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  • JUST IN: Tonto Dikeh joins APC, dumps ADC

    JUST IN: Tonto Dikeh joins APC, dumps ADC

    Actress Tonto Dikeh has officially decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    She left the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the governing APC.

    Dike was the deputy governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State for the 2023 election.

    Read Also: Tonto Dikeh cries out over son’s assignment

    The Nation learnt the actress will be officially unveiled by the APC National Women Leader, Dr Mary Alile, today by 3. p.m. at the national secretariat in Abuja.

    Details Shortly…

  • APC will reclaim Edo next year, says national women leader Alile-Idele

    APC will reclaim Edo next year, says national women leader Alile-Idele

    The national woman leader, Mary Alile-Idele, has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would reclaim Edo state next year from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    She said the “poor performance” of Godwin Obaseki has laid the foundations for the recapturing of the state by APC.

    Obaseki, who was elected on the platform of APC in his first term, defected to the PDP after falling out with a former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole.

    Obaseki therefore claimed the ticket of the PDP on whose platform he won re-election and would end his tenure next year.

    Speaking with journalists from Edo state in Abuja on Wednesday, Alile-Idele said the “bad governance visited on the state by the PDP in the last eight years of being at the helm of affairs” had laid the perfect foundation for the APC to return to Dennis Osadebe House next year.

    The APC national women leader said: “Edo state has suffered a high level of political and infrastructural setbacks which should be halted without delay. We don’t want another eight years of disasters under PDP.

    Read Also: You can’t be Nasarawa governor by falsehood, APC fires PDP, Umbugadu

    He noted: “In Edo state, if you have been there lately, it is a pathetic situation, there are no better words to describe the state.

    “The roads are bad, education terrible and other infrastructural decays. It is a terrible situation and some people are still out there shouting that Edo is the best.

    “I will say in 2024 we, in APC, can do better. Our target is to reclaim the state and return to the government house.”

    She said she would mobilise women to ensure that the APC emerged victorious in the election.

    Alile-Idele said: “We all know when it comes to politics, women are at the forefront, in fact, research has shown that women are the highest number of voters in this country, but that they are however relegated to the background after electoral victory by the male-dominated parties.

    “What I have done in Edo state in this regard in the last couple of weeks is by appointing Special Advisers in the 18 local government areas in the state to embark on serious sensitisation and mobilisation of women. These are people that know the corners of their local government areas.”

    On her vision for the party, Alile-Idele said, she had already floated some programmes including an empowerment initiative for women, taking the message of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda across the country, attracting young women into politics and mobilising for the APC across the country.

  • Yakubu a shallow candidate surrounded by people with low IQ – Kogi APC

    Yakubu a shallow candidate surrounded by people with low IQ – Kogi APC

    The Kogi chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on security agencies to immediately invite the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Muritala Yakubu, over concocted lies capable of undermining security efforts in the state. 

    Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, who doubles as the Spokesman for the APC Governorship Campaign, raised the concern on Thursday while urging security agencies to step in and not allow anyone heat up the polity. 

    The APC spokesperson in a statement on Thursday said Muritala Yakubu’s latest claim of an assassination attempt was desperation taken too far, adding that “in the process of trying to paint a picture of popularity, he has unwittingly exposed himself as a shallow individual surrounded by people with very low intellect.” 

    Fanwo said the urgent intervention of the security agencies was necessary in view of the lawlessness being displayed by the SDP candidate and his thugs and the propaganda of playing the victim whenever his people commit crimes. 

    “It is on record that every political party has been having hitch-free campaigns across the state. But anytime this obviously dubious character who knows well within him that he has no chance in the governorship election, is planning a rally, his fellow hooligans and criminal minded cohorts fashion out all sorts of criminal conspiracies to paint the government in bad light. They commit crime and turn around to play the victim after inducing everyone around them with ill-gotten wealth. 

    “For the records, the Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, CON, abhors criminals and criminal activities and has made the state unbearable for them since he assumed office. Our various awards in security are there for all to see. We will not allow these set of desperate, clueless hooligans to rubbish our gains. The Police and other relevant agencies must urgently investigate this latest propaganda and make the enemies of peace face the consequences of their actions to serve as deterrent to others like them. 

    Read Also: Tinubu urges Senate to confirm Yakubu as CEO of NSIPA

    “Muritala Yakubu has, in the process of trying to paint a picture of popularity, unwittingly exposed himself as a shallow individual surrounded by people with very low intellect. November 11 is around the corner. We assure everyone that there will be no violence. The government owes the people the duty to protect lives and property and that we will do without political considerations. 

    “The SDP campaign clearly has no direction. It is predicated on lies, lies and more lies. The people of Kogi State, most especially, the people of Igala land as well as governorship candidates of other parties, who themselves are from Igala land, have said times without number, publicly, that Muritala Ajaka and his people are liars. Kogi State has not descended to a level where someone with this level of questionable character would aspire to be Governor. 

    “Our people should ignore their latest antics and the movie script the SDP and their unserious candidate have developed for whoever spoke to the media. It is the last kick of a dying horse. No one is after Muri. He is after himself,” Fanwo stated.

  • APC hit Lawal over claim on Obi’s victory

    APC hit Lawal over claim on Obi’s victory

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, over his claim that Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) won the February 25 presidential election.

    It described the state as the height of irresponsibility.

    The party spoke through a statement last night by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.

     It dismissed Lawal’s claim and knocked for his incoherent aspersions on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the exalted office he occupies.

    The former SGF in a statement earlier on yesterday claimed that the LP candidate and not President Tinubu won the election poll.

    Read Also; Reps want FG to channel fuel subsidy savings to healthcare

    He claimed in the statement that data from independent sources indicated that Obi had majority votes while Atiku came second in the election.

    But in the reaction, the APC said the former SGF outburst was “nothing but a figment of his warped imagination rather than hard facts and figures”.

    The APC statement reads: “The party noted that after a long hiatus leaking his wounds from the monumental electoral loss of his candidate in the last presidential election; Lawal unabashedly is out again, peddling gibberish, rather than learning from his political misadventure with equanimity.

    “The defeat of his principal, Peter Obi, at the poll has done incalculable damage to Lawal’s psyche and his capacity for rational thought as evident in his analysis based entirely on the figment of his warped imagination rather than on hard facts and figures.

    “A clear sign of his disconnect from reality was his reference to the election held in May 2023, rather than February.”

    The governing party challenged Lawal to give a detailed breakdown of his so-called “aggregated facts sourced from independent sources,” which he claimed proved that Obi won the election or forever keep mute.

    It said: “That he did not provide these facts to help Obi prove his case before the Presidential Elections Petitions Court is a massive disservice if not a betrayal of his political principles.

    “Babachir Lawal ought to have known that running a jaundiced commentary on a matter before the Supreme Court is the height of irresponsibility. But he is still nursing bitterness and vindictiveness over his failed dream of running on a joint ticket with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “Indeed, Babachir Lawal is in dire need of professional counselling and deserves our collective pity. He may never get over the pain of being tossed into the dustbin of political ignominy by President Bola Tinubu who, against all odds, defeated Mr. Peter Obi who exploited our religious and ethnic fault lines in his campaign for the nation’s highest office.

    “Thankfully, Nigerians across all ethnic and religious divides saw through Babachir Lawal’s and Peter Obi’s shenanigans and voted for the best candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.”

    The APC further berated Lawal for calling into question the professional competence of President Tinubu’s appointees, some of whom he cannot hold a candle to their political and professional accomplishments.

    The party said: “Babachir Lawal is one lightweight politician who thinks of himself as a heavyweight. He failed spectacularly as a politician in his State of Adamawa where in three election circles he could not deliver his ward and local government in his Hong Local Government.”

    “Despite his legendary failure as a politician, former President Muhammadu Buhari in deference to diversity appointed him to the high office of SGF where he was unceremoniously sacked on account of very poor performance and …conduct.

     ”A man like Babachir Lawal is in no position to offer an opinion on the competence of President Tinubu’s appointees.

    “We are convinced that these appointees would justify the confidence reposed in them by the President by delivering on the promises of the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration.”

    The party counselled the former SGF to concentrate on managing his farm and stop constituting himself into a needless distraction unbefitting his age and status.

  • Former Kwara PDP scribe joins APC

    Former Kwara PDP scribe joins APC

    Former secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state, Alhaji Rasaq Lawal on Tuesday, October 17, defected to the ruling  All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    Lawal had recently resigned his membership and secretaryship of opposition PDP in the state.

    He gave personal reasons for his resignation.

    The APC state executives led by Sunday Fagbemi officially received Lawal at the party’s secretariat in Ilorin. 

    In his remarks, Lawal expressed delight that his defection to APC 

    offered him another opportunity to contribute more to the development of the state and her people.

    He said: “Today’s event, my official joining of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is informed by the twin- factor of passion for the emancipation of my people and the growth of our dear state.

    “Everyone that knows and have  worked closely with me  since my sojourn into politics over four decades ago will attest to the fact that my main interest in politics is the development of our community.

    Read Also: I am in charge, Akeredolu tells protesting PDP

    “I,  therefore, find it expedient to team up with the amiable, pragmatic and performing governor of Kwara State, His Excellency, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, in our collective quest to make Kwara great once again.

    “Governor AbdulRazaq’s achievements in all sectors are physical on the ground for all to see; even the blind feels the impact of this people- focused governor. From educational development to road construction, establishment of industries, poverty alleviation programmes, youth and women empowerment/ inclusion in governance, the governor has proved beyond any reasonable doubt that his mission in politics is to make life abundance for all, irrespective of social status.

    “This is the reason why I had to voluntarily vacated my enviable position of the state secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the APC. 

    “While I shared mutual respect with leaders and peers at my former party, I will not hesitate to mention here that the PDP is not properly structured to play the role of a serious opposition party. The role of a major opposition party is to help the incumbent admimistration achieve its developmental agenda for the people  and not to be an obstruction to the realisation of such goals. 

    “In conclusion, I want to assure my governor and the leader of APC in Kwara State/ chairman of the Nigeria’s Governor’s Forum (NGF), the APC chairman and his team of my total commitment to the ideals of the party and indeed the progress of the APC- led government in the state.”

    Prince Fagbemi noted that the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has ensured development across the length and breadth of the state in the last four years.

    He described Lawal as a man of impeccable character, humility personified and an asset to the APC.

    He added: “Lawal’s sterling leadership qualities were  attested to by the APC members in his Badari ward of Ilorin West local government area.” 

  • Group condemns push for female APC candidate in Akoko federal constituency

    Group condemns push for female APC candidate in Akoko federal constituency

    Ahead of the House of Representatives by-election in Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency, a group of constituents under the aegis of Concerned Akoko Constituents (CAC) has condemned a letter written by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Women Leader, Dr. Mary Alide, in favour of a female candidate. 

    The counter stance of the group was made known in Akure yesterday by the Coordinator, Suyi Ajiboye, an engineer.

    He decried the schemes of a highly placed individual in Ondo State, who is bent of foisting an unpopular female candidate on the APC in the by-election. 

    Ajiboye said it was most unfortunate that the desperate highly placed individual had deceitfully resorted to using the office of the APC National Women Leader to blackmail APC leaders in Akoko North East/West Federal Constituency to submission. 

    The CAC coordinator, however, lamented that it was most distressing that an individual would want to take advantage of office, fame and influence to impose an obviously unpopular choice on a whole federal constituency.

    He said any aspirant that is truly popular will want to test the popularity in a free and fair contest. He urged the state and national leadership of APC to disregard the letter written by the APC National Women Leader. 

    Read Also: Court sacks Adamawa North APC Senator Abbo

    “We urge the state and national leadership of the APC to discountenance the letter written by the APC National Women Leader.”

    because it was motivated by the desperate desire of an individual. We are also not unaware that this highly placed individual ran to Abuja and chose to hide behind the office of APC National Women Leader with an intention to railroad our party leaders to support a very unpopular aspirant”. 

    Ajiboye added that the female aspirant being supported  by the prominent individual is not popular within the APC fold and she also lacks the required acceptance to win the by-election.

    He stressed that the female aspirant joined APC only recently, after she had contested and lost the  2023 general election on the platform of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). 

  • Sanwo-Olu, other APC chieftains felicitate Basorun at 85

    Sanwo-Olu, other APC chieftains felicitate Basorun at 85

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday led other All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders to celebrate the 85th birthday of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) member, Olorunfunmi Basorun.

    The eminent politician and Superintendent of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Oke Ayo Igbala Irapada, Iganmu, hosted eminent Nigerians for the thanksgiving service, where a cleric, Henry Odunayo, described him as a politician who has not forgotten God.

    At the service were Chief of Staff Tayo Ayinde, who represented the governor, Special Adviser on Rural Development Nurudeen Agbaje, Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Sefiu Kasali,  GAC members-former Deputy Governor Abiodun Ogunleye, Senator Tony Adefuye, Ashipa Kaoli Olusanya, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, Chief Muyiu Are and Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, and party Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi.

    Read Also; Lagos seals hospital for transfusing patients with unscreened blood

    Also at the ceremony were Senator Bareewu \ Ashafa, former Commissioner Oyinlomo Danmole, House of Assembly member Moshood Aro, former state lawmaker Segun Olulade, Igbogbo Council Chairman Sesan Daini, Mrs. Motunrayo Gbadebo Alogba, Suleiman Kashim, Banjo Adebisi and Bayo Osiyemi.

    Sanwo-Olu hailed Basorun’s achievements in the service of God and humanity, saying his experience has been deployed to the great benefit for the Lagos State Government.

    He thanked the celebrator for supporting his administration through wise counsel personally and as a GAC member.

    The governor, who described Basorun as a progressive elder, said his administration was committed to the delivery of a greater Lagos that would be the pride of Lagosians.

    Baba Aladura Odunayo said Basorun was a happy man because he had salvation, God’s grace and blessings, stressing that he was also a servant of God.

    He described Basorun as a politician who has time for God.

    Odunayo added: “He is a near perfectionist, with a knack for details; a great contributor at meetings, a very straightforward man worthy of emulation.”

  • Impeachment: PDP plotting  crisis in Ondo – APC alleges

    Impeachment: PDP plotting  crisis in Ondo – APC alleges

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State said it has uncovered plans by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to instigate crisis in Akure, the state capital.

    It said the planned crisis would take off Monday, October 16.

    The Ondo APC said the plan was to create a semblance of political instability in the peaceful with a view to portraying it in bad light, ahead of next year’s governorship election.

    A statement by spokesman of the Ondo APC, Alex Kalejaye, said some PDP chieftains have begun making huge contributions, in collaboration with some APC members to destabilise the state.

    Kalejaye said the Sunshine State has been peaceful, organized, and enjoyed enviable political stability as well as industrial harmony.

    According to the statement, “It is unbelievable that the main opposition party, PDP, that is engulfed by leadership turbulent in Abuja, will prefer to go into unholy alliance with some elements in APC to foment avoidable crisis in Ondo State.

    Read Also: We remain resolute to vote APC guber candidate, say Bayelsa youths

    “Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has been discharging his official duties and responsibilities without any hitch, irrespective of his location.

    “The party also expressed appreciation for the understanding and prayers of the good people of the State for the admirable governor.

    “We are very optimistic that our Governor; your performing Governor, will be in our midst in a matter of days.

    “It is imperative to state that any political gathering or activity at this time could easily be hijacked beyond the control and capacity of the organizers.

    “We therefore call on security agencies to be vigilant and ensure that every gathering is well guided, and closely monitored for compliance.”

    “The party is confident that the APC-led government in Ondo State will continue to invest in projects that have direct bearings on the welfare of the public. We will also not relax our commitment to the State workforce.”

    But the Ondo PDP said Governor Akeredolu should appear in public or tendered resignation letter.

    Spokesman for the PDP, Kenndy Peretei, said the APC was shameless to be comfortable with the total collapse of governance in the state.

    He the Governor has not been seen in the state since April, this year.

    “The PDP is known for its peaceful and developmental strides in the State. We cannot be accused of planning to create crisis in the state.

    “It is clear that APC is afraid of their own shadows having failed to meet the expectations of the people.

    “If they know where Akeredolu is, they should ask him to come out or resign honorably.”

  • How society can work, by Edo APC Rep

    How society can work, by Edo APC Rep

    The representative of Etsako constituency of Edo State in the House of Representatives, Mr. Anamero Dekeri, aka Danco, has stated that all that is needed for the society to work is to have the will-power to make it work, and ensure that the society is all-inclusive, starting from the people that are highly deprived.

    Dekeri, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who is the founder of Anamero Foundation, spoke in Benin at the well-attended and carnival-like kick off of the distribution of 500,000 exercise books to primary and secondary school students in the 18 local government areas of Edo state.

    He said: “The society does not require rocket science to work. All that we need, for the society to work, is to have the will-power to make it work, but not forgetting that the society is a chain. While there is a disconnect somewhere, it will ultimately affect the functionality of the entire chain.

    Read Also: Kogi ADC chairman, three senatorial chairmen, Assembly member declare for APC’s Ododo supporters to APC

    “If the poor people among us continue to be deprived of good things in life and they suffer lack, and very few personally are making all the money, there will be no place for the rich to enjoy the money made.

    “If we want the society to work for all of us, let it be a society that is all-inclusive, starting from the people that are highly deprived. This is why I will call on all well-meaning Nigerians to continually help the poor. They do not need to be in government; before they can assist the less privileged in the society, and think more about them. As long as you are blessed and endowed, you can help the needy, to ensure peace, adequate security and happiness for all of us.

    “We cannot all be evenly endowed. For the society to work, the number of people that are happy should be more than those that are not.”

    The federal lawmaker also disclosed that while he was growing up, as a young man, in the late 80s, he started from a very humble background.

  • Oyo APC meets Ganduje in Abuja, pledges support for Tinubu’s administration

    Oyo APC meets Ganduje in Abuja, pledges support for Tinubu’s administration

    Stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state have restated their commitment to the success of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

    The party expressed optimism that efforts being put in place by the federal government to tackle current economic challenges would soon begin to yield the desired results.

    During a courtesy call on the APC national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, the Director-General of the APC Election Campaign Council in Oyo state, Isiaka Kolawole, conveyed gratitude for the recent visit by the national chairman to Ibadan a few weeks ago.

    He also affirmed unwavering support for President Tinubu’s administration.”

    The 25-man delegation of Oyo APC led by its chairman, Isaac Omodewu, comprised three former deputy governors, members of the State Working Committee, serving and former federal lawmakers among others.

    Kolawole said: “We are here, at Buhari House, to demonstrate our renewed commitment to the cause of our dear party and to also restate our resolve to continue working assiduously for the success of Tinubu administration having played a pivotal role in its emergence.

    Read Also: Why I dumped YPP for APC, by Ubah

    “The recent visit of our new national chairman, His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, to our state secretariat in Ibadan, is an indication that the new leadership of our great party would not leave any stone unturned to move APC forward in Nigeria and we are determined to key into this project.

    “You would recall that Oyo was second to Kano state as we had the largest population of delegates at the last APC presidential primary and this had made us a beautiful bride to all the presidential aspirants at that time but nevertheless, we delivered 97 percent of our delegate votes to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu because we realized he stood tall among the best hands which we had at that time.

    “We then capped it up with a record of emerging the fourth (out of 36 states and the FCT) where APC had the majority votes at the February 25 presidential election with 449, 884 votes. This is no mean feat by all standards but today some selfish individuals are trying to rewrite history just to score cheap political points.”

    “Even though we are not here to exhibit any sense of entitlement or lodge any complaint because we have absolute confidence in Mr. President, it is important we tell our story with a view to setting the record straight as we do not want the sacrifices of genuine party members to go unrewarded.”

    “Apart from the fact we won the poll for Sen. Bola Tinubu, we delivered the three senatorial and nine (out of possible fourteen) House of Representatives seats to the candidates of our Party beating rivals from the ruling party (PDP). And moving forward, we have now put machinery in place to drive the anticipated re-election of President Tinubu in 2027 and we are not looking back regardless of the challenges we are facing at the moment.”

    In his response, Ganduje thanked the delegation for the courtesy visit and assured that necessary actions would be taken to address all the issues by both the state chairman and Dr. Kolawole who spoke for the visiting team.

    He said: “I know how important every state chapter is and I can assure all of you that Oyo APC will be assisted to become stronger and more formidable for party faithful to have their dreams fulfilled. We appreciate your contributions so far and we urge you to remain steadfast and forward-looking.”

    The Oyo APC delegation included; former deputy governors Chief Iyiola Oladokun, Moses Adeyemo, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan as well as Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari, Chief Akin Oke, Engr. Idris Adeoye, Alh. Tajudeen Olanite, Hon. Segun Odebunmi, Chief Sunday Dare (former Minister for Youth and Sports), Alh. Olalekan Alli (former SSG), Mrs. Tinuade Adigun.”

    Others are: Hon. Kehinde Subair, Engr. Dayo Lawal, Hon. Seyi Adisa, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela, Chief Francis Babalola, Hon. Mojeed Olaoya, Mr. Olalekan Busari, Hon. Wumi Oladeji, Mrs. Yinka Adebayo, Olawale Sadare, Mr. John Aremu, Hon. Afeez Bolaji Repete, Barr. Waheed Lawal, Alh. Akeem Alawuje, Hon. Tunji Akinbiyi and Mrs. Titilope Gbadamosi.”