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Tag: candidates

  • APC candidates and party loyalty

    Upon the formation of All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the 2015 polls, not many Nigerians gave the party chance of survival talk less of winning the 2015 polls. For this obvious reason and typical of the Nigerian political class, some founding fathers of the party suddenly jumped ship to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2015 polls. Also some visionary PDP members who were fed up with the PDP’s misrule and saw prospects in the APC willingly defected to the APC.

    This development never deterred these APC faithful, who truly and genuinely believed in the party’s philosophy and manifesto. Theirs were that having worked so hard to form the party, it was of no use dumping the party at the middle of the road. This was a true mark of party loyalty that is uncommon among Nigerian politicians.

    With General Muhammadu Buhari’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate, these loyal party members and candidates doubled their efforts to ensure the victory of the party at all levels. At the end, their inputs paid off with APC’s presidential victory at polls against the ruling PDP, which is the first of its kind in the country’s political history.

    Coming on the altar of the change mantra, expectations and hopes were high among the APC faithful, having worked so hard for the party’s victory. Disappointedly and right from the onset of President Buhari’s government, it appeared the government had quickly forgotten how party loyalty and hard work by committed party members gave the party victory at the poll.

    Obviously, initial appointments by the government indicated that party loyalty has been exchanged for comradeship. Eyebrows were raised, but government spin-doctors defended the action, arguing that it was too early for party loyalists to complain of being abandoned or side-lined.

    These loyalists, especially the House of Representatives candidates that lost their elections as wounded warriors endured and persevered, hoping that things will get better. Unfortunately, almost two years down the lane, the trend has not changed.

    In view of this, many concerned party leaders have expressed their fears and worries over the development, which is unprecedented in party politics in Nigeria. They alleged that the APC-led government has been ambushed and hijacked by few individuals that contributed nothing in the party’s victory at the polls.

    One of Buhari’s long-time political allies and one of the founding fathers of the APC, Alhaji Buba Galadima complained bitterly over the development in his recent interview in The Guardian newspaper of September 18.

    Galadima said: “Up till now PDP is intact and about 99 percent of the offices of 557 agencies of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and even the political appointments by our APC government are PDP members. These people were not known to have participated in bringing this government into office.”

    Appeared to be worst hit by this development are APC House of Representatives candidates that lost their elections in their constituencies to the PDP desperate machineries and other unforeseen circumstances beyond their control.

    The group, which operates under the guise of Forum of All Progressives Congress (APC) 2015 House Of Representatives Candidate (APC 2015 HORC) is made up of renowned professionals or accomplished politicians. They are the closest to the grassroots in terms of their reach, number and strength. Currently, they are made up of 135 members and have continued to carry the banner of the party in their respective constituencies.

    Truly, they came together on realisation of the need to encourage each other to keep the flame of APC burning and the party’s flag flying in their respective federal constituencies, in order to overcome the setback suffered by the party in losing the federal seats of those constituencies and to checkmate the impact of the loss in future elections with a view to recovering those seats for the party in the next available opportunity.

    They have also expressed their satisfaction with the way and manner the President has piloted the affairs of the nation since assumption of office and congratulated him on the landmark accomplishments so far recorded especially in the areas of security, anti-corruption, diversification of the economy and management. So also is the President’s handling of anti-terrorism efforts in the North East and militancy in the Niger Delta and elsewhere in the country. The recent release of about 21 Chibok girls by Boko Haram, they see as a crowning glory to President’s effective approach to the challenge of Boko Haram insurgency.

    They have equally expressed confidence in the ability of the President and capacity of the APC’s federal government to pull the nation out of the current economic recession and wholly endorsed the economic policies and palliative measures put in place by the President to tackle the current economic challenges.

    Prominent members of the 135-member forum include its chairman, Musa Danjuma Goyo, Secretary Chibuzor Obiakor. Others include former members of the 6th and 7th House of Representatives.

    All members of the forum have paid and still paying their dues in the APC, despite the situation on ground. That no doubt is clear mark of undiluted party loyalty that deserves recognition, considering that party politics anywhere in the world do not only encourage loyalty, but reward loyalty appropriately and handsomely. That is what Buba Galadima, Rochas Okorocha, Bisi Akande, and other party stakeholders are clamouring for in the party, before it becomes too late.

     

    • Dr. Agaba, a development expert wrote from Wuse, Abuja

  • LP, CPP, others get candidates

    The Ondo State governorship election holding on November 26 takes a proper shape at the weekend with some political parties announcing the names of their candidates.

    Some of the parties that named their candidates after the conclusion of their primaries are: the Labour Party (LP), Citizens Popular Party (CPP) and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)

    The LP elected Taye Adeuti as its governorship candidate with unanimous voice votes after the second aspirant, Gbenga Ojo, stood down.

    The CPP elected Peter Fasua as its standard-bearer.

    Fasua, a businessman and proprietor of a private college of education in the state emerged as the sole candidate presented by the party’s delegates through the option A-4 electoral system.

    The PRP picked businessman Chief Rowland Arigbede, as its candidate for the election.

    The primary election, which was held in Akure, the state capital, was contested by two aspirants.

  • 10 candidates unveil manifestoes at BIU debate

    Ten governorship candidates unveiled their manifestoes at the weekend at a debate organised by the Benson Idahosa University (BIU).

    The debate, tagged ‘Interactive Platform for Governorship Manifesto Presentation”, was put together, according to organisers, to encourage political participation, bring about good governance, excellence and accountability of politicians.

    The candidates present at the session were Comrade Ishaka Paul of the Action Alliance (AA): Prince Frank Ukonga of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Oronsaye Richard of the Mega Progressive Peoples Party MPPP); Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena of People for Democratic Change (PDC): Cosmos Irabor of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN); Pastor Osagie Ize-iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Omorogieva Gbajumo of Social Democratic Party (SDP); David Okoror of Citizen of Popular Party (CPP); Mrs Ebun Agol of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN); and Thompson Osadolor of the KOWA Party.

    They spoke on their programmes and policies on health, security, human resource development, job creation and industrialisation, education, housing, agricultural/rural development, as well as transportation and infrastructure.

    Paul told the gathering that his manifesto is tailored toward meeting the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and eradication of poverty generally.

    Ukonga said his manifesto is geared towards providing two million jobs while in office. Similarly, Richard of MPPP said that the party aims to increase youth empowerment and participation in politics, because they are the leaders of today and not tomorrow.

    Amiemenoghena of the PDC told the audience that his manifesto focuses on fostering and strengthening democracy in the state.

    In his own remark, the SDP candidate promised to focus on free education and adequate enlightenment of government policies.

    Irabor of ACPN said is campaign revolves round creating employment through agriculture, as well as provision of adequate security.

    Okoror of the CPP said he would focus on job creation through sports, while his PPN counterpart, Mrs. Agol, said health and social security would be a major concern for her government, if voted into power.

    The KOWA Party candidate, Osadolor, said he would reduce rural urban migration by making the state great.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu of the PDP said he would strengthen the Due Process Office by equipping it to monitor and evaluate public expenditures. He said he would have an economic management team to fashion out a viable economic policy for the state.

  • Adeniran urges delegates to vote for credible candidates

    Adeniran urges delegates to vote for credible candidates

    As members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) converge on Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Wednesday to elect a new national executive, a chairmanship aspirant and former Minister of Education, Prof.  Tunde Adeniran, has urged delegates to the convention to consider his unblemished record of public service and unbroken years of worthy service to the party in making their decision about who occupies the exalted seat of the National Chairman of the party.

    He said the PDP requires a leader who has no personal baggage at this point in time to be able to function effectively in opposition and upstage the ruling party in the various elections leading to the 2019 general poll.

    The former Ambassador to Germany, who is a founding member of the PDP, said: “Our party has gone through various crises since the 2015 general election. For us to be able to challenge the party-in-power, we must have a leadership that will not be bogged down and distracted by issues unrelated to the party, which will not enable us put the government on its toes and win converts to our party.”

    In a statement by his media aide, Yemi Akinbode, Adeniran reiterated his determination to work towards forging unity among the various groups within the party, promising to utilise his requisite qualification to achieve a united front, given the mutual respect he enjoyed across the membership of the party, including its current and past leaders.

    The chairmanship aspirant called on delegates to choose wisely and put their trust in the most credible aspirants. He said: “We‘re set again to make history and posterity will judge whatever we do today. I believe in democratic ideals where equal opportunity is given to everyone at all times. I therefore enjoin our delegates to shun any act that can put the unity of our party in jeopardy. We should vote for the most credible person and reject any consensus candidate.”

    Prof Adeniran who has received the endorsement of several party leaders across the six geo-political zones said that he was determined to tackle the major malaise with the party, which he identified as lack of internal democracy, disorientation and the ugly image acquired as a result of commission and omission on the part of the leadership.

  • ‘Amosun won’t impose candidates on APC over council polls’

    ‘Amosun won’t impose candidates on APC over council polls’

    Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman Alhaji Roqueeb Adeniji has assured of a level-playing field during the party’s primaries for council polls.

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Adeniji said, would not foist candidates on the party.

    The state’s electoral body has fixed October 8 for chairmanship and councillorship elections into the existing 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and the newly created 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

    Adeniji, who allayed the fears of aspirants that Amosun might give tickets to his anointed candidates, said APC would not renege on its commitment towards ensuring that the principles of internal democracy prevails in the choice of party’s standard-bearers for the LGAs and LCDAs elections.

    The party chairman spoke at the weekend while addressing the APC delegates for the chairmanship and councillorship primary election for Sodeke/Isale Ijeun Ward 10 of the Abeokuta South East Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

    According to him, APC would respect the wishes of people in the choice of candidates for every elective office without preference for any candidate.

    Adeniji, who was represented at the occasion by Farouk Akintunde, one of the APC’s state executive officers.

  • Crisis hits NURTW over endorsement of governorship candidates

    Crisis hits NURTW over endorsement of governorship candidates

    Leadership crisis is looming in the Edo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) over the union’s endorsement of the governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    One Comrade Warriman Erhengbo had on Tuesday led some supposed members of the union to adopt the candidacy of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the PDP and said the union suffered proscription under the APC administration.

    But Comrade Odion Olaye yesterday denied reports that the union has endorsed the governorship candidate of the PDP.

    Olaye told reporters yesterday that the union was behind the APC candidate, Dr. Godwin Obaseki in the September 10 governorship election.

    He said he was sworn-in last month for another term in office by the National President of the union, Alhaji Nojeem Yasin.

    Olaye described as untrue claims by Comrade Erhengbo that the state government proscribed activities of the union in the state.

    He said: “ I have my certificate right here in my office. I know Erhengbo as a security man at Egor. I was sworn-in by the National President, Alhaji Nojeem Yasin, with the General Secretary, Comrade Clement Wesco.

    “After my swearing-in, we all went to pay a courtesy visit on Governor Adams Oshiomhole. So, I am shocked when we read about somebody saying NURTW is supporting Ize-Iyamu. If that impostor wants to play politics, he should play it somewhere else. We have said it before now that we are backing the APC-led government in the state, because they have impacted positively on the lives of our people.

    “So, we are backing Godwin Obaseki for governorship. And it is also not true that the state government banned our association. We are working in collaboration with Road Employers Association in rural areas. We have a 40/60 per cent agreement. The governor also promised us that we will soon commence operation in the areas we are not operating; we are working out the modalities.”

    He added: “We are appealing to the Commissioner of Police to arrest Erhengbo because he is using the name of our union to play politics. We are backing Obaseki based on the performance of the APC-led government in the state and his antecedent as a financial expert”.

  • 11 parties elect candidates

    11 parties elect candidates

    No fewer than 11 political parties have elected candidates for the September 10 governorship election in Edo State.

    There are, however, insinuations that some of the parties may substitute their candidates, owning to financial reasons, by giving the ticket to chieftains who can provide finance for campaigns.

    Some aggrieved aspirants, who lost out at the primaries, were said to be discussing with the smaller parties.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had said only nine political parties indicated interest in the race.

    Only the Peoples Democratic Party is presenting two candidates, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Ahmed Makarfi’s faction and Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, who is supported by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

    Other candidates are Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress and Don Pedro Obaseki emerged candidate of the Accord Party, the Labour Party picked Comrade Cyril Odibo. Osaro Onaiwu is the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Adviser Shedrack Nowamagbe was elected on the platform of the United Progressive Party (UPP). a broadcaster, Thomas Sadoh, is the candidate of the Progressive Peoples Allaince.

    Others are Frank Ukonga was elected by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). Pastor Peters Omoragbon is the candidate of the National Conscience Party. The KOWA party elected one Mr. Thompson Osadolor while Bishop Akhalamhe was elected candidate of the People for Democratic Change.

    The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) opted to adopt Pastor Ize-Iyamu as its candidate.

    The Chairman of PDM, Nosa Omorodion, said the party’s decision was because  there was no need for smaller parties to present governorship candidates that could not go anywhere in the polls.

    Omorodion said the PDM would rally other smaller political parties to give their support to Pastor Ize-Iyamu.

  • NECO sponsors five candidates

    The National Examinations Council (NECO) has donated learning materials to indigent pupils of Day Secondary School, Gbada, Gidan Mangoro, and two boreholes to supplement water needs of its host communities, Gidan Mangoro and Gbaganako in Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State.
    Under the initiative, five SS3 pupils from the school who topped a selection test conducted by the council were identified for sponsorship for the NECO 2016 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). Three SS2 students were also presented with textbooks, notebooks and mathematical sets; while three other indigent JSS1-JSS3 pupils received textbooks, notebooks, school uniforms, shoes, socks, school bag and under-shirt each for the next academic session.
    The Registrar/CEO of NECO, Prof Abdulrashid Garba, said while handing over the items that the initiative was to fulfil NECO’s Corporate Social Responsibility to the host communities and maintain cordial relationship between them.
    “Corporate organisations cannot exist in isolation from their immediate host community. This is an opportunity to say thank you to the communities as they have been allowing us to stay here without any problem or crisis,” he said.
    Garba noted that the SS3 pupils who had earlier paid the N11,550 fee for the examination were refunded their money;
    Reacting to the gesture, the Niger state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Bello praised NECO for touching lives.
    “You have touched the lives of the community by drilling these boreholes. Water is next to life, without water, nothing can take place in the home,” said Bello who was represented by the commissioner for Education, Hajiya Fatima Madugu.
    Bello promised to reposition the education sector in the state and renovate the existing schools to UNESCO standard.

  • 15 candidates vie for presidential poll

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent in Sokoto  reports that Nigeriens living in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states voted at the Sokoto centre.

    NAN also reports that 15 presidential candidates, including incumbent President Muhammadou Issoufou of the PNDS Tarayya, participated in the election.

    Five parties participated in the legislative poll.

    An official of the Nigerien National Electoral Commission (CENI), Mr. Boubacar Namanta, told reporters in Sokoto that 679 of registered voters got their voter cards.

    He added: “However, voters verified will be allowed to vote without a card.”

    Over 600 Nigeriens in diaspora voted in Kaduna State, from 8:30am.

    The Secretary-General, Nigeriens Resident in Nigeria, Mr. Sidi Algabide, hailed the election and CENI officials.

    He said voting started in a peaceful manner and was expected to end by 7pm.

    Algabide said he was happy about the peace.

    Niger Republic citizens in Gombe State have advised whoever emerges president to fight insurgents.

    Speaking with NAN yesterday in Gombe, they said the progress of Niger, Nigeria and other countries depended on the restoration of peace to the region.

    They admonished losers to exhibit sportsmanship, adding that winners should be magnanimous in victory.

    Chairman of the Borno Association of Nigeriens in Nigeria, Mallam Muhammad Dari, said insurgency was responsible for the absence of a voting unit.

  • Arewa screens candidates for NBA president, others

    Arewa screens candidates for NBA president, others

    Ahead of next July’s Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election, the Arewa Lawyers Forum (ALF) has begun the screening of candidates.

    The  offices of the President and First Vice-President have been zoned to the North in line with NBA’s amended constitution, which was ratified at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) last August.

    At a meeting held at the Bauchi State Government House, the group considered  letters of intent members.

    Those who indicated interest are: Chief Joseph-Kyari Gadzama (SAN) and A. B. Mahmoud (SAN) for President; Caleb Dajan and Ibrahim Aliyu Nasarawa for the office of the First Vice-President; Dr. Dauda Benedicta for Treasurer; Joshua B. Usman for the office of Welfare Secretary;  T. T.Igba for Welfare Secretary and R. O. Balogun for the office of National Legal Adviser

    After due consideration of the letters of intent, the forum agreed to “extend time for the filing of letters of intent to enable members, who had not received the text massages, but wish to contest the election to file in their letters of intent within the next two weeks so that nobody is left behind in the election.”

    The forum agreed to set up a seven-member committee to determine the candidates’ eligibility.

    Chairman of the Forum, Bauchi State Governor Mohammed A. Abubakar, promised to convene another meeting as soon as he receives the committee’s report.

    This, in his view, would enable the forum to adopt the  candidates they will present to other fora for the election.

    Abubakar said: “We will look at the report and see how best we can assist our members and see if there are other positions they can vie for or at most step down their ambitions.

    “In the last election, we lost a very critical office by presenting two candidates for the same office.

    “If you add the votes two of them scored in that election, then you will see that we would have won that election if we had presented one candidate from ALF

    “Therefore, we are extending the submission of letters of intent by two weeks. After two weeks, the committee will settle down for work and whenever I receive a signal from them, that they have finished their work, I will call for another meeting of ALF in Bauchi.“

    The seven-member committee has the Vice chairman of ALF Mr. Garba Pwul (SAN) as chairman and Mr. Lukas  Haruna as secretary. The committee has two members from each of the three geo-political zones in the North.

    In the course of the  meeting, former NBA Jos branch chairman Mr. Caleb Dajan stepped down from contesting for the office of first Vice -President.

    He said: “Though I had contested for this office once, I am stepping down my ambition now to give Mr. Ibrahim Nassarawa the opportunity to contest, this is  to maintain peace and unity in ALF.”

    The chairman praised him for the sacrifice and urged other contestants to cultivate such spirit.

    Chairman of Lafia branch, Mr O. G. Akakaa urged ALF members to pray for his branch, which lost three lawyers in one month.

    The deceased lawyers are Justina Ani, Innocent Adole and  Kenneth Ogeni, who relocated to Lafia from Maiduguri where he was practicing because of Boko Haram insurgency and died last month.

    It was also reported at the meeting that Kaduna Branch lost two members, namely Charles Mafua and Isa Alabara.

    Gadzama praised the forum for the quality of its leadership.

    “ALF has the best quality of leadership amongst the three fora of the NBA because it is the only forum that has a sitting state governor as chairman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria as Vice chairman and a sitting state Attorney-General as Secretary, though the Eastern Bar Forum (EBF) is the forum to beat in terms of organisation, focus, unity and vision.

    “If at the end of the day, this forum asks me not to contest for the Presidency of the Bar, I will not contest. If the committee says No, J.K is not qualified I will not contest.”

    Mahmud praised the governor for his leadership qualities and urged the forum to do its best at all times.

    The chairman thanked members for their confidence in his leadership and assured that he would always be  fair, transparent, credible and provide a level playing field for all to get the best from NBA.