The Nation Newspaper

Tag: APGA

  • Tension as Edo awaits election results

    Tension as Edo awaits election results

    …Igbinedion denies arrest
    There was huge turnout of residents in Edo State Wednesday as they trooped out to elect the next governor of the state.

    Contending candidates for the election were Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the People’s Democratic Party and Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressive Congress.

    In Edo South, the election was generally peaceful as accreditation of voters commenced as early as 8am.

    The card reader performed well across the seven local government except in few cases where the card readers stopped working and they were replaced.

    As at press time, leaders of both the PDP and APC are laying claim to victory in the keenly contested election.

    Unconfirmed report from 1100 out 2,627 polling units across the state placed the APC ahead with 78837 votes while the PDP ahead 62649 votes.

    Collation of results were still being done as at press time.

    A former lawmaker in the House of Representatives, Hon Rasaq Bello Osagie, described the call by candidate of APGA, Osaro Onaiwu, for the cancellation of the results as a defeatist comments.

    Hon Bello-Osagie said anybody who felt sub-changed should go to the court of law.

    Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency, Omosede Igbinedion, has denied being arrested by the police.

    Information that trend on the social media said Omosede, a daughter of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom, was held for attempting to vote with a fake voter register.

    Omosede stated that it was the police that tried to intimidate and harass her.

    She alleged that ballot boxes were snatched in some parts of Ovia.

  • Edo APGA crisis deepens

    Edo APGA crisis deepens

    The crisis rocking the Edo state Chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has deepened following decision of the state party executives to withdraw support for the party’s governorship candidate, Osaro Onaiwu.

    This is coming three days after National Chairman of the party, Mr. Victor Oye, suspended the entire Edo state executives of the party for alleged anti-party activities.

    But the suspended party executives in a press statement issued in Benin yesterday said actions, inactions and omissions of Onaiwu amounted to anti-party activities.

    The statement signed by the party’s state chairman, Godfrey Ehizokhale Ehimhen and State secretary, Aifuobhokhan Emmanuel, said they have not been impressed by the actions of Onaiwu since he joined the party after he resigned as the Director General of the Governor’s Forum.

    Among the reasons listed for the decision, according to the statement, included lack of respect for the party authority, assault and humiliation of leaders of the party and plans to use ‘stooges’ to administer APGA finances to agents during the elections.

    It said the party executives would channel their energy and time towards other political ventures and warned all its party members ahead of the forthcoming Edo governorship election to play by the rules to avoid sanctions.

    When contacted for comments, Onaiwu said he was on his way to Benin from electioneering campaigns.

    When asked to comment through the phone because of time, he retorted, “Otabor, go ahead and publish the report. You are stupid. I told you I am coming and you are still talking.”

    Candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the rescheduled governorship election in Edo state, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, has said that the party executives which withdrew support for his ambition were greedy

    Onaiwu described statements by the APGA state executives as laughable and show of ignorance.

    A statement sent through electronic mail, Onaiwu wondered on whose authority the party executives acted after the have been expelled from the party by the National leadership of APGA.

    The APGA candidate urged all supporters of APGA to stay resolute and not be distracted by ‘baseless rumours and gimmicks by some greedy people.’

    He was reacting to a press statement signed by state executives of the party in which they opted to withdraw support for Onaiwu.

  • Edo APGA expels spokesman, others

    Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has expelled the Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Paul Okolie and other members over alleged anti- party activities.

    APGA said its candidate for the September 28 rescheduled governorship poll in the state, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, is the solution to Edo people’s problem.

    Okolie had led hundreds of APGA members to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to support the candidacy of Godwin Obaseki.

    In a statement signed by the state Chairman of the party, Godfrey Ehizokhale Ehimhen and the secretary, Aifuobhokhan Emmanuel, the party warned its members across the state to desist from “political prostitution” or face sanction.

    The statement added that Okolie and the party’s Organizing Secretary, Chief Chidi Eze, alongside their supporters have since been expelled from the party due to their involvement in anti-party activities and “are no longer members of the party.”

     

  • APGA State Executives, others defect to APC in Edo

    The Publicity Secretary and Chieftain of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Edo State, Hon (Chief) Pius Okolie, with over 1,000 of his supporters, including executive members and chieftains have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Those who defected with him included, the Organising Secretary, Mr Chidi Eze; Ikpoba Okha Ward 1 Chairman, Festus Agbonlahor; Ward 2 Chairman, Uchenna Ogugba; Ward 7 Youth Leader, Pastor Peter Akeredolu; Woman Leader, Mrs Blessing Aikharaekpen; Uhunmwode Youth Leader, Godfrey Ogbarate and Chief Raymond Okpara, Ex-Officio.

    Okolie, a former aspirant for House of Representatives for Oredo Constituency and House of Assembly, Ikpoba-Okha Constituency who spoke with newsmen in Benin City said his action was based on his conviction that only an APC government led by Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Hon Philip Shaibu can sustain the good works already started by the Oshiomhole’s led government.

    According to him, “I believe Obaseki will consolidate on Oshiomhole’s good works and even do better.”

    Okolie said the pedigree of Obaseki will live up to expectations.

    He disclosed that his defection to APC would enable him contribute his quota more to the development of the state where he had lived for over 40 years.

    Assuring his Igbo kinsmen that under the Godwin Obaseki led government, the enabling environment would be created for their businesses to grow, he said there would a review of the tax regime with a view to making it more people friendly.

    He also assured his kinsmen that Obaseki led government would build more markets for their businesses to flourish, while urging them to vote APC during the election.

     

  • Edo polls: ‘Why election cannot hold on September 28’

    Edo polls: ‘Why election cannot hold on September 28’

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has said he would petition the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on why the governorship election fixed for September 28 must be postponed again.

    It said the governorship polls must be organized to accommodate candidates in the 2016 November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examinations in the state.

    Governorship candidate of APGA, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, said the September 28 date was not feasible because some students were expected to write Physics practical, Food Nutrition 1 and 2 papers and two other papers on that day.

    Onaiwu noted that the clash of dates would disenfranchise the students and also prevent them from voting for his party.

    He said that there “nothing wrong” in shifting the election further to October 1.

    The former Director General of the Governors Forum‎ said the earlier postponed election was necessary in order to secure the future of the youth and promote education.

    Onaiwu said: “On Wednesday 28, there is Physics. After the holidays, I think I am going to do a letter to WAEC and INEC, alerting them that (September) 28 is not convenient. We must accommodate those people writing exams.

    “They should take it (exam) to October 1. There is nothing wrong if we do the election on Independence Day, as long as we must have a governor that would be sworn in on November 12.”

  • APGA hails INEC for Edo polls

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for postponing the governorship election in Edo State earlier scheduled for Saturday September 10.

    It said there was need for government at all levels to prioritise education and security in governance.

    Governorship candidate of the party, Osaro Onaiwu, who spoke to newsmen yesterday, said the rescheduled election would allow students to write the 2016 General Certificate Examination without disruption.

    Onaiwu said the students’ overall performance would have been undermined if the election had held as scheduled.

    He stated that education and security would be top priority in his administration when he is elected governor.

    The APGA candidate urged other politicians in the state to always put the people’s interest first before their personal interest and urged all Edolites and APGA supporters to remain resolute in ensuring a credible, fair and conclusive governorship election in Edo State.

  • APGA condemns attack on members

    The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has condemned the attacks on some of its members in Upper Sokponba area, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government. It fingered members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as being behind the attacks.

    The APGA candidate, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, cautioned the APC and its supporters not to create tension ahead of the election.

    Onaiwu, a former Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), said attacks on supporters of the opposition are inimical to the practice of democracy. He warned the ruling party to desist from such acts, because violence was not an exclusive right of any individual or political party.

    Onaiwu however pledged to develop the abandoned International Money Market situated at Oregbeni-Egbeson quarters, which he said has been abandoned since 1996 by successive administrations.

    He said the money market would add value to the state infrastructural development, as well as boost its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    Onaiwu promised to fix the road leading to the market, as well as provide medical centre, fire service and a police post within the market for a more conducive business environment.

  • Obiano, Umeh, Maku woo Edo voters for APGA

    Obiano, Umeh, Maku woo Edo voters for APGA

    Leaders of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) have told electorates in Edo State that their candidate for the September 10 governorship election, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, is capable of continuing from where Governor Adams Oshiomhole will stop.

    They said Onaiwu would replicate the developmental strides in Anambra State in Edo State.

    Chieftains of APGA that stormed Edo State last weekend for the flagging-off campaign of the party included Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, former Minister of Information and Orientation, Labaran Maku, and former National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh

    Obiano, in his remark, said Onaiwu will continue the good work Oshiomhole has done.

    Obiano said the Oshiomole has done excellently well in developing the state, but that it was imperative there is continuation of the good work already started.

    He promised that Onaiwu would continue and build on the legacies of the governor.

    He said: “We are not here to criticize anybody. The  Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomole has done well by developing the state but we need somebody that can continue from where he has stopped. “

  • Onaiwu is APGA candidate

    Onaiwu is APGA candidate

    Former Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governor’s Forum, Mr Osaro Onaiwu, has picked the governorship ticket of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Edo State.

    He emerged as the candidate of the party after polling 372 votes. Onaiwu, who was one of the governorship aspirants of the PDP, pulled out of the race, few weeks to the primary after he alleged plans to rig the exercise in favour of one of the aspirants.

    Onaiwu, who disclosed to reporters that he will kick off his campaigns next week, said: “ I am willing to serve my people and we have come up with our four pillars, which is security , trade and Commerce, agriculture and industrialization. Once we are able to achieve those four then we are home and dry.

    “Dangote has come to Edo State to invest because Edo is peaceful. We will improve on what the incumbent governor has done so that we will accelerate development to our people”.

    Asked why he left the PDP before the primary of the party, he said: “the party leaders were not serious. They lie every day of their lives. For me I have taken my vision to another party that I believe where they will celebrate my vision not a fraudulent party. I have moved on, I have no scandal but we know that one of the PDP candidates have been visiting the EFCC.

    “APGA will take over the state, it is a new dawn, I don’t have a god father, God is my god father. If you look at the candidates of the two other political parties they have a god father but God is my god father. I will lead my people where there is milk and honey” he stated.