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Tag: APC

  • If we make PDP’s mistake, APC will be fired come 2019 – Oyegun

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, has warned that Nigerians may vote against the party in 2019.

    Oyegun spoke on Tuesday at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, when he was formally presented with the book “APC: The Making of a Change Agent” written by Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, Okoi Obono-Obla.

    Obono-Obla served as the Secretary of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Alliance/Merger Committee.

    Oyegun urged others who “participated intimately” in the formation of the APC to document their record of events for posterity.

    “We created a machine that has started a significant move in entrenching democracy in this country. What is democracy? It is the ability to hire and fire”, he said.

    “It was the first time that Nigerians had the ability of firing and it has become internalised in our political psyche. We know that we should not make the mistakes of the PDP. We too now know that we can be fired and that is democracy”‎, he added.
    “It is important because in a few years, peripheral people like happens today in the case of June 12, sort of claim ownership of an event they know very little about In fact, we encourage all those who participated intimately to document their record of what they think happened”, he said.

    “Historians will then later take these slightly different versions considering the perspectives were you were standing to watch the show. And we will eventually have a comprehensive rendition of what happened.

    “It was the first time a merger of that type had succeeded. It is the first time people had the intense nationalism to make the degree of sacrifice that was called for in agreeing to a merger.”
    Oyegun however hailed the contributions of chairmen of parties that merged, ex-vice president, Atiku Abubakar, ex-governor of Lagos state, Bola Tinubu and ‘new PDP’ entrants in ensuring victory for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

    The ‘new PDP’ members where senators, Reps members, governors under the People’s Democratic Party that defected to the APC after its formation.

    “We had three party chairmen, and a lot of other individuals- former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and a few others who participated actively. And we must not forget the role that was played by the new PDP.”

    Speaking, Obono-Obla said, “The book tells the story of the APC; How the APC was founded; the intense negotiations; support of the governor; and how the APC dethroned an incumbent government, unprecedented in the history of Nigeria.

    “It was necessary for a member of the merger committee to tell the story so that there is no distortion and misrepresentation of facts. This generation and generations to come will read this story and also see how the PDP failed so that the APC will not make the same mistake.

    “Because if we make that mistake, the Nigerian people will punish us as they punished the PDP. We should run a democratic party. I am happy that the APC National Chairman is doing his best and despite all the turbulence, the Party is still one.”

    Present at the book presentation were the APC National Auditor, George Moghalu; National Organising Secretary, Osita Izunaso and National Vice Chairman (South East), Emma Eneukwu.

  • Igbo quit notice a joke taken too far – South-East APC

    The All Progressives Congress, APC, South-East zone, on Sunday strongly condemned the ultimatum given Ndigbo in the North, describing it as a joke pushed too far.

    The party in a statement by the zone national vice chairman Hon. Emma Eneukwu, and made available to DAILY POST by the publicity secretary, Hon. Hycienth Ngwu said it was high time Nigerians rose against hate speeches.

    The APC urged Ndigbo resident in the North to ignore the order and go about their normal businesses.

    The statement read:‎ “The attention of the leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) in South East has been drawn to recent outbursts by some youths in the Northern Nigeria under the name “Coalition of Arewa Youths” urging the Igbos to vacate their habitats in the North on or before 1st October 2017.

    “In our opinion, this call is ‘a joke taken too far’. It is an ill wind that blows no good to anyone. And we hereby call on all well-meaning Nigerians to rise and condemn this and other outbursts by some people from other sections of this great country, Nigeria.

    “It is high time we all stood in one accord to put a stop to the growing hate speeches and bickering going on now in our dear country from all quarters. Let us love all and hate none as love is the panacea to peaceful co-existence, economic and social growth. We have faith in the ability of the APC led Federal Government to safeguard lives and property of all Nigerians living within Nigeria.

    “Consequently, we urge all Igbos living in any part of Nigeria to go about their normal businesses without fear, but in loving disposition toward their neighbor and environment.

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    “We hereby thank the Governors of the Northern States of Nigeria for their quick condemnation of this act by the Coalition of Arewa Youths. We particularly, thank the Governor of Sokoto State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal for his love to the Igbos in this trying period.”

  • By-election primary: APC clears Adeleke’s brother, disqualifies Aregbesola’s aide

    The All Progressives Congress Screening Committee has cleared the younger brother of late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Ademola to participate in the party’s senatorial primary scheduled to hold on Monday (today) to pick the party’s flag bearer in the by-election to fill the Osun-West senatorial district seat at the Senate.

    The party however disqualified the Osun State Commissioner for Cabinet Matters, Senator Mudashiru Hussein from participating in the primary.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the seat became vacant following the death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke on April 23 and the Independence National Electoral Commission, INEC, has fixed July 8 for the by-election.

    The committee communicated the disqualification to Hussein in a letter signed by its chairman, who is Zamfara State House of Assembly Speaker, Sanusi Rikiji, and secretary, Maj.-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (retd.).

    The letter was given to Hussein on Sunday.

    The committee, however, cleared Adeleke’s younger brother, Ademola, for the primary election but told Hussein that he could appeal his disqualification.

    Except the disqualification verdict is overturned by the appeal committee, Adeleke’s brother may pick the APC ticket unopposed because other aspirants stepped down for Hussein and him shortly before the screening started on Saturday.

    The letter of disqualification read, “The committee wishes to refer you to the All Progressives Congress 2014 guidelines for the nomination of candidates for public office. Minimum requirement at page two states inter alia, ‘In conformity with the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, qualification for aspirants to respective offices in state Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives; Senate; Governorship and the Presidency, prescribes that aspirants seeking public office on its platform shall not have remained as an employee of the public service within 30 days preceding the date of an election.”

  • APC chieftain calls on Northern leaders to caution youths

    APC chieftain calls on Northern leaders to caution youths

    A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Timi Frank, has appealed to Northern region leaders, Governors, Emirs and political leaders to advise youths of the region against making inflammatory statements.

    Frank in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja while reacting to a call by Northern youths to Igbos to leave the region, said such call could build tensions across the country.

    He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to take necessary steps to douse tension that may have been generated as a result of the threat.

    Frank also cautioned youths across the country not to give in to the antics of some politicians who may want the country divided at all cost.

    “I call on Nigerian youths from the South or North to drop whatever differences planted or being nurtured against each other and come together to build a more united and developed nation,” he said.

    He maintained that every section of the country was important, adding that youths across the regions were expected to play important roles in its development.

    He urged youths to preach peace and not to give in to sentiments, stressing that they were expected to right the wrongs of the past.

    This, Frank said, they could do by coming up with innovations that would ensure the country`s development in the interest of all, rather than fanning “the embers of disunity“.

    He, however, called on security agencies to ensure the protection of Northerners in the South and the Southerners in the North, and pleaded with Northern youths to give peace a chance.

    The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Arewa Youth Development Foundation, Arewa Students Forum and Northern Emancipation Network, recently at a news conference, gave Igbos in the North an ultimatum to leave the region.

    “As a prelude, we call on Igbos currently residing in any part of Northern Nigeria to relocate within two weeks and northerners in the East should do likewise,’’ the group had said.

     

  • Insurgency: PDP slams APC, says ‘Jonathan bought weapons Buhari uses in fighting Boko Haram’

    Insurgency: PDP slams APC, says ‘Jonathan bought weapons Buhari uses in fighting Boko Haram’

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has blasted the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, saying it fought insurgency with more tactics and manpower than the incumbent administration of the APC is currently doing.

    The party noted specifically that the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration is fighting Boko Haram with weapons bought by former President Goodluck Jonathan who served under its platform.

    This was stated in a statement signed and issued by the Publicity Secretary of the Party’s National Caretaker Committee (NCC), Dayo Adeyeye.

    The party maintained that if the APC had maintained the success achieved during the 2015 Elections in the North-East Region, the deadly group would not have regrouped.

    According to the PDP, the prolonged herdsmen attacks on innocent and harmless citizens across the country has worsened the security situation in the country within the past two years than in the 16 years it held sway at the centre.

    The statement reads in part: “The Security Situation in the Country today has worsened with the rampaging herdsmen’s attacks killing innocent and harmless people unabated and sacking communities.

    “The scourge of herdsmen attack across the Country under the APC is more than the activities of Boko Haram in the North East.

    “The efforts of the PDP in fighting Boko Haram activities still speak volume of its sensitivity towards preservation of citizens’ lives and properties; and if the APC had maintained the success achieved during the 2015 Elections in the North-East Region, the deadly Group wouldn’t have regrouped.

    “It is also on record that it was the same weapons bought by previous PDP administration that the present government is still using to prosecute the war on insurgency in the Northeast.”

  • Police arrest vocal opposition leader

    Police arrest vocal opposition leader

    Mr Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray, the vocal leader of the Alliance Democratic Party (ADP), in Sierra Leone has been arrested.

    The party of the opposition presidential hopeful has accused the government of intimidation and called for his immediate release.

    It said the ruling All People’s Congress (APC) was behind the arrest its leader, who faces two charges of unlawful possession of firearms.

    Mansaray was denied bail on Friday after being arraigned before a magistrate’s court in the eastern headquarters town of Kenema.

    The police say he committed the alleged offence in the nearby Kailahun District, where his party participated in a by-election at the end of last month.

    Mansaray, an outspoken politician, was arrested in Freetown and transported to Kenema, about a week after the elections.

    ADP described the police’s action as politically motivated, saying it was sanctioned by the ruling party to silence a critical voice.

    “We want the public to know that his arrest is nothing but a barbaric conspiracy planned by the ruling APC government and executed by the Sierra Leone police,” the party’s diaspora arm proclaimed in a statement.

    Mr Mansaray formed ADP after falling out with APC and he has since transformed himself into a Julius Malema-style opposition.

    ADP is most popular in the north, where much of its support is thought to be drawn from the APC base.

    Mansaray’s supporters say that, coupled with his consistent attacks on the APC leadership, have made him a target of political intimidation.

    ADP defended his carrying of a “stun gun” during the by-election, saying it was meant as protection after several reported failed attempts on his life by alleged APC militants.

    Lately, Mr Mansaray has been leading a wave of condemnation against an alleged Chinese interference in the local politics after news that the Communist Party of China was funding the construction of a seven storied office building for the APC.

     

     

    Africa Review

     

  • Former PDP chairman,25,000 members decamp to APC in Kebbi

    The former Kebbi State PDP Chairman, Alhaji Bello Doya and 25,000 other members of the party including key party stalwarts decamped to the APC on Sunday.

    Gov Atiku Bagudu,APC executives, and hundreds of supporters from the 21 local government areas of the state were on hand to receive the decampees, among whom were Alhaji Isah Muhammad Argungu,the former director general of the campaign organization of former Gov Saidu Dakingari and the 2015 PDP gubernatorial candidate,Gen. Bello Sarkin-Yaki(Rtd).

    Others are three current PDP State House of Assembly members lead by Alhaji Muhammad Ismail, ten former local government council chairmen, as well as former local government party and ward chairmen.

    No fewer than 160 former PDP councillors, businessmen and contractors, as well as women and youth groups decamped.

    The State APC chairman, Alhaji Attahiru Maccido,said the decampees joined APC Willingly without condition.
    In his remarks Gov Atiku Bagudu,promised to give equal treatment to the new members of the APC.

    ” APC is a blessing to Nigeria, it has become the party of all, in APC everybody is equal, all will be treated equally and fairly” he said.

    Spokesman of the decampees, Alhaji Isah Muhammad Argungu said their decision was sequel to noticeable in the APC administration at the state and federal government levels.

  • APC sweeps Benue LGC seats

    The Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) announced on Sunday that the All Progressive Congress (APC), had won all the 23 local government chairmanship seats in the elections held on Saturday.

    It also announced that the party won all the councillorship positions, with some of the candidates returned unopposed.

    BSIEC chairman John Tsuwa who declared the results in Makurdi, however, declined to release details of votes scored by the candidates.

    “The figures are not ready. I will not entertain questions because this is not a press conference,,” he told curious newsmen.

    Tsuwa said that eight political parties participated in the exercise and listed them to include Accord Party, APC, PDP, SDP, ACB, PPP, LP and NNPP.

    He thanked security agencies for ensuring a smooth conduct of the elections, and expressed happiness that no case of violence or snatching of ballot box was reported throughout the exercise.

  • Lagos council poll: Elect credible grassroots candidates -Adeshile

    Lagos council poll: Elect credible grassroots candidates -Adeshile

    Dare Akogun

    A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikosi-Ketu LCDA of Lagos State, Mr Akinwale Rilwan Adeshile on Friday urged Lagos residents to elect only candidates that were ready to work with the people into office in the July 22 local government election in the state.

    Adeshile a councillorship aspirant, Ward C in the council area, in a chat with our reporter in Lagos states that leaders especially at the grassroots, must be passionate about the plight and welfare of the people.

    The former Supervisory councillor for Chieftaincy and Boundary Affairs contend that the welfare of the people and security remained the primary responsibility of any leader in government.

    “Government at the grassroots must listen to the yearnings and demands of the people and find ways to actualise them.

    “We need to be taking everything back to the drawing board with the people. We need to develop people from the grassroots.

    The most important thing is to make use of the fourth tier of government — the CDCs (Community Development Committees) and CDAs (Community Development Associations).

    The aspirant said that if the people gave him the opportunity to serve as the councilor of Ward C in the council, he would be committed to their needs.

    According to him, no decision affecting communities should be taken without recourse to the people.

    “I have seen the local government in and out, so I know what it is to be a councillor in Ikosi-Ketu Local Council Development area,” he said.

    The aspirant urged party stakeholders to ensure that experienced and capable candidates are fielded in the election.

    The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has fixed July 22 for election into 20 Local Government and 37 Local Council Development Areas in the state

  • APC poll shows Nigerians rate Buhari-led govt poor

    Nigerians have shocked the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, by rating the performances of President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors of the APC poor in a poll conducted by the party on its verified twitter handle, @APCNigeria.

    “Two years on: What’s your assessment of the APC-led administration in Nigeria? Kindly vote and RT,” the party asked on the micro-blogging site. There were four options; Poor, Average, Excellent and Indifferent.

    The online poll recorded 14, 532 votes with 54 percent of the respondents rating the administration as poor; 33 percent rated the administration as average while 10 percent voted for excellent. Three percent of the respondents were indifferent.

    The APC made use of the social media to appeal to the youths during the 2015 general elections, which was won by Buhari, defeating the then incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

    May 29 marks two years of the advent of the President Buhari administration at the federal level, as well as the mid-term anniversary for the majority of state administrations in the country. APC controls 24 states, PDP governs 11 while APGA has one state.