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Tag: All Progressives Congress(APC)

  • Police arrest scores of suspected thugs in Akwa Ibom 

    The police in Akwa Ibom have arrested scores of suspected political thugs at various locations and hotels in Uyo metropolis.
    The suspects who are alleged to be thugs sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were picked up in Angelo Hotel, situated close to Ewet Housing Estate and other hotels in the city following a tip off.
    Spokesperson of the 2019 All Progressives Congress(APC) campaign council, Mr. Eseme Eyiboh and other stalwarts of the APC had alleged that the suspects are working for the PDP.
    The state publicity secretary of the PDP, Comrade Iniobong Ememobong said he was not aware of the arrest of any group of persons said to be working for the party.
    But the State Commissioner of police, Mr. Bashir Makama, who confirmed the arrest, the police was still investigating the matter to find out if the suspects were PDP or APC thugs.

    Read also: Man, 44, faces unlawful damage of property charge

    Makama said the police acted on intelligence report hence carried out raids on suspected black spots in Uyo and its environs to forestall any breakdown of law and order during the Presidential election on Saturday.
    The CP, who also silent on the number of suspects arrested in the sting operation, also said he was not aware of any vehicle caught with cache of money.

  • I won’t be an ungrateful Governor – Dapo Abiodun

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun state, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has assured residents of Ogun state that he would not disappoint them if elected to govern the state.

    Prince Abiodun gave the assurance while speaking during his campaign tour of Sagamu Local government Area, where residents of Sotunbo community defiled the heavy downpour to give him a rousing reception and support.

    The residents came out in their hundreds as show of solidarity for the governorship  ambition of  Abiodun but subtly protested their  neglect since 2011 by Governor Ibikunle Amosun – led administration in the state.

    Read Also: ‘Why I support Dapo Abiodun’

    While promising them of participatory decision making in his choice of project execution, the Iperu born prince and governorship hopeful sympathized with them on the deplorable situation of the roads and other infrastructure in the zone.

    He noted that the area’s proximity to Lagos should be an added advantage for speedy development pledging to take Sagamu to its deserved height.

    “Our words are our promises and our promises are sacred to us” He concluded,” he said.

    He emphasized that the kind of support given to him should be replicated to all APC candidates across board assuring that the party would reciprocate the gesture with good governance.

  • APC official website hacked

    The All Progressives Congress(APC) on Saturday said its official website, apc.com.ng, had been hacked with unauthorized content posted on its pages.

    Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC National Publicity Secretary, who disclosed this in a statement, said he had directed for the site to be taken down.

    Read Also: Disqualification: APC appeals judgment

    “Our attention has just been drawn to the fact that the APC’s official website, apc.com.ng, has been hacked with unauthorised content posted on our pages.

    “I have instructed that the site be taken down. Steps are underway to clean it up, strengthen the security and restore it as soon as possible.

    “We won’t allow desperate people to succeed in their evil plots,” the APC spokesman said.

    NAN

  • 2019: ‘Reconciliation, vital for Ondo APC’s victory’

    Ahead of 2019 election,a group within the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ondo state on Monday  urged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to summon a meeting with leaders of various factional groups within the ruling party to mend fences.

    The group was made up of members of the 2016 Aketi gubernatorial campaign team chaired by the former Chairman, Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission,(OSOPADEC) Chief Adewale Omojuwa.

    At a meeting held in Oba-ile,Akure North local government, the group also called on the governor to warn members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers(NURTW) in the state against attacking innocent people at any event.

    The politicians decried the alleged disruption of the proceedings at the State Assembly recently where many people including journalists were allegedly injured by NURTW members.

    It expressed displeasure over  the use of thugs and external militia to cause pandemonium during political party programmes such as congress and stakeholders meetings.

    In a communique jointly signed by Omojuwa and General Secretary, Teniola Oladele, the group expressed the need for Akeredolu to devise a means of bringing all aggrieved groups in the party together as one united and indivisible political family.

    Read Also: Ondo East APC leaders seek political autonomy

    On the post-primary crisis in the state, it  advised the governor to direct APC State Working Committee(SWC) to refund money paid for nomination of forms by the councillorship and chairmanship aspirants since the candidates had been picked.

    ” We implore the SWC to ensure refund of various sums of money to members who were deprived from participating in the party primaries,such as N200,000 for House of Assembly aspirants and N300,000 for Representatives.

    “We also plead with the governor to consider and approve a meeting of all state leaders and various interest groups with him to iron out all differences and contentious issues ahead of February 2019 election with a view to ensure remarkable success at the polls” the communique stressed.

    It expressed unflinching support for President Muhammadu Buhari as the party’s flag bearer,and the National Working Committee(NWC) led by Adams Oshiomhole.

  • Ondo APC: We will work for Buhari’s victory

    Call for dissolution of party excos

    Estranged leaders of the All Progressives Congress(APC) under the chairmanship of the former deputy governor,Ali Olanusi on Wednesday met in Akure to overhaul the ruling party ahead of 2019 polls.

    They called for dissolution of the state party executive to pave way for caretaker committee that would work for the victory of president Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of the party in the state.

    At the meeting were majority members and leaders who worked for the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and others in 2015.

    Among APC leaders at the meeting were Olanusi,Isaac Kekemeke,Chiefs M.A Akeju, Felix Ayegbusi,Mrs Yetunde Ogundipe, Bode Sunmonu, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, Gboyega Adedipe,Mrs Kehinde Adeniran,representatives of Senator Ajayi Boroffice and Segun Abraham,Chief Adewale Omojuwa and several others.

    In a communique after the meeting read by Mr Adeleke Musa, the stakeholders which according to them constitutes about 80 percent of members of the party in the state,said they formed a platform capable of winning election for the party in the state in 2019

    The group pledged absolute loyalty to President Buhari ,National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomole, and its National leader,  Asiwaju  Bola Tinubu.

    According to the communique” we condemn the development whereby the drivers union allegedly unleash terror on the party members in the state and physically attacked members of the state House of Assembly on the hallowed chamber

    “We also decry the anomalies in which eight lawmakers out of the 26 members in the House passed resolutions bothering on the on financial budget”.

    The group believed the State House of Assembly should be left alone to carry out its duties without any fear  from the Executive.

    Besides,the party leaders observed the compromise of the State Executive of the party in undermining the National leadership through court litigation,urging the National leadership to dissolve the state executive and put in place a caretaker committee in order to have one single party with one goal in the state.

    They  urged the National headquarters to note and work on the sinister plot by some disgruntled party officials to stay in the party and work against the success of the party in the forthcoming 2019 general election, especially in favour of Action Alliance (AA).

    The APC leaders expressed their unflinching commitment to work for the success of President Buhari and other National/ State Assembly candidates of APC in the coming general elections.

    A reconciliation committee was also inaugurated in which members were drawn from all factional groups within the APC to mend fences among aggrieved members to guarantee victory for the ruling party in the state.

  • Ondo Councils’ Primaries: Akeredolu must intervene

    Aggrieved supporters of the All Progressives Congress(APC) for local government chairmanship aspirants in Ondo state particularly in Ileoluji/Okeigbo local government area of Ondo state are unhappy on the outcome of the exercise.

    They have protested the alleged manipulation of the primary election in the third tier level.

    Consequently, they urged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to act as a leader and quickly intervene to avert breach of peace across the local government.

    A petition sent to the governor by one of the aspirants,Jerome Olorunyolemi noted that in compliance with the party’s directive,he bought nomination form and paid mandatory amount of N250,000 to participate.

    According to him,the exercise is expected to be guided by Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission(ODIEC) guidelines with timetable to guarantee transparent primary election.

    However,the aspirant lamented that the process was shrouded in secrecy to subvert transparency and inclusive participation of interested aspirants.

    He alleged that the chairman of the party in the local government failed to intimate the aspirants,the  modalities for the conduct of the primary.

    He contended that the development was deliberately designed to allegedly favour a particular aspirant, who sources said is the incumbent caretaker chairman in the local government.

    The petition reads” We are aware that a state commissioner from the area on September 13, told some party leaders in the area that the governor had directed that all present local government caretaker chairmen in the state to be returned to office automatically without subjecting them to primaries.

    Read Also: Akeredolu mourns Agbi

    “If this trend is true,what is the essence of the directive for participation of interested party members in such electoral processes with the outcome already predetermined ?”.

    Olorunyolemi noted that the development,if allowed to persist would be a threat to unity of the APC members in Ileoluji/Okeigbo local government.

    He urged  Akeredolu to intervene by allowing substantial compliance and adherence to democratic norms devoid of open manipulations.

    APC’s spokesman,Alex Kalejaye said the party and its leadership valued internal democracy and rule of law.

    He stressed that the running of the local government,which is  closest to the grassroots populace would be participatory.

  • ‘N50,000 minimum wage will cripple Nigeria economy’

    Second republic senator, Chief Olorunnimbe Farukanmi on Saturday said the N50,000 minimum wage being agitated by Nigerian workers would have dire consequences on the nation’s economy.
    The financial expert said even though labourers are entitled to their wages,but expressed the need for trade unions to consider and look at various sources of revenue accurable to their employers in order to asses the reality of the wages from which their salaries are paid.
    The former lawmaker observed that the minimum wage in the country being paid by every employer of labour was expected to be N18,000, but the labour unions have been asking for N50,000 minimum,which he said would be 250 per cent increment.
    Farukanmi, who is the Chairman, Elders Assembly of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ondo state said “It is evidently clear that some of the various levels of governments in existence are presently owing their workers over 10 months salary arrears.
    “It means that if some local and state governments are unable to meet up the N18,000 especially as sources of revenue generation are dwindling,the proposed N50,000 per month demanded by the labour force,if acceded can never be met by these present government”

    Read Also: Minimum wage, maximum wage

    The APC stalwart said the negotiation on the demands of the labour unions for over N50,000 as the national minimum wage has been on for many years without any resolution.
    According to him, the resources from crude oil sales represent the main sources of revenue from which the federation account generates majority of its resources.
    The elder statesman warned that new minimum wage of N50,000 would cause another economic recession in the country,as it would lead to general increase in the prices of all commodities and food stuff.
    He said” The labour Unions should ensure that this nation does not slip into recession again since every Nigerian is aware of the fact that Nigeria derives majority of its revenue from oil and gas,but with the large scale reduction in the prices of oil in the world market,the country’s revenue has reduced drastically.
    Farukanmi believed this is a period when to provide an enabling environment for genuine investors and honest consumers to work together for the viability of the economy.
    “At a time when the economy should be strengthened with a stable naira as against encouraging further inflation,to embark on a stable naira as against encouraging further inflation,to embark on a 250 per cent wage increase will be enormously detrimental to the successful growth of the economy” The APC stalwart stressed.

  • Ondo Aspirants reject automatic tickets

    Give Oshiomhole 24 hours to reverse decision

     

    Senatorial aspirants of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ondo state on Wednesday rejected the automatic tickets offered the three incumbent Senators in the state by the National Working Committee(NWC) of the party.
    At a news conference addressed by the Senator representing Ondo Central District, Chief Tayo Alasoadura on behalf of other aspirants including Dr Tunji Abayomi(Ondo North) and Mr Lucky Ayedatiwa (Ondo South)  said the purported decision to screen certain contestants in all states of the federation was” shocking and unimaginable”
    The forum was also attended by membership of the state party exco led by Ade Adetimehin and leaders of the party
    However two of the aspirants, Senators Ajayi Boroffice (North) and Yele Omogunwa(South) who had been cleared alongside Alasoadura(Central) were absent.
    Alasoadura said”NWC’s involvement is not only false,but also a shameful act considering the fact that the NWC never sat to decide on an issue as important as the right of Nigerians and indeed members of APC to contest to represent their people at the senate.
    “It has also disquietingly portrayed our party as a political platform whose leadership abhors regard for due process and truth”.
    Alasoadura pointed out that the NWC did not meet to discuss any matter relating to the screening of candidates,let alone take a decision on same.

    Read Also: Osun poll: Our deal with Omisore, by Oshiomhole

    He noted that” we are unaware of any provisions,either in the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria,as amended or the constitution of the APC empowering the Chairman of the party or any other officer to abridge the guaranteed rights of members to aspire to serve or of the people to elect those to represent them.
    “Most disturbing is the increasingly audacious impunity associated with the APC leadership under Adams Oshiomhole,there has been a high level of inconsistent standards applied across states if the federation”.
    The lawmaker also observed’ manifest unjust and unjustified’ preferential treatment of certain categories of aspirants and political tendencies, among others.
    According to him,the NWC must adduce reasons for this dictatorial act capable of breaking the fragile peace existing in the party,stressing that they leave all options open until the manifest error of judgement was corrected.
    The Aspirants gave 24 hours ultimatum to the NWC to reverse the order on the purported screening of the three serving senators in the state.
    They insisted that they would not accept the emergence of any candidate unless through lawful means,stressing that equal opportunities must be extended to all Aspirants in the race,from whom the party had collected the prescribed fees.
    The aggrieved contestants urged the leader of the party, President Muhammadu Buhari and others to intervene and normalize the situation in the interest of the party.

  • ‘I will not quit APC, still loyal to party’

    Runner up at the just concluded Sokoto state All Progressives Congress(APC) gubernatorial primaries, Farouk Malami Yabo has said he would not decamp from the party.

    The aspirant also urged his supporters and well-wishers to be calm and conduct themselves.

    Speaking to newsmen at his Sama road Sokoto residence Monday evening, Yabo who polled 837 votes to place second behind incumbent Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, reaffirmed his loyalty to the party vowing not to leave the platform.

    Aliyu Sokoto polled 2,282‎ votes to emerge winner against  four aspirants including Sen. Abubakar Umar Gada and Abubakar Abdullahi Gumbi who scored 20 and 70 votes respectively.

    According to Yabo, “APC will continue to be my platform and have not intention to quit.”

    However, Yabo said “To this moment I am talking to you my agent has not come to brief me on the final outcome and to bring a document which will further suggest the acceptance of the results as well the general conduct of the exercise.

    Read Also: Masari, Lado clinches APC, PDP tickets in Katsina

    “ I am also awaiting the actual report from the team of election officials sent from the headquarters  ‎to conduct the exercise for possible amendments”, he said.

    The aspirant further explained that he would continue to spare head the advancement of activities of his personal projects “Sokoto Project”‎ aimed at benefiting the people of the state.

    According to him “It’s my personal empowerment initiative for the youths, women and poor which is not dependent on my political ambition.

    ” I started the project since 2014 and would continue”, he vowed.

  • Learn From Buhari, Osinbajo’s , Group Counsels Fayemi, Adebayo

    A group in Ekiti State, under the banner of Democratic Defender Movement (DFM), has appealed to the Governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi and the Deputy National Chairman(South) of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Otunba Niyi Adebayo, to be fair to all aspirants seeking elections ahead of 2019 in the State.

    The group said the duo commanded large followership and respect among APC owing to the wide belief that they have carried themselves above sectionalism, advising that allowing themselves to be hoodwinked by any aspirant to key into imposition agenda may damage their reputations and put them into disrespect in the eyes of theirs followers.

    The movement urged the two eminent Ekiti citizens to take a cue from President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who had refrained from imposing anyone in their respective states since they assumed office in 2015.

    The group said any leader that treads on the path of imposition is gradually digging his own deep political grave, warning that any attempt to create unnecessary cleavage among aspirants on the premise and intention that some are more loyal to them than others might lead

    to serious protest votes and internal crisis that will create a huge unabated bedlam in Ekiti APC.

    In a statement tagged : ‘Open Letter to the Governor-Elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Otunba Niyi Adebayo’ and madeavailable to newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, advised that the best way for these leaders to earn the respect of followers, is for them to pave way for the conduct of free and fair primaries where consensus is unattainable.

    Read Also: Photos: Buhari presides over FEC meeting

    The statement signed by the group’s coordinator, Com. Saliu Aina, warned that if the rumour that some State Assembly and House of Representatives aspirants were being positioned for imposition against the interest of party members was found to be true, that such tendency would not only brew crisis but would boomerang and cause serious apathy that will affect the party’s fortunes in the coming election.

    The letter reads: “This letter could have been delivered to you, but to make it available to you personally might be a herculean task and that is why we are using this media avenue to pass our genuine concerns across to you as our leaders, whom we believe are also fathers.

    “The rumour is rife that you are perfecting plans to impose some candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly seats in a certain district and constituencies against the wish of those with whose ladders you climbed to political stardom and gain reckoning in our state, country and globally.

    “There are three Ps in a democracy; The Politics, The Party and the People, the people are the most important and most pivotal to achieve success. The moment the people are taken for granted, then leaders and parties doing so should be ready to return to political oblivion and

    the pathetic situation of the Peoples Democratic Party in Nigeria and particularly our State were suffice to substantiate this philosophical assertion.

    “President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo have written their names in gold by not being domineering with powers, they have been modest and these will remain indelible in the country’s political history.

    “We have never heard or even found to be at the realm of rumour, attempt by President Buhari or Vice President Osinbajo to be plotting or planning to impose any candidate in Katsina and Ogun States, in spite of the enormous powers, influences, carriages and respect they earned from people, this is nothing but democracy in action.

    “At a time in APC in the Southwest region, we learnt some former and serving governors of our great party actually approached a leader where they craved for decentralized leadership, where former and serving governors of the states would have the leeway to control their respective states, but that would not erode the fact that there is a centralized leadership that can mediate in case of crisis and that has been seen to be happening now in the Region.

    “If that was the case, it would be a sin against God and humanity for any leader to impose any candidate through the instrumentality of the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Otunba Niyi Adebayo here in Ekiti. This will be antithetical to the creed of justice, fairness and equity these leaders had fought to entrench in APC.

    “To this end, it will be our humble advice that these leaders we so much revered must desist from imposition. Where consensus could not be reached despite their interventions, there must be free, fair and acceptable primaries to save APC from toeing a ruinous path”, the group counseled.

    The group added that the leaders must learn from the fall of the PDP in Ekiti, necessitated by Governor Ayodele Fayose’s domineering tendencies and hard posturing tended towards muzzling those opposed to his views, in a desperate bid to control party structures.

    “Governor Fayose thought he could manipulate the system by putting those he felt were loyal to him in the party’s structures and House of Assembly, despite his own antics and strategies failed him. Many of those he thought were loyal ended up betraying him while those that begged before getting the tickets of the PDP are still with him.

    “In 2011, Dr. Fayemi  canvassed that former Assembly lawmakers, Mrs Adunni Fatumbi, representing Moba II   and Mrs Olayinka from Ado constituency II to get their tickets by consensual agreements, they later defected to PDP when they were needed most.

    “All these instances were instructive for our leaders to believe that only God knows the hearts of men, so they should not play God by imposing people in the name of loyalty”, the group concluded.