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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • APC rejects Banire’s offer to resign as national legal adviser

    APC rejects Banire’s offer to resign as national legal adviser

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the offer by its National Legal Adviser, Muiz Banire (SAN) to step aside pending the outcome of the investigation into allegation of alleged corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The party said the offer by Banire to step aside and submit himself to investigation by the anti-graft agency was an exemplary representation of the party.

    In a letter to Banire, signed by the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the party said that at the National Working Committee of the party resolved to unanimously reject the offer to step aside.

    Banire had about three weeks ago written to step down as the party’s National Legal Adviser following an investigation launched by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), into a gift of N500,000 given to an old friend, who sought his financial assistance to defray part of the burial expenses of his late mother about three years ago.

    The letter obtained last night by The Nation said “after intense discussion, the NWC unanimously decided not to accept your offer to step aside as the National Legal Adviser.”

    According to the party, the decision to reject the offer to step aside is hinged on the fact that Banire’s offer is “inappropriate since your responsibility as the National Legal Adviser of our party will not, in any way, impede any ongoing investigation by the EFCC, more so, as the allegation has no nexus with the party.

    “The party is currently saddled with a number of sensitive litigations and your role in professionally handling the ongoing cases is critical. The NWC is of the view that we keep to the credo of our jurisprudence where an accused is considered innocent until otherwise proven guilty by a competent jurisdiction. In this case you have not even been accused”.

    The party however sought for Banire’s understanding of its decision to refuse his offer to resign from the NWC.

  • Lagos By-election: Ambode seeks support for APC candidate

    Lagos By-election: Ambode seeks support for APC candidate

    The people of Ifako-Ijaye Federal Constituency have been urged to elect Mr Akinwunmi Olaitan in Saturday’s by-election to ensure adequate representation.

    This call was made by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Thursday, during a rally held at the Ifako Ijaye Mini Stadium in support of Olaitan, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the by-election in the constituency.

    Mr Elijah Adewale, who represented the constituency in the House of Representatives, died on July 20, necessitating the Dec. 3 by-election to fill the vacant seat.

    Six political parties are fielding candidates in the election.

    “We know that this community will move forward and there will be tremendous progress if Olaitan is elected.

    “Let us go house to house and pronounce further that Olaitan is one of us and he will represent us fully.
    “That is what we have promised you, when we make promises, we fulfil more than what we promised,” Ambode said.

    The governor promised massive transformation in the state, particularly in the rural areas.

    “I tell you, by this time next year, you will not believe the progress Lagos has made,” Ambode said.

    He also commiserated with the family of Adewale.

    Earlier, Olaitan promised to fight for the interest of the people, if elected.

    The rally was attended by the Lagos APC Chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale and Sen. Olamilekan Adeola, representing Lagos West Senatorial District, among others.

  • Senate pegs 14 days for replacement of dead candidate

    Senate pegs 14 days for replacement of dead candidate

    In its continuation of the amendment of the Electoral Act, the Senate Thursday resolved that fresh primary election should be held within 14 days to replace a presidential of governorship candidate who dies before the announcement of the result of the election.

    The resolution may have laid to rest the controversy over who succeeds a dead presidential or governorship candidate who dies before the announcement of the result of an election.

    The upper chamber also adopted the proposal that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shall suspend the conduct of a new election for 21 days when the death of a candidate is recorded after the commencement of an election and before the announcement of result.

    The new provisions were provoked by the sudden death of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abubakar Audu, at the November 21, 2015 governorship election in Kogi State.

    Audu died before the announcement of the election result.

    The development generated legal tussle which was contested from the high court to the Supreme Court as Audu’s running mate, Hon. James Faleke, insisted the he was the right person inherit the votes of the deceased principal.

    Following the lacuna, a new Section 3 (a-c) has been inserted into the proposed Electoral Act which provides:

    “If after the commencement of poll and before the announcement of the final result and declaration of a winner, a nominated candidate dies, (a ) the Commission shall, being satisfied of the fact of the death, suspend the election for a period not exceeding 21 days; (b) the political party whose candidate died may, if it intends to continue to participate in the election, conduct a fresh direct primary within 14 days of the death of its candidate and submit a new candidate to the Commission to replace the dead candidate; and (c) subject to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection, the Commission shall continue with the election, announce the final result and declare a winner.”

    The new bill also provides a legal backing for the use of manual voting in situations where card readers malfunction during election.

    Although the manual option has always been adopted as an alternative to the malfunctioning of card readers, the new provision is meant to make the action legally valid.

    The card reader which is mainly used for accreditation of voters, the amendment provides that once the presiding officer at the election is convinced that the intending voter is the owner of the voter card, he should go ahead to accredit him.

    Section 49(1-4) of the Electoral Act being amended provides: “The Presiding Officer shall use a Smart Card Reader or any other technological device that may be prescribed by the Commission from time to time for the accreditation of voters, to verify, confirm or authenticate (a) the genuineness or otherwise of the voter’s card; (b) that the voter’s card presented by the voter is registered at the polling unit in the constituency in which the card is presented; (c) the biometric connection or otherwise of the intending voter with the voter’s card; and (d) the number of duly accredited voters in the polling unit.

    “(3) An intending voter shall not be accredited to vote in an election if the voter’s card presented by him to the Presiding Officer is not (a) a genuine voter’s card issued by the Commission to the intending voter; (b) registered at the polling unit in the constituency in which the card is presented, and (c) biometrically connected to the intending voter.

    “(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (3) (c) of this section, the Presiding Officer on being satisfied that an intending voter is the owner of the voter’s card, may accredit the intending voter to vote in the election.”

    The Senate did not pass the bill yesterday because it did not conclude its clause-by-clause consideration.

    The bill was deferred for further consideration next week.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki pleaded with his colleagues to read the remaining provisions of the bill to ensure its seamless passage.

  • Buhari’s presence gave me victory, says Akeredolu

    Buhari’s presence gave me victory, says Akeredolu

    …Says no rift with Tinubu

    …Insists Buhari, Odigie-Oyegun heading APC leadership

    The Ondo State Governor-elect, Rotimi Akeredolu on Wednesday said that the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari at his campaign rally in state won the election for him.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting President Buhari with his deputy, Agboola Ajayi and Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Even as he claimed that he has no rift with the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, he insisted that President Buhari and APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun are the head of the APC leadership.

    According to him, Tinubu, like other leaders of the party, fall under the leadership of Buhari and Odigie-Oyegun.

    On why he didn’t mention Tinubu while thanking leaders of the party in his speech after winning the election, he said: “I thanked the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the leader of our party profusely for the leadership which he showed leading to this election. I also thanked our indefatigable chairman for standing by the truth and for his position on this matter that led to this election. I have no reason to do otherwise.

    “You see, party structures to the best of my knowledge is very clear. You have the leadership of the party and that is represented by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. And after the election, a chief executive emerges, he becomes a leader of the party, you don’t have to personalize and be looking for leaders all over the place. If we have to do that then I will have to mention 36 or 37 leaders.

    “So I believe the leadership as represented by the president covers all leaders and that tells me it would include Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it would include even Baba Akande, Onu, so many leaders. But president Buhari is the leader of the party so that is my position there,” he added.

    Asked how he was going to amend his strain relationship with Tinubu, he said: “The relationship with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has always been the same. I don’t think we have any strain relationship. For me as a person, I believe he is one of the leaders of the party and I don’t see any strain relationship between us.

    “And you would observe that he has sent in his congratulatory message after the election, so what else do you expect? I mean all of us see this as victory for the APC, not for Akaredolu, not for as an individual but for the party as a whole.

    “I believe he is a member of the party. Mr. Femi Adesina had issued a release but you journalists just want to put words into our mouths,” he said.

    He explained that the Federal lawmakers who decamped to APC have done so during his campaign and were only formalizing it at the National Assembly.

    He said: “When you say a defection, Senator Yele Omogunwa even joined us in the campaign right there in Ondo State, he had joined the APC, he only just formalized it on the Senate floor today.

    “I mean when you have a party that is already balkanized like the PDP, from bottom to the top they have two candidates, they have two chairmen now. So you don’t have to be sneaking between one chairman and another you make up your mind to go to a place that is stable.

    “And I believe that he thinks that the APC is stable and he has come to a place he thinks his fortune will be better served and I am sure he took the right decision to join the party of the day.” He said

    He insisted that he will not go out straight to probe the administration of the outgoing governor, Olusegun Mimiko, but will probe anything he finds out of place in the process of his governance.

    He said: “At the center the government of the President Muhammadu Buhari said we must look back in order to move forward, he has been there for over a year now, has he instituted a probe looking back is not a probe and I maintain that I will not probe any regime.

    “This is responsible leadership I am elected to lead the people. The task ahead of us is enormous than for us to start instituting probes. My own is not to institute any probe of last regime and that is what president Buhari has done.

    “But if we find out that wrongs were committed we have enough laws of the land to take care of people who have committed wrong. As we start our work as we go ahead if there is any semblance of Dasukigate at the state, the law will take its course that is different from probing. We will follow what Mr. President is doing at the center.” He added

    Asked if he will end up reducing his campaign promises after assuming office, he said that what he meets on ground will determine if all the promises will be met.

    To him, nothing is wrong with reviewing such promises.

    He said: “You see as a candidate, it is expected of you to have a fore knowledge of the position for example of the finances for the number of things we need to do and what it will take to do. Now it is quite possible and I don’t rule out the fact that, you might set out in your campaign promises to achieve 10 things at a time. But because there is no way you can know everything that is in government when faced with realities it might not be possible to achieve those 10 things at a go.

    “But it is not to say that you will still not go for that 10. When you talk of review if you find a few things that are not in the right places, so there is nothing wrong if you try to review your campaign promises when faced with stake realities.

    “But for us in Ondo state, we have come up with five Cardinal points and it is so clear to us. We have decided that we will embark on job creation through agriculture, industrialization and entrepreneurship and what is going to cost government. We need machinery because it is not going to be agriculture through hoes and cutlasses but mechanized one. It is given that we must go back to basis.

    “On entrepreneurship we are going to encourage our state people to be self-employed and employ others. We are talking about public private partnership and there are a lot of people who want to come and build industries in our state because our state is a viable one.

    “We are going to have enabling environment for industrial growth. What is the cost? Maybe land. And then when you talk of functional education and technical growth, when you talk of infrastructure, there are schools that are already dilapidated and we believe that rather than spend money on a mega school, that money can repair and put several schools in a better form. How much will it cost us? It is the same money that we are spending.

    “We don’t want to take our people to civilization, we want to take civilization to our people. We want to ensure that the school within their vicinity are good enough for them to be interested in those school. Yes it is going to be cost intensive because we will develop our rural areas. We have told our people we are not going to build tar roads but we are going to provide accessible roads and when we have done our little bit people will do it for some time,” he said

    Lalong, who is the Chairman of Ondo APC Governorship Campaign Committee, said God answered his prediction of APC win in the election.

    Stressing that he was at the Villa to brief the President on his assignment in Ondo state, he said that he would round up his assignment and submit final report to the APC National Secretariat.

    He denied the allegation that APC was responsible for the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State.

    He said: “These things happen; this is not the first time such is happening. When elections come in like this, you will find inter party conflict and friction, it was not APC that went to court, neither was it APC that gave the judgment, all we saw was friction or conflict between PDP and PDP and if that judgment was also going to help APC so be it.

    “But we were not parties to the case for somebody to even assume that APC was responsible for denying somebody no, APC is not the court, the court is a separate arm, I am saying that as far as we are concerned APC was not responsible for denying or delaying anybody the right to contest that election,” he stated.

  • Ondo voted for the best – Minister

    Ondo voted for the best – Minister

    The Minister of state Niger Delta Affairs, Prof.Claudius Omoleye Daramola Tuesday said the people of Ondo State have taken the best decision by electing Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN as their next governor.

    Daramola in his congratulating message also thanked all the National leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly President Muhammadu Buhari for their supports during the election.

    The minister said he believes Akeredolu’s doggedness and determination have really proved that God is the only one that installs and removes.

    He prayed the Almighty God to grant the governor-elect the wisdom to paddle the canoe of the state to the promised land.

  • Ex-Speaker declares governorship bid in Ekiti

    …Says Fayose’s days are numbered
    Former Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Olufemi Bamisile, has declared his intention to run for the governorship seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Bamisile who held a rally in Ado Ekiti, the state capital on Monday to mark the end of his eighteen-month tour to all the 177 wards in 124 towns and villages said the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) administration has failed to live up to expectation.

    The former Speaker advised Governor Ayo Fayose to start packing his personal effects from the Ado Ekiti Government House saying “a movement to enthrone a people-oriented APC-led government has commenced.”

    He boasted that a “political hurricane” would soon blow Fayose and his “government of deceit” away accusing the governor of unleashing more hardship on the people through harsh policies, misplacement of priorities, poverty of ideas and government by impulse.”

    Bamisile had earlier held a rally at Okeyinmi Roundabout in the heart of the town from where the train moved to the APC secretariat at Ajilosun where he addressed the state party executive led by the Deputy Chairman, Mrs. Kemisola Olaleye.

    He was accompanied to the party secretariat by his campaign team, otherwise known as TEAM BAFEM, women groups, youth, commercial motorcycle riders, among others.

    The ex-Speaker stressed that his ward-to-ward tour revealed that the people in the grassroots have been made poorer by the PDP regime which he said failed to address their standard of living. He said Fayose’s days in power are numbered.

    He described the APC as the party with the right manifesto to turn around the fortunes of Ekiti which he alleged has nosedived under Fayose accusing the governor of failing to build on the achievements of his immediate predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    Addressing the members of the State Working Committee at the APC secretariat, Bamisile unfolded his Octopus Agenda for Human Capital Development which he described as his treaty with the good people of the state.

    The Octopus Agenda, according to Bamisile, has eight legs which include agriculture, infrastructure development, economic and industrial development, education, health sector development, security, social security and governance.

    He urged the leadership of the APC in the state to organize a transparent, free and fair primary for all aspirants aiming to run for governor expressing confidence that he would clinch the ticket to fly the party’s flag in the 2018 poll.

    Bamisile disclosed that he is working with the Ekiti in Diaspora to attract investment to the state noting that many of them had signified interest to work with him and launch the state on the path of sustainable development.

    Responding, Mrs. Olaleye, described Bamisile as a loyal party man who is passionate about the development of the state.

    She said the APC was poised to reclaim power in Ekiti judging by the number of key political actors joining the party on daily basis.

    Mrs. Olaleye promised that the state exco would be fair to all aspirants seeking its ticket urging them to be more loyal to the party for the dream of regaining power to be a reality.

     

  • Boroffice, Olanusi, others greet Akeredolu

    Boroffice, Olanusi, others greet Akeredolu

    A member, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Alhaji Ali Olanusi has pledged to be a good adviser of the Ondo state governor-elect, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) in his task of rebuilding the sunshine state.

    The former Deputy Governor, who was reacting to the victory of Akeredolu, described the frontline lawyer as transparent and humble, stressing that he would not be misguided by him.

    According to him, “Akeredolu has great respect for me, and I pray to Almighty Allah that I will not abuse the respect he has for me”.

    He appreciated God that the election which had been predicted would be rancorous was peaceful except some few cases before the election where a person was killed in Owo.

    The Supare-Akoko born politician said “The turn- out of voters was encouraging, it is necessary to thank the APC Executives in the state that worked for the party who actually supported Akeredolu and APC.

    The former Deputy Governor particularly commended those from other political parties who defected to the APC and worked strenuously to facilitate the victory of the party.

    He said “Those defectors who I am the leader actually perform wonderfully well, although at the initial stage, people we met in the party were hostile to us, but met our target of bringing victory to the party in the state”

    The APC leader urged the governor-elect to keep to his promises to the citizenry particularly the marginalised people of Akokoland, noting that Akeredolu toured all its communities and saw the bad road situation.

    Olanusi lamented that Akoko area with his abundant human resources was neglected by the present government, assuring that the APC’s administration would bring succor to its people.

    The Senator representing Ondo North, Prof Ajayi Boroffice wished the governor-elect, a successful tenure.

    Boroffice who noted that there are enormous challenges ahead of Akeredolu especially in areas of job creation, economy, security of lives and properties in the state, but are not insurmountable.

    He promised that he would continue to pray for him to have the strength to withstand the challenges.

    The Akeredolu Support Organisation (ASO) under the leadership of Tunji Light Ariyomo rejoiced with Akeredolu on his victory at the polls.

    In a statement,its spokesman, Steve Otaloro urged the governor-elect to see the massive solidarity as a moral burden on him to unite and galvanise the state and her people to spread the development across the state and avoid the pitfalls of the past leaders under minding the ordinary people.

    Also, the APC in the state described the Saturday’s election as peaceful and unprecedented in the history of the state.

    Its Publicity Secretary, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the prompt arrival and delivery of electoral materials to all the 300 polling units across the state.

  • APC candidate, Akeredolu votes

    APC candidate, Akeredolu votes

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN has cast his votes.
    Akeredolu arrived his polling units at Unit six, ward five, Oke-ijebu, Owo local government area of Ondo state at exactly 10.28 a.m.
    He was being hailed by a manmonth crowd of electorates at his unit.
    He cast his vote after being accredited by INEC Ad-Hoc Mrs, Adeola Tope at exactly 10.35 a.m
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  • Sylva remains our leader, says Bayelsa APC

    Sylva remains our leader, says Bayelsa APC

    The Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, threw its weight behind a former Governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, insisting that he remained its leader.

    The party in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Mr Panebi Fortune, passed a vote of confidence in Sylva despite his electoral misfortunes.

    Sylva, the governorship candidate of APC in the last election, lost his bid to return as a governor and failed to reverse the victory of the incumbent Governor Seriake Dickson at the court.

    But Fortune said the state Executive Committee of the APC met in Yenagoa, reviewed the entire process that led to the loss of the party and unanimously queued behind the former governor.

    He said the party was satisfied with Sylva’s peaceful disposition before, during and after the elections in the state.

    Fortune added that the party was pleased with Sylva’s doggedness following democratic principles to exhaust all legal means to reclaim his mandate.

    “This action, no doubt, makes him stand out as a true democrat and a lover of peace whose only interest is to bring succour to the suffering people of Bayelsa State,” he said.

    He said the party further commended chiefs, women, youth groups and the good people of the state for the support they gave to the APC and its candidate.

    Fortune said APC assured that it would not abandon the people at their difficult moments adding that the party thanked all APC stakeholders for their support.

    He said APC had started a fresh process of repositioning itself to win seats in the next state and National Assembly elections.

  • Former Abia governor Orji Kalu defects to APC

    Former Abia governor Orji Kalu defects to APC

    Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Kalu until his defection is the founder of the Progressives People Alliance (PPA).

    This was disclosed in a telephone interview by the state Publicity secretary of APC, Ben Godson.

    The defection takes place in Abuja, the party Headquarters Wednesday.