TheNewsGuru

Tag: APC

  • We are praying for PDP not to fall apart – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), has claimed they are praying that the current leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), does not lead to its crumbling.

    In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, in Abuja yesterday and obtained by TheNewsGuru, APC said it was important for PDP to be alive and provide stiff opposition.

    It said: “we pray for them to put their house in order soon because we believe that democracy is better served when the opposition is alive.

    “However, we also know the PDP can only begin to take steps towards recovery if they stop peddling conspiracy theories and blaming imaginary enemies.”

    Abdullahi also denied claims made by the Ahmed Makarfi faction that they were behind the sealing-off of the International Conference Centre, venue of the faction’s stakeholders’ meeting.

    “Neither of these allegations is true in any respect, the Police does not take instructions from the APC.

    “The police have explained why they stopped the Makarfi group from meeting at the ICC.

    “If the factional PDP is dissatisfied with the police explanation, they could seek further clarifications from the police or pursue alternative means of redress,” the APC said.

    It added that so far, the Makarfi faction had not provided any proof of the allegations against the APC.

    The statement added that this was “especially so considering that Makarfi and his group had in their ranks, individuals who are experienced to know that without evidence, such allegations can easily be dismissed as baseless.

    “Such allegation without evidence can, therefore, be ignored by all right thinking members of the public, including the APC.”

  • Uba defects to APC as PDP senate caucus kicks

    The Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Andy Uba on Tuesday formally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, on the floor of the Senate.

    This was revealed by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki who read Uba’s defection letter to the hearing of the senators.

    Saraki said Uba was exploiting section 68(1)(G) which has been validly tested in the Supreme Court, adding that he has already enrolled his membership with APC in his ward.

    However, in a swift reaction, Senate Minority leader, Godswill Akpabio, through Order 43, informed the Senate that Andy Uba should relinquish his seat having gotten the mandate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

    The former Akwa Ibom State governor explained that the mandate belongs to the PDP, hence Uba can’t continue to sit as Senator on the platform of the APC, stressing that if he fails to give up the seat, they would go to court.

    “Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, the mandate belongs to the PDP, and by virtue of what has happened, he has to surrender his seat, else we will go to court to contend for it,” he said.

    The Minority Leader also advised the Senate President to remove Uba as Chairman of Public Accounts Committee to save the Senate of any confusion.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Public Accounts Committee headed by Uba is the only Committee in the Senate and House of Representatives that reflects in the constitution and is always headed by the opposition.

  • 2017 Budget: We won’t allow Buhari, APC to be disgraced – Dogara

     

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has said the House will do everything possible to ensure easy passage of the proposed 2017 budget to avoid a repeat of the mess that happened with the 2016 budget.

    The Speaker said the lawmakers are working round the clock to ensure President Muhammadu Buhari overcome the current challenges and even come out stronger.

    Dogara stated this while addressing a round-table on the N7.29trillion budget proposal, organised by the All Progressives Congress, APC Governors in Abuja on Monday.

    “I must say that the APC as the party with majority in the National Assembly will not allow Mr. President and the APC as the ruling political party to be humiliated or defeated on its budget priorities as we are all part of the same government,” he said.

    Dogara also insisted they were very sensitive about constituency matters irrespective of party affiliation.

    “It is however, important to stress that on budget matters members of the National Assembly tend to be very sensitive to their constituency representational functions, irrespective of party,” he said.

    He promised that the passage and implementation of the budget would be transparent.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the 2016 budget was marred with several controvercies that revolved around padding the budget with several items and figures that were not in the originals as presented by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

  • Buhari’s govt made Naira Africa’s worst currency – Ekweremadu

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration of making the Naira Africa”s worst.

    Ekweremadu said the economy had suffered more crisis under the new government than any government.

    Ekweremadu stated this at the Peoples Democratic Party’s national stakeholders’ meeting held at the Ekiti State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, yesterday.

    He was quoted by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, as saying, “They told us that one US dollar would be one naira when they take over. Has that happened?

    “Today, our currency is the worst currency in the whole of Africa. Is that the type of democracy we looked forward to? I can see a situation where the price of oil is going up and the value of naira is going down. What type of economics is that?”

    Ekweremadu, called on members of the PDP faithful to remain strong as the party would “work with Nigerians to restore true democracy and hope to our people.”

    He said, “I believe that with determination and sticking together, we will triumph and Nigeria will be better for it.”

    He also said the solidarity of all key organs of the PDP for the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee, despite the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal on the party’s leadership tussle, showed that “it is not the hood that makes the monk.

    “Such flagrant manipulation of critical institutions of democracy is not only dangerous, but bad news for the nation’s democracy.‎”

  • APC clears local govt council elections in Yobe

     

    The Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission (YSIEC) on Sunday announced that All Progressives Congress (APC) won the 17 local government council election conducted on Saturday, Feb. 11.

    Mr Jauro Abdu, the Chairman of the state’s Independent Electoral Commission, announced the results at a news conference in Damaturu.

    He said the chairmanship seats for the 17 council areas were contested unopposed
    by APC candidates.

    He added that the chairmanship candidate for the National Conscience Party (NCP) for Potiskum Local Government withdrew from the race at the last hour, making it the last council that was also contested unopposed.

    The APC won all the 178 councillorship seats in the peacefully conducted election in the state.

    Meanwhile, the state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, had commended the electorate
    for successful and peaceful conduct of the council elections.

    The governor made the commendation in a statement by his Director of Press Affairs, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego.

    Gaidam also commended the electorate for reaffirming their faith in APC
    by electing all the party candidates for the 17 local government councils.

    He said “the emergence of all APC chairmanship candidates as winners shows the degree at which the party remains appealing to most of people of the state.”

     

  • INEC declares APC candidate winner of Plateau by-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Mr Jackson Nimmwang, APC candidate, the winner of Saturday’s Langtang South State Constituency by-election in Plateau.

    The INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Tor Iorapuu, declared in Mabodi, that Nimmwang polled 3,688 votes to beat Mr Rinsmicit Emmanuel of Mega Progressives Peoples Party (MPPP)l, who scored 83 votes.

    Iorapuu said that the turn out at the election was very low, noting that the constituency had 48,615 registered voters.

    He, however, described the election as “very free and fair’’.

    The by-election was sequel to a Federal High Court judgement, which invalidated the victory of Vincent Bulus, the PDP candidate in the April 14, 2015 elections after it was proved that he was an ex-convict.

    Only APC and MPPP vied for the seat since the PDP and its candidate were disqualified.

    A total of 400 trained ad-hoc staff, drawn from NYSC and tertiary institutions, conducted the election, which was supervised by the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Jacob Jatau.

    Commenting on the outcome, Mr Nicholas Vongsing, Management Chairman, Lantang South Local Government, expressed happiness that the election went on peacefully.

  • Mimiko approved N500m “parting gifts’’ for political office holders -APC

    Mimiko approved N500m “parting gifts’’ for political office holders -APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has alleged that the outgoing Gov. Olusegun Mimiko had approved N500 million as “parting gifts“ to political office holders.

    Mimiko’s eight-year tenure will end on Feb. 23, while Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), the Governor-elect will be sworn-in on Feb. 24.

    The APC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, on Saturday alleged that the money was from the state Local Governments Joint Account.

    “We have authoritatively gathered that Gov. Olusegun Mimiko, whose tenure expires in 12 days’ time has approved a take-home package of N500 million (taxpayers’ money) as valedictory packages for the 18 council chairmen.

    “Other beneficiaries of the parting gifts are officials of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, who oversee the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Mr Governor himself.

    “Each of the council chairmen and senior civil servants (names withheld), who are involved in facilitating the documentation and perfection of the loot, are to part with N20 million, while Mr Governor goes with a lion share of N300 million.

    “We want to warn the Accountant General of the state and permanent secretaries not to succumb to pressure by Mimiko and his cronies to milk our state dry before the expiration of their tenure.

    “There shall be commensurate negative consequences for every wrong actions or inaction.

    “The action is a daylight robbery of the commonwealth of the good people of Ondo State, ’’ the statement read.

    Adesanya warned banks and other financial institutions in the state not to get involved in any “shady deal’’ with this outgoing government.

    Efforts to get reaction of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Eni Akinsola, were unsuccessful as calls to his cell phone were not picked.

  • 2019: PDP, seven parties begin talks on merger

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disclosed that discussions are ongoing with seven political parties to form alliance ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Chairman of the PDP Strategy Review and Inter-Party Affairs Committee,n Prof. Jerry Gana said this yesterday in Abuja.

    He spoke while submitting the report of his committee to the leadership of the party.

    Gana noted that the initial contacts made by the committee “yielded positive responses from seven people-focused and democratic parties”.

    “Our desire is to have all genuine democrats and friends of the people to flow together and provide a fresh and trustworthy leadership to promote and ensure a people-friendly process of national development”, Prof Gana said.

    Spokesman for the Caretaker Committee of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, also confirmed the development to newsmen.

    Meanwhile, PDP lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly have denied rumours that some of them have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Chairman, Committee on Central Business District (CBD), Victor Akande, said he was not aware of any detection plan.

    Akande, representing Ojo 1, said: “I don’t know if anybody has joined APC. All I know is that Victor Akande is still a member of PDP. I have faith in my cause.”

    The Chairman, Committee on Special Duties and Inter-government Relations, Olusola Sokunle, said: “As we align with the good cause of the government, it does not mean we are defecting. We are not kids; it is not right; it is a rumour.”

  • PDP not broke- Adeyeye

    The Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under has denied an allegation that the party was financially broke and could not meet up with it financial obligations.

    The National Publicity of the party, Mr Dayo Adeyeye made the denial in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.

    Adeyeye said that the attention of PDP leadership was drawn to a publication alleging that the party was broke .

    He said that it was also alleged the the party could not pay rents and meet other financial obligations of its research and training institute, the Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI).

    He said that the entire allegation in the publication was an outright falsehood and only existed in the imagination of the writers and their collaborators.

    “The PDP is not broke and does not owe rent on the property being used by the PDI located in Wuse II, Abuja.

    “Let us place on record that the PDI’s financial responsibilities are being met accordingly.

    “Just last week, the Caretaker Committee approved monthly imprest for the Institute, and its staff salaries are paid at the same time with that of the PDP staffers.

    “For emphasis, all members of staff of the Party and that of the Institute received their January 2017 Salary last week which the Secretary of the Staff Welfare Committee confirmed in that Publication.”

    He alleged that the report was part of distraction from Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, the factional chairman, and his co-travellers.

    Adeyeye disclosed that Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff had sometime in 2016 proposed a visit to the Institute, but was promptly turned down by the Director-General of the Institute, Dr. Lanre Adebayo.

    He added that Sheriff also in December 2016 proposed a meeting with members of the establishment staff of PDP but was turned down by the staff.

    Adeyeye described as shameful and unnecessary show of desperation by Sheriff in his resort to blackmail and outright falsehood to tarnish PDP reputation and the National Caretaker Committee.

    “The National Caretaker Committee of the Party, though with limited time in office, has been working tirelessly to meet all the monetary obligations of the Party since its inauguration.

  • Over 1,500 APC members defect to PDP in Katsina State

    Over 1,500 APC members defect to PDP in Katsina State

    Over 1,500 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Radda town, Charanchi Local Government Area of Katsina State, on Friday defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The defectors moved to the PDP with their leader, Alhaji Mustapha Radda, APC youth mobilisation officer in the state from 2010 to 2016.

    Receiving the defectors, the PDP state chairman, Alhaji Salisu Majigiri, said the party had constituted reception committee to receive defectors to the party.

    “The committee is mandated to receive all the people who defected to our party from other parties.

    “We shall treat all those who defected to our party equally without any form of discrimination.

    “Just this week, we received Alhaji Umar Tata APGA governorship candidate in the 2015 election to our party together with his supporters.

    “We are ready to provide level playing ground to old and new members during future elections and there will be no imposition of candidates this time around,” Majigiri said.

    In his remarks, Radda, the leader of the defectors, said he decided to dump the APC for the PDP to rescue his people from alleged maltreatment.

    “We have done a lot for the APC, but today my people especially the youths that I mobilised have nothing to show for it.

    “We did not benefit from the APC poverty alleviation programme meant to rescue women and youths from poverty; we have presented several requests to those that matter but we were rejected,’’ Radda said.

    Also speaking, Tata the former APGA governorship candidate said the defectors were prepared for the restructuring of the PDP for effective service delivery.

    He said that the leadership of the PDP had promised to assist the youths with capital to establish their business.

     

    NAN