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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • S/East APC to Oshiomhole: revisit zoning of N/A offices

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) South East zone Stakeholders rose from a meeting Saturday in Enugu with a call to the national leadership of the party to revisit the subsisting zoning of principal offices in the 9th National Assembly in a more equitable manner that would accord more deserving positions to the South East zone.

    This, they said, was with recourse to the consideration that the country rests on the six geopolitical zones of South East, South-South, South West, North Central, North East and North West.

    In a communique read by the national vice chairman of the party, South East, Hon Emma Eneukwu, the stakeholders urged the national leadership of the party to draw strength from the need “to utilize the zoning of principal offices in the 9th National Assembly to further deepen and strengthen the electoral appeal of the party, especially in parts of the country where it may be considered as weak.”

    They admonished that at all times it should be borne in mind that since democracy is a dynamic process, the party should remain a truly national political party with broad based support in all parts of the country, the South East inclusive.

    Read Also: Oshiomhole’s statement on Rivers twisted, says APC

    The stakeholders deplored in strong terms, what they called “the undue interference and unwholesome meddlesomeness by forces by forces from outside the zone in the affairs of the South East of our great party aimed at fictionalising and destabilizing the party in the zone.”

    Present at the meeting include the minister for Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; the minister for Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige; VON DG, Osita Okechukwu; Hon Nkeiru Onyejeocha and Hon Chile Okafor both aspirants to the Speakership of the House of Representatives.

    Others include Senator Chris Adighije, Senator elect Orji Uzor Kalu, Chief Uche Ogah, General J. O. J. Okoloagu (rtd), Dr Emeka Worgu, and a host of others.

    The stakeholders at the end set up a contact (lobby) committee to reach out to other zones of the country regards to their demand.

    The committee is headed by Dr Ogbonnaya Onu. Others include Dr Chris Ngige, Geoffrey Onyeama, Azubuike Udah, Senator Chris Nwankwo, Mrs. Ugo Okoye and Hon Austin Chukwukere.

    A reconciliation committee was also set up to be headed by Emeka Worgu while Sunny Onyeukwu would serve as secretary.

     

     

     

  • APC Coalition petitions Buhari,Tinubu

    A coalition of Ondo state All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth and Women in politics have expressed concern over alleged act of indiscipline within the party in the state.

    The coalition had petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and the National leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on their findings about the affairs of the party in the state.

    The petition was signed by the coalition’s chairman, Ogunleye Odunayo and secretary, Mrs Yakubu Oluremi who strongly believed that the National leadership of the party must be aware of how Ondo APC leaders allegedly mobilized attack and used state ,local government machinery and the party’s resources to support their political allies who contested under the platform of Action Alliance (AA).

    According to the petition “It will interest you to know that agents of Ondo State Government masterminded the petition against the emergence of the only APC Senate elect in Ondo State at the election tribunal for the state.

    “A petition had been filed before the tribunal for the Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN) against the Independent National Electoral Commission and Senator Ajayi Boroffice, the only APC senator elect from Ondo State by the agents of the state government and the ruling party under Mr Ade Adetimehin

    “It was a rude shock for us to hear that one of the lawyers used by them is the biological son of the AA candidate, Tunji Abayomi, who was sponsored by the state government”.

    The coalition therefore appealed to President Buhari and Asiwaju Tinubu to use their good offices and to dissolve the present state executives of Ondo State APC,stressing that over 85 percent of party members had been sidelined from the party for working against AA candidates.

    Read Also: APC tackles PDP over claim on INEC server

    The APC leaders according to the Coalition openly campaigned for AA candidates and directed members not to vote for APC candidates.

    It noted that the sample of AA ballot papers were freely distributed to APC members to educate them on how to vote for AA candidates which eventually led to the failure of President Buhari in Ondo State.

    The statement further alleged that in the eve of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the APC mobilization funds given to the party was released to AA party leaders and candidates on the order from above.

    It said “We from 48 APC youth and women groups met in Akure, the state capital to protest the anti-party activities of the APC leaders in Ondo state and jointly agreed to write you about the danger in keeping the present party executives in the state under Adetimehin.

  • APC kicks against life pensions for Bayelsa lawmakers

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has kicked against a bill passed by the state’s House of Assembly awarding life pensions to its members.

    The party said it also observed how the strange idea, which was proposed as a bill and passed by the House on Wednesday, had set the public pulse racing.

    The party completely rejected the idea describing the bill as unjust, ungodly and self-serving.

    The State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, said it was unsympathetic for members of the House of Assembly to seek to enhance their lives at the expense of the vast majority of Bayelsa people living in pain and penury.

    Buokoribo described the life pension bill as an unspeakable crime against our people.

    He said the party was making efforts to enthrone a regime of better life for the people of Bayelsa.

    Buokoribo said: “And we have led a robust opposition to the current system of anti-people governance in the state for close to eight years.

    Read Also: Niger APC legislators back Gbajabiamila

    “Regarding this latest move by the House of Assembly, we again say that the idea is avaricious, wicked, and insensitive.

    “By proposing such a law, the lawmakers have merely portrayed themselves as a people who feel no concern for the feelings of their suffering constituents.

    “They have once again confirmed that they are in cahoots with the executive in the serial impoverishment of the people of Bayelsa State.

    “APC advises the legislature to withdraw the obnoxious pension bill and avoid the appalling crime against the people of Bayelsa State.

    “In the event of the legislature’s refusal to heed this solemn advice, we appeal to Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, if he is still in touch with his essential humanity, to refuse assent to the pension bill when it is transmitted to him.

    “Failing this, the party calls on the people of Bayelsa State to embark on a campaign of peaceful resistance against the rogue assembly and the poverty regime of Governor Dickson”.

     

  • Niger APC deserts Bago for Gbajabiamila, Lawan

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) and members-elect of the House of Representatives in Niger State have dashed the hope of member representing Chachanga constituency Mohammed Bago of becoming the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    At a meeting on Monday evening in Government convened by Governor Abubakar Bello, the state decided to throw its weight behind Femi Gbajabiamila for Speakership and Ahmed Lawan for the Senate President.

    Bago, representing Chanchaga constituency in the House of Representatives, is one of the key contenders for speakership of the 9th House of Representatives.

    Niger APC’s chairman, Engineer Jibril Imam, said the state have decided to follow the stance of the party, saying the position of APC’s national leadership on who emerges leaders of the 9th Assembly stands.

    “Going by what happened during the tenure of the 8th National Assembly, the party at all level decided to reach a middle ground to enable us present a formidable front on the matter,” he stated.

    Imam said the meeting was a follow up to an earlier one by all APC state chairmen and Governors from the North Central states in Abuja.

    He pointed out the Minna meeting was attended by serving and elected members from the state who unanimously adopted the two candidates for the positions respectively.

    Read Also: Speakership: Imo Reps-elect back Gbajabiamila

    He further said that the endorsement was to avert the reoccurrence of the 8th Assembly, which was unpalatable and slowed down the progress of the nation in the last four years.

    “We are loyal party members and have resolved to toe the position of the party by endorsing Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan as the Senate President of the 9th Assembly and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as the Speaker of the 9th Assembly.

    “Our experience in the 8th Assembly is not palatable and it has  slow down our progress in the last 4 years and we don’t want a repeat of that,” he reiterated.

    Speaking on behalf of the Representatives members-elects in Niger state, Abdullahi Mahmud representing Agaie/Lapai constituency, said the adoption of the duo of Lawan and Gbajabiamila was an affirmation of party supremacy.

     

  • APC youths demand 40 percent appointments

    Youths under the auspices of All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Organisation at the weekend urged President Muhammadu Buhari to allocate 40 percent of his administration’s appointment slots to youths in the country.

    The youth organisation added that by so doing the President will be fulfilling one of his reelection campaign promises.

    They said “this promise, if fulfilled, will give the youths good sense of belonging and compensation for their contributions towards his victory.”

    Convener and acting President of the APC youth organisation Samsideen Ogunolu said this at the inaugural meeting of the group in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.

    Representatives of the youths from Southwest, Southeast, North central and North-west attended the meeting.

    Ogunolu said: “We appreciate President Buhari to make the youths self-reliant by providing excellent empowerment schemes like N-Power programmes for graduates as a means of volunteering for the success of youths.

    “However, we appeal to the president to create more opportunities for our teeming youths being churned out of the various institutions of higher learning across the country. This can be achieved by creating more entrepreneurship programmes and equipping our universities to ICT compliant.

    Read Also: House Leadership: ‘APC won’t have their way’

    “Similarly, we want to honestly appeal to the president to improve on free education as that will help indigent students and serve as indirect empowerment to widows who could not afford their wards school fees and reduce the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

    “We equally want to remind the president of his campaign promise to “Not too young to run” to support the emergence of youthful candidate in the next presidential elections and implore the youths to always vote beyond ethnic sentiment and religious lines.

    “The future of Nigeria and Africa at large rests in our hands and we need each other irrespective of political differences to accomplish this task.

    “All positive contributions are needed to bring positive transformation to our fatherland.”

  • N30, 000 minimum wage, another election promise delivered – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) says the signing into law of N30, 000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers by President Muhammadu Buhari is another election promise delivered.

    APC National Publicity Secretary, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, made the assertion in a statement on Friday in Abuja, while commending Buhari for signing the new minimum wage bill into law.

    “Truly, our workers deserve a new, improved and implementable minimum wage in view of current economic realities.

    “Commendably, the welfare of workers has remained a top priority of the Buhari-led APC administration,” he said.

    The APC spokesman said that this has been demonstrated by the Federal Government’s bailouts to states to pay workers salary and housing schemes for civil servants among other welfare packages in 2018.

    Issa-Onilu congratulated stakeholders that ensured the achievement of this laudable feat, particularly the National Assembly, state governors, the Amma Pepple-led tripartite committee, labour and trade unions and indeed Nigerian workers.

    “The signing of new minimum wage is another solid demonstration of a President who matches his words with actions,” he said.

    The APC spokesman recalled that Buhari had severally assured of a new and improved national minimum wage for workers.

    “The assent of the N30,0 00 minimum wage by the president is indeed another election promise delivered,” Issa-Onilu said.

    Read Also: APC to Wike: leave Amaechi alone

    Buhari signed into law the Minimum Wage Repeal and Re-Enactment Act 2019 on Thursday.

    By this act, the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers is now N30, 000 monthly.

    All employers of labour across the country with at least 25 workers are mandated by the law to pay their workers a minimum of N30,000 monthly wage.

    The National Assembly had submitted the minimum wage Bill to the President since March 27.

    The Bill approving N30, 000 as the new national minimum wage was passed by both chambers of the National Assembly before they went on break for the 2019 general election.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other trade unions had in 2018 insisted on an upward review of the monthly wage of Nigerian workers which was N18, 000 before now.

    The NLC had used various means, including dialogue and calling for strike to get the federal government and other stakeholders to see reason why the wage of the Nigerian worker needed to be reviewed upward.

    NAN

     

  • Buhari’s re-election: ‘Another rejection of corruption by Nigerians’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), South Africa Chapter, has said that the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari was a testament to rejection of corruption by Nigerians.

    Mr Sanni David, the National Publicity Secretary of the group, quoted the Chairman of the chapter, Mr Bola Babarinde, as saying this at the APC S/Africa Victory Gala Dinner held in honour of Buhari in Pretoria, South Africa.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Buhari defeated his closest rival from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in the Feb. 23 Presidential Election.

    “The event was to celebrate the APC victory at the just-concluded elections for the President, Governors, National and States Houses of Assembly.

    “APC SA is elated and proud of the way Nigerians voted.

    “It shows that we, as common people, are averred to corruption and have rejected corruption for a second term of four years,’’ David, in a statement, quoted Babarinde as saying.

    He said that Babarinde described the victory gala dinner as a higher success and that chieftains of the chapter were great assets to the party.

    Read Also: Buhari signs N30,000 Minimum Wage Bill

    David added that Babarinde commended Buhari for giving special attention to the fight against Boko Haram and corruption.

    He said that the chairman also sued for peace and called on the government of South Africa to put an end to xenophobic attacks as Africans are one.

    According to David, the dinner was also an occasion to inaugurate the council of elders amongst whom majority were medical doctors, PhD holders and astute business men and women.

    Also, the publicity secretary quoted Pastor Gladys Adunola, the chapter’s Eomen Leader, as using the occasion to call on Buhari to ensure that he consolidated on his first term in office.

    The publicity secretary quoted Adunola as saying: “He (Buhari) is the only hope of the Nigerian masses.

    “The incoming party’s majority National Assembly members should ensure a smooth and speedy passage of the Diapsora voting bill.’’

    David said that APC SA was approved to be established in April 2016 with mandate dated April 2016 and duly signed by the then party Chairman, Chief Odigie Oyegun.

    “Today under the leadership of our indefatigable National Chairman, Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, we have witnessed a turn around and see party discipline entrenched on our great party.

    “Party supremacy cannot be underestimated. We thank him for his support and his goodwill message to us through his Chief Press Secretary,’’ David said.

    NAN

  • I have no grudge against Segun Oni – Fayemi

    Ekiti State Gov. Kayode Fayemi says he has no grudge against his predecessor, Chief Segun Oni, for challenging his election victory in court.

    Fayemi spoke in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday while reacting to his victory at the Supreme Court in the eligibility suit filed by Oni.

    The governor, who bared his mind after swearing-in the new Head of Service, Mr. Ayodele Ajayi, said what bothered him, however, was the distractions.

    He said the Supreme Court judgment would now enable the state to move forward and end all contentions about his emergence.

    The governor also said the apex court judgment showed that he properly resigned in line with the constitutional provision, contrary to Oni’s claim.

    The governor further said the primaries of the party which produced him as All Progressives Congress (APC)  governorship candidate in the state in 2018 was free, fair and devoid of manipulations.

    “Ekiti must move forward. Enough of these distractions. Enough of these recriminations over matters that ought not to go to court.

    ” It is very clear that I resigned in accordance with the constitution of the land and that the shenanigans that culminated in the White Paper that said Fayemi should not serve in public office have been dealt with in the appropriate law courts as the thrash that it was at the time.

    Read Also: Fayemi’s dream team comes on board

    “It also shows clearly that the primaries that took place in Ekiti for anyone who is objective enough was the cleanest, the fairest and most credible primaries that had ever taken place in the history of electioneering in Nigeria.

    “Now that the highest court in the land has pronounced definitely on it, I hope he (Oni) would see it as a cue to play a more active role in the party.

    “Oni, to the best of my knowledge, remains a member of the APC. I don’t believe he has removed himself from the party.

    “But I think this would not lead to another round of recriminations and attacks,” he said.

    The governor, while swearing-in the new Head of Service, had urged him to be upright and provide the right leadership for the civil service.

    “We will not tolerate any breach of the accord we have signed with Ekiti people. Do your best, justify the confidence reposed in you.

    “Though people will be congratulating you, I commiserate with you because so much is expected of you, and you cannot afford to disappoint us,” Fayemi said.

    In his response, Ajayi pledged to provide strong leadership for the civil service in the state.

    NAN

     

  • Rivers crisis: Leave Amaechi alone, APC chieftain urges Wike

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has urged Governor Nyesom Wike not to link the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi with the crisis witnessed in the state during the last elections.

    Eze made the admonition Monday in an online statement.

    Wike, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), shortly after last week’s Supreme Court’s judgements involving cases filed by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a state broadcast, pleaded with Amaechi, his predecessor, who is the leader of APC in Rivers state and the Southsouth zone, and other chieftains of the party (APC) to join him to move the state forward, promising that political court cases against APC members would be discontinued.

    Eze, however, said: “Wike’s state broadcast, among other deficiencies, failed to address the critical issues bedeviling the State, especially insecurity and loss of value for human lives. The starting point for Rivers governor ought to have been an unreserved apology to Rivers people, because he (Wike) engineered the insecurity, which has destroyed many communities in Rivers State.

    Read Also: Wike pledges to tackle cult-related killings

    “Contrary to the erroneous impression contained in Wike’s state broadcast, Amaechi has no case that Wike’s Attorney-General has to withdraw or recommend to be discontinued, as it is hypocritical to sit on a seat of the governor unjustly and look for who to hold peace parley with.

    “Neither the Transportation Minister nor the APC is the cause of the current bad governance in Rivers State. Wike, through his lack of vision and ineptitude, has turned the once economically bubbling, secure and peaceful state into a hotbed of cultism, killings, kidnapping and an unsafe haven. Persons who are responsible for the criminal activities are those Rivers governor and his PDP are backing and protecting.”

    The APC chieftain also stated rather than wasting time on empty broadcast, Wike should be preparing his defence at the election petitions tribunal, declaring that the manipulated and massively-rigged elections would not stand.

    He said: “It is sad that instead of Wike to address challenging issues confronting the people of Rivers State, he is dwelling so much on the crisis he ignited in Rivers APC, to his benefit.

    “While Wike was reading his state broadcast, medical doctors were protesting non-payment of their seven-month salaries. Pensioners and civil servants are at a loss on who to present their plight of non-payment of their pensions and salaries for many months to.”

    Eze also stated that pursuance of peace without social justice, mapping of strategies on the creation of jobs for the teeming qualified youths and elimination of hunger, amelioration of the plights of the civil servants, pensioners and most importantly strategies on restoration of security in Rivers state, would not bring about the much-desired results.

     

  • Abe: My 2019 gov ambition over

    Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers South-East) has declared an end to his 2019 governorship ambition in Rivers state.

    The declaration followed the last week’s Supreme Court judgement on the matter bordering on the 2019 governorship candidacy for the state All Progressives Congress (APC) in the general elections.

    Abe also noted the Supreme Court pronouncement has also brought to an end to the issue of faction in the state party.

    He called on all members to come together and move the party forward.

    He spoke on Sunday at the APC stakeholders meeting in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    He equally noted by the development, APC’s dreams for elective political positions in 2019 in Rivers have been laid to rest.

    He vowed to rebuild the party in the state and called on every member to join hands together to achieve the dream.

    He blamed the unfortunate fate that befell the party in the polls on high handedness of some persons in the party who exalted themselves above others members.

    According to him, if every member of the party was given equal right to participate in APC’s activities, the experience would have been different.

    He said the supreme Court judgement is a precedent for future reference, adding that no more will anyone politically suppress it’s party members in the country.

    Read Also: Why Ogoni clean up may fail, by Abe

    Abe said: “With the last week Supreme Court pronouncement on our candidacy matter, I have ended my ambition for 2019 here in Rivers.

    “This time again, the court upheld the Rivers State High Court judgement of Justice Chiwendu Wogu, which authenticates the leadership of Peter Odike as the current APC state chairman where I contested for governorship.

    “We have come to fight for Representation in government, every human being as members of APC should be treated with respect.

    “We have sacrificed so much, we may not be holding anything now but because of what we have done politics will be better in our country.

    “We need to be realistic so that we can move forward. The dream that we have in the state is laid to rest because of the pronouncement of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in our suit before it.

    “As a lawyer we know that the Supreme Court is infallible. That pronouncement by the Supreme Court brought to an end our agitation.

    “But God knows the reason, He (God) who knows what we do not know, made His decision.”

    He noted “Peter Odike’s factional APC remains the authentic party in the state. The Congress they held still remains voided. No other person or group can parade as APC executives based on the Supreme Court judgement.”