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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • APC charges Nigerians to continue challenging corruption 

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has charged Nigerians to continue to challenge corruption and its related vices, and not to allow politicians who institutionalized it to take over governance again.

     

    Mr Yekini Nabena, the APC acting National Publicity Secretary gave the charge in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

     

    “We must continue to challenge corruption and its related vices, this is in line with the change agenda the APC promised Nigerians, this is a promise we are committed to keep.

     

    “While we alert Nigerians to the plot of some politicians to buy votes and deploy other illegal means to subvert the people’s will during coming elections, we urge relevant agencies to be proactively involved in tracking of election financing.

     

    “The same people who criminally diverted public monies to fund their political activities as brazenly displayed during past administrations, must be prevented from doing same in coming elections,” he said.

     

    Nabena noted that under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration, the scale of recoveries from corrupt elements in the past three years by the country’s anti-graft agencies was testament that the administration’s extensive anti corruption drive was yielding results.

     

    He added that compared to the past, the successful prosecution of many corrupt persons, the hugely successful whistle blowing policy and voluntary return of corruptly acquired funds and assets had shown that it was no longer business as usual.

     

    The APC spokesman further said that it also showed that corruption was increasingly becoming unacceptable in the country.

     

    “Corruption can no longer define how we do things as a country, there is a new realisation among well meaning Nigerians that if we do not kill corruption it will kill us.

     

    “We share the submission of a former United States Vice President, Joe Biden; corruption is a cancer; a cancer that eats away at a citizen’s faith in democracy, diminishes the instinct for innovation and creativity.

     

    “It wastes the talent of entire generations, it scares away investments and jobs,” the APC spokesman said.

     

    He noted that the media space had recently been awash with a campaign of calumny against Federal Government’s anti corruption efforts by the same opposition partisans and their proxies that ruined the country with their institutionalised corruption.

    He added that this, was however, expected as corruption would naturally fight back.

     

    Nabena said that sadly, ahead of 2019 elections, those that insitutionalised corrupt in the country had resurfaced to canvass votes of Nigerians for various elective positions, ostensibly to resume “their stealing”.

     

    He stressed that Nigerians were neither gullible nor stupid, adding that they had not forgotten the yoke they bore under the corrupt Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regimes and deserve no more of it.

     

    He recalled that under the PDP administration, public funds that could had improved the education, healthcare sectors and provided infrastructure to develop the economic and social life of Nigerians were sadly in the pockets of “thieves”.

  • Why Buhari must be re-elected – Borno APC aspirant

    The re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 Presidential election would ensure the permanent return of peace to Borno State and the North East region, a governorship aspirant under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) from Borno has said.

    Mamman Idris, after the submission of his Nomination and Expression of Interest forms at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja, said the re-election of President Buhari would bring the needed peace necessary for the economic revival of the region.

    Idris said: “We have to build on the success of Mr. President on  the degradation of Boko Haram due to the leadership drive of President Buhari. It is our  believe that if Mr. President is re-elected for the second term, Boko Haram will be completely eliminated and the peace that Borno used to enjoy will be restored.

    “Invariably, the booming economy that Borno used to enjoy will be also restored. So it is our prayers and wish that Mr. President is re-elected so that he can compete the good job he started in Borno and the Northeast region”.

    Idris, who expressed gratitude to Northern Borno elders for supporting the aspiration of the Southern Borno for the governorship seat noted that the gesture has dispelled insinuation of marginalization and the quest of the State for decentralization of political power.

    Idris, from Southern Borno enjoyed the support of Northern Borno, who purchased the Nomination and Expression of Interest form for him.

    Read Also: Buhari pushes for ECOWAS single currency

    He said: “I am overwhelmed and humbled by this gesture whereby my Northern Borno elder were the ones that procure the Nomination form me, from Southern Borno.

    “In reality, Southern Borno has not produced a governor whereas both North and Central Borno have produced governors three times. So, this show of solidarity is significant in the history of our State because it has never happened before.

    “This show of solidarity has placed on us a responsibility to have an all-inclusive government. We cannot afford to do otherwise because so much faith has been imposed on us by the majority that has shown us this huge level of support”.

    The aspirant said with a 180-page road-map for his governorship tenure, return and sustenance of peace, as well as revival of Borno economy through agriculture and industries would be his priority, “We have to ensure that the people return to the land for agriculture.

    “The people have suffered from years of insurgency that displaced them, so we have to implement the road-map to the letter so that the people can return to the land, get back their dignity, reintegrate them, sustain peace and reconstruct Borno.

    “People come from far an near, even outside the country to come and trade in Borno, but insurgency disrupted everything, so we have to deliberately plan and execute policies that will bring back Borno,” Idris added.

  • No faction in Bakassi APC, says Ita-Giwa

    Political leader of the Bakassi people of Cross River State and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, says there is no faction in the party in the local government.

    Speaking during the commissioning of the chapter secretariat as well as the inauguration of the chapter and ward executives of the party in Bakassi local government area, Ita-Giwa said the party was united to help President Muhammadu Buhari to succeed, so as to help resettle the people once and for all.

    Her words, “We also had to emphasize that Bakassi is not in any faction. In all the years of our doing elections in the party, we have never had parallel structures or factions. Yes, we do have misunderstandings, but we always come around, reconcile and come together because of the paramount interest, which are the people of Bakassi; but not to the extent of having two parallel structures. I don’t believe in that. I am too old to believe in parallel structures or factions. Bakassi is neutral. I am focused on APC winning elections. My mind is connected to Buhari winning the election so that they can come and resettle Bakassi.

    “We are a peculiar local government. We are not like every local government in Nigeria. We are a local government with very profound problems, that up till now, how many years ago that we were ceded without a referendum, we are still homeless, still in refugee camps, having babies and dying in camps. Until now we have not been relocated to where we call our home. To where is conducive to our way and style of living and means of livelihood. Up till now, Nigeria has continued to trample on the people of Bakassi and we are saying that enough is enough. We came to APC so we can help solidify APC and when we do that and the president wins election; the president would be able to resettle the Bakassi people very well.

    Read Also: Ita-Giwa condemns Senate invasion

    “We are qualified to vote as Nigerians. We went to Dayspring on our own without the support of government and got our voters’ cards to be able to vote as Nigerians. Even then, they still went to court to question the legality of that process and we thank God that INEC stood their grounds and won the case. Today Dayspring is an area where you are qualified to vote and be voted for. Under no circumstance should people continue to refer to Bakassi in numbers. We are not numbers. We have names. All the ten wards have names. We have identities.

    “We have our land, Dayspring. Let them take us there. We don’t need resettlement camps. We need to go to our natural place of abode so people have their traditional, political and religious lives as the case may be. That is why we are here to make that case, which is that they should leave us out of your faction issue. We have issues that are more profound than political factions.”

  • ‘We cut down frivolities to execute projects, pay workers salary’

    The Executive Chairman, Ibadan West Local Council Development Area, Aleshinloye, Mr. Yomi Adefusi has identified cutting down on what he described as ‘frivolities of office’ as the secret of his administration in meeting the yearnings of his people and members of staff of the council area, especially in the provision and execution of projects and payment of workers salary.

    He said his background in the corporate world helped him identified the challenge of paucity of fund affecting various government parastatals in the country and came up with noble ways of addressing same.

    He made the disclosure while addressing hundreds of the members of the constituents who converged to witness the activities marking his first 100 days in office, where he commissioned projects worth millions of naira for the benefit of people of the area.

    Adefusi pointed out that the paucity of fund was not peculiar to the state as it affects various government parastatals, adding that he has to cut down certain frivolities and excessive spending on white elephant projects.

    The council chairman while addressing residents of the local council area,  including men, women and the youths as well as members/leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emphasized that: “I was most worried seeing this local council area appeared like a deserted area with nothing to show for it. I said, it is time to prove cynics wrong that we can use the limited resources of the council to embark on good projects to make life meaningful for people.

    “That was how despite the scarce resource at our disposal, the pain is so burning in my heart to create a record, we were able to put all these projects we are about to commission here in a short period.”

    The council boss assured the people of the local council area that his admiration would embark on more capital projects across all communities before his tenure expires.

    He tasked communities to put good use of the projects with proper maintenance, saying that it was one thing to execute projects for local dwellers while another thing was to keep a good maintenance culture.

    When asked during a press chat, whether the council boss intended to deceive his political leaders and good people of the council area with the massive projects in 100 days only and hide under these projects to loot the council treasury, he responded that: “I am not here to loot council fund. I have a big journey in politics and this is my starting point to create a good record.

    Read Also: World Bank’s $600m for Lake Chad Basin projects

    “I am not here to deceive anybody. It is my burning desire to take development to the communities in Ibadan West Local Council Development Area.”

    Mr Adefusi used the medium to express appreciation to the governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi for the opportunity giving him to serve in that capacity, adding that he was indeed following the footsteps of the governor in all ramifications in the provision of democratic dividends.

    Some of the key projects commissioned are a block of four classroom at St. Michael’s African Church School, Apata, Ibadan, a block of four classrooms at Abiola Jacobs Primary School, Foko in Ibadan and other ongoing lofty projects which included road rehabilitation, hospitals rehabilitation, among others.

    Dignitaries at the ceremony included council officials, party faithful, councillors, traditional rulers and other personalities.

  • APC dismisses alleged nullification of Osun primaries

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed as fake, news in the social media that a Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified its primary election in Osun State which produced its governorship candidate, Gboyega Oyetola.

    The APC had conducted its governorship primary of Osun State using the direct primary option to produce its candidate for the governorship election scheduled for September 22.

    Read Also:I am prepared to lead Osun, says Oyetola

    But one of the aspirants for the governorship ticket, Kunle Rasheed Adegoke reportedly challenged the process in court, seeking to nullify the direct option used by the party.

    In a statement signed by the Acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, the part7 said while it is aware of the case, it was not possible for judgement to have been entered in a case whose hearing commenced on Thursday, September 13 when it was first mentioned and adjourned to September 27.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to some misleading media reports suggesting that the Direct primaries which produced Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the forthcoming Osun State Governorship election has been nullified by an Abuja Federal High Court in a matter filed by one Kunle Rasheed Adegoke.

    “This case is before Justice Dimgba and our confirmation from the Court’s Registry show that the matter was filed on July 27, 2018. It is being handled for the Plaintiff by A.U Mustapha (SAN) and came up for the first time on September 13, 2018 when service of originating processes on all other Parties was confirmed.

    “The matter was subsequently adjourned to September 27, 2018 for hearing.  Based on the foregoing facts, it is impossible for Judgement to have been given in this case which has only just commenced. We urge the general public to disregard the sponsored fake news.”

  • Shocking defeat awaits you if you contest, APC tells Dogara

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara not to re-contest the House of Representative seat on the platform of the opposition party as “a humiliating defeat” awaits him.

    Reacting to the purported defection of the Speaker to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Acting National Organising Secretary, Yekini Nabena said it was not a surprise if the Speaker decide to join the opposition in view of his anti-party activities in the National Assembly.

    Read Also:Soldiers kill 10 kidnappers, bandits in Kaduna

    He said the anti-party activities became more glaring when the PDP won his local government of Bogoro during the recently concluded Senatorial election in Bauchi state.

    Nabena said “We have received several media requests for a reaction to the purported defection of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to one of the opposition political parties, as reported in the media.

    “In reacting, a recent comment by President Muhammadu Buhari aptly sums Dogara’s reported defection: “The weakest people whose senses of expectation do not align with our vision have exited our Party”.

    “Dogara’s reported defection has not come to us as a surprise. It was only a matter of time judging by Dogara’s anti-party antics in the National Assembly where in connivance with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, he exploited all available avenues to sabotage and undermine the APC-led executive.

    “Dogara’s anti-party activities which enabled one of the opposition Party’s sole victory in Bogoro Local Government Area (Dogara’s council) during the recent Bauchi South Senatorial bye-election won by the APC is another pointer, among several others.

    “Indeed, all politics is local. As a Party, we empathise with Dogara on his confusion and despair over his bleak political future given the fact that he is not on ground and a political paperweight in his home Bauchi state.

    “In his emergence as Speaker, Dogara was merely used by his political master to achieve their selfish political ends at the time. They have since moved on to pursue their individual political aspirations and left Dogara in the cold.

    “We would advise Dogara against his ill-advised decision to recontest his House of Representatives seat under the opposition Party he is linked with because a crushing and humiliating defeat surely awaits him.

    “As a Party, we remain united and committed to our Progressives ideologies. We urge Party faithful to consolidate on our strengths and collectively go into the 2019 general elections as a united and strong political fighting force to sustain the Change Agenda we are implementing for the benefit of Nigerians.”

  • 2019: Buhari’s candidacy has narrowed APC’s chances -PDP

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has narrowed its chances of winning the 2019 presidential election with President Muhammadu Buhari as its sole presidential candidate.

    In a statement Thursday by the spokesman of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the main opposition party observed that President Buhari has become grossly unpopular among Nigerians.

    Read Also:Buhari hiding under democracy to hold on to power – Atiku

    The party predicted crushing defeat for Buhari and the APC in the 2019 general elections, adding that the President and the APC avoided competitive primary election with high nomination fees.

    This, according to the PDP, has scared away good candidates within the APC for the 2019 presidential contest.

    The statement said, “Had President Buhari shed his desperation for power and allowed for internal democracy within the APC, particularly when it became clear that Nigerians across board have become averse to his re-election, due to his incompetence and insensitivity to the plight of the citizens, there would have been little hope for the APC.

    “In muzzling contest in APC and gleefully emerging a sole candidate, President Buhari has merely won a pyrrhic victory; a General without a troop, with no capacity to face a general election, as the army of stakeholders and the masses that supported him in 2015 have since left him because of his unfulfilled promises and many failures in governance.

    “Now that Mr. President has confirmed by his body language that he had no chance in a party he leads, how then can he stand a chance in the general elections where millions of Nigerians, who are suffering untold hardship because of his misrule are only waiting to deal him a blow with their votes?

    “Owing to Buhari’s incompetence, Nigerians’ purchasing power has become abysmally low, industries have wound up with attendant mass job losses, foreign direct investments have hit all time low, international partners have totally lost confidence in doing business with our compatriots, while this administration has no economic blueprint except borrowing.

    “Since President Buhari’s declaration to contest the 2019 election, true democrats and other well-meaning citizens have continued to leave the APC in droves to the repositioned PDP, which has now become the rallying platform for all Nigerians, in their collective quest for a new President among the array of very credible aspirants in the PDP.

    “Moreover, while it is settled that President Buhari is no match to any of our presidential aspirants, all indices points to his imminent defeat as the PDP remain committed to a credible, free, fair and transparent Presidential primary, where Nigerians will freely participate to throw up that President that will lead our nation to the path of unity, peace, good governance and economic prosperity for our people”.

  • Osinbajo backs quotas for young APC aspirants

    Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has expressed support for the request by young aspirants under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) to be given quotas in elective offices.

    Osinbajo’s stance was communicated in a statement by Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President on Thursday in Abuja.

    The vice president had on Wednesday night met with young aspirants under the platform of APC at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Osinbajo commended Nigeria’s youths for their desire to contribute to nation building in their various constituencies through active involvement in politics.

    He called on them to make needed sacrifices to ensure the ideals they want to see in the country were realised.

    “We are in a place where we are the ones who can make the difference; nothing is going to change overnight, but we can make efforts to change the process.

    “We can do a lot more, but it depends on our commitment. I like the idea of young people getting a quota in the party structure to run for office on some level, such as the state houses of Assembly.

    “Some of the aspirants had earlier raised the issue of allowing quotas to young people in elective offices.

    “It is up to us to fight at every stage to see the ideals that we desire; we will win, in the end, if we are consistent.

    “Our party is stronger if our young people are determined to make a change and a difference, even from within.

    “We would see what can be done to ensure that women and youths are more involved in party politics.”

    Osinbajo noted that the country’s future depended on the commitment of young people who were willing to play their part and make positive differences.

    Read Also: Osinbajo to Young aspirants: Nigeria’s future depends on you

    He said that it was important to encourage young people to participate at all levels of the party.

    The vice president said the courage of the young aspirants was exceptional for aspiring to run for offices in a country of about 200 million people.

    “Having gone this far in the game; that you are not just sitting down at home, not just getting upset with yourself on Social Media.

    “You are putting your money, resources and your time where your mouth is.

    “So, consider yourself in very exceptional company. This is a group of people who have not lost hope, but are very determined to ensure that things work.”

    Osinbajo added that young people should not lose hope in the country as things would continue to change for the better if they remained committed to the ideals.

    He said he strongly believed that the future of the party depended on people who were committed to building a party that was based on ideals that were deemed important.

    “As a young person, I belonged to several pressure groups. I graduated at the age of 21.

    “And when I graduated, I began to participate in various pressure groups, human rights organisations, and anti-corruption, civil society groups of every kind.

    “When political parties started forming, we could not aspire, but we remained involved. My first involvement in government was when I was appointed as Attorney General in Lagos State.

    “For seven years – after serving as Lagos Attorney-General – I was part of the party, I did not have a board appointment or anything, but I kept working for the party.

    I kept working for the party as a lawyer. Most of those cases we were not paid a dime. But we went from place to place.

    “Sometimes we didn’t even have a place to stay when we went to court the next morning. So, there is a measure of paying the price, it depends on how serious or committed we are to some of the things we say we are committed to,” he said.

    Osinbajo further called on young people to stay committed and remain within the party to help to build the party structures.

    He said that he believed that, in party politics, faithful must go beyond positions, whether elective or appointed, but must be committed to something, the principles and beliefs of those who were the forebears of that party.

    Young aspirants in APC across the country who attended the meeting on Wednesday night had requested for audience with the Vice President ahead of the forthcoming party primaries.

  • Zamfara Deputy Governor cautions youths against violence

    Zamfara Deputy Governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, has cautioned youths in the state against any form of violence before, during and after the 2019 general elections.

    Wakkala, who is a gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), gave the advice while addressing his supporters from the 14 local government areas of the state at his residents in Gusau on Thursday.

    He urged youths to shun any form of violence, thuggery and avoid anything that will disturb peace and stability in the society in the name of politics.

    “We should cooperate and work together for the development of Zamfara State; we should not be allowed to be used for political violence and thuggery.

    “You know the situation we are facing in Zamfara today, we should continue with prayers and seek Allah’s intervention to the security challenges we are facing.

    “I thank you for the support, you gave to me, and Insha Allah I will work on the mandate you gave to me. I will continue to stand for you.

    Read Also: Over 3,000 repentant bandits surrender weapons in Zamfara, says deputy governor

    “I am happy with the kind of trust, solidarity, support and encouragement you are giving to me, and I am giving you assurance that we will continue to work together”, he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the deputy governor has failed to secure the support of Gov. Abdulaziz Yari and APC leadership in the state who are backing another aspirant for the position.

    The governor and the state APC leadership have claimed that the party stakeholders had since endorsed the state Commissioner of Finance, Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu-Idris, as the party’s governorship candidate.

    The deputy governor and other aspirants had since kicked against the decision, saying there was no consensus on who becomes the governorship candidate of the APC in the state.

    Other governorship aspirants seeking APC endorsement include, Alhajic a retired Federal Permanent Secretary and Sen. Kabiru Mafara, representing Zamfara Central.

  • PDP cautions INEC over alleged plot to shift 2019 elections

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against alleged plots to shift the dates for the 2019 general elections.

    The opposition party also advised the chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu not to allow the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Buhari Presidency to use him to execute their plots to frustrate the conduct of credible elections in 2019.

    Read Also:2019 elections: PDP already conceding defeat, says APC

    Saying that the plot was meant to push for illegal tenure elongation for President Buhari and the APC, the PDP told the President and his party to perish the thoughts of staying in power a day beyond May 29, 2019.

    A statement Wednesday by the spokesman of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan said, the opposition party was already aware of suggestions by the INEC chairman to have the elections postponed.

    The PDP further stated that the alleged plot was a product of series of clandestine meetings between the INEC and the APC on ways to frustrate the 2019 elections. It added that the APC and the INEC have realised that there is no hope for President Buhari in the 2019 polls.

    The statement said, “Nigerians and the international community have also noted the various ploys by INEC to frustrate a credible elections, including its stiff opposition to the amendment of the Electoral Act by the National Assembly to check APC rigging plans in addition to its exposed collaborations with INEC to manipulate the voters register, enroll underage voters and secretly creating 30,000 illegal polling centers in certain remote areas from where it plans to allocate fictitious votes to the APC.

    “Nigerians may recall that the PDP had earlier alerted of the plot by the Buhari Presidency to enmesh the 2019 elections into a needless controversy by deliberately delaying the presentation of the election budget to the National Assembly until the time the parliament was proceeding on annual recess.

    “Ostensibly to ensure that the election does not escape controversy, President Buhari demanded that the fund be taken from already approved budget for lawmakers’ constituency votes, despite entreaties by well-meaning Nigerians for a fresh budget for the elections.

    “Seeing that Nigerians are standing shoulder to shoulder with the PDP to resist and dismantle their rigging machinery, the APC and Buhari Presidency are now trying to use INEC to frustrate the elections and cause crisis in our country.

    “The PDP therefore rejects this plot by APC and INEC. The 2019 election must hold as scheduled. Nigerians are ready for elections and cannot wait to vote out President Buhari and his dysfunctional APC.

    “In that wise, our party cautions the INEC Chairman to open up, expose the Buhari Presidency and immediately commence the application of its constitutional First Line Charge funding instruments instead entangling itself with the plot to destroy our nation”.