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Tag: All Progressives Congress

  • Police dismiss cop who shot Bamidele, five other APC Members

    … To face trial soon

    The Police have dismissed the trigger-happy mobile policeman who shot former House of Representatives member, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele and five other party faithful on Friday.

    The culprit whose name was yet to be revealed opened fire at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat last Friday at the welcome rally held for the governorship flag bearer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    Bamidele and five other injured party members were hospitalized but the former federal lawmaker has been relocated to Lagos for post-surgery treatment.

    The officer was battered by angry party members who smashed his head, inflicted injuries on him and dispossessed him of his service rifle.

    Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Mr. Bello Ahmed, disclosed on Monday that the mobile policeman has been dismissed from service to pave the way for his trial in court as soon as he is discharged from the hospital.

    The police boss who spoke on a live programme on Channels Television disclosed that the politician who brought the policeman to Ekiti State from his Lagos base has been detained and he is being grilled by interrogators.

    Ahmed said the politician will also be arraigned in court as soon as the Police conclude their investigation into the shooting incident.

    He said: “The policeman involved is dismissed already and even though he’s nursing some injury.

    “At the appropriate time, he will face the law of course. Nigerians will be briefed on the outcome of our actions.”

    Read Also: Ekiti Shooting: Bamidele in stable condition

    Ahmed also spoke on the readiness of the command to regulate the activities of political parties to prevent violence and other acts that could lead to breakdown of law and order.

    Part of the measures, according to him, was the deployment of armed policemen from neighbouring states which he said would be a continuous exercise as election approaches.

    He added: “We have robust arrangement to regulate and observe these political activities as they unfold in Ekiti State, in fact in the entire state.

    “We just got a robust deployment of mobile policemen and that will be increased as the campaigns are progressing.

    “You know what is on the ground will determine what will be done. If the satiation on ground dictates we behave otherwise, we will do provided it is within the confines of the law.

    “This morning (Monday) I’ll be having a meeting with all the political parties’ chairmen. We have programmes for them.

    “We are going to regulate every inch of activity in the state. We will not sit down and tolerate any act of lawlessness, whoever is involved.

    “The police, we are willing, competent to take action against any group or persons, either individual or groups as far this campaign is concerned.”

    Meanwhile, political parties have promised to rein in their members and maintain peace before, during and after the July 14 poll.

    They gave the commitment at a meeting held with the Police Commissioner, Bello Ahmed, at the state police headquarters in Ado-Ekiti on Monday.

    Ekiti State APC Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe, described the meeting as a fruitful deliberation, saying the police boss spoke frankly and expressed his feelings about the comportment of political parties.

    “The police boss spoke frankly and he told us to warn our supporters to respect the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act and this we have to do in the interest of our dear state.

    “We want to rule over living and not dead people, so we need to exercise restraint in the way we conduct ourselves”.

    The PDP Chairman, Chief Gboyega Oguntuase, said what the police boss preached at the meeting was civility and decorum from all political parties, which he assured his party will comply with.

    “As much as we believe in this, he must also not be unaware of something, you can’t rig election and be expecting decorum.

    “What our people will resist is corruption and rigging and once the police and other security agencies are ready to be neutral, then there will be peace”.

    National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP) Chairman, Mr. Ifedayo Iyaniwura, said parties urged the CP to ensure security at the poll in which 35 parties will participate unlike the 18 that took part in the 2014 poll.

    Speaking at the forum, Ahmed said the command won’t fold its arms and allow people to breach the 1999 constitution and the Electoral Act in the name of election.

    He said the meeting convened for stakeholders to brainstorm on how to ensure peaceful conduct of the coming governorship election and that the riot act has been read to them to serve as a guided principle.

    The Police boss assured that his men will be neutral in the July 14 election and won’t do anything that would make them look as if they were working for a certain political party.

    “What I want from men is professionalism. We are going to be guided by the instrumentality of the law, because this election is going to be a different ball game”.

    On the deployment of more anti-riot policemen to Ekiti since last week, Ahmed said:  “You know what is on the ground will determine what will be done. If the satiation on ground dictates we behave otherwise, we will do provided it is within the confines of the law.

    “We are going to regulate every inch of activity in the state. We will not sit down and tolerate any act of lawlessness, whoever is involved.

    “The police, we are willing, competent to take action against any group or persons, either individual or groups as far this campaign is concerned.”

  • APC will resolve all issues before party convention – Committee Member

    A member of the Media Sub – Committee, National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Aderinsola Abiola, on Monday expressed the confidence that all issues arising from the party’s just concluded congresses would be resolved before the party’s June 23 convention.

    Aderinsola, who is the daughter of the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential election, late Chief MKO Abiola, added that reconciliation and harmonization committee would treat such issues and grievances amicably.

    The young politician who is one of the media aides to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, made this known in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during an interaction with reporters, expressing the optimism that the  APC would also go into the planned Convention united and indivisible.

    She noted that the Chairmanship position had been zoned to the South – South geo – political zone of the country.

    She also disclosed that the nomination fee for the chairmanship position goes for N500,000:00k  while that of the National Working Committee and other offices  were fixed for N250,000.00k and N100,000.00k respectively.

    Read Also: I wasn’t intimidated out of APC race, says Oyegun

    “We have been sent to our various zones to talk about the forthcoming national convention of the All Progressives Congress.

    “The chairmanship has been zoned to the South- South, while other positions had been equally zoned. So it depends on where comes from that will determine the position to vie for.

    “For the chairmanship position, to pick the nomination form each aspirant will pay N500,000. While those in the National Working Committee will pay N250,000 each for their nomination form.

    “It is N100, 000 each for the nomination form for other positions. Positions have been zoned to ensure equitable distribution.

    “We had earlier slated the national convention for June 2 but it had to be shifted to June 23, 2018, because of the Ramadan fast. We want to give each aspirant ample chance to attend,” she said.

  • Ex-rep Bamidele, three others shot at Fayemi’s rally

    There was confusion at the Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat on Friday when a trigger-happy Mobile Policeman (MOPOL) opened fire as the party’s flag bearer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, arrived to a tumultuous welcome.

    Former House of Representatives member, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele and three other party members were hit by the bullets fired by the unidentified cop.

    Bamidele who was hit on the arm in the orgy of shooting was said to be receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital at the time of filing this report.

    Fayemi, his wife, Bisi, Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, deputy governorship candidate, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Secretary to Ondo State Government, Mr. Ifedayo Abegunde and other senior party figures escaped being killed.

    They had all accompanied Fayemi from the Akure Airport to Ekiti State where they were received by unprecedented crowds of party supporters and residents in Ikere-Ekiti and Ado-Ekiti.

    The shooting which happened at about 5.00 pm happened as Fayemi and members of his entourage were making their way out of the party secretariat to continue the rally round the town.

    The MOPOL officer who fired the gunshots was overpowered and disarmed by angry party members and given the beating of his life but was later saved by his colleagues from being killed by the angry mob.

    Read Also: Fayemi bows out as Solid Minerals minister

    Party members alleged that he was a fake MOPOL officer sent to disrupt the rally calling on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to investigate the shooting incident.

    The culprit was trying to keep the surging crowd at bay when he suddenly opened fire but lost control by shooting sporadically in a wrong direction.

    Party leaders carried Bamidele and other victims from the scene.

    The angry party men disarmed the policeman and descended on him and smashed his head with sticks and other dangerous weapons before being rescued and taken to a safe custody.

    The incident caused pandemonium at Ajilosun area of Ado-Ekiti as residents scampered to safety to avoid being hit by stray bullets.

    The entourage was received by the state APC executive led by the Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe.

    Before the shooting fiasco, Akeredolu and Fayemi, while addressing party leaders and members, declared the readiness of the APC to rescue Ekiti from poverty, hunger and underdevelopment.

    Akeredolu applauded the party members for putting behind them the post primary crisis, saying with the crowd he saw today that Ekiti remains the stronghold of the APC.

    Akeredolu said: “Fayemi has returned with full force to reclaim the land. He needs your support and this task shall be achieved in the mighty name of God.”

    Fayemi said: “We are here to work for Ekiti and our party leaders and this we are going to do together because it is a collective responsibility”.

    “We are going to work with everybody, including those who just decamped to our party, because we are one big family in APC.

    “We shall win by the grace of God. Our case was like the case of a ram who moved backward to garner more strength. We are here to rescue Ekiti and it is a task we must achieve”.

    Adeyeye, who joined the APC on Tuesday after twelve years in the PDP, said “Fayose is politically dead and buried.”

    “I have returned home and my mission is to ensure that we killed Fayose politically by burying him.

    “We shall mobilize well to achieve this task and by the grace of God, this is a must-win and must accomplished task for all of us.”

    Earlier in the day, massive crowd trooped out in their thousands to welcome Fayemi into the state as the motorcade passed through Akure, Iju, Itaogbolu in Ondo State before the train reached Ekiti State.

    There was a massive lockdown at Oke Osun, Odo Oja Oke’kere areas of Ikere where thousands of party faithful had gathered to welcome the flag bearer. The convoy arrived Ikere township at about 3.00 pm.

    It took another one hour for the train to reached Ado-Ekiti where mammoth crowd was waiting to receive Fayemi and his team. They arrived the state capital at about 4.00 pm.

    Enthusiastic residents held placards, banners and flyers with Fayemi’s portraits.

    Fayemi was also welcomed by the Hausa, Ebira, Igbo and Urhobo communities, members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), market women and commercial motorcycle riders.

    Traffic was at a standstill along Ikere Road in Ado-Ekiti for about three with party members holding party on the highway.

    Situation in Ado-Ekiti was calm as party members and other residents expressed surprise at the shooting incident.

  • PDP alleges media trial of opposition members

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned what it described as unrelenting media trial and persecution of opposition members and perceived opponents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) through anti-graft agencies.

    The Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja said members of the opposition were being persecuted under the guise of fighting corruption.

    Ologbondiyan said that whereas the PDP is in no way opposed to the fight against corruption, it is completely against government’s resort to media trial and constant harassment of opposition.

    He said the party was against unlawful detention and trumped-up charges against opposition members, using various anti-graft agencies, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    “The PDP particularly rejects the emerging trend by the EFCC, wherein accused persons and individuals who are still under investigation on alleged corruption charges are paraded and forced to hang criminal tags.

    Read Also: 2019: PDP counters Buhari, says youth free to contest Presidency

    “This was meted out to former Kaduna State Governor Muktar Yero, even when he has not been convicted by any court of competent jurisdiction.

    “The PDP is totally against the desperation by the EFCC, working under the instruction of the APC, to declare a guilty verdict on accused persons without trial by the courts.

    “This is all in the bid to bring perceived political opponents to public odium and emasculate the opposition ahead of 2019 general elections.’’

    Ologbondiyan said the PDP also reject direct interference in on-going cases, including those in courts, by appointees of the Presidency, particularly members of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption.

    He said the comments and actions of the appointees had continued to escalate media trials and other irregularities in the handling of such cases.

    “The PDP insists, in very unequivocal terms, that we can no longer continue to stomach the hijacking of the duties of the judiciary by agencies of the executive under the instructions of the Presidency.

    “Nigerians will recall that the PDP had earlier raised the alarm over this unrelenting assault, harassment, and persecution of opposition members under the guise of fight against corruption,’’ he said.

    Ologbondiyan said the fight against corruption must be prosecuted within the ambits of the provisions of the law.

    “Corruption fight cannot be used as an instrument of persecution and clampdown against the opposition,’’ he said.

  • 2019: PDP, others in possession of enormous resources – Buhari

    It’s not easy to defend my administration, Buhari declares

     

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday maintained that there are enormous resource in the hand of the opposition parties in the country.

    According to him, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), may not be able to match it.

    He also expressed sympathy for those defending him and his administration describing it as a hucullian task in the midst of opposition.

    President Buhari made the remark while receiving members of the Buhari Media Organisation who paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He thanked the group for their sacrifices as he sympathised with them for losing their friends in a bid to support him without any financial benefit.

    The Buhari Media Organisation was the media outfit of the APC campaign team in 2015 which was named Buhari Media Support Organisation.

    He said “I don’t think I can thank you enough for your steadfastness under very difficult circumstances. It is not easy to defend this administration and more in particular to defend me. But your consistency has given me a lot of confidence.

    “And I know you are doing it as a sacrifice both physical, mental and material. Because as I keep on saying the opposition now are sitting on incredible resources which I am afraid we might not match it at all.

    Read Also: PDP, others in possession of huge resources – Buhari

    “For that reason the opposition is sponsoring mischief from different angles which in spite of the incumbency of government we cannot absolutely stop.

    “It is you that are fighting it and I cannot thank you enough for that. Most of the people I jailed have given back all what they have taken before I was jailed. Most of those people that were being judged by various tribunals have given back what they have taken.

    “I spent 18 months in detention and luckily they did not find anything against me and I was released. But my problem was that there was a journalist from Edo State he wrote an article against me. He wrote that my mother had to die to save me. Because I was only released when my mother died to go and burry her of course you know as a Muslim tradition you are buried where you die.

    “So I can remember what most of you here sitting the sacrifices you have made in terms of materialism even losing friends to continue to support me I have been here for three years. You have proven to people that you are not here for material things, your opinion is out of sacrifice and the strength of the moral courage you have is the the strength of the physical, it is the strength of losing the friends you have.

    “I am sure you are being asked this support you are busy giving Buhari what the hell do you get out of it. And that is why I commend your steadfastness and I am very grateful for it. And in this country whether people like it or not, they will remain grateful for your courage because you have the courage to do the research, take your time to reply mischivious representation and we a very grateful.” he stated

    In his remark, Chairman of the Buhari Media Support Organisation, Mr Austin Braimoh said the main objective of the organization is to promote and defend the programmes of the Buhari led administration.

    Braimoh, who said the group has been making credible interventions in the media to further project President Buhari, said a second term of office for President Buhari is well deserved.

  • When will peace return to Oyo APC?

    The ward, local government and state congresses of the Oyo State All Progressives (APC) have become a bone of contention between the camp of Governor Abiola Ajimobi and aggrieved chieftains under the aegis of the “APC Unity Forum”. Southwest Bureau Chief BISI OLADELE examines the protracted crises and their implications for next year’s polls.

    AGGRIEVED All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains in Oyo State are up in arms against Governor Abiola Ajimobi over the outcome of state congresses.

    The camp of Ajimobi and the “APC Unity Forum” are battling for the control of the party, ahead of next year’s polls.

    When the defunct Action Congress (AC) transformed to the Action Congress of Nigeria  (ACN) in 2010, many people embraced it in the six Southwest states. Its forebear, the Alliance for Democracy (AD), had crashed in the 2003 elections. Many who left the AD between 2002 and 2007 returned to the fold. One of them was the governor of Oyo State, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi.

    The governor had left the party for the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to contest the 2007 governorship election, having successfully completed a term of four years in the Senate representing Oyo South District on the platform of the AD. He left for the ANPP to prove that he had enough followers to win. But, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) frustrated his ambition through large scale rigging.

    On his return in 2011, he got a warm welcome and eventually picked the party’s governorship ticket. Ajimobi defeated his two predecessors, Rashidi Ladoja of Accord Party and Adebayo Alao-Akala of the PDP. Defectors from the PDP and other smaller parties also contributed to his success at the poll. These blocs make up the cornerstones of the ACN since 2011. Yet, virtually all members of the party’s  executive from ward to the state level are those who stayed back in the party. They are usually called Lamists the followers of the late Lam Adesina, who was the governor of the state from 1999 to 2003 on the platform of the AD.

    The situation became complicated in 2014 when the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) joined forces with ACN, ANPP and nPDP to form the APC. Satisfying all members of these blocs has been the cross Ajimobi has to carry. Ajimobi’s core followers – SENACO (Senator Ajimobi Campaign Organisation) members-had wished that their leader whipped every other member into line but the governor insisted that he did not believe in the politics of winner-takes-all. Whenever they raised the threat of not being in control of the party machinery, he would explain to them that members of all blocs must learn to work together in peace with the government creating opportunities for all so that every member, irrespective of their political background would feel a sense of belonging.

    The party has been managing the divergent interests, until this year when those who objected to Ajimobi style of leadership or feel cheated came together to fight their common enemy. But they are not just Lamists. They include members of other blocs.

    The crack became widened when six members of the House of Representatives – Sunday Adepoju, Olusunbo Olugbemi,  Adedapo Lam-Adesina, Olasupo Abiodun, Olugbenga Ojoawo and Taiwo Akintola – published an advertorial  calling on the national leadership to prevail on Ajimobi to allow what they described as “internal democracy” in the local government election and party congresses. Its was followed by the unveiling of the Unity Forum, which is an umbrella body for the anti-Ajimobi forces. They agitated for “internal democracy” as against the imposition of candidates in the election and congresses.

    They agitated for open primary based on their belief that the vast majority of those holding party positions at the ward and state level are Lamists. They were convinced that the executives, being the delegates at the primary, would largely choose their own candidates since they belong to the same political family. They opposed the affirmation mode which the party adopted.

    But, the Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, explained that affirmation is well enshrined in the party’s constitution. He said there was nothing wrong in choosing affirmation model for the primary because it will reduce the rancour that normally follows open primary.

    Article 20 (1a) of the party’s constitution states: “All party posts prescribed or implied by this constitution shall be filled by democratically conducted elections at the respective National Convention or Congress subject, where possible, to consensus, provided that where  a candidate has emerged by consensus for an elective position a vote of “yes” or “no” by ballot or voice shall be called, to ensure that it was not an imposition which could breed discontent and crisis.

    (2) Conduct of primaries for nomination

    (a) “Nomination of candidates for councillorship shall be by direct primary election conducted at the ward level. For the purpose of this primary election, party members in every ward shall vote by open-secret ballot for the candidates of their choice where there is no consensus, provided that where a candidate has emerged by consensus for an elective position, a vote of “yes” or “no” should be called to ensure that it was not an imposition which could breed discontent and crisis.”

    After the May 5 primary was shifted to the next day, due to an attack on some party members by suspected hoodlums, members of the forum accused the mainstream of failing to pay for the nomination forms for its candidates in the ward congress as prescribed in the guidelines for the election. The forum also accused the mainstream of not granting them access to submit the report and results of their parallel congress, adding that the mainstream did not hold any congress and where they held, it did not conform with the guidelines set by the party. They maintained that the mainstream ended up with fake forms and called on the national leadership to ensure that justice was done.

    The “Unity Forum” claim that  chieftains who held a parallel congress at the Liberty Stadium were in the majority and those who converged on Adamasingba Stadium were in the minority.

    The protagonists

    They include National and State Assembly members

    National Assembly members include Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, Hons. Adepoju, Olugbemi, Lam-Adesina, Abiodun, Ojoawo, and Akintola and Segun Ogunwuyi. Some House of Assembly members were led by Hon. Segun Olaleye. Others include some party leaders from Oke-Ogun, Oyo, Ibadan and Ibarapa. They include Dr Busari Adebisi, Abu Gbadamosi. The Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, is the arrowhead of the Unity Forum while a former Caretaker Chairman of Ibadan North West Local Government, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, speaks for the forum.

    Though all members of the group have insisted that all they want is “internal democracy,” a source said they are fighting for the tickets to return to the parliament in 2019.

    Former appointees

    The source said most of the former appointees in the group are not happy that they were not returned in the last appointment.

    The source said that they came together to slug it out with the governor but that the party chose to go for a consensus primary which is constitutional to avoid the negative consequences of an open primary.

    Oke said the aggrieved members of the forum failed to explore the internal dispute resolution mechanism of the party to the end. He described internal conflict resolution as an ongoing effort, which should not be jetissioned at any time.

    But, he pointed out that members of the forum are still bonafide members of the APC. He described members of both camps as members of the same large family. Oke also expressed optimism that a truce would be reached at a stage because of the progressive ideals that bind them together.

    He said: “They are still members of this party. We will continue to explore possibilities of reconciliation. The constitution allows us to continue to explore reconciliation.”

    The forum’s position:

    The forum has maintained that the mainstream did not pay for the form as at May 4. It insisted that they only paid on May 7, a day after the ward congress.

    The spokesman of the forum, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, said rather than probing the motivation behind the movement, the party should explain why it allegedly failed to follow the guidelines, which prescribe payment for the form latest 24 hours before the congress.

    He said: “People in politics say all sorts of things, whether they are reasonable or not. The key issue for us is whether the governor was right to have gathered the so-called elders to Lafita Hotel and asked them to determine who would become local government chairmen and councillors. The local government election was done by elders handpicked by the governor. Is that internal democracy?

    “It’s only when they can fault our arguments with facts that they can go ahead to examine our motivation. But here, the facts are clear. Did the constitution of Nigeria or that of APC say elders will determine who will be chairmen and councillors? So, why are they looking for motivation when the facts are there? Let them address those facts.”

    On reconciliation, Olatubosun said: “We are ready, and we don’t have any tough condition other than that the party should provide the bank tellers with which they paid for the forms. For us, they did not take part in the congress. The way forward is that they should show evidence of payment at the time stipulated in the guidelines and forget whatever the appeal committee must have written because we believe the committee was deceived.”

    Tinubu’s role:

    The National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has called on members of the forum to close ranks with the governor or toe the party’s guideline in seeking redress.

    Tinubu said: “I ask you to bury the hatchet and cooperate with Governor Abiola Ajimobi and forgive whatever shortcomings you may perceive. I know he has tried to reach out and be inclusive. I can attest that he is a good man and leader. To me, the governor has demonstrated openness by welcoming into APC top politicians like former governor of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala; former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin; former Deputy Governor of the state and ex-Nigerian Ambassadir to Jordan, Chief Taofeek Arapaja; former Secretary to the State Givernment, Chief Ayodele Adigun, and the only federal lawmaker elected on the platform of PDP to the House of Representatives, Hon. Segun Odebunmi, among others… We must also not forget the Governor’s outstanding efforts towards the transformation and development of Oyo State.

    “Remember that the tenure of any one office-holder must conclude within an appointed time but the party shall always remain. Thus, we must not fixate on transient personal differences but must join together for a greater purpose.”

    The two camps are fighting for the soul of the APC in Oyo State because of next year’s elections. As typical of the progressives, it is expected that they will close ranks, particularly now that they have flexed muscles to define their strengths. Compromise will be the way forward.

  • Okorocha boycott Southeast APC stakeholder meeting

    … Zone endorses Izunaso, two others
    Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-East rose from their meeting in Abuja on Thursday endorsing the return of the three members of the National Working Committee from the zone ahead of the forth coming national convention of the party.
    Imo state governor and the only APC governor in the south east, Owelle Rochas Okorocha was conspicuously absent from the meeting
    Those who were endorsed include the National Vice Chairman, South East, Emma Enukwu, National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso and the National Auditor, George Moghalu.
    Those who attended the stakeholders meeting include APC National Organizing Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, former governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, former governor of Ebonyi State, Martins Elechi, former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, Senators Hope Uzodinma, Ben Uwajimogu and Andy Uba.
    Others were Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Jim Nwobodo, Sen. Uche Ekwnuife, Sen. Nkechi Nwogu, APC National Auditor, Chief Gerge Moghalu, Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu, APC National Vice Chairman South East, Emma Enukwu, Minister of State for Education, Prof Anthony Anwuka, Speakers and former from State Houses of Assemblies, NEC members.
    Addressing newsmen after the meeting which lasted several hours, the former governor of Abia state, Dr Orji Uzor-Kalu, said 93 percent of those who attended the meeting were in support of the return of the three officers, pointing out that the decision will be communicated to the National Convention Committee.
    “We have a very successful fruitful meeting and have decided to endorse by affirmation and through democratic means by all the states, the return of the three members of the national officers. We gave equally secured the support of the National Convention Committee chairman who is also the governor of Jigawa state.
    We have told him that they are our candidates and we did it through democratic arrangements. Few people might be very unsatisfied but in democracy, the majority about 93 per cent of the stakeholders in the  hall endorsed the arrangement.
    “Certainly, not everybody will agree. I remember when I contested as governor, not everybody voted for me. But, I told you that over 93 per cent of the stakeholders here endorsed the arrangement to retain the national officers.”
    Speaking on the crisis rocking the party in the south east, the former governor said “There must be misunderstanding in every setting but all I am assuring you is that they will all be resolved.”
    Also speaking, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnia Onu, promised that they will continue to work together with other geopolitical zones.
    “In this meeting, all those who have held important positions in politics from the South East were in attendance, former speakers, House of Representatives members; former Senate President and former governors, members of the leadership of the party.
    “Though the governor of Imo State cannot make it, the state Speaker House of Assembly is here. So, as you can see, you can see distinguished Senator Jim Nwobodo, and we have former Governor Martin Elechi, Senator Araraume here.
    “We are all working together to continue to lift the country as one Nigeria and there will be a massive improvement for the region and the country at large. We commend those who have come here to make the zone greater,” he said.

  • PDP to Buhari: Not too young to run is our initiative

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has lampooned President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for attempting to parade themselves as the architects of the ‘Not Too Young to Run Act’.

    A statement on Thursday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan said the bill that culminated in the passage of the Act, was sponsored and pursued by the PDP members in the National Assembly and State houses of assembly.

    The statement said, “It is instructive to note that President Buhari had no input whatsoever in the bill; never showed any support or enthusiasm towards the initiative and had no option than to perform a mandatory constitutional duty of assenting to the bill, as a clear reflection of the mood of the nation, given that the bill had already found an easy passage to the crucibles of the required approval of two-third of states in the federation.

    “This development is indeed a democratic victory for the Nigerian youths over forces, particularly, the APC, that had hitherto disdained and disregarded them as lazy and inconsequential, but had to succumb to the dictates of the law and pressure by the youths and the PDP.

    “The party commends the sponsor of the bill, Hon. Tony Nwulu (PDP, Lagos), other legislators who supported the process and the resilience of the Nigerian youths in getting the initiative through, in line with the vision of the PDP to allow younger Nigerians to actively participate in elective positions in governance at all levels.

    Read Also: Buhari has become unpopular – PDP

    “In preparation for the passage of the bill, the PDP had since launched our ‘Generation Next Movement’, which has already put younger Nigerians at vantage positions to participate in elective positions ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    “In line with the ‘Generation Next Movement’, the rebranded PDP among other pro-youth incentives, has since approved certain critical clauses and waivers so that the young people will actively vie for positions in the 2019 general elections.

    “In line with our dream of providing enabling environment for youths participation in elections and governance, the PDP, after winning in 2019, will further lower the age qualification to entrench our vision that ‘whoever can vote can be voted for’, which is a global standard.

    “The PDP therefore urged the Nigerian youths to immediately take advantage of the Generation Next platform and incentives already established by the repositioned PDP and actively participate in the collective quest to rescue our nation from the misrule of the APC”.

  • APC throw Chairmanship open

     Says President’s endorsement of Oshiomhole not final

     

    The national convention committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the endorsement of former Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for the position of the National Chairman of the party has not foreclosed other candidates from aspiring for the position.

    The party also said that the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu led reconciliation committee was working silently underground to reconcile aggrieved members of the party, stressing the the level of crisis within the party is as a result of the interest of Nigerians in the affairs of the party.

    Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, Chairman of the Media subcommittee of the convention committee and Governor of Oyo state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi said even though the party has decided to maintain the current zoning arrangement, every member of the party was free to aspire to any of the offices within the party.

    The governor also revealed that the shift in date of the convention from June 2 to June 23 was occasioned by the need to give every member of the party their constitutional right to free religious practice and not put undue stress on the Muslim members of the party who are currently fasting.

    He said “I believe that, yes, the President has endorsed, but it doesn’t preclude other people from declaring to contest. It is a democracy and everybody is open to declare. I think everybody has a right to declare and once they declare, we go through the convention and we choose whoever won. So, it is very competitive and you will still see in the coming days some people will declare their interest.”

    Ajimobi said: “Those who know the meaning of reconciliation must first of all realize that it is all encompassing and the Asiwaju’s committee is working quietly, reconciling people underground and working with everyone. You will see a lot of people moving round and talking quietly with the Asiwaju group. So, the reconciliation is ongoing.

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    “As human beings, from the beginning of our being in this world till the end, we must continue to reconcile. We must reconcile ourselves with the environment, reconcile ourselves with people. So, reconciliation is a work in progress. I believe the Asiwaju team they are working very effectively and reporting to the President.”

    Speaking on state congresses and the crisis and violence that has followed them, he said “there might be violence here and there, it is interesting. You know, people value something that is very good. Anything of good value, people fight for it and it isn’t unusual to have people disagree over controlling and owning something.

    “So, it is common with our party, it shows the level of democratization that we have experienced, it also shows the level of how interested people are in the party and the democratic nature of our party. State congresses, yes there have been reports of violence here and there, it will continue to witness reconciliation and this is what we are doing. I believe honestly that reconciliation should take place.

    Speaking on while the party changed the date of the convention from June 2 to June 23, he said “APC is a very considerate party. We believe that during Ramadan, many people should not be made to travel from their localities to Abuja.

    “We felt that you could do state congresses, you could do local government congresses, you could do ward Congresses in your area without travelling around. But come all the way to Abuja by road, which takes minimum of ten hours will be very hectic on people. So, we believe that we should not subject people to this and honestly speaking, we decided that we do the shifting to June 23.

    “If   it were to be during the lent, we will do the same thing because our party is made up of Christians and Moslems and I do not know those who are pagans. If they have their own fasting season, we would have shifted it for them too.”

    He said further that the party “would also want Nigerians, who gave us Overwhelming support in 2015, to know that in line with our tradition of excellence and transparency, the Convention will be open to all aspirants who are deemed qualified in line with the Convention guidelines, to vie for positions they are interested in. ‘

    “This is in keeping with our vision of entrenching true democratic ideals, not only in our party, but also in our national politics. The business of the convention shall be conducted strictly in line with the most sacred democratic principles and the process will be free, fair and credible.

    “With regards to the distribution of leadership positions within the party, we have opted to maintain the current zoning arrangement. The purpose of zoning is to ensure equitable representation for the entire country.

    “To this effect, we have also introduced measures to ensure adequate representation for special interest groups such as women, youths and people with disabilities. In fact, we made history by appointing leaders for people with disabilities both in the national leadership of our great party and at zonal and state levels.

    “Members of these special interest groups are especially encouraged to aspire to leadership positions within the party. That is why concessions have been granted to women and people with disabilities. Aspirants who fall in either category will only be required to pay 50 per cent of the cost of the application form for the positions they wish to run for. We are hopeful that this will result in enhanced representation for different groups within the party.

    “We are confident that we will have a very successful National Convention, which, at the end of the day, will unify our Party; make us stronger and put us in a better position to further fulfil our electoral promises.

    On the issues arising from the recently held Ward, Local Government and State Congresses, Our Party the APC has put in place a comprehensive mechanism to deal with all of these issues in line with the party’s constitution and we are confident that at the end of the day, we will over

  • 2019 election: Group cautions APC on nPDP

    The Vanguards for the Protection of Democracy in Nigeria (VPDN) said the continued stay of the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) in the All Progressives Congress (APC) portends danger to the party ahead of the 2019 general election.

    Mrs Sharon Cham, National Coordinator of the VPDN, gave the warning on Thursday in Abuja, when she led some of its members to protest the continued stay of the nPDP in the APC.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the nPDP, which fused into the APC in 2014, recently alleged that its members were being neglected, adding that they were going through harassment and intimidation.

    The group had also given the APC leadership and President Muhammadu Buhari a seven-day ultimatum to address issues affecting its members ahead of the 2019 general election.

    Read Also: nPDP did denies demanding for Saraki’s trial stoppage

    “We wish to remind the APC leadership that keeping these people in the party portends a lot of danger not only to the party, but to our hard earned nascent democracy.

    “Political parties and government are formed by different people with different ideas, but with the same vision and mission to move the country forward.

    “However, the way the members of the nPDP have been mounting unnecessary pressure on the government, causing disaffection in the party; shows that they are out to bring mischief and bad blood among teeming loyal party members,´´ Cham said.

    This, she said, could clearly be seen from the series of threats the group had been dishing out to the APC leadership and by extension President Muhammadu Buhari.

    She, therefore called on the APC leadership to sanction the group, adding that its alleged grievances could not be established or justified.

    She said this was especially so, because some members of the nPDP were holding strategic positions in the APC-led Federal Government, including that of the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives among others.

    According to Cham, the motive of the nPDP is not to find a lasting solution to the internal crisis of the APC, but to cause more problems in the party and the smooth running of government.

    ´´Please sanction and sack them now from the party, because the enemy within is always difficult to fight than the one outside; we say no to pardoning crimes committed,´´ she said.

    NAN