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Tag: APGA

  • Anambra guber: A’Court affirms Soludo as APGA flagbearer, awards N10m against appellant

    Anambra guber: A’Court affirms Soludo as APGA flagbearer, awards N10m against appellant

    The Court of Appeal Abuja Division, Thursday affirmed Prof Charles Soludo as the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the November 6 governorship election in Anambra state.

    While dismissing the appeal marked CA/AW/256/2021 by Chief Edozie Njoku against Sylvester Ezeokenwa, the court described it as constituting an abuse of court process.

    The three members of the appellate court led by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Messen unanimously agreed that allowing the appeal would tantamount to sitting on appeal on the judgment of the Kano Division of the court.

    Justice Jummai Sankeyl while delivering ruling on the appeal, held that the appeal constituted an abuse of court process, having been bound by the judgement of Kano Division delivered on August 10.

    The court also held that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit, saying doing so will amount to sitting on its own judgment.

    The sum of N10 million was also awarded against the appellant, in favour of Sylvester Ezeokenwa and All Progressive Grand Alliance

    APGA this medium, recalled, has been engulfed in intra-party crisis which has led to its factionalisation. While one is led by Victor Oye, the other faction is headed by Jude Okeke.

    While Prof Charles Soludo is the governorship candidate of an APGA faction led by the former, the other candidate from the same party, Chukwuma Umeoji on the other hand, emerged from the latter group for the November 6 election.

    Recall that the Kano Division of the Court of Appeal had set aside the judgment of the Jigawa Hgh Court on the leadership tussle in APGA, saying it has no territorial or substantive jurisdiction to hear the suit.

    In setting aside the judgment of the Jigawa High Court, the Appeal Court said all the proceedings at the lower court were null.

    In addition, the court held that for denying APGA and Victor Oye fair hearing by hearing the suit behind their back, the judgment of Musa Ubale of Jigawa State High Court, was unconstitutional and a complete nullity.

  • Photo: Six Anambra Assembly members dump APGA for APC

    Photo: Six Anambra Assembly members dump APGA for APC

    Six members of the Anambra State House of Assembly have dumped the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The lawmakers include Nonso Okafor, representing Nnewi North; Timothy Ifedioramma, representing Njikoka 1; Cater D. N Umeoduagu, representing Aguata 1; Lawrence Ezeudu, representing Dumekofia; Arthur Chiekwu, representing Idemmih North and Edward Ibuzo, representing Onisha North 2.

    They were received by the APC Caretaker Chairman and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni on Wednesday in Abuja.

    According to Buni, the defection is an indication of the APC’s grassroots approach in the quest to win the Anambra governorship election.

    Other stakeholders who received the defectors include Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, and the party’s candidate in the Anambra governorship race, Senator Andy Ubah.

    These defections are coming hours after President Muhammadu Buhari received Senator Andy Uba, the APC Candidate at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    The Anambra State governorship election is scheduled to hold on November 6, 2021.

  • Anambra guber: Ex-APGA chairman tells INEC to publish Soludo’s name as party candidate

    Anambra guber: Ex-APGA chairman tells INEC to publish Soludo’s name as party candidate

    Senator Victor Umeh has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the name of Prof. Charles Soludo as the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Anambra.

    Umeh, a former National Chairman of the party, made the call on Tuesday during an interactive session with newsmen in Awka.

    He was reacting to the judgment of the Appeal Court in Kano, which restored Soludo as APGA’s governorship standard bearer in the Nov. 6 election in Anambra.

    He said it was expected that INEC would publish his name with the legal battle against his candidacy now decided in his favour, to enable his campaign to kick off in earnest.

    Umeh, who is a member of Soludo Campaign Organisation, said the judgment also affirmed that Dr Victor Oye, remains the authentic national chairman of the party and not Mr Jude Okeke.

    He described the judgment as “one without flaws”, adding that all along, the party had never questioned the authenticity of Oye’s chairmanship.

    “We were convinced that the High Court judgment of Burnin Kudu in Jigawa should have been a nullity, but some people, including INEC, used it to torment us.

    “With this, the judiciary has redeemed itself. It has also shown that it is the hope of the people. “Nothing in that judgment in Jigawa should be allowed to be alive.

    “The attempt was simply to derail the momentum of APGA, but the judiciary has intervened.

    “We have now rebound. Previously we had said Soludo will contest and it has come to pass.

    “He is our candidate and the person the party nominated.

    “As the chairman of peace and reconciliation committee of our party, I want to call on Chukwuma Umeoji to come back to the party with his supporters.

    “We will welcome them to our fold again,” Umeh said.

    He called on the Anambra electorate to understand why they should vote for APGA in the election.

    “We have solid achievements here in the state and I do not see why any sensible person would want to vote out APGA.

    “APGA may not have made everybody happy, but I can score APGA up to 85 per cent,” he said.

    Umeh said the party had not failed the state, citing some of its achievements, including the Anambra Airport, billed to begin commercial flight next month

  • Anambra guber election: APGA reconciles with Bianca Ojukwu

    Anambra guber election: APGA reconciles with Bianca Ojukwu

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Peace, Reconciliation and Outreach Committee on Saturday in Enugu held a closed door meeting with Mrs Bianca Ojukwu.

    Mrs Ojukwu is the wife of late national leader of the party, Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu and former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain.

    The delegation which included the Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr Victor Okafor was led by a former chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh.

    Briefing newsmen after the meeting that lasted for over four hours, Umeh said that the essence of the visit was for the party to reconcile with the wife and their late leader.

    He said that it had become necessary to bring members of the party in Anambra together as one family in order to successfully confront the various tasks ahead.

    “For sometime now, APGA has been operating with a missing rib. Bianca has contributed to the wellbeing of APGA starting from the time her late husband was the leader of the party,” he said.

    The former national chairman of the party said that it was necessary to bring every member on board and to forget the past, especially, with the forthcoming Nov. 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra.

    According to Umeh, the party being a political organisation is bound to have its challenges.

    “However, the important thing is that the ideals for which this party was established must be protected no matter the interest anybody is pursuing in this party.

    “This visit is a turning point in the journey of this party to the gubernatorial election. We are satisfied that as a mother in this party, she has listened to our prayers and pleas.

    “She should avail herself fully towards the pursuit of victory for APGA in order to deepen the hold of the party in the state and to ensure that the legacy left for us will remain intact,” he said.

    The former senator said that APGA was the hope of the people of the area in any political dispensation.

    “We are invoking the spirit of Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu as well as his fatherly guidance and blessings as we embark on this journey,” he said.

    Umeh said that the party would emerge stronger from its current challenges.

    In her remarks, Ojukwu said that it was sad that the party found itself in such dilemma which could have been averted.

    The former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain regretted that previous efforts made to assuage aggrieved members of the party hit the rock.

    “There have been to date at least two other committees that have been set up by the governor to advance the grievances of very great number of APGA members who are dissatisfied with the party.

    “The first and second reconciliation committees made recommendations but they never saw the light of day,” she said.

    She, however, pledged to put behind the incidences of the past and contribute to the progress of the party.

    “I am very much looking forward to putting behind the dark history of the party and the bad experiences that so many of its members have had and still experiencing.

    “We are all looking forward to moving towards a future uncontaminated with the bad memories of the past.

    “We believe that on November 6, we should have a new governor in Anambra under APGA and we will put behind this very sad chapter of our party’s history,” Ojukwu said.

    The former ambassador lost the APGA Anambra South Senatorial ticket in 2019 in a controversial circumstance which led to division in the party.

  • Anambra poll: APGA reconciles with Ojukwu’s widow Bianca

    Anambra poll: APGA reconciles with Ojukwu’s widow Bianca

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Peace, Reconciliation and Outreach Committee on Saturday in Enugu held a closed door meeting with Mrs Bianca Ojukwu.

    Mrs Ojukwu is the wife of late national leader of the party, Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu and former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain.

    The delegation which included the Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr Victor Okafor was led by a former chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh.

    Briefing newsmen after the meeting that lasted for over four hours, Umeh said that the essence of the visit was for the party to reconcile with the wife and their late leader.

    He said that it had become necessary to bring members of the party in Anambra together as one family in order to successfully confront the various tasks ahead.

    “For sometime now, APGA has been operating with a missing rib. Bianca has contributed to the wellbeing of APGA starting from the time her late husband was the leader of the party,” he said.

    The former national chairman of the party said that it was necessary to bring every member on board and to forget the past, especially, with the forthcoming Nov. 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra.

    According to Umeh, the party being a political organisation is bound to have its challenges.

    “However, the important thing is that the ideals for which this party was established must be protected no matter the interest anybody is pursuing in this party.

    “This visit is a turning point in the journey of this party to the gubernatorial election. We are satisfied that as a mother in this party, she has listened to our prayers and pleas.

    “She should avail herself fully towards the pursuit of victory for APGA in order to deepen the hold of the party in the state and to ensure that the legacy left for us will remain intact,” he said.

    The former senator said that APGA was the hope of the people of the area in any political dispensation.

    “We are invoking the spirit of Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu as well as his fatherly guidance and blessings as we embark on this journey,” he said.

    Umeh said that the party would emerge stronger from its current challenges.

    In her remarks, Ojukwu said that it was sad that the party found itself in such dilemma which could have been averted.

    The former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain regretted that previous efforts made to assuage aggrieved members of the party hit the rock.

    “There have been to date at least two other committees that have been set up by the governor to advance the grievances of very great number of APGA members who are dissatisfied with the party.

    “The first and second reconciliation committees made recommendations but they never saw the light of day,” she said.

  • Anambra Guber: APGA, PDP, APC not qualified to contest – ADC National Chairman

    Anambra Guber: APGA, PDP, APC not qualified to contest – ADC National Chairman

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC), says that the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), should not contest in the Anambra governorship election.

    Mr Ralph Nwosu, National Chairman of the party, made the assertion at a news conference on Tuesday, in Awka.

    Nwosu said that the three political parties did not conduct proper primary elections to nominate their governorship candidates for the Nov. 6 election.

    “It will be the greatest injustice to have APGA, PDP and APC on the ballot paper in the Nov. 6 governorship election. History will record it as a disaster to our democracy.

    “They have no right to contest in the governorship election because their primaries were not properly conducted, they dishonoured party system and there was no clear congress that nominated their candidates.

    “The leadership crisis in these parties is beginning to show. Anambra has become a laughing stock in the country and it does not promote democracy,” he said.

    Nwosu said that ADC was one of the qualified parties to contest in the governorship election, saying that the party conducted one of the best and transparent primary elections in the country.

    He said that ADC had been recognised as the “Third Force’ and repositioned to salvage Anambra State in the forthcoming governorship election and the country at large.

    “Our DNA is about discipline, perseverance and transparency and the people are beginning to crave for a ‘Third Force’ after the two big parties in the country.

    “ADC is that ‘Third Force’. Go and check the facts, out of the total votes cast in the 2019 general elections, ADC came third.

    “If not for the problems of corruption and power of incumbency, ADC would have had about five governors in the 2019 general election.

    “We are relying on the will of the people to throw ADC up as the number one party in the country,” he said.

    Nwosu said that the party flag bearer, Chief Akachukwu Nwankpo, was committed to right the wrongs of decades and abuses of systems, institutions and processes in the state.

    “Nwankpo has keyed into ADC Pan-African and global vision. He has also agreed to make Anambra state the hub for commerce, tourism, medical excellence, research and innovation centre.

    “Anambra election is critical to addressing the many challenges in the country. Once we get it right in Anambra, it will reflect nationally,” he said.

    Recall that INEC had on July 16, published the list of candidates for the Nov. 6 election.

    Prominent names including that of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and Mr Valentine Ozigbo who were expected to contest for APGA and PDP were missing.

    While Rep. Chukwuma Umeoji was listed for APGA, Sen. Andy Uba and Dr Akachukwu Nwankpo were listed for APC and ADC alongside their deputies.

  • Anambra 2021: New twist as two High Courts order INEC to recognise Soludo, Uba as APGA, PDP candidates

    Anambra 2021: New twist as two High Courts order INEC to recognise Soludo, Uba as APGA, PDP candidates

    Two High Courts in Anambra have directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the names of two governorship candidates for the November 6 election without further delay.

    They are: Senator Ugochukwu Uba of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Prof Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    In their separate judgments on Monday in Awka, Justice Obiora Nwabunike, who presided over the case involving Uba, Valentine Ozigbo and the PDP, said the party erred by using what it called ‘Super delegates’ without vacating the Abuja Court order.

    “With the evidence before me and having heard from parties involved in the matter, I rule that Ugochukwu Uba is the duly elected candidate of PDP.

    “It’s not for nothing that court judges are called my lords. When a court makes a pronouncement, it must be obeyed no matter how foolish or ugly, it must be obeyed.

    “So, it was wrong for the PDP to go ahead to conduct the primary election at the Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre that produced Valentine Ozigbo, with what they called super delegates against a live judgement of a court without overturning the judgement.

    “That action cannot be vitiated or mitigated by the argument adduced by defence counsel that party primaries are internal affairs of political parties.

    “And I order that Ugochukwu Uba’s name should be enlisted by the INEC without further delay and the defendants should pay a cost of 10 million naira to the applicant,” Justice Nwabunike said

    Another High Court presided by Justice CC Okaa reinstated Prof Soludo as the APGA candidate and ordered INEC to publish his name immediately.

    The Court also ordered INEC to remove the name of Hon Chukwuma Umeoji already published and ordered him to stop parading himself as candidate of APGA.

    The court reaffirmed Victor Oye as the indisputable National chairman of APGA and ordered Edozie Njoku and Jude Okeke to stop parading themselves as National chairmen of APGA.

  • Anambra guber: Ex-President Jonathan’s envoy dumps APGA, wins ADC ticket

    Anambra guber: Ex-President Jonathan’s envoy dumps APGA, wins ADC ticket

    By Chuks Collins, Awka

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has Wednesday elected the special envoy to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo as its governorship candidate for the forthcoming November 6, 2021 election in Anambra state.

    Nwankpo who recently dumped his former All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Party along with his teeming supporters for the ADC said he was very at home and settled down in his new party.

    He pointed out that his lofty dream for Anambra’s greatness has remained evergreen, “hence I joined ADC to actualise my ambition and vision for greater Anambra. ADC is a credible platform with no political baggage, Anambra people need a breathe of fresh air.

    In his acceptance speech before the tumultuous crowd of supporters/delegates, Nwankpo thanked them for the opportunity, assuring that he would run an open door policy.

    He promised to step up the state security, adding that his administration would ensure that no soul in Anambra state would be lost again to the hoodlums.

    “We will revitalise the Agriculture and other sectors of the economy. I assure you that in the coming days we will move to the street to return sanity. We are going to build on it,” he maintained.

    The candidate noted that “ADC is a party that has been on ground for long and presents a credible platform for a man with high electability and burning passion for the good of his people,” he said.

    That his decision to join ADC was in response to the pressure from his supporters that he should get a platform to contest the Nov. 6 election and allow the people of Anambra decide.

    Earlier, the National Chairman of the party, Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, noted that success of ADC in the November 6 poll would mark an end to holiganism of the state polity, which according to him, has etched deep into ‘our system of governance.’

    The party’s Governorship Electoral Committee chairman, Chief Anayo Arinze, announced Nwankpo as winner of the primary after a total of 7051 eligible delegates of the party in attendance gave him overwhelming ‘yes’ voice votes.

    Accepting his nomination, the flag bearer, Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo, thanked the delegates for the opportunity, assuring that he would run an open door policy.

    He promised to step up the state security, added that his administration would ensure that no soul in Anambra state would be lost again to the hoodlums.

    “We will revitalise the Agriculture and other sectors of the economy. I assure you that in the coming days we will move to the street to return sanity. We are going to build on it,” he maintained.

    Also speaking, the Chairman, ADC Board of Trustees, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, urged Anambra state electorates to rally round their party candidate as his administration would give voice to all including the less privileged.

  • Anambra guber: Confusion in APGA as another candidate, Edozie Njoku emerges flagbearer after Soludo

    Anambra guber: Confusion in APGA as another candidate, Edozie Njoku emerges flagbearer after Soludo

    from Chuks Collins, Awka

    A factional National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Edozie Njoku has been elected governorship flagbearer of the party in the forthcoming Nov 6,2021 election in Anambra state.

    Chief Njoku who commended the very peaceful disposition of the party delegates all through the process thanked them for believing in him.

    He reiterated that “the party had to move swiftly immediately the court order which had prevented the party primary from holding before now elapsed yesterday”.

    Flanked by other bigwigs of the party including the National Youth Leader -Chuks Nwoga and the Anambra state chairman of the faction -Chief Freedom Henry Okwuchukwu said his group carefully complied with all the electoral guidelines as enunciated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and it was well acknowledged by the Commission.

    He reminded the delegates who thronged the Finotel Suites, venue of the event that their efforts was to reposition and strengthen the party. He lamented that things had been left in decadence for too long.

    Taken up on the fears of members over the festering crisis within the party leadership, and the possibility that it could hamper its fortunes in the coming Nov 6 Anambra governorship election, but Chief Njoku allayed everyone’s fears and apprehensions. He pointed out that APGA has challenges, but that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has even bigger challenges, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenges are multifarious.

    On the Jude Okeke factor, who was claiming leadership of a third faction of the party, the new flagbearer said he “never know or hear about Jude Okeke, he only emerged June 15,2021 from nowhere.

    “And if he emerged June 15, he need to give INEC 21 days statutory notice, and which is not possible. His emergence was all because the right things were not done by the party.

    He therefore assured that soon all the disagreement would be sorted out and go ahead to win the coming Nov 6,2021 governorship election.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Prof. Chukwuma Soludo had last week emerged the party’s flagbearer.

    Soludo scored a total of 740 votes out of 792 valid votes cast by delegates.

    Declaring the results of the exercise, Samson Olalere, the Returning Officer said Soludo fulfilled the provisions of Electoral Act and APGA guidelines.

  • Former APGA National Secretary joins APC with Matawalle

    Former APGA National Secretary joins APC with Matawalle

    The Former National Secretary of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr Sani Shinkafi, says he has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to support Gov. Bello Matawalle to rebuild Zamfara.

    Shinkafi who was the APGA governorship candidate at the 2019 general elections in Zamfara, disclosed this at a news conference in Gusau on Tuesday.

    The National leadership of APC received Matawalle and some federal and state lawmakers to the party on Tuesday.

    “I am joining Matawalle in APC, with the APGA structure in the state and 14 local government areas (LGAs) of the state.”I am not joining APC for material gains. I am joining Matawalle to develop my state.

    “I am leaving APGA not because I don’t like the party, but I am leaving APGA in order to join Matawalle in the APC to rebuild Zamfara State,” he said.

    “I was invited by Governor Bello Matawalle himself to join him in the APC, and as such, I see no reason why I should not join him,” he explained.

    Shinkafi maintained that he was one of the founding fathers of APGA and he had been in the party for 19 years and rose up to the rank of national secretary of the party.

    “I am not forcing anybody to defect to APC among my supporters, I will continue to relate with those who chose to remain in APGA because of our long existing relationship,” Shinkafi explained.