TheNewsGuru

Tag: APGA

  • Anambra govt seals APGA faction secretariat

    Anambra govt seals APGA faction secretariat

    The Anambra Government on Tuesday sealed the state secretariat of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) faction loyal to Mr Edozie Njoku.

    Mr Tony Ezekwelu, Deputy National Chairman, South East of the party, who represented the Njoku faction of the party, told journalists that the APGA led-government of Anambra was trying to intimidate them.

    He said: “We came here this morning and people were going about their normal duties and coming to buy their expression of interest forms for the forthcoming local government election.

    “Around 10:00 a.m, a team from Anambra Housing Development Corporation came and sealed off our office.

    “Luckily, I was here in Anambra  because I have been around on official duties to monitor the sale of expression of interest forms.

    “When we asked them why, they said it is an order from above and that the reason was that this place is originally meant to be residential area and we converted it to party secretariat.

    “This place has always been used for party business and we are just the recent people using this. Too many politicians have used this place and we are not the owners of this property, so we have reached out to the owner of the property,” he said.

    Ezekwelu said they moved into the building two months ago and they were not served any eviction notice.

    “We know that this is political and the intention was just to intimidate us, so we did not obstruct them. We allowed  them to perform  their duties because we are law abiding people.

    “We view this as an act of intimidation and suppression. This is impunity.

    “But for the records, Njoku faction of APGA remains the most authentic, and we are ready to accommodate others,” he said.

    Reacting, Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, described the crisis in the APGA party as a minor family misunderstanding, which would be settled soon.

    Soludo said: “Under our leadership, APGA has never been stronger than what it is today.

    “You asked this question about crisis because of the things you see in the media about our party but I know that things like these are normal in the  run-up to election.

    “I know someone else is claiming that he is the national chairman of the party, and that is through a court order, and I have not seen that court order myself.

    “This is just a family problem that will be sorted out soon and sooner than later, everyone will come into the same big tent. I do not see any division in APGA,” he said.

  • APGA ready for Ebonyi LG election – Chairman

    APGA ready for Ebonyi LG election – Chairman

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), in Ebonyi says it is prepared to participate in the Local Government Council elections slated to hold July 20.

    Its Chairman, Mr Chukwudi Nwankwor, disclosed on Thursday in Abakaliki that nomination forms had been sold to aspirants with the primary elections soon to hold.

    He urged the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission to ensure a fair exercise that would be credible and acceptable.

    “Transparency and credibility in the conduct of the exercise will ease the process of electing the right persons to run the local government councils.

    “Our candidates are ready. With a fair exercise, we shall win many chairmanship and councillorship seats,” he said.

  • Never again will our party be ‘political incubator ‘- APGA chairman vows

    Never again will our party be ‘political incubator ‘- APGA chairman vows

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA)has frowned at what it described as arbitrary and unjustifiable jumping of political ship by politicians at all levels in the country.

    Expressing his deep dissatisfaction over the conduct during an exclusive interview in Awka yesterday, the National Chairman of the party, Chief (Barr)Sly Ezeokenwa noted that the malaise has made his party, particularly look like a mere political breeding ground, an incubator for politicians in various parts of the country.

    Ezeokenwa while fielding questions in an exclusive interview asserted that APGA has won elections in virtuallyall parts of the country.

    But sadly, they end up jumping ship into another political party the moment they were sworn in.

    He said, “APGA has won elections in Imo, Taraba, Nassarawa, Benue, Abia, etc but most of the quickly jumped into other parties barely a week or two after being sworn in.

    The unwholesome conduct has made APGA look simply like a mere breeding ground and a political incubator.

    Lamenting further, the national chairman said that the ignoble act has portrayed our political class to be dominated by people of no ideology, food -is -ready characters and persons without conscience.

    ” This, he insisted must stop!”

    The party, he pointed out may be forced to sponsor a fresh bill to checkmate the act.

    When reminded that the beneficiaries of the arbitrary carpet crossings have been found to be the big/major political parties that were often the ruling party or the main opposition party, the difficulty in its control despite an existing law on it, Ezeokenwa noted that his party may pursue the fight alongside other parties.

    Consequently, he disclosed, APGA may insist that such office holders should step down from their positions or wait till the particular tenure elapses before going to another party.

    APGA, he revealed has completed arrangement to begin digitalizing her membership registers across the country.

    According to him, “APGA has taken the initiative as the first party in Nigeria to digitalize the register of her members across the country.

    “We want to lead them way for others to copy. The idea has a lot of benefits and simplifies accreditation of members …”

  • APGA candidate flays Ebonyi South senatorial by-election

    APGA candidate flays Ebonyi South senatorial by-election

    Mr Ifeanyi Eleje, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in the Ebonyi South Senatorial District rerun has described the election as “hugely flawed”.

    Eleje, who made the assertion on Saturday at Afikpo while speaking to newsmen, further described the process as “marred with intimidation”.

    “This is the first election I witnessed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) telling voters to vote and go.

    “Does it mean that the accreditation details would be used for thump print? I have reported to the INEC leadership in the State and it has not responded as promised,” he said.

    He said that there was no hope for the nation’s electoral system if such trend continued and called for urgent steps to check such.

    “This is an off-season elections so we expected more effectiveness in its conduct. What we however, saw was the use of authority to intimidate voters.

    “This election just as all off-season elections, experienced low voter turnout and we expect such to reflect in the results,” he said.

    The Head of Voter Education and Publicity Department of INEC in Ebonyi, Dr Christian Elekwa, however, dismissed Eleje’s assertion noting that the commission should not be associated with such.

    Elekwa disclosed in an interview that the approved practice was voters being accredited and allowed to vote immediately.

    “It is a simultaneous process and I don’t know where this sort of insinuation is coming from,” he said.

  • APGA crisis: Coalition of 50 CSOs ask INEC chairman, Mahmud to obey Court order

    APGA crisis: Coalition of 50 CSOs ask INEC chairman, Mahmud to obey Court order

    …tell President Tinubu to step in as he’s the biggest beneficiary of the judiciary

    … declares Nig is doomed

    …demand to know whether INEC boss has immunity

    A coalition of 50 Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, on Friday have asked Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to obey the Judgement of the FCT High Court Bwari, which clearly stated that Chief Edozie Njoku is the National Chairman of APGA.

    The coalition also called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately step into the matter as he is the greatest beneficiary of the judiciary in Nigeria that’s being rubished.

    The Centre for Credible Leadership & Citizens Awareness (a Coalition of Civil Society Organizations) led by the Director General, Dr Gabriel Nwambu at a press briefing in Abuja raised questions concerning whether the INEC umpire Yakubu Mahmud has immunity and the crisis surrounding the APGA leadership matter.

    “Today, perhaps, the most worrisome issue in Nigeria is the glaring evidence arising from the Judgment of the FCT High Court Bwari which found Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of INEC guilty of the contempt of court.

    “Evidently, on November 9, 2023, the Court pronounced its judgment thus: ‘It is well-established in legal jurisprudence that court orders must be obeyed and respected. Parties to litigation are duty-bound to adhere to the directives of the Court. Disobedience of court orders undermines the sanctity of the judiciary and the rule of law. The 1st Respondent (Victor Ike Oye) and 2nd Respondent (Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of INEC) have committed contempt by disobeying the subsisting order of this court made on 10/5/2023 and I so hold.’

    “Furthermore, Hon. Justice M.A Madugu stated; ‘having established the disobedience of the 1st Respondent and 2nd respondent to the order of this court made on 10/5/2023 and since the purpose of committal proceedings is to ensure that the orders of the Court are upheld and respected, I hereby adopt a lenient view and order that the 1st and 2nd Respondent should purge themselves of contempt within 14 working days effective from today, the 9th day of November, 2023. Case is hereby adjourned till 29/11/2023, to enable the Respondents purge themselves of the contempt or face the wrath of the Law’, the court held

    “The above extract from the judgment of the court is clear, unambiguous and impeccable. However, our concern is, why didn’t Mahmood explore the 14 Days window offered to him by the Court to purge himself of the contempt of Court.

    Read full press release below:

    FLOUTING OF COURT ORDER: COULD INEC CHAIRMAN HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF CONTEMPT OF COURT?

    Gentlemen of the Press,

    We at the Centre for Credible Leadership & Citizens Awareness (a Coalition of Civil Society Organizations) have gathered here to call the attention of Nigerians to a disturbing trend, where those who preside over institutions that are created by the law, and are saddled with the responsibility of preserving constitutional order disobey court orders at will.

    Let me digress a bit, the contemporary democratic state was achieved through a long and tortuous journey from the state of nature, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, monarchy and finally, we arrived at the democratic state, where order, sanity and civility are invoked and sustained through the constitution.

    Our interrupted Fourth Republic is a product that has been fortified and potentially ossified by this timeless trajectory.

    Today, perhaps, the most worrisome issue in Nigeria is the glaring evidence arising from the Judgment of the FCT High Court Bwari which found Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of INEC guilty of the contempt of court.

    Evidently, on November 9, 2023, the Court pronounced its judgment thus: ‘It is well-established in legal jurisprudence that court orders must be obeyed and respected. Parties to litigation are duty-bound to adhere to the directives of the Court. Disobedience of court orders undermines the sanctity of the judiciary and the rule of law. The 1st Respondent (Victor Ike Oye) and 2nd Respondent (Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of INEC) have committed contempt by disobeying the subsisting order of this court made on 10/5/2023 and I so hold.’

    Furthermore, Hon. Justice M.A Madugu stated; ‘having established the disobedience of the 1st Respondent and 2nd respondent to the order of this court made on 10/5/2023 and since the purpose of committal proceedings is to ensure that the orders of the Court are upheld and respected, I hereby adopt a lenient view and order that the 1st and 2nd Respondent should purge themselves of contempt within 14 working days effective from today, the 9th day of November, 2023. Case is hereby adjourned till 29/11/2023, to enable the Respondents purge themselves of the contempt or face the wrath of the Law’, the court held.

    The above extract from the judgment of the court is clear, unambiguous and impeccable. However, our concern is, why didn’t Mahmood explore the 14 Days window offered to him by the Court to purge himself of the contempt of Court.

    “Today, perhaps, the most worrisome issue in Nigeria is the glaring evidence arising from the Judgment of the FCT High Court Bwari which found Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of INEC guilty of the contempt of court.

    Evidently, on November 9, 2023, the Court pronounced its judgment thus: ‘It is well-established in legal jurisprudence that court orders must be obeyed and respected. Parties to litigation are duty-bound to adhere to the directives of the Court. Disobedience of court orders undermines the sanctity of the judiciary and the rule of law. The 1st Respondent (Victor Ike Oye) and 2nd Respondent (Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of INEC) have committed contempt by disobeying the subsisting order of this court made on 10/5/2023 and I so hold.’

    Furthermore, Hon. Justice M.A Madugu stated; ‘having established the disobedience of the 1st Respondent and 2nd respondent to the order of this court made on 10/5/2023 and since the purpose of committal proceedings is to ensure that the orders of the Court are upheld and respected, I hereby adopt a lenient view and order that the 1st and 2nd Respondent should purge themselves of contempt within 14 working days effective from today, the 9th day of November, 2023. Case is hereby adjourned till 29/11/2023, to enable the Respondents purge themselves of the contempt or face the wrath of the Law’, the court held.

    The above extract from the judgment of the court is clear, unambiguous and impeccable. However, our concern is, why didn’t Mahmood explore the 14 Days window offered to him by the Court to purge himself of the contempt of Court.

    This trend is worrisome. Perhaps, this informs why a judge of the Anambra State High Court, Justice Promise Otti, has threatened to stop sitting if the disobedience to her court’s orders continues. Visibly angry when she entered the court on Thursday (25th January, 2024) Justice Otti of High Court 3, Awka Judicial Division, told lawyers and litigants that she had come only to announce that she had decided to stop sitting until proper explanations were given for the non-compliance with orders made by her court.

    Ladies and gentlemen, a society in which Court Orders are treated with levity is doomed. It doesn’t matter whom the law favors, therefore, beneficiaries of any court judgment should be protected by the law and supported to enjoy the dividends arising therefrom.

    We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is the highest beneficiary of Court Judgment, as it stands today in this country, that he is duty bound to stop this impunity. Imagine what it would have been if the Supreme Court Judgment which upheld his election was flouted.

    We call on Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, as the Chief Law Officer to intervene and prevail on Prof. Yakubu Mahmood to recognize Chief Edozie Njoku as the National Chairman of APGA.

    We call on Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President to intervene on this matter, because disobedience to court order is an invitation to self-help.

    Finally, we call on Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to obey the Judgement of the FCT High Court Bwari, which clearly stated that Chief Edozie Njoku is the National Chairman of APGA.

    Thank you.

    Signed

     

    Dr. Nwambu Gabriel

    Director General

  • Abia APGA chieftain defects to APC

    Abia APGA chieftain defects to APC

    Mr Ifeanyi Ogbonna, a chieftain of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Ogbonna stated this in a statement by his Media Director, Mr Chisom Ogbonna in Umuahia on Friday.

    He said that his decision was borne out of a deep conviction that the APC aligned more closely with his principles and aspirations.

    “Throughout our political journey, our commitment has always been to serve the best interests of our constituents.

    “We see this transition as a means to enhance our ability to make a positive impact on the lives of the people we represent.

    “The APC’s commitment to good governance, inclusivity, and sustainable development resonates strongly with our own principles.

    “As we embark on this new chapter, we extend our gratitude to our supporters who have been unwavering in their faith and dedication, we assure you that our commitment to your welfare and the development of our beloved state remains steadfast,” he said.

  • Anambra remains APGA state – Gov Soludo

    Anambra remains APGA state – Gov Soludo

    Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has said the State belongs to the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Soludo, who spoke through Mr Christian Aburime, his Press Secretary, said this while reacting to a comment attributable to Chief Basil Ejidike that APGA would go extinct by 2025.

    Aburime, who said APC did not exist in Anambra, insisted that the State would forever remain an APGA-controlled state because the people had come to accept it as their own political movement.

    He said Soludo had turned the entire state into a construction site in two years, adding that only the blind would say they are not seeing the transformation taking place.

    “The APC-led federal government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a known democrat and lover of democracy, will not like to interfere with elections in other states,” Abirime said in a statement.

    “APC members in Anambra know that the party does not exist in this state and it will never exist because this is an APGA land.

    “Going by what the APC chairman in Anambra has been saying, it’s like he is not part of the people living in Anambra State. He keeps saying that Soludo has done nothing; maybe he must have been going around blindfolded.

    “There are roads and other infrastructures for him to see. There are so many things Soludo is doing and every normal human being is seeing them. Something must be wrong somewhere,” he said.

    Aburime said Soludo was far ahead of some perennial constants that APC had presented for election and that when the die was cast, the governor’s works would speak vigorously for him.

    He described Soludo as a governor for the poor and his free education policies, free antenatal and delivery services and gifts for nursing mothers were giving his governance a human face.

    According to him, Soludo is not a politician but a statesman. So you can not compare politicians with no ideology to Soludo who is a statesman and has his own philosophy and ideology he is pursuing.

    “Soludo is the only governor that has shown so much empathy and compassion for the downtrodden,” he said.

  • I have no plans to leave APGA – Ex-Gov Obiano

    I have no plans to leave APGA – Ex-Gov Obiano

    Former Governor of Anambra, Chief Willie Obiano, said he remained a committed member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Obiano said this in a statement signed by his Publicist, Mr Tony Nezianya on Tuesday while debunking claims that he would leave the party to another in no distant time.

    Obiano was Governor of Anambra on the platform of APGA for eight years.

    According to the statement, my dedication and loyalty to APGA, both in words and actions were not in doubt.

    The former governor said he championed the ideologies and principles of APGA, worked tirelessly to promote its agenda and ensured the party’s continued success after his time in office.

    “It is, therefore, evident that I Chief Willie Obiano has no plans to abandon APGA or join another political party.

    “I have no plan now or in future to leave the party. There is misguided speculation in a section of the media that I plan to jump ship,” he said.

    Obiano urged Anambra Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to fulfill his promise to pay disengagement allowance to all his political appointees as promised them in Aguleri at the point of departure.

    He said the gesture would be a befitting way to end their glorious service as well as reward them for ensuring his victory at the polls.

    ”If you cannot re-engage them, you can at least pay their outstanding allowances,” Obiano said.

  • 38-year-old emerges as APGA national chairman

    38-year-old emerges as APGA national chairman

    Thirty-Eight-year-old, Mr Sylvester Ezeokenwa emerged as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Wednesday in Awka.

    Ezeokenwa was elected at the party’s national convention to succeed Chief Victor Oye.

    Delegates from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT attended the convention which saw 31 executive members emerge through affirmation.

    Before dissolving the old Executive Committee of the party, the former national chairman gave account of his stewardship and said he left N300 million in the party’s bank account.

    He said that he faced more than 200 court cases while in office as national chairman, but came out victorious in all.

    Oye said he completed the party’s national secretariat in Abuja and a five-storey zonal office in Awka.

    “This is despite the fact that I inherited less than N40 million from my predecessor,’’ he said.

    In his remarks, Anambra’s Gov. Charles Soludo said it was his first national convention and thanked the party for a peaceful exercise and for sponsoring him in a successful governorship election.

    He commended Oye for giving the party focused leadership for eight years.

    He also commended Oye for effective management of the party’s resources saying that no political party had left that quantum of money in its purse with all the structures put in place.

    “I am extremely thrilled that the past executives of APGA got stronger and Oye has written his name in gold. You served APGA and left it better than you met it,’’ he said.

    Soludo also commended INEC for a successful conduct of the 2023 general elections and wondered why people were repudiating the outcomes.

    He said the elections produced members of the National Assembly and states’ Houses of Assembly members and wondered why even those who benefitted from the elections were criticising the exercise.

    The convention also nominated and ratified new members of Board of Trustees led by former governor of Anambra, Chief Willie Obiano.

    Among members are Oye and former deputy governors – Emeka Sibeudu and Dame Virgy Etiaba; wife of eternal leader of the party Mrs Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, and Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe.

    In his speech, the new national chairman said he was glad for the confidence reposed in him by the party.

    “Today, I am the youngest national chairman of any political party in Nigeria and posterity stares at the new executives in the face as they lead all progressives in the country,’’ he said.

    Ezeokenwa was sworn in alongside newly-elected national officers of APGA in the presence of Gov. Soludo.

  • Anambra: Former Obiano aide emerges APGA chairman

    Anambra: Former Obiano aide emerges APGA chairman

    Chief Ifeatu Obiokoye, former Special Adviser on Political Affairs to immediate past Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra, has emerged the state chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Obiokoye also former state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before joining APGA, was elected during the state congress of APGA held at Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka, on Tuesday.

    The congress was attended by delegates from the 21 Local Government Areas of the state, including Gov. Chukwuma Soludo, state executive council members and Council chairmen.

    The party used voice votes to conduct the elections for all the positions, including the chairman, which 13 aspirants had initially indicated interest.

    Gov. Soludo, who doubles as the chairman APGA Board of Trustee, assisted the electoral committee, headed by Dr Obi Ogbolo, to conduct the yes or no questions leading to the elections of all the victorious executive members.

    The governor, who spoke briefly at the end of the exercise, said the open and transparent system adopted was to ensure peace and harmony in APGA.

    Soludo said APGA is one family, adding that with peace and understanding the party will surpass its past achievements.

    Obiokoye, who spoke on behalf of other executive members, thanked the governor and other party faithful for the opportunity given them to serve.

    He said his team would carry everyone along in running the party.

    Obiokoye also thanked Anambra people for keeping faith with APGA in the past 16 years running.