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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • Recent APC victory is sign of things to come -Buhari

    …Says APC will win 2019 elections

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura on Friday said that the string of victory recorded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in bye-elections in Bauchi, Katsina and Kogi States is sufficient proof that 2019 elections will be won by the party.

    He spoke while receiving the representatives of the 34 Chairmen of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Katsina State.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said: “coming against the backdrop of the victory in Ekiti governorship election, the string of victory by our party, the APC, is a clear indication of the way things will go in 2019.

    Read Also:Buhari canvasses economic support for rural women

    ‘‘For those who are discerning; those who have ears and eyes they will see, hear and understand. Those who don’t understand are entitled to their mistaken assumptions.” he said

    Buhari, therefore, emphasized that the victories in the recent polls are indeed “the sign of things to come.”

    He thanked the leaders of the association for paying Sallah homage to him and for their message of congratulations on the performance of the party and the administration, assuring them that he would continue to do his best for the nation.

    Speaking on behalf of the members, the Chairman of ALGON in the State, Alhaji Mohammed Na’Allah, expressed their support and commitment to the success of the Buhari Administration.

    At another meeting with the leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Katsina State, President Buhari expressed his continued determination to respect the diversity of the country, saying that he will run a government that is fair and just to all Nigerians.

    The President thanked the CAN leadership in the State for living in peace and harmony with other religious groups, and for supporting his administration in its policies and programmes

    The CAN leaders who spoke during the visit, the State Chairman, Rev. Nelson Onyeakachukwu, and an elder and coordinator of the Christian Pilgrimage in the State, Haruna Danjuma expressed happiness with the President’s performance.

    They described him as the State’s good ambassador who had made everyone proud.

    “Christians in Katsina are happy with both Governor Masari in the State and yourself at the center. We will continue to support both of you,” the CAN leaders told the President.

  • Amosun’s former Deputy, Adesegun declares for Ogun guber race

    … As Obasanjo’s coalition party – ADC, begins its congresses tomorrow

     

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s former Deputy, Prince Segun Adesegun, has joined the 2019 governorship race on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and called on party members to support him to win the APC gubernatorial ticket.

    Adesegun who declared his ambition to govern the state in 2019 at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council, Abeokuta, shortly after a meeting with the party executives, said he is familiar with the challenges facing the state and pledged to fix them if he becomes the Governor.

    Read Also:Woman dies in Ogun shrine, police arrest priest, father

    The ex – Deputy Governor between 2011 and 2015 and who hails from Ago – Iwoye (Ijebu) in Ogun East Senatorial district, also promised to promote social, political and economic freedom as well as peace and dignity of labour through massive investment in agriculture, better healthcare delivery and rejuvenation of the local government system in line with the nation’s constitutional provision.

    In a related development, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) where ex – President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) fused into will begin its congresses tomorrow with wards congress in 236 wards across Ogun State.

    The State Chairman of the party, Dr. Gbolade Osinowo who disclosed this to reporters in Abeokuta, said the essence to put party executives in place as parts of preparation to position ADC for successes in forthcoming general elections in Ogun.

    According to him, the Local government congress comes up on Monday followed by the State on Tuesday.

  • I won’t be distracted by defectors, opposition – Buhari

    …Says his government is focused

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said that the efforts of defectors and their backers in the opposition will not distract his administration from the good work it has been doing for the benefit and development of Nigeria.

    He spoke during lunch with some governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and some members of the National Assembly and Commissioners in Daura, Katsina State.

    Read Also:Buhari forecloses former DSS boss Daura’s return

    According to him, his administration is focused in delivering the 2015 campaign promises in the area of improved economy, security and fight against corruption.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the APC has the full understanding of Nigeria’s challenges and was encouraged by the support of Nigerians in addressing them.

    He said, ‘‘We are always encouraged when all our constituents are happy with the work we are doing and our genuine efforts to make sure that what we campaigned for in 2015 is still very much in our minds and we have not lost focus.

    ‘‘In terms of security, economy and the fight against corruption we have maintained focus. Even the opposition with all their resources cannot fault our identification of Nigeria’s priorities and the efforts being made to better them.

    ‘‘We will continue to do what we ought to do in the leadership position God has placed us and we thank the constituents for the support,” he added

    On the defections within the major political parties, Buhari reiterated his earlier message to them: saying ‘‘for those who have decided to change camp for whatever reason, we wish them good luck.’’

    The leader of the delegation and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha of Imo State commended the President for his great efforts in keeping the nation together through visionary leadership.

    He noted that President Buhari had remained focused and unshaken by situations and circumstances, adding ‘‘it shows that your administration is approved by God.’’

    Okorocha said ‘‘we are here to encourage you to keep doing what you are doing as Nigerians are very pleased with you.

    ‘‘We also want to inform you that we had wonderful and peaceful Sallah celebration across the country because of security of lives and property you have guaranteed in our nation.’’  he said

    Governor Okorocha was accompanied by the Governors of Katsina, Kebbi, Kano and Niger States.

  • APC disowns timetable for party primaries

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it was yet to release a timetable for the conduct of primaries for various elective offices ahead of the 2019 general election.

    The party in a statement signed by the Acting National Secretary said the list currently making the round in the social media was the figment of the imagination of those who originated it.

    Read Also:2019 senate: APC Enugu youths bid Ekweremadu farewell

    The two paragraph statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a timetable circulating in the social media and published today (August 23, 2018) purportedly for the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries for State House of Assembly, National Assembly, Governorship and Presidential positions.

    “The timetable is fake and should be disregarded. The Party is yet to announce its official timetable for the listed primaries.”

    The parties are expected to inform the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the timetable for their party primaries on or before 15th September and have till the end of October to conclude the processes.

  • Rivers by-election: APC hails electorate for defending their votes

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has applauded Rivers State electorate for bravely defending their votes despite the violence and snatching of electoral materials at last Saturday’s by-election.
    The APC in a statement issued by Mr Yekini Nabena, its National Publicity Secretary, on Sunday in Abuja, however, alleged that the violence was perpetrated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
    “Nigerians will recall how the PDP speaking through its national spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan last Tuesday vowed to deploy all means, schemes, shenanigans in all ramification and magnitude to rig all coming election.
    “While we condemn the PDP-sponsored violence and failed attempt to rig the by-election, the APC calls on the Rivers state electorate and indeed all Nigerians to continue to stand their ground,”the statement said.
    It also called on the electorates to resist any attempt to rig elections in the country, saying that votes must count and that people’s will must prevail in all elections.
    The statement called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies to deal anyone involved in rigging in the forthcoming general election.

    Read also:PDP wins Taraba assembly by-election

    The  by-election to fill the vacant positions in the Port Harcourt State Constituency III had been suspended by INEC, following cases of violence and electoral malpractice that characterised the exercise.

    Mr Obo Effanga, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Rivers, who announced the suspension on Saturday night, cited widespread violence as reasons.

    The by-election was conducted by INEC to fill the vacancy left by Victor Ihunwo, now Chairman, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.

    Effanga stated that because the exercise was marred by widespread violence, it was suspended in accordance with Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2010.

    “INEC has decided to suspend the election forthwith,’’ he had said.

  • PDP to APC: Your resort to blackmail can’t sway Nigerians

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has told the All Progressives Congress (APC) that its resort to blackmail, twisting of facts and fabrications cannot sway Nigerians from the truth of their culpability in the current impasse at the National Assembly.

    The PDP said Nigerians are already aware of how the APC has been frustrating the National Assembly by creating hitches, illegal impeachment processes, physical blockade of access to the parliament and besieging of the official residence of Senate President and his deputy.

    A statement on Friday by the spokesman of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan said Nigerians know those who set security agents after federal legislators, set parliamentarians against one another and those who have been chasing lawmakers around the country with tons of money as bribe, just to illegally change the leadership.

    The statement said, “We are not amazed that the APC, in its characteristic shambolic denials, will turn around to point accusing fingers at our repositioned party and members for the situation in the National Assembly, when the echoes of their open threats, tantrums, verbosity and loquaciousness against our legislators are yet to evaporate from the public space.

    Read Also: PDP having sleepless nights over Buhari’s achievements – APC

    “The APC is pretending not to remember that the Buhari Presidency deliberately kept the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) budget submitted to it since February till July when it presented it to the National Assembly and curiously demanded that the fund be vired from the constituency project fund of lawmakers.

    “Nigerians will recall that as a patriotic and responsible party, the PDP raised the flag and pointed out that bringing the budget in July, at the time the National Assembly was already going on annual vacation, was rather late and asking that the fund be vired from constituency project fund was sinking

    The INEC budget and the entire 2019 electoral process in a needless controversy. The APC and the Buhari Presidency ignored this wise counseling.

    “Furthermore, the APC in it deception fails to note that Nigerians are aware that it is President Buhari that is holding the nation to ransom by refusing to sign the Electoral Act Amendment bill, already passed by the National Assembly, just because the amendment checked the machination which APC intend to deploy to rig the 2019 general elections.

    “Moreover, relevant National Assembly committees have been having interface with INEC over the budget presented by the President. Except for the sinister intent of the APC to shut down our National Assembly and bring forth a totalitarian system of government, there is nothing deserving of the wailing of the APC to reopen the chambers of the National Assembly at its instance. The rules for reconvening the chambers of the National Assembly are extant.

    “Also, since the PDP told its members to rise in defense of democracy and stop the rigging and vote buying of the APC, the ruling party has gone hysterical and making all manners of spurious and diversionary allegations, but it will be instructive for the APC to accept that it has failed Nigerians and the people have resolved to vote them out, come February, 2019”.

  • Cross River APC chieftain rejects zoning for governorship

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Mr Goddie Akpama, has called for the jettisoning of the zoning arrangement for the governorship position in next year’s election if the party intends to win the election next year.

    The political class appears to have an unwritten agreement that the governorship should rotate among the three senatorial districts and by this arrangement the northern senatorial district still has another four years with Governor Ben Ayade of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from Obudu local government area, almost concluding his first four years.

    Read Also:PDP buying PVCs in Yobe for N5,000 – APC

    The other two districts are the southern and central senatorial districts which produced former governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke respectively, who both served for eight years each from 1999.

    Speaking against the background of the by-election for the Obudu State Constituency of the House of Assembly, where the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mrs. Abbey Ukpukpen, scored 12,530 to beat the All Progressive Congress’ (APC) candidate, Mr Adah Ishamali who polled 4,349 votes, on August 11, Akpama said the zoning should not apply to the APC.

    According to him, going by what transpired in the by-election, the northern senatorial district does not have what it takes to win the governorship for the APC.

    Speaking with The Nation in Calabar Friday, Akpama, a former governorship candidate of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) in the state, called on the APC to support someone from the south as according to him, this would greatly improve their chances next year, given they have the voting strength.

    Akpama said, “The main lesson from that by-election is very clear, and it is that the northern senatorial district APC aspirants do not have what it takes to win the governorship elections next year for our Party. As a member of the APC, I still stand tall to say, that the governorship aspirants of the north have no political muscle to win elections in 2019 by what transpired during the by-election. We have three governorship aspirants from Obudu and they did nothing to show for the capacity of being governors in the by-election.

    “Even though for the sake of equity, we shout it is the turn of the north, but for the APC to win elections in the state, they must not rely on such a zoning formula if we must win elections in 2019. Again it is not constitutional to limit participation to any unit, constituency or zone.

    “We have approximately 69, 000 registered votes in Obudu. The APC could not even mobilize half of that number to its credit. The by-election was a total failure to the APC. My conclusion is that all of the aspirants do not have the capacity to be able to do or win elections come 2019.

    “I suggest that we the APC begin to look for other options if we intend to win the state next year and not just limit themselves to the issue of zoning. This would be inimical to the party. The party has better materials that would be able to mobilize to win the elections next year, so they should look towards that direction.

    “Let every other party member stand behind whoever would be able to have such capacity to match the PDP, to win the elections come 2019. It is pertinent to reiterate that the PDP has lost popularity with the people and this is the right time for the APC to put themselves together and come up with someone that can win next year.”

     

  • APC to INEC: PDP plans to deploy thugs for Osun guber election

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it has information that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) is planning to deploy thugs and to rig the forthcoming Osun governorship election.

    APC National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, on Wednesday in Abuja also accused the PDP of cloning Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) for use in the election.

    Read Also:Saraki’s action is high treason, says APC

    “The PDP on Tuesday vowed to deploy all means, schemes, shenanigans in all ramification and magnitude to rig all coming elections, starting from the Osun governorship election.

    “The party also directed all its presidential aspirants to move all their political machinery into Osun State within this period.

    “When the APC learnt of the shocking disclosures, we initially doubted its veracity and dismissed it as one of the fake news in circulation,” Nabena said in a statement.

    It stressed that the PDP’s statement on Tuesday was particularly worrisome because it coincided with the situation field report the APC received on its plans for the Osun governorship election.

    It added that the PDP’s new public rigging plans was a red flag that required urgent probe by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies.

    The statement called on well-meaning Nigerians and civil society organisations to speak out and resist the PDP’s retrogressive plan which threatened the country’s democracy.

    It reminded the PDP that the country’s democracy was maturing, and that its crude election rigging methods such as ballot box snatching displayed during last weekend by-election in Kogi was no longer accepted in elections.

    It, however, expressed confidence that the people of Osun would resist the PDP’s deployment to take-over the state by force.

    “The people’s will, the people’s vote is supreme, it must be respected and defended, that is democratic, progressive and the right thing, “the statement said.

    It further reminded the PDP of the new realities that the old Nigeria was slowly but surely disappearing and a new era was rising as captured by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    It added that unlike undemocratic practices under past administrations, elections under the APC administration were increasingly freer and fairer.

    The statement said this was a very significant feat in APC’s march for lasting and representative democracy.

    The Osun governorship election is slated for Sept. 22.

  • Kaduna Assembly declares ex Dep. Speaker, other lawmaker’s seats vacant 

    …Shadalafiya emerges new Dep. Speaker

     

    Kaduna State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Aminu Shagali has declared the seat of former Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. John Audu Kwaturu vacant.

    Speaker equally declared the seat of member representing Kudan Constituency, Hon. Junaid Yakubu vacant.

    Read Also:Kaduna: Four policemen die during gun battle with bandits

    According to the Speaker, the two members were elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), but they decamped to another party in the absence of any faction or crisis in the APC, both at national and state levels.

    Hon. Shagali who declared the seats of the two members vacant on the floor of the assembly on Wednesday said, the declaration was in line with the provision of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Meanwhile, the House immediately unanimously elected, former chairman House Committee on Information, Hon. Nuhu Goro Shadalafiya as the new Deputy Speaker.

    Hon. Shadalafiya represents Kagarko local constituency in the assembly.

    The former Deputy Speaker, John Audu Kwaturu representing Kachia constituency, had last Friday defected alongside his colleague from Kudan constituency to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Meanwhile, the former Deputy Speaker had resigned his position as the number two member of the assembly on Tuesday.

    The Nation gathered that, the former Deputy Speaker smartly resigned his position ahead of the Wednesday plenary session; for fear that he would be impeached by the APC lawmakers who are in clear majority in the house.

  • Akpabio still a member of the PDP – Senator

    The Senator representing the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Gershom Bassey, Tuesday said Senator Godswill Akpabio, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), was still a PDP member on the floor of the hallowed chambers.

    Speaking with reporters in Calabar Tuesday, Senator Bassey however stated that the defection issue of the former Akwa Ibom governor was not a big deal.

    Read Also:To declare my seat vacant, Saraki’s must be declared vacant, says Akpabio

    He said, “He has not defected on the floor of the Senate. His defection is outside the Senate. For now he has not crossed carpet in the Senate. So he has done nothing illegal or wrong for now. In the Senate he is still in the PDP. We have not seen his letter. The letter has not been read on the floor and his seat is still in the PDP fold. So as far as we know he is still a PDP man. Until he tells us in the chambers then we would cross that bridge.”

    Also commenting on issues about the reconvening of the National Assembly, Bassey said there was never an official notice to that effect.

    “The media may have gotten ahead of itself in announcing the reconvening because there was no official notice to that effect. Normally when the National Assembly reconvenes it is the clerk of the NASS that sends out the notice. That is the rightful person. I am sure there was no such information from his office. So I think that the media having listened to a press conference by I think by one of the House of Reps men. But if you listen carefully to that press conference he didn’t say anything definite but I think the media just took it that it was definite. There was no plan and there has never been any plan to reconvene. What they did after the meeting of the leadership last week was that they were going to consider it. There was no commitment towards any particular date for reconvening,” he said.

    He also condemned the recent taking over the National Assembly by men of the Department of State Services.

    “I have condemned the invasion of the NASS. It is absolutely unacceptable. It is a coup against our democracy and that is the way we see it. I have called for a comprehensive independent enquiry into the incident. We have to get to the root of it. It is not enough to fire the DSS boss. I have seen the DSS man as a highly professional person. Anytime he has come to the NASS he has always been extremely professional in his presentations. So I don’t think that man would just wake up on his own and acts like that. Someone must have given him instructions. So we need to get to the bottom of it. Or he was misled, one of the two, but we have to get to the bottom of it,” the Senator said.