TheNewsGuru

Tag: APGA

  • Yul Edochie defects to APGA

    Nollywood actor and former governorship candidate Yul Edochie has officially defected to the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

    This comes after the actor lost the 2017 gubernatorial elections in Anambra state, to Governor Willie Obiano of APGA.

    Yul Edochie took to his Instagram page to announce his defection to the political party after the Governor introduced him among the new members of the party on Thursday.

    for running the race till the end and for being a worthy ambassador to Anambra/Nigerian youths.
    He officially welcomed me into the APGA family. (Nkea bu nke anyi).”

  • Anambra Guber: ‘Give me another chance, don’t let Ojukwu’s APGA die,’ Obiano woos electorate

    Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, yesterday, kicked off his re-election campaign in Awka by begging his people to give him another chance to sustain the good works he had already commenced in the state.

    Obiano, who is the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), urged the people not to allow the only Igbo party left in their care by the late Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, to die.

    Addressing a mammoth crowd that gathered at the Alex Ekwueme Square, the governor said for the good works he has on ground to be sustained, the people should give him another chance.

    He said that he has in the past three and half years worked tirelessly to ensure that the condition, which he met on ground is improved and that given another chance, excellence would be a habit as he had already set the pace.

    Obiano said APGA has in the past 11 years impacted the state positively, adding: “APGA was handed over to us by our late leader, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu but the person it was handed over to by our leader ran away from the party. Ojukwu had given us the mandate to keep the light of the party shining, but the person jumped ship into an opposition party.

    The governor who was flanked by APG National Chairman, Chief Victor Oye; his campaign Director-Governor, Chief Victor Umeh; his wife, Ebelechukwu; Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Rita Maduagwu, late Ojukwu’s wife, Bianca; former Anambra State governor, Dame Virgy Etiaba and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, among other party faithful, while reeling out his achievements in the last three years on security, agriculture, employment and increase of workers’ salaries, observed that if past leaders had adopted the strategy of letting all the communities to choose their project for government to finance it, the state would have been more developed.

    Earlier in his speech, Umeh, commended party faithful for turning out en mass to show support for the governor, saying that the large turnout is a clear testimony of what the people want. “It is left for the Federal Government and Nigeria to respect the wishes of Anambra people.

    We are by this crowd putting other political parties on notice that we are the party to beat. APGA is the peoples’ choice and we won’t allow the torch handed over to us to go off in our hands.”

  • BREAKING: Gov Obiano nominated as APGA’s governorship candidate

    Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano was on Wednesday declared as the official flag-bearer of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA in the forthcoming November, 28 governorship election in the state.

    According to the Chairman of APGA’s electoral panel, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, Obiano polled a total of 1,070 ‘Yes’ votes out of an aggregate of 1,092 delegates who were present at the APGA’s primaries.

    Speaking on his emergence as the APGA’s governorship candidate, elated Obiano said, “I stand before you today with humility to accept the challenge to be the flag-bearer of this party in forth coming Anambra Gubernatorial election.

    With one voice our party has chosen to make sure it keeps ‘Willie’ working, I will honor the privilege given to me with dignity and continue to make you proud. I will do what I know how to do best.”

    In his speech, the governor also assured his party members that he will rise up to the challenge and ensure he gets reelected by the people come November.

    He said, “What you have seen so far is simply a confirmation of what is to come…Our children in diaspora will soon be coming home, knowing this state is of a greater opportunity to their generation.

    “APGA has shown that it is the best party to lead our people… we have been faithful to our promises and our dear state is today better for it, Willie has worked willingly.

    He urged all party members to join hands to resolve APGA’s differences, work assiduously to ensure the party’s success in the November election.

    He thanked the National Chairman of APGA, Dr. Victor Ikechukwu Oye, his campaign manager, Chief, Victor Umeh and other top stakeholders in the party for organising a peaceful primaries for the party.

     

  • We have no hands in Ozubulu killings – APGA

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Friday refuted an allegation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that it sponsored the recent killings at a church in Ozubulu, Anambra.

    The National Chairman of the party, Mr Victor Oye, made the refutation when Anambra Governor, Willie Obiano, came to the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja to submit his nomination form.

    Oye said “I want to use this opportunity to dispute the allegation that APGA had a hand in the killings.

    “APGA has never at any time sponsored the killing of innocent people regardless of what people are saying and as alleged by IPOB and we can stand at the World Court or anywhere to say this.

    “Anambra government is run on transparency, fear of God, love of the people and commitment to accountability; how can such a government begin to kill people?

    “This is the same government that held the `Ozuemena’ which is the burial or re-burial for all who died in the civil war; so, how can a man who has done all these turns around and kill his innocent people?’’

    He said the allegation was the making of evil people, to distort the good work of the governor, but said that such people would fail.

    The chairman assured the governor of the party’s support, adding that the APGA family was standing solidly behind him.

    According to him, the next election in the state would mark a crushing defeat for the opponents.

    In his response, Obiano said that the incident would not dent his security record and the fact that the state remained the safest in Nigeria.

    “The unfortunate flash in the pan that happened last Sunday was a fight that was exported from an African country into the country between two business owners.

    “Early investigation showed that they wanted one of the persons killed in the house but because his house was very fortified, they thought the best way to eliminate was in the church close to his house.

    “So as soon as they confirmed that the guy’s car was parked along the road they did not know it was the father that parked the car and the guy was not there; they went into the church and did what they did.’’

    Obiano expressed confidence that the culprits would be brought to book to serve as deterrent to others, adding, `if you have scores to settle outside Nigeria, you stay outside Nigeria, you don’t bring it home.’’

    He reaffirmed that Anambra government would pick the hospital bills of the injured and burial bills for the dead.

  • APGA will govern Anambra for 100 years – Oye

    The embattled National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Victor Oye, has said the ruling party in the state will rule for the next 100 years.

    Oye was reacting to threats from members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, who allegedly said they would pull down the bridges constructed by Governor Willie Obiano, because they were poorly constructed.

    He said those questioning the quality of the bridges lacked the technical know-how, insisting that the bridges met all engineering requirements.

    “They are not coming to power today or tomorrow; APGA will be here for another 100 years. By that time we would have produced more and more bridges.

    “When they said the bridges were collapsing, what they saw was like a mirage. They didn’t know that when you build a bridge, you have to create room for flexibility. They didn’t study physics; the bridges depict architectural masterpieces,” Oye said.

  • Election boycott: Nnamdi Kanu has no authority to speak for Igbo people – APGA

    Election boycott: Nnamdi Kanu has no authority to speak for Igbo people – APGA

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) says Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has no authority to speak for the Igbo people.

    The party made the statement while reacting to IPOB leader’s call on people to boycott the Anambra governorship election scheduled for November.

    In a letter addressed to Kanu and signed by Ifeatu Obiokoye, national publicity secretary, APGA said the call was “irresponsible and devoid of intellectual focus.”

    It said the Igbo people had not “instituted a separatist movement or a terrorist gang” but were concerned about “Nigeria’s present structural arrangement.”

    “Kanu has no authority to speak for the Igbo of the south-east, though APGA acknowledges him as the leader of IPOB,” the letter read.

    “His call for a boycott of elections in the south-east, beginning with the governorship polls scheduled for November 18, 2017, in Anambra is irresponsible, irredentist and totally devoid of any focus.

    “You must appreciate that for different logical reasons and perception, the Biafra concept has attracted favourable comments among our people, ostensibly borne out of the marginalisation of Ndigbo in the Nigerian state.

    “While youths of the east are agitating for Biafra, the Arewa youths are equally restive; the same goes for Niger Delta youths and youths from Oduduwa states.

    “In this popular agitation for Biafra, Ndigbo have not instituted a separatist movement or a terrorist gang as it were. We are more concerned about the continued existence of Nigeria under the present structural arrangement.”

    APGA expressed support for restructuring but urged Kanu not to be carried away by the success of the May 30 sit-at-home call, which was attributable to many reasons, including fear.

    APGA said the 2014 national conference report should be considered because it largely addressed parameters for the restructuring of the nation.

    It advised the IPOB leader to drop his “emperor” perception of himself “and humble yourself to the true leadership of Ndigbo for a proper and better articulation of the Biafra struggle”.

  • Obiano refutes resignation rumour, says ‘I will remain in APGA’

    Obiano refutes resignation rumour, says ‘I will remain in APGA’

    Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has denied rumours making the rounds in the social media that he has dumped the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA for a yet to be named political party, describing it as falsehood.

    This was contained in a press release early Friday morning, debunking report that an all-night meeting held by the 21 local government area chairmen at his instance had ended with an advice for him to exit APGA following the order of mandamus issued by an Enugu High court sacking Chief Victor Oye for Chief Martin Agbaso as national chairman of the party.

    The release which was signed by Prince Oliver Okpala, the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communications said there was no truth in the rumour, ascribing it to the opposition, who he said were eager to distract the governor from the good work he is doing in the state.

    Okpala said, “I hereby state for proper public enlightenment and information that Governor Willie Obiano remains a strong card carrying member of APGA and also still remains the chairman of the Party’s Board of Trustees and Leader of the Party .”

    He continued that the governor has never contemplated dumping APGA for any other party, and still stands on his unshakable desire and commitment of seeking re-election as Governor under the platform of his party, APGA.

    He said, “This present rumour circulating is no doubt the hand work of the opposition who have no genuine political programme or economic agenda for Ndi Anambra State. This rumour is sailing only in the figment of the imagination of the opposition.

    “Governor Obiano as a true party man has been working in consonance and solid implementation of APGA agenda and political manifesto and will not relent as his good works for Ndi Anambra has helped his name to be written in golden letters, awaiting inclusion also in the World Guinness Book of Records.”

  • N2bn Ecological Fund: ACN, APGA, ANPP got nothing from Jonathan – El-Rufai

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has alleged that former President Goodluck Jonathan gave the two billion naira ecological fund to each state under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ignored states under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP in 2013.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the ACN, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) have since merged, to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The fund, which is for solving emergency problems like natural disasters, is statutory.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after the National Economic Council meeting (NEC) in Abuja on Thursday, El-Rufai said: “The committee established beyond all doubts that in 2013, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan gave N2bn to certain states of the federation but excluded other states.

    “The states that got it were all PDP states and states of other parties that were sympathetic to the PDP like Labour Party in Ondo and APGA in Anambra state. 19 states and the FCT did not get the N2bn from the ecological fund. These states are Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Borno, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Kwara and Lagos.

    “Others are Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara and the federal capital territory.

    “So, essentially what President Goodluck Jonathan did was to take N2bn each from the ecological fund and give to some PDP states.

    “Any PDP state that was not his friend like Kano and Kwara didn’t get it. And all the other opposition party, like ACN state got nothing… no ANPP state got anything.”

     

  • No merger talks with any party – APGA

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Friday in Abuja insisted it would not merge or enter into any alliance talk with any political party ahead of 2019 general elections.

    National Director of Publicity of the party, Mr Ifeanacho Oguejiofor, told the newsmen that contrary to reports, the party would remain committed and faithful to the objective of its founding fathers.

    Oguejiofor said that APGA had never participated in any merger of political parties and was therefore not involved in any “so called mega party’’.

    “APGA is still very much around. We have not closed shop; I wish to reiterate that the issue of merger with other political parties is not on the agenda of All Progressives Grand Alliance.

    “When people talk about mega party, merger talk with APGA, I just laugh at what the mega is all about? APGA is mega on its own and accommodates all, so we don’t need it.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, we are not interested in any mega party; our concern at the moment is to galvanise, re-strategise, restructure and reinvent APGA.

    “This is to make it capable of winning future elections in the 36 states of Nigeria, including the FCT and most especially, the forthcoming Lagos state local government election in June.

    “But, that does not mean that our effort is only in Lagos state; we are building bridges across board, the entire federation. The party is working; we are not sleeping,’’ he said.

    Oguejiofor urged the party’s members and the public to disregard the deceptive addition of APGA into a mega party, saying that merger was not in the agenda of the party.

    He said that APGA was not a regional party as it was made to be believed by many, because its political activities cut across the nation.

    He also debunked the insinuation that the party was for the Igbos and the South-East.

    “It is just the perception of Nigerians to tag APGA as an ethnic party so as to hinder it from selling its manifesto to Nigerians; we have members and supporters even in the north.

    “It is quite unfortunate that most Nigerian politicians want to divide Nigeria along ethnic, regional and religious lines thereby fostering division.’’

    Oguejiofor called on all Nigerians to put away sentiments and work together so as to achieve a peaceful and developed nation devoid of ethnic and religious crisis.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that APGA was listed as one of the seven parties that are in merger talks with he People Democratic Party, PDP ahead of the 2019 elections.

  • Obiano does not need APC to win Anambra governorship election – Oye

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Dr Victor Oye, says the party has a strong hold on Anambra to win any election.

    He also said that no APGA member needs to leave it for another party before winning an election in Anambra.

    Oye, who spoke with the newsmen in Awka on Wednesday, was dispelling the rumour that Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra was decamping from APGA to APC.

    The APGA chieftain said that Obiano’s achievement in terms of socio-economic development would give him the ticket during election for second term.

    The governorship election would be held in Anambra, which is the only APGA-ruling state, in November.

    “It is a deliberate campaign by the detractors of Governor Willie Obiano to smear his integrity and pit him against our party and also use it (to) scatter his supporters and confuse them.

    “I wish to state here unequivocally that Gov. Willie Obiano has never expressed any intention to join the APC.

    “He doesn’t need APC to win election; he has performed and APGA is the reigning party here. I want to state it here that no party can beat APGA in Anambra state, in any election.

     

    NAN