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Tag: All Progressive Congress

  • Delta APC elects new chairman

    Former Deputy Chairman, Delta State, All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Cyril Ogodor on Monday emerged as the state chairman of the party at a congress which  held in Asaba- the State’ s capital.

    The congress which held at the play ground of the temporary site of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, was peaceful.

    Ogodor polled 731 votes to defeat Mr. Fred Obe who polled 99 votes in the delegates’ election.

    The other positions were returned unopposed through voice affirmation.

    The congress was conducted by a five-member committee from the national secretariat of the party. Members of the committee include Eugene Odoh (chairman), John Dabwan (secretary), Jonathan Jibril, Ibrahim Nagogo and Mezia Linus (members).

    Meanwhile, the incumbent state chairman, Jones Erue retained his seat at a parallel congress conducted weekend by the Gbenga Obadara-led committee at St. Mulumba College, Okpanam, a suburb of Asaba.

    The new chairman, Mr. Ogodor extended olive branch to his opponents as well as those of the faction led by Senator Obie Omo-Agege, saying that now was the time to unite the party ahead of the 2019 general election.

    Leader of the party in the state, O’tega Emerhor who addressed newsmen at Monday’s exercise described it as the authentic congress, saying that the presence of party chieftains testified to it.

    Read Also: Delta APC and re-alignment of forces

    His words, “I am here, Victor Ochei, Cairo Ojougboh, Hyacinth Enuha, Pat Utomi is on his way, Dr. Leroy, we are here. The minister, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu would have been here but he travelled.

    “We cannot afford the bickering and division among ourselves. After today’s congress, we will reach out to others who feel aggrieved because we have the People Democratic Party (PDP) as a common enemy in the 2019 general election to contend with.

    “But one thing is that anything outside this exercise is null and void. You can see the democratic process as conducted by the assigned committee from Abuja and witnessed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

  • LG Election: Oyo APC shifts LG congress till Sunday

    The National Congress Committee of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to monitor the scheduled Local Government Congress in Oyo state has announced a shifting of the election to tomorrow, Sunday.

    The Committee said the shift is inevitable in view of the earlier schedule local government election in the state.

    Chairman of the committee, Mr Musa Halilu-Ahmed made the disclosure while addressing stakeholders at the state party secretariat, Oke Ado, Ibadan.

    The press conference was attended by representatives from all the 33 LGAs in the state, party chieftains, women leaders, lawmakers among others.

    Senator Monsurat Sunmonu (Oyo Central) led other members of the state house of Assembly to represent the Unity Forum faction at the meeting.

    He said the decision was reached after wide consultation with all the relevant stakeholders coupled with the recommendations of the state police command.

    Read Also: Man arraigned for ‘disrupting’ APC primaries

    Halilu-Ahmed told the stakeholders that his committee had earlier on arrival in the state to prepare for the second phase of the assignment received a formal letter from the state party chairman, Chief Akin Oke intimating the congress committee of the proposed LG elections which had long been scheduled for May 12.

    He disclosed that parts of step taken were to consult widely the stakeholders and particularly the state commissioner of police and other security operatives.

    He added that, the state police command after series of brainstorming in a letter written to the committee also recommended the shifting of one of the elections and suggested that shifting the LG congress would be better since it is a party affair while the LG polls concern all political parties in the state.

    While informing all the party members that all the necessary forms for participants at the LG congress is readily available for aspirants who have made the required payment to pick, Halilu-Ahmed called on the security agencies, particularly the police and Director of State Service to ensure the safety and security of the party secre

    Reasons given by the police in the letter to the Committee, which was read out to the stakeholders was inadequate manpower to cover both the LG elections and LG congress at the same time in addition to the fact that the police are also stakeholders in the election.

    In making the announcement, Halilu-Ahmed however noted that, the choice of shifting the LG Congress is more appropriate because of the restriction of human and vehicular movement within the state on the ground of the LG polls.

     

  • Guber aspirant accuses Oyegun, NWC of manipulating ward congress

    A governorship aspirant in Ebonyi state under the All Progressive Congress, APC, Dr Adol Awam Chris on Wednesday said no ward Congress have so far been held in his Ebonyi Local Government Area.

    Mr Awam also raised alarm of plans by some members of the state Working Committee of the party of trying to stage a kangaroo congress in his local government.

    He accused some SWC members of working in conjunction with the John Oyegun led National Working Committee to write fake results and submit same to the National office so as fix delegates who will vote for them at the party’s state and national conventions in a desperate bid to retain their positions.

    This is even as a member of the party Achi Simeon was attacked by some members of another faction of the party on his way to Mr Awam’s meeting.

    Last Saturday’s local government ward congress in Ebonyi was marred with irregularities as two separate factions allegedly held parallel congress in the state.

    The  Eze Nwachukwu led faction which enjoys the support of Oyegun and the NWC had opted for harmonisation among party stakeholders so as to remove rancour and controver.

    However, Mr Nwachukwu on Saturday night confirmed that four local governments including Ebonyi could not harmonise adding that a new date will be fixed for the conduct of the congress for them.

    Also, the Congress committee Chairman had said any local government that fails to harmonise, a new date will be announced for the conduct of their own ward congress.

    “But, yesterday without announcing it or informing us, some members of the party came and said they were coming to conduct congress”, Mr Awam told reporters at the Ugwuachara Primary School.

    He was there to brief his constituents on the latest situation in the party with regards to the ward congress.

    “There was nothing like congress in Ebonyi local government area whether on Saturday, Sunday or even today.  If anybody presents any result at the party secretariat whether in the state or at the national headquarters then it is a doctored result”.

    “On Saturday, the Committee sent to conduct congress said we should harmonise but we were not able to harmonise till now. But we got information from someone that our congress will hold today. But the Chairman did not inform me of this. I called INEC and they said they are not aware”.

    “They said they got later from the party today notifying them of the inability of pour local government to conduct the election. They further told me that we have to give them at least 7 days in line with the electoral law to come and conduct the election”.

    “So how will they conduct the congress for our local government without INEC or Police presence?”, Awa said.

    While calling on the state chapter of the party to allow internal democracy in the party if the party must defeat the ruling People’s Democratic Party(PDP), Mr Awam accused the National Working Committee of the party of orchestrating the crisis, violence and irregularities that characterized the exercises in many states of the federation to remain in power.

    According to him, declaring harmonization in the congresses of the party without going to the field to enable members of the party to freely elect their leaders was undemocratic and unconstitutional

    “We came from the ACN that formed this our great party, APC but the manipulation in the congress shows that they want to completely remove the ACN family from the APC  in the scheme of things as far as Ebonyi state is concerned and we will not agree, I will take it up with to any level they want it”, he said.

    Awam who was a former Chairman of the local government accused a faction of the party in the state of imposing harmonization in the congresses to sideline some leaders of the party and called for what he  described as ‘real congress’ in Ebonyi local government area.

    “As far as Ebonyi local government is concerned, there was no ward congress. A faction of the party cooked result and said congress has been conducted. I have already written to appeal panel and I will follow my petition to ensure that justice is done.

    “I also wrote to the state Chairman of the party and he acknowledged the petition. I drew his mind to the electoral act which states that since the congress did not hold on the announced date, they have to give at least seven days before another one can hold and up till now, he has not told me there would be congress in my local government”, he stated.

    Mr Nwachukwu did not take numerous calls placed to his phone. He also did not reply messages sent to him at press time.

    Also Mr Bolaji Abdulahi, National Publicity Secretary of the party could equally not be reached for comments.

    Meanwhile, Mr Simeon Achi narrated how he was attacked at Udensi roundabout for no other reason than he was supporting Mr Awam.

    Mr Achi who said he was attacked near Udensi roundabout by three men sustained injuries on his face and hand from the attack.

    “I was in a bus coming to this place from town. As we got to Udensi roundabout, someone wanted to drop so I came down to enable the person to alight from the bus. Then these three young men who were in the bus came down and started beating. They told me that they are attacking me because I was supporting Adol Awam. I don’t know their names but I know them by face, they are members of another faction of our party”, the victim said.

  • INEC, CSOs urges parties to give more opportunities to women, disabled, youths

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Civil Society Organization, CSOs, have stressed the need for women, youths, disabled individuals and other marginalized section of society to be allowed to participate in party politics during the 2019 general election.

    The representatives of these groups stated this in Abakaliki during a one day programme tagged: “Ebonyi Party Engagement with Marginalized Groups” organized by United States Agency for International Development, USAID and International Republican Institute, IRI at Monabliss Hotels and Suites, Abakaliki.

    Welcoming the participants who were drawn from various political parties across the 13 local government areas of the State, the Resident Programme Officer of IRI, Husan Hassan stated that essence of the programme was to place responsibility on political parties towards ensuring that they include women, youths and disabled individuals in governance and running of party affairs.

    Hassan called on political parties to go beyond the outcome of elections and connect with the citizenry through the implementation of constituency programmes and projects that would better the lot of the people.

    According to her, marginalized segments of the society should be allowed to take decision through their occupation of executive positions in political parties across the State.

    In her remarks, INEC gender Desk officer, Ebonyi state, Mrs. Idam Esther stated that the Commission had stressed the need for women to be allowed to actively participate in politics as an all-inclusive arrangement  would help to reposition and reenergize the political

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Civil Society Organization, CSOs, have stressed the need for women, youths, disabled individuals and other marginalized section of society to be allowed to participate in party politics during the 2019 general election.

    “INEC is working hard to ensure that the election in 2019 is all inclusive; INEC is saying that women should be active in politics; there is need for women, youths and disabled to be included both in election and decisions within the party.”

    Presenting a paper titled: “Improving the participation of marginalized groups in political party processes”, the Programme Officer of IRI, Sunday Alao, emjoined political parties to create platforms within their parties where issues surrounding the welfare and political future of the youths are discussed and enforced so that the youths can be carried along in active politics. Alao called on the marginalized groups to take the opportunities provided by political parties and get involved in party affairs so that they can emerge as flag bearers of their parties in the 2019 general election.

    Meanwhile, the All Progressive Congress, APC represented by Pastor Victor Elemnnali and KOWA party, Comrade Adibe Nwafor Jenifer announced free nomination forms for women and youths in the 2019
    general elections.

  • Delta APC Stakeholders meet to forge unity

    Vow level playing ground for all Aspirants

     

    Ahead of the All Progressive Congress, APC wards and local government congresses scheduled to commence on Saturday the 5th of May 2018, leaders and stakeholders of Delta APC met to forge unity; promising level playing ground for all party aspirants.

    Speaking at Delta State APC stakeholders meeting which held at the country home of Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, the leader of Delta APC; Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Chief Hyacinth Enuha maintained that there is no division in Delta APC but a healthy competition amongst brothers.

    They added that those spreading rumours of division in Delta APC in Abuja are not on ground and does not mean well for the party in Delta state, stressing that APC is stronger now and ready to displace PDP in 2019 and take over government house.

    According to them’ “what the outsider considers as crisis in Delta APC is a healthy competition, we have the Ogboru-Omo-Agege and Emerhor-Enuha tendency in the Delta APC, but after the party primaries we all will work together to defeat PDP at the governorship election.

    This platform is what will produce the APC governor from Delta north in 2019 and will also produce APC governor form Delta central in 2023,in four years from now PDP would be dead in Delta.

    The meeting which has Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Chief Hyacinth Enuha, Chief Adolor Okotie-Eboh, Air vice Marshall Frank Ajobena (Rtd), Barr. Fred Okpohworo Olokor, NDDC EDP; Engr. Dr. Samuel Adjogbe, and seven APC governorship aspirants in attendance promises to work together and ensure level plying ground for all party aspirants in order to defeat PDP come 2019 election

    The party governorship aspirants who attended the meeting were Prof. Pat Utomi, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Chief Osiobe Okotie, Dr Iyke Odikpo, Dr. Leroy Edozien and Dr. O’Diakpor Obire and they all pledged to work with the two leaders to ensure rancor free party congresses in the state.

    The leaders also charged all stakeholders to return home to their wards and LGAs to work out agree consensus executives that will be supported by all at the congresses where necessary.

    Both aspirants and stakeholders also agreed to work together in unity in order to put in place a structure that can win elections in 2019, stressing that some members of the existing Excos will form the bedrock of the new executives with a focus on enhancing its strengths through the injection of new blood.

    In their different remarks at the meeting, Prof. Pat Utomi, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, promised to do one term in office if elected as governor of the state come 2019, noting that they believe in equity and justice.

  • Breaking: PDP, APC youths clash at Benin Airport over motion to impeach Buhari

    Youths and supporters of both the All Progressive Congress and the People’s Democratic Party have clashed at the Benin Airport over the motion moved by Senator Matthew Urhoghide seeking the invocation of Section 143 of the Nigeria’s Constitution.

    It took the intervention of the State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo for a free for all not to take place at the airport.

    The PDP supporters were at the airport to give a rousing welcome to Senator Urhoghide for moving the motion for the Senate to begin impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari.

    But the APC supporters who had earlier protested through the street of Benin City disowning Senator Urhoghide were at the airport to express disappointment with the motion.

    Tension was rife as more supporters besieged the airport either for the APC or the PDP.

    Both sides sang anti-Buhari and anti-PDP songs.

    The Police Commissioner had to personally stand between the protesters to prevent a free for all.

     

    More details later…

  • APC hails police for quizzing Edo PDP chairman

    The Edo State chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC, has hailed the state Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, for quizzing the state Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih, over allegations that rice meant for Internally Displaced Persons was diverted.

    It said it would move for Chief Orbih to be prosecuted if found to be lying about the rice donated by the Nigeria Custom Service for IDPs in the state.

    State Chairman of APC,  Barr. Anselm Ojezua, it was laughable for the PDP to turn the quizzing of Chief Orbih to a Nollywood movie by storming the Police headquarters in large numbers.

    Barr. Ojezua stated that the questioning of Chief Orbih was a right step in the right direction since ‘Chief Orbih has been making serious allegations of destabilizing dimensions”.

    Ojezua said Governor Godwin Obaseki was right in asking the police to investigate and prosecute Orbih’s where necessary.

    Read Also: Lawmaker supports APC faithful with 10 buses

    According to him, “Most of the allegations by Orbih are false and untrue. I am always of the opinion that the police have a duty to arrest a situation like that. You don’t wait for there to be a breakdown of law and order before making an arrest.

    “How can Dan Orbih come out to say Edo State Government made provisions for Iyamho university but didn’t make provisions for the AAU and Tayo Akpata University thereby giving the impression that the government does not care for some people. It was not true.

    “When a person provides information that is false, it is actionable particularly when it is meant to incite the public against government. The rice issues have to do with IDPs, vulnerable people. You can imagine Police invites Dan Orbih to substantiate his comments and the entire PDP showed up like a Hollywood movie. It is becoming a tradition for the PDP to turn serious issues into comedy. We are going to insist that police prosecute Dan Orbih.”

     

  • Kaduna APC crisis: El-Rufai slams N2bn defamation suit on Sani

    Kaduna APC crisis: El-Rufai slams N2bn defamation suit on Sani

     

    The crisis rocking the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kaduna State on Friday  took a twist after  Governor Nasir El-Rufai dragged Senator Shehu Sani before  the state High Court in a defamation suit.

    El-Rufai wants N2billion as damages from Sani – N500million for  each of  the four attacks the defendant allegedly launched against him.

    Sani represents Kaduna Central in the Senate.

    Read Also: Outrage as El-Rufai pulls down senator’s building

    He is a fierce critic of the governor.

    El-Rufai is seeking compensation for the injury allegedly suffered as a result of “the malicious statements” made by Senator Sani through the mass media to  humiliate him and defame his integrity by calling him a drunk, loose cannon  and an embarrassment to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Among other reliefs, Governor El-Rufai is seeking a declaration that the derogatory remarks made against him by Senator Sani are totally false and injurious to his person in the eyes of the public.

     

  • Edo APC denounces APCYV

    Edo APC denounces APCYV

     

    Edo State chapter of the All Progressive Congress has urged the general public to be way of activities of some individuals who parade themselves as All Progressive Congress Youth Vigilante (APCYV).

    It said there was no body inaugurated to operate under APCYV within the party.

    The APCYV had in a press statement signed by Destiny Oviasu, Abu Umoru, Odianosen Sunday threatened to carry out mass protest to achieve sanctity, sanity and democratic practices in Edo APC.

    It also begged President Mohammadu Buhari not to consider former Governor Adams Oshiomhole for any political appointment.

    But State Youth Chairman of APC, Hon Valentine Asuen, who spoke in a chat with newsmen, said the persons claiming to be APCYV were not recognized members of the party.

    Read Also: Edo APC removes Publicity Secretary

    Hon Asuen urged President Buhari to ignore the statement credited to the group and consider Oshiomhole for political appointment as promised when he (Buhari) visited the state to commission some projects.

    According to him, “There is nothing like Edo APC Youth Vigilante Group. I have called other youth wings across the state, they have denounced knowing the names of Destiny Oviasu, Abu Umoru, Odianosen Sunday as members of the APC.

    “That publication should be ignored. Oshiomhole is our leader who created the platform for this present administration. He deserve good political appointment from Buhari because he has done well for the people of Edo State.

    “There is no reason for Oshiomhole not to be given appointment. When Buhari came to commission some projects in Edo State., he said Oshiomhole deserve to be given some national assignment.

    “Oshiomhole bank of wisdom in the polity of Nigeria should be harvested.”

  • Buhari will be reelected for second term – Adeyeye

    Buhari will be reelected for second term – Adeyeye

    Senate Chip Whip of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Senator Olusola Adeyeye has drummed support for President Muhammadu Buhari ‘s re-election for the second term.

    Senator Adeyeye made this known in an interview granted to newsmen yesterday on a broadcast medium.

    The Senate Chip Whip believed Muhammadu Buhari would win the 2019 election because the Government will continue to own up to their mistakes.

    He also dismissed talks of building new refineries after stating that efforts to reform Nigerian refineries is futile. He hinted on the need to build new refineries and move Nigeria ahead.

    “I believe my party will win the 2019 election. We will own up to the mistakes of our tenure. We will own up. Trying to tinker with the refineries is a futile process. What we can do is to build new refineries.”