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  • APC slams DSS, Police for silence on threats by ex-militants

    APC slams DSS, Police for silence on threats by ex-militants

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has slammed the Directorate of State Service (DSS) and the police for their “loud silence” on the threats of war by ex-militants.

    The failure of the security agencies to act is an indication of their double standard and lack of fairness, the party said in a statement issued yesterday in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    To the APC, Chief Government Ekpemukpolo (alias Tompolo), Mujadeen Asari-Dokubo and others met at the Government House in Bayelsa, threatening to go to war should President Goodluck Jonathan lose the February 14 election.

    It is insightful to

    note that the same security agencies that reacted with hysteria to the harmless comments by Governor Rotimi Amaechi have suddenly lost their voices when the ex-militants threatened to wage war on the nation.

    ‘’When Governor Amaechi said soldiers had the right to protest if their welfare was not taken care of, the DSS was at its most efficient level, with its voluble spokesperson threatening fire

    and brimstone and only stopping short of arresting the governor, despite his immunity.

    ‘’When the same Governor Amaechi said the APC will form a parallel government if the Feb. 14th and 28th elections are rigged, the same DSS and the police sought to outdo each other with threats and condemnation of what they called ‘inciting comments’, even when Governor

    Amaechi’s warning was conditional.

    ‘’Now, the ex-militants have said President Jonathan must be re-elected or they will unleash violence on the country. In other words, it is immaterial whether or not he loses in a free and fair

    elections. There is no clearer indication of impunity than the action of the ex-militants, who issued their threats in the Bayelsa government house, with the governor of the state in attendance.

    ‘’More than a week later, the DSS has been missing in action while the police, in what can pass as a most shocking reaction, said they are still studying the ex-militants’ comments. Even after former Defence Minister Gen.Theophilus Danjuma called for the arrest of the ex-militants for their treasonable threats, and the ex-militants had the audacity to repeat the threats, the police still continued to ‘study’ the threats. This is simply unbelievable,’’ it said.

    APC said the implication of the conspiracy of inaction by the DSS and the police is that, under the administration of President Jonathan, there are different rules for different Nigerians, wondering how the security agencies can be trusted to provide a level playing ground for

    all political parties before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.

    ‘’For supporters of President Jonathan, there is no law, there is no police, there is no DSS. Their support for the President is a licence for lawlessness and irresponsibility, and if at all there is any law, they remain far above such law. That is why they could dare the entire nation by issuing such treasonable comments and get away with their action,’’ the party said.

    It called on Nigerians to take note of the glaring double standard of the security agencies, while urging local and international observers to closely monitor the activities of the security agents before, during and after the polls.

    ‘’On our part, the fact that the DSS and the police, both of which have issued their last warnings against those making inciting comments, have failed to move against the war-mongering ex-militants is a confirmation of what we have always believed: that national institutions have been deployed in the pursuit of partisan, rather than national interests under the Administration of President Jonathan,’’ APC said.

  • Lagos APC condemns attack on candidate’s campaign office

    Lagos APC condemns attack on candidate’s campaign office

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday condemned an alleged attack on its senatorial candidate for Lagos West, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (aka Yayi).

    The Ikeja campaign office of Adeola, a member of the House of Representatives seeking election into the Senate, was allegedly attacked at the weekend by suspected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hoodlums.

    The thugs shot into the air to scare away people. They were also said to have vandalised the rear windshield of a Toyota Land Cruiser Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) belonging to the APC candidate.

    The party’s state spokesman, Joe Igbokwe, urged security agencies to stop hoodlums and desperate politicians from throwing the Centre of Excellence into a crisis.

    In a statement yesterday in Lagos, Igbokwe alleged that the attackers damaged other property within the complex.

    The statement reads: “We have witnessed this awful display of impunity and lawlessness when PDP thugs and supporters attacked APC faithful in Agege and shot dead a member of our party.

    “The other day at Mosan Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA), grassroots supporters of our governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode, who were on a door-to-door campaigns, were attacked; over 10 vehicles were damaged and many people were injured.

    “The latest attack on our candidate, Yayi and his supporters in his office is yet another assault that needs to be investigated and the culprits brought to justice.”

    Igbokwe urged the police to investigate PDP’s senatorial candidate, Segun Adewale’s role in the alleged attack because he had reportedly admitted visiting Adeola’s campaign office to complain about the removal of his campaign materials.

    Igbokwe said: “The questions we are asking are: What on earth is driving this frightening impunity being exhibited by the PDP in Lagos? What on earth would make Adewale to muster the temerity and audacity to lead gunmen, including the police, to Yayi’s office without caring a hoot? Who is beating the drums for the PDP in Lagos? What are the police doing? Is it only the PDP that has a monopoly of violence here in Lagos? What does PDP want in Lagos?

    “APC may be compelled to defend and protect its teeming supporters, if the police and other security agencies cannot guarantee the security of life and property at a time as this.

    “The party is asking smart and courageous Lagosians to use their phones and cameras to record such open blatant display of lawlessness and brigandage to track down these horrible offenders.

    “We appeal to Lagosians, especially our teeming supporters, to remain calm and courageous in the face of the provocation. Crushing defeat is staring the PDP in the face all over Nigeria and Lagos. This desperation is understandable. The PDP cannot go down without a fight; they may decide to pull down the house. We must not allow them to do so.”

  • Aregbesola: APC won’t leave any seat for PDP in Osun

    Aregbesola: APC won’t leave any seat for PDP in Osun

    •Governor leads APC candidates to communities

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not concede any seat to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in this month’s State and National Assembly elections, as it did in 2011.

    The governor spoke at the weekend in Iwo Federal Constituency at the beginning of his campaigns for APC candidates.

    The campaign tour took Aregbesola to Iwo, Ola Oluwa and Ayedire local governments areas.

    He told the huge crowds at Iwo Ogbagba, Telemu Ile Ogbo and Oluponna that the Yoruba never had anything in common with anti-progressive parties.

    Aregbesola said the Yoruba had always pitched their tents with the progressives since the First Republic.

    The governor noted that 16 years under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria had not led to national progress but retrogression.

    He urged the electorate in the local government areas and other parts of the state to vote for APC candidates.

    Aregbesola also urged the residents of Osun West l Senatorial District to vote for Isiaka Adeleke (Senate) and Abdulgahafar Amere (House of Representatives).

    The governor canvassed votes for House of Assembly candidates – Akinloye Ajibola, for Ola Oluwa; Leke Ogunshola, for Aiyedire and Abdulahi Gbadebo, for Iwo  – for effective representation and good governance.

    He stressed that APC’s victory in last August 9 governorship election in the state would be boosted when the party wins all the seats in the National Assembly’s poll.

    Aregbesola urged the people to vote massively for APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, on February 14.

    The governor noted that the change Nigerians were clamouring for could only be achieved when a progressives’ party is in power.

    He said: “I want to use this opportunity to thank you for standing behind us during the last August 9 governorship election.

    “We have again come back to solicit your support in ensuring that we maintain a clean slate in the presidential and legislative elections.

    “We are confident that with all we have done in the last four years, which to us is just a tip of the iceberg, contrary to insinuations that work has stopped, the state will begin to witness the completion of ongoing projects and the introduction of new ones, where necessary.

    “The state and the party will achieve more, if we have quality representations in our House of Assembly and the Houses of Representatives and the Senate.

    “…We implore you, who have not collected your Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to do so.”

    On the campaign tour with Aregbesola were: Adeleke, Amere; the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Moshood Adeoti; former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Mofolake Adegboyega and the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon.

  • Lawmaker accuses PDP of defacing APC campaign posters

    Lagos State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Kolawole Taiwo has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of removing All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign posters on the highways.

    The APC chieftain said the act was barbaric and unforunate.

    He said: “It is unfortunate that the PDP is turning Nigeria into a jungle where anything happens. It is unfortunate that this is happening in Lagos State.

    “The Federal Government does not have the power to remove posters on the highways. They are behaving as if there is no tomorrow. I know they have failed. There is nothing they can do to win the support of Lagosians because the people know their leaders.”

    The Deputy Speaker said instead of removing and defacing APC posters on the highways, the PDP should have liaised with the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASSA), which would have guided the opposition on how to handle its posters.

    Taiwo said: “I also took permission from the agency before I pasted my posters. The PDP has also been pasting its candidates’ posters on Lagos roads.”

    The lawmaker urged politicians to play the game with maturity.

  • Issue my Certificate of Return, APC Senator-elect tells INEC

    The senator-elect for Niger East, David Umaru of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue his Certificate of Return, in compliance with the judgement of the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal.

    Justice Ibrahim Bako, the chairman of the three-man tribunal, on Friday, ordered INEC to issue Umaru the Certificate of Return, having scored the highest lawful votes cast in the August 30, 2014, by-election.

    Umaru spoke for the first time yesterday in Minna, the state capital, following his victory at the election tribunal, which nullified the return of Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu.

    He said: “I expect the commission to comply with the order immediately.”

    The senator-elect said the judgement was a vindication of the collective decision of the people in the senatorial district and a lesson to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the people would no longer allow the theft of their mandate.

    He said the victory would galvanise him and APC to ensure victory for the party’s candidates in this month’s general elections.

  • Market leader urges support for APC

    Market leader urges support for APC

    The Babaloja of Aswani Market in Lagos, Alhaji Taoridi Faronbi-Alado, yesterday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has all it takes to dislodge the   Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the centre in the general election this month.

    He urged Nigerians to support the candidate of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, saying he is the solution to challenges facing Nigeria at the moment.

    Alado, on Saturday, said president Jonathan is the worse president Nigeria has ever produced.

    According to him, the shortcomings of his administration include his inability to provide adequate security for citizens, dwindling economy threatening the future of the nation and the high level of corruption in the system.

    Alado, who doubles as the APC’s political godfather in Mushin constituency, added that the party made an apt choice by presenting Buhari as its presidential candidate.

  • APC sells its brands in Edo North

    THE All Progressives Congress, APC, last week kick started the marketing of its candidates for the various positions in the February 2015 elections in Edo North. And the chief marketing officer was no other person than leader of the party in Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole. Flagging off the campaign in Auchi, the senatorial headquarters of the zone, Oshiomhole told the mammoth crowd at Ikelebe Sports Arena that the APC is proud of the quality of candidates that scaled through the primaries to serve as the party’s torch bearers in the general elections.

      The governor painstakingly x-rayed each of the candidates from Akoko Edo, Owan and Etsako and declared them political brands rather than mere products. According to him, “these are tested and trusted persons, the best of the best in Afemailand. So, I want you to support them with your votes and send them to Benin and Abuja as your representatives that will help make laws that will benefit our people and Nigerians in general”. The governor subsequently presented the candidates with party flags, urging them to go out there, sell themselves and the party manifestoes to win the heart of the electorate for the crucial supports.

      These political brands include Chief Francis Alimikhena, the senatorial candidate for Edo North, Rt. Hon Phillip Shaibu, who is out-going Majority Leader in the State House of Assembly and the party’s candidate for the Etsako Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, and of course, the three candidates who want to represent the three Etsakos in the state House of Assembly: Damian LawanI ( Etsako Central), Kinsley Ugabi (Etsako East), and Gowon Jerry Yakubu (Etsako West). Given the short period for the campaigns, the candidates hit the ground running, taking the train to the 32 wards in Etsako.

     The first port of call was the palace of the Otaru of Auchi, HRH Haliru Momoh, Ikelebe 111. Then the Okumagbe of Weppa Wanno, HRH, George Oshiapi Ihiabor where the candidates visited for royal blessings and possibly for endorsement. Led by the party’s state Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Otunba Mogaji, the Okumagbe specifically advised the candidates on the need for issue- driven campaigns instead of those of hate and attacks on personality, urging them to key into the Abuja peace accord signed by leaders of political parties. He said he was particularly pleased with the peaceful conduct of the APC primaries that produced the candidates.

    The senatorial candidate, Francis Alimikhena, is from Weppa Wanna and a high chief of the palace. The crowd of supporters that greeted the candidates across the wards was highly intimidating. Reasons for this are not far-fetched as the village heads, opinion leaders and various interest groups interviewed said they were mobilizing their people in support of the APC because of the dividends of democracy the party and particularly the comrade governor has brought to their communities. They emphasised that they were ready to reciprocate the gesture at the February polls.

     Some of those interviewed went to the extent of asking the candidates not to bother to visit their communities on campaign as the APC projects on ground speak for them, adding that they were ready to cast their votes for whoever Adams Oshiomhole and the party put forward.

      If the candidates eventually get the endorsement of the people of Etsako come February 14 and 28, they will all be green horns in the hallowed chambers in Benin and Abuja with the exception of Phillip Shaibu who is the outgoing Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly. This son of a pastor, rugged activist and former NANS President (1999- 2000), is expected to bring to the table a wealth of legislative experience garnered since 2007 in the State House of Assemble where he has distinguished himself as an astute legislator who puts the people first. From Minority Leader in the House, Shaibu has headed some key committees as chairman, which included Rules, Business and Government House. As a representative of Constituency Two, Etsako West Local Government, Shaibu is quick to tell the people in all the wards visited that in his eight years in the House, he has executed 42 verifiable projects in his constituency, sponsored 26 bills and moved 109 motions in the House he has promoted over 25 empowerment programmes/donations in his constituency. These efforts have earned him the sobriquet of Mr. Constituency Projects aside numerous awards and recognitions across the country and beyond. Notable among these is the one conferred on him by the House of Representatives National Summit and Scorecard where he was adjudged the best legislator of the year. He said he wants to build on these blocks, hence, the appeal to send him to the green chamber in Abuja to represent Etsako Federal Constituency.

       If the size of a candidate’s convoy of vehicles and the crowd at campaign ground could determine the candidate’s popularity and subsequently translate to votes, then the APC candidates in the Etsako are far ahead of their opponents in other parties.

  • PDP loses Niger East senatorial seat to APC at tribunal

    PDP loses Niger East senatorial seat to APC at tribunal

    The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Minna yesterday upturned the result of last year’s Niger East Senatorial by-election in favour of Mr. David Umaru of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared former deputy governor of the state, Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the election.

    Mr. Umaru filed a petition at the tribunal which proclaimed him winner with 79,779 votes as against Nuhu’s 68,525 votes.

    In arriving at its judgement, the tribunal nullified the results of about 100 polling units affected by irregularities during the by-election.

    The Chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Ibrahim Bako, also granted an order  nullifying the return of the 1st Respondent (Nuhu) on the grounds that he did not win the majority of the lawful votes cast at the election held on August 30, 2014 and concluded on September 6, 2014 at the Niger East Senatorial District.

    Also granted by the tribunal were orders “declaring the 1st Petitioner as the winner of the election held on the 30th August but concluded on the 6th September, 2014, having won the majority of the lawful votes at the election and he is hereby granted.”

    Justice Bako directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to “issue a Certificate of Return to the 1st Petitioner forthwith as the duly elected Senator of Niger East Senatorial District, Niger State”.

    The electoral body had declared on September 7, 2014 that Nuhu of the PDP polled 92,050 votes while Umaru had 87,425 votes. But after the deduction of the unlawful votes, the respondent had 68,525 and the 1st petitioner polled 79,779 votes to be declared winner.

    Reacting after the judgment, the lead counsel to the winner, Barrister Chris Osuagwu said:.”We give glory to God for this judgement. Today’s judgement has shown that no matter how long evil thrives, judgment must surely prevail. The tribunal has given judgment and it shows that there is hope for the masses.”

    The counsel to the respondent, Barrister Musa Sulaiman, said his client would respect the decision of the tribunal.

    Congratulating the judiciary for keeping the hope of the common man alive, Publicity Secretary of the APC in Niger State, Jonathan Vatsa, told newsmen at the court premises that the judgment had given hope to the masses.

    “The judgment has shown that the common man can have his right defended and protected by the judiciary,” he added.

    The judgment brings the number of APC senators in the state to two – Niger East and Niger North senatorial districts. The Niger South senatorial ticket is held by the PDP.

  • Buhari was never stoned in Lagos –APC

    Buhari was never stoned in Lagos –APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday dismissed as concocted a story by former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, that the party’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, was pelted during the party’s rally in Lagos.

    The APC said “a lie has never worn a bolder face.”

    tHE National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said Gen. Buhari and other top leaders of the APC rode in an open bus from the Palace of the Oba of Lagos to Teslim Balogun Stadium venue of the rally, to great cheers from Lagosians who lined the route.

    ‘’Not once was he pelted with stone during the almost two-hour ride. It is obvious that those who were paid by Mr. Obanikoro to stone the General failed to deliver. We therefore urge him to seek a refund of whatever money he paid to his hired hands to pelt Gen. Buhari with stones,’’ the party said.

    The party thanked the good people of Lagos for turning out in unprecedented numbers to welcome Gen. Buhari to Lagos, saying the Centre of Excellence had never witnessed such a huge and cheery crowd.

  • APC shielding candidate, says PDP

    APC shielding candidate, says PDP

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation yesterday flayed the decision by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to shun the presidential debate being organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).

    In a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, the PDP said the APC knew that Gen. Buhari could not stand a rigours debate on issues of national governance and development.

    Fani-Kayode said the APC had already said, when approached by an unnamed international news channel for a debate, that it was only comfortable with its vice presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who has capacity to feature brilliantly on the programme.

    According to Fani-Kayode, “We have just read a report in the media credited to the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation that the party would not allow its candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, to participate in the radio and television presidential debate organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).

    “The APC accused the organisers of the debate of unhidden bias and campaign of calumny by some key organisers of the programme against the corporate political interest of the party and its candidates.

    “We had envisaged that the APC would be reluctant to expose General Buhari to the rigours of a live television debate because the opposition party knows that its candidate will flunk it.

    “If the APC truly believes that it is a party of progressive intellectuals, as it claims, it should allow General Buhari to prove that at the debate.

    “Should the APC fail to participate in the debate, it would also show the disdain both the party and its candidate have for the Nigerian people, denying them the opportunity to make informed choices on the basis of what each candidate will articulate as propositions on issues that will be raised.

    “We are convinced that General Buhari does not have what it takes to sustain a coherent argument on germane issues of governance and development.

    “We challenge General Buhari to a debate on any national and international medium of mass communication and our candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan will be ready to participate.