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Tag: APC members

  • Protesting APC members demand expulsion of Banire

    Protesting APC members demand expulsion of Banire

    Thousands of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday stormed the office of Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode, demanding expulsion of the party’s National Legal Adviser, Dr Muiz Banire (SAN).

    The protesters, were led by Mr. Femi Martins from the Odi Olowo Local Council Development Area and Mushin Local Government Area of the party. They arrived in Alausa in about 30 buses, armed with placards, with inscriptions, such as, “Banire is unqualified to teach us democracy,” “Banire must go,” and “Banire, enough is enough,” among others.

    Martins who read the petition addressed to the governor, House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and APC state Chairman Henry Ajomale, said Banire’s expulsion has become imperative because of alleged anti-party activities.

    The petition listed about 17 activities warranting Banire’s expulsion, adding that his expulsion will be in line with article 21 of the party’s constitution.

    Some of the allegations against Banire include, “sponsoring cronies to write and cause to publish advertorials against the party, publication of negative correspondence against the party in the media, granting interviews to embarrass and have adverse effect on the party to the extent of attracting hatred, contempt, ridicule and disrepute upon the party.”

    Others are, intentionally neglecting his duties as the National Legal Adviser to defend the party and the party’s interest, carrying out unauthorised publicity of a party dispute without exhausting all avenues for settlement or redress within the party, causing a legal representative to disavow the party in a law suit, arrogantly admitting that he caused a legal representative to disavow the party,  predicting and working towards the electoral failure of the party and inciting the public against the interest of the party.

    The petition claimed that Banire also falsely accused the party of candidates’ imposition despite being aware of the provision for alternative means of conducting primaries other than direct primaries.

    It also accused him of sponsoring a group called MEF to ridicule it and bring the party into disrepute and perpetrating blatant imposition in Mushin against the wish of majority of party members to cause disaffection, among others.

    Martins explained that members could no longer tolerate Banire’s activities, which party for Saturday’s have created fear campaigns that APC might be disqualified from participating in the poll because of the conduct of lawyers he assigned election cases to.

    “We have to do this at this point because he has gone uncontrollable, we have tried to caution him, to make him see reasons that his action is anti-party, but it appears he has become uncontrollable.”

    Receiving the letter on Ambode’s behalf, his Special Adviser on Community and Communications, Kehinde Bamigbetan accused Banire of embarrassing the party with his utterances.

    He hailed the protesters for their peaceful conduct, adding that their request will be forwarded to ensure discipline in the party.

    He said there was a time Timi Frank was disciplined by the party for anti-party activities, adding that Banire’s case would go the same way.

    “What else can we say of a National Legal Adviser of the party who ought to know, to have gone out of the party system to undermine the party and the fortune of the party at a time election is around the corner? There is no grievance more than this. When given the ticket, he becomes loyal to the party and when not given, he worked against the party,” he said.

  • ‘APC members in Rivers are united under Amaechi’

    The teeming members of the Inter-ethnic Network for Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (INCRA) have stated that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State are united under the leadership of the Transportation Minister, RotimiAmaechi.

    They also maintained that no group in Rivers APC was involved in cultism and other criminal activities, while expressing shock that the Governor NyesomWike could accuse his benefactor and immediate predecessor (Amaechi) of sponsoring cultism in Niger Delta State, describing the accusation as baseless, frivolous, reckless and a blatant lie that should not be taken seriously.

    Members of INCRA, led by Mrs. Morganson Winnie, a lawyer, and Mr. Nna Priestley, during the inauguration of the group and news conference yesterday in Port Harcourt, said there was no crisis in Rivers APC.

  • Over 860 APC members defect to PDP in Akwa Ibom

    Over 860 APC members defect to PDP in Akwa Ibom

    Over 860 members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) yesterday defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nsit Ubium Local Government Aea of Akwa Ibom State.

    The State PDP Chairman Obong Paul Ekpo, the party’s leader in the area, Senator Effiong Bob and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Onofiok Luke, received the defectors.

    Luke said the defectors would be carried along in the party’s activities.

    The Speaker said Nsit Ubium would continue to build industries and empower its residents.

    He regretted that some stakeholders refused to report back the progress at the grassroots

    Luke said industries and infrastructure were being built to secure the future of the local government’s youths and other parts of the state.

    The Speaker urged the residents to continue their support for Governor Udom Emmanuel to enable him remain in office till 2023.

  • Ajimobi appeals to protesting Oyo APC members

    Ajimobi appeals to protesting Oyo APC members

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday pleaded with aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to embrace peace.
    Two factions clashed yesterday at the state secretariat in Ibadan over the purported list of council and Local Government Development Areas (LCDAs) caretaker chairmen sent to the House of Assembly.
    A faction said the governor excluded pioneer members from the late Lam Adesina’s camp.
    It alleged that the governor did so to hijack the party machinery ahead of the 2019 elections.
    Hundreds of party members from the 10 council areas of Oke-Ogun and some council areas in Ibadan stormed the secretariat as early as 10.30am with placards.
    The governor’s supporters also stormed the secretariat, which led to a clash.
    Sticks and canes were freely used in the fight within the secretariat as members of both factions chased themselves.
    One of the leaders of the party in Oke-Ogun, Mr Aliu Balogun, alleged that members, who were travelling to Ibadan, were ambushed by the other faction on the outskirts of Ibadan, where a fight was also said to have broken out.
    The party chairman in Saki-West area of Oke-Ogun, Kareem Adebayo, said members in Oke-Ogun rejected the governor’s choice of leaders, alleging that the governor did not consult any leader before coming up with the names.
    The governor’s Executive Assistant on Political Matters, Moronkola Thomas, who addressed the protesters on behalf of the governor, urged them to allow the House work on the list, adding that all parties would be represented.
    He said: “If you are supporting Ajimobi, you will not fight. Those selected now are to be there for a while because the council poll is still going to be conducted.”

  • APC members defect to PDP in Idanre

    APC members defect to PDP in Idanre

    The chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State has received a boost, as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) dumped the party for the PDP in Idanre Local Government Area.

    Speaking during a reception organized to welcome them to the fold, the defectors, who were led by Mr. Adebowale Olowoeye, and Bidemi Oladapo, attributed their action to what they described as the imposition of the governorship candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu.

    In Ofosu Onisere ward Olumose led 86 former members of the APC to the PDP. Similarly, led by in the same local government, numbered over a thousand. They were led by Mr. Bidemi Oladapo, who is reputed to be one of the most influential members of the APC in the area.

    Abayomi Akinsolie, who led over a thousand from Apefon area, said they took the action “because the support for the PDP candidate, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), being felt across the state is too real to be ignored”.

    At the event, which took place at the popular Depot, Broad Street, Idanre, residents of the area from Ebonyi, Kwara and Osun declared their support for the PDP candidate and registered as members of the party. The defectors also include artisans, mainly fashion designers.

    Receiving the defectors, Governor Olusegun Mimiko thanked them for their decision to join hands with “true progressives to ensure the continued progress and development of Ondo State”.

    The governor, who was represented by his Chief Of Staff, Dr. Kola Ademujimi, said the support given to his government by the people was commendable, adding that their action suggested that they were ready to extend same to the PDP candidate in the November 26 governorship election.

    Over a thousand members of the APC had moved to the PDP in recent weeks. The defections are believed to have been spurred by that of the State Director General of the Buhari Campaign Organisation in the 2015 presidential election a few weeks ago. He led over 2,000 members of the APC to the PDP in Akure South Local Government.

    Before the current defection, a popular member of the party also in Idanre, Kunle Adebayo, had led about 2,000 of the party members from Jibokin Ward to the PDP.

  • APC members hail EFCC’s probe of Fayose

    APC members hail EFCC’s probe of Fayose

    •’Ekiti funds must be recovered’

    EKITI State All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for probing Governor Ayo Fayose for alleged money laundering and purchase of assets after assumption of office.

    The party leaders and members in Ado Ekiti Local Government, who rose from their monthly meeting at Ward 5 in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, urged the anti-graft agency to ensure that all Ekiti funds and assets purchased with state funds are recovered.

    Fifteen people were empowered with cash in aid of their businesses by a chieftain of the party, Faleye Rotimi.

    He said the gesture was to assist the less-privileged in line with the party’s manifesto.

    Party leaders, who attended the meeting, include ex-Ekiti House of Assembly Speaker Femi Bamisile; ex-House of Assembly member Tope Olanipekun; ex-Commissioner for Culture Alhaji Jinadu Ayodele; ward and local government executives.

    Addressing the gathering, Ayodele said the people were happy with the EFCC probe, maintaining that illicit funds traced to the governor must be recovered.

    Ayodele said: “We are happy with EFCC for investigating Fayose and what is happening to our treasury. Fayose must face the music for the way he has been handling our funds and the arms funds diverted to his campaign.”

    Former Chairman of the State Sports Council Ade Adetola called for the understanding of Nigerians.

    He said the 16 years of “destruction of the economy by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration” could not be rectified within two years by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Ward Chairman Olumide Ajibade said the recession was not caused by Buhari, but by “unprecedented corruption wreaked on Nigerians by the PDP government”.

    He urged Nigerians to repose their confidence in the President.

     

     

  • Onu visits families of dead APC members

    Onu visits families of dead APC members

    Minister of Science and Technology Dr Ogbonnaya Onu yesterday visited families of the 10 All Progressives Congress (APC) members who died in an accident.

    The party faithful were travelling to Enugu State on December 11 to witness the Court of Appeal judgment on the governorship election when the Sienna bus they were travelling in collided with an articulated vehicle at the Ezzamgbo axis of the Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway.

    Onu said the death was a loss, not only to the families, but to the party, state and the nation because it lost a crop of young men and women in their prime.

    He urged the families to bear the losses with fortitude and promised that the party will assist them in anyway necessary to assuage their losses.

    The APC chief noted that the APC is the only party interested in the welfare of the poorest members of the population as highlighted in the 2016 budget presented by President Muhamadu Buhari.

    He expressed optimism that when the budget is passed, a new lease of life will be injected into the economy and lives of the ordinary Nigerian will change for the better.

    The minister was accompanied by a Board of Trustee member, Chief Austine Edeze, State Chairman Nwachukwu Eze, former Commissioner for Works Dr Paul Okorie, and others.

    Responding on behalf of the families, Paschal Nwelem, who lost his sister, said the visit showed that the party takes the interest and welfare of its members seriously.

    He however lamented the politicisation of the death by the Ebonyi State Government, which he accused of organising protests and using other negative actions to whip up unnecessary sentiments.

    Nwelem said such actions were causing more grieve to the families of the dead.

    “They have told lies against our dead and even we the living. They have made announcements claiming that we are requesting for assistance to bury our relatives. Such lies are aggravating our sorrow. The action is wicked and even more painful coming from a government that is supposed to be sensitive to the plight of its citizens. How can you order people who are in mourning to come to the Government House and register to receive assistance,” he lamented.

  • Day of rage against APC members in Oyo

    Day of rage against APC members in Oyo

    Though the general elections are over, the scar left on the body and the mind of some people caught up in the violence that attended the exercise in some parts of Oyo town, Oyo State will remain forever. BODE DUROJAIYE and TAYO JOHNSON report on the bitter experience of some supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on April 11, the day of Gubernatorial and House of Assembly polls in the hands of some alleged supporters of a rival party 

    April 11, 2015, the day the electorate in the ancient town of Oyo joined other voters in Oyo State to elect members of the state House of Assembly would remain indelible in the minds of residents of Isale-Oyo in the Atiba Local Government Area of the state.

    Shortly after the election and while voting materials were being taken to the collation centres at Ward 3, some youths believed to be members of the Labour party, gathered  at major roads in the area and started hurling stones at members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    They were also reported to have fired several shots with locally made weapons and pounded the windows and doors of some APC chieftains. Notable among them were the State Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Chief Lasisi Ayankojo, and former member, House of Representatives, Akinrogun Segun Taiwo.

    Scores of party members also sustained varied degrees of injuries from the violent attacks.

    •Hon Taiwo
    •Hon Taiwo

    Narrating the show of shame on the ill-fated day, Akinrogun Taiwo  said ‘’I was in my vehicle heading to the collation centre located at L.A. Primary School, Sabo, after the conclusion  of House of Assembly election. On getting to Oloko-nla area at Isale-Oyo, I saw some youths who were members of the Labour Party, gathered together and were shouting, thief, thief on  me. I decided to stay rather than run away since I neither did any harm to anyone nor meant evil. Before I alighted from the vehicle, they started hurling stones at me. I had no option than to take to my heels so as to save my life.’’

    He said while running away, his attackers increased in numbers carrying dangerous weapons such as guns, cutlasses, bottles, and axes.

    ‘’They were cursing both the State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, leader of the community, Alhaji Lasisi Ayankojo and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, saying any indigene of Isale- Oyo who support the duo is a bastard. I later ran into a pit where they got hold of me and hit me with a charm, in addition to injuries already sustained. While they were looking for a tyre which they will use to burn me, one of them said they should leave me because I will not survive because of the potency of the charm they had hit me with. Thereafter, I managed to crawl like a baby to a nearby fence which I climbed to the other side of the road where sympathisers came to my rescue and took me to the hospital.’’

    Taiwo who is an indigene of Isale- Oyo community, identified one Yemi Oke alias ‘’ewe’’ as the person who wanted to set him ablaze. He added that some minutes  before the attack, his wife had been trailing him with her telephone to inform about plans  by some people to assassinate him, hence the need to leave the town and seek protection at a neighbouring community.

    ‘’Early in the month, one Hezekiah Ojo had called me on the telephone in the presence of a newly elected member of the House of Representatives,  Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi and incumbent member, House of Assembly, Waliu Alagbon, threatening to set ablaze my hotel and filling station. This had been reported to the police. Substantial amount of money, wedding ring, two handsets, shoe, hand and neck chains were items carted away by the attackers. My vehicle was also damaged’’.

    He revealed that even though the police have made some arrest totaling about nine, many of the alleged political thugs who assaulted  him were still at large, “the case is now before the state Commissioner of Police, some arrests have been made. They have made nine arrests. I can identify some and those who rescued me can identify others. They are between 15 and 20, in number.

    “All I am saying is that the security agencies should allow justice to prevail and I am using this medium to appeal to National Human Rights Commission to come to my aid because I was seriously beaten like a guinea pig to the extent that I lost consciousness, I was in a state of coma for 30 minutes.”

    The victim also opined, “the only justice we can get is for them to cancel the Ward election and deduct the result from the whole result for the constituency  and declare Honourable Waliu Adekunle Alagbon, the incumbent Honourable member of the House of Assembly as the Honourable member-elect of the Atiba State constituency.”

    Speaking on the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Deputy Superintendent of Police, Adekunle Ajisebutu, confirmed that nine suspects had been arrested over the issue. The suspects, he said would be charged to court shortly after investigation.

    Also commenting on the incident Honourable  Waliu Adekunle Alagbon, described the attack as ‘’ unfortunate and barbaric’’.

    Waliu called for a thorough and unbiased investigation of the attack by both the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies, in order to fish out and prosecute perpetrators, as well as determine the validity of results collated in the absence of representatives of a major contender, who were chased away with dangerous weapons by the opposition.

    Political violence is part and parcel of a broader epidemic of violence that has devastated the lives of tens of thousands of Nigerians since the country’s return to civilian rule in 1999.

    Since 1999, Nigeria has also seen hundreds of inter-communal clashes that were not overtly political in nature dividing Nigerians against one another along ethnic, religious, or other inter-communal lines.

  • ‘Continued killing of APC members in Rivers condemnable’

    ‘Continued killing of APC members in Rivers condemnable’

    The All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) Greater Together Campaign Organisation (GTCO) in Rivers State has raised the alarm on the continued killing of members of the party in the state.

    It demanded an immediate end to the act.

    GTCO, the campaign outfit of Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, yesterday in Port Harcourt, through its Director of Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, expressed shock over the post-election killings.

    The organisation said: “If they killed APC members on election days, why have they continued to kill after the polls? We wonder why the persons behind the killings want to turn Rivers State into a killing field.”

    Citing cases in Ahoada East, Okrika and other local government areas of the state, where APC members had either been killed or abducted, the GTCO noted that the killings had been raising concerns over the calibre of men and women the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared winners of the elections in the state.

    It said: “The unabated killings of APC members in Rivers State raises concerns on the mental status of the men and women INEC declared winners of the recent elections in the state. We are afraid that killers and sundry criminals have been imposed on the state by INEC, and if we are right, then worse days lay ahead for our people.”

    The GTCO noted that in Ahoada East Local Government Area, several killings have been recorded after the April 11 elections, in which it alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders unleashed armed militias, miscreants and uniformed rascals on voters.

    The campaign organisation said: “Since the discredited governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State, killers have swarmed on Ahoada East, hitting down their targets. Recently, Messrs. Chigba Apollos and Chiezule German, both members of APC in the area, were shot dead in Ibarikpo by unknown gunmen. Ibarikpo is in Ahoada East, Ward 13.

    “Besides the killings, kidnappers are also on the prowl in Ahoada East Local Government Area, targeting only APC members on a daily basis. It appears APC in Ahoada is marked for extinction.

    “The abduction of Chief Cassidy Ikegbidi, Chairman of Ahoada East Caretaker Committee, is one of the latest tragedies that have befallen APC. Apart from Ikegbidi, who was kidnapped last Friday (April 18), Mr. Suleiman Atago from Ideoha in Ward 5, and Chidi Oji from Ihuowo Ward 10 were also abducted by heavily-armed gunmen, reportedly dressed in military uniform.

    “On March 24, ahead of the presidential and National Assembly elections, Miebaka Opuogulaya from Abam-Ama (Abam community) in Okrika was not only killed, but his body was taken away by his killers.

    “In a similar bizarre manner, on April 15, Mr. Saturday Wakama was killed and his corpse carried away. Wakama, a popular APC member in Okrika, was a member of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and had championed campaigns for a riverine governor in Rivers State.

    “We wonder why security agencies have not arrested any killer or kidnapper, to face justice. This is an indictment on the agencies of state saddled with the responsibility of tackling law breakers. An arrest and prosecution will send strong warning to these outlaws and possibly stem the tide of growing murder of APC members in Rivers State. A stitch in time saves nine.”

  • APC members walk out on Assembly

    APC members walk out on Assembly

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the Benue State House of Assembly yesterday walked out during plenary.

    This followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Mr. Paul Biam, urging the House to dissolve into a committee of the whole for the purpose of discussing the controversial Chieftaincy Bill for passage, the BIRS Amendment Bill and the blanket confirmation of Local Government Caretaker Committee members sent to it by the Governor. The motion was seconded by Mr. David Iorhemba.

    Adanyi moved a counter motion calling on the House to jettison the order paper, saying the issues to be considered were not made known to other members of Rule and Business Committee.

    He lamented that Biam, the Chairman of the committee and House Majority Leader, did not discuss with any of the members of the committee before slating the issues for debate.

    He, however, cited an instance that confirmation hearing of caretaker committees of local governments was slated for consideration, but their Resumes were not circulated to them.

    The counter motion was seconded by Mr. James Ochojila, stressing that members ought to have the Resumes of the nominees with them to enable them have informed knowledge on their persons and take a firm decision about them.

    Ruling, the Speaker, Mr. Terhile Ayua, assured members that he would wade into the matter to avert  recurrence.

    He said the order paper was considered midway, stressing that prayer, adoption of Votes and Proceedings and announcement were already considered, so it would not be good to jettison it.

    He, therefore, ruled in favour of the motion calling for the dissolution of the House into the committee of the whole for the purpose of considering the items slated on the Order Paper.

    It was this ruling that angered the opposition members, leading to a walk out.