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Tag: APC Congresses

  • Appeal court upholds nullification of Rivers APC congresses

     

    A special Appeal panel sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Wednesday struck out the three appeal suits by factional chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, Ojukaye Flag Amachree, on the October 10, 2018 judgement of a state High court over the outcome of the party’s congresses held last May.

    Twenty-three aggrieved members of the party, who protested their exclusion from the party’s ward, local government and state congresses ahead of the party’s national congress held same May in Abuja, had approached the court to stop the perceived illegal exercise from taking place in the state.

    The aggrieved persons, who allegedly purchased forms to contest for various position at the state but claimed to have been illegally excluded filed the suit  under the name, Ibrahim Umar and 22 others verses the APC.

    At the originating summon, the plaintiffs were granted their prayers as the High Court presided over by Justice Chinwendu Nwogu issued an order of injunction stopping the conduct of the congresses.

    But the APC ignored the order and conducted the exercise, which later produced Amachree and others as the incumbent state party executives.

    Amachree and others later conducted the September 31, 2018 state primary elections, which produced Arc. Tonye Dele Cole as its flag bearer.

    However, the state High court in a judgement on October 10, on Ibrahim Umar and 23 others against APC voided the congresses that produced Amachree and all outcomes of the primary elections, including the election of Cole on the grounds of disobedience to the court order.

    Amachree appealed the judgment and the Appeal court nullified the judgment.

    Ibrahim Umar and 22 others moved to the Supreme Court, which voided the Appeal court decision and asked for a repeat.

    In the process several other suits were filed before Appeal on the same suits.

    The party, Umar and others requested for a special panel to hear the retrial and the President of the Appeal court constituted a three-man panel chaired by Justice Yahaya, which struck out the suit on Wednesday.

    Yayaha said the appeal lacked competence in its entirety hence the dismissal.

    He said the appeal against the Justice Chinwendu Nwogu High Court judgement on the party congress crisis lacks merit, adding that the application for joinder failed to observe the 14- day rules of Appeal.

    On the substantive suit, the Judge said the ruling on the substantive appeal that bordered on Justice Nwogu’s judgement that the Ojukaye faction failed to seek leave of court before appealing against the judgement.

    He ruled that the judgement delivered at the Lower Court was a consent judgement, adding the Ojukaye’s faction should have done the needful legally before approaching the court.

    He said: “This matter is between one party. What is going to happen when it is between separate parties?

    “In politics, we are brothers, same house and we are throwing stones on each other. Please let’s reconcile and settle this,” he advised.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Lalong, 2019 and APC congresses

    Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State is fast emerging as a deft political leader and operator. Two significant situations which largely revolved around him in recent times attest to this.

    His party, the All Progressives Congress, APC held uniquely successful congresses in the state under his watch. The party’s local government congresses in the state were done peacefully and orderly in 15 out of the 17 local government areas of the state.

    The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Peter Azi, his colleague Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Baba Hassan and numerous appointees of Governor Simon Lalong, among other APC stakeholders supervised the exercise.

    Although the congresses were inconclusive in two local government areas of the state, Langtang North and Langtang South, the 80 percent success recorded is a laudable credit to the political machinery of Governor Lalong.

    Despite the disagreements in all the local government areas, parallel congresses were not held and no single violence erupted as was the case in several other states. The congresses have variously been described as being peaceful, credible and transparent.

    This, according to some observers, is a clear testimony to the fact that that the people of the state are still intact with the APC, and a pointer to the certainty that the party will win elections, come 2019.

    In Jos North the state capital, 27 positions of the Local Government executives were returned through affirmations being the contestants stand unopposed, based on consensus.

    However, the positions of Chairman and Secretary were contested and elections held peacefully in an orderly and creditable manner under the observations of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as national officers of the APC.

    In all the local governments where the congresses held, the process was generally described as free, fair and transparent, according to numerous eyewitness reports.

    The outcome of the congresses, according observers, signals the light for successful subsequent congresses at both the state and national levels.

    The development was described by a commentator as “an indication that our democracy is maturing with the people following the rules of election processes.”

    The commentator observed that the people of Plateau State deserve commendation for their orderliness and peaceful conduct during the congresses. He added that the state’s political leadership stands out for its maturity, transparency and attunement to the yearnings of the masses.

    The consistent payment of salaries by  Lalong’s rescue government is believed to have strengthened the economy of the state and endeared him to the masses. A former member of the House of Representatives and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lumumba Da’Adeh commented on this during a media interview: “Whenever salaries are paid, the economic activities in the state is heightened and by so doing people feel the positive impact while each time there is no salary for one to three months, as was the case with the previous government of PDP, everything virtually comes to a standstill. That was why the government decided to make payment of salaries a priority besides infrastructural development.

    “Plateau State is a core civil servants’ state. The economy of Plateau revolves around payment of salaries, so it is key to us, if it is not key to other states, it is key to us in Plateau that is why our governor has given it priority besides other infrastructural development. And that is why Governor Lalong and the APC will have a smooth ride politically come 2019.”

    The Five Pillar Policy of the Lalong Administration, the major peg of which is peace, is also generally believed to have impacted positively on the people of Plateau State. Da’Adeh stated: “Without peace can you have any progress and development? His administrative policies have direct bearing on the people, the governor has been able to sustain peace relatively in the state, despites the skirmishes here and there once in a while, people are being killed but government moves in that direction to take action immediately to stem them and he has done well in that regard. I know it very well that even in an atmosphere of absolute peace, there will always be disagreement, family, community and from different dimensions, it is a known fact that this government has done absolutely well in sustaining relative peace in the state.”

    The other situation in which Governor Lalong exhibited his political sagacity was at the national level when he was appointed to head a 10-member technical committee by his party, the APC, to resolve the controversy regarding the extension of the tenure of party officials.

    The technical committee successfully carried out its assignment and submitted its recommendations. The recommendations were accepted and implemented and the leadership logjam in the party became a thing of the past, as Lalong had projected while submitting the document to the party´s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, in Abuja.

    Lalong said: ´´The task appeared not easy when it was given to us, but with God on our side and the very wide consultations we made, we accomplished it. This report has solved most of the problems that we were thinking was within the APC, that is to tell you that there is democracy in the party.”

    Lalong added that in carrying out the assignment, the committee was guided by the party´s constitution and the 1999 Constitution of the country. The committee also looked at the minutes of the party´s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of Feb. 27 where the decision to extend the Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC and other party executives by one year starting from June was taken.”

    President Muhammadu Buhari, at another NEC meeting on March 27, opposed the tenure extension decision, saying it was illegal and unconstitutional. The president had explained that the decision was causing acrimony within the party, with some members not comfortable with the matter, dragging the party to court.

    Lalong reported: ´´We also looked at the passion and the commitment of the President towards keeping the party as one and at the end of the day, we made far-reaching recommendations. We noticed that there were different interests, which is quite usual when you have a party like this that is progressive.”

    Lalong added that the interests identified were genuine, and that the committee was able ´´to marry´´ all interests for the party to move forward.”

    Receiving the report, Chief Odigie-Oyegun commended the committee for the job. “Finally,” he said, “the recommendations in your report will lay to rest the ghost that has been hovering over the leadership of APC.´´

    And that exactly was what Lalong committee’s report has achieved – thus taking his political a notch higher.

  • Ita-Giwa lauds Bakassi people over APC congresses

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has lauded the people of Bakassi local government area people for their cooperation to “conduct the democratic process of a very transparent, keenly contested and well-attended congresses, both at ward and local government levels.”

    Ita-Giwa, a former Presidential Adviser told The Nation in Calabar, that she does not belong to any faction and joined the APC to work with others and ensure the success of the party and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Her words, “My being in the APC is to join hands to ensure that the party succeeds and wins elections. My interest is the party and the president. I do not have any ambition to contest any election, neither do I belong to any faction.

    “My advice right now is that Nigerians should work towards the sustenance of democracy and for the success. All members of the party should come together and work as a family for the success of the party and sustenance of democracy. Unity is very important in a political party.”

     

     

  • APC congresses: Buhari should pacify aggrieved chieftains

    The senator representing Zamfara Central District, Kabiru Marafa, is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with reporters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he says the party’s ward, local government and state congresses have further polarised the chapter. Onyedi Ojiabor was there.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has conducted three parallel congresses in Zamfara State. You are an arrowhead of one of the groups. There were parallel congresses in the state during the ward, local government and state. What has been your experience.

    There was an incident in my local government. The police, I believe, under the instruction of the state government, mobilised heavily to prevent an innocent citizen from carrying out his civic responsibility; that is me.

    On Saturday, 12th of May was the date fixed by the APC for Local Government Congresses, and as a party man and a politician, I drove to my local government headquarters where the event was supposed to take place. On reaching there I met a massive security build up comprising of mobile policemen and Civil Defence operatives. Before I left I learnt the Police Area Commander was there. I went to ask one of the policemen where the Area Commander was. I was directed to a place, but before I could turn around, there was an APC vehicle this time, not APC political party, but armored personnel carrier. I asked where the Area Commander was. I was told they could not see him. Before I knew it, one of my mobile policemen was manhandled. So I moved to ask what was the problem. Before I know it, they threw tear gas just right in front of me. The mobile policeman was manhandled, harassed and disarmed; my orderly was equally disarmed. So I tried to ask what the problem was. They were just busy throwing tear gas. But I thank God that did not deter me. I went ahead to carry out what I was there for.

    What was the intention of disarming your orderly and the mobile policeman attached to you?

    The whole thing was just to stop me from organizing or conducting my own local government congress. But, the beauty of it is that the world has seen that the state government lacked confidence of the people; that is why there was that massive police or security buildup. If you are popular and in politics you don’t need any security agent to help you organize your own congress.

    What do you consider the implication of what transpired at the venue of the congress?

    I don’t know, I’m not a policeman but I’m still asking question to find out the implication of what they did.

    For them to disarm the mobile policeman and the orderly that was attached to me in the middle of a gathering, I think it is criminal because the intent was to expose me to harm. If not because the people that gathered there were for Marafa, only God knows what would have happened. This Inspector did nothing criminal, he was on his lawful duty, he was assigned to me by the Inspector General in view of the problem in Zamfara. I took the position and applied to the IG and he was legally attached to me. For somebody to just come and disarm him in the middle of a programme, speaks volume especially from officers that have failed to carryout their constitutional responsibilities.

    What did you deduce from the scenario?

    I would not know their intention because I’m not God, but my deductions are that the state government has lost popularity and touch with the people so they are afraid of elections. What I simply asked was that these congresses be conducted as and how it is dictated; let us follow our guidelines; that was all what I asked for. What does the guideline say? This is how the ward congresses should be conducted; this is how the local government should go; this is how the state congress should go. Why the massive buildup of security? If you had done the right thing, just allow it, people will see, people will be the judges too. So, why are you building this massive security buildup around the place? The whole essence I don’t know. It was aimed at either embarrassing me or intimidating me. But that is not possible because the security build up cannot stop me from defending my right. Possibly maybe, they wanted me harmed, but God protected me and that is the most important thing. It is not the police around me that protect me, it is just precaution.

    It appears that what happened in your state was not isolated. The same scenario was replicated in other states. What does it portend for your party, the APC?

    For me, this is my own personal opinion, after looking at the whole congresses, the way it started, you know what the party did and everything. There is massive conspiracy against the party and against the leader of the party, the president of the country. Because here we are,  a party that is organising a congress, if you look at the first scenario, some people just came up with the idea of one year extension for the members of NWC. The president was advised that that extension was illegal and it will portend serious problem to the success of the party. The president put his feet down and said we should go for elective congresses or consensus where possible. The party came up with guidelines on how these congresses should be conducted, but the same party that produced these guidelines, they were the first people that broke the rules. In one of the clauses in the guidelines, they said forms should be filled and returned within 24 hours. But, the NWC of APC, they didn’t even meet the committees until Thursday evening. The committees started going to their stations on Friday. They said, if you are desirous of contesting pay your monies into dedicated account. They gave seven accounts, pay so much amount, collect forms and return it 12 hours before election.  Now, two things they did. They didn’t give the committees the forms to go to the state with. Two, there was no clear 24 hours to collect the form, fill it and return it. The whole thing, it was a kind of sabotage, that this thing will be rancorous, that there will be parallel congresses, and a set of executive will be established for each state, the whole thing comes to just one thing, another sabotage.

    In Zamfara, there were parallel congresses. We have now two sets of executives…

    I followed due process from beginning up till where we are now. Now the state government didn’t, but because they have security apparatuses at their disposal, they used it to show the world they are this, they are that, that is not the issue. The NWC like I said when I appeared before the appeal committee, I have submitted to the appeal committee full documentation of everything, they will rule.

    Next, the final arbiter is the NWC. The NWC is also not too confident, they will look at this things because as far as I’m concerned, there are some people among them that are desirous of scuttling these processes thereby endangering the electoral success of APC. They may rule against me for instance; one thing I’m sure of is that the court will rule in my favour.

    So, if you take this scenario and put it in several states, if these states, may be more than half of the total delegates that will vote in any convention, may be the presidential candidate will be determined, after the primary election, there are going to be pre-election cases in different courts and the courts will definitely do the needful because when you look at the massive evidence against everything, there is just nothing.

    The governors didn’t even comply with this provision of the guideline to pay monies into the accounts. They were simply allocated forms. I paid, my people paid. I have my receipts. I have everything. The net effect, the final result, to me, this is my own opinion, there are people out there who had long concluded that they cannot beat the president in a normal election, what they are looking for is technical knockout, to plan something that could be challenged in court, that will nullify any election, God forbid, after the election.

    Unless the party does what is right, unless the leaders at the top look at these things eye ball to eye ball, what are these people up to, who are these people that are doing these things, there is going to be a problem.

    Did INEC officials monitor the congress?

    INEC is an umpire. They just look at everybody, and they have the guidelines. That is what INEC does. Who complied with the guideline? What did you do in your own place? There is what they call ward and local government congress committee that is sent by the party. This committee was dead on arrival.

    My candidates emerged unopposed because they are the only candidates that fully satisfied the provision of the APC guideline and that is the foundation, you cannot build on the sand, anything put on top of that will collapse. These things are likely going to be challenged in court and the courts are going to rule in favour of those that followed due process.

    I intend to protest what happened in Tsafe to the highest authority in the country. This is a state that is suffering from incessant security challenges. This is quite unfortunate and I am going to challenge or write petition against the commissioner of police in Zamfara and the mobile commander for disarming my personnel who was lawfully on duty. The police was approved for me. I will make sure that this inspector that is detained, he is still been detained in Gusau for doing nothing. People move around in the state freely with automatic rifles. They have not arrested anybody but an innocent colleague of theirs was molested in my presence. This is quite unfortunate. Nigeria is not a banana republic. We have laws in this country that must be respected at all times. People that have failed in their primary responsibility of protecting the people disarm some people while the bandits are being armed daily and nobody is doing anything.

     

  • APC congresses: Dogara, nine others drag Oyegun to court

    THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and nine others have sued the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, over the conduct of ward and local government congresses of the party in Bauchi State.

    The plaintiffs claimed that the conduct of the congresses was in breach of the APC Constitution and congress guidelines.

    They asked the court to halt today’s state congress in their state on account of the pending suit.

    It was learnt that the action might be the last battle Dogara will fight in APC before defecting to the People’s Democratic Party.

    In the suit filed by A.U. Mustapha, SAN from A.U. Mustapha, SAN & Co, the Speaker alleged that the results of ward and local government congresses in the state were “cooked up.”

    The defendants are APC, Oyegun, National Secretary of APC, State Chairman of APC, Dr. Tony Macfoy and Mr. Sam Para.

    Apart from Dogara, other plaintiffs are Senators Sulaiman Nazif, Isa Hammah Misau and Muhammad Muhammad; Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame; Hon. Ibrahim Zailani; Amb. Yusuf M. Tuggar and Captain Mohammed Bala Jibrin.

    The 10 aggrieved stalwarts sought the following reliefs from the Federal High Court, Abuja:

    An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants by themselves or through their agents, assigns, privies staff or any other person or persons acting through them from recognising, ratifying or according legitimacy to the ward and local government congresses of the All Progressives Congress conducted in Bauchi State on the 5th and 12th day of May respectively, pending the determination of the motion on notice.

    An order of interim injunction restraining the Defendants, their agents, cohorts, privies or any other persons deriving authority from recognising the purported ward and local government congresses conducted in Bauchi on 5th and 12th days of May, 2018 respectively.

    A declaration that the purported ward and local government congresses of the All Progressives Congress purportedly conducted in Bauchi State on the 5th and 12th days of May 2018 respectively are illegal, invalid, null and void and of no  effect whatsoever.

    A declaration that the results declared by the 5th Respondent pursuant to the purported ward and local government congresses are  illegal, invalid, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

    An order restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants from recognising the purported ward and local government congresses of the All Progressives Congress conducted in Bauchi State on the 5th and 12th days of May, 2018 respectively.

    An order directing the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Defendants to immediately conduct fresh wards and local government congresses in Bauchi State.

    An order restraining the persons who were declared as winners at the purported wards and local government congresses purportedly held on the 5th and 12th days of May, 2018 respectively from parading themselves as executive officers/delegates of the 1st Defendant’s wards and local government Areas of Bauchi State.

    An order stopping them from conducting or taking any step to conduct the state congress of the All Progressives Congress or any other congress in Bauchi State pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.

    While suit  FHC/ABJ/CS/521/2018 has not been assigned by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdu Kafarati, the Speaker wrote a letter to  Oyegun (through his counsel) requesting the party to stay action on the state congress today in view of the pending action.

    The letter said in part: “The above subject matter refers. We are counsel to the Plaintiffs (hereinafter referred to as “Our Clients”)  in the above named suit instituted by the Plaintiffs challenging the legality of the conduct of the Ward and Local Government Congresses purportedly held on the 5th and 12th days of May, 2018 in Bauchi State on whose firm instruction we write.

    “We wish to notify your esteemed self of the pendency of the above named suit which we instituted on behalf of our clients to challenge the conduct of the Ward and Local Government Congresses purportedly held on the 5th and 12th days of May, 2018.

    “In the said suit, our clients are praying the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for declaratory and injunctive reliefs against the All Progressives Congress, the Principal Officers of the Party and the Committees constituted for the conduct of the said congresses.

    “Furthermore, in the pending suit, we also seek Interim and Interlocutory injunctions restraining the Defendants from proceeding with the conduct of the State Congress scheduled to hold in Bauchi State on Saturday the 19th day of May, 2018.

    “Please find attached copies of the court’s processes in respect of the pending Suit for your information and proper guidance.

    “Take notice therefore, that the planned or forthcoming state congress slated for Saturday, the 19th day of May, 2018, must not hold in view of the long settled principle of law that when a suit is pending in court, parties are not allowed to take steps that will have nugatory effect on the outcome of the suit or foist on the court a fait accompli.

    “Further take notice that any attempt to proceed with the planned or forthcoming state congress in Bauchi State on Saturday the 19th May, 2018, would be an affront on the judiciary as same is now subjudice.

    “Consequently, we request that you use your good offices to ensure that APC, the ruling party, conforms with the tenets of the rule of law by ensuring that the forthcoming APC state congress in Bauchi State is suspended forthwith pending the determination of the above captioned suit.”

    In an affidavit by Hon. Maryam Garba Bagel (Dass Constituency, Bauchi State House of Assembly), she said:  “That I know as a fact that the purported Ward and Local Government Congresses of the 1st Defendant purportedly conducted in Bauchi State on 5th and 12th May 2018 were fraught with widespread irregularities from the initial preparations to the eventual conduct of the purported conduct of the congresses.

    “That the Party Constitution and Congress guidelines were observed in breach during the conduct of the purported congresses thereby disenfranchising many aspirants and members of the party from participation.

    “That I know as a fact that members of the party in my constituency were gathered at the venue for the ward congress but were dispersed by security operatives at the instance of the State Government.

    “That agent of the State Government thereafter cooked up results of the purported elections at the various wards and forwarded same to the Ward Congress Committee.

    “That the Ward Congress is the root upon which the conduct of Local and State Government Congresses is predicated, and as same has turned out to be a total fiasco, there is the need by this Honourable Court to nullify same.”

  • Ekwunife, Danbazzau, Eweka, Zwingina, 70 others head APC congresses, appeal panels

    •Party cautions against unilateral postponement of congresses

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated five-member committees to conduct state congresses in different states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Saturday.

    Three-member committees were also inaugurated to entertain appeals that may arise from the State Congresses.

    Some state congress chairmen are H.E. Pius Odubu (Adamawa); Gen. Danjuma Danbazzau (Taraba); Prince Austin Eweka (Kano); Senator Domingo Obende (Niger); Senator Jonathan Zwingina (Abia); Senator Olugbenga Obadara (Delta); Senator Uche Ekwunife (Lagos); Mathew Omegara (Ondo); H.E. Peter Obadan (Ogun); H.E. Abdullahi Gwarzo (Oyo) among others.

    The appeal committees have among others H.E. Chris Akoma as chairman of Ebonyi State; Gbenga Elegbeleye (Rivers); Bashir Lado (Ogun);  SAbubakar Maikudi (Bauchi); Ambassador Jerry Ugog (Kano); and Kogolo Peter (Imo).

    APC National Organising Secretary Senator Osita Izunaso, who inaugurated the committees on behalf of the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, told the committees members the congresses must be conducted in strict conformity with the official APC Guidelines for State Congresses.

    Izunaso said the committees were expected to hold meetings with stakeholders in the respective states on Friday before Saturday’s nationwide congresses to elect state executive committee, which include the official 17-member State Working Committees.

    The organising secretary urged the committees to ensure a free, fair, democratic and transparent process. He also warned against unilateral postponement of state congresses without approval by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

    Izunaso: “Don’t deny anybody who has a payment teller a form. It is undemocratic… You don’t have the power to postpone the election. If you go to a state and you find out that it is impossible to conduct the election, you inform the NWC for approval. The National Convention is close by. We want to conclude these processes as quickly as possible.”

    For the Appeal Committees, Izunaso said every petition from individuals who contested elections must be entertained. He cautioned the appeal committees to gauge the security situation in their respective state in deciding where to hold appeal sittings.

    He said the NWC has the final decision on appeals.

     

     

    “If the place is volatile for the Appeal Committee, and they cannot sit there, you can sit in Abuja,” Izunaso said.

     

    Protesters demand APC National Organising Secretary’s sack

    •’Allegations are false’

    SOME members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday stormed the party’s national secretariat and demanded the sack of the National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso.

    They accused him of manipulating the recent ward and local government congresses in states.

    The group, under the auspices of Democratic Youth Congress for Buhari 2019, arrived at the APC secretariat in two luxury buses, carrying placards with inscriptions “Sen. Osita must go”.

    The protesters, who were led by a serving House of Assembly lawmaker from Nasarawa State, Kassim Muhammad Kassim, accused Osita of indirectly working for opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to frustrate re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

    In a complaint letter addressed to the APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, dated May 17, the protesters called for a fresh ward congress in Imo State and some other states where there are issues to be settled.

    The letter, which was presented to the party leadership, was copied to the President, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Commissioner and the FCT Director of Directorate of State Services (DSS).

    It, however, took the stiff resistance of the police and other security agents at the APC headquarter to prevent the protesters from gaining entrance into the premises.

    But responding on behalf of Izunaso, former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Ibejiako Ernest, dismissed the allegations, saying the protesters should not be taken serious.

    Ernest, who also served at the Federal House of Representatives, said: “I can tell you that all the allegations are false. Senator Izunaso has conducted himself decently since he became the National Organising Secretary of our party, the APC. As a good son of Imo State, he has done his best for the party.”

     

     

     

  • APC congresses, nPDP and prophecies foretold

    NO one was surprised by the acrimony that visited many of the ward congresses and Ekiti governorship primary organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) last weekend. Under the scheming national chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun, and the sometimes lugubrious President Buhari, party leaders have spent the better part of three years paying little or no attention to building and entrenching their party. Once they won the general elections, they threw away their party manifesto, dismantled the platform upon which they won the polls, fought like mad to grab whatever each leader could grab, and abandoned the party to nobody and to everybody, alias cabal. Having sowed the wind for three years, it is unlikely they are shocked to be reaping the whirlwind. Indeed, if anything, they must be shocked that they are still standing at all.

    President Buhari is strictly and philosophically speaking not a politician. He remains at bottom  a military man, going by his constant sulking about the limiting influence of democratic strictures, particularly the parliament and the rule of law. That he did not pay attention to building the APC and forging a united and impregnable party out of its skeletal framework was, therefore, expected. He reposed more faith in a narrow clique of kith and kin with whom he felt conversant and comfortable than look to the party in order to broaden its base and widen its appeal. Obsessed with percentages, he looked for ways to compensate, by ginger ratios, those he felt showed him more loyalty than even those who worked hardest for the party’s unexpected victory in 2015.

    It is often said that the APC’s legacy parties are the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and a faction of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Little mention is normally made of the significant influence and role of the faction of the PDP that joined hands with others to wrest control from Dr Jonathan. Yet the nPDP played a major role in that election, but, as they complained last week in a letter they wrote in April, they were yet to receive commensurate compensation or attention. In the letter, which some APC leaders regard as nPDP’s casus belli, the complainants gave a week’s notice to the party to initiate dialogue and give assurances that the party would become more inclusive and operate like a real political party. They did not spell out what they would do if their warnings were left unheeded. In turn, schizoid party leaders have suggested that the nPDP was untrustworthy and had made destructive plans in anticipation of their migration to another party.

    Some party leaders have suggested that the nPDP group should wait for ex-Edo State governor Adams Oshiomhole to assume the party leadership in June in order to get a redress for the injuries they claim to have suffered. It is not clear whether they will wait, or whether they think anything can come out of the effort. If the nPDP has not left by now, it is simply because they fear the punitive measures a government that exhibits contempt for the rule of law could bring upon them. They will stay for a little while, it seems, but they are unlikely to be in doubt about the party’s lack of capacity to remake itself and operate along inclusive lines. They know by experience that the president is the party’s lodestar, and everything virtually revolves around him. More, they know that his insularity would limit the flexibility of the next chairman and constrict the concessions they might get. They know that given the nature and capacity of the president and those he trusts, the party is unlikely ever to inspire anyone, let alone be remoulded into a great, modern party.

    The acrimonious congresses, the aloofness demonstrated by the incumbent chairman, the dictatorship of antidemocratic governors widening the schisms in the party, and the strangulating control exercised by a shadowy group of individuals in Abuja, are not likely to bode well for the party. For a party that should have mastered the art of internal democracy, but whose leaders preferred to scheme for tenure elongation on the grounds that congresses would widen the schism in the party, there is nothing to indicate that sooner or later it would not implode. Indeed, that it has not imploded is perhaps due paradoxically to the influence and misplacement of priorities of President Buhari himself. Even if the party survives to win the 2019 polls, it already contains the seed of its own destruction far more poignantly than the PDP ever possessed in its crazy 16 years in power. Party leaders will prop up the APC for as long as they can; but in the end, except they can find a saviour, it will collapse. The signs were evident in their congresses; and though they may paper over the cracks, and even ensure a smooth transition to the Oshiomhole chairmanship, the party is too fractious, too undisciplined, too superficial, too callous to one another, and too badly led to endure for as long as some of their members fantasise.

  • ‘How A’Ibom govt plots to unleash violence at APC congresses’

    THE Akwa Ibom State government has allegedly laid out plans to instigate a fresh round of crisis in the state’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and unleash violence throughout the state during the party’s forthcoming local government and state congresses, it was learnt yesterday.

    According to sources, the plot, which was hatched last night at the home of a commissioner, seeks to prevail upon a former federal legislator to back out of the peace agreement signed by APC leaders  last Saturday.

    The government, it was gathered, will then induce the former federal lawmaker to direct his boys to violently disrupt proceedings at the forthcoming congresses of the APC, using trumped up provocations.

    The state government is said to have panicked at the peaceful conduct of the ward congresses of the APC on Saturday and the decision by leaders of the party to work together and pursue a common purpose in the interest of the party.

    A source, who was at the meeting, said key officials of the state government, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the party’s supporters attended the meeting.

    The meeting, it was learnt, “decided that the commissioner should brief Governor Udom Emmanuel on the outcome of the meeting for a decision to be taken on how much should be offered to the former federal legislator as ‘settlement’ for his boys, who should be instructed to wreak maximum havoc during the APC local government congress next Saturday and the state congress during the subsequent weekend”.

    Another resolution at the meeting was that an influential politician should “take the former lawmaker to the governor to formally agree on how much he wanted for his boys to cement the sabotage deal, after commissioner had briefed the governor”.

    The source added that a former governor visited the former legislator in his home in Uyo last Friday.

    The visit is believed to be part of the broader plot to instigate a crisis in the state APC.

     

  • ‘Outcome of APC congresses good for APGA’

    NATIONAL Co-ordinator of APGA Media Warriors Forum Chinedu Obigwe has said the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo and Anambra states is good for the All Progressives Grand Alliance’s (APGA’s) quest to take over Southeast.

    Obigwe, in a statement, condemned the violence at the ward congresses.

    He thanked God that Senator Chris Ngige escaped lynching in Anambra.

    Obigwe described APC members as strange bedfellows.

    He said: “The news from Imo State is cheering and has left Imolites with the best choice of rallying support for APGA to take back Imo State.

    ‘’I advise Imolites to fight on doggedly like Spartans until the family political dynasty is destroyed in Imo State because doing this will salvage them from bad leadership.

    “APGA’s victory signs in Imo State in 2019 have manifested itself through unfolding events in Imo State.

    ‘’I pray for the peaceful rest of the soul of those that lost their lives in the violence-marred congresses.

    ‘’I urge APC members and other political parties to understand that political is not war.

    ‘’They should imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship to enable them accept defeat because in every contest there must be a winner, and losers.”

     

     

  • APC Congresses: Chairmanship aspirant stabbed to death

    A chairmanship aspirant in yesterday’s ward congresses of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State was stabbed to death moment before the exercise got under way.

    Pockets of violence were also recorded in Imo State, Oyo State, Ajegunle and Isolo both in Lagos.

    The Ajegunle violence claimed one life.

    Killed in Delta was Jeremiah Oghoveta ,who had declared his interest to lead the party in Jeremi 3, Ughelli South ward 10.

    He was knifed to death allegedly by one Tete in the heat of an argument over the hijack of electoral materials by a side involved in the process.

    The Nation gathered that Oghoveta had protested over the alleged hijack of the materials.

    But as he made to leave the scene after making his point, his assailant pounced on him, stabbing him on the neck

    Oghoveta died on the spot while the Tete fled.

    The Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command, Andrew Aniamaka (DSP), confirmed the incident.

    He said investigation into the matter was in progress and the police were on the trail of the suspect.

    The APC leader in Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor,said the exercise was generally peaceful in other parts of the state.

    He said APC was poised to entrench the principle of internal democracy in order to have a stronger party that could take over the state in 2019.

    Leader of the party in Ovu ward, Ethiope East local government area, Chief Frank Kokori said the process went well.

    Kokori who said the party is waxing stronger in the state, explained that the congresses being held across the country is a preparation awaiting the main election coming up next year 2019.

    The process was also generally peaceful in Aniocha South Local Government Area was peaceful, although there were few wards where parallel congresses were held.

    Former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and chieftain of the APC, Mr. Victor Ochei said the congress was conducted without rancour, and praised the adoption of the option A4 adopted for the exercise.

    Controversy trails APC congress in Imo

    The ward congress in Imo State yesterday was marred by violence and other skirmishes.

    Party faithful waited endlessly in their respective wards for the congress to commence.

    Supporters of the different stakeholders, especially governorship aspirants clashed.

    The state secretariat of the party where the Congress Committee was billed to address the party stakeholders before the commencement of the exercise   was vandalized by thugs who invaded the premises with dangerous weapons.

    Some of the party officials who were waiting at the secretariat, were beaten up by the rampaging hoodlums.

    The attack was preceded by the redeployment of the Congress Committee for the state to Anambra State.

    The APC National Organizing Secretary, Osita Izunaso, said the development was at the instance of the national secretariat of the party.

    He said: “There is no problem whatsoever, the only thing is that the national secretariat has directed the Imo Committee to go to Anambra and Anambra Committee to go to Imo and it is an internal matter of the party.

    “We are brothers and we don’t have any problem. The party can decide to do anything at any point in time so long as it is in the interest of the party.”

    The Secretary of the APC Convention Committee and Senator representing Imo North, Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu, alleged that Governor Rochas Okorocha had wanted to stop the congress from taking place

    “There is every attempt by the governor to stop the congress for fear of what will happen but we are going ahead to hold the primary,” Uwajumogu claimed.

    A fresh round of confusion broke out when it was discovered that sensitive materials meant for the congress were missing.

    Some of the party stakeholders loyal to the governor insisted that the congress would not continue without the sensitive materials.

    Angry party members stormed the house of the National Organizing secretary in search of the sensitive materials.

    Prior to that, the  Convention Committee members were whisked to the State Police Headquarters from the Government House on the directive of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr.  Chris Ezike.

    The congress eventually kicked off in the Wards across the state at about 3pm, while the Committee members and some of the major the stakeholders remained in the office of the Commissioner of Police up to press time.

    Hoodlums kill APC member in Ajegunle congress

    A man was yesterday killed during the ward congress of the APC at Ajegunle in Ifelodun Local Council Development Area.

    The victim, who was injured on the head, died on the way to the hospital.

    An eyewitness said he was attacked by thugs sponsored by a politician in the area.

    A video recording of the incident showed the victim lying on ground in a pool of blood.

    A man beckoned on the people around to take him to the hospital.

    Another man brought his Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) to assist the victim.

    The victim was carried into the vehicle, and he drove away.

    Violence at Isolo

    Similar confusion erupted at the ward in Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

    Some party members alleged that ballot materials were in circulation.

    Hoodlums, wielding guns, knives, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons, soon hijacked the exercise and descended on delegates many of whom were left injured.

    The party secretariat situated at Onawale Street, Isolo was vandalized by the hoodlums and congress officials chased out of the building.