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Tag: APGA

  • APGA, ADP, PDM, AGA pick candidates

    MORE presidential candidates have emerged to contest the February 14, 2019 election.

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Sunday elected Gen. John Ogbor (retd) as its presidential candidate.

    Ogbor immediately picked Mr. Jerry Chukwueke as his running mate.

    The Action Democratic Party (ADP) on Sunday elected Yabagi Yusuf Sani as its presidential candidate.

    Sani emerged the ADP candidate after an election by party delegates during its convention across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. It was witnessed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials.

    At the ADP convention held across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, of 5,336,433 voters accredited, Sani scored 5,242,346 votes.

    The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) picked Pastor Habu Aminchi as its candidate.

    PDM Chairman Chief Francis Igwebuike said the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) and the National Working Committee (NWC) would continue to uphold the ingenuity of its founding father, the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.

    Aminchi pledged to restructure the country’s security architecture, fight insurgency and ensure total defeat of Boko Haram.

    The All Grassroots Alliance (AGA) endorsed Mr. Chuks Nwachukwu as its presidential candidate.

    Nwachukwu was picked at the party’s special primary on Sunday.

    At the end of the coalition of results from 24 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nwachulwu received 4,698 votes from the possible 4,698.

  • 2019: MASSOB, APGA fight over Bianca Ojukwu

    The proscribed Movement of the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Biafran Independent Movement (BIM), have passed a vote of no confidence on the leadership of All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA over the conduct of Anambra South Senatorial primaries.

    MASSOB has been outlawed by the Federal Government over acts of terrorism.

    The group also warned politicians to desist from using Ojukwu’s pictures for political campaigns, adding that seven days ultimatum had been issued to those having his pictures on their vehicles for politics to either remove them.

    The no confidence vote was passed at a joint meeting of the two groups in Owerri on Monday, where the founder and leader of the proscribed group, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, presided over the meeting.

    The meeting, which recorded large attendance of MASSOB and BIM members across the state, resolved that APGA erred in the conduct of the primaries.

    The group claimed that Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, wife of late Biafran warlord, Odumegwu Ojukwu, was unjustly denied Anambra South Senatorial ticket.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bianca Ojukwu lost the contest to Nicolas Ukachukwu.

    However, Uwazuruike, in the resolution, said Bianca Ojukwu merited party automatic ticket for the position, going by the antecedents and influence of late Ojukwu who was the leader of the party while alive.

    “Why can’t the wife of our leader get automatic ticket when other aspirants from other two zones got automatic tickets.

    “APGA does not want any member of Ojukwu’s family to be carried along but they want to win election with Ojukwu’s picture; even Ojukwu’s son contested earlier through the party’s platform but failed,” he said.

    “We are talking about the founder and former leader of the party; Ojukwu is the symbol of the party and he should be respected for that even in death.

    “APGA has derailed and we will not support the party for any position in Igbo land because our late leader has been humiliated and insulted and we will stand to protect his integrity,” he said.

    He said that APGA had been hijacked by cabals who now used the party for money-making venture, adding that the party would not win election in 2019.

    Reacting, National Director of Publicity of the party Ifeatu Okoye told NAN that the party was democratic in handling its affairs.

    He said APGA was doing everything possible to ensure that popular aspirants emerged.

    Okoye said the decision of MASSOB and BIM would not affect their chances of winning election.

    He further said a committee had been set up to look into what played out in Binca Ojukwu’s election.

  • Imo APGA: 14 guber aspirants opt for consensus candidate

    Mr Frank Nneji, the Chief Executive Officer, ABC transport and 13 other governorship aspirants in Imo on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance ( APGA) , have agreed to adopt a consensus candidate.

    Other aspirants are: Dr Ikedi Ohakim, a former governor of the state and Mr Uche Onyeagocha, former member, House of Representatives, Ike Ibe, Humphrey Anumudu and Steve Nwoga, Sam Amadi.

    Charley Onyeagbako, Chike Nsofor, Ziggy Azike, Philip Ibekwe, Nick Opara-Ndudu, Bright Nwanne and Obi Njoku.

    The aspirants made the agreement in a statement they issued in Owerri on Monday.

    They, however, expressed concern that the party leadership in the state could not to meet the Oct. 7 deadline of INEC for submission of names of the candidates of the party for all elective positions.

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    They also condemned the failure of the party leadership to conduct a credible primary election.

    The aspirants assured supporters of their unflinching determination to continue to resist imposition of a candidate on the party.

    “The failure of the leadership of the party to guarantee credible primaries for Imo APGA is a terrible disappointment.The plot to impose a candidate on Imo APGA will continue to be resisted.

    “We have resolved to present a consensus candidate from amongst the aspirants after due process and consultation between all APGA governorship aspirants and party leaders,” they read.

  • APGA risks exclusion in Imo guber

    •Party fails to elect candidate

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) may not field a candidate for the 2019 governorship election in Imo State.

    This is because the party could not conclude its governorship primary after two days of chaotic attempts.

    With the development, it may fail the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) deadline.

    Delegates were asked to go home by the committee in charge of the election at about 8pm after waiting for the whole day to cast their votes.

    One of the aspirants, Sam Amadi attributed it to failure of the State Working Committee to meet the guidelines and legal requirements for the election.

    He maintained that high level irregularity trailed the election even before it was conducted.

    Amadi added that delegates were stranded, waiting to cast their votes before the election was called off by the NWC of the party.

    Amadi said the party would have to observe the guidelines of INEC, which specified parties must present candidates by today.

    He hinted the party has concluded plans to opt for a consensus candidate to represent the party.

  • Alex Otti, Udensi emerge as guber candidates of APGA

    The 2015 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA ), Dr. Alex Otti and Chief Chikwe Udensi have respectively emerged as 2019 governorship candidates of APGA in separate gubernatorial primaries held at two different venues on Friday October 5 in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

    At a primary held at the APGA party secretariat located along Ikot Ekpene road under the leadership of Rev Augustine Ehiemere, Otti emerged winner with a total vote of 574 while 36 were invalid out of the 610 votes castes by accredited delegates.

    In another primary held by the Nnanna Ukaegbu led faction at Kolpin Society Locust Housing Estate, Umuahia, Udensi garnered 532 votes, while Otti scored 57 with 27 votes being void.

    Speaking at the end of the exercise, the returning officer, Barr. Carol Dike-Okoroafor, the National Welfare Officer of APGA who supervised the guber primary at Ikot Ekpene road described the election which held at Kolpin Society which produced Udensi as void.

    According to Okoroafor, they were at the secretariat to affirm the adoption of Otti whose name and picture appeared on the ballot paper.

    She said that the only election recognized by the leadership of the party was the one that she supervised with personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission led by Madam Bridget Izuka.

    Read Also: ‘APC risks not fielding governorship candidate in Zamfara’

    Addressing his supporters after being declared winner by the returning officer, Otti promised that he was going to take the state from its present state of backwardness and darkness to progress and economic boom, adding that he is confident that the party will be taking over the seat of power in the state come 2019.

    Otti who promised not to dip his hands into the purse of the state as being experienced at the moment also said that unlike the incumbent that has been under the caps and whims of his godfathers, he would run his administration without being manipulated by any godfather.

    Otti promised to end the sufferings of the people have been subjected to in the past eight years as a result of bad governance orchestrated by PDP led government.

  • Sen. Umeh emerges APGA candidate for Anambra Central

    Sen. Victor Umeh on Wednesday won the Anambra Central Senatorial primary election of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to become the party’s candidate for the 2019 general elections.

    Umeh, the senator representing the zone in the Red Chambers was the only aspirant on APGA platform that emerged from the primary held at St. Mathew Catholic Church, venue of the Wednesday primaries.

    He polled 207 votes from available 209 delegate votes cast in the affirmative election which was witnessed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    Umeh said that the outcome was an overwhelming endorsement of his performance so far in the National Assembly by his constituents.

    He described the exercise as peaceful and thanked party faithful and people of Anambra Central for affirming his candidature and promised to surpass his past performance in the senate.

    Pie added that “I am happy for this massive show of support, the primary election was peaceful, I got 207 votes out of the 209 votes, only two delegates who could not identify ‘yes’ or ‘no’ put their votes in between and they were discountenanced.

    “What I am going to offer is honest representation; I don’t want to have anything to do with constituency funds.

    “Coming into the next assembly, I will ensure that I surpass the expectations of my people.”

    Umeh said he had already made a mark in the senate and attracted projects in many communities, which he said had direct impact on the lives of the people of the constituency.

    “I went to the senate with a motion and was able to sponsor two awards and two bills within the short time I have been there.

    “I met only one budget session and I was able to get N650 million for constituency projects, tied to verifiable projects with addresses; none of my projects is hanging.”(NAN)

  • ‘APGA should resolve its internal squabbles’

    A public analyst, Okwudili Aniegboka, has cautioned the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to be mindful of the squabbles within the party to avoid destroying its foundation.

    Aniegboka said the crisis started with the decision on who could run for the National Assembly elections in Anambra State.

    He said: “For a party which conducted its last governorship primaries with near-perfect organisational efficiency, and set an electoral record in Nigeria with a landslide victory at the polls, it is saddening to see that APGA is showing all the signs of Nigeria’s usual inability to manage success so soon.”

    According to him, many observers are not comfortable with APGA’s seeming decline and its unexpected relegation of democratic virtues which had made it to stand out about one year ago.

    Aniegboka said: “Party insiders claim that the root cause of the trouble is the tussle for the senatorial ticket for Anambra South. This senatorial zone has suddenly become a theatre of war with gladiators up in arms against one another and drawing blood freely on social media.”

  • Araraume declares for APGA

    Senator Ifeanyi Araraume has officially declared his membership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the expanded State Working Committee (SWC) and party leaders.

    The Imo State governorship hopeful also donated N10 million for the printing of cards for new members and N12.6 million for sundry expenses for the primaries.

    A crowd of political associates and admirers followed Araraume to the party secretariat in Owerri yesterday to interact with the leadership.

    Araraume informed party leaders that he would bring his legislative and party experience to bear in strengthening the party to win.

    He said: “If we conduct credible primaries and I lose, I will support the winner to ensure our victory. I believe that by the grace of God, and by our collective efforts, APGA will win all the elective positions in Imo.”

    The governorship hopeful lauded the APGA-led government in Anambra State, saying the party has done marvelously well, and promised to replicate same in Imo if voted governor in 2019.

    APGA chairman Peter Ezeobi, who was happy at receiving Araraume, said the party had wished to welcome Araraume long ago. He was happy that their wish was finally met, and reaffirmed the party’s resolve to ensure a level-playing ground for all aspirants.

    He said: “On behalf of the expanded executive, I promise you free and fair primaries. I am very impressed by the formidable structure of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and I believe that with such a structure coming into our great party, APGA’s victory is assured.”

  • APGA blames Abia’s backwardness on PDP’s misrule

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State has blamed the backwardness in the state on the 20-year misrule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    In a statement by the chairman, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, APGA said the heart of its members bleed daily for the continuous hardship the PDP-led government has brought on the people.

    The statement reads: “Our heart bleeds daily for the continuous hardship, suffering and decay in the state, which is making life miserable. It is both sad and shocking that after 20 years of democratic rule, Abia is the only Southeast state, perhaps in Nigeria, that is worst in all aspects of development indices than it was before PDP took over the leadership.”

    Ehiemere enumerated some of the factors which condemned the state to her present state of backwardness to include imposition of persons without leadership qualities as leaders; god-fatherism; refusal to allow people’s vote to count; insensitivity of politicians to the plight of citizens; civil service degradation; non-maintenance of basic amenities and rising corruption.

    According to him, while other states in the zone have extricated themselves from the god-fatherism, Abia PDP has retained it as a tradition and style of governance, saying the consequence is the persistent strangulation and draining of public fund to service the insatiable greed of the god-fathers and their agents.

    He added: “This trend has become more chronic under this regime. We do not know how we can describe a political party that has continued to plunder funds meant to develop the state and improve the people’s living conditions…”

     

  • Secondus, others storm Abia for PDP mega rally

    The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Uche Secondus would be leading a delegation of National officers of the party to a mega rally holding in Umuahia, the Abia State capital organized by the State chapter of the party.

    It was gathered that the rally which is expected to attract the presence of National and State Assembly lawmakers including other party stalwarts is scheduled to hold Wednesday September 12, 2018.

    Unconfirmed report has it that the event would be used to welcome some APC and APGA defectors into the party’s fold in the state.

    Briefing newsmen at the party Secretariat along Finbarrs road, Umuahia, on the readiness of the party for the event, the State chairman, Chief Johnson Onuigbo disclosed that Secondus would be coming with other members of the national working committee.

    Onuigbo said that the essence of the rally was to showcase the party’s strength and to tell the entire globe that Abia State remains a PDP State.

    “Abia is a PDP state with a lively party Secretariat. You hardly see a flag hovering around other parties in the state, no life there; but the PDP is always busy. Our party is a living political party”.

    On the large number of aspirants jostling to pick the party’s expression of interest form for the upcoming primaries, the PDP chairman disclosed that it was inspired by the assurance the party gave to members of the PDP of a transparent primaries.

    He said, his led executive traversed the entire local government areas of the state, informing aspirants that it would conduct a free, fair, transparent, credible and verifiable primaries, “that is why all the aspirants have confidence in the party”.

    Onuigbo reassured that every aspirant must be subjected to a democratic process, insisting that the time of impunity and imposition of candidates are gone. “We will allow everybody to express his/her inalienable right”,  he further assured.

    Read Also: Secondus: Buhari’s Netherlands visit unnecessary

    In another development the Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP has adopted the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as its sole candidate for the 2019 governorship election.

    The State Chairman of the party, Sir Johnson Onuigbo disclosed this while briefing journalists after the statewide party’s caucus meeting held in Banquet Hall, Government House, Umuahia.

    Sir Onuigbo said that the caucus which is the highest decision making body of the party met to discuss issues bordering on the progress of the party.

    Presenting a communique on behalf of the caucus, the PDP State Secretary, Chief Ibe  Nwadioha said the caucus passed a vote of confidence on the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu for keeping the flag of the PDP flying  and urged all members of the party to support him for a second term in office.

    The communique equally commended the party leadership in the State for upholding the ideals of the party and support given to the Governor in which assists him in implementing party’s manifesto.

    According to the communique, the PDP would ensure that the forthcoming primary elections in the State would be free and fair as all aspirants would be given a level playing ground