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Tag: Adams Oshiomhole

  • Facts show APC sabotaging INEC, PDP alleges

     

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency of sabotaging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in alleged orchestrated plot to engineer a staggered presidential election.

    This, the main opposition party said, was contrary the “simulated” stance by the Presidency and the national chairman of the APC, Mr Adams Oshiomhole in condemning the postponement of the February 16 elections.

    In a statement Sunday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party recalled its ceaseless protests against the continued retention of Mrs Amina Zakari at a strategic post in INEC.

    The PDP reiterated its position that Mrs Zakari is a relation of President Muhammadu Buhari who is seeking re-election on the platform of the APC.

    The statement said, “We have been reliably informed that the same Amina Zakari and another high-ranking INEC commissioner played a pivotal role in assisting the APC and Buhari Presidency in sabotaging the operations of INEC and scuttling the February 16 elections.

    “The reason for this is that President Buhari is determined to have a staggered election where he can use security agencies to subvert the will of the people at the polls.

    “These APC elements in INEC engineered actions that affected the distribution and delivery of INEC sensitive materials to designated locations, thereby frustrating the electoral process.

    “We also have details of how a hired team of data hackers corrupted the voters register, with a view to causing mass confusion and voters suppression on election day.

    “Nigerians would have been shocked that many registered voters in possession of their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) would have arrived their polling centres on election day, only to discover to their amazement that their names had disappeared from the register in their units”.

    Read Also: No more campaigns, collection of PVCs — INEC

    The PDP said intelligence at its disposal further detailed how agents of the Buhari Presidency allegedly infiltrated the distribution system and ensured that sensitive election materials did not arrive at the designated locations; with the view to stalling elections in several states and paving way for a staggered election.

    “This is in addition to deliberate swapping of sensitive election materials between different states and local governments so as to muddle up the process and stall election in affected areas. In some of states like Edo, sensitive election materials did not arrive at their designated points on APC interruption.

    “The PDP urges Nigerians to continue to be alert in resisting the APC and the Buhari Presidency in their plot to sabotage our elections.

    “Our promise to Nigerians is that we will continue to stand with the people in exposing APC’s rigging plots and stopping them from creating more havoc and destruction of our democratic process.

    “We therefore call on President Buhari to save himself from further disgrace, as the signpost of enemy of democracy, by ensuring that his cabal and their ilk in APC cease forthwith from tampering with our electoral process”, the PDP added.

     

     

  • Buhari, not sit-tight President – Oshiomhole

    The National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Adams Oshiomhole, says President Muhammadu Buhari is not a sit-tight President.

    Oshiomhole, who spoke at a news conference in Abuja, said the president needed a second term to consolidate on his achievements and to move Nigeria to the next level.

    “We are committed to free and fair elections and President Buhari is not a sit-tight President,” the APC national chairman said.

    Oshiomhole said what President Buhari was asking for, was a second term in office which was constitutional, saying his desire was to take Nigerians to the next level of infrastructure and economic development.

    “Allowing President Buhari and the APC Government to go for a second term in office, will sustain achievements made so far and take the country to the next level of infrastructure and economic development,” he said.

    The APC national chairman, however, said that as Nigerians would go to the polls on Saturday, they should reflect on certain statements made by Atiku Abubakar, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate during his campaigns.

    Read Also: INEC working for PDP, says Oshiomhole

    This, he said, included Atiku’s statement on privatisation, corruption, trader money and restructuring.

    Oshiomhole recalled that Atiku during one of his campaigns had said that rather than prosecute looters of public treasury, he would pardon them.

    He also recalled that Atiku in one of the statements during his campaigns, said he would privatise the country’s national assets.

    The APC national chairman said this would not be in the interest of the common man.

    He said that the President Buhari-led administration had been able to curtail the Boko Haram menace and other forms of insecurity in some parts of the country.

    “The country and the North-East is much more safer now, compared to the situation in the past,” Oshiomhole said.

    The APC national chairman said that the APC administration even with declining revenue, had devoted much more funds to critical sectors of the country like rail, road and electricity.

    Oshiomhole noted that without spending a fraction of what the PDP spent while it was in power for 16 years, the APC had achieved much more in terms of infrastructure development.

    He assured Nigerians and the international community that the coming elections would be free, credible and fair, adding that it would reflect the wishes of the people.

    He stressed that the APC was opposed to vote buying and would not encourage it in anyway.

    The APC national chairman specifically assured foreign observers of their safety, saying that:” they are our friends and guests; they do not have any reason whatsoever, to be afraid, we see them as partners in progress”.

    He, however, maintained that Nigeria is an independent and sovereign nation and would, therefore, not tolerate undue interference in its internal affairs by international community.

    Oshiomhole urged politicians, the media and the general public to place the nation’s interest above all other interests, before, during and after the elections.

    “We should all work had to uphold the integrity and sovereignty of out nation, as politicians and as media practitioners,let us pray that as we go for these elections,it will be a simple exercise,” he said.

    He debunked insinuations that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was working in favour of the APC.

    The national chairman expressed optimism that the APC would win the elections in a Landslide, adding that the party did not have to rig to win the polls.

    NAN

  • We are not interested in postponement of polls, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) said on Wednesday that the party was fully ready for the Presidential election scheduled for this weekend, dismissing reports that the APC was looking for a postponement of the elections.

    Deputy Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Arc Waziri Bulama said the council had carried its campaign all over the country, saying the campaigns have revealed that Nigerians would prefer go with a tested candidate

    Bulama said the responsibilities of leaders was to deliver good governance, secure the lives of Nigerians, empower Nigerians, secure their properties and create the conditions for opportunities for employment and the economic prosperity.

    He said “The other role of government or leaders is to ensure that they promote justice, they promote rule of law, they promote peace, promote freedom through their actions. So, this is the other aspect of the roles of leaders that most Nigerians don’t focus their minds on. But it is one thing that President Muhammadu Buhari promoted very strongly. Promotion of rule of law, promotion of work of institutions of government without interference, promotion of justice, promotion of fairness.

    Read Also: Polls: Igbo community backs APC

    “These are the things that he had done through words and actions, through personal example; he has promoted those things that would engender confidence in Nigerians to accept that the system is fair. Because you see incumbency places the responsibility on every leader to ensure that there is freedom, there is fairness, there is justice, that all the institutions of government are not exploited for personal interest.

    “We have stood by that strongly and you see there are increasing results that Nigerians are gradually showing confidence in democracy and institutions of government like INEC and actions the Police as well. You see, for instance, under our leadership since 2015 has held 195 off season elections; even governorship plus House of Representatives and others.

    “All stakeholders who participated in these elections has affirmed these elections as qualitatively better under this dispensation than the previous one. That means there is commitment, there is fairness and there is commitment to justice under our government because we are leaders that don’t impose conditions on INEC or the Police.

    “Even in our own party, APC President Muhammadu Buhari and Ahmed Tinubu, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole never imposes a condition you determine who is a party leader or party candidate. So they have the policy of allowing the institutions to work.

    “We have this record and also you see Nigerians have shown greater confidence in democracy because under our leadership Nigerians registered to vote increased from 68.5 million to 84 million. This is a sign of confidence in those in power because votes count under our leadership. That is why all Nigerians come forward to register and you see many people also rushed to collect their voter cards.

    “l want to tell you that base on our works as campaign council, we are ready for elections.”

  • INEC working for PDP, says Oshiomhole

    … Appeal to Nigerians to Vote Buhari

     

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said on Wednesday that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was working for the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2019 general election.

    Oshiomhole however, added that the governing party will not decent to the level of bringing down state institutions because the APC believes that state institutions should be allowed to perform their functions.

    Responding to questions about alleged collusion between the Electoral Management Body and President Muhammadu Buhari, Oshiomhole alleged that at the moment, two Resident Electoral Commissioners in the South-South have been going about campaigning with the PDP.

    Oshiomhole who asked Nigerians not to return the PDP to power said the pledge by the PDP candidate to float the naira was a receipt to economic woes, adding that Atiku has always been part of wrath facing the nation.

    He also dismissed PDP allegations that the APC was responsible for burning some INEC offices that have recently been engulfed in flame, stressing that he could easily allude to the fact that the PDP burnt the INEC offices because they are afraid of losing elections in those places.

    He said “If anything, this INEC has been very unfair to the APC. But we just discovered that we have a responsibility. The fact that we are a governing party imposes on us a certain level of code that you can’t be seen to rubbish every institution because if we rubbish everything, it would mean that we don’t want election. INEC believe everything the PDP says.

    “As we speak, there are two Resident Electoral Commissioners who are virtually campaigning line by line with the PDP in the south South. INEC, without giving us any explanation and without any concrete evidence went ahead to say we can’t field candidates in Zamfara, thereby seeking to award, without any context and nullify democracy in Zamfara state.

    “Is that the way your friends behave if they are your friends. INEC is working more for the PDP, based on evidence I can show. How can they explain that a court of competent jurisdiction gave orders in Zamfara to say this candidate is eligible to contest election and another high court in Abuja also gave a verdict saying APC did not conclude its primaries but did not give order to INEC.

    Read Also: Oshiomhole warns APC chairmen, secretaries against complacency

    “There is no order issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja. The court of Appeal made a pronouncement on this matter today that there was no order from the court in Abuja, but that there was a concrate order from a Zamfara High Court which upheld the primaries that was conducted in Zamfara.

    “The INEC Chairman has said that when there are two court orders, they will adopt the last judgement. In Zamfara state, the Abuja judgement came first and the Zamfara judgment came last even though it is the same say.

    “More as INEC has said they will always obey the last judgement when it came to the Zamfara issue, they changed the goal post. As media, you have to be careful. When you say people alleged there were meetings and can’t even cite any, it is a disservice. We have been at the receiving end of abuse.

    “There is a candidate in Kano whose nomination we forwarded to INEC, but they changed the nomination and as we speak, we are in court over that. We showed our evidence.

    “Do you remember the confession of the former Deputy Senate President who, on national television and on social media where anything is possible, narrated how President Obasanjo used him and Atiku to rig election, how they wrote results, how they collude with INEC. This same Atiku was in office when Mantu was doing those things.

    “So, if PDP functionaries have enumerated how they use to rig election, how can in all fairness point to President Muhammadu Buhari who has been victim of election rigging three times such that in our legal history it is part precedent that the Supreme Court was persuaded to accept that election where ballot papers had no serial number was OK and not a major infraction.”

    On the allegation by the PDP that the party was responsible for the fire incidences in some INEC offices, Oshiomhole said “does it make sense for any responsible Nigerian, when there is fire incidence either in a private property or a public property, to jump into conclusion from the comfort of your room say that the ruling party must have done it.

    “There is an Igbo proverb that when you see a mad man running naked and he pulled your clothes, you don’t join him in running naked. The PDP choose to run naked and make allegations over everything. They are free to do that. We are more busy and will not join issues.

    “This election is for us and no election can be this easy for us. All we need is one man one vote and we will defeat the PDP. There will be no violence, no fighting. Just the votes which will be counted and we will win.”

    He likened Atiku’s plans to grant amnesty to looters who refund part of their loot to a situation of not putting in place any punitive measure to deter others from towing the same part.

    He said President Buhari was not a sit tight leader, but only exercising his constitutional right to seek a second term in office, saying the President has demonstrated his love for Nigeria with the love of infrastructures he has put in place across the country.

    He told foreign observers that while their presence was appreciated, western leaders should not come and dictate to Nigeria how to carry out their activities, saying “we are not a colony of any western nation”.

    Nigeria, he said is much more than all those seeking to be the President, appealing for a violence-free election which he said will be won by his party without having to resort to any form of rigging or intimidation.

  • Amosun gloats over Ogun APC rally

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun incredibly celebrated the near-riotous show at the Presidential rally of the All Progressives Congress in Abeokuta on Monday.

    According to a post on his Facebook page on Monday reporting on the event, Amosun gloated over the ‘protests’ by members of his Allied Peoples Movement(APM) and that the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola and the director-general of the Presidential campaign, Rotimi Amaechi were ‘booed and stoned”.

    Then he claimed that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who was instrumental to Amosun’s emergence as governor in 2011, escaped through the backdoor.

    His report did not accurately reflect what transpired at the rally, where President Buhari was almost attacked by the unruly APM supporters the governor invited to the APC rally, when the president presented Prince Dapo Abiodun as the APC candidate in the state.

    From TV livestreaming, the President presented Abiodun as the governorship candidate of the party, but Governor Amosun slanted his report to give the dampening side of it.

    “When Comrade Oshiomhole and some party members took Prince Dapo Abiodun to the president for him to present, the president instead announced, ”for the other elections, let the people of Ogun State decide”, Amosun reported in the post, which has attracted hundreds of adverse commentaries.

    *Read Amosun’s Facebook post:
    The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State boiled over today (Monday) when protests by party members marred the presidential campaign rally as party members booed the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Raufu Aregbesola and Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign, Rotimi Amaechi . Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the first time in the APC Presidential campaign, declined to make a speech at the event as he exited the venue through the backdoor as President Muhammadu Buhari made his speech.

    President Buhari, as he did at the presidential rally of the APC in Owerri , Imo State, asked members of the party in the state to vote for any candidate of their choice apart from the presidential election.

    Trouble started early in the rally shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari made a triumphant entry into the Moshood Abiola Stadium in company with the Vice President Yemi Oshinbajo, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and other chieftains of the APC.

    The Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Rotimi Amaechi in his opening remarks remarked that the rally was an APC campaign, a note that was received with a resounding shout of “no”, ”no” from the stands.

    The protests got louder when the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole came on board and disclosed that his mission was to introduce President Muhammadu Buhari and the gubernatorial candidate of the party.

    The disclosure sent the stands into uproar and sachets of water were hauled in the direction of the party chairman where other party chieftains were seated.

    Governor Amosun had to step in to appeal to the party members to be calm and not “disgrace” him before President Muhammadu Buhari. His repeated appeals fell on deaf ears and went into crescendo as the insistence of Comrade Oshiomhole to present the party flag to Prince Dapo Abiodun, further infuriated the party members.

    This led to uncontrollable heckling from the stands, forcing security men to erect a barricade around the President and other party chieftains.
    When it was time for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to speak, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, former Governor of Osun State, stepped in and his pronouncement that there were unfaithful party members at the gathering fuelled further shouts of rejection from the stands and he had to be cut short to take his seat.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, apparently noting the crisis at the rally, thanked party members for turning up in their numbers to receive him. He admonished them to vote for him in the February 16 presidential election.

    However, on the much awaited presentation of the gubernatorial candidate of the party, the president advised members of the “to vote for any candidate of their choice”.

    When Comrade Oshiomhole and some party members took Prince Dapo Abiodun to the president for him to present, the president instead announced, ”for the other elections, let the people of Ogun State decide”

  • Buhari to Tarabans: I will complete Mambilla hydropower project

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday promised the people of Taraba State he would complete the Mambilla hydropower project, if he is re-elected.

    Buhari spoke at the Jolly Nyame Stadium during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential and governorship rally in Jalingo -the Taraba State capital.

    “The Mambilla hydropower project is the main project that will bring accelerated development in your State; it will generate enough electricity for you to do businesses and improve your living standard. I will complete it, if you re-elect me,” he said.

    Buhari, who recognized the fact that Taraba is an agrarian State, said he will tackle poverty and make sure Taraba farmers access fertilizer at subsidised rate during cropping seasons.

    He disclosed he would continue his fight corruption and will make sure he fights Boko Haram to finish.

    “No religion permits corruption, violence and injustice,” Buhari noted.

    Read Also: Buhari restates commitment to develop Nigeria

    APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, described Buhari as the only honest man among the presidential candidates.

    He said the PDP had died and decayed since 2015 and should not be expected to resurrect at the polls.

    He said: “PDP will fail. They had fallen and they died in sin. The Bible tells us that he who perishes in sin shall never resurrect.”

    The APC national chairman received decampees. Among them were: Emmanuel Bello (former Public Affairs aide to Governor Darius Ishaku), Abba Akawu, (former commissioner of Poverty Alleviation) and Emmanuel George (former Special Adviser to the governor on Youths Development).

    Sani Abubakar Danladi, Who is the Taraba APC standard bearer, called on Taraba people to come out in mass and vote for Buhari on February 16.

    “Taraba is APC, and Buhari and I are going to win Taraba,” Danladi said. He urged President Buhari to “provide enough security at the polls, to ensure the election is not rigged.”

     

     

  • Buhari promises adequate security for poll

    President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to provide adequate security to guarantee the conduct of the forthcoming general election in the country.

    Buhari made the promise on Wednesday in Makurdi during the Presidential campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Aper Aku Stadium.

    He appealed to the electorate not to be intimidated by turning out massively to vote for APC candidates at all levels during the election.

    The president said the APC was the only party that has the capacity and political will to tackle challenges in the country.

    Buhari reiterated his commitment to improving agriculture saying that recent policies had already made the sector attractive.

    Read Also: Buhari arrives Makurdi for campaign rally

    Speaking on the fight against corruption, the president admitted that it was quite challenging but assured that he would not relent until the country is rid of corrupt elements.

    Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman, APC, said the primary role of governors was to encourage diverse groups in their domain to coexist peacefully.

    Oshiomhole, who advised the people to vote for the party’s governorship candidate, Mr Emmanuel Jime, said if given the mandate, he would pay salaries promptly.

    NAN

  • 2023: Igbo may lose a second time – Okorocha

    Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha has warned that the Igbo may yet lose out in national polity if they fail to apply tact and political wisdom.

    Okorocha who recalled the fate of the Ndigbo since after the civil war, lamented that they are about making similar mistakes that put Ndigbo in a disadvantaged position in the Nigerian project.

    According to him, “The saying that there was no victor and no vanquished after the civil war is just a mere way to create unity for the country, otherwise the Igbo were the vanquished, ever since the Igbo has fared like the defeated but the most painful aspect is that Ndigbo are about to lose again”.

    The Imo governor disclosed that the recent political upheaval in his state, were sponsored by forces outside the state, using politicians from the state to pull him down ahead 2023.

    Read Also: Ohaneze’s adoption of Atiku baseless – Okorocha

    He stated that the calculation is that if he is allowed to continue gathering momentum he will give a good fight for the Igbo Presidency, adding that Ndigbo will be at the losing end if he is politically alienated.

    He said “There is more to the noise you are hearing about the governorship election in Imo, it is not about Uche Nwosu, it is about a plot to stop Okorocha by all means, otherwise why will Adams Oshiomhole and Rotimi Amaechi be interested in who governs Imo. The calculation is that if Uche Nwosu becomes governor and I go to Senate, I will be a strong force by 2023. The most annoying fact is that they are using our people to pursue that agenda”.

    The governor further gave reasons why he wants to go to the Senate, adding that “I want to go to Senate to remain politically relevant until 2023 and also to represent Ndigbo and the Nigerian masses”.

  • 2019: Oshiomhole challenges Atiku to sue Obasanjo over credibility

    The national chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on Thursday in Kano, challenged the integrity of Atiku to rule Nigeria, asking him to rather sue his former boss, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, for libel after querying his credibility.

    Oshiomhole insisted that until Atiku was able to redeem his image through a law court, he will remain unfit to seek the support of Nigerians to be  President of this country.

    ”If Obasanjo says that Atiku is corrupt, but  because of his hatred against President Buhari, he is ready to forgive Atiku, does that cleanse Atiku from corruption? No…..

    Read Also: Drama as Buhari counters Oshiomhole on Imo guber

    The only way Atiku can clean his name is to  go to court. If Atiku did not sue Obsanjo for libel, that means everything that was said about him was correct. And if it is correct, then, he is not the right candidate to rule Nigeria

    Again, Mr President, you said you are going to lift 50,000 persons from poverty and you are doing it but they say you are slow, but when Atiku promised to empower 7,million people, they have already thrown 14 million people out of their jobs. All the textile companies in Sharada and Bompai in Kano, Gaskiya textile is dead, all the factories in these areas, who killed them? It is PDP, Obasanjo as Vice President. How can he now say he is going to give our jobs when presided over Industrial obituaries in Kano, Lagos and every other places in Nigeria.

  • Foreign interference won’t be allowed – Oshiomhole 

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole has declared that it would not allow foreign countries to interfere in the internal affairs of Nigeria.

    Oshiomhole was reacting to the coordinated statements by the United States of America (US), United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) on the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen.

    Speaking with State House correspondents on Monday night after President Muhammadu Buhari had dinner with APC senators, he said: “The thing is that Nigeria is not a colony. I think we all have to be careful. We must defend the sovereignty of our country.

    Read Also:Buhari, Tinubu, Oshiomhole reassure Nigerians of hope

    “We welcome collaboration, we welcome peer review, we can compare notes, we welcome people who are interested in sharing experiences with us whenever the need arises, whether it’s capacity building, making useful suggestions on how we can continue to improve on our electoral process.

    “Those are very valuable contributions that we appreciate.

    “But Nigeria is not a colony. We will not accept any foreign interference in the internal affairs of Nigeria.

    “When they dismiss judges in Europe…judges have been dismissed in the United States when they are found guilty of corruption and the Western world cannot on the one hand, when it suits them, describe Nigeria as fantastically corrupt and when a corrupt judicial officer is being charged, people want to interfere.

    “What anybody can insist on is, is anybody being framed? Is the suspended CJN guilty of the allegations made against him? Or is it something being cooked out from nowhere?

    “Now, if a Chief Justice of the Federation admits that he has breached the law, if a Chief Justice of the Federation admits that he has several foreign domiciliary accounts, even though he also admits that by nature of his office, he is not s trader, what is he doing with accounts in British pounds, US dollars and in Euros and to the extent of forgetting that he has those accounts?

    “If he has such memory failure about the size of his number of accounts as to fail to declare them, you and I know that even ignorance is not an excuse in law. So, why are we being hypocritical?

    “And at a certain level of responsibility, it’s not even about legal technicalities. It’s about the moral weight, the moral burden you carry.

    “So, nobody should make us feel as though we are at the mercy of any other country.

    “The future of Nigeria is in the hands of Nigerians and our laws are clear. Our laws are meant to be obeyed,” he said.

    Oshiomhole added “If Nigerians thought that anybody other than the president and the vice president or a governor and deputy governor have immunity, it should have been so written into the constitution.

    “I don’t understand what the noise is about.

    “Some people say even if it is true, is this the proper timing? What is the best timing to prosecute a crime? Should we suspend criminal justice pending elections?

    “Then, some people say you know, because of the very unique role or rather, very delicate role the judiciary has to play in settling elections issues, that is the more reason that people are worried about the timing.

    “My question is, given that important role of the judiciary in times like this, is that the reason why you should allow a judge who has professed for breaching laws of the land, is that the reason to allow him to preside, to adjudicate over issues that have to do with fairness and justice?” he stated.