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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • Embark on massive project execution, Timi Frank tells PDP governors-elect

    Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank wants all elected candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) not to betray the confidence of the people, but to be strongly determined to embark on massive execution of projects that will have direct bearing on Nigerians.

    Frank in a congratulatory message to the elected PDP governors across the country also asked the courts to void the elections of all APC governors and do what he described as the needful, saying the governing party has lost the confidence of Nigerians and are no longer in position to win any free and fair election.

    The former APC spokesman who has since pitched his tent with the PDP also asked President Muhammadu Buhari to toe the part of honour and publicly apologised to Nigerians for being a beneficiary of an electoral process tinted with fraud.

    Read Also: PDP, Secondus congratulate Wike, others on victory

    Frank salutes the courage of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, Bala Mohammed in Bauchi state and Fintiri in Adamawa state for fighting hard to defend the mandate of the people for the opposition party, while  felicitating with all other PDP governors-elect, Senators-elect, House of Representatives Members-elect and all the State House of Assembly members-elect across the country.

    He said the opposition PDP fought a good fight throughout the country despite what he described as “evil marriage and conspiracy by the APC government with security agencies and the electoral body to turn Nigeria to a one party state.”

    He said the ruling party “has now lost popularity in all the states of the federation, struggled to rig where it won and eventually becomes a regional party having lost massively in South-east and the South-south zones.

    “I make bold to say that the APC in Nigeria of today can never win a free, fair and credible election at all levels.”

    According to the former APC spokesman, the flood of petitions to Electoral Petition Tribunals across the states is an evidence of a sham and badly conducted election in the history of Nigeria under the APC government.

    “This election puts President Muhammadu Buhari’s integrity in question except he toes the path of late President Musa Yar’adua, who acknowledged that the election that brought him into office, was characterized by fraud and apologise to Nigerians.

    “When I raised alarms over plan to militarise the just concluded elections, some people didn’t take it serious but Nigerians could see how a government expected to protect them unleashed its institutions on them as video evidence of Ballot box snatching, intimidation of voters and massive manipulation of their votes were witnessed during the elections.

    “While I wholeheartedly congratulate the opposition PDP candidates across the country who could not be rigged, especially in Rivers, Bauchi, Adamawa, Oyo, Imo and others, I strongly believe that Judiciary will do the needful in Kano, Nasarawa, Kastina among other states where the will of the people were obviously manipulated.

    “I urge all the victorious PDP candidates to strongly determine to better the lot of their people who have repose confidence in them by massively embarking on projects and policies which will have direct positive bearing on the lives of Nigerians.”

    While calling on the PDP supporters to remain calm, Frank assured that the PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, will reclaim the mandate freely given during the presidential election at the court of law.

  • Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat to get certificates of return Friday -INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shifted the date for the issuance of Certificates of Return to the Governor-elect, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.

    The INEC Spokesman, Mr. Femi Akinbiyi, who disclosed this in statement on Monday, said that the event, earlier scheduled for Wednesday would now hold on Friday.

    Read also:UPDATED: INEC declares Ganduje winner of Kano rerun

    Akinbiyi, however, said that the commission would later announce a new date for the issuance of the certificates to the 40 lawmakers-elect of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    “The event will take place at the INEC Lagos office, 6, Birrel Avenue Sabo-Yaba at 11a.m.

    “A new date will be announced later for the presentation of Certificates of Return to the 40 elected members of Lagos State House of Assembly,” Akinbiyi said.

    INEC had on March 21, in a statement signed by its Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Sam Olumekun, announced that it would present the certificates to the newly- elected officers on March 27.

    According to Olumekun, the presentation is in conformity with section 75 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sanwo-Olu, of All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 739,445 votes to defeat Jimi Agbaje of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 206,141 votes, and other contestants in the March 9 Governorship Election.

    INEC declared Sanwo-Olu winner of the poll on March 10, with candidates of All Progressives Congress (APC) winning all the 40 state constituencies in the state.

  • ‘Minority will not lead next Senate’

    Kwara South All Progressives Congress (APC) senator-elect Lola Ashiru yesterday said the Ninth National Assembly will not make the mistake of the Eighth Senate in its choice of leadership.

    He added that a minority party would not be allowed to lead the majority, saying political abnormalities that characterised the election of leaders in the outgoing National Assembly would not happen in the new legislative assembly.

    Ashiru, an architect, spoke with reporters in Offa, Offa local government, saying, the new National Assembly would witness a cohesive and acceptable leadership to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts.

    The senator-elect said: “With my interactions with other senators-elect in APC, they have common mind of one Nigeria devoid of parochial interest to make the nation move ahead.

    “ Few of our members have signified intention to take a slot at the Senate presidency and they are credible members to take the leadership.

    “I believe that politics is about competition and I know that this Ninth Assembly would not be like that of the Eighth Assembly because there is no more room for political  abnormalities as experienced during the Eighth assembly.

    “During the period, a lot of abnormalities happened where minority party emerged as the leadership of the National Assembly and I am saying it now that such act will never happen in the Ninth Assembly because APC is in majority and more united now than ever  to provide a good leadership and to make laws for the good governance of the country.”

    Ashiru also said the struggle for political freedom in the state, which lasted 40 years, would not be wasted.

    “We went through political hell in the last 20 years and thank God we are finally out of it. We will never go back to that era, we won’t return to Egypt,”he said.

    Speaking about his plans, he  said in the first three months in office, he would bring about a political rebirth in the political nomenclature of Kwara South.

    He added that the political rebirth would ensure continuous development and provide opportunity for people to remove any non-performing elected officers as was done through O to ge movement in the last election.

    He added that the rebirth would bring about unprecedented developments in the senatorial district and would also provide a sound  leadership platform that would outlive him.

    Ashiru. added that the traditional rulers in the area would be engaged to effectively perform their traditional obligations to the people of their domain.

  • Tambuwal pledges continued people-oriented policies

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Sunday assured the people that he would execute projects that would improve their living standards.

    Tambuwal, who addressed jubilant supporters on Sunday in Sokoto, advised the people to maintain peace while celebrating the party’s success at the polls.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Tambuwal, who contested on the platform of the PDP, scraped through by garnering 512,002 votes, 342 votes more than his former deputy and APC challenger, Ahmad Aliyu, who got 511,660 votes.

    He said that the victory was not only for him but for the entire people of the state.

    “We have succeeded in wining this election with all of you and we will ensure a strategic government that will involve all so as to develop Sokoto State and maintain its credibility and respect in the country and the world at large.

    “We have won the election and we need to celebrate it, but I urge all of you to maintain peaceful victory rallies and also pray for the best leadership of our dreams,” he said.

    Tambuwal further thanked the people for giving him another chance to serve them and assured them that they would not regret that trust.

    NAN reports that wild victory celebrations enveloped Sokoto State immediately after the Chief Collation/Returning Officer for the state, Prof. Fatima Mukhtar, declared Tambuwal as duly elected. (NAN)

  • Supplementary Elections: APC says it’s confident of victory

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it is confident of victory in the forthcoming March 23 supplementary elections in six states as fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC National Publicity Secretary, expressed the confidence in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    He, however, added that the decision of INEC to hold supplementary elections, in Rivers, Bauchi, Sokoto, Kano, Plateau and Benue states was illegal.

    “As a party, the APC is very confident of victory in the forthcoming supplementary elections; our commitment to free and fair elections in the country remains resolute.

    “We urge INEC to ensure that all loopholes that led to rigging, vote buying and intimidation of voters by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are blocked.

    “We equally urge INEC and relevant security agencies to ensure that the supplementary election is free, peaceful and fair compared to the last inconclusive governorship election,” he said.

    This, Issa-Onilu said, was especially in the state which was characterised by many irregularities including voter-intimidation, stressing that no political ambition was worth the life of any voters.

    He further noted that after the March 9 governorship elections across the country, polls in affected states were declared inconclusive by the INEC.

    According to him, the electoral process was also suspended in Rivers State in a very fraudulent circumstance.

    He recalled that the APC had severally raised alarm over the plot by the opposition PDP to use violence, vote-buying and other election malpractices to subvert the will of the electorate and steal their mandate.

    Issa-Onilu said the shocking events leading to the last minute postponement of the presidential election provided clear evidence with PDP agents caught in different parts of the country with programmed card readers.

    He said PDP agents were also caught with sensitive election materials and large cache of weapons and security paraphernalia.

    “Undeterred, the PDP executed its rigging plot through its agents across the country by unleashing violence, vote-buying and hijacking election materials to rig and falsify elections results.

    “The result was violent disruption in many polling areas and over voting which led to many cancelled votes and ultimately the supplementary elections and suspended exercise in some states,” Issa-Onilu said.

    He noted that in Benue, INEC declared the governorship election inconclusive, citing an insufficient margin in votes obtained by the APC candidate, Mr Emmanuel Jime and the PDP candidate, Gov. Samuel Ortom, the state incumbent Governor.

    INEC, he said, also reported that 41 polling units in Vandeikya did not use the card reader, as it was the case in many in Gwer-West, Gwer-East, Gboko and other places.

    Issa-Onilu said a coalition of election observers in Benue had since called on INEC to declare the candidate of the APC, the winner of the polls in line with the Electoral Act, adding that the APC align with the position of the observers.

    He maintained that there was no doubt that the APC candidate obtained the highest number of legitimate votes with the usage of the card reader.

    In Rivers, Issa-Onilu said the APC was concerned and deeply troubled by the unfolding events in the state which it condemned in strong terms.

    “This unholy alliance between Gov. Nyesom Wike, PDP and INEC is to prevent Rivers people from electing a candidate of their choice by imposing Wike, the PDP candidate on them.

    “It was glaring that Wike was losing until INEC stepped in to halt the process, apparently to save him from impending defeat. INEC must put a halt to this madness and brazen illegality.

    “The desperation of the PDP governorship candidate, Gov. Nyesom Wike, to remain in office even if it means destroying the state and killing its people, is throwing the state into turmoil and crisis,” Issa-Onilu said.

    He added that it was on record that Wike through the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga, engaged PDP card carrying members as Local Government Area (LGA) Collation Officers to skew the elections in favour of Wike and the PDP.

  • Daniel, supporters in thousands finally leave PDP for APC

    Former Governor Gbenga Daniel and thousands of supporters on Sunday formally declared to jettison the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State.

    The declaration touched – off a spontaneous and thunderous chanting of the APC slogans “change” and “Next level” at Daniel’s “Asoludero Hall” within his private residence in Sagamu GRA, Ogun State.

    This followed intense pressure mounted Daniel to lead them to APC and not abandoned them midstream.

    The loyalists who took turn to speak, hinged their demands on the fact that their efforts contributed to the emergence of Prince Dapo Abiodun, as the governor-elect of Ogun state on the platform of APC.

    The former governor who governed Ogun state on the ticket of PDP for eight years, had convened a stakeholders’ meeting of his loyalists under the aegis of OGD Political Family at his Sagamu home where he  formally announced his withdrawal from partisan politics.

    He disclosed that his foray into politics was accidental and necessitated by the need to “awaken the sleeping giant” – Ogun state from slumber and having met that need, it was important that he leaves the stage when the “ovation is loudest.”

    Daniel also lamented that he has been “bartered, “bruised”  and “called names because of politics” hence his resolve to quit even and a time there is much outcries against “sit tight leaders.”

    He also narrated how he failed at getting Hon. Ladi Adebutu as well as the governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) to work together after the court had validated  Senator Buruji Kashamu as the PDP gubernatorial candidate, and further lamenting that members of his political family failed to listen to him on a number of occasions.

    But his supporters, said they would take none of such excuses from him, protesting that why could he even let the resignation from politics to the media without first consulting them.

    One of them, Ifekayode Akinbode led other members of the OGD Political Family to prostrate for Daniel with the women holding  his legs, pleading passionately that he should lead them to APC.

    And arriving at a final resolution, the PDP Senatorial candidate for Ogun Central during the just concluded 2019 general elections, put the matter to  a voice vote where to choose between remaining in PDP or joining APC but in unison, the all resolved to collectively join APC.

  • INEC indictment: Apologise to Nigerians, Frank tells Buratai

    Following the indictment of the military for their role in the governorship and state Assembly election, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, wants the Chief of Army staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai, to  tender a public apology to Nigerians.

    Reacting to a statement credited to the INEC on Saturday expressing displeasure over the role played by armed military personnel during the Rivers state governorship election, Frank said he had been vindicated.

    He said he had  earlier raised an alarm calling on the military authorities to be neutral before the election, adding that instead of the security agency to heed his call, “Buratai and his co-politicians in military uniform disregarded it and tagged him as a “Protagonist of Fake News.”

    While describing the military’s involvement in the 2019 general elections as shameful, Frank said if the likes of Buratai and his cohorts are tired of wearing military uniforms “they should form a political party or publicly register as a department under the APC.”

    He challenged the military to name just one country in Africa or the entire world where their colleagues have brazenly taken sides during elections “like what Nigeria witnessed in both the presidential, National Assembly and governorship elections?

    Read Also: Ijaw youths to Buratai: call your men to order

    “In 2015, there was no reported case of an active involvement of military personnel during the general elections. Although, that was the last time Nigeria had a civilian President who had respect for democracy and the rule of law.

    “Therefore, the honest declaration by the INEC regarding the involvement of military under Buratai in the Rivers State governorship election is a shame and I deserve apology from the Nigerian Army for tagging me as a “Protagonist of Fake News.

    “Evil, they say, can only succeed when good people refuse to talk. As far as Nigeria is concerned, I and other likeminds shall not be intimidated or forced into a conspiracy of silence in the face of oppression – which the Nigerian military under Buratai is reputed for”

  • INEC decision on Bauchi rerun evil, unacceptable – APC chieftain

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has continued to come under attack over the sudden change in its earlier decision to reject the result of the governorship election in Tafawa Balewa local government area of Bauchi state.

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Yekini Nabena, said the decision was a form of conspiracy against the APC, describing it as a evil plot which will not be allowed.

    Nabena who is also the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party said the governing party will not accept such a decision as it contravene the provisions of the electoral act.

    The electoral body had earlier declare the governorship election inconclusive and set a date for rerun but suddenly changed the decision based on the reports submitted by a committee headed by Festus Okoye to investigate the issue.

    Nabena said on Sunday that  his party has rejected the decision taken by the INEC on the governorship election results from Tafawa Balewa local government area, saying “Considering the letters and spirit of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended), and the INEC Guidelines for 2019 General Elections, INEC is not empowered to reverse any decision taken at the Collation Center by the Returning Officer appointed for that purpose.

    Read Also: INEC wrong on inconclusive elections

    “Such decisions can only be reversed by a Court of law, especially when INEC cannot approbate and reprobate”.

    The party also accused the Festus Okoye-led committee of denying it fair hearing as its agent were not invited during the hearing to ascertain the circumstances leading to the cancellation of the Tafawa Balewa local government election result.

    “The composition of the committee is also questionable as the Committee chairman, Festus Okoye Esq, is a close ally of and ex-personal Solicitor of Hon. Yakubu Dogara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “No justice can be done by the committee chairman who is interested in the whole issues and the instant circumstances,” he said.

  • APC rejects INEC’s decision on Bauchi governorship election

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi State Chapter alleged that the fact-finding Committee sent by the Independent National Electoral Commission to probe the irregularities in the governorship election of 9 March denied the party fair hearing.

    Alhaji Uba Nana the state Chairman of the party made the allegation at a press conference in Bauchi on Saturday.

    INEC announced on Friday night that a new returning officer will resume the collation of the Bauchi governorship election results on Tuesday. It also amended the result of four polling units in Ningi local government, from 25330 to 2533. The decision meant that the commission will announce the winner of the election thereafter.

    “The fact-finding Committee chaired by Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee denied fair hearing to APC as a political party whose agents were not invited during hearing of the facts leading to the cancellation of the Results of Tafawa Balewa LGA.

    “Any decision taken in violation of fair hearing is illegal, null and void,” he said.

    According to Nana, the composition of the Committee was also questionable as the Committee Chairman, FESTUS OKOYE ESQ is a close ally and former solicitor to Hon. Yakubu Dogara of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

    Nana Stressed  that no justice can be done by the Committee Chairman who is interested in the whole issues and the instant circumstances.

    He pointed out that this was proved by the fact that PDP and Yakubu Dogara on Facebook pre-empted the outcome of the Committee’s finding before formal publication by INEC.

    The APC chairman said that the decision of INEC based on the Committee’s Report was already prayed for at the Federal High Court, Bauchi in Suit No. FHC/BAU/CS/18/2019 filed by Bala Mohammed and PDP against INEC.

    “Unfortunately, the extant decision of INEC reversing the cancellation of Tafawa Balewa Results was earlier sought for but refused by the Court in the said suit at interim stage. Now INEC has granted what was refused by the Court of law in the interest of justice,” he said.

    Nana said the Party rejected in totality, the report of the fact-finding Committee on the disruption of collation process at Tafawa Balewa and the subsequent decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reverse its earlier resolution cancelling the entire results of Tafawa Balewa LGA.

    He said the position taken by INEC is illegal, null and void having regards to the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and INEC Guidelines for 2019 General Elections.(NAN)

  • Bayelsa PDP, APC biker over Clark-led Elders group’s comments

    The Bayelsa State Chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) have bickered on recent comments of Chief Edwin Clark’s group on the outcome of the 2019 General Elections.

    The Bayelsa APC had on Thursday criticised the Clark-led Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum for allegedly being partisan in comments on the elections.

    But in a reaction on Saturday, the state’s PDP said the APC criticism of the group was disrespectful.

    The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum had issued a statement titled, “On Danger Signals from Rivers and Other States.” which alleged that APC leaders in Bayelsa and Rivers, led by Ex-Govs Timipre Sylva and Rotimi Ameachi, were behind electoral violence in the states.

    The statement was signed by Chief Edwin Clark, leader of Pan Niger Delta Elders’ Forum (PANDEF) Chief Ayo Adebanjo, leader of the Pan Yoruba group, Afenifere, Chief John Nwodo, the President General of Ohaneze, the Igbo people umbrella body, and Dr Pogu Bitrus, the President of the Middle Belt Forum.

    The groups said: “There has been a spillover of the Rivers situation to Bayelsa State where Mr Timpire Sylva of the ruling APC has also been alleged to be terrorising residents with impunity.

    “We call on the President to call Messrs Rotimi Amaechi and Sylva to order; and restore normalcy so that the electoral process in Rivers State, in particular, can be concluded.

    “Indeed, if we are a Republic governed by law, Amaechi and Sylva should have been arrested by now for the wanton violence they have instigated.’’

    However, Mr Doifie Buokoribo, Publicity Secretary of Bayelsa APC, observed that the party had seemingly expressed concern over the statement, saying that it was laced with malice and prejudice.

    According to Buokoribo, the APC finds the statement offensive, unwarranted, disgraceful and partisan.

    “Like most Nigerians, we know it as a matter of fact that these are partisan elders on the side of the opposition PDP.

    “During the Presidential Elections, this group openly supported and campaigned for the defeated PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    “These elders do not represent the interests of the ethnic nations they purport to speak for. They are only representing their pockets. And they have since made it clear who is lining their pockets.

    “In the specific case of Bayelsa State, if anyone needs to be called to question concerning the elections, that person is Gov. Henry Seriake Dickson.

    “The governor and his party, the PDP, were the ones that unleashed war and terror on our suffering people. And they were the ones spreading fake news to incite violence and try to cover up their evil activities.

    “They were so wild and uncontrolled that even the military had to issue a statement a few days ago to call Dickson and the PDP to order.

    “That statement was widely publicised by the local, national, and international news channels. It is surprising that the forum did not read such a crucial statement before making conclusions.

    “They just decided to pick and choose those to slander. But the thinking public knows Sylva is an innocent man. He is a man of peace,” Buokoribo claimed.

    The APC wondered why the elders failed to reach out to Sylva and hear from him on the allegations before releasing their statement.

    Read Also: Dokubo-must-go protest rocks Bayelsa

    Buokoribo noted that the principle of fair hearing was because the APC leader had only “been alleged” to do the things they referred to in the statement.

    On the other hand, the Bayelsa PDP described the response by APC as a “despicable display of disrespect’’ for the person of the Ijaw National Leader, Pa Edwin Clark, as well as other elder statesmen and leaders in the South-South and Middle Belt.

    The State’s Secretary of the PDP, Chief Godspower Keku, berated Buokoribo for casting aspersions on the integrity of the leaders saying the APC was attacking the group for speaking the truth about happenings in Rivers and Bayelsa.

    Keku said that it was as immoral for a son of the South-South to make such disparaging remarks about the elder; and leader of his people for saying the truth about issues of grave concern to them.

    The PDP said the people of Bayelsa had openly rejected the APC in the state when the PDP clinched 17 out of the 21 declared results of the 24-Member House of Assembly seats and APC got only four.

    Keku called on the state’s APC leader, Sylva, and his supporters to immediately tender an unresolved apology to the Ijaw Nation, the Niger Delta, the South-South and the Middle Belt.

    NAN