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Tag: All Progressive Congress (APC)

  • Edo poll: Obaseki leads Ize-Iyamu with 62,300 votes

    Edo poll: Obaseki leads Ize-Iyamu with 62,300 votes

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate in the Edo governorship election, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, currently ahead of his closest rival from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, with 62, 300 votes.

    The APC has polled 306,663 votes, while the PDP garnered 244,363 in all the local government areas where results have been officially announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Results of 17 out of 18 LGAs in Edo State have been announced by INEC.

    The APC won in 12 LGAs, while PDP triumphed in five.

    Ovia South West is the only local government whose results have not been declared.

  •  APC, PDP trades blame over Okpella crisis

     APC, PDP trades blame over Okpella crisis

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are trading blame over the Okpella crisis.

    The crisis, which almost engulf the entire community before the postponement of the Edo gubernatorial election continued after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced a postponement of the election to September 28th, 2016.

    While APC is sure of claiming 99 % in the Okpella, PDP said the ruling party was trying to intimidate the people as it was becoming obvious that the opposition party was enjoying large support from the community. The supporters of both political parties have engaged in a free for all fight.

    According to the Publicity Secretary of APC Youth Forum in Okpella, Prince Omoh Batureh, trouble began when APC convened a stakeholders meeting immediately the election was postponed to offer explanation on the rational for the postponement of the September 10, election.

    He stated that no sooner had the meeting started that, a PDP mobile campaign rally marched towards the place.

    Batureh claimed that all attempt by the leaders of the APC stakeholder meeting to dissuade the PDP campaign team from being confrontational, fell on deaf ears.

    He further explained that with the Okpella Police overwhelmed by the aggression of the PDP members, the situation degenerated and in the ensuing melee, participants at the APC meeting were attacked, with many severely injured and properties destroyed.

    The following day, the APC members who escaped into hiding with various degrees of injuries the previous day, were on their way to lay complaints at the Divisional HQs of the Nigerian Poilce, Okugbe.

    Okpella, he said was again, attacked by the same elements, suspected to be PDP thugs; who were on a mission to attack the police station to enforce the forceful release of their members arrested by the police during the previous crisis.

    He claimed that the suspected PDP thugs were the aggressor all through.

    Batureh, “the PDP people started it. The APC were coming from their meeting, with the chairman of the council, Suleiman Fegba and other APC youths were discussing on their way from the meeting, when Abu Abdulganiyu, Chairman, Etsako East PDP used his Smartphone to take pictures and in the presence of the mobile police sent to the town to ensure peace he claimed that these (Sulieman Fegba and others) were the people that gave the youth guns and then ran back to bring the thugs.

    That APC was going to lose the election in Okpella, he said was unthinkable because the community belongs to APC.

    He said, Okpella is for APC, I am telling you categorically that APC will win Okpella 99%, “The PDP’s unprovoked attacks on defenseless APC members were pre-emptive action to create general atmosphere of fear, so as to scare-away the peaceful and law abiding citizens of Okpella from exercising the franchise in the forthcoming election.

    “The PDP knew, it was heading for a humiliating defeat in the September 28, election and wants to intimidate everyone. We know our supporters, they refused to be deterred; instead, the unwarranted attacks have reinforced our resolved to vote-in another APC government that has revived the state in the last eight years,” he said.

    But Mr. Abu Abdulganiyu said there was no truth in the allegation, explaining that it was the elements suspected to be APC supporters that attacked his members.

    According to him, he said it was hired hoodlums from APC that “attacked the residence of one of our Leader, Hon Godwin Eshieshi. This attack was unprovoked as it was meant to intimidate and harrass PDP into submission having sensed their imminent defeat. Below are pictorial evidence of the attack.

    “It is worthy of note that, APC members always come out with the intention of causing trouble whenever PDP organises campaign programmes, whereas, PDP calls it supporters off the streets whenever APC is campaigning. The reason being that they have boasted that they are in power and that they are in control of the security forces. Whenever any disagreement occurs even when APC is at fault, PDP is hounded, harassed and detained. The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice has obtained notoriety for changing charge sheets to murder and charging suspect to magistrate courts. The intention is to ensure the magistrate Judge declines jurisdiction and remind PDP members so as to keep them out of circulation till after election.

    “This attempt to subvert the course of justice with the active connivance of State is not only criminal but recipe for anarchy. Once the people lose confidence in the institutions that are meant to protect all, you create outlaws. This is dangerous and I call on security Agencies and the good people of Okpella to call the Leadership of APC in Okpella to order before the community is turned into a theatre of war. It took the intervention of well-meaning youths of Okpella to mount a successful resistance to this marauding APC hoodlums’ otherswise the story could have been worse.”

  • Ladoja cautions against shifting election dates

    Ladoja cautions against shifting election dates

    National leader of Accord Party and former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja has cautioned against adverse implications of shifting election dates in the country by ruling government.

    He said that Edo governorship election would not have been postponed if the All Progressive Congress (APC) was sure of winning.

    Ladoja who said the federal government needs to fulfill the promises it made to Nigerians in the spirit of Ramadan festival messages noted that while the government complained of lack of money, it was wasteful in its approach to governance.

    Ladoja who stated this while speaking with newsmen at his Bodija home shortly after observing the Eid-prayer at the University of Ibadan Central Mosque said nobody is convinced by the argument being put forward on security concerning Edo guber election.

    While lamenting that Billions of naira has been wasted on the shifting of the election date, Ladoja said the federal government should stop playing games with the life of Nigerians adding that the economy cannot improve if the leadership continues to waste scarce resources.

    On the launch of “Change Begins with Me” Ladoja noted that the change should begin with president Mohammadu Buhari, his cabinet while Nigerians will follow suit wondering how the attitude of those who are being owed over six months of salaries will change because the government has asked them to change their attitude.

    The former governor who noted that diversification being championed by different governments has to start from gradual transition from artisanal culture to industrial agriculture while he lampooned states which asked civil servants to go and farm for two days.

    While noting that the work of civil servants should not be mixed with that of a committed farmer who has passion for farming, Ladoja asked government to be creative and provide lands and inputs for people genuinely interested in farming.

    He also carpeted the State governor Abiola Ajimobi over the creation of local government development areas asking the government to be more creative and not be lazy.

    He said “Its mixed, look at what Emir Sanusi said. Sanusi does not believe that there is sincerity with the anti-corruption crusade. He said he as Emir can source $1m by telephone at N197 and sell it at over N400 which means he knew some people are doing it. You see economy and corruption go together. As long as you have a lot of roadblocks there will be more corruption. Liberalisation is better. Do you need to bribe anybody to get GSM today? Go and try it in the days of NITEL. They will ask you to go and bring the ladder and you had to bribe them for them to render the service. Corruption is not only public servant or politician thing. It is endemic in us and it is caused by blockade, redtape. Remove the red tape and you will see. Sanusi has said it that the dollar has gone up but there is corruption there. I don’t have anything against religion but I believe that we should not do something that is not sustainable. There is no corruption and yet some people can buy at N197 and those that want to employ people and do business can go and buy at over N400 and we want the economy to improve? All these do not add up. Who does he (Buhari) want to please. That is subsidy, if you do it for Muslim you have to do it for the Christians.

    ” I think the change starts with president buhari. Look at what INEC said about the change in date in Edo State elections. They said it is colossal waste and nobody has convinced us about the postponement. They said security reasons. Billions of naira have gone down the drain. We are wasteful. I am not in their party. My party has no candidate in Edo. I just know that it is wrong. We have fixed this date for a long time.  Are you now going to ask WAEC to change the date also? We are still playing games. I am sure that if APC were sure that they will win Edo election they will not have postponed.”

  • Obaseki reaffirms commitment to welfare of Edo people

    Obaseki reaffirms commitment to welfare of Edo people

    All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Edo state, Godwin Obaseki has restated his commitment to the welfare of Edo people if voted into office.

    Obaseki spoke on Friday when he addressed traders and residents of Evbareke motor spare parts market and environs during his campaign.

    He said that with his stints in the private sector, he understood the challenges of businessmen.

    Obaseki noted that though the outgoing administration had done well in view of the administration’s scorecard, there was still more work to be done.

    He said that it was on the basis of this that continuity in programmes could not be ruled out.

    Obaseki said he would continue from where the outgoing administration would stop and ensure that roads, schools, and other infrastructure not renovated or reconstructed were tackled.

    He, however, said in spite of this, his administration’s main focus would be on empowerment through microfinance loans, agriculture and provision of technical schools.

    Meanwhile, Gov. Adams Oshiomhole, has expressed optimism of the APC winning the forthcoming Sept. 10 governorship election in the state.

    Oshiomhole said his conviction stemmed from the fact that the party had performed well in the state.

    He noted that election periods were periods of making promises, but added that what mattered was fulfilling the promises made.

    Oshiomhole urged the electorate not to make themselves gullible to empty political promises but to go out and vote wisely for the candidate they believed would deliver on his electoral promises.

     

  • Kaduna lawmaker kidnapped, N70m ransom demanded

    Unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a sitting member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon Ibrahim Samaila representing Tudun Wada Constituency.
    Meanwhile, the kidnappers have contacted the immediate family of the legislator, demanding N70 million ransom.
    Kaduna Police Command Spokesman, ASP Aliyu Usman confirmed the incident, saying that, the technical and anti-kidnapping squad of the command were already on the trail of the kidnappers.
    Hon Samaila who is the Chairman House Committee on Education was allegedly kidnapped on Tuesday around Abakpa community in Kaduna North Local Government area of the state.
    According to eye witness account, “the kidnappers came in a Sienna Car and within few seconds their other gang joined them and whisked the lawmaker away.”
    The eye witness added that, “the kidnappers armed with sophisticated weapons, shot a pure water distributing van which was passing-by, thinking that, he wanted to block them.”
    Hon. Samaila a member of All Progressive Congress (APC) was elected  lawmaker during the 2015 general elections and presently he is the House Committee Chairman on Education.
    Samaila’s abductors, was said to have contacted his immediate family to demand for ransom and threatened  them not to involve police in the matter.
    A family source said, the abductors made the lawmaker to speak with his wife.
  • ‎INEC issues APC, Uwajumogu certificate of return

    ‎INEC issues APC, Uwajumogu certificate of return

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has issued Mr. Benjamin Uwajumogu – Imo North senator-elect, the certificate of return.

    Uwajumogu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) was declared the winner in the Imo state rerun election.

    Ambassador Lawrence Nwuruku‎ – INEC commissioner representing South East, presented the certificate of return to him.

    Speaking after receiving the certificate, he said his election was a confirmation that APC has acceptance the South East contrary to what the opposition party in the state was claiming.

    He said, “It is a mere speculate.  Igbo has proven that it can vote APC. What happened in 2015 election was that we have a sitting president from PDP and there was no election. It was all violence, and security agencies against the opposition party. But in this election, it was a different people, they voted, and what it means is that the APC has a home in Imo State, and that they support President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.”

    Uwajumogu who was accompanied to the Abuja INEC Headquarters by a large number of supporters said it now time for the state and the nation to move on.

    On the violence that necessitated the rerun, he said, “this is now in the past, the election has come and gone, the election was free and fair and we are grateful to people of Okigwe who conducted themselves well. A winner has emerged, let’s move forward.

    On his mission at senate, he said “I will be one of the 109. Am coming there as one who will work with establishment.  I am not going there to take anybody’s position. I hope when I get to the senate I will effectively represent my people.”

  • 700 APC members join PDP in Ovia

    700 APC members join PDP in Ovia

    …..PDP Reps stormed Edo for Ize-Iyamu

    No fewer than 700 members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Wednesday defected to the People’s Democratic Party in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

    The defectors who were from various communities in Ovia North East were led by a leader of APC in the locality, Friday Ighodaro.

    Other APC leaders that defected with their supporters were Stephen Osagie, Ifeanyi Okolie, Iredia Samuel and Peter Igbinedion.

    Friday said they left the APC because ‘it is a one-party.’

    Osagie on his part said the APC supporters from his Ulakpa community decided to quit the APC because the road leading to their community was graded by the lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency, Barr. Omosede Igbinedion.

    The former APC members announced their defection at a campaign rally of the PDP held at Okada, hometown of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom.

    Barr. Omosede in her remarks said it was her father, Chief Igbinedion that turned Okada village into a town and the Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu will turn it into a city.

    Omosede told her kinsmen that the APC stopped some of her pet projects including rural electrification and road project at Okun community.

    She urged the people to show the ‘short man’ that he failed them through the ballot papers.

    Seven PDP members in the House of Representatives stormed the campaign rally to drum support for Pastor Ize-Iyamu.

    They included Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, Hon Uzoma Abumka, Hon Ladi Adekoto, Hon Sambo Garuba, Hon Oghene Ego and Hon Tunji Soyinka.

    Ogor urged the people to use their vote to send what he termed negative government  out of the system.

    State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, accused Governor Oshiomhole of spending N90m monthly to maintain water fountain at the Oba Ovoranmwen Square in Benin City at a time residence lacked water to drink.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu told the people that contents of his ‘Simple’ agenda document was his convenant with the people of the state.

    Ize-Iyamu said Oshiomhole was behaving as if he was pursuing a third term agenda.

    His words, “I feel sad when I hear Oshiomhole insults people like Chief Igbinedion when it was Chief Igbinedion that helped him to power.

    “He should have tell the people what he did in the past eight years  he he resorted to insulting elders.”

    Ize-Iyamu promised to improve the people lives as well as partner with businesses to develop the state.

  • Itsekiri leaders kick over NDDC board appointment, demand EDP slot

    The leaders of Itsekiri ethnic nationality in Delta state have rejected the recent appointments into the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as was recently announced by the Federal Government.
    The oil-rich ethnic group is furious over the non-appointment of their kinsman inthe position of Executive Director, Project of NDDC, to complete the tenure of one of their own who was sacked along with the last dissolved board in December 2015.
    The Itsekiri leaders, who are members of the All Progressive Congress (APC), in a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, particularly flayed the role played by some members of the party in the appointments.
    The petition, a copy of which was obtained by our reporter, was signed by Messrs Robinson Ariyo, Felix Ighonmieyetan and David Omadeli, APC candidates in the Warri South Constituency I and Warri North in the 2015 election and Leader, APC Warri South-west respectively.
    It stated: “The entire Itsekiri Nation, particularly those of us who are committed members of the APC are disappointed and piqued to say the least. This is because of the names sent to the Senate for ratification as members of the proposed Board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
    “We are compelled at this juncture to mention that one of our own, Engr. Tuoyo Omatsuli occupied the position of Executive Director of Projects, EDP in the Board of NDDC for two years (December 2013 through December 2015) before Your Excellency  dissolved the Board and appointed a Sole Administrator.
    “For the two years, Engr. Omatsuli held the position of EDP, his performance speaks volume till date and it was only normal for us as Itsekiri, in line with the Act establishing NDDC, to expect that an Itsekiri man should at least be appointed to complete the remaining two years.”
    The petition fingered a leader of the APC in the state and a powerful minister from the Niger Delta region as mastermind of the perceived injustice against their kinsmen in the appointment.
    They therefore appealed to the President to revisit the nomination of Adjogbe Ajenakevwe, an Urhobo from Delta Central Senatorial District, as EDP in the proposed NDDC Board, stressing that this would be in the interest of justice and fairness and to create a sense of belonging for the Itsekiris.
    “The Itsekiri people will not be swayed by the arguments of a few selfish elements that this is a new government and things have changed when it comes to the existing working principles between ethnic Nationalities in Delta State in particular and the Niger Delta in general as it affects appointments in the NDDC Board,” they added.

  • Edo 2016: Bayelsa, Delta youths nabbed in Edo

    Eagled-eye youths of the All Progressive Congress (APC) have nabbed about 20 youths allegedly imported from Bayelsa and Delta states to register in the ongoing Continue Voter Registration in Edo State ahead of the September 10 governorship election.

    The imported youths were arrested at Ologbo in Ikpoba-Okha local government area.

    A leader of APC in Ologbo, Mr Johnson Atseleghe, told newsmen that the imported boys have been handed over to the police.

    Narrating what happened, he said, “They came through Ologbo water side, they came with one red vehicle. They tried to penetrate through Koko, they said they want to register but our boys saw them and said they are not familiar faces.

    “They had wanted to make trouble with us but our boys resisted them, caught them and handed them over to the DPO Ologbo.  Some of them ran away. What they are trying to do is to get the PVC so that election time they will come and vote and make trouble from Delta.

    “Since on the 22 when the exercise started we have been battling them. Some ran away but we managed to catch some of them,” he stated.

    Another eye witness said youths from Delta State have invaded their community to register ahead of the election.

    The witness said many of the boys have been identified and handed over to the police.

    His words, “their plan is just to come here on election day and make trouble but we will not allow them. We are appealing to security agencies to come to our aid because some of these boys are really desperate and they are being sponsored by politicians who wants to disrupt the coming election in Edo state”.

    Edo Police spokesman, SP Abiodun Osifo, promised to contact the DPOs at Ologbo and Abude to ascertain the true situation.

    He was yet to call back as at press time.

  • Freezing of Fayose’s account: PDP accuses Buhari of tyranny, witch-hunt

    Freezing of Fayose’s account: PDP accuses Buhari of tyranny, witch-hunt

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the freezing of the personal bank account of Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose as tyrannical and a witch-hunt.

    The party said it has been observing with dismay, the  dangerous trend of politically motivated trials and tyrannical administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress (APC) demanding that the ruling party must stop the witch-hunt in the interest of peace and stability of the nation.

    In a statement Wednesday by PDP’ interim spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the party said the freezing of the governor’s account was unlawful, undemocratic, autocratic, oppressive, draconian “and to say the least, the height of desperation by the Buhari administration to cover up for its failure to deliver on his campaign promises to Nigerians”.

    Adeyeye said events in the country in recent times have shown that President Buhari and the APC have no agenda for nation building but on a revenge mission.

    He said, “This government is all out to silence any voice of the opposition. Nigerians will recall that Chief Olisa Metuh, the former National Publicity Secretary of our great party is today standing trial for receiving campaign funds and since his arrest and prosecution by the anti-graft agency, Chief Metuh could not challenge the APC government on policy issues until he left office.

    “Nigerians will also recall that one of the known opposition voices, apart from some individuals and governors of our party that have exposed the APC led administration for running the country aground in the last one year is the former spokesman of the PDP presidential campaign organisation, Chief Femi Fani Kayode.

    “He is now standing trial for receiving campaign funds from the Director of Finance of the campaign. It’s now the turn of the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose who has been consistent in condemning the woes the APC government brought upon Nigerians and for remaining critical of the APC and President Buhari’s administration”.

    The party asked the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to free Fayose’s bank account immediately, saying that the action violated Section 308 of 1999 Constitution as a sitting governor cannot stand trial until after his tenure.

    “President Buhari and his party, the APC have introduced a dangerous trend in our polity and if this is not checked or curtailed immediately, Nigeria may be heading to an imperial-rule where the leader of the nation is a supreme ruler dictating who survives at the expense of the Nigerian Constitution”, the spokesman added.

    The PDP called on well-meaning Nigerians and all stakeholders in the Nigerian project who are still alive to rise up to the occasion and call the APC government to order before President Buhari “destroys our hard earned democracy”.