The Nation Newspaper

Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • Okorocha inaugurates Buhari’s Campaign Council

    …says APC will sweep the polls in S/East

     

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has assured that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will record landslide victory in the Southeast in the 2019 general elections.

    He said that the task of ensuring that President Muhamadu Buhari is reelected is a priority that will be diligently pursued, adding that the APC is unarguably the most popular party in Nigeria at present.

    Read Also:Igbo Presidency: I stand the best chance, says Okorocha

    According to the Imo governor who gave the assurance during the inauguration of the Imo state chapter of President Muhammadu Buhari reelection Campaign Council in the Southeast, “APC is the best political party in Nigeria today. The President is doing well. We therefore have to go to the villages to tell our brothers and sisters the need to ensure that APC sweeps the polls, starting from that of President Muhammadu Buhari”.

    The Governor was represented by his Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu, at the ceremony held in Owerri, the Imo state capital.

    He boasted that the APC will clinch all the elective seats in the state in 2019.

    Admonishing members of the Campaign Council to take seriously the responsibility assigned to them, Okorocha stressed that, “the task of ensuring that President Muhammadu Buhari is reelected is number one. We will ensure that this Campaign Council produces the next three Senators in the state, ten House of Representatives members and 27 House of Assembly members. This Council will also produce the next governor of Imo state”.

    He continued that, “APC is a party of the moment, many states are embracing it. Imo embraced it early and we will continue to embrace it. You must be passionate about this project. We will deliver in all the elections. I have never failed election before and I will not fail this time.

    “You will go to various Local Government Areas to mobilize support for our party. You are requested to mobilize 21 persons per polling unit in all the 27 LGAs. We will monitor your activities and will give you support. Our offices in the LGAs will not only be gigantic but very functional. Opposition political parties are waiting for us to slip but we will tell them that we are equal to the task.”

    In his speech, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Acho Ihim, who is a member of the Campaign Council, assured that the Council will work assiduously to ensure that APC swept the polls.

    He said that apart from the reelection of Buhari, which he said was certain, “Uche Nwosu will emerge the next governor of the state”.

  • Senate leadership not party positions – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday said Senate leadership positions did not belong to political parties but to Nigerians.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, stated this in a statement in Abuja, and said principal officers in the chamber were elected by representatives elected by the people.

    Ologbondiyan, therefore, advised the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Adams Oshiomhole, to stop moves to change the leadership of the Senate, saying such was completely out of his reach.

    He said Oshiomhole should stop thinking that senate leadership could be changed by orders of a political party when the law settled that such power was vested only on two-third votes, representing 73 of the 109 senators.

    “Since Oshiomhole assumed office, the nation has witnessed various unimaginable constitutional infractions, including the invasion of Benue House of Assembly and the Ekiti State Government House by security agencies.

    “The escalated harassment of federal legislators and persons perceived to be averse to APCs’ re-election bid.

    “The siege at the residences of Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, by security agencies as well as the recent invasion of the National Assembly by security operatives.”

    Ologbondiyan called on Nigerians and the international community to note the activities of Oshiomhole, alleging that he was being directed from some quarters.

    He, however, said that the PDP held firmly that the APC was fighting a lost battle.

    Ologbondiyan said Nigerians could not be intimidated into their resolve to return the nation to the path of peace, national cohesion and economic prosperity, on the platform of the re-positioned PDP in 2019.

  • Buhari greets Odigie-Oyegun at 79

    President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on the occasion of his 79th birthday on August 12, 2018.
    President Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, joined family, friends, well-wishers and party members in celebrating another milestone in the lifetime of a patriotic Nigerian, who personifies the meaning of a progressive in letter and in spirit.
    The President recalled that throughout Chief Oyegun’s distinguished career as a civil servant, first civilian Governor of Edo State, pro-democracy activist and the first elected National Chairman of the APC, whose leadership was instrumental to the advent of the CHANGE government in 2015, he stood out as a beacon of progressive values and principles embodied in change, reforms and intense commitment to the good of the nation.
    He prayed God almighty to grant the celebrant more years of good health and fulfillment to see a nation where positive change, in all facets of our national lives, is a reality for all.

    Odigie-Oyegun relinquished his position as the first APC chairman after the party’s convention in Abuja on June 23.

    He was replaced by Comrade Adams Oshiohmole who emerged unopposed during the convention.

  • Gombe governorship aspirant promises to revive agriculture

    Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya, the governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State, has promised to revive agriculture and human capital development, if voted into office in 2019.

    Yahaya, who made this promise in an interview with newsmen in Gombe, on Sunday, said agriculture would  boost the economy and reduce dependence on the federation allocation.

    “We have to focus on human capital development and Agriculture, being an agrarian state in order to take the state to the higher level.

    “Agriculture is the backbone of the economy, where 85 per cent of our people are farmers, hence the need to focus on farmers.

    “We also have to focus on agricultural production to enhance productivity, so that it can generate industrial development.

    “Subsequently, we can begin other business activities that can make the people to invest in the private sector rather than depending on government totally,” he said.

    According to him, he is committed to the development of the state, with emphasis on women and youth empowerment, health and education.

    Yahaya said that the APC was ready to take over the state from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and urged other aspirants to support the party executive for the success of the party at all levels.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the aspirant on Saturday, presented 15 vehicles to party chairmen, including zonal chairmen across the 11 Local Government Areas.

    He also gave motorcycles to 11 Secretaries and 114 ward  chairmen during the inauguration of the APC Square named after General Muhammadu Buhari.

  • Ex-PDP Chairman defects to APC in Sokoto

    A Former  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in Sokoto State, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu-Tambuwal, has led about 10,000 supporters to decamp to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Tambuwal Local Government Area of the state.

    Addressing a crowd of supporters on Sunday in Tambuwal, Shehu-Tambuwal said they made the decision freely based on their concern to participate in politics that would facilitate good development.

    He said they were convinced to join the party because of the viable policies and projects of the APC-led government, stressing that leadership and democracy should be about enhancing infrastructure and ensuring development for the people.

    Shehu-Tambuwal is also a former Commissioner for Education in the state.

    Alhaji Umar Maitafsir, the Chairman of APC chapter in Tambuwal Local Government Area, said no fewer than 100,000 people from Yabo, Kebbi, Tureta, Dange/Shuni, Bodinga and Shagari local government areas had also decamped from the PDP to the APC.

    Maitafsir described the decamping as a landmark in the political history of Sokoto South senatorial district, attributing the move to Shehu-Tambuwal’s credibility and political contribution in the zone as well as the state.

    Speaking while presenting the APC membership card to each of the new members, the Chairman of the state chapter of the APC, Alhaji Sadiq Achida, assured the defectors of a level-playing ground.

    Achida said President Muhammadu Buhari’s APC-led government would continue to address the challenges being faced by Nigerians through various projects and policies and urged the people to support the party to succeed at all levels.

  • APC wins Lokoja/Kogi bye-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of Saturday’s bye-election for the Lokoja/Kogi Federal constituency.

    The Returning Officer, Prof. Rotimi Ajayi of the Federal University Lokoja (FUL), who announced the outcome of the exercise in the early hours of Sunday, at the LG INEC Headquarter, Lokoja, declared the APC candidate, Haruna Isah winner, “haven satisfied the requirements of the Electoral Act”.

     

    Details of the result are as follows :

    Kogi/Koton-Karfe LG

    Registered voters: 47505

    Votes cast: 20,304

    Accredited voters: 21115

    Rejected votes: 581

    Parties and their scores

    Accord – 31

    ADC – 977

    APC -11078

    DA – 47

    MPN -10

    NCP – 39

    PDP – 7094

    SDP – 4033

     

    LOKOJA LG

    Registered voters: 10,5965

    Votes cast: 29,732

    Accredited voters: 30,554

    Valid votes: 28,442

    Rejected votes: 1,290

     

    Parties and their scores:

     

    Accord – 118

    ADC – 2,007

    APC – 15,782

    DA – 110

    LP – 76

    MPN – 40

    NCP – 75

    PDP – 7,751

    SDP – 2,483

     

    Final results for the federal constituency 

    Registered voters – 15,3470

    Accredited voters – 51,669

    Valid votes – 48,165

    Votes cast – 50,036

    Rejected voters – 1,871

    Total votes cancelled as a result of violence – 19,960

     

    Parties and their scores 

    Accord – 149

    ADC – 2,984

    APC – 26,860

    DA – 159

    LP – 90

    MPN – 50

    PDP – 14,845

    SDP – 2,916

     

  • Plots to remove Saraki, Ekweremadu will fail – PDP

    The leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has told the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency to stop dreaming of removing the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

    Describing such move as delusion, the opposition party said it was high time the ruling party and its agents came to terms with the reality that they lacked the constitutional backing to remove or call for the resignation of the two lawmakers.

    Read Also:Oshiomhole: Saraki will be impeached legally

    In a statement on Friday by the spokesman of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party accused the ruling party of applying underhand tactics to oust Saraki and Ekweremadu.

    The opposition party insisted that the APC and its agents staged last Tuesday’s invasion of the National Assembly by armed operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS)

    Two-thirds majority of 73 of the 109 senators is required to impeach Saraki who last week, defected from the APC to the PDP. The same number is required for the removal of Ekweremadu.

    Buttressing its allegation of complicity of the leadership other APC in the botched invasion of the federal legislature, the PDP said it was designed to remove the two officers through the back door.

    The statement said, “Even before then, Nigerians were already aware of moves to use humongous funds to induce lawmakers to trigger crisis in the National Assembly and pave the way for the removal of presiding officers.

    “Now that they have discovered that there is no way they can achieve their devious intentions, they have commenced a war of blackmail, distortions of fact and media trial against the Senate leadership, which, of course, will end up as another wasteful venture as Nigerians are aware of the long-drawn desperation of the Buhari Presidency to annex the legislature.

    “Even among the ranks of the depleted APC senators and members of the House of Representatives, there is a huge aversion to the underhand tactics being deployed by the Buhari Presidency and the APC to force out duly elected presiding officers of the National Assembly.

    “As such, such lawmakers are fully aligned with Nigerians, the PDP and the National Assembly leadership in the protection of the independence, sanctity and integrity of our parliament and all democratic institutions in our land.

    “It is therefore instructive for both the Buhari Presidency and the APC to know that there is no way they can remove the leadership of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate.

    “Consequently,  the PDP cautions the Buhari Presidency and the APC to stop overheating the polity with their outbursts and shed future perverse attempts to circumvent our rules and constitution, as such will not help them or change the resolve of Nigerians to vote them out in 2019”.

  • Defection: Two S/East governors to join APC – Okorocha

    The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha Thursday disclosed that two serving governor’s from the Southeast will be formally joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Okorocha who did not disclose the identity of the governors, stated that there is an agreement among the Southeast governors to move in one direction.

    Read Also:Defections: God’ll chase away criminals from APC says Buhari

    According to him, “the insinuation that Southeast governors from other political parties will work for President Muhammadu Buhari for President and work for their candidates in the governorship election is not acceptable, you are either a member of the APC or not”.

    He continued that, “you will agree with me that Ndigbo played a dangerous politics in 2015 but we must correct that in 2019”.

  • Defection: PDP chair mocks Akpabio for joining ‘sinking ship’

    The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has mocked the erstwhile Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akoabio, for jumping into a “sinking ship”.

    Akpabio had on Monday, dumped the PDP for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in a move perceived by many as ploy to leverage on his status in the APC.

    Read Also:Akpabio meets Buhari in UK ahead defection to APC

    Describing Akpabio’s action as unfortunate, Secondus said Akpabio chose to walk against the tide to endanger his otherwise rising political career.

    In a statement on Wednesday by his media aide, Ike Abonyi, the PDP chair said he found it very strange that anybody would go into a “sinking ship” at a time every other person was finding their way out of it.

    Secondus traced Akpabio’s action to self-preservation and not borne out of any rational strategic political decision.

    The party chair added that Akpabio’s decision did not enjoy the blessing of the people of Akwa Ibom whose mandate he enjoyed for eight years as state governor and his present position senator.

    Secondus said, “I cannot fathom any reason why on earth Senator Akpabio should work against the tide, moving at opposite direction to a place every reasonable person is escaping from.

    “He deserves our pity because whatever would make somebody to choose bad for good is clearly one that he should be prayed for, for salvation, especially given the fact that wolves are waiting for his arrival to devour him.

    “How on earth can anybody who has his eyes wide open be seen walking into danger knowingly”.

    Prince Secondus lashed out at the APC, for allegedly arm-twisting and intimidating people into what he described as a “sinking boat”, ostensibly to ruin and disintegrate the person involved.

    He called on the people of Akwa Ibom to be wise and know when to turn their back from a leader directing them to danger.

    “I urge you to remain focused and continue to give support to your hard working governor, His Excellency Emmanuel Udom as he remains unrelenting in the delivery of democracy to the people,” he said.

     

  • DSS intervention saved planned violence in NASS, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the intervention of security operatives prevented what could have led to a planned violence which could have led to possible deaths, injuries and destruction of property in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

    Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena said in a statement that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki mobilized thugs to the National Assembly that would have foment violence in the legislative chamber all in a bid to stop his impeachment.

    Read Also:DSS boss Daura fired

    He said it was curious that only PDP lawmakers were present at the National Assembly as early as 7.00am while those they accused of plotting to impeach the senate President were busy holding their meeting at a different location outside the assembly.

    The statement reads: “Following Tuesday’s incident at the National Assembly, our investigations have now uncovered the sinister plot hatched by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki to foment violence in the legislative chamber all in a bid to stop his impeachment.

    “Our investigations uncovered and noted “the timely intervention of the security operatives forestalled the planned violence which could have led to possible deaths, injuries and destruction of property in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

    “Why did the Senate President mobilise thugs to the National Assembly who almost lynched Hon. E.J. Agbonayinma, the only APC federal lawmaker present but for the timely intervention of security operatives.

    “Why did the Senate President reconvene the National Assembly? Ostensibly as a pre-emptive move to frustrate federal lawmakers move to impeach him. Is it not curious that only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) federal lawmakers were present in their numbers-some as early as 7am, while the majority APC federal lawmakers were elsewhere holding a caucus meeting on the state of the nation.

    “We call on security agencies and relevant bodies to as a matter of urgency probe these findings and take all necessary and legitimate action to stop these illegalities which pose a direct and ominous threat to our democracy.

    “As espoused in our earlier statement, whilst our contention with the leadership of the National Assembly as currently constituted is a matter of public record, we still believe that the legislature as an independent arm of government must be allowed free reign for vibrant contestation of ideas and values amongst its members within the context of their constitutional mandate and for the benefit of the Nigerian people.

    “Finally, we reiterate our call for the Senate President to resign from the position immediately as he no longer has the moral and legitimate ground to occupy that position as a member of the minority PDP. Going by the popular axiom, ‘the majority will have their way, but the minority will have their say”.