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Tag: Chairman

  • Why Modu Sheriff should be APC national chairman – Lar

    Why Modu Sheriff should be APC national chairman – Lar

    Sen. Victor Lar has described former Borno governor, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, as the best candidate for the national chairmanship position of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    Lar spoke in telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Jalingo, ahead of the Feb. 26, National Convention of the party.

    He said that Sheriff’s vast experience in politics as a former governor, legislator and party leader placed him in a vantage position to prepare the party for the unique challenges ahead of the 2023 elections.

    “The APC will face a peculiar challenge in 2023 because President Muhammadu Buhari, who is known to have galvanised over 12 million votes consistently, will not be on the ballot.

    “This will create a serious challenge whereby the party will need to navigate very carefully so as to succeed,” he said.

    According to Lar, the APC require a leader who will be able to mobilise all contending interests within to ensure that the party win elections in 2023.

    “The main thing driving Sheriff to gun for the seat of the national chairmanship of our great party is to make sure that he leads it to victory in 2023, and ensure that President Buhari hands over to another APC elected president.

    “For over 40 years, Sheriff has gathered experience that is unmatched. He was elected three times to the national assembly, a deputy minority leader in the Senate. He understands the sensibility and the thinking of the legislators.

    “Apart from being a governor for two terms, it is on record that he is one of the very few governors who handed over N69 billion to an incoming administration,” Lar said.

    Lar further explained that besides the breathtaking infrastructural development he brought to the state, Sheriff has experience as a leader of a political party.

    “So we are talking about someone with experience as a legislator, as a state governor, and a courageous person that has the capacity to provide the needed leadership.”

    Lar, who represented Plateau South Senatorial District between 2011 and 2015, identified four blocks of a political party.

    According to him, the blocks represent presidency, governors, national assembly and party leadership.

    He said that Sheriff was in a better position to understand the intricacies of harmonising all these interests and blocks to lead the party to victory.

    Lar insisted that for the party to stand the test of time and remain strong enough to retain power and continue to enjoy acceptability from the people there was the need for massive innovations.

    He said that Sheriff possessed the qualities to propel these innovations and bring on board sound ideas towards promoting party supremacy, unity and ensure efficient running of the institution.

    The APC stalwart noted that one of the major global issues was the process of recruitment for presentation at elections, which needed to be democratised in order to carry along all party members.

    “We will recruit the best hands at every level. That is the only way to maintain our victory at the national assembly and the executive.

    “Above all, since our greatest strength lies in our unity, Sheriff will put in place a mechanism to build on the work of this caretaker committee to ensure the reconciliation of all persons and interests in the party,” he said.

    Lar said that consensus and conflict were driving forces of politics, adding that the process of reconciliation was what showed the growth and maturity of the party.

    “All these processes will be put in place by Sheriff under his watch as the national chairman,” he said.

  • Accord Party suspends chairman, expels state organising secretary

    Accord Party suspends chairman, expels state organising secretary

    The Lagos State chapter of Accord Party, has suspended its Chairman, Mr Joseph Beckley, and expelled the State Organising Secretary, Mr Ayodele Kosenimola over alleged misconduct.

    The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Dele Oladeji disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

    Oladeji said that the action was taken against the party officials on Tuesday at the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting of the party.

    “At an extraordinary State Executive meeting of the Lagos State chapter of Accord Party on Tuesday, the state chairman, Joseph Beckley was suspended and the State Organising Secretary, Hon. Ayodele Kosenimola was expelled.

    “The state chairman was suspended for dereliction of duty, lackadaisical attitude, promotion of discord and strife among executive members, and other acts, that are unbecoming of a state party leader.

    “The State Organising Secretary, Hon. Ayodele Kosenimola was finally expelled from the party after weeks of breaching the conditions of an earlier suspension.

    “His expulsion borders on offences ranging from gross misconduct, dereliction of duty, and anti-party activities that are unbecoming of a state party leader,’’ he said.

    Oladeji said that SEC, therefore, instructed Kosenimola to return to the party, all party documents, paraphernalia and properties in his custody within 48 hours.

    The spokesman said that SEC members agreed that action against the officials were long overdue and were effected to stabilise the party.

    He said that the step was taken to provide a viable opposition platform to the ruling APC government in the state.

  • Abia APC elects replacement for late Chairman-elect

    Abia APC elects replacement for late Chairman-elect

    The All Progressives Congress in Abia, led by Chief Ikechi Emenike, on Saturday elected Dr Kingsley Ononogbu, at a special delegates’ congress to replace its late Chairman-elect, Mr Enyinnaya Harbour.

    Harbour, who was elected unopposed in the Nov. 16, 2021 state congress of the party, died on Dec. 3, 2021.

    The congress, which took place at Chidiebere Park on Uzuakoli Road, Umuahia, was attended by 1085 delegates from the 17 local government areas of the state.

    Announcing the result of the exercise, the Leader of the Congress Committee, Kolawole Babatunde, said that 1080 delegates were accredited, while 1075 voted.

    Babatunde also said that there were eight void votes, leaving 1067 valid votes.

    He, therefore, declared Ononogbu winner of the exercise.

    In an acceptance speech, Ononogbu, a retired banker, commended the leadership of the party for not allowing the vacuum created by Harbour’s death to effect the fortunes of the party.

    He paid special tribute to the deceased, saying that he demonstrated rare commitment to ensure that APC triumphed in the 2023 poll.

    Ononogbu, who was returned unopposed, gave an assurance that he would run an inclusive administration, in addition to providing effective leadership that would translate to the party’s victory in 2023.

    “Achieving victory is a collective responsibility for every one of us,” he said.

    He also charged all hands to be on deck and urged aggrieved members to return and contribute their quota to the growth and electoral success of the party in the state.

    The exercise, which was held amid tight security, was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    Party chieftains at the event included Emenike and the Deputy Whip of the House of Representatives, Rep. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency.

    Also in attendance was the lawmaker, representing Arochukwu State Constituency, Chief Emeka Okoroafor, amongst others.

  • Newly elected Abia APC Chairman dies hours after court nullified election

    Newly elected Abia APC Chairman dies hours after court nullified election

    The newly elected Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Mr Enyinnaya Harbor, a reknowned educationist is dead.

    Harbor according to close family sources died in the early hours of Friday after a brief sickness.

    Reports from the party said he died at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu State, where he was rushed to in the early hours of Friday.

    Enyinnaya Harbor was an unassuming politician who, as a forthright personality in the camp of High Chief Ikechi Emenike, a chieftain of APC, was elected as State Chairman of the party in the party’s State Congress held in October 2021.

    However, another faction led by the immediate past State Chairman, Donatus Nwankpa, opposed Ikechi Emenike’s faction in another forum, elected Hon Acho Obioma as Chairman.

    The imbroglio resulted in litigations by both sides. However, on Tuesday, December 8, 2021, a High Court in Abia State nullified the Habor-led executive and directed the members of the exco to stop parading themselves of executives of the State APC.

    Shockingly, 24 hours after the sack, Habor, a renowned educationist died.

    The cause of his death could not be confirmed at the time of filing in this report.

  • JUST IN: Banji Akintoye resigns chairmanship of NINAS

    JUST IN: Banji Akintoye resigns chairmanship of NINAS

    One of the frontline agitators for an Independent Yoruba Nation, Prof. Banji Akintoye, has resigned as the Chairman of the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS).

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that NINAS is the umbrella body of leading regional self-determination groups in the South and Middle Belt of Nigeria.

    Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, also cut off from the NINAS Alliance with immediate effect.

    Akintoye, a renowned Historian hails from Ado-Ekiti.

    He represented the Old Ondo State in the Senate from 1979 to 1983.

    In NINAS, Akintoye, until his resignation, represented the South-West and Yorubaland; the Lower Niger Congress under the leadership of Tony Nnadi is representing the South-South, South-East and Middle-Belt Renaissance Movement under the leadership of Professor Yusufu Turaki is representing the Middle Belt.

    In a statement on Tuesday, Akintoye and 44 other leaders who signed the release, stated that the reason for quitting the alliance, is to preserve the integrity and reputation of the Yoruba Nation agitation for Self-Determination.

    “It is our well-considered opinion that some of those we align with in NINAS do not want the kind of SELF-DETERMINATION that we the Yoruba people want.

    “Therefore, we the leadership of Ilana Omo Oodua, wish to inform the general public that the Yoruba Bloc under the leadership of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide has moved out of the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS) with immediate effect in order to safeguard the integrity and honour of our agitation for Self-Determination.

    “We thank the Leader of LNC, Mr. Tony Nnadi, for his inputs to the NINAS struggle since inception. However, it is now obvious to most people in the Yoruba Self-Determination struggle that the LNC is not working in tandem with our objective in Ilana Omo Oodua.

    “The implication of this development is that the prestigious leadership that Professor Adebanji Stephen Akintoye, has provided for NINAS as Chairman since inception has now come to an end from today Tuesday 30th November, 2021.

    “Furthermore, Ilana Omo Oodua hereby withdraw its membership of NINAS with immediate effect. All the Yoruba People Worldwide that believe in the agitation for Yoruba Nation Self-Determination at home and abroad are, by this statement, notified to comply.

    “We are, however, pleased to inform you that a more productive Wide-Alliance to be known as the South and Middle-Belt People’s Sovereign Movement (SOMPSOM) will be officially inaugurated after the completion of the ongoing consultations with likeminds across the South and Middle-Belt Regions.”

  • APC faction attacks Buhari, sacks Buni; picks Audu as new party chairman

    APC faction attacks Buhari, sacks Buni; picks Audu as new party chairman

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has run into fresh murky waters as a faction sacks Mai Mala Buni.

    The faction has also attacked President Muhammadu Buhari over his supervision of the party.

    Buni, Yobe State Governor, is Chairman, APC Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).

    On Monday, a unit within the party, Progressive Youth Movement, announced his replacement.

    They named Mustapha Audu as National Caretaker Committee Chairman with immediate effect.

    Audu said a National Reconciliation Committee will be formed to reconcile aggrieved members before the February 26, 2021 convention.

    He further announced a zoning formula for positions in the new National Working Committee (NWC).

    Meanwhile, National Secretary of the APC CECPC, John Akpan Udoedehe in a swift reaction dismissed the “felonious activities of the purported group”.

    The scribe’s statement said they are unknown to the party, its structure or as a registered support group and therefore non-existent.

    “However laughable, the criminal attempt of the purported group to usurp the leadership of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC now bothers on treasonable felony.

    “Relevant security bodies must now check and address their unscrupulous activities. The attention the purported group seeks will not be given to them by the party.

    “We can only advise that the general public completely disregard them. They are not registered members of the APC and are being used by opposition elements and fifth columnists to cause confusion.

    “As widely reported, the successful meeting between the APC leadership, Progressive Governors’ Forum and the President produced February 2022 as the timeframe for the National Convention”, Udoedehe noted.

  • Fresh crisis rocks Anambra APC, as chairman is suspended

    Fresh crisis rocks Anambra APC, as chairman is suspended

    From Chuks Collins, Awka

     

    A new bout of crisis is brewing in the Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as a section of the party’s stakeholders has announced the immediate suspension of the Acting state chairman of the party, Chief Basil Ejidike.

    Reading out the resolution of the stakeholders who met in Awka Thursday, Nov 25,2021, the spokesman of the group Chief Uchenna Okonkwo Okom accused the embattled chairman of “insubordination and disrespect to the office of President Muhammadu Buhari as reasons for the suspension.”

    Okom while fielding questions from journalists said the decision to suspend Ejidike was part of the resolution of state congress of all leaders and stakeholders to reposition the party.

    He disclosed that the details for their actions were contained in a concise petition submitted to the national leadership of the party for justice to be done.

    Part of the resolution titled, “Vote of No Confidence/Suspension from Office of Mr. Basil Ejidike, the Caretaker Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Anambra state chapter”, they accused Ejidike of refusal to convene State Executive Committee or Congress meeting despite repeated statutory demands to that effect as stipulated by the party.

    Ejidike in a quick reaction described them as “renegades who left the party after the primaries that nominated Senator Andy Uba”. He waved off the suspension as laughable, saying those behind it were not members of the State Executive Committee of the party hence lack the powers to suspend him.

    He also noted that most of them left the party shortly after the primary election, adding that they do not have any locus to have suspended him.

    Hear him, “They are not members our party. They are renegades who left the party after the primaries.

    “They can’t suspend me As I’m talking to you, I am at the national secretariat of our party in Abuja in a meeting. Their claim is laughable.

    “What is the position of the person that convened the meeting that sacked me. They are trying to see if they can instigate crisis in our party. That is their only interest”.

    Following the controversial primaries rejected by most the party’s governorship aspirants, some of the stakeholders refused to join Senator Uba in the campaign on the allegation that the primary that produced him was not credible.

    Chief Okom, revealed that a new chairman would assume office soon, pointing out that Ejidike’s issue has been referred to the national headquarters of APC for further action.

    He said, “As a result of the refusal, neglect or inability of the Caretaker Committee Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, Mr Basil Ejidike, to convene a meeting of the State Executive Committee or state congress of the party to tackle pressing and urgent party matters, despite repeated statutory demands to that effect as stipulated by the APC Constitution, the state congress of the party jointly convened by not less than two thirds of the members of the State Executive Committee and not less than two thirds of the 21 local government area chairmen with the mandate of the 326 Ward chairmen in Anambra State, held at the grounds of FINOTEL Hotel, Awka, attended by the Ward chairmen, LG chairmen, members of the State Executive Committee, stakeholders and all card-carrying members of the party across the state, the following resolutions were duly proposed and unanimously passed.

    *That Mr Basil Ejidike be and is hereby suspended forthwith from office as the caretaker chairman of APC in Anambra State, pending his appearance before a disciplinary/ fact-finding committee of the party.

    *That the next most senior available official of the party in the state is mandated to convene an emergency meeting of the State Executive Committee in consultation with the leader of the party in Anambra State, His Excellency, Dr Chris Ngige within the next 14 days from the date hereof to discuss the modalities for strengthening and repositioning the APC and for moving the party forward in Anambra State.

    *That Mr Basil Ejidike shall be referred to the disciplinary/fact finding committee of the party in the state as prescribed by the APC Constitution to answer to charges of abuse of power and office, diversion and conversion of party property, flagrant sabotage, subversion and breach of the party’s Constitution, insubordination and disrespect to the office and person of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, embezzlement and misappropriation of party’s funds, among other charges”.

    That as required by the party Constitution, the resolutions has been transmitted immediately to the National Caretaker and Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) for immediate implementation”.

  • Anambra Decides: APGA chairman, predecessor, unhappy over governorship poll

    Anambra Decides: APGA chairman, predecessor, unhappy over governorship poll

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Oye has expressed doubts over the governorship poll in the state.

    Oye while voting at Amawbia Ward 3, Polling Unit 003 in Awka South LGA, expressed dissatisfaction over the malfunctioning of the BIVAS machine.

    He said, “With the massive turnout of voters at the polling unit, I’m afraid that many eligible voters might be disenfranchised.”

    Similarly, a former chairman of the party, Chief Victor Oye, while voting at his Aguluizigbo Ward accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of being in ‘partnership with APC to rig the Anambra gubernatorial election.’

     

  • Anambra 2021: Accord Party Chairman, guber candidate, Maduka debunk defection of running mate

    Anambra 2021: Accord Party Chairman, guber candidate, Maduka debunk defection of running mate

    From Chuks Collins, Awka

    The reported defection of the Anambra state’s deputy governorship candidate of the Accord Party, Chief Kenneth Ifeatu Obi has been denied as mere political rumour made up by idle minds of the opponents.

    Addressing a world press conference at the party’s Governorship flagbearer -Dr Godwin Maduka’s Campaign Headquarters in Awka late night Friday, the state chairman of Accord, Chief Bartho Igwedibia who flanked Maduka alongside the Director General -Barrister Bright Nnebedum denied the story of Chief Obi’s departure.

    Chief Igwedibia pointed out that as the party’s Anambra helmsman with all the records of its members especially a person of Obi’s status, no letter or information conveying any such intention was received from him or any other person.

    According to the party chairman, “Accord Party is going to produce the next governor of Anambra state, come November 6,2021. No amount of distraction from any quarter would stop it.

    “Chief Obi is merely on assignment and I spoke with him less than an hour ago. It’s part of our strategic political diplomacy. That was why in the face of all the speculations he didn’t tender any resignation letter. He’s on an official errand and we are okay with that…”, the chairman stated.

    Dr Maduka in his assessment of the campaign tour of the 326 electoral wards of the state’s 21 Councils, which he started and concluded with his running mate admitted the experience was rewarding and enriching as it availed them opportunity to appreciate the extensive decay and neglect by the successive state government.

    The candidate vowed to use his 10-point agenda aimed at transforming the state to international standard and class.

    Dr Maduka who prides himself as the global number One pain doctor noted that “some say they will build Dubai in Africa; but I have already built Dubai out of my Umuchukwu community. I have built a first Of it’s kind Medical research center where experts from overseas will come to treat patients, particularly tropical ailments, etc.

    He disclosed that having toured all the 326 wards in Anambra state, where the citizens welcomed and embraced us with joy and hope swearing to work relentlessly till victory was achieved come November 6,2021 at the polls.

    All the workers, traders, artisans and villagers, especially the poor, neglected and dejected have adopted us and our message of hope as we have now commenced door to door, one-on-one visitation campaign. We therefore commend them for believing in us because they said that having seen all that I did in Umuchukwu, where I singlehandedly built schools, hospitals, High Court, Magistrate court as well as the judges’ quarters and other such facilities. They noted that they want me to win as governor so as to replicate all the life changing facilities in the state.

    Barrister Nnebedum said that having worked in cohesion like Siamese twins while community campaign tours lasted, Maduka and his running mate were on the threshold of history come November 6,2021.

  • Kano Assembly demands sack of State Revenue Service chairman for performing far from Lagos

    Kano Assembly demands sack of State Revenue Service chairman for performing far from Lagos

    The Kano State House of Assembly has passed a resolution urging the State Government to sack the Chairman of the State Internal Revenue Service, Alhaji Abdulrazak Salihi.

    This followed the adoption of a motion by the House Leader, Mr Labaran Madari at the committee of the whole on Tuesday in Kano.

    Speaking on the motion, Madari said that Salihi was unfit to retain his seat as the chairman of the State Internal Revenue Service.

    The chairman had earlier appeared before the lawmakers after he was summoned at Monday’s sitting to explain the activities of the service.

    The Speaker, Alhaji Ibrahim Chidari, said that the lawmakers wanted the chairman sacked because he lacked competence for the job.

    Chidari said Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has dropped sharply in the state in spite of its large economy.

    “Kano is well known for high performance in IGR, next to Lagos state. It is worrisome that Kano is now number nine in revenue generation and 17 in performance. This is not acceptable,” he said.

    The House thereafter, set up an ad hoc committee under the chairmanship of Alhaji Magaji Zarewa (Rogo-APC) to investigate the activities of the service and report in 30 days.

    The House also adopted a resolution urging the state government to rehabilitate the Rogo-Gwangwan Road in Rogo Local Government Area (LGA) of the state due to its deplorable condition.

    This followed the adoption of a motion on a matter of urgent public interest, by Alhaji Magaji Zarewa (APC-Rogo) at plenary.

    Speaking on the motion, Zarewa said that the bad condition of the road had resulted in untold hardship on residents of the area.

    “The bad condition of the road has created untold hardship on the people in the communities who are mostly farmers,” he said.