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Tag: All Progressives Congress

  • APC clears Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun, Ogboru, Adelabu, 20 others as governorship candidates

    The coast is now clear for 24 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the March 2, 2019 governorship election on the platform of the party after its National Working Committee affirmed their nominations during this week’s primaries.

    The ratification was the highpoint of Thursday’s meeting of the NWC in Abuja, according to the acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Yekini Nabena.

    But the ratification did not go down well with some party members who have started bombarding the APC leadership with protests  and calls for an immediate review.

    One of such protests came from an aspirant in Ogun State, Mr. Jimi Lawal, who wants the APC leadership to cancel “the so-called results and declare the primary election null and void and thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the hijack and diversion of the election materials and institute criminal proceedings against those found culpable.”

    Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State remained vehement yesterday in his opposition to the automatic ticket given to Senator Shehu Sani by the party to contest the Kaduna Central seat.

    Emerging from a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari where he apparently sought to reverse Sani’s nomination, the governor said Buhari was against giving automatic tickets to aspirants.

    He claimed the President promised to wade into the various issues of automatic tickets granted to some politicians in some states.

    The 24 governorship candidates approved by the APC NWC include Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos State), Governor Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Gov. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (Kano), Governor Simon Lalong (Plateau), Governor Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Governor Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi) and Governor Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina).

    Others are Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Governor Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Prof. Babagana Umara-Zulum (Borno), Abubakar Sule (Nasarawa), Emmanuel Jime (Benue), Tonye Cole (Rivers), Uche Ogah (Abia), Nsima Ebere (Akwa Ibom), Adebayo Adelabu (Oyo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Great Ogboru (Delta), Senator John Owan Enoh (Cross River), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Senator Sunny Ogboji (Ebonyi) and Sani Abubakar Danladi (Taraba).

    The party’s decision effectively rules out Mr. Isiaka Akinlade who won a parallel primary by a faction of the party loyal to Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and Mr. Magnus Abe who was nominated by his faction of the party in Rivers State.

    Nabena said in a statement in Abuja that the clearance followed the adoption of the report of the various electoral committees sent to conduct the primaries in the various states.

    A few hours after the APC announcement, the chairman of its Primary Election Committee in Enugu State, Prof. Moses Momoh, declared Senator Ayogu Eze the winner of the primary.

    Eze beat four other aspirants by polling 53,967 out of the 66,122 votes in the rescheduled primary.

    The governorship primaries for Kwara and Adamawa states are yet to be held while those of Zamfara and Imo states were cancelled for irregularities.

    Lawal to APC NWC: Invalidate Ogun primary result

    One of the contestants for the APC governorship ticket in Ogun State, Mr. Jimi Lawal, yesterday called for the outright cancellation of the result of the primary that produced Prince Dapo Abiodun as the party’s candidate.

    Lawal, in a petition to party chair Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said the panel sent to the state to conduct the primary shirked its responsibilities.

    He said that owing to delay in the arrival of the panel, a meeting between the panelists and aspirants did not begin until about 10.35 pm.

    His words: “No sooner than the meeting started at about 10.35 pm, after introduction and setting of agenda, a fracas occurred which we later understood to be a street fight between two gangs: one accompanied Prince Dapo Abiodun and the other being that of Adekola Akinlade, which led to the arrest of a couple of those of Prince Dapo Abiodun.

    “He (Abiodun) vehemently protested against the selective arrest, and we all appealed to the Secretary to the State Government (who was not only in attendance but also served as the moderator) that since the atmosphere of the meeting was that of a family affair as he had previously stated in his opening remarks, the arrested people should be released while both sides were enjoined to keep the peace.”

    He said it was obvious to all that the direct primary approved for the state never took place and that the result announced by the Senator Gbenga Aluko-led panel was a nullity.

    Contacted about the complaints, Nabena told newsmen that all those who have complaints about the conduct of the primaries still have an opportunity to direct such to the Appeals Committee set up by the party.

    He also said aspirants who are not satisfied with the decision of the party on the list of governorship candidates are free to forward their appeals to the party’s National Working Committee.

    Abe also kicks

    A similar protest came from Senator Magnus Abe whose nomination by his faction of the party in Rivers State was rejected by the APC leadership in favour of Mr. Tonye Cole.

    The former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) said: “We are preparing our petition which we will send to the Apeals Committee.

    “I have nothing against Architect Tonye Cole (co-founder of Sahara Group, who emerged last Sunday through indirect primary election). He is a friend and he remains a friend. But as politicians, we are fighting the fight based on justice and based on our commitment to truth. There are certain things that cannot change except there is justice.

    “This is a situation that we warned about since two years ago when the Minister for Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, called a meeting of this party and started threats that snowballed into the current situation.

    “We warned, we pleaded, we talked non-stop for close to two years to draw the attention of the party, to draw the attention of this country to the crisis that is being created and sustained in the party for no other reason but to ensure that we do not have any opportunity to participate in the governorship primaries of our party.”

    Abe pledged his loyalty to President Buhari and the APC but stressed that “those who want peace should work to enthrone justice in the party (APC). Without truth, there can be no justice, and without justice, there can be no peace. We remain committed and we will be committed to the APC.”

    Buhari against automatic tickets, says El-Rufai

    Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State met with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja yesterday over the automatic ticket given to Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central), apparently in a move to reverse the party’s decision.

    “Many contestants that have been screened by the committee were removed from the list unilaterally by some elements in the party. There are rumors that some people have been granted automatic tickets,” he told reporters after his meeting with the President.

    He added: “But by yesterday (Thursday) when the representatives of the Progressive Governors Forum met with Mr. President and the National Chairman, we thought that this rumour of automatic ticket, which has no place in our constitution and any enlightened democracy, had been resolved.

    “But up to the time I left Kaduna this morning and came to see the President, we did not receive the list of those that will contest the legislative elections.

    “On my way, I received a list of our state party structure but it seems to me there are still exclusions. As you know exclusions are one of the many reasons elections are lost at the tribunal level.

    “We are being careful in Kaduna State. We do not practice imposition, force people to step down for anyone. We believe in elections and we like people to subject themselves to full democratic process.

    “In some states, you have one list from the governor. We don’t have any list. We gave everyone a level playing ground and subject them to meeting the requirements of the party. Everyone is allowed to contest and may the best man win.”

    He said Sani should be encouraged to test his popularity with APC delegates, saying:  “It is not me. I only have one vote as the governor of the state.

    “It’s up to the delegates in the Kaduna State APC to vote for Shehu Sani or vote for other candidates.

    “But what democracy says is that every person should be given a chance to contest.

    “Shehu Sani has done things against the interest of the people of Kaduna State, and it is time for him to explain why he did what he did and ask the delegates to vote for him. But to avoid facing the consequences of your actions by getting what is called automatic ticket is a recipe tfor losing the election to other parties

    Asked whether he got any commitment from the President, el-Rufai said: “The President restated his position that he is a democrat, a product of elections, and he has never encouraged non-election.

    “He has never supported imposition and he has never asked anyone to grant anybody automatic tickets.

    “The position was restated yesterday (Thursday) to the Progressive Governors Forum and he told me this and said he will take necessary steps to communicate this very clearly to the party leadership.”

  • More NASS candidates emerge

    Former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, a former deputy governor of Plateau State, Mr Ignatius Longjan and  a former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly,Mr. Femi Bamisile are among the candidates picked by the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of next year’s elections into the National Assembly.

    On its part ,the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) picked two serving members of the House of Representatives, Hon Jones Onyeriri and Hon Ezenwa Onyewuchi to vie for the tickets to represent Imo West and East Senatorial zones.

    Prince Adeyeye, Mr. Bamisile and a businessman, Mr. Sola Fatoba, were picked as consensus candidates by the APC hierarchy .

    Adeyeye had no opponent for the Ekiti South senatorial district while Bamisile is awaiting affirmation  as candidate for Ekiti South Federal Constituency 2.

    Fatoba became the candidate for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1 following the withdrawal of Dr. Jimlas Opeyemi Ogunsakin.

    Ogunsakin, announced his withdrawal at a news conference at APC State Secretariat, yesterday  before the commencement of voting in the National Assembly in all the 177 wards.

    The primaries to elect candidates for the three Senate and six House of Representatives seats were still ongoing at press time.

    Mr. Longjan, former deputy to Ex-Governor Jonah Jang got 972 votes to beat four other contestants including Dame Pauline Tallen during the primaries in  Plateau South Senatorial district held in Shendam.

    Longjan is seeking to replace Sen. Jeremiah Useni of the PDP, who has picked the ticket for the Governorship seat at the party’s primary held on Sept. 30.

    Detail of the results as announced by the electoral officer, Mr Abu Isa, showed that Nanven Nimfel came second with 786 votes, while Jibrin Banchir, Pauline Tallen and Stephen Dashe Te,el scored 41, 9 and 5 votes respectively.

    Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Justice Reform, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku, , clinched the Enugu West senatorial ticket of the APC,defeating Chief Osita Okechukwu, Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and Chief Nweke Gbazuagu while former Enugu Speaker, Eugene Odo got the Enugu North ticket, and Mr Uchenna Ezemba won that of Enugu East.

  • APC and Oshiomhole’s many headaches

    On Thursday, some eight or nine All Progressives Congress (APC) governors met with President Muhammadu Buhari over the stalemated and deeply divisive governorship and legislative primaries in their states. Some of the governors complained about the omission of their loyalists from the list of screened legislative aspirants, and others bitterly resented the national APC’s role in, and even conduct of, their states’ governorship primaries. There is deep dissatisfaction in some of the states with the role being played by the party’s national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, who is regarded as dictatorial and meddlesome. The visit to Aso Villa followed the lingering inability of the party at the national level to resolve the crises-ridden state primaries.

    But whether the presidency can placate the aggrieved governors  is anybody’s guess. For a long time, the presidency restrained itself from interfering in the affairs of the party at both the state and national levels. Inspired by the president who initially argued that it was undemocratic to meddle in the affairs of the party, just as it naively hoped the party would not meddle in the business of the presidency and the executive, the presidency put a huge gulf between itself and the party until major fissures, albeit contrived, began to appear and vested interests plotted the usurpation of offices and power in the party and particularly the national legislature. By the time the presidency experienced the epiphany of involving itself in the affairs of the party, incalculable damage had been done, and cracks had widened and ossified.

    The governors were not as squeamish about getting involved in the affairs of the party in their states as the presidency was. They not only meddled in the running of the party, in many instances, they virtually reduced the party to a department of the state government, and chairmen were turned into glorified errand boys. Unfortunately, the incongruous relationship between the party and the executive was instituted right from the beginning of the Fourth Republic when the then president, Olusegun Obasanjo, unadvisedly took strong-arm measures to subordinate the party to the executive. Observing what was being done at the federal level, the states quite eagerly took extraordinary measures to also subjugate the party in their states.

    While the presidency has not witnessed any revolt of any kind in the party at the national level, with the party still deferring by and large to Aso Villa, the states for the first time are witnessing terrible unease and stirrings in their territories. The battle for succession and the struggle for nominations have pitted powerful individuals against either their party leaders or their apparently overbearing governors. Ambitious politicians are not afraid to dare meddlesome governors determined to write the future of their states. In the past, governors largely determined who took the tickets; now, the situation appears to be morphing in ways that challenge the status quo and the conventional wisdom of monarchical governors, a dire process revolutionarily given fillip by the iconoclastic Mr Oshiomhole, himself a former governor.

    The public and the ruling party may be alarmed by what is happening, particularly the dissension in the APC, fearing that the confusion might affect the party’s electoral chances as indeed it affected the fortunes of the former ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But they should be grateful that the schisms are manifesting now, and they must hope that they can sort out the mess integral to their founding. The PDP came to grief over imposition of candidates and the associated confusion and rebellion that accompanied that patently undemocratic style. It is not a bequest anyone should embrace.

    The APC, particularly its governors, has not learnt any lesson from the debacle that confronted and sundered the PDP. But circumstances are now conspiring to help them confront their inbuilt and orchestrated monsters. Those circumstances are indeed quaint and unique. First is the presence in office in Aso Villa of an apathetic president who seems not fully persuaded about meddling in the day-to-day running of the party, unlike Chief Obasanjo. President Buhari is thus likely to be highly amenable in his involvement in the misunderstanding within the APC. He will genuinely seek peace once he is convinced of the course of action the party should pursue. Had President Buhari been seized by the itch to control things, he would be more interested in demonstrating power and getting his way than coaxing the combatants to reach some accommodation. Second is the election of the charismatic though somewhat flawed Mr Oshiomhole as chairman. Not only was he a governor, but having also ruled Edo State for two terms, he knows a thing or two about deploying and projecting power, and embracing every propaganda measure possible. He knows the tricks governors are capable of, and he knows just how elastic their bluff is. He will counter their bluff and also defang their blusters until he forces a rapprochement.

    But more importantly, both the president and Mr Oshiomhole are unlikely to feel apocalyptic about the dissension quaking in the APC for the simple reason that they fairly anticipated the crisis and believe sensibly that it is much better to endure that danger than the flaky peace governors and the former party chairman had tried to confect. Beginning from last year, and running through the early parts of this year, the former chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, and the governors had attempted to circumvent what they feared was a potentially acrimonious and explosive elective convention. They voted for managed congresses, controlled convention, tenure extension and consensus candidates. Regardless of the provisions of their party constitution, they loaded these dramatic measures under the so-called doctrine of necessity, and felt absolutely certain that the foretold implosion many feared would course through the party could thereby be deflected.

    The party must indeed be thankful to naysayers who insisted that no matter how tumultuous and damaging a revalidation process might be, the party must periodically subject itself to that carnival enjoyed by its members. That process of revalidation may open up unhealed sores within the party and create fresh wounds and fissures, but, argued the critics and dissenters within the party, it was better for such problems to be ventilated, no matter how searing the molten magma flowing from its bowels, than to be repressed with the possibility of later triggering conflagrations of untold consequences. The controversy over direct or indirect primaries, or elected or consensus candidates, for instance, are all indicators of the cracks existing deep down in the party’s tectonic plates. Had these problems not manifested now, a future earthquake deep under its crust would probably have unleashed an unmanageable Tsunami.

    Party members, including recalcitrant governors, must not harbour the dangerous illusion that the refusal to endorse Mr Odigie-Oyegun’s continuation in office or their preferred  candidates and mode of primaries were the causes of the terrible dissension unsettling the party. No, these cracks were intrinsic to the party and its founding, and they were bound sooner or later to manifest. The party now has an opportunity to address these foundational issues. What will determine how successful they are, and whether the party would stabilise or not, especially going into the future, will depend on the administrative acumen of their leaders and the president, and the subtlety with which those saddled with the responsibility of reconciling the combatants and forging peace go about their onerous task.

    The APC may cast wary glances at the PDP, fearing that the opposition could take advantage of the distress in the ruling party, but the PDP is also battling its own demons, and is even more fearful of the magnitude and intractability of its existential troubles. They have now been out of office for four years; they are anxious that eight years in the wilderness could weaken the resolve of their members to summon the gumption and fortitude to stay the course and take the battle to the cantankerous ruling party. It is crucial for the PDP to regain its composure and cobble together the right and potent winning platforms and formulae. This would be good for the country’s democratic health. But it is also apposite for the ruling APC to eschew the paranoia buffeting its processes, particularly in conceiving and sustaining a durable and pragmatic democratic ethos. They can surmount their troubles if they try hard enough. But they can also fail if they give in to fear and desperation. The choice is really theirs to make.

  • As Shittu, Mama Taraba get the axe

    IN a move widely adjudged a turning point in the All Progressives Congress (APC), administrative politics, the ruling party disqualified two ministers serving in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet from vying for their states’ governorship seats. The duo include Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu from Oyo State and his counterpart in the Women Affairs Ministry, Senator Aisha Alhassan, from Taraba State.

    Shittu and Alhassan were screened out by the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) at a time the party grappled with defections among its ranks and files to rival parties.      Responding to insinuations that the duo were arbitrarily screened out, the party’s National Chairman and head of its NWC, Adams Oshiomhole, argued that Shittu was disqualified  because it was discovered that he avoided the compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme after graduation.

    Alhassan, on the other hand, was disqualified from contesting for Taraba governorship seat due to concerns regarding her loyalty to the party. The NWC, however, has no cause to rue its decision given that Alhassan resigned her ministerial appointment and also defected from the APC to the United Democratic Party (UDP), soon after her disqualification.

    Speaking at a press conference, in Abuja, on Friday, September 28, Oshiomhole said that the party’s decision to disqualify Shittu and Alhassan was in order to protect the APC’s core values.

    Oshiomhole said the party’s governorship screening committee was not convinced with explanations offered by Shittu that his service as a lawmaker in the Oyo State House of Assembly and minister was equivalent to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

    According to him, Nigeria’s laws are clear on the issue. However, he said the Minister of Women Affairs, Alhassan, was disqualified because the party was not convinced about her loyalty.

    Oshiomhole said “As for the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, she has issues that have to do with party loyalty. Our constitution is clear and it dictates that to contest elections or even hold office in the APC, you must be loyal to the party in every material concern.

    “From all she had said in the past and even her comments and general attitude during the screening, the NWC reviewed everything taken together and we arrived at the conclusion that she does not possess the level of loyalty that the APC requires for her to contest elections on our platform.

    “We made it clear when the defections happened that the APC may well benefit from these defections if it helps us to be more critical in terms of whom we give platform to contest elections and that there are core values that binds the APC together and they are non-negotiable.

    “The Electoral Act and the APC constitution forbid anyone from being a member of more than one political party at a time. You cannot be a member of APC and be a card carrying member of another party.

    “But when you have a situation where it would appear, based on what you know and based on what I know, that someone is probably APC in the day time, maybe for the purpose of retaining certain offices and they are PDP at heart. Or if they are not PDP at heart, they are actually and simply a follower of a one-man permanent presidential candidate…then we have the right to ask ourselves if these attitudes and qualities are characteristics of an ideal member of APC,” he said.

    There is no gainsaying that Shittu and Alhassan didn’t envisage their ordeal. The duo, like several other aspirants, dreamed of clinching their party’s ticket to vie for their states’ governorship seats until the dismal news of their disqualification.

    Earlier, an upbeat Shittu, in an interview, reportedly stated that he enjoyed the goodwill and support of large segments of the electorate. The former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Oyo State allegedly urged  the APC to forget about its chances in the state if he is denied the governorship ticket of the party.

    The ministers’ problems with the APC, however, started before screening commenced for the party’s aspirants. While Shittu’s travails erupted in the wake of his NYSC certificate saga, Alhassan stirred the stirred the hornet’s nest when she granted a media interview, where she pledged her unflinching loyalty to Atiku Abubakar rather than her incumbent boss, President Buhari.

    Pundits aver that Alhassan’s her public show of support for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’ s presidential ambition last year might have earned her a spot in the black book of the ruling party.

    Thus when APC chairman, Oshiomhole, revealed plans to instill discipline among membership of the party and ensure that the party is supreme, on assumption of office, he certainly wasn’t set on a wild goose chase.

    The party’s disqualification of chieftains like Shittu and Alhassan would have been unthinkable in the past but they were excluded for reasons firmly anchored in APC’s constitution and rules, according to the party’s national chairman.

  • Tension in Edo APC over primaries

    There is tension among members of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress over the delayed announcement of the results of the National and State House of Assembly primaries held on Thursday.

    State Chairman of the APC, Anselm Ojezua, said the cause of the delay in announcing the results was because of some unresolved issues.

    It was not clear as at press time whether the already conducted primaries would be upheld or a new primaries conducted over complaints of irregularities.

    Many of the aspirants that were victorious like Patrick Obahiagbon, Ehiozuwa Agbonnayima, Osaigbovo Iyoha were seen at the APC secretariat waiting for the results to be announced.

    As at press time, the new panel sent by the NWC of the APC has arrived Benin and was scheduled to hold meetings with all the aspirants.

    The meeting was yet to begin.

    Read Also: Primary: My victory is for APC , Ogun people – Abiodun

    Some APC loyalists said the outcome of the primaries was a signal of a brewing war between Governor Godwin Obaseki and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

    The loyalist observed that many of the aspirants that lost at the primaries were Oshiomhole’s boys.

    But a chieftain of the party who pleaded anonymity said the Edo primaries were conducted according to laid down rules and procedures of the party.

    He said in all advanced democracies, the party decides whose candidate to field in an election.

    The chieftain dismissed fears of implosion in Edo APC saying all aggrieved aspirants would be reached out to.

  • Edo APC: 608,000 members to vote in direct primaries

    About 600,000 members of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State are expected to participate in the party’s primaries to elect candidates for the Senate in the three Senatorial districts in the state.

    In the presidential primaries held last Friday, 505,827 members of the Edo APC participated in the primaries.

    The leadership of the party has opted to use direct primaries in Edo after consensus arrangement failed.

    Aspirants contesting for the APC ticket in Edo South are Hon Patrick Obahiagbon and Erhabor Emokpae.

    Read Also: Eight aspirants withdraw from Kwara governorship primary

    In Edo Central, the contest is between Hon Patrick Ikhariale and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. John Inegbedion while Deputy Whip of the Senate, Senator Francis Alimekhena is to be returned unopposed after other aspirants stepped down.

    Secretary to the Igueben local government, Mr. John Inegbedion, said the party is ready for the primaries in the locality.

  • New twists in battle for National Assembly tickets in Ondo

    Less than 24 hours to the beginning of the National Assembly primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), there are fresh intrigues and new twists to the race in Ondo State.

    With several aspirants putting finishing touches to their plans, the hottest flashpoints appear to be the North and South senatorial districts.

    Worst hit is the North, where a former House of Assembly Speaker, who just left the State Executive Council (Exco) as an adviser, Victor Olabimtan, has rejected entreaties from Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu not to run and support rights lawyer, Dr Tunji Abayomi.

    In the South, Lagos-based businessman, Dr Olatunji Timothy Felder, is slogging it out with four others, including the incumbent, Senator Yele Omogunwa, for the senatorial ticket.

    Also, a top flight journalist and the immediate past Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Donald Ojogo, is facing seven others for the party’s ticket for Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives race.

    Ojogo is the only aspirant from Ese-Odo Local Government Area running against Banji Ajaka, Tayo Shadare, Taiwo Orisabinone, Oyebo Aladetan, Mrs Abosede Ehuwa, Felix Ojakomo and Lawson Akintogun, who are all from Ilaje Local Government Area.

    He has also been adopted by the leaders of Ese-Odo as their consensus candidate for the race.

    It was gathered that disturbed by the multiple aspirants from Ilaje, as against one from Ese-Odo, leaders of Ijaw Local Government Area, led by the Commissioner for Environment, Funso Esan, and the Chairman of Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Gbenga Edema, made fruitless attempts to prune the number of aspirants to one or two.

    Ojogo is also believed to be having the backing of some grassroots politicians from Ilaje who believe that equity demands that Ese-Odo, particularly the Arogbo Ijaw, produce the next member of the House of Representatives.

    The flowing is the list of House of Representatives since 1979 till date.

    • Olusola Omonira (Rep, 1979-1983, Ilaje);
    • Chief Agbudeloye (Rep, October to December 1983, Ilaje;
    • Chief Olusola Oke (Rep, 1991, Ilaje);
    • Chief Olu Mafo (Rep, 1999 to 2003, Ilaje);
    • Chief Z. O. Obolo (Rep, 2003 to 2007, Apoi);
    • Agboola Ajayi (Rep, 2007 to 2011, Apoi);
    • Raphael Nomiye (Rep, 2011 to 2013, Ilaje):
    • 2013 to 2015 was period of interregnum;
    • Kolade Akinjo (Rep, 2015 till date).

    Among the senatorial aspirants in the South, aside Felder, are: Lucky Ayedatiwa (from Ilaje); Ayo Akinrinsola, Mrs Janet Febi Adeyemi (Ileoluji Okeigbo); Senator Omogunwa and Moratorium Lebi (Irele).

    Of all, Ilaje had done eight years before Senator Boluwaji Kunlere and incumbent Omogunwa (all from Ikale) took it back to back.

    But what appears to be the most move is coming from the North Senatorial District where the governor hails from.

    Although the governor, three weeks ago, insisted openly to stop the incumbent, Senator Ajayi Borofice, using Dr Abayomi, there are still several other aspirants.

    One of whom is Olabimtan, who has rebuffed efforts to allow the governor’s preferred choice.

    The former Speaker insists on running.

     

     

  • Tinubu backs Sanwo-Olu for Lagos State APC ticket

    All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday broke his silence on the battle for the party’s ticket in Lagos State.

    He backed former Commissioner Jide Sanwo-Olu and explained why incumbent Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would not receive his blessing. The primary is today.

    Tinubu highlighted the qualities expected of the party’s flag bearer in next year’s governorship election.

    He urged party faithful to vote in today’s direct primary for an aspirant with a wealth of experience, who understands the importance of the blueprint for development and who can reach out and work with other compatriots to maximise development and provide the best leadership.

    Describing the shadow poll as an encounter with discipline, Tinubu said the candidate should possess superlative vision and commitment, and the ability to restore enlightened governance.

    The former governor said in a statement that the flag bearer should have the attributes of dynamism, tolerance and ability to extend a collegial hand to all stakeholders, far and wide.

    He said: “I am encouraged by the presence of a candidate in this primary, who has served the state in senior positions in my administration, the Fashola administration and even in the current one. While possessing a wealth of experience and exposure, he is a young man endowed with superlative vision and commitment.

    “Most importantly, he understands the importance of the blueprint for development. He esteems it as a reliable and well-conceived vehicle for the future development of the state. He also knows the value of reaching out and working with others in order to maximise development and provide people the best leadership possible. With people like him at the helm, the state will write the proper history for itself.”

    Two chieftains-Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and former Special Adviser, Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions, and Managing Director of Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSPDC), Babajide Sanwo-Olu-are competing for the party’s ticket.

    Sanwo-Olu has been endorsed by the Gubernatorial Advisory Council (GAC), which is the highest advisory committee of party elders and leaders, 377 councillors, 57 chairmen of local councils, state and federal legislators, religious leaders and traders.

    Reflecting on the adoption of the direct primary, Tinubu described the ground-breaking and character-defining option as a step toward greater internal democracy and progressive governance.

    Thanking party members for embracing the selection method, he said today’s exercise cannot be shaped by any selfish ambition and perceived personal grievance .

    Tinubu said what is at stake is the future of Lagos and how best to maximise the collective destiny of Lagosians.

    He added: “By resort to direct primary, the party places the people’s future soundly in their hands. As democracy would have it, you shall be the author of the party’s nomination and hopefully our next government.”

    Tinubu spoke on the legendary Lagos State Development Master Plan, which, he recalled, was put together about 20 years ago by dedicated and patriotic Lagosians who put aside personal interest and rivalry.

    He also recalled that he had the honour of implementing the plan faithfully, adding that his successor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), also honoured the enlightened plan.

    Justifying the import of the master plan, Tinubu said: “Where state government remained true to that blueprint, positive things happened. During my tenure and Governor Fashola’s, Lagos State recorded improvements in all aspects of our collective existence, from public health to public sanitation, from education to social services, from the administration of justice to the cleaning of storm and sewage drains.  Businesses, large and small, invested, hired millions of workers and thrived.”

    He added: “All Lagosians were to fully participate and justly benefit from the social dividends and improvements wrought by this plan. From the common labourer to business leaders, to professionals and our industrious civil service. We all were to be partners in a monumental but joint enterprise. None was to be alienated. None was to be left out. And none were to be pushed aside.

    “This is especially true for those who contributed so much to our development, whether as a business leader who has invested heavily in Lagos, the homeowner who struggles to pay his fair share of taxes or as someone employed in the hard work of keeping our streets and byways clean so that others may go about their daily tasks unimpeded.”

    In Tinubu’s reckoning, the master plan is perfect, although it can always be fine-tuned. “Whenever a government departed from this plan without compelling reason, the state and its people have borne the painful consequence of the improper departure,” the former governor said.

    In his view, when the “blue-print for progress” is ignored, the tendency is to replace it with ad-hoc schemes of a materially inferior quality, which contravenes the spirit of progressive governance espoused by the APC.

    Tinubu said “such narrowness of perspective does not bring us closer to our appointed destination; it takes us farther from that destiny”.

    The former governor lamented that many Lagosians are experiencing deviations from enlightened governance, pointing out that it has become a major concern as the party prepares for its primary.

    Tinubu urged the party to halt the deviation to save the future of Lagos.

    He said: “We must arrest this trend before irreparable harm is committed against the people and their future. For the record, let it be known that I shall vote in this primary because I see it as one of extreme import to our state and our party. Just as I shall vote, I equally urge all party members to do so.

    “We must vote in a manner that returns Lagos to its better path, the one that promises a just chance for all to enjoy the fruits of our prosperity. We must always pursue our goal of a Lagos energised by creative dynamism, tolerance of others, and guided by a leadership capable of extending a collegial hand to all stakeholders, far and wide.”

    Tinubu said Lagos APC will wax stronger after the primary and return the platform to its finest path.

    He added: “We walk into this primary strong and confidently believing in the right course we are to take. We shall emerge from this primary even stronger and more confident that we have taken that course by returning Lagos and our party to their finest path.”

     

  • Ambode peddling lies against me, says Sanwo-Olu

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday chided Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for peddling rumours and falsehoods against him, ahead of today’s direct primary.

    He said the governor indulged in character assassination and personality attack, instead of addressing the core issues germane to governance and his re-election bid.

    Sanwo-Olu reacted to what he described as the governor’s attack on his person in a statement titled: ‘Time to respect the people of Lagos State and the office of governor.”

    He denied the allegations of spending fake dollars in the United State and “rehabilitation” at the Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos.

    The former Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions said if he becomes the governor, he will not insult people, adding that he will be busy finding solutions to problems facing Lagosians.

    The statement reads: “Let it be heard by all that I hold the people of Lagos State with great respect and affection. Their welfare is my utmost concern and it is what drives my pursuit for the governorship nomination of the APC. As such, I also hold the office of governor of our state in high esteem. I shall never consciously do anything that will undermine the dignity of the office nor will I engage in personal attacks against the holder of that officer.

    “My pursuit of office will continue to be based upon issues that matter to Lagosians and not on attacks against someone’s character, even when he attacks mine.  For anyone to engage in unwarranted character attacks against me, reveals more about that person’s character than it says about mine.

    “Thus, I felt sad for Lagos as I watched the Press Conference by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Many things he said was beneath the dignity of our people and the exalted office he now holds. Perhaps the tension and anxiety of the moment got the better of him. If given a chance at cooler reflection of what he said, I am sure he would regret his descent into such low conduct.  In this vein, I forgive him and hope he regains his balance and proper comportment no matter the outcome of tomorrow’s contest. After all, we are both here to improve Lagos not to wrestle in its streets.

    “However, I must clear up some inaccuracies in the governor’s statement. His allegation of that I was arrested for spending fake dollars at a night club in the United States was untrue. In fact, the governor knows I travelled to the United States just last month. I would not have been allowed to travel or even get a visa if I had been involved in what the Governor falsely alleged.

    “That the governor claimed I underwent some unidentified type of “rehabilitation” at the Gbagada General Hospital was also shameless and untrue. Promulgation of salacious rumour should not be part of the job description of a governor. This is not the stuff of high office. People should question whether it is ethically right for the Governor to turn what should beconfidential medical information about a citizen into a weapon of political warfare? But, for avoidance of doubt, let it be stated that I never received any treatment whatsoever at the Gbagada General Hospital.

    “Today, instead of making a convincing defense of his performance, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode sought to sow fear into the hearts of Lagosians.

    “But, Lagosians are an intelligent and brave people. They can see through the smoke and the fog. I am here not to tear my opponent down but to help build Lagos up.  With me, you will hear about progress on education, health, sanitation, proper tax levels, economic development, infrastructure, jobs, public services and other things that enhance the lives of people. I am a serious person and this primary is a serious matter. I have not the time or inclination to attack character when there are so many real issues to address.

    “We will continue to focus on the issues that matter in the lives of the people of Lagos. Lagosians want an answer to the sanitation crisis cast loss of jobs caused by Mr. Ambode’s Visionscape misadventure. Our people will want to know why Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has not been able to build a single General Hospital in the State when his immediate predecessor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), built 11 General Hospitals. Lagosians are waiting to hear what our solutions are. They want to know why hundreds of competent civil servants got summarily dismissed and how this has undermined public services.

    “As a candidate for the party’s nomination and hopefully as your next governor, my approach will not be to sling insults, but to propose solutions to the problems of the day.”

     

     

  • ‘Why I stepped down for Ashafa’

    A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) aspiring to represent Lagos East Senatorial District, Ajao Onalapo Afeez Adetola, has explained why he stepped down for Senator Gbenga Ashafa.

    He said he took the decision to enable Ashafa continue his good programmes.

    Ashafa is vying for a third term.

    Adetola, who spoke with reporters at the weekend, said: “Having witnessed the great work Senator Ashafa has done and inspected over 96 projects undertaken by him, it has become glaring that Senator Ashafa should be supported because he has the interest of the people of Lagos East at heart. He knows the right thing to do.

    “Therefore, I have declared my readiness to support him in his bid to return to the hallowed chambers of the Senate, not just to continue his good work, but also to ensure improved representation for Lagos East and Nigeria,”

    He added: “I enjoin well-wishers, supporters and loyalists to join me in endorsing Ashafa’s mandate, which has grown to become our mandate, so that he will emerge victorious at the primaries tomorrow. I thank you all for your time and efforts.”

    Ashafa’s aide, Temitope Atiba, hailed Adetola for his decision, saying it was commendable.

    He said Ashafa would step up his good work,  especially youth development and empowerment.