Tag: APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC), has claimed that former Senate President and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim has joined the party.

The party said it has made frantic efforts to bring the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Leader into the APC and he has accepted to join the party.

It said this was why his pictures were used in the local government and councillorship elections APC rally held in Ivo, the former ex-SGF local government on Saturday.

APC Ebonyi Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, who stated these during the rally, described Anyim as a critical stakeholder of the APC.

He said on July14, everyone will know that Anyim is a critical stakeholder of APC in South East. 

“I took it personal to be going to him on the need to join us because it  will not be possible for the entire south east to be negotiating without a man like him. 

“I am a fulfilled person today because I have seen APC poster bearing his name and image in APC rally.It  is because of his exigencies that makes him not to be here in this rally.

“I  have made frantic and personal efforts and met him in Abuja on the need to join us because of his wealth of experience.

“He is such a wonderful personality and there is no way you can put his picture in our(APC) rally program without his consent. He has already confirmed to be part of APC and that is why his picture is allowed in our program today.

“I stand here to announce to us that Senator Anyim Pius Anyim is a member of APC. He is not only an APC member, but a stakeholder in APC.

“By 14th of next month, you will know that he is not only a stakeholder of APC in Ebonyi State, he is a stakeholder in the entire south east of APC,” Emegha stated.

Governor Francis Nwifuru, who was represented by his Deputy, Princess Patricia Obila, commended the people for turning out en mass during the rally and urged them to continue to support APC led administration in the state.

He assured that his administration will resolve the boundary issues in the local government.

Chairman of the local government, Emmanuel Ajah assured that he will provide more democracy dividends if re-elected.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta state, Chief Ayirimi Emami, has expressed optimism that the candidates of the All Progressive Congress (APC) would emerge victorious if the July 13 Local Government elections in the state are free and fair.

Emami made the assertion in Warri, while donating campaign materials as support to the APC chairmanship and councillorship candidates for Warri North, Warri South and Warri Southwest LGAs.

He called on the Delta State Government to ensure that the July 13 Local Government election is free and fair.

Underscoring the need for free and fair elections, Emami stated that effective governance should begin at the grassroots level and extend upward through the tiers of government.

He said: “If there is any election, our candidates are going to win. Therefore, we must all go out and campaign; if you don’t campaign, nobody will vote for you.

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“I understand the fear of some of our supporters that the government doesn’t want to conduct elections, but wants to write the results. Rest assured that if there is any election, I am confident that our candidates will win.”

Emphasising the need for a free and fair exercise, he pointed out that concern of manipulation of results are among reasons there are calls for Local Government autonomy.

“It is instances like this that makes us yearn for local government autonomy, to ensure local government elections are not controlled by the state government.

“If the states are advocating for state police and are also overseeing the state Independent Electoral Commission, they must ensure there is a free and fair election in all local governments in the state.”

The campaign materials donated include customized face caps, T-shirts and flags.

Responding, the chairmanship candidates expressed gratitude for the gesture and assured party members, as well as supporters that victory would be secured as they would go out into the creeks and riverine areas to campaign.

The candidates include Prince Francis Yonwuren for Warri South; Chief Samson Omamuli for Warri North and Mr Mamamu Bene Youkore for Warri Southwest.

All Progressives Congress youths in Badagry, Lagos State, have condemned attack on state Chair, Cornelius Ojelabi.

Some members from Alimosho council stormed the secretariat on Acme Road, accusing Ojelabi of highhandedness.

But the youths, in a statement, said: “We condemn this act of violence and call for probe. We urge the Governance Advisory Council to take action against the culprits involved in this act.

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“APC is well known for its good reputation and high value, and we cannot allow such behavior to tarnish our image. We must uphold principles of our party and ensure those who violate them are held accountable.

“We stand in solidarity with Ojelabi and the leadership. We call on members to remain peaceful and refrain from violence. Let us work  to build a stronger and better APC for our nation.

“We will not tolerate violence or intimidation. Let us stand together and work for a better for all and future generations.”

More than 1,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akure South Local Government have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State.

The defectors, who were led by Mayowa Boboye, attributed their defection to lack of internal democracy in the APC.

Among the defectors were APC Ward 8 leader, Deborah Owosusi, Ademola Ayonijebu, Mayowa Boboye, Oloro Alejo and Azeez Ibrahim, who led the Ebira group

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They said they would support the PDP and its governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, to sack the ruling party from Alagbaka Government House in the November 16 governorship election.

The former APC members were received at a rally held at the Akure Town Hall.

Former APC Organising Secretary in Akure South, Akinwande Fayinminu, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, said the bad leadership of the APC brought more hunger and hardship to the state.

He said the APC has continued to cause more harm to their personal development as politicians.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the southwest has called on the Osun state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to offer constructive criticism of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration.

The PDP Southwest responded to recent remarks by APC chairman Tajudeen Lawal, who accused Governor Adeleke of dismissing health workers.

In a statement issued by the zonal publicity secretary, Sanya Atofarati, and made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, June 24, the PDP expressed disappointment with how the APC is conducting its opposition role.

Atofarati described the APC’s comments on the alleged dismissal of health workers as mere propaganda and misleading information intended to create tension in the state.

Atofarati said that propaganda would not help APC regain the trust of the Osun people, adding that Governor Adeleke-led PDP had passionately warmed itself to the heart of the citizenry through its people-centric policies and programmes.

He maintained that rather than embark on propaganda and outright lies, it was high time the opposition party engaged in constructive engagement and issued- based politics in the interest of the state’s growth and development.

Atofarati urged the APC to redirect its energies towards addressing the current economic challenges facing the nation, rather than engaging in destructive and counterproductive criticism.

The statement reads: “It is important to note that Governor Ademola Adeleke has not terminated the appointment of any worker in Osun State since he got to office. On the contrary, the governor has fostered a positive working environment that has resulted in improved productivity across all sectors of governance in the state.

“Individuals who were hastily employed following Governor Oyetola’s defeat in the 2022 Governorship election without proper documentation were allowed to reapply for their positions to ensure proper record-keeping.”

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Governor Adeleke has made significant progress in the health sector including the prompt payment of staff salaries and the clearance of backlog arrears owed by the previous administration of former Governor Oyetola/APC.

“Additionally, there has been a concerted effort in the upgrade and rehabilitation of all primary health centres across the 30 Local Government Areas in the state, equipping them with state-of-the-art facilities to better serve the healthcare needs of the people.

“These developments demonstrate Governor Adeleke’s commitment to improving the overall well-being of the citizens of Osun state and ensuring access to quality healthcare services for all while urging the APC in the state to brace up for more defeats in future elections”, the statement added.

…demands N30b damages

Adeh Isibor, the representative of Esan Northeast I in the Edo State House of Assembly and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was indefinitely suspended on May 6, 2024, has filed a lawsuit against the speaker, Blessing Agbebaku and seven media houses at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja.

The lawsuit alleges libel and wrongful publication of false statements, seeking damages amounting to N30 billion.

Isibor, along with two other lawmakers, Donald Okogbe (Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Akoko-Edo II), and Bright Iyamu (PDP, Orhionmwon II), was suspended indefinitely due to concerns over juju scare at the Assembly complex and an alleged impeachment plot against the speaker and other principal officers.

Speaker Agbebaku, of the PDP, made comments regarding the indefinite suspension of the three lawmakers during a media briefing on June 19 this year, held as part of the activities marking the first year in office of the 8th Edo House of Assembly.

He said: “There were challenges, but they did not overwhelm us. There is no organisation or body without challenges.

Every challenge we had was surmounted by our cooperation, comradeship, unity, friendship, and understanding.

“In every organisation or body, there are rules and regulations. For the three suspended lawmakers constituents to complain of lack of representation, that is the price to pay for being disobedient, and going contrary to the House’s rules.

“A committee is being set up to look into their issues. So, in the next three weeks, the members of the committee will submit their report. From there, we will know the next line of action to take.”

Isibor, in the suit, with reference number: FCT/HC/CV/2856/2024, Agbebaku and the seven media houses were listed as the first to eight defendants, who were accused jointly and severally, in the libel, for broadcasting or publishing of the false and libellous statements made by the first defendant (Agbebaku) during the plenary.

The APC’s lawmaker claimed that the speaker’s statements and broadcasts/publications damaged his reputation in the eyes of his learned colleagues, his co-parishioners, church members, clients, and constituents, among others, and wanted Agbebaku to immediately publish a retraction in five print and five online media, with an apology.

He also wanted an order mandating the second to eight defendants to immediately publish a retraction of the defamatory publications and broadcasts in their respective media.

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Isibor asked for damages of N3 billion against the defendants, jointly and severally, and N50 million cost of the suit, as well as 10 per cent interest on the damages, from the date of the judgment, until the judgment’s debt would be fully paid, while no date has been fixed for hearing.

It will be recalled that Agbebaku, while announcing the three lawmakers’ suspension, equally accused them of being influenced by external forces, with the intent to cause chaos and remove the leadership of the Assembly.

Edo speaker reiterated that some persons brought native doctors into the Assembly complex at midnight on May 1, 2024, made some demonic incantations, and dropped charms.

The suspension created tension inside the Assembly, as the affected lawmakers kicked against the action, saying: “Mr. Speaker, you do not have the right to unilaterally suspend any member of this House. You must call for votes. Allow members of the Assembly to vote on the matter.” In order to douse the tension, Agbebaku quickly adjourned the plenary.

Modestus Umenzekwe, an Anambra chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has praised President Bola Tinubu for fostering a sense of inclusion for the Igbo community in his administration.

Umenzekwe highlighted that Tinubu not only prioritized infrastructural development in the Southeast but also appointed an Igbo man as minister of Works, the first time in over 50 years that the position has been held by someone from the Igbo community.

As a major financier of Tinubu’s campaigns in the southeast during the 2023 presidential election, Umenzekwe expressed that Ndigbo would be eternally grateful to Tinubu.

Speaking with The Nation on Sunday, June 23, the APC chieftain described the President as a bridge builder and a nurturer of people.

Umenzekwe said: “For giving Dave Umahi the position of Works Minister, means he has the Igbo people at heart. It was Chief Ururuka from old Imo state, now in Abia that held such position last from Igbo region.

“And being an Engineer, Umahi has set machinery in motion already. The last Minister on that position, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, was exceptional by lifting Igbo very well. The roads that were impassable were taken care of.

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“Any Igbo man fighting Tinubu’s government, I believe, must be doing it from ‘selfish’ perspective and that is why majority of Igbo have continued to pray for him.

“You can see that the narrative has changed, God will give Tinubu long life to redirect this country. The signs have started showing. The challenges are much, but we shall conquer.”

On the 2025 governorship election in Anambra state, he said, ” when we get to the bridge we shall cross it.

“What APC should do is to look for a credible candidate for it’s ticket. The battle will be tough because the other political parties are equally preparing for it”, the APC leader said

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is planning to establish the National Governorship Campaign Council for the Edo and Ondo States elections, scheduled for September and November respectively.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set the off-season governorship election in Edo State for September 21, 2024, while the election in Ondo State will be held on November 16, 2024.

Checks by The Nation in the Organisation Directorate of the party in Abuja showed that barring any fundamental change, the NWC is to release and inaugurate Edo State National Governorship Elections Campaign Council early next month.

The Ondo state version of the council is being packaged for early August, 2024.

It was gathered that the delay in constituting and inaugurating Edo State council was due to efforts by the NWC to harmonise all the names of nominees from various stakeholders contacted by the party’s highest administrative organ for submission of nominees to serve on the council.

The Nation learnt for the all inclusive campaign councils for the two elections, members of the NWC, the State Working Committee (SWC), the two governorship candidates and their running mates and some identified critical stakeholders of the party in the two states have forwarded their nominations for proper compilation by the Organisation Directorate.

Our source also hinted that the party is reaching out to governorship aspirants in the party’s shadow elections in the two states to serve in the campaign councils in other ensure victory at the polls for the party’s candidates.

A top official of the party in the Organisation Directorate who spoke in confidence said the party was set to unveil the Edo State National Governorship Elections Campaign Council in the first week of July.

“We are conscious of the fact that we are behind schedule for the Edo State election, so the party will be inaugurating the council first week in July.

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“All the stakeholders in the state and members of the other statutory bodies of the party who are expected to nominate members of the council have sent their list before the Sallah break. We only expecting the nominations from the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and the National Assembly.

“The NWC is billed to meet in this week to harmonise all the names submitted with a view to having a well compact and all inclusive council. We are not ready to take chance. Everybody is brought on board to serve in the councils of the two states, including aspirants who contested the party primary.

The Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru in a telephone interview on Sunday confirmed that the NWC will be meeting to finalise the list of the council.

“We are inaugurating the Edo State governorship campaign council first. The NWC will be meeting to deliberate on the nominations from all the critical stakeholders and statutory bodies.”

He was however not categorical about the inauguration date for the council. He simply said: “We are inaugurating that of Edo State first and that will be immediately after NWC meets.”