The Nation Newspaper

Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • APC Primaries: We will respect guidelines – Oshiohmole

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has pledged to ensure compliance with the electoral guidelines, fairness and justice as well as observe all the principles of internal democracy while conducting its forthcoming party primaries.

    The National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adeams Oshiomhol, gave the assurance when he spoke to State House correspondents at the end of the APC Caucus meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday night.

    He confirmed that the meeting discussed the upcoming party primaries based on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2019 general elections as released by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in January.

    The News men report that the timetable covered the Presidential, National and State Assembly, Governorship and the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT ) Council elections.

    The timetable, which was issued by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmoud, in Abuja, indicated that party primaries for the Presidential, Governorship, Federal and State Elections would begin on Aug. 18 to end on Oct. 7, 2018.

    The Federal Capital Territory Area Council Elections would commence on Sept. 4 to end on Oct. 27.

    According to Oshiohmole, the APC is obliged to comply with the INEC guidelines because the rules are derived from the provisions of the nation’s Electoral Act.

    “The meeting just had a conversation around the forthcoming primaries.
    “As you know, based on INEC timetable on primaries, this is the season from the President down to House of Assembly and the exercise must end on Oct. 7 according to INEC guidelines.

    “We are obliged to comply with the guidelines because the guidelines are derived from the provisions of the Electoral Act.

    “So, we basically discussed how to ensure full compliance with the INEC guidelines and also ensure that that we observe all the principles of internal democracy, participation, ensuring fairness and justice.

    “I think those are the issues basically,’’ he said.

    The chairman maintained that APC as the governing party had since resolved to respect the electoral act and the APC’s constitution while conducting its activities to ensure justice for all members.

    Read Also: Zeus Polls predicts big APC win in 2019

    He announced that the resolutions at the APC Caucus meeting would be tabled at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party fixed for Thursday for deliberation and possible endorsement.

    “By Thursday we will go to NEC where the formal decisions will be rectified and once they are rectified there will be no problem; they are not being kept because every member of the party and indeed Nigerian are entitled to know how we agreed about the exercise.

    “But I think everybody has confidence that we will do very credible primaries to ensure that those who fly the flag of the party have the mandate of their various constituencies,’’ Oshiomhole said.

    The meeting was attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and members of the National Executive Committee of the APC led by its chairman.
    Others at the meeting were APC governors of Borno, Jigawa, Niger, Plateau, Kogi, Adamawa, Ondo, Kano, Ogun, Oyo, Katsina, Osun, Yobe, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Imo and Lagos States.

    Also at the meeting were former governor of Ekiti state, Mr Segun Oni; Majority Leader of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila; former Ebonyi governor, Mr Martin Elechi; former Borno governor Ali Sheriff; former Lagos state military administrator Buba Marwa; retired Gen. Lawrence Onoja; Chief Jim Nwobodo, and Sen. Kabiru Gaya.

    Former APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; former Enugu state governor Sylva Chime, and former Edo governor Oserheimen Osunbor also attended the meeting.

    Others that attended were the former President of the Senate Ken Nnamani; former Ekiti state governor Niyi Adebayo; former Akwa Ibom governor Godswill Akpabio; former Bayelsa governor Timipre Sylva; former Petroleum

    Minister Don Etiebet, and the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
    Some members of the National Assembly from the two chambers were also in attendance.

  • 2019: APC will win South East, says Presidential aide

    The Special Adviser to the President on Justice Reform Sector, Mrs Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, says the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) will win majority of votes in the South-East in 2019.

    Ibekaku-Nwagwu disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Enugu.

    She said that her confidence hinged on the excellent performance of the APC-led administration in fixing hitherto abandoned infrastructure in the South East.

    The presidential aide said that the zone had not had it so good in terms of infrastructural upgrade since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

    She said that it was only logical for the region to repay President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC with bloc vote.

    “The APC will win election in most of the South-East states or at least secure a minimum of 25 per cent of total vote cast in appreciation for this love.

    “President Buhari has demonstrated his love for our people through the over 69 roads and bridges projects currently ongoing in the zone,” she said.

    Ibekaku-Nwagwu described the gesture as a clear departure from the style of the previous regime that awarded most of these roads but never funded them.

    Read Also: Akpabio can’t win Akwa Ibom for APC, says Attah

    “The president in his wisdom and frankness continued with the road contracts to avoid abandoned projects.

    “He also awarded new ones and released funds to ensure work in progress.

    “Work may not be very fast on site because of the economic crunch the administration is battling but is certainly in progress,” she said.

    The special adviser said that the president had proven critics wrong adding that Igbos was indeed very grateful to him.

    “We will reciprocate this gesture in 2019 by casting our vote massively for him.

    “Political heavy weights are already joining the APC across the zone,” Ibekaku-Nwagwu said.

  • ‘Reject imposition of candidates in 2019’

    A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Abe, has called on the people of the state to reject any attempt by political godfathers to impose candidates on them, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Abe, according to his Spokesperson, Parry Benson, on Monday in Port Harcourt, made the call while addressing the people of Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, who reside in Diobu waterfronts in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.

    He reiterated that he declared his intention to vie as Rivers governor against the decision of supposed leaders of the APC, because he wanted things to be done differently, to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

    Abe, a former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), admonished the people of his senatorial district and other Rivers electorate to shun all forms of financial inducement from moneybags, urging them to rather support individuals that would deliver on their promises and bring government closer to the people.

    The representative of Rivers Southeast senatorial district stated that the state was in dire need of development in many areas, but said it could not be achieved without the right leadership in place.

    He lauded his constituents for their kind support, while admonishing the large crowd of people from the riverine communities not to be intimidated.

    Read Also: Ahmed’s aide resigns, stays in APC

    Abe said: “I have no godfather, but I have God on my side. So, you must remain resolute in your support for what is right and for the APC and we shall win.”

    In his remarks, a former Rivers Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Worgu Boms, stressed that the 2019 elections would not be about ethnicity, but to be about the truth and capacity to deliver.

    Speaking on behalf of the Diobu waterfront residents, Eze Owabie Tobin, stressed that the people decided to support the governorship aspiration of Abe, because they believe in his ability to redeem his promise and bring development to Rivers state.

    Tobin said: “We have decided to support you, because we believe in your ability to develop the state and not to punish the poor people and allow them to continually live in abject poverty.”

    The leader of the delegation also urged Abe to learn from the mistakes of some administrations in the state, past and present, so that if elected as governor in 2019, he would run a transparent government.

    People from the waterfront communities unanimously endorsed the senator as their preferred candidate for the 2019 governorship election, while expressing sadness that successive administrations in Rivers state had not included the waterfront dwellers in their development agenda.

     

  • Updated: APC sweeps Imo local government elections

    The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission has declared candidates of the All Progressives Congress as winners of Saturday’s local government election across the state.

    Mr. Ethelbert Ibebuchi, chairman of the electoral body, announced the results of the polls on Sunday at the commission’s headquarters in Owerri.

    He said that 13 political parties fielded candidates in the elections across the 27 local government areas and 645 wards in the state.

    He said that the APC won all but four councillorship positions while five wards were stood down because of irregularities.

    He said the Accord, Rebuild, People’s Redemption and KOWA parties all secured one councillorship position respectively in the election.

    He listed the wards stood down to include Mbano ward in Oguta local government area, Amuzu ward in Isu local government area, Eziudo ward in Ezinihitte Mbaise and Umuhu ward in Aboh Mbaise.

    Ibebuchi said the APC chairmanship candidate for Aboh Mbaise local government, Chidi Nwaturuocha polled 15,411 votes to emerge winner, with Mr Adolphus Onuoha emerging victorious for Ahiazu Mbaise local government having polled 10,382 votes.

    Others winners include: Nwosu Reginald for Ehime Mbano local government polling 12,811 votes, Chioma Onwumere for Ezinihitte local government with 15,954 votes and Joy Ezebuiro scoring 40,746 votes to win chairmanship seat for Ideato North local government area.

    Also elected were: Osuoji Emeka for Ideato South local government with 17, 407 votes, Jude Mbachu for Isiala Mbano with 25,235 votes.

    Metu Chukwunyere emerged victorious in Ikeduru local government with 15,798 votes, Bonaventure Okafor got 18,118 votes to clinch the chairmanship for Ihitte Uboma council, while Nwadike Chimezie polled 9,981 votes to win in Isu local government area.

    Bertrand Mbah and Obinna Chinwe got 42,417 and 18,108 votes respectively to win in Mbaitoli and Ngor Okpala local government areas.

    Chizoba O. Chizoba won in Nwangele local government area with 13,465 votes while Kenneth Obioha won in Njaba local government area with 17,494 votes and Mbagwu Augustine won with 13,403 votes in Nkwerre local government area.

    Okezie Paschal won in Obowo area council with 15,073 votes while Gerald Mgborokwu won in Oguta council with 63,566 votes; Amadi Ebenezer emerged victorious in Ohaji Egbema council with 39,938.

    Clement Onwumere won in Okigwe local government with 12,322, Augustus Chikezie won Onuimo local goverment with 17,318 votes and Ikechukwu Onyegbule for Orlu local government area with 42,979 votes.

    Okonkwo Kingsley won with 16,809 in Orsu, Duru Evaristus won with 13,444 in Oru East, Udemba Obi won in Oru West with 7, 269, while Joseph Agor won in Owerri Municipal with 20,071 votes.

    Vitalis Anyaegbu won in Owerri North with 10,435 votes while Oduh Chidi won in Owerri West with 8,116 votes.

    Ibebuchi commended the 13 political parties that fielded candidates in the election.

    He also commended the security agencies and other democratic institutions for showcasing “affirmative inter-agency relationship and synergy” during the election.

    The chairman however appealed to the state House of Assembly to make a law that would confer nominal community status to Registration Areas in large communities without cogent status to enable them qualify for ISIEC wards.

    He also urged participants with genuine grievances to take up their cases at the elections petitions tribunal that is already in place. (NAN)

  • Osun 2018: We are not deterred by defections from APC – Aregbesola

    Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun says he and members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state are not deterred by the defections of some party members to opposition parties.

    Aregbesola made the remark at a rally organised by the Speaker, State House of Aseembly, Mr Najeem Salaam, in Ejigbo, Mr Sola Fasure, the media aide to the governor, said in a statement on Sunday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that some APC members in the state had defected to opposition parties in the past few weeks ahead of the Sept. 22 governorship election in the state.

    However, the governor said the party remained strong on account of its wide acceptance by the people of the state, adding that the defections would not in any way affect the party’s victory in the forthcoming election.

    He said that members of the party were committed and united, regardless of gale of defections from the party.

    “This defection has made us to know those that are genuinely with us and those that are not with us.‎

    “We have known friends, enemies and cunning individuals among us by this defection but we are not afraid of their antics as we remain united, strong and committed.

    “We are confident of victory. We know God is on our side and we believe in Him; we believe He will lead us to victory”.

    Aregbesola said his party was working hard to sustain the tempo of continuity, which according to him, can only set the state on the pedestal of all round development.

    He said that APC is the only political party that can turn around the socioeconomic fortunes of the state and Nigeria for the better and urged the electorate to vote for the party in all elections.

    He commended Salaam, who was one of the 17 aspirants that contested the APC governorship primary which Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola won, for always abiding by the party’s decision.

    He described Salaam as a pillar of support to APC in the state and beyond, noting that his position had been diligently used to effect positivity in the party and for its loyalists.

    Earlier, the APC state Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun, enjoined party loyalists to remain committed, noting that the party had a better chance to win the governorship election.

  • Ahmed’s aide resigns, stays in APC

    Mr Abdullahi Danbaba, the Special Assistant on Non-Governmental Affairs to Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has resigned his appointment to stay in All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Danbaba announced his resignation in a letter obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Sunday, which was addressed to Gov. Ahmed through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

    According to him, the decision to resign the appointment is due to extensive and heart-to-heart consultation with the people of his constituency coupled with the issue created by the recent political re-alignment in the state and the country at large.

    He, however, expressed gratitude to the governor and President of the Senate Bukola Saraki for the opportunity offered him to serve the people of Kwara.

    NAN reports that Danbaba’s resignation has brought the number of aides that had disengaged from the service of the state government to two.

    He hailed from Kaiama Local Government area in the North Senatorial District of Kwara state.

    Speaking with NAN, Danbaba said his decision was borne out of the recent political re-alignment that saw Bukola Saraki-led political leadership in the state defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People Democratic Party (PDP)

    “As a result of that political development, the people of my constituency in Kaiama local government felt they would not go with Saraki any longer because they have suffered protractedly lack of infrastructure development.

    “And as a result, they would not toe the path of Saraki and I have consulted widely with my people and in view of the fact that the community suffered for a long period of time, I should also disengage from this government and come home and join the people’s party; that is the APC”, he said.

    He lamented that the community had been cut off from the state as the three major roads that linked the community with other parts of the country are in pitiable condition.

    He explained that the people of the area were staunch supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari throughout his political foray.

    “Buhari since his political foray has been consistently winning Kaiama local government.

    “He won in 2003 as the ANPP Presidential Candidate, in 2007 as ANPP candidate again, He won only in Kaiama; in 2011, he won as CPC and 2015 as APC candidate.

    “This is because we believe in his leadership; we believe he could provide effective leadership to the nation,” he said.

    Danbaba also applauded the Social Investment Programmes of the Federal Government, saying Kaiama had benefitted tremendously from the scheme.

  • No automatic ticket for  Shehu Sani -APC NWC  

    The National Working Committee of All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it has not handed automatic ticket to any Kaduna Senator.

    Senator Sani is the only APC Senator from Kaduna state following the recent defection of his colleague from Kaduna North, Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi.

    The party in a statement signed by its Deputy National Organizing Secretary, Mohammed Sani Ibrahim said, the rumour that automatic ticket has been given to a Senator should be disregarded.

    According to Ibrahim, “the National Working Committee of the APC has not handed over an automatic ticket to any senator in Kaduna State.”

    He added that, automatic ticket does not apply in the party’s constitution and that whoever is interested in contesting has to slug it out at the primaries.

    According to him, “As a compatriot, I feel deeply disturbed by the recent developments in our great party, especially the unfounded rumours regarding candidates for the various offices, as we approach the 2019 general elections.

    “More disturbing is the story of the so-called endorsement or automatic tickets that people have been spreading on social media, especially as it relates to Kaduna central and many parts of the Northwest Senatorial District.

    “For the records and in the interest of our great party’s constitution and its public image, I wish to declare that the party’s constitution is supreme and decisions at the National level is not a one-man show as some people wrongly assumed,” he said.

    Ibrahim said the issue of automatic tickets can only happen after decisions are reached collectively by the National Working Committee in conjunction with the NEC which is vested with such powers.

    Read also: 2019: APC raises alarm over fake registration website

    “It follows logically therefore, that the stories being branded on social media are misleading, in the sense that our party is governed by its constitution and not individual wishes. And that is why we have the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee.

    “Let me make it categorically and abundantly clear that the APC will not and could not have given automatic ticket or endorsed any single candidate without recourse to guideline on nomination as stipulated in our party’s constitution.

    “And right now, no such meeting has taken place yet and no publicity to that effect. The Senate of any senatorial district is not the exclusive preserve for any special favour,” he stated.

  • 2019: APC raises alarm over fake registration website

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised concern over a trending fake website, apcregistration.com, which it says is meant to harvest its members ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The party raised the alarm in a statement issued by Mr Yekini Nabena, its National Publicity Secretary on Sunday in Abuja.

    It said that the fake website was a scam sponsored by a “main opposition party,” stressing that it was not authorised by its leadership.

    “We alert our supporters, members, and indeed the general public about a purported membership registration website of the All Progressives Congress (APC) – apcregistration.com.

    “The website which is trending on social media is unauthorised and a scam.

    Read also: FG flags off N22.7bn road rehabilitation project in Adamawa

    “Our internal investigation has revealed that the fake website is sponsored by one of the main opposition political parties in its desperate and criminal plot to harvest APC members ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    “We have deliberately not named the political party and hereby call on relevant security agencies to urgently investigate the website and its sponsors,” the party said.

    It urged its teeming supporters and members to take advantage of the on-going nationwide APC membership registration in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT to register.

    According to the party, the exercise will include both fresh registrations and revalidation of existing membership for the purposes of issuance of its permanent membership cards.

  • No faction in Cross River APC, says Duke

    Chief Edem Duke, former Minister of Culture and Tourism, says disharmony in the state APC is about interests.

    Duke said this on Sunday when he commissioned a new Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “There is no faction in Cross River APC; it is interest by various stakeholders in the party in the state.

    “However, this is good for democracy but we need to come together; reason together; and chart a new course for our great party, ‘’ he said.

    He advised APC faithful in the state to bury their interest and work for the progress of the party, adding that APC would be stronger if all members united and worked towards taking over the state in 2019.

    He urged people who were yet to register for their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to do so before Aug. 31 deadline to enable them to vote in the 2019 election.

    He outlined the achievements of President Muhammad Buhari, particularly the appointment of Cross River indigenes in various positions, adding that this was enough reason for the people to vote him again in 2019.

    Duke said an APC administration in the state would take special care of women and the vulnerable, if elected in the state in 2019.

    APC in Cross River failed to conclude its state congress following litigation by the parallel executives members.

    The party currently has two Chairmen with each claiming to be the authentic leader.

  • Ondo youths dump LP for APC

    Scores of youths from the six local government areas in the Southern Senatorial district of Ondo State have defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The youths were received by the State Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, who was at the venue in Irele, headquarters of Irele Local Government area.

    The chairman represented by his deputy, Agabra Atili, congratulated them for taking a wise decision, and assured them of proper integration.

    Adetimehin urged them to put their request into paper and send it to the State Secretariat for consideration.

    He explained that President Muhammadu Buhari was laying sound infrastructural and economic foundation for a better and prosperous future, adding that same was being replicated in Ondo State, under Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    The exercise was facilitated by the representative of the senatoral district at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Yele Omogunwa.

    The decampees decried what they called “gross neglect” by the LP, which they adduced as the crux of their annoyance, and subsequent defection.

    Read Also: Sallah: 14 passengers cheat death in Ondo

    Facilitator of the defection, Omogunwa said he had the opportunity of meeting and discussing with leaders of some of the groups and observed they are vibrant and articulate.

    Omogunwa said “There is the need to integrate as many as possible into our Party, to ensure electoral success in the next general elections. Mimiko is a deft politician, so the more we are able to pull out of the Labour Party, the better for us in 2019”.

    The Coordinator of the Aviary Youth Vanguard, Coastal Region, Oluwarotimi Omoge, said they decided to join the APC because of the sincerity of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Omoge, appealed to the State leadership of the party to concede to members of the groups  councillorship positions in their respective political wards.