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Tag: APC

  • Wike, Awara clash at stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt

    The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and the state’s governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara  Saturday clashed at the commission’s stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt.

    Awara, an indigene of Kula-Kalabari in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers, accused Wike and INEC of doctoring results of the ‘bloody’ governorship and House of Assembly elections of March 9 in the state.

    Wike, however, accused Awara, other members of AAC and their backers in the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) of promoting violence and scaring investors from Rivers.

    The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who was represented by the National Commissioner of the commission in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States, Barr. May Agbamuche-Mbu, a lawyer, who also chaired the stakeholders’ meeting, urged Rivers residents to allow peace to reign in the state before, during and after the activities outlined for the conclusion of the controversial elections.

    Also in attendance at Saturday’s meeting, which took place at Omni Event Centre, Eastern By-pass, Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt, ahead of April 2 resumption of collation of results of March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections, was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, who was represented by the Garrison Commander of 6 Division Garrison, Brig.-Gen. Adeola Kalejaiye.

    Others included Rivers Commissioner of Police, Usman Belel, who is also the Chairman of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, (in Rivers state); and INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Rivers, Mr. Obo Effanga, who was represented by the Administrative Secretary in the state, Elder Etim Umoh.

    Rivers Chairman of the PDP, Chief Felix Obuah; Ledum Mitee of Initiative for Credible Elections (ICE), who is a former President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP); representatives of the Navy, Air Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Customs, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as top politicians and other eminent personalities were also in attendance.

    Awara said: “Surprised that the leaders of political parties involved in the elections were not asked questions by members of INEC’s five-man fact-finding committee. I doubt the reliability of the doctored result sheets and other electoral materials with INEC in the last three weeks. We have record of some of the results being mutilated, particularly that of Akuku-Toru LGA.

    “REC of INEC in Rivers State has refused to give reasons for charging the four compromised electoral officers of the commission, who lack integrity for being card-carrying members of PDP.

    “If the violence made the March 9 elections not to be credible, according to INEC, where did the commission get results for the seventeen LGAs, of Rivers 23 LGAs in the INEC’s possession? At what point did the elections become violence-free, for the commission to now have results for 17 LGAs? Why has INEC refused to release the results of the 17 LGAs it claimed to have and the remaining six LGAs it wants to do supplementary election?”

    Rivers governor, however, accused the AAC’s governorship candidate, members of his party and his backers in APC of being economical with the truth.

    Wike said: “I do not agree that Rivers is a violent state. Rivers State has never and it will not be a violent State.  Why are they raising too much alarm? What causes violence? Why is there violence each time there is election? The only way to have peaceful elections is when the security agencies refuse to interfere or manipulate any process.

    “How did people die? When INEC would go and collate results and people would resist and when people resist, they will shoot them. Rivers is not a violent state. It is most unfortunate that people would leave their state, come to another state, instead of them to make sure what obtains in their state obtains here, they do not want it, they want to cause problems for us.

    “With all due respect, the Garrison Commander (Brig.-Gen. Adeola Kalejaiye) is here. Throughout my political career, of not less than thirty years, I have never experienced the type of roles the army played. We must tell people the simply truth.

    “INEC set up a committee in 2016, during and after the reruns, where it was stated in your report that certain police officer manhandled your electoral official. He even went as far as naming the police officer. What has happened, as INEC? You could have said you did not want that kind of officer again. The same officer was also implicated in your report in these elections. Who are the people causing the violence?

    “Rivers State in not violent when they are drilling crude oil. Why must the violence be during the period of elections? Who are those responsible, in order to tell them? INEC can insist on not requiring the services of the violent security personnel; that is the only way we can have peaceful, free and fair elections in Rivers State. Let the army personnel remove their hands from elections. It is unfortunate that we had some people demonstrating and thanking the Nigerian Army for a job well done. That is Nigeria for us.

    “Who are the security personnel that will be in charge of the collation (between April 2 and 5)? Let us avoid sermon. You do not preach to me what you will not practise. The onus is on the security agencies to help INEC to do the right things, in order to achieve the results the commission wants to achieve. Rivers State is a peaceful state. Nobody should be driving away investors from us. Let personnel of Nigerian Army remove their hands from electoral process.”

    INEC chairman, at the “most-important stakeholders’ meeting,” stated that the elections were suspended on March 10, due to the high-level of violence that occurred during the March 9, 2019 polls in Rivers.

    Yakubu said: “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the good people of Rivers State, our traditional rulers, market women, youths, leaders and members of political parties in the state, including the candidates in the elections and all other stakeholders to allow peace to reign in the state before, during and after the activities outlined for the conclusion of the elections by the commission.

    “We do not have any other state, apart from Rivers State, to call our own. Let us join hands together to make Rivers State even greater. On the part of the commission, I wish to assure you of our commitment to free, fair and credible elections. We intend to keep these promises. May God, in His kindness, grant Rivers State perpetual peace.

    Read also: Tonye Cole, Accord Party assembly candidates call for fresh election in Rivers

    “The results of the March 9 elections in Rivers State are with us (INEC) in our strong room and they have not been tampered with.

    “A five-man fact-finding committee was therefore set up to ascertain the nature and verify the report of obstructive and lawless activities that generally attended the elections at the state collation centre, other collation centres and polling areas, occasioning the suspension. I was a member of the fact-finding committee. So, I know what I am talking about.

    “The main objective of this meeting is to brief you on the schedule of activities and timeline, set by the commission for the conclusion of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections, and to solicit for your maximum cooperation towards the success of this exercise. It is also to generate discussions among the stakeholders, with a view to achieving transparent, peaceful and violence-free conclusion of the elections, within the timeline set by the commission.”

    Rivers police commissioner also stated that the past few weeks in Rivers state, before, during and after the general elections had been very difficult and trying moment for everyone, stressing that all stakeholders had maintained decorum, outstanding maturity and dedication to peaceful resolution of conflicts in Rivers.

    Belel said: “As it is usual in every contest, winners and losers must emerge, but the maturity with which the contest’s results is accepted, determines how peaceful the society can be. I wish to appeal to all stakeholders to give peace a chance (in Rivers State) and be magnanimous, either in victory or in defeat, as there will still be Rivers State beyond these elections.

    “It is my humble appeal that contestants and parties’ faithful should prevail on their supporters to do away with thuggery and violence. The Rivers State Police Command is determined to provide security for all residents and stakeholders in Rivers State for them to exercise their fundamental rights.

    “As the lead agency and the  Chairman of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, (in Rivers State), I want to use this opportunity to thank all stakeholders for the synergy and oneness of purpose that has kept this state together this long. I hereby encourage all of you to do the needful, in furtherance of our interagency cooperation.”

    Rivers REC of INEC, in his welcome remarks, reiterated that On March 9, the governorship and House of Assembly elections were held in Rivers, but due to unexpected developments, especially security, the collation could not be concluded, maintaining that till now, INEC did not know the winners of the elections.

    Effanga said: “In order to ensure credible process, INEC has sent seasoned electoral officers, led by the National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States, Barr. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who is the chairman of this occasion. Political parties that participated in the March 9 elections should submit the names of their agent. We are not conducting fresh elections. The status quo as at March 9 remains.

    “We have the results for these seventeen LGAs: Ahoada East, Akuku-Toru, Andoni, Bonny, Eleme, Emohua, Etche, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ogu/Bolo, Okrika, Omuma, Opobo/Nkoro, Oyigbo, Port Harcourt and Tai. Their (17 LGAs) collation was at the local government level. Collation was not completed in the remaining six LGAs: Abua/Odual, Ahoada West, Asari-Toru, Degema, Gokana and Khana.

    “In Abua/Odual LGA, the materials and men did not even go out to the field. They were frustrated from going out and elections did not take place there. In Gokana LGA, materials and men went out to the field, but none came back, because there was outright violence and everything was destroyed. So, we do not have any result from there. In Ahoada West LGA, out of about 100 polling units, we have results in only 24 and that is not good enough. Asari-Toru LGA was not concluded, but we have the polling units’ results available, but they were not collated. Degema LGA has 17 registration areas, which we call wards in INEC’s context, and collation took place in ten, remaining seven. The seven wards, their results are in INEC’s strong room. In Khana LGA, there was no collation at the local government level, but we have results from the polling units and the collation from some wards available.

    “INEC, in its mandate to conduct free, fair and credible elections in Rivers State, decided to come with a timetable (timeline) to let the people know how to ensure the collation and to know the winners.”

    INEC’s REC in Rivers also stated that the stakeholders’ forum was not strange, but to carry everybody along and to know what INEC was doing.

    Effanga noted that before the suspension order came from Abuja on March 10, collation had commenced, with INEC now resuming the collation.

    REC of INEC in Rivers disclosed that the collation, scheduled for between April 2 and 5, would hold at the INEC’s office on Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

  • How 9th NASS leaders will emerge, by Tinubu

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Sen. Bola Tinubu, on Friday emphasised leadership of the incoming 9th National Assembly will be decided through party politics.

     He stated that party discipline would be upheld in addressing the leadership tussle of the 9th National Assembly.

    Tinubu spoke with newsmen in Lagos on Friday after a Prayer Programme organised by Islamic and Christian clerics to mark his 67th birthday.

    He said: “Party discipline is key. We must be discipline in the party. We were a little careless in 2015.

    “We created the opportunity for serpents to get into our party and that did not allow Nigeria to make the desired progress.

    “You have seen the result of it and we are not going to allow that to happen again. We are going to respect our party and we are going to apply the whip.

    “It is either you stay with us or you follow us or you leave. You have the freedom to choose but the freedom does not give you as a minority to go and collaborate and protrude our mandate given to you to another party who was our opposition and who is still our opposition.

    “We would not take that this time, no matter who you think you are. That is how it is built. Why do you want to deviate from what has been structured?

    “We look at our reward system equally, zone by zone,” he said.

    Tinubu said that his life as a politician at 67 had been a fulfilling journey.

    “When I joined politics, there were a lot of uncertainties because it was during the military regime. There were lots of struggles but my concern is about people and the future of my country.

    “My mother stood by me when I told her then that I was joining politics. She told me to be ready to take all sorts of insults whenever they cross my way. May her soul rest in peace.

    “The struggle was tough. It created a justice on June 12 election of MKO and some people deserted the camp, the struggle, the spirit.

    “We have stayed with this struggle. We know democracy is not easy but it is the only system of government that we chose.

    “Ever since, it has been a very fulfilling journey. There is always the twist and turns in politics.

    “Today, we endure, we persevere, we think, adjust, collaborate, merged and became single party just like yesterday,” he said.

    Tinubu said that the APC party was in government for the common man.

    Read also: Party discipline will be upheld in 9th NASS leadership, says Tinubu

    “You will think that APC had been on for twenty years but is not up to six years. We went through compromises because we know that if we form a good alliance of progressive thinkers and believers in the ideology of common man, we will be able to serve the people.

    “It is not by criticism alone. You have to have the opportunity to even change the life of the people and quality of their standard of living.

    “So, we stood by it, we persevered persistently, uttered our voice, offered our recommendations, and then we are here.

    And today I am extremely happy that we are in government for the common man.

    “The only way to change Nigeria from penury is to fashion out our own organic economic strategy and plan that will continue to cater for all,” he said. (NAN)

  • 9th NASS: APC Diaspora chairmen urge support for party’s choice candidates

    The Committee of Diaspora Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on members of the party to support the party’s preferred candidates for all principal offices of the ninth National Assembly.

    The committee made the appeal in a statement emailed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

    NAN reports that the statement was sent by the Chairman, APC Scandinavia, Mr Ayoola Lawal, from his Sweden base.

    The statement was signed by Dr Philip Edeawor, Chairman APC, United Kingdom; Prof. Adesegun Olabinjo, Chairman, APC, USA; Mr Stephen Adeayo, Chairman, APC Spain; Barrister Hammed Adefioye, Chairman APC Ireland; Mr Olanrewaju Balogun ,Chairman, APC, France and Mr Olalekan Ogunwede, Chairman, APC, Germany, Ayoola.

    Mr Bola Babarinde, APC Chairman, South Africa; Mr Elas Abong, APC Chairman, Canada; Mr Charles Michelleti (Ghana), Mr Adesola Adelekan (Philippines) and Mr Tony Isama, Emeritus Chairman of APC Diaspora Chairmen Forum, also signed the release.

    The committee said it was imperative for members and chieftains of the party and candidates for principal offices in the Senate and House of Representatives to avoid the mistakes of the past.

    The committee urged members of the party elected for the ninth Assembly to work harmoniously with the executive.

    It said this would help the party to deliver its electoral promises to Nigerians.

    The committee called for unity and cohesion of all groups in the party, saying nothing could be achieved in an atmosphere of disunity.

    “We the committees of Diaspora Chairmen believe that for our party to grow, mature and/or become an institution that provides national visionary leadership, every effort must be made to remove all known or possible cause(s) of internal contradictions and those factors that blur our party’s social democratic values.

    Read also: How 9th NASS leaders will emerge, by Tinubu

    “Such steps will help us avoid the pitfalls of the past, particularly the unacceptable situation of having a National Assembly leadership that was largely driven by the opposition and that seemed to work at cross purposes with the executive arm of government and the party all the time.

    “We plead with Mr President and party leaders to take a clear, firm and unambiguous position with regards to the party’s preferred options for the leadership of the National Assembly and to do everything permissible to avoid the fiasco of 2015.

    “We want to assure our party leaders of our firm support with regards to the recent pronouncements of the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

    “Our party, the APC should, through respectful conversations, convince all our elected distinguished and honourable members of the National Assembly to go into the issue of electing leaders for the Senate and House of representatives as a family, united in the desire to ensure that the party becomes a more functional political party.

    “It should be focused on deepening our message to the Nigerian people.

    “The committee of Diaspora chairmen calls on and pleads with all our elected National Assembly members to work in harmony with our party leadership and Mr President to ensure that APC truly becomes the party of choice for all Nigerian patriots.

    “We strongly appeal to our distinguished leaders to support whoever the party presents as candidate for all offices in the 9th National Assembly, including the offices of the Senate President and Speaker of House of Representatives.

    “As for us and our members in the Diaspora, we have laboured long and hard, contributing in a significant way to achieve victory for our party at both the national and state elections.

    “And our one desire is to see our party truly in government this time. We no longer wish to see our effort and contributions hijacked by those who do not believe in our party and what she stands for in Nigeria’s political evolution.

    ‘”The clear message this time should be ‘Our party, our government.

    “Therefore, cooperation and mutual respect among all our elected leaders and our party leaders at all levels are of paramount importance to achieve all our objectives,” the committee said.

    The committee congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on their re-election, calling on the duo to immediately strengthen the workings of the party to help achieve good governance. (NAN)

  • Enugu election tribunal receives three petitions

    The Governorship/State Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Enugu has received only three petitions from the March 9 elections in the state, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    A NAN check at the tribunal’s secretariat on Saturday in Enugu reveals that two petitions are challenging the declaration of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the winner of the governorship election.

    One of the petitions was filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Ayogu Eze, while the other emanated from Action People’s Party (APP).

    Eze, in the petition, did not join the APC as one of the claimants in the suit just as the APP did not join its candidate as a claimant in their suit.

    The third petition was filed by the candidate of the APC for Enugu East II State Constituency, Mr Somadina Ugwu, challenging his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart as winner of the poll.

    The candidacy of Eze in the election was voided by an Abuja Federal High Court but restored by an appellate court two days to the election.

    He, consequently, appealed for the postponement of the election in the state, citing the prevailing circumstance to enable them to gather their acts for the polls.

    However, on the election day, Eze announced his withdrawal from the race in protest and directed his supporters not to participate in the exercise.

  • Group sues for unity in Ondo APC

    Leaders of Buhari/Osinbajo Re-election Group (BOREG) within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state met in Akure,the Ondo state capital on Saturday to appraise the just-concluded 2019 polls.

    The meeting was aimed at  putting  the results of the elections in proper perspective for future endeavours.

    The leader of the group and Nigerian Ambassador to Togo ,Sola Iji hailed members for working assiduosly for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

    He charged supporters of the ruling party to align and work towards the next year governorship election to guarantee victory for the party.

    Iji also appreciated leaders and members of BOREG across the State for their untiring effort towards the success of the project despite ‘visible’ challenges.

    The envoy admonished them to remain steadfast and doubled their commitments to the party as a platform for progressives governance in the country.

    He assured the people that their support for the re-election project would not go unrewarded.

    Also, the Coordinator of the group, Basorun Wale Oyewole echoed the message of BOSEG leader, Iji in appreciating all members of the group for their loyalty and support for all the candidates of the party during the last general elections.

    He used the opportunity to commend all winners on APC’s platform.

    Leaders of the group in sequence commended the enviable roles the group played during the elections.
    They enjoined its leadership to keep the house intact for future engagements.

    BOSEG stakeholders resolved that both leaders and members of the group should remain committed and alive to their responsibilities in their respective local government areas.

    It would be recalled that the group’s leader, Iji ahead of the Presidential/National Assembly polls in the state donated 20 branded vehicles, Giant Bill Boards and Office accommodation in support of Buhari’s re-election.

    At the parley were former Speaker, Ondo State Assembly, Kenneth Olawale,Dr Segun Ayodele, former commissioner, Mrs Yinka Alabi, and Wale Akintimehin.

    Others are O.Omoogun, Samson Ojetayo,Eben Ogunrinde, Bolu Adeboye,Bisi Ayeni, Chief S.A Idris,Olakunle Eko, Mrs Kehinde Adeniran(KK) and Rotimi Agbede who are all APC stalwarts.

  • Fayemi to Eleka: You are free to challenge my victory in Supreme Court

    Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State on Friday declared that he never regarded the  defeated governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic party, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka as an enemy.

    Rather, he said the major opposition party was free to challenge his victory at any stage of the court, and make useful suggestions for smooth running of his government.

    Fayemi, however, said  Eleka and the  PDP were free to challenge his victory at the Supreme Court, in spite of his readiness to entertain contributions from the main opposition party.

    The governor spoke in Ado Ekiti on Friday at a programme tagged “Meet Your Governor”.

    Fayemi stated that he had never perceived Eleka as an arch enemy in spite of  the petition he filed against his victory in the July 14, 2018 poll.

    “I have never seen Prof Olusola Eleka as an enemy, but I have been seeing him as a co- contestant, so we won’t shy from approaching him to seek his advice on any issue we feel he could be of help for smooth running of our government.

    ” But this should not be misinterpreted to mean that we are trying to prevent him from seeking justice up to the supreme court; he is free to challenge us.

    “The Appeal Court, on Thursday delivered its judgment, declaring that  PDP has no evidence of rigging  against us, so we are not afraid of being challenged.”

    On the just concluded presidential, National and state assembly elections, which APC won wholesomely in the state, Fayemi denied the allegation that federal might and money were deployed to muzzle the opposition in the polls

    ” If you look at the outcome of the results, there was no local government where opposition did not score at least 30 percent in all the 16 local government areas
    “So, the conduct had been adjudged free, fair and the outcome was credible going by what INEC said,” he said.

    The governor added that his government would promote technical education to counter the rising unemployment in the state.

    READ ALSO: Updated: Appeal Court affirms Gov. Kayode Fayemi’s election

    “We feel that skill acquisition is good in view of what we are experiencing in the labour market.

    “We must be able to convert our love in education to wealth and that is what we are out to do.”

    We are also creating knowledge zone to make Ekiti a destination when it comes to knowledge and skills. About 117kms of roads will be constructed to link all the towns within that zone together.

    “They call it knowledge Park in advanced nations and we are studying how we can pattern our own model after any of the countries that are already practising the policy.”

    Fayemi added that he was committed to the re-establishment of the abolished Local Council Development Areas, the policy he initiated during his first term.

    He said the government would soon conduct council elections in the state to bring development to the grassroots.

  • Tonye Cole, Accord Party assembly candidates call for fresh election in Rivers

    RIVERS State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain,  Tonye Cole and Accord Party assembly candidates have called for fresh a governorship and legislative election in the state.

    They alleged that many controversies have trailed the March 9 exercise, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  to organise a fresh poll. Affirming the lack of confidence in the system by the two major parties involved in the contest, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Action Congress (AAC), Cole said any result emerging from the March 9 poll will not be acceptable to the losing party.

    He (Cole)  was however silent on what will be his involvement in a fresh election in his statement titled: “A plea for righteous intervention in Rivers State.” Noting the mutual suspicion between the two parties and the acrimony triggered by the contest, Cole pleaded for a fresh start under heavy security to guarantee the will of the people.

    He said: “If there is one thing that I am certain of, it is that the entire election of March 9 is totally and completely compromised from head to toe. There are no results that would be announced today that would reflect the will of the people in any form or manner.

    “There are just as many people who do not trust and will not accept an election that delivers PDP today because of the belief that the umpire has granted unfettered access to the result sheets and a yeoman’s job has been done on the collated results that is guaranteed to withstand any scrutiny through the Election Tribunals or any court of law thereafter just as there are as many people who will not accept a result that delivers the AAC because of the belief that the election day results were structured to favour them by the direct involvement of the military as insinuated by the PDP. “INEC must, therefore, declare the entire elections of March 9 null and void and set out a new date for fresh elections.

    Read also: DSS denies working against electoral process in Rivers

    “This time around, there are no distractions left and every eye is upon Rivers State now.” Speaking yesterday in Port –Harcourt, the Accord Party assembly candidates said the call for fresh election followed the confirmation that the March 9, exercise was characterized by violence which affected the holding of the polls. In a communiqué presented by the group’s spokesman, Duke Alamboye, the candidates called on INEC to set up a new date for fresh governorship and house of assembly elections in the state, within the stipulated time as approved by the Electoral Law.

    Alamboye who contested to represent  Akuku-Toru State Constituency II also called for the redeployment of Obo Effanga, the Resident Electoral Commissioner “and other critical staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC who participated and were involved in the March 9 election in Rivers State, especially given the fact that they have been victims of the intimidations, harassments, abductions and hostage situations they were exposed to during the elec tion.” “We also state clearly, that we have completely disregarded any earlier declared results in connection with the March 9, polls in Rivers State, as these figures are products contrived from very faulty processes, which have rendered them inchoate and unreliable.”

  • Party discipline will be upheld in 9th NASS leadership – Tinubu

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Sen. Bola Tinubu has said that party discipline would be upheld in addressing the leadership tussle of the 9th National Assembly.

    Tinubu said this while speaking with newsmen in Lagos on Friday after a Prayer Programme organised by Islamic and Christian clerics to mark his 67th birthday.

    “Party discipline is key, we must be discipline in the party. We were a little careless in 2015. We created the opportunity for serpent to get into our party and that did not allow Nigeria to make the desired progress.

    “You have seen the result of it and we are not going to allow that to happen again. We are going to respect our party and we are going to apply the whip.

    “It is either you stay with us or you follow us or you leave. You have the freedom to choose but the freedom does not give you as a minority to go and collaborate and protrude our mandate given to you to another party who was our opposition and who is still our opposition.

    “We would not take that this time, no matter who you think you are. That is how it is built. Why do you want to deviate from what has been structured?

    “We look at our reward system equally, zone by zone,” he said.

    Tinubu said that his life as a politician at 67 had been a fulfilling journey.

    “When I joined politics, there were a lot of uncertainties because it was during the military regime. There were lots of struggles but my concern is about people and the future of my country.

    “My mother stood by me when I told her then that I was joining politics. She told me to be ready to take all sorts of insults whenever they cross my way. May her soul rest in peace.

    “The struggle was tough. It created a justice on June 12 election of MKO and some people deserted the camp, the struggle, the spirit.

    “We have stayed with this struggle. We know democracy is not easy but it is the only system of government that we chose.

    Read also: 9th NASS: APC zones Senate key offices

    “Ever since, it has been a very fulfilling journey. There is always the twist and turns in politics.

    “Today, we endure, we persevere, we think, adjust, collaborate, merged and became single party just like yesterday,” he said.

    Tinubu said that the APC party was in government for the common man.

    “You will think that APC had been on for twenty years but is not up to six years. We went through compromises because we know that if we form a good alliance of progressive thinkers and believers in the ideology of common man, we will be able to serve the people.

    “It is not by criticism alone. You have to have the opportunity to even change the life of the people and quality of their standard of living.

    “So, we stood by it, we persevered persistently, uttered our voice, offered our recommendations, and then we are here. And today I am extremely happy that we are in government for the common man.

    “The only way to change Nigeria from penury is to fashion out our own organic economic strategy and plan that will continue to cater for all,” he said. (NAN)

  • Silent war in Atiku’s camp

    A QUIET war is going on in the camp of former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    The camp of the former Vice President is said to be very angry with the governor of Sokoto State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, and former Kano State governor, Alhaji Musa Kwankwaso, over the votes he got from Sokoto and Kano states during the presidential election.

    Associates of the former Vice President believe that the two PDP chieftains did not wholeheartedly work for Atiku’s success in the presidential election because they were scheming for their own presidential ambition in 2023. The belief in Atiku’s camp is that Kwankwaso and Tambuwal preferred that President Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the election in the belief that he would quit the political scene after his second term while his domineering influence would vanish.

    Read also: Fintiri’s election signifies new dawn in Adamawa, says Atiku

    Atiku’s presidency, on the other hand, they were believed to have reasoned, would eclipse their influence and their say in the PDP during the eight years he would spend in office, while their popularity would wane considerably.

    Atiku’s camp is said to be particularly peeved by the high number of votes the PDP garnered in the two states during the governorship election as opposed to the party’s poor performance in the two states during the presidential race. It would be recalled that the PDP could only muster 391,593 votes in Kano and 361,604 votes in Sokoto State during the presidential election, while the party polled a whopping 1,024,713 votes in Kano and 512,002 votes in Sokoto during the governorship race.

    From the rumblings in the party, the PDP seems to be hell bent on zoning the presidential ticket to the north again in the 2023 elections.

  • 9th NASS: APC zones Senate key offices

    There were indications last night that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has tentatively agreed on power sharing formula for five more principal offices in the 9th Senate.

    The party will soon name its favourites for the coveted offices after more consultations with the presidency and national leaders in order to ensure early rapprochement with its Senators-elect before the inauguration of the National Assembly in June.

    But the APC NWC will meet next week to decide on the formula for the House of Representatives in spite of strong signals that the South-West might produce the Speaker.

    Although the NWC was expected to hold an emergency session on Thursday on power sharing in the House, it was called off at the last minute.

    The APC on Monday night picked the outgoing Senate Leader, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, as its choice for Senate President.

    The development has left the race open for the remaining five principal offices.

    According to investigation conducted by our correspondent, the APC has zoned the five offices as follows: Deputy Senate President (South-South); Senate Leader (North-Central); Deputy Senate Leader (North-West); Chief Whip (South-East/South-West) and Deputy Chief Whip (South-West/South-East).

    It was learnt that there had been pressure on the party leadership to concede the Chief Whip position to the South-East for a reasonable power balance in the upper chamber.

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    Those lobbying for the South-East claimed that since the outgoing holder of the office of Chief Whip, Prof. Olusola Adeyeye, is from the South-West, it will be fair to give the slot to the South-East.

    The party will, however, consult soon on the ranking senators that will occupy the remaining five principal offices in the Senate.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have tentatively agreed on how to zone the five remaining principal offices in the Senate.

    “The formula agreed upon is as follows: Deputy Senate President (South-South); Senate Leader (North-Central); Deputy Senate Leader (North-West); Chief Whip (South-East/South-West) and Deputy Chief Whip (South-West/South-East).

    “The party leadership is still consulting with national leaders and senators-elect on how to fill these slots without acrimony in the APC caucus in the upper chamber.

    “Depending on mutual agreement by stakeholders, we may still tinker with one or two offices.

    “For instance, while the party favours the South-West for Chief Whip, some stakeholders have made a strong case that the slot should be for the South-East because the South-West had occupied it in the last four years.

    “There is pressure to concede the Chief Whip position to the South-East and the Deputy Chief Whip to the South-West because Prof. Olusola Adeyeye from the South-West is the outgoing Chief Whip.

    “We are still holding series of meetings with relevant stakeholders in line with the promise of the President for an all-inclusive government.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “The need to share power equitably at the Senate has actually delayed the announcement of APC’s decision on the 9th Speaker of the House of Representatives.”

    But a ranking member of the House, who is deeply involved in the power game, said the “National Working Committee of APC will meet next week to choose the next Speaker and work out zoning modalities for all the offices.

    “I think the party has made up its mind on the next Speaker; it will only unveil him next week.

    “We were told the NWC wanted to hold an emergency on the zoning of offices on Thursday but it was called off at the last minute in order not to heat up the system.

    “A lot of meetings at different levels are presently going on. We want to be fair to all. We are expecting a smooth take-off for the 9th National Assembly.”