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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • Ashafa, lawmaker canvass vote for Lagos APC candidates

    Senator representing Lagos East Gbenga Ashafa yesterday appealed to the coalition of estate residents in Lagos East Senatorial District to vote the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday.

    Ashafa, who kicked off the campaign for victory for the APC at Omole Estate, said the turn out for the presidential election was below expectation.

    The senator spoke as the lawmaker representing Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Dayo Fafunmi, also urged over 100 youths he trained as fashion designers to canvass for votes for APC candidates in Saturday election and also go out en-mass to vote for them.

    Fafunmi gave the directive yesterday in his address at an empowerment programme for youths and students, which he organised in his constituency office at Ogba.

    Ashafa urged residents to appreciate the good efforts of the APC government in Lagos by ensuring that its candidates were elected.

    The politician said he was using the opportunity provided by the sentisisation of estate residents to remind them of their civic responsibility, noting that government would continue to serve them better.

    He said: “We are asking our people to come out massively, without fear or favour. Whatever ethnic group you belong, we want to assure you that you are safe. Lagos is going to be safe under Babatunde Sanwo-Olu and Babafemi Hamzat.

    “If we are able to achieve the landslide victory that we are talking about, which is just around the corner, the effects would be great on the people. We have identified about 42 different estates in the Lagos East Senatorial District alone.

    “We expect over 100, 000 minimum registered voters from the list. We discovered in the last election that only 19 per cent of them came out. We want to change the narrative in the coming election. I am appealing to you to come out and vote on Saturday.”

    Ashafa maintained that government had done well, stressing that the party would plug the loopholes responsible for the low turnout voters in the last election.

    “We are closing the loopholes; part of it is that we are giving recognition to those in the low, middle and upper income earners. Omole and all other estates are occupied by these groups. These people have their PVCs and we are making efforts to ensure that they come out during the election.”

    Speaking, the Chairman of Coalition of Estate Residents Mr. Dele Lanisa, said members approach issues on their merit, noting it could only be influence by genuine performance.

    He added that Ashafa had distinguished himself as a lawmaker, who love people and would go the extra-mile to assist them.

    “We simply want the government to be close to us after it wins the election. As long as the government collects taxes from us, we expect it to do the needful.

    “It is not possible for you to come here to offer us money to vote for you. This is not possible, all that we seek from you is to do what is expected of you, and the people will naturally come out to vote you.”

    The empowerment ceremony by Fafunmi featured the presentation of certificates and sewing machines to the youths as well as school bags to pupils and students in the constituency.

    The training lasted for more than a year at an institute of fashion designing.

    Though the lawmaker, who is a third term member at the State Assembly, is not contesting in Saturday election, he, however, urged the recipients to vote for APC so that empowerment programmes like the one they benefited from can continue.

    “I want you all to come out in large number and support APC, that I am not contesting does not stop me from campaigning for my party and those contesting.

    “Come Saturday, I want you to go out in large number and vote for our governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other APC candidates for the House of Assembly.

    “Canvass for APC, do not disappoint me, make sure the progressives are voted into office for programmes like this to continue”, Fafunmi said.

    He told the youths that they have been trained and they have acquired the skill, adding that they must “take advantage of the training to make a headway in life. The training you acquired has automatically taken you out of the labour market and if you are serious, you can become employers of labour yourselves,” he said.

    He stated that the programme was in fulfilment of the promise he made to his constituents last year.

     

  • Group decries fifth columnists in Delta APC

    A group, the Unity Force, yesterday decried the activities of fifth columnists in the Delta State  All Progressives Congress (APC), saying their efforts were inhibiting the progress of the party.

    The group, in a statement by its coordinator, Onye Imaru, observed the continued suspicion between the two major tendencies and what it described as the frustration of the Minister of State, Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, in bringing them together.

    The reaction of the group was in the wake of the townhall meeting at PTI Conference Centre, Effurun, Delta State on Monday where unity and strategies to win the election were deliberated on. The group raised observations that the governorship candidate of the party, Chief Great Ogboru, had for one reason or the other not been able to bring everybody on board in his campaign.

    He said: “From what can be seen it is evident that issues flowing from the governorship primaries of the party last year are still a yoke on the party and its aspirations to win the governorship election.

    “The absence of the major aspirants especially from Delta North in the campaign of the governorship candidate is a serious issue. It is either they have not been convinced or they still have issues to settle with our candidate and hence their seeming indifference towards the governorship election.

    “Every effort must be made to address the issue and we dare say that it is not too late for the issues to be resolved.

    Imaru added: “Our only concern is that the only person who has shown serious efforts towards settling the groups, that is, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has continued to be the subject of negative propaganda by what we now believe are fifth columnists in the party. This was obviously seen with the unbridled attack on the minister by the unidentified speaker at the Warri parley with Prof. Osinbajo who accused the minister of anti-party activities and that was despite commendations of Kachikwu’s efforts by the state chapter of the party and the Presidential Campaign Council.

    “Such assertions lead to the belief that there are fifth columnists working within the party who do not want the issues in the party to be resolved and perhaps for the purpose of sustaining the status quo in the state.

    “We appeal to all party members to come together for the purpose of addressing the issues that divide the party in Delta State for the purpose of projecting the interests of the party in the state.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Cross River APC crisis: Stakeholders seek Buhari, Tinubu intervention

    Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Cross Rivers State, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Leader of the party to step into the crisis rocking the APC in the state and stop it from snowballing into something else.

    The party leaders also asked the National Working Committee to immediately cancel what it called an illegal Congress conducted by the former Deputy National Chairman, South, Engr. Segun Oni which they said disenfranchised over 90 percent of delegates.

    A letter signed by the Chairman, Ikom Local Government and Area Council Caucus, Barrister Odey Oyama said the Congress fell short of the laws of the party and should be cancelled.

    Oyama said leaders of the party must wade into the crisis with a view to ushering in lasting peace, adding that the disenfranchisement of 980 delegates aggravated the party crisis in the state and therefore required urgent attention.

    Oyama stated, “By copy of this letter to the BOT chairman, the Chairman, Ikom Local Government and Area Council Caucus, Barrister Odey said the Congress fell short of the law and should be cancelled. By copy of this letter, we are notifying President Muhammadu Buhari, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,  as well as His Excellency (Senator) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (the Party Leader) of the crisis in Cross River State Chapter of APC and to emphasise that it requires urgent attention in order to prevent a multiplicity of actions.”

    Oyama, said only 94  delegates including a woman “were rather deliberately handpicked to participate in the state Congress”, adding that the disenfranchisement of 980 legitimate delegates (i.e. about 91℅ of the total number of legitimate delegates that ought to have participated at the Congress is perverse.

    “Therefore, in order to avoid the perpetuation of such gross impunity in APC, the BOT and/or the NWC has an inherent jurisdiction to set aside the congress that has been done in abuse of the APC  Constitution.

    “Hence it is our prayer that the BOT and/or the NWC should evoke its prerogative and inherent jurisdiction to discountenance the state congress of Saturday, February 24, 2018 that held in Calabar.

    “She Engr. Segun Oni’s Congress Committee lacked jurisdiction in excluding 91 per cent of constitutionally recognised delegates from participating in the state Congress. The prescribed procedures for conducting such a congress were not properly complied with and the event did not occur in consideration of the universal domain stipulated in the APC Constitution.

    “An assembly of co-conspirators who wanted to appoint a handpicked person as state Chairman of the party in total disrespect of the Constitution of APC and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is a situation that has the potential of creating a very serious crisis in Cross River state chapter of APC, the letter said.

    In another letter, Oyama is seeking proper construction, interpretation and administration of the APC Constitution, adding that the state Congress which held in Calabar on February 24, 2018 was in breach of the party’s Constitution as “it did not give at least 14 days notice to eligible members to attend.”

    He said the decision to hold the congress was taken at the National Secretariat Abuja on February 19, 2018, he stated that the congress held on February 24 indicating that only a 4-day notice was given to the members against the letters of the party Constitution.

    He said the party also flouted the statutory notice it was supposed to give to the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

  • Vote Sanwo-Olu, youths tell Lagosians

    Youths of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos state on Monday urged Lagosians to vote massively for Babajide Sanwo-Olu,in the Saturday gubernatorial election.

    At a largely attended meeting held at Ajeromi area of Lagos, the Youth Organizing Secretary, Aregbe Idris, enjoined the youths in the state to throw their massive weight behind Sanwo-Olu and Obafemi Hamzat by coming out en masse to vote the duo and the party’s candidates across the state, irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds.

    According to him, a win for the APC is a blow struck for a grander and vibrant Lagos, as he strongly believes in the intellectual capacity of Sanwo-Olu and Obafemi Hamzat to drive Lagos to a greater height, create opportunities for all and strengthen the fabric of unity existing in the state.

    Read Also: Lagos: A strong case for Sanwo-Olu

    ‘And these are the breeds of leaders that we need and not some misguided elements with uniformed sense of reasoning,” Argebe stressed.

    In the same vein, the youths condemned the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Jimi Agbaje, noting that Lagos is too sophisticated to propagate unholy sermons of discord and enmity against the backdrop of personal gains.

    “A man who lacks loyalty, who sees politics as a business transaction shouldn’t and must not be taken seriously. There’s absolutely no doubt that some people do not mean well for Lagos and Jimi Agbaje is certainly one of them. One of the sadistic unruly elements stirring discord in the state with his failed political ambition.

    “In the last decade, the disgruntled politician hasn’t pulled off any significant achievement and no single soul has been able to substantiate or benefit from his political aspirations for twelve years. He noted

  • Kwara voters ready to liberate themselves, says Senator-elect Ashiru

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Kwara South Senator-elect Lola Ashiru has said that Kwarans have demonstrated through the February 23rd presidential and National Assembly elections that they are prepared to free themselves from one family’s political dominance.

    Ashiru, an architect, added the March 9th governorship and state House of Assembly election would spell the death knell of all forms of political strangulation of the people of the state.

    The senator-elect told reporters in Offa, Offa local government area of the state, adding that “the people of the state are very prepared to save themselves from the stranglehold of the present regime.

    Nothing is going to stop us from achieving victory.

    “No amount of tribulation, falsehood and illicit funds will stop us from achieving a total victory.

    “Last election was straight ten zero, at the end of this Saturday we will have 36 zero. It is an assurance because people are prepared.”

    Ashiru, who had made unsuccessful attempts at the senate seat revealed: “I have never lost any election. You can see what happened February

    23rd. It has always been manipulations upon manipulations. I have known all along when the system is right, when votes count that I will win an election. I am grateful to the Federal Government, I am grateful to the security personnel and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for playing the rule as it should be.

    “That is why we won this election. Any election that is free and fair people will always triumph in Kwara state.”

    On the lessons learnt, he said: “The first lesson we have learnt from our victory is the spirit of persistence, the spirit of goodness and the spirit of striving to get whatever you want to get in life.

    “It is a good lesson not only to people around me, but the whole of Kwara state.

    Read Also: Group hails Kwara polls

    “I have mentioned it in many fora that the liberation of Kwara state starts from Offa here. This is the principal place where we plan and engineer how the state could move forward, because we know Kwara cannot move forward if we continue like we have been doing before.

    “If we continue with the regime of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). We are all happy and excited that today we are free.

    “I have told people in so many fora that they should expect the best representation ever.

    “I am not going there for personal enrichment. I am not going there for contracts, I am going there to ensure that the

    people of Kwara South are well represented. And whatever is due to them comes to them.

    “I am assuring you that I will open doors for as many as possible youths and the elderly to participate in the national equation.

    “We are not going to be behind. It is going to be a mass participation and I am sure my coming will attract a lot of people hitherto sitting on the fence to participate in politics.”

     

     

  • My intervention in Oyo APC was for genuine reconciliation, by Tinubu

    •Ajimobi and I are partners, says APC leader

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said himself and Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State are partners, not rivals and that his intervention in Oyo APC is to engender genuine reconciliation and not to hide or supplant the governor.

    The APC leader was reacting to a false report by SaharaReporters that Asiwaju Tinubu was moving to ban Governor Ajimobi from leading APC campaigns in Oyo because of his intervention in the state, holding discussions with some notable leaders and bringing former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala back to the party’s fold.

    Tinubu described Governor Ajimobi as an excellent governor and a faithful member of the APC. “He has brought progress to the state and in serving two consecutive terms, Ajimobi made history in Oyo. He is instrumental to anything the APC can achieve in Oyo”.

    A statement yesterday by Tinubu’s Media Adviser, Tunde Rahman, said Asiwaju Tinubu was only lending his support to the governor’s and APC’s efforts in the state. “They are partners not rivals”.

    He described the report by the online medium as another excursion into falsehood. But he added: “This report goes beyond a lie. It is a vindictive attempt to sow discord because the writer is angered by the APC’s success in the presidential election. Thus, the writer has cast truth aside in his angry desire to inflict some kind of electoral wound on the APC.”

    The statement reads: “SaharaReporters seems unable to mend its ways. Instead of trying to publish what is fair and accurate, it rather grows its tales from seedlings of untruth and calumny. This online newspaper no longer bothers to offer the pretense of seeking the truth. For SaharaReporters, whatever is sensational must be true and whatever is true must be sensational. The real truth is that SaharaReporters no longer cares if its reportage is right. SaharaReporters just cares that it is widely read. It dare not allow veracity to hamper its business model. This is a disservice to ethical journalism which honors truthful, accurate reporting.

    “The report titled: “Tinubu Bans Ajimobi from Appearing at APC Governorship Rallies” is another of SaharaReporters’ excursions into falsehood. The report claims that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu somehow has banned Governor Abiola Ajimobi from attending APC campaigns for Saturday’s governorship election in Oyo State.

    “This report goes beyond a lie. It is a vindictive attempt to sow discord because the writer is angered by the APC’s success in the presidential election. Thus, the writer has cast truth aside in his angry desire to inflict some kind of electoral wound on the APC. However, the writer should refrain from this path of falsehood. It would be better for the writer to come to grips with reality and to accept the fact of the APC presidential victory and the likelihood of APC victories in most governorship elections, including that of Oyo.

    “The mischief that SaharaReporters cites is not between Tinubu and Ajimobi. It is solely in the mind of SaharaReporters. By its unsubstantiated report, the medium seeks to set brother against brother. Asiwaju and Governor Ajimobi have been political brothers and allies for a long time. Their friendship existed long before SaharaReporters came to the scene and will endure long after this self-diminishing online site is no more.

    “Moreover, Governor Ajimobi has been an excellent governor and a faithful member of the APC. He has brought progress to the state and in serving two consecutive terms, Ajimobi made history in Oyo. He is instrumental to anything the APC can achieve in Oyo. The truth is that Asiwaju is not trying to supplant or hide the governor. Instead, Asiwaju is lending his support to the governor’s and APC’s efforts in the state. They are partners not rivals.

    Read also: APC will complete the takeover of Delta on Saturday, says Buhari

    “As such, he has held strategic meetings with some notable groups and important individuals. The heart of the discussions was the need for all to come together to achieve victory for APC in the March 9 governorship poll. At no time did the issue of banning anybody, talk less of Governor Ajimobi, enter into the discussions. We want and need Governor Ajimobi to be a visible figure at the forefront of this campaign during these final decisive days. He will prove pivotal to our hope for victory in the state.

    “SaharaReporters betrayed its abject bias with this report. It makes absolutely no sense to even try to stop a sitting governor from campaigning in that governor’s state. Such a move would only create enmity and hinder, not help a campaign. For SaharaReporters to claim this is to claim that Asiwaju is a political novice. Asiwaju has never barred anyone from participating in a campaign. Why would he now start with Ajimobi in Ajimobi’s own state?

    “In addition to not having such a negative inclination, Asiwaju wields no such power and has no desire to have such power. Ajimobi is a sitting governor who can travel within his state as he pleases. Who can dare stop him? We want him in and at the rallies. Asiwaju’s intervention in Oyo was to engender genuine reconciliation. To exclude this good and able governor would have aborted this mission before it started.

    “Asiwaju views Governor Ajimobi as highly disciplined and a committed and respected party leader, unlike some others who have no respect for party supremacy. The relationship between them remains solid and loyal. And one hundred false reports by one hundred SaharaReporters cannot change that reality”.

  • Buhari, governors, others step up campaign

    Our correspondents— Osagie Otabor, Nwanosike Onu, Mike Odiegwu, Yusufu Aminu Idegu; Bisi Oladele, Adekunle Jimoh, Yinka Adeniran, Abdulgafar Alabelewe; Ojo Damisi; Bolaji Ogundele— file in reports on campaigns ahead of Saturday’s polls. 

    APC will complete the take-over of Delta on Saturday, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said next Saturday’s elections will complete the cycle of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) take-over of the affairs of Delta State.

    Buhari spoke at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun, Uvwie council area of the state yesterday when he addressed the party’s stakeholders and other stakeholders of the state, including traditional rulers.

    Buhari, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo also assured the stakeholders that the Federal Government would ensure adequate security during the elections.

    “What happened last Saturday is a great victory for us, but it is only the beginning because the completion of that victory is going to come by the grace of God on Saturday March 9, 2019 when we vote in our own governor, Great Ogboru, who will by the grace of God be a governor from that very day.

    “It is very clear to everybody and to the world that Delta State can never be the same again. It’s impossible for Delta State to go back after what happened on Saturday. As the APC chairman said, we all watched to see what will happen in Delta State. Delta State was a focus of all of our attention.

    “Just as the chairman has said, we have seen a Delta state where the PDP was unable to recall a vote of 1.2 million and we knew they wrote the result. We wanted to see what way they can be curtailed, but you all proved that ‘you can tell a lie for a thousand years, but one day the truth will catch up’ and the truth caught up with them last Saturday. That truth will manifest itself fully this Saturday when we hold the next election. Delta State has proved a very important point that this state is ready for change to the next level.

    “The other reason why it is so important for us to ensure that Delta State become an APC state has been pointed out. The social investment programme that we put in place, it is only APC governor that can implement such programmes faithfully. We believe that once we are able to have an APC governor such programmes will be implemented,” the Vice President said.

    Osinbajo went on: “I heard talks about Delta Steel Company (DSC); after so many years, the Itakpe-Aladja railway has been completed 35 years after being on the card. It’s this same President that completed it. PDP has been in power all these many years, why didn’t they complete it? They (PDP) are the ones who created this mess.

    “Even the Warri seaport which we are now dredging has been there for years. They didn’t do it. All of these times that PDP has been in power. Sometimes, it surprises me that with the resources that Delta State has had for so many years, where are the fruit of the resources. Look at the Warri Seaport, it could have been seamlessly be done by the state. Here we are, we (APC) are completing the dredging of the channel. Even the East-West raod, this is the first government that has put resources for its completion. We are putting large amount of money into the East-West road. We all will benefit from it.

    “Delta State should not be an opposition state. Why should Delta be an opposition state? Why? There is no reason for it at all. For all the periods that Delta State has had high resources, what we need was a change from a progressive party. The time has come. This is the moment, let us seize that moment. You have shown courage, it is only the courageous that wins”, he said.

    Meanwhile, speaking earlier, various speakers had urged President Buhari to ensure strict security cover for the state to prevent the rigging of next Saturday’s election by the PDP, saying that the party (PDP) would repeat its alleged rigging pattern during the governorship and state House of Assembly election if there is no proper security to deter such.

    The event gathered leaders and stakeholders of the party in the state, including the governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, Minister of State of Petroleum Resources Dr Ibe Kachikwu, former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and others.

    ADC, ZLP adopt Makinde

    More oppositionparties in Oyo State yesterday adopted the governorship candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Seyi Makinde, as a consensus candidate for the March 9 poll.

    This is coming three days after the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Mr Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) publicly declared his party’s adoption of the PDP’s candidate.

    The latest candidates to join the adoption train include Senator Olufemi Lanlehin of the African Democratic Congress and Mr Sharafadeen Alli of Zenith Labour Party.

    The proposed plan to conclude on the coalition suffered an initial set back when former governor Christopher Alao-Akala of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) withdrew and declared support for the APC candidate, Mr Adebayo Adelabu.

    Former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, who mediated the coalition as a chieftain of ZLP, according to sources, will address a news conference today.

    The final agreement on the adoption of Makinde was reached at a meeting held at the Bodija, Ibadan residence of Ladoja.

    The final agreement was signed by directors-general of the campaign committees of the four political parties.

    The signatories are Director General (DG), PDP Campaign Committee, Chief Bayo Lawal; DG, ZLP Campaign Committee, Mr Waheed Akanbi; DG, ADC Campaign Committee, Bashiru Lawal; and DG, SDP Campaign Committee, Chief Matthew Oke.

    The document entitled: “Coalition Meeting of 4th March 2019”, released at the end of the meeting held on Monday, read in part: “Agreement has been reached by members of the coalition parties to adopt Engr.  Seyi Makinde, as its gubernatorial candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state. Full details will be made available later on.”

    Makinde has congratulated the people of Oyo State on his adoption by a coalition of political parties in the state.

    A statement from his campaign office by Prince Dotun Oyelade said: “Leaders of the parties, led by the Osi Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja; Senator Femi Lanlehin, Barrister Sarafadeen Ali and Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, displayed unsurpassed broadmindedness and political maturity in agreeing to adopt him to face the APC, which is the nemesis of our people.”

    Edo APC begins voter education to avoid void votes

    Ahead of Saturday’s House of Assembly elections in Edo State, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has embarked on voter education to enable its supporters vote appropriately.

    Candidate of the APC for Oredo East Constituency, Mr Osaro Obazee, who spoke to reporters in Benin City, said the purpose of the voter education was to avert high number of voided votes as recorded in the February 23rd presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

    Obazee added that the high volume of voided votes was responsible for the defeat of the APC in the presidential and some seats in the National Assembly.

    He said: “Our party did not lose; we did not lose that election. The agents of our party, some of them were not too experienced, some of them were not too confident. If you look at the void votes, if you add them to the votes they scored, you will see the difference so what we have embarked on is voters education.”

    Bayelsa women to Buhari: suspend election in our community

    Women in Nembe Bassambiri, Nembe Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the Indepedent National Electoral Commission to suspend the forthcoming election in the troubled community.

    Spokesperson of the Women, Mrs. Sotonye Samuel-Johnson, said the call to postpone the election in the community was to safeguard the lives and properties of women and children in the area.

    Samuel-Johnson said that women and children, who fled the community to nearby Ogbolomabiri and Yenagoa had not been able to return to their homes.

    She urged the President to order investigations to the activities of the thugs and their Army collaborators which according to her had assumed a frightening dimension.

    Southwest youth groups, traders endorse Adelabu, Sanwo-Olu and Abiodun

    Candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Adebayo Adelabu; Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, have been endorsed by group of youths, traders and artisans under the umbrella of Grand Council of Yoruba Youths (Agbarijo Egbe Odo Yoruba).

    Representatives in the umbrella body include National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Market Women Association, Non Indigenes Association, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Okada Riders Association, Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), Egbe Omo Odua (USA and UK), as well as Civil Society Organization led by Comrade Mrs Kehinde Olaoni.

    The endorsement programme which held at Western Hall, Oyo State House of Assembly Complex, Secretariat, Ibadan, yesterday was chaired by Senator Ayo Fasanmi, who was represented by Otunba Jumoke Ogunkeyede.

    Noting that President Muhammadu Buhari’s performance and intention earned him the second term ticket, Otunba Ogunkeyede explained that the administration of President Buhari which was initially termed ‘go slow’ after it was inaugurated in 2015 was slowed down by the leadership of the National Assembly, which he said consists of people with questionable characters.

    The convener and Chairman, Planning Committee, Comrade Awa Bamiji, enjoined people in Oyo, Lagos, and Ogun states to come out on Saturday, March 9 to vote for the candidates of the APC to ensure sustainability, even and rapid development of South West region.

    Mrs Iswat Ameringun, who represented the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, Mrs. Kehinde Olaoni and other representatives said they were all in support of the candidature of Adelabu, Sanwo-Olu and Abiodun.

    Adelabu: I will sustain school feeding

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Adebayo Adelabu, has promised to sustain the school feeding project if elected by the people of the state on Saturday.

    He gave the assurance during his campaign across the state.

    Adelabu, who also hailed the return of many breakaway members of the party across the state, assured teachers of higher wages if he succeeds in the election. He described education as the bedrock of human and nation’s development, stressing that teachers are a major pillar of quality education delivery, hence need to be motivated.

    The APC candidate said without teachers, he would not be who he is today, adding that all great men and women owe the development of their minds to their teachers. He said he holds teachers in high esteem so much that he believes that they are a class of workers whose welfare should be a priority in the society.

    Ajanaku returns to APC for Adelabu’s success

    As part of plans to ensure the victory of the All Progressive Congress governorship candidate in Oyo State, the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party for Ibadan North West/South West Federal Constituency in the just concluded National assembly election, Dr Rotimi Ajanaku , has returned to the ruling APC.

    Ajanaku, accompanied by his supports at his Oke Ado base, noted that although he did not win the election, his  absence and that of his supporters was felt in the APC camp.

    He said his return to the APC was made possible by the “timely and uncommon intervention of the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi who unequivocally fast-tracked the whole process, through his assurances of immediate re-integration of my followers into the party hierarchy and other worthy considerations.”

    Stop victimising civil servants, Abdulrazaq urges Ahmed

    Kwara State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq yesterday accused Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed administration of victimising civil servants.

    He urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led state government to stop victimising civil servants on flimsy and petty excuses.

    Abdulrazaq, in a statement by is media aide, Rafiu Ajakaye said: “We are aware that civil servants who did not agree to do the bidding of the ruling PDP are being sacked or victimised in one way or the other. This is wrong, inhuman and unlawful.

    “Civil servants are humans and are covered by the social contract. Any government, such as the one currently in Kwara State, with no regard for the social contract cannot expect the civil servants to remain silent in the face of tyranny.

    “Once elected, we will look into the cases of all the civil servants who were victimised or sacked on account of refusing to compromise their professionalism or integrity. We will restore their rights and dignity as Kwarans,” the statement quoted AbdulRazaq as saying.

    “It is outrageously hypocritical for a government that is notorious for coercing and blackmailing civil servants to do its political bidding to turn around and accuse civil servants of getting involved in politics,” the statement added.

    Polls not war, says cleric

    A Catholic cleric in Anambra State, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma, has called on Nigerian youths to resist the temptation of being used for violence ahead of Saturday’s Governorship and Houses of Assembly elections.

    He urged them to embrace orderliness and peace, describing elections as  brotherly contests.

    Speaking yesterday at Blessed Iwene Tansi Catholic Church, Umudioka, Obimma, popularly known as Fr. Ebubemonso, enjoined the electorates to come out enmass to vote candidates of their choices.

    He said: ‘’2019 general elections particularly this Governorship and House of Assembly elections is a brotherly contest and not a war.”

    Oyo: We did not endorse another party, says AAC

    The African Action Congress, Oyo State chapter has said it is not part of any endorsement of any other governorship candidate for the March 9, governorship election in the state.

    Rather, the party said it remains focused, committed and determined to bring about a government that is welfarist concern for the people who have been deliberately pauperised by the ruling class since the beginning of the current political dispensation.

    It added that its governorship candidate, Mr Akinwale Laosun, remains the candidate and best option for the people of the state in the coming election.

    He urged the people of the state to open their eyes to the reality of selfish and self-centered politicians who would rather work for their personal interest and that of their allies, but camouflaging same in the name of the masses.

    Vote for APC candidates, Boroffice begs Ondo Indigenes

    The senator representing Ondo North senatorial district, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, has urged the people of Ondo State to vote for candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The senator made the appeal during a thank-you rally organised by his supporters in Oka-Akoko on Saturday.

    Boroffice said an APC-dominated House of Assembly would guarantee good governance and political stability in Ondo State.

    The chairman, Senate Committee on Science & Technology urged his supporters to troop out massively to vote for all APC candidates into the Ondo State House of Assembly.

    Boroffice(Ondo North) is the only APC Senatorial Candidate that returned to the Upper Chamber after the recent Presidential/National Assembly polls held on February 3.

    Assembly Election: Oyetola solicits votes for APC candidates

    Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has enjoined residents to vote for All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in Saturday’s House of Assembly election.

    The Osun State governor said for his administration to be properly established for good governance and smooth running, there was the need for an APC majority in the House of Assembly.

    Oyetola added President Muhammadu BUhari’s re-election had vindicated the resolve of the APC-led Federal Government to raise the bar of good governance, sustain steady development in the country and put Nigeria to the path of progress and prosperity.

    The governor spoke on Monday during a ‘Thank You Tour’ to Ilobu, Ifon, Erin-Osun and Ede in Irepodun, Orolu, Ede-North and Ede-South Local Government Areas.

    The tour was to appreciate the people for supporting President Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of the APC in the Presidential and National Assembly elections

    He lauded the courage displayed by the electorate to ensure victory for the APC in the February 23rd elections.

    Oyetola who described the Assembly election as important for entrenching democratic government, called on the electorate to vote all APC candidates in Saturday’s elections.

    He said the decision to elect APC candidates to the House will give his administration the opportunity to actualise all its planned policies and programmes.

    According to the Governor, the House of Assembly election is as important as other elections as it defines how the structure of government will be formulated.

    “We embark on this ‘thank you tour’ to appreciate our people who came out in large numbers to re-elect our President and other candidates of our party- the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “We have taken a noble decision to sustain continuity and steady development in Nigeria with the re-election of President Buhari as this will help to engender more development and transformation for Nigeria,” Oyetola added

    49 parties, 32 candidates back El-Rufai

    Thirty-two governorship candidates in Kaduna State, under the auspices of Kaduna State Progressive Governorship Candidates Forum, have stepped down for Governor Nasir El-Rufai of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    They made their decision public yesterday, when the 32 candidates and 49 political parties endorsed El-Rufai’s candidature.

    The chairman of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Comrade Auwal Abdullahi Aliyu, said they came out to support the governor towards ensuring that he continues with his good works, stressing that he has done well to deserve the endorsement.

  • ‘Buhari will support Igbo presidency in 2023’

    An Igbo leader and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Livinus Okwara is sure President Muhammadu Buhari will support Igbo Presidency in 2023 despite losing in the zone.

    Okwara, who addressed reporters in Owerri, said President Buhari’s support for the Igbo Presidency was predicated on justice and fairness, and not on conditionality.

    He said: “President Buhari is a man who loves justice and will not renege on his support for the Igbo to produce the President in 2023, being the only major tribe that has not done so”.

    The party chieftain, however, called on Igbo politicians to form a common front that will transcend party and religious divides ahead of 2023, even as he frowned on the “ignoble” role Ohanaeze played in the build-up to the elections.

    He called for the scrapping of Ohanaeze Ndigbo for abandoning its mandate of protecting Igbo interest for partisan politics.

    “Ndigbo must form a strong front that will cut across party lines before 2023. We must put away our political and religious differences, and choose an Igbo man that will be accepted across the country. I also support that Ohanaeze Ndigbo should be scrapped since it is no longer serving its purpose and has drifted into partisan politics that will not be in the interest of Ndigbo,” he added.

  • Defections, court battles as parties intensify campaigns

    •Support base for Abiodun swells in Ogun      •Kano PDP exco defects to APC

    •Oyo APC accuses PDP of peddling rumours      •Judge refuses to stop Bindow

    •‘Kwara governor intimidating workers’      •Ortom: no plan to compromise INEC

    PARTIES and their candidates are intensifying their preparations for the rescheduled Governorship and State Assembly elections on Saturday.

    President Muhammadu Buhari was in Delta and Akwa Ibom states to lead the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign for the governorship elections. It was in a bid to take the Southsouth states into the ruling party’s basket.

    In many of the states, stronger candidates are making overtures to weaker candidates to gain more strength ahead of the elections and to form a formidable opposition to dislodge incumbent governors.

    Major challengers are accusing governors of deploying government structures to emasculate the opposition.

    There have also been judicial interventions in some states. Here is a state-by-state situation ahead of the elections:

    Kano

    In Kano, a Federal High Court nullified the primaries that produced Abba K. Yusuf as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate.

    Justice Lawis Alagoa ruled that Yususf’s candidature was not recognised by law because no primary election was held to produce him.

    The Judge, however, ruled that the PDP should conduct a fresh primary to produce a candidate who can be recognised by law before Saturday’s election.

    A PDP gubernatorial aspirant, Ibrahim El-Amin Little,  challenged the process that produced Yusuf.

    His grouse was that the party denied him the right to contest the primary election, even as he bought his expression and nomination forms.

    The development has unsettled the opposition party with members of its Executive Council defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Led by Senator Masa’ud El-Jubrin Doguwa, the executive and thousands of the party’s supporters announced their defection yesterday.

    Explaining why he collapsed the state leadership of the PDP into the APC, Doguwa said it was “due to the injustice being meted out to us by the Prince Uche Secondus National leadership”.

    He said: “I called this press conference just to brief you of a very painful decision that we have taken. This is so painful, but we have no choice but to take this decision of leaving the PDP. Today, we have decided to move to the APC.”

    Read also: My intervention in Oyo APC was for genuine reconciliation, by Tinubu

    Niger

    In Niger State, a Federal High Court in Minna yesterday dismissed a case of alleged certificate forgery filed against Governor Abubakar Bello.

    The PDP had gone to the court, seeking Bello’s disqualification from the election in.

    It accused Bello, who is the APC candidate, of presenting a forged certificate of statutory declaration of age to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Justice Aminu Aliyu, held that the suit was filed out of time, thereby negating Section 285 (9) of Nigeria’s constitution.

    Justice Aliyu held that the plaintiff’s case lacked merit and could not establish that Bello presented a forged certificate to INEC.

    He dismissed the matter and awarded N500, 000 cost to Bello and APC.

    Counsel to the plaintiff, Aliyu Lemu, expressed dissatisfaction with the judgment, saying that his client would appeal.

    Mr Jibril Okutepa (SAN), Yunus Usman (SAN) and Johnson Usman, counsel to Bello and APC, described the judgment as a further proof that the judiciary was the last hope of the common man.

    Adamawa

    A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, yesterday dismissed a suit alleging that Adamawa State Governor Mohammed Bindow of submitting forged certificates to the INEC for lack of territorial jurisdiction.

    Justice Olukayode Adeniyi held that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case on the ground that the suit originated from Adamawa State and ought to have been filed in the state and not in Abuja.

    A non-governmental organisation, under the aegis of Incorporated Trustees of Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International, tendered documents before the court to substantiate its claim that the defendant who is a flag-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), falsely declared his educational qualification and date of birth.

    Among other prayers, the claimant was seeking the disqualification of Bindow from participating in the election.

    Bindow denied presenting forged documents to INEC.

    The governor, through his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, told the court that he won the primary election on October 9, last year in Yola.

    Meanwhil, the governorship candidates of 10 political parties in the state have resolved to work for the PDP to ensure victory for the opposition party.

    The candidates announced the decision after a meeting with the Adamawa PDP candidate, Alhaji Umaru Fintiri, in Yola.

    The candidates are: Sadiq Khaliel of MRDD, Danjuma Musa of FJP, Naziru Sa’ad of ZLP, Ahmed Hassan of DA and Salihu Danjuma of APM.

    Others are: Abdullahi Usman of NCP, Bappari Umar of KOWA, Lami Musa of PPN, Elizabeth Isa of CAP and Frank Simon of MEGA party.

    The candidates, who took turns to speak at the meeting, said they had decided to partner with the PDP and work for the success of the party and its candidate in the election.

    Ogun

    In Ogun State, the support base of the APC candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun, swelled with some opposition figures promising to support him.

    A top chieftain of the APC in the Gateway State confirmed to The Nation that talks were ongoing between the party and key opposition figures.

    The APC leader, who pleaded to remain anonymous, said: “Our party has opened talks with the PDP, ADC and other opposition parties on how to collaborate so that Dapo Abiodun can really be the symbol.

    “Some APM members are returning home to work for the party. This is why I called it the realignment of forces in Ogun State.”

    A member of the state House of Assembly, Akinpelu Aina, said the APC would win Saturday’s governorship poll, despite the stand of Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    Governor Amosun is backing the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, who lost the governorship ticket to Abiodun at the primaries.

    The lawmaker noted that the APC candidate was credible and remained the best for the position.

    Benue

    Governor Samuel Ortom’s  Special Adviser on Media & ICT, Mr Tahav Agerzua, said there was no need for the governor to compromise INEC personnel.

    Agerzua, who spoke in Makurdi, was reacting to the allegation by the APC in the state that Ortom had allocated large amounts of money to INEC staff, with the intent to compromise them.

    He said: “These unfounded allegations being circulated in the media are surely the last kicks of a dying horse. The results of the Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly polls indicate that the party (PDP) is the preferred choice of the Benue people.

    “Ortom, who has grass roots support, need not compromise INEC staff to get votes through the backdoor. The people are poised to, once again, vote for him massively like they did in 2015, without any undue influence on the electoral umpire.”

    Sokoto

    The state chapter of the APC in Sokoto raised the alarm over alleged desperate and undemocratic moves by the PDP to cause a breach of the peace. It urged law enforcement agencies to apply appropriate sanctions to serve as deterrent to others.

    It alleged that the PDP had planned to deploy ‘area boys’ in Sokoto Marshall uniforms to join the joint security patrol team that will monitor the election to accomplish its designed plan.

    “We do not trust the state government owned security outfit. We reject that unlawful arrangement and demand that only security agencies backed and duly recognised by federal laws should monitor elections”, the APC said.

    It described as detrimental the calculated inciting statement by the state PDP chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma and the state Zonal Vice Chairman, Alhaji Muhammadu Dangwaggo, at a youth solidarity rally on March 2.

    At a news conference, the Sokoto APC Chairman, Alhaji Sadiq Isah Achida, observed that the PDP was rattled by the overwhelming victory of the APC across the country, describing the actions and unguarded statements by the opposition party’s chieftains as capable of causing a breach of the peace.

    Achida quoted the duo as saying: “We must win election by all means. We either win or there will be death. Any government official seen at the polling unit should be beaten up to death and his corpse thrown away in a refuse dump.

    “The statements are not only inciting but a recipe for lawlessness and anarchy,” Achida said.

    Oyo

    The Oyo State chapter of the APC warned PDP leaders to steer clear of the state because its funds cannot be used to fund the party (PDP).

    APC Publicity Secretary AbdulAzeez Olatunde said the failure of the PDP to win the presidential election had caused its members to go delusional, noting that the allegation that Governor Abiola Ajimobi plans to use fake police and NURTW members to cause unrest is “a figment of their puerile imagination and a product of hallucination”.

    Dr. Olatunde said: “Everyone in this state knows that Ajimobi stands for peace and he will not trade it for anything. Nigerians cannot forget in a hurry the violent years of PDP and the ruins caused by the party, which is gradually being salvaged by the APC administration of President Buhari.”

    The APC spokesman warned that it would resist what it called the rigging and vote buying plans of the PDP, adding that it will not allow the PDP to turn Oyo State into a micro finance bank.

    He said: “We wouldn’t have responded to PDP hallucinatory statements since the people know the party is synonymous with violence, maladministration, financial recklessness and mudslinging. With their rejection by Nigerians in the February 23 election, we assumed that they would have changed their ways.

    “But like the saying goes, old habits die hard. The habit of PDP to peddle falsehood is their second nature. Their antics to get to Oyo’s seat of power will be another futile effort. The electorate knows them; they know how they ruined the country’s economy and perpetrated a lot of violence in Oyo State and across the country.

    “The peace currently being enjoyed in Oyo State was elusive during the ruling years of PDP. It is only PDP that will lay the foundation of peace and destroy same with its hands.

    “The present administration in the state is people-oriented and it has vowed to sustain peace, safety and security.”

  • APC will complete the takeover of Delta on Saturday, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said next Saturday’s election will complete All Progressives Congress’ (APC) takeover of Delta State, going by the party’s scores in the state during the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Buhari spoke at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun, Uvwie council area yesterday when he addressed a congregation of the party’s stakeholders and others including traditional rulers.

    Buhari, who was represented by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, also assured the stakeholders that the Federal Government would ensure adequate security during next Saturday’s elections to address concerns about rigging and other electoral anomalies.

    Osinbajo said: “What happened last Saturday is a great victory for us, but it is only the beginning because the completion of that victory is going to come by the grace of God on Saturday March 9, 2019 when we vote in our own governor, Great Ogboru, who will, by the grace of God, be a governor from that very day.

    “It is very clear to everybody and to the world that Delta State can never be the same again. It’s impossible for Delta State to go back after what happened on Saturday. As the APC chairman said, we all watched to see what will happen in Delta State. Delta State was a focus of all of our attention.

    “Just as the chairman has said, we have seen a Delta State where the PDP was unable to record a vote of 1.2 million and we knew they wrote the result. We wanted to see what way they can be curtailed, but you all proved that ‘you can tell a lie for a thousand years, but one day the truth will catch up’ and the truth caught up with them last Saturday. That truth will manifest itself fully this Saturday when we hold the next election. Delta State has proved a very important point that this state is ready for change to the next level.”

    “The other reason why it is so important for us to ensure that Delta State become an APC state has been pointed out. The social investment programme that we put in place, it is only APC governor that can implement such programmes faithfully. We believe that once we are able to have an APC governor such programmes will be implemented,” the Vice President said.

    Speaking on why the state should not remain in the opposition to the Federal Government, Osinbajo pointed at the various projects for the economic and social development of the oil-rich Niger Delta, especially Delta State.

    “I heard talks about Delta Steel Company (DSC), after so many years, the Itakpe-Aladja railway has been completed, 35 years after being on the cards. It’s this same President that completed it. PDP has been in power all these many years, why didn’t they complete it? They (PDP) are the ones who created this mess.

    “Even the Warri seaport which we are now dredging has been there for years. They didn’t do it. All of these times that PDP has been in power. Sometimes, it surprises me that with the resources that Delta State has had for so many years; where are the fruit of the resources? Look at the Warri Seaport, it could have been seamlessly done by the state. Here we are, we (APC) are completing the dredging of the channel. Even the East-West road; this is the first government that has put resources for its completion. We are putting large amount of money into the East-West road. We all will benefit from it.

    “Delta State should not be an opposition state. Why should Delta be an opposition state? Why? There is no reason for it at all. For all the periods that Delta State has had high resources; what we need was a change from a progressive party. The time has come. This is the moment, let us seize that moment. You have shown courage, it is only the courageous that wins,” he said.

    Various speakers had urged Buhari to ensure strict security cover for the state to prevent the rigging of next Saturday’s election, warning that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would repeat its alleged rigging pattern during the governorship and House of Assembly election if there is no proper security to deter such.

    The event gathered leaders and stakeholders of the party, including the governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, the leaders of the party, such as the Minister of State of Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and others.