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Tag: APGA

  • ‘APGA may not field candidate for Anambra poll’

    ‘APGA may not field candidate for Anambra poll’

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance may not participate in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State despite the emergence of Dr. Willy Obianor as the party’s candidate, a chieftain of the party has warned.

    The party’s Publicity Secretary, Bernerd Akoma ,in a statement on Tuesday in Abakaliki said Dr. Obaino could be disqualified as the party’s flag bearer by the court if the National Chairman and Secretary of the party, Victor Umeh and Sanni Shinkaffi endorse his candidature.

    According to him, Umeh was not properly elected while Shinkaffi’s tenure, according to the party’s constitution has elapsed.

    The statement reads, “Despite the emergence of Dr. Obiano as the Victor Umeh/Peter Obi led APGA candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State, the party may afterall not contest the governorship race in the state.

    “The sharp division in the party notwithstanding, should Umeh led APGA faction goes ahead to endorse any candidate for the election, such candidate stands to be disqualified if his candidature is challenged in any court of law.

    “APGA constitution states that a person is entitled to occupy any position in the party for a maximum of two tenures of four years each. The current national secretary of APGA, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi was elected the secretary of the party January, 10, 2003. By August 2013, Shinkafi will be spending his 10th year and seven months in the same position as the secretary of the party.”

     

     

  • APGA primaries: Ekwunife lauds loyalists

    •Doles out cash, materials to council chairmen, others

    YESTERDAY was a sad day for supporters of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Anambra State, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, who emerged as the runner-up in the primary election, as they looked disturbed over the outcome of the primary election.

    However, Mrs. Ekwunife, while addressing chairmen/coordinators of the Uche Ekwunife campaign organisation in the 21 local government areas of the state, urged them to remain calm.

    She asked them to remain calm over the outcome of the primary election of APGA last week, noting that in two weeks she will make her stand known to her supporters as it regards the way forward while commending the undying spirit of her loyalists across the state.

    “I want to thank you all for your unflinching support towards my ambition to be the governor of Anambra State. I wish also to use this opportunity to tell those who are still crying over the outcome of the party’s primaries to remain calm, the party has brought out its candidate and that is one of the things a political party does. But I want to tell you that in two weeks time, I shall tell you and brief you on the way forward. For now, let us remain calm,” she said.

    The director of the campaign organisation, John Okeke, expressed sadness at the way and manner the party conducted the primaries, adding that the genuine delegates were locked out of the venue while those who were never party members were allowed into the venue of the election.

    He further challenged the outcome of the APGA primary election on the ground that the party failed to abide by the constitution of the party as regards the election of party delegates from all the 326 wards across the state, adding “this is not the APGA that Ndigbo has been fighting for.”

    The woman leader in Uche Ekwunife campaign organisation, Mrs. Ebere Anene, also commended Ekwunife for her undying commitment to the development of Nigeria’s democracy and Anambra state in particular and promised that the women would always stand by her in her future political endeavours.

     

  • Kingmakers hail Obiano’s emergence as APGA candidate

    Royal fathers and opinion leaders in Anambra North Senatorial District have applauded the emergence of Chief Willie Obiano, as the standard bearer of the All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA) at the recent primaries of the party in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

    Obiano, an Aguleri high chief and philanthropist ,polled 871 votes to defeat other aspirants, with his closest rival, Hon. Uche Ekwunife of Anambra Central, polling 150 votes . Other contestants were Paul Odenigbo, Emeka Nwogbo, John Nwosu and Prince John Emeka.

    The floodgate of encomiums for Obiano was flung open by a fellow gubernatorial aspirant and former Secretary to the State Government, Mr Oseloka H. Obaze. In a statement, the former SSG hailed Obiano’s victory as the fulfillment of a dream.

    According to him, “Obiano’s victory brings to fruition our long and assiduous campaign for a candidate from Anambra North to be picked as the APGA flag bearer. The people of Anambra North should be gratified and elated by this positive development and I thank all those who voted for or offered their moral support to Chief Obiano.”

  • Court refuses to hear Soludo’s case against APGA

    Court refuses to hear Soludo’s case against APGA

    Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor and disqualified governorship aspirant of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo ,lost yesterday in his challenge of the party’s decision to exclude him from participating in its primaries.

    Justice Peter Affen of the Abuja High Court declined jurisdiction to entertain the suit brought by Soludo.

    The court held that it lacked the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the case, because the cause of action (Soludo’s disqualification) took place in Anambra and not Abuja.

    It also faulted the procedure adopted by the plaintiff in initiating the suit and declared that it could not entertain the case because the primary election would be held in Anambra State, and not Abuja, where the application was filed.

    Justice Affen said the selection of candidates to represent a political party in an election, is entirely the “exclusive preserve” of political parties,which the court cannot interfere with.

    “The applicant’s grouse is that the screening panel disqualified him from primary elections and the appeal panel sustained the disqualification on the grounds that he is under EFCC investigation. The law is clear that the nomination of a candidate for an election is an exclusive right of a political party,” he said.

    “It is not for the court to determine who should be the candidate of a political party.

    “The subject matter of the present application is the APGA primary election which is to be held in Anambra State, not Abuja. “Therefore the court lacks the territorial jurisdiction to determine the motion.”

    Soludo had, in his motion, sought a judicial review of his party’s decision to disqualify him.

    APGA had, through its Screening Panel,  on August 16 this year, disqualified  Soludo and five other aspirants from participating in its August 26 primaries ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state.

    The  panel, whose decision was upheld by the party’s appeal body, cited a purported ongoing investigation of Soludo by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and on which basis it considered him a “potential high risk candidate.”

  • APGA congresses controversy lingers

    The rancour that greeted the congresses of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is yet to go away.

    Members accused party executives of hijacking the exercise in their areas.

    But the chairman of the National Ward Congress Committee, Jolly Benjamin Ngbor, told reporters yesterday in Awka, that the exercise was successful.

    Ngbor said in every contest, there must be winners and losers, adding that the party had a wonderful experience.

    He debunked claims that there were shootings in some local governments.

    But some of the members accused the party leaders of creating confusion.

    One of them said: “What they have done was a sham. Buccaneers have entered APGA and this is not good for our party.

    “Some of us were not allowed to make contributions in our local governments, those who call themselves the executives hijacked the process.

    “It is very unfortunate for democracy in Nigeria.”

  • APGA ‘will not reverse’ disqualification of Soludo, others

    APGA ‘will not reverse’ disqualification of Soludo, others

    The Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra, Chief Mike Kwentor, said it would not overrule the disqualification of six aspirants vying for the party’s governorship ticket in the state.

    Kwentor told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Saturday that the action of the screening committee was in line with the party’s constitution.

    He said that it was better for the party to go into the election with a candidate without blemish than with one whose victory could be voided.

    According to him, the constitution says you must be eligible to vote before you can be voted for and for you to be eligible to vote, you must have voter’s card.

    “So, I think that the Screening Committee disqualified those they disqualified based on cogent reasons.

    “I am sure that even those disqualified know that the reason for which they were disqualified was cogent, otherwise, they will appeal because the party made provision for appeal,” he said.

    The Alhaji Tayo Sowunmi-led committee screened the 14 gubernatorial aspirants on Friday and disqualified six aspirants.

    Those disqualified are: Prof. Charles Soludu, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, Chief Chinedu Idigo, Chief Tony Nnacheta and Mr. Emma Nweke.

    They were disqualified for non-possession of voter’s card, tax clearance, lack of evidence of sound financial muscle, and unresolved issue with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

     

     

  • Has Obi endorsed Obiano?

    Has Obi endorsed Obiano?

    Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, may have finally revealed his plan on who succeeds him in 2015. The recent entry of a banker, Willy Obiano, to contest the governorship is said to be causing ripples within the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Obiano, a former Executive Director of Fidelity Bank (where Obi allegedly controls the majority stake), is alleged to be Obi’s long time confidant and financial advisor and a man whom he can trust to watch his back when he vacates the government house next year.

  • Anambra: Tension in APGA over ‘anointed’ candidate

    Anambra: Tension in APGA over ‘anointed’ candidate

    There is tension in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) over alleged plot to impose a governorship candidate for the party in Anambra State.

    Fourteen aspirants, including a former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, a former Minister of Transport, Prince John Emeka and 12 others have paid N2million each to obtain Expression of Intent forms.

    The others are a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief, Paul Odenigbo, a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Uche Ekwunife; Dr. Chike Obidigbo; a member of the House of Representatives, Emeka Nwogbo; John Chuma Nwosu; the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Oseloka Henry Obaze; Patrick Obianwu; Nnamdi Ekweogwu; Emmanuel Nweke; Chinedu Francis Idigo; Ogbuefi Tony Nnacheta; and an Executive Director of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Willy Obiano.

    According to an APGA source in Abuja, six of the 14 aspirants as at 7pm on Tuesday had obtained the governorship nomination forms and paid N10million each.

    The six aspirants are Odenigbo, Ekwunife, Obidigbo, Nwosu, Obianwu and Obiano.

    Interrogations, however, revealed that the nomination process has generated tension following the preference of Governor Peter Obi for a technocrat to succeed him to be able to consolidate on his achievements.

    It was gathered that Obi is likely to back an Executive Director of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Willy Obiano, who was dragged into the race last Wednesday.

    Most APGA members in the state however prefer a political candidate to a technocrat.

    The aggrieved APGA members in Anambra have vowed to resist plot to impose Obiano.

    It was also learnt that the governor’s choice is different from the recommendations made by a socio-cultural group, Olu Na Adagbe, and a Technical Committee, headed by Prof. Sylvester Anika.

    A highly-placed source said: “APGA leaders are not happy that the governor is planning to impose Obiano, who is from Fidelity Bank, from where the governor came to lead the state.

    “We have always known since last year that the governor might anoint his successor but he has been wasting our time by asking Olu Na Adagbe, and the Technical Committee to advise him.

    “We have kept on pestering the governor on the direction to go but he said everybody should go to the field. Now, he has dragged Obiano from nowhere.”

    Another source said: “If APGA leadership is arm-twisted and a governorship candidate is imposed by the governor, there will be mass defection from the party to either PDP or APC.

    “Obi might be the last APGA governor in Anambra State. Does it mean that all those who have worked for him for eight years, including Secretaries to the State Government, are unqualified to govern the state?

    In response to a question, the source added: “It is true that APGA has reached a consensus to pick its governorship candidate from Anambra North but no one is zeroing in on Obiano from Aguleri.”

    Another source said: “In fact, if he is looking for a technocrat, why can’t he consider Soludo, who has a deep knowledge of politics and the economy?”

  • Why Okorocha joined APC, by APGA chairman

    The Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Imo State, Marshall Okafor Anyanwu, yesterday explained the reason why Governor Rochas Okorocha joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    According to Anyanwu, the governor is on a mission to save Ndigbo from political encapsulation and years of neglect.

    He said Okorocha’s action was hinged on the need to correct the political realities in the country, which he said does not favour Ndigbo.

    “Those blackmailing the governor on his membership of the APC are the same people working with outside forces to continue to enslave our people.”

    The APGA chieftain said the decision to team up with other progressives was taken in the best interest of the people.

    He, however, posited that “this does not mean that we are totally abandoning APGA, it will continue to exist as our political identity but we need to consult wide and seek collaboration with a broader spectrum of Nigerians, who are sympathetic to the course of Ndigbo.”

    Anyanwu insisted that APGA with its acceptance and strength in the Southeast was still not enough to drive the ambition of securing a front row in the affairs of the nation.

    “The governor took a plunge to save Ndigbo from further political woes. We cannot achieve our political ambitions under APGA.

    “We need to take urgent and drastic measures to save our people from the present bondage and Governor Okorocha has taken the lead and should be supported.

    “In the first instance, Ndigbo are well recognised with influential positions in APC unlike in the PDP. APC is the place where our aspiration as a people can be realised.

    “It is absurd that after voting for Jonathan the zone has nothing to show for it and you still expect us to stay in the same party with the same people.

    “We have a population of over 30 million people and still play a second fiddle, this is no longer acceptable.”

  • APGA crisis: Clerics reconcile Obi, Umeh

    The crisis that has paralysed the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) may have come to an end, following the intervention of Anglican and Catholic priests in Anambra State.

    It was gathered yesterday that the major combatants, Governor Peter Obi and the National Chairman, Victor Umeh, have agreed to reconcile.

    A source said clerics reconciled the duo at a midnight meeting held on Monday outside the state.

    The source added that the duo agreed to work together to ensure that APGA retains Anambra State in the November 16 governorship election.

    This was corroborated yesterday by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Joe Martins Uzodike, at a briefing in Awka.

    Uzodike said: “The governor and Victor Umeh are not quarrelling; they have not quarrelled and I don’t think they will quarrel.

    “I am sure that in recent times they have hugged themselves on different occasions like the ones we had at the weekend.

    “But if what you mean by reconciliation is whether the APGA crisis has been resolved, well that is for the governor to say and not me because right now the governor is in Abuja and I am here in Awka.

    “But let me tell you the APGA family misunderstanding is not a problem.”