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Tag: Bolaji Abdullahi

  • Saraki’s loyalist Bolaji Abdullahi quits PDP

    Saraki’s loyalist Bolaji Abdullahi quits PDP

    A former Youth and Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi has dumped main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State.

    Abdullahi, an unrepentant loyalist of former Senate President Bukola Saraki, announced his resignation from the PDP through a letter, dated December 16, he addressed to the party’s chairman in his Ubandawaki Ward of Ilorin West Local Government Area.

    Read Also: Breaking: Bolaji Abdullahi quits APC

    A close ally of the former minister, Alhani Mas’ud Adebimpe, who was a Chief Press Secretary to the then Governor Saraki, confirmed the development.

    In his resignation letter, Abdullahi said he reached the “difficult” decision after days of “reflection and introspection”.

    Abdullahi’s resignation letter reads: “I write to formally resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I have had ample time to reflect, and I have come to the difficult conclusion that this is the only tenable option for me at this time.

  • JUST IN: Former sports minister Bolaji Abdullahi resigns from PDP

    JUST IN: Former sports minister Bolaji Abdullahi resigns from PDP

    A former minister of sports and youth development Bolaji Abdullahi, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Abdullahi announced his intention to resign in a letter dated December 16 and addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Ubadawaki, Kwara state.

    The ex-minister also said he is yet to decide which political platform to pitch tent with.

    “The decision of what to do and where to go will be taken in the future that’s left to God,” he said.

    In the resignation letter, Abdullahi said he reached the “difficult” decision after days of reflection and introspection.

    “I write to formally resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” the letter reads.

    “I have had ample time to reflect, and I have come to the difficult conclusion that this is the only tenable option for me at this time.

    Read Also: ‘PDP will bounce back in Kwara in 2027’

    “Mr. Chairman, please permit me to express, through you, my gratitude to the leadership of the party for the opportunities that I have had to serve the state and the country on its platform, and for the great moments we have shared.”

    Abdullahi was the PDP candidate for the Kwara central senatorial district election in 2023. He lost the race to Salihu Mustapha of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

  • Ortom’s defection surprising – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it was surprised by the decision of Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom to dump the party after efforts by the national leadership of the party to resolve issues raised by the governor concerning the politics of the state.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said in a statement that while the party respect the right of every member to make their choices, it was surprised that after giving his words, Gov. Ortom will do the opposite of his promise.

    The statement said despite the defection, the party will not relent in it’s efforts at reconciling aggrieved members of the party who keeps their mind open for reconciliation.

    The statement said “The Party recalls efforts made by the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to address some of the grievances raised by the Benue State Governor pertaining to the local politics in Benue State.

    Read Also: Ortom finally dumps APC for PDP

    “The Governor had left the meeting saying he was satisfied with the assurances given by Party leaders. We are still working on giving effect to the resolutions from the meeting. Therefore, we are somewhat surprised by Governor Ortom’s decision.

    “The Party reiterates its earlier position that it respects the rights of every citizen to chose their political affiliation but expresses hopes that those who have left the Party will rescind their decisions.

    “Even with this development, we don’t think it is too late for reconciliation. We have to continue to talk. As long as people keep their minds open and have the courage to put the real issues on the table, reconciliation is still possible.

    “The Party once again call on members across the country to remain calm as the Party leadership continues to work hard to position the Party strongly for the next general elections.”

  • APC holds national convention June 23

    The much talked about elective National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will hold on June 23.

    The party said in a two paragraph statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, that the national convention committee has agreed to hold the convention on June 23 instead of the earlier scheduled date of June 2.

    According to the statement, the inauguration of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) will take place on June 25.

     

  • Nigerian worker, most dedicated, resilient in the World – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the Nigerian worker remain the key drivers of the nation’s multi-faceted development and a major partner in the Nigerian project.

    In a message to Nigerian workers on the occasion of the workers day celebration, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi describe them as the most dedicated, resilient and hardworking set of workers in the world. 

    The statement reads: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) extends good wishes and greetings to all Nigerian workers as they join their counterparts across the world in celebrating the 2018 International Workers Day.

    “Unarguably, the Nigerian worker remains one of the most dedicated, resilient and hardworking in the world. They remain a key driver of the country’s multi-facet development.

    “Despite challenges particularly on the economy, we celebrate Nigerian workers for staying positive and being a partner in nation-building as well as contributing towards efforts to take the country to its deserved heights.

    “While we felicitate with the various workers unions in the country on the occasion of the International Workers Day celebration, we call on labour and trade unions in the country to continue ongoing dialogue with the government aimed at improving workers’ salaries and general welfare.”

  • Publish your audited account, financial statement: APC tells PDP

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged the main opposition part, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to publish its audited accounts and financial statement if it had any rather than cast aspersions at the party and making baseless allegations.

    The party said in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said its National Convention committee was yet to submit a budget for the convention expected to take place in a yet to be announced date in June.

    Reacting to the PDP’s claim of mismanagement of public funds against the APC by alleging it asked governors to contribute about N6 billions fund the national convention, Abdullahi said the budget for the convention was properly captured in its 2018 budget which was approved by its National Executive Committee.

    The statement reads: “In reacting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) allegations on the management of the All Progressives Congress (APC) finances and the funding for the Party’s upcoming 2018 National Convention among other unsubstantiated allegations contained in a statement by a spokesman for the PDP, we refer the PDP to the APC’s 2016 published independent audit report and accompanying financial statements.

    “In respect of the funding for our upcoming national convention, we also refer the PDP to our earlier issued statement (http://officialapcng.com/re-despite-owing-salaries-apc-governors-to-contribute-n6billion-for-upcoming-congresses-convention/) and also invite PDP to note that the APC convention committee has not submitted a budget for the convention.

    “Besides, the expenses for the National Convention to elect national officers and the presidential convention are duly captured in our 2018 budget. Therefore, the issue of N6billion convention expenses is neither here nor there.

    “While we assure Nigerians that the APC has not adopted the PDP’s practice of dipping their hands into the public till to fund its political activities as brazenly displayed during the 2015 elections, we equally call on the PDP to emulate the APC’s best practice of financial probity and openness by making public their audited reports and financial statements, if they have any.”

  • APC may wade in Buhari, NASS feud

    Shifts National Convention

     

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) is to wade into the feud between the Executive arm of government and its members in the National Assembly in the interest of the nation’s nascent democracy and in the interest of the party and the nation.

    Although the party said it does not have any position yet in the motion moved on Thursday by Senator  Mathew A. Urhoghide to impeach the President, National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said that it will continue to play its role to ensure that whatever needed to be done to ensure stability of the system is done.

    He said “The party has no position at this time because it is a party thing. So, the party does not have a position on that. Don’t forget that the National Assembly is not, are up of APC alone.

    “Our role is that we will have to continue to ensure that whatever we need to do to maintain stability in the system will have to be done.

    “That is the role we have continued to play and in the context of this development as well, we will immediately begin to make initiatives to lease between our own caucus in the National Assembly and the Executive to ensure that whatever is the issue between the two arms of government and our party members are concern are immediately resolved in the interest of stability, in the interest of the country and in the interest of the party as well as in the interest of our democracy.”

    Meanwhile, the part has shifted its elective national convention which is supposed to

    Produce a new leadership for the party to a yet to be announced date, but which the party says will be in July.

    The convention was earlier scheduled to hold in Abuja on 14th May and the shift in date may not be unconnected with the observations made by the governors of the part that the timetable for the party congresses and national convention was too tight.

    Also affected in the shift in date is the party congress from the ward to the state level.

    Abdullahi said in a short statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that ward congresses will not hold on the 5th of May, while local government and state congresses will now hold on the 12th and 19th May respectively.

  • APC block Sheriff’s come-back bid

     

    Says membership cards only issued at ward levels

     

    The much publicized return of the former factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to the All Progressives Congress (APC) failed to materialize on Thursday as the National leadership of the party told him in clear terms that membership card can only be issued to him at the ward level.

    The National however gathered that leaders of three party in Borno stage and the north east geopolitical zone may have moved against the planned return of the former Borno state governor on the fear that he might hijack the forth coming party congresses.

    Journalists who converged at the APC national Secretariat to report the entry of Sheriff into the party were disappointed as he failed to show up, especially when non of the members of the National Working Committee were around as at 1.00pm, one clear hour after Sheriff was supposed to have arrived the secretariat.

    However, in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, confirmed it was aware of the intention of Sheriff to return the party, but asked him to return to his ward.

    The two paragraphed statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to reports in some sections of the media that the former factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) today at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja. 

    “While we are aware of such intentions, we wish to restate our earlier position that anyone who wants to join the Party should do so at the ward level. We are happy to welcome new members to our party, but membership cards are not issued at the Party National Secretariat.”

    However, the Chairman of the party in Borno state, Hon. Ali Bukar Dolori dismissed reports of the likely return of the former governor to the party, saying somebody was trying to fly a kite as a way of testing the waters. 

    He said that the National leadership of the party has no right to receive anybody into the party without following the constitutionally provision which stipulates that membership should be from the ward level.

    In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, Dolori said: “We have read news on the social media that the former governor of our state, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff will be received by our national, chairman at the headquarters of our great party.

    “I want to assure you that the news remains rumour because somebody is only trying to fly a kite that is capable of causing dangerous confusion during the state congresses in Borno state.

    “We are aware of that well articulated plan and we are ready to defend any attempt towards destroying our party, APC at any level and in any state, not just Borno. We shall conduct our congresses peacefully without any rancour and I assure you that nobody can create any faction for our party in Borno state during the congresses expected in less than two weeks.

    “I want also to draw your attention to the relevant section of APC constitution that deals with eligibility for members. Article 9.1 (ii) of the APC constitution states that application for membership shall be made to and cleared by the ward executiveś of the party in the local government area where the person was born, resides, works or originates. Online registration shall also be acceptable provided that it is cleared by the National Working Committee of the party.

    “Subsection iii states that where an application is refused, the applicant may as of right Appeal to the local government area executive committee of the party or to the National Secretary or National Chairman in case of online registration.

    So, I don’t see how the National Chairman can receive any person into the party when the constitution is clear about the process in that regard. There is no membership registration at the party.”

  • Buhari to attend APC NEC meeting

    President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to attend the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) National Executive Committee ( NEC ) meeting coming up on Tuesday.

    Governors elected on APC platform, members of its Board of Trustee and National Working Committee ( NWC ) members among others, are also expected attend the meeting.

    “It is going to be a routine NEC meeting which is a final leg of the meeting that was held last month.

    “If you recall after the NEC meeting last, month, I told you that two issues were outstanding and that members asked for more time to study those issues.

    “These are the issues of constitutional amendment and the True Federalism committee report.

    “These are the two key items on the agenda for tomorrow’s NEC meeting,“ Bolaji Abdullahi, the APC National Publicity Secretary told newsmen.

    It would be recalled that the APC NEC at its meeting of Feb. 26, extended the tenure of the party`s National Working Committee ( NWC ) and other executive members across all levels by one year starting from June.

    While Chief John Odigie-Oyegun the APC National Chairman said the decision was in good faith, some party members, who were not comfortable with it, had taken the party to court over the issue.

    The APC Forum of non-National Working Committee ( NWC ), had however, said that members who took the party to court out of grievance without exhausting its internal mechanism should be disciplined.

    The forum while reaffirming the position of the party’s NEC to extend the tenure of all its executives, said such  members should be disciplined by the party`s leadership in consonance with its constitution.

    Meanwhile, security has been beefed at the national secretariat of the party in readiness of Tuesday’s meeting.

    NAN

  • APC to deal with all those perpetrating illegalities in Cross Rivers

    APC to deal with all those perpetrating illegalities in Cross Rivers

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) has warned that all those perpetrating acts of illegality and gross indiscipline within the party will henceforth be investigated and prosecuted in line with the party constitution.

    The party said it has voided the sack of the party Chairman in Cross River state, Sir James Ochalla, warning against any attempt to cause disunity within the rank and file of the party.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that James Ochalla remain the party chairman in Cross Rivers state and asked members of the party in the state to remain calm and be law abiding.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to recent developments in the All Progressives Congress, Cross River state chapter. For the avoidance of doubt, please be guide as follow

    Read Also: APC Chieftain, others attacked by thugs in Ebonyi

    “That the state executive of our chapter in Cross River state led by Sir John Ochalla is the duely recognized executive of the state. That we condemn in totality, the activities of Friday 2nd to 6th February, 2918 in which some party members allegedly broke in, vandalized, occupied the state secretariat and allegedly claim that there is a change in leadership of the state executive committee.

    “All perpetrators of this illegality and acts of gross indiscipline causing undue disaffection amongst party faithful shall be investigated and prosecuted in line with the constitution of our great party.

    “It is imperative to state that our great party has laid down procedures of resolving any internal dispute. We appeal to all our teeming members to be calm, law abiding and loyal to the sir John Ochalla led state executive committee as the party is poised to resolving all contending issues in Cross River chapter”.