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  • Group to APC: caution Deputy Speaker over ‘anti-party activities’

    Group to APC: caution Deputy Speaker over ‘anti-party activities’

    Some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from Abia State have called on the party to caution the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, over alleged anti-party activities.

    The members on the platform of Progressives League of APC Youths Voters are asking President Bola Tinubu and the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to call Kalu in the interest of the party.

    At a press conference in Abuja, National Coordinator of the group, Usman Shuaibu, said it had become an embarrassment that some leaders of the APC engage in anti-party activities, castigating the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, who has given her all to ensure the victory of the party in the last general election in the state.

    But the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Levinus Nwabughiogu, denied the allegation.

     Kalu said he shared a healthy relationship with the minister.

     Addressing reporters, Shaibu said: “The most recent is the sponsored campaign of calumny against Hon. NKeiruka Onyejeocha who flew the party’s flag in Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State in the February 25, National Assembly elections. She is the Minister of Labour and Employment (State).

     “It is no longer news that Nkeiruka, who is our party’s flagbearer, was robbed of her victory by the Labour Party in Abia State, where they deployed unethical means during the Presidential and National Assembly elections against the APC. Recalled that some APC groups raised the alarm calling for the restoration of her mandate which she vigorously pursued at the tribunal and won.

    “Since her victory at the tribunal, which is the ultimate triumph of APC in Abia State, some highly placed persons in the National Assembly have unleashed a campaign of calumny against her person using mushroom Organisations to blackmail Hon. NKeiruka Onyejeocha and the APC in a bid to bully her to abandon her victory at the Appeal Court.’’

     “We make bold to say that we have identified the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives Mr. Benjamin Kalu, who sees the victory of the Minister as a political threat instead of a blessing as the sponsor of the blackmail against Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.

    Read Also: Lagos introduces new transport programme as commissioner seeks support

     “Kalu has become so desperate that he has resorted to using the name and office of the President Tinubu to blackmail the Minister who is currently focused on her national assignments.

    “Kalu has done everything possible to set even the Speaker of House Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas and other highly placed members of the party against her.

     “Everytime he fails in his bid to raise dust where there is none, he deploys new evil machinations to bring Nkeiruka down.

     “We are worried that, why should the victory of the APC and Hon Onyejeocha in Abia State become a nightmare for Benjamin Kalu? Is there something more to it that he is not telling the APC or his political associates?

    “We know how some highly placed persons who are the major beneficiary of the APC worked against the party in the last Presidential elections in the guise of religion and tribal sentiment, thereby reducing the winning votes of our great Party.”

    Warning against the implications of such a campaign against committed APC members, Shaibu said such will grow to affect the success of the party in the 2027 general elections.

    “We recommend a disciplinary action against the deputy speaker, Mr Kalu and his accomplices to serve as a deterrent to others who may wish to indulge in such dangerous anti-party activity in the near future.

     “We call on the National Chairman of our great party, Dr bdullahi Umar Ganduje, who is reconciling and repositioning the party for a better tomorrow to immediately call Mr. Benjamin Kalu to order before he destroys the party completely in Abia State.

    “Kalu is not from Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency neither is he a member of the Labour Party. One wonders what is His problem with the victory of Nkeiruka and the APC. This has proven that some members of the party actually engaged in anti party activities to subdue the APC from being declared winner of the House of Representatives election in Abia State.

    “We equally call on President Bola Tinubu to call the deputy speaker to order as the APC remains one united family, a united force that will lead us to victory in 2027.

    “And if this campaign of calumny continues, we shall have no option than to occupy the National Assembly to demand the resignation of the deputy speaker, an action that would last until we achieve our demand. The APC belongs to all of us and we shall continue to maintain its supremacy.”

  • 2000 PDP members defect to APC in Ondo

    2000 PDP members defect to APC in Ondo

    Over 2000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Idanre, Idanre local government area of Ondo state.

    The PDP defectors were led by Senator Ayo Akinyelure.

    The chairman of the APC in Ondo state, Ade Adetimehin, who received the defectors said the party would continue to rule the state and the country.

    Adetimehin boasted that the APC would sweep next year’s governorship election because ‘prominent politicians from the state have dumped the party and joined progressive train’.

    He said the party’s electoral successes were due to what he termed developmental feats recorded by the Akeredolu-led administration in the state.

    Adetimehin noted: “The next governorship election is not negotiable, we have continued to wax stronger day by day because we have been able to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people and there is no crisis or division in APC in Ondo state.

    “I can assure you that within the next couple of months, PDP would have gone into extinction, no leader left in PDP, considering how members of the PDP and their leaders are leaving its fold in droves to join the ruling party.

    Senator Akinyelure said he joined the APC because he believed in the prosperity of Nigeria under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

    Akinyelure said: “I am happy to return home. My foundation is progressives and I am back in the fold from the PDP to add value to APC.

    “The mood of Ondo state, as clearly expressed in the last general election is to particularly support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by winning all the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo State for APC for the first time ever. This shows that Ondo State generally supports the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,

    “Therefore, my official decamping to APC today is to join the progressives to come and add value to the successful administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has been my Political Leader, and Mentor when I started my political career in Lagos, Alimosho Local Government Area and as the Chairman of LARIP, (Lagos State Amenities Restoration and Improvement Project) when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was democratically elected as civilian Governor of Lagos State.

    Read Also: Ondo ex-militants urge Atiku, Obi to support Tinubu

    “As a progressive politician with track records of people’s welfare and empowerment, I cannot but identify with a political platform that is poised to change Nigeria for good under the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “Therefore my decision and that of all my political followers and stakeholders in Ondo Central and Ondo State in general and particularly in Idanre LGA is hinged on the need to engender good governance in Ondo state, put the state in the mainstream of national politics and foster regional integration and add value to my people in all ramifications under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.”

  • APC, PDP bicker over alleged plot by Adeleke to siphon funds with N100bn projects

    APC, PDP bicker over alleged plot by Adeleke to siphon funds with N100bn projects

    The opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC), and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun have disagreed over an alleged plot by the government of Governor Ademola Adeleke to pilfer state funds with the launch of a N100 billion project.

    The Nation recalled that Adeleke unveiled the N100 billion project fund on Friday, October 27, stating that he would construct five flyovers, and 45 roads among other projects within 12 months.

    He noted that many people underrated him when he was sworn in as the governor but with his sterling performance in the last year, he has surprised his critics.

    However, the leadership of APC through its chairman, Tajudeen Lawal in a statement on Sunday, October 29, described the Adeleke N100 billion development programmes as “a scam skilfully designed to enrich some economic ‘buccaneers’ close to his government.”

    He said: “There could not be any other name for the phony and white-elephant projects but a gross misplacement of priority in the hand of a person statutorily saddled with the responsibility of being the caretaker of the resources of the state.”

    “Since Adeleke said he would not borrow a dime to finance the projects, the citizenry deserves the right to know the source of the funding and the modality for its settlement as what we are talking of is not a family enterprise whose activities can be effected under the table.

    “Adeleke government is still hoarding N9 billion Federal Government fuel subsidy removal palliative. The government which mindlessly warehouses the Federal Government fund for the people, despite complaints from the various stakeholders in the state, cannot be trusted with its plans to execute all the outlined projects.”

    The PDP, through its chairman, Sunday Bisi, in his reaction, said APC is anti-development, adding that “criticism of its government’s multi-billion naira infrastructure plan is unpatriotic, reprehensible and a display of anti-development, anti-people politics.”

    Read Also: Supreme court ruling: Tinubu ‘ll now focus on Nigeria’s challenges – Adeleke

    Bisi berated APC for playing politics with a development agenda that is widely adjudged to be commendable, long overdue, sustainable, and paramount to the economic revival of our dear state.

    He noted: “APC is a party that is in bewilderment and severe pain at the ingenuity, innovation, and financial engineering of the Adeleke governorship. We see a bunch of rejected politicians who cannot fathom the depth of strategic thinking that produced the crafting of an ambitious infra plan carefully put together with an eye on sustainability and multiplier effect on the expansion of state economy and well-being of our people.

    “The PDP government inherited a state with over 95 infrastructural deficits as of November 2022. Our internal state infra audit when PDP took over revealed that the infrastructural decay cut across all sectors. The APC should get educated that not all Governors are interested in diverting public funds as was the practice when the opposition holds sway.”

  • Bayelsa: Appeal Court reserves judgment in Sylva, APC’s appeals

    Bayelsa: Appeal Court reserves judgment in Sylva, APC’s appeals

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgments to a date to be communicated to parties in the appeals filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva and the party.

    The appeals are against the October 9 judgment given by Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja nullifying Sylva’s candidacy in the election scheduled for November 11.

    A three member panel of the court, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani announced the judgments were reserved in both appeals after lawyers to parties made their final submissions and adopted their written briefs.

    Lawyer to Sylva, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) and counsel to the APC, K. O. Balogun, urged the court to allow the appeals and set aside the October 9 judgment and affirm Sylva’s candidacy.

    The judgment by Justice Okorowo was on the suit marked:FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 filed on June 3 by a member of the APC,  Demesuoyefa Kolomo, who described himself as a registered voter.

    Balogun argued that it was wrong for the trial court to have entertained the suit by Kolomo because he lacked the locus to have approached the trial court.

    He faulted the decision of Justice Okorowo to the effect that Sylva took oath of office twice as governor of Bayelsa State.

    Balogun said: “In 2007 he (Sylva)  was elected the Governor of Bayelsa State, but within eight  months, the Court of Appeal (which was then the final court for governorship election petition) sacked him.

    “He contested again in 2008 and won. The eight months that he earlier spent in office   was nullified, so he could not have said to have spent that with months because it was voided by the court.

    “What he (Kolomo) is doing is fighting a proxy war. He cannot be a member of the APC and be fighting to destroy its candidate and chances at the election.

    Read Also: Lagos APC congratulates Tinubu, Nigerians

    “What the 1st respondent (Kolomo)  is asking this court to do is to deem the nullified eight  months as 4 years,” Balogun said.

    Members of the court’s panel also wondered why Kolomo, who claimed to be a member of the APC and described himself solely as a registered voter, but not an aspirant, who participated in the party’s primary, would want to destroy his party’s chance in an election instead of simply voting for another candidate in the election if he was not comfortable with his party’s candidate.

    Balogun later informed the court that his client filed a motion to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reverse its decision to remove Sylvia’s name from the list of candidates for the election.

    Justice Tsammani said since the court has chosen to hear the main appeals, it was unnecessary to hear any interlocutory motions.

    Lawyer to Kolomo, Prof. Abiodun Amuda-Kanike (SAN) urged the court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

    INEC’s lawyer, Ahmed Mohamed also prayed the court to dismiss both appeals.

  • Ondo APC celebrates Supreme Court verdict

    Ondo APC celebrates Supreme Court verdict

    Members of the All Progressives Congress in Ikare, Arigidi, Ugbe and several towns in Akokoland took to the streets to celebrate the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Supreme Court.

    The Akokoland APC members said the victory has ended distraction for Tinubu’s administration.

    A former Councilor in Akoko Northwest local government, Hon Salami Aiku, said the judgment has opened another chapter in the judiciary lexicon of the country.

    The state chairman of the Ondo APC, Ade Adetimehin, in a statement, described the unanimous decision of the seven-man panel of the Supreme Court Justices on all the issues raised by the appellants, as a validation of Ondo state’s huge votes during the national exercise.

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    The party chieftain urged the president to put legal distractions behind and concentrate on rebuilding the economy and welfare of Nigerians, in line with the renewed hope agenda.

    He stated: “We are confident that the APC-led government is taking concrete steps to block every economic loophole and promote judicious utilization of our commonwealth, in the interest of Nigerians.

    The party appeals to all contenders, particularly the People’s Democratic Party, and Labour Party, to join hands with the ruling APC, to foster rapid economic recovery.

    “We pray that God will continue to keep and uphold Mr. President and his team in this onerous task of rebuilding the nation.”

    An activist from Afin Akoko, Mrs. Bosede Fatimehin, urged President Tinubu to focus on reducing hardship, poverty, hunger, and insecurity in the country.

    The lawmaker representing Irele/Okitipupa in the House of Representatives, Prince Jimi Odimayo, who congratulated President Tinubu, urged Nigerians to accept the verdict and join in the onerous task of nation-building.

    Odimayo said the country’s heterogeneity and different beliefs were enough reason for all to tolerate each other and foster the unity needed to build a prosperous society.

  • APC gets first woman political leader in Akwa Ibom

    APC gets first woman political leader in Akwa Ibom

    Obongawan Okure has emerged as the first All Progressives Congress (APC) female political leader of Asang Court Area in Nsit Ibom Local Government of Akwa Ibom State.

    Nsit Ibom is the local government of the party’s governorship candidate in the last election, Obong Akanimo Udofia.

    The APC Chapter Chairman of Asang Court Area, Mr. Emmanuel Jimmy, said  Okure was elected due to her leadership qualities and commitment to the growth of the party.

    He said her appointment as a political leader was a call for service to better the welfare of party members in Asang Court Area as well as the fortunes of the party.

    “Her passion for service, her exceptional leadership qualities and her unrelenting commitment to the welfare of the people have earned her this esteemed position.

    Read Also: Tinubu calls for synergy within housing agencies

    “Throughout her political career, she has worked towards the betterment of our community, striving to uplift the lives of the people and ensure their voices are heard.

    “Under her guidance, we can expect a renewed focus on grassroots empowerment, improved health care facilities, quality education, infrastructural development, job creation and enhanced security measures,” Jimmy said.

    Okure promised to chart a new course for the APC in the area and the state in general.

    Party chieftains at the event included Godwin Akpan (Uyo Senatorial District Chairman), Patience Anako (Uyo Senatorial District woman leader) and Mr. Cosmos Inyang (APC stakeholder).

    Others were Emmanuel Jimmy Akpan (APC Chapter Chairman, Nsit Ibom),  Udo Okoh (Deputy APC Chapter Chairman), Godswil Inyang and (APC Chapter Secretary, Nsit Ibom) among others.

  • APC promises more job opportunities for Imo youths

    APC promises more job opportunities for Imo youths

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has promised to make Imo State an industrial hub where job opportunities would be created for the unemployed youths.

    The Director of the APC Campaign Council, Chief Jerry Chukwueke, who made the promise in Owerri, the Imo State capital said the re-election of Governor Hope Uzodimma would deepen good governance and provide more job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths.

    Chukwueke said: “The governor has done an incredible job with limited resources that has come into Imo State. We are positioning for his re-election to focus on deepening good governance and more dividends of democracy for our people. We have done great with infrastructure; we have done well in education, and healthcare and we have attracted great federal presence, with big projects like Orashin dredging in Oguta and the prospect of the ports.”

    He said Governor Uzodimma would focus more on job creation. His words: “More job creation is what the governor is focusing on his second term. He has equipped over 20,000 Imolites to bring them into the global workforce. You know we have a huge number of youth; you cannot separate insecurity from unemployment. The more we fight poverty and create more jobs, the less insecurity.”

    The campaign director added that the governor would focus on harnessing the Imo agricultural value chain in his second term, by working with the private sector to establish processing plants. He said: “It is a major opportunity we have to deploy the international cargo Airport that we have to ship out processed goods out of Imo State. So, creating more jobs is a big focus for the governor’s second term.

    “There is an enrollment of small scale farmers like those rearing goats, chicken, growing cassava, maize and fish farming would get assistance from the state in terms of soft loans and grants to focus in agriculture activities.”

    Read Also: APC will win free, fair Kogi guber poll- Official

    He said security the situation has improved, particularly in Omuoma and Ehime Mbano, which were considered to be flashpoints. He said: “I was in Omuoma and Ehime Mbano a few days ago, the whole place are bubbling with business activities and people are moving around freely and the youths have said they want jobs and that is what the governor is focusing more on when he is elected for the second term.”

    On Charter of Equity, he said all the stakeholders have agreed that Orlu where Governor Uzodimma comes from should have the first shot and that, thereafter, it would be the turn of Owerri zone.

  • APC will win free, fair Kogi guber poll- Official

    APC will win free, fair Kogi guber poll- Official

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it is certain of winning the Nov. 11 Kogi governorship election through free, fair and credible election.

    Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the spokesperson for the state APC governorship campaign council, stated this in a statement on Tuesday in Lokoja.

    Fanwo was reacting to insinuations that the party was distributing free recharge cards to residents for ulterior motive.

    “The attention of the Kogi APC governorship campaign council has been drawn to a reckless falsehood that our DG is distributing recharge cards that will automatically deactivate the voters’ cards of the beneficiaries.

    “As ludicrous and mentally indolent as the allegations are, it is pertinent to set the record straight to save the unsuspecting public from the unbridled propaganda of the opposition.

    “Their intent is to create panic, spread falsehood and make it look like Kogi is at war.

    “They know they can’t win any election here because the people of Kogi State know the leaders they trust,’’ he said.

    Fanwo added: “Our Director General, Mr Abubakar-Audu, a serving Minister of Steel Development, has a reputation of transparency and respect for the rule of law.

    Read Also: Impeachment: I’m committed to APC reconciliation move, says Aiyedatiwa

    “He possesses capacity to be trusted and followed by the people.”

    He said that the minister did not need to contemplate foul means of winning election when his pedigree, antecedents, track record and family background placed him at a vantage position ahead of the opposition.

    “It is on this note we call on the people to disregard the figment of the imagination of the scripters of the fiction.

    “Our party will win a free, fair and credible election on Nov. 11,” he said.

    (NAN)

  • Impeachment: I’m committed to APC reconciliation move, says Aiyedatiwa

    Impeachment: I’m committed to APC reconciliation move, says Aiyedatiwa

    The deputy governor of Ondo state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has said he remained committed to the ongoing reconciliation efforts of the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the move by the Ondo State House of Assembly to impeach him.

    Aiyedatiwa, in a statement he personally signed, denied sponsoring any “Jara e gba” protest against his estranged boss, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    He said he was not aware of any such protest and that no group or association has his endorsement to carry out public demonstrations of any kind.

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    Aiyedatiwa stated: “This is to inform the good and peace-loving people of Ondo State that I am not aware of any such protest and no group or association has my endorsement to carry out public demonstration of any kind.

    “I affirm my commitment to the ongoing reconciliation efforts of the National leadership of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the political situation in our State which is already yielding the much-needed tranquillity in the State.

    “Therefore, I enjoin the security operatives in the State to continue to maintain peace and ensure that the good people of Ondo State go about their daily activities without any disturbance.”

  • S’Court clears Kogi APC candidate Ododo, dismisses Adeyemi’s appeal

    S’Court clears Kogi APC candidate Ododo, dismisses Adeyemi’s appeal

    The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by Senator Smart Adeyemi against the judgments of the two lower courts on the April 15 All Progressives Congress (APC)  primary.

    The apex court, in a unanimous decision, held that the appeal lacked merit, having failed to challenge the concurrent findings of both the High and Appeal courts, or demonstrate that the same were perverse.

    The apex court also held that the two issues raised in the appellant’s brief were unreasonable, vexatious, not triable and against the provisions of Section 132 and 133(1) of the Evidence Act 2011.

    Adeyemi, who represented Kogi West Senatorial District in the Ninth Assembly, had filed a suit at the Federal High Court, seeking to nullify the primary that produced Usman Ododo as the party’s candidate for the state’s governorship poll slated for November 11. The case was dismissed by the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal for lacking in merit.

    Read Also: Supreme Court: You are under another delusion, APC tells PDP, Atiku

    Delivering judgment yesterday, the apex court first struck out the appellant’s first notice of appeal and described as contemptuous, the practice of parties appearing on TV stations to discuss pending appeals.

    Justice E. A Agim, who delivered the lead judgment, said: “You go to say on television that if the court is a court of justice, the appeal should go in your favour.”

    “The court frowns at this practice. Once you’ve engaged a lawyer, go and rest.

    “I am giving this elaborate talk so that you don’t go out and say things that are not reasonable. The court is manned by reasonable persons.”

    He went on: “On the whole, this appeal fails. The appellant shall pay the cost of N1 million each to the 1st and 3rd Respondents (the governorship candidate and the APC),” the Supreme Court ruled.