The Nation Newspaper

Tag: APC

  • Elders call for peace in Ibadan

    The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) has called for peace in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, following the violence in some parts of the city.

    The council, a non-partisan umbrella organisation of Ibadan social clubs, urged warring groups to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign.

    It enjoined members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord Party (AP) and others to exercise restraint ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    A statement, entitled: Call for Peace in Oyo State, by the council’s Publicity Secretary, Seye Ogunsina, appealed to security agencies to prosecute anyone who wants to turn Ibadan into a battle ground.

  • Kebbi deputy governor: I’m still in PDP

    Kebbi deputy governor: I’m still in PDP

    Kebbi State Deputy Governor Ibrahim Aliyu has debunked  rumours that he was planning to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 17 members of the House of Assembly to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Birnin-Kebbi, the state capital, Aliyu said the story of his defection was a shock to him because he did not grant any interview to any reporter on such a sensitive matter.

    He said: “I am not under pressure to leave the PDP. I am one of the founding fathers of the PDP in this state.”

    According to him,  himself, Gen. Muhammadu Magoro, Dr Muhammed Bello Haliru and Bello Alkali brought the party to this state.

    Aliyu added: “The yearnings and pressure from the people  propelled me to vie for governorship to succeed my boss. This is not a unilateral decision; it was at a township meeting that I was endorsed to take over from Abdulazeez Dakingari as the next governor of Kebbi State.”

  • Lack of APC governorship aspirants in Imo worried party chiefs

    Lack of APC governorship aspirants in Imo worried party chiefs

    BARELY three weeks to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries, no single aspirant has indicated interest to contest the Imo governorship election on the platform of the party.

    The Nation gathered that the governorship position was left vacant for the incumbent governor, Rochas Okorocha.

    But his bid for the APC presidential ticket might have ruled out the possibility of his seeking re-election as governor.

    A highly placed source, who pleaded anonymity, said the governor had procured the governorship Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms through a proxy.

    This is allegedly being kept a secret until after the presidential primaries.

    The source also attributed the reluctance of APC members to indicate interest in the governorship seat to the governor’s veiled interest in the position, which he has communicated to his close confidants.

    “The governor has told members of his inner circle that he would seek re-election, if he fails to clinch the party’s presidential ticket or be nominated as a running-mate. He will return to complete the good work he is doing in Imo,” the source said.

    But the vacuum created by this development, according to analysts, might affect the chances of the APC in the governorship election as other political parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), are beginning to take advantage of the situation to penetrate the party’s structure.

    Another APC stalwart, who expressed worry over the development, told The Nation: “I don’t know what is happening because the rumuor making the rounds is that the governor knows that he cannot win his re-election and as a result, has tactically opted out under the guise of contesting the presidential election.”

    The reliable source, who also pleaded anonymity, noted that “various groups have been pleading with the governor to seek second term. But he appears adamant on pursuing his presidential ambition and this is already weakening the party structure.

    “For instance, the governor is busy moving from one northern state to another, while the PDP and APGA are busy wooing the electorate”.

  • Court bars DSS from APC’s data centre

    Court bars DSS from APC’s data centre

    •Ordered to produce detained workers

    Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court, Lagos yesterday barred the Department of State Security (DSS) from the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) data office.

    He also ordered it to produce the detained workers, Chinedu Atuche, Fayemi Olaposi, Chika Augustine Onochukwu, Ebun Ilori and Esther Enemuwe.

    The judge gave two orders in respect of the case of enforcement of human rights filed by APC counsel, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

    The court ordered that the DSS should unseal the data office /warehouse located at 10, Bola Ajibola Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, forthwith.

    It gave an interim order restraining the respondent (DSS) from further sealing off the office or taking further steps in connection with the property.

    With regard to the five data entry workers being held in custody by the DSS, the court ordered the respondent to produce them in court tomorrow to explain to it why they are still being held.

    The court, however, did not give any order regarding the release of the seized equipment, server and computer.

  • Raid of APC data office condemned

    Raid of APC data office condemned

    Former Lagos State Deputy Governor Rafiu Jafojo condemned yesterday last weekend’s “Gestapo style” raid of the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) data office by the Department of State Security (DSS).

    In a statement, Jafojo said he was disturbed by the increasingly lack of court process in DSS operations. “The DSS is intolerant of opposition political parties. If these actions go unchecked, we have cause to worry that opposition parties might be intimidated, thus sabotaging democracy.

    “This action is coming a few days after the police action at the National Assembly, preventing lawmakers from entering the National Assembly and using teargas on them.

    “These are bad omen for our democracy, which we must protect jealously.”

  • 120 aspirants screened

    120 aspirants screened

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Ondo State, Isaac Kekemeke, has described the screening of aspirants as an attestation to the party’s commitment to internal democracy.

    Kekemeke said the APC respected the people and their aspirations.

    He said the screening was part of the arrangements at ensuring a level- playing ground for all.

    The chairman said over 120 aspirants were screened from the 26 constituencies .

    The Chairman of the Screening Committee, Nonso Ezedinma, said the screening was in line with the party’s guideline.

  • Atiku’s aide advises APC on credible primaries

    Thead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries, a representative of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the Convention Committee, Mr. Greg Egu, has urged the committee headed by former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, to ensure a level- playing field for aspirants.
    He said if internal democracy prevailed, his principal would clinch the ticket.
    Egu, a senatorial aspirant from Imo East on APC’s platform, spoke in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State while briefing reporters ahead of Atiku’s visit.
    He enjoined delegates from the Southeast to vote for the ex-vice president, “who always includes Ndigbo’s interest in his plans.”
    Egu, however, described Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha’s presidential ambition as a good development for the Igbo, stressing: “If he is in the race to negotiate positions for Ndigbo, he has my support because the Igbo are neglected in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government.”

  • Buhari visits Bayelsa, asks voters to kick out PDP

    Buhari visits Bayelsa, asks voters to kick out PDP

    Large crowd of the All Progressive Congress (APC) supporters trooped out in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Wednesday, to receive a presidential aspirant of the party, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

    Party enthusiasts and other residents of the state crowded the secretariat of APC at Erepa Street in Yenagoa, to catch a glimpse of the former head of state whose slogan is “zero tolerance to corruption.”

    Buhari was in the state to address the delegates of the party for the APC’s forthcoming presidential primaries.

    The aspirant and his entourage were received by the state Chairman of APC, Mr. Tiwe Oruminighe and members of the state working committee.

    Addressing the delegates, Buhari lamented the deep-rooted corruption in Nigeria, blaming it on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said the PDP had brought nothing but untold hardship to Nigerians, adding that another four years of the PDP would further plunge the country into misery.

    He asked the people to compare 1999 when the PDP took over the reins of power with the present realities, observing that everything had gone from bad to worse.

    According to him Nigerians should either make a wise choice in the next election by voting the APC or remain in perpetual suffering.

    “If you want to know how much we have been suffering under the PDP since 1999, try and imagine what our condition was in 1999. We used to have Nigerian airways, we used to have Nigerian shipping lines, the roads were not too bad, even light itself was not too bad,” he said.

    He said under the watch of PDP, many industries had closed shops, leading to backwardness in industrialization.

    Buhari noted that the ruling party had shown total disrespect to democratic institutions and lack of political will to stop corruption.

    “What is wrong? What is wrong is massive corruption. If we don’t kill corruption in Nigeria, corruption will kill us,” he said, adding that corruption had made it impossible for the country to develop its potential.

    He recalled that under PDP many panels of inquiries were set up and people were indicted for corrupt practices in the petroleum and other sectors.

  • Buhari: Jonathan not ready for free polls

    Buhari: Jonathan not ready for free polls

    •APC’s criticism angers PDP

    All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant Gen. Muhammadu Buhari yesterday knocked President Goodluck Jonathan administration for  the invasion of the APC’s data centre in Lagos.

    He said the clampdown was a foretaste of things to come in next year’s general elections.

    Gen. Buhari said the government had shown that it would not conduct “anything resembling free and fair elections”.

    He said the desperation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was growing by the hour.

    The aspirant, who made his position known in a statement in Abuja through his aide, Sabi’u Tunde, asked the Presidency to stop “defending the indefensible”. The Directorate of State Security (DSS) said it stormed the data centre because it suspected that it was habouring illegal activities.

    Gen. Buhari expressed regrets that the Federal Government was pushing the nation into chaos.

    The statement said:  “Almost everyday, the Jonathan presidency seems intent on demonstrating for all to see that they have mastered the art of how to push a nation into chaos within the shortest time possible.

    “The early morning attack by security operatives on the APC data centre in Lagos on Saturday November 22nd is one such display in a growing chain of abuse and violation of the constitution and political rights of the people. It is a reckless act that must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

    “The APC Data Centre housed internal party membership information and also was an important vehicle to disseminate information to APC members.

    “Yet, for conducting functions necessary and proper for a political party operating within the democratic context, the Centre became a hated target of the Jonathan government and the PDP.”

    He indicted the administration of being behind the attack on the APC data centre.

    The statement added: “The Jonathan government cannot claim ignorance. The security operatives conducting this illegal raid must have been ordered from Abuja. They would not have done what they did unless given the mandate from their high bosses in Abuja.

    “Attempting to defend the indefensible, they fabricate a story that the attack was necessary because criminal activity was taking place at the Centre. These statements are such plain lies.

    “These acts are but a foretaste of things to come. From these attacks, this government is signaling to the Nigerian people they have no intention of holding anything resembling free and fair elections.

    “Their goal is not to create a level electoral playing field. Their goal is to level the opposition into the dust through the abuse of federal power.”

    The APC presidential aspirant accused the PDP of becoming desperate to win next year’s poll at all cost.

    The statement added: “The desperation of the PDP grows by the hour. Afraid they may be swept from office by the results of a free election fairly conducted, they will go to any length to hold on to office.

    “We are swiftly approaching a telling moment in our history. The crumbling PDP government is trying its utmost to stop the irresistible force of the people’s desire for progressive change that will establish peace and security as well as bring widely-shared prosperity for all.

    “The PDP knows the APC is the vehicle to bring this change; thus the PDP is doing all it can to damage that vehicle.  The APC is an idea whose time has come because we are committed to govern Nigeria as if it were a great nation and not to destroy it as if it were a conquered country.”

    Gen. Buhari said the APC would not accept anything other than free and fair elections in 2015.

    The statement said: “Nigerians are watching. The APC, for one, will seek free and fair elections. Nothing more, nothing less. The APC will also abide by the results of such elections. However, we will not stand idly and watch this government dismantle even the small, incomplete fragments of democracy this nation has struggled so hard and long to build.

    “To allow this demolition will be more than a tragedy for the APC. It will separate the nation from its future greatness.

    “We shall use all legal and constitutional means – from the courts, to the press, to protests – to alert the people and world to the shadow this government seeks to cast over the nation, and we shall use these same means to disperse that shadow so that free and fair elections can be had.”

  • Save Ekiti from criminals, says APC

    Save Ekiti from criminals, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has urged Governor Ayodele Fayose to provide security for Ekiti people.

    Reacting to the bank robbery in the state, APC’s Public Secretary Taiwo Olatubosun said the security experience of Ekiti people negated the campaign promises the governor made.

    He decried the killings of security agents at Ikere, saying the laxity in the operations of the police was not unconnected with lack of motivation and right equipment to fight crimes.

    “We cried out last time that cuts by the governor in the votes to security agencies in their operations will hurt their capabilities to fight crimes.

    “Former Governor Kayode Fayemi bought armoured personnel carriers, equipment and vehicles for the police and adequately funded the Army, DSS and Nigeria Civil Defence for effective security provision.

    “Throughout his tenure, Ekiti people went about their normal businesses and could sleep with their eyes closed.

    “It is sad that like his first term, the governor will not work with the DSS. Just a month in the saddle, we are recording reverses even when the security vote to the governor has reportedly doubled while disbursements to the security agencies have shrunk.

    “We also seize this opportunity to appeal to Ekiti State Police Command to be fair in handling of cases.

    The current siege by criminals is dangerous to Ekiti people, particularly opposition politicians, who are being targeted for attacks.