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Tag: Aspirants

  • Ogun 2019: What APC wants from governorship aspirants, by chairman

    Ogun 2019: What APC wants from governorship aspirants, by chairman

    The Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has listed virtues those aspiring to succeed Governor Ibikunle Amosun in 2019 must possess.

    Over a dozen of aspirants, including House of Assembly Speaker Suraj Adekunbi, Prince Adeleke Tella, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, Jimi Lawal and Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade, want the top job.

    The party chairman identified youthfulness, drive, clear-cut vision and mission, competence to raise the bar of governance in Ogun State, to outperform the incumbent.

    APC State Chairman Tajudeen Lemboye spoke with The Nation after hosting a governorship aspirant, Adeleke Tella, and his supporters during his formal expression of interest in Abeokuta.

    Lemboye said he looked forward to raising the hand of a governor under his chairmanship of APC.

    He expressed confideqnce that the party’s governorship candidate would succeed Amosun, adding that there is no strong opposition to constitute a minimal threat to the party in the state.

    The APC chairman described the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State as one that is in “total disarray” which may never be able to put its house in order again.

    Lemboye said: “It is one thing to have an ambition, it is another thing to have a vision and a mission for one’s ambition.

    “We need a young man, who is still very vibrant, whose energy is still there, who can run up and down. These are qualities of people we want to steer the affairs of government in Ogun State.

    “But what we are really after is that we are looking for somebody who will raise the bar and standard of what Governor Ibikunle Amosun has done; someone who will even do more and perform better than him.

    “That is the type of person we are looking for. We will continue to pray, as a party, because I want to raise the hand of a governor during my own time and I will continue to pray to God Almighty to give us the best person for governor in 2019.”

  • Senate legalises card readers, sets fees for aspirants

    Senate legalises card readers, sets fees for aspirants

    The Electoral Act No. 6, 2010 Amendment Bill 2017 passed recently by the Senate makes the use of card readers mandatory and bans manual accreditation, when it becomes law.

    According to the amendment, House of Representatives aspirants are now to pay N1,000,000 and those for State Assembly will pay N500,000.

    The law states there shall now be full biometric accreditation of voters with Smart Card Readers and/or other technological devices, as may be introduced for elections by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

    It requires  presiding officers to instantly transmit accreditation and results from polling units to various collation centres.

    It stipulates that :”Presiding officer who contravenes this shall be imprisoned for at least five years (no option of fine).

    “All presiding officers must now first record accreditation data and polling results on INEC’s prescribed forms before transmitting them. The data/result recorded must be the same with what they transmitted.”

    It grants the INEC unfettered powers to conduct elections by electronic voting and keep electronic registers of voters.

    “The INEC is now mandated to publish voters’ registers on its official website(s) for public scrutiny at least 30 days before a general election and any INEC staff who is responsible for this, but fails to act as prescribed shall be liable on conviction to six months imprisonment.

    “The INEC is now mandated to keep a National Electronic Register of Election Results as a distinct database or repository of polling unit by polling unit results for all elections conducted by the INEC.

    “Collation of election result is now mainly electronic, as transmitted unit results will help to determine final results on real time basis.

    “The INEC is now mandated to record details of electoral materials – quantities, serial numbers used to conduct elections (for proper tracking),’’ the amendment stated.

    The bill states that a political party whose candidate dies after commencement of an election and before the declaration of the result of that election now has a 14-day window to conduct a fresh primary in order for the INEC to conduct a fresh election within 21 days of the death of the party’s candidate;

    “Political parties’ polling agents are now entitled to inspect originals of electoral materials before the commencement of election and any presiding officer who violates this provision of the law shall be imprisoned for at least one year.

    “No political party can impose qualification/disqualification criteria, measures or conditions on any Nigerian for the purpose of nomination for elective offices, except as provided in the 1999 Constitution.

    “The election of a winner of an election can no longer be challenged on grounds of qualification, if he/she (winner) satisfied the applicable requirements of sections 65, 106, 131 or 177 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and he is not, as may be applicable, in breach of sections 66, 107, 137 or 182 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. [For example, a person’s election cannot be challenged on the ground that he did not pay tax, as this is not a qualifying condition under the Constitution.]

    “All members of political parties are now eligible to determine the ad-hoc delegates to elect candidates of parties in indirect primaries. The capacity of party executives to unduly influence or rig party primaries has been reasonably curtailed, if not totally removed.

    “Parties can no longer impose arbitrary nomination fees on political aspirants. The bill passed prescribes limits for each elective offices.’’

    Accordingly, the bill recommended N150,000 for a ward councillorship aspirant in the FCT and states; N250,000 for an area council chairmanship aspirant in the FCT; and council chairmanship in other LGAs of states; and N500,000 for a House of Assembly aspirant.

    It prescribesN1,000,000 for a House of Representatives aspirant; N2,000,000 for a senatorial aspirant; N5,000,000 for a governorship aspirant and N10,000,000 for a presidential aspirant.

  • George seeks PDP aspirants debate

    George seeks PDP aspirants debate

    A leading aspirant for PDP national chairman Chief Olabode George has challenged other contestants for an open debate on their vision, agenda and motive for gunning for the party’s prime office.

    He described himself as knowledgeable about the culture and practices of the party, saying whoever wanted to lead the party should not be afraid of a public debate that will showcase their grasp of the norms and traditional values of the party.

    George told delegates from  Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto states about the need for micro zoning of the national chairmanship position, he insisted that the fundamental resolve of the founding  founders was to promote equity and balance in the distribution of the party offices.

    George praised the Sultan of Sokoto Sa’ad Abubakar for his patriotism and his instinctive embrace of all Nigerians regardless of faith or tribe.

    George was praised by the North West Coordinator of his campaign Organization, Alhaji Bakori, for his selfless service to the party and his consistency.

    Alhaji  Bakori described George as the most experienced among the contestants.

    George was at the Katsina State PDP secretariat yesterday.

    Director General of the Bode George Campaign Organisation  Alhaji Aliu K. Ibrahim, described this as payback time for George having worked selflessly as the Director General of Yar’Adua/Jonathan Presidential Campaign.

    George said the convention itself must reinforce all sense of fairness, civility and equitable largeness.  He enjoined  delegates to be courageous and open-minded.

    George said this is the second chance for the party to redeem itself and rectify the errors of the past.

    He promised to be back in Katsina state which has 110 delegates,  the largest batch in the nation because of the vivid hospitality and embrace with which he was received by the leaders and delegates.

  • Fayose: aspirants for chairman must unite

    Fayose: aspirants for chairman must unite

    •‘There must be shadow poll’

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has urged Southwest aspirants for  national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to unite before the national convention in Abuja.

    The governor noted that the region may lose its slot for the party’s national chairmanship, if the aspirants refused to work together and choose a candidate.

    He said presenting a candidate would brighten the region’s chances.

    Fayose suggested the conduct of a shadow election among aspirants to enhance the zone’s chances of winning the position.

    The governor spoke at the weekend while hosting one of the aspirants, former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, at the Government House in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    He noted that presenting one contestant will brighten the chances of the zone to clinch the position on December 9.

    Daniel, who supported Fayose’s suggestion of a primary among aspirants from the zone, said he had the exposure, experience, contacts and acceptability to occupy the office and lead the party to victory in elections.

    Fayose said: “We need to get a consensus candidate from our zone to clinch the post. We should not go to the convention as a divided house.

    “I see nothing bad if we get all delegates from the Southwest to vote in a shadow election for their preferred candidate. Then, whoever emerges would be supported by all during the convention.

    “If we propose that and majority of aspirants agree, whoever does not agree would be seen as having no follower at all. I can’t work against you or your interest.

    “We have too many aspirants from our zone, and it is not only us (Southwest) that will decide who becomes the national chairman of our party. It will be decided by every member from across the country.

    “As for my position as the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, I am only a voice there. Agreed that the governors will play a crucial role in determining who wins, but if I say something, I can’t force it down my colleagues.

    “It is only advisable that we get our house in order. All aspirants from our area, apart from dividing the votes in the region, are also dividing the votes in the North too. We all know that our party is the party to beat in the country.”

    The governor promised not to work against the interest of Daniel or any other aspirant in the zone or work against interest of the zone.

    Daniel said: “Fayose’s suggestion is a good idea. If our party leaders and members support it, I am ready for it. Majority of aspirants only have the experience of being political appointees. I have contested and won elections twice.

    “As a governor, you know what it is to contest and win elections. I have traversed all nooks and crannies of this country, and I am well accepted.

    “Our party needs somebody like me, who has the contacts and the experience to lead it. We are going to contest against incumbent in many states and even at the presidential level. So, we must be up-and-doing. I am assuring our members that I will lead the party to victory in coming elections.”

  • Fayose: aspirants from South eligible for President

    Fayose: aspirants from South eligible for President

    EKITI State Governor Ayo Fayose has said President Muhammadu Buhari did not send him any message on his 57th birthday.

    Fayose said he deserved to be sent a congratulatory message from the Presidency as “one of the governors in Nigeria and a leading opposition figure in the country”.

    On the controversy about who becomes the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman on December 9 national convention, the governor said aspirants from the three regions in the South were eligible, and not only those from the Southwest.

    Some PDP chieftains in Ekiti State have accused Fayose of supporting Prince Uche Secondus, from Rivers State, for the post of national chairman, rather than a candidate from Southwest, where the party reportedly zoned the position.

    The governor addressed reporters yesterday at the Government House in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on his 57th birthday.

    He said: “One of my greatest wishes on my 57th birthday was to wake up this morning to receive congratulatory message from President Muhammadu Buhari or read such a message in the media.

    “My wishes on my 57th birthday as Ayo Fayose are many but one of them, which will interest you, is that I wish ?President Buhari’s congratulatory call would have woken me up today as one of the governors in the country, (and he) as a father of the nation and I as a leading opposition figure in the country.

    “The President ought to congratulate me as a fearless young man who believes that things should be done rightly, to show himself (President Buhari) as a father of all, preaching that we must extend love to everybody, not only those in his political party.

    “The President would have made a difference if he had extended such gesture to others beyond his political party. Such a congratulatory message should have been conveyed through his Minister of Information.

    “I would have loved to either wake up receiving a congratulatory call from him or read it in the papers. But since it is not coming, it is not a big deal to me. I take no offence for it.

    “I am not Buhari’s enemy. Opposition is the strength of democracy. It ensures that the electorate get value for their votes. Those who criticise your government are not your enemies; they are catalysts to your growth as a government.

    “I remain a factor no one can ignore in this country. Apart from the fact that I am a leading opposition figure, Nigerians respect my voice. They believe that I don’t compromise the truth, no matter whose ox is gored.”

    On the confusion over who becomes the next PDP National Chairman, Fayose said: “Nobody can say some zones would hijack it because there is no election yet. You don’t know where the election would go. Twenty-four hours is a long time in an election.

    “What is important is that a credible candidate emerges as PDP chairman. The fact is that we must, as members, conclude this convention as one party.

    “You also remember that all our candidates have signed and agreed to remain one, regardless of the outcome of the convention. That shows unity among us. The chairmanship is zoned to the South.”

    Responding to a question that his presidential ambition may rob the Southwest of the party’s national chairmanship slot, Fayose said: “How can only one man’s ambition rob others their own chance?

    “That is just cheap blackmail. You see, when I wanted to be governor, there was nothing that could stop me because I was determined.

    “The aspirants for PDP chairmanship, who have come from the Southwest, were determined. If not, they wouldn’t have come out. Let us say that expressly that we don’t know tomorrow. Twenty-four hours is a long time in politics.”

  • PDP chairmanship aspirants defy governor

    PDP chairmanship aspirants defy governor

    •Four defect to APC

    Defections by  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains to All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State continued at the weekend.

    Four chairmanship aspirants in Orue Offong/Oruko Local Government defected to APC.

    The Nation learnt that the aspirants defected with thousands of their supporters, despite pleas by Governor Udom Emmanuel to remain in PDP.

    Led by Chief Okon Bassey, a former member of the House of Assembly, it was gathered that the aspirants also turned down the appeal by Culture and Tourism Commissioner Mr. Victor Antai.

    Antai, from neighbouring Mbo Council, was said to have appeared at Urue Offong/Oruko APC office, Okuko, venue of the defection.

    The aspirants: Nkereuwem Enyongekere, Ntanta Sam Okpo and Kate Nduonofit alleged that Antai offered them N20 million on behalf of the governor to remain in PDP.

    Bassey, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, told the crowd that Emmanuel spoke with him for about 40 minutes on the phone, appealing to him and  others not to defect,  promising them money and car gifts.

    He said they did not listen to the governor because PDP had no chance of winning in 2019.

    Receiving the defectors, including an ex-commissioner, Chief Nukak Ante; Urue Offong/Oruko chapter President of Esu Nlap Oro, Mr. Nuke Etim Nuke; Dr. Bassey Willie, a seasoned politician; APC state Chairman Dr. Amadu Attai assured them of equal treatment.

    APC Chairman in Akwa Ibom South, Mr. Emmanuel Oton, said it was clear that the party would record a landslide in Urue Offong/Oruko.

    Benedict Ukpong, the commissioner representing Akwa Ibom State in National Population Commission, promised APC state leadership that the party will sweep the polls in Urue Offong/Oruko, as it did in 2015.

    He assured the defectors that they would be accommodated.

    A former Chairman of Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government, Chief Edet Isong, said with the defection, PDP is dead in the area.

    The event was attended by notable politicians, including state APC Publicity Secretary, Edet Eyo Bassey; three ex-chairmen of Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government, Mr. Remigius Asuquo, Effiong Oquong and Chief Okon Tom Usung; a former chairman of Mbo Local Government, Chief Effiong Johnson;  Effiong Oboho; Osung Onwefiak; Omen Bassey; Prince Anwana Ikott; Mr. Iniobong Edmond and Mr. Nse Uya.

  • Osun govt to aspirants: stop maligning Aregbesola

    Osun govt to aspirants: stop maligning Aregbesola

    Politicians aspiring to govern Osun State have been advised to stop peddling falsehood against Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

    In a statement, the governor’s Media Adviser Sola Fasure told aspirants, who had turned “overnight critics” because they wanted Aregbesola’s job, to know that the people were aware of the governor’s performance.

    He regretted that aspirants had been trying to outdo one another by promising to perform better than Aregbesola.

    The statement noted that “such aspirants, regrettably but brazenly, alter statistics, fabricate figures, which are non-existing, and justify what ought not to be, all in the name of wanting to give the administration of Aregbesola a bad name to hang it’’.

    Fasure said Osun residents were not forgetful, adding: “They know, see and feel what Aregbesola did and is still doing in the state.

    ”One of the supposed governorship aspirants said education in Osun is in a bad shape and that there was a disconnect in infrastructure and economic development. He said he possessed the magic wand to synergise things.

    “But if a calabash isn’t broken, do we employ someone to still fix it? This critic was, fortunately, part of the education summit called by Aregbesola in 2011 to fix the sector, which was ran aground by seven years of misrule of the administration before Aregbesola.

    ”This critic was not a governorship aspirant then and he did not see that education was in a shambles. Even at that, he was privileged to serve in the summit with the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

    ”The outcome of that brainstorming at the summit produced the template with which the government tailored its restructuring. And today, the state has witnessed tremendous improvement in all ramifications as far as education is concerned.

    ”The criticism must have stemmed from the utter lack of knowledge of performance charts and attention to details exhibited by those who do not want to see anything good attributed to the Aregbesola administration.”

  • Zoning: Ekiti South meets to reduce aspirants

    Zoning: Ekiti South meets to reduce aspirants

    Stakeholders have commenced a move to reduce the number of governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti South Senatorial District to ensure that the zone produces a “strong candidate” capable of winning the governorship election.

    The APC aspirants from the zone had an interface with an interest group, the Ekiti South for Governor Forum, in Ado-Ekiti where they pledged to support whoever  emerges from among them for the top job.

    The zone has not produced an elected governor since Ekiti State was created on October 1, 1996. Seventeen aspirants from Ekiti South have shown interest in the APC ticket.

    Aspirants who attended the meeting included former House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Femi Bamisile; former House of Representatives member, Hon. Bamidele Faparusi; former Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Gbenga Aluko and former Commissioner for Works Chief Diran Adesua.

    Others were former Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Projects, Mr. Muyiwa Olumuyiwa; former House of Assembly Service Commission Chairman, Hon. Bayo Idowu; former Commissioner for Budget and Planning Mr. Debo Ajayi and Captain Sunday Adebomi.

    Those who sent representatives were Dr. Wole Oluyede, Mr. Kola Alabi and Chief Dele Okeya.

    The Chairman of Ekiti South for Governor Forum, Chief Oluwole Ariyo, said the district has quality aspirants who have the education, exposure, experience and pedigree to be elected at next year’s poll.

    He said the major task ahead of the Forum was to work out modalities to forestall the consequences of an unwieldy number of aspirants from the South senatorial district.

    He said: “All of us are fully aware of the consequences of the failure of this unique and historical struggle by the South to rpduce the governor in 2018. All of us are also convinced that the strugg;e can only produce one governor.

    “We are here to plead with ourselves to avoid a situation where e will lose everything and gain nothing.

    “We therefore, wish to admonish our aspirants to embrace this stark reality and forge partnerships and come up with a resolution that would throw up a candidate that will be formidable and acceptable to the generality of Ekiti people.”

    The convener of the meeting who is also an aspirant, Prof. Philip Omoniyi Adetiloye, said the meeting will be a continuous one to ensure that the dream is realised.

    Adetiloye disclosed that all the aspirants are planning a joint rally to drum the Ekiti South governorship agenda to APC leaders and voters in few weeks time to show their commitment to the project.

  • APC urges aspirants to surpass Amosun

    APC urges aspirants to surpass Amosun

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State  has said it will field in a governorship candidate that would build on  the achievements of Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    Its Acting Chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Lemboye, made this known in Abeokuta, the state capital,  when former House of Representatives member, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade, declared his governorship.

    Akinlade represented Yewa South/Ipokia Constituency between 2003 and 2015. He  defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC after reuniting with Amosun.

    Lemboye urged the state to copy the example of Lagos State that  had continued to benefit immensely from continuity in governance since the return of democracy in 1999.

    He said APC must present a united front in 2019 and appealed to aspirants to conduct themselves wisely to ensure victory for the party.

    “Governor Amosun has made a difference in Ogun State. We want someone that would continue with his pace of performance. We have asked him (Akinlade) several questions and he has offered answers satisfactorily. We are convinced that if given the opportunity, he would do well.

    “We are an umpire. Anybody can aspire and decide to contest from any zone, whether Ogun West or Ogun East or even Central. We have not zoned the governorship. But eventually, we will decide the most competent and qualified aspirant to fly our party’s flag,” Lemboye said.

    He described  Akinlade as  a credible politician and  man of the people, saying he represented his constituency and the state well at the National Assembly from 2003 – 2015.

    According to him, the former lawmaker would perform better  if given another opportunity to serve.

    He said the APC had given Akinlade permission to traverse the length and breadth of the state and solicit the support of party members and the electorate.

    Responding, Akinlade assured that he would run a people- oriented government, accord  special recognition to women and youth through empowerment and entrepreneurship.

    “The governor is risking his achievements to support Ogun West for governor. I want to assure him that we will not disappoint him.

    “I have what it takes to step into the shoes of Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

    I have aspired for governorship thrice, but this time round, with God and the support of the governor and leaders of the party, I will emerge victorious come 2019,” Akinlade said.

    He promised to ensure a holistic economic policy by harnessing the state’s comparative advantage in the three Free Trade Zones of Olokola, Kajola and Agbara.

    He stressed the need to create the  State Capital Development Authority through the appropriate legislation and pursue aggressive food/livestock production and rural development.

  • Group urges EFCC to investigate aspirants

    Group urges EFCC to investigate aspirants

    Group, the Anambra Conscience Movemnet (ACM), has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate four governorship aspirants over the allegation of using accumulated funds for constituency projects to woo delegates at primaries.

    The group accused the aspirants, who are members of the National Assembly, of misusing funds for constituency projects.

    The aspirants are Senator Stella Oduah, Senator Andy Uba, Tony Nwoye and Lynda Ikpeazu.

    The petition, which has been received by the office of the EFCC chairman, was signed by the group’s president, Chief Godwin Chukwuyenlu, and secretary, Prince Osita Nwankwo.

    Former presidential aide Senator Uba has been in the National Assembly for six years, Senator Oduah is in his second year in the Senate. Nwoye has spent a year and eight months while Rep. Ikpeazu is spending the second year of her second term in the House of Representatives.

    The group stated in the petition: “We also have received credible information that orders have been placed for a large number of cars, tricycles and motorcycles also to be diverted for election campaign purposes. These orders are to be paid for with funds which were supposed to be used for Constituency projects but which were diverted.

    “Some of the materials like sewing machines, grinding machines, motorcycles etc are materials which were collected over the years for empowerment of constituents from the MGD office and other empowerment agencies of government but were hoarded and are now being used to induce delegates.

    “Several of the people being given these items are not from within the constituencies being represented by the members who are involved in this. Every Senator and Honourable member has a specific constituency which is not the whole state. The act of denying constituents of their rightful benefits and the use of such materials for campaign purposes and outside the constituency it is originally meant for is condemnable and must be stopped immediately.

    “You will recall Sir, that the Electoral Act provides that candidates for election into the office of Governor of a State should not spend more than N200, 000, 000:00 (Two Hundred Million Naira) only and should not receive donations in excess of N1, 000, 000:00 (One Million Naira) only from any individual.

    It added: “We call on you to immediately invite all the aspirants who are currently public officers including the above named members of the National Assembly to inquire into the sources of the humongous amounts of money they are sharing, unravel to confirm the source of money and the identity(ies) of the public officer(s) who has or have ordered for the cars, tricycles motorcycles, sewing machines and other items.