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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • PDP alleges round-tripping in Buhari’s N45m nomination form

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Presidency of round-tripping the N45 million claimed to have been contributed by a group to buy the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential nomination form for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to the opposition party, President Buhari’s inability to explain the registration status, membership and source of funding of the group has exposed the charade in the said endorsement stunt.

    Read Also:PDP governors disagree on consensus presidential candidate

    A statement by the spokesman of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the Buhari Presidency failed to realise that such stunts have become out-worn and cannot sway opinion in a country with citizens as enlightened as Nigerians.

    “Most Nigerians already know how some officials at the Buhari presidency, made up of corrupt individuals, racketeers and certificate forgers, hurriedly assembled the group and mobilised them with N45 million for the APC presidential nomination form, which was hiked to scare away other contestants.

    “How members of the group were settled for the stunt as well as the issues and disagreements that arose from the deal are also known to many Nigerians.

    “What Mr. President’s handlers are hiding from him is the fact that Nigerians do not believe the falsehood that a set of individuals, facing the challenges of abysmally low purchasing power, put together a wholesome N45m to buy him a form.

    “Nigerians are still waiting for him to make public the proof of registration, membership, list of individual contributors and amount contributed by these shadowy individual members.

    “We also challenge President Buhari to make public the official correspondences of the 12 million members of the Rice Farmers Association, members of the Fertilizer Producers Association and the members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association who, he claimed, offered to buy nomination form for him”.

    The opposition party described as unpresidential, the outbursts credited to President Buhari against those who left the ruling APC for other political parties, calling them as “weak and selfish”.

    The PDP said the verbal attack against the defectors was unwarranted for politicians who chose to abandon the ruling party.

    “Finally, the PDP counsels President Buhari to forget the idea of painting himself as a lover of youths and asking for funds from them, as his “lazy youth” comment and talking down on young persons not to contest against him in the 2019 election, amply conveyed his disdain for the Nigerian youths”, the statement added.

  • Don’t allow those who wrecked Nigeria back to power – Buhari

    …APC now have 15.6 million members, says Oshiomhole

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday submitted his nomination and expression of interest form to contest the presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with a message that Nigerians must not allow those that brought the country to its knees between 1999 and 2015 to take the country back.

    There was however a mild drama at the NEC hall of the APC national secretariat as the party National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, who presented a digital membership card of the party to the President, insisting however that President Buhari must pay N100 before collecting the membership card.

    Read Also:APC: Heavy security at secretariat as Buhari submit forms

    Oshiomhole also told the President that the party now has over 15.6 million members across the country.

    Buhari who expression appreciation to those who contributed money to but the form for him assured that if given the mandate and reelected in 2019, he will continue to serve the country to the best of his ability.

    He said “I am here in person among friends and colleagues to put my name forward to my party, the APC seeking nomination to contest the presidential election next year 2019.

    “Fellow party members, I’m taking this step with all humility, sense of responsibility and unquestionable desire to serve and protect the interest of all Nigerians.

    “I am very grateful to those dozens of organisations who have teamed together and contributed funds to purchase these forms, I assure them and rest of Nigerians that if nominated, and if elected, I shall continue to serve you to the best of my abilities.

    “Let me today, appeal to party members not to be complacent but to prepare, strategize and win 2019 elections. We must not allow those who brought the country to it’s kneels from 1999 to 2015 to come and take us back”.

    Speaking, APC national Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole informed the President that within the last two month, the present leadership of the party has been able to digitalise the party membership register and come up with a digital membership card which cannot easily be forged.

    He also informed the President that as at the last count, the party has membership strength of 15.6 million across the country, adding that the membership register has been done in a such a way that anybody who want to verify the membership of any party member can easily do it within the comfort of his room.

    He said “We want to present to you some of the effort we have been making since our assumption of office. We promised to activate the membership data, update it, register more members because party a mass movement and because be able talk about the size of our party, we need to have evidence that can be verified by members and all.

    “We have taken advantage of modern technology to produce what we think is the best or the first in Nigeria. As at last week when they started printing the membership register, we now have about 15.6 registered APC members across the country.

    “The system has been designed in such a way that from the comfort of any member’s seating room, you can crosscheck your membership and membership of any one you want to verify without any effort”

    Presenting the membership card to the president, he said “Mr. President, this your card which I am proud to say cannot easily be forged or duplicated or printed by road side printers. We are very proud of this achievement because it fits into our mantra of change. We now have a digital membership register.

    “The card will expire December 31, 2013. It is our belief that by then, technology would have improved ad we will be able to improve on the card. You have to pay N100 to acquire this because we have to pay for it.

    “For the purpose of a direct primary, every member coming to vote will show his membership card which must correspond with the details on the register before he can vote. We decided display these openly so that people will know that we have basis to conduct direct primary based on a membership register.

    “Before I am misunderstood or misquoted, it goes to say that inspite of the fact that we have these credible membership register, it does not in any way modify or change the decision of NEC regarding the flexibility that was agreed to.

    “At the NWC, we try to give practical expression transparently as possible so that the party will not only be the largest, it will be smartest, the most democratic and the most cohesive.”

    The President arrived the APC secretariat at exactly 3.44 pm and emerged with a shout of said Baba by supporters who defiled security cordons to her to the fence of the secretariat.

    However Journalist covering the party were harassed by Presidential guards and locked inside the APC Press Centre, with a few television stations allowed into the Hall.

    The president departed the secretariat at about 4.22, throwing up the usual brisk business that has been associated with the party secretariat in the last two weeks.

  • Ex-sport minister joins Kwara PDP governorship race

    Vows to end youth restiveness

     

    Former Sports Minister Mallam Bolaji Abudllahi on Wednesday joined the Kwara state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship race. Abdullahi, who is also an ex-spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) made the declaration in Ilorin, the state capital at a well-attended event by PDP bigwigs and top government functionaries in the state.

    He urged Kwarans to support his aspiration, describing himself as son of a tailor “who became somebody through God and Bukola Saraki.”

    The former minister decried the rate of youth’s disillusionment in the state, adding that “if we don’t solve the problems of the youths, the youths will consume us.”

    He said that youths are the greatest asset as well as the challenge the state has over the years, been grappling with.

    In his manifesto dubbed “Kwara 2019: Agenda for youth empowerment and investment in people,” the governorship hopeful described Senate President Bukola Saraki’s tenure as governor as mandate one, current Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed as mandate two and his own mandate three.

    Mallam Abdullahi said “Mandate three will be defined by its commitment to youth development as well as its focus on health, education and social protection, especially for the poor and the vulnerable.

    Read Also: Kwara governor picks Senate nomination form

    “Government’s priority will reflect the principle that the bulk of our resources should be invested in the bulk of the population—the children and the youths. Government will pursue an economic and social agenda that prioritizes youth empowerment through skills and capacity development, job creation and entrepreneurship.

    “Kwara state has an estimated population of 3.2 million, occupying 36,000 square kilometres of landmass. This population is believed to increase at the rate of 3.49 percent each year, which is above the national average of 2.6 percent per year. If the current increase rate is maintained, the state’s population would be close to five million by 2029.

    “Current demographic patterns indicate that 61 percent of the state’s population is of the age of 0-19. this severe population bulge of children and young adults makes the present and future challenges grimly clear.

    “Analysis of the state’s demography also indicates that about 30 percent of the population is in the 20-49 age category. As those in the upper end of the 0-19 join this category, the youth unemployment challenge would get even bigger and government would face even more severe pressure to provide jobs for close to a million of its population.”

  • I have no anointed candidates – Bello

    Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger says he has no anointed candidate for the 2019 general elections, while the state opted for direct primaries in the best interest of stakeholders.

    He said that the process would provide level playing ground for those who wished to contest elective positions, stressing that he has no anointed candidates in the state.

    Bello via a statement issued on Wednesday in Minna by his Chief Press Secretary, Mallam Jibrin Ndace, and said direct primaries were in line with the All Progressives Congress (APC) guidelines.

    “APC guidelines allows for direct, indirect or consensus in primaries elections.

    “However, in the State Executive Council (SEC) of the party, we resolved to adopt direct primaries for all elective offices.

    “This collective decision was to ensure fairness, level playing ground and to give all party members sense of belonging.

    Read Also: Why l defected with Shekarau to APC – Sen. Bello

    “I have consistently made my stand known on the forthcoming primary elections and indeed the general elections in 2019, that I have no anointed candidate for any elective office.

    “My position has not changed. I believe that power belongs to Almighty God and he gives it to whoever he wishes at any time,” he said.

    The governor, who said that he remained committed to resolution on direct primaries, distanced himself from any rumour being peddled that he had an anointed candidate in the forthcoming primary elections.

    He urged party members, aspirants and other stakeholders to see the adoption of direct primaries as capable of deepening democracy in the state.

  • Direct primaries desirable but not practicable in Borno–Shettima

    Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, says it will be difficult to conduct direct primaries in the state because of its peculiar security situation.

    Shettima, in an interview with State House correspondents in Abuja, said that the constitution of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had provisions for direct and indirect primaries.

    The National Executive Council (NEC) of APC recently adopted direct primaries for all elective offices.

    Shettima opined that every state should adopt the option suitable to it based on its peculiarities.

    The governor said that in the U.S from which Nigeria borrowed the presidential system, states of Delaware, Florida, New Mexico, New York, New Jersey and Illinois conducted closed primaries.

    According to him, states like Alabama, Arizona and some of others in the southern part of the country conducted open primaries.

    “So, we are a nation of diversity; and our diversity should be our source of strength.

    “The constitution of the party provides for direct, indirect and consensus, so there is no cause for alarm; depending on the peculiarities of particular location, they will choose the option that is best for them.

    “Like in Borno, direct primaries is desirable but is not practicable; we have challenges; so why do we have to go the whole hog of imposing an untenable system on our people and main election is coming.’’

    Speaking on the 19 governorship aspirants in the state,  Shettima said that it was the beauty of democracy as the more the merrier.

    Read Also:2019 Senate poll: Tough battles ahead for Shettima, Okorocha, Yari, other 2nd term govs

    He said that there would be a level playing field for people to exercise their rights.

    According to Shettima, it is when people are suppressed from expressing their fundamental rights of choice that problems erupt.

    He said, however, that he was in the Presidential villa for consultation and update on the security situation in his state.

    Shettima said that in juxtaposition with what it was four years ago, there was an improvement in security situation.

    “Being optimists, we believe that things will change for the better in the coming weeks.

    “Four years ago, 22 Local Government Areas were under the occupation of Boko Haram.

    “So, whatever anybody might say, I think we have to give some credit to President Muhammadu Buhari administration for securing the lives and property of the citizens.

    `No doubt, we have challenges; but then you have to think of the past to judge the present in order to forecast the future.

    “There has been remarkable improvement and I believe that if tempo is sustained, we shall have an enduring peace in the region very soon,’’ he said.

  • Aluko defeats Fayose’s candidate at PDP LG delegate election

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose on has suffered another electoral defeat at his home local government area.

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Delegate Election to choose representatives to the National Convention in Abuja was conducted in all the 16 local government areas on Tuesday.

    The governor’s candidate and former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Babatunde Omotoba, was defeated in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area by former state PDP Secretary, Dr. Tope Aluko.

    At the election conducted at the Irepodun/Ifelodun local government PDP secretariat, Dr. Aluko polled 80 votes to defeat Omotoba who polled 4 votes.

    It will be recalled that Fayose lost the local government area to the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the last governorship election.

    According to the Returning Officer who is also the PDP Vice Chairman in Ekiti Central, Chief Tunji Kayode, 84 delegates were accredited to vote.

    Announcing the result, Kayode returned Dr. Aluko as elected having polled the hugest number of votes cast.

    The election was observed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), officers of the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services and journalists.

    Loyalists of Fayose did not show up at the poll and conduct was delayed for about two hours before voting started.

    Read Also: Fayose’s aide speaks on N75 million Lexus “parting gift”

    Before voting started at about 11.45 am, members described the congress as an opportunity to liberate the party from Fayose’s alleged stranglehold.

    Delegates who voted at the congress included House of Assembly member representing Irepodun/Ifelodun Constituency 1, Mr. Posi Omodara, ward executives including nine out of eleven ward chairmen and local government executives.

    Former PDP chairman in Irepodun/Irepodun council area, Mr. Jinadu Isiaka Olaoluwa, said alleged imposition of candidates by Fayose caused the party’s defeat at the July 14 local government election.

    Olaoluwa said the election of Aluko as the LG delegate to the National Convention has signalled an end to impunity, dictatorial tendency and personalization of the party by an individual.

    Speaking after his election as delegate to the National Convention, Dr. Aluko said 80 delegates formed quorum.

    He said: “I have been elected as the representative of this local government at the national convention in Abuja and I will give them responsive and responsible representation.

    “If some people decided not to show up, they are not up to 20 per cent. All the wards are represented here and I owe my victory to genuine party members.”

  • PDP Govs. decry alleged persecution by security agencies

    Governors elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have decried what they described as the politicization of the nation’s security agencies by the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government.

    Rising from an emergency meeting of the PDP Governors’ Forum held at the Ekiti State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja on Monday, the governors accused the security agencies of having become organs and tools of the federal government to harass and intimidate opposition and dissenting voices.

    In a communique issued after the meeting and signed by the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, the governors also complained that security agencies were being used to perpetrate electoral fraud.

    They cited instances of such abuse in states like Ekiti, Osun and Rivers states. They urged the security agencies to be non-partisan in the performance of their duties in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.

    The communique read, “The Forum further condemned the flagrant violation of democratic ethos by operatives of this government as shown recently in the infamous act by the Police at the residence of Elder Statesman, Pa Edwin Clark, and the harassment of innocent Nigerians across the country on frivolous claims.

    Read Also: Sokoto PDP is united, focused -Tambuwal

    “The Forum noted the INEC needs to reinvent itself as a truly independent umpire of the electoral process in the country. For now, we have no confidence in INEC. The commission has conducted itself as a tool of the APC-led Federal Government, especially with the roles of the Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, and a National Commissioner, Mrs. Amina Zakari.

    “The Forum condemned the surreptitious, selective and suspicious payment of N16 billion purportedly from the Paris Club Refund. We are of the view that the money is to fund corrupt inducement of voters in the forthcoming Governorship election in Osun State on September 22, 2018.

    “The Forum resolved to have an all-inclusive meeting with all the presidential aspirants, with the National Chairman, two national officers of the party, and the leaders of the party in both chambers of the National Assembly in attendance”.

    The governors also condemned unequivocally, the refusal or failure of President Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law the amended Electoral Act.

    According to them, the action of the President was an indication that Buhari and his party were afraid of electronic voting or the introduction of technology into the electoral system.

  • 2019: Buhari receives nomination form Tuesday 

    President Muhammadu Buhari will on Tuesday receive his Presidential nomination form for the 2019 election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    It was gathered on Monday that the nomination form will be delivered to the President by 11:30am at the New Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Last week, it was reported  that a group under the auspices of National Consolidation Ambassadors Network (NCAN), had bought the APC Expression of Interest and Nomination Form for President Buhari for the 2019 presidential election at the cost of N45 million.

    Read Also:Buhari not against e-voting, card readers, says Presidency

    National Coordinator of the group, Sanusi Musa in company of his members, had last week said, “We are members of NCAN. Our resolve, since our formation over a year ago, is primarily to ensure that president Buhari seeks another term as well ensure that the president emerges victorious in the 2019 poll.

    “Our reason for embarking on this project is based on the recognition of the fact that the president has started laying a foundation for a better Nigeria and there is need to consolidate on the gains so far made.

    “It is for this reason; we pride ourselves as Network of Consolidation Ambassadors. From September 2017 up till April 2018, NCAN was in the forefront of calling on president Buhari to seek re-election; in order to consolidate on the good work he has been doing, by building on the foundation he has laid for a prosperous Nigeria.

    “As God will have it, Mr. President acceded to the voice of reasoning and declared his intention to seek re-election in 2019. We believe in the leadership of president Buhari; we can count on him to consolidate the good work he has started for another four more years.

    “It is for this reason that we have decided to pull our meagre resources together and purchased the Expression of Interest and Nomination Form for president Buhari as he presents himself to our party members; to be chosen as its candidate for the 2019 presidential election.

    “Our members, from various villages, local governments and states, have contributed to making this happen.

    “It is my singular honour and rare privilege to present to you a cheque of N45 million, as payment for the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for president Buhari.”

    Speaking in an interview, weekend, Musa said they could not handover the documents to the President immediately after purchase as the president was then outside the country.

    “The president is just back, so we have not yet presented the form to the president. We are in the process of sending it. We will send it to him,” he stated.

  • Rivers APC: Sen. Abe faction adopts direct primaries

    Members of factional State Executive Committee (SEC), of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Rivers state being chaired by Prince Peter Odike Monday adopted direct Primaries for the selection of governorship candidate for the party in the state ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The group who is loyal to the Senator representing Rivers South-East at the National Assembly strongly rejected the indirect primaries prescribed by Ojukaiye Flag-Amachree-led faction last week.

    Read Also:Yobe APC divided over Gaidam’s choice of successor

    Odike announces the position of his group in a five-point communique in Port Harcourt, the state capital, after a SEC meeting of the faction in Port Harcourt, the state capital yesterday.

    He said the decision for direct party Primaries followed the determination by the faction to entrench participatory process that would afford all members level playing ground at the election.

    He said the SEC meeting was held by the faction in pursuant to articles 12.1 and 12.8 of the APC constitution, and thanked President Muhammad Buhari and the National Party chairman, Adams Oshiomhole for their leadership styles in the country and the party respectively.

    It commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for repositioning the country for continued progress, and his style of leadership that has rekindled belief and hope in democracy.

    He said, “The SEC recognized the leadership of the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and National Executive Committee (NEC), for entrenching internal and participatory democracy in the party through the approval of the use of direct primaries, as the mode of selecting candidates for election in the party.

    “The SEC commends the President of the Federal Republic of Namibia geriatric and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, for repositioning Nigeria for continued greatness.

    The Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress is grateful to Mr. President, for his style of leadership which has rekindled the belief and hope in democracy.

    “The State Executive Committee unanimously adopts and affirms the use of direct primaries for choosing all our candidates in the forthcoming 2019 elections, as it affords party members the opportunity to participate in the process.

    “We restate our confidence and our unflinching support for the leadership of His Excellency Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of our great party and President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR,” they stated.

  • ‘Why insecurity persist in North East’

    Former National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ibrahim Dasuki Jalo has attributed the growing insecurity in the in the country especially in the North Eastern part of the country to lack of opportunity for the youth who have remained idle.

    Jalo who spoke after collecting the nomination form to contest the governorship primary in Gombe state said once opportunity for economic growth is given to the youths, the security challenges would have been addressed, while creating a conducive economic environment for the people.

    Read Also:Insecurity: Taraba traditional rulers to the rescue

    He said “we have to farm all year round and not the seasonal farming that is currently going on because if you farm for four months and wait for eight months doing nothing, you will be poor.

    “So, these are the things that are causing insecurity particularly in my zone because many people are not engaged in economic activities or businesses. So, we have to do something so as to ensure our people are better in terms of generating income.”

    Jalo believed that the security challenges in the zone can be addressed if the youths are properly engaged, adding that there are many potentials in the youths that should be brought to the fore through sound education.

    The former National Youth Leader said he will give education the needed priority because “when you educate a person, you have given him freedom. So, education, especially primary education will be given attention”.

    He said further that “Apart from that, I also have the intentions of improving the economic situation of my place. Gombe is the economic centre of the North-East being the state that in the middle. It is a kind of centre for so many trading activities.

    “So, this is also important because as it is now, Nigeria depends on oil and we cannot continue to live like this especially most of us in the North – East because we have to have our ways to have the direct income for our state because that is the only way we will be able to sustain ourselves for a long period of time.

    “So, those that know the history of Gombe will know that we used to have popular grain-market similar to what we have in Kano – the Dala Pyramid. We still have it till today in Gombe.

    When asked why he has chosen not to decry the present governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo about his style of governance in the State, Dasuki said it is not in his nature to be criticizing people, noting he will definitely change his attitude on that.

    He said, “Actually it depends on someone’s nature and upbringing. You know they say empty vessels make the loudest noise. I want to say, on that; people will begin to see the difference.”