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Tag: APGA

  • Abia PDP chieftains defect to APGA

    The leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has received about 3,500 defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State.

    Obingwa is Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s local government, which is noted for its high voting strength in the state. In the last general elections, it was said to have delivered over 82,000 of votes that gave Ikpeazu victory.

    The defectors should have been received by APGA leaders at a ceremony held last week at the National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN), Umuokahia, Obingwa council area, but it was disrupted by thugs allegedly hired by the PDP. This, it was said, prompted the party chairman to issue a statement condemning the action.

    Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Maduka Akpulonu said the group decided to dump the PDP for APGA because “the party party has failed to provide purposeful governance to the people of the state in the past 20 years”.

    He accused chieftains of his former party of making efforts to stop them from defecting to APGA, stressing that nothing will make them to return to the PDP.

    His words: “We decided to dump our former party for APGA because PDP as a party has failed to provide purposeful governance to the people of the state. Some chieftains of our former party made efforts to stop us from defecting to APGA, but we resisted the move, saying nothing will make us return to PDP.”

    While welcoming governorship aspirant, Dr. Alex Otti, and other party leaders to the area, Akpulonu urged Otti to extend his campaign to all the 11 wards in the council. The chairman apologised for the botched rally.

    He said: “We apologise for the botched rally last week. Our defection has shaken the PDP to its foundation in Obingwa.  They frustrated our efforts to dump the PDP. The party (PDP) won’t do anything for the people and won’t allow them to leave to a better party.”

     

     

     

  • We lost last Anambra election to hunger – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) in Anambra State on Tuesday, attributed its failure to clinch power in the November governorship election in the state to vote buying.

    The State Chairman of the party, Mr Ndubuisi Nwobu made the disclosure in a chat with our correspondents at the party’s Secretariat at Udoka Housing Estate, Awka.

    He said the PDP lost to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) due to what he called mass hunger and other irregularities.

    “In these days when vote buying has become the order of the day, One’s victory is dependent on how deep his pocket is. That is not to say the candidate is not popular.

    “But because hunger is in the land, people sell their birthrights for a plate of porage on the election day. But immediately after the election, it looks like a scale feel off from their eyes and they start regretting,” he said.

    Nwobu however said the ugly trend which, according to him was prevalent among the youths, could be salvaged.

    “People say there is no remedy to the ugly trend, but I’m one of those who believe vote buying which the adults have also joined can be checkmated.

    “INEC should provide a secluded voting centres so people won’t have opportunity to show others who they voted for.

    “Voters should not be allowed to enter the polling booths with their cell phones, because they use the phones to snap their ballot papers which they show those who will pay them later,” he said.

    Nwobu further disclosed that the party has put necessary arrangements in motion for its congresses and primaries ahead of next year’s general elections.

    He said he would address a meeting of stakeholders of the party later in the day(Tuesday) to intimate members of the arrangements.

    Describing the crises rocking the party as normal in any progressive organizations, the party helmsman assured that his leadership in the state had given a direction to the party, assuring that the PDP would win majority seats in the National Assembly and the state’s house of Assembly.

  • PDP to APGA: Obiano is your last governor in Anambra

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State has asked the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA ) to forget about fielding any candidate in the next governorship election in the state.

    The party said the incumbent governor of the state, Willie Obiano would be the last governor the party would produce in the state.

    The leader of PDP reconciliation committee in the state, Mr. Ngozi Agudozi, who stated this on Friday at Nnewi South council area of the state during a meeting with different factions of the party, described the state as PDP’s birthright.

    The PDP chieftain regretted the 14-year old internal crises of the party in the state, which he said APGA took advantage of to wrestle power from her, vowing to reclaim it at the expiration of Obiano’s tenure.

    He said, “APGA is like a faction of PDP in Anambra state. Today, they are claiming to have won 21/21 in the last polls which most of them can’t explain how it happened.

    “By the time I am through with this mission, we are going to say bye bye to APGA in Anambra State. I’m not boasting. Obiano will be the last governor of APGA in Anambra State. After Obiano, there won’t be any other APGA governor in Anambra.

    “Take it from me, this state belongs to us. There is no man, big or small in the state that have not drank from the milk of PDP.”

    Agudozi however denied being sponsored by certain stalwarts in the party, describing his mission as simply divine.

    Read Also: You can’t remove Saraki, Ekweremadu – PDP

    “Nobody is backing me. A lot of people don’t even like me because I say the truth the way it is. I’m convinced in this project because it is a divine mandate that I should go and reconcile my people so that our party can win elections.

    “I saw the crying and pains of party members at the grassroots. They are seeking for someone to give them sense of direction, which I will provide. That’s why they are embracing it.

    “I only consulted my leaders from the state in Abuja and I told them I’m going on this mission. Olisa Metu, Peter Obi and Chris Uba are my political leaders, but none of them sent me here. I’m here based on the interest for the state. And all of us are working together,” he stressed.

    A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof Chukwuma Soludo and a chieftain of APGA, had, during last year’s gubernatorial electioneering campaign, boasted that APGA would rule Anambra State for 50 years.

    He said his prediction was informed by the developmental indices the party leadership had provided in the last twelve years the party held sway in the state.

  • APGA chieftain urges Igbo, Yoruba to unite for Nigeria’s liberation

    A former secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA ) Mr Okoli Akirika has called for unity among the Igbo and Yoruba to liberate Nigeria from its present predicament.

    He described the two tribes as progressives with the capacity of building an ideal marriage capable of liberating the country from what he called political captivity and bondage.

    Speaking to newsmen in Awka, on Sunday, Akirika asked both tribes to bury what he called the ancient grudges that existed between the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo and form the desired synergy to save the country from doldrums.

    He said, “In the Nigerian political system, the Igbo and Yoruba are progressives. Igbo and Yoruba think alike because of their level of education.

    ” The bane of their unity has always been the political rivalries between the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    He also urged the two tribes not to allow themselves to be deceived that an alliance between them would not work, saying “the first and only time a Nigerian leader intentionally paid the supreme prize was when a Yoruba man ( Fajuyi) died for an Igbo, Aguyi Ironsi.

    ” Fajuyi was a collateral damage. He refused that his boss, friend and brother, Aguyi Ironsi should be killed in his domain; so he staked his life and he was killed for no sin of his.

    “So what other proof do we need to affirm that the two tribes have consanguinity and affinity.

    ” If a Yoruba man at that point in time could pay that prize with his own blood, I don’t see why the present day southeast and southwest cannot face a common political destiny in making sure a good government is elected.

    Akirika added,” Rising beyond what happened between Zik and Awo, we should not allow ourselves to become captives in our own land”.
    On the recent comment by President Muhammadu Buhari to assist the Igbo to become president of Nigeria at the appropriate time, Akirika described it as an “infantile deceit”.

    He said the Igbo should not give such comment any atom of consideration.

    He said, “We need to elect an alternative president that will see Nigeria as his primary constituency; a president who will arise above clannish thinking; who will rise against the current order of predicating appointments on acquittance , religion and tribe.“

  • Anambra APC, APGA in verbal war over Obiano’s alleged Austria trip to import tricycles

    THE All Progressives Congress APC, in Anambra State has flayed the state governor, Willie Obiano for his alleged trip to Austria to import tricycles. The APC accused Obiano of abandoning Innoson Motors company to negotiate with foreign manufacturers on importation of tricycles to the state, describing it as a waste. This was contained in a statement yesterday in Awka, by the Zonal Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Igboeli Arinze. But in a swift reaction yesterday, the state Commissioner for information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C-Don Adinuba, described the statement as a combative ignorance.

    He said the party was trumpeting it’s own values, adding that the governor was in Austria on the invitation of the Nigerian Ambassador to the country, Mrs S N C Okeke for business opportunities. Adinuba said Innoson does not manufacture tricycles, noting that Anambra was the highest patronisers of Innoson vehicles in Nigeria. He added that Obiano recently purchased 40 vehicles which the state donated to some groups, while another 60 had equally been booked from the same Innoson Manufacturing Company.

    Adinuba further faulted the statement ,adding that the governor never said he would replace motorcycles with tricycles, rather, that he would replace them with shuttle buses. The APC wondered why the presence of vehicle manufacturing firms like Innoson which was sited in the state, would be left by the APGA government for a foreign firm. “It is indeed contrary to all the dictates of reasoning for the governor to visit Austria with the intention of getting foreign coupling companies to produce these tricycles also known as Keke Napep for use in Anambra State.”

    According to the statement, which was made available to reporters yesterday in Awka, “With the impromptu ban on the use of okada by the present government of Anambra State, without giving any consideration to the plight of Ndi Anambra who have indeed suffered increased hardship following the ban.

  • APGA: Court fixes July 13 for judgement on leadership tussle

    Members of the All Progressive Grand Alliance ( APGA ) backing Chief Victor Oye as the National Chairman of the party have started celebrating the yet to be delivered judgement of the Supreme Court on the Leadership tussle within the party.

    The Nation was informed that members of the party in Anambra and Imo states are already jubilating in anticipation that the Supreme Court will affirm Chief Victor Oye as the authentic National Chairman in its judgement scheduled to be delivered on July 13.

    The source said that Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano had addressed the parry members assuring them that victory was assured and that Chief Oye would be affirmed as the party National Chairman by the Apex Court.

    The party has been enmeshed in litigation over who is the real national Chairman between Chief Victor Oye and Martin Agbaso since May 22, 2017, when an Enugu State High Court presided over by Justice Ozoemena, gave an order of mandamus, compelling the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to recognize Chief Martin Agbaso as APGA National Chairman.

    This followed an application brought before it by the party’s Deputy Chairman in Enugu State, Mike Alioke, asking the Court for an order of mandamus, compelling INEC to recognise the decision of APGA appointing Agbaso as the acting national chairman of the party.

    Alioke had also prayed the court for a declaration that by section 4 of the Police Act, both the Inspector General of Police and the Enugu State Commissioner of Police are bound to ensure the compliance of the decision of APGA regarding the appointment of Agbaso as the acting national chairman of the party in order to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

    He had also prayed for an order prohibiting INEC and its privies from recognizing or accepting any other person as the national chairman of APGA other than the Agbaso as submitted to it by the party.

    Chief Oye challenges the decision of the Enugu High Court at the appellate court court and the decision. was over turned by the Court of Appeal while Chief Agbaso challenges the judgement of the appeal court court.

    The Supreme Court had reserved judgement on the matter for July 13, following the refusal of the presiding judge, Justice Rhode Vivour, to discontinue with the case as requested by counsels to the defendant, Victor Oye.

    While the news, jubilation spread to Owerri, it was further gathered that the group met yesterday in Abuja to deliberate on measures that would be taken to ensure that the APGA leadership did not strip away from the Victor Oye and Obiano camp, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    All attempts to get the reaction of Chief Victor Oye and Chief Martin Agbaso, to the report proved abortive as both contending chairmen refused to pick their calls.

    However a chieftain of the party, Chief Eneja Okeke, who spoke to our correspondent on phone maintained his strong belief in the integrity of the judiciary, adding that the Nigerian judiciary has come of age and cannot be bought over by any money bag.

    Chief Okeke, who dismissed the report of jubilation, insisted that though it could be true that the governor may have out of desperation influenced the judgement, the Supreme Court has given him cause to believe their integrity and would not yield to the desperation of any interest in the case.

    “There may certainly be desperate moves to get judgement from the back door, but I can tell you that the integrity of the judges are at stake here.

    “I am sure that they cannot sacrifice such hard earned integrity. So, any person can close the streets in jubilation for a case which judgement is still several weeks away from now. That shows their desperation, but we are not bothered because the truth must prevail”.

  • Stella Oduah defects to APGA

    Senator Stella Oduah (Anambra North) has defected to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    She was led to the APGA National Secretariat in Abuja by Senator Victor Umeh and received by the National Chairman, Dr. Victor Oye.

    Her defection brings the number of APGA Senators to two, apart from the six House of Representatives members who also accompanied her.

    Mrs. Oduah said she has always been inspired by what the party represents in the Southeast and that her joining them is a home-coming for a party that has always been dear to her heart.

  • 2019: PDP, APGA, ADC absent as APC, SDP, LP, 51 other parties sign code of conduct

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, registered political parties in the country have adopted and signed the revised code of conduct for political parties to guide their operations before, during and after the conduct of the elections.

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was, however, absent from the signing ceremony.

    The event, which took place after a two-day workshop on the validation of the code organised by the Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), was witnessed by the National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in charge of Election and Party Monitoring, Prof. Anthonia Okorie-Simbine.

    The Deputy National Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Lawal Shuaibu, led representatives of 53 other political parties, including the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Labour Party (LP), to sign the revised code.

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on the other hand, led the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and 21 parties who were absent at the event.

    Speaking at the signing ceremony, Prof. Okorie-Simbine, who represented the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, assured the parties of the commitment of the Commission to ensuring a level playing field for all political parties in the conduct of elections in the country.

    Okorie-Simbine said INEC remained committed to strengthening its internal systems for the sustenance of a credible electoral environment.

    She noted that political parties, as principal actors in the electoral environment, would play significant roles towards in the success of 2019 general elections and others that would be held after.

    According to her, “it is vital that political party leaders take their commitment to the code of conduct beyond the official signing of the document by translating the provisions of the code to visible actions that impact positively towards sustaining and enhancing the gains of Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

    “By contributing to and signing the code of conduct, political parties have indeed committed to a pact with Nigerians that their activities will, going forward, be consistent with international best practices and enhance the confidence of citizens in our evolving democratic culture.”

    Okorie-Simbine said INEC had been a significant partner at various stages of the evolution and development of the code of conduct, with technical and financial support of international development partners, particularly the UNDP/DGD project first, and now the European Center for Electoral Support (ECES).

    She said: “Although the principal objective of having a code of conduct for political parties was centered on the need to have a set of mutually agreed and acceptable behaviour and best practices that guide the conduct of political parties, their candidates and supporters, before, during and after elections, the code also became the instrument for the establishment of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) which, without doubt, now plays a significant role as the umbrella body of all registered political parties.

    “It is in this context that the Commission has remained committed to encouraging political parties to abide by the tenets of the code of conduct as well as actively support the activities of IPAC towards attaining the ideal electoral environment that is characterised by a general commitment of all stakeholders to the entrenchment of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.”

    She asked the political parties to use the umbrella of IPAC to exert peer pressure for the adoption of best practices in key areas, including the promotion of internal democracy, provision of expanded roles for disadvantaged social groups, particularly women, the youth and persons living with disabilities, as well as deliberate commitment by leaders of political parties to the rule of law and strict compliance with the provisions of respective political party constitutions.

    The code of conduct sets the parameters for acceptable behaviour for political parties, their candidates and their supporters throughout the electoral cycle.

  • ‘Outcome of APC congresses good for APGA’

    NATIONAL Co-ordinator of APGA Media Warriors Forum Chinedu Obigwe has said the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo and Anambra states is good for the All Progressives Grand Alliance’s (APGA’s) quest to take over Southeast.

    Obigwe, in a statement, condemned the violence at the ward congresses.

    He thanked God that Senator Chris Ngige escaped lynching in Anambra.

    Obigwe described APC members as strange bedfellows.

    He said: “The news from Imo State is cheering and has left Imolites with the best choice of rallying support for APGA to take back Imo State.

    ‘’I advise Imolites to fight on doggedly like Spartans until the family political dynasty is destroyed in Imo State because doing this will salvage them from bad leadership.

    “APGA’s victory signs in Imo State in 2019 have manifested itself through unfolding events in Imo State.

    ‘’I pray for the peaceful rest of the soul of those that lost their lives in the violence-marred congresses.

    ‘’I urge APC members and other political parties to understand that political is not war.

    ‘’They should imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship to enable them accept defeat because in every contest there must be a winner, and losers.”

     

     

  • Maku calls for scrapping of state electoral commissions

    A former Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, has called for the scrapping of all state electoral commissions to ensure  free, fair and credible local government elections in Nigeria.

    Maku, the National Secretary of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), made the call in Lafia on Saturday during a political mobilisation tour.

    He said that the scrapping of the commissions would  give opposition parties hope of winning local government polls and ensure public  confidence in the process.

    Maku said that most opposition parties boycotted local government elections in the states because of the lack of transparency and trust in members of the  commissions.

    “Those in power in the state level appoint chairmen and members of their political parties as members of the state electoral commissions.

    “How can local government elections will be fair, free and credible?.

    “They will dance to the tune of their master who appointed them.

    “All the state electoral commissions have problems. All of them, that is why we suggested that all the so-called state electoral commissions should be abolished in order to have fair, free and credible local government elections in the country.

    “INEC national body should be given a mandate to run and conduct local government elections in the country.

    “INEC can have a different department for the local government elections and another department for national elections.

    “This will give the opposition parties and the public hope and confidence to actively participate in local government elections in their respective states, “he said.

    Maku urged the people of Nasawa State, especially farmers and herdsmen, to co-exist peacefully in the interest of development.

    He said that insecurity in some parts of the country were caused by political interest groups for selfish reasons and urged Nigerians to unite against violence in the interest of development.

    Maku said Nigerians should  live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political affiliations.