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Tag: All Progressives Congress

  • APC Congress, way to go in building truly democratic party – Tinubu

    All Progressives Congress National Leader,  Sen. Bola Tinubu, on Monday congratulated his party for embarking on the congresses against all odds, saying that it is the way to go in building and upholding a truly democratic political party.

    Tinubu said this in a congratulatory message to the newly inaugurated APC National Convention Committee.

    The message was released by his Media Officer, Mr Tunde Rahman, in Lagos.

    A 68-member National Convention Committee headed by Gov. Abubakar Badaru, was inaugurated today in Abuja at the national secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The committee was inaugurated to take charge of the conduct of the forthcoming congresses and national convention.

    ”I congratulate the Chairman and members of the Congresses/Convention Committee of our party.

    ”Gov. Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State, who is the chairman of the committee, is a man reputed to be of high character and integrity.

    ”Working with other members of the committee, I’m persuaded that our party would conduct hitch-free congresses at all levels and the national convention.

    ”I also congratulate our party for embarking on the congresses against all odds. This is the way to go if we are desirous of building and upholding a truly democratic political party.

    ”Our ultimate goal should be the greater interest of the party.

    ”I believe that all members of our party are high in expectation that the committee would perform its assignment without fear or favour through which our party can be great again, ” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that The All Progressives Congress (APC) on April 18, announced that its National Convention to elect officers for a new term in the party’s leadership would hold on May 14.

    According to schedule of activities released by the Organising Secretary, Sen. Osita Izunaso, in Abuja, the party’s Ward Congresses will hold on May 2, while appeal that may arise from the conduct will be entertained on May 3.

    The schedule showed that local government area congresses would hold on May 5, with appeal arising from the exercise fixed for May 7.

    It indicated that May 9 is the date for congress at states’ level to elect executive committees of the party in all states in the country.

    It fixed May 10 for hearing of appeal that may arise from the conduct of the state congresses.(NAN)

  • Saraki, Tambuwal won’t decamp to PDP – Badaru

    Jigawa State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC)  Convention Committee Chairman, Abubakar Badaru, on Monday assured that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, won’t leave the party.

    He spoke with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, he was not aware of alleged moves and negotiation by some APC members to decamp to the opposition parties.

    On Saraki and Tambuwal, he said “It is not true that Tambuwal and Saraki are negotiating with the PDP, we have not heard of that. Some few weeks back there was rumour about the governor of Benue and he made it clear at our last NEC that he is not moving anywhere. Those are rumours flying around but they don’t have consequence.

    “We are united, governor Tambuwal is with us and the Distinguished Senator Bukola Saraki, the Senate President is also with APC and we have not had any reason to think that they are negotiating elsewhere, no.” he said

    On what Nigerians should expect from the APC convention, he said “We expect a peaceful and rancour free and good convention.

    Speaking on the move to unite the factions in the party, he said “They are all united and I am sure the convention will bring everybody together and in democracy if you are open and straight forward, things get done well, I don’t think there should be any problem.”

    He said that what happened during the APC rally in his state at the weekend was normal.

    He said “Political unrest, no it is not true. It is normal political shaunting. Shunting between groups that are contesting the same position. People passing by and some groups will shunt for their own and others will shunt for another person and that was what happened. That was a great rally.

    “It is normal in every gathering, you have different supporters supporting different people contesting the same position.” he stated

  • PDP accuses INEC, APC of rigging plot

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the plotting to secretly create illegal 30, 000 polling units in “compromised areas” in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    A statement on Friday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan described the alleged plot as wicked, horrible and totally unacceptable.

    The opposition party said it uncovered the the plot through investigation and that it was part of the grand design by the Prof Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC to rig the 2019 general elections in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC.

    The statement said, “We are aware of series of clandestine meetings between compromised officials of the commission and certain agents of the Presidency and APC, where the plot to sneak in the 30, 000 illegal polling units in some remote areas and through which they plan to allocate votes to President Buhari and the APC were perfected.

    “Having realised that Nigerians have completely rejected them because of their manifold failures in governance, the Presidency and the APC are now employing all manners of dirty antics to create ways to rig the polls and foist President Buhari back on Nigerians.

    “The PDP cautions INEC not to set the nation on fire by its overt conspiratory tendencies. Prof. Yakubu should heed wise counsel and immediately perish the thoughts of using such polling units or dividing the nation along ethnic lines in the 2019 general elections, as such would be stiffly resisted.

    “We invite INEC to note that every Nigerian has seen the handwriting on the wall regarding the general rejection of President Buhari and the APC well ahead of the elections. We all know where the tide is flowing and Nigerians are not ready to, and will never  accept any results that do not reflect that reality.

    “Having completely lost confidence in the integrity of INEC under Prof. Yakubu, we unequivocally demand that all processes leading to the 2019 must be subjected to open review of political parties and stakeholders at all levels.

    “In this regard, we demand that INEC make public the location and status of all polling units as well as the report of its investigation of under-age voters in various parts of the country, particularly, Kano and Katsina states.

    “Finally, we urge Nigerians to remain vigilant and monitor all processes to ensure that INEC and the APC do not, at any point in the process, manipulate the 2019 general election and subvert the will of the people.

    “The best thing  APC and the Presidency should do now is to accept failure, shed their desperation for power and desist from actions that will push the nation to the brinks”.

  • Delta APC knocks Okowa over N13bn contract

    The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has knocked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over a N13.6 billion contract for the construction of new secretariat building for the state’s civil servants.

    At a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, a governorship aspirant of the APC in Delta State, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, described the contract as inappropriate, saying the state government should, rather focus on payment of salaries and pensions arrears to civil servants in the states.

    “The Delta state government that has not been able to pay salaries, pay pensioners, construct any single road in the state, suddenly became interested in building secretariat that the civil servants do not need, for the sole purpose of enriching the person of the governor”.

    Ojougboh alleged that the indigenous firm, North China Construction Nigeria Limited, which was awarded the contract has not undertaken any construction work in the country

    According to him, the company, which was incorporated in 2014 with a share capital of only N20 million, should have no business with a contract worth N13. 6 billion.

    He blamed a new generation bank for granting the company loans running into billions of Naira, elegant that the entire contract was shrouded in secrecy.

    Ojougboh said, “Our submission is that the drawings and bills of quantity for the contract should be handed over to an independent professional team of quantity surveyors for vetting and all the companies that participated in the bidding should be made known with their individual profiles.

    “While the contract schedule was dated December, 2016, we discovered that since the agreement was signed and till date, disbursements of the contract money has continued unabated without commensurate work on ground. Not even five percent of the contract has been done.

    “The annoying part is that from start to completion of this project, the total repayable is N21 billion of taxpayers’ money of a contract of N13.6 billion. This is wicked, irresponsible and act of war against the people of Delta State.

    “Our hearts go to the civil servants, who have not received salaries in the past months and who have worked hard to promote the state. 95 percent of them are opposed to this contract, even the commissioners of the state. We learnt that more than 90 percent of them opposed the contract, which they believed would mortgage the future of the state.

    “The future of Delta people is what we are discussing here, we will not fold our arms and see one person destroying our state. Enough of this waste and pilfering by a man, who is supposed to show concern for the welfare of our state”.

     

  • Buhari’s hat in the ring

    It was a good development last week Monday that President Muhammadu Buhari decided to end the suspense that hung over Nigeria in the past few months. He chose the National Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held in Abuja that Monday to declare his intention to run for the 2019 presidential election.

    That declaration has definitely kickstarted other underground and open activities by other interested parties who are aiming to also win the 2019 presidential election.

    As a reason for declaring his intention last week Monday, the President said, ”I declared before leaving home because Nigerians were talking too much about whether I would run or not.

    “So, I felt I should break the ice. We have many things to focus on, like security, agriculture, economy, anti-corruption, and many others. We needed to concentrate on them, and politics should not be a distraction.

    “The majority of Nigerians appreciate what we are doing, and that is why I am re-contesting.” he said

    The President decided to take  the bull by the horn and ignore the advice of some former leaders including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

    They felt that Buhari should not seek reelection in order to allow younger Nigerians with fresher ideas to rule the country.

    While these leaders and others Nigerians kicked against Buhari’s emergence in 2019, it was reported that Buhari’s declaration to seek reelection was welcomed by many Nigerians across the country, especially in the North.

    Welcoming the President’s decision, Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, said, ”We are fully in support of his decision and its part of democratic culture, traditionally the president has the right of first refusal of the candidature of their party, so its not something that is unusual or unwarranted or unconstitutional he has done the right thing, he is going to contest and we are solidly behind him.

    “He is not under any obligation to consult governors or anybody, he has been under tremendous pressure to make that pronouncement so we should heave a sigh of relief since he has finally announced his intention to contest.

    “We will give him the kind of support we gave him in 2015,” the governor stated

    Assuring that the declaration will not distract government, the governor said, “Certainly it is not distracting government, it will even calm down governance so that people will concentrate on the real act of governance and deliver the dividends of democracy.

    “Certainly, he is the single kinetic president in Nigeria’s political life till date,” he said

    Apart from youths in Kano State jubilating Buhari’s declaration, the state government has also welcomed the decision by President Buhari to re-contest election in 2019.

    A statement by the Commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture in the state, Malam Muhammad Garba, had maintained that the second term tenure of President Buhari will ensure the consolidation of the achievements recorded in nearly three years of the administration in the area of economic growth, security, fight against corruption, transparency in government .

    He also noted that Nigeria has gotten out of recession, higher level of transparency in government has ensured foreign investments, the administration’s zero tolerance for corruption coupled with its holistic approach to fighting insurgency has boosted the country’s image in the international community.

    As the strongest support base of the President, he said that the good people and the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in Kano state will ensure the success of Buhari at the polls to consolidate the gains so far made.

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, in a statement by his media aide Kingsley Fanwo, said, “I am a staunch supporter of Mr. President and I am proud to be associated with such a great leader and personality.

    “We thank Mr. President for listening to the voices of Nigerians who are satisfied with his performance. Kogi people were the first to organise rallies in different towns and cities to call on Mr. President to seek re-election.

    “As the leader of the state, I wish to assure Mr. President that my people are solidly behind his policies of economic recovery, security and the fight against corruption. Kogi will deliver to Mr President, more votes than the state gave in 2015.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has not lost his magic touch. He is a trusted leader who the masses want as their President beyond 2019. But it is also instructive for us to know that corruption will begin to fight back with renewed vigor to stop the march of the masses. We shall triumph.

    “Today’s declaration of Mr President for second term has further reinvigorated our belief that he will continue to make sacrifices for the greatness of our nation.” he stated

    Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, in a statement by his Media/Publicity Coordinator, Jide Orintunsin, said “It is heart-warming that Mr. President today told members of the NEC of his intention to seek re-election. This is the brightest moment for our country. It’s a moment that has rekindled the hope of our people.

    “A moment that has reaffirmed that all the good works, the good initiatives of the President that saw us out of economic recession the country was plunged into by mismanagement of past administration will now be sustained to take us to the desired enviable position among the comity of nations.

    “The President has exhibited high sense of good leadership. He has shown that he listens to the yearnings of millions of Nigerians who called on him to continue the good work he started since 2015.

    “The onus is now on all good and well-meaning Nigerians to rally round our President and ensure that the reactionary forces of the opposition and agents of doom are not allowed to dash the much cherish hope we all have in the emerging Nigeria by doing the needful during the next general election.

    “We cannot afford to go back to the dark days of extravagance and impunity. President Buhari has changed the game. He has brought sanity to governance. The war against insurgency is nearing logical conclusion and our economy is improving.

    “Posterity will not forgive us as a people if we allow this golden opportunity to slip off our hands. Mr. President has declared. We have to do the needful as a people by supporting him.” he said

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, in a statement by his media aide, Sam Onwuemeodo, said “The declaration of the President to go for a second tenure would also go a long way to reduce the noise of the opposition and take care of the idiosyncrasies of certain elements in the system.

    “Those who had wanted to blackmail him out of going for another term can now find other meaningful things to keep themselves busy.

    “The President would largely garner more votes in 2019 than he had done in 2015 because most Nigerians, including people of the Southeast have seen that he meant well for the nation and the citizenry.

    “The APC has no apology to make because it has done wonderfully well, considering the magnitude of the rot it met on ground in 2015.

    “The antenna of the opposition in the country will finally be lowered when the campaigns begin and the party will be showing Nigerians its achievements in the states under its control and at the Federal level.

    “When a political party had admitted that the government it ran was a huge failure and then apologised, such scenario goes with restitution and not with reward.” he added

    Now that the momentum is gathering towards 2019 elections, it is really hoped that Nigerians will really get value for money for the remaining one year of the current administration.

    The coming political campaigns, either by the ruling party or other interested parties, should not be hindrance to socio-economic development of the nation for the next twelve months.

    It is the expectations of many well-meaning Nigerians that substantial part of the change promised by the current administration would have been achieved by middle of next year.

     

  • 2019: Nwosu will win, Okorocha assures APC supporters

    …I have retired all godfathers

    Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, has assured the supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that his Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu has what it takes to win the 2019 governorship election.

    The Imo governor disclosed that his support for Nwosu’s governorship ambition is not for any personal gain but but the conviction that he will make a good governor, judging by his acceptability, which he said cuts across the three zones of the state.

    Okorocha who spoke when political leaders, women and youth groups, as well as traditional rulers came to endorse Nwosu at the Government House, said that he would want to hand over to a governor that will discriminate against any zone but will see the entire state as one deserving of equal attention.

    He assured that Nwosu will win the 2019 governorship election,  irrespective of the objections of the political ‘bigwigs’,  adding that the power to elect a governor resides with the people and not few political elites and godfathers, adding that,  “I have no doubt that Nwosu will win the governorship election considering his pedigree and humble background” .

    According to the governor, “Nwosu has learnt the ropes and is better qualified than any other aspirant. Nwosu is the least of the political children I have trained but I don’t know any of them as much as I have known Nwosu, I took him up when he was just nobody and he  grew to the height he is now, his only sin is that he is my son-in-law, how about the Njemanze’s, the Bishops from Egbu, they occupy every position in Egbu without considering who and where they came from”

    He continued that,  “Nwosu will win in 2019, don’t be afraid , I am there, I have retired the Arthur Nzeribes, the Udenwas, now I will retire the rest of them finally, I know them and they know me, their plan is to push me so that they can get the Senate, it’s a lie, i will run for the Senate as well”.

    Speaking on President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration for a second term, Governor Okorocha assured that “he will win again, just like he did in 2015”.

    He said,  “Buhari will win again and again, after Buhari, the turn will come to South East and it will be the turn of Okorocha”

  • Omo-Agege: Urhobo nation, Delta APC Condemn Senate

    Pass Vote of Confidence on Senator

    The Urhobo nation and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta state have described Thursday’s suspension of the Senator representing Delta Central District as political intimidation and an attempt to rob them of their voice at the centre.

    Stating this consensus at a gathering of Urhobo people and supporters of the APC in Ughelli, the headquarters of Ughelli North council area of Delta on Saturday, the chairman of the APC in Delta Central, Olorogun Adelabu Bodjor, also said that the Urhobo people would stand with their senator all the way.

    The Senate had on Thursday suspended Senator Omo-Agege for his opposition to the elections reordering move of some of his colleagues and being part of the Parliamentary Support Group (PSG), a group known to be in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s interest.

    But in reaction to the Senate’s decision, Bodjor said that the Urhobo people had strongly condemned the suspension of the Senator, adding that it will not in any way deter or dampen his resolve to provide quality representation to his people and promote the interest of the nation in the National Assembly.

    He said: “The incidence that took place in the National Assembly and the suspension of the Distinguished Senator representing the Urhobo people in the National Assembly, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has again called to question the affairs of the Nigerian Senate. Our Distinguished Senator has been providing quality representation to the people of Delta Central and we are proud of him.

    “By suspending him, if the Senate leadership thinks that it will deter him, then they are wrong.  The Urhobo nation is solidly behind him, we believe in him and we will give him all our support at any time and any day in this whole process.  We therefore pass a vote of confidence on the distinguished Senator, Senator Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege.  We still believe that he will bounce back better and stronger than his distractors in the National Assembly.

    “But we want to say here and very emphatically, that Urhobo nation would never tolerate any act of political intimidation and threat to our Senator whom we overwhelmingly voted for to represent us in the National Assembly.  The primary responsibility of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege in the National Assembly is to provide quality representation to the people of Delta Central and attract the dividends of democracy to the Urhobo people and that he has been doing excellently well since we cast our votes for him to the Senate.

    “We therefore use this medium to call on our Distinguished Senator never to despair because he has the backing of the entire Urhobo people who voted him to the National Assembly to represent us and not to represent some individuals in the National Assembly.  He is there to represent the interest of the

    Urhobo nation and not the interest of a very few persons in the National Assembly who feel their election is to feed themselves and the members of their immediate family negating the interest of the nation.”

    Olorogun Bodjor also took a swipe at the APC Senators in the National Assembly, adding that “it is a shame that the party has the leadership of the National Assembly but it has decided to stand the morals of good leadership on its head and has also decided to take the party that brought them to power on a roller-coaster.

    “We call on the national leadership of the party to call the members of the party at the National Assembly to order before they take the party down the cliff hanger.  The national lawmakers got the mandate of the people of Nigeria to make enduring laws that will better the lot of Nigerians and the future generation of our children in general.  They were not voted for go and feather their own nests and engage in selfish activities to the detriment of good governance for the entire Nigerian people”

    Highpoint of the occasion was the passing of overwhelming vote of confidence on Senator Ovie Omo-Agege by the Urhobo people.

     

  • Ojo declares for governor

    AN Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Mr. Kayode Ojo, has informed party executives of his ambition to contest for .

    The aspirant, who hails from Ikoro-Ekiti, Ekiti Central Senatorial District, said he has not  stepped down for any contender, adding that his agenda focuses on agriculture, health, education, infrastructure and human capital development.

    He said his administration would ensure  capacity development and entrepreneurial skills of the youth.

    Ojo noted that the gap in the political space was staggering.

    The politician also informed the party leaders that he would work hard to shore up the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), to make the state depend less on federal allocation.

    Ojo added: “With support, we will bring our experience and expertise to bear in the development of our fatherland.

    “It is our duty to salvage our state from the current peril imposed on us by the present administration in the state.”

    Responding, the state APC Deputy chairman Kemisola Olaleye, said Ojo’s record will speak for him as the primary election approaches.

    She described Ojo as a loyal party man who has assisted the party financially in the past promising that a credible primary would be organised to elect a candidate.

     

  • Surulere endorses Gbajabiamila for fifth term

    Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Surulere Federal Constituency 1, Lagos State, have endorsed the House of Representatives Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, for a fifth term. LEKE SALAUDEEN reports.

    Given the groundswell of opposition against his second term ambition, do you roads; so he makes the money to reach out to the grassroots. But the local councils and the local council development areas are not measuring up to the governor’s pace; they consume the money before it gets to the masses. But they are fighting for autonomy for local governments and I think it is a good thing. It will be very good, if local governments are autonomous, because we are likely to have quality people in politics at that level. This is because when a good person comes out as an independent candidate and wins, he would be a pain in the neck in the legislature. Whatever they want to do, he would voice out. We need some changes; practical changes in our body politic.

    What should governors owing salaries do to make their states more solvent?

    For me, many of the state administrations are unnecessarily unwieldy. They cannot spend the budget of the state solely on paying salaries. So, for me, the next thing is to cut down the excessive expenditure for people to multi-task. They have a lot to take care of: roads, education, health, and so on. You can imagine when they will say recurrent expenditure is higher than capital expenditure. The implication is that chopulating is more important than infrastructure development. These are the kind of nonsense that we see around. It is better that we maintain a narrow tight administration. Let them do infrastructural development, let there be visible development and they will get more tax. When Babatunde Raji Fashola was there, you could see market women going to line up to pay their taxes without being compelled. Down here (Southwest, particularly Lagos), we are very lucky, but up there (North), they depend on the Federal Government.

    How would you assess the opposition?

    There is no opposition. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has not gotten it right. They have ravaged the opposition and, so, nobody takes them serious anymore. In fact, new political parties will become more relevant than the PDP as we approach the next general elections.

    But, the PDP says it is poised to take over in 2019…

    They know in their heart of hearts that they cannot get it; who are their supporters? Well, maybe those who collect rice and beans from them before elections. These are the people they are banking on. Take Lagos for instance: is it really feasible that Lagosians who are witnessing the way Governor Ambode has been developing the state will vote for a Jimi Agbaje or any other candidate for that matter? No! No! No! The PDP is just making noise.

    Are you planning to contest 2019 election?

    One of my brothers has lost so much money in politics. I feel for him, but I don’t want to be in his shoes. I will rather remain quietly on the sideline and be giving my opinions. As long as I have my Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), I will be voting. I think that is very important, so that one is not left behind. I will make sure I vote and perform my civic responsibility; that is as far as I want to go.

     

  • 2019: We’ll pay for Buhari’s nomination form – APC UK

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) United Kingdom chapter, said it would pay for Expression of Interest and Nomination form for President Muhammadu Buhari to re-contest in 2019.

    The chapter made the promise in a statement by its Spokesman, Mr Jacob Ogunseye, on Tuesday in Abuja, following Buhari’s declaration on Monday that he would seek a second term.

    It said that the president’s declaration was reasonable and satisfactory, adding that his second term would make Nigeria stronger as well as preserve the tenets of democracy in the country.

    It stated that the chapter`s expectations had been met by Buhari`s declaration, and assured that it would work assiduously for the electoral success of the APC at all levels.

    President Buhari needs to consolidate on the achievements his administration has recorded in over three years, especially in economic growth, anti-graft war, security and youth development.

    “He deserves a second term and we are proud that he has yielded and declared his readiness to re-contest the election as Nigeria’s President in 2019 in earnest.

    “His administration’s achievements in the areas of security, economic growth, anti-corruption war and social development and other areas are visible to Nigerians,’’ the chapter said.

    It added that Nigerians should consider the re-election bid as a major step to consolidate and re-invent the country into an emerging economic and democratic world power.

    It called on Nigerians across the world, irrespective of religion and geographical location, to see the re-election bid of the president as a major step that would help Nigeria to stabilise.

     

    NAN