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  • Ahmed, Gaidam, Ajimobi, Ezea are APC candidates

    Ahmed, Gaidam, Ajimobi, Ezea are APC candidates

    Over 2,000 delegates converged yesterday on the Government House, Damaturu, Yobe State, to give the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam.

    There was tight security at the venue; men and women delegates were searched with electronic scanners and manual screening before entering the venue.

    The consensus endorsement was led by the Deputy Governor, Abubakar Aliyu, who was the first to cast his vote.

    Other delegates include Senator Ahmed Lawan; Speaker of the House of Assembly Adamu Dala Dogo, lawmakers; Secretary to the State Government Babagoni Machina.

    Chairman of the Electoral Committee Babagana Tijani Banki said the APC in Yobe and Borno are only going through the process to fulfill the requirements of the electoral law as the party has only one candidate each in the states.

    In Kwara State, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed promised to work harder to transform more lives and elevate the state.

    Delegates, numbering 3,025 from the 193 wards in the 16 local government areas voted for the governor, who is APC’s sole candidate.

    Announcing the result, the leader of the APC national delegation, Azu Uwandu, said the governor scored 3,016 votes. Nine of the votes were invalid.

    Uwandu hailed the delegates for conducting themselves peacefully.

    APC leader in the state and Senator representing Kwara Central Bukola Saraki alsopraised the delegates.

    Okey Ezea has emerged the APC governorship candidate in Enugu State.

    Ezea, a former Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, emerged unopposed at the primaries, which took place at the APC secretariat in Enugu.

    In his acceptance speech, he pledged to provide free education, qualitative health care  and improved welfare scheme for the people.

    He accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led federal and state governments of failure in the last 16 years.

    The earlier endorsed APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, was formally elected with 3,773 votes.

    Peterside vowed to continue to depend on God, following the allegation by the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Felix Obuah, that he was a cultist.

    He said: “I am humbled by this confidence you reposed in me and I accept this mandate with a keen sense of responsibility, knowing full well that I will be accountable to God, my people and our party.

    “I have had the privilege of political tutelage under our leader, Amaechi, and I have seen his passion for excellence and a new and better Rivers State.

    “I have been challenged by this passion and believe that a greater Rivers State is possible, if we all join hands.

    “I will pursue the manifesto of our great party with  my youthful vigour, talent, your support and the guidance of our leaders.

    “On my honour, I promise that I will not disappoint you. I believe in a united Rivers State and I will continue to work for that. In my charter of service, we are going to create opportunities for all.”

    The primaries were held at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre in Port Harcourt. The event was boycotted by another aspirant, Senator Magnus Abe, and his supporters.

    The Chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee, Austin Eweka, said Amaechi and other party leaders had made their jobs easy.

    Eweka said what they did was a new dimension in Nigeria’s political history, which he said would ensure peace and harmony among party members.

    Amaechi earlier said: “Yesterday, we showed that there could be another party in Rivers State. Last time, they (President Goodluck Jonathan and his PDP) had 1.8 million votes in Rivers State, they should come and have it now. Those who make legitimate change impossible will make illegitimate change inevitable.

    “This is an opportunity to ensure that we do not suffer anymore. Vote for all APC candidates next year.

     “Senator Magnus Abe is eminently qualified to be Rivers governor and I respect his intellect. He is a very intelligent man. There are two Nigerians I respect their intellect: Abe and Odein Ajumogobia (former Foreign Affairs minister, who is a PDP governorship aspirant in Rivers State), but they will not allow Ajumogobia to win.

    “Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru is experienced, intelligent, loyal and eminently qualified to be governor. With Ikuru as my deputy, I never watched my back. Ikuru is a man of due process and will always return money after committees’ jobs.

    “The Rivers West Senatorial District produced Dr. Peter Odili. I am from Rivers East. Equity demands that the governorship in 2015 should go to the Rivers Southeast .

    “The caucus met and agreed that we should present Peterside. It does not mean that he is the most qualified.  Let us support Peterside.”

    Olorogun Otega Emerhor was yesterday declared winner of the primaries in Delta State.

    Aliu Yahaya Sa’ad declared Emerhor winner after he polled 3,584 votes to defeat Fidelis Tilije, who scored 195 votes and the only woman in the contest, Princess Nana Modupe Onwordi, who scored two votes.

    Tilije left  the venue in anger after he accused Emerhor of breaching electoral laws by campaigning at the Oshimili South Arcade, venue of the event.

    Emerhor said: “I can see the party‘s unity strengthened today. The election of a popular candidate has emerged. I thank God that this is the beginning of the end of PDP in Delta State.

    “We are marching to the Government House. For 12 years, Delta has not experienced any form of development. It is, indeed, a new dawn for Deltans.”

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi won the governorship primaries with 4,662 votes.

    Ajimobi defeated Ayobami Adesina, son of former governor Lam Adesina, who polled 22 votes.

    The third aspirant, Adebayo Shittu, a former commissioner for Justice and attorney general,  petitioned the five-man electoral committee that he would not participate in the exercise.

    Shittu was said to have filed a case at the Federal High Court about ward delegate congress and delegates, who voted during the exercise.

    Accreditation began at 9:30am; voting at 3pm at the main bowl of the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

    Voting ended at 5:15p.m and the result announced at 7:45pm

    Ajimobi, who arrived at the stadium at 2:30p.m, voted at 5:10p.m. He was part of the delegates from Ibadan South-West Local Government Area.

    The Chairman of the five-member election primary committee, Lumumpa Adeh, said 4,776 delegates were accredited and voted.

    Adeh said: “On Wednesday, we met with the aspirants but one of them, Adebayo Shittu, said he will not participate.

    “He submitted a petition but that did not stop the exercise; and it is by way of information. His petition will be forwarded to the national secretariat.”

    Shortly after the result was announced, Ajimobi said:” I have won before and now that I have won the primaries again, it will not be hard to defeat any other candidate from the opposition because I have beaten them before.”

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun emerged the APC candidate yesterday.

    Deputy  Governor Segun Adesegun   formally  announced that he has left the APC for the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He declared his intention to contest against Amosun if given the SDP ticket.

    At the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta, Amosun  who was the lone aspirant, garnered 3,554 votes of the 3,681 delegates who voted. Sixteen votes were void.

    Addressing party members and supporters after he was declared winner, Amosun said it is a call to “greater service for the people of the state.”

    He said: “What happened today is a demonstration to what APC stand for, we must abide by the rule of the game which says that primaries must be conducted.

    “It is a call for further service to the people of Ogun. They have given me the mandate to continue the service that we have been rendering to the people of Ogun.”

    Adesegun said he has no regret serving under Amosun, adding that his decision to move to SDP is not to attack anybody but to protect his “followers from rotting and wasting away” politically.

    He said his decision would not affect his office or role as deputy governor.

    In Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has emerged the APC governorship candidate.

    The governor scored 1,630 votes from the 2,543 delegates to defeat Reuben Audu and James Angbazo.

    Audu scored 17 votes; Angbazo got 73 votes, five invalid votes were recorded.

    Stanley Buba, the fourth candidate, did not show up to participate in the exercise.

    The exercise, which started late, was carried out at the Lafia city hall after delegates were accredited at the Abacha Youth Centre and the Lafia stadium.

    The primaries were supervised by Ike Chinwo, the chairman of the panel and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, headed by Ahmed Makama.

    Mr. Al-Makura described the exercise as peaceful and thanked the delegates for giving him another opportunity.

  • Primaries postponed in Imo, Jigawa, Cross River, Benue

    Primaries postponed in Imo, Jigawa, Cross River, Benue

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries were postponed yesterday in Imo State, following the inability of the state chapter to produce aspirants.

    Although, no specific date has been fixed for the primaries, the State Chairman, Hillary Eke, said a new date might be fixed after a general meeting.

    But the Vice Chairman, Ugochukwu Nzekwe, said the election may come up today as the party was working on the list of aspirants.

    Commissioner for Information Chidi Ibe also expressed confidence that the primaries may hold today.

    Both Eke and Nzekwe were silent on the number of aspirants.

    “We are meeting to fine-tune arrangements about the election, we have numerous aspirants and we are prepared for the election” Eke said.

    At the party’s secretariat on Works Layout, Owerri, the place was deserted, except for few clerical staff.

    In Jigawa State, the primaries did not hold because the party could not choose a consensus candidate among the four aspirants. The aspirants are Muhammadu Badaru Talamiz, Hashim Ubale Yusuf, Farouk Adamu Aliyu and Saleh Shehu.

    The party secretariat in Dutse was deserted; there were no executive members on ground.

    The Chairman, Ado Sani Kiri, could not be reached for comments as his phone was switched off.

    The Cross River State chapter announced that it has postponed the election till Saturday.

    Publicity Secretary  Mens Ikpeme gave no reason for the postponement.

    The aspirants  are  Odey Ochicha,  Lazarus  Undie and Mike Ogar.

    In Benue State, the Administrative Secretary Mark Hanmation said the primaries would today.

    He said the House of Assembly primaries in the 23 local governments were hitch free.

  • APC Governorship primaries updates

    APC Governorship primaries updates

    Sani Bello is Niger APC governorship candidate

    Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has won the Niger State APC governorship primary.

    He polled 3,829 votes to defeat Senator Musa Ibrahim who had 61 votes out of the total 3,932 votes cast in the election.

    Umana wins Akwa Ibom ticket as thugs cart away ballot boxes

    Former  Akwa Ibom State Secretary to Government, Umana Umana has emerged winner of the governorship ticket of the party.
    Umana emerged winner by scoring 2444 out of 2453 valid votes cast, while Senator James Udoedehe had six votes.
    The exercise was however disrupted by thugs loyal to Senator Udoedehe who invaded Uyo Township Stadium, venue of the  Congress and carted away ballot papers.
    Udoedehe who is displeased with  Umana’s defection to the party, led the rampaging loyalists to where the ballot papers were kept and
    took them away.
    Chairman, governorship primaries committee, Ahmed Safio, criticised Udoedehe for leading the thugs into the venue of the election.
    He said nobody would hold the party to ransom in the state.
    According to him, the party would use no other means to conduct credible primaries.
    His words: “Nobody will hold us ransom. This is the battle for the people. We will use some other means to conduct credible primary by adopting Option A4.”

    Ajimobi wins Oyo governorship  primary

    The Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in the state with 4662 votes.

    Ajimobi defeated his opponent, Dr. Ayobami Adesina, son of former governor of the state, Alhaji Lam Adesina, who polled 22 votes.

    The third aspirant, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, who is a former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General in the state, who petitioned the five-man electoral committee that conducted the primaries declined to participate in the exercise. 
     
    Shittu was said to have filed a case at the Federal High Court over issues bordering on the ward delegate congress of APC and delegates that voted during the exercise.
     
    Out of the 4776 accredited voters, 4774 voted while 90 votes were invalid .
    Accreditation of delegates began at 9:30a.m, while voting commenced at 3p.m at the main bowl of Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan. The voting ended at 5:15p.m. The result of the election was announced at 7:45pm

    Ajimobi, who arrived at the stadium at 2:30p.m eventually voted at 5:10p.m. He was part of the delegates from Ibadan South-West Local Government Area.

    The chairman of five-member committee that conducted the primaries, Hon Lumumpa Adeh, said 4,776 delegates were accredited and voted at the primaries. The Secretary of the committee is Mrs. Kate Okotie while the other three members are Danlami Umar Zuru, Halima Joda and Dubem Mughalu.

    “We had three aspirants screened by the APC Screening Committee and they are Barrister Adebayo Shittu, Dr. Wasiu Abayomi Lam-Adesina and Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

    “Yesterday (Wednesday) we had interaction with all the aspirants but one of the aspirants, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, indicated that he was not going to participate in the exercise. He submitted a petition but that would not stop the exercise; and it is by way of information. His petition or letter will be forwarded to the national secretariat of the party,” he said.
     
    Shortly after the result was announced, Ajimobi said:” I have won before and now that I have won the primaries again, it will not be hard to defeat any other candidate from the opposition party in the election because I have won them before.”

     

    Amosu emerges Ogun governorship  candidate

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun has emerged the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress(APC) for Ogun State following governorship primaries of the party that returned him.

    At the APC governorship primary election conducted at the  MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta, the state capital, Amosun  who was the lone aspirant, garnered 3,554 votes out of the 3, 681 delegates that voted but 16 votes were void.

    Security agencies, a team of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), led Kehinde Mustapha witnessed the exercise while the electoral committee for the primary was headed by Tunde Oladunjoye.

    Addressing party members and supporters after he was declared winner, Amosun said it is a call to “greater service for the people of the state.”

    He said: “what happened today is a demonstration to what APC stand for, we must abide by the rule of the game which says that primaries must be conducted.

    “It is a call for further service to the people of Ogun. They have given me the mandate to continue the service that we have been rendering to the people of Ogun.”

    Accept result of the primary – Tinubu

    I urge us all to comport ourselves in a brotherly manner and with a democratic spirit. And to accept the result of the primary as the choice of our party that we may move forward to protect the Lagos we have jointly built and to continue the progress we jointly seek.

    I thank all Lagosians, party leaders at both the state and national levels who have worked tirelessly to make today possible.

    Please reflect on what is good for Lagos. Our enemy is lying in wait expecting us to fall apart and come against each other. You are twelve aspirants and like the twelve tribes of Israel you may have some differences but you must remain one and united. No one tears down what he has labored hard to build. Let us put the enemy to shame by resolving to work together as a family because that is what we are and must always be: a family.

    Peaceful election in Niger

    The governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State took off peacefully at about 12:30pm in Minna, the state capital.

    Over 4,000 delegates from 25 local government areas of the state converged at the Trade Fair Complex in Minna as early as 10am while the electoral officers and voting materials arrived on time for the exercise.

    Addressing delegates, the chairman governorship primaries election committee, Hon. Mathias Umeh, said all arrangement have been made for a peaceful, free and fair election and advised them to abide by the rules of the exercise.

    Three aspirants are contesting for the party’s governorship ticket. They are – one time Commissioner for Commerce in the state, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, Senator Musa Ibrahim and Sani Idris Aloma.

    Early arrivals at the congress include the party’s presidential aspirant from the state, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, Gen. Garba Idris, a member of the party’s board of trustees and members of the state executive council of the party.

    Nda-Isaiah, who is a delegate from Chanchaga local government area of the state, voted at about 1:37pm.

    Voting is still in progress as at the time of the filing this report.

    Ahmed emerges governorship candidate in Kwara

    Kwara state Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship  primaries.
    The governor pledged to work harder to transform more lives and elevate the state.
    Alhaji Ahmed polled a total of 3,016 votes.
    The delegates numbering 3,025 from the 193 wards that made up the 16 local government area of the state cast their votes for the governor to contest the 2015 general elections.
    He was the sole candidate of party.
    Declaring the result of the exercise,  the leader of the APC national delegation, Prince Azu Uwandu said the incumbent governor scored total of 3,016 valid votes cast,while nine of the votes were invalid.
    Mr. Uwandu hailed the delegates for conducting themselves peacefully during the election.
    He assured them that the party being a peaceful party will surely form government in the state and national.
    In his acceptance speech Kwara state governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed thanked the delegates for coming to elect him as the governorhip of the party.
    He said the government has done a lot in the areas of infrastructural development health ,education among others.
    He said the government will support youth empowerment to further drive job for the people of the state.

    In his remark the APC leader in the state and Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, Bulola Saraki commended the delegates for conducting themselves peacefully during and after the primaries.

    Emerhor emerges Delta governorship candidate

    Olorogun Otega Emerhor was on Thursday  declared winner of the Delta governorship primaries of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    Aliu Yahaya Sa’ad declared Olorugun Emerhor winner after polling a total of 3,584 votes to beat Chief Fidelis Tilije who scored 195 votes.

    The only female in the contest Princess Nana Modupe  Onwordi polled two votes.

    The primaries was characterised with drama as  Fidelis Tilije left the venue in protest after he accused Emerhor of breaching Electoral laws by campaigning at the Oshimili South Arcade venue of the event.

    Emerhor lashed out at  the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  for under developing the State since it has been in power for over a decade.

    Emerhor also expressed the hope that the unity achieved, culminating in the peaceful primaries will ensure that the party clinched the governorship ticket.

    According to him Delta State will experience a new political dawn when the opposition APC takes over power in 2015, stressing that the PDP was afraid that the event will hold

    The event, which attracted over 4000 delegates from across the 25 local government areas of the State, disrupted economic activities in the heart of Asaba metropolis.

    Peterside elected governorship candidate in Rivers

    The earlier endorsed governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, was yesterday formally elected with 3,773 votes.

    He was elected from the 3,914 total votes cast, with others declared invalid, but 4,321 persons were accredited, out of the 4,574 delegates.

    Peterside, who will be 44 on December 31, vowed to continue to depend on God Almighty, in view of the allegation by the Rivers Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, that he is a cultist and promised to make Rivers state greater.

    The Rivers Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), declared the he and other leaders of the APC would force free and fair elections in 2015 and would not be intimidated by the federal might, policemen or soldiers.

    The Rivers APC’s governorship primary election took place yesterday at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre in Port Harcourt, but was boycotted by another APC’s governorship contender, Senator Magnus Abe, an indigene of Bera-Ogoni in Gokana LGA and his supporters.

    The only Rivers APC’s governorship aspirant that contested the election was Peterside, who is the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) and the representative of Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro constituency, who hails from riverine Opobo, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro LGA.

    The Chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee, Austin Eweka, who was accompanied by other members from Abuja, noted that Amaechi and other members of the Rivers caucus of the APC had made their job easy, with their earlier endorsement of Peterside.

    Primary suspended in Imo

    The nationwide governorship primaries of the  All Progressive Congress(APC) was  suspended in Imo State following the inability of the state chapter of the party to produce aspirants for the  election.

    Although no specific date has been fixed for the governorship primary, the State Chairman of the party, Hillary Eke disclosed that a new date for the election might be fixed after a general meeting of the party held on Thursday.

    But the Vice  Chairman of the party, Hon Ugochukwu Nzekwe insisted that the election may come up on Friday as the party he noted is still working on the list of aspirants.

    The State Commissioner for Information, Chief Chidi Ibe also expressed  confidence that the primaries may hold on Friday.

    Both the state chairman and his Deputy were not sure  of the number of governorship aspirants contesting the election.

    “We are meeting to fine tune arrangements about the election, we have numerous governorship aspirants. We are prepared for the election” Eke said.

    Delegates endorse Gaidam in Yobe

    The  coast seem to completely clear  for Governor Ibrahim Gaidam to run for governorship of Yobe State in  the 2015 general elections  with the endorsement of over 2000 delegates of the party in Damaturu on Thursday .

    The primary which was held at the government house witnessed tight security especially coming three days  after the dastardly attack on Damaturu.

    Both male and female delegates were thoroughly searched with electronic scanners and manual screening before gaining access into the venue of the event.

    The consensus endorsement was led by the State Deputy Gov. Engr. Abubakar Aliyu who first cast his vote.

    Among other delegates were members of the National Assembly led by Senator Ahmed Lawan, while the Speaker of the State House of Assembly Adamu Dala Dogo led members of the Assembly.

    The Secretary to the State Government , Engr. Babagoni Machina and thousands of other delegates voted for the governor as the APC gubernatorial candidate for the state.

    Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Babagana Tijani Banki said that the APC in Yobe and Borno are only going through the process to fulfill the requirements of the electoral law as the party has only one candidate each in the states.

    Ezea emerges candidate in Enugu

    the Elected Guber candidate of APC Enugu State, Hon. Barr Okey Ezea, Chairman of Party, Dr. Ben Nwoye, the Chairman of Guber Primary Committee, Engr. Anthony Alinnor and the State Secretary, Major Gen. Chris Eze……..Thursday . PHOTO: OBI CLETUS.
    the Elected Guber candidate of APC Enugu State, Hon.
    Barr Okey Ezea, Chairman of Party, Dr. Ben Nwoye, the Chairman of
    Guber Primary Committee, Engr. Anthony Alinnor and the State
    Secretary, Major Gen. Chris Eze……..Thursday .
    PHOTO: OBI CLETUS.

    A two-time gubernatorial candidate in Enugu state, Okey Ezea has emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu state.

    Ezea who emerged unopposed at the party primaries which took place at the APC secretariat in Enugu had contested for the position  on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) in 2007 after losing out in the PDP primaries and 2011 elections.

    His emergence followed a voice vote by the 3467 delegates drawn from the 260 wards in the state.
    Ezea’s initial opponent, Ifeanyi Asogwa was said to have withdrawn to contest for the Nsukka/Igboeze South federal constituency seat.

    In his acceptance speech, the gubernatorial candidate pledged the provide free education, qualitative health care delivery and improved welfare scheme for the  people of the  state if elected as governor next year.

    He accused the People Democratic Party (PDP) led federal and state government of total failure in the past 16 years, noting that the best for the nation at this point in time is for Nigerians to give their mandate to the APC.

    Ezea who specifically said the present administration in the state had received a whopping N544 billion in the past 8 years without anything to show for it noted that he was ready to offer an accountable and transparent leadership for the state by next year.

    Chairman of APC in the state, Dr.  Ben Nwoye said the opposition party was ready to wrestle power from the ruling party, noting that already their 24 House of Assembly candidates had emerged and ready for the battle ahead.

    “We are the party for 2015. Those in PDP from the governorship to the ward level should prepare to take their leave because the right people have come to liberate the people of the state,” he said.

    Amosu voting in Ogun

     

    Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun casting his vote as a statutory delegate at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Primary Election held in Abeokuta
    Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun casting his vote as a statutory delegate at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Primary Election held in Abeokuta

    Ajimobi voting in Oyo

    Oyo State Governor, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi casting his vote at the APC Gurbernitorial Primary Election held at Lekan Salami Stadium Adamasingba, Ibadan
    Oyo State Governor, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi
    casting his vote at the APC Gurbernitorial Primary Election held at
    Lekan Salami Stadium Adamasingba, Ibadan
  • 2015: APC blasts Jonathan, vows to fight corruption if elected

    2015: APC blasts Jonathan, vows to fight corruption if elected

    The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Thursday said corruption has become more endemic in the last six years under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

    He said Jonathan should account for the missing N20b from the CBN revelations, the oil subsidy and pension scams.

    He asked Nigerians to vote out Jonathan in 2015 or else the nation will be worse for it.

    He said if APC is voted into power in 2015, the party will carry out drastic reforms in anti- corruption agencies in the country.

    The existing anti- corruption agencies are the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC); the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission( ICPC); and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) among others.

    Oyegun, who addressed the press at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, said APC will launch a vigorous campaign against corruption if given the chance to produce the national government in 2015.

    The press conference was solely organized to unveil the party’s anti-corruption agenda.

    He said the party intends to decentralize all anti corruption agencies in the country, encourage states and local government to establish same while the use of the ombudsman institution will be revived.

    He said: “The operation of the national budget and the maintenance of the military forces have been so severely compromised by corruption that national development and security have been massively undermined under the Jonathan administration of the last six years.

    “Using the corruption perception index {cpi} of Transparency international, Nigeria has maintained a score in the range of 25 percent and ranked amongst the bottom level of corrupt countries, deteriorating from a bad score of 27 percent in 2011 to 25 percent in 2013.

    “Evidence of widespread and rampant corruption abound in our everyday life. Following the last public demonstration against the increase in fuel prices in 2012, a probe into the operations of the fuel subsidy program of the Jonathan administration revealed massive fraud and corruption. But no conviction has been secured by this government.

    “The various reports of investigation of corrupt practices in the national pension scheme, the power sector, the NNPC, the Central Bank, government ministries and departments abound and nothing has been done about them.

    “The administration has demonstrated, both in its body language and explicit actions, a disgusting lack of will and competence to arrest and reverse the debilitating grip of corruption on our national life.

    “Public officials have developed and sustained chummy relationships with society figures being investigated for corruption and former public officials convicted for corruption have been selectively pardoned by the Presidency. Some of these persons, following their pardon, have been appointed to high positions of influence by the PDP administration and offered their platform to contest for high public office.

    “This is the issue of corruption, an evil that flourished under state – sponsorship and the patronage of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). We have a historic opportunity during the forthcoming elections to begin a serious and decisive fight to end this cancer, or submit to its destructive inroads into every facet of our lives.”

    He said giving Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party another four years in power will spell doom for the nation.

     

  • Photo: Enugu APC guber primaries

    Photo: Enugu APC guber primaries

    the Elected Guber candidate of APC Enugu State, Hon. Barr Okey Ezea, Chairman of Party, Dr. Ben Nwoye, the Chairman of Guber Primary Committee, Engr. Anthony Alinnor and the State Secretary, Major Gen. Chris Eze……..Thursday . PHOTO: OBI CLETUS.
    Elected governorship  candidate of APC Enugu State, Hon.
     Okey Ezea, Chairman of Party, Dr. Ben Nwoye, the Chairman of
    Guber Primary Committee, Engr. Anthony Alinnor and the State
    Secretary, Major Gen. Chris Eze……..Thursday .
    PHOTO: OBI CLETUS.
  • Kano mosque explosion: APC donates N5m to victims

    Kano mosque explosion: APC donates N5m to victims

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has donated five million naira to victims of last Friday’s bomb blast at the Kano Central Mosque.

    The APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, announced the donation on Wednesday when he paid a condolence visit to Gov. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso at the Government House, Kano.

    Oyegun, accompanied by other national officers of the party, said that the party deemed it necessary to donate the token in order to support the victims of the most unfortunate incident.

    “I want to on behalf of the APC, convey a truly heartfelt condolence and sympathy to the government and people of Kano State over the sad incident.

    “We share your grief and the people of Kano over the sad and unfortunate event. We wish to make a token donation of five million naira in support of the victims of the blast,” he disclosed.

    The APC National Chairman further added that the recent incidents in Kano State and Damaturu clearly underscored the need for increased, concerted efforts to end the insurgent activities, to save the country from anarchy.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he commended Kano State Government for the support and assistance it extended to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the North-East.

    “Let me use this opportunity to commend you because we are not unaware of the support and assistance you are giving to IDPs from the North-East.”

    Responding, Kwankwaso, represented by his Deputy, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, thanked the APC leadership for its concern.

    Kwankwaso assured that the state government would continue to work with various security agencies in order to ensure security of lives and properties of the citizenry.

  • Lagos APC guber primaries commence

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries to elect the Lagos State governorship candidate for the 2015 election  has commenced at the Onikan Stadium.

    As early as 9am delegates and other officials  started arriving the venue and were screened by security agents.

    Delegates sat in their various local government areas allocated seats. Outside the stadium, banners of some of the aspirants are strategically placed.
    The delegates will be accredited based on 20 local governments.
    Intermittently, the shouts of APC blares from the microphone.
    The aspirants started arriving the venue by 12noon.
    Accreditation will commence soon.
  • APC lawmakers face ‘police crackdown’

    APC lawmakers face ‘police crackdown’

    The crisis in Ekiti State has taken another dimension as the police search for the 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) for “interaction”.

    Before the current move, the members had intelligence report that Governor Ayodele Fayose had enlisted police’s support in the crackdown on opposition politicians, including lawmakers.

    The police had dropped “invitation letters” in the homes of  Folorunso Ogundele from Efon-Alaye and Tope Peter Agidi from Ilawe-Ekiti.

    But the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, denied knowledge of the invitation, saying there was no basis for such invitation, as there were no complaints against the lawmakers. He advised the Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, to ignore such invitation.

    The APC had earlier raised the alarm that Governor Fayose had recruited back to Ekiti State some of the policemen he used to unleash terror on the opposition during his first term.

    It said the “special squad” was being raised as an “alternative police force” to attack APC members as he did between 2003 and 2006.

    With Lakanu’s denial, Omirin said the coast seemed set for the next phase of crackdown on the opponents.

  • Four inmates in Govt House, says Ekiti APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has alleged that four of the inmates who escaped from the Federal Prisons, Ado-Ekiti, during Sunday’s jail break have taken residence in the Government House.

    The party alleged yesterday that four of the escapees, including a “notorious criminal and serial rapist”, are being lodged in chalets behind the Presidential Lodge in the Government House, Ado-Ekiti.

    But Governor Ayodele Fayose denied harbouring the inmates in the Government House. He accused the APC of “fabricating lies”.

    The APC in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, accused Fayose of complicity in the incident, following conflicting statements between him and his aide, Lere Olayinka.

    The party said while the governor blamed prison officials for complicity, Olayinka accused APC of masterminding the jailbreak to free Niyi Adedipe, who was in jail for alleged complicity in the murder of drivers’ union boss, Omolafe Aderiye.

    The APC said the alleged sighting of four of the escaped inmates in the Government House confirmed the suspicion that the Sunday incident was an “orchestrated plan to free criminals friendly with the government”.

    The APC urged security agencies to comb the Presidential Lodge in the Government House “to re-arrest the escapees quartered there”.

    The party said: “If the jail break was an attempt by APC to free Adedipe, why did Adedipe report himself to the police and subsequently surrendered himself to the prisons authorities without being declared wanted?

    “If the jail break was to kill Niyi Adedipe as alleged by Lere Olayinka why was he not killed?

    “Today, Ekiti people have information that four of the escapees, including a notorious criminal and serial rapist who attacked Fayose’s opponents during his first stint, are being lodged in the chalets behind the Presidential Lodge in the Government House.

    “We have raised issues on the reasons why Fayose demanded the police authorities in Abuja to post back to Ekiti State some of the police officers who worked with him during his first stint.

    “We are calling the attention of Nigerians and lovers of peace and security around the world that merchants of death are back in Ekiti State to terrorise the people of Ekiti State.”

    But Fayose said: “Their allegation that some of the inmates are in the Government House is so funny to us, rather, some of the escapees are in the APC custody.

    “The APC know where the criminals are, it wants to divert attention.”

  • APC to unveil governorship aspirants today

    APC to unveil governorship aspirants today

    The Vice-Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State, Mr. Ugochukwu Nzekwe, said yesterday that the identities of the  governorship aspirants were concealed from the public for strategic reasons.

    Fielding questions from reporters on why the party had not presented governorship aspirants barely 24 hours to today’s nationwide primaries, Nzekwe said the identities of the aspirants were kept secret to prevent tension and wrangling as experienced in other parties.

    Nzekwe, who spoke at the party secretariat during the distribution of electoral materials for the House of Assembly primaries, said the APC leadership was committed to conducting free and fair primaries in line with the party’s manifesto.