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  • Court adjourns hearing on Imo APC Congress suit

    The Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, on Tuesday adjourned hearing on the suit, challenging the validity on the All Progressive Congress (APC) Congress in the state.

    Justice Lewis Allagoa granted the plaintiffs’ motion for substituted service on the defendants.

    The defendants include the APC National Organizing Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, the state Chairman of the party, Dr. Hilary Eke and others.

    The case was adjourned till June 22 to enable the court effect substituted service on the defendants.

    The plaintiffs’ counsel, Chidozie Ogundu, had raised motion exparte for an order of the court to serve the defendants by substituted service.

    The justice had last Friday issued an interim order restraining the APC or its cronies and representatives from conducting congress by maintaining “status quo anti bellum.”

    In the suit FHC/OW/CS/69/2018, Allagoa, also urged the legal practitioners handling the case to apply professional dexterity to ensure there were no lapses and undue delays recorded.

    Chidozie Ogunji led team of lawyers appeared for the plaintiffs while Chief Soronnadi Njoku, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Imo State, appeared for the defendants.

    The court had earlier granted an order of interim injunction “restraining the defendants, their privies, servants, agents or any one acting on their behalf or any organ of the APC from holding a Local Government Area congress of the party or any other congress in Imo State pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”

     

     

  • I didn’t call for APC congress cancellation – Sagay

    The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), on Monday denied calling for the cancellation of All Progress Congress (APC) Ward Congress held on May 5 in Imo State.

    A national newspaper quoted Sagay as saying in a May 19 report that the cancellation became necessary due to the unreliability of the Congress outcome and the crisis that greeted the exercise.

    “The election has to be repeated. They should cancel it and repeat it; what was done is not reliable in view of what has happened,” the PACAC chief was quoted as saying in the report.

    But, in a statement, Sagay said he never spoke to any reporter on the issue, describing the report as “fake.”

    He said: “The above interview is fake. It never happened. I have always willingly responded to requests for my views, on virtually any subject matter issue by members of the press.

    “Therefore, there is absolutely no excuse for a reporter to cook up a story and ascribe it to me as my views during an interview.

    “My so-called ‘call for the cancellation of APC ward Congress’ was fake, fraudulent and dishonest. No reporter contacted me on the matter and I could not have responded to a non-existent interview.

    “This sort of forgery ultimately sours the good relationship between the press and those interviewed. I am, therefore, not surprised that no reporter’s name was credited for the false interview.”

     

  • APC congress: Ondo NUJ decries attack on members

    •Boroffice flays attack on reporters, party leaders

    The Ondo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned those behind Saturday’s attack and manhandling of its members covering the All Progressives Congress (APC) factional state congress in Akure, the state capital.

    In a statement by its State Secretary, Leke Adegbite, NUJ expressed displeasure over alleged failure of security operatives to arrest the political thugs who attacked journalists in the course of their lawful duty.

    The union urged security agencies to bring to justice those who molested its members, including Damisi Ojo of The Nation, Bamigbola Gbolagunte of Daily Sun and James Sowole of ThisDay.

    Other journalists on the scene escaped by the whiskers.

    NUJ said it was ready to work with relevant agencies to ensure the arrest and prosecution of those behind the attack on its members.

    The union urged security agencies to always check political violence in Ondo State as the country prepares for the 2019 general elections.

    Armed political thugs invaded the BTO Hall venue of a parallel APC state congress in Akure on Saturday where some journalists covering their beats were beaten up by the hoodlums.

    Also, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and senator representing Ondo North, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, has decried the attack on party leaders and some journalists by suspected political thugs during Saturday’s state congress of the party in Akure, the state capital.

    In a statement yesterday by his media aide, Kayode Fakuyi, the senator described the attack on politicians and journalists as condemnable, barbaric and unacceptable.

    Boroffice condemned the assault on the member of the House of Representatives for Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Bamidele Baderinwa and other prominent politicians at BTO Hall in Akure.

    He said: “It is most unfortunate that the culprits also attacked journalists who were on the ground to cover the event: Sunkanmi Elujoba of Adaba FM, Damisi Ojo of The Nation, Bamigbola Gbolagunte of The Sun, Olumide Abudu of Radio Nigeria’s Positive FM, James Sowole of ThisDay, who is also the chairman of the state NUJ.

    “I sympathise with NUJ in Ondo State and the Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ in Ondo State in this moment of travail and tribulation. The brutal attack on journalists indicates a brazen attack on the Press. The day of the attack remains a dark day. It also represents a major setback in the advancement of principles of freedom of the Press and safety of pressmen.”

    The statement urged the NUJ to liaise and work with appropriate authorities to forestall a recurrence.

    It said: “The Ondo State Police Command is urged to swiftly apprehend and prosecute the assailants of politicians and journalists. The task before the police command is quite easy because the assailants are known persons with known addresses.

    “The police command is forewarned that any notion to look the other way or sweep the matter under the carpet will only embolden and encourage the political thugs to wreak more havoc and mayhem on the people of Ondo State ahead of the 2019 general elections.”

     

  • Adetimehin is new APC chairman in Ondo

    Mr. Ade Adetimehin on Saturday emerged the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State.

    Adetimehin, who had been functioning in acting capacity since a former chairman of the party, Mr. Isaac Kekemeke, was suspended for anti- party activities in 2016, garnered 990 out of 1,001 votes cast by the delegates.

    36 persons emerged as members of the newly constituted executive committee in the state.

    Adetimehin thanked the party members for giving him the opportunity to lead the party for the next four years.

    NAN

     

     

  • Serving commissioner emerges APC chairman in Zamfara

    The Commissioner for Health in Zamfara State, Alhaji Lawali Liman, on Saturday emerged the new chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.

    The Chairman of the party’s Congress Committee, Alhaji Umar Dambo, said Liman emerged as a consensus candidate following agreement reached by party elders and stakeholders in the state.

    Liman had served as the Chairman of Kaura-Namoda Local Government Council before he was re-appointed by Governor Abdulaziz Yari as commissioner in the state’s executive council.

    He also served as the state Commissioner for Rural and Community Development before he was redeployed to the Ministry of Health.

    NAN

  • Oyegun, Edo Speaker shun Edo APC Congress

    The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun and the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Alhaji Kabiru Adjoto, were absent at the party’s state Congress held on Saturday.

    The Congress took place at the Imaguero College Hall and was attended by delegates from the 18 local government areas of the state.

    All the party executive members were elected through affirmation by the delegates after a consensus arrangement.

    Checks revealed that 70 per cent of the incumbent state executive members were returned while the former Woman Leader in the state, Aisosa Amadasun, was named the Organising Secretary.

    Those elected through affirmation were – Barr. Anselm Ojezua (Chairman), Pastor Kenneth Asekhame (Deputy Chairman), Lawrence Okah (Secretary), Anthony Ikhuenobo (Assistant Secretary), while the State Vice Chairman (South) is Benson Edosomwan.

    Others were – Chief Sunny Okomanyi (Vice Chairman, North) Ohiomwan George (Legal Adviser), Salihu Momoh (Treasurer), Prince Osazuwa (Assistant Treasurer), Chris Azebamwan (Publicity Secretary), Timothy Osadolor (Auditor), Betty Patricia Okoebor (Woman Leader) and Valentine Asuen (Youth Leader).

    The Chairman of the Edo State Congress Committee, Prof. Okey Onyejekwe, said it was remarkable that the party leaders in Edo opted for consensus arrangement.

  • APC defies court order, holds Congress in Imo

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday held a shadow State Congress in an undisclosed location in Imo State in defiance of a Federal High Court’s order restraining the party from conducting the Congress.

    In the exercise that was concealed from journalists, the suspended State Chairman of the party, Dr. Hillary Eke was returned as the chairman.

    It would be recalled that the Federal High Court sitting in Owerri has stopped the APC from going ahead with the state congress slated for Saturday.

    Five members of the party in the state had gone to court, seeking an interim order on the Congress.

    The plaintiffs in the case are – Barr. Manchu Augustine, Anumhinu China Jude, Akudinobi Umunna, Ekwebelum Sammy Kelechi and Joseph Ilechukwu, while the respondents are the APC, INEC, the National Organising Secretary of the party, Osita Izunaso, the state chairman of the party, chairman of the ward and local government congress committees and six others.

    Meanwhile, the state Secretariat of the APC was sealed off by stern looking policemen to apparently enforce the court order stopping the Congress.

    Speaking from his hideout, Eke said the state Congress has been concluded, adding that the party was not aware of any court order stopping the Congress.

    He said: “We decided to hold the Congress in an undisclosed venue to stop security agencies that have become partisan from truncating the exercise. We are not aware of any court order restraining us.

    “We have 1,500 delegates from the 305 Wards in the state that participated in the Congress and I was returned as the state chairman of the party.”

    But the state Secretary of the party, Mr. Obioma Ireagwu, said that no Congress was held in the state because of an existing court order stopping the exercise.

     

  • Yaro retains APC chairmanship seat in Benue

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State on Saturday afternoon returned the incumbent State Chairman of the party, Prince Emmanuel Abba Yaro and other members of the state executive committee for another term in office.

    In a motion moved by Barr. John Ochoga and seconded by Hon. John Dyegh, the party adopted the executive committee led for another four years.

    The Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Paul Chukwuka, said since there is no opposition to the motion adopting Yaro and other members of the executive committee, he has no option than to declare the party officials winner of the elective congress.

    Yaro thanked the party stakeholders and the delegates for the opportunity to serve the party for another four years.

    He promised to lead the party to victory in the 2019 general election.

  • Tunde Balogun emerges Lagos APC chairman

     

    … Ametuo wins in Kogi

    Alhaji Tunde Balogun on Saturday emerged the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos.

    The Chairman of APC Congress Committee in the state, Senator Uche Ekwuenife, has earlier said there would be no voting during the exercise.

    Thus the new executives were picked based on affirmation by the delegates.

    Also, Alhaji Haddi Ametuo has emerged as the factional chairman of the party in Kogi State.

    The erstwhile party chieftain emerged at the APC parallel Congress held at Felele area of Lokoja, the state capital.

    The faction has the backing of the Audu/Faleke APC Political Organization, while Alhaji Ibrahim Ahovi, the Acting Chairman of the party in the state, was supported by Governor Yahaya Bello.

    The Congress produced a secretary and 25 other state executive members.

    The Director General of Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, has however described the group as lacking morals and discipline.

    According to Fanwo, Ametuo and his “co-travellers” have committed a “political treason.”

    Fanwo, in a statement in Lokoja, described the group as a “shameless fraud that had no regard for the APC constitution.”

     

     

  • Court stops Imo State APC congress

    A Federal high court sitting in Owerri, the Imo state capital has stopped the All Progressives Congress (APC) from going ahead with the state congress scheduled for Saturday, May 19, 2018. Five members of the party in the state had gone to court seeking an interim order to stop the congress from going ahead with the congress pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    Presiding Judge, Justice Lewis Allagoa said it is hereby ordered that “the respondents are hereby ordered to appear in court on the next adjourned date to show cause why the order should not be granted. The plaintiff in the case are Barrister Manchu Augustine, Anumhinu China Jude, Akudinobi Umunna, Ekwebelum Sammy Kelechi and Joseph Ilechukwu, while the respondents are the APC, INEC, the National Organising Secretary of the party, Osita Izunaso, the state chairman of the party, Chief Hilary Eke, Chairman of the ward and local government congress committee and six others.

    “That time is hereby abridged to order that the return date shall be provided that the respondents are served 48hours before then and that all parties should maintain the status quo anti bellium”. The court adjourned the matter to 22nd May for further hearing. The plaintiffs are seeking an interim injunction to stop the conduct of local government and any other congress pending the determination of the suit.