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Tag: APC

  • USA/Chicago APC warns against intimidation of voters

    USA/Chicago APC warns against intimidation of voters

    • Seeks free, fair elections

    The United States of America (USA)/Chicago Branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday warned security agencies in the country against undue harassment and intimidation of voters ahead of the Presidential and National Assembly elections today.

    Vice Chairman/Assistant National Publicity Secretary of the association, Mr. Olawale Ebietomiye, spoke during an interview with newsmen in Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State.

    Ebietomiye said that Nigerians deserves a free and fair elections from the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He insisted that no life must be lost or property destroyed during the elections.
    He stated that Nigerians have the right to go to the polling booths, cast their ballots and return home peacefully to resume their normal businesses.

    He stated that most Nigerians in the Diaspora are prepared to return home if the Presidential candidate of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, wins.

    Ebietomiye said: “We the APC in USA and Chicago wants to make sure that our people benefit from the dividends of democracy and the reason is because it is nice for us as Nigerians to make sure that we take care of our people regardless of any differences or any political party we are in support of.

    “Our stand is that we must have a free and fair election and again, no life must be lost because of election. And again, property should not be destroyed. We are one Nigeria. We are not divided.

    “We will not let anything divide us, neither anything to bring us back. This is 21st Century. We see the way they do it in other countries – the United States, Europe they did elections and they were free and fair. Somebody must win when there is an election.

    “So, anybody that wins, let’s declare the results. Lets’s make it free, make it fair and let everybody go on their way. After the election we are still one Nigeria, so why should we destroy ourselves or kill ourselves down because of election.

    “Our message is that for these coming elections, let us make sure it is free and let our people go out and and vote and exercise their right. We don’t want anybody to intimidate anybody during the elections.

    “The atmosphere should be good for us to exercise our franchise – people should be able to go to the polling booths, cast their votes and go to their homes peacefully and if there is any observer to observe the election, they have the right to do that.

    So we should not intimidate anybody. We should make sure we take care of people – they come to the polling booths, they cast their votes, they go home safe.

    “They don’t want to go home injured or anybody being killed because of the election. So this is what we stand for.”

    He added that the country needs change in all its ramification if it must develop and ensure good quality of life for its people.

    He said: “As an APC supporter, we need a change. We need a change in everything – in the economy, agriculture and education. The way we are going is not the best.

    “We want to go a direction that our people will have quality education, have sound economic system, have good agriculture and develop ourselves.

    “We Nigerians are agile people – we work and we stay by what we do. Even the Nigerians in Diaspora, if you see them, they work, they send money home to their families to take care of their families and to take care of their people.

    “All the things that we do here. So this is what we want our government to have at the backs of their mind.”

    On whether he plans to relocate to Nigeria if there is change as a result of the elections, Ebietomiye said: “Of course, if there is change, I will tell you that 99 per cent of Nigerians will like to come back home because wherever you go in the world, no matter how good or how better it is, you are still a second class citizen.

    “Your coming to your home country makes you a first class citizen. You will be free to work around.

    “You will be free to communicate with your people, there is nobody that will intimidate you because this is a country that you were born and bred in, so if our country in conducive, for people to move around and there are good roads, electricity and water, our people will come back home.

    “I will tell you, 99 per cent of Nigerians in abroad will not want to stay over there. They talk about it, they want to come back home.

    “Personally because of the business I do, I have interaction with many Nigerians and they come in they share their feelings. We see our medical doctors, coming abroad to do to less menial jobs.

    “That does not befit us as Nigerians because we have this sound education. Our people want to come back home if the country is conducive for them to stay.”

  • Niger East By-election: Court upholds Umaru’s victory

    Niger East By-election: Court upholds Umaru’s victory

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja this morning reaffirmed Barrister David Umaru of All Progressives Congress (APC) as the lawful winner and Senator-elect for Niger East Senatorial district by-election conducted in August last year.

    The court dismissed the appeal by Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who challenged the quashing of his victory by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in January.

    The Court had earlier dismissed the appeal filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and PDP in the same case for failing to transmit the records of proceedings of the lower court that ruled on the matter.

    Nuhu had on September 7, 2014 been declared winner of the Niger East Senatorial by-election by INEC, a development was contested at the election tribunal by Umaru and judgement given in favour of the APC candidate.

    Meanwhile Umaru will be flying the APC flag at Niger East Senatorial election against the state governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of PDP.

  • APC accuses PDP of sewing fake uniforms for thugs

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is sewing fake police uniforms and those of other security agencies for its thugs,  alleging that it was a ploy to rig the elections.

    But the police command said the allegation was false.

    APC alleged that PDP packaged 1kg bag of poisonous garri, branded with APC logo and the photograph of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, in large quantity, for distribution across the state.

    The party’s spokesman, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, decried “PDP’s desperation”, assuring the people that “the evil plans of the PDP will continue to fail.”

    He said: “It is necessary to alert the people that the leadership of the PDP, Kwara State chapter, held a meeting on Wednesday where the party reviewed the activities of its thugs and discussed its rigging plans.

    “At the meeting, among other decisions, the leadership of the PDP resolved to sew police uniforms and those of other security agencies for its thugs, with the hope of using the thugs to manipulate the polls in favour of the PDP.

    “Another set of armed thugs will also be dressed in black suits and babariga,  according to a credible source.

    “The desperation of the drowning PDP knows no bound. This is a party with no manifesto, no ideology, no developmental plans for the indigenes, except desperation for power through violence.

    “Thugs sponsored by the PDP intend to impersonate security agents before and during the elections to harass APC leaders and members, to kidnap and pick up our officials, to intimidate voters at the polling units and manipulate the electoral process in favour of the PDP.

    “We have raised this alarm with the hope that security agencies will forestall it.

    “PDP also intend to distribute bags of poisonous garri.

    “We warn the people against taking such gifts because it is an attempt to kill as many Kwarans as possible and attribute it to the APC.

    “Kwarans should not be deceived by the logo of APC and photograph of Governor Ahmed printed on the packaged garri. Our party has no hand in it, as it is purely the handiwork of the desperate PDP.

    “APC is not distributing packaged garri as souvenirs or gifts.”

  • PDP leaders defect to APC

    The re-election bid of Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday got a boost, as top Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Major political groups from the three senatorial zones also endorsed the governor.

    The groups, from Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri zones, known as the Coalition of Imo Mainstream Politicians for Good Governance, comprised the Orlu Political Consultative Assembly (OPOCA), Owerri Zone Mandate Group and the Okigwe Political Leaders Congress.

    The coalition, during a news conference in Owerri, said it defected from the PDP to the APC, following corruption in the PDP.

    In a statement by the Coordinator of the Coalition, Chief Rex Anunobi, National President of OPOCA Dr. Samfo Nwankwo; President-General of Owerri Zone Mandate Dr. Vitalis Ajumbe and President of Okigwe Political Leaders Forum Dr. Kelechi Okpaleke, the group said: “APC is the hope for a truly democratic and corrupt-free Nigeria.”

    The leaders said they were inspired to join the APC because of Okorocha’s achievements within a short time, adding: “The governor has shocked his critics through successful implementation of free education, building of 27 general hospitals in 27 local governments and construction of 15-kilometre rural roads in the councils.”

    They said the APC-led administration, unlike previous administrations, spread development to all nooks and crannies, especially the rural areas.

    They dismissed other parties in the race, saying the status of their governorship candidates was not clear.

    According to them, “the PDP and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) are yet to have valid candidates, as they are still in court.”

    The coalition accused the PDP of planning to continue its “share the money syndrome”, alleging that the party’s candidate promised aspirants, who lost in the primaries, “N35 billion refund, if he gets to power.”

    The leaders promised to mobilise people from the three zones to vote for Okorocha “because he has done Imo State proud. Imo people need the best. Imo people deserve the best and the best is Governor Okorocha.”

  • ‘Itsekiri will vote for change, despite EPZ groundbreaking’

    ‘Itsekiri will vote for change, despite EPZ groundbreaking’

    Performing the groundbreaking ceremony of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ), notwithstanding, all Itsekiri voters have been charged to keep faith with their conviction to vote for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives’ Congress, General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd), Saturday.

    President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the EPZ at Ogidigben, Warri South-West council area of Delta state, following up on four previous postponements of the same ceremony.

    But a chieftain of the APC and an opinion leader in Itsekiri nation, Dr Alex Ideh, who accused Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta state of attempting to blackmail him during the groundbreaking ceremony, has said while Itsekiri people appreciated President Jonathan’s gesture in performing the ceremony, their resolve about the Saturday’s election had not changed.

    According to Dr Ideh, the governor’s attempt at ‘roping him in’ during the ceremony would not make either him, or the entire Itsekiri nation to abandon their views, which they had held of the president before now, urging the Itsekiri to go out tomorrow to cast their votes for General Buhari.

    “This afternoon at Ogidigben at the grounds of the Ground Breaking Ceremony of the EPZ Gas Industrial Complex, the Governor of Delta state Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan while making his remark singled me out twice for mention. He alluded to the fact that I am an APC cheiftian and hoped that now that Mr President has come for the Groundbreaking he hoped I would join the train to vote for Mr President.

    “Being an influential member of the Ogidigben/Ugborodo community on which this project is situated and out of share respect for the office of Mr. President I stood up and gave a bow. I believe that the governor, knowing I have always been a strong critic of the president, either wanted to embarras my person or set me up in an environment where Mr. President’s supporters and kinsmen abounded in huge numbers.

    “In as much as I applaud Mr. President for coming to do the groundbreaking, my views and the views of tens of thousands of Itsekiri have not substantially changed. I therefore urge our people to go out there and vote for the choice of Change which they have believed in all along,” he said.

  • ‘Jonathan should consider himself out-going President’

    ‘Jonathan should consider himself out-going President’

    Former Acting Governor of Kogi State, Chief Clarence Olafemi Thursday declared that the almost 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the helms of affair is nearing its end.

    He called on Nigerians to do the needful by voting out President Goodluck Jonathan, saying the country has had enough of PDP misrule.

    Addressing journalists in the state capital, Lokoja, Olafemi, a member of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, said the party was at the threshold of setting the nation on the path of
    true greatness.

    He added: “PDP boasted it will rule Nigeria for the next 60 years but it is clear to Nigerians it cannot even put its own house in order for barely15 years. PDP has failed Nigerians and they will rightly be
    voted out of office begining Saturday.

    “Goodluck Jonathan is Nigeria’s outgoing President and by the grace of God, General Mohammadu Buhari is our next President. Nigerians expected so much but they were soundly disappointed.

    “It is clear to all that another four years of PDP will be disaster for the country and that is why the call for change has taken over everywhere”.

    The politician called on Nigerians to come out en-mass to cast their vote for the APC presidential candidate, and stay back to ensure that their votes are counted.

    “Nigerians should come out en-mass to vote General Buhari. They should conduct themselves in peaceful manner while they remain to see their votes counted.”

  • Mimiko’s deputy Olanusi joins APC

    Mimiko’s deputy Olanusi joins APC

    The Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi Thursday morning resigned his membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared for All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Olanusi, an indigene of Supare in Akoko South West local government area of the State became the deputy governor of the State in 2009 under the platform of Labour Party before he defected along side with the governor to PDP in October, 2014.

    It was learnt that the governor, Olusegun Mimiko and his deputy had been at loggerheads for so long, leading to rumours that the governor was making attempt to impeach him.

    Details later….

  • Imo PDP leaders decamp to APC

    Imo PDP leaders decamp to APC

    The re-election bid of the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Thursday received a significant boost with the dumping of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) by political leaders in the state and his endorsement by major political groups from the three senatorial zones of the state.

    The influential political groups from Orlu, Okgwe and Owerri zones, known as the Coalition of Imo Mainstream Politicians for Good Governance, are made up of the Orlu Political Consultative Assembly (OPOCA), Owerri Zone Mandate Group and the Okigwe Political Leaders Congress.

    The Coalition during a press conference in Owerri, the Imo State capital, said that it decided to dump the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a result of the Governor’s sterling performance and the irredeemable corruption in the PDP.

    In a statement jointly signed by the Coordinator of the Coalition of Imo Mainstream Politicians for Good Governance, Chief Rex Anunobi, also known as Sokom, the National President of OPOCA, Dr. Samfo Nwankwo and the President General, Owerri Zone Mandate, Dr. Vitalis Ajumbe and the President Okigwe Political Leaders Forum, Dr. Kelechi Okpaleke, the group maintained that “the APC is the only hope for a truly democratic and corruption free Nigeria”.

    The political leaders further disclosed that they were inspired to join the APC because of the unprecedented achievements recorded by the Okorocha’s administration within a short time in office, adding that “the Governor had dazed his critics by the successful implementation of the free education programme, the construction of 27 new general hospitals across the 27 Local Government Areas of the State, the construction of 15 kilometer rural roads in all the LGAs”.

    They also added that the APC led administration in the state; unlike previous administrations has spread development to all the nook and crannies of the state, especially the rural areas that were hitherto abandoned.

    They also dismissed other political parties in the governorship race, stating that the status of their governorship candidates is not yet clear as they are still locked in legal battle, “the PDP and APGA are yet to have valid governorship candidates as they are still in court”.

    The Coalition, further accused the PDP of planning to continue its “share the money syndrome” alleging that the governorship candidate of the party has promised aspirants who lost the governorship primaries a N35 billion refund when he gets to power.

    They promised to mobilize Imo people from the three zones to vote Governor Okorocha “because he has done Imo State proud with his performance. Imo people need the best. Imo people deserve the best and the best is Governor Okorocha.”

  • I’m not a drug addict, says Kebbi APC governorship running mate

    Kebbi State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship running mate Col. Samaila Yombe, has refuted the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that he is a drug addict.

    He described himself as a committed Muslim and law abiding citizen, adding that he is qualified for the office.

    Yombo also described the attack and insult  on his personality by the PDP  as unfortunate. He said it is a ploy to defame his person.

    He dismissed the drug addiction allegation as baseless challenging the PDP, it its to make public any evidence of their claims. He said that as a professional pilot, he can not be a drug addict.

    Yombe added: “I have served the Nigerian Aviation as a professional pilot for years , how can i attain such a status if i am a drug addict.”

    “I undergo several medical test routinely and I came out cleared. I don’t even take paracetamol without prescription “

    On the issue of religion , Yombe wondered why the PDP is bent on using religion to judge his devotion, which according to him, was a secret pact between man and God. He said the PDP lacked the moral right to assess his devotion to God.

    The soldier said that his career record was open for all to see, adding that PDP has no  mandate to determine his competence. Yombe stressed: “If PDP don’t have anything to tell the public, they should shut up. People want change for the betterment of our state and out country.

  • ‘No Rivers commissioner will abandon Amaechi’

    ‘No Rivers commissioner will abandon Amaechi’

    Contrary to the claim by the Rivers State Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, that only five commissioners will be left with Governor Rotimi Amaechi, after a mass defection soon, from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP, the 32 members of the state executive council have insisted that they are intact, completely loyal and will not betray Amaechi.

    The Rivers Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru, who is still the Deputy Chairman of the state executive council, stayed away from Wednesday’s second emergency “exco” meeting, which took place at the council chambers of Government House, Port Harcourt and presided over by Amaechi, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Director-General of Buhari Campaign Organisation.

    The Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, who briefed reporters at the end of the “exco” meeting, stated that in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ikuru remains the state’s deputy governor.

    Obuah, in Port Harcourt on Monday, at a reception for Ikuru, which was also attended by the Rivers governorship candidate of the PDP, Chief Nyesom Wike, and other leaders of the party, declared that most of Amaechi’s commissioners would soon move to the opposition party, an indication, according to him, that the government had failed.

    The Rivers PDP chairman said at Monday’s reception for Ikuru: “Amaechi has only five commissioners. More than two-thirds of the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have joined the PDP. They are already talking with me. Today (on Monday), we are celebrating one of our own (Ikuru) and his teeming supporters, who have seen reasons in what we are fighting for.”

    Semenitari, however, admonished the peace-loving people of Rivers state to ignore that lies and senseless propaganda of Obuah and other PDP leaders, while urging them to continue to support the Amaechi’s administration and massively vote for only the candidates of the APC on March 28 and April 11.

    The Rivers information commissioner said: “The executive council meeting was chaired by His Excellency, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Issues of concern to Rivers State were discussed. As at wednesday, no formal resignation letter from His Excellency, the Deputy Governor (Ikuru) has been presented to the exco. The Chairman of exco (Amaechi), however, briefed the exco that he had read in the media and received reports of the defection of His Excellency, the Deputy Governor.

    “Exco also received information from members of the exco from the local government area (Andoni) of His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, that indeed the Deputy Governor had been received by the PDP. That means indeed His Excellency, the Deputy Governor had defected to the PDP.

    “His Excellency, the Governor had told exco that this (Ikuru’s defection) does not in any way affect the status of the Deputy Governor  of Rivers State. Members of exco wish to reiterate the fact that as members of exco, we remain loyal and committed to the Governor of Rivers State and to the people of Rivers State. All members of exco, who belong to the APC, as at Wednesday, remain members of the APC. None of us has resigned our positions with the APC. None of us intends to resign our positions with the APC.

    “Exco, however, took a decision to request that the security agencies ensure security during the elections of March 28 and April 11. Exco has received disturbing reports of violence in various LGAs and the Government of Rivers State wishes to request that the security agencies guarantee the safety of lives and property of citizens. Exco, however, encourages Rivers people to come out in their number and perform their civic responsibilities to the country and to themselves.”

    Semenitari also disclosed that Amaechi had directed the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, George Feyii, to ensure that no stone was left unturned to guarantee the security of lives and property of the people of Rivers state.

    Semenitari stressed that Amaechi also assured that the lives and property of Rivers people would be safe before, during and after the general elections.