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Tag: All Progressives Congress

  • Court quashes Edo Speaker’s suit

    The Federal High Court in Benin City, Edo State, has thrown out the suit by Speaker of the House of Assembly, Kabiru Adjoto, over the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries for Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency.

    Peter Akpatason was declared winner of the primaries.

    Adjoto approached the court seeking to be declared the party’s candidate for the seat.

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    Justice Muktar Umar said the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case. He also held that Adjoto did not follow internal party mechanism to seek redress before rushing to court.

    But Adjoto said he was not satisfied with the judgment, and vowed to pursue the case to the Supreme Court.

  • Ogun APC chief: no ballot papers found in my house

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Otunba Babatunde Onakoya, has said no thumb-printed ballot papers were found in his house in Ijebu-Ode.

    Onakoya said neither him nor his son, who is the Chairman of Leguru Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Ololade Onakoya, was being investigated by security agencies in connection with this year’s general elections or any other matter.

    The board member of Benin/Owena River Basin Authority addressed reporters yesterday in Ijebu-Ode while reacting to “fake news” that he and his son were involved in thumb-printed ballot papers.

    The APC chieftain said the Chairman of Odogbolu Local Government Area, Wale Shittu, was also not being investigated for any criminal activity.

    He described the allegation as baseless, fake and unfounded.

    Onakoya said the rumour was being carried by those he said were threatened by his support for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The APC stalwart also dismissed the allegation as “tissues of lies and a good example of fake news concocted by enemies of democracy”.

    He said: “I have never engaged in any acts of brigandage in the name of politics and will never do.

    “I strongly suspect that this is the handiwork of those who are feeling threatened by our total commitment to ensure that President Buhari coasts home to victory on Saturday.

    “We are pushing for this within the ambit of the law and we shall not be intimidated by anybody or a group of people that wants to return us to era of wastes and stinking corruption.”

    Onakoya said his attention was drawn to the rumour yesterday, adding that he discovered that some people attempted to destruction of his hard-earned reputation and dignity of his family because of his unrepentant commitment to actualising President Buhari’s second term ambition in tomorrow’s poll.

     

  • Buhari’s order against ballot box snatchers patriotic, says Ekiti ex-Speaker

    •APC youth leader: President’s ‘ruthless’ call for peaceful polls

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Femi Bamisile, has said the comment attributed to President Muhammadu Buhari that security agencies deal “ruthlessly” with ballot snatchers during elections was patriotic and not defective.

    Bamisile said the comment showed that the APC-led Federal Government has no plan to rig the February 23 rescheduled presidential and National Assembly polls.

    He said the President remained committed to credible electoral process, being allergic to any act that can undermine the nation’s nascent democracy.

    The former Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker, who is also APC’s House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti South Federal Constituency II, predicted that President Buhari and other APC candidates would win in the state by 80 per cent.

    On Monday, at the APC Caucus meeting in Abuja, President Buhari said he had ordered security agencies to “deal ruthlessly with anyone who may attempt to snatch ballot boxes and undermine electoral system on Saturday”.

    But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, described the presidential order as a call to lawlessness and a leeway for jungle justice.

    Bamisile, who addressed reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, said: “The President didn’t give a shooting order the way former President Olusegun Obasanjo gave a ‘shoot on sight order’ against the Odu’a Peoples Congress (OPC).

    “President Buhari only said those who snatch ballots would have themselves to blame. So, I stand 100 per cent by him on this order. We are not in the 19th century when things were absurd. It is a barbaric act for anyone to snatch ballot boxes.

    “If anyone loses his life while snatching ballot boxes, he should have himself to blame. Nigerians should see elections as a process that will come and go and the nation will remain.

    “Why is the PDP afraid if they are not thieves? And they say if you steal, you go to jail. Why are you bothered, if you are not a thief?”

    Also, an APC youth leader in Delta State, Comrade Edafe Onokpite, has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s call for “ruthless” dealing with ballot box snatchers would ensure free, fair and credible polls.

    Onokpite, who is the party’s youth leader in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, told reporters in Warri that the President’s directive was meant to have a shift from the usual violent ways, which usually gave room for rigging.

    The youth leader said it was surprising that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faulted the President’s statement directing security agents to deal with anyone caught in the act.

    Stressing that President Buhari’s statement was in the interest of Nigerians to cast their votes and make the votes count, Onokpite said there was nothing wrong with the statement.

    Recalling that Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose made “death-threat” statements during elections in their states, he wondered why the matter was being twisted out of context.

    Onokpite urged Nigerians to re-elect President Buhari on Saturday, adding that his antecedents show he is the President for the masses.

    “The Delta Steel Company (DSC) and the other companies former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former President Olusegun Obasanjo sold without paying the workers are now working. Is it not President Buhari who is paying the same people Atiku and Obasanjo refused to pay? The choice is left for Nigerians to choose between light and darkness.

    “The PDP people want things to be done in the usual way of rigging elections. The President only insisted that the best way Nigerians can be allowed to cast their votes is for security agents to do their job thoroughly. What is wrong with that? I know PDP will oppose it because they are good at rigging elections. That is why they are opposing the President.

    “But Nigerians are wiser now; we are not fools. Anybody who wants to disrupt the elections should be dealt with.”

    To eligible voters, the APC youth leader said: “Go and cast your votes peacefully and canvass votes for your party. But if you want to cause trouble, whatever happens to you is your headache.”

     

     

     

     

  • I’m not in any alliance against Adelabu- Akala

    The governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, has cleared the air on the plot by opposition candidates to form an alliance against their All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart Adebayo Adelabu.

    Alao-Akala, who is a former governor of the state, said he was not working with the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or any other in any form of alliance as being reported in the media.

    Speaking through his campaign organisation on Wednesday, the ADP candidate said the reports were aimed at “misinforming and confusing our teaming supporters world over.”

    Director General of the campaign organisation, Chief Wale Ohu, said: “At a time, the rumor in town was that he was not serious about his governorship ambition and that he was going to play the role of a spoiler or work for another governorship candidate.

    Read Also: I’ll respect gender balance as Governor, says Adelabu

    “The most recent is that he is working for the PDP governorship candidate, Engineer Seyi Makinde.

    “The Akala Campaign Organization hereby debunks all these insinuations which is the handiwork of the Propaganda machinery of the government in power in Oyo state which is jittery and overwhelmed by the soaring popularity of Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala and to state clearly that the former Governor is committed to taking the people of Oyo State out of the political mess they have been plunged into by the insensitive A. P. C government of Sen. Ajimobi since he left office eight years ago.

    “Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala has toured the nooks and crannies of Oyo State, taking the message of hope to the citizenry which was received with enthusiasm by the people.

    “His Excellency, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala is not into any discussion, alliance or talks with the PDP governorship candidate Engr. Seyi Makinde or any other for that matter.

    “That is like the elephant hiding behind a rat when in the real sense. It is the rat that needs the cover of the elephant.

    “It is not in doubt that Akala is a political giant who cannot and would never hide under any candidate or politician in the state.

    “Rather, it is expected that, considering Akala’s experience and achievements, other young candidates should come together to support and rally Alao Akala so as to restore the State’s pacesetter position in the Committee of States.”

    He added: “What is the sensibility behind Alao-Akala dissipating his energy and financial resources over the governorship election if it is for any other motive other than to govern Oyo State again?

    “If it is prominence, Otunba Alao-Akalahe has it. If it is wealth, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala is comfortable for the rest of his life so rather, his pursuit is for the emancipation of Oyo State people.

    “The Akala Campaign Organisation thereby reiterates that His Excellency, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala is not advancing the cause of the PDP candidate, Engineer Makinde or any other political party or candidate and consequently advises cheap rumor peddlers who want to profit from Alao-Akala’s large image to desist from cheap gossips and get more involved in issues that can move Oyo State forward.”

  • Atiku is desperate to be president – APC chieftain

    …says, int’l, local gang-up against Buhari will fail

     

    A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and strong ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, Engr. Kailani Muhammad has said that, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is desperate to be president of Nigeria.

    He also said that Atiku Abubakar has bribed Muslim and Christian clerics across the country.

    Muhammad who based his allegation on the recent disclosure by the Chairman Voice of Northern Nigeria Christian Movement, Pastor Kalamu Musa Dikwa that clerics were given N7billion bribe, however, said that those hell-bent on corruption should go on exile, as Buhari will come after them.

    Addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Wednesday, Muhammad said, “Most frightening and daunting of Atiku’s desperation to occupy the presidential villa is manifest in his bribe of Christian and Muslim clerics across Nigeria.”

    According to him, “the Chairman Voice of Northern Nigeria Christian Movement, Pastor Kalamu Musa Dikwa confirmed that clerics were given money. What is surprising is that, they are saying they gave money to Christian clerics, but they did not mention the amount they gave to Muslim clerics. They gave the Christian clerics N7 billion on the 26th January, 2019.

    Read Also: Delta youths endorse Atiku, Okowa others

    “The issue wanted to cause confusion among the clerics, because the following day, the Muslim clerics were given N12 billion,” he said.

    The APC chieftain also alleged that, there is international and local gang-up against the President, which he said will fail, because the masses of Nigeria are with President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to him, unlike former President Goodluck Jonathan who failed due to such International gang-up in 2015, President Buhari will come out stronger, because he is incorruptible.

    He highlighted the achievements of President Buhari, to include the resuscitation of the railway system, dredging of the Baro Port and Anchor Borrowers project among others.

  • Kwara police confirm attack on APC senatorial candidate, others

    . Say arrest has been made

     

    The Kwara state police command on Wednesday confirmed the attack on the campaign train of the Kwara South senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Lola Ashiru by suspected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs loyal to the PDP Kwara south senatorial candidate Senator Rafiu Ibrahim in Ojoku, Oyun local government area of the state.

    Spokesperson of the command, Ajayi Okasanmi said “we received with astonishment the reported attack unleashed on Arch Lola Ashiru, the APC senatorial candidate for Kwara South and his campaign train in Ojoku, Oyun local government area of the state on Tuesday evening.

    “Immediately the report was received, the Commissioner of police Kwara state Kayode Egbetokun dispatched to the scene of the attack at Ojoku a team of policemen led by the DPO Ilemona and the squadron commander
    68 PMF, Offa.

    “The teams successfully brought the situation under control, rescued the candidate unhurt and arrested suspects who were actively involved in the attack and also restored peace.

    “Manhunt for the remaining fleeing suspects had since begun, while discreet investigation of the incident is ongoing.

    “For the umpteenth time, the command is restating its commitment to the safety of lives and property of the people of Kwara State. While warning sternly that hooliganism, thuggery, unlawful possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons will be met with superior forces and suspects arrested will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    “Political party leaders are reminded of the peace accord they signed with respect to political campaigns in the State.

    “The command is appealing to the victims of this attack and their sympathizers not to result to self help but to have confidence in the Command that justice will not only be done but will be seen to have been done in this case.”

  • I remain APC candidate in Enugu east senatorial zone- Ezeh

    Chief Lawrence Eze of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) says he remains the candidate of the party for the Enugu East Senatorial Zone in the Feb. 23, National Assembly election.

    Eze disclosed this in a press statement signed by the Director General of his campaign organisation, Mr Ikemba Nwagu and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Enugu.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that a Federal High Court in Enugu had on Tuesday sacked Eze as the candidate of the party for the senatorial zone.

    The court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Mrs Ada Ogbu-Aguocha as the duly elected candidate of the party for the general elections.

    However, Eze said that in spite of the pronouncement of the court, he remained the APC candidate as he had filed a stay of execution of the judgement.

    The business mogul advised his supporters not to be discouraged by the judgement of the court, adding that steps had been taken to ameliorate it.

    He expressed confidence that the appeal court would upturn the judgement of the lower court which he described as a `miscarriage of Justice’.

    “We have already instructed our lawyers to file a stay of execution order and a notice of appeal, which is underway.

    “We appeal to our supporters to remain calm and resolute and come out en mass to vote on Saturday,” he said.

    He said that it was sad that media organisations had begun to be compelled to stop airing his campaign jingles.

    “This judgment is an orchestrated plan to distract us and a ploy to deceive our supporters in this last minute of campaign.

    “The truth is that Eze is still very much in the race and remains the APC candidate for Enugu East Senatorial Zone.

    “Since this is a pre-election issue, we are filing for an appeal and are going to ensure that this anomaly is corrected.

    “We urge our supporters, well wishers, voters and lovers of Ezeh to remain focused, resolute and ensure that they come out en masse on Saturday to vote for us,” he said.

    Eze said that he was still very much in the race and would not be distracted by the court pronouncement.

    “This is just a distraction aimed at bringing down our morale and that of our supporters but this will not work at all.

    “A dampened spirit is not an option; a depressed mind is also not an option. Do not let anyone deceive you into believing that Ezeh is no more in the race.

    “Stay resolute and be more than ever determined to vote in the game changer on Saturday,” Eze said.

  • Atiku practically confirmed PDP is working with INEC, says Oshiomhole

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said that the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has practically vindicated the APC claim that the opposition was working with some officials of Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) to compromise the Presidential election.

    Oshiomhole who addressed newsmen on Tuesday evening said it is clear that the only mission of the PDP candidate is creating confusion in the electoral system so that he will become President even it means presiding over graves.

    He said only those who want to deploy thugs to undermine the elections will oppose or find fault with the statement of the President aimed at discouraging thuggery during the election.

    Oshiomhole said the attention of the international community at the moment is that elections across the world should be violent free and assured that the forthcoming elections will be conducted in a free and fair atmosphere.

    He sais “It is only those who believe in thuggery that will find fault with the President’s directive. Is there anyone that would want to vote for thuggery? Is there any thug that is not armed. You cannot snatch ballot box without the aid of firearms. So, when the International community is talking about violence-free election, they are saying the election should be free of thuggery.

    “You can see that the PDP is not at home with that because they imported thuggery, institutionalized it and have always fallen back on it as an instrument of rigging and to dominate the electorates. So, we debunk any attempt by Atiku to change the essence of the President’s statement.

    ” I believe the president spoke the kind of the average Nigerian who wants to go and vote and come home in peace without fear of being attacked. You know that thuggery is synonymous with violence and the world is unanimous that violence should be removed from election. Atiku’s rejection exposes PDP for what they are. Their plans is to deploy thugs so that the election will be impossible or reduce voter turn out.

    “To say that the APC Imported card readers is laughable and that the card readers have been deployed to the south south and southeast. The implication of this is, assuming it is true without conceding, it means that Atiku is working hand in hand with the ICT unit in INEC to know the kind of machines that are deployed to where.

    “Recognizing that INEC is Independent, we are not able to know the kind of card readers INEC is deploying or where they were imported from. But if Atiku has all of these details, it can only mean that he is working hand in hand with people within INEC to know where machines are imported from and the fact that card readers can be programmed otherwise.

    “We are not like a stammers who look for a fight because they cannot win an argument. We believe that the electorates are ready to vote for us and we want those votes to take place in a free and fair atmosphere.

    “I think that Nigerians should be United when it comes to the issue of a free and fair election. Our candidates also have the responsibility for peace and security of Nigerians. He has the duty to ensure that the life of the Nigerian electorate is protected as well as those of the observers. That is the responsibility of the commander in Chief.

    “So, if Atiku finds fault in this, if anybody is pro thuggery, we are against thuggery and we are against violence. The International community should properly decode Atiku’s statement sling the president to withdraw his threat not against the electorates, but against would be thugs or merchants of violence.

    “As far as I am concern, Atiku knows that he can’t win. In 2003 elections, he lost his base in Adamawa. He is on record to have procured a Senatorial seat for Prof. Jibrin Aminu. If he wants to go to court, I will meet him there and I will produce the first INEC documented report that announced the winners of those Senatorial seats.

    “He also went on to rig the governorship election that was won by Hashidu in Gombe state. So, with Atiku as a leading player, Atiku has lost the election in Adamawa State and so, the fear of defeat is already down on him.

    “We are ready for the elections and by the grace of God, Nigerians will vote for us and Atiku will remain a permanent presidential candidate which Nigerians never had.”

    He said further that “This afternoon, we monitored the statement by the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the PDP national chairman, Uche Secondus in which they tried to distort the message which of the President who reassured Nigerians that he has given appropriate directive to security agents to ensure that Saturday election is free and fair.

    “from the response of the PDP Candidate, it is clear that they have already conceded defeat. First, he claimed that he has two strongholds which he identified as south south and southeast. That is not true because I come from the south south and we are not voting Atiku. We have since dismantled the PDP machine in Edo state and Edo is the heartbeat of the Nation.

    “Even If you take the statement in its face value, if Atiku concedes that out of six geopolitical zones, he has support, not in his own zone, but south south and southeast, the voting population in these two zones are jot enough to deliver the presidency to any candidate in Nigeria.

    “Every peace loving Nigerian and those who wish Nigeria well are speaking one common language of free, fair and violent free election. What the President said and we are proud that he has the courage to say it that he has asked security agents to create an enabling environment for Nigerians to out and vote without fear that thugs will attack them and that security agents are going to put thugs in check. No peace loving Nigerian can find fault with that.

    “I think it does expose PDP for what they are. Atiku as Vice President to Obasanjo was there in 2003 when people were killed by thugs. In my election in 2007, three young men were shut down by PDP thugs at Oba Primary school. So, no responsible candidate will find fault with any pronouncement that tends to discourage thuggery in the coming elections.

    “So, for a man who is aspiring to preside over Nigeria to seek protection for thuggery is uncalled for. He has already said he will grant amnesty to looters. I don’t think Nigerians have any basis to doubt that Atiku’s mission is to set Nigeria on fire so that he can become President, even If he will preside over a graveyard.

    “By the special grace of God, this election will come and pass, Nigerians will vote, no one will be harmed, no one will be intimidated. We believe that the President was right to say that anyone who resorts to violence will be dealt with.”

  • Akala‘s son suspended as Ogbomoso council chair

    The Chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Hon. Olamiju Alao-Akala, has been suspended from office.

    He is the son of former governor and governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala.

    Olamiju was elected chairman along with 56 others on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    But he dumped the party last week to join his father in the ADP.

    His suspension may not be unconnected with the defection.

    A letter signed by four councillors in the council said he was suspended for gross misconduct, adding the decision was taken after a legislative council plenary on Friday.

    Meanwhile, the suspended council boss has urged people to be calm, stressing that he remains the chairman of the local government.

    His words: “The development is not only illegal but also a comedy script written by the power that be and acted by amateur actors and actresses involved”

    Reacting to the development on Facebook, Alao-Akala’s camp alleged the councillors were forced to sign the suspension order by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    Alao-Akala quoted Hon. Adebowale Oyejoke, one of those who signed the resolution, as saying that they were summoned to Government House where they were ordered to sign the prepared resolution in the presence of the governor.

  • Breaking: Appeal Court sacks Balogun-Fulani’s Kwara APC executives

    . Affirms Bolarinwa as authentic Kwara APC chair
    . Balogun-Fulani dissatisfied with judgement

    Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital on Tuesday sacked the Hon Ishola Balogun-Fulani faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    The court thereafter affirmed the authenticity of the Hon Bashir Bolarinwa-led APC executives in the state.

    A Kwara state High Court had December 19th last year ruled that the dissolved Ishola Balogun-Fulani executive is the authentic exco of the APC in the state.

    The lower court thus nullified any candidate produced by the Bashir Bolarinwa executives for the forthcoming elections.

    Dissatisfied by the judgement of the lower court, the APC (appellant) approached the appellate court for redress.

    The appellants’ grounds of appeal are that “the claimants cannot join the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the state High court because INEC is a Federal Government agency; the amendment of
    their originating summons was brought in bad faith.

    “They brought issues that were not in existence as at the time of filing the suit originally. Even though the lower court has discretion, but its discretion must be exercised judicially and judiciously which was not done in this circumstance.”

    The appellate court in an interlocutory judgement it delivered last week upheld the nomination of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the state APC governorship candidate.

    Reading his judgement on the main appeal Justice Ibrahim Salauwa set aside the judgement of the lower court and upheld the Bashir Bolainwa-led executives.

    He added there would be no reason to deliver a judgement on the same matter with the same parties after the interlocutory judgement of last week.

    Justice Salauwa added that it “would amount to share fruitless academic exercise which the courts are not meant for.”

    Reacting to the judgement, counsel to Hon Bolarinwa, Kamaldeen Gambari said that “what transpired is the affirmation of the interlocutory judgement which this court delivered sometime last week.

    “It said the originating process of Ishola Balogun-Fulani is incurably defective. The state High Court has no jurisdiction to go ahead in the matter.”

    APC counsel, Lawal Jimoh said that the judgement “has laid to rest all the controversies about the judgement of the Kwara state High Court delivered December 19th last year. It nullified the total judgement.

    The issue of Hon Ishola Balogun-Fulani parading himself as the APC chairman has been laid to rest.

    “This judgement further solidifies that primaries of APC held in October last year in the state. There is no controversy at all. As of today the APC in Kwara state can go and sleep when it comes to the issue of factionalisation of the party or not.

    “The court by that judgement affirmed the authenticity of Hon Bashir Bolarinwa-led executives of APC in the state and of course all the candidates that emerged from the primaries that were held by the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC in October 2018 remain valid.”

    Counsel to Ishola Balogun-Fulani, Abdulazeez Ibrahim expressed his dissatisfaction with the judgement. Ibrahim added that “the judgement is a simple one, because the issues were trashed at the interlocutory stage. That is supposed not to be the case. The decision in the interlocutory appeal has determined even the main appeal that was delivered today.

    “So we are not satisfied about that judgement. And we have appealed against the interlocutory judgement delivered last week. So we are going to appeal against the judgement just delivered today again.”