    “He has nothing to celebrate because of the electoral disaster awaiting him. The manner of his so-called victory also leaves much to be desired as it has turned many of their party leaders and followers against him

    “ To those who may not know, Fayemi’s victory has made the condition of APC worse in Ekiti. The party leaders and members know that Fayemi has no use for any of them beyond the July 14 election”, Fayose said.

    He appealed to those he claimed were trampled by Fayemi, especially those of them who were members of PDP, to return “home”.

    ” PDP is your natural habitat. This is the time for you to escape from the APC’s sinking boat and return home to a rousing welcome. We also invite other politicians not satisfied with the parlous state of affairs of our nation to join hands with PDP to rescue our nation

    ” APC is falling apart everywhere, the party, which was dead before in Ekiti, has now been buried with Fayemi’s victory.

    ” Fayemi is the final nail on APC’s coffin in Ekiti. He may deceive them in Abuja but he is a paper weight at home. His arrogance alienates Ekiti people and any serious politician from him. He will meet his political waterloo on July 14”, Fayose boasted.

    As if second guessing the reaction of Fayose to his candidacy, Fayemi too last night issued a quit notice to Fayose and his candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, saying that APC is about to purge the state of the bad reputation it has earned under Fayose’s stewardship.

    “We have seen a cynical approach to politics that exploits the penury of the poor and the vulnerability of the marginalised. We have seen the entrenchment of the disdain for elders, traditional institutions, and all forms of constituted authorities.

    “Instead of continuing the quest for freedom from ignorance, disease and want, what we have seen is a paradigm that deepens captivity to these ills. In short, the last four years has called into question all that we stand for as a people. The timeless values of honour, dignity, nobility and civility encapsulated in the Omoluabi ethos have been eroded”.

     

  • LG Polls: APC wins Gov El-Rufai’s Kaduna North with a landslide

    Mr Saleh Shu’aibu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged the winner of Kaduna North Local Government at the just concluded polls, with a landslide.

    Announcing the results of the polls, the local government election returning officer, Umar Hayatu said the APC has won with total of 168,572 votes, more than 10 times the votes won by his closest opponent.

    Shuaibu beat Muhammad Sabo Babayaro of the Peoples Democratic Party who got 12,467 votes, while the PRP 4,956 votes.

    Kaduna North is Gov Nasiru El-Rufai’s local government area.

    So far, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has won only the Chairmanship and Councillorship election in Zangon Kataf Local Government area, with its chairmanship candidate, `Elias Maza getting 55,643 votes, against the APC candidate, John Hassan who got 31.514 votes.

    The All Progressives Congress, however, has won Soba, Zaria, Lere, Ikara, Makarfi, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Kagarko, Kudan, Igabi and Kajuru local councils.

    The results in other councils are still being awaited.

    Kudan is the local council of Senator Sule Hunkuyi, who is at loggerheads with Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

    Makarfi is the council of former PDP chairman and governor, Ahmad Makarfi.

    Governor El-Rufai’s candidates also won handily in Senator Shehu Sani’s constituency of Kajuru LG.

    In Zaria, APC polled 42859 votes, while PDP got 16033. In Soba, APC got 40903, while PDP scored 13835.

    The council elections were conducted using electronic voting machines in the area.

    This is the first time a state has adopted the use of electronic machines to conduct elections in Nigeria.