Bukola Adedeji has emerged winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Local Government chairmanship primaries for Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
The counting process is ongoing at party secretariat in ACME Ikeja, amid heavy security.
Adedeji, a former Bariga SLG, defeated others, securing 24 votes.
Details shortly…
Prince Usman Akanbi Hamzat has emerged winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Local Government chairmanship primary for Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government.
The counting process is ongoing at party secretariat in Ikeja, amid heavy security.
Hamzat, who is the incumbent Chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye LG, defeated others, polling 25 votes.
Details shortly…
Some Local Government chairmanship aspirants in Lagos State have expressed satisfaction with the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries.
Some of the aspirants spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Ikeja party secretariat venue of the primaries on Saturday.
NAN reports that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has fixed July 12 for the council poll in the state.
No fewer 1500 party delegates were present at the present to cast their votes for their respective aspirants.
Speaking, Mr Akeem Dauda, a Chairmanship aspirant for Ikeja LG ,said that the process was commendable.
Dauda said the method adopted by the party leadership to conduct the LG primaries was acceptable to many party stakeholders.
“We appreciate the leadership of our party and the Electoral Committee for ensuring the process of primaries remains transparent,” he said.
Also speaking, another aspirant and present Vice Chairman of Ikorodu LG, Mrs Folashade Olabanji-Oba, described the process as and peaceful.
“Some people might argue this but honestly I give it to the party and I am proud of the party,” Olabanji-Oba said.
Highlighting how diligently she had served the party and the people at the grassroots, the aspirant said that if she emerged as the winner, it would be a call for higher and greater service to the people.
On women inclusion in governance, she said: “I celebrate my great party, simply the best party for women inclusion. What the party has done is awesome by giving women opportunities.
” We have never had so much recognition like we have now.It couldn’t be better,” she added.
She applauded President Bola Tinubu’s belief in women inclusion, saying the APC leader was always a step ahead.
“Women are nation builders and there is no way we can disenfranchise over half of the population. This is a future for women, ” she said.
Also, Mr Larinde Ajibola, another aspirant from Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA), who described the process and smooth, peaceful and transparent, said that party supremacy remained sacrosant.
Ajibola, a 31-year-old aspirant, who described himself as the youngest aspirant, however, urged the party stakeholders to give room for the youth.
He commended President, Bola Tinubu’s manifesto, which included youth development and inclusiveness.
“Asiwaju (Tinubu) has said youth will have a certain percentage in this local government election and we hope the promise will be fulfilled.
“If I am elected, my first agenda is youth empowerment, access to finance and security of life and properties,” Ajibola said.
Another chairmanship aspirant, Mr Tayo Aderinola, from the Ikeja LG ,said he was ready to accept the results of the primary election.
Aderinola, who earlier stepped down for another aspirant, said he would give full support for the party candidate.
NAN reports that the primary election is ongoing at the party secretariat.
(NAN)
Chairmanship candidates for four local council areas have emerged at the ongoing Local Government primaries of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State,the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN)reports.
Mr Isa Jubril emerged candidate for Iba LCDA, Mrs Motunrayo Gbadebo for Ijede LCDA, Mr Rasaq Kasali emerged for Lekki LCDA and Mr Azeez Kareem emerged as Otto Awori LCDA candidate.
NAN reports all the candidates emerged via consensus and were affirmed by the delegates of each of the council areas.
Voting to pick candidates for other council areas was still ongoing at the Ikeja party secretariat as at the time of filing this report.
Deputy governor of the state, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, while addressing delegates before voting, urged them to be peaceful and orderly, saying that the whole country was watching.
Hazmat said: “We take this exercise very serious. Our president who is our leader and father, is monitoring us from Abuja.
“This is his state and you know he takes the people at the grassroots very seriously. That is why all of us must be patient.
“LASIEC is here to observe the process. This is a peaceful process. Let us do it peacefully and quickly and go. Let us be calm and be patient. Let us do it well.
“In Lagos, it is APC that is still existing, the umbrella (of PDP) is torn, so we should not play into the hands of outsiders (opposition).”
Reeling out voting modalities earlier, Chairman, Lagos APC Electoral Committee, Mr Babatunde Ogala ,said delegates of the local governments with consensus candidates would be allowed to affirm their candidates before delegates of councils with competing aspirants.
Noting that the accreditation had been well done, Ogala said that some local delegates had resolved and agreed to present their consensus candidates.
“Some Local Governments seem to have done their process at home, we will take them first so that they affirm and depart.”,he said shortly before the emergence of the four consensus candidates.
Stating that aspirants who wanted to withdraw were at liberty to do so, Ogala urged delegates to leave the venue after voting to decongest the venue.
(NAN)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Local Government chairmanship primaries are currently underway at the party secretariat in Ikeja,amid heavy security.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has fixed July 12 to conduct elections into the 20 Local Governments (LGs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas(LCDAs) in the state.
NAN political correspondents monitoring the primaries report that there is heavy presence of police operatives at the venue to ensure hitch-free conduct.
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, CP Moshood Jimoh, is seen monitoring security situation within and outside the premises.
Operatives of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and those of Department of State Security (DSS) are also on ground to provide security.
Officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) are also on ground .
Vehicular movements on the entire stretch of the road leading to the venue were restricted .
The development created gridlock around ACME Road and other roads, forcing vehicles to take alternative routes to access their destinations.
Addressing newsmen briefly before the commencement of the delegates accreditation, the Chairman of the APC Electoral Committee, Mr Babatunde Ogala, called for fair reportage from the media.
Ogala, who asked the media of their assessment of the venue, said that the committee had provided adequate security for all the participants.
According to him, though the accreditation was supposed to start at 9.00am, the committee delayed commencement by some minutes to ensure delegates coming from far places were part of the process.
(NAN)
As the All Progressives Congress (APC) intensifies efforts to actualize its 30% women inclusion policy in elective offices, a transformative political narrative is unfolding in Badagry West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State.This development is particularly significant as it aligns with national conversations on gender equity in governance, championed by figures like First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who advocates for increased female representation in legislative and executive arms of government.
In Badagry West, the chairmanship race is notably competitive, featuring three distinguished female aspirants. Princess Damilola Sonayon James, Princess Oluremi Nutayi, and Princess Sesi Ogungbe. Each brings a unique blend of experience, political backing, credentials, and community engagement to the political arena.
Princess Damilola Sonayon James: Bridging Legacy and Innovation, emerges as a formidable contender, blending royal heritage with a progressive vision for Badagry West. Scoring an impressive 83 (the highest) in the recent APC chairmanship screening, she stands out for her commitment to youth and gender inclusion. Currently serving as the Supervisory Councillor for Agriculture and Social Service, her professional background encompasses roles in sustainability, risk management, and community development, reflecting a holistic approach to governance.
Working in public service since 2009, James’s political journey is deeply rooted in public service. Her grandfather, the late Oba Afolabi James, was a close confidant of President Bola Tinubu, while her father, Hon. Bolarinwa Seyon James, served in the House of Representatives during Tinubu’s tenure as Lagos State Governor. Her family is a pillar of the community, routed in public service, community development and advocacy for the people of Badagry West. This lineage underscores her deep-seated commitment to community advancement.
While she may not have publicly declared endorsements from local Badagry West APC Leaders, her affiliations with key political figures, including Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende (RAK). Ogunlende, seen as a strong emerging force with a subtle but growing base of young political mentees. Shared ideals of youth empowerment and grassroots development may serve as the tie binding them. Further connections to state officials like Tayo Ayinde, further bolster her political capital at the state level, including James’s active participation in initiatives such as the BOSCO ambassadors who actively campaigns for APC state and presidential elections.
Today, Damilola maintains an active membership of APC, whilst making substantial contributions to Seyi Tinubu’s social projects in Badagry highlight her dedication to grassroots empowerment.
Princess Oluremi Nutayi: Championing Traditional Values joining the race more recently than others, Princess Oluremi Nutayi brings traditional support to her candidacy. Scoring 67 in the APC chairmanship screening, she is the daughter of the Oba of Apa and enjoys backing from both local monarchs in Badagry West and political figures, including Hon. Bonu Solomon and Chief Ade Agoro.
Nutayi’s platform emphasizes the integration of cultural heritage with governance, aiming to foster unity and development within Badagry West. Her candidacy resonates with constituents who value traditional leadership.
Politically, her base is strengthened by the fact that her ward has yet to produce a council chairman since the creation of the LCDA, which may promote her argument in a consensus arrangement.
Princess Sesi Ogungbe: with 14 years in the Lagos State Civil Service, presents a candidacy grounded in administrative experience. Scoring 76 in the APC chairmanship screening, she currently serves as the Supervisor for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Badagry West LCDA. Her initiatives, such as empowering women with cash grants, underscore her commitment to uplifting marginalized groups.
Ogungbe’s political support is inforced by endorsements from local APC leaders, Hon. Joseph Bamgbose the apex leader of Badagry West and incumbent chairman Mr. Joseph Gbenu. These endorsements place her in a good negotiating position.
A Pivotal Moment for Badagry West, the convergence of these three female aspirants in Badagry West’s chairmanship race marks a significant moment in the quest for gender-inclusive governance, as the APC continues to promote women’s participation in politics.
While each candidate offers distinct strengths, One particular candidate has established a blend of youthful energy, professional acumen, and deep-rooted community ties positioning her as a transformative leader for Badagry West. Her candidacy embodies the progressive ideals that the APC seeks to advance, potentially heralding a new era of inclusive and dynamic local governance.
Whether the decision will be settled by consensus or primaries remains to be seen, but we must make sure all sentiments are aside and the best person for the job is elected.
Under the extant 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), political parties form the pivot around which the machinery of governance revolves. Members of the legislature who make the laws and the head of the executive which implements the laws are elected on the platform of political parties, as independent candidacy is not recognized by law. Even appointments in the judiciary, which constitutes the third arm of government, are made by the executive, sanctioned by the national or state judicial service commissions and confirmed by the legislature. Despite the central role of the political party in the governance process, the party system under the constitution is largely amorphous, loose and unstructured.
As things are currently, the vibrancy, vigour, vitality and efficacy of political parties will have to depend on the quality of party leadership, the strength of the relationship between parties and their grassroots bases, the degree of internal party discipline, respect for the regulatory laws of the parties and the effective functioning of various party organs. The reality is that none of the political parties today, at least the three major ones, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), which performed beyond its own expectation in the last presidential election, live up to the ideal of capably led, efficiently organized, party machines with intimate organic linkages with their grassroots membership.
While the PDP and LP are bogged down by protracted and debilitating internal crises, the daily haemorrhaging of elected and other prominent members of the two parties to the APC has engendered a sense of triumphalism and self-satisfaction in the latter and alarm bells of panic among the former. The beleaguered opposition parties raise hysterical cries that President Bola Tinubu is deliberately destabilizing their ranks through alleged inducement or intimidation, and blackmail by anti-corruption agencies. The aim, they say, is to foist a one-party dictatorship on the country, shrink the democratic space and make the President’s reelection for a second term a fait accompli.
But then, the large-scale defections of opposition party members to the party in control of the state and thus the power of patronage at the centre or in the states has become an entrenched feature of our political culture that predates the assumption of office of President Tinubu in May 2023. For instance, in 2021, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, who was elected as governor of Zamfara State in 2019 on the platform of the PDP, dumped the party and joined the APC. Earlier, Engineer David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi State and Professor Ben Ayade, governor of Cross River State, had equally defected to the ruling APC. And as noted last week, as at May 30, 2007, the PDP controlled 31 of the country’s 36 States although this was later reduced to 30 states when the courts sacked Andy Uba as governor of Anambra State and Mr Peter Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was sworn in as chief Executive of the state.
Although the major political parties in focus here have been dismissed by many as essentially opportunistic vehicles which exist for the sole purpose of winning elections and accessing power for largely extractive, exploitative purposes as well as lacking in ideological distinctiveness that undermine their capacity to promote development, they are the most viable party structures we have for now. As our electoral structures and processes continue to improve and elections more and more reflect the will of the people, they will incrementally be compelled to improve their organizational structures, respect internal rules, uphold intra-party democracy and put governments elected on their platforms on their toes to seriously implement party manifestoes and thus be concrete developmental agents.
And this may be the only option until youths who actively advocate change through social media militancy as well as radical intellectuals who wax rhetorically revolutionary only in theory learn to engage personally on the political terrain and get down to the hard, back-breaking work of forming and nurturing viable political organizations capable of winning elections and charting alternative trajectories for the country. But any tendency towards a one-party system will not be in the interest ultimately of the ruling party, the opposition, democracy or the country. But it is up to the opposition parties to put their houses in order. Neither President Tinubu nor the APC can do this for them.
The greatest challenge confronting the PDP right now is to resolve the current crisis that pitches the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, against the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Waziri Atiku Abubakar. A member of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief Olabode George, has canvassed the expulsion of both chieftains from the party for anti-party activities. It is impracticable and unworkable. Despite his frequent abandonment of the party in his desperate quest for the presidency of Nigeria, expelling Atiku from the PDP will have serious negative implications for the party. As for Wike, it is well known that he almost single-handedly sustained the party and ensured its survival during an earlier crisis that nearly spelt its irretrievable implosion.
An amicable solution must be found with Wike and Atiku remaining in the PDP but ready to struggle for control of its structures through the party’s internal democratic processes at its next elective national convention. The party’s stakeholders – governors, states’ party executives, national Assembly caucuses, BOT members and those who belong neither to the Wike nor Atiku factions should summon the will and resourcefulness to get the party out of its current bog and enable it to regain its squandered glory. As for the LP, the way forward lies neither with the Julius Abure nor the Nenadi Usman-led factions.
It would be wise for the sponsor of the LP, the NLC, to extricate the party from the grip of both sides and begin to nudge the LP to reclaim its original mission and identity as an organization of the toiling Nigerian masses committed to charting an alternative developmental path for the country rather than an opportunistic Special Purpose Vehicle hired by all manner of unprincipled politicians to contest elections for a price. It is instructive that neither the voluble Peter Obi nor the incurably academic Pat Utomi has been able to proffer practical solutions to the LP conundrum.
The defectors to the ruling APC have cited President Tinubu’s policies, the near tripling of the fiscal receipts by the sub-national units under his administration, as well as the protracted crisis in their parties, as reasons for their joining the party in control of the centre. These defections cannot be attributed to the organizational efficiency of the party in galvanising grassroots support and winning over new members, and here lies the great challenge confronting the APC. It must urgently ensure that its various organs begin to function seamlessly. It must reinvigorate its grassroots machinery by ensuring that the party executives are active, especially at the ward and local government levels.
Significant as the current defections to the party by opposition politicians are, no less critical to the party’s performance at forthcoming polls will be the impact of its policies in achieving evident objectives and improving lives. The party should thus have a ready pool of experts and progressive intellectuals to pay attention to the policy of governments elected on its platform with a view to contributing to making qualitative inputs to the policy process, which is one of the key functions of a serious and purposeful political party. It should prioritize winning and mobilizing new grassroots membership over receiving decampees from other parties, even if it will understandably readily welcome the latter.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has assured Nigerians that the recent wave of defections into the ruling party, including three Senators from Kebbi State, will be managed seamlessly through established party mechanisms.
Speaking after leading the defecting senators to meet President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Friday, Ganduje said the APC’s constitution and its internal structures provide clear guidance for integrating new members.
“Our constitution is very clear about this and, beyond that, our political dexterity in managing such affairs is on the table. So, I assure you that there will be a smooth integration,” he stated.
The meeting at the State House followed the decision of the three Kebbi senators — previously elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — to decamp to the APC.
The lawmakers — Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central); Senator Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi (Kebbi North) and Senator Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South), according to Ganduje, will soon announce their decision on the floor of the Senate.
Ganduje described the development as strategic and beneficial to the party, noting that the defections were the result of weeks of underground negotiations and consultations among key stakeholders in Kebbi State.
“This is in continuation of the initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the APC must do what it must do democratically in order to increase our numerical strength. In this incident, not only our numerical strength, but also the quality and capacity of our followership have increased,” Ganduje said.
According to him, Tinubu has graciously given his blessing to the senators’ decision, signalling the party’s readiness to formally welcome the new members.
“By Tuesday, you will see what will happen in the Red Chambers,” he added, hinting at an official announcement in the Senate.
The APC chairman dismissed fears that the mass defections could signal a drift toward a one-party state, insisting that the growing dominance of the APC is a reflection of its performance and appeal across the country.
“Leaders worried about a one-party state have no need to fear. A one-party state is not by force; it is by negotiation. It is by other political parties seeing the effect of the positive governance of our party. If they decide to come to our party willingly, I think there is nothing wrong with that,” he explained.
Citing global examples, Ganduje said: “Today China is one of the strongest countries in the world and is a one-party system. We are not saying we are working for a one-party system, but if this is the wish of Nigerians, we cannot quarrel with that.”
He also took a swipe at current political structure, arguing that a crowded political space could hinder good governance.
“You know they say too many cooks spoil the soup; too many political parties spoil governance,” Ganduje remarked.
In recent months, the APC has recorded several defections from opposition parties in both chambers of the National Assembly, a trend many attribute to the consolidation of power by the ruling party under President Tinubu.
Ganduje maintained that the APC remains committed to democratic principles and inclusiveness, asserting that every new member would find a place within the party’s broad framework and leadership structure.
Three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the House of Representatives from Katsina State yesterday defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
This brings to 27 the number of lawmakers in the 10th National Assembly that have changed parties since the Assembly was inaugurated on June 13, 2023.
Out of the figure, 24 members have dumped either the PDP, the Labour Party (LP), or the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to join the APC; one dumped the LP to join the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) while two other LP members joined the PDP.
The three lawmakers who resigned their membership of the PDP at yesterday’s plenary are: Abdullahi Balarabe Dabai (Bakori/Danja Federal Constituency), Aliyu Illiyasu (Safana/Butsari) and Salish Yusuf Majigiri (Mashi/Dushi).
In his letter read at plenary by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, Majigiri said he was leaving the PDP as a result of the “chronic crisis without cure” affecting the main opposition at the national level.
The lawmaker said he had to seek an alternative platform to advance his political career and ensure adequate representation for his constituents.
Illiyasu said he was leaving the PDP because of irreconcilable differences that had bedeviled the party and made it impossible for him to adequately represent his people.
Dabai expressed worry that the PDP has been writhing in crises since 2022 and all efforts to address them have failed, with party members bearing the brunt.
The defection was witnessed by Katsina State Governor Umar Dikko Radda, former Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema and other top officials of APC from the state.
The Delta APC has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the full repayment of Nigeria’s debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), describing it as a landmark financial victory and a bold symbol of Nigeria’s renewed economic sovereignty.
In a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, the party commended the Tinubu administration for what it termed “a strategic reset of Nigeria’s economic narrative,” affirming that the President has “restored the dignity of the Nigerian nation and positioned her as a re-emerging economic powerhouse.”
Part of the statement reads, “The All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta State under the chairmanship of Elder Omeni Sobotie, proudly extends its warmest congratulations to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, on the remarkable economic milestones achieved under his visionary Renewed Hope Agenda.”
It said the repayment of the IMF debt, which led to Nigeria’s removal from the list of indebted countries, was not just a financial transaction, but a “defining moment” in the Tinubu administration’s efforts to re-engineer the economy.
“This singular accomplishment, under the firm and competent stewardship of President Tinubu, is not only a financial triumph but a powerful statement of Nigeria’s resurgence as a sovereign economic powerhouse,” the statement added.
It further emphasized the ripple effect of the President’s bold economic actions, stating: “These decisive fiscal disciplines, bold monetary policies and sweeping diversification efforts have sparked unprecedented economic growth, reinvigorated our productive sectors and repositioned Nigeria as a destination of choice for global investment.”
According to the party, these policies are “not abstract projections; they are felt daily in communities across our nation.”
Delta APC also used the moment to stress that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has birthed “initiatives that support local enterprise, agricultural expansion, digital innovation, infrastructure renewal and youth empowerment,” adding that the economic transformation is both measurable and people-oriented.