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Tag: All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA)

  • APGA petitions NJC over judgment on leadership tussle

    APGA petitions NJC over judgment on leadership tussle

    The leadership of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), under the chairmanship of Edozie Njoku, has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) over a judgment delivered by Justice James Kolawole Omotosho on the leadership feud rocking the party.

    The Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Chekwas Okorie, announced this while addressing reporters yesterday in Enugu.

    Okorie recalled that Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a judgment on APGA leadership tussle on November 20 when a similar case was still pending at the Supreme Court.

    The party chieftain explained that the judge, in his verdict, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw its recognition of Edozie Njoku as APGA National Chairman and replace him with Sly Ezeonwuka.

    Okorie recalled that a five-man panel of Justices of the Supreme Court delivered a unanimous judgment upholding Edozie Njoku as the National Chairman of the party.

    Read Also: Destinies are shaped based on decisions made – Pastor Bassey

    The BoT chairman noted that despite the judgment, INEC, which was a party in the suit, refused to obey the judgment.

    He said the commission was being forced to recognise Njoku as the party’s chairman after a court order.

    Okorie said Justice M. A. Madugu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court had found INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, and a former factional national chairman of the party, Victor Oye, guilty in a contempt of court charge but delayed the sentencing out of leniency to allow “the contemnors the altitude to purge themselves of contempt”.

    He averred that while the Supreme Court had not delivered its judgment on the suit Victor Oye and Mr. Sly Ezeonwuka filed on the matter, Justice Omotosho delivered a judgment on November 20 on the same matter.

     “APGA has taken the civilised step of submitting the party’s petition to the NJC while patiently awaiting the judgment of the Supreme Court,” Okorie said.

    He expressed optimism that the NJC, which is responsible for ensuring that judicial officers adhere to the ethics of their jobs, would look into the petition.

  • The dishonourable rep

    The dishonourable rep

    Ikwechegh should be taught the lesson that would put an end to such cruelty in high places

    A video showing Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, an All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) member representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency, allegedly assaulting an Uber driver during a delivery at his residence in Maitama, Abuja, has been trending in the past few days. As though nature was conducting a symphony of political rascality, far away in the United Kingdom, Labour Party’s Mike Amesbury was trending on the social media, after footage of a video of him in a street brawl allegedly punching a man.

    The noticeable difference in the two incidents however is that while the British Labour Party immediately suspended the Back Bencher, his Nigerian APGA counterpart has been grandstanding, both at the police station and in the National Assembly where a video of him reading some written apology has also been trending. There has been no word from his party, constituency or the Ethics and Privileges Committee of the House of Representatives.

    Humanity is the same and emotions are expressed the same way across the globe. However, as public officers, politicians and government appointees are expected, like Caesar’s wife, to be above reproach. In the UK, the Labour Party said Amesbury is assisting police with their inquiries, and that they have suspended him “pending an investigation.” On the contrary, in Nigeria, the police detained Mr. Ikwechegh’s victim after he was taken to the station by cronies of the law maker.

    According to Kier Stammer, the Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party, “I have seen the video footage, it’s shocking. We moved very swiftly to suspend him as a member and as a member of parliament.” In Nigeria, despite public outrage, the house member has been in plenary and is reported to have been granted a N500,000 bail by a court in Abuja.

    Read Also: Police confirm five dead, one arrested in Edo over food poisoning

    It is apposite to state that this incident is not the first of its kind in Nigeria. There had been physical fights in Nigeria’s House of Representatives in the past.

    There seems to be an unbridled display of impunity by some of our public office holders. Nothing proves this better than the recorded slapping video of Ikwechegh boasting to his victim, “I can make you disappear. Do you know who I am? I can make this man (driver) disappear from the whole of Nigeria, and nothing will happen. Can you imagine this rat? I am not going to give this boy one naira of my money”.

    “I am not going to call my policemen to beat you up. I will do that myself. I will show you that I am a big brother. I will tie you up, lie you down and put you in my generator house. Do you know where you are? Because you saw me sitting outside here? Look at this monkey,” he said. In these words by a federal law maker lie the impunity that often cascades from Nigeria’s political elite. At the risk of using the social cliché, Nigerian political class almost always ‘gets away with blue murder’.

    The fact that the Nigerian system is often very dysfunctional empowers some people with the privileges of money or power to abuse whatever power they wield. An Ikwechegh is seemingly standing on existing systemic loopholes. A Senator Elisha Abbo from Adamawa State had been caught on camera physically abusing a shop owner in her sex toy shop and despite the outrage and court cases, he got away with that crime.

    Many politicians in Nigeria behave as emperors and grandstand as being above the law. The law enforcement agencies often abdicate responsibilities and fail to hold most of them to account. That accounts for their often braggadocio and abusive behaviour. It might not be wrong to say that in Nigerian political space, might is often right and accountability does not always apply to people with financial and/or political power. It is even sadder that law enforcement agencies often side with those with influence and power. That is absolutely very empowering and reason why politicians often get very abusive verbally and physically. We hope that this singular incident provides the platform for a systemic introspection that can restore the dignity that goes with public offices.

    If the political elite must covet the sobriquets; Excellency, Distinguished and Honourable, they must earn them through their behaviour.  We hope that Ikwechegh would be made to answer to his very repugnant public behaviour and disrespect for Nigerian institutions like the National Assembly and the Nigeria Police Force.

    A House of Representatives member is a national figure that ought to be a beacon. His so-called apology is so puerile and seems choreographed. It is a mere face-saving attempt and lacks the full verve of a remorseful individual. Nigeria might feel more compelled to have a more thorough mental health evaluation of those running for public offices.

  • Maku pledges resuscitation of Nasarawa cultural festivals if elected governor

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Gubernatorial Candidate in Nasarawa State, Mr Labaran Maku said he would revive the state’s cultural festivals that had been abandoned by previous administrations if elected.

    Maku, a former deputy governor of the state, made the promise when he hosted Mr Aliyu Doma, the Gubernatorial Candidate of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) at his Akwanga residence on Wednesday.

    According to him, the state that has multi-lingual, multi-ethnic and cross-cultural heritage should have a platform that can unite its people.

    The ex-deputy governor said he planned to place premium on reviving cultural festivals because culture had the power to unite people irrespective of tribal and religious affiliations.

    He expressed regrets that the current All Progressive Congress (APC) administration in the state had failed to sustain the achievements of late Gov. Akwe Doma, who promoted and sustained cultural festivals of Nasarawa people.

    “I think Nasarawa State, which is home to many Nigerian tribes including the Hausas, Fulanis, Kanuris, as well as others that transcend beyond the north, should be called the rainbow state.

    “I will revive the cultural festivals in the state; rename Nasarawa Rainbow State because it is a multilingual, multicultural and multiethnic state,’’ Maku said. (NAN)

  • Abaribe sitting on a stolen mandate-Nkwonta

    The candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) for Abia South Senatorial Zone, Chief Chris Nkwonta has vowed to defeat the Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe in 2019 senatorial election in the zone.

    Nkwonta who came second to Abaribe in the 2015 poll said that the Senator representing Abia South is sitting on a stolen mandate because he, Nkwonta defeated him in the 2015 poll.

    Read Also:Abaribe, Nkwonta, Wabara and battle for Abia South

    Speaking at the palace of Eze Ishmael Nnakwu of Etiti-Ohazu in Aba South LGA of the state, Nkwonta warned that 2019 will no longer be business as usual.

    Nkwonta in a chat with journalists said that INEC insistence that incident form will not be used in the 2019 election will help reduce rigging which he claimed helped the ruling party in the state to manipulate the outcome of 2015 election results in their favour.

    In his words, “I am going to win Abia South Senatorial Zone in 2019. Abaribe is already sitting on a stolen mandate. I won the election in 2015 and he rigged his way through by using incident forms. In 2019, we are no more going to use incident forms. So accreditation will be by electronic means. So rigging will no longer be as rampant as it was in 2015. My chances are very bright and I will win the election.

    “Campaigns have started; they’ll not come out to campaign. All they are looking for is how to grab result shits are write results. If they have done well in four years, they’ll not be panicking. We have more billboards than roads in our state. My question to the senator representing us is, where are his Constituency projects? No matter how they try to intimidate us we’ll match them. If they destroy our billboards we shall do same, if they shoot guns, we shall reply them, if they pick up machetes, we shall carry ours and if they bring the method of carrying caskets, we shall show them we know where caskets are sold.”

    Speaking on the fire incident that consumed wares of traders and how it could have been handled better, Nkwonta blamed the rate of damage at the Nkwor-Ngwa Timber Market on the nature of the roads stating that if the roads that lead to the market were to be in good shape, it wouldn’t have taken the fire service much stress to come to the aide of the traders as was reported.

    He said, “It was a very unfortunate that the fire incident was made worse because there were no access roads to the place. If there was an access road, I am sure the extent of damage could have been considerably reduced.

    We have serious problem in our state. The level of decay in infrastructure is alarming. We don’t have roads and people are wasting time on frivolities. We have not had any change in Abia because of wrong people are in power. In 2015 you voted us in, but some criminals stole our mandate. Abia is not working and APGA will make it work.

    “Under APGA, there will be access roads to the place. The market will be rebuilt to a modern standard and there will be access roads.  In fact this morning we could not even get to the domain of the traditional ruler. To alleviate the sufferings of the traders; we are going to start reconstruction work at the market even before the commencement of the elections.

    “I have always had a blue print of what we want to do for Abians. We had one in 2014 / 2015 when we ran for election. That blue print is to completely rebuild Aba. We are going to start with Aba because if we fix Aba, we have fixed Abia state.”

    In his response, the king of the Etiti-Ohazu, Eze Ishmael Nnakwu thanked the APGA senatorial candidate and wished him well in all his endeavours.

  • Reps member defects as Dogara swears in three

    A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Gabriel Onyieawife, has defected from All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The defection announcement was contained in a letter read at the floor of the hallow chambers by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara, at the plenary on Wednesday.

    Onyieawife, who represents Ayamelum/Oyi Federal Constituency of Anambra State, attributed his defection to the factions in APGA.

    Meanwhile, Dogara has administered oath of office on three new members.

    Read Also: 2019: Dogara urges youths to shun thuggery

    Rep. Yusuf Nuhu (Bauchi), Rep. Tunji Olawuyi (Kwara) and Rep. Abubakar Kusada (Katsina) are all of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    While Rep. Nuhu represents Toro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, Rep. Kusada would represent Kankia/Kusada Federal Constituency of Katsina State and Rep. Olawuyi would represent Irepodun/Isin/Oke Ero/Ekiti federal constituency of Ekiti State.

    The new legislators were recently elected to represent their constituencies to fill vacancies in the green chambers as a result of death and decisions to run for the Senate by former occupants.

     

    NAN

  • I am still the authentic APGA chairman – Ehiemere

    Rev.  Augustine Ehiemere has said despite the recent falsehood and malicious propaganda going on against the leadership of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, and against Dr. Alex Otti, its governorship candidate, he remains the authentic congress state chairman of APGA.

    Speaking in Aba, Ehiemere recalled that in 2014, when the national leadership of the party suspended Prince Nnanna Ukaegbu as the state chairman of the party over party issues, that Ukaegbu went to court to challenge the action but later abandoned the case.

    According to him, Ukaegbu went to court that time, he did not succeed and that matter was left for about three years until the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) planted some agents to come and destabilize APGA in the state.

    Ehiemere said the matter that was left for three years was brought back in 2018 and judgment hurriedly given by a vacation judge in the state in favour of Ukaegbu.

    Ehiemere said they have gone to file a stay of execution and an appeal at the Court of Appeal and urged all Abians to disregard the propaganda making the round that he is no more the state chairman of APGA.

    “We’ve gone to file an appeal against that ruling and stay of execution pending the determination of this matter at the court of appeal.

    “That is the true position, but they have gone out to tell Abians all sorts of lies, so let the people disregard all these falsehood and propaganda that I am no more the chairman of the party in the state.

    Read Also: APGA will accommodate all, says Araraume

    “The national chairman of the party, Dr. Ike Oye was contacted and he said Ehiemere is the state chairman of APGA in Abia state. If I’m not the state chairman, why was I elected as IPAC state chairman irrespective of their opposition?

    “If I’m not the state chairman, they secured their ruling in on September 25, 2018 and by October 2, all national officers who came to Abia to conduct primaries, all reported to me and I signed all the documents and on October 7, all state chairmen of the party were invited to Abuja for non elective convention where we unveiled our presidential candidate”.

    Ehiemere said all these have showed that his opponents are merely peddling false news, stressing that he still remains the authentic state chairman of the party and expressed optimism his party will win the election in 2019.

    Reacting, Ukaegbu said the court has made pronouncement on who the state chairman of APGA is and that it is when that order is vacated that somebody else could claim chairmanship of the party in the state.

    He said that Ehiemere has filed a motion asking the court to resend its decision which is yet to be heard and as such should not make any contrary claim.

  • Maku urges restoration of Customary Court of Appeal

    Maku urges restoration of Customary Court of Appeal

    Former Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, has called on the Nasarawa State Government to restore the Customary Court of Appeal in the state.

    Maku, a 2015 gubernatorial candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance ( APGA ) in Nasarawa state, made the appeal on Wednesday while speaking with newsmen in his ancestral home, Wakama, Akun Development Area of the state.

    According to him, re-establishing the abolished court would fast track resolution of traditional issues.

    It would be recalled that the state government scrapped the Customary Court of Appeal during the retirement and valedictory court session in honour of Justice Jibril Idrisu, the President of the state Customary Court of Appeal, on October 23.

    The state government said the decision to scrap the court was based on the advice of the National Judicial Council ( NJC ), citing continued less number of cases recorded in the court over the years in the state.

    Read also: Maku, others say peace, tolerance are panacea to Nigeria’s development

    But Maku asked: “Why will Nasarawa State Government abolish Customary Court of Appeal when the state is made of up of different ethnic cultures and religions?

    “We have Rindre, Afo, Alago, Migili, Agatu, among other tribes, in the state.

    “In Nasarawa state, the law provides for three courts; Sharia Court is for Muslims, Christians would go to the common law court and traditionalists will go to Customary Court of Appeal to solve their disputes.

    “For peace and unity in Nasarawa state, we want the court back, we want the state government to reinstate the Customary Court of Appeal and if the government refuse to return it, when APGA comes to power in 2019, it shall come back.”

    Maku, the National Secretary of APGA, also lamented the continued payment of local government workers in percentages despite the release of bailouts to the state by the Federal Government.

    On the 2019 general election, he urged Nigerians to vote leaders of proven integrity for good governance in order to end hardship, poverty and hunger in the country.

    He urged people of the state to shun politics of religion, ethnicity as well as to avoid divide and rule principle in their bid to elect credible leaders that would transform the state.

    The ex-information minister urged Nigerians to use the period of Christmas to offer special prayers for the peace of the country, adding that no nation can achieve meaningful progress without peace.

    He also urged Nigerians, especially youths, to be peaceful, law abiding, respect constituted authorities and hard working for a greater Nigeria.

    NAN

  • I won’t dump APGA, says Obiano

    I won’t dump APGA, says Obiano

    The Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, on Friday debunked speculations that he was planning to dump his party, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) for the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

    According to him, he has no such plans.

    Obiano, spoke with State House journalists after ‘thank you’ visit to President Muhammadu Buhari, for allowing a free and fair gubernatorial poll in Anambra.

    Stressing that he would never dump APGA, he dismissed as inconsequential the defection from APGA to APC by Emeka Ojukwu Jnr, the first son of late hero and former leader of the party, Odumegwu Ojukwu.

    The governor, who said he has extended hand of fellowship to his opponents to join hands with him to turn the fortunes of Anambra round, said that he was prepared to work and not disappointed the people of the state for the confidence reposed on him.

    According to him, the President was excited over his visit and assured him of his respect for the wishes of Anambra people to freely elect a governor of their choice.

    He said, “I came to see the President na to thank him for keeping to his word that the election in Anambra will be free and fair and that is exactly how it went. I’m very happy to come to report to him personally on the success of the election.”

    Asked if he expected to win such a contentious election, Obiano said, “Well, I thank God it is the Lord’s doing. To win 21 over 21 is not an easy task, it just showed the faith the people had in me and that is exactly why it happened and I thank Ndi Anambra for the confidence reposed on me and reassure them that this will encourage me to work harder.”

    On how he intends to unite the people, he said, “Well, I have extended olive branch to my colleagues, my friends that contested with me and as you can see they have all congratulated me and we will hold hands and match on. You see, our private ambitions can never be greater than the interest of Anambra State. I believe we are working on well.”

    On the new assurances he got from President Buhari, he said, “Well, Mr. President was excited that the votes of Ndi Anambra counted and that is a legacy he wants to leave behind, that he conducts free and fair elections without any interference from the federal.”

    Asked if his relationship with Peter Obi will be smooth now that he has been re-elected, Obiano replied, “I don’t have a problem with anybody. I’m doing well, I don’t have a problem with anybody.”

    On how he was going to strengthen his party, he said “My party is very strong in the south east and that you will see very soon in the coming elections and from there we will match on.”

    On insinuations of plans to dump APGA for APC, Obiano said, “No. Never. That is totally unfounded. I will never leaver APGA, I’m the leader and the BoT chairman of APGA and again by God’s grace the governor and governor-elect.”

    Asked if he has plans to woo back Ojukwu’s son he replied, “He is of no consequence I’m sorry to say.”

     

  • APDA backs the call for the restructuring of Nigeria

    APDA backs the call for the restructuring of Nigeria

    The Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) has backed the call to restructure Nigeria, saying it will end agitations by ethnic nationalities and youths across the country.

    Interim Chairman of the party in Anambra, Chief Obunike Ohaegbu, said in Nnewi on Tuesday that a united Nigeria that was discussed and restructured would be a better for everyone.

    He urged the Federal Government to address the issues that were giving rise to the tension in the country.

    As panacea, Ohaegbu suggested that the government should make public the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference and allow citizens decide on it.

    “APDA is saying that we need to restructure Nigeria, that if we restructure Nigeria, every Nigerian will have a sense of belonging.

    “We made our stand clear that we want Nigerians to be allowed to vote on the 2014 national conference.

    “Most, if not all the decisions of the conference, were not voted for; they were arrived at with unanimity.

    “So, as a political party, we are thinking that it should be taken to the people to decide what they want to do with it.

    “If we have the system running, people will not be clamouring for Biafra,” he said.

    Ohaegbu said that the Federal Government should also engage the youths who are heating up the polity in peace talks rather than threatening them.

    According to him, this will be more productive than discussing with elders who have little influence over them.

    The APDA chieftain blamed the political elite for the problems of the youth, saying that the elite equipped youths with i-pads and smart phones “to insult each other while they wined and dined, leaving the youth frustrated”.

    On the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Anambra, he said that the party was ready to take over power from the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Ohaegbu said that Anambra people deserved more from what they were getting from APGA government under Gov. Willie Obiano, adding that they could not continue to see government run with propaganda.

    He said that APGA should no longer use the face of late Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu as its logo, adding that it was an insult to him and the Igbo nation.

    “What is it that APGA has done? It has gone to the point that as Ndi-Igbo, we need to come out and be firm that our leader, Ikemba Odumegwu Ojukwu should not be a logo of any political party.

    “It has to stop. Every APGA billboard you see in Anambra as we speak today has the picture of Ojukwu. Is he the logo of APGA?

    “Ojukwu belongs to Ndi-Igbo; it is an insult for any political party to use Ojukwu as its logo,” he said.

    Ohaegbu urged the electorate in the state and the entire country to endeavour to take part in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

  • Edo poll: Video shows APGA candidate tearing ballot papers

    Edo poll: Video shows APGA candidate tearing ballot papers

    A video which has gone viral on the internet has shown candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, tearing ballot papers at the polling unit where he voted in Oredo local government area.

    The video which lasted about two minutes recorded Onaiwu shouting and tearing ballot papers at a polling unit and walking to another polling unit.

    A boy in the video was seen throwing a table away while other electoral materials were scattered on the ground.

    When contacted for comments, Onaiwu confirmed tearing the ballot papers but claimed that the ballot papers were earlier snatched by some thugs he said were working for the APC.

    His words, “The video they are showing that is my polling units. APC thugs brought thugs and took the ballot away. They brought them back and said we should continue counting.

    “I said no and refused the papers to be counted. That was how I threw the ballot papers away. I am not a coward. You cannot return ballot papers that were earlier taken away. All my family members voted for me there and I am expected to win. Let them be sharing the video online.”

    Onaiwu also led a protest against the results released by INEC on the governorship polls.

    He said it was wrong for INEC to declare results in an election marred by irregularities.

    The APGA candidate said he could not have gotten 876 votes after carrying out rigorous campaigns across the 18 local government areas of the state.

    He said police cannot stop anybody from carrying out protests against the outcome of an election conducted by INEC in the state.

    Mr Onaiwu alleged that his results were manipulated because he refused to give bribe to some INEC officials adding that votes from Igbo and Esans were not added.