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Tag: All Progressives Congress

  • Oshiomhole should intervene in Edo APC crisis, says ex-aide

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has been urged to intervene in the crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    His former political adviser, Charles Idahosa, belives  Oshiomhole’s silence is responsible for the crisis rocking the seventh Assembly.

    There have been calls for Governor Godwin Obaseki not to have a second term ticket, especially by the Edo Peoples Movement, which claims to be loyal to Oshiomhole.

    Idahosa, who addressed reporters yesterday, said it was tragi-comical for those who brought Obaseki to power to be unhappy with him while the voters are praising the governor.

    The former aide said it was worrisome that Oshiomhole refused to deny empowering anybody or group against Obaseki.

    According to him, Oshiomhole’s silence means he supports the opposition against Obaseki.

    He said: “We are not comfortable with what is happening in Edo State today; the political division, the confusion. A situation where we should be happy as a party, but it is now like a tragi-comedy. A situation where we have a governor that the people are happy with but his problem is with the party leadership.

    “Over two years ago, I was the first person to react to Obaseki’s relationship with the party leadership. I called leaders who are today fighting Obaseki but nobody saw what I was talking about. They turned around to present a situation that I was fighting the governor. Because of personal interest, they have turned around to fight because they want federal appointment; some want to take over from Obaseki. These people were seen to have no value for eight years.

    Read Also: Adams Oshiomole: Victim of reactionary forces

    “I find it strange that Obaseki on arrival from his vacation said he had no problem with the APC National Chairman. I have waited since for a reaction from Oshiomhole, but none is coming. Why has Oshiomhole refused to say he did not send anybody to gang up against the government? Silence means consent.

    “I make bold to say that Oshiomhole is responsible for the problem of APC in Edo State by his silence. Many of these boys are his boys.

    “Truth be told, it would not have got to this stage if Oshiomhole had spoken. We must look at the fact before us and say the truth. At what point did Obaseki insult Oshiomhole? Oshiomhole is no longer governor. Let the governor there now do his work. The public is hailing Obaseki but the people that brought him to power are angry. We must be very careful so that what happened in other states do not happen here.”

    But convener of EPM Henry Idahagbon described Idahosa as a “political jobber frolicking with Obaseki to fight Oshiomhole”.

    He said: “Oshiomhole is too big for these people, and it is sad that each time Idahosa wants to seek relevance, he sang Oshiomhole’s name so his benefactor will see he is working.

    “The crisis in Edo is between Obaseki and the leaders of APC and not Oshiomhole. Many of us are well known for the efforts we made to bring on board this governor. If they like, let them call Oshiomhole’s name to high heavens, it will not stop our genuine agitation.

    “And we will continue until we kick Obaseki out of the Government House. Idahosa is free to continue his sychophancy; that is his stock in trade. We will not be surprised to see him on the other side tomorrow.”

  • Be father to all, Olatubosun urges Gbajabiamila

    Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila has been admonished to be a father to all.

    A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the House, Olajide Olatubosun, enjoined his colleagues across all political divides to support presiding officers to enable Nigerians reap dividends of good governance.

    Read Also: Lawan, Gbajabiamila restate commitment to electoral reforms

    In a statement yesterday, Olatubosun said: “I congratulate Femi Gbajabiamila and the Deputy Idris Wase, the elections are over and I believe we are all winners. I also pledge my support and loyalty to the House leadership, and to our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). I was driven by a patriotic zeal and determination to inject fresh ideas into the House of Representatives and the country’s legislative business by leading a House that will prioritize the needs of our people, cooperate with the executive to deliver good governance, and help the President take our people to the Next Level of prosperity and abundance.

    “I call on the House leadership to be magnanimous in victory by carrying all lawmakers along irrespective of their political affiliation. As a dedicated and responsible party man, I join others to pledge my support to the leadership. I call on my colleagues to do same so that together we can move the country forward.”

  • ‘Southeast leaders betrayed our trust’

    Houses of Assembly candidates in the Southeast, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have accused party leaders in the zone of betraying them.

    They also accused the governors of negotiating with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors against APC candidates, alluding to the fact that rather than campaign for them, the APC leaders mobilised votes for the opposition. They described the action as anti-party.

    In a communiqué at the end of their meeting in Abuja, the candidates, on the platform of Conference of 2019 Southeast APC House of Assembly Candidates, hinged the party’s failure to the negative activities of the party leaders.

    They accused the leaders of anti-party activities, alleging that most of them campaigned for the opposition and also negotiated with governors to give 25 per cent votes to the President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The communiqué, signed by Tochukwu Onyedibe and Confidence Chukwuedozie, Coordinator and Secretary, also noted with dissatisfaction, the outcome of the National Assembly leadership election, raising concerns over the imbalance on the composition of the leadership of the National Assembly.

    Read Also: Political exclusion of southeast

    The communiqué reads: “The Conference noted with dismay the negative activities of some party leaders in the zone, which contributed to the unimpressive performance of the party in the Southeast. Most of them are guilty of anti-party activities. They neglected their party’s candidates and campaigned for the opposition, and even went into unholy alliances with the governors to give our presidential candidate 25 per cent votes, forgetting that we have all it takes to win the election.

    “We noted with dissatisfaction the outcome of the National Assembly leadership election, and raised concern about the imbalance on the composition of the new leadership. The conference hopes on the growth and improved performance of the party in the zone, and urge all party organs on the need for proactive programmes and early preparation towards the next elections.

    “For equity, fairness and growth, the conference is appealing to President Buhari and APC national leadership to address concerns of the Southeast on inclusive governance to promote national cohesion.

    “We laud the party for setting up a committee on the review of anti-party activities, and urge the leadership to fully implement the committee’s report, especially as it concerns the Southeast.”

     

  • Women pray for APC aspirant ahead of Bayelsa guber

    Bayelsa women under the auspices of Grassroots Leadership Forum (GLF) have declared a prayer session for the emergence of Preye Aganaba as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the November governorship election in Bayelsa State.The women said after analysing the political environment, they found out that Aganaba, who is a founding member of the APC, had the passion and capacity to change the narrative of Bayelsa for good.

    The leader of the group, Mrs. Victoria E. James, said though GLF is a non-governmental organisation, its members embarked on non-stop prayer session, following their desire to have a better Bayelsa.

    She explained that the ambition of Prince Preye Aganaba, who hails from Odi in Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area, was not ordinary but was borne out of his selfless interest to develop the people and the state.

    Read Also: Kidnappers kill 78year-old mother of ex-Bayelsa lawmaker

    She described the GLF as an organisation with over 3000 members across the eight local government areas of the state.

    Also, another leader of the group, Mrs. Elizabeth Amakiri, said Aganaba proved to be a leader with a heart of gold following his track records of achievements and uprightness.

    She listed many federal projects attracted by Aganaba to Bayelsa and his philanthropic gestures to the needy in the society, saying the prince won the heart of majority of Bayelsans.

  • APC yet to zone DSP position to South- South, says APC caucus

    Ahead of the inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly and election of presiding officers on Tuesday, the concerned caucus of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), on Wednesday said that the party was yet to zone the position of Deputy Senate President to the South-South geo- political zone.

    The group in a statement by Segun Bello and Sunday Umutu in Abuja took a swipe at Senator Ita Enang on his alleged position that Senator Ovie Omo- Agege, APC Delta Central, has been endorsed for the position of Deputy Senate President.

    The group said that Enang cannot speak for the party and can no longer speak for the Presidency against the backdrop that he is no longer the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Read Also: APC chieftain to Buhari: retain Ogbeh in your cabinet

    The APC leaders said, “Section 151 of the 1999 Constitution states that the appointment of all special advisers shall cease when the President ceases to hold office, while Section 171 states that the appointment of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and any office or the personal staff of the President shall cease when the President ceases to hold office.”

    The statement read in full, “Our attention has been drawn to the statement of Senator Ita Enang in an interview in 7.00am News of Radio Nigeria on Wednesday, 5th June, 2019.

    “In the interview Senator Enang stated that Senator Lawan Ahmad will emerge as Senate President of the 9th Senate while Rt Hon Femi Gbajiabiamila will emerge as Speaker House of Representatives. He went on to state that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege will emerge as Deputy Senate President.

    “Although, in the interview he was referred to as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters we write to state that he spoke in personal capacity and expressed his own opinion and certainly not in any way the position of the Presidency.

    “It should be noted that his appointment as Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters ceased with the end of the President’s first term on May 29, 2019 as provided in Section 151(3) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended).

    “Therefore, his statement about Senator Ovie Omo-Agege should be seen wholly as figment of his imagination, because he has probably supported him.

    “It must also be noted that All Progressives Congress, APC, nominated Senator Ahmad Lawan and Hon Gbajiabiamila for Senate President and Speaker respectively and not by any individual.

    “Senator Enang cannot and could not have spoken for the Party in the said interview.

    “We wish to state that APC has not zoned the Deputy Senate President to anyone. However, Distinguished Senator Francis Alimikhena has been seen as the preferred candidate for the position.”

     

  • UPDATED: Oyo chairmen dare Makinde, vow to remain in office

    Local Government (LGAs) and Local Council Development Authorities (LCDAs) chairmen under the aegis of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Oyo state chapter have rejected their sack by Governor Seyi Makinde.

    They said they remained the democratically- elected chairmen and still report to offices as such.

    The chairmen told reporters on Thursday that there is a subsisting valid court order, which prohibited the governor or even the House of Assembly from dissolving elected local council authorities in the state.

    Makinde had upon his inauguration on Wednesday night dissolved all the Local Government and Local Council Development Area authorities with immediate effect.

    Oyo Chairman of ALGON, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, who spoke on behalf of the chairmen, described the dissolution of the local council authorities by the Governor as unconstitutional and a violation of a subsisting court order.

    He vowed the chairmen will continue to resume to their various offices and continue acting in their capacities as democratically elected by their constituents.

    He stated they were armed with court injunction that legalises their election as council chairmen.

    He however appealed to the affected council bosses to remain calm in the face of what he described as ‘assault’.

    Some of the Chairmen at the press conference include: Yomi Adefusi (Ibadan West LCDA); Bisi Oladeji (Oyo West); Niyi Adeagbo (Itesiwaju); Samuel Egunjobi (Iganna LCDA) and Bosun Ajuwon (Ibadan North).

    Others were: Olayinka Jesutoye (Ogo Oluwa); Akeem Akintunde (Egbeda); Habib Ibrahim (Ibarapa Central) and Yinka Adeyemi (Ajorosun LCDA).

    Abass-Aleshinloye said: “ALGON, Oyo State rejects unconstitutional act of Mr. Governor. It is illegal, undemocratic, violation of rule of law and contempt of a subsisting court injunction against any dissolution of the Local Government as ordered by Justice A.A. Aderemi of High Court 2, Ibadan, Oyo State, on May 6, 2019.

    “The Governor’s action is a crude breach of the right of our people to be democratically governed at local government level as the third tier of government as copiously stated in section 7(1) of the 1999 constitution as amended.

    Read Also:  Makinde summons emergency security meeting

    “Under no law can a state Governor make a declaration, proclamation or directive to summarily dissolve elected local government council or any elected organ of governance created by the constitution.

    “We hereby appeal to all the duly elected chairmen of local government and local council development areas, councilors and citizens in these respective councils to remain calm and be peaceful in the face of this provocation and assault on constitutional democracy.”

    Lawyer to the association, Barrister Kunle Sobaloju, said the action of the governor is null and void because there is a valid court judgment that has not been vacated, adding that until they challenge the judgment, the dissolution order is of no consequence.

    Sobaloju vowed to resist by lawful means any one that want to stop the chairmen and councillors from performing their constitutional roles.

  • Kogi poll: Can Bello get second term?

    Can Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello get the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket and win the November 16 poll? George Oyedepo examines the second term hurdles before the governor.

    KOGI State Governor Yahaya Bello always describe himself as the godson of President Muhammadu Buhari. Since he assumed office, Bello made his subservient ways to please the president very overt. He is not ashamed to be at the beck-and-call of the president, even when his duties are not needed. Bello somehow manages to worm his way through, positioning himself as the true son of the president. His frequent visits to Aso Villa was once seen as a political move to seek the hand of the president’s daughter in marriage. As a Muslim who is already married, his intentions are by no means illegal. If anything, it will only be seen as a strategy by the governor to stamp his foot in the corridors of power. So far, that has not been the case. Yet, Bello’s visits didn’t dwindle. Instead, he has taken the onus upon himself to declare himself the one who has the president’s ears. After all, it was due to his intervention that the president considered bidding for a re-election. His victory in the last election is a celebrated feat for Bello who again blows his trumpet that he indeed delivered Kogi state to the president. A blatant lie that his detractors, even those who work with him make mockery of behind his back. But Bello is full of himself that he is only focused on those who dared to challenge him publicly, particularly from the state party. More recently, he bragged that the National Leader of his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu respects him because he is known as the son of the president.

    On more than one occasion, the president has demonstrated his viral slogan that he belongs to no one in his four-year tenure. His stance in supporting the people’s interest over the interest of friends and allies are evident in the recent sagas in Ogun, Imo and Kano states.

    For a president whose best credential is not only that he does not like corruption but clearly detests it as shown in the body language and confusion of Gandollar or Gandujegate issue. On national TV, the president was reluctant to raise Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s hand even when he knew he will secure votes for him. His refusal to support Ganduje’s after the bribery allegations cost him an almost defeat in the state.

    Likewise, in Ogun, he refused to assist his former best friend from the Southwest to pervert the will of the people.  When the outgoing governor Ibikunle Amosun hosted at the rally and tried to pressure the president to support his own candidate, the people’s president raised the hand of the APC candidate, but told the people to vote who they think will be best for them.  President Buhari refused to bow to the vested interests of the party, or the vested interest of Governor Amosun.

    His former best and only political ally in South-east, the very Hausa-speaking Governor Rochas Okorocha ran to Abuja many times looking for presidential salvation against the party.  The people’s president did not interfere.

    Similarly in Oyo State, the president did not spare his longtime close friend and political ally since the days of his former party, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Shittu. Shittu was also a former governorship aspirant of the party in Oyo before he was appointed Minister of Communication in Nigeria.  From the first day he gave the governor trouble, but because of his closeness to president, president showed his usual character of being steadfast to his friends and kept him as minister. Soon allegation of financial impropriety and lack of paying his assistants their salaries which is what this president has worked against in the states were made. President Buhari still stood with his friend after he confessed that he did not carry out his National Youth Service Corps obligation. Unlike the former Minister of Finance of Kemi Adeosun who was asked to vacate her office, Shittu was not sacked because the president does not bow to vested interest.

    When the primaries for Oyo state came, Shittu was denied access.  Those who were present at the screening said he didn’t qualify. The president didn’t come to his aid; he allowed the will and interest of the people.  Now the APC has lost Oyo state because the president said the interest of the people should prevail.

    Thus, it is quite alarming that the president refused to call to order Bello’s flagrant disregard of the will of the people. How come the president is not querying Bello on his inability to pay workers’ salaries for years or the squalor he has pushed most Kogites into due to the lack of development in the state? How come the president is not concerned about the untold hardship Bello has inflicted on the people? Is it that in Kogi the President chose politics over people? Is it that the cries and sickness from non-payment of salaries don’t get to the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja?

    As the primary draw near, Bello in his bloated ego is walking down the streets of Kogi, drumming support from those who are too scared to call him a fraud. He is raising his chest up and breathing confidently that he will return to power at the November 2 scheduled governorship elections. Needless to say the tactics he will employ to achieve his goal.

    The Buhari we know will not allow Bello to even contest primaries in Kogi.  He will not be permitted. President Buhari said “he does not know how governors go to sleep without paying salaries”, but Bello his ‘son’ is sleeping well under President Buhari’s protection without paying salaries. Is it because in Kogi, for the president, it is politics, not people? Or vested Yahaya Bello interest not people interest?  Has the President given up the burden of the father of the nation in Kogi to make a choice to be father of Yahaya Bello? Is it that everywhere he is for all and belongs to no one, but in Kogi, he is for Bello and belongs to Bello?

    Why is he supporting Bello when all are crying and begging him to save and rescue them from Bello?

    The president has a good opportunity to show example by advising Bello not to run. He should tell him the truth. If he is truly a son, he will not disgrace and spoil his father’s name and so he should not contest.  He should not contest, not because there is fear, but because there is fear presidency is behind him. There is concern that his violent antecedents will come during elections and his do or die attitude will be on ground.  He should not contest not because he can win because he can never win. If only ten people vote, Bello will still lose elections. He should not contest so that there will be no loss of life in Kogi.

    Openly condemning what Bello has done and plans, denying him the ticket is the only message from the presidency and APC that can be loud in Kogi. It’s the only message that cannot be misinterpreted by Bello’s militia.  It is the only message that can assuage the pain of many. It is the only message that can assuage the pain of the sick, and workers who have not been paid, some of them for years; the pain of children who have not been to school because teachers have not been paid and parents have not been paid so no school fees for private school; to assuage the pains and sorrow across Kogi from East to Central to West; all over Kogi.  The president should prove that like in Katsina, the interest of the people in Kogi is paramount and above the vested interest of Bello.

     

     

  • Dickson’s attack on oil companies is political, says APC

    The Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described environmental campaign, ‘Rise for Bayelsa’, and verbal attacks launched against activities of international oil companies by Governor Seriake Dickson as politically motivated.

    The party in a press conference in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Thursday said the governor’s move was a dishonest political campaign targeted at key APC stalwarts in the state with environmental pollution as smokescreen.

    Dickson recently inaugurated the Bayelsa State Environmental Degradation Commission of Inquiry with a mandate to investigate sharp practices of oil multinationals that had caused environmental degradation in the state and the Niger Delta region.

    The governor named the Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, as the Chairman of the Commission, whose members were dominated by global leaders and scholars.

    But the APC State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, dismissed the allegation as a move meant to mount pressure the oil companies, disengage APC members working as pipeline contractors in the state.

    Buokoribo warned the oil companies against descending into the political arena in the state by succumbing to the pressure from Dickson to sack the pipeline surveillance contractors.

    He said: “To the mind of the governor, the oil pipeline surveillance contracts awarded by the oil firms were key to the security threat in Bayelsa State. He specifically accused two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who are oil pipeline surveillance contractors, of security breaches in the state.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests Kwara Assembly member-elect

    “We neither hold brief for the international oil corporations nor do we speak in the name of the surveillance contractors. As a party, we have a responsibility to protect our members from political persecution.

    “In point of fact, APC members are not the only people working as oil pipelines surveillance contractors in the state. Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are also doing the same job across the state.

    “For example, Gabriel Jonah, younger brother to the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, has been an oil pipeline surveillance contractor for years. Yet, Dickson has made it his duty to focus only on APC members. He is using his offices to exert undue pressure on the oil companies to take the surveillance jobs away from our members. Clearly, this is a political project, and it will not stand.

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  • Valediction for Island Club chair

    It was an evening loaded with activities at the Island Club in Onikan, Lagos, when its Chairman, Olabanji Oladapo, bowed out in style.

    The party, which had guests clad in beautiful traditional attire was entitled “2019 Easter/New Members/Chairman’s Dance”.

    It featured awards to some distinguished members, induction of new members, dancing, eating, drinking and inauguration of gym, sauna and sickbay by a Trustee and Past Chairman of the Club, Chief Olumuyiwa Falomo.

    National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was represented by the former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, said the award would encourage people to do more.

    “To whom much is given, much is expected. The awards were given to those who have contributed in one way or the other to the development of the club. I commend the management of the club for this evening and for giving awards to those who deserve it. The club chairman has done well for the club and he has left a landmark achievement to his name; given the history of the club and the fact that it is the foremost social club in Lagos,” he said.

    According to Oladapo, the ‘Easter Dance’ was meant to welcome the Christian brothers after 40 days of fasting period.

    “This has given us the opportunity to experience what our Lord Jesus Christ went through while on earth over 2,000 years ago. It further increases our faith and gets us more committed to the plights of the poor and needy in our society as we are now better able to appreciate what it means to go on for days without food. It is also the period of abstinence from worldly pleasure,” he said.

    Oladapo further said new members inducted are eminent gentlemen who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers and have been considered as fit and proper for the membership of the club. “We congratulate them as they join the comity of honoured men of substance.”

    He said: “Having completed my two-year term, I have no doubt I have enjoyed your support and co-operation and useful advice during my tenure as your chairman. It has been challenging and quite interesting in spite of some hiccups which were not unexpected considering the magnitude of the challenges at hand. I must also not fail to show my appreciation to you all for your overwhelming confidence in my leadership. I have worked with most vibrant, articulate, enterprising and committed members of the management committee.”

    He added that those accorded the club honours is because of their contributions to the success of his administration and to thank them for their outstanding services to the club.

  • Amaechi, Rivers and South-South APC

    Strange things are happening in Rivers State. After the political conflicts of the last general elections and, indeed, of the last five years, I was astonished to hear Governor Nyesom Wike, following his victory at the polls, call on his bitter foes on the All Progressives Congress (APC) side, for cooperation and reconciliation.

    My initial reaction was that the comments were tongue-in-check. But at Easter, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, again, struck the same reconciliatory tone – asking the people for forgiveness and unity, declaring that the state was far from where they envisaged it would be at this point.

    Anyone who has followed the harsh rhetoric that has trailed the power struggle by both sides, would therefore have taken notice when Amaechi’s allies in the APC for whom Senator Andrew Uchendu spoke recently, accepted Wike’s olive branch.

    The results of the governorship election in which APC never got to participate were never in doubt given the advantages of incumbency which Wike enjoyed. The closest he had to a challenger was the AAC’s Biokpomabo Awara’s feeble effort.

    Now that the battle has been won and lost, what should a strategic politician do? Continue to moan over spilt milk or begin to plan ahead for the next contest?

    The good thing is that there would be no incumbent on the ticket in four years – meaning the playing field would be more level. Lowering the political temperature gives the minister the opportunity of resolving the internal conflicts that ended up denying the party a chance to challenge Wike effectively.

    Such was the bitterness of the legal battles fought by Senator Magnus Abe – who like Wike was one of Amaechi’s closest allies having served as Secretary to the State Government under him – that reconciliation may seem like a farfetched dream at this point.

    Still, if Amaechi and Wike can be singing the same hymns of reconciliation, nothing makes it impossible for him and Abe to kiss and make up. That is why politics is referred to as the art of the possible.

    A change of strategy is imperative as the parties begin to look forward to 2023. In this wise, APC’s relative weakness in the south is something the party needs to address because PDP may have lost the presidency, but emerged with better national spread – having governors in every zone.

    In the south APC is strongest in the Southwest and weakest in the Southeast where it once again received an electoral rebuff.

    The South-South zone therefore offers the party the best option for shoring up its presence down south. Aside Edo where it has a governor and produced the APC’s national chairman, much hope was invested in the party riding on the supposed political strengths of former Akwa Ibom Governor, Godswill Akpabio, to penetrate the state. That turned out to be a forlorn hope.

    Which brings us back to Rivers, aside Edo and Akwa Ibom, as the party’s best hope of enhancing its national spread and shoring up its position in the South-South zone. There is no denying that APC retains substantial support in the state despite not being on the 2019 ballot.

    If it had had candidates, even if Wike had prevailed in the gubernatorial contest the parties would have shared the state assembly, House and senate seats. The challenge for Amaechi as the party’s leader is to build again on that latent support base by dealing with all the recent fractures.

    His job should be made easier by the fact that whatever losses have been suffered on the home front, have been ameliorated by the success of the presidential campaign which he headed. That virtually guarantees that he would be one of the returnees in Buhari next cabinet. A role in Abuja gives him the continued relevance necessary for this sort of effort.