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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • APC inaugurates seven-member reconciliation committee for Kogi

    APC inaugurates seven-member reconciliation committee for Kogi

    Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday in Abuja, inaugurated a seven-member reconciliation committee for the party’s Kogi chapter.

    According to a statement issued by Malam Bolaji Abudullahi, the APC National Publicity Secretary, the committee is chaired by Gen. Idris Garba, while the party’s Deputy National Secretary, Mr Victor Giadom would be its Secretary.

    Other members of the committee are: Chief Don Etiebet; Rt. Hon. Patricia Etteh; Group. Capt. Rufai Garba; Alhaji Umar Lawan Kareto and Group. Capt. Joe Orji.

    Odigie-Oyegun thanked members of the committee for agreeing to serve the party in the committee, adding that the party’s leadership wanted peace and settlement in its Kogi chapter.

    He added that the situation in Kogi was unique, saying that what triggered the event in the state was tragic in their nature.

    He further added that the party leadership was bending backwards because it understood the feelings of the people and what they had been through.

    “We understand the work that you have put in to get the APC elected; we understand also that God who disposes of power, brought somebody at the last minute to be the beneficiary of all the work and labour that everybody obviously had put in.

    “Fortunately, we had a fact-finding committee that has done a lot of the basic work and submitted a report which will be made available to the reconciliation committee.

    “We know the principal parties in the various groups in Kogi; we know what their grievances are.

    “So the issue now is really to call just the principal groups and say look, this has to stop, how do we go about it.

    “The governor of course will be there to say his piece and give you all the assistance necessary to make your task successful.

    “We want peace in Kogi state. Events there have been very very unusual. But like I said, given the emotive nature of the event that led to it, we have decided to stretch the opportunities for reaching peace,” he said.

    The chairman of the committee thanked the party for the opportunity to serve and assured the party that the committee wold bring peace and settlement to the party in Kogi

    “There is no doubt that it is an onerous task, but we are committed people and believe in bringing our experiences to bear on the issue, we will be able to resolve the issue as directed by our great party,” he said.

  • Elections: APC unity sacrosanct says Onyeama

    Elections: APC unity sacrosanct says Onyeama

    Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama says the unity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State is sacrosanct as the party prepares for future elections in the state.

    Onyeama said this in a statement signed by his Personal Assistant on Communications, Mr Flavour Eze, and made available to newsmen on Monday in Enugu.

    He said in the statement that preparations for both the Nov. 4, 2017 local government and 2019 polls should be given the seriousness they deserved.

    He noted especially the challenges involved as the party strives to unseat the incumbent administration in the state at the 2019 polls.

    “In view of this, the unity of the party in the state is sacrosanct as we prepare to build a solid base preparatory to the council polls and future elections.”

    The minister said that it was unacceptable that the party would be torn to factions at a time it had made inroads into all segments of the state and urged the opposing factions to sheath their swords.

    Onyeama said that as the highest ranking political office holder from the state, he had dedicated his time and resources in ensuring that the APC built on the successes of the past few months.

    On the outcome of the recently concluded non-elective local government congress of the party in the state, he called for calm, adding that efforts were on to calm frayed nerves.

    It would be recalled that the exercise had produced separate delegates’ lists with each of the factions claiming to be the authentic one.

    The minister said that he had not taken sides with any of the factions but was working to resolve the crisis and restore unity among party members.

    “We acknowledge that two separate delegates’ lists were produced during the non-elective local government congress of the party in the state and we are working to resolve the matter.”

    The minister said that he had concluded plans to meet with the two factions on Aug. 28 during which all contentious issues would be resolved.

    Onyeama gave an assurance that party faithful in the state would continue to give unalloyed support to President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

  • Buhari welcome rally shuts down Ado-Ekiti

    Buhari welcome rally shuts down Ado-Ekiti

    …APC, Civil Society groups slam Fayose for “Death Wish”

    Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, was at a standstill for about two hours on Monday as residents under the aegis the Coalition of Civil Society groups staged a solidarity rally to weclome President Muhammadu Buhari back from his medical vacation.

    The coalition which includes the All Progressives Congress (APC), Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), labour leaders, youths, artisans, students, market women, commercial drivers and other interest groups slammed Governor Ayo Fayose for “wishing the President dead and making comments that could set the country on fire.”

    The rally which started at about 9.00 am at Okeyinmi Roundabout proceeded to Ijigbo before terminating at Mobil area in the city. Many of those who participated in the rally carried placards with various inscriptions.

    Some of the placards read: “Welcome Back Buhari, Shame On Fayose,” “On Buhari We Stand, Corruption Must Go,” “The Lion Is Finally Back Home,” “Fayose, You Are A Disappoinment To Ekiti People,” “Fayose Must Commit Suicide Now As Promised,” “Welcome Back, Baba, African Champion of War Against Corruption,” among others.

    The rally which was supervised by officers and men of the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) caused a traffic snarl on the major highway in the city.

    Protest leaders who took turns to address the people expressed satisfaction with the Saturday’s return of Buhari to the country saying his return will add bite to the anti-corruption crusade and economic recovery.

    Ekiti APC Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Kemisola Olaleye, said Buhari’s return has exposed what he called “the unending lies of Fayose” who he said never wished the President to come back home alive.

    Awe who accused Fayose of playing God on the health of President advised the governor to emulate his Rivers State counterpart Nyesom Wike whom he said displayed maturity by joining other governors to welcome Buhari despite belonging to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said: “God has put Fayose to shame on Buhari, God has silenced him for his lies on the President’s health. We appreciate the people of Ekiti State for their good wishes and prayers for our President throughout the time he was away.

    “Anybody wishing Buhari dead will go before him, we rejoice with our President that he arrived safely and this has put an end to all the lies of Fayose.

    “We urge Fayose to honour his promise, let him be man enough to commit suicide if Buhari returns alive as he had earlier promised.

    “Ekiti people are tired of is one-day-one-trouble government and one-day-one-propaganda government and we want to assure our people that Fayose’s day of reckoning is very near.”

    Coordinator of Progressive Youth League (PYL), Adeoye Aribasoye, berated Fayose for “raising false alarm” on the health of President by threatening to release eleven damaging pictures of Buhari on life support.

    Aribasoye: “God is greater than men, Fayose said he has eleven damaging pictures of Buhari. We want the whole world to know that whatever he says does not represent the view of Ekiti people.”

    Labour leader, Kolawole Olaiya, urged Buhari to probe how the proceeds of Paris Club refunds to Ekiti was spent by Fayose regretting that workers are suffering.

    “Olaiya said: “We want President Buhari to revisit the issue of the Paris Club refunds to Ekiti State. Local government workers in Ekiti have not received salaries for about nine months.”

    CNPP Chairman Tunji Ogunlola said: “Nigeria’s collective destiny cannot be aborted by a tiny group of crooks whose survival depend on the looting of our commonwealth.

    “It is on this strength that we believe the President’s return presents a fresh hope for the accomplishment of our collective dream for a great nation as he settles down to work.”

  • APC says no zoning of Anambra governorship ticket

    APC says no zoning of Anambra governorship ticket

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said that it has not zoned the Anambra Governorship ticket to any part of the state as being speculated.

    Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, APC National Publicity Secretary, made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    “The attention of the NWC of the APC has been drawn to a report that the party has zoned the governorship ticket in Anambra State to a particular part of the state.

    “This report is false, the party has not taken any such decision,’’ Abdullahi said.

    He added that the party was committed to providing equal opportunity to all aspirants to compete freely and democratically at the primary.

    The APC spokesman stressed that all aspirants cleared to contest in the coming primary should ignore the misleading report.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 12 aspirants including 11 male and one female were cleared to contest in the primary later in the week.

    The aspirants are Mr George Moghalu, Sen. Andy Uba, Mr Paul Chukwuma, Madu Nonso, Bart Nwibe Bart and Mr Patrick Nwike.

    Others are Mr Tony Nwoye, Mr Chike Obidigbo, Johnbosco Onunkwo, Adaobi Uchegbu, Adaobi Uchegbu and Uzoh Obinna.

    Sen. Osita Izunaso, the party’s National Organising Secretary, had expressed optimism that the party would emerge victorious at the Anambra Governorship election slated for Nov. 18.

  • PDP believes in restructuring – Adeyeye

    PDP believes in restructuring – Adeyeye

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in support of restructuring of the country in a manner that will boost the growth, development and prosperity of Nigeria.

    Dayo Adeyeye, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, made the clarification in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.

    Adeyeye said the clarification became necessary following a statement credited to the National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Bolaji Ojo-Abdullahi.

    He said that he (Adeyeye) read with amusement the statement written by Ojo-Abdullahi that “PDP has never been and is not interested in restructuring,’’

    He expressed surprise in the sudden interest of the APC in restructuring “after several months of denial by elected and appointed officials that APC did not promise restructuring in its manifesto and during the 2015 campaigns.

    “As the word implies, restructuring is a process of re-arrangement, re-organization or re-formation of the manner or way in which something (in this case governance) is done.

    “As used in the Nigeria political lexicon, restructuring refers to the Modification of the System of governance to guarantee the socio-economic and political growth and development of the Nigerian people.

    “It is imperative to inform Nigerians that our party is not against restructuring of the system of governance in the country in a manner that places Nigeria firmly on the path of growth, development and prosperity,” Adeyeye said.

    The PDP spokesman explained that it was the commitment of his party to constantly seek solutions to the challenges confronting the nation that led it to amend its constitution.

    He added that the party’s constitution was amended to include equitable devolution (decentralization) of power for greater functionality, national integration, rapid economic and social reconstruction.

    “Examples of the amendment can be found in preamble 2(b) and (e), Section 7(b) and (f), and many more provisions of our party constitution.”

    Adeyeye said it was also against the backdrop of the commitment of the party to restructure the system of socio-political governance for better functionality and efficiency that made the party to organise the 2014 national conference.

    “The administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan summoned a National Conference to recommend amendments to the Nigerian Constitution.

    “This conference submitted a report with several proposed amendments to the constitution which the APC led Federal Government has refused to implement more than two years later.

    “In light of the above, we reiterate our support for the restructuring of the system of governance in the country to ensure more functional and efficient governance at all tiers of government.

    “We urge leaders of opinion and leaders of thought around the country to participate in the process in the best interest of our country and its people,” he said,

  • We are ready to fulfil campaign promises – APC

    We are ready to fulfil campaign promises – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended Nigerians for keeping fate with the Buhari government through out his medical vacation and assured that the government was poised now, more than ever before to fulfil its electoral promises to the people.

    In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and made available to newsmen in Abuja, the party was full of praise for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for his leadership quality and efforts to unite the country and drive it towards economic recovery.

    The statement reads: “All Progressives Congress (APC) welcomes the President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari back home to the country after his medical vacation to the United Kingdom.

    “The Party also thanks the Vice President, His Excellency Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for his competent leadership in the absence of President Buhari and especially commends him for his effort to unite the country and drive the recovery of the national economy.

    “The APC also thanks, all Nigerians who had prayed ceaselessly for the speedy recovery and safe return of the President, assuring them that the APC-led Federal Government is poised to fulfil all the electoral promises the Party made to Nigerians.”

  • APC appeals to INEC to conduct credible by-election in Gombe

    APC appeals to INEC to conduct credible by-election in Gombe

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Gombe State Chapter, has appealed to the Independent National Electoral  Commission (INEC) to conduct free, fair and credible by-election in Dukku North Constituency.

    The election is billed for Aug. 19

    The interim chairman of the party in the state, Alhaji Idi Gubana, made the appeal on Friday in Gombe while speaking with newsmen.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seat became vacant due to the death of Gambo Kabade of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who died in June 2017.

    “We are asking INEC to conduct free, fair and credible election.

    “The security agencies should ensure nobody snatch ballot box and every eligible voter should be allowed to vote for the candidate of his choice” Gubana said.

    The chairman said the party is prepared for and confident its candidate would win the election as Dukku North is APC catchment area.

    He said that members of the party   appreciated the security arrangements put in place for the election and urged the security agencies to maintan them on Election Day.

    “So far we appreciated the security arrangement made by the Commissioner of Police and the sister security agencies.

    “We were told that each polling unit will have not less than five security personnel.

    “We hope that security operatives posted to polling the units will ensure that the election is conducted credibly and nobody should be denied to cast his or her votes,” he said.

    Gubana called on supporters of the party to come out and vote for the party’s candidate and be peaceful before, during and after the election.

  • No cause for alarm over Edo Assembly impeachments – APC Chair

    No cause for alarm over Edo Assembly impeachments – APC Chair

    The Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Anslem Ojezua, on Tuesday said there was no cause to be alarmed over the impeachment and subsequent elections that produced a new speaker and deputy speaker in the state House of Assembly on Monday, August 14, 2017.

     

    Mr. Ojezua who gave the assurance on Tuesday at the Government House, Benin City, after a peace meeting called by the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, assured that the party was still in consultation with members of the state House of Assembly to ensure that the new speaker’s election conforms to the party’s power sharing arrangement.

     

    The party chairman explained that though members of parliament have the right to choose who they believe will lead them well, he however stressed that the process must conform to the political framework of the state.

     

    “We sought to find out if there were fundamental issues that led to the impeachment between yesterday and today; but we have found out that there are none, but personal differences among members of the house. Everybody has accepted that a change of leadership has occurred, but it is not over yet. Talks are ongoing to address the issues,” Ojezua said.

     

    He added that leadership change was not new in the legislature as the National Assembly has witnessed similar changes.

     

    Some members (16) of the Edo State House of Assembly on Monday impeached the former speaker, Dr. Justin Okonoboh, and elected Mr. Kabiru Adjoto as the new Speaker, while Mr Victor Edoror emerged as new deputy speaker, replacing Mrs Elizabeth Ativie.

     

    Mr Kabiru Adjoto representing Akoko Edo Constituency 1, is the fourth Speaker to be elected in the Edo Assembly from 2015 till date. 

  • Ekiti 2018: Nothing will make me defect to PDP, says Ex-Gov. Oni

    Ekiti 2018: Nothing will make me defect to PDP, says Ex-Gov. Oni

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Chairman (South), Mr Olusegun Oni, has denied holding secret meetings with leaders of the opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) to achieve his 2018 gubernatorial ambition in Ekiti.

    Oni, also a former governor of Ekiti, said his while addressing a news conference in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday.

    He said that he had never had a one-on-one with the PDP National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi in his life.

    He also denied holding any secret meetings with Gov. Ayodele Fayose at any  hotel in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oni was reacting to rumours that he was holding secret meetings to discuss the possibility of crossing over to the PDP to realise his 2018 gubernatorial ambition.

    Oni had recently declared his intention to contest the next gubernatorial seat in the state, as the tenure of the current administration will end in October, 2018, while the election is expected to hold by mid 2018.

    He decried what he called “attacks from within” by those allegedly uncomfortable with his ambition to vie for the governorship seat next year.

    He alleged that some people had been assigned  to pull him down by all means, saying the alleged attacks were  only making him to become  more popular.

    Oni, who said he was not desperate to become governor again, stressed that the fates all of all aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket would be decided by delegates at the party’s primary.

    The APC deputy national chairman, South, also denied holding any meeting with the PDP National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi in Ifaki Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area.

    The former governor urged his supporters and the people of the state not to believe the rumour and hate  campaign being mounted against him by people he described as “faceless individuals” on the social media.

    He said that such rumours would not distract him, but make him to be more focused on selling his ideas on how he intended to make Ekiti better to the electorate

    “Some individuals have written a petition against me to the party’s national secretariat demanding that I step down immediately as Deputy National Chairman (South).

    “But, it is like these individuals have forgotten that the party’s constitution allows me to remain in that post until one month before the primaries.

    “The attacks are from within the party and most of them are coming from the social media, but I am not bothered at all because whatever that will be good will be rough initially.

    “I am very much aware that some people have been given the assignment to pull me down, but I put my trust in God and at the end, good will triumph over the evil.

    “I want to say categorically that I will not be discouraged.

    “Anybody who does not want Oni will either contest against him or support any aspirant. I am not desperate to be governor, and I will leave (my post) when the (party) constitution says I should leave.

    “By saying that I met Fayose in a hotel in Lagos and Makarfi in my house in Ifaki-Ekiti, these people are over rating me and I feel honoured.

    “The last one-on-one I had with Gov.Fayose was a day after Gen. Adebayo was buried when I brought the invitation from the Borisade family to officially notify him of his demise and to also congratulate him on the honour done Baba Adebayo.

    “I have never had a one-on-one with Makarfi and if they are saying he was in my home, I feel honoured.

    “Those saying this have nothing to sell, but I have told my people not to abuse or attack anybody; if they have the product that is sellable, they should continue to sell it,” he said.

  • APC not opposed to true federalism – Odigie-Oyegun

    APC not opposed to true federalism – Odigie-Oyegun

    National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said the party was not opposed to true federalism as perceived in some quarters across the country.

    He stated this on Thursday in Abuja while inaugurating a 24-member committee on True Federalism to articulate the party´s position on restructuring of the country as agitations in that regard increased.

    According to Odigie-Oyegun, it is only the APC that can claim ownership to the principle and the need for true federalism in the country.

    “When we sat down to discuss the union of the APC, it was one of the principal issues that were almost like a no-go-item that we negotiated and agreed.

    “And as such, the Constitution and the manifestos of the party are very elaborate in their references to true federalism and devolution of power.

    “It is therefore totally inconceivable for uninformed members of the public to jump on this bandwagon of reconstituting the federation,” he said.

    He added that such members of the public gave the impression that the APC was “in any way against the principle of taking a fresh look at the basis of our federalism”.

    Odigie-Oyegun insisted that true federalism was already a mantra to the APC, and must be looked into without jeopardising the fundamental unity of the country.

    He tasked members of the committee to have a critical look at issues of devolution of power, fiscal federalism, resource control and others thrown up following recent clamour for restructuring of the country.

    He, however, stressed that APC’s Constitution and manifesto vigorously canvassed the issues, adding that they were elaborately provided for.

    The chairman said that the party´s position on the issues had been eloquently stated in the terms of references of the committee.

    “It is your duty, especially having regard to the emotive nature of the national discourse on restructuring, to distill from our party constitution and manifesto the various ideas canvassed in different constitutional conferences.

    “I expect you to look at whatever document available on this subject and to look at whatever views and recommendations available on it.

    “I also expect, at all times, that your anchor will be the constitution and manifesto of the party, because it is on that manifesto that we went to the public of this nation.

    “I ask you to generate a report which will truly reflect the desire of our people and a true reflection of what our party stands for,” he said.

    He added that it was critical to ensure that the party met the desires of Nigerians on their idea of true federalism.

    In his response, Kaduna State Governor and Chairman of the committee, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, said that APC believed in balanced federation and fiscal federalism and was doing well in that regard.

    “We can give example as state governors of the level of participation of states in certain economic policy directions for the country.

    “This government has also taken steps to devolve power and responsibility to states, without any constitutional amendment to states.

    “We have seen more cases of federal assets and roads being taken over by states willingly,” el-Rufai said.

    He disclosed that the committee had met three times and had identified 12 key issues to be discussed by Nigerians to ensure a clearer direction on issues of restructuring.

    He said that the committee would visit 12 states in the country to meet with the people at the grassroots to collate their views on the issues with a view to proffering solution.

    El-Rufai said some of the issues to be looked into were state creation, regionalism, land tenure system and revenue allocation.

    He added that the committee would also utilise social media platforms to interact with the people across the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 24-member committee, which has nine states’ governors, women, youths and some leaders of the APC, was constituted on July 9.

    Member of the committee are Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau and Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun.

    Others are former governor of Edo, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor; APC National Organising Secretary, Sen. Osita Izunaso; APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and Hajiya Fatima Balla.

    Sen. Olubunmi Adetunmbi is the committee’s Secretary.

    The committee is expected to complete its assignment within three months.