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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • INEC working for PDP, says Oshiomhole

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole yesterday accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of working for the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of the general elections.

    Oshiomhole was, however, quick to add that the governing party would not decent to the level of bringing down state institutions because the party believes that state institutions should be allowed to perform their functions.

    Responding to questions about an alleged collusion between the INEC and President Muhammadu Buhari, Oshiomhole alleged that at the moment, two Resident Electoral Commissioners in the Southsouth have been going about campaigning with the PDP.

    Oshiomhole, who asked Nigerians not to return the PDP to power, said the pledge by the PDP candidate to float the naira was a recipe for economic woes, adding that Atiku has always been part of problem facing the nation.

    He also dismissed PDP’s allegations that the APC was responsible for burning some INEC offices that have recently been engulfed in flame, stressing that he could easily allude to the fact that the PDP burnt the INEC offices because they are afraid of losing elections in those places.

    He said: “If anything, this INEC has been very unfair to the APC. But we just discovered that we have a responsibility. The fact that we are a governing party imposes on us a certain level of code that you can’t be seen to rubbish every institution, because if we rubbish everything, it would mean that we don’t want election. INEC believed everything the PDP says.

    “As we speak, there are two Resident Electoral Commissioners, who are virtually campaigning line by line with the PDP in the Southsouth. INEC, without giving us any explanation and without any concrete evidence, went ahead to say we can’t field candidates in Zamfara.

    “Is that the way your friends behave if they are your friends? INEC is working more for the PDP based on evidence I  can show. How can they explain that a court of competent jurisdiction gave orders in Zamfara to say this candidate is eligible to contest election and another high court in Abuja also gave a verdict saying APC did not conclude its primaries, but did not give order to INEC?

    “There is no order issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja. The Court of Appeal made a pronouncement on this matter today that there was no order from the court in Abuja, but that there was a concrete order from a Zamfara High Court, which upheld the primaries that was conducted in Zamfara.

    “The INEC Chairman has said that when there are two court orders, they will adopt the last judgment. In Zamfara State, the Abuja judgment came first and the Zamfara judgment came last, even though it is the same day.

    “More as INEC has said they will always obey the last judgment, when it came to the Zamfara issue, they changed the goal post. As  media practitioners, you have to be careful. When you say people alleged there were meetings and can’t even cite any, it is a disservice. We have been at the receiving end of abuse.

    “There is a candidate in Kano, whose nomination we forwarded to INEC, but they changed the nomination and as we speak, we are in court over that. We showed our evidence. When I saw Atiku talking about rigging today, I laughed.

    “Do you remember the confession of the former Deputy Senate President who, on national television and not social media where anything is possible, narrated how President Olusegun Obasanjo used him and Atiku to rig election, how they wrote results and how they collude with INEC. This same Atiku was in office when Mantu was doing those things.”

    “So, if PDP functionaries have enumerated how they use to rig election, how can in all fairness point to President Muhammadu Buhari, who has been victim of election rigging three times such that in our legal history, it is part of precedent that the Supreme Court was persuaded to accept that election, where ballot papers had no serial number was OK and not a major infraction.”

  • Sanwo-Olu promises Lagos take over of National Stadium

    The Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has promised to vigorously follow-up the Lagos State bid to take over the National Stadium complex in Lagos.

    He made the assertion while on a special visit to the secretariat of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Lagos chapter.

    Lagos State had submitted a bid in 2016 for full takeover of the 45-year old complex but it ended as failed proposal despite the fact that the ruling party in the state won the general election at the centre in 2015. He promised to give the sports sector a special boost if elected in the coming elections in Nigeria. Governorship election in the country holds on March 2.

    Sanwo-Olu said his visit was a continuation of sectorial consultation. This time, it is the sports sector. He said sports would be autonomous from the other sectors and separated for entertainment and effort would be made to ensure that the sector is self-driven to bring the best out of potentials that abound in the nooks and crannies of the state.

    “This sector deserves a special attention and we will ensure that the restive youths would be fully engaged in the rediscovery of their talents in the drive to bring back the old glory associated with the state at National Sports Festival.

    “Although I’m aware that other states poach athletes who have been groomed by Lagos state when national events come up, it is on record that Lagos do not need to do same because we have abundant talents who have been lured for monetary gains.

    “Lagos State Sports Commission will continue with its policies such as training grants to athletes and empowering the coaches with up-to-date knowledge of their respective events, while motivation of athletes will not be neglected,” he remarked.

  • The die is cast

    IN 48 hours, we will go to the polls to elect our president from the large crowd of candidates seeking to occupy the exalted seat. President Muhammadu Buhari is leading the pack of candidates. The President is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Closely following on his heels is former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Pundits have since reduced the election to a two-horse race between Buhari and Atiku. They have written off the other candidates, who they have been referring to as also-rans, even before the election holds. To the pundits, it is a two-horse race because the duo are tested politicians, who have been in the corridors of power for long,  and also count among their associates money bags and other influential people that can swing things in their favour.

    What they lack in charisma and finesse, they have in abundance in their connections within and outside the country. Even the outside world also sees the election as a race between Buhari and Atiku. This is why external comments have always been on what relates to these leading candidates. They latch on to whatever either side says about the election, using it to implore us to conduct a free, fair and credible election. I do not like it when foreign powers try to dictate to us how to run our democracy because they have not really been shining examples when it comes to that.

    With what has been happening in the United States (US) since the election which brought President Donald Trump to power, we cannot say that his country is a perfect example of what a democracy should be. But we cannot discountenance what the US, the United Kingdom and the European Union (EU) are saying, no matter how imperfect their own systems may be. As bad as things may be in their countries and continents when it comes to democracy, we should credit them for their ability to manage things well without resorting to bloodshed.

    The world is afraid of our impending elections because their outcome may result in violence. Violence because of one side’s refusal not to accept defeat if it loses. It is only in Africa that elections are treated as war. A do-or-die. But should it be so? The answer, of course, is no. So, we know where the foreign powers are coming from when they don their high hat and tell us how to conduct elections. We brought it upon ourselves because of our politicians penchant for winning at all costs. They do not see elections for the contest they are. Like every contest, there must be a winner and a loser and the beauty of it is for the loser to accept defeat, congratulate the winner and life goes on thereafter.

    The February 16 presidential and National Assembly elections will kick start the general polls, which will be rounded off on March 2, with the governorship and House of Assembly contest. The focus is on the presidential race, which over 70 candidates are contesting, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Many of the candidates are unknown. This is why all the attention is on the more popular Buhari and Atiku. Are the two the best of the lot? In terms of brilliance and ability to deliver, they are not, but they have power, money, structure and connection behind them. The business community will not say it, but it will always support those in power because it is the politically correct thing to do.

    We have among the contestants young and vibrant Nigerians, who if given the chance can turn things around for good for our country, but the system may not allow them to emerge. I am talking of the Kingsley Moghalus, the Gbenga Olawepo-Hashims, the Fela Durotoyes, the Omoyele Sowores et al. These are new politicians on the block who with the right structure can win election and provide quality leadership for our country. We need leadership that can think out of the box. A president that can stand his own among his fellow presidents and not bring shame to our country. In a country of almost 200 million people, we have such people, but the obnoxious system we operate is not allowing them room to blossom.

    This is a presidential race with a difference. In the past, it would have only been the same old faces running. Today, we have the new breed also on the ballot. This is some consolation that we are growing as a nation. If the Moghalus, the Olawepo-Hashims and the Oby Ezekwesilis, before she withdrew from the race, can come out today, all  hope is not lost for our country. Very soon, the old brigade will know that their time is up and they will quietly quit the scene for the next generation. For that to happen, the technocrats too must be ready to give them a run for their money just as Moghalu and co., are doing because as APC stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is wont to say “power is not served a’la carte”. To get it, you must go for it.

    Even if the Moghalus, the Durotoyes, the Olawepo-Hashims do not get it eventually, history will be kind to them that they walked  where angels feared to tread. As it happened in 2015, we pray that at the end of the day, the election will be free and fair, with the losers having the courage to concede defeat and hug the winner to the admiration of the world. All is set for the election and may it be conducted without hitch. By this time next Thursday, it should be all over, with the winner known to the world. Who will that be?

    Those trying to play God, may yet be shocked by the outcome of the election. One thing is for sure, it will be a peaceful exercise to the chagrin of the prophets of doom.

  • Kwara north endorses AbdulRazaq’s governorship bid

    esidents of Kwara North Senatorial District have endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazak, ahead of the March 2 election.

    The people resolved to support the APC candidate when he, alongside other candidates for the National and state Assemblies elections, visited Kaiama and Baruten local government areas.

    Abdulrazaq and his entourage were led by the Director General of APC Campaign Kwara North, Muhammad Kudu Muhammad, to canvass for votes for APC in the areas.

    During the campaign rally, stakeholders, young and old, trooped out en masse to receive the APC stalwarts in a carnival-like reception at various locations in Kaiama and Baruten local government areas of the state.

    Addressing the excited electorate, the APC governorship candidate pledged to embark on rapid infrastructural development with a view to creating jobs and boosting the economy of the areas.

    In Pategi, Edu and Moro local government areas, also in Kwara north, Abdulrazaq promised the residents a new lease of life, if elected governor.

    The renowned businessman promised to facilitate better welfare and even distribution of resources to the nooks and crannies of the state.

    He also pledged to accord traditional institutions their rightful place, if APC wins the polls. Abdulrazaq said his government would abolish local government’s joint account with a view to making local government areas more functional.

    He listed employment generation through agriculture and turnaround of Kwara economy as other areas he would give priority.

  • Party educates members on voting

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has begun sensitising members on how to vote during the elections.

    The party, at an event organised by its Youth Organising Secretariat yesterday, urged youth supporters to vote with their index finger on the ballot paper to prevent their votes from being voided.

    Youth Organising Secretary Idris Aregbe said the the party felt it was necessary to sensitise the youths on voting tips.

    He said the essence was to ensure that their votes were not voided, saying the party wanted the voters to get it right.

    According to him, the youths would mobilise people to vote for APC, hence the need to let them know voting tips that would not be voided.

    State Secretary Wale Ahmed said the programme was to create awareness on the election among the youths in the language they would understand.

    Read also: DPR outlines achievements

    Ahmed urged voters to use their index fingers to vote to prevent a situation where their votes would be voided, because spaces provided on the ballot paper was small because of large number of parties contesting the election.

    He said: “For us in the APC, the index finger is what we should use; it is not an INEC thing, we are advising our followers on which finger to use. Other parties may decide to use the little finger; others may decide to use all five fingers. We are uniform in APC.”

  • Aisha Buhari calls on women to vote massively for APC

    Wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha has called on Nigerian women to support the ruling All progressives Congress (APC) by voting for the party in the forthcoming general election.

    Aisha made the call in Daura on Wednesday when she addressed thousands of youth and women during the round off of door to door presidential campaign ahead of the Feb. 16 poll.

    She described women as vanguards of change and character development.

    “We will by the grace of God continue to initiate policies and programmes geared towards women empowerment,” Aisha said.

    She added that the Buhari led administration had performed creditably towards enhancing the welfare of Nigerian woman especially through the introduction of TraderMoni scheme and many other empowerment programmes.

    She said if her husband is reelected she would continue to execute programmes that would impact positively on the lives of women and children.

    Earlier, Prof. Sadiya Sani assured the wife of the president that women would massively vote for APC in the forthcoming election.

    Read Also: Vote, don’t fight, Aisha Buhari tells Nigerians

    She said the Buhari led administration has performed wonderfully not only for women and youth but the entire nation through its policies on infrastructure, security and the fight against corruption.

    Highlight of the events were drama presentation and musical entertainment by popular Kannywood Actress Fati Niger and her group.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that prior to the event Aisha paid homage on Emir of Daura, Alhaji Farouk Umar in his palace in Daura.

    NAN

     

  • Shekarau urges youths to shun violence during election

    Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Kano Central Senatorial seat, has advised youths against violence during the upcoming election in the state.

    He gave the advice while interacting with newsmen in Kano on Wednesday.

    Shekarau, a former governor of Kano state, said the advice was necessary in view of the resurgence of political thuggery in the state.

    According to him, the recent happenings in the metropolis is very unfortunate and should be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians who want the country’s democracy to thrive.

    The former Minister of Education, accused some politicians of instigating their supporters to cause trouble for selfish interest.

    “I condemn in totality the political thuggery because what happened recently in Kano metropolis is most unfortunate,” Shekarau said.

    Read Also: EFCC loses bid to transfer Shekarau’s case

    He called on politicians to warn their followers against engaging in acts capable of breaching peace in the state.

    “How can somebody who is looking for support and votes from electorate direct youths to attack his opponents. It is most unfortunate.

    “We have been warning our followers not to participate or go and do anything that will lead to violence before, during and after the election,”he said.

    He said if elected as Senator, he would join his colleagues at the National Assembly to see how they could address the challenges of primary, secondary and tertiary health institutions in the state.

    On his relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senatorial candidate said his relationship with the President was very cordial.

    He, therefore, urged supporters to come out massively and vote for Buhari and other APC candidates during the general election.

    NAN

  • Militants were unleashed on my government, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday revealed that militants were unleashed against his government in the early days of the administration.

    He made the remark during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential campaign mega rally in Abuja.

    Buhari said: “When we came, the price of crude from over $100 average, went down to $37 and $38 and then the militants were unleashed on this administration but we have all now overcome those difficulties.

    From the little resources available to his administration, he said it has achieved a lot in terms of provision of critical infrastructure in various sectors of the economy across the country.

    Accordingly, he said the government has recorded great achievements on the campaign promises it made in 2015, including security, economy and the fight against corruption.

    He said: “I want to remind everybody where the country was before we came in in May 2015 where we are now and what we have been able to do with the resources available to us.

    “You residents of Abuja know a lot of our three fundamental campaign aspirations security, economy and fighting corruption.

    “Insecurity, the people of the northeast and the people of Abuja can know much better. Book Haram were holding more than 17 local governments in the northeast when we came, they are not holding any local government now.

    “But what they are doing is indoctrinating young men and women, wrap them up with explosives and send them to soft targets, mosques, marketplaces, motor parks and so on.

    “And then, we had the problem of herders and stagnant farmers in Benue state that we have looked after it. The problem of people who are just looking for trouble and they find something from you, especially in Zamfara state.

    Read also: Buhari, not sit-tight President – Oshiomhole

    “Those two are being looked after by the security agencies. On the economy, we are very lucky, but unfortunately, Nigeria has been underestimated.

    “We had in agriculture in the last three years since we came. What the government did was to get partners that are available at half the price it used to be and thank God we hardly import rice now, more than 90 percent of rice import has stopped and the money we realized, we are ploughing it back to infrastructure.” he said

    The President went on: “You know the condition of our roads, you know the condition of the railway, it was virtually killed and you know there was no power.

    “The previous government admitted without anybody asking them that they spent $16 billion on power. You know more than I do. Where is the power, where is the money? Stolen.

    “My point will come, when I talk about bribery and corruption which is the third undertaking we made, those people who said they spent $16 billion on power eventually they will account for it.

    “We are under a system now those who have been given responsibilities in the three tiers of government, the centre and the state government and if they abuse it we will ask the security agencies to investigate and prosecute them.

    “We have already done so in a number of cases, you know it, they came and bought properties here in Abuja, they invested outside the country.

    “We are appealing to the countries, Europe and America to help us recover the looted funds and property which we are putting back to build infrastructure with the resources available to us.

    “We were doing that militants were unleashed on us but we have now overcome those difficulties and now building infrastructure. If you give us the next four years, I assure you, you will not regret it.”

  • Buhari, not sit-tight President – Oshiomhole

    The National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Adams Oshiomhole, says President Muhammadu Buhari is not a sit-tight President.

    Oshiomhole, who spoke at a news conference in Abuja, said the president needed a second term to consolidate on his achievements and to move Nigeria to the next level.

    “We are committed to free and fair elections and President Buhari is not a sit-tight President,” the APC national chairman said.

    Oshiomhole said what President Buhari was asking for, was a second term in office which was constitutional, saying his desire was to take Nigerians to the next level of infrastructure and economic development.

    “Allowing President Buhari and the APC Government to go for a second term in office, will sustain achievements made so far and take the country to the next level of infrastructure and economic development,” he said.

    The APC national chairman, however, said that as Nigerians would go to the polls on Saturday, they should reflect on certain statements made by Atiku Abubakar, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate during his campaigns.

    Read Also: INEC working for PDP, says Oshiomhole

    This, he said, included Atiku’s statement on privatisation, corruption, trader money and restructuring.

    Oshiomhole recalled that Atiku during one of his campaigns had said that rather than prosecute looters of public treasury, he would pardon them.

    He also recalled that Atiku in one of the statements during his campaigns, said he would privatise the country’s national assets.

    The APC national chairman said this would not be in the interest of the common man.

    He said that the President Buhari-led administration had been able to curtail the Boko Haram menace and other forms of insecurity in some parts of the country.

    “The country and the North-East is much more safer now, compared to the situation in the past,” Oshiomhole said.

    The APC national chairman said that the APC administration even with declining revenue, had devoted much more funds to critical sectors of the country like rail, road and electricity.

    Oshiomhole noted that without spending a fraction of what the PDP spent while it was in power for 16 years, the APC had achieved much more in terms of infrastructure development.

    He assured Nigerians and the international community that the coming elections would be free, credible and fair, adding that it would reflect the wishes of the people.

    He stressed that the APC was opposed to vote buying and would not encourage it in anyway.

    The APC national chairman specifically assured foreign observers of their safety, saying that:” they are our friends and guests; they do not have any reason whatsoever, to be afraid, we see them as partners in progress”.

    He, however, maintained that Nigeria is an independent and sovereign nation and would, therefore, not tolerate undue interference in its internal affairs by international community.

    Oshiomhole urged politicians, the media and the general public to place the nation’s interest above all other interests, before, during and after the elections.

    “We should all work had to uphold the integrity and sovereignty of out nation, as politicians and as media practitioners,let us pray that as we go for these elections,it will be a simple exercise,” he said.

    He debunked insinuations that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was working in favour of the APC.

    The national chairman expressed optimism that the APC would win the elections in a Landslide, adding that the party did not have to rig to win the polls.

    NAN

  • We are not interested in postponement of polls, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) said on Wednesday that the party was fully ready for the Presidential election scheduled for this weekend, dismissing reports that the APC was looking for a postponement of the elections.

    Deputy Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Arc Waziri Bulama said the council had carried its campaign all over the country, saying the campaigns have revealed that Nigerians would prefer go with a tested candidate

    Bulama said the responsibilities of leaders was to deliver good governance, secure the lives of Nigerians, empower Nigerians, secure their properties and create the conditions for opportunities for employment and the economic prosperity.

    He said “The other role of government or leaders is to ensure that they promote justice, they promote rule of law, they promote peace, promote freedom through their actions. So, this is the other aspect of the roles of leaders that most Nigerians don’t focus their minds on. But it is one thing that President Muhammadu Buhari promoted very strongly. Promotion of rule of law, promotion of work of institutions of government without interference, promotion of justice, promotion of fairness.

    Read Also: Polls: Igbo community backs APC

    “These are the things that he had done through words and actions, through personal example; he has promoted those things that would engender confidence in Nigerians to accept that the system is fair. Because you see incumbency places the responsibility on every leader to ensure that there is freedom, there is fairness, there is justice, that all the institutions of government are not exploited for personal interest.

    “We have stood by that strongly and you see there are increasing results that Nigerians are gradually showing confidence in democracy and institutions of government like INEC and actions the Police as well. You see, for instance, under our leadership since 2015 has held 195 off season elections; even governorship plus House of Representatives and others.

    “All stakeholders who participated in these elections has affirmed these elections as qualitatively better under this dispensation than the previous one. That means there is commitment, there is fairness and there is commitment to justice under our government because we are leaders that don’t impose conditions on INEC or the Police.

    “Even in our own party, APC President Muhammadu Buhari and Ahmed Tinubu, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole never imposes a condition you determine who is a party leader or party candidate. So they have the policy of allowing the institutions to work.

    “We have this record and also you see Nigerians have shown greater confidence in democracy because under our leadership Nigerians registered to vote increased from 68.5 million to 84 million. This is a sign of confidence in those in power because votes count under our leadership. That is why all Nigerians come forward to register and you see many people also rushed to collect their voter cards.

    “l want to tell you that base on our works as campaign council, we are ready for elections.”