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Tag: Accord

  • Ajimobi, APC to join Accord, Ladoja to inspect materials

    Ajimobi, APC to join Accord, Ladoja to inspect materials

    • Ondo Tribunal grants APC’s applications
    •Judges call for security in Ekiti

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and its governorship candidate, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, have been allowed to join Accord and its candidate, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, to inspect the materials used for the April 11 election.

    Ladoja and his party are challenging Ajimobi’s victory.

    As a first step, they sought an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its resident electoral commissioner to allow them inspect the materials used for the election in the 33 local governments.

    But the APC’s and Ajimobi’s lawyers made an application to be joined in inspecting the materials.

    The application also sought an order compelling INEC and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to issue them the certified true copies of all forms, including all forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E and EC8G used for the election.

    Others are all forms EC25B and EC25 (1), forms EC40A, EC40B and EC40C used in the state.

    The applicants are also seeking inspection of all incident forms and reports used for the election as well as data results from card readers and updated voters register, among others.

    The application was granted by the tribunal.

    The three-member tribunal is chaired by Justice F. C. Obieze.

    Justices I. M. Muhammad Karaye and J. E. Ikeade are members.

    In Ondo State, the tribunal sitting in Akure, the state capital, yesterday granted all the applications tendered by the APC and its candidates in the National and House of Assembly elections.

    This followed the motion on notice filed by their counsel, Dr Tunji Abayomi.

    The Chairman, Justice Anthony Ogar, scrutinised the applications and granted that the motions be used as evidence before the court.

    The tribunal also granted substituted service of the applications to the respondents.

    Counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidates Remi Olatubora told the court that his clients were yet to be served the motion on notice.

    Olatubora said the party would file its response as soon as the motion on notice is received from the petitioners.

    The tribunal in Ekiti State had its inaugural sitting yesterday, with a warning to counsel not to make frivolous allegations.

    It called for security for judges, lawyers, politicians and the public.

    The tribunal chairman, Justice A.N. Erahor, described the job at hand as a “crucial and critical national assignment that must be diligently prosecuted”.

    He will be assisted by Justice A.T. Lamina and Justice P.A. Obayi.

    Justice Erahor promised that the panel would handle all matters dispassionately and demonstrate impartiality.

    “If you notice any infraction in the course of the proceeding, just call our attention to it.

    “We don’t want any frivolous allegation against any member of this tribunal.

    “Nobody has monopoly of knowledge. I expect everyone to play their roles professionally so that all the issues can be handled firmly and fairly.”

    Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Owoseni Ajayi assured the tribunal members of safety and a conducive environment.

    “As a government, we are assuring you of a conducive atmosphere, but without compromise.

    “We are urging you not to be distracted by political sentiments,” he said.

    The APC is challenging the victory of the PDP in elections conducted in two senatorial districts and four House of Assembly constituencies.

    APC counsel Ibrahim Olanrewaju and his PDP counterpart, Kolapo Kolade, promised to cooperate with the tribunal to ensure timely conclusion of petitions.

  • PDM, Accord Party, eight others reject elections’ delay

    PDM, Accord Party, eight others reject elections’ delay

    A COALITION of 10 political parties have rejected calls for the postponement of the February 14 and 28 general elections, saying such undemocratic tactic can  plunge the country into anarchy.

    At a news conference in Abuja yesterday, the leaders of the parties expressed shock at the decision of some of the political parties to join what they described as the infamous campaign to scuttle the country’s democracy.

    The parties are the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Accord Party, KOWA Party, African Peoples Alliance (APA); Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and United Progressives Party  (UPP).

    The National Chairman of the PDM, Alhaji Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, who addressed reporters at the conference, said the call for the postponement of the election was dubious and evil.

    According to him, the call had nothing to do with the preparedness or otherwise of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the election or the pace of distribution and collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    “We condemn in the strongest terms possible, this underhand and undemocratic tactic meant to plunge our country into anarchy, on top of the debilitating state of insecurity, which has become pervasive in the land,” Ibrahim stated.

    The parties stated that there was no reason for the postponement, since INEC had maintained its preparedness to conduct the polls.

    The parties also cited the assurances by the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief Air Marshall Alexander Badeh guaranteeing adequate security for the elections in the three Northeast states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe that are under the Boko Haram siege.

    A statement read by Ibrahim on behalf of the other parties stated: “The military, led by the Chief of Defence Staff, had guaranteed adequate security on land and air for a successful and safe conduct of the 2015 general election. This ought to have settled the fears about the security of lives and property as well as of the electorate and INEC officials.

    “The governors and citizens of the three states have not complained either to the INEC or the Executive and Legislative arms of government that their citizens would be disenfranchised if elections were held in their states.

    “The call for the postponement of the general election is, therefore, a call orchestrated by one of the political parties, which has continued to invest huge sums of money to ensure the elections do not hold as scheduled, out of fear of losing power for the first time since 1999.

    “Our democracy has come of age and Nigerians are ready for change, we will not allow desperation and power-mongering to scuttle it and will do whatever is necessary to defend it and ensure that the general election holds as scheduled.

    “We call on the INEC not to be intimidated by desperate elements and to proceed with its preparations for the general election as scheduled. We assure INEC we shall stand by it, shoulder to shoulder, to ensure our democracy is not undermined.”

    The parties added: “We urge all major stakeholders, especially well meaning political parties and their presidential candidates, the INEC and the National Assembly as well as all the security agencies in the country to stand together to ensure that the 2015 general election is conducted as scheduled and guarantee that Nigeria survives to face another general election in 2019.

    “We call on friends of Nigeria and the international community at large to stand with Nigeria in these very trying times and put pressure on the authorities to comply with the timetable of democratic elections as released by INEC.

    “We call on Nigerians to be vigilant and protect their hard-earned democracy and their freedom to choose those who will govern them. Nigerians must know freedom is not given on a platter of gold.

    “It is earned and, like all truly democratic nations, the time has come for us to earn our freedom from those whose agenda is to subjugate us for 60 uninterrupted years, whether we like it or not. The alternative to this is to allow ourselves and our children to be enslaved by those who do not wish us and our country well.

    “These are trying times. This is not the first time desperate and undesirable elements come together to scuttle our democracy for their selfish ends. We remember June 12, 1993 and the role played by these elements to scuttle Nigeria’s democracy and the chain of events which ensued.

    “It is not surprising that the same characters are again at work. If Nigerians would look closely, they will realise these characters are still around and have coalesced in the same political party, which is now leading this charge to postpone the elections without credible and acceptable explanation other than the fear of losing power for the first time.

    “What is our democracy worth if some shadowy and anti-democratic interests can come together and change the rule in the middle of the game?

    “As Nigerians, we can seize the opportunity of this moment to settle the question of “To Who Does Power Belong?” once and for all or allow the opportunity to slip through the cracks and continue to live as victims of our own indifference. The choice is ours to make and the time to make that choice is now. On February 14 we stand”.

  • Peace accord and its question marks

    SIR: Since the signing of the peace accord two weeks ago several cases of violent attacks have been recorded across the country in the course of the campaigns for the February elections. Three of such incidents bear mentioning here. The day the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari flagged off his presidential campaign in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at least one person was shot dead while several others sustained injuries when party members and supporters travelling to the venue of the rally where ambushed and attacked by ‘’unknown’’ gunmen. The party’s offices in Rivers State have been similarly attacked, allegedly with bombs. Also, President Jonathan’s convoy was reportedly stoned last week in Kano and Bauchi while on a campaign visits to the states. These are clearly acts of physical violence in obvious contradiction to, and negation of, the spirit and letter of the peace accord signed in Abuja.

    Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State last week committed what would, perhaps, go down in the history of electioneering campaigns in Nigeria as abomination when he caused to be published on the front page of The Punch an advert wishing the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, dead. Such acts, no doubt, do much violence to the sensibilities of all Nigerians who support the Buhari bid for the presidency. Even though the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, have since distanced themselves from the advertisement and its author/sponsor, it is an act of violence which puts a big question mark on the commitment of the party and its members to the peace accord it signed to be of good behaviour both in words and actions.

    Peace accord notwithstanding, Nigerian politicians will always be abusive while campaigning. Their members are also more often than not fanatical in their support for the candidates. It is, therefore, easy to incite them especially where they feel inadequate or unsure of electoral victory. This can be overcome if political leaders continually remind their members and followers that electioneering need not be violent if the aim is to gain power for the good of the people. Those who seek to serve must ensure that fellow citizens are not dehumanised and traumatised on alter of gaining power. In spite of what has happened already, I look forward to a free, fair and credible election on February 14 only if the electoral umpire, INEC, dots its ‘’I’s and crosses its ‘’t’s very well. It must live up to the true meaning of its name as an independent umpire. It must ensure that those who win do so squarely while those who lose do so fairly. This is the only way winners and losers will embrace themselves as they did at the Abuja peace accord signing.

    • Nasamu Jacobson,

    Benin City, Edo State.  

  • Why not a non-rigging accord?

    SIR: The just signed non-violence accord by various political party candidates towards 2015 elections would ordinarily appear so warranted and highly commendable if it hadn’t also come vividly as an old game of taking Nigerians for simpletons. The camaraderie so beautifully painted with the snap-shot of the broadly smiling top contenders, President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari, would seem good enough to send us all to sleep with our fears totally dispelled, if we were never taken for a ride before.

    The history of Nigeria is however replete with stories of electoral deceit, manipulation and bare-faced rigging that were usually wrapped up in universally welcome theories of democracy and peaceful co-existence. Many a time, it is when our leaders have a shocker ahead for Nigerians that they display fallacious extra-care for peace and order ahead of elections and it is high time we started to take such with due suspicion.

    We, no doubt, need peace before, during and after elections; but would such be more important to Nigeria and Nigerians than a free, fair and credible election, given the fact that an acceptable election would not only guarantee peace but would promote progress and national pride? Why were we not getting the candidates in the on-coming election as well as INEC chiefs together to sign an accord against electoral malpractices for once, to demonstrate that we truly love this nation more than our political parties and personal goals?

    What we didn’t know as we celebrated that non-violence accord was that those signing it could have their various strange plots to win elections at all costs! Of what use therefore would be a peaceful manipulation of election results and, thus, of Nigerians’ votes if the accord would ever subsist?

    Oh, yes, even a non-rigging accord could, most likely, suffer the same fate of defiance which should go to show that the non-violence accord that was signed and the non-rigging accord that was not signed could both be merely cosmetic and deceptive.

    Candidly, what would tame us all in this country and attract to us the much-desired greatness as a nation is not accords but sincerity of democratic practice at all times. If the ruling PDP can achieve this for Nigeria now it would go a long way in promoting peace, progress and national pride, accord or no accord.

     

    • Jide Oguntoye,

    Oye-Ekiti

  • APC, PDP, SDP, Accord in war of words over Oyo

    APC, PDP, SDP, Accord in war of words over Oyo

    Major political parties in Oyo State have started a “war of words” over who wins the governorship election next year.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord and Social Democratic Party (SDP) yesterday explained reasons  their confidence of routing others in the February election.

    APC Chairman Akin Oke said the coast was clear for the “so-called jinx to be broken” (referring to inability of previous governors to win a second term).

    Oke hailed the emergence of four other candidates – Rashidi Ladoja (Accord), Adebayo Alao-Akala (Labour), Teslim Folarin (PDP) and Seyi Makinde (SDP).

    He described it as good for Oyo State and part of the beauty of democracy.

    Oke expressed confidence that the people would vote for continuity of the good works being done by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    He said other candidates are from the PDP, stressing that voters know their pedigree and cannot be deceived.

    The APC chairman said within the three and a half years that Oyo people have tasted the APC, they would not go back to the dark days again.

    Folarin’s spokesman Victor Oluwadamilare said the people desire a generational change of leaders into which Folarin fits.

    According to him, Ajimobi has tried his best, but his best is not good enough for the state. He said Ladoja, who he described as a fantastic man, is too old for the dynamics of governance and that Alao-Akala has offered his best, which was inadequate.

    Ladoja sees no candidate who can beat him in the election, based on his popularity and swollen number of Accord supporters.

    Accord’s spokesman Nureni Adeniran said: “The bulk of Ibadan votes will go to Ladoja. Ajimobi is the only strong contender in Ibadan but people are tired of him. Once Ajimobi is out, Ladoja is coming in. He clearly ranks number one. We are optimistic that Ladoja will coast to victory.”

    Makinde said he is the fresh blood which the people want, stressing that all other candidates have  shown what they can do, which has not improved the lot of the state.

  • Accord Party on ‘stomach infrastructure’

    Akwa Ibom State governorship candidate of Accord Party (A) and its leader in the state, Bishop Samuel Akpan, has promised to end the prevailing hunger among  the people, if elected next February.

    The Accord candidate spoke on what the people should expect from him, if he wins next year’s election and forms the next government in May, 2015.

  • ‘Accord Party aims to take over Lagos’

    ‘Accord Party aims to take over Lagos’

    The chairman of the Accord Party in Lagos State, Gbenga Olatunde-Kool,  has lofty dreams about the chances of the party in next year’s general elections. In this interview with deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI, he talks about the party’s strategy to capture the state and the future of small parties in Nigeria.  

    It’s about three months to the general elections and we’ve not heard much from the Accord Party in Lagos. What’s going on?

    Yes, the Accord Party happens to be a grassroots party; we have been working within the grassroots because we believe that the grassroots people are the majority in the political scenario. That’s why the party has taken time to put its structures at that level, like having the chairmen and the excos. We have 57 local councils and LCDAs in Lagos and we have structures in virtually all of them. That’s what we’ve been doing and we are not so loud because money has a part to play in politics. I’m sure with time all the noise you are expecting would come in place before the elections.

    The APC has been tagged as a progressive party, while the PDP is usually identified as a conservative party in the media. Where do we place the Accord Party?

    The Accord Party is the caretaker of the poor masses because we are out to handle the welfare of the masses. It is as if, in governance these days, we only see the elites; the poor masses are not involved. An example, for instance, though the infrastructure in Lagos has not been put in place, the elite are thinking of building an Atlantic City. Go to some local governments, such as Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Government in Ikorodu, for instance, you will discover that the roads there are terrible. It’s as if we don’t have a government in place; and ironically this is where majority of the people who voted for the ruling party are staying. Obviously, it’s so painful. You will hear people complaining about the state of roads in places like Ikorodu on a phone-in programme in Yoruba, on Eko FM. The chairmen of local governments have been in place for long. But, they are practically doing nothing. The state government is there, but it has never done anything to improve the state of roads in places where the masses live. What do you expect? When the roads are bad, commuter buses inflate their fares. In essence, the APC, which is supposed to be progressive, has not been living up to its name. You see, if you want to take care of the masses, you must go to the grassroots. It’s not a question of going to Ikoyi and make sure that their roads are in good shape. How many people live in Ikoyi? All these big buildings you see in Ikoyi, you just see about two/three people coming out of it. But, you get to all this local areas where the masses are, you will discover that within a bungalow of five rooms alone, you can get about 50 people coming out of it; if not more. So, my party, the Accord Party, stands for the masses. We know where the shoe pinches them and we are ready to make sure that everything is done the right way.

    What are the chances of the Accord Party in the forthcoming governorship in Lagos?

    We are yet to unfold our governorship aspirants in Lagos because we want to take our time, just like any other party. It is when we get to that stage that people will know that we seriously mean business. Most of us in the party are highly religious and have soft minds.

    So, how are you going to perform at the election?

    No doubt, we’re coming tops in the election because we have our machinery in place and everything is working out for us.

    How are you going to win the election, if your aspirants are not known at this stage?

    We have a lot of aspirants waiting in the wings. We know the people have a choice, so we are waiting to see the way things would unfold in other parties. In Accord Party, there is no godfatherism and no nepotism; we go all-out and let people make their choice.

    Small parties like yours have been accused of being an appendage of the PDP. What’s your reaction to this?

    We can never be an appendage; that’s a misinformation. Accord Party stands on its own. It strongly believes that the time has come for the emergence of a new leadership that can prepare Lagos and Lagosians for the new millennium. This is the time to focus on the restoration of the dignity of Lagosians, which has never been there. The elites are being looked upon, to the detriment of the poor masses. Most times, you’ll find that if there is any offence committed by any of these poor masses, like the danfo driver or whatever, the only thing you’ll hear is meet me in court. Can they afford to pay the bills in court? The poor cannot afford it. So, in the process, someone who is looking for his daily bread is punished unjustly. What I’m saying is that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has become a money-making institution for government. It is like that outfit is even compelling people to steal or resort to armed robbery because they tell people to go and pay N10,000 or N20,000, when their income in a day is not more than N500 or N1,000.

    What positions is your party going to field candidates in next year’s general elections?                

    The Accord Party is still a young party; I hope you know that. We are not interested in the presidential election yet. But, aside from that, we are going to field candidates for all positions. We are interested in the governorship, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the House of Assembly and counselors too.

    How do you rate the preparations towards next year’s elections?

    As it is, we are ready, because we’ve never stopped working. Our own target is to take over Lagos State. The Accord Party is set to take over control of Lagos State. That’s my main aim and objective.

    We mean the preparations on the part of INEC. Are you satisfied with what INEC is doing?

    Of course, I’m satisfied with what INEC is doing so far. We can’t crucify INEC for doing what it is doing right now. But, if there is a kind of digression, definitely we will shout.

    What of the issue of the distribution of permanent voters’ cards, people have been complaining…

    INEC has not done well in that regard. Personally, I registered and voted in 2011, but they names were missing from the registered released this time around. They told me to go and register afresh. In the process, they mis-spelt my name,

    What is the future of small parties in Nigeria?

    Accord Party is the alternative to all the problems. You see, people have tasted the PDP and the APC and now they are tired of the two major parties. If you check, you will discover that the two parties are populated by the same people, who keep moving from one party to the other. I wonder why they are recycling themselves because of power. So, we are coming in to take control.

    There is unemployment in the land and there is hunger, yet people still vote on the basis of sentiments. What are you doing to convert this to an electoral asset?

    It is going to be different this time around. It is not the parties that people would vote for, but those people participating. The names of people participating are what matters to the electorates; not the parties.

  • APC, PDP, Accord flex muscle in Oyo over 2015 poll

    APC, PDP, Accord flex muscle in Oyo over 2015 poll

    The three major political parties in Oyo State have started flexing muscles over 2015 general elections, with each vowing that it would emerge victorious.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC) and Accord yesterday told The Nation in separate interviews that nothing would stop each of them from taking over control of Agodi Government House in the February the election.

    Speaking for the Accord, its Publicity Secretary, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, said the fact that the PDP and APC won in Ekiti and Osun states showed that voters in Southwest place more premium on candidates rather than parties.

    Adeniran, who faulted suggestions that only the PDP and the APC were the main parties and that the battle looks squarely positioned between them, said:  “PDP won in Ekiti and APC won in Osun. Accord is going to win in Oyo State. Those thinking that the battle is squarely between APC and PDP should know that Southwest is not homogeneous as they are thinking because it is not the same set of voters that  will vote and it is not the same thing that is happening in all the states. “Most of them in Ekiti knew from the onset that Fayose was going to win in Ekiti and I can tell you that we knew that Aregebesola was going to win in Osun State. So, we can say that Accord will win in Oyo State.”

    Adeniran said those who think that Accord would be pushed to the background were living in illusion, pointing out that Oyo State voters are asking its governorship hopeful, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, to come back as governor.

    Also, a chieftain of the PDP and the senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District, Hosea Agbooola, said the voters were tired of the APC government.

    He assured that the PDP would replace the former after the next year election.

    His words: “You are a living witness to what happened in Osun State. But Oyo State politics is different from that of Osun State. I am assuring you that the people of Oyo State are tired of APC government. They are tired of taking directives from Lagos State. So, I am assuring you that come 2015, PDP will emerge as the governor.”

    But the state Chairman of the APC, Chief Akin Oke, rubbished their claims.

    He wondered the basis on which either the PDP or Accord would return to power, having squandered the state’s resources and inflicted violence and brigandage on residents during their eight-year reign between 2003 and 2011.

    Oke said: “PDP or Senator Ladoja winning election in Oyo State again? On what basis? Our government outperformed both of them within our three years in office when compared with their eight years in office combined. Is it in the area of security, infrastructural development, urban renewal or what? As far as we are concerned, based on Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s performance, Senator Ladoja’s performance in four years was nil. So was Otunba Alao-Akala, who inflicted violence and gangsterism on the state, among others, in his four-year reign.

    “I base my own position on valid yardsticks. PDP is even worse at federal level now so much that they cannot go out and ask for people’s votes based on the performance of the party. What they are now doing is to hide under the name of President Goodluck Jonathan, believing that they can get some sympathy.

    “Surely by 2015, we are not just going to contest, but we are going to win the election.”

  • Breakdown of accord: Four APGA Reps set to defect to PDP

    Breakdown of accord: Four APGA Reps set to defect to PDP

    •Ekwunife, Ogene, Azubogu, Egwuatu  dump APGA for PDP

    Ahead of 2015 poll, four members of the House of Representatives have accepted to defect from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The move is the first in the series of steps by the PDP to regain the control of Anambra State which it lost to APGA in the last eight years.

    The development also signposted the breakdown of an accord between APGA and PDP in Anambra State.

    The PDP had reached out to the four APGA lawmakers through a number of meetings in the last few weeks.

    It was gathered that the move was part of plans by the PDP to secure majority control of the House and make inroad into Anambra State.

    The four Representatives who have had what a source described as “high-level talks” with the PDP leadership  are the Chairman, House committee on Environment and Leader of the Anambra State caucus in the House, Hon. (Mrs.) Lilian Uche Ekwunife; the Deputy chairman, Media and  Public Affairs Committee, representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Hon.Victor Afam Ogene;  member representing Nnewi North / Nnewi South / Ekwusigo Federal Constituency and Deputy chairman, Committee on Capital Market, Hon. Chris Azubogu,; and Hon. Cyril Egwuatu of Onitsha North / Onitsha South Federal Constituency.

    It was learnt that with the negotiated defection of the four lawmakers, PDP will be in control of the 10 out of the 11 Anambra seats in the House of Representatives.

    The PDP secured five seats during the 2011 poll and an APGA member Hon. Charles (Odedo, Idemili North/Idemili South Federal Constituency) had earlier defected to the ruling party.

    A PDP source said: “We are already planning ahead for 2015 poll. This is why we are reaching out to critical stakeholders as part of the overall objective of securing the Southeast for President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP.

    “We have had tangible discussions with these four lawmakers, who will defect to PDP anytime from now.

    “We have always had unwritten working accord with APGA, it will be incorrect to say PDP is betraying the ruling party in Anambra State.”

    According to one of the sources close to the lawmakers, their defection followed alleged frustration by APGA in Anambra State.

    The source said: “The decision to leave APGA is hinged on two planks: the need to offer total support to the re-election efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015; and the persistent marginalisation / disregard for the federal lawmakers in the running of the party’s affairs in their home state of Anambra.

    “Would anyone believe that in a party we ought to be important stakeholders, we were never allowed to nominate any member of the various transition committees that ran the local government councils – a misnomer that continued with the election of council chairmen solely chosen by a handful of party administrators, who also appointed supervisory councilors?

    “This sordid state of affairs has led to massive disillusionment among our teeming supporters and a broad spectrum of party faithful, leading to unending legal suits in the battle for the soul of the party.”

    Another source said: “Were it not for the sacrifice of leaders like Ekwunife, do you think APGA would have won the governorship poll in Anambra State.

    “Yet, the same leaders who worked tirelessly for the party are being ignored, marginalised and even their political bases are being eroded.”

    Angered by their alleged marginalisation, one of the affected House members said: “Though I am not from Anambra North Senatorial district, I supported and campaigned vigorously for the governorship slot to shift to that area because hitherto, nobody from the North senatorial zone had been governor of the state since its creation.

    “But after we collectively delivered the position to that zone, they (North) have resorted to the monopolisation of power, with about 80 percent of Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants (SSAs), Special Assistants (SAs), and Executive Assistants (EAs) coming from the zone.

    “In addition, the North has continued to hold onto the critical positions of governor and speaker, which in a democracy is a misnomer because it will not promote accountability and prudent use of resources; yet in the midst of all these, the leadership of the party has blatantly refused to convene any party meeting where these issues would be discussed”, the legislator fumed.

    An aide to Hon. Ogene (who is said to be away on a one-week programme abroad), Mr. Edward Dibiana, confirmed that there were several overtures to the lawmakers.

    He however added that Ogene is still in APGA unless the political tempo in the state dictated otherwise.

    Dibiana added: “This is electioneering period and every political party is either trying to retain members in its fold by offering them automatic tickets, or seeking to poach others, using the same offer.

    “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are neck- deep in this game of wits, but as I speak with you, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene is still a member of APGA, but in the changing tides of politics, I can’t predict what will happen tomorrow “.

    A source in APGA said: “What will PDP gain in decimating this great party? Must all Nigerians belong to the ruling party? We have been warning our leaders, including former Governor Peter Obi against romancing with PDP.

    “If they think the Igbo will move en masse to PDP, they are joking. I think those defecting are unsure of their political future and chose to pitch tent with PDP. Let us see how far they can go.

    “All I can tell you is that Governor Willy Obiano is not marginaliSing anybody at all.”

  • Oyo PDP, Accord members join APC

    Defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord were received into the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State at the weekend.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi received the defectors at a carnival-like rally at the Olomi Market in Ibadan, the state capital.

    The people were entertained by Fuji musician Rashidi Ayinde.

    Ajimobi assured the new members of a level-playing field.

    He pledged to rebuild the Olomi-Olojuoro road and execute more projects in the council.

    APC State Chairman Chief Akin Oke said the party was open to new members.

    Speaking for defectors from the PDP, a former council Chairman, Alhaji Lukman Olanrewaju, said they were attracted to the APC by the quality of projects executed by the Ajimobi administration.

    He said: “We were attracted by the governor’s performance and the accessibility of the Oluyole Council Chairman, Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, to the people.”

    The leader of the defectors from the Accord, simply identified as Mr. Aborisade (a.k.a. Oosa), thanked the governor for giving them the opportunity to join the party.