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Tag: National Convention

  • APC bars Amaechi, Malami, Akpabio, others from voting at Nat’l Convention

    APC bars Amaechi, Malami, Akpabio, others from voting at Nat’l Convention

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has barred Rotimi Amaechi, AGF Malami, Godswill Akpabio, Lai Mohammed and other political appointees from voting at its National Convention slated for tomorrow. This is contained in its programme of events for rhe National Convention.

    Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and Chairman, Media and Publicity Sub-Committee for the APC 2022 National Convention made this known on Thursday.

    Below is the programme of events for the convention scheduled to hold at the Eagle Square, Abuja, as released by Sule on Thursday in Abuja.

    1. Arrival of Accredited National Delegates – 10 a.m-1p.m

    2. Arrival of the Members of the National Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) – 1:30p.m

    3. Arrival of APC State Governors, National Assembly Members, Ministers and Party Leaders – 1:30-2:p.m

    4. Arrival of the Speaker of the House of Representatives – 2:10p.m

    5. Arrival of the Senate President – 2:20p.m

    6. Arrival of the National Chairman, Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) – 2:30p.m

    7. Arrival of the Vice-President – 2:45p.m

    8. Arrival of the President – 3:15p.m

    9. The National Anthem – 3:30p.m

    10. Opening Prayers – 3:35p.m

    11. Goodwill messages by Youth Wing, Women Wing, People Living with Disability (PLwD) and Diaspora Wing – 3:40-4:50p.m

    12. Remarks by Chairman, Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Representatives of Governors’ from each of the six geo-political zones – 4:50-5:20p.m

    13. Interlude – 5:20-5:25p.m

    14. Remarks by the Speaker of the House of Representatives – 5:25-5:30p.m

    15. Remarks by the Senate President – 5:30-5:35p.m

    16. Remarks by the Vice-President – 5:35-5:40p.m

    17. Special Remarks by the President – 5:40-5:55p.m

    18. Welcome Address by National Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee Chairman and presentation of motions – 5:55-6:10p.m

    i. Motion for the approval of Constitution as amended

    ii. Motion for the ratification of all activities carried out by CECPC

    19. Remarks by the Chairman, Election Committee – 6:10-6:20p.m

    20. Elections into Zonal and National Offices of the APC

    21. Interlude

    22. Counting and Collation of Votes

    23. Declaration of Results/Swearing in of the newly elected executives

    24. Acceptance Speech by the newly elected National Chairman of the APC

    25. Motion for closing of the 2022 Extra-ordinary National Convention

    26. Closing Remarks by National Secretary

    27. Closing Prayers

    28. National Anthem

    29. Departure in reverse order.

    Meanwhile, the APC has barred political appointees from voting at the national convention.

    The party made this known in a press statement on Thursday titled, ‘Attention to political office holders who were elected as delegates’.

    It read, “The National Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of APC has declared that all political appointees who were elected as delegates to the National Convention slated for 26/3/2022 SHALL NOT VOTE in view of the controversy surrounding Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act,2022.

    “However, political appointees can still attend as observers.”

    Recall that the National Assembly (NASS) had earlier unanimously rejected a request from President Muhammadu Buhari to further amend the Electoral Act.

    The president asked the National Assembly to amend Section 84(10) of the Act to allow political appointees to contest and participate in primaries without resigning.

    Section 84(10) of the Act specifically reads, “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”

    As the NASS rejected the president’s request, a lawyer and chieftain of Action Alliance (AA), Mr Nduka Edede, approached a Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia on the matter – in a suit marked FHC/MU/SC/26/2022, with the Attorney General of the Federation as the defendant.

    The plaintiff asked the court to determine whether Section 84(12), when read together with Sections 66(1)(f) 107(1)(f)(137(1)(f) and 182(1)(f) of the 1999 Constitution, was not inconsistent.

    The judgment, delivered by Justice Evelyn Anyadike, nullified Section 84(12) of the newly amended Electoral Act, saying it violated the provisions of the Constitution.

    Anyadike held that the section was unconstitutional, invalid, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever, saying it ought to have been struck out.

    A few hours after the judgement was delivered, the Office of Attorney General and Minister of Justice announced Federal Government’s plans to implement the court judgement allowing political appointees to run for office without resigning.

    Some of the President’s ministers who are said to be planning to run for different offices include the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who is said to be eyeing the Kebbi State governorship seat; the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who is believed to be planning to contest the governorship of Katsina State; the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who is rumoured to be eyeing the Presidency.

    Others who are said to have political ambitions include the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige; the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba; and a few others.

    On Wednesday, March 23, the Senate resolved to appeal the judgment by the Federal High Court in Umuahia, nullifying the provision of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022.

  • Buhari hosts Tinubu, other APC founding fathers to dinner

    Buhari hosts Tinubu, other APC founding fathers to dinner

    Barely 24 hours to the much postponed All Progressives Congress, APC convention, President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday night continued his wide consultations with critical stakeholders to give the ruling party a sense of direction.

    To this end, the Nigerian number one citizen hosted the founding fathers of the party to a dinner at Aso Rock, apparently to forge ahead on agreed consensus candidate for the party’s Chairmanship position being contested by others despite his directive.

    In attendance were the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the first Interim Chairman Chief Bisi Akande; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbomnaya Onu; former Imo Governor Senator Rochas Okorocha; former Kano Governor Ibrahim Shekarau; and former Sokoto Governor Aliyu Wamako.

    Others were: Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna); Aminu Masari (Katsina) and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

    Also in attendance were Chairman, Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party Mai Mala Buni and Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha.

    The get-together, it was gathered, was hosted by the President to show appreciation to the critical stakeholders for their continued support, understanding and cooperation with his administration.

    The engagement was also in furtherance of efforts by Buhari at ensuring a rancour-free and successful National Convention of the party on Saturday.

  • FRSC deploys 1500 personnel for APC National Convention

    FRSC deploys 1500 personnel for APC National Convention

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has deployed 1500 personnel for the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to hold on Saturday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi made this known on Thursday, saying this is part of preparations towards ensuring free flow of traffic to and from the venue of the convention.

    Oyeyemi revealed that operatives have been ordered to ensure effective collaboration with the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies to ensure hitch-free vehicular movement.

    In a statement by Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer, the Corps Operatives drafted to cover the national convention have equally been mandated to clear obstructions from the roads, carry out rescue operations in case of emergencies, and maintain orderliness around the cordoned areas.

    The statement reads: “To ensure that the Corps plays an effective role to make traffic flow seamless, the Corps Marshal also directed the Deputy Corps Marshal in charge of the Department of Operations to activate the deployment of 1500 personnel of the Corps and 35 Vehicles including tow trucks, bikes, and ambulances to strengthen enforcement of restrictions during the entire process of the convention.

    “He warned the personnel deployed to play an active role in the democratic exercise and exhibit the highest sense of professionalism, ingenuity, and avoid any temptation that could lead to abuse of the rights of electorates”.

  • National Convention: Buhari hosts APC Chairmanship aspirants

    National Convention: Buhari hosts APC Chairmanship aspirants

    President Muhammadu Buhari has met behind closed doors with all All Progressives Congress Chairmanship aspirants of the party during its forthcoming National Convention on March 26.

    Mr Sunday Aghaeze, the Personal Assistant to the President (Photography), confirmed this development in pictorial reports late Wednesday evening.

    The aspirants were led by the Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Committee (CECC), Mai Mala Buni.

    The affected aspirants included Sen. George Akume, Sen. Tanko Al-makura, Sen. Sani Musa, Se. Abdullahi Adamu, Mohammed Saidu-Estu, Abdulaziz Yari and Ali Modu.

    It was observed that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and the Chief of staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari also attended the meeting of the president with the aspirants.

    The president had earlier met behind closed doors with governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the forthcoming National Convention of the party, slated for March 26.

    The governors were led to the meeting by the Chairman of the Interim Committee of the party and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni.
    However, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, who is also the Governor of Kebbi, Atiku Bagudu, spoke to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

    According to Bagudu, the governors have resolved to support whoever the president supports at the convention.

    Bagudu also disclosed that the governors agreed to support any process that would lead to a consensus.

    Buhari had last month said he was in favour of the consensus model for selecting candidates for the party’s national positions.

    He had urged the governors to explore the option of consensus.

  • APC National Convention: All contestants are working in unity – Bello

    APC National Convention: All contestants are working in unity – Bello

    Governor of Kogi State and Chairman, Security Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention, Yahaya Bello has said all the contestants for the convention are working in unity and in the same direction.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Bello made this known on Tuesday in Abuja, saying his security committee and delegates are working assiduously toward the success of the convention, and that the party will come out stronger after the national convention slated for Saturday.

    “Every Committee just like the security committee, all the leaders, all the delegates, members and stalwarts of the APC are enthusiastic, gearing and working assiduously towards a successful National Convention of the APC.

    “So everybody is working assiduously to ensure we have a successful and hitch-free exercise come 26th of March 2022.

    “Our party will go into a convention and come off very strong. We are meeting and putting heads together to ensure that we come up very strongly so nothing is stopping us from going ahead from conducting this exercise.

    “As we speak right now, all the contestants are talking in unison, and leaders are working accordingly and all other members including delegates are moving in the same direction.

    “Nigerians are even giving us all the maximum support that we require. That is why you can see the calibre of people that are involved in this all-important exercise. It is going to be more successful than any other convention held in Nigeria,” Bello assured.

  • National Convention: I’m still in APC Chairmanship race – Yari

    National Convention: I’m still in APC Chairmanship race – Yari

    Former Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara says he is still in the race for All Progressives Congress (APC), National Chairmanship, contrary to speculations that he has dropped from the race.

    Yari said this on Tuesday in Abuja when he spoke with newsmen shortly after a meeting with the APC Senate Caucus.

    Reacting to media reports that the party had already zoned the position to the North-Central, Yari said that he was not aware of any zoning arrangement.

    “I do not know anything about the issue of zoning because it was not communicated to me, I only saw it on social media.

    “I have picked form and we are ready to meet at the ballot,” he said.

    Yari, who frowned at zoning, said that members of the party were trying to break the jinx called zoning by embracing real democracy.

    Earlier while at the meeting with the caucus, Yari said he was at the Senate to solicit the support of the senators.

    “I am here to solicit for your support. I believe we have been working together and we can still work together,” he said.

    Yari said that the party needed people that were tested and trusted to handle its affairs.

    “We need people that are focused, determined and trusted in the past, with responsibilities and delivered their responsibilities.

    “It is not about where you are from, but what you have done in the past and what people think you can do,” he said.

    Speaking, Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, said that the APC was at a cross road.

    “That is a bad news. But the good news is that we are about to rebound from those challenges.The nearer we get to Saturday, the better the prospects and our hopes that all of those challenges will become a thing of the past.

    “All we seek in the National Assembly, is a strong and united APC that will come out of this convention and step forward to win the next elections.

    “We have an obligation as a party to disappoint our opponents, the PDP.

    “We want a leader that can speak truth to power, a leader that has the capacity to arrest and bring together every ego, a leader that can make us understand that collectively, we are bigger than our individual selves,” he said.

  • Another aspirant withdraws from APC national chairmanship race

    Another aspirant withdraws from APC national chairmanship race

    Another aspirant in the person of Alhaji Sani Shinkafi for the position of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has withdrawn from the race.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Shinkafi gave this indication at a Press Conference on Monday evening in Gusau, Zamfara.

    This is coming after former Borno Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff on Sunday also withdrew from the chairmanship race of the APC.

    Shinkafi said that his decision was taken to respect party supremacy as the post of National Chairman had been zoned to the North Central geopolitical zone.

    ”Zamfara is not among the states in the North Central, therefore, I cannot proceed with the contest, considering the fact that the party is supreme.

    “I know what is called party supremacy, I know what is called party leadership and also know what we call respect for the stakeholders.

    ”And since the party has taken a decision, I have no objection to their decision,” he said.

    Shinkafi also said that he withdrew from the race as a mark of respect for the President.

    He, however, appealed to the stakeholders in the contest to ”align themselves with the party’s decision to stand strong and united ahead of the 2023 general elections”.

    Shinkafi applauded all APC Governors, Ministers, the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives for their support.

    He thanked his coordinators across all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for their efforts in supporting his erstwhile candidature.

    The APC National Convention is slated for Saturday, to elect new national executives to manage the party’s affairs.

    The party is currently being managed by a Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).

    No fewer than seven aspirants had purchased the APC Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at the cost of N20 million each, striving to clinch the coveted national chairmanship position.

    Former Zamfara Governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, is among the seven aspirants.

    The Screening Committee, headed by Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State, is expected to commence the screening of all the aspirants on Tuesday in Abuja.

  • Senate caucus denies endorsing Abdullahi Adamu as APC Chairman

    Senate caucus denies endorsing Abdullahi Adamu as APC Chairman

    The Chairman, Senate Committtee on Media and Public Affairs, Sen. Ajibola Basiru has faulted media report alleging that the APC caucus at the Senate has endorsed Abdullahi Adamu as its preferred aspirant for the party’s chairmanship.

    Basiru said this when he spoke with newsmen in Abuja on Monday.

    Three senators; Abdullahi Adamu, Sani Musa and Tanko Al-Makura were contesting for the APC national chairman in the March 26 national convention.

    “I am not aware that the APC senate caucus has adopted any senator for the position of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress.

    “I know that three senators are contesting and there was no where or occasion when we took any decision to adopt any particular candidate.

    “I will be very happy if any of them emerges as the APC national chairman on Saturday.The emergence of any of the three senators would be a good omen to our institution.

    “Senators Abdullahi Adamu, Sani Musa and Tanko Al-Makura are in the race,” he said.

  • APC Governors resolve differences ahead of National Convention

    APC Governors resolve differences ahead of National Convention

    Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nassarawa state, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors have resolved their differences, ahead of the March 26 National Convention of the party.

    Sule, who is the Chairman, Media Committee for the March 26 APC National Convention, said this in a statement signed by Alhaji Garba Shehu, the Secretary of the committee on Monday in Abuja.

    Sule spoke at the inauguration of the Media Committee and its various subcommittees in Abuja.

    “The leadership of the party under Gov. Mai Mala Buni and members of the Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) are making every efforts to take everyone along.

    “I believe it is the only path for a successful convention and victory at elections. We believe in unity in diversity, and this is the mantra of our convention,” he said.

    Sule said arrangements were on to ensure that the March 26 National Convention of the party was hitch-free.

    He said the committee were broken into subcommittees that had speedily moved on with their various assignments aimed at delivering a successful convention.

    About 4,000 delegates from the 36 states of the federation and FCT are expected at the convention to elect new national executives for the party.

  • Modu Sheriff withdraws from APC chairmanship race, gives reasons

    Modu Sheriff withdraws from APC chairmanship race, gives reasons

    Former Borno Governor Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, on Sunday, has withdrawn from the chairmanship race of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Sheriff made this declaration in Abuja, saying he made the decision after the party zoned the office of the national chairman to the North Central region as he is from the North East region.

    He added that he decided to withdraw from the race as a party man who respected the rule of law and the party’s leaders.

    “I am sure that most of you have been following the trends of activities of our party, the APC within the last 10 days or so.

    “The party has taken a position that the position of its national chairman should go to the North Central, meaning it is exclusively zoned to contestants of the zone.

    “The President is the leader of the party and he has taken a position. I have always told you that I will contest if the position is zoned to my zone.

    “That has been my statement always, and today they have taken a position. I respect the president as a person and as a president, he is my leader, therefore, I do not want to oppose him in any way or form,” Sheriff said.

    The former Borno governor added that the president and the party’s leaders must have a reason for allowing the zoning of its chairmanship to the North Central.

    “I have led a party – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); I am a founding father of this party. I was the Chairman of Board of Trustees (BoT) of the All Nigerian People Party (ANPP),” he said.

    He added that he therefore, knew the procedure and processes of a political party.

    Sheriff while saying that he would abide by the party’s decision to exclusively zone its chairmanship position to the North Central, added that this was however, not a final decision.

    According to him, he may still contest in case if the party rescinds its decision between now and Friday, and throws the race open for all.

    He explained that normally, zoning revolved around an individual, adding that it was however, not done in a vacuum.

    “And in party Congresses and Convention, there is what is called a unity list, on the last day of the convention, when the leaders make up their mind, they will bring out one list.

    “And in that respect, the list will be followed by the participants because parties are made up of men and women who are also coming from the zones and states,” he explained.

    Sheriff maintained that he would, however, not offer himself for an election that had clearly been zoned out of the North East.

    He thanked the party members, stakeholders, and Nigerians generally, who had been with him through his campaign across the country in the last two years.

    According to him, his campaign has resonated all across the country with a lot of people showing interest.

    He further explained that he was withdrawing from the race because he wanted to follow the rule of law, saying that it was not correct for anybody to do otherwise.

    “I Ali-Modu Sheriff, will not offer myself for the contest of the APC national chairmanship position slated for Saturday, March 26, because it has been zoned out of my zone.

    “I am from the North-East. North Central where the position had been zoned to is made of Kogi, Kwara, Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau, these are the places where the party’s next national chairman will come from.

    “Borno is North-East of Nigeria. I want you to communicate to all our followers, men and women across the country so that they do not expect to see my name on the ballot paper.

    “But if the party changes its mind between today and Friday and says everybody can contest, within 12 hours one can fill a form.

    “But as long as the position is zoned to the North Central. I’m not going to be party to that,” he stressed.

    TheNewsGuru recalled that Sheriff said he is not interested in the presidency but the national chairmanship of the ruling party.

    According to him: “So many insinuations are going around, Ali Modu Sheriff is not looking for Chairman; he is looking to be Presidential candidate.

    “Please, I want to put it on record today, I am not looking for President. I am looking for a National Chairman so that I could lead the party to victory.

    “I want to lead a campaign like what we did to 2014 to make sure that our father and leader (Buhari) hands over power to another APC man as a President.

    “If I want to be President, I am not afraid of anybody but I don’t want to be President but National Chairman.”