The Nation Newspaper

Tag: APGA

  • Obiano under pressure over council polls

    Obiano under pressure over council polls

    Anambra state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano is under pressure from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), council chairmen and local government heads of administration over local government elections in the state.

    APGA has intensified its lobbying of the Governor to putting transition committees in the council areas, for the party to be relevant when the tenures of the current chairmen expires in January 12, 2016.

    But the current council chairmen who were elected during the twilight days of former Governor, Mr. Peter Obi’s tenure are not relenting as they are lobbying for extension from Obiano.

    Apart from these two groups, also the local government heads of administration are looking towards the Governor to hand over the administration of the 21 council areas to them.

    Their reason, according to The Nation investigation, is that they would save a lot of money for the state, the way it happened during the era of Obi.

    This, according to them would raise enough money for the second term project of the Governor.

    However, The Nation gathered that the pressure is giving the Governor sleepless nights, as he would not want to offend any segment in order not to ruin his second term bid.

    As a result, the Governor has been weighing the option of using sole administrators in all the 21 local government areas of the state.

    The Governor’s argument is that the sole administrators would head the councils without members to cut cost, as the state is already grappling with economic woes that had affected most states.

    According to a chieftain of APGA who pleaded anonymity, “the best option for his Excellency right now is to appoint transition committees which will embrace a lot of people who will help in the 2017 second term project.

    “But from what we are seeing, the Governor is rooting for sole administrators like the way late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu’s son Emeka (Jnr.) was appointed in Nnewi North.

    “We do not believe such arrangement will help our course because we know that People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) still have their eyes on the seat,” the source said.

  • Abia: Otti files appeal against tribunal judgement

    Abia: Otti files appeal against tribunal judgement

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the April general elections in Abia, Dr. Alex Otti, has filed a notice of appeal against the judgment of the trial tribunal which sat in Umuahia and handled his petition.

    Speaking in Umuahia with newsmen, Otti’s counsel, Mr Oracle Nwala, said that the notice of appeal was filed at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abia state capital on Wednesday.

    Nwala said that Otti took the measure after consulting with leaders of his party as well as major stakeholders and a cross-section of the people of the state freely gave him during the election.

    Otti’s counsel said, “The people of the state needed to be consulted before the next step is taken by my client as you all know that the people massively voted for him during the governorship election.”

    He expressed the hope that the Court of Appeal would grant Otti’s prayer to be declared the winner of the poll, “Considering the judgment of lower tribunal, which upheld the cancellation of the results of the election in three local government areas.”

    Nwala said, “Otti has implicit confidence in the ability of the judiciary to assuage the yearning desire for justice by the people of Abia, who voted for him to bring positive change and transform their lives.”

    Otti appealed against the judgment, urging the Appeal Court to remove the figures recorded in favour of the cancelled local government areas and declare him the winner.

    It will be recalled that the three-member tribunal, headed by Hon. Justice Usman Bwala, while delivering their judgment said that the petitioner failed to prove that the elections were not held at Obingwa, Osisioma and Isiala Ngwa North council areas.

    Justice Bwala said that the panel has searched through the electoral act and did not find any where the returning officer is empowered to cancel the result of an election and therefore upheld the reversal of the cancellation of the election in the three council areas.

    The panel chairman noted that the petitioner took part in the supplementary election and is now asking the tribunal to jettison the supplementary election result and use the main election to declare him the winner, “You cannot probate and reprobate in an election.”

  • APGA suspends chair for ‘anti-party activities’

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Kogi State said yesterday that it had suspended its Chairman, Mr. Ocholi Ameh, aka Ohiemi Obogo, for alleged anti-party activities.

    The party, in a statement purportedly signed by the Secretary, Ben I. Nweke, Financial Secretary, Nasiru Abdulrahaman, Organising Secretary, Alhaji Isah K. Yakubu and Woman Leader, Mrs. Abesede Oluyori, said they suspended their chairman for allegedly diverting the money meant to launch their campaign.

    Ameh was accused of doing so because he never wanted the party to vie for the election.

    They alleged: “He has been holding nocturnal meetings with other parties. He has not been attending the party’s meetings. He is an absentee-chairman.

    “APGA wanted to launch its rally, but he pocketed the money meant for the event. The programme could not hold because he used the party for his personal aggrandisement, and he has been involved in clandestine moves with other parties.

    “Another issue is that he has not been attending party activities, which is inimical to its survival. He has been working with the opposition.”

  • PDP alleges plan by APGA to misinform Abians

    PDP alleges plan by APGA to misinform Abians

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State have alleged that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state of plans to misinform the people of the state and Nigerians in general that the
    state tribunal members were compromised to deliver their judgment.

    The party said that the members of the governorship election petition tribunal based the judgment of the tribunal on the evidence before them as the petition brought before them by APGA was dead on arrival.

    Speaking with newsmen in Umuahia the legal adviser and legal research officer of the party, Gab Igboko and Hagler Okorie said APGA had earlier held a meeting in Enugu which was presided over by a sitting deputy governor from the zone who lives in the coal city.

    The duo said that the party later moved to Owerri where the meeting continued and was presided over by a sitting governor from the zone with the plan and assurance that they will reach the justices of the
    Court of Appeal to compromise them.

    Igboko said that APGA is deliberately misinforming and abusing the mind of the public in the state and Nigerians to the effect that the judges of the governorship election petition were compromised to
    arrive at the well considered judgment of that tribunal.

    He said, “The meeting in the two states was towards the arrangement for the said Governor to possibly interface with the justices of the Court of Appeal to influence the outcome of the intending appeal by
    APGA, having failed to achieve same with the tribunal in Abia in their bogus card reader accusation”.

    Igboko said that the petition of the opposing party was doomed from the onset as there were many viruses embedded in their petition, adding that during the proceedings that they were unable to prove
    their case but rather decided to ask for more time.

    In his own contribution, Okorie said that APGA asked for seven days to present and prove their case, “Which they were not able to do but instead asked for extra time which the panel in their wisdom refused to grant because of time.”

    Okorie noted that the law on is very clear on certain matters especially the case involving election petition matters which is time bound, stressing that if the stipulated time is exhausted that the
    case will be thrown out.

    He explained that the judgment of the election petition tribunal was arrived at after much deliberation and in-depth analysis of the evidences before them, stressing that they Justices could not have
    done otherwise based on facts before them.

    The PDP legal research officer said that during the proceedings that the opposition party asked the tribunal to allow them present sixty witnesses, “But when the time came they were only able to present
    twenty witnesses who could not prove their allegations beyond all reasonable doubt.”

    He explained that the evidences APGA brought before the election petition tribunal was not enough for them to win their petition, “There was no way they could have won their case with the virus
    infested evidences they brought before the tribunal”.

    The PDP legal team therefore advised members of the public to be alert on the antics of the party they described as disgruntled and desperate politicians and be wary of being deceived by them.

  • APGA condemns Ebonyi new tax policy

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) on Friday condemned the new tax policies introduced recently by the Ebonyi State government.

    The new tax policies,  according ton the party, could lead to collapse of the state’s economy.

    APGA Deputy National Secretary,  Comrade Jerry Obasi, said this in Abakaliki, the state capital.

    He also condemned the government’s demolition of some shops and attachments in the state, saying it was unwarranted because Ebonyi lacks infrastructural development.

  • Tribunal compromise: APGA is desperate

    Tribunal compromise: APGA is desperate

    The government of Abia State has condemned attempts by some elements, especially the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), to malign the integrity of members of the election petition tribunal.

    The government said the tribunal had lived up to expectation in attending to the petitions before it dispassionately, and so wondered why the opposition would want to tarnish the image of the members.

    APGA, in two advertorials said the tribunal chairmen and members had been compromised, with the state government buying houses for them outside the country.

    But Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Godwin Adindu, has described as unfounded, the statement attributed to APGA that members of the tribunal had been compromised.

    Adindu said the government did not influence results of the cases decided so far.

    “Therefore the claim by APGA that members of the tribunal had been compromised and induced to divert justice is uncalled for.”

    The CPS said such statements make mockery of a party which claims to be law abiding. He maintained that since there was a window in the Appeal Court for redress, there was no need for such unguarded statements which could incite the public and heat up the polity.

     

     

  • APGA rejects tribunal judgments in Anambra

    APGA rejects tribunal judgments in Anambra

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Anambra chapter, has rejected the election petitions tribunal judgments involving their candidates in the last general elections in the state.

    Mr Tony Ifeanya, APGA’s Secretary in the state, said at a news conference in Awka on Monday that the party would contest the judgments at the Appeal Court.

    He said that the party was dissatisfied with the tribunal judgments.

    “We are surprised that the prayers of all our candidates at the tribunal were not granted on mere technical grounds.’’

    Ifeanya claimed that the party won all the National Assembly elections on March 28, adding that it had resolved to seek redress at the Appeal Court.

    “We are proceeding to the appellate court to defend the mandate given to us by the people with the confidence that the Nigerian judicial system can still protect us.

    “We cannot reconcile the outcome of the National Assembly elections with the 27 out of the 30 state constituency seats in the house of assembly won by APGA.

    “We, therefore, condemn the spurious judgments delivered by the National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal.

    “Our quest for justice remains on course and our passion towards redressing the travesty of justice meted out to Anambra people is ever resolute,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that apart from Mr Dozie Nwankwo who won his tribunal case against PDP’s Dr Nnamdi Eze for Anaocha /Dunukofia /Njikoka Federal Constituency, other candidates of APGA including Chief Victor Umeh, who contested Anambra Central Senatorial District lost.

  • APGA supporters protest judgment

    APGA supporters protest judgment

    •Be law abiding, chairman urges

    Supporters of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State have protested the tribunal verdicts which did not favour their party. They said there would be consequences if the judgments were not reversed.

    APGA lost the cases decided so far at the tribunal.

    The protesters carried placards and chanted solidarity songs. Riot policemen were, however, on ground to curtail violence.

    Some of the placards read: “APGA leaders, can you recover our mandate?”; “We need justice at the election tribunal”; “Tribunal judgments is unfair”.

    Leader of the group Chukwuemeka Mba told party leaders that they had come to register their anger because “the change we need here in Abia was not being realised because of the verdicts coming out of the tribunal, which we believe are wrong”.

    Mba said: “The verdict of the tribunal that gave legal stamp to fictitious results has justified our fears, and we have been gripped with anxiety that the remaining cases might not favor our candidates.

    “If the leaders allow the remaining cases to go the same way, our reactions will not be palatable for there is a limit to human endurance.”

    A youth leader, Friday Obinna lamented that Abia youths were getting the short end of the stick and vowed that if the verdicts continued to go against APGA, they would take to the streets.

    Receiving the protesters, state chairman Rev Augustine Ehiemere praised them for conducting themselves peacefully. He assured them that the party would not rest until it recovered its lost mandates.

    “I want to assure you that we are keeping in touch with both the judicial and political leaders at the highest level to ensure that those who are part of the criminal connivance to sell justice to the highest bidder against the law are made to bear the consequences.”

    National Chairman Dr Victor Ike Oye has urged party faithful to be law abiding and shun violence, even in the face of extreme provocation.

  • Tribunal dismisses Maku’s petition for lack of merit

    Tribunal dismisses Maku’s petition for lack of merit

    The Nasarawa Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Wednesday dismissed the petition of a former Minister of Information and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the April 11 election, Mr. Labaran Maku, for lack of merit.

    In a three-hour judgment, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Halima Mohammed, said the petitioner failed to provide evidence and thereby dismissed all the reliefs sought.

    Justice Halima said the petitioner failed to provide substantial evidence to proof that the election was marred with irregularities.

    She said Maku also failed to prove his allegations of over voting and unlawful cancellation of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    According to her, the petitioner’s witnesses gave contradictory submissions during cross examination.

    She said the allegations raised by Maku in his petition were “generic, vague, unclear and ambiguous.”

    She said, “by the provisions of Section 139 of the Evidence Act, the petitioner mostly relied on the standard and quality of his evidence to justify his claims.”

    She said the basic substances were not thoroughly presented by the petitioner in the course of the trial.

    She dismissed the petition for lack of merit.

  • APGA warns PDP, LP over attack on Obiano

    APGA warns PDP, LP over attack on Obiano

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State has warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) to desist from attacking Governor Willie Obiano.

    APGA’s Publicity Secretary Chinedu Nkwonta said the parties were attacking the governor because they were jobless.

    APGA described allegations that Obiano abandoned projects initiated by former governor Peter Obi as frivolous even as it warned that ignoring its position would be at their own peril.

    “The honeymoon for these visionless and non- directional political parties and their cohorts is over; APGA can no longer sit and watch them undermine the office of the governor with unfounded allegations.

    “My office is equipped and ready to return back to them as they dish. He that lives in a glass house should not throw stones. Enough of their nonsense; that APGA is a law-abiding party does not give anyone the impetus to ride our leader. “Any negative attack on Akpokuo is an attack on APGA. It is an attack on the general integrity of Ndi Anambra, who are predominantly APGANS.

    “Let me remind the dreamers once more that PDP does not exist in Anambra, what they have are bullies and intimidators who have in the past, advantaged their control of the centre to defraud us during elections.

    “APGA is fully awake now, be rest assured that such can never happen again. The Labour Party has gone extinct as it is and there is no need to push it.

    “Who is the Chairman of PDP in Anambra? Where is Labour Party in the comity of political parties? How can someone who cannot manage his home come to the public to allege unfounded allegations against a working governor?

    “The position of governor Willie Obiano as our leader is that we should not expend energy in replying frivolous allegations, we spend our time in telling Ndi Anambra, Nigeria and the world what Akpokuodike Igbo is doing is a template for leadership.

    “This does not imply that we have to let the miscreants in PDP and their disgruntled partners keep undermining the office of the governor,” APGA said.