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Tag: APC

  • APC advises security agencies, INEC not to mortgage roles

    Security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other national institutions connected with Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections have been warned against compromising their statutory roles.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) gave the warning in a statement in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    The party said the police, the Directorate of State Service (DSS), the Civil Defence Corps, the military and INEC are all national institutions, and hence, must never again turn themselves to appendages of any political party.

    The statement urged them to provide a level-playing field for all parties to the elections.

    It said the institutions must strictly adhere to their constitutional roles, exhibit the highest level of professionalism and shun partisanship, in the spirit of fairness and in line with global best practices.

    APC said the situation in which security agencies and INEC will collude with a political party to terrorise innocent citizens and brazenly manipulate elections, as was witnessed in the past in Ekiti and Rivers states among others, would no longer be tolerated.

    It said: ‘’We do not seek any unfair advantage over any other party. We do not seek any favours from any organisation. All we demand is that the national institutions that have any role to play in the forthcoming elections must carry out their duties fairly and professionally,’’ the party said.

    It decried the ongoing killings, maiming, harassment and intimidation of APC members and supporters in Rivers State by the police, which it alleged of working with the PDP.

    The party also warned against the role played by some INEC officials in the massive rigging of the presidential and National Assembly elections by the state PDP on March 28.

    ‘’The forthcoming governorship and House of Assembly elections provide the first real test for our security agencies and INEC to depart from their old, unprofessional and highly partisan path and embrace professionalism and neutrality, because they will be the first elections to be held since Nigerians voted for change.

    “All eyes will be watching the national institutions to see if they are ready to embrace the change that has come or they will like to persist in their old, unedifying ways,’’ APC said.

  • Alleged killing: you lied, APC tells Fayose

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has described as untrue reports that the convoy of the 19 APC lawmakers killed a man at Efon Alaaye-Ekiti on Tuesday.

    It said that the report by Governor Ayodele Fayose’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, alleging that the lawmakers’s convoy killed a man was the figment of his imagination and one in the series of media spins he had been selling to the unsuspecting public to mislead the people to get sympathy.

    Reacting to social and electronic media reports of the purported killing, the Special Adviser on Media to Speaker Adewale Omirin, Mr. Wole Olujobi, said the governor’s  aide was on a familiar terrain of mindless propaganda to mislead the public.

    “The truth is that no one was killed. Nobody saw a body on the way up to Itawure junction where the soldiers disallowed us to pass. Itawure junction is not the same as Efon-Alaaye, so we don’t know where he got his story from.

    ”However, we heard that Fayose removed a dead body from the mortuary and presented it to Efon people, claiming that Hon. Folorunso Ogundele, a member of the House of Assembly from Efon-Alaaye, pulled the trigger to kill a fellow Efon-Alaaye man in order to instigate violence in the town against him,” the statement said.

    It added: “For those who know Fayose very well, this story is typical of his rabble-rousing tactics to cause mob action against his opponents.

    “It is gratifying that the people were able to quickly decipher that Fayose was up to a mischief to set brothers against brothers.”

     

  • APC warns against compromise in poll

    APC warns against compromise in poll

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has drawn the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), police commissioner, director, Department of State Security (DSS) and the military to the allegation of manipulation of the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    It said the agencies’ personnel compromised, adding that it would not accept a repeat of that on Saturday.

    APC recommended the cancellation of the National Assembly election “because it does not reflect the wishes of the people.”

    It urged the Resident Electoral Commissioner to release the authentic result.

    Speaking in Umuahia at a stakeholders’ meeting, the party’s Chairman, Donatus Nwankpa, said APC would not accept scurity lapses on Saturday.

    He said: “APC condemns the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections, the conspiracy of INEC and security agencies, the connivance of ad hoc workers, who are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

    Nwankpa decried the action of the local government chairmen, who turned the council headquarters to Collation centres. He warned that they should be ready to face the wrath of the people if they interfere in elections again.

    Nwankpa advocated the reshuffling and overhaul of the personnel for the poll, including the Presiding officers and assistant presiding officers, saying Card Readers must be used to ensure a credible election.

    He said APC would resist intimidation, advising the people “to ensure that the election is acceptable.”

    The APC chairman said: “The proper conduct of the election is the responsibility of everyone, not the exclusive responsibility of the APC.

    We will not allow another manipulation.”

    Nwankpa said the party was discussing with other parties for an alliance “to face PDP.”

    He enjoined Ndigbo to vote APC candidates and support the party’s national government to avoid being in the opposition.

     

  • Ekweremadu: I’ll not defect to APC

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu told his supporters yesterday that he would not defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 28 elections.

    Ekweremadu, who spoke at a meeting with stakeholders in Enugu West at his Enugu home, however, said Ndigbo has nothing against  Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said the Igbo would cooperate with Buhari “in line with our regional agenda and for the development of Nigeria”, adding that they would support him  to succeed because he would be President of all Nigerians.

    Ekweramadu, who was re-elected as the senator representing Enugu West, said although he would not hold the fort for the PDP stalwarts in the Southeast, he could assure that “on PDP we stand.”

    He said PDP leaders in the geopolitical zone were committed to repositioning the party, adding: “We may not have the Presidency, but we are strong in the states and remain the party to beat.”

    According to him, although the defeat of President Jonathan was an unpredictable loss, Nigeria won by proving the doomsday prophets wrong.

    The senator assured Ndigbo that they had done nothing to be ashamed of, saying they owed no one any apology for voting PDP.

    “I have read and listened to many lament what they regard as the Southeast misadventure in view of the emerging scenario at the federal level. But let me assure you that Ndigbo have done nothing to be ashamed of. We owe no one apology for voting PDP.

    “For me, this is instead a defining moment for Ndigbo because we spoke with one voice and we are proud of our electoral decision. We took a principled position and take full responsibility of the political choice. I have read statements credited to some opposition elements on how the Southeast and the PDP will be overrun in the governorship election.

    “This is wishful thinking. They have not taken cognisance of the history of the PDP and the fact that Ndigbo, as personified by elder statesman and former Vice President Dr Alex Ekwueme played a leading role in forming the PDP.

    “By the emerging scenario and as far as the Southeast is concerned, PDP is only coming home to roost.”

    On the alleged threat by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, against the Igbo, Ekweremadu said Ndigbo would not be intimidated in any part of Nigeria, “not in Lagos State where our people have contributed to its development.”

     

  • Gbemi Saraki, Osunbor, Onoja, others join APC

    THE wave of defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued yesterday with more prominent members of the party joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), along with thousands of their supporters.

    Leading the group was a former governorship aspirant of the PDP in Kwara State, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, who announced her decision in Ilorin.

    The party’s youth leader, Chief Segun Olawoyin, also joined the APC at a colourful ceremony in Offa Local Government Area.

    Saraki said she left the PDP because of animosity and personal humiliation she suffered because of her identity as a Saraki offspring.

    Also yesterday, the Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, received over 5,000 defectors in Southern Kaduna area.  Receiving the new members, Osinbajo flayed the PDP for  harming the Nigerian nation, using religion and playing divisive politics.

    The vice president-elect told the  leadership of churches in Southern Kaduna Senatorial District that  only righteousness would redeem Nigeria and not manipulation of religion for political power.

    According to him, if Nigerians didn’t stand up to kill corruption, the menace would kill the country and collapse its weak institutions.

    Osinbajo: “The PDP has done more harm for Nigeria using religion and playing the religious card to just consolidate power. It is dangerous and more deadly for this nation. I am here to say that only righteousness exalts a nation. The people of Southern Kaduna must rise up  to ensure that manipulators of religion are defeated.

    “What Nigerians need is nothing but a government that will make necessary sacrifice for peace and development of the country.”

    The state APC governorship candidate, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, said: “I am pleased with the people of Southern Kaduna because we did well during the presidential election. The results clearly shows that PDP is being wiped out of Southern Kaduna and the entire state.

    ”Before, they used to write results. But this time around, the people insisted for change. We got one House of Representatives seat, it was almost three but for some deliberate diversion. And we will go to court.”

    Prominent among the defectors are Maj-Gen. S.B.S. Biliyock (rtd); a former member of House of Representatives, Ruth Jummai Ango; former Commissioner and Attorney General Zakari A. Sogfa; and 114 immediate past councillors from eight local government areas.

    From Niger State, former Secretary to the State Government Adams Erena also pulled out with 5,000 critical stakeholders in the PDP to the APC.

    The new APC members include a member of the state House of Assembly, former commissioners, local government chairmen and former PDP grassroots leaders. They were received at a mega rally in Minna, the state capital.

    The state Deputy Governor, Ahmed Musa Ibeto, who dumped the PDP in January, received the defectors and urged them to work for the success of the party in the governorship and state House of Assembly elections on Saturday.

    In Edo State, a former governor, Prof. Osarhiemen Osunbor, announced his defection to the APC.

    Osunbor, who was governor from May 2007 to November 2008, declared for APC with his supporters at Iruekpen, Esan West Local Government Area.

    The defection came a few hours after a former Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Idada Ikponmwen also defected to the APC.

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who received the former governor and others, attributed the defection to God’s will and the performance of the party..

    He said: “ I will be working with a respected professor of Law like you and many of your supporters. We thank God for what he has used us to achieve. I appeal to our people to vote for our APC House of Assembly candidates because they will help me to develop the state rapidly. And with the APC government at the top, the sky is our limit.”

    In Benue State, former Katsina State Military Administrator Gen. Lawrence Onoja; a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Dr. Mathias Oyigeya, and other chieftains were yesterday received into the APC.

    The reception took place at the playground of Jesus College, Otukpo in Benue South.

    Chief Agbo Oga, former Chief of Staff to Senate President David Mark, Chief Mike Iduma, and Major Lawrence Ugbo (rtd), former PDP state chairmen and Mr. Peter Ochijele, a former member of the Benue State Executive Council were also received into APC.

    Others were Chief John Ochoga, former Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Mike Inalegwu and Mrs. Theresa Ikwue, former Agatu and Okpokwu chairmen, as well as Chief Inalegwu Ode, former Chief Press Secretary to the governor.

    General Onoja explained that the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, was his senior at a military institution in the United Kingdom and that having also served as Military Administrator of his home Katsina State, military tradition required that he lined up behind him.

    He said he also decided to end what he described as his political sabbatical to collaborate with other progressives to emancipate people of Benue South Senatorial District.

    He assured that incoming APC government would not disappoint Nigerians and urged the people to deliver block votes to the APC in Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections.

    Iduma stated that they took the decision to deepen democracy, join the battle against corruption and to support the election of Dr. Samuel Ortom and his running mate, Mr. Benson Abounu.

    APC leader in Benue State Senator George Akume said they took the right decision by leaving “a sinking ship”.

    Senator Akume was represented by his wife, Chief Regina Akume.

    In Warri, Itsekiri youth leader and former PDP mobiliser Chief Ayiri Emami confirmed his move from the PDP to the APC.

    Emami, a Warri palace chief and an ally of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, said he was leaving the PDP in the interest of the  Itsekiri nation, adding that he would be working to deliver the Emerhor candidature in the gubernatorial election.

    Emami said: “I am urging my Ijaw brothers to abandon this PDP ship because it is sinking in Delta State due to the overbearing attitude of one man. Their interest in the PDP is not protected. Instead, it is the interest of one individual, who sees his family and personality as greater than the others.”

  • Vote for APC, Fasanmi urges Ekiti

    The deputy leader of Afenifere, Senator Ayo Fasanmi has called on the people of Ekiti State to vote for the All Progressives Council (APC) candidates for the House of Assembly election on Saturday.

    Fasanmi said, in a statement, that Ekiti State has abandoned a long tradition and isolated itself from other Yoruba states. He urged the people to return to the legacy of Awolowo by voting for the APC.

    “Ekiti people should be informed that the progressives are in control of the Federal Government which policies will be progressive and in tune with the political tradition of Ekiti people. Therefore a vote for APC candidates on April 11 will bring benefits to people of Ekiti State and weaken the hold of the PDP on the state. Support for the PDP, on the other hand, will only lead to marginalisation of Ekiti State.

    “Ekiti people have a long and enviable history of supporting progressive political parties such as Action Group in the 1950s , the Unity Party of Nigeria in the 80s  and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the early 90s.”

    He recalled that  Ekiti people also voted for Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) both of them with progressive inclination in this present political dispensation.

     

  • Gbemi Saraki, PDP youth leader defect to APC in Kwara

    Gbemi Saraki, PDP youth leader defect to APC in Kwara

    At last a governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state, Senator Gbemisola Saraki Tuesday, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    Also, the party’s State Youth Leader, Chief Segun Olawoyin formally announced his defection to APC

    While Gbemisola announced her decision in Ilorin, Olawoyin made his declaration at a colourful ceremony in Offa, Offa local government area of the state.

    The two leaders urged their supporters to vote massively for the party on Saturday.

    Senator Saraki said she had joined the APC a fortnight ago but only needed to formalise the defection.

    She said she was humiliated by some leaders because of her identity as a Saraki offspring.

    She said: “Several friends and associates have asked me why we moved and I have responded by telling them that the reasons are not farfetched; the reason is as important as who we are as political organization. Our ideology finds roots in championing the cause of the grassroots; upholding equity and justice, and especially the vision for a meaningful and passionate leadership. We believe that a true leadership must be predicated on certain values that must be sacrosanct, which must also follow the sanctity of democratic ethos.

    “When we joined Kwara PDP, it was for the main reason of enlarging these inalienable values and re-engineering the processes of leadership through the party in order to mirror the true aspirations of Kwarans. Considering the circumstance of the party at the State level, we knew we had to work harder and make sacrifices to deliver a party that would represent the yearnings of our people.

    “However, the ensuing pattern of animosity within PDP was strongly placing our ideology on the crosshair of political attacks by elements within the party. Furthermore, the party was evidently hijacked from evolving into a political force that can accommodate the broad interests of the people but allowed to tarry to the selfish ambitions of some elements within its fold.

    “Thus, instead of presenting pragmatic solutions and workable templates for developing Kwara, the party abandoned presenting alternative policies and went on meaninglessly attacking and castigating not only the opposition, but even those within the party, especially my very self for no other good reason other than the accident of my birth; a birth of which, by the way, I am very proud of.

    “The last straw however, was the failure of the PDP to respect the place of women in politics as a basis of an inclusive template of leadership.

    “We therefore have come to the sad realization that the seeming marginalization of women in the PDP is deeply embedded in the party system and leadership and all attempts to cause a change from within have been met with brick walls and blatant prejudices against women leadership.

    “The choice was therefore clear – a constricted, backward vision of Kwara, which the opposition represents, or a bold step into the future that guarantees fairness, justice and hope. Thus, the move from the PDP into the APC was an easy decision for us considering our history with PDP and our vision for our future.

    “After wide consultations, we found in APC a platform that mirrors the ideals of our political family both in content and context especially with under the leadership of General Muhammdu Buhari.

    “We are assured in the promise of the APC for a new Nigeria. We are confident in the commitment of the President-elect to social justice, rule of law and economic posterity for all.”

    Olawoyin said that he had earlier in the day attended a meeting of PDP members set to defect to the APC.

    He was convinced the end had come for the PDP given the calibre of people he saw at the meeting.

    He hinged his decision to dump the PDP to the call of his community pointing out that while he remained in the PDP his people had consistently pleaded with him to team up with the progressives.

    “With Gbemi Saraki also coming to the APC it means the synergy between the Sarakis and Olawoyin political families will only get stronger.”

    He added that that his sojourn in the PDP was full of disappointments.

  • APC Action Group: Fayose has not learnt any lesson

    APC Action Group: Fayose has not learnt any lesson

    The Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) Action Group has said Governor Ayo Fayose has not learnt any lesson from his first impeachment from office in 2006.

    The group in a statement on Tuesday by its spokesman Segun Dipe said the latest crisis rocking the state could be traced to the governor’s penchant for illegalities since coming back to power in October last year.

    The APC Action Group who said “Fayose must do equity before asking for equity” wondered why he (Fayose) had been crying foul when he himself was impunity-personified.

    The body argued that Fayose cannot at this point be talking about law and legality, which he had dealt a big blow by his many constitutional infringements.

    The group thus urged all Ekiti sons and daughters to ignore Fayose’s false alarm and see his looming impeachment as good riddance to bad rubbish.

    “Ekiti is bigger than Fayose and Fayose, Mr. Impunity is unfit to govern Ekiti State,” it added.

    It slammed the governor for allegedly whipping up sentiments regarding his looming impeachment while featuring on his monthly media chat, Meet Your Governor.

    The statement read in part: “Or has he forgotten that the G19 APC lawmakers that he has been hounding from performing their legislative functions were also duly elected representatives of their people?

    “It is laughable for Fayose to have described as illegal the notice of gross misconduct and abuse of office issued to him by the Honourable Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin and the group of 19 APC lawmakers.

    “He said a case was in court regarding the position of the speaker. But he has forgotten that even his position as governor is suffering illegitimacy. Vowing to resist impeachment and asking the people of Ekiti to fight for him is therefore an empty threat.

    “Fayose has further threatened to block all roads leading to Ekiti as a way of disallowing the group of 19 from carrying out their normal legislative duties. What is that if not an abuse of office?

    “Fayose’s government is that of terror and impunity, which is built on quicksand.

    “If he is lamenting that he would be impeached for a second time, following that of 2006, it then means that he has not learnt any lesson from the first impeachent and cannot learn anything from this one.”

  • Plateau LP guber candidate declares support for APC

    Plateau LP guber candidate declares support for APC

    The governorship candidate of Labor Party in Plateau state Ambassador Bagudu Hirse has announced the withdrawal of his candidature from the governorship race.

    Ambas Hirse who announced his withdrawal in the governorship contest during a press conference in Jos Tuesday said, “The decision to withdraw from the contest was taken to allow my teaming supporters to vote the governorship candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Barrister Simon Lalong”

    According to Ambass Hirse, “Each of the three senatorial zone in Plateau state produced a governorship candidate to contest in the April 11 election, but I have decided to step down my ambition and pave way for APC victory in the election.

    “My reason is simple with the victory of APC at the presidential level, it will not be in the interest of Plateau to allow another party to win the governorship other than APC in the state because we can’t afford not to be in the mainstream of national politics.

    “I therefore use this opportunity to inform all my supporters to vote massively for the success of APC in the governorship election so as to put plateau in tune with the federal government of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari from May 29th.

    “Mat I use this opportunity to congratulate the president-elect and the Presidential candidate of APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari for his massive victory at the polls. The president-elect has convinced Nigerians beyond reasonable doubt that he will be magnanimouse in victory.”

  • Yero stops Southern Kaduna Chiefs from meeting Osinbajo – APC

    Yero stops Southern Kaduna Chiefs from meeting Osinbajo – APC

    All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State alleged that, Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero on Tuesday morning stopped a meeting between Southern Kaduna top traditional rulers and in-coming Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo in the state.

    The Director General of Kaduna State APC Campaign Council, Mr. Ben Kure disclosed this in a statement sent to newsmen in Kaduna on Tuesday.

    Osibanjo was in Kafanchan to meet critical stakeholders in the area that includes traditional rulers, Christian leaders, academic, youth and women leaders ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

    The party alleged that, over 20 traditional rulers drawn from eight local government areas were on their way to palace of Chief of Kagoro, venue of the meeting, when they received the governor’s instruction.

    “Some chiefs were already in the vicinity when they received signals warning them against meeting with Osinbajo.

    “The programme was to first meet traditional rulers before church leaders, and we have notified them and they were ready to receive our in-coming Vice President. The meeting was to pay homage and intimate them of what the in-coming Muhammadu Buhari’s government has in stock for Nigerians irrespective religion, ethnicity, region or political interests.

    “To our surprise, we received a message that the governor has stopped the meeting and cautioned them to return to their domains. The monarchs complied with the warning, aborted the meeting and proceeded to their palaces.

    “The same governor three weeks back stopped the President-elect from holding a campaign at Murtala Square Kaduna. And he is now trying to embarrass his Vice President.

    “Are the people of Kaduna state and their traditional rulers slaves of the governor? It is quite unfortunate that Kaduna state is now under an individual who is above the law and ruling with impunity.

    “He should know that the people of Kaduna state are free people with the right of free association and choice. He will not force people to vote for him, it is a democracy and the voice of the people must be heard, “‎ Kure said.