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Tag: APC

  • Nigerians asked to reject Obasanjo’s plot to retard  nation’s growth, progress

    Nigerians across the globe have been asked to stand up against the alleged plots by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on his bid to retard nation from growth and progress.
    AriseNigeria, a group of Concerned Nigerians in the Diaspora, which stated this on Monday, claimed that the ex-president was desperate in his bid to install a president in Nigeria through the backdoor.
    The group in a communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting, to review the state of affairs in Nigeria, strongly frowned at the alleged romance between Obasanjo and leadership of the PDP.
    The communiqué signed by its chairman, Dr. Philip Idaewor and endorsed by Coordinators of AriseNigeria worldwide; including: Charles Eze, Prof. Adesugun Labinjo USA, Mr. Ayoola Lawal (Sweden), Chief Balogun ( France), Mr. Chima Ibezim ( Italy), Mr. Adeayo Tella ( Spain), Mr. Bola Babarinde ( South Africa), Mr. Hammeed Adefioye ( Republic of Irleland), Mr. Marthins Sadoh ( Holland), Mr Ogunwede Lombrado (Germany), Mr. Niyi Agbelese ( Switzerland), Mr. Charles Michelleti (Ghana), Engr David Onmeje ( Scotland), Mr. Eric Ayoola (UK), Mr. Ikem Chinedu ( UK), Mr. David Abraham ( South Korea)
    The group said Obasanjo, in his desperate bid to cover up his corruption and avoid being probe for his failed government between 1999 and 2007 is fighting hard to impose Atiku Abubakar on the Peoples Democratic Party on Nigeria in the rescheduled February 23 presidential election.
    It further warned INEC to ensure the forthcoming coming election is free, fair and credible.
    Full text of the communiqué below.
    The AriseNigeria at its emergency meeting held in London United Kingdom on Monday February 18, 2019 convened to review the state of affairs in Nigeria after the postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which considered issues of urgent National importance including but not limited to the unholy interference by former president Olusegun Obasanjo, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and a segment of the international community in the electoral process in Nigeria.
    The Executive body of AriseNigeria considered the issues mentioned above and resolved as follows:
    The unholy Alliance of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the People’s Democratic Party to compromise the general elections in Nigeria.
    AriseNigeria notes with concern the desperation exhibited by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in active connivance with leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to undermine the credibility of the presidential elections by making overtures to manipulate the outcome of the polls in favour of his erstwhile deputy and current presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party Atiku Abubakar.
    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo took his ill-mannered campaign of slander against President Muhammadu Buhari to astonishing heights by soliciting and getting lobbyist to pave the way for Atiku’s visit to the United States of America after 10 years visa restriction due to corruption charges in the US against Atiku Abubakar and his wife, Jemilla Abubakar (Jennifer Douglas).
    Impeccable information at our disposal indicates that there was a grand plot to undermine the credibility of the elections by some persons led by former president Olusegun Obasanjo in active connivance with the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party in favour of his preferred candidate.
    The plan was to hack into the database of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the help of some high ranking INEC Systems Analysts in collaboration with some hackers from the USA loyal to the Atiku’s cause and have the election massively rigged to favour Atiku.
    The case they proffered against President Muhammadu Buhari is his insistence that the right things must be done in the overall interest of the citizens of Nigeria which is mostly a disconnect from their way of doing things in times past where executive impunity was the order of the day.
    AriseNigeria also notes with concern the statement credited to Atiku Abubakar in an interactive event in Lagos tagged “Getting Nigeria Economy Working” vowed to “enrich” his friends when elected as the president of Nigeria and sell the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by all means even if it leads to his death.
    These statements are gravely embarrassing and unbecoming of an individual aspiring to be the president of a country as important as Nigeria, and we are therefore of the opinion that the PDP and its cohorts are hell bent of subverting the will of the people at the elections to achieve their undemocratic plans for the future of Nigeria.
    It is also most embarrassing that a supposed Elder statesman in the mould of former president Olusegun Obasanjo would denigrate to this unenviable level all in a bid to cover his tracks while he held sway as president from 1999 to 2007.
    AriseNigeria also views with concern the soft-handedness the administration of Donald Trump of the United States of America has extended to the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in the run-up to the elections despite the avalanche of pieces of evidence that indicates that Atiku Abubakar abused office while he held sway as the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between 1999 to 2007.
    This is given the role of the United States of America in the entrenchment of democracy in the world. AriseNigeria wonders why the case of Nigeria is different even with the glaring commitment of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration in tackling the menace of corruption headlong.
    Arisenigeria expect the government of the United States to support the anti corruption agenda of Muhammadu Buhari. The Trump administration could not afford to watch Nigeria pushed to the brink of possible turmoil by a greedy few, whose only interest has been, and remains, an appetite for unbridled accumulation of money/material by any means necessary from public sources. This is the time to stand with Nigeria. The USA must be unequivocal in declaring looters of the Nigerian state resources as enemies of the Nigeria people and must render the needed assistance to the government of Nigeria to continue to make inroads in the fight against corruption.
    It is therefore instructive to note that previous administrations had raped Nigeria from all indices to the point of death before the advent of the administration President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. And to think that the people who abused Nigeria blind have ganged up against the truth, justice and fairness are gearing to come back to continue from where they stopped is an anomaly that must be resisted by all and sundry in Nigeria.
    AriseNigeria also wishes to inform members of the international community of the invaluable role Nigeria plays in the stability of the African continent and any attempt to take Nigeria back to the dark ages might spell doom for the African continent.
     AriseNigeria arising from its emergency meeting thereby resolved that Nigerians must protect its nascent democracy from the hands of hawks that are hell-bent on seeing its disintegration. Nigerians must rise to the challenge of subduing unpatriotic, corrupt and selfish past political office holders to save Nigeria from collapsing.  It must be noted that the future of over 180 million people are at stake if the wrong choices are made in this material instance.
    AriseNigeria states in unequivocal terms that President Muhammadu Buhari has displayed a patriotic mien that portray hope for Nigeria in this critical point of its existence. And the forces against his re-election are propelled by selfish and personal motives that are far from National interest.
    The assurances that Nigeria is on the path to greatness under President Muhammadu Buhari are bolstered by the resolve of the administration to tackle the cankerworm of corruption and insecurity.
     The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) is also urged to rise to the occasion in delivering to Nigerians a free, fair and credible election.

  • 2019: APC Ifako-Ijaiye/Ojokoro holds Federal constituency campaign

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Ifako-Ijaiye/Ojokoro on Friday held a joint campaign at the Ojokoro mini stadium, to drum support for its candidate in the forthcoming general election for Ifako-Ijaiye federal constituency, James Adisa Owolabi.

    It was a show of force that saw party chieftains, and faithful storm the streets of Ifako-Ijaiye, and the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway from Able Egba, terminating the rally at Jankara.

    Various party leaders, among them the APC Local Government Chairman Deacon Banjo Omole, the Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Chairman Apostle Oloruntoba Oke, and his colleague in Ojokoro LCDA, Hameed I.D Tijani, urged party faithful “to massively work” for all the candidates of the APC in the forthcoming election.

    Omole who led the campaign train of excited party faithfuls from the party secretariat at Idi-Agbon, in Ifako-Ijaiye, to the Jankara, Ojokoro area, where the stadium is located, urged every aggrieved members of the party to forgive and forget and work for the victory of those who have emerged as party candidates in the coming elections.

    “We are appealing to everyone to work as one and in the interest of the party. We should not allow for any crack in our midst, but work as one for the purpose of ensuring victory for our party.

    ” I challenge you all to go to the nooks and crannies of our two local governments and mobilise voters, who have PVC. No polling booth should record anything less than majority votes if we must be taken serious.”

    He said: “This time around, Ifako-Ijaiye is determined to register its name as the number one local government with the highest number of votes in the state ”

    Oke said time has come for the people to show appreciation to a party that is doing so well in putting g in place life long infrastructure that would banish poverty in the country.

    Read Also; APC Zonal Chair accuses Oyegun of impunity

    He pointed out that the Federal Government has cited a modern train station at Iju, which would serve all Nigerians particularly citizens of both local governments, among several other projects that have been undertaken in the last three and a half years.

    He charged members to massively get out to mobilise voters and ensure that all the party’s candidates from President Muhammadu Buhari, the senatorial candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, are returned, and James Adisa Owolabi is elected into the House of Representatives on February 16, this year.

    He equally canvassed massive support and vote for the party’s governorship candidate Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, and the twp members of the House of Assembly Adedeji Temitope Adewale and Rasheed Makinde, representing Ifako-Ijaiye I and II respectively.

    The Ojokoro LCDA chairman who spoke in the same vein said only total victory at the polls would help the two councils advance the cause of demanding for its share of the spoils of victory, as only those who worked for the party’s victory have been promised any reward by the party leadership.

    All the candidates spoke glowingly of the party and urged party faithful to ensure the party emerge victorious at all levels at the polls.

    Owolabi, Adewale and Makinde pledged to be totally devoted to upscaling legislative representations at the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly, if the people give them their mandate.

  • Secondus to APC: Don’t kill Buhari with undue pressure

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has warned the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to kill President Muhammadu Buhari with undue electioneering campaign pressure.

    Secondus accused those he described as power grabbers in the ruling party of putting undue pressure on the President for selfish reasons, even as it’s evident that he can no longer cope.

    The PDP chairman spoke in Abuja on Friday while inaugurating the party’s 27 presidential election campaign committees at the party’s campaign office.

    Secondus said with what Nigerians and the international community are witnessing around the President lately, it’s apparent that he is tired and incapacitated but they would not let him be.

    “There is no way this President can cope given what we are witnessing, added to this is the incompetence in leadership Nigerians have been seeing in the last three years”, the party chairman said.

    Prince Secondus warned that Nigerians are not ready to take anything less than free, fair and credible poll in the upcoming elections.

    He said, “Our fear is that the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu lacks the will and courage to ignore the pressure from the APC to conduct free and transparent election.

    Read Also; It’s strange Secondus is backing Adebutu, says Kashamu

    “But he should know that he would be held responsible for any fall out from a rigged election”.

    The opposition party chairman reiterated his call on the new Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu to clear the mess left behind by his predecessor by running a professional and responsible police force.

    Prince Secondus also explained why the PDP would continue to protest the membership of Mrs Amina Zakari as a National Commissioner in INEC.

    Restating the call for Zakari’s resignation, the party chair said the PDP would continue to oppose her continued stay at the electoral body because she is a “master rigger”, adding, “we have evidence of what she did in Ekiti and Osun states.

    He announced that the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was in the United States, meeting with top American politicians and government officials.

    Secondus said the visit has doused the blackmail against the party’s presidential candidate, stressing that if elected, an Atiku Presidency would restore the battered image of the country.

    The party chairman charged members of the PDP presidential campaign committees to give their all to the job, saying that the party’s reward system now gives prime attention to electoral performance at the grassroots.

  • APC Zonal Chair accuses Oyegun of impunity

    The National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South, Utufam Hilliard Eta, on Friday, alleged gross impunity by the National Working Committee (NWC) in the running of the party’s affairs.

    Eta, speaking to reporters at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja accused the national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and the National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, in particular, of treating the party’s constitution with contempt.

    “In my place, we have a saying that when a lizard falls into a ditch, it becomes a plaything for the fowl. The party has now become a plaything between the National Chairman and the National Organizing Secretary,” he said, citing the crisis in the APC in Cross River State.

    His words: “ I do things according to the law. The NWC has not been invited on any matter concerning Cross Rivers state.

    “Until such is done, I will present to my colleagues a detailed narrative of how this constitution has been violated so that a particular narrative will be instituted or established in Cross Rivers state. Until such a meeting is held I can do nothing.

    “But if you must know, a lot of the National Working Committee members have been complaining about the extra-constitutional processes that go on at the National Secretariat, especially under the watch of Osita Izunazo, the Organising Secretary.”

    He also accused the party’s Deputy National Chairman, South, Engr. Segun Oni of complicity in the matter, adding that what was expected of the party leadership was to have given all the necessary support to the reconciliation committee headed by a former Lagos state Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    “From all intents and purposes, these issues are orchestrated…you know, the Asiwaju committee was constituted just a few days ago and these issue has been hanging on Cross River state since the appointment of the Minister.

    “The question that you will now ask is how come that immediately after the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu committee was constituted by the president, the National Chairman the Deputy National Chairman, South and the National Organizing Secretary became so much in a hurry, so much interested and so much aggressive in their attempt to have this all-important chairman that they could not have in more than two years. What is the purpose?”

    Continuing, Eta said: “There was a consensus in the Cross River state chapter that we should have a congress to bring in a substantive chairman since the erstwhile chairman had been appointed as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

    “That was the agreement by the people of Cross River state and based on that, I wrote on behalf of the zone to the National Working Committee NWC to give the zone the authority to conduct a congress to that effect and the NWC said I should liaise with the office of the National Organizing Secretary (headed by Sen. Osita Izunaso) for that purpose.

    “We had set November 28 last year for that Congress to happen but unfortunately, a member of the party went to court and got an injunction and served the processes on the party. So, based on the advice of the National Legal Adviser, we were asked to stay action as a party.

    “So in the next NWC meeting when the matter of Cross Rivers came up I was asked to make comments on what happened and why we couldn’t conduct congresses and the resolution of the NWC was that because we were very close to conducting congresses nationwide, that all congresses to fill vacant positions in the country, not just in the state should be set aside and that all the vacant positions would be filled at the same time during the congresses that would be held simultaneously to bring in new executives. That was the resolution of the NWC.

    “I was away and it was a surprise to me to receive a text message on my phone purportedly sent by the party’s Deputy National Chairman, South, Engr. Segun Oni inviting stakeholders of Cross River state to the secretariat ostensibly to discuss the issue of the chairmanship, in direct contrast and contravention to the position of the NWC.

    “I now wrote a letter handing over the matter of Cross River state to the Asiwaju-led reconciliation committee because in my thinking the crisis that engulfed the state chapter needs reconciliation before any congress is conducted.

    Read Also: Imo APC seeks expulsion of Okorocha

    “If you read the Electoral Act and the constitution of the party and the nation, they were violated simply because the contrivance by Osita, the Minister of Niger Delta and the National Chairman of the party must come to pass regardless of how many laws are broken.

    “First, for us to have a congress, the constitution says there has to be a 14 days notice given to the jurisdiction where the Congress would happen. The notice was given verbally and Osita said the notice was given before November 28.”

    Eta explained that only 109 statutory delegates participated in the purported February 24 congress organized by the party while INEC also refused to attend. According to him, six delegates from each of the 196 wards in the state were also not part of the said Congress.

  • ‘Buhari’ll win 95 percent of Southwest votes’

    A group of grassroots farmers, artisans, politicians, non-politicians, traders, religious leaders, community leaders, youths, market men and women from the Southwest have assured not less than 90 or 95 percent of total votes in the region will be for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The group christened ‘Southwest Frontiers For Buhari 2019’ said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has no moral ground to condemn the Buhari’s administration for correcting years of PDP’s misrule.

    Speaking after an executive meeting of the group at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, it noted the less than four years of the APC has proved to the whole world the “misgovernance, misrule and plundering of the nation’s treasury, perpetrated by the PDP in their 16 years of being in power.”

    The group, however, added said another four years for Buhari was required to nail corruption and set the nation on the right path.

    Read Also: Buhari’s visit: Police deploy 1,711 officers in Niger

    Southwest Coordinator of the group Mr. Ayodele Joseph told reporters the Frontier will battle the PDP in the forthcoming elections because of confidence in the efforts of President Buhari.

    He said the group whose membership traverse all political parties and age group are not necessarily politicians or members of any particular political party but those who believe in the integrity and good intentions of Buhari to restore the nation to the path of honour.

    Ayodele appealed to leadership of the ruling APC in the Southwest to cooperate with the group because of the makeup of its members, which he said also included non-card-carrying members of the APC.

    Explaining the strategy to achieve the massive vote for Buhari’s victory, the National Public Relations Officer, Prince Omowunmi Samuel said the group is structured to have coordinators at the state, local government, wards and voting unit levels.

    He said the group with at least 50 members at the unit level has embarked on aggressive door-to-door campaign to enlighten the people on the various efforts of Buhari to ensure its reelection.

  • Ohaneze laments huge number of uncollected PVCs in Southeast

    The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council worldwide on Friday urged registered voters in the southeast to collect their Permanent Voters cards (PVCs). It lamented the huge number of uncollected PVCs across the southeast and other parts of the country where Igbo reside, noting that this will undermine their voting strength.

    OYC National President, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, after their meetings in Abakaliki, made the call in a statement. OYC urged all the Igbo across the 36 states and Abuja to collect their PVCs to enable them vote for candidates of their choice in the election.

    “The OYC General Assembly observed that prior to 2015 elections when the All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled states in the southwest, it deliberately disenfranchised Igbo by denying them access to their PVCs, even after a few Igbo had won some House of Representatives seats in Lagos.

    Isiguzoro disclosed that the group had mandated its 31 states chairmen, which excludes the five core southeast states to mobilise Igbo outside the southeast to collect their PVCs.

    Ohanaeze also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the deadline for the collection of PVCs till January ending to enable those who travelled or registered in their hometowns to freely collect their cards.

    The group further implored the southeast governors, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Muslim community, religious leaders, southeast town unions, and student union leaders, especially from Zone B, traditional rulers, market unions, and Biafra agitators to mobilise for the collection of voters cards.

  • Imo APC seeks expulsion of Okorocha 

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo state has recommended the expulsion to the national body the expulsion of the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha from the party for anti party activities.

    However, the expulsion of the governor may be a Herculean task for the party as it would need the endorsement and approval of both the National Executive Committee and Board of Trustees to become effective.

    Article 21 (D)(ii) says where it is proposed to expel a member of the Executive Committee, politics, office holder, or a member of a legislative house from membership of the party, such a proposal shall be submitted to the National Executive Committee, which after deliberations on the matter may confirm or reject the proposal
    D(iii) states that a decision to expel a member of the party taken or confirmed by the National Executive Committee shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees for ratification.

    Even though it exists in name, the APC does not have a Board of Trustees at the moment as it was yet to inaugurate one over four years after it was registered as a political party.

    The state chapter of the party has however announced the suspension of the governor following the report of a disciplinary committee set up by the state Executive Committee of the party which found the governor guilty of engaging in action likely to bring the party into disrepute.

    Article 21 A(ii) states that a party member can be subjected to disciplinary action for “anti party activities or any conduct which is likely to embarrass or have adverse effect on the party or bring the party into hatred, contempt, ridicule or disrepute”.

    Announcing the suspension of the governor, the State Chapter of the party said the decision was taken after a report of a disciplinary committee set up to investigate allegations of gross anti-party activities against Okorocha in line with Article 21 (B) I-VI of the party constitution.

    The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the party in the state, Prince M.O. Nlemigbo said some of the allegations against the governor which formed the basis for its action include sponsorship of a rival political party, Action Alliance (AA) in Imo State and its governorship candidate, Uche Nwosu; open denunciation of APC and its Governorship Candidate in the State, Senator Hope Uzodimma; and openly canvassing for votes for Action Alliance (AA) and its governorship, National and State Assemblies’ candidates.

    The Nation learnt that the state chapter of the party has already conveyed the decision to the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, regretting however that Okorocha who is supposedly the party’s Senatorial Candidate for Imo West Senatorial District, has vowed to undermine the APC and its electoral interest.

    The party told the National Chairman that “To save the party from the machinations of Governor Anayo Rochas Okorocha, Our State Caretaker Committee highly recommends the expulsion of the governor from the APC so that he can fully move to his party, the Action Alliance (AA)”

    The nine-man disciplinary committee said in its report that the governor refused to appear before it to defend himself, neither did he send any letter explaining his decision or his absence.

    In its report signed by the Chairman, Hon. Mathew Omegara and Secretary, Barrister Kelvin Ugwu, the committee said there was evidence that Gov.Okorocha was involved in anti party activities and should therefore be expelled from the party.

    Read Also: Okorocha campaigns for AA’s Nwosu at APC rally

    Part of the report reads: “The Committee has patiently and painstakingly listened to the overwhelming evidence of Prince lkechukwu Unegbu and examined all the electronic and Media materials tendered and admitted in evidence against His excellency Anayo Rochas Okorocha anti-party activity and find as follows: “That there is overwhelming evidence that is unchallengeable of antiparty against His Excellency Anayo Rochas Okorocha.

    “That His Excellency openly and brazenly sponsoring, financing and campaigning for his son-in-law Uche Nwosu who is the gubernatorial candidate of Action Alliance (AA).

    “The action of His Excellency Anayo Rochas Okorocha contravenes Article 21 (A) i vi APC Constitution (October 2014 as amended) punishable under Article 2| D (i) (g). It is therefore the recommendation of the APC Disciplinary Committee that His Excellency Anayo Rochas Okorocha be expelled.”

    Other members of the committee include Chief Gibson Njemanze,Barrister Sam Osuji, Barrister Pat. Evening Ngozi, Dr. Bona Nwoke Dike,Chief Henry Eguatu, Barrister Chilaka Igidi and Barrister Charles Mbakwe.

  • Atiku’s visit to U.S. an attempt to score cheap political point -APC UK

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) United Kingdom Chapter, says Abubakar Atiku’s visit to the United States would not change Nigerians perception about him.

    Mr Ade Omole, Leader, APC UK chapter stated this while reacting to the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja.

    Atiku’s visit to the U.S was the first in 12 years, following an alleged corruption case.

    Mr Paul Ibe, his media adviser, in a statement said Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, left Nigeria on Thursday for the U.S.

    He was accompanied by the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation and President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki.

    Ibe claimed that Atiku in the course of his trip would hold meetings with U.S officials, the business community and the Nigerian community.

    But Omole faulted the claim, describing the visit as a kangaroo trip meant to score cheap political gain, adding that Nigerians are wise enough to read between the lines and could not be hoodwinked by such untoward arrangement.

    “Abubakar Atiku certainly has reasons for not visiting the U.S in the past years, especially because of corruption allegation against him,” he said.

    Read Also: FG to Atiku: you have questions to answer over collapse of Bank PHB

    He recalled that records at the U.S congress had it that Atiku engaged in money laundering through his wife who was resident in the country.

    Omole maintained that Atiku’s entry into the U.S. is a mockery of President Bush’s Presidential Proclamation 7750 which affirmed denial of entry VISA to foreign officials involved in corrupt practices by the congress.

    He, however, said that Atiku’s visit to America would not absolve him of the corruption allegation which had been hanging on him.

    Omole stressed that he does not object to Atiku or any Nigerian gaining entry into the U.S., especially when he meets the entry VISA requirements.

    He, however, maintained that the visit of the former Vice President, more or less made a mockery of him and the PDP.

    “Whether he visits U.S., or outer space, it doesn’t change anything in Nigeria, the electorate have already made up their minds to re-elect President Buhari for a second term come Feb. 16,” Omole said.

    He added that the questionable character of an individual no matter how highly placed he may be, does not evaporate by a mere visit to America.

    Omole said an individual with questionable character remains so no matter where he visited at any given time, especially if such visit is to score political point.

    He noted that while Atiku is busy trying to prove himself clean from corruption allegations with his U.S visit, Buhari is busy campaigning to Nigerians on why he should be re-elected.

    He added that the APC had continued to use its scorecard and achievements in all sectors to campaign to Nigerians on why Buhari deserves a second term in office to consolidate on his achievements.

  • APC’s lawyer stalls hearing in suit seeking Akeredolu’s sack

    The planned commencement of trial in the suit seeking the sack of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State was stalled on Friday owing to the absence of Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), lawyer to the APC and its Chairman.

    A Federal High Court in Abuja had on December 11 last year adjourned the case, filed by APC chieftain, Olusegun Abraham, to January 15 this year for hearing. But, upon request by lawyers in the case, the court rescheduled the case to January 18 for trial.

    When the case was called on Friday, Muritata Abdulrasheed, who announced appearance for the APC and its Chairman (1st and 3rd defendants), informed the court that the lead lawyer for his clients, Fagbemi was absent in court because he was bereaved and had travelled to Kwara State for his auntie’s burial.

    Abdulrasheed, who said he was informed about the development on Friday morning, said he could not handle the case in the absence of the leader of his team, who he said participated in the pre-trial meetings. He sought an adjournment.

    Lawyers to Abraham and Akeredolu, Akin Oujinmi (SAN) and Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) confirmed the development and agreed to the request for adjournment.

    Read Also: Lawyer advocates legislation on vocational education

    Abraham, who was the 1st runner-up in the APC governorship primary in Ondo State in 2016, is by the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/788/2016, challenging Akeredolu’s emergence as the winner of the primary and the party’s candidate for the last governorship election in the state.

    Abraham alleged that the primary was manipulated to favour Akeredolu and wants the court to nullify the outcome of the primary and pronounce him (Abraham). As the winner of the primary and the party’s candidate for the election.
    ‎

    Defendants in the case are the APC, Akeredolu, APC Chairman and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Details later.

  • Buhari’s visit: Police deploy 1,711 officers in Niger

    The Police Command in Niger had deployed 1, 711 security officers to provide adequate security before, during and after President Muhammadu Buhari’s one day official visit to the state.

    The President’s official visit to Niger is billed for Saturday Jan. 19.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Dibal Yakadi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Minna on Friday.

    Yakadi said that an effective operational order on how to provide security at each of the places that the President was expected to visit had since been issued to the officers deployed for that purpose.

    He said that President Buhari was expected to inaugurate the Baro River Port, Presidential Lodge at Baro in Agaie Local Government Area , as well as launch the All Progressives Congress ( APC), Presidential Campaign rally at the Trade Fair Complex in the metropolis.

    He said that the command had taken concrete security measures to ensure a peaceful visit.

    ” We have mobilised sufficient armed personnel with modern working facilities to provide security cover for our president during and after the visit.

    ” We have since embarked on “Operation Show Force” with other security agencies to show our preparedness for the August visitor.

    Read Also: Police hunt for couples who bought sisters stolen from Edo

    The Commissioner warned politicians and party supporters against thuggery before during and after the visit.

    According to him, the police will arrest and charge to court, any politician or youth caught perpetrating violence.

    He said that the police would not fold their hands and watch any politician or group of youths carry arms before, during and after the visit.

    Yakadi added that the command had been proactive in responding to emergency calls across the state at all times.

    ” I wish to also solicit the cooperation of the public through the provision of timely and useful information to all divisions of the command across the state with a view to helping us respond to distress calls on time,’ he said.