Tag: APC

The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Oyo State said the party remains a dominant political force to wrestle power from Governor Seyi Makinde’s led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) administration in 2027.

Leaders of the party stated they are fully united, repositioned to reclaim its strongholds for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. 

Speaking in Ibadan North Federal Constituency at the grand finale of the 14-Federal Constituency Tour organised by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, former Senate Leader and Oyo State Ambassador for Renewed Hope, Senator Teslim Folarin described Ibadan North as APC stronghold.

He attributed the party’s loss in last year’s federal constituency by-election in the constituency to internal division, saying that the tide has turned.

He said: “Ibadan North is a stronghold of APC. The division within our party led to PDP’s fluke victory. Today, we are united and ready to deliver Tinubu and dislodge the dead PDP from Agodi in 2027.”

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Folarin further claimed that a mass exodus is hitting PDP and other political parties, stressing that APC has become the only surviving party in Oyo State as opposition figures continue to move into the progressive fold in response to Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which according to him is already delivering results.

Wife of former Oyo Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Florence Ajimobi commended APC leaders and members for sustaining unity and rebuilding confidence across grassroots structures.

She called for continued discipline and strong organisation as preparations intensify ahead of 2027.

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, said President Tinubu’s administration has recorded enough achievements to merited another four-year mandate.

He called on Nigerians to support the APC to sustain what he described as the path of progress.

The chief host, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, described the Unity and Peace rally as the tip of the iceberg of the growing support base for President Tinubu.

He assured that the party is set to secure the President’s re-election, reclaim the governorship seat in Oyo State, and win other elective positions.

With the conclusion of the 14-Federal Constituency Tour, Alhaji Olayide Abass; Senators Abdulfatai Buhari, Yunus Akintunde and Ayo Adeseun; Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, Engr. Idris Adeoye, Hon. Bolaji Repete, Hon. Akeem Akogun, Alhaji Shina Alabi, and other party leaders said the next phase would focus on sustained grassroots engagement, voter mobilisation, and continued promotion of the Renewed Hope Agenda as the 2027 general elections draw nearer.

The rally also witnessed a wave of defections, as the APC received hundreds of new members from PDP and Labour Party. 

The defectors were led by former Council Chairman Hon. Yusuf Shuab, Agba Egbe, and former PDP Local Government Chairman, Hon. Seun Adelore, while Labour Party figures including Hon. Babatunde Olugbenga and Hon. Afeez Abiola also joined the APC.

The defectors cited good governance and inclusive leadership as reasons for their decision.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State has commenced the electronic registration and re-registration of members as part of a strategic mobilisation drive to its the party’s base, strengthen internal cohesion, and prepare for the future.

Flagging off the exercise, Governor Dapo Abiodun described the initiative as a major opportunity for party members and supporters across the state to deepen their commitment to the APC, which he reaffirmed as the largest and most successful political party in Africa.

Represented by his Deputy, Engr. (Mrs.) Noimot Salako-Oyedele, the Governor said the e-registration exercise would open the door for new members to proudly join the “winning party,” while also providing a credible, transparent, and technology-driven membership database.

According to him, the electronic process will eliminate manipulation and fraudulent practices, enhance accuracy, and ensure efficient data management in line with global best practices in political party organisation.

Governor Abiodun called on party leaders, stakeholders, and members at all levels to fully mobilise supporters across the state and ensure mass participation in the exercise.

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“This is a collective responsibility. Our leaders, ward executives, and field officers must work together to deliver a seamless, inclusive, and hitch-free registration process. The era of fake or inflated membership figures is over,” the Governor said.

The Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, urged party faithful to see the exercise as a unifying and strengthening process rather than a personal or transactional venture.

“This registration is not about personal gain; it is about consolidating our strength as a party and positioning APC for continued leadership and electoral success,” he said.

Sanusi called on party leaders across the 236 wards of the state to provide full support for the exercise and assured members that the party leadership would deploy additional registration centres and operators where necessary to accommodate all prospective members within the limited time available.

Lagos State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it has taken note of the alarmist remarks credited to former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, wherein he declared that “Nigeria is in peril and needs urgent salvation.”

The party in a statement yesterday by its spokesman, Seye Oladejo, in Ogba, said: ‘’We consider this intervention a classic case of misplaced moral outrage by a principal actor who, when entrusted with responsibility, failed to deploy the very “salvation” he now theatrically advertises.

‘’At moments like this, statesmanship demands introspection and restitution-not grandstanding. Nigerians remember the years when Tambuwal occupied strategic positions in government and the dividends of leadership expected at those times. Sadly, rather than offering a candid reckoning with his record or apologising for missed opportunities, he has chosen to sermonise from a pedestal of selective amnesia.

‘’More instructively, his recent 60th birthday colloquial presented a rare lifeline to truly confess, seek forgiveness and embrace restitution from a nation that gave him so much but received next to nothing in return. It was an auspicious occasion that should have lent itself to sober reflection and an honest recap of stewardship. Instead, that opportunity was cleverly sidestepped. Tales of sainthood ring hollow when public service records and recent legal tussles over graft remain unresolved footnotes that were conspicuously omitted.’’

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The statement added: ‘’Nigeria still bleeds from years of exploitation and poor leadership by individuals who once occupied positions of trust. To now speak of “peril” without acknowledging one’s role in deepening the nation’s wounds is not courage; it is convenience.

‘’It bears restating that Nigeria’s challenges did not materialise overnight, nor were they authored by the present administration alone. Many of those now brandishing megaphones of despair were active participants-if not architects-of the policy inertia, political brinkmanship and economic drift that constrained national progress for years. To proclaim peril without accepting culpability is to insult the intelligence of Nigerians.

‘’At 60, the transition into the realm of elder statesmanship beckons-a stage where only the truth suffices and where legacy begins to matter more than noise. It is not too early to start thinking about an enduring legacy built on honesty, accountability and service, rather than revisionism.

‘’Nigeria is not without leadership nor direction. Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, difficult but necessary reforms are being undertaken to stabilise the economy, strengthen security and restore institutional credibility. These efforts require patience, sincerity and collective responsibility-not apocalyptic rhetoric designed to harvest fleeting relevance.

‘’We therefore urge Tambuwal and his cohorts to rise above political theatre. If salvation is truly the concern, it should begin with humility, restitution and support for reforms that move the nation forward. Anything short of this is noise-loud, convenient and ultimately hollow.’’

Chinenye Anyim was the first All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Abia State. He also served as the party’s first National Vice Chairman for the Southeast. In this interview with Correspondent SUNNY NWANKWO, he speaks on the Alex Otti administration and how the APC can bounce back in the state.

Are you still active in politics?

I took a break from politics after being appointed Southeast representative on the National Pension Commission (PenCom). During that time, I was less active in politics, which might have led people to think I had left the scene.

But there is a proverb in my place that says when the mother hen forbids scratching, what will she use to feed her chicks? Politics has become part of me, to the glory of God. It is not proper for me to say that I have retired from politics at this stage of my life. I have not retired.

Abia APC is said to be balkanised. Which faction do you belong to?

Abia APC is not divided. Right now, there is only one APC in the state. People exaggerate when they talk about splits or factions in Abia APC.

Like every family, there can be misunderstandings. You disagree to agree, and that is healthy in a true democracy. We listen to different views. Where there are dissenting opinions, you sit down and resolve them. That is why people think there is a problem.

Right now, Abia APC has one chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, and one secretary, K.C. Avoaja. No one else can claim to be the party chairman. That shows there is only one APC in Abia State.

The APC did not perform well in the 2023 general election. What do you think went wrong?

In 2023, our governorship candidate was Chief Ikechi Emenike. Meanwhile, Dr. Alex Otti, who is now the governor, ran on the Labour Party (LP) ticket.

It’s worth noting that before Otti became governor, he was a strong APC member and was well-positioned to become our governorship candidate before Emenike.

Many factors were involved. The Obi wave in the Southeast had a significant impact, affecting more than just the LP. Also, people like Alex Otti left the APC shortly before the election, taking their supporters with them. We hope these things won’t happen again.

Some observers say the process that produced the APC’s 2023 governorship candidate hurt the party. Do you agree?

No selection process makes everyone happy. That’s true in every political party. What matters is maturity. After the primaries, people should put differences aside and work together to win elections.

In 2015, you and others, such as Donatus Nwankpa and Rochas Okorocha, were mocked for joining the APC. How do you feel today?

When we started the APC, our opponents mocked us and called us names. Now, many of those same people want to join the party, and some already have. What’s interesting is that our vision has stayed the same. Many who once mocked us now see what we saw years ago. We thank God for how far the party has come.

Some people feel you have been sidelined despite your contributions to the APC in Abia. Is that true?

No one has sidelined me, and no one can. People like me can’t be pushed aside.

There are basic facts critics can’t ignore. I was one of the 89 people who formed the APC. I was the first National Vice Chairman for the Southeast and the first APC governorship candidate in Abia State. After me came Dr. Sampson Ogah and then Chief Ikechi Emenike. So, there’s nothing to sideline.

What are the chances of the APC winning the Abia governorship election in 2027?

Our chances are strong, even stronger than before. One tree doesn’t make a forest. With the many political heavyweights now in the Abia APC, we’re not afraid of any election.

Even with Governor Otti’s incumbency advantage?

We know incumbency is an advantage, but we’ve also seen incumbents lose re-election.

Are you still nursing the ambition to govern Abia State?

As you know, I was the first APC governorship candidate in Abia, and I’m still with the party. Dreams and visions don’t die.

The Bible says in Habakkuk that a vision is for an appointed time. It might be fulfilled by you or someone else, but the vision itself lives on.

If you lose the APC ticket in 2027, would you support whoever emerges?

Yes. There are many aspirants in the APC. Whoever wins the ticket through a fair process will get support from others. Our main goal is for the APC to govern Abia State, just as we do at the national level.

There are rumours that Governor Alex Otti wants to return to the APC. Would you welcome him?

Of course. Otti was once a member of the APC. Politics is like a family—you can leave today and come back tomorrow to reach your goals. If he decides to return, he is welcome and free to do so. Some APC leaders have even been urging him to return to his roots. The Bible talks about first love, and in this democratic dispensation, his first love was the APC.

Are you personally calling for his return?

If he wants to return, he is welcome to do so. Some worry that if he comes back, party leaders will interfere with his work. But he is the governor and has executive powers. Who can tell him how to govern? Where are those people now, and what have they achieved?

As a founding member of the APC, has the party performed well since 2015?

You have to look at where Nigeria was before 2015. The APC didn’t create the problems Nigeria faces today; we inherited them.

It’s not perfect, but there have been achievements. There’s progress in some areas, and not everything is negative. The APC government has tackled some critical issues.

How would you assess Governor Otti’s performance so far?

He has done well in his own way. All governors today, including Otti, have received more federal funds. There’s been a financial boost compared to past years.

With these resources, no governor has an excuse not to perform. It would be wrong to have so much and not do well. So yes, he is doing well and making efforts.

Your view contrasts with that of Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who accused the governor of wasting resources. Is that a contradiction?

No. These things are relative. There’s a value-for-money audit. From what I’ve seen, it wouldn’t be fair to say Otti has done nothing, especially compared to past administrations. The Federal Government has also invested a lot in states, so governors are expected to perform.

Igbos have long complained of marginalisation. Has the situation improved?

Yes, things have improved. There is hope now. We have the Southeast Development Commission. Roads such as the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway and the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway are under construction.

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There are more federal projects in the Southeast now than before. This has happened in just a few years. With more time, we’ll see even more progress.

Peter Obi has joined the ADC and may contest the presidency. Should he step aside for President Tinubu?

Every Nigerian has the right to vote and to be voted for. No one should be denied that right.

As an APC member, I’ll support President Bola Tinubu because he would be flying the party’s flag. I also believe that many Igbos, after seeing what the administration has done, will help him achieve even more by voting for him in 2027.

What do you think about Tinubu’s economic policies, especially the new tax law?

The new tax law went into effect on January 1. It’s too soon to judge it completely. We need to see how it works in practice.

This government knows people are suffering and is working to fix it. If a policy doesn’t work, the government will make changes.

For example, removing the fuel subsidy was hard at first, but now fuel is available, and prices are not fixed. Rice used to be scarce and expensive during Christmas, but now it’s easy to find. We shouldn’t criticize everything.

How would you assess the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity?

Insecurity was a big problem in the past. Fighting insecurity is tough, just as fighting corruption is. The government needs support from Nigerians to succeed.

The conviction of Nnamdi Kanu has generated controversy. Do you support calls for a political solution?

Yes, a political solution is the best way to resolve the issue.

What is your advice to Abians and Ndi Igbo on the ongoing voter revalidation exercise?

People should register to vote and exercise their voting rights. If you don’t register, you deny yourself a voice. The registration exercise is a chance to change what we don’t like by voting. Registration lets you help shape good governance.