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Tag: APGA

  • APGA picks Obiano as leader, BoT chair

    APGA picks Obiano as leader, BoT chair

    The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has appointed Anambra State Governor Chief Willie Obiano as the leader and the chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

    He replaces former Governor Peter Obi, who has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    NEC also approved guidelines for the conduct of the primaries.

    A statement yesterday by APGA’s National Chairman Chief Victor Umeh in Abuja said pursuant to the mandate given on January 18 by NEC to the National Working Committee (NWC) to fill vacant positions, NEC has appointed Mr. Alexander Amujiogu as the acting deputy national secretary.

    The statement reads: “At the end of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on November 3, at the national secretariat in Abuja, NEC resolved as follows:

     

     

    “To approve and adopt the APGA Electoral Guidelines for primary election for 2015.

    “Having regard to the resignation of Chief Peter Obi as the leader and chairman of the Board of Trustees of APGA and his defection to the PDP and the vacancy created thereof, the National Executive Committee unanimously appointed Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano as the leader and chairman of the Board of Trustees.

    “Pursuant to the mandate given on January 18 by the National Executive Committee to the National Working Committee to fill vacancies in the NWC, the NEC also appointed Mr. Alexander Amujiogu, a lawyer, as the acting deputy national secretary.”

    NWC on October 21 released the schedule of activities for the conduct of the primaries for the coming general elections.

    According to a schedule of activities released after the NWC meeting, signed by the National Secretary, Dr. Abdulahi Sani Shinkafi, the purchase and return of the expression of interest and nomination forms began on October 27 and ended on November 4.

    The party pegged its governorship form at N12 million, with the expression of interest form going for N2million, while the nomination form is N10million.

    For the House of Assembly, the expression of interest form is N200, 000, while the nomination form is N1million. The expression of interest form for the House of Representatives is N500, 000 and the nomination form is N2million. Expression of interest form for the Senate sells at N500, 000, while the nomination form is N3million.

    Shinkafi said women aspirants would pay only 50 per cent of the fees for the nomination forms. The House of Assembly and National Assembly expression of interest forms and nomination forms are obtainable at the state secretariats.

    While the governorship expression of interest form and nomination form are obtainable at the national secretariat in Abuja.

     

     

  • APGA mourns three officials

    APGA mourns three officials

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Integrity Group yesterday described the death of its three members in  an accident, while returning from Abuja, as shocking and sad.

    The Publicity Secretary, Martin Kalu, said in a statement in Abuja: “APGA Integrity Group is pained and heartbroken that the three Imo State chapter officials, Mr. Tony Mgbeahurike, the state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Obinna Ibe and Mr. Uche Okeke died in a crash at Uromi in Edo State while the Organising Secretary, Chief John Iwuala, was injured and is in  hospital. They accompanied one of the governorship aspirants, Okey Eze, to collect his expression of interest and nomination forms at APGA national secretariat, Abuja.

    “The death of these politicians is a big blow to APGA and our democracy. They were the shining stars of progressive politics in Imo State and were determined to rescue the state from the cabal that has held it hostage.

    “The greatest honour APGA and Imo State electorate will give these heroes of democracy is to vote for the party’s governorship candidate in 2015 to take over from Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

    “We mourn these APGA members, who died in active service. Our hearts go to their families and loved ones. We pray that God Almighty will give them the fortitude to bear the loss. We also pray for speedy recovery of the injured. We commiserate with the Victor Umeh leadership of APGA and enjoin him to mobilise members in Imo State to recover our stolen mandate, which Governor Okorocha took to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “We urge politicians to imbibe issue-based politics and eschew violence. The era of do-or-die politics is over. The citizens want the dividends of democracy, not carnage, as we collectively deepen participatory democracy in the country.”

  • Ngige replies Umeh: You are jittery, afraid of me

    THE Senator representing Anambra Central Zone, Dr. Chris Ngige, has described the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, as somebody who is afraid of him. He said so while responding to a statement credited to Umeh recently, where the APGA National Chairman reportedly said that Ngige’s scholarship to over 6,000 persons in his senatorial zone was a Greek gift.

    The statement, according to Ngige’s media aide, Mr. Igboeli Arinze, yesterday in Awka, pointed to the fact that Umeh is jittery.

    He asked Umeh to tell the people how many persons had received scholarship awards from him to enable them acquire the Golden Fleece, despite the millions of Naira he had acquired as National Chairman of APGA. According to him, ‘it is unfortunate that rather than Chief Victor Umeh commending his political senior for doing what no other politician, not even the state government of Anambra State has done over the award of scholarships to over 3,000 students in both tertiary and secondary school categories, he has rather chosen to play puerile politics with it.”

    “Let me ask Chief Victor Umeh, how many youths has he empowered as Chairman of APGA and as a stakeholder in Anambra State?

    “This is a man who stood by while his fellow co- traveler in Mr. Peter Obi ran Anambra as one of his chattels; he did nothing when the state government increased tuition fees from N20,000 to N130,000.

    “This is sadly a man who brands himself as party chairman of APGA yet looked the other way when ANSU lost accreditation of over 13 courses.

    “Today, because he wants to run for senate and knows that Ngige might be asked to run again, he has thrown caution to the winds and wants to engage in a rofo rofo fight.”

    Continuing, he said the scholarship programme began way back before now, with Ngige setting up a board to advice on the form and manner it would operate with.

    Furthermore, he said the students were then invited to determine by merit those who were to receive the scholarship.

    “This again, you will agree, will take a huge chunk of time given the number of students.

    “Perhaps, Umeh is jittery, with the implosion in APGA, he is seeing the handwriting on the wall and desperate as ever wants to hang on to at least look relevant,” Ngige said.

    The statement further said that “Ndi Anambra would forever be grateful to Senator Ngige, whether jesters admit it or not.”

  • APGA youths battle Obi over defection to PDP

    FOLLOWING the defection of former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) youths in Anambra State have vowed “to pay him in his own coin.”

    The youths, who recently visited the Mausoleum of late leader of the party, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, in Nnewi, said they would make sure Obi is stripped of the (Okwute Ndigbo title) bestowed on him in the state.

    During the visit of the youths to the grave side of the late Ikemba Nnewi, his son, who is the sole administrator of Nnewi North Local Government Area in the state, Chukwuemeka (Jnr), had labelled Obi as a “traitor” and betrayer.”

    Speaking with The Nation yesterday in Awka, APGA youth leader, Hon. Tony Uche, recalled how the former governor was brought to Ojukwu by the National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, prior to the election of 2003.

    He said Obi was nurtured to get attributes that would enable him lead the state, only to abandon the ship in spite of all promises he made to the late Ikemba Nnewi and Ndigbo.

    According to one of the leaders of United Anambra Youth Assembly (U-AYA), who did not want to be quoted, “This is the fall of Obi in politics of Anambra State. You cannot betray Ojukwu and Igbo and you want to be relevant,” he said, adding,  “Our former governor has drawn a battle line between himself and the youths of this state and indeed Ndi Anambra, what he wants to do is to destroy APGA which he cannot do.”

    It would be recalled that the day Obi left APGA for PDP at his residence in Onitsha, none of the political heavy weights in the party in Anambra State attended except Senator Ndi Obi and Olisa Metu. Others came from other states.

    For example, Chief Chris Uba, Senator Andy Uba, Senator Joy Emodi, Prince Arthur Eze, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, Sir Emeka Offor, Prof. ABC Nwosu, Dr. ABC Orjiakor, among those who make PDP tick in the state, were absent.

  • ‘I won’t disrespect Obi’

    ‘I won’t disrespect Obi’

    The lawmaker representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Anambra State and a chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Afam Ogene, has said he will not disrespect former Governor Peter Obi, despite his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He was reacting to a story purporting that Obi had lost his political clout, following his defection.

    The legislator said his statement on Obi’s defection was misinterpreted.

    According to him, what he said was that the former governor’s defection would not affect the fortunes of APGA because it would remain strong.

    In a statement last week in Awka on Obi’s defection, Ogene said:   “Our party has undergone  shocking moments in its history. Remember, its founding chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, left amid a strenuous legal tango, which lasted about eight years, but APGA survived.       “Then our leader and symbol of our struggle as Ndigbo, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, died. Our people and party survived the tempest, which followed. We will survive the current storm.”

     

  • Ex-deputy governor endorsed for Senate

    Ex-deputy governor endorsed for Senate

    Stakeholders and members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Orumba North and South local governments, endorsed yesterday former Deputy Governor Dr. Okey Udeh, for Anambra South, in the coming elections.

    Udeh represented Orumba North and South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, before becoming ex-Governor Chris Ngige’s deputy in 2003.

    Those in attendance at the stakeholders’ meeting were the former majority leader in the House of Assembly, Princess Nikky Ugochukwu, APGA Women Leader Lady Chinyere Ibenta and former deputy speaker in the House of Assembly, Mr. Mike Ugwa.

    Others included one- time governorship candidate, Chief Hygers Igwebuike and Orumba South Local Government Chairman, Mr. John Onyeakpa.

    The motion for the adoption of Udeh was moved by Azubuike Nwankwo (Ajalli Ward 1) and seconded by Ogbonna Obiora from Oko Ward 2 in Orumba North Council.

    Residents of the local governments listed the achievements of Udeh as installation of a comprehensive rural electrification network in 10 communities, installation of solar street lights at Umunze, building of Universal Basic Education (UBE) schools at Ogbunka and Umuomaku in Orumba South Local Government and sponsoring of Nigeria’s maritime cabotage law, 2003.

    They said of the local governments in Anambra South, only the two councils have not produced a senator.

  • ‘I won’t disrespect Obi’

    ‘I won’t disrespect Obi’

    The lawmaker representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Anambra State and a chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Afam Ogene, has said he will not disrespect former Governor Peter Obi, despite his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He was reacting to a story purporting that Obi had lost his political clout, following his defection.

    The legislator said his statement on Obi’s defection was misinterpreted.

    According to him, what he said was that the former governor’s defection would not affect the fortunes of APGA because it would remain strong.

    In a statement last week in Awka on Obi’s defection, Ogene said:   “Our party has undergone  shocking moments in its history. Remember, its founding chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, left amid a strenuous legal tango, which lasted about eight years, but APGA survived.       “Then our leader and symbol of our struggle as Ndigbo, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, died. Our people and party survived the tempest, which followed. We will survive the current storm.”

     

  • APGA and fallacy of Party Ndi Igbo

    APGA and fallacy of Party Ndi Igbo

    SIR: The recent defection of the immediate past governor of Anambra state, Chief Peter Obi has generated much hue and cry. Obi who defected to PDP was in fact  considered one of the few chief priests of the party who knows the best method of appeasing  the spirit of Ojukwu- the deity of the party.

    So to some, the defection is not just an ordinary one, but a herald of the beginning of the end of APGA.

    APGA has been nurtured and sustained by the fallacy of Ndi Igbo party through which it has dominated Anambra political landscape since 2006. But the question staring on us is this : what has the so-called party fetched us ? Do Igbos have any future in Nigerian politics under the auspice of APGA?

    Arthur  Nwankwo in his investigative  masterpiece titled ‘The Igbo Leadership and the Future of Nigeria’ expatiated  the predicament that Igbo Elite  suffered by  linking the themselves to the wrong party in the second Republic. This was what happened to Anambranians under the banner of APGA.

    APGA as political party was founded by group of Igbo politicians led by  Chief Chewas Okorie in 2002 – registered in 2003 – and became popular when the Igbo leader Chief Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu used the party to further his presidential ambition. But unable to make any impact in the  election, the fame that Ojukwu infused to party began to dwindle.

    It was Peter Obi that raised APGA from the brink of collapse  through the miracle of his judicial roller-coaster. Peter Obi- according to Chewas  Okorie – was chosen by Ojukwu to bear the party gubernatorial flag of the state in 2003 General Election.  Obi’s mandate was stolen by Chris Uba foisted candidate of PDP – Dr Chris Ngige.  Through the instrumentality of court, Obi was able to reclaim his mandate and in alliance with  Ojukwu canonized APGA as party of Ndi Igbo.

    The term ‘Party Ndi Igbo’ is in itself self-defeating in that it conjures up nebulous shades of political brouhaha  and imbroglios  that defined the First Republic.

    If Igbo Presidency is still the dream of Igbo people, then we shall desist from joining regional party. For with regional party, the project of Igbo presidency can’t be achieved.

    APGA as a political party was used by  Peter Obi to further his quest for power and relevance.  On  realizing  that the fame APGA can give  circulates just around Anambra State, Obi – who is Ojukwu’s political anointed son – decided to join PDP in order not to remain a ‘spectator’ in the national affairs.

    It’s appalling that Anambrarians weren’t smart enough to know the true character of their so-called best governor. By this defection, Peter Obi has not  just put credence to the assertion that Nigerian politicians are the same but has decidedly heralded the  Nunc Dimitis for APGA and soon other party bigwigs will follow suit.

    As Anambrarains are enjoying the continuity that  governor Obiano’s administration is keeping to, the question everybody is asking is: Is Peter Obi still keeping to the promise he made to Ojukwu?

     

    • Asikason Jonathan,

     Enugwu-Ukwu , Anambra State.

     

  • APGA sacks Anambra woman leader

    APGA sacks Anambra woman leader

    The crisis in the Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) took a new twist weekend, with the removal of its state woman leader, Mrs. Edith Nwokedi.

    The party has picked Lady Chinyere Ibenta as the new party’s state woman leader with immediate effect.

     The removal of Nwokedi was conveyed in a letter signed by the party’s state chairman, Chief Mike Kwentoh.

     APGA, in its letter to Nwokedi, listed some of her offences to include insubordination and disrespect to the party leadership and inability to organize and hold effective women meeting for over time.

    Nwokedi was also accused of holding dual offices during the Peter Obi administration.

     It will be recalled that she was the Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Mobilization and also the party’s women leader, which allegedly contravened article 25 (8) of the party’s constitution.

    A party chieftain who spoke with The Nation yesterday in Awka on condition of anonymity, said: “Mrs. Ibenta is the person the cap fits.

    “This appointment has been over due. Our former leader was not doing what was expected of her and the women were complaining. We kept her on the saddle because of some influences.

    “But today, we thank God that APGA has realized its mistakes by putting in the right person on the seat, a woman who can mobilize her fellow women, share things equitably and carry everybody along.”

  • Obiano snubs Obi at bishop’s funeral

    The remains of a former Catholic Bishop of Awka, Rev. Simon Okafor, were laid to rest yesterday at his home town, Ifitedunu, in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    At the funeral service at St. Patrick Cathedral in Awka, were former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme, his wife Beatrice; Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano and his predecessor, Peter Obi.

    Also, former Governor Chris Ngige, representing Anambra Central in the National Assembly; the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh and a House of Representatives member representing Anaocha, Njikoka, Dunukofia, Uche Ekwunife attended the service.

    But Obiano did not acknowledge Obi’s presence when he accorded recognition to the dignitaries.

    After calling the names of Ekwueme, Ngige, Umeh and others, the governor merely referred to Obi as the former governor without mentioning his name.

    But the congregation looked in the direction of the former governor, shouting Obi’s name (Okwute) before Obiano corrected the mistake.

    The service was conducted by Francis Cardinal Arinze with other bishops, including the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, among others.

    Bishop Arinze urged the worshippers to live according to the dictates of Christianity, like the late cleric, as he read his autobiography.

    Obiano said the education foundation, led by late bishop, trained the poorest and brightest in the state.

    The governor stressed that beyond the church, Anambra residents mourned the bishop’s death.