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Tag: APC members

  • APC members insist on zoning in Osun

    Some members of All Progressives Congress (APC) under the aegis of Osun Continuity Movement yesterda

    Some members of All Progressives Congress (APC) under the aegis of Osun Continuity Movement yesterday in Osogbo, staged a peaceful rally over zoning of the governorship ticket.

    The group, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), insisted that APC must zone the September 22 governorship election ticket to Osun West Senatorial District.

    Spokesman for the group, Mr Miftah Saheed, told journalists that for the sake of fairness, equity and justice, the zone should be allowed to produce the next governor.

    Saheed said that going by the history of governance in the state, Osun Central has governed the state for more than 11 years, while Osun East spent eight years in governance.

    He said that Osun West Senatorial District spent only 22 months in governing the state.

    “It is worthy of note that Osun West Senatorial District remains the only zone that had not produced a governor since the return of democratic rule in 1999.

    “The zone must be supported to produce the next governor. We have competent candidate that can do the job,’’ Saheed said.

    The party members, who carried placards with various inscriptions, marched from Freedom Park to the party’s secretariat.

  • Oshiomhole moves to woo aggrieved APC members

    The new chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is reaching out to aggrieved members of the party in a move to resolve the crisis in the party.

    A nationwide tour for him to personally interact with such aggrieved party members and party big wigs is on the card, The Nation gathered last night.

    Sources said the new party boss is determined to strengthen all reconciliatory efforts ongoing in the party at all levels and where necessary, embark on fresh moves.

    The Nation gathered that as part of the new peace drive, the National Reconciliation Committee of the party, headed by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will be strengthened and given all the assistance and co-operation it will need to reconcile prominent party chieftains currently displeased with the party or the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

    A member of the new National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling party said the party’s new chairman is much interested in ensuring that the party does not lose any of its big wigs to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or any party or coalition of parties, before, during and after the 2019 general election.

    The source who does not want to be named said he is not authorized to speak on behalf of the party, revealed that “at every opportunity, meeting, parley and even informal discussions, the Chairman has been making it clear that one major assignment of the new leadership of the party is to reconcile aggrieved members to the party.

    “One thing I can confidently tell you is that we are currently thinking very seriously about how best to go about reconciling our aggrieved chieftains and members all over the country with the party before the next general election.

    “Our new chairman is committed to it and he has clearly said he is open to suggestions about how that can be successfully done within a very short period of time.

    “There are already talks about the need to empower the existing committees like the one headed by Asiwaju Tinubu  in the important assignment of making peace among our chieftains.

    “The committee’s leadership lamented that the last party leadership was not cooperating with it in the task of reconciliation. That is one area Oshiomhole may differ. He has expressed readiness to support that committee to achieve its task as soon as possible.

    “Soon, the committee’s effort so far may be reviewed with a view to seeing how the party can help them to perform better and faster.

    “More than ever before, we need the Asiwaju Tinubu committee to move very fast and keep aggrieved chieftains from leaving our party. We will meet with the committees soon. We will also consider how to resolve some legal issues arising from some of the grievances,” the source revealed.

    The Nation also gathered that the new administration may have also decided to approach some of the crisis within the party on zonal  and state basis by putting in place zonal and state reconciliation committees to help in midwifing prompt reconciliation of some issues.

    According to sources, the zonal and state leaderships of the party have been advised to take the issue of reconciliation very seriously.

    “It is important to note that some of the grievances we are talking about are at the grassroots. If we really want to achieve true reconciliation in some cases, we must look beyond merely reconciling two big wigs and moving on.

    “Sometimes, it is necessary to address the concerns of some of their associates too. To cater for these, we are considering having reconciliation committees at zonal and state level.”

    Already, reconciliation committees have been set up for the APC in the Southeast zone as well as for the Imo state chapter of the ruling party.

    The zonal reconciliation committee is headed by Senator Emmanuel Agboti from Ebonyi State, while that of Imo State is headed by Prince Macdonald Akano. The committees are to ensure that warring factions within the APC in the South-east and Imo state are brought together.

  • APC members seek sanction against Banire

    The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to enforce the suspension of its National Legal Adviser, Dr. Muiz Banire, for indiscipline.

    Addressing reporters yesterday at the Lagos APC secretariat during a protest by members of his local government to enforce disciplinary action against the party chieftain, APC’s Mushin Local Government Area Legal Adviser Femi Martin said Banire’s activities had become uncontrollable.

    Martin said the NWC must sanction him to prevent other erring party members from towing his line.

    The party chieftain said the APC must summon the courage to sanction members who violate the party’s rules and regulations.

    The protesters, who handed their petition to Lagos APC leadership, said: “The Lagos State chapter of the APC has been subjected to needless string of embarrassment for a member of the party; this climaxed with the suspension letter that was transmitted to the national secretariat of our great party. It was meant to curb the continuous embarrassment of the party in the media and social media platforms at his disposal.

    “We, therefore, demand the leadership of the party to act in furtherance of the suspension at the local level by completing the process to serve as deterrent to other dissidents. The recalcitrant member has further grown wings, committing worse atrocities.”

    Martin said Banire’s activities had reinforced the party’s earlier stance that APC’s values were being eroded by the conduct of some members who did not want to subject themselves to due process.

    According to him, the party’s NWC should correct the wrong impression that some members were above the law by ratifying Banire’s earlier suspension from his ward.

    Martin added: “The remaining days of the NWC of the party should be written in gold by completing the process of Muiz Banire’s suspension to lay the foundation for party discipline. Party discipline is, therefore, not an aberration but a standard practice everywhere democracy thrives on earth.

    “Right from time immemorial and even in the First and Second republics, where parties faced challenges, discipline were enforced in order not to weaken the party…”

    “The defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and National Advanced Party (NAP) had their internal wrangling, yet discipline was maintained to prevent erring members from misleading others.”

    Receiving the petition on behalf of the state chairman of the party, Mr. Tunde Balogun, the state’s Vice Chairman for Lagos West, Chief Funsho Ologunde, promised to deliver the petition to the party’s national leadership.

  • Ward congress: Lagos CP reads riot act to APC members

    Ahead of today’s ward congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, yesterday urged members of the party to eschew all forms of violence in the interest of peace in the State.

    Addressing leaders of the party at POWA Conference Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, Edgal said it was important for them to impress it on their members to strictly adhere to the rules, warning that any act of violence, harassment or break down of law and order would not be tolerated.

    He said there was intelligence report to the effect that some people were planning to disturb public peace, using the congress as a cover, threatening that anyone caught would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    The CP, who addressed the APC stalwarts alongside other senior officers of the Lagos State Police Command, said: “We like to urge the leadership of APC in the state to impress it on their members the need to shun violence and adhere strictly to the rules and regulations during the forthcoming APC ward congress election.

    He said: “Lagos has been peaceful and we do not want anything or anyone to disturb the peace of the state. As law enforcement officers, we will not condone any act of violence, and it is important for the message to be sent across board.

    “We have intelligence report that some people are planning to disturb public peace during the ward congress, and I like to make a point clear that anyone caught would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    “We will arrest and prosecute such people in a court of competent jurisdiction,” the CP said.

    In attendance at the meeting were Lagos State Deputy Chairman of APC, Cardinal James Odumbaku; State APC Secretary, Hon. Akeem Bamgbola; some local government chairmen, among other senior members of the party.

    Responding, Odumbaku thanked the CP for the interactive session, assuring that the leadership of the party in the state would send the message to all members to maintain peace.

  • Buhari’s declaration will silence the opposition, says Okorocha

    The Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo state,  Rochas Okorocha has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration for second term will silence the ‘noise’ of the opposition parties.

    Okorocha also described the President’s declaration as a “patriotic response to the clarion call of Nigerians of goodwill on him to lead the country for another four years”.

    He prided that the All Progressives Congress (APC) does not owe any apologies for its first four years under the Presidency of Buhari, unlike the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that looted the country for sixteen years only to apologize.

    The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, also noted that, “the declaration of the President to go for Second tenure would also go a long way to reduce the noise of the opposition and take care of the idiosyncrasies of certain elements in the system”.

    He observed that the President has done well to deserve a second tenure, adding that “those who had wanted to blackmail him out of going for another term can now find other meaningful things to keep themselves busy”

    The governor expressed optimism that the President “would largely garner more votes in 2019 than he had done in 2015 because most Nigerians, including people of the Southeast have seen that he meant well for the nation and the citizenry”.

    Okorocha added further that “the APC has no apology to make because it has done wonderfully well considering the magnitude of the rot it met on ground in 2015”.

    He also noted that “the antenna of the opposition in the Country will finally be lowered when the campaigns begin and the Party will be showing Nigerians its achievements in the states under its control and at the Federal level”.

    According to the Imo governor, “when a political party had admitted that the government it ran was a huge failure and then apologized, such scenario goes with restitution and not with reward”.

    He urged APC members across the nation to close ranks for the victory of the party at all levels in 2019.

    Read Also: Okorocha to Araraume: I won’t let you destroy APC

  • APC members accuse caretaker chair of fraud

    APC members accuse caretaker chair of fraud

    •Chairman: I haven’t committed any offence

    Aggrieved stakeholders of the All Progressives (APC) in Ondo East Local Government Area have accused the chairman of caretaker committee of the local government, Ayodeji Akinkuolie, of financial impropriety.

    A petition by 16 APC chieftains to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu accused Akinkuolie of gross abuse of office, misappropriation of funds and unauthorised disbursement of N8.9 million party funds into his personal account.

    Copies of the petition were sent to Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Ifedayo Abegunde, APC State Chairman Ade Adetimehin and others.

    They urged the governor to promptly investigate the matter to correct the smeared image of the local government.

    The party leaders said the caretaker chairman, on assumption of office last year, allegedly refused to disclose the statement of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and other accounts.

    They also accused Akinkuolie of illegal diversion of approved funds for the execution of projects in the local government.

    The petition reads: “Against all norms, the chairman of the IGR committee, thereby using his position to illegally enrich himself by appointing his cronies as consultants and revenue collectors.

    “He also made unauthorised disbursement of N8.9 million to his personal account, which is against his oath of office.”

    The party chieftains demanded to know the finances of the local government.

    They urged Akeredolu to set up an independent probe panel on the activities of the caretaker chairman to prevent mass protest by stakeholders.

    But Akinkuolie said the money in question was not given to Ondo East in isolation but to all other local government areas.

    He said: “I put it in my personal account but started to withdraw it the following day for what it was meant. There is no law that says I can’t put the money in my account.”

    The council chief maintained that his refusal to release the statement of account of the local government was none of the petitioners’ business.

  • Tinubu gets Presidential mandate to reconcile APC members  

    Tinubu gets Presidential mandate to reconcile APC members  

    President Muhammadu Buhari is worried over the internal crisis rocking his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He has mandated stalwart of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to reconcile all members. Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU presents some of the cases for resolution.

    President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lead the consultation, reconciliation and confidence building efforts toward improving cohesion within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu, in a statement, said the assignment will involve resolving disagreements among party members, the party leadership and political office holders in some states.

    APC leaders and government officials are at daggers drawn in some states, including Kano where Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and his predecessor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, have not seen eye to eye in the last two years. Supporters of both leaders have sustained the war of attrition.

    In Ondo State, there is a leadership crisis in the party, following the rejection of Hon. Isaac Kekemeke and the elevation of deputy chairman Ade Adetimehin to his position. Also, a section of the party believes that the 2016 governorship poll is inconclusive as an aspirant, Dr. Segun Abraham, is challenging the outcome of the primary that produced Governor Rotimi Akeredolu as the standard bearer.

    In Ogun, the preparation for next year’s governorship election appears to be tearing the chapter apart. Supporters of Senator Solomon Adeola, a governorship contender, have alleged marginalisation and oppression by the party leadership. The governor is believed to be backing another aspirant.

    In Kaduna, there is an ongoing clash between Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Senator Shehu Sani, who represents Kaduna Central. The senator has also become an ardent critic of the Buhari administration.

    In Bauchi, there is a deep gulf between Governor Mohamed Abubakar and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara. There have been efforts to resolve their differences.

    In Kogi, Governor Yahaya Bello is up in arms against majority of party leaders and stakeholders who have complained about his style of governance and politics. James Faleke, the running mate to the late governorship candidate Abubakar Audu, has not been factored into the politics of the state.

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Minister of Communications Adebayo Shittu are no friends. Shittu is seeking the governorship ticket without having anything to do with the governor who controls the party machinery. He has been running a solo campaign for Buhari’s second term.

    The Ekiti APC is divided ahead of the July governorship election. Almost all the leading lights of the party are interested in the governorship ticket.

    In Zamfara State, there is a deep seated rift between Governor Abdulazeez Yari and Senator Marafa over the management of the party.

    A crisis has broken out in Rivers between Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and Senator Magnus Abe. The bone of contention is the control of party structure ahead of next year’s polls.

    In Delta State, APC is in crisis. The gladiators are fighting over the control of the party machinery. Efforts to reconcile Chief O’taga Emerhor, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Chief Great Ogboruy and Chief Okoti-Eboh have failed.

  • APC members defect to PDP in Niger

    APC members defect to PDP in Niger

    Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State over the weekend have defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Former Governor of Niger State, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has the readiness of the PDP in tackling APC for the 2019 general elections.

    Speaking during a Zonal Unity Rally at Agaie/Lapai federal constituency held in Agaie local government of Niger state,  Aliyu stated that the PDP would resist all intimidations from the APC adding PDP will bounce back to power in 2019.

    He charged PDP members on unity urging members to be steadfast and faithful to the party to ensure it’s success in 2019.

    The National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Uche Secondus who was represented by the National Financial Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Maibasira appreciated the members of the party in the state for his victory at the convention assuring that his leadership will ensure fairness to all.

    Receiving the 554 decampees, the Niger state Chairman of APC, Barrister Tanko Beji who apologized for the past mistakes of the party urged the party supporters to get their PVC from INEC which they will used in voting out the ruling APC who have failed them.

    He said that the present administration in the state have failed to provide dividend of democracy to the electorates refuting all claims that the projects being done are APC oriented projects,  “all projects on the ground being claimed by APC were that of the PDP and they include roads, schools, hospitals and traditional rulers residents renovations hence they have nothing to show the citizens.”

    Those at the event include the Party Board Of Trustees member, Prof Jerry Gana, former governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, late Engineer Abdulkadir Abdullahi Kure’s group, governorship aspirant Engineer Hanafi Muazu Sudan, former National and state lawmakers, commissioners amongst others.

  • Nwoye accuses Police of harassing APC members

    Nwoye accuses Police of harassing APC members

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Con-gress (APC), Dr. Tony Nwoye has raised the alarm over what he called the systematic clampdown of the chieftains and supporters of the APC.

    Nwoye who spoke with journalists shortly after casting his ballot at Ofianta Polling Unit 002 in Nsugbe, Anambra East Local Government Area, alleged that the Police was colluding with ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to compromise the exercise.

    According to the APC candidate, who arrived the polling unit shortly after 12 noon, “I am worried about the intimidation of APC supporters by the Police. They have been arresting key APC chieftains. From the calls I got, Police  have been arresting APC Chairmen. In some other cases our supporters have been brutalized by thugs aided by the Police.”

    He, however, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the preparation and conduct of the election so far, “so far I score INEC 50% but I expect improvement in the areas there are hitches.”

    On his chances, he said, “I am optimistic that APC will win the election at the end of the day.”

     

  • ‘PDP government intimidating APC members in Gombe’

    ‘PDP government intimidating APC members in Gombe’

    Habu Muazu is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State. He spoke with reporters in Gombe, the state capital, on the challenges confronting the chapter. Excerpts:

    You recently led a solidarity rally in Gombe in support of the President. What motivated you?

    When the President travelled out to the United Kingdom for medical attention all Nigerians, irrespective of political or religion affiliation prayed fervently for his recovery and safe return. Again we all witnessed the overwhelming solidarity and joy expressed by Nigerians on his return, all over the country people were dancing in solidarity, many kept party politics aside and celebrated the President. We have never had it so good in the north east before the advent of this administration so we have every reason to celebrate the well being and safe Return of President Buhari. Our own celebration should even be double, especially considering the issue of security which the present administration has tackled to the barest minimum. People are now living peacefully,  doing there businesses. Considering that my state is being ruled by the PDP, I took the bold step to mobilised and lead the rally and I thank God it was successful, the turn out was fantastic and amazing, people across party lines defiled the rains and march for over two hours in solidarity with our President that was genuine love and support.

    During the rally, we noticed the absence of some key apc stakeholders, especially those elected on the platform of the party. Were they not inform or the deliberately boycotted the event.

    I don’t want to believe or say they boycotted or shun the rally, may be the notice was too short for them to come and participate due to official reasons, I believe they were with us in spirit and they were in support of what we did. Like I told you earlier, I initiated and mobilise for the rally in collaboration with the leadership of the party in the state.

    Was there any form of financial support from other stakeholders?

    No I financed the mobilisation for the rally with the support of the party, like I said even though Buhari is APC people celebrated his return across party line, let me emphasize I am not aware of any individual that rendered any financial support, may it was as a result of the short notice.

    Considering the massive support the president is enjoying in the state, it was surprising that, few days after the rally, his posters were torn and his bill boards vandalised in the state. What is your take on that?

    It is purely madness and executive rascality. Because the government of the state is PDP,  they decided to use some thugs in uniform call Marshals to destroy our party posters and billboards. They were giving orders from Government house and the executed the dirty work with the aid of security personnel attached to the Government house, this act is capable of raising tension and distorting peace in the state. As law abiding citizens, we quickly appealed to our supporters not to react or take the laws into their hands. I then contacted the commissioner of police to make enquiry on why his men aided the removal of the president posters and billboards, from our enquiries, the police and civil defends officers that guided the Marshals were from the Government House. This act is undemocratic and unacceptable. We are appealing to the head of security agencies to call their men to order to avoid any act that will result in violence in the state.  We allow them to carry the act because we don’t want anything that will distort the peace being enjoy in the state but we should not be push to the wall. The police in Government House should know that their responsibility is to protect the governor and provide security to the facilities in the Government House not to be attacking political opponents.

    We have also informed the security agencies to call the Marshals to order, because they exhibited the same attitude during the local government elections. They came out in their uniforms with dangerous arms, beating APC supporters and vandalising there cars. Even, during the last State Assembly  bye –election in Dukku, they were mobilised in large number to storm the place. Luckily for us, with the quick intervention of the state police command, they were giving orders to turn back . We thank the police for the rapid response that led to a peaceful election. If the state government continue using the Marshals to intimidate political opponents, we will be left with the option of going to court to challenge them.

    With this kind of scenario, how do you foresee the campaigns towards 2019 elections?

    Insha Allahu it will be peaceful and successful, because the masses are becoming more politically aware each and everyday, they are also aware of the empty promises by the present government in the state, the local government system which is the closest organ to the masses as totally collapsed in the state, projects are not being executed at that level, the entire system is not functioning. The only duty of the chairmen is to pay salaries, tell me how can they people support this kind of a government that careless for the grassroots. I am sure by 2019 the people of Gombe will make the right choice. People are now ready to ask questions not to follow a person or party blindly.

    Like I keep saying on the surface it would appear as if the governor is working, but he is only embarking on projects that would put money in his pockets, while hospitals are suffering due to lack of drugs, the civil service system is totally collapsed due to lack of running cost, institutions are also suffering, pensioners are crying, and nobody is asking the governor what he did with the bail out funds and Paris club refunds. The state is highly indebted to the tune of over N70 billion. You can go and do more investigation to verify what I am saying.

    But, with the outcome of the bye- election in Dukku, the pdp is boasting that the defeat of the apc is a clear indication that the party has no formidable structure in the state…

    What happened in Dukku bye- election was not surprising, because the people voted for the candidate not the party. The selection of a candidate is the key to victory, especially in this our political era. People are more interested in following a candidate not party. We are learning our lessons from such situation, remember we also lost senatorial election due to wrong choice. APC is very strong in Dukku, but there were some little mistakes and disagreements but Insha Allah we shall correct those mistakes in future. I must commend INEC , the police and other security outfits, the election was very fair, free and transparent.

    There are insinuation that you are working for a particular candidate for the governorship, who you will handover your structure during the party primary. What’s your reaction?

    That’s a very funny insinuation. I have never seen such a thing. How can I risk myself and resources mobilising for someone from nowhere to just come and take my structure? Is like spending months or years befriending a girl and on the wedding day, you present her to your friend as the groom. Tell me, how will she react or how will her friends and family members react? That insinuation is not true and let me tell you among all those that are presently aspiring for governorship none of them understands the politics of the state more than me. Well, let them continue to stay in Abuja while I continue to work. At the right time, we shall get to know who is in charge. Is not now I started this. I am a mobiliser. I am always in touch with the people. If they think they can just stay in Abuja and come at the dying minute to take over the party in the state, they are dreaming, because we are entirely in a different political era whereby no individual or clique can make you a governor without the support of the masses. I want to change the belief  that you must have a godfather or be a  multi-billionaire before becoming a governor.

    Why is it taking the party too long to resolve its leadership crisis  in the state?

    There is nothing like leadership crisis. We don’t have any parallel group or leadership in the state. We are operating under one working committee. But, it is natural in politics to have disagreements. It doesn’t mean that there is division. We are just waiting for the National Working Committee to give us the go ahead to conduct a mini Congress to elect the few members of the state working committee,  by the time we get the go ahead, you will then understand my position that they issue is just being exaggerated. The leadership crises was simply as a result of some people’s desperation to hijack the party, but we have succeeded in making them believe that the party is above an individual and is for all of us and everyone is important and should be accorded the desired respect. Every party has its own challenges it is normal.

    What is the way forward?

    The only way forward is to keep praying and working towards building the party in the state in order to get power in 2019. We must build confidence in our people on our ability to deliver, that is why I am going round the local government areas mobilizing people and giving them assurance, hope and confidence that together we shall attain victory come 2019 in Gombe.