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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  •  Kaduna PDP guber candidate threatens defamation suit against ex-aspirant

    The gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State, Hon. Isa Ashiru has threatened legal actions against a former governorship aspirant in the State, Dr. Muhammad Sani Bello over alleged defamation of character.
    Dr. Bello who recently left the PDP for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said he resigned his membership of the PDP because he was not comfortable working with the PDP’s gubernatorial candidate whose credentials were in question.
    Bello who voluntarily withdrew from the governorship contest on 30 September before the commencement of the governorship primaries of the party to support Hon. Ashiru, had before leaving the PDP said “there were talks that came up concerning the authenticity of the documents that our candidate presented for the purpose of contesting in the 2019 general elections.”
    Concerned by the defamatory statement against his person, the governorship candidate through his team of lawyers from the chambers of Emmanuel Toro and Co. wrote to Dr. Bello demanding for retraction and public apology.
    According to the letter served on the former governorship aspirant, “the publish defamatory statement has not only defamed the hard-earned reputation and integrity of the guber candidate, it has also subjected him to public ridicule, scorn, opprobrium, and odium”.
    “Based on the foregoing, therefore, it is our client’s instruction to demand from you; and we hereby so demand that, you forthwith and in any event within seven (7) clear days commencing from the date of receipt of this letter, retract the defamatory Statement and publicly apologize to our client (Hon. Ashiru).

    Read Also: Kaduna begins registration of intending pilgrims

    “The retraction and apology shall be published in two (2) offline national dailies, your facebook wall and page and shall be given wide publicity in like manner as the content of the defamatory statement. In addition thereto, you shall pay N500m as compensation for the injury and emotional trauma you caused to our client as a result of the published defamatory statement, given the period that it was made and being circulated.
    “In the event of your refusal to comply with, or make good our demands as aforestated, we have our client’s instructions to explore all legal means available under our extant laws to ensure that these demands are met. Specifically, but without prejudice to other recourse, we shall file an action in a court of law against you for defamation of our client’s character and claim special aggravated damages,” the letter read.
    The PDP’s governorship candidate was elected member, Kaduna State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007, and from 2007 to 2015 he was elected member House of Representative, representing Makarfi\Kudan federal constituency. In 2014, he contested the Kaduna State gubernatorial seat under the platform of APC and lost to governor Nasir el-Rufai at the governorship primaries.

  • 2019: PDP accuses APC of unholy alliance with police

    ….PDP inciting public against police – APC

     

    The Bayelsa State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of unholy alliance with the police ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The state Chairman of PDP, Cleopas Moses, in a statement alleged that the leaders of the APC in the state turned the office of the Police Commissioner, Joseph Mukan, to their operational political base.

    But the APC in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Doifie Buokoribo, said the PDP was irresponsibly inciting the public against the police.

    Cleopas, described the office of the police chief as critical to security maintenance and the preservation of state stability, but lamented it had been tainted with political bias in Bayelsa.

    The PDP Chairman claimed that the conversion of the office of the Commissioner of Police to the security wing of the APC was the first manifestation of the political mission of the Joseph Mukan in Bayelsa.

    He said the opposition APC in its desperation for political control in the state started colluding with the police chief to weaken the security apparatus in the state for selfish political purposes.

    Cleopas asserted that the unholy alliance between the commissioner and the APC culminated in an upsurge of cultism in the state.

    He said that the action of the police boss was not unexpected as he was sent to the state to prosecute a dirty political assignment which he stressed would be resisted by the Bayelsa people.

    While acknowledging that the Inspector-General of Police has the right to deploy his men, Cleopas queried why Mukan was posted to head Bayelsa State Police Command for a record three times, if there was no ulterior motive.

    The PDP Chairman said that a police commissioner, whose posting was allegedly influenced by the APC and who identifies with the publicity apparatus of the party’ could not be trusted with the security of Bayelsa.

    He said: “We made it clear to Nigerians a few days ago that this particular police commissioner was posted to Bayelsa to intimidate PDP supporters to join APC, destabilize the security and stability of the state for political purposes ahead of the 2019 elections.

    “This unholy alliance, he stressed is fueling the upsurge of activities of cultists who are mainly APC members.

    “Since he was posted to Bayelsa State, his office has become an annex of the APC headquarters as members of the party have relocated to the command to plan how to destabilize the state by weakening its security.

    “Nigerians should Note that this particular CP has been transferred to Bayelsa State for the third time, and we as a party wonder why this particular CP out of the many in this country is the preferred commissioner for Bayelsa?

    “The last time he came he was accommodated by APC leaders in Abuja and Yenagoa, Former Governor Timipre Sylva and the Minister of State for Agriculture, Hen. Lokpobiri.”

    But the APC, however, condemned the PDP for a serial show of irrationality and fear since the recent posting of a new commissioner of Police to the state.

    Buokoribo said that PDP took its phobia to an alarming extent of now creating frightening scenarios and plotting “low level fiction” all in an attempt to incite the populace against the police.

    He described as indecent and reprehensible that a party in control of government and power in the state could be so frightened by a lawful routine security posting, with no evidence of infraction that it would begin to provoke unlawful behaviour among the population.

    He recalled that not long ago, under the Governor Seriake Dickson government, his personal friend and member of his party, PDP, was posted to the state as Commissioner of Police.

    The APC spokesman said despite apparent injustices, APC never resorted to PDP’s current attempt to provoke public anger against the police and cause anarchy.

    He accused the PDP of having something untoward up its sleeves and fearing that the new police commissioner would not condone such.

    He said: “As usual, the PDP has not provided any evidence to support this low level fiction. We consider it indecent, reprehensible and ungodly for a political party that is in control of government and power at the state to serially incite the populace against the police.

    “We are in a democracy, and the PDP must know that it has to respect all the institutions of law and order. The PDP cannot decide for the Inspector General of Police whom he should appoint as Police Commissioner in the state.

    “Except there is something they are not telling us, the PDP is not in a position to say it is only someone they can do business with that must be Police Commissioner in the state.

    “The PDP is taking its objection to the posting of the new Bayelsa State Police Commissioner, Joseph Mukan, beyond the red lines. It has become a joke taken too far.

    “The Bayelsa APC is a party of peace-loving people committed to democracy and the progress of Bayelsa State. Like President Muhammadu Buhari, we would like to take the state to the next level. We have nothing to gain in the event of a breakdown of law and order in the state.

    “We cannot help but wonder with alarm what unlawful acts the PDP plans to engage in this time, which they fear the new Police Commissioner, unlike their friend and party man, would not condone. To us, the new police commissioner is doing very well in the state.

    “Indeed, we commend him for reaching out to all the critical segments of society, especially the youth, in his attempt to rid the state of crime and criminality.

    “Similarly, we salute Police Commissioner Mukan for apprehending the suspected killers of Miss Seifa Fred. Fred, a first year student of Niger Delta University, was killed recently in Yenagoa. We call on the people of Bayelsa State to support and cooperate with Police Commissioner Mukan”.

  • Deployment of Commissioner of Police: APC chides PDP

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Bayelsa has condemned the state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for kicking against the deployment of a new Commissioner of Police in the state.

    In a statement on Wednesday in Yenagoa, the party said that PDP had by opposing the deployment engaged in inciting the people against the police, and hence calling for anarchy.

    The statement, signed by Publicity Secretary of APC in the state, Mr Doifie Buokoribo, was in response to a statement by PDP alleging that the police commissioner’s office had become APC’s “operational political base”.

    The APC said that it considered it indecent and reprehensible that a party in control of government in the state could be frightened by a lawful routine security posting.

    Read Also: Save Delta APC from collapse, stakeholders beg NWC

    It said that there was no evidence of infraction to warrant unlawful behaviour among the population.

    The party recalled that not long ago, under the Gov. Seriake Dickson’s administration, “his friend and member of his party, PDP, was posted to the state as commissioner of police.

    “And, in spite of apparent injustices, APC never resorted to PDP’s current attempt to provoke public anger against the police and cause anarchy.”

    It accused the PDP of having something up its sleeves and fearing that the new police boss in the state would not condone such.

    “The PDP is taking its objection to the posting of the new Police Commissioner in Bayelsa, Mr Joseph Mukan, beyond the red lines. It has become a joke taken too far,” APC stated.

  • PDP introduced vote-buying – Sen. Ndume

     

    The senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has accused the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of introducing vote-buying into the Nigeria’s electoral system.

    Ndume, who said this in Abuja was reacting to the allegation that the President Muhammadu Buhjari-led administration was using its Special Investment Programmes, including TradeMoni, to buy the electorate over.

    The lawmaker alleged that the party’s current presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, emerged through vote-buying.

    “First of all, during the presentation of “Next Level’’ on Monday, this allegation was categorically denied, and we said if there is such evidence, whoever is involved should be reported to the appropriate authority.

    “Having said that, let me note that it is the PDP, and you can quote me on this, that introduced voted buying.

    “Even now, they are concentrating on buying votes, not on campaigning to genuinely win election. So, I don’t know where this accusation is coming from.

    “The PDP presidential candidate emerged by buying the votes, in dollars not even in naira.

    “It is on record and everybody knows that even the presidential candidacy of PDP is purchased.’’

    Read Also: Oyo PDP candidate ‘sure of victory’

    Ndume said the same could not be said of the emergence of Buhari as the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 presidential election.

    He said that the President did not even ask anyone to step down for him during the recent primaries of the party, let alone buy delegates over.

    “I hereby challenge any Nigerian to come out and say that Buhari even asked anyone to step down for him. He only offered himself to contest, and everybody queued behind him.

    “So, when they allege that APC is buying votes, I just laugh.

    “Do you know why PDP is contesting? It is because they think they can buy Nigerians, and Nigerians are not for sale.

    “Nobody can say that President Muhammadu Buhari, either directly or indirectly, is condoning vote buying.’’

    The senator, however, noted that the influence of money could not be ruled out of Nigerian politics as was the case even in advanced democracies such as the United States and others.

    He said one of the reasons former U.S. President Barack Obama defeated Hilary Clinton in the Democratic Party’s primaries in 2008 was because he had more money.

    Ndume stressed that money also played a major role in Obama’s victory in the general elections.

    NAN

  • Imo APC ticket: I won’t succumb to threat – Nwosu

    Former Chief of Staff to the Imo State governor, Uche Nwosu, has described the threat handed on aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to withdraw their Court actions or face sanctions by the National Working Committee of the party as an act of arm twisting and unacceptable.

    The APC NWC had threatened to invoke sanctions on all members of the party who took the party to Court over the fall out of the just concluded primaries, unless they withdraw the suits

    But Nwosu who is the winner of the October 6 APC governorship primary in Imo State, insisted that the threat of sanction will not stop him from pursuing his case to a logical conclusion and reclaiming his mandate.

    He stated that before approaching the Court over his stolen mandate as the authentic APC governorship candidate in Imo state, he had first of all made concerted efforts to have the leadership of the party resolve the crisis using internal mechanism to no avail.

    He disclosed that he had written several letters to the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole with the hope of bringing him to intervene and resolve the matter at the early stage but was rebuffed.

    Nwosu recounted that when he discovered through credible intelligence that Ahmed Gulak was not coming to conduct governorship primary in Imo but was assigned to deliver a certain aspirant, he raised the alarm through a letter to the National Chairman but was painfully ignored.

    Read Also: 2019: Igbo support for Buhari still intact – Nwosu

    According to him, “it is unfortunate that the National Chairman of our party is just waking up now after causing the trouble. He had all the time to have resolved the issue before now but refused to do so. In line with the constitution of the party, I had exhausted all avenues to have my matter resolved using internal mechanism but nobody came to my aid.

    “I personally wrote three different letters to the National Chairman and I have the acknowledgment but he never responded to any of the letters. My first letter was to inform that Ahmed Gulak was not coming to conduct primary election in Imo, that he was coming to impose a certain aspirant but he snubbed me, the second was to complain about how Gulak absconded to Abuja to announce fake result still he didn’t respond and the last one was to tell him not to substitute my name as the winner of the governorship primary.

    “All these letters were never considered by the National Chairman who went ahead to substitute my name, he had a lot of time to resolve the issue but he did nothing and now that I am in Court, I will pursue my matter to a logical conclusion and reclaim my stolen mandate, no amount of threat will make me abandon my mandate”.

    Meanwhile in one of the letters made available to journalists, Nwosu had raised concern over the appointment of Ahmed Gulak as the Chairman of the APC Primary Election Committee for the State.

    The said letter read in part, “I write to appeal to you Mr. Chairman to change the person of Gulak as Chairman of the committee because of his comment/boast that he is coming to Imo state to deliver his friend Senator Hope Uzodinma as APC gubernatorial candidate”.

    Nwosu argued further that the letters were abundant evidence that he had followed due process in seeking redress before approaching the Court “as the last hope of the common man”.

  • Eid-el-Maulud: APC urges Nigerians to be wary of promises by politicians

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday advised Nigerians, especially Muslims, as they celebrate the Eid-el-Maulud, to be wary of empty promises and antics of some politicians ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu,the APC National Publicity Secretary, gave the advice in a statement in Abuja, while felicitating with the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of Eid-el-Maulud.

    The Eid-el-Maulud is the celebration of the birthday of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (SAW).

    “With the commencement of political campaigns ahead of the 2019 general elections, we are at a critical juncture where we must make the right choice in who leads us at all levels of governance.

    “We must be wary of the empty promises and antics of the same people who oversaw the ruining of the country and now parade themselves as newly-converted saints with promises of a Nigerian Eldorado,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Eid-El-Maulud: FG declares Tuesday public holiday

    Onilu noted that the occasion calls on Muslims and indeed Nigerians, irrespective of religious affiliations, to apply the teachings of Prophet Mohammed (SAW) which bordered on peaceful coexistence, tolerance, justice, charity and piety.

    This, he said, was especially as we collectively worked for the peace, progress and development of the country.

    He, however, added that the party’s victories in the bye-elections conducted last Saturday in Katsina, Bauchi and Kwara states were yet another solid expression that Nigeria preferred the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration.

    “We must build on this momentum and support going into the general elections,’’ the APC spokesman said.

    He added that with the lunch of the APC manifesto for the 2019 election campaign tagged, “Next Level,’’ Nigerians were now faced with a choice.

    Onilu said the choice was between returning the President Buhari administration which was rebuilding the country in all facets and accountability over waste, probity and impunity and a self-serving cartel.

  • Thugs invade A’Ibom Assembly as five APC lawmakers lose seat

    There was pandemonium on Monday at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly as armed thugs invaded the premises of the assembly complex to stop the sitting of the House.

    The hoodlums numbering over a hundred arrived the assembly complex situated at Udo Udoma road, Uyo in the early hours of yesterday and blocked the main entrance to the complex.

    The thugs, our correspondent gathered, were mobilized by the five lawmakers who had recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    It was also learnt that the invasion of the Assembly Monday by the hoodlums was aimed at preventing the House from sitting to declare the seats of the five APC lawmakers vacant.

    The thugs blocked the main entrance of assembly complex and also disrupted vehicular and human traffic in and out of the complex. They made bonfires and shot sporadically into the air.

    But for the intervention of the security operatives, the thugs would have gained entrance to the Hallowed Chamber of the House. However, the hoodlums succeeded in smashing some doors and windows of the assembly complex.

    Amid the tension, the assembly, however, went ahead to hold its plenary during which it declared the seats of the five APC lawmakers vacant.

    Read Also: Over 100 cultists surrender arms in A’Ibom

    The affected legislators include Idongesit Ituen (Itu), Gabriel Tobby (Etim Ekpo/Ika), Victor Udofia (Ikono), Otobong Ndem (Mkpat Enin), and Nse Ntuen (Essien Udim).

    The Speaker of the state house of assembly, Mr. Onofiok Luke said the House took the decision in line with section 109 sub. 1G of the 1999 constitution as amended.

    The House also passed a motion urging Governor Udom Emmanuel to name either the Akwa Ibom state University or the Ibom International Airport after a former Governor of the state, Obong Victor Attah in commemoration of his 80th birthday today.

  • N80bn Bayelsa airport project outrageous – Bayelsa APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa says the ‘astronomical’ rise in cost of the Bayelsa Cargo Airport from N40 to N80 billion is worrisome and a waste of public funds.

    The APC said that the reaction of Bayelsa Government to its allegation on the project was a failed attempt to divert attention from obvious lack of fiscal discipline and prudence by the state government.

    The party said that “serious issues of accountability, due process and democratic governance” raised in its Nov. 15 statement regarding the airport project was never addressed.

    Mr Doifie Buokoribo, the APC Publicity Secretary in Bayelsa, said in a statement in Yenagoa on Monday that the state government had carefully avoided the critical concerns raised by the party.

    The party said that by the diversionary response, the Dickson government had only confirmed the allegation, stressing that “Governor Dickson is guilty as charged.”

    The APC had criticized the Bayelsa Government for borrowing from the money market at the current high interest rate and described it as a ploy to siphon public funds.

    It alleged that the high interest of N62 billion to be paid on the N80 billion loan would stifle the state of funds through the monthly repayment obligations in the next eight years.

    It said that the project lacked vital inter-modal network for easy accessibility.

    The APC said that the N80 billion project was inflated and described it as “clearly the most expensive airport project in Nigeria.”

    Buokoribo said that Bayelsa Government’s response was silent on the economic viability of funding such a capital intensive project from the money market at huge interest rates.

    “The Bayelsa State Government’s reaction to our statement of Nov. 15, 2018, on the Bayelsa Airport scam did not address any of the issues we raised. This is unfortunate, but understandable.

    “Unfortunate because the government is attempting to divert the attention of the Bayelsa populace from the serious issues of accountability, due process and democratic governance.

    Read Also: CONTROVERSY DOGS MULTI-BILLION NAIRA Minna City Centre project

    “These concerns underscore our party’s intervention. We said the airport project is a fraud. We said at more than N80 billion, it is grossly inflated.

    “We said the airport project is a deliberate cover by Gov. Seriake Dickson to launder state’s funds. We have no reason whatsoever to change our well thought-out position.

    “Rather than address the concerns we raised, Gov. Dickson, through his Information Commissioner, chose to abuse our party and its leaders.

    “The APC is a party of serious-minded people. We are not in competition with anyone as to who will emerge best in exchange of insults and abuse. We are focused on a better life for all the people of Bayelsa State,” he said.

    Bayelsa Commissioner for Information, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, had during an inspection tour of the airport in August, put the cost at N90 billon.

    In his reaction, Iworiso-Markson said the past administration in the state failed to give the people the desperately needed international airport between 2007 and 2011.

    Iworiso-Markson said that the Gov. Timipriye Syla-led administration (now in APC) failed to build an airport in spite of the huge resources at the disposal of his administration.

    According to him, the past administration used what should have been a laudable idea of an airport project to milk the state and siphoned billions of naira into private pockets.

    The commissioner challenged the APC to tell Bayelsa people and Nigerians what the former governor did with N300 billion agriculture loan the state took from the World Bank.

    According to him, the past administration also frittered away the N3 billion Millennium Development Goal (MDG) funds made available to the state and foisted a bond obligation of N125 billion on the state.

    NAN

  • ‘Let’s bury our differences and work for Imo APC’

    A group of Imo indigenes based in Europe wants all aggrieved members of the All progressives Congress (APC) in the State to come together, bury their differences and work for the success of the party in the 2019 general election.

    The group said the events or intrigues leading to the emergency of Sen. Hope Uzodinma should not be allowed to linger but consigned to the background of history if the Party hoped to succeed at the 2019 polls.

    In a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja, the Imo Diaspora Support for Senator Hope Uzodinma (IDSFSHU),  urged the two main rival groups to display maturity following the decision of the Party on its governorship candidate, saying the collective interest of Imo State should be paramount to all members of the Party.

    The statement signed by its Coordinator Nnanna Okere reads in part: “We urge the Ugwumba Movement to embrace peace and work for the party to continue the governance at the Douglas House Owerri come 2019.

    “While we also admonished the Imo APC Restoration Coalition not to see their victory over the Ugwumba Movement as a zero sum game but a victory for democracy, it is important to emphasize that what should be paramount to APC is to concentrate and ensure overall victory at the main election not all these attacks on each other in the media.

    Read Also: APC chieftain faces Oshiomhole

    “We also encourage all Imolites to give Senator Uzodinma a chance to reposition Imo State for greater economic growth and development starting from 2019m because it is our firm belief that Uzodinma’s administration will ensure and work towards alleviating their sufferings when elected into power.

    “Senator Uzodinma as governor will empower the youth to achieve their potentials, as a passionate and resourceful young man who became a millionaire in his mid-30s when hard work pays is determined to working with young, intelligent and vibrant Imolites to drive growth built on human capital with productive knowledge.

    “We also enjoin Nigerians not to concede in their prayers for the success of the general elections in 2019 so that we can continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy,” the statement added.

    While congratulating Uzodinma for emerging as the flag bearer for the 2019 polls, the group commended all members of the Party and the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) for standing for justice, fair and equity as enshrined in the APC guidelines.

     

  • Ohanaeze’s endorsement of Atiku all chaff – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that many well-meaning Igbo leaders asked him to ignore the so-called endorsement by Ohanaeze Ndigbo of the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

    Buhari said he was told that the action by the Ndigbo apex group was all gas, lacking substance.

    The President made the revelation on Friday at the Presidential Villa, when he hosted a group of Igbo leaders in Abuja, who pledged to mobilize votes for him in next year’s election.

    Buhari said, based on assurances by Igbo leaders, he was not surprised about the split within the Ohanaeze Igbo socio-cultural group after the so-called Atiku endorsement.

    Buhari said that the moment the so-called resolution was announced, he got calls from well-meaning leaders from the region asking him to disregard it as it was without any substance.

    “From that moment, I knew that the resolution would not stand, and alas, there it was,’’ he added.

    The President said that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), got it right from the very beginning that the major problems facing the country were mainly on security, corruption and the economy.

    He said: “We have done so much. Given the chance, we will do more. Given every chance, we will tell Nigerians where we were in 2015 and what we have achieved up to now.

    “We will not get tired of speaking about the golden opportunity Nigeria lost during 16 years of the PDP. We earned money, which we didn’t use.

    “The state of infrastructure we inherited was terrible – no roads, the railway was killed and power. They lacked conscience because anybody with conscience will not do what they did.

    “We will report them to Nigerians. Let anybody lead this country but not the PDP. They were so reckless with the resources of the country.’’

    Read Also: Again, Buhari assures of credible elections

    “If you ruin the economy, send your children abroad to get education, won’t they come back?” he asked, adding: “I said it 30 years ago that this is the only country we have. We must stay here and salvage it together.”

    The leaders of the delegation, Engineer Emeka Ekwuosa and the National Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, informed President Buhari that the Igbos and South-easterners generally understand the good things he is doing for Nigeria which they said, had unfortunately been misunderstood.

    They promised to mobilize support for him in the south-east, saying that his re-election will be a national consensus.

    NAN