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Tag: All Progressive Congress (APC)

  • APC commends Masari for drilling 250 boreholes in Mai’adua

    APC commends Masari for drilling 250 boreholes in Mai’adua

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) has commended Gov. Aminu Masari for drilling 250 boreholes to improve potable water supply in Mai’adua Local Government, Katsina State.

    Alhaji Nura Koza, the APC chairman of the local government made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Mai’adua on Monday.

    Koza said that the intervention had bailed out communities in the area who had suffered “endless water scarcity for years.”

    According to him, Katsina State Government is also repairing many motorized solar water pumps in the area to boost water supply.

    Koza noted that the supply of potable water to communities would boost public health and insulate rural dwellers from water borne diseases.

    The chairman also lauded the governor for the construction of six rural health centers in Jirdede, Galadimawa, Kwadage, Maidaniya, Danyashe  and Mai’adua.

    He said that it was a major project which would enhance access to health services especially for pregnant women and children.

    Koza expressed the hope that the health centres would be fully stocked and provided with qualified personnel for effective services.

    The local APC chairman disclosed that the administration had also constructed two additional primary schools in Kongolam, and at Dumurkol village, the ancestral home of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He added that 37 other primary schools in the area had been renovated by the governor in the last two years.

    The chairman called on the State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct local council polls, so as give local people the opportunity to elect their leaders across the 34 local government areas of the state.

    Koza described local councils election as the bedrock of democracy which help to solidify and consolidate democracy at the grassroots as well as bring people nearer to government.

  • Double registration: Kogi APC demands Gov Bello’s resignation

    Double registration: Kogi APC demands Gov Bello’s resignation

    The leadership of the Kogi State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has demanded the immediate resignation of the Governor, Yahaya Bello for double voter registration.

    The chapter called on the state’s House of Assembly to proceed with impeachment process against the governor if he failed to resign.

    At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the party declared that the governor’s action has caused an embarrassment to the entire state and has impugned on the party’s image.

    The chairman of the Kogi APC, Alhaji Hadi Ametuo who briefed spoke on behalf of the party’s executive in the state, said the party would not fold its arms and watch the governor destroy its image and integrity.

    Ametuo described double registration as serious electoral crime that must not be allowed to go unchallenged.

    “This is the kind of crime that the state House of Assembly which enjoys the mandate of the people cannot overlook”

    Other party chieftains at the briefing included Mohammed Ohiare, Ocheja Dangana, Abdulrahman Abubakar and Senator Dino Melaye.

    Melaye, who also spoke at the conference, added that what the governor did underscored the fact that he was not a registered voter in Kogi state in the first place.

    He wondered why Governor Bello accepted the gubernatorial candidacy offer of the APC in the first place.

    The controversial senator representing Kogi West district vowed to mobilise the state assembly for impeachment process against the governor should he fail to resign voluntarily.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had through a statement on Tuesday, accused Governor Bello of registering twice as a voter, an action the commission described as an infraction on the nation’s electoral laws.

    Giving details of the governor’s illegal action, the INEC had stated, “It has come to the attention of INEC that Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state registered as a voter for the second time on Tuesday May 23, 2017 in Government House, Lokoja, the state capital.

    “First registration was on January 30, 2011 in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. And the Governor’s double registration and doing so outside INEC’s designated centres are both illegal.

    “For the on-going continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise, INEC has designated a centre in each of the 774 local government areas across the federation, including the FCT’s six area council”.

    The electoral commission had stated that although Section 308(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, restrained it from prosecuting the governor, disciplinary action would be taken against its officials that aided the governor’s double registration.

  • Former PDP national secretary defects to APC

    Former PDP national secretary defects to APC

    A former national secretary of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and indigene of Enugu State, Chief Rex Onyeabor, has defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    He was also a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) member of PDP.

    Notable members of the party in the state, including former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; former Governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, had earlier  defected to the APC.

    Onyeabor, who was also the former coordinator of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organization in Enugu state during the 2015 general elections, announced his defection at Ugboka, in Nkanu East LGA of Enugu state.

    He said one of the reasons for his defection was the fact that PDP was not likely to survive her current protracted crisis.

    “Apart from being former national secretary, I was BOT (Board of Trustee) member which is the highest advisory body in PDP and I attended a lot of meetings, virtually every meeting, reconciliation meeting.

    “There are some people who are still there attending meeting to reconcile; you see what they are doing now, Modu Sheriff and Makarfi and recently Jonathan and Seriake Dickson; it is not likely that an agreement will be reached very soon.

    “So I look at all the efforts we have made in the past trying to restructure the party, trying to bring the party out of the melancholy or depression of defeat, it has not worked; that’s why I decided to pick my bag and take a walk,” he said.

    He further stated that APC provides the best platform for changing Nigeria for now, noting that though APC might not be the best party in the world but that it was better than other
    parties in Nigeria today.

    Also Speaking at the event, the Enugu state chairman of the party, Dr. Ben Nwoye expressed happiness  over  the influx of political bigwigs into his party saying that they were joining not only to help win elections but to also organize the party as some of them are political
    technocrats and bureaucrats.

    “I’m excited and I’m honoured to be part of the political revolution in Enugu state. We have never had a strong opposition in Enugu state since 1999.

    The entire South East have had other parties as members of the State Assembly, Senate or Reps, but Enugu state remained under PDP completely. It took men like these to ensure that that happens.”

  • PDP wins all chairmanship, councillorship seats in Ebonyi LGA elections

    PDP wins all chairmanship, councillorship seats in Ebonyi LGA elections

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won the chairmanship seats of the 13 Local Government Areas of Ebonyi in the Saturday local council polls.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the party also won all the councillorship seats in the 171 wards of the state.

    Mr Jossy Eze, Chairman of the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) announced this on Sunday at the commission’s headquarters in Abakaliki while declaring result of the polls.

    According to him, seven political parties participated in the elections out of the 40 registered parties in the state including the PDP and the All Progressive Congress (APC)

    “The other parties that contested in the elections include: African Democratic Party (ADC), African Peoples Party (APA) Merger Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP) Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP).

    “The PDP’s candidate in Abakaliki LGA, Emmanuel Nwangele won with 65, 036 votes, Ogbonnaya Oko-Enyim won in Afikpo LGA with 55, 808, Eni Uduma-Chima-Afikpo South 50, 894, Juliet Nwaogbaga—Ebonyi, 54, 527 and Nora Aloh—Ezza North, 58, 423 votes.

    “The PDP candidate in Ezza South LGA, Sunday Ogodo won with 50, 576 votes, John Nnabo—Ikwo, 77, 132, Henry Eze—Ishiellu, 68, 263, Ude Ogbonnaya—Ivo, 28, 787 Paul Nwogha—Izzi, 84, 088, Clement Odaa—Ohaukwu,84, 088, Nkechi Iyioku—Ohaozara, 55, 698 and Felix Igboke—Onicha,59, 698 votes,” he said.

    Eze declared that the APC trailed in a distant second position with an accumulated  5, 900 votes while most of the other parties did not record a single vote in most LGA’s.

    He commended the electorate, party agents, security officials, observers, among other stakeholders, for ensuring a smooth and credible electoral process, noting that cases of electoral disturbances were very minimal.

    “We have been able to deliver a credible election to Ebonyi people despite inherent challenges as the state has the enviable record of conducting LGA elections in the country, every three years,” he said.

    Mr Onyekachi Nwebonyi, state PDP Chairman, congratulated the party faithful for the victory and noted that it was an indication of what to expect in the state, in the 2019 genera elections.

    “This resounding success has proved that PDP is the only party which viably exists in Ebonyi and we are not going to rest on our oars until such feat is repeated in 2019,” he said.

    Mr Splendour Eze, state Chairman of the Advanced Congress for Democrats (ACD) hailed the smooth conduct of the election but regretted that his party did not participate in it.

    Eze, who is the state Secretary of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), lamented that the current economic hardship in the country made most parties not to participate in the election.

    “The state governor was magnanimous to offset 50 per cent of the nomination fees of N500, 000 for chairmanship candidates and N100, 000 for councillorship positions, for registered parties in the state.

    “The balance despite the subsidy was still high as it was still not within the reach of most parties,” he said.

    Miss Isabella Monye, an Election Observer from Anambra, however, disputed the high figures released by EBSIEC for the elections, noting that it did not reflect what observers witnessed in various polling units.

    “During our monitoring on Saturday we observed that the turnout for the election was poor so I wonder where EBSIEC got these high figures from,” she said.

  • Buhari assure Nigerians of a better country

    Buhari assure Nigerians of a better country

    President Mohammadu Buhari on Thursday in Kano declared that the change agenda of the All Progressive Congress (APC) will no doubt reflect and create an enduring hope to better the lots of Nigerians contrary to insinuation from some quarter.

    Buhari in his message during the launch of the North West National Committee of Buhari Support Groups, (NCBSG) said that efforts and dedication of Nigerians will change our country for the better.

    The President’s message, read by Senator Ahmed Lawal said, “I’m happy to send this message of thanks and good will to all organizers and participants on the lunching of National Committee of Buhari Support group taking place today in Kano. Your effort and dedication are very well known to me. You are inviting this part of movement on the APC and change agenda. We must change our country for the better.”

    “We must stand by regarding ourselves as examples; change begins with you and I and then all of us in Nigeria. You should carry this message to all corners of our country. It is a bottom up operation in our country. Successes at your level is success for all of and our dear country.”

    “I wish you a very successful launching and I looking forward to getting up to date reports of your activities”

    The Chairman Board of Trustees of NCBSG, Senator Abu Ibrahim who represents Katsina south senatorial district  told the group from the north west zone that President Buhari is been endorsed for a major interest that will reflect the creation of a new hope for Nigerians in  which his committed and determined to achieve.

    According to him, “the group was   formed   with   the   mandate   to   coordinate   and organise the affairs of the various Buhari Support Groups that participated in the enthronement and ascension to office of President Muhammadu Buhari through the 2015 election.”

    “These   pre-existing   support   groups   piloted   the   grassroots initiatives via which our Dear President’s message of hope was delivered to all the nooks and crannies of the country and we intend to keep them as channels of outreach and feedback between the government and the citizenry.

    “It is   our desire   therefore   to   use this   gathering   today as   a platform to appreciate and express our profound gratitude to you all.

    “When we elected President Muhammadu Buhari into office, we did so with the conviction that our dear nation needed to be put on a new pedestal, for the dreams of our founding fathers to be realised.

    “We were convinced of the need to establish a firm foundation   upon   which   a   united,   peaceful   and   prosperous nation can be built by, and for, this and succeeding generations of Nigerians. It is in this regard that I must personally commend all of you for your patience and understanding as our Dear President steers us through the difficult steps necessary to achieve this objective.

    “The poor management of the country, especially under the watch of the now opposition PDP, is the reason we have had to endure a harsh economic climate. The signs of a decline in the economy   were   there   a   clear   two   years   before   the   2015 elections.

    “It is therefore inexcusable that those who had the responsibility of managing our affairs failed to save for the rainy day and freely helped themselves with our common patrimony, including funds earmarked for restoring peace and security in the land.

    “Recent gory news of the recoveries of stolen cash provides proof that some individuals behaved like delinquent juveniles, to paraphrase Mr. President, when they had the opportunity to lead this great nation.

    “We must stand firm and resolute to say NEVER AGAIN shall we allow the destiny of Nigeria in the hands of unscrupulous abusers of public trust, wanton riggers of elections and peddlers of thuggery. They should never be allowed to tie down the destiny of this   land   of   inestimable potential, to their whims and caprices.

    “As you and I know, when they fail to explain away their glaringly failed stewardship, they resort to name-calling. When that doesn’t deter you, they resort to outright blackmail and threats to life and property. It is our collective duty to restore this nation’s pride because we have no choice.

    “This land belongs to all of us and we must be proud to work tirelessly to make it better for our children and our children’s children. Let the naysayers know that we shall never give up this God-given right.”

    However, Senators from Katsina, Yobe, Ondo as well as house of representative members and some top government dignitaries and politicians graced the launching.

     

  • Osagie faults Obaseki’s separation of governance from politics

    Osagie faults Obaseki’s separation of governance from politics

    Former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon Samson Osagie, has warned of impending crisis in the Edo State chapter of the All Progressive Congress over Governor Obaseki stance on separating politics from governance.

    Hon Osagie said any gulf created by Obaseki’s refusal to interfere in the running of the APC could create political problem for the governor.

    Osagie warned that the people the governor would leave the affairs of the party to would use the party as an instrument for fighting political opponents and personal aggrandizement.

    Speaking to reporters in Benin City, the former Minority Whip described suspension of some leaders of the party across the state as unfortunate.

    Hon Osagie said those that carried out the suspension capitalized on the policy of Governor Obaseki to concentrate on governance rather than partisan politics.

    He said the rate of suspension witnessed in Edo APC in the last six months did not occur when Adams Oshiomhole was Governor.

    “There can be no difference between the government of a state and the party that brought the government to power. If there exist a gulf, strictly speaking, it can create a political problem for the governor and I pray that he does not allow that to happen. 

    “A governor cannot ride on the platform of a party to governance and then totally neglect or run away in the running of the affairs of the party. There are dire political consequences for that action because those he will leave it to will create political problem for him. They will use the party to take political decision that can create instability for his government. Governance that is party based cannot be separated midway. It will be my advice for him not to allow people to create confusion for his government because that can affect the performance of his administration.

    “It is quite unfortunate that it is happening at this stage. Thank God Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is the Leader of the State Caucus of the party. He will be able to intervene and halt the gale of suspension across board.

    “It is because these persons are capitalizing on the policy of the governor to concentrate on governance rather than partisan politics. They are exploiting what looks like a gap. If you go down the records, the people behind this are almost political liabilities who cannot produce results during election periods,” he said.

  • Makarfi protests indiscriminate arrest of members

    Makarfi protests indiscriminate arrest of members

    The Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has protested what it described as the untoward, unconstitutional and indiscriminate arrest and detention of PDP members and supporters nationwide on phantom charges by the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.

    It cited the arrest and detention of the party’s Jigawa State chapter chairman, Mallam Salisu Mamuda for criticising the Jigawa state government for allegedly spending N400 million to entertain defectors from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In a statement Monday by the spokesman of the Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the faction also cited the arrest of its governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Gbadamosi by the Department of State Services (DSS) on February 17, 2017 for exposing the Forex racketeering by the APC led Government at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The statement continued, “Also on March 3, 2017, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed, a PDP chieftain in Kogi State was arrested on trump-up charges and detained illegally for criticising the wrong policies, mis-governance  and non-performance of Governor Yahaya Bello.

    “Just Monday, April 9, 2017, Mr. Austin Usman Okai, a PDP Youth leader and frontline critic of the Yahaya Bello’s APC led Government in Kogi State was arrested by men of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on phantom petitions by some cronies of the Governor.

    “There are also reports of indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens of this country in Kaduna, Edo, Nasarawa amongst others at both the federal and state levels controlled by the ruling APC.

    “These actions of the ruling party, the APC are absurd, disheartening and a serious threat to our hard earned democracy.  Nigerians cannot and should not be arrested and detained indiscriminately for criticizing and holding government accountable.

    “Constructive criticism is the primary responsibility of opposition in a democracy all over the world and Nigeria cannot be an exception.

    “We have also been alerted to the news of the Federal Government of Nigeria planning to tap mobile telephone lines and hacking of other devices of citizens as a way of harassing and intimidating them into silence.

    “These and other unholy practices of this administration will henceforth be resisted by all Nigerians. We will mobilise Nigerians at all levels to fight against the use of arms in a democratic system to ridicule and intimidate citizens of this country.

    “We will no longer tolerate this high handedness of the APC and we therefore demand the unconditional and immediate release of Mr. Austin Usman Okai and all our members in several detention centres of security agencies across the country.

    “Finally, we wish to use this medium to inform world leaders on the serious issues of human rights violation in Nigeria since the APC administration took over power in May 29, 2015.

    “We call on all civil rights organisations across the country and in the Diaspora to rise to the occasion. Our democracy is in serious danger and the leadership of the APC must be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order as a result of these undemocratic behaviours”.

  • 2019: We‘ll defeat APC, PDP in Rivers says AA chairman

    The state chairman of Action Alliance (AA) Mr. Sunday Gabriel Baju  Friday  said his party has develop a new ideas and strategy on how to defeat the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its rival the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.

    He said the party is working hard and doing a serious job in mobilizing supporters at the ward level in all the 23 local government areas of the state.

    Baju who has been a chieftain of AA before he was recently elected as the party chairman under the supervision of officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said he has all its take to reposition the party and make it the choice of Rivers people.

    He noted that the leaders of the party at the ward level are getting positive responses through sensitization campaign which the party has initiated to educate the rural population on the vision and agenda of the party.

    He called on other unpopular political parties in the state to stop betraying their parties by supporting or swapping their supporters to the bigger political parties during election time.

    He said under his leadership as the chairman of AA, the party will campaign in all Local government areas of the state and also ensure that they win a good number of seats in the state and national house of Assembly.

    He said: “Our focus and vision as party is to defeat the ruling party in the state and in achieving that we are repositioning the party at the ward and local government levels to attract good candidates that would fly our flag in the state.

    “We have started sensitization at the same time putting our house in order; we will use this singular opportunity to build a platform upon which our party would be known in the state. I have confidence that come 2019 Action Alliance would win many seats even governorship seat.

    “One thing I cannot contemplate to do which has become a ritual by unpopular political party in Nigeria is to swap my supporters to other political parties in the state; instead we are going to compete with them.”

     

  • Constituency disown Jubrin over comments on Buhari

    Constituency disown Jubrin over comments on Buhari

    Thousands of residents from Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency Wednesday stormed the state headquarters of the All Progressive Congress (APC), in protest over recent comments credited to former chairman, House Committee on Budget, Abdulmumuni Jubrin, who declared that President Muhammadu Buhari should resign on health grounds.

    The protesters openly disowned Jubril, their representative in the House of Representatives, over what they described as, “mischievous and unwarranted utterances.”

    The protesters, who marched round the Kano state APC secretariat, spreading through Maiduguri Raod and Zaria Road, demanded for the sanction of Jubril.

    Alhaji Mutari Ishyaku Kiru, APC chairman in Kiru Local Government who led the protest, together with Alhaji Sani Kanti Ranka, APC chairman in Bebeji Local Government Area, said, “the people were dissatisfied over the unscrupulous comment of Jubril. He did not consult us who voted for him before making such reckless utterances.

    “We remain loyal to the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, we are loyal the government of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, we are loyal to the leadership of Hon. Abbas Abdullahi, our party chairman in Kano.

    “We have nothing to do with Jubril and his inciting utterances. This was the same move that earned him suspension from the House of Representatives. He has not impacted positively on our people. We are no longer with him.”

    Also speaking, the chairman of Kiru Local Government Area, Alhaji Nasiru Mu’azu and his counterpart from Bebeji, Alhaji Mudam Umar, also stated that, “the people remain resolute in their decision to distance themselves from Jubril and his mischievous statement.

    “We are hundred percent in support of President Buhari’s government. That statement is senseless and holds no water.”

    Responding to the demand of the protesters, APC chairman in the state, Hon. Abbas Abdullahi commended the protesters for their peaceful disposition and promised to take their grievances to the appropriate quarters.

    According to him, “we have received your letters, we have listened to you. I promise you that we are taking urgent steps to address the situation. We will abide by the party’s constitution and take appropriate action and sanctions. Surely, we will deal with the situation.”

     

  • Let the music play on, Tinubu tells Obey at 75

    Let the music play on, Tinubu tells Obey at 75

    All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain and former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has described Chief Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, nicknamed Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, as an astute entertainer whose songs would remain evergreen.

    Tinubu, in a statement in Lagos to congratulate Obey on his 75th birthday on Monday,  wished him many more years on earth, urging him to “let the music play on”.

    ”I congratulate Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey on his 75th birthday. It’s a great accomplishment to so be blessed by God as he has been.

    ”Ebenezer Obey, whose professional career began in the mid-1950s when he moved to Lagos, has contributed a lot to the development of music in Nigeria and  Africa.

    ”As a musician with a deep Christian spiritual bend, Obey’s music is unique in the way and manner he turns Yoruba axioms bearing rich religious messages into dance-hall compositions.

    “His popular tracks like ‘What God Has Joined Together’, ‘Aimasiko’, ‘Eyin Pegan Pegan’, ‘Anjade Loni Eledumare’,  ‘Jesu Olore’, ‘Africa is My Home’, ‘Ambe o’, ‘I am a Winner’, etc, remain masterpieces any day.

    “When in early 1990s, he retired into Nigerian gospel music ministry, I knew it could only be short-lived, because when you have a passion for a profession, like Chief Obey’s zeal for music, whether secular or gospel, there is no room for retirement.

    ”I saw him in action in December last year at an event held at the Lagos State House, Alausa, Ikeja, tagged ‘Evening with Governor Ambode’ to end 2016 and usher in 2017; he was the cynosure of all eyes.

    ” He remained his true self, the true entertainer that we have always known, churning out one rich number after another.

    “At 75, I wish and pray that God grants Obey more years and the strength and energy to continue with his music. So to Chief Commander, I say let the music play on, ” Tinubu said.