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Tag: All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)

  • APGA, APC clash over removal of billboards in Anambra

    APGA, APC clash over removal of billboards in Anambra

    •Police wade in as tension mounts

    The clash between the supporters of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anaocha Local Government Area has heightened tension in the state ahead of the governorship election in the state.

    The incident happened at Nri, Anaocha Local Government Area, the home of the governorship running mate of the APC, Senator Uche Ekwunife.

    The Nation gathered that the APGA members dismantled Ekwunife and Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu’s billboards in the place for allegedly not paying for them.

    The situation angered the APC supporter, who regrouped to counter them, and tempers flared.

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    The governor of the state, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, who is a member of APGA, was having a rally in the community after the burial of late Chief Judge of the state, Justice Emmanuel Nri-Ezedi.

    The burial attracted other personalities to the state, including the former Senate President and the factional national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark.

    Others at the burial ceremony were the former Governor of Anambra State and the defeated former Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, among others.

    David Mark declined to speak with reporters at the event on the Coalition movement and his purported election as the ADC chairman

    Meanwhile, the state Police command had restored peace in the area, while he also directed the matter to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Awka.

    The state Police spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the clash between the warring parties, but failed to mention the names

    Ikenga said, “The incident reportedly arose after supporters of a political party allegedly pulled down three campaign billboards belonging to another party, leading to a brief disturbance in the area.

  • Outrage over Gbajabiamila’s choice of aide

    There is outrage in the Southeast All Progressives Congress (APC) over the appointment of Anayo Nnebe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as Special Assistant on Political Matters to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

    The APC in Anambra State, the Conference of Southeast APC Publicity Secretaries, and the Southeast APC Young Progressives Forum, condemned the action, and called for Nnebe’s withdrawal.

    Gbajabiamila on Tuesday announced Nnebe as one of his aides from the Southeast.

    But in their separate reactions yesterday, the party and other bodies described it as a big slap on APC, saying Nnebe fought APC and called their members all sorts of names during the elections.

    Those who signed the statement from the Southeast Forum of Publicity Secretaries of APC included Kate Offor (Enugu), Nwoba Chika Nwoba (Ebonyi) and Benedict Godwin (Abia).

    Pascal Chizoba Otimkpu spoke for Southeast APC Young Progressives Forum; Anamrba APC Secretary Chukwuma Agufugo spoke for his party, while Madukaife Okelo spoke for Conference of Southeast Publicity secretaries.

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    Pascal said the outrage was not about appointment but agenda. “You cannot drive an agenda with people who do not believe in it. Nnebe and his cohorts had, and will never believe in our party’s agenda,” he said.

    Agufugo, who said the party had competent, well qualified and mature persons to handle any position, lamented that the choice of APGA member was wrong and should be withdrawn.

    “We reject the appointment of Anayo Nnebe as Special Assistant (Southeast) to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila. Nnebe is a die hard opposition to APC in Anambra, the Southeast and Nigeria in general. He is instrumental to the Awka Federal Constituency seat eluding APC, though he also lost. Political positions in the ruling party should not serve to rehabilitate oppositions who cause damage to our party’s fortunes.

    “The Senate President made a similar error and promptly corrected it when issues were raised, and there ought to be enough deterrent flowing from there. We have nothing against Nnebe, but our zonal caucus has to grow, and it is not by appointing PDP men in APGA clothing, to the detriment of the long-suffering members of APC.

    “We have, in the past, witnessed all manner of flirtation between our structures outside the Southeast and the very persons who constitute opposition to us. We dissociate ourselves from this appointment and urge Southeast APC to rise in justifiable protest against this unjustifiable action. We will not relent in fighting this injustice.”

     

  • Delta High Court nullifies APGA national convention

    DELTA High Court sitting in Kwale Judicial Division on Friday nullified the decisions of the National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) which held on May 14, 2019  at the Governor’s Lodge, Awka.

    Some members of the party’s BoT had gone to court to void the meeting held by the National Executive Committee of the party.

    The claimants are Chief Ogonetus Okpanetus,Alhaji Tayo Suowemi and Dr Mic Adams.

    Joined in the suit marked HCK/40/2019 was  APGA as 1st defendant while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  was 2nd defendant.

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    Justice Vincent Ofesi declared as “null and void the purported meeting and decision therefrom of the 1st defendant, its organs, leaders, principal officers, ,held or purportedly held on May 14,2019.”

    The court also directed the 1st defendant to strictly comply with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Government of Nigeria in the conduct of her affairs.

    Ofesi further ordered INEC not to recognise or act on any decision or action of the 1st defendant in respect of her purported emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee of the party.

     

  • Anambra Tribunal fails to hold pre-hearing on petitions

    The two pre-hearing sessions scheduled for Wednesday at the Anambra Election Tribunal have failed to hold due to inability of the panels to sit.

    The petitions were between Rep Dozie Nwankwo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Mr Valentine Ayika of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The other was between Rep. Obinna Chidoka of the PDP and Mr Ifeanyi Ibezi of APGA.

    Nwankwo is challenging the victory of Ayika for Anaocha, Dunukofia and Njikoka Federal Constituency in Petition no. EPT/AN/HR/07/2019 while Chidoka is contesting the victory of Ibezi for Idemili North and Idemili South Federal Constituency in Petition no. EPT/AN/HR/26/ 2019.

    Announcing the shelving of the sessions, Falilat Orire, Secretary the tribunal, said it was due to last minute changes in the allocation of cases to the panels.

    Orire said the three panels that would hear petitions in the Anambra Election Petitions Tribunal had been constituted and were on ground.

    She said the parties would be notified their scheduled dates when it was ready and apologised for the inconveniences caused by yet another postponement.

    Ayika later told NAN that he had no misgivings over the postponement but wondered why the tribunal had not been able to sit on the matter for three times.

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    He said he was confident of the validity of his victory at the poll and expressed hope that justice would be delivered.

    “This is about the third time that we came for this pre-hearing and this is about the third time it was rescheduled.

    “But, no problem, I have confidence in the judiciary and I am confident that justice will be done,” he said.

    The Anambra Election Petitions Tribunal received 42 petitions, including eight senatorial, nine House of Representatives and 25 for the State House of Assembly.

    NAN

  • We won’t destabilize Anambra Assembly – PDP lawmaker

    A member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Onyebuchi Offor, has assured the readiness of his party to work with the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to stabilize the house.

    The lawmaker who was the only member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the outgoing legislative year, expressed joy over the increase in the number of party members.

    The PDP won six seats, while the rest 26 seats in the state House of Assembly were taken by APGA.

    Speaking to newsmen in Awka on Saturday, Offor, reelected to represent Ekwusigo constituency, promised to join hands with his party members and those from APGA to checkmate the executive arm of government.

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    He said, “I’m happy I’ve gotten brothers. In my first tenure, I was a lone voice in the wilderness. I don’t have any supporter. Even if I had any, I don’t know where they belong.

    “But today, I now have five more able men who will join me not to destablise the house, but to make sure we checkmate the assembly.

    “We’re not coming to fight anybody. Anambra House of Assembly is not a military barrack. We’ll checkmate the executive so the right thing will be done.”

    The thanked his constituency for reelecting him, promising to reciprocate the gesture through quality and robust representation.

    Also speaking, the member representing Anambra East constituency, Obinna Emenaka, said he was grateful at the confidence reposed on him by people of his constituency.

    Emenaka, third time member of the state legislature, attributed his reelection to quality leadership, promising to redouble efforts in achieving success in the legislative business.

    “I assure my constituents of quality representation and effective motions and bills that would better their lives,” he said.

  • Executive, legislature on same page with APGA victory, says Obiano

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano state has commended the people of the state for voting overwhelmingly for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the State House of Assembly elections.

    He was particularly happy for their peaceful, orderly and law-abiding disposition throughout the exercise.

    Obiano, who spoke through the Commissioner for information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C Don Adinuba, described the overwhelming support for APGA as a referendum on the performance of the party.

    He said the party’s victory has further bridged the gap between the executive and legislative arms of government, saying it would guarantee accelerated development and enhanced living standards.

    He said: “The elections confirm Anambra’s reputation as Nigeria’s safest and most peaceful state, despite one or two incidents.

    “Our people inspire the world with their love of democracy and the rapid development which comes with it.

    “APGA won 24 of the 30 seats, leaving the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with only six seats.

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    “Their support is as inspiring as it is challenging because it makes all of us in government constantly to seek to attain greater heights for the benefit of our people.

    “With both the executive and legislative arms of government on the same page, our people are guaranteed accelerated development and enhanced living standards.

    “APGA is Nigeria’s foremost development-oriented party, and the people of Anambra State have embraced our philosophy and development strategy without reservations, making us arguably the most competitive state in Nigeria right now.’’

  • PDP, APC can’t win elections in Anambra, APGA boasts

    National chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Oye, has said the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) would continue to win elections in Anambra state.

    He said the state had been and would remain an APGA party state, insisting that no other party could win elections in the state.

    Addressing newsmen after casting his vote in his Ebeagbu ward polling unit, Awka, Oye expressed confidence of resounding victory in the House of Assembly election in the state.

    He attributed the party loss in the last Presidential and National Assembly elections to what he called sentiments, saying it would not repeat itself in Saturday’s poll.

    He said, “APGA is controlling and will continue to control a comfortable majority in the house. There is no other political party in Anambra state.

    “The only party here is APGA. Forget about PDP and APC. They are just pretenders. They can’t win any competitive election in the state.

    “What happened two weeks ago was a contraption. It wouldn’t be a parameter to measure the performance of APGA.

    “People voted emotionally and had their eyes set somewhere and followed that line and satisfied themselves.

    “I don’t have problems with that. There’s one thing I believe in life, whatever will be, will be.”

    The APGA boss said he was impressed with the level of turnout of voters, describing the process as smooth, peaceful and credible.

    “There is massive turnout of voters. It’s even higher than the first time. I’m very optimistic that their votes will count and the will of the people will prevail at the end of the day,” he added.

  • Election: Anambra youths protest imposition of wealthy politicians

    …drum support for petty trader’s son

     

    Some group of youths in Nnewi, Anambra state on Thursday, staged a peaceful protest against what they called imposition of representatives from rich families in the community on them.

    The protesters, under the aegis of Anaedo Concerned Youth Movement, Nnewi Academic Congress and Greater Nnewi Youth Ambassadors/ Graduate Partners, insisted that one Mr. Nonso Smart Okafor, the son of an akara (bean cake) frier would represent them in the State Assembly.

    They said the choice of Okafor vying under the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was informed by his poor background, insisting that he would fight for the interest of poor masses if elected.

    Leader of Anaedo Concerned Youth Movement, Comrade Echehome said the protest was informed by a perceived plan by an influential man in the town to impose one of the richest men on the community.

    He said, “We are on this solidarity rally because we learnt that a business mogul in the industrial city wants to influence the electorate to vote for a candidate from a rich family to represent the community in the State House of Assembly “through cash and carry style of electoral process.”

    “It would amount to injustice and disservice to Nnewi community to impose an unpopular candidate on the people just because he could not foot the bill.”

    Echehome insisted that the youths were comfortable with the APGA candidate who they noted had made the community proud in various capacities as a youth leader.

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    According to him, there would be no hope for people of poor background in Nnewi in politics if any form of godfatherism was allowed.

    “We are going to set a bad precedent if we allow any form of godfatherism to be part of Nnewi political ideology and representation.

    “We are the youths of this community and we know who is who and nobody should tell us the choice to make.

    “We are the leaders of tomorrow in Nnewi and we should be allowed to make our choice and not imposition,” he said.

    Also speaking, Leader of Nnewi Youth Ambassadors/ Graduate Partners, Mr Ifeanyi Nwajide said the revolution was born out of the youths’ disgust to imposition of unpopular representative that had crippled their expected quality representation.

    Addressing the protesters, Senior Special Adviser to Governor Obiano, Hon Nnamso Nwafor Orizu assured them that the State government was behind the APGA candidate for the State Assembly election despite threats and persuasion to support a candidate against their wish.

    The protesters displayed placards with various inscriptions like: we need personality, not party; Nwa nwayi n’eghe akara ka anyi choro (we want the son of akara frier); Nnewi youths stand for Smart; no need for godfatherim and even okada riders want Smart; justice for the poor in Anaedo, and many other inscriptions.

    The solidarity rally took the youths and okada riders to Nkwo Triangle, Nkwo Nnewi markets, streets of Nnewi community and the palace of the traditional ruler of the community, His Royal Highness, Igwe Kenneth Orizu III with positive responses from the traders and larger Nnewi community members that they supported a poor woman’s son to represent them.

  • I’m still in Abia gov race, says Alex Otti

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has debunked rumours making rounds that he has withdrawn from the race.

    There were unconfirmed reports that Otti and Dr. Uche Ogah, gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had met in Umuahia South Local Government Area at the home of one of the chieftains of the APC for a possible coalition ahead of the Saturday March, 9 governorship election against incumbent Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, which ended in deadlock.

    It was gathered the meeting had barely ended when rumours started flying around in the state that Otti had agreed to step down for Ogah.

    But Otti in a release on Monday through Kazie Uko, Director, Media and Publicity Alex Otti Campaign Organisation debunked the claims, stressing he is still in the race, adding that he hasn’t stepped down for anybody.

    Part of the release reads “…Consequently, the Alex Otti Campaign Organisation hereby states unequivocally that the reports by an online media blog that Dr. Alex Otti has stepped down for the APC candidate, Uche Ogah, is false and deliberate attempt by desperate politicians to demoralise and confuse the Abia electorates.                                                                                                                                                                                                          “The Alex Otti Campaign Organisation urges Ndi Abia to remain focused in our resolve to vote Dr. Otti, on Saturday, March 9, 2019 thereby enthroning credible leadership at the government house in Abia State and not be distracted by false rumours by rejected and hopeless politicians and their collaborators in the fake media.

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    “Just on Friday, March 1, 2019 the Accord Party governorship candidate, Barr. Emeka Uwakolam, led his deputy and teeming number of his party members to the Alex Otti Campaign Organisation where he formally stepped down for Dr. Otti, declaring that the APGA candidate stands tall above all the other candidates in the race.

    “Whereas this elicited excitement and hope across the political skyline of Abia State, it must have obviously sent shock waves across the camps of the opposition APC and the PDP, prompting the resort to fake news and propaganda by enemies of Abia State.

    “Abia people should be rest assured that Dr. Alex Otti is determined to win the March 9, 2019 election on the platform of APGA and will not trade that for anything. Just like we did in 2015, APGA will win the 2019 election, this time with even wider margin.

    “We urge Ndi Abia to remain vigilant and not allow anybody to pull wool over our eyes as we conclude the journey to reclaim our dear state next Saturday, from the hands of marauders who have plundered the state for past 20 years.”

  • PDP chides Obiano over suspension of taxes

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra state has described as deceptive the suspension of taxes by the State government few days to the State House of Assembly election.

    The party said it was worrisome that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)-controlled government would at any election time suspend taxes the people have paid at the beginning of the year.

    The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the party in the state, Nnamdi Nwangwu in a statement Monday in Nnewi, said the State Governor, Willie Obiano could no longer deceive the people of the state.

    Nwangwu urged the people of the state to use the March 9 Assembly election to prove to the governor they were not fools by voting the PDP candidates so they could check the governor’s excesses.

    Read Also: 2000 PDP members defect to APC in Kwara

    He said, “As far as we are concerned in PDP, the circle is complete for the Governor. He cannot take the good people of the state for a ride again. Enough is enough.

    “The House of Assembly needs quality individuals who can come up with laws that will push Anambra State to her pride of place in the comity of states and at the same time carry out their oversight functions accordingly.

    “A situation where the Assembly has been reduced to a rubber stamp institution that takes instructions from the governor is neither good for the state nor democracy.”

    Nwangwu reminded those blaming the people for voting for PDP in the presidential election, that it was the people’s inalienable rights to vote for whoever they wished.