The Nation Newspaper

Tag: APC candidate

  • My plan for Benue, by APC candidate

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress ( APC) in Benue State Emmanuel Jime, has assured the people of Sankera of infrastructure development to boast agriculture.

    Sankera geo-political bloc comprise Katsina Ala, Ukum and Logo local Government areas in Benue North East Senatorial District.

    The APC in Sankera hosted Jime to a reception and rally after a thanksgiving service at NKST Zakibiam, in Ukum Local Government Area.

    Speaking at the rally held at NKST Primary School in Zakibiam and was attended by a crowd  of APC supporters, Jime said when elected, he would boast agricultural through the opening up of rural roads.

    He said: “What Sankera need is rural roads to transport their agricultural products and industries to process their produce and make more money.”

    Jime said his administration would recognise the status Benue as the food basket of the nation and Sankera as the home of yam produce. He promised to provide farm implements, fertilisers and other incentives for farmers.

    He commended APC supporters for being peaceful in their conduct  and advised them not to sell their voters cards.

    The former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assemby said President Muhammadu Buhari meant well for the state, adding that this accounted for the reason he released bail outs and Parish Club  fund to cater for workers .

    At the rally, defectors from SDP, PDP and APGA joined the APC.

     

  • APC candidate to empower more women, youths

    Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ibadan South East and North East Federal Constituency Deji Aboderin has promised to empower women, youths and care for the aged, if elected.

    According to him, he had empowered over 2,000 youths, women and traders, saying many aged people had benefited from his gesture.

    The APC candidate, who addressed reporters yesterday in Ibadan, said his party “is waxing stronger everyday”.

    He said: “Traders, youths, market men and women have realised that the APC-led government means well for Nigerians. In the last three years, we have seen developments in infrastructure and human development.

    “I have empowered more than 2,000 individuals. I don’t want to promise what is not achievable because we will empower people based on resources available. Definitely, it will be far more than what we have are doing before now because of the government’s intervention.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Abiola Ajimobi have done well in job creation. We will complement their efforts by empowering more people in the next four years. I have also decided to facilitate Federal Government jobs for youths in my constituency. Other areas are the sponsorship of bills with direct bearing on our people when I get to the green chamber.

    “I am not a politician who will not walk his talk. I will deliver on all promises. I will further fulfil my charity obligations by bringing in local and foreign donors to support and assist our people. Remember I was in England for years, and I have a number of people I have built relationships with.”

    On the achievements of President Buhari that will make the people in the Southwest vote for his party, Aboderin said: “You can see the road network from Lagos to Ibadan almost completed. Rail transportation from Lagos to Ibadan will also be ready next year. Abuja to other parts of the North will be completed soon. The level of corruption in the country is reducing and we have achieved in many areas.

    “I believe that in the next four years, if Nigerians vote for APC at all levels, things will continue to get better.”

     

  • Anambra Central: Ngige, APC candidate begin door-to-door campaigns

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen Chris Ngige and the Anambra Central senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC, Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, say President Muhammadu Buhari’s achievements are enough sign posts for the party’s victory in 2019.

    Even at that, both told The Nation yesterday in Awka, the party had begun door to door campaigns in all elective positions in the state.

    Okonkwo, who is the APC candidate for Anambra Central senatorial zone, a known figure in the state, said he was battle ready for the election.

    Both said the completion of the Zik’s mausoleum in Onitsha, abandoned by previous administrations, the ongoing work at the 2nd Niger bridge among others were added advantage to the APC candidates in the state.

    Furthermore, the training and empowerment of over 5000 youths and women, in Anambra by the Buhari government had lifted the confidence of the people in the state and swayed their support for APC.

    According to Ngige, “ this administration is not playing politics like the other parties when it comes to the welfare of the citizenry, thing are tough but the administration is putting them right for tomorrow.

    “APC is fully prepared and ready to take Anambra Central senatorial zone during 2019 general elections and we are not joking about it.

    “For the candidate, there was no cause for alarm, adding that the party and its members had put everything in motion in Anambra to become victorious and that is why we are campaigning vigorously from house to house.”

  • Abe to court: declare me APC candidate

    •Judgment on January 7

    Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers Southeast) has asked the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt to declare him the governorship candidate of Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 election.

    Abe’s lawyer Henry Bello urged the court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare Abe and other candidates produced by the primaries he conducted authentic candidates for the party in 2019, following the voiding of the congresses and indirect primaries conducted by the faction loyal to Rotimi Amaechi group for disobeying court order.

    But the defendants’ lawyer, Kayode Alatoki, insisted the court did not spare any faction, stressing that the judgment said “congresses and primaries”, which were inclusive of any action conducted by anybody identified with the name, “APC”. He, therefore, urged the court to strike out the suit for its frivolity.

    Alatoki maintained that the Court of Appeal’s judgment of Wednesday did not disqualify Tonye Cole and other APC candidates nominated in the indirect primaries conducted by the Rotimi Amaechi-led faction.

    “There is no order from the Court of Appeal that APC should not field candidates for the elections, it only said the APC did not obtain leave to appeal against consent judgment, which made the court to strike out the appeal. If an appeal is struck out, you can always come back to do the needful.”

    Alatoki told the court that Abe’s motion seeking to be declared the rightful candidate for next year’s polls was frivolous and baseless, because, according to him, the High Court judgment voided and set aside all congresses and primary elections conducted by APC in the state, and so the judgment also disqualified candidates that emerged through the primary elections conducted in disobedience to the order.

    The lawyer also urged the court to not just strike out the suit, but dismiss it completely for lacking in merit, saying the plaintiff’s application that the judgment was particular to the indirect primaries conducted by the Amaechi-led faction was false.

    He insisted the action of the party within the period of the court injunctions, which also included the primaries purportedly conducted by the Abe group, were affected by the court order.

    But Justice J.K. Omotoso adjourned the matter till January 7 for judgment.

  • ‘APC candidate will continue developmental projects across Lagos’

    The Lagos East Senatorial Coordinator of the Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu Independent Campaign Group, Mayor Dele Oshinowo, yesterday assured Lagosians that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will continue the developmental projects started across the state since 1999.

    Oshinowo stated this in a goodwill message he delivered at a rally that kick-started the party’s governorship campaign in the senatorial district.

    The Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) noted that a commercial state like Lagos deserves an experienced helmsman, not an experimenter.

    He noted that the state is too big for a beginner to find his rhythm.

    Oshinowo said: “Election period is a time to bring about a contest; it is also a moment for words of impossibilities to fly in the bid to secure votes. But in reality, words must be in tandem with possibilities.

    “Hence the Lagos of today, with its population and as the leading destination for investors in sub-Saharan Africa, is too big to be governed by a beginner, who has no cogent experience in governance.

    “…We must recognise that the success recorded thus far in Lagos since 1999 was made possible by the singular action of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who developed a blueprint, designed by the likes of Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka and other top-notch stakeholders.

    “In all sincerity, this blueprint has truly made Lagos a Centre of Excellence and a shining model for other states and countries to envy.”

  • 2019: APC candidate seeks peace

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Prince Musiliu Olaide Akinremi, has urged politicians to be peaceful during the campaigns.

    He said they should address issues bordering on how to move the country forward.

    Akinremi, popularly called Jagaban Ibadan North, said the campaigns should be issue-based, adding that candidates should tell the electorate the programmes they had for them to improve their lives.

    “We are expected to offer service to humanity. We should comport ourselves during campaigns and educate our supporters on the need to be peaceful. They should abhor thuggery,” he said.

    Akinremi said APC’s brand coupled with Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s giant strides since 2011 would ensure victory for the party’s candidates at the polls in Oyo State and all over the country “because we are the party to beat in the coming elections.”

    He said the era of violence and thuggery was gone in Oyo State and urged politicians to play the game according to the rule by shunning character assassination, since “we are all aspiring to give the people democratic dividends.”

    Akinremi said consultations by his team in the last few days were yielding results and thanked “the good people of Ibadan North Federal Constituency for their love and support in my quest to offer them quality representation in the House of Representatives.”

    The politician, a member of the foremost Ibadan social club, Omo Ajorosun, thanked APC leaders, community elders, Mogajis, youths and women from across Ibadan North for their moral support and words of encouragement since the consultations began last week.

    He assured them that he would not let them down if elected.

     

  • Kwara by-election: Gunmen attack APC candidate

    •Lai Mohammed condemns attack

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Irepodun/Ekiti/Oke-Ero and Isin Federal Constituency in tomorrow’s by-lection, Mr Raheem Olawuyi, was allegedly attacked yesterday by unknown gunmen.

    Olawuyi’s campaign spokesman Femi David told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the APC candidate was attacked at Idofin Igbana during a campaign tour of Oke-Ero Local Government Area.

    The campaign team was said to have been led by some members of the APC state executives and party stalwarts.

    The assailants were said to have laid siege to the entrance of the town on the busy road before shooting at their target at close range.

    NAN reports that the back screen of Olawuyi’s Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) was shattered by the impact of the attack.

    Olawuyi, his driver and two other stalwarts of the party were said to have escaped unhurt in the SUV.

    The party supporters described the act as barbaric and crude, saying the perpetrators must face the full wrath of the law when apprehended.

    NAN reports that the community vigilantes mobilised and combed the surrounding bush to locate the perpetrators.

    Olawuyi, who addressed his supporters at Idofin Igbana afterwards at 2 a.m, urged them to remain calm and steadfast.

    Police spokesman Ajayi Okasami, A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), told NAN that they are awaiting official report about the incident from Omu Aran.

    NAN reports that Olawuyi and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the election, Mr Jimoh Alatise, are from Omu-Aran.

    Also, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, yesterday condemned the attack on Olawuyi.

    Muhammed, who described the incident as unfortunate, said the party would work with relevant agencies to ensure free, fair and credible election tomorrow as well as tight security before, during and after the poll.

    The minister addressed reporters on the side-line of a mega-rally of the party in Omu-Aran, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area.

    He said: “You can see from the enthusiasm and the vibrancy of this crowd. Some governorship rallies cannot match what we have here today.

    “There is no cause for alarm because security is guaranteed. We are aware of an attack on our candidate during his tour of his constituency.

    “This shows the opposition’s desperate attempt. But I challenge them to try it again.”

     

  • APC candidate to boost agric, youth employment

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Katsina Central Senatorial District Candidate, Kabir Abdullahi Barkiya has promised to boost agric produce and facilitate job opportunities to the people of his district.

    Barkiya defeated the incumbent senator representing the district, Ibrahim Umar Kurfi, to become APC flagbearer.

    He polled 1,466 votes to beat Col Abdulrazeez Yar’Adua (retd), who scored 913 votes, Senator Ibrahim Ida – 897 and Senator Kurfi – 141

    Barkiya, the former Managing Director of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and former Director of Federal Highways Southwest zone, had Masters in Civil Engineering.

    He thanked members of the APC for making him the party’s candidate.

    “This is just the first stage of the journey. The second stage, which is the biggest challenge, stirs us in the face like a full moon. I want you to start mobilising members of the public for the next year’s general election. We need to consolidate the victory at primary election by winning the main election. I trust you all to deliver victory for our great party,” he said.

    Barkiya urged his co-contestants to join hands with him to move the state forward.

    “In any contest, there will be winner and loser but in this situation of ours, we are all winners because our common goal is to develop our district and Katsina State in general. I will work my colleagues to ensure that the APC clinches the senatorial seat in 2019,” he said.

    The civil and highway engineering consultant promised better representation at the Red Chamber if elected next year.

    According to him, youth empowerment will be one of his cardinal goals at the Senate.

    “Our population is increasing by the day. We need to get our youths busy with positive things that will aid the development of our country. If our youths are engaged, they won’t be misled and crimes will reduce drastically in our communities. With this, we can woo foreign investors and create more jobs for our teeming population,” he said.

    Barkiya said the investors can take advantage of abundance resources in the state to make good returns for their investments.

    “For example, we have mango in abundance. Foreigners with technical know-how can tap into that to invest in mango juice and other things they could derive from mango.

    “It can also be exported, hence earning more foreign currencies and boasting our economy. Since the Federal Government is doing much to diversify our economy, I wish the Minister of Agriculture Chief Audu Ogbeh looks into this direction. The Federal Government can help our farmers with necessary training, capacity building seminars and provision of raw materials to grow mangoes that would meet international standard,” he said.

  • Abe: I remain APC candidate in Rivers

    The lawmaker representing Rivers Southeast, Senator Magnus Abe, has said he is the authentic governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC).

    But a chieftain of APC in Rivers, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, faulted Abe and warned against compensating Abe’s rebellion with a senatorial ticket.

    Last Sunday, Abe was declared winner of the governorship direct primary election organised by his faction in the 319 wards of the 23 councils, which was coordinated by its Acting Chairman, Prince Peter Odike, a former deputy chairman of Rivers APC.

    The ruling APC’s NWC and the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s)-backed indirect governorship primary in Port Harcourt on Sunday, was won by the co-founder of Sahara Group, Tonye Cole.

    Abe’s spokesman Parry Benson said: “Senator Magnus Abe remains the governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers State, following the mandate freely given to him by members of the APC during last Sunday’s governorship primary election in the state.

    “The one thing presently occupying the mind of Distinguished Senator Abe is to actualise his ambition as governor of Rivers State, through a peaceful, acceptable and constitutional means in 2019, in order to deliver democratic dividends to Rivers people and transform the state into an enviable haven of industrialisation and attract real investments.”

    In his Twitter handle yesterday morning, Abe said: “I bought the form for governor, and I am running for the office of governor. Relax, ladies and gentlemen, keep faith and work hard. Our struggle has just begun and our day of glory shall surely come.”

    Eze, however, asked the national leadership and Rivers state chapter not to send a wrong signal to members by embarking on any act that could destroy the principles on which the party was set up, through giving Abe the senatorial ticket.

    He said: “Compensating Abe with APC’s senatorial ticket and denying the legitimate aspiration of a loyal party leader like Amb. Oji Ngofa will not only be suicidal, but sending the message that rebelling against the party’s authorities will ultimately be compensated with juicy rewards. It will also escalate the crisis within the party.

    “Abe earlier attempted to lure me into his project of tearing down the influence of the Minister for Transportation, but I rejected it, to avoid sabotaging Rivers APC. I advised him not to venture into such an ungodly act that might nail his political career, but he went ahead and today he has lost his political relevance in Rivers State.

    “The senator (Abe) is not only a personal friend, but a brother very dear to my heart and family. I have nothing against any aspiration that he intends to pursue, but I will not support any of his acts that will be detrimental to the collective aspiration of APC in Rivers State.”

    The APC chieftain urged politicians to always avoid acts that portray them as traitors, ingrates, inhuman and heartless.

     

  • APC candidate Ekere: they shot into my bedroom

    A bullet was fired into the Uyo home of All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State Mr. Nsima Ekere yesterday, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) said yesterday.

    Ekere said he “narrowly escaped an assassination attempt”.

    Narrating how it happened, Ekere said he was meeting party leaders in the nearby residence of the Managing Director of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, Mr Umana Umana, when the bullet was fired into his upstairs bedroom where his wife and sister were at the time.

    Following a distress call from his wife, Obong Ekere, accompanied by party leaders, rushed home to the scene of the incident.

    The scene was subsequently cordoned off and the expended bullet taken away by security agents following the visit of Commissioner of Police Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi and some personnel from the Police and the Department of State Security (DSS).

    The Police however declined to speak on the matter when contacted by our reporter.

    Ekere said that the incident was disturbing coming at the beginning of the electioneering season and shortly after an attack on the residence of Senator Godswill Akpabio.

    He appealed to Inspector-General of Police and the DSS Director-General to take a serious look at the security situation in the state and the attempt on his life coming shortly after Governor Udom Emmanuel recruited some notorious retired and serving security personnel who previously served in the state to form his security architecture.

    Obong Ekere also condemned the destruction of some of his campaign billboards in Uyo

    “We don’t understand this level of intolerance for the opposition. Democracy is about allowing people to choose who they want. I call on the federal government to cause the state government to allow democracy to thrive in Akwa Ibom State without let or hindrance,” he said.

    The APC State Caucus Chairman Chief Don Etiebet described the assassination attempt on Ekere as callous, sad and untoward and called on security agencies to thoroughly investigate it.

    APC Chairman Ini Okopido, said the party was shocked that “we just nominated a candidate two days ago and they came here to kill him today.”

    He criticized the state government for issuing a nolle prosequi to discontinue the trial of suspected PDP thugs who were arraigned in court by the police for violently disrupting a rally by APC in Ika, his local government area.

    Senator Akpabio, recalled the attack on his residence and said the assassination attempt on Ekere was a panicky measure to intimidate the APC which is heading for victory in the state.

    “Now, it is very clear that this is an orchestrated attempt to intimidate the APC. When they say that APC is in opposition, I disagree. If we were in opposition before, now with the influx of Akwa Ibom people into APC in the last one and a half months, I can tell you that the APC is actually the majority party in Akwa Ibom State. What is happening is a panicky measure.’

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang said:  “we will not be threatened to back down on the decision to sweep Udom Emmanuel’s PDP Government out of Akwa Ibom State in the next election and to elect Obong Nsima Ekere as our Governor in 2019 because no matter the threats and antics, the people of Akwa Ibom State are determined.”