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  • APC Primary: We’re ready for rerun if you think there is imposition, Agege LG candidates dare aggrieved party members

    APC Primary: We’re ready for rerun if you think there is imposition, Agege LG candidates dare aggrieved party members

    Candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the upcoming local government election in Agege and Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have dismissed allegations of imposition in the recently concluded party primaries in Lagos State.

    At a press briefing on Wednesday, Hon. Akinola Idowu, the chairmanship candidate for Orile-Agege, downplayed the protests against the emergence of candidates, describing them as the handiwork of politicians lacking sportsmanship.

    He urged the public to ignore the “false narratives” being peddled by disgruntled aspirants and instead focus on the party’s preparations for the election.

    Idowu challenged aggrieved members to a rerun, asserting that the primaries that produced him and the Agege chairmanship candidate, Alhaji Tunde Azeez, were “transparent, free and fair.”

    “The so-called aggrieved group includes failed aspirants, some of whom only recently joined us from the PDP, others living abroad. Politics is local, not about annual visits or WhatsApp donations,” he said.

    “We consider it necessary to let the public hear from us regarding the debate our elections as candidates of the All Progressives Congress in Agege and Orile-Agege in the forthcoming local government election in Lagos State is generating.

    “To start with, the pocket of opposition to our candidacies is not unusual. It’s typical of those politicians bereft of the spirit of sportsmanship to cry wolf when election outcomes go against them.

    “However, we find this particular case unfortunate and uncalled for, because the primaries conducted by our party that produced us were transparent, free, and fair.

    “You need to know that our adversaries accusing our leaders of imposing on them are in the minority in our party, a very small, inconsequential set of fringe party members.

    “They had to recruit people with no affiliation to our party to swell their ranks in order to deceive undiscerning minds, and give a false impression that they have a good number of our party members in their camp.

    “It may interest you to know that those disgruntled elements are made up of failed aspirants in the just-concluded primaries, including someone who joined us from the Peoples Democratic Party two months ago, three UK-based politicians, and one person who resides in the United States.

    “Politics, we all know, is local, and not played majorly by phone-talk, yearly visits, and occasional transfer of chickenfeed to hangers-on.

    He dismissed allegations surrounding Azeez’s health and claims of imposition linked to Rt. Hon. Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and his son, Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, the running mate to Azeez.

    “Yes, our colleague Azeez is unwell, but illness is part of human nature. Even if there’s a rerun, we would beat them again. We have the support of all party executives from both councils in this hall with us,” Idowu declared.

    Read Also: APC national secretary woos three PDP Osun senators after endorsement of Tinubu

    He said: “We have not found it funny that they recourse to cheap blackmail after their defeats, and are peddling false narrative with regards the health of our colleague, the Chairmanship candidate of our party in Agege, Alhaji Tunde Azeez, his running mate, and son of our leader, Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, and his father, Rt Hon. Speaker, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, who they accused of imposition.

    “It is a fact that our colleague, Alhaji Azeez, is currently sick. It is equally a fact that part of human nature is to fall sick at times. For your information, his sickness is neither terminal nor is he bedridden.

    “On the issue raised against Obasa’s son, we find it laughable and nonsensical that their argument against the young man borders on the circumstances of his birth — the fortune of being sired by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, which in their warped thinking should disqualify him from contesting for political election in Agege despite his intimidating academic record and huge contribution to our community in terms of philanthropy.

    Also speaking, Hon. Johnson Babatunde, Chairman of Orile-Agege LCDA, appealed for unity within the party and called on aggrieved members to put aside their grievances and join forces for the progress of Agege and Orile-Agege.

    “Elections will always produce winners and losers. If they insist on imposition, we challenge them to a rerun—any format, any venue—they’ll see we’re on ground,” Babatunde said.

    Hon. Fatai Ajibola, APC General Secretary for Agege Federal Constituency, reiterated the credibility of the primaries and encouraged all factions to unite under the party’s leadership ahead of the July 12 election.

    “I participated in the primaries. They were free and fair. If there’s a rerun, the outcome will be the same. We are all APC, and we must work together for victory,” he said.

    Alhaji Salisu Danjuma, APC Publicity Secretary for Agege Local Government and a delegate in the primaries, backed the candidates, affirming that the selection process was devoid of external interference.

  • APC Primary: Aspirants pass vote of no confidence in committee’s chairman

    APC Primary: Aspirants pass vote of no confidence in committee’s chairman

    Some All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants in Ondo state have passed a vote of no confidence in the primary election being superintended by Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC primary election in the 203 wards in the state is to elect the party’s flag bearer for the Nov. 16 goverorship election.

    Addressing newsmen on Saturday in Akure, even as the election was ongoing, the aspirants said that Gov. Ododo did not follow the due process laid down by the national leadership of the party.

    Mr Gbenga Edema, one of the aspirants, frowned at the delay in the release of electoral materials meant for the primary.

    According to Edema, as at 10: 00 a.m., electoral materials had not been released contrary to the reolution made during a stakeholders’ meeting on Friday.

    “ As I’m speaking to you at past 10:00 am, no electoral materials have been distributed.

    “We have been here with others before 7;00 a.m. because the secretary of the committee, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, told us during the stakeholders’ meeting that the materials would be distributed to the electoral officers at the BON Hotel, Akure.

    “ He told us that the accreditation would start between 10:00:am and 1:00 pm and that voting would commence by 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

    “ But what we are hearing now is that the election has been concluded and the result announced.

    “We asked the chairman, but he had no answer to our questions.

    “ We are not people that could be manipulated by god fathers. So, we are asking our national leadership that if they are not ready, they should postpone it until the right thing is done,” he said.

    Similarly, Mr Sola Ajisafe, who represented Mr Wale Akinterinwa, one of the aspirants, said that there was no election held in the state.

    Read Also: APC Primary: Voters disperse as violence breaks out at voting centre in Okitipupa

    “ My people have been calling me that no single material has been distributed in their wards.

    “What is playing out here is connivance and agreement by Gov. Ododo to short change the people of the state and reduce our capacity to choose our leader.

    “We are saying that they should reschedule another election because this election did not even hold.

    “This is another form of failure. Ododo has not performed his responsibility concerning this election. This is anti democratic process,” he said.

    Also, Mr Rotimi Ogunleye, who represented Mr Olusola Oke, an aspirant, asked the committee to follow due process, adding that a lot had been spent to build the party.

    Ogunleye, who said he had a right to protest, called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene.

    “ I want to inform President Bola Tinubu, because he is our leader, that the men sent to conduct this election are not following the guidelines,” he said.

    Similarly, Mr Paul Oniyemofe, who represented Prof. Dayo Faduyile, another aspirant, described the election as a day light robbery, and asked for a rescheduled primary.

    In swift reaction, Ododo said that electoral materials had been distributed to Ondo North and Ondo South Senatorial Districts.

    He added that materials had also been delivered at Ondo Central District, promising that all grievances would be looked into.

    The correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN), who visited Ward 10 in Akure South Local Government Area, observed that the election had been concluded there.

    Speaking to NAN, Mr Ifedayo Aanuoluwapo, said that it was peaceful and orderly.

    Aanuoluwapo, who is a youth leader of the party in the ward, however, said that the voters did not follow the timeline of accreditation.

    Similarly, Mr Ademola Salami, a voter, said that there was a premonition that there could be violence in the ward, hence the early accreditation and voting.

    However, at Obanla /Ijomu Ward 4, Akure South Local Government Area, accreditation was yet to be done.

    Speaking to newsmen, Mr Yinka Akosile, an electorate, said that the the people were still awaiting electoral materials as at noon.
    (NAN)

  • APC Primary: Voters disperse as violence breaks out at voting centre in Okitipupa

    APC Primary: Voters disperse as violence breaks out at voting centre in Okitipupa

    Violence, on Saturday broke out at Ward 1 at Stella Maris College, Okitipupa, between rival supporters of two aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) contesting to be the party’s candidate for the Nov. 16  Ondo State Governorship election.

    Accredited members of the party who had turned out early in their large numbers to elect the party’s candidate for the governorship polls took to their heels when fracas broke out between the rival supporters.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accreditation and election process had not began when the violence erupted as voters scampered for safety.

    Read Also: Ondo APC Gov aspirants protest in Akure

    One of the accredited voters, who prefered anonymity, told NAN that one of the agents of an aspirant, came to the ward, snatched the validation and accreditation papers and ran away.

    “One of the agents came here, snatched the validation and acreditation papers and fled the venue in his car.

    “They chased him, but could not catch him. This caused the violence,” he said.

    NAN reports that the security agents at the ward were unable to contain the violence and everyone fled the scene.

    (NAN)

  • Aiyedatiwa, Ibrahim, Akinterinwa, others to get screening certificate for APC primary

    Aiyedatiwa, Ibrahim, Akinterinwa, others to get screening certificate for APC primary

    Ahead of Saturday’s Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries, the party will today issue a screening clearance certificate to the 16 cleared aspirants at the national secretariat in Abuja.

    Sen. Joshua Lidani led a seven-man screening committee last Friday night after a seven-hour screening exercise gave all the aspirants a clean bill to contest Saturday’s primary.

    The aspirants cleared include the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, former national vice chairman (South West), Duerimini Isaac Kekemeke, Olusoji Adewale Ehinlanwo, a former member of the House of Assembly, Olugbenga Omogbemi Edema and business magnate, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunsho.

    Read Also; Yoruba Nation: Sunday Igboho denies involvement in invasion of Oyo secretariat

    Others are Mrs. Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo, an engineer; Akinfolarin Mayo Samuel, former commissioner for Finance, Adewale Olumuyiwa Akinterinwa, legal luminary, Chief Olusola Alexander Oke, SAN, Ohunyeye Olamide Felix and Morayo Lebi, a lawyer.

    Also cleared for the shadow election were Garvey Oladiran Iyanjan, Prof. Francis Adebayo Faduyile, Mrs. Judith Folakemi Omogoroye, an engineer; President Unilag Alumni (Worldwide), Ifeoluwa Olusola Oyedele, also an engineer and Omo’Oba Okunjimi Odimayo John.

    The Nation gathered that the Directorate of Organisation of the party yesterday sent invites to the aspirants for the brief today where their screening clearance certificate will be issued.

    National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Sulaiman Arugungu, will present the certificate to the aspirants by 4pm at the NWC Hall of the party national headquarters in Abuja.

    Contacted, the Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, confirmed to our correspondent that the certificate would be issued to the 16 aspirants.

    The party will today hold a delegate congress in the 18 local governments ahead of Saturday’s shadow election to pick the party’s standard-bearer for the November governorship election.

  • APC primary: Appeal panel upholds Nwosu’s election

    The Appeal Panel set up by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to examine the petitions arising from the Imo State governorship primary, has affirmed Uche Nwosu as the party’s governorship candidate.

    The panel, headed by a former Edo State Governor, Prof. Osunbor Oserheimen, also dismissed the petitions filed by other governorship aspirants, which sought the cancelation of the primary.

    The petitioners are: Chucks Ololo, Chris Nlemoha and Chima Anozie.

    In their separate petitions, they claimed that the primary was marred by irregularities, which they said made it impossible for them and their supporters to participate in it.

    But after its sitting, the panel adopted the report of the Ibrahim Agbabiaka’s Committee, which conducted the primary.

    The committee declared Nwosu winner of the election, after polling the highest vote of 269,542 to defeat his closest rival, Chucks Ololo, who polled 6,428 votes.

     

  • APC primary: Policemen at Airport Hotel, Lagos

    An army of policemen yesterday surrounded Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

    It is not immediately clear why they were there, but a source said their presence might not be unconnected with the primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Jide Sanwo-Olu are in the race for the ticket. ”We suspect that the buses are moving in ballot boxes,” the source said.

    The Nation could not confirm the allegation.

  • APC Primary: Buhari scores 697,532 votes in Imo

    President Muhammadu Buhari,  garnered 697,532 votes in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential primary in Imo State.

    Buhari was returned unopposed by the APC card carrying members who turnout in large number for the exercise.

    The State Returning Officer, Chief Charles Amadi, announced the result after collation at the Nick Banquet Hall, Owerri.

    The Governor, who addressed APC faithful shortly after announcing the result, said that President Buhari “remains the best option for the Southeast and her people in the 2019 election compared to others jostling for the same position in other political parties”.

    He assured that the President will “win in the entire Southeast in 2019″.

    According to him, “in the 2011 election, the PDP people were able to rig and write fictitious figures to misrepresent the facts on ground. But in the 2015 election, the PDP also manipulated the results of the South – East states to portend dislike and resentment for Muhammadu Buhari. But we fought them to standstill to ensure that they did not perpetuate their heinous act of writing unrealistic results. Hence, the Southeast votes ensured an even spread for the emergence of Mr. President”.

    Read Also: Buhari secures 210, 201 votes in Bayelsa

    He continued that, “what we are doing today is the APC Presidential Primary for President Muhammadu Buhari. It is also very clear that the President is Contesting the 2019 Presidential election on the platform of APC as the sole candidate of the party. But like the Constitution approves, whether it’s one person or more than one candidate, the electorate must exercise their franchise.

    “So we have come to show our love towards him by queuing to vote for him massively. We’re doing this to know the number of the Party members from each ward that are approving his candidature for 2019 presidential election. So, I’m here with my people to assure President Muhammadu Buhari that Imolites are with him come 2019”.

    The governor added further that, “I am very happy for the large turnout as people had trooped out in their large numbers to ensure victory for our Party, APC and our presidential flag-bearer, President Muhammadu Buhari and also to assure him that APC is the Party on ground in Imo State.”

    Announcing the result, Amadi said President Buhari garnered six hundred and ninety seven thousand, five hundred and thirty-two votes out of the nine hundred and forty-four, eight hundred and forty-three registered members.

  • Abe threatens boycott of APC primary over process

    Frontline Governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State Senator Magnus Abe, has threatened to boycott tomorrow’s primaries should the party fail to adopt direct primaries

    Abe issued the threat during at a  rally in Wiiyakara community, Khana Local Government Area.

    He urged the party’s national leadership to reverse itself and conduct direct primaries in Rivers state.

    Abe said: “It is bad that we continue to worship individuals when we want change. It is clear that they are doing what they are doing because somebody has been appointed a DG (Director-General).

    “If they are doing this to please one person, then the party will not move forward. If the primary in Rivers is not through direct primaries I will not take part and I will not accept the result.

    “When we were fighting former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Amaechi called me that I should lead the party in the state. I did but when I want to pursue my ambition he turned me down. I am the leader of APC in my senatorial district but I do not have a ward Chairman,” Abe lamented.

    Abe told the party’s primaries committee to remove his name from the list of aspirants if it was bent on indirect primaries.

    “Today, I stand here to assure you that nobody is bigger than all of us. It is the responsibility of the party to bring a better ground for all the aspirants

    “I hereby serve them a notice that they should remove my name from the list of the contestants. I will not participate in a process that has already been determined.

    “I will not be part of a coronation that the king will not be crowned. They have gone to the national that they will send me home. Every campaign of hate must stop, Rivers must move forward,” Abe said.

  • Ekiti: Al-Makura promises massive security as rescheduled APC primary holds today

    Nasarawa State governor and chairman of the electoral committee on Ekiti State governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, has promised massive security within and outside the venue of the event today.

    Addressing a news conference at Damlek Event Centre, Ado-Ekiti venue of the primary yesterday on the level of preparedness for the exercise, said that accreditation would begin at 8 am.

    He promised a free, fair and credible exercise.

    The media parley was attended by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bello Ahmed; Director of Department of State Services, (DSS), Mrs. Promise Iheanacho; Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Donatus Ikemefuna and Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Ismaila Kugu.

    Those to be accredited are aspirants, delegates, journalists, observers and other critical stakeholders.

    Apart from the security arrangement, Al-Makura explained that facilities needed for the conveniences of participants had been provided.

    The electoral panel chair said dedicated tents had been provided for delegates on the basis of the three senatorial districts: Ekiti South, Ekiti North and Ekiti Central.

    Al-Makura said: “Any delegate accredited won’t be allowed to go out for any reason.

    “Any delegate that enters the arena must be identified by his party membership card and extra statutory identity like International Passport, Driver’s Licence and National ID Card.

    “Such delegates must be identified with the list given to us by the National Secretariat.

    “All accreditation must be completed for delegates from all the senatorial zones before voting starts.

    “Voting will be done once at a time, and it will start with delegates from Ekiti South, the farthest, then to Ekiti North and Ekiti Central, the closest.

    “After identification, delegates will be given ballot paper and they will submit their delegates tag for punching, and they will also submit the ropes of their tags.

    “Cubicle for voting area are ready for delegates and delegates will go in and cast their votes. One outlet will be dedicated for voters and no voter will be allowed back into the hall once he votes.

    “At the end of the voting, there will be sorting to be followed by counting.”

    He also said the panel would not allow any aspirant or delegate that wears branded materials to the venue of the primary.

    Responding to a question, Al-Makura stressed that some agents that were barred for their involvement in the fracas that broke out in the botched primary would be arrested if found in the vicinity of the primary.

    Al-Makura disclosed that some of the hoodlums arrested for disrupting the primary election previously were being prosecuted.

     

    Party secures new venue as 32 aspirants jostle for ticket

    All is now set for the rescheduled governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State billed to hold in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, today.

    Not willing to take chances, the Electoral Committee chairman and Nasarawa State governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, has secured a new venue for the rescheduled primary.

    It will now hold at Damlek Event Centre, along Afao Road.

    Speaking with reporters during a tour of the town to get an alternative venue, Al-Makura said the event centre was okay for the primary election, given its space and facilities.

    He said the primary would be conducted without any fear of bad weather as was experienced during the botched primary.

    The governorship primary, which initially held at Oluyemi Kayode Stadium on May 5, was marred by violence as some delegates and suspected thugs disrupted the process and smashed the ballot boxes.

    The aggrieved delegates and thugs claimed that the process was skewed in favour of one of the aspirants.

    The party’s national leadership, after consultations with the aspirants and the electoral committee, picked today as the new date for the primary.

    Thirty-three aspirants participated in the last primary, but one of them, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, announced his withdrawal from the race on Thursday.

    A total 2,409 delegates are expected to cast their ballots for the aspirants of their choice.

    Al-Makura said arrangements had been made for the successful conduct of the primary, including the security of those that would perform one role or the other in the shadow poll.

    At the time of filing this report, Al-Makura was fine-tuning last-minute arrangements with the state APC leaders at the hotel where he lodged in Ado-Ekiti.

    The shadow election has become the talk of the town as residents discuss it as newsstands, bus stops, markets, shops, offices and junctions.

  • Nobody can rig APC primary in Ekiti, says ex-Speaker

    Former Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Olufemi Bamisile, has assured that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary will not be rigged in favour of any aspirant. Bamisile, an APC governorship aspirant, promised to offer the people of the state good governance and better standard of living if he wins the party’s ticket and elected governor in the July 14 election.

    He claimed to have about 1,500 of delegates expected to vote at the primary election on his side. The former Speaker said he is not afraid of other party bigwigs interested in the APC ticket. He promised to use his Octopus Agenda blueprint to bring about positive change to Ekiti State which he said has been bastardised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government.

    The ex-Speaker said nobody can buy delegates at the primary, noting that the shadow election represents an opportunity for the APC to regain the governorship seat lost in the 2014 election. “You and I will get to the promised land together; nobody can buy delegates at the primary because they are determined to elect the right candidate this time around.

    “We are going to run the government together because it is somebody that works hard that reaps the fruit of his labour. I want to assure my supporters that nobody can rig the APC primary. Everybody will be taken care of in our administration, including the delegates and voters. We will use agriculture to turn around our economy and give financial empowerment to women and youths.”