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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • Abraham rejects Ondo APC primaries, heads for appeal committee

    Abraham rejects Ondo APC primaries, heads for appeal committee

    A Governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Segun Abraham has rejected the outcome of the last Saturday’s governorship primary election of the party.

    Abraham who came second in the election with a total votes of 635 had earlier congratulated the winner, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), but later said his decision was hinged on alleged irregularities that marred the poll conducted by a committee headed by the Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Abubarka.

    The Ikare-Akoko born politician has appealed against the outcome of the election through a petition forwarded to the tribunal set up by the APC national secretariat.

    According to a statement titled “that our democracy may endure” signed by the Director-General of his campaign organization, Prince Olu Adegboro, Abraham noted that the outcome of the election was unacceptable to him, because of ‘anomalies’ that characterised the exercise.

    The statement read further “It is no longer news that as a true democrat, imbued with the best spirit of sportmanship, I congratulated Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, who purportedly emerged as the candidate of the APC in the September 3, Gubernatorial Primary election in Ondo State in the face of palpable disbelief and surprise on the outcome of the Primary election by my numerous supporters.

    “The news however is that, sordid and staggering facts have since emerged on how the process leading to the primary election was manipulated and compromised. It is now beyond doubt that the delegate list used on the day of the primary election was doctored and strangely injected with a mind bogging number of delegates who are neither executive members of our party nor statutory delegates.

    “To say the least, the manipulation of the delegate list, highly skewed accreditation process and the entire processes leading to the conduct of the primary election has cast the darkest stain on the result of the primary election held on the 3rd September, 2016.

    “Against this background, coupled with the change and integrity that our party preaches and practices, and having widely consulted with my numerous supporters, I have reached the hour of decision to fall back on the internal mechanism of our great party to seek redress so that the end of justice will be served and more importantly, our democracy may endure.

    “To this end, the outcome of the September 3, APC Governorship primaries in Ondo State is unacceptable and I hereby appeal against same.

    “The allegations that have sadly pelted the supposedly free and fair Saturday exercise, where 24 aspirants battled to nick the party’s ticket, include but not limited to, delegates list tampering, fake delegates incursion, disenfranchising of rightful delegates, smuggling of illegal ballot papers into ballot boxes.”

    Abraham said the official petition would soon be forwarded to the Electoral Appeal Committee to back up the appeal.

  • Obaseki shines at Edo guber debate

    Obaseki shines at Edo guber debate

    The flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 10 Edo governorship elections, Godwin Obaseki, emerged as the clear winner from the gubernatorial debate organized by Channels Television between the candidates in the governorship race – ahead of Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the factional candidate of the major opposition, Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

    According to those present in the audience, Obaseki was the most outstanding of the four runners in the 90-minute televised debate from Best Western Hotel, Benin City.

    He exuded confidence as he expertly responded to a series of questions ranging from how he would tackle the problem of insecurity in the state; plans to diversify and significantly boost the economy of Edo; and steps to tackle unemployment and create 200,000 jobs in 4 years.

    The consensus among young people who watched the debate was summed up by 21-year old Joy Iredia, a student of the University of Benin: “Up until now I did not take much interest in politics. But listening to all the candidates speak, I was drawn in by the candidate of the APC, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and how kept his focus on the issues and articulated his plans to take Edo State forward, particularly the use of technology as a tool for effective governance and job creation.”

    On his part, Mr. Osahon Bello, a civil servant, said, “The civil service forms the major workforce in Edo State. I align with Obaseki’s plan to restructure the civil service in order to be more efficient and productive through robust training strategies to meet the challenges of fostering strong, sustainable and balanced economic growth.”

    Obaseki, a renowned investment banker and wealth management expert of over 30 years repute, posited that the economic challenges confronting us as a people today are so complex that it takes someone with a full grasp of all the issues, and practical experience in solving complex economic problems to lead the state on the path to prosperity.

    Referring to the ‘simple agenda’ of PDP’s Ize-Iyamu, Obaseki pointed out that this is the time for us to be circumspect and think things through very carefully, not simplistically. “Simple solutions cannot solve our complex political problems; they cannot solve our complex economic problems; and can definitely not solve our complex security problems. It is mental indolence to think there are simple solutions to our problems.”

    The APC flagbearer noted, “The world is set for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We have identified the cycles and markers and we are prepared to play our part in this forward shift in the gears, ideologically opposed to being left behind. Our vision is a modern and progressive Edo State where every citizen is empowered with opportunity to live life in its fullness.”

    In his closing remark, Obaseki assured of better days ahead for Edo people, promising that his will be a people-oriented and inclusive government. He appealed to the electorate to support his bid by voting massively for the APC come September 10.

     

  • Ondo Poll: Another APC aspirant withdraws from race

    Ondo Poll: Another APC aspirant withdraws from race

    Ahead of Saturday’s primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, another aspirant, Mr. Derin Adesida Friday withdrew from the race to clinch the ticket of the party.

    Adesida, who was the former House of Representatives lawmaker between 2007 and 2011 said he dropped his ambition in order to support another aspirant, Dr. Segun Abraham.

    He said he made the decision after due consultation with some leaders and members of his political family.

    In a statement signed by head of media and Publicity of Derin Adesida Campaign Organisation (DACO) Mr. Adeyemi Lebimoyo said the former lawmaker having regard for the leadership of the party, decided to toll the path of loyalty and sacrifice his ambition

    “Being a very strong politician from Akure, Adesida is poised to make winning easy for the APC in his town

    “Adesida is still ever formidable and a force to reckon with in Akure political circle

    “Stepping down from the race is to allow for the process to present our candidate to be less stressful

    “While I know that so of my delegates who are battle ready to see that we clinch this ticket may be disappointed, I want to implore them to understand that party interest must overide our personal ambitions

    “Clustered aspirations may hinder our party from taking over the Alagbaka government house.”

    However, it is now three of the aspirants out of 24, who collected forms and screened in Abuja that have dropped their ambition for Abraham.

    Only 21 will now participate in the poll that will be conducted by APC electoral committee headed by Jigawa State Governor, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar.

     

  • Politicians express mixed feelings over WAI

    Politicians express mixed feelings over WAI

    Some Politicians in Lagos on Thursday expressed mixed feelings over the reintroduction of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) by the Federal Government.

    The politicians spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    The Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Garba Abari, had said in Abuja that the reintroduction of WAI would enhance an orderly and secure society.

    Abari said that the WAI policy should be in line with the Change mantra of the present administration.

    A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kano Chapter, Alhaji Musa Umar told NAN that some Nigerian need to be forced to be disciplined.

    “If Nigerians believe there are no sacred cows in the society, everyone will be discipline.

    “We want to see those big men and women who had short-changed the people brought to justice.

    “Nigerians do not respect and obey authority; that is why I support the re-introduction of WAI by the inventor of the WAI concept, President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “So for the Federal Government to make it more effective, he needs to create a WAI Brigade and start the correction from the top,’’ Umar said.

    The 2015 Presidential Candidate of KOWA Party, Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, said the war should be directed at highly-placed people.

    “We have seen the troubles into which their indiscipline has plunged the nation.

    “Honestly, I am not sure that is the most urgent need we have at this time but it would be good if the Federal Government meets us and convince us that WAI is needed now.

    “The mode of operation should also be made clear. Of course, we do not expect to have soldiers whipping citizens,’’ Sonaiya said.

    Mr Denis Aghanya, the Executive Secretary, Global, Action Against Corruption and Bad Leadership (GAAC-BLI), advised the Federal
    Government to collaborate with anti-corruption Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) for greater success.

    “It is a welcome development but government must reposition every institution of its information dissemination like NOA and also ensure that it collaborates with Anti-corruption NGO’s and keep them informed on its programmes.

    “That will impact on the society for a National Reorientation which is what we need now,’’ Aghanya said.

    He advised government to be mindful of the fundamental human rights of the people and not infringe on them when the exercise begun fully.

    Chief Ola Apena, the Deputy Chairman, Lagos Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), urged government to honour the social contract it had with the people, to address indiscipline.

    “If you do not honour the social contract to the people, nobody will respect you.

    “To wage the war against indiscipline, which to me corruption is part of, we should try to live by example,’’ Apena said.

    He urged the states and local governments to join in the exercise by exhibiting some level of discipline in their approach to work and the social contract between them and the people.

     

  • APC will not manipulate Ondo guber primary – Chairman

    APC will not manipulate Ondo guber primary – Chairman

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Ondo State, Chief Isaac Kekemeke, says the party will not manipulate the process of the Aug. 27 governorship primary in the state.

    Kekemeke told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure on Tuesday that the electoral process would be “free and fair.’’

    NAN reports that 23 governorship aspirants will participate in the primary with over 3000 delegates.

    “As far as the forthcoming governorship primary in Ondo State is concerned, there is no basis for manipulation and there will be no imposition of candidate.

    “It is the delegates (voters) that will speak and whoever the delegates pick becomes the candidate of the party.

    “As the chairman of the party in Ondo State, I have no specific role to play in the conduct of the primary,’’ he said.

    The chairman said the primary would be conducted by the leadership of the party at the national level without bias.

    “I know that the leadership of our great party at the national level has put in place mechanism to ensure free and fair conduct of the governorship primary on Saturday, Aug. 27,’’ Kekemeke said.

    He described the current disaffection within the state chapter of the party as “family affair’’ that would be resolved within the family.

    He said that the party had commenced the process of reconciling aggrieved members to form a formidable party aimed at defeating the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state at the Nov. 26 Governorship Election.

    “We have started working as a team toward routing PDP out of power in Ondo State comes Nov. 26.

    “Although, we are not ruling out having moles amongst us, but APC as a party, has what it takes to deal with such situation,’’ the chairman said.

    Kekemeke assured the people of Ondo State that APC government in the state would complement the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to deliver on the dividends of democracy to the people.

  • Change for good takes time, Bakare pleads with Nigerians

    Change for good takes time, Bakare pleads with Nigerians

    ….Urges Nigerians to be patient with Buhari

    The General Overseer of the Later Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare on Friday urged Nigerians to be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari as he steers the ship of state.

    According to him, any change for good normally takes time.

    Bakare, who was the running mate to Buhari during the 2011 Presidential Election under the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), spoke with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He met behind closed doors with President Buhari for about fourty five minutes.

    Bakare said: “I will like to appeal to all Nigerians that we should just excise a bit of patience. This change will not become chain that will tie all of us down. Change for good takes time and we should just exercise a little bit more of patience.

    “We trust that government is listening and the leaders are listening too and they will respond to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.” He added

    Speaking further on the change agenda of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bakare said: “When you are driving on a wrong direction, for example, you are going to Ibadan and you face Badagry and you get to Cotonu and you realize you have gone in the wrong direction for too long a time, then you turn back and make a U-turn, there will be some suffering you have to go through.

    “Pain is part of gain. No pain, no gain. The years of wastage and all that we have done wrong has finally caught up with us. All we are praying for is wisdom for this government to do things right and to do the right things. So that gradually, we can begin to come out of the woods,” he said.

    He said that it is too early to begin to judge the performance of the administration.

    “If there is anything I know about Mr. President, it is that he has a good heart. He loves this country and he wants the country to run well. But it takes time. I know we are all impatient and in a hurry and I trust we will come out of the woods.” He added

    Bakare declined to speak on the Budget padding controversy at the National Assembly, stressing that he is still studying the allegations.

    “I just return to the country last Friday. I am reading about it. I will make my decision when I have checked both sides. And I will definitely speak on that,” he said.

    When asked if the time has not come for the President to carry out cabinet reshufflement,  he said that it is left for the President to take the decision anytime he wants.

    “He knows what he has given them. For example, I have not given any appointment to anyone so I can’t judge their performance. But if there are yardsticks and standards given to them and if they have performed below par, definitely, the president would not mind at the right time to do those things.”

    On why he visited the Villa, he said: “I came to see the President and he is doing very well health wise. That’s all I came to do.”

  • Edo 2016: APC certain of victory

    Edo 2016: APC certain of victory

    The Publicity committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate has advised former members of the party who found themselves in the People’s Democratic Party  (PDP) to see the handwriting on the wall, retrace their steps and return to the winning party APC in their own interest as the party is certain to win the September polls.

    A member of the committee Elder Sam Eboigbe in a statement said all people who are conversant with Edo politics should appreciate the recent prediction of the leader of the Otu-Edoseghe group , Chief David Edebiri  about the September governorship polls.

    He said for a group that cuts across the seven local government areas of the state and whose leader is known statewide as the oracle, the veracity of his predictions which are well known, cannot be doubted.

    Faulting claims that the people of Edo Central were not in support of the APC candidate, Eboigbe said that it is obvious from the statement credited to a foremost Esan traditional and Onojie of Opoji that such claims is not true.

    “In Edo central the Onojie of Opoji congratulated the Comrade governor for the peaceful primary of the APC that produced a very viable, competent, intelligent and a broad minded person in Godwin Obaseki who has been chairman of his economic team”.

    He said, “the Onojie particularly commended the Comrade governor and the people of the state for not allowing sentiments to override the interest of the people”.

    “At the palace of the Onojie of Irrua it was another unprecedented warm reception for the governor and the candidate and his deputy and the governor told the monarch that Obaseki is not new to governance as he has been with him from day one”.

    Eboigbe who echoed the prayers of the Onojie of Ubiaja who presented an Igbulu traditional dress usually reserved for personalities with dignity and love said it is obvious that APC will sweep the entire votes in Edo Central or Esanland.

  • Buhari, APC not behind PDP crisis – Opara

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Mega Party of Nigeria, Chief Perry Opara said Wednesday that the insinuations that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari were behind the current ordeal of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) were mere assertions of drowning men.

    Okpara said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that the party was only suffering from self-inflicted injuries, pointing out that the PDP as presently constituted was not in a position to win any election in the country in the near future.

    He said majority of political association currently seeking registration as political party with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were actually formed by aggrieved members of the PDP who are seeking alternative political platform outside the PDP.

    He said: “the insinuation that APC is behind the ordeal of PDP saying it is an assertion of drowning men. President Buhari has no hand in such trivial matters.

    “About 90 percent of political associations seeking registration as political party at INEC are PDP members who are either confused or disenchanted about PDP. A house divided against itself cannot stand. PDP is a failed project and Nigerians should look elsewhere.

    Okpara said that PDP died the day the Mega movement of Nigeria pulled out of the party, saying “the time Senator Ken Nnamani, Sen Dalhatu and others left the PDP, the conscience of the Party evaporated.

    “The fight in PDP will not abate. It will linger till 2018. The fight is not between Sheriff and Sen Markarfi. It is a fight between the Governors and the ordinary people. Sheriff shall fight till the end and the Governor will always want to show that they are the emperors. Impunity is the biggest undoing of the PDP. Everybody in the party is an expert and too big to be corrected.

    “The North will not allow a Southerner to lead PDP anymore because a Southerner ate into the North East tenure for more than seven (7) months. It was a slap on the North East and they will never give up the Chairmanship.

    “Only short-sighted politicians will still remain in a doomed house. I urge well-meaning PDP members to join the Mega movement as the only alternative Party in Nigeria.

    “We want to welcome the Yorubas into the Mega fold. We want the middle belt to join the Mega movement. Igbos have already jettisoned APGA to join the Mega movement since the soul of APGA, Dim Ojukwu has joined his ancestors and then financer, Mr Peter Obi has left to join the torn umbrella. Politicians should come to join hands so that we can build a new Mega platform for Nigerians political future.

    “The alternative political platform is the Peoples Mega Party of Nigeria. The movement of the People. A party devoid of the apron strings of the emperors- the Governors who have nothing to offer other than misappropriate public funds and impunity
    “Nigerians need a party where the not too rich, the professionals, the artisans and women are recognised. A party that can create jobs for the youths and make them self-reliant.

    “The Peoples Mega Party of Nigeria is the political amalgamation for the future in Nigeria. It is a project in the hand of GOD. It is the movement of the masses.

    “A project whose time has come. We believe all the recent predictions by Prophets of God. We respect them and we believe in God’s project.”

  • Ogbemudia group screens Obaseki

    Ogbemudia group screens Obaseki

    A socio-political group, the Edo Mass Movement led by two time governor of the defunct Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, has screened candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Godwin Obaseki.

    The group had last week promised to interface with all the candidates and come up with a position on whose candidate to support for the September 10 governorship election.

    Dr Ogbemudia who spoke after the meeting simply said, “is this not the man you people said does not talk?”

    Obaseki promised to eliminate any form of double taxation in form of extortion to reduce the tax burden of the people of the state.

    He said it was regrettable that the tax regime of the state government was politicized by the PDP just to give the state government a bad name.

    When questioned about issue of pensioners in the state, Obaseki said it was unfair to blame Oshiomhole’s administration for the plight of pensioners.

    He noted that ‘if those who were in government between 1999 – 2007 had paid these gratuities and pensions when they were there, this problem we have now wouldn’t have occurred.

    “When government builds roads, it is not 160,000 persons alone enjoy it. Don’t be deceived by anybody who comes to tell you that you will not pay tax. There is no government in the world that doesn’t collect taxes. We have been told on the incidences of double taxation, and we are working on it. As a government, we will stop the incident of double taxation. We will stop the problem of extortion,”

    “When we came, we met gratuity and pension arrears from 1997 and we had a choice of paying only those who retired from 2008 when we came, but we didn’t, instead, we had to start defraying the arrears from 1997.

    “Currently, we have done up to 2013. That is where we are right now and we would have done others but for the economic challenges. We are however working to sort this out as soon as possible.”

  • Ondo guber: Tinubu, Akande have no anointed candidate – Boroffice

    Ondo guber: Tinubu, Akande have no anointed candidate – Boroffice

    The Senator representing Ondo North senatorial district, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice has urged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State to disregard the rumours on purported endorsement of any of the 25 governorship aspirants of the party by its national leadership.

    A statement in Akure, the state capital by his media aide, Kayode Adeniyi, described the rumor on endorsement as needless distraction that will never aid its promoters.

    He urged the over 3,000 delegates in the party to remain vigilant and steadfast as some desperate politicians may have ignited the rumor in an attempt to derail the focus of the party on free, fair, credible and transparent primary election.

    Boroffice said he got assurances from the APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former interim National chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and  party leaders in the Southwest geopolitical zone that there is nothing like anointed aspirant or endorsement as far as the governorship primary election of the party is concerned.

    The Asiwaju of Akokoland said: “As an aspirant and democrat, I have had intimate interactions and engagements with party delegates over the years.

    “The support I enjoy from them is reassuring. No distraction, whether calculated or accidental, can derail our focus on August 27, the scheduled date for primary election. My supporters and I are ready to participate and win.”
    He urged the party loyalists to comport themselves and ensure that the desired change in governance needed in the state is realised from February next year.