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  • Why APC national chairmanship position must be returned to north central, by Group

    Why APC national chairmanship position must be returned to north central, by Group

    The North Central APC Forum has urged President Bola Tinubu to consider the return of the position of the national chairman of the party to the zone.

    The chairman of the forum, Sale Zazzaga, made the appeal while addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday. 

    The forum maintained that if the current national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje invariably lost his seat, the position should automatically revert to the north central.

    He said the north-west, the region of the embattled national chairman, occupies several positions at the detriment of the North-central.

    He urged the party to consider the North-central zone in light of the political happenings in the party.

    Zazzaga, who spoke on behalf of the group, said the North-central has suffered neglect from the ruling party despite its performance at the last general election

    He wondered why the former national secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore, was replaced by Senator Ajibola Basiru, who is from his state and the party took the position of of the national chairman, vacated by Senator Abdullahi Adamu from the North Central, to the North West, where Ganduje hails from.

    He lamented that the North Central, which produced five APC governors could not be rewarded with the national chairman.

    Ganduje, from Kano in the north-west, assumed office as APC national chair after Abdullahi Adamu, from Nasarawa in the north-central, resigned from the position.

    On April 15, APC executives in Dawakin ward in Tofa LGA of Kano, suspended Ganduje over alleged corruption.

    Zazzaga said there was a need for fairness in the ruling party.

    He said: “You will all recall that in the past weeks, our great party, the APC, has been going through some challenges.

    “From calls by concerned minds within the party like the immediate past Zonal Vice chairman north-west, Mallam Salihu Lukman, who continues to speak up against certain palpable anomalies regarding unbalanced distribution of key governmental offices and key leadership positions within the party, to the recently shocking suspension of the National Chairman, H.E. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and several other sundry issues.

    “It has become pertinently pressing for us as stakeholders of the north-central to address these issues as they affect the zone.

    “First, we the stakeholders of the north-central wish to state respectfully but categorically that the zone, despite its visibly commendable outing for the APC at the 2023 polls, remains at the bottom and the lowest rung of the ladder in the allocation of KEY positions, both in government and within the party.

    “This is a huge disadvantage capable of demoralising the zone that so loves the APC as seen in its actions.”

    Read Also: Ondo APC primary: Waheed-Adekojo hints at stepping down

    Zazzaga said President Bola Tinubu should look into the “disadvantaged posture the north-central has found itself in.”

    He added: “We are calling on Mr President and leader of the party, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other critical leaders and stakeholders of the party to look into the disadvantaged posture the North-central has found itself in.

    “To correct some of these anomalies, the party may kindly wish to show as a mark of goodwill towards the North-central, take a step back and look again into the provisions of the party’s constitution and return the position to the North-central.”

  • Ondo APC primary: Waheed-Adekojo hints at stepping down

    Ondo APC primary: Waheed-Adekojo hints at stepping down

    Less than 24 hours to the conduct of the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo state, one of the aspirants, Funmi Waheed-Adekojo, has given a hint that she would step down from the race.

    Waheed-Adekojo said she would step down if the leadership of the party asked her to do so.

    She stated that any decision to withdraw from her governorship pursuit would be due to her loyalty to the party.

    The Managing Director of Funmi Ayinka Nigeria Limited who spoke at a media parley in Akure said she joined the governorship race because of her desire to serve the people.

    She vowed not to bribe anybody to vote for her at the primary.

    On whether the primary would favour her as she hails from Ondo North, Waheed-Adekojo said zoning of the governorship seat has contributed to the myriads of problems of underdevelopment in the state.

    She stated that late Akeredolu ended the circle of zoning and that Ondo North should produce the next governor.

    “Despite the zoning arrangement by political parties in Ondo State since 1999, the state continues to face significant challenges in infrastructural and human capital development.

    “Without mincing words, this concept of rotation has regrettably, become a hindrance to progress. One of its errors, is that it prioritises political permutation over meritocracy and competence.

    “Rather than allowing the most qualified candidate to emerge through a competitive electoral process, political parties impose candidates based solely on their geographic origin, letting the good people of Ondo State entrust governance to individuals who may lack the requisite skills and vision needed to propel development effectively.

    Read Also: 171,922 delegates for Ondo APC governorship primary

    “Apart from the abovementioned, another negative effect of the zoning policy is perpetuation of ethnic divisions within the state. By emphasising ethnic and geographical identity over shared goals and aspirations, the system consciously reinforces personal interest and undermines the sense of collective responsibilit for the state’s development.

    “I will step down for my loyalty of the party. If the party asked me I will do so. It is where the party goes I will go.

    “I came out based on the passion I have for the people. No one asked me to contest. I am not going to bribe anybody.”

  • Southeast, Southsouth APC beset with unresolved crises

    Southeast, Southsouth APC beset with unresolved crises

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has set up a reconciliation committee to wade into the crises in many state chapters. Southsouth Bureau Chief BISI OLANIYI (Benin City), Correspondents CHRIS NJOKU (Owerri), OGOCHUKWU ANIOKE (Abakaliki), DAMIAN DURUIHEOMA (Enugu), SIMON UTEBOR (Yenagoa), MIKE ODIEGWU (Port Harcourt) and BASSEY ANTHONY (Uyo) give an overview of the crises in the Southeast and the Southsouth geo-political zones

    There are many unresolved crises in many state chapters in the Southeast and Southsouth geo-political zones. Thus, the reconciliation committee recently set up by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is likely to face a herculean task to realise its mandate. The party is beset with many challenges in the two regions. 

    Imo:

    Imo is one of the states where the APC has a protracted crisis. The party has been split in the middle, with Governor Hope Uzodimma leading one faction and former Governor Rochas Okorocha heading the second. Despite two Supreme Court judgments, these factions have been in a prolonged battle for supremacy. This internal strife has negatively impacted the party’s cohesion and effectiveness in the state, with both factions claiming the party’s leadership and engaging in legal battles for control.

    Recent developments include disputes over the reinstatement of the Chief Dan Nwafor-led executives as directed by the Supreme Court. This led to conflicting letters recognizing different individuals as the state chairman. The Nwafor-led factions’ struggle for power and influence has continued to impact the party’s unity and effectiveness. It has also highlighted the deep-rooted divisions and tensions within the Imo chapter of the APC.

    Ebonyi:

    In Ebonyi, the APC appears to be doing well; it has taken full control of the state with massive defections from other political parties, especially from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Nevertheless, some aggrieved members of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of the legacy parties that metamorphosed into the APC, are still angry that they have been sidelined in the scheme of things by newcomers. Governor Francis Nwifuru and most of the current appointed and elected political office holders in the state defected to the APC from the PDP. They were led to the APC by former Governor David Umahi, the current Minister of Works.

    This development has not gone down well with foundational members of the APC who have watched helplessly as Umahi, Nwifuru and others took over the party. One of those said to be aggrieved is Ogbonnaya Onu, a former minister during the Muhammadu Buhari administration who was one of those who engineered the merger and formation of the APC. Onu who passed away last week Thursday was said to be so aggrieved that he left the country after the swearing-in of the new administration and has not been seen in the state since.

    However, some APC members who spoke with our correspondent said the APC national leadership was right to have handed control of the party to Umahi. They noted that without Umahi, Nwifuru and others who joined the APC, the party would not have been able to wrestle political control of the state from the PDP.

    Enugu:

    Some members of the APC) in Enugu State have told the national leadership to reconcile aggrieved members of the party if it intends to win the 2027 polls in the Coal City State. The members specifically called on the Southeast leadership of the party to act fast before the party went into oblivion.

    Their call is coming against the background of the intractable crisis rocking the chapter, following the alleged suspension or expulsion of some of its stakeholders. Those either expelled or suspended include former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; former Governor Sullivan Chime; former Speaker of the State Assembly, Eugene Odoh; former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu; former chairman, Dr Ben Nwoye; and recently the member representing Enugu State in the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Mrs Ginika Tor.

    Read Also; Tinubu’s economic reforms yielding results, says Alake

    One of the aggrieved members, Dr. Nwoye insists that the leadership of the APC in the Southeast must intervene to save the party from perpetual poor performance. Nwoye is also of the view that without the leaders’ intervention, the Ugochukwu Agballah leadership of the chapter would plunge the party into more crises and mar its future in future elections.

    He said: “There was a reconciliation committee headed by Senator Abdullahi Adamu with former Governor Sullivan Chime as secretary. The immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, whom Agballah is abusing today, appeared before that committee to defend the choice of Agballah as chairman.

    “I was there to complain that there was no congress in Enugu before the emergence of Agballah. But that’s all behind us now. Since the party has accepted him as the chairman, as a party man, I too, and other members of our party, have also accepted him.”

    Nwoye expressed sadness over the incessant abuse of party leaders and stakeholders in Enugu State by the state chairman, who has also been accused of arbitrarily suspending foundation members of the party.

    He called on the APC National Vice Chairman (Southeast), Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, to caution Ugochukwu Agballah to stop his unguarded remarks against some national caucus members of the party from the state. 

    Bayelsa:

    The Bayelsa APC is beset with years of unresolved crises, as the cracks in the chapter did not start now. But, unlike the situation before the 2019 general election when the APC formed a coalition with many disgruntled members of the PDP, there are different political camps in the APC today.

    The party, under the leadership of Timipre Sylva, the immediate former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, appears heavily polarised; no thanks to Sylva’s style of leadership. Before now, the Bayelsa APC had great and prominent politicians in its fold. But most of them have either left the party or are simply indifferent about its quest to wrest power from the PDP. There appears to be a mutual suspicion among prominent chieftains of the party and the development has been allowed to fester. This was what led to the dismal performance of the party in last year’s governorship election in the state.

    A chieftain of the party in Bayelsa, Festus Daumiebi, a lawyer and former governorship aspirant, said there is an urgent need to resolve the crisis in the chapter. He said there had been a deep-seated crisis in the chapter that required the personal intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, to guarantee the existence of the APC in Bayelsa.

    Daumiebi stated: “The truth is that the APC in Bayelsa State requires more than a peripheral reconciliation. There are deep-seated issues, he added, that require a holistic and sincere approach. He said: “The national leadership will require more than just sitting in Abuja to discuss with one or two persons and think the issues are addressed. We are faithful and committed party members. We have been in this party since its inception and we do not intend to leave this party, provided the right thing is done.

    “It is a good step that a reconciliation committee has been set up. It is the prayer of every party man that the issues are resolved; that is if they are done honestly and holistically.”

     Edo:

    There is little or no reconciliation to be done in Edo. This is because the leaders of APC in Edo and at the national level have already reconciled the aggrieved parties, after the recent governorship primary in the Southsouth state.  As a result, the governorship campaign, which is scheduled to begin on April 24, is likely to be smooth and it would pave the way for the APC to compete favourably to produce Governor Godwin Obaseki’s successor.

    Dennis Idahosa, who currently represents Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, was on February 17 declared winner of the direct governorship primary conducted by Imo State’s Governor Hope Uzodimma. But, owing to the controversy surrounding the exercise, a fresh primary was held on February 22, which produced Senator Monday Okpebholo, as the standard bearer of the party.

    After a reconciliation effort that followed the fresh exercise, Idahosa accepted to be the running mate to Okpebholo. The strategic combination is expected to help the party garner votes in Idahosa’s Edo South senatorial district, which has the largest voting population. 

    Rivers:

    The situation in Rivers State is a bit complicated. Therefore, the APC reconciliation team has a herculean task on their hands. The crisis rocking the party in the oil-rich state is unique. Since the APC failed to make the ballot in the 2019 general election, the party has been in tatters. The same leadership crisis that tore the party apart in 2019 by compelling the court to stop its participation in the elections has refused to go away.

    At every point in the life of Rivers APC, party leaders are always at daggers’ drawn, while party members are divided into various camps. In 2019, the unresolved disagreement between Senator Magnus Abe and the party leader, former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi ensured that the APC did not participate in the poll. In 2023, Abe went his separate ways with his supporters by joining the Social Democratic Party (SDP) where he became the party’s governorship candidate. He later lost the election.

    Amaechi’s decision to stick with Tonye Cole as the governorship candidate of the party in 2023 created bad blood among the remaining leaders, who also opted for other opposition political platforms to actualise their ambitions. However, the party became more divided following the presidential ambition of Amaechi. Though Amaechi lost the APC presidential ticket, he failed to close ranks with the winner and now President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the elections.

    Amaechi’s body language and positive disposition towards the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, brought confusion to the party. It created a lacuna and forced other party leaders like Tony Okocha to ally with the then Governor Nyesom Wike, who though was a PDP leader mobilised support for Tinubu.

    While the state executive committee of the APC backed Amaechi, Okocha and others disagreed with him and worked with Wike to support Tinubu. Those, who supported Wike also worked against the governorship candidate of the APC, Tonye Cole, who was backed by Amaechi. They reciprocated Wike’s support for Tinubu by working for the then-candidate of the PDP, Siminalayi Fubara, who later won the election.

    Undoubtedly, the victories of Tinubu and Fubara relegated the Amaechi-led Rivers APC to the background. The camp of Amaechi believes that there is nothing that will come out of the reconciliation committee set up by the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.

    The camp is furious that Ganduje met with the state exco in September last year, and gave members a directive only to turn around and dissolve the same exco without consulting them. They are angry that Ganduje set up a caretaker committee to manage the affairs of the party and made Wike’s man, Tony Okocha, the chairman of the committee.

    The immediate past Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwauju, cast serious doubts on the reconciliation committee set up by Ganduje, saying the circumstances surrounding its establishment lacked sincerity. He said: “We feel like we will likely not get the kind of attention that we deserve as persons who have laboured to give the APC a footing in Rivers and as persons who have suffered all manner of attack.”

    Nwauju said Ganduje dissolved the state exco without consulting them despite making promises to them when they met with him shortly after his emergence as the APC chairman. He described the way and manner Ganduje dissolved the state exco as an insult. 

    Akwa Ibom:

    The situation in the Akwa Ibom State is no different from that of many other APC state chapters: the house is divided because of the selfish interest of the party’s major stakeholders.  The State Executive Council of the party, otherwise known as the State Exco, is still struggling to gain legitimacy because most stakeholders see it as loyal to only the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

    As a result, there is no unity and cohesiveness in the chapter. There are perpetual personality fights among the heavyweights of the party, including Senator Godswill Akpabio, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Okon Umana, former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang; and former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nsima Ekere. This has resulted in the Akwa Ibom State APC chapter breaking into factions, with each of the major stakeholders heading each faction.

    There is equally discontentment among party members over allegations that they have been sidelined in the distribution of appointments, contracts etc.

  • Presidency, APC clash with PDP on economy, security

    Presidency, APC clash with PDP on economy, security

    • Ruling party dismisses opposition’s criticisms

    The Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday chided the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for criticising the Federal Government’s economic policies and handling of security.

    The PDP knocked the government in unsparing comments made in a communiqué issued at the end of its 98th National Economic Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

    It was the first of such meetings held since last year’s elections.

    While the PDP sought to pick holes in the performance record of the administration in the last 11 months, the APC said the PDP got it wrong, stressing that the APC is not like the PDP with a 16-year record of misrule.

    Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga stressed that the President has repositioned the country for excellence.

    Felix Morka, APC National Publicity Secretary, described the PDP NEC communique as a “hoax wailing of a shambolic party.”

    To the PDP, President Bola Tinubu has not delivered on his promises on the economy, security, social welfare and democratisation of the polity

    Read Also; JAMB: 577 blind candidates to write 2024 UTME

    At the end of the meeting held at its national secretariat, the PDP chided the APC-led government for broken promises.

    The communique read by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, reads: “NEC expresses concern over the ill-implemented policies of the insensitive APC administration, leading to worsening insecurity, harrowing economic hardship, soaring unemployment rate, high cost of food and other necessities of life with pervading misery and despondency across the country.

    “NEC expresses serious apprehensions over the spate of acts of terrorism and violence including the escalated cases of mindless killings, mass abduction of innocent Nigerians and marauding of communities in various parts of the country.

    “NEC condemns the insensitivity, nonchalance, incompetence and arrogance in failure of the APC administration which continues to conduct itself in a manner that shows that it has no iota of interest or commitment towards the wellbeing of Nigerians.

    “NEC also condemns the creeping totalitarianism and tendencies towards a one-party state which is inimical to the peace, stability and corporate existence of our nation as well as the development of democracy and good governance in the country.”

    The PDP leaders further emphasised that several urgent changes need to be implemented by the Federal Government to avert a looming disaster.

    “NEC, after due consideration, demands that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should urgently convene a special National Security Council meeting to proffer a holistic solution and measures to curb the disturbing insecurity with its attendant negative consequences on our national life.

    “NEC also demands that President Tinubu should immediately rejig his Economic Team to bring in persons of proven integrity and competence without bias and vested interest to assist in repositioning the economy.

    “NEC further demands that the Federal Government should review all policies and programmes which are stifling the economy with suffocating effects on the lives of citizens; including the increase in price of fuel without cushioning measures, hike in electricity tariff, increased taxation and implementation of adverse fiscal policies.”

    PDP NEC got it wrong

    In his statement on behalf of the Presidency, Onanuga said: “We believe the PDP’s NEC members must have been habiting another planet, as all the accusations contradicted the reality on the ground and completely ignored the stellar achievements recorded by the Tinubu Administration in less than one year.

    “Unlike the PDP administration of 16 years, the Tinubu administration has been confronting the problems of our country headlong, moving for an audacious reset that will firmly put our country on a solid economic pedestal.

    “The results are already showing. Contrary to the pessimism and wishes of some PDP leaders, the national currency has become the world’s best-performing, appreciating by almost 50 per cent against the dollar in a few weeks.

    “Exchange rate is stabilising as convergence has been reached between official and so-called parallel market.

    “The contrived pall of gloom cast over our nation has faded out and renewed hope is now on the leash.

    “Such is the positive trend that the APC economic programme is generating that the IMF has reviewed upwards the growth projection for our country this year from 2.9 to 3.3 per cent.

    “The administration is targeting a higher growth with its plans to embark on audacious infrastructure projects, such as the Badagry-Sokoto Highway and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

    “The latter has attracted an unwarranted attack by one of the PDP leaders, blind to the huge economic benefits of the highway project.

    “The President’s economic team is doing well and no sane government will change a winning team that is working in sync with the advisory of the private sector, state governors and economic gurus in the country.

    “It was surprising that the PDP under whose watch Boko Haram was born in 2009 and worse of all, which looted the billions of dollars earmarked to equip our armed forces and the police, could so unabashedly blame the Tinubu Administration for what it wrongly termed increasing spate of terrorism and banditry.

    “This is far from the truth. Security has improved, with fewer cases of terrorist attacks and banditry recorded.

    “In recent weeks, over a thousand kidnapped victims, some whose kidnapping antedated this government were rescued by our gallant armed forces, without the government paying any ransom.

    “The PDP is advised to harmonise its home first rather than accusing President Tinubu of trying to entrench a one-party state.

    “President Tinubu nurses no such plan as it only exists in the imagination of the opposition PDP.”

    President can’t be distracted

    Morka accused the PDP of committing a folly, describing its vituperation as “nothing short of the hoax wailing of a shambolic party.”

    He said in a statement: “PDP failed to seize the opportunity of its NEC meeting to conduct a thorough examination of institutional and operational maladies that have crippled and turned the party into an unrecognisable shadow of its old self.”

    He said the party voted to devote eight out of 15 paragraphs of its communique to spewing gibberish and casting unbefitting aspersions on the APC.

    The statement reads: “PDP’s NEC idly alluded to its imagined attempt by APC to ‘foist a one-party state on our nation.’

    “Our great party recognises opposition politics as indispensable to multiparty democracy and continues to encourage opposition parties to provide credible and viable political alternatives to Nigerians.

    “We maintain our long-held rejection of the PDP’s attempt to taint our party with its own sordid historic obsession to operate a one-party state in our country.”

    “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration maintains an ironclad commitment to the security and welfare of Nigerians.

    “That is the nucleus of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda – from the social investment and student loan programmes to the massive economic and infrastructural transformation underway, the administration is working assiduously to improve the quality of life of all Nigerians, and build enduring prosperity for our nation.

    “The administration’s unprecedented huge investment in security is already paying off as insurgency, terrorism and other criminal activities have abated significantly.

    “All critical economic indicators are shifting in the positive direction with prognosis for the future looking better than the jaundiced eyes of the PDP can see.

    “The PDP’s persistent infantilism, more than anything else, is the clear and present threat to our democracy. Its NEC meeting was no more than an inglorious press conference with no iota of purpose.

    “Nigerians clearly understand who is working hard on their behalf and will stand fast with President Tinubu as he continues to win massive progress for all Nigerians.

    “He remains ‘indistractable’ by the noise pollution of PDP’s tattered drums.”

  • Jimoh, Oke, Akinterinwa, others kick against APC’s membership revalidation

    Jimoh, Oke, Akinterinwa, others kick against APC’s membership revalidation

    • Two arrested for illegal registration of members

    Seven governorship aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have petitioned the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, over revalidation of members of the party ahead of Saturday’s primary election.

    They are Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Chief Olusola Oke, Wale Akinterinwa, Prince Diran Iyantan, Prof. Dayo Faduyile, Gbenga Edema and Jimi Odimayo.

    They warned that the issues might be detrimental to a free, fair, credible and acceptable election if not resolved quickly.

    The aspirants, in the petition, said the revalidation of Ondo APC members was shrouded in secrecy, which made their supporters not have their membership cards revalidated before the committee left Ondo State for Abuja.

    They said they paid N300million to the coffers of the party to cover annual dues of all party members, whose names appear in the register.

    The seven aspirants said they have been inundated by reports that a particular aspirant has embarked on massive printing of fake party slips and distributed them to individuals who are not members of the Ondo State APC.

    The statement said: “The intention of this aspirant is to corrupt the integrity of the membership register on the day of the primary by making accreditation of party members impossible, as non-party members have already been recruited to flood the venues of the primary election that day.”

    Police Command has confirmed arrest of two persons for illegally carrying out registration of persons into the  APC.

    It named one of the suspect as Mr. Ariyo, a transporter in Ondo town.

    Read Also: UPDATED: Ganduje suspension: Kano Court order unenforceable, says APC

    Spokesperson for the Ondo Police Command, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, said Ariyo and the other suspect were arrested while registering APC members at his home ahead of the primaries scheduled for Saturday.

    She listed items recovered from the scene of registration to include APC registration booklets, list of names of purported party members of Ward Seven, Ondo; 53 passport photographs of individuals, a jotter containing names, two exercise books with names and phone numbers of people and two slips of a registered form.

    Odunlami-Omisanya said the suspects have been assisting the police with information to arrest others involved in the crime.

    “This massive and pervasive production of the membership cards will certainly precipitate a situation where everyone holding membership cards, notwithstanding that their names are not in the register; will be allowed to vote without accreditation. Voting without accreditation remains illegal and unacceptable.”

  • APC chieftain hails Tinubu/Akpabio/Eno synergy for A’Ibom devt

    APC chieftain hails Tinubu/Akpabio/Eno synergy for A’Ibom devt

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the United States of America, Dr. Marshall Umoren, has said that the Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, will bring development to Akwa Ibom state.

    Umoren has stated that the collaboration between President Bola Tinubu, Akpabio, and Governor Umo Eno would result in significant economic and infrastructural growth for Akwa Ibom.

    In a statement by his media aide, Emmanuel Uffot, Umoren, commended Akpabio for not using his position to fight the governor who is of a different political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said: “I want to say that I am impressed with the commitment of the Senate President to work with President Bola Tinubu to build a better future for Nigeria and Akwa Ibom state in particular.

    Read Also: Ondo APC primary: Ibrahim, Akinterinwa, Oke, four others raise alarm over party’s membership revalidation

    “Akpabio has exhibited continuous loyalty and a firm commitment to helping build a virile party capable of commanding the needed confidence of winning over the state in future political elections.

    “As Nigeria’s Senate president, he has used his influential political position for the betterment and development of the state.

    “Instead of fighting Governor Umo Eno, he is collaborating with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make the state better.”

    Dr. Umoren urged Akpabio to utilize his office to build greater synergy between the political class and various elite interests in the state, especially among key stakeholders in the APC.

    “Apart from only uniting the APC in the state, I call on the Senate President to leverage to work for the future political successes of the party in the south-south state.

    “For this to be possible, the party (APC) must be built and harnessed to grow along healthy political lines as well as exist from a position of mutually assured and beneficial strength of her members,” the statement urged.

  • Ondo primary: APC leaders fault conduct of congress election

    Ondo primary: APC leaders fault conduct of congress election

    Some stakeholders in the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ondo State under the auspices of Ondo Vanguard for Good Governance have faulted the conduct of congress elections that would produce the delegates required to ratify the outcome of the party primary scheduled to be held this Saturday.

    It called on the state and national leadership of the Ondo APC to take note of what it termed an ‘abysmal and undemocratic manner the congress committee handled the exercise.’

    The stakeholders accused the committee of aligning with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa by staying away from the venues of the congress across the state and allocated figures.

    Coordinator of the group, Evangelist Tade Ojo, stated that it was disheartening that members of the party that bought the expression of intent forms to contest as delegates were disregarded and left forlorn due to ‘unbridled political cannibalisation of some APC members and leaders, who felt they were establishing the foundation to rig the primary election of the APC.’

    He said: “The committee members across the state employed two different sets of result sheets – one by the local government Congress Committee and another by the State Congress Committee. The parlous execution of this sensitive and sacrosanct exercise further manifested in the refusal to appoint or use designated Ward election officers, among others.

    “These manipulators must know and note that we shall not rest on our oars in the preservation of our common good.

    Read Also: Ondo APC primary: Ibrahim, Akinterinwa, Oke, four others raise alarm over party’s membership revalidation

    “It is pertinent that the leadership of the APC in Ondo state and national, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, call these merchants to order before they plunge the party and the state into avoidable crisis

    “In the coming days, we shall continue to engage with the public on how things stand in the APC in the state, as the project of a better Ondo state is beyond the fulfillment of individual ambitions.”

    Spokesman for the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organization (LACO) Kayode Fasua, said the process for the conduct of the primary election in the State was laid bare by the party.

    “If there are areas needing clarification, they should approach the party. As for us, we are, in good conscience, prepared for the primary election.”

  • Ganduje suspension: Kano Court order unenforceable, says APC

    Ganduje suspension: Kano Court order unenforceable, says APC

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the ex parte order affirming the suspension of the party’s national chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje by a Kano State High Court is unenforceable.

    The Ganduje ward executive of the party also passed a vote of confidence on the chairman in Abuja on Wednesday, April 17 during a solidarity visit to the former governor of Kano state in his office at APC headquarters.

    Read Also: Ganduje remains National Chairman, says APC NWC

    The party described the order restraining Ganduje from further parading himself as the chairman of the party as a nullity.

    The national legal adviser of the party, Prof. Abdulkarim Kana told newsmen on Wednesday, April 17, that the Kano order is not enforceable, insisting that it was obtained by fraud.

    Kana said the ward executives would petition the National Judicial Council (NJC) to call the high court judge to order.

    Dismissing the order, APC national chairman, Ganduje also told ward executives that he was not moved as those who purportedly suspended him were impostors.

    Details shortly…

  • ‘APC, Uzodimma need Southeast’s support’

    ‘APC, Uzodimma need Southeast’s support’

    Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, needs backing of Southeast as coordinator of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the region.

    Chief Executive Officer of Crown Insurance Brokers, Company, Chief Felix Amadi, spoke, while greeting Uzodimma on his appointment.

    He said in a statement Uzodimma’s appointment is a confirmation of the will of God.

    He said it was time for Southeast to support APC.

    The statement reads: “On behalf of management and staff of Crown Insurance Brokers Company, I congratulate Governor Uzodimma on his appointment as coordinator of APC in Southeast.

    “His appointment is a confirmation of the will of God and his leadership to oversee affairs of men and women of high political standard.

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    “’It is clear he has put in a lot of hard work and dedication to deserve his appointment.

    “His achievements in Imo State are a testimony APC will grow and attain more success in Southeast under a peaceful political environment.

    “His appointment by the party and the support it received since announcement by National Chairman, Dr. Umar Ganduje, is a sign he is the popular choice of APC family in Southeast.

    “I urge him to continue to build the APC in the region as the best party in the Southeast and in Nigeria as a whole for more sustainable, rapid and mega economic development.

    “The expectations of APC members in the region are high in the areas of security, women empowerment, youth development and peaceful political co-existence while praying to God to shower you with more grace and wisdom to deliver all your vision of the party in the region.

    “Your Excellency, the spontaneous jubilation that followed your appointment speaks the fact that you are the choice of the members of the party.”

  • Ondo APC primary: Igbotako APC endorses Senator Ibrahim

    Ondo APC primary: Igbotako APC endorses Senator Ibrahim

    Leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Igbotako, Okitipupa local government area, have endorsed Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as their preferred candidate for the November governorship election.

    The endorsement of Senator Ibrahim was reached at an enlarged meeting of the APC in the locality.

    The chairman of APC Igbotako Ward 1, Hon. Adebolujo Adedoyin, who spoke to journalists after the meeting, said they would take the campaign for Ibrahim to other local government areas.

    Hon Adedoyin said Senator Ibrahim has proven to be the right leader to lead the Sunshine State.

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

    Adedoyin said: “We are gathering here to show to our leaders that we are voting for Senator Ibrahim as the candidate of the APC here in Igbotako. This meeting is to reaffirm our commitment to the candidacy of our performing Senator.

    “Senator Ibrahim has the capacity to deliver good governance. He has performed well at the National Assembly. We trust him and we urge all members of APC to vote for him.”

    Another APC leader in the locality, Comrade Emmanuel Afolagbade, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to provide a level playing field for all the aspirants.

    Comrade Afolagbade said they would visit APC members in the 18 local government areas to canvass support for Senator Ibrahim.