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  • Anambra 2025: APC has no zoning arrangement, party declares

    Anambra 2025: APC has no zoning arrangement, party declares

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, says it has no zoning arrangement in the state as is being speculated.

     The party said the arrangement was a creation of the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA, made possible by the former Governor, Mr Peter Obi.

     Before now, the elders of the party, led by Sir Innocent Obi, had said the zoning was for all the political parties in the state.

     However, in a statement, Saturday by the APC, which was signed by the Publicity Secretary, Dr. Valentine Iliobi, said the assertion of the APC elders was false.

    APC said, “It has come to the attention of the Anambra State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on a trending story purportedly published by a group known as the All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Forum led by one Chief Innocent Obi, staging that the zoning of the APC 2025 governorship ticket to the Anambra South Senatorial District should be sacrosanct.

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     The Anambra State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  wants to categorically state that our party has no zoning arrangements whatsoever.

     “Also, APC as a party was not involved in any agreement with any political party or parties as regards to zoning as being falsely peddled by the group in their publications.

    “The APC has always provided a level playing field for all governorship aspirants under the platform of the party to participate irrespective of their Senatorial zones. This practice has not changed.

    “We, therefore, call on well-meaning members of our party to disregard the said publication insinuating any existing zoning arrangement by the APC.

     “The APC also wishes to use this medium to caution against any form of unnecessary rhetoric or utterances by party members or groups that are capable of heating up the polity ahead of the 2025 governorship election season.

    “The APC is a united family and as such, any crucial decision that will be taken by the party would be done collectively. 

    “The APC remains committed in its effort to give Ndi Anambra a viable alternative to the failed party called the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) that has grossly mismanaged the affairs of Ndi Anambra in the past 18 years,” the party said.

  • Anambra 2025: Zoning for gubernatorial election is sacrosanct, APC elders’ forum declares

    Anambra 2025: Zoning for gubernatorial election is sacrosanct, APC elders’ forum declares

    As part of its efforts to reclaim Anambra in the 2025 governorship election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders’ Forum has insisted that zoning should remain as agreed by all political parties.

    At a meeting in Awka on Wednesday, June 20, chaired by Chief Innocent Obi, the forum declared that anyone attempting to disrupt the zoning arrangement would do so at his/her own risk.

    Chief Obi, speaking on behalf of the elders from the 21 local government areas of the state, assured that the elders were actively mobilizing at the grassroots level in preparation for the upcoming election.

    He stated that the forum was resolving key issues that could affect the election, emphasizing that zoning to Anambra South should be upheld.

    He said: “We’re there, we’re working and we have a cordial relationship with the state executive of the party. Whatever you do, you have to face the court of public opinion. There was an agreement to the effect that this is the way things should be going in Anambra state.

    “In Imo state, all the political parties gathered together for what they, I think, called equity charter. The idea is if you take, I take. If you take all, you know what it means.

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    “For me, an agreement is an agreement whether written or not. There’s a system already at work in Anambra state. Anybody who denies that is not telling the truth. As elders, we should say it the way it is.

    “An arrangement is on the ground. During the 2022 election, the party that pretended that zoning was nonsense suffered for it. They suffered because someone who contested under their platform did not come from where that post should go.

    “Whatever decision our party comes up with, the elders must go with them because we’re under them.

    “There’s an arrangement on the ground, if the party touches it, there’s nothing the elders can do. But our prayer is that the party will not tamper with the arrangements on the grounds. We believe that anybody who has taken his turn should shift.

    “The elders will be pleased if the candidate comes from the South. If you ask me, the South has done four years and the South has four years extra.”

    One of the elders, Okey Chukwuogo who also spoke, said the zoning started with the former governor of the state, Peter Obi.

    He said that Obi presented the zoning arrangement to all the stakeholders in the state including the town unions and traditional rulers who he said endorsed the system.

    “Then if all these bodies endorsed it, can anybody say Anambra is not zoned? I’m saying there’s zoning, but power is not given, it’s taken”, he added.

  • ‘Edo APC leaders suffering from collective amnesia’

    ‘Edo APC leaders suffering from collective amnesia’

    The Deputy Director-General, Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) Asue Ighodalo/Osarodion Ogie Governorship Campaign Management Council in Edo State, Rev. Olu Martins, has accused leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state of suffering from collective amnesia.

    Martins, yesterday in Benin, also alleged that opposition politicians in Edo, particularly those from the APC, have run out of ideas, ahead of the September 21 governorship poll to elect the successor of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

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    The governorship candidate of APC during the September 19, 2020 election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, had on Wednesday said Obaseki was not campaigning with the party’s standard- bearer (Ighodalo), in view of his (Obaseki’s) poor performance.

  • APC slams PDP, dispels alleged plot to forcefully take over Rivers

    APC slams PDP, dispels alleged plot to forcefully take over Rivers

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has responded to the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) allegation of a purported plan to forcibly take over the government of Rivers State.

    In a statement issued on Thursday, June 20, by its publicity secretary, Felix Morka, the APC dismissed the PDP’s claim as ridiculous and baseless.

    The PDP had alleged on Wednesday, June 19, that the APC was planning to seize control of Rivers State amid the ongoing crisis in the oil-rich region.

    In response, the APC stated that the PDP provided no justification for its unfounded claim, instead choosing to misrepresent and exaggerate comments allegedly made by Chief Tony Okocha, Chairman of the Rivers State APC Caretaker Committee.

    The APC also noted that the PDP ignored the underlying issues contributing to the crisis in Rivers State.

    The statement read: “Consistent with its scaremongering tendency, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was engaged in a plot to forcefully take over the government of Rivers State. This ridiculous and baseless claim was the subject of the party’s garbled press statement of Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

    “The PDP offered no justification for its bogus claim except to mischievously misrepresent and amplify the comments reportedly made by the Chairman of the Rivers state APC Caretaker Committee, Chief Tony Okocha, while sweeping under the carpet the salient issues underpinning the festering crisis in Rivers State. 

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    “Quite contrary to the PDP’s misplaced quibbles against Chief Okocha comments, Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the supreme architect of the horrific crisis rocking Rivers state. Since assumming office over a year ago, Governor Fubara has displayed reckless disdain for the rule of law and democratic institutions, and conducted his government in flagrant violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

    “In an unprecedented display of autocratic arrogance, Governor Fubara declared the democratically elected Rivers state House of Assembly to be non-existent and, without lawful authority, constituted a bogus and illegal 3-man sham Assembly in brazen violation of express provisions of the Constitution on the threshold composition of the House of Assembly and in disregard of the separation of powers doctrine. 

    “The governor has continued to expend public funds without  lawful appropriations by a duly constituted legislature thereby undermining the will of the good people of Rivers State and their right to effective and accountable democratic governance. 

    The statement added: “Governor Fubara is an executive governor of crisis. A serious and focused Governor would have set a clear programme to conduct local government elections given the established timeline for the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent elected local government officials. Rather, Governor Fubara sat on his hands and waited, idly, for their tenure to elapse in order to unleash a fresh round of thuggery and executive lawlessness on the people of Rivers state and, again, seeking to arbitrarily impose illegal, unconstitutional and anti-democratic caretaker committees to run the affairs of local governments in place of a democratically elected local government officials.

    “The current crisis in Rivers state is clearly contrived and executed by Governor Fubara who has continued to usurp the legislative power of the Rivers state legislature while contemptuously disregarding valid decisions and orders of courts of competent jurisdiction in critical matters at the root of the crisis in the state.

    “The PDP would rather peddle falsehood about a non-existent plot to interfere with the government of Rivers state instead of giving a crash course to Governor Fubara on the basic tenets of democratic and constitutional governance for the benefit of the good people of Rivers state.”

  • Opposition members defect to APC in Benue

    Opposition members defect to APC in Benue

    • Sankera endorsed Alia for 2027

    Not fewer than 4,459 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and other parties Benue yesterday defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The defections took place in Katsina Ala and Adikpo, during the commencement of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s state-wide thank you tour to greet the people for their unwavering support, which saw him emerge victorious in the last general elections.

    In Katsina Ala, Alia thanked the people of Katsina Ala/Ukum/Logo Federal Constituency for their overwhelming support which saw him defeat the other candidates to emerge victorious, during the 2023 governorship election in the state.

    He reiterated the determination of his administration to return all the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) caused by armed herders attacks, back to their ancestral homes to continue with their normal lives.

    He expressed concern that Sankera, which is the hub for yam production in the country, was greatly hit by the attacks from the armed bandits.

    Governor Alia who stated  that the issue of security is not the responsibility of government alone, enjoined all and sundry to join hands with his administration in the onerous task to rid the state of attacks.

    He called on the people of the area to form Cooperative Societies through which they would receive farm inputs and other benefits from his administration to develop themselves and become self reliant.

    While dismissing widespread reports that he had borrowed huge sums of money from foreign financial institutions to execute infrastructural projects in the state, the Governor announced the award of a contract for the construction of the Sankera-Chito-Vaase road, to help checkmate the worsening insecurity situation bedeviling the area.

    He disclosed further that he had contacted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to assist the state to construct more road networks in Sankera, adding that the President has graciously approved the construction of the Katsina-Ala Head Bridge-Hausa Quarters/Victory Bible Church Wukari Junction; the Zaki-Biam Yam Market-Iwar Ior-Y Junction  roads, urging the people to be patient with the President as he means well for the state.

    Speaking on behalf of his constituents, the member representing Katsina Ala/Ukum/ Logo federal constituency, Hon. Solomon Wombo, said the people of Sankera have unanimously endorsed the governor to contest again because of the track record of achievements within just one year in office, saying no governor of the state had recorded such huge achievements within a short period in office.

    The federal lawmaker frowned at the growing insecurity situation bedeviling the area which he said includes both the local militia and armed herdsmen.

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    He appealed to the governor to tackle the menace to enable residents go back to their farms.

    Corroborating Hon. Wombo’s position, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Hon. Paul Biam, hailed the one year scorecard of the Alia led administration, which he noted has surpassed those of the past governments in the state.

    Biam hinted that the Alia administration will also touch the stomach infrastructure programme after critical projects might have been attended to, to enable the people have the feel of government.

    “After roads and other infrastructural development, the governor will resort to stomach infrastructure and the cries of hunger will be a thing of the past”.

    In Adikpo, the Governor also appreciated the people of Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency for their support to him, promising to reciprocate the gesture via the construction of the Adikpo-Mbape-Ada road to link the state to neighbouring Cross River State.

    He commended the chairman of the local government for lighting up Adikpo town within few days in office, but lamented the insecurity situation in the local government especially the armed herdsmen attacks and the illegal mining activities, and tasked traditional rulers to rise up by ensuring that anyone caught is made to face the full wrath of the law.

    On his part, the State Acting chairman of the APC, Mr. Benjamin Omakolo, while welcoming decampees to the party, promised an enabling environment for both new and old members.

    He called on the people to continue to support the Alia administration to take the state to the next level of development.

  • APC youth wing training to drive growth

    APC youth wing training to drive growth

    Youth wing of All Progressives Congress (APC) is to host the inaugural Enterprise-Skills Development Training (EDET).

    The training, holding July 8 to 12, is part of a four-year plan to drive self-sufficiency and promote social justice.

    A statement by APC National Youth Leader, Dr. Dayo Israel, said the programme would be attended by 4,000 live and virtual participants.

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    Participants will engage in case discussions, experience sharing and teamwork to develop understanding of what is required to build and sustain businesses and drive innovations in firms or new SMEs.

    Content spans freelance economy, FCMG, e-commerce, mini-importation, consumer packaged goods, agriculture, media and entertainment, ICT, hospitality, and others.

    APC National Chair, Umar Ganduje, NWC members, ministers and governors will attend, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as chief host.

  • PDP, LP not playing good opposition politics, says APC chieftain

    PDP, LP not playing good opposition politics, says APC chieftain

    A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Dr Celestine Chukwuneye, has criticised the way and manner the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in last year’s elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is playing opposition politics.

    Chukwuneye said in Lagos that Atiku is doing more of an attack on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, without the necessary facts and without proffering a solution. He said a good opposition should criticise the government with facts and figures.

    The APC chieftain lamented that Nigeria does not have a strong opposition party or coalition of parties. He added: “We need a strong opposition. It helps to make the government perform to its optimum. It is my wish that the opposition should get their acts together. In politics, there is no need for undue rivalry. I don’t believe in that. It should be live and let live.’’

    He advised the opposition to work for the country’s progress by commending the government when it is doing well and pointing out with facts and figures it is doing otherwise. He said: “If the ruling party gets it right, it is good for the country. The opposition could be in government tomorrow as it happened in 2015 and life continues. Whether in government or opposition, do your best for the country.”

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     On the recent visit of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi to Atiku, the medical doctor said: “If it is about a merger, it is good. Let them merge. It is a good thing for the country. We should have two good strong parties in the country. The others can pursue their agenda.

    Chukwunenye also lamented that all the political parties are not united, saying this is bad for our nascent democracy. His words: “All of them are in crisis. This is good for the country. They should be focused on delivering the dividends of democracy.’’

    He said the situation is even worse for the so-called smaller parties because they are hardly visible. “You hardly hear anything from them. They only come around when there are elections,” he added.

    Chukwunenye said there is a need to amend the electoral laws. He said the percentage a candidate is expected to secure to win the presidential election should be reviewed. “We borrowed our presidential system from the United States. But, in that country, no one wins the presidential election with less than 50 per cent of the total votes cast.

    “It is not good also when one party gets 90 per cent of the votes. This helps to ensure that democratic tenets are kept. It helps to reduce centrifugal forces such as ethnicity and religion in our political system,’’ he added.

  • Delta APC congratulates Uboh on 60th birthday

    Delta APC congratulates Uboh on 60th birthday

    The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State has congratulated Hon Doris Uboh for her 60th birthday. 

    In a joint statement signed by key party officials including Chief Omeni Sobotie, Chairman of APC Delta State, Chief Adizue Eluaka, Chairman of APC Delta North Senatorial District, Hon. Hillary Fada Ibude, Chairman of APC Ika South Local Government Area, and Hon. Samuel Ekene Kerry, Chairman of APC Ika North East Local Government Area, the party expressed pride in Uboh’s contributions to politics, governance, and public service.

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    The statement reads: “We heartily rejoice with family, friends, supporters, and associates of our esteemed leader, former member of the House of Representatives and Executive Director of Rural Electrification Fund, Hon. Engr. Doris O. Uboh MNSE, on the joyous occasion of her 60th Silver Jubilee Birthday Celebration. 

    “Your life, impacts, and achievements in politics, governance, and public service serve as a beacon of inspiration to many. We are appreciative of your unwavering support for the party in the State.”

    The Delta APC leaders also conveyed their prayers for God’s sustenance, guidance, and protection upon Hon. Engr. Doris Uboh, as they offered their goodwill and heartfelt wishes for her as she attains the enviable age of 60 years.

    The Delta APC reaffirmed commitment to working with her to further advance the party’s goals and objectives for the benefit of the people of Delta State. 

  • Ex-Oyo commissioner returns to APC, says party will win next election

    Ex-Oyo commissioner returns to APC, says party will win next election

    A former commissioner of health in Oyo state, Azeez Adeduntan, has returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC), boasting that the party will win the next elections in the state.

    Adeduntan, who attributed his departure from APC to support Governor Seyi Makinde’s second-term bid cited fraudulent primaries, particularly within Oyo APC.

    The ex-commissioner, who his supporters accompanied was received by the leadership of Oyo APC, led by the state secretary, Tajudeen Olanite, at the state secretariat of the party in Oke-Ado, Ibadan.

    Speaking at the party office, the former commissioner emphasized that his departure from the APC for the PDP was against his wish and desire but in response to calls from emissaries of Governor Seyi Makinde to support his second-term ambition.

    He added that he yielded to the call to support Makinde at a time when he faced a difficult choice between two of his brothers, Sen. Teslim Folarin and Chief Adebayo Adelabu, who both contested for the governorship

    Adeduntan, however, expressed bafflement that after he and his supporters laboured to ensure Makinde won the second-term election, the governor no longer answered his calls or returned messages but preferred to relate with minions who are servile and obedient rather than people with superior intellect.

    He said his focus was having a united Oyo APC to dislodge the PDP from governing the state in 2027.

    He stated that Makinde and the Oyo PDP would be up against “political generals” in APC in the 2027 elections, urging the party faithful to unite in one brotherhood to reclaim the Agodi government house.

    He said: “All we need is a united APC in Oyo State. By the grace of God, it will be a united APC facing the PDP in the 2027 general election. I never legally defected; I am only returning home. This is not about ambition. Let the best person emerge for the 2027 general elections, and my support is assured. We will see who Governor Seyi Makinde will bring as a candidate to defeat the generals in the APC spread across all zones of the state.

    “Our exit from PDP Oyo State at this time is not pecuniary but patriotic and preemptive, as we foresee serious foreboding in Oyo State politics if these shenanigans and political plans are allowed to manifest.

    “In light of the above, we are out of Oyo State PDP today, under the leadership of Governor Makinde, and back to APC today, June 12, 2024, Nigeria’s Democracy Day.”

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    In a symbolic handover of the APC flag to Adeduntan, the Oyo APC Secretary, Tajudeen Olanite, urged Adeduntan and his supporters to immediately begin attending party meetings from the ward to the local government levels.

    Also speaking, the chairman of Oyo South of the Oyo APC, Mojeed Olaoya, described Adeduntan as one of those who formed APC and remained irrevocably committed to building the party.

    Olaoya, like Adeduntan, also expressed confidence that the APC would reclaim governance of Oyo State in the 2027 elections.

    He said the party was committed to forging a united front ahead of the next general elections, noting that Makinde was re-elected for a second term due to the crisis and division within the Oyo APC.

  • Ex-NWC member Lukman resigns from APC

    Ex-NWC member Lukman resigns from APC

    A former National Working Committee (NWC) member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Salihu Lukman, has resigned from the party.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja, titled: APC and The Future of Nigerian Democracy: Letter to Selected APC Leaders, the former APC National Vice Chairman (Northwest) did not state his next political destination.

    The former Director General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) said he had returned to the trenches with other political allies ahead of the 2027 general election.

    He said: “…My reality now in the party is that my membership has been rendered useless and there is no need for me to continue to impose myself.

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    “I have, therefore, gone back to the trenches and will try to work with all committed Nigerians who agree and subscribe to the goal of actively campaigning for the survival and development of democracy in Nigeria.

    “We must grow our democracy to the point whereby elected representatives at all levels are accountable to the party and it is possible for Nigerians, represented by various interests, to develop a strong relationship with political parties and elected governments based on which policies of governments can be made to reflect wider interests of Nigerians.”