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  • Goje to Wamakko, Yari: I want to hear from Buhari

    More All Progressives Congress (APC) heavyweights have joined the mediation among aspirants for Senate President.

    There are three contenders  – Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan, Appropriations Committee Chairman Danjuma Goje and Sen. Ali Ndume.

    Lawan has been endorsed by President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC. Goje is said to be enjoying the backing of some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders.

    Following the tension created by the struggle for the seat, some APC leaders have met with Goje on the need to respect the wishes of the President and the APC.

    On the delegation to Goje were Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti State) and Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara State); ex-Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wammako and a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, ex-Governor Adamu Aliero.

    The Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, is also believed to have met with Goje.

    Goje reportedly told the delegation that he would like “to hear from the President what he wants me to do”.

    It was gathered that the governors and ex-governors may facilitate another meeting between the President and Goje after  the end of Buhari’s private visit to London.

    According to a source, who spoke in confidence, the meeting with Goje was aimed at “having a united APC during the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly in June”.

    Read also: Court restrains Saraki, others over report on 2018 Senate invasion

    The source said: “The delegation met with Goje to persuade him to go along with the decision of the President and the directive of the party. We do not want a repeat of the 2015 episode.

    “It was also made clear at the meeting that the President does not have any personal relationship with Lawan. He only considered Lawan’s impeccable credentials and legislative experience to recommend him to senators-elect.

    “Goje has one or two observations which can be amicably resolved at all levels in a win-win situation. We are working on these issues.”

    Asked of Goje’s response, the source quoted him as saying: ‘I want to hear directly from the President what he wants me to do and I will then decide.’

    “We have conveyed Goje’s sole demand to the President. We are hopeful that when the President returns, he will meet with the senator.

    “But the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari has also met with Goje on the intrigues over the 9th Senate leadership.

    “If not for some remote forces behind the scene, we should have overcome this stress.”

    The APC leadership is under pressure to concede the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives to the Northcentral to foreclose the ambition of Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase (Plateau) and Hon. Umaru Mohammed Bago (Niger).

    But some APC leaders in the Northwest have started agitating for Deputy Speaker slot for the zone.

    It was, however, learnt yesterday that some APC governors are lobbying the party and forces in the presidency to allow Plateau to produce the Deputy Speaker.

    The affected APC governors were alleged to be uncomfortable with Bago rated in the party as “a loyal associate of the outgoing Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara.”

    Said a source: “If the party leaders are to choose between Wase and Bago, they will go for the former because he commands more followership and respect among lawmakers than Bago.

    “The alliance between Bago and Dogara has made the APC to be circumspect about his aspiration. So, the plot to zone the Deputy Speaker to the Northeentral is to abort his dream of leading the House.”

    As at press time, it was learnt that all was not well in the camp of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) over the choice of the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives.

    The PDP governors are divided over three candidates  –  Chukwuma Onyema, Nicholas Ossai and  Kingsley Chinda.

    “The governors have not reached a consensus on who will replace the outgoing Minority Leader,  Leo Ogor.”

    “PDP governors and House members-elect  are split along those supporting Hon. Chukwuma Onyema, Hon. Nicholas Ossai and Hon. Kingsley Chinda. While Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike is pushing for his kinsman, Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP Rivers), other PDP governors are in disagreement.”

  • Aspirants bow to APC on National Assembly leadership

    Ahead of the inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly in June, some lawmakers-elect have begun scrambling for its leadership. They are eyeing the top jobs of Senate president and House Speaker, which the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reserved for Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila. Will party supremacy prevail? Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna; Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo and Dele Anofi, Abuja, report.

    Kalu: we’ll stand by party’s decision

    DESPITE the preference of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila as Senate president and House of Representatives Speaker, some of its National Assembly members-elect are still showing interest in the top jobs.

    Others have, however, accepted the party’s decision and dropped their ambition.

    Former Abia State governor and Abia North Senator-elect Orji Uzor Kalu and House of Representatives member-elect Khadija Bukar-Abba have withdrawn from the Senate presidency and Speakership race.

    But Kalu is praying the party to reconsider the Southeast for the principal positions in the incoming Ninth Assembly.

    Speaking with reporters after an APC stakeholders meeting at his Igbere country home in Abia State, he said if the principal positions were not equitably distributed among the geopolitical zones, especially the Southeast, the APC might find it difficult to win future elections, particularly in 2023.

    According to him, apart from President Muhammadu Buhari, no other person in the APC currently has the followership and capacity to single-handedly garner 12 million votes.

    Read also: 9th NASS: Buhari takes over lobby for Lawan, Gbajabiamila

    Kalu said: “We are not going to be having another Muhammadu Buhari because Buhari is the only individual in the party who single-handedly polled 10-12 million votes alone. So the contribution of every region in the country will be very vital to the elections the party will be participating in, in the coming years. So leaving the Southeast behind will be detrimental and dangerous. It is very vital to share the leadership positions equitably to give every region a sense of belonging.”

    On APC’s performance in the elections in the Southeast, Kalu said: “For me, it is erroneous to state that our zone did not vote for APC in the last elections because there was tremendous improvement judging from what we had in 2015. From 3% to 27% in Abia and some other states so for me we should respect the leadership of our party, and the leadership should also respect our views.

    “If you have shared the positions and you didn’t share well, include our region in the sharing so that we can be empowered to go out and continue campaigning and mobilising for the party and soliciting for our peoples vote. These are very simple things to do and nobody would want the party to lose anything. Yes, we should learn from our mistakes in the Southeast; I am sure we shall continue to improve. What we had in 2015 is not what we had in 2019 in terms of results.”

    He said the Assembly leadership struggle was not for him alone, noting: “It’s not going to be my fight alone; it’s going to be our fight once we are ready, we are going to involve our traders, our religious leaders and some other people to first of all understand that APC is a national party and it’s a party that has the capability to cover the interest of the Igbo.

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  • Sanwo-Olu is a good choice, says APC

    The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said that Lagosians made the right decision by voting Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu as governor.

    The party spoke through Chief Sunny Ajose, its Deputy Chairman, at an ”Appreciation Dinner” held on Saturday night, to thank the residents for voting Sanwo-Olu and his running mate, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the dinner was organised by some chieftains of the party including Commissioner for Science and Technology Mr Hakeem Fahm and Mr Dele Alake, a former Commissioner of Information and Strategy in the state.

    Ajose described Sanwo-Olu and Obafemi Hamzat as technocrats with great leadership experience, saying that they would serve the state meritoriously.

    ”We thank Lagos residents for voting Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat and we want to assure the people that they will fulfill their promises and meet expectations.

    ”Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat are tested and trusted leaders. Now that they have been given the mandate to pilot the affairs of the state, they will drive responsibly,” he said.

    Ajose commended party members for their contributions to the success of the APC, and urged them to support the leaders so as to get the best from them.

    In his remarks, APC chieftain Chief Pius Akinyelure, congratulated Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat on their electoral victory, saying that their overwhelming success reflected the confidence voters had in them.

    Akinyelure particularly thanked Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a leader of the party, for his efforts toward ensuring victory for the party in both the presidential and the governorship elections.

    He described Tinubu as “a great political strategist and a visionary leader”, saying that his foresight had helped to entrench effective governance in the state.

    NAN reports that prominent personalities at the dinner included Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos and a one-time Commissioner of Finance, Mr Wale Edun.

  • APC, Buhari desperate to remain in power, says PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari of desperation to cling to power at all costs.

    According to the main opposition party, Buhari and his APC desperately want to continue to exploit Nigerians, protect the ruling party’s corrupt leaders, cover their incompetence and conceal the humongous sleaze in the administration.

    In a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said this is why APC and “the cabal” at the Presidency resorted to violence, intimidation as well as manipulation and alteration of results at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the presidential election.

    The PDP also accused certain APC chieftains and presidential aides of making desperate efforts to distract the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal and derail the course of justice by making and promoting baseless judicial interpretations and externalising proceedings of the court.

    The statement said: “The President Buhari-led APC administration wants to remain in power to prevent investigation into the N14 trillion allegedly stolen under its watch; including the N9 trillion stolen from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, as detailed in the leaked Nigerian National Petrolum Corporation (NNPC)  memo; the over N1.4 trillion alleged oil subsidy sleaze and the N1.1 trillion worth of crude diverted using 18 unregistered companies linked to APC interests.

    “This is in addition to the N33billion National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) fund, and the over N18 billion stolen out of the N48 billion approved by the National Assembly in the 2017 budget for the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced persons in the Northeast, among others.

    “Furthermore, the Buhari-led APC administration is desperate to avoid an investigation into its unwholesome borrowings that led to the escalation of our nation’s debt stock from N12.12 trillion in 2015 to an overburdening N24.39 trillion in 2018.

    Read also: APC disputes Atiku’s claim on being Nigerian by birth

    “Within a space of three years, this administration has borrowed a total of N12.27 trillion, yet it cannot point to any significant development project into which the money was invested. This includes the N2.66 trillion borrowed in 2018, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    “These and many more are funds meant for infrastructural development and welfare of Nigerians but which have been cornered by APC leaders”

    The opposition party insisted that the Buhari Presidency lacked the competence and integrity to run a creative, transparent and credible administration that can guarantee economic growth, wealth creation and a dependable system.

    “The negative effect is the further dipping of our economy, as investor’s confidence, which shored up at the expressed resolve by Nigerians to elect  Atiku Abubakar as their next President,  slumped with the rigging of the presidential election”, the PDP added.

    The party urged Nigerians not to despair but to continue to be steadfast in the aspiration for the recovery of the “stolen” presidential mandate at the tribunal.

    According to the PDP, that is the only way to return the nation to the path of peace, national unity and a vibrant economy.

  • APC disputes Atiku’s claim on being Nigerian by birth

    Farther than subside, the controversy over whether former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, standard-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23 presidential poll is a Nigerian by birth, is still raging.

    A man, who claims to be a close friend of Garba Abubakar, Atiku’s late father, alleged that neither of his parents was a Nigerian.

    The unnamed family friend, in fresh documents filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the Presidential  Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja, also gave details of Atiku’s early years and how his father died.

    But, Atiku declined to comment last night, saying he had earlier responded to the issue.

    The deponent’s claim varies from that of Atiku, who insists that his parents were Nigerians.

    It all started when the APC, in its response to Atiku’s petition at the tribunal, argued that he was not a Nigerian by birth.

    Claiming that it possessed evidence to support its claim, the party alleged that because Atiku is not a Nigerian by birth, he was not qualified, under Section 131(a) of the Constitution to contest for the office of President.

    Responding, Atiku said he was a Nigerian by birth because his parents were Nigerians.

    “The parents of the 1st petitioner (Atiku) are both Fulani, a community/tribe indigenous to Nigeria.

    “The 1st petitioner was born on 25th November, 1946 in Jada, Adamawa State by Nigerian parents and he is therefore a citizen of Nigeria by birth.

    “The 1st petitioner’s mother, Aisha Kande was the grand-daughter of Inuwa Dutse who came to Jada as an itinerant trader too from Dutse in present day Jigawa State.

    “The 1st petitioner’s father, Garba Atiku Abubakar was a Nigerian by birth who hailed from Wumo in present day Sokoto State while the mother, Aisha Kande was also a Nigerian who hailed from Dutse in present day Jigawa State.

    But, in a statement filed by an APC witness, simply identified with the initials – ADM – the party repudiate Atiku’s claim.

    The witness said: “l, ADM, adult, Nigerian citizen of Adamawa State do hereby make oath and say as follows:

    “That I was a close family friend to the 1st petitioner’s late father. I know the family and I am familiar with the 1st petitioner’s background: who was born on the 25th day of November, 1946 to a Fulani trader and farmer by name Garba Abubakar, from his second wife, Aisha Kande, in Jada village of Northern Cameroon.

    “I know the 1st petitioner was named after his paternal grandfather, Atiku Abdulkadir and became the only child of his parents after his only sister died at infancy.

    “I also know about the unfortunate incidence of the death of the 1st petitioner’s father in 1957, who drowned while crossing a river to Toungo. a neighbouring village to Jada in Northern Cameroon.

    “I do know that the 1st petitioner has, in all his documentations that are made public in national dailies or official gazettes, stated that he hails from Jada town in Adamawa State, from Ganye Local Government Area, regarded as the mother of the whole Chamba ethnic group (Chamba tribe).

    “I know as a fact that, as at the time the 1st petitioner was born on the 25th day of November, 1946 to a FulanI trader and farmer, Garba Abubakar, Jada village and other parts of Chamba land in the then Northern Cameroon, were still part of the British Cameroons and not Nigeria.

    “None of the 1st petitioner’s parents or grandparents was born in Nigeria.

    “The 1st petitioner‘s father died as a citizen of Northern Cameroon in 1957 prior to the referendum of 1st June, 1961 which made Northern Cameroon to become part of Nigeria.

    “The 1st petitioner’s ancestral origin is deeply rooted in the then Northern Cameroon, not Nigeria and I know as a fact that the 1st petitioner is not a Nigerian citizen by birth

    “I know that Ganye which incorporates the 1st petitioner’s birth place of Jada, was the headquarters of British Cameroons, but it joined Nigeria after the plebiscite.

    “I know that Ganye was not part of Nigeria as at the time of the birth of the 1st petitioner; on 25th November 1946.

    “I am familiar with the historical antecedents of the birth place of the 1st petitioner.

    “Ganye area had been entrusted to Britain by a League of Nations Mandate in 1919 and later as Trust Territory by the United Nations in 1946.

    “With the defeat of Germany in World War I. Kamerun (as it was known at the time) became a League of Nations Mandate Territory and was split into French Cameroons and British Cameroons in 1919

    “While France integrated the economy of its part of the Cameroons with that of the mother colonial France, the British on the other hand, administered its part (British Cameroons) from neighbouring Nigeria, making Jada, the 1st petitioner’s place of birth, a British franchise.

    “I know that a plebiscite was held in British Cameroons to determine whether the people in that territory preferred to stay in Cameroon or unite with Nigeria.

    “While Northern Cameroon preferred a union with Nigeria, the Southern Cameroon chose to align with the mother country.

    “I know that on the 1st of June 1961, Northern Cameroon became a part of Nigeria and on the 1st of October 1961 the Southern Cameroonian territory dissolved and merged into the Republic of Cameroon.”

    An aide to Atiku told The Nation last night that his principal would not respond to the issue.

    According to the aide, the PDP president candidate had responded to the controversies stirred by the APC on his nationality.

    Faulting the APC claim that he is not a Nigerian by birth and, therefore, not fit to be President, the former vice president, said he is a Nigerian by birth and was born on November 25, 1946 in Jada, Adamawa State by Nigerian parents.

    He made the assertion in a joint reply he filed with his party to the APC’s response against their petition before the tribunal.

    Atiku, who gave details of his early life, also spoke about his working life and political career to support his claim that he is a Nigerian by birth.

    Atiku and the PDP argued that it was late in the day for the APC to query his qualification for the election, having not done so at the pre-election stage.

  • APC wins councillorship bye-election

    All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Kazeem Bello has won the councillorship bye-election held on Saturday at Ward A (Obele/Oniwala) in Surulere Local Government Area.

    Bello scored 793 votes to defeat his only opponent, Mr. Abdulateef Bolaji Sanni of the People’s Democratic Party, who got 195 votes.

    There are 11,095 registered voters in the ward.

    The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Returning Officer Olusola Ibikunle declared him winner.

    Electoral Commissioner in charge of the zone, Olusegun Ayedun, however, expressed disappointment at the low turn-out of voters.

    He described the development as a nationwide problem, which needed to be tackled.

    He enjoined leaders of political parties to redouble their efforts in encouraging eligible registered members of the public to participate in the electoral process by casting their votes during elections.

    According to him, the commission was also working hard in this regard.

    Ayedun lauded security personnel on election duty for “doing a good job”, adding that the conduct of the bye-election was peaceful.

    LASIEC Permanent Secretary Mr. Sesan Ogundeko said the commission adequately prepared for the by-election in terms of the training of the election personnel, their deployment as well as in terms of the deployment of materials required for the exercise.

  • ‘Why Buhari, APC settled for Lawan, Gbajabiamila’

    The National Vice Chairman in charge of the North Central of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman Wambi, has said that past experience, excellence and party loyalty were ingredients that attracted Senator Ahmed Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to the President for the position of Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.

    Wambai told reporters in Abuja that President Muhammadu Buhari and other party leaders showed interests in the candidacies of the two because they are loyal party men with vast experience.

    While admitting the choice may not have been based on religious equity, Wambi said the ruling party took the decision to support the two for Nigeria to move forward.

    He said: “We have not given Ahmed Lawan the position of Senate President because he is from North-east or Gbajabiamila Speaker because he is from South-west but based on the performance of the party, their contribution and loyalty.

    “There was a time Mr. President sent budget to the National Assembly and that proposal was kept there for about seven months.

    “Gbabiamila and Lawan were the ones fighting and because of that they received a lot of frustration, traumatisation and intimidation from the present leadership of the National Assembly.

    “So, do you think the party and Mr. President should not reward those people? No. We said that despite the fact that the North-west has the president, the South-west has the Vice President, the Senate President is zoned to the North-east, Mr. President felt we should reward Femi Gbajabiamila base on the compelling loyalty and his experience.”

    He went on: “Mr. President prefers these people because of their past experiences. We are not saying that there is nobody in the North-central that is qualified, no.

    ‘’But the issue is that there are certain considerations. We fought for the zone to get Deputy Speaker in the House of Reps and also Senate Majority Leader in the Senate.”

    On whether the ruling APC puts the religious balancing into the consideration because Lawan and Gbajabiamila are Muslims, he said: “You do not understand the political dynamism of our country.

    ‘’ Do you think if we concentrate on religion this country will move forward? We go for excellence sometime. We go for those people who can key into the project of change and deliver.

    “What do you mean by sensitivity? Between APC and PDP which party is more sensitive? Do you think Muslim or Christianity can provide solutions to the problems of Nigeria? Until Nigerians become aware and key into excellence.

    “We should no longer say discriminate against anybody who has something to offer. The moment a nation starts thinking about where someone comes from or the religion he or she practice such a nation is doomed.”

    When reminded that some of his members from North-central are scheming to take the position of Speaker, Wambai said the South-West should be allowed to produce the next Speaker.

  • Southeast APC wants review of NASS positions zoning

    •Says Igbo deserve more rewards
    •Kalu calls for sanctions against leaders indicted for anti-party activities

    Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southeast yesterday told the leadership of the party that the zone deserves more rewards than the APC’s subsisting zoning of principal offices in the 9th National Assembly is offering.

    They asked that the present arrangement be reviewed in a more equitable manner that would accord more deserving positions to the Southeast.

    The APC Southeast leaders in a communiqué at the end of a  meeting in Enugu urged the national leadership of the party to draw strength from the need “to utilize the zoning of principal offices in the 9th National Assembly to further deepen and strengthen the electoral appeal of the party, especially in parts of the country where it may be considered as weak.”

    A former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, speaking at the meeting, called for sanctions against APC leaders from the zone who allegedly negotiated 25% for President Muhammadu Buhari from the Southeast in the last presidential election.

    In the communiqué read by APC national vice chairman, Southeast, Emma Eneukwu, the party stakeholders said that since democracy is a dynamic process, the party should remain a truly national political party with broad based support in all parts of the country, the Southeast inclusive.

    The stakeholders deplored in strong terms, what they called “the undue interference and unwholesome meddlesomeness by forces by forces from outside the zone in the affairs of the Southeast of our great party aimed at factionalising and destabilizing the party in the zone.”

    Present at the meeting were Science and Technology Minister Ogbonnaya Onu; Labour and Employment Minister  Chris Ngige; Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu; Nkeiru Onyejeocha and Chile Okafor both aspirants to the Speakership of the House of Representatives.

    Others include Senator Chris Adighije, Dr. Orji Kalu, Chief Uche Ogah, General J. O. J. Okoloagu (rtd), Dr Emeka Worgu, and a host of others.

    The stakeholders at the end set up a contact (lobby) committee to reach out to other zones of the country with regards to their demand.

    The committee is headed by Dr Ogbonnaya Onu with Dr. Ngige, Geoffrey Onyeama, Azubuike Udah, Senator Chris Nwankwo, Mrs Ugo Okoye and Austin Chukwukere as members

    A reconciliation committee was also set up to be headed by Emeka Worgu while Sunny Onyeukwu would serve as secretary.

  • APC WINS AJEROMI-IFELODUN REPS SEAT

    THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last night  declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr Kolawole Taiwo, winner of  Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal  Constituency election.

    The commission conducted supplementary election in 71 polling units across eight wards of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency of Lagos State for the House of Representatives seat.

    The commission had declared the Feb. 23 House of Representatives election in the constituency, inconclusive due to over-voting, non-compliance with the usage of smart card readers and violence.

    Prof. Olusoji Ilori the Returning Officer for the election, announced the result for the election at the INEC Collation Centre located at Local Authority Primary School, Baale St. Ajegunle at about 7:35 p.m.

    Ilori, who is a lecturer at the University of Lagos, announced the total votes after the supplementary poll.

    According to him, Taiwo polled a total of 36,115 votes  to defeat his closest rival from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mrs Rita Orji, who got  32,557 votes.

    Ilori added that Mr Matin Iwonlaye of Accord Party had 587 votes, Mr Jimoh Rasheed of PPN got 206 votes,  Mr David Kola of AD polled 158 votes, Mr Michael Ogoeke of of APP polled 149 votes while Ms Julie King of APDA polled 112 votes.

    According to him, Mr Adebayo Adegbenro of ADC scored 107 votes, Mr Kennedy Nzemiro of PPC had 90 votes, Mr Morenikeji Oluwole of MPN had 39 votes, Mr Jacob Ogundiran of DPC scored 17 votes while Ms Victoria Oladipupo of  DA,  polled 06 votes.

    Ilori said: “I declared that Kolawole Taiwo Musbau of APC, having  satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes,  is hereby declared the winner and he is returned elected.”

    The party agents took turns to sign the results.

    Earlier before the announcement of the result, Mr Afred Akpojotor, the INEC Electoral Officer for the council, commended the voters and stakeholders for their patience and perseverance to seeing the end of the exercise.

  • Revisit 9th NASS zoning arrangement, Southeast APC urges national leadership

    The South East zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the national leadership of the party to revisit the subsisting zoning arrangement of principal offices in the 9th National Assembly.

    The members of the party in the zone made the call on Saturday in Enugu in a communiqué issued at the end of its stakeholders’ meeting.

    The National Vice of Chairman, APC South East, Mr Emma Enukwu, who read the communiqué, said that positions ought to be zoned in a more equitable manner.

    Enukwu said that that the zone, which was left out in the arrangements,  needed to be accorded a deserving position in the leadership arrangement.

    “We urge the national leadership of our party to draw strength from the need to revisit the zoning of principal offices in the 9th NASS to further deepen and strengthen the electoral appeal of the party.

    “Our great party should remain a truly national political party with broad based support in all parts of the country, the South East zone inclusive,” he said.

    He said that the zone deplored the undue interference and meddlesomeness by forces from outside the zone in the affairs of the zone.

    “We urge our members in the zone to resist such and also implore those involved to promptly discontinue same in order to strengthen our party,” he said.

    Enukwu called on members of the party in the zone to redouble their efforts in the pursuit of constructive opposition in their various states.

    “We should rededicate ourselves to reclaiming the South East for  the APC. This is a challenge which we must confront and defeat,” he said.

    Enukwu said that the party was confident that its members that won elective positions during the just concluded elections would meet the aspirations of their people.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two committees were set up to advance the course of the party in the zone as well as interface with the national leadership of the party on the NASS issue.

    The committees were the Contact Committee chaired by the minister of Science and Technology, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, and the Reconciliation Committee, headed by the Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige.

    Some of the party chieftains in attendance at the meeting included Chief Orji Kalu, Sen. Andy Uba, Dr Chris Ngige, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu and Chief Emeka Nwogu.

    Others were Sen. Chris Adighije, and members of the party in the House of Representatives. (NAN)