The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ‘Delta APC

  • Omo-Agege urges Delta APC ward executives to sack PDP

    SENATOR Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central) has urged ward executives elected during weekend’s congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State to lead battle to remove the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the state.

    A statement by his spokesman, Prince Efe Duku, quoted Omo-Agege as urging them to remain united and avoid acrimony.

    He said: “By the official results duly endorsed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies, our party’s grassroots across almost all 270 Wards in Delta have chosen a new reality that demands total focus on APC’s resolve to defeat the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s general elections.

    “Senator Omo-Agege is particularly thankful to the Alhaji Dododo Committee for its steadfastness and total respect for the rules of the game. He is equally grateful to our security agencies for rising up to the unique demands of the exercise.

    “All, especially the new Ward Executives, have a duty to urgently unite and reconcile the party. We should never be tempted to believe that our fellow party men and women are losers or lesser members of the party. That should never happen. We must work together.”

    Omo-Agege lauded the executives elected into the 85 wards in Delta Central, saying they emerged “in the midst of avoidable challenges, they remained focused on the real prize of leading our Party to better territories”.

  • Omo-Agege: Urhobo, Delta APC fault Senate

    The Urhobo nation and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State have described Thursday’s suspension of the Senator representing Delta Central District as political intimidation and an attempt to rob them of their voice at the centre.

    Stating this consensus at a gathering of Urhobo people and supporters of the APC in Ughelli, the headquarters of Ughelli North council area of Delta, the chairman of the APC in Delta Central, Olorogun Adelabu Bodjor, also said that the Urhobo people would stand with their senator all the way.

    The Senate had on Thursday suspended Senator Omo-Agege for his opposition to the elections reordering move of some of his colleagues and being part of the Parliamentary Support Group (PSG), a group known to be in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s interest.

    But in reaction to the Senate’s decision, Bodjor said that the Urhobo people had strongly condemned the suspension of the Senator, adding that it will not in any way deter or dampen his resolve to provide quality representation to his people and promote the interest of the nation in the National Assembly.

    He said: “The incidence that took place in the National Assembly and the suspension of the Distinguished Senator representing the Urhobo people in the National Assembly, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has again called to question the affairs of the Nigerian Senate. Our Distinguished Senator has been providing quality representation to the people of Delta Central and we are proud of him.

    “By suspending him, if the Senate leadership thinks that it will deter him, then they are wrong.  The Urhobo nation is solidly behind him, we believe in him and we will give him all our support at any time and any day in this whole process.  We therefore pass a vote of confidence on the distinguished Senator, Senator Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege.  We still believe that he will bounce back better and stronger than his distractors in the National Assembly.

    “But we want to say here and very emphatically, that Urhobo nation would never tolerate any act of political intimidation and threat to our Senator whom we overwhelmingly voted for to represent us in the National Assembly.  The primary responsibility of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege in the National Assembly is to provide quality representation to the people of Delta Central and attract the dividends of democracy to the Urhobo people and that he has been doing excellently well since we cast our votes for him to the Senate.”

    Bodjor also took a swipe at the APC Senators in the National Assembly, adding that “it is a shame that the party has the leadership of the National Assembly but it has decided to stand the morals of good leadership on its head and has also decided to take the party that brought them to power on a roller-coaster.

    “We call on the national leadership of the party to call the members of the party at the National Assembly to order before they take the party down the cliff hanger.  The national lawmakers got the mandate of the people of Nigeria to make enduring laws that will better the lot of Nigerians and the future generation of our children in general.  They were not voted for go and feather their own nests and engage in selfish activities to the detriment of good governance for the entire Nigerian people”

    Highpoint of the occasion was the passing of overwhelming vote of confidence on Omo-Agege by the Urhobo people.

  • Buhari, Delta APC chieftains mourn Okpozo

    Buhari, Delta APC chieftains mourn Okpozo

    President Muhammadu Buhari and the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have condoled with the government and people of the state on the death of Chief Francis Okpozo, a Second Republic senator and member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the APC.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President also commiserated with the family and friends of the late senator, who championed social justice in the Niger Delta.

    The statement said Okpozo’s long history of service to the people endeared him to many.

    It noted that through the late senator’s political stature in the APC in the Southsouth, the party benefited from his charismatic leadership and wealth of experience.

    President Buhari hoped that those who mourn Okpozo would continue his legacy of unwavering dedication to the unity of Nigeria, even as the nation would fondly remember his contributions to peace, development and justice in Niger Delta.

    The President prayed God Almighty to comfort the family of the late senator and grant his soul eternal rest.

    Reacting to the senator’s demise, Delta State APC’s Chairman Prophet Jones Erue said: “I am shocked to my bone marrows because no one saw it coming. Our leader was an astute politician and elder statesman who will be greatly missed. I am particularly pained because he was one of those who inspired my career in politics. May his gentle soul rest in peace.”

    APC Deputy Chairman Cyril Ogodo said: “What a wonderful world! We shall greatly miss the wise political counsel of a first-class political tactician at a time we are putting our house in perfect order to face the future with hope and vigour.”

    The Executive Director Projects at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Adjogbe Samuel, expressed shock at the death of the frontline politician.

    He said: “Why now that we need Papa Okpozo the most to help our great party to victory in 2019? Why should the cold hands of death do this to us in Delta APC at this crucial stage of our political restructuring? May his kind soul rest in the bosom of our Lord Jesus.”

    Chief Ayiri Emami of APC Delta Leaders Council expressed what he called his heart-felt condolence to the party and Okpozo’s family.

    He said: “The senator will be missed. His shoes are too big for any of us to wear. He was a great gentleman and an experienced politician.”

    The Director of Strategic Political Communication of Rescue Delta Media Group in Delta APC, Fred Latimore Oghenesive, described the exit of the Second Republic senator as a big blow to the political structure of the state’s APC.

    He noted that the late Okpozo played pivotal roles not only as one of the founding fathers of the party in 2013 but also for his enviable role as a moral compass who ensured checks and balances in all decisions, activities and engagements of the party.

    Oghenesivbe said the late Okpozo would be remembered for his proactive leadership and doggedness in standing for the truth, no matter the personalities involved.

    According to him, the late political tactician lived a quality life worthy of emulation by the new generation of politicians.

    Okpozo was Deputy Speaker in the House of Assembly of the defunct Bendel State.

    He became the first senator representing Delta South at the National Assembly during the Second Republic.

    The late politician campaigned and worked closely with the 2015 APC Delta governorship candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor.

    Details of his funeral programme are expected to be announced later by his family in conjunction with Delta APC Leader, O’tega Emerhor.

  • Delta APC: NWC to decide on party crisis

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is expected to meet in Abuja next Tuesday to deliberate on the crisis in its Delta State chapter.

    A source in the NWC said yesterday in Warri, Delta State, that the peculiarity of the state chapter was the major reason for convening the meeting, which is expected to decide on the crisis and other issues.

    The source said the party would decide on the report of the disciplinary committee on the Senator Francis Okpozo-led elders’ group, which attempted to sack the Prophet Jones Erue-led State Executive Council (Exco).

    The move was reportedly botched and a disciplinary committee was set up by the state council, which recommended the expulsion of those indicted.

  • Delta APC apologises to Harriman over wrong expulsion

    Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) has apologised to state’s Party Leader, Temi Harriman, for erroneously expelling her from the party last year.

    The party’s apology came on the heels of a court judgment which Harriman won, following her suit, which arose from her alleged expulsion from the party.

    Also, as part of the terms of settlement of the suit before Justice L. A. Oluyemi of the Lagos High Court, which gave judgment on June 22, the party reiterated its confidence in Harriman as the party leader in the state.

    The defendants were: APC State Chairman Prophet Jones Ode Erue; State Assistant Secretary, Comrade Chris Onodjacha, who authorised the publication of advertorials alleging that the state executive at a meeting on April 13, last year, resolved to expel Harriman, among other persons.

    As part of the settlement, Erue and Onodjacha said: “The publication was done in error as there was never such a meeting, and the reason for the purported expulsion is without foundation. Accordingly, the expulsion is void ab initio.

    “…For the avoidance of doubt, notice is given to the public that Temi Harriman remains a bona fide member and a committed leader of the party.

  • Delta APC to present Ogboru, Ochei, others to APC leadership

    The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has concluded plans to introduce its new high calibre members to the national body at the national secretariat in Abuja this week.

    The new entrants, including the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in last year’s elections, Chief Great Ogboru and former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Victor Ochei, had recently defected to the APC in the state.

    A statement by the chairman of the party in Delta State, Prophet Jones Erue, said the leadership of the party in the state, led by the leader of the party and governorship candidate in last year’s elections, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, would present the new entrants to the National Chairman of the party as well as the National Working Committee (NWC) on Tuesday.

    “The Delta APC Exco led by its Chairman, Prophet Jones Erue, the State Leader of the party, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, and other select leaders of the party are scheduled to lead a delegation of the new and high profile entrants to the party comprising  Chief Great Ogboru, Hon Victor Ochei, their selected supporters and other new entrants to present to the APC National Chairman and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) on Tuesday June 28th.

    “The presentation ceremony is scheduled to take place at the national secretariat of the party at 40, Blantyre Street, Abuja at 1pm. According to the State Chairman, Prophet Jones Erue, this event is in line with the resolutions of the SEC meeting held on June 6, 2016.

  • Delta APC: we have faith in Supreme Court

    The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed confidence in the Supreme Court to overturn the Court of Appeal judgment which upheld the election of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as the governor.

    APC candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, is challenging Okowa’s Appeal Court victory at the Supreme Court.

    Delta APC Chairman, Prophet Jones Erue, in a statement in Asaba, the state capital, said he was shocked by the Appeal Court’s judgment, despite the overwhelming evidence that Okowa did not win the election.

    He urged APC supporters to keep the peace, adding that the state would soon witness a new dawn.

    According to him, the election matter will be pursued with vigour and will hopefully be brought to a legal conclusion in APC’s favour.

    Erue said: “We are law-abiding citizens, but we received this judgment of the Appeal Court with shock. We will not abdicate our right to fair hearing as we are convinced we will find justice at the Supreme Court based on the merit of our arguments in the case in question.

    “We stand by our desire for a new Delta State, led by APC, where every Deltan will begin to live with a new sense of purpose and direction; a new Delta filled with hope for the future and driven by the power of change.”

    The APC chief accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the state of wasting resources.

    “For instance, it has aggregated an over-bloated cabinet with hundreds of idle and needless aides in the Executive and Legislative arms, which will drag the state’s economy down to a dangerous precipice at this critical period of dwindling resources,” Erue said.

    He assured that an APC administration would accelerate the state’s development through a well-refined “strategic vision”, “governance-with-a-heart” and “prudent assignment” of the state’s limited resources.

  • Court restrains APC, Oyegun, others from dissolving Delta exco

    Court restrains APC, Oyegun, others from dissolving Delta exco

    The Federal High Court in Warri has restrained the All Progressives’ Congress (APC), its National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, its National Legal Adviser, Mr Muiz Banire (SAN) as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from taking steps to dissolve the executive council of the party in Delta state.

    The chairman of the party in the state, Prophet Jones Erue, along with two other persons, had filed a motion ex-parte on Friday, November 27, 2015, seeking an order to restrain the national body and its executive members from dissolving the executive council of the party in the state.

    The motion, with suit number FHC/WR/CS/165/2015, before Justice M. Shitu Abubakar, had requested the court to give “an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st – 3rd Defendants/Respondent’s from taking step or any other step of dissolution of the Delta state executive committee of the All Progressives’ Congress, headed by 1st Plaintiff and the setting up of an interim executive committee, pending determination of the motion on notice.”

    However, after hearing the motion, as put together by counsel to the plaintiffs, J.A. Otorudo, the court ordered that the national body of the party stayed action on any planned dissolution of the subsisting executive body in the Delta state branch of the party.

    “It is hereby ordered that the respondents are ordered and show why the application should not be granted as prayed or couched by the Plaintiffs/Applicants. However, since the matter is now subjudiced, the respondents are ordered to suspend their action for a while and or maintain the status quo ante bellum, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice, which is already filed before this court,” the order read.

    The hearing of the motion on notice has, however been slated to Monday, December 7.

     

  • Delta APC crisis: Committee makes recommendation to NEC

    THE Publicity Secretary of the Chief Joseph Adolor Okotie-Eboh led faction of the Delta State All Progressive, Congress, APC, Mr. Alex Eyengho, yesterday, at Oleh, Isoko South local government area of Delta State, advised the Mr. O. G. Ngofa led Six-Man Fact-Finding Committee to make appropriate recommendation to the National Working Committee, NEC, of the party.

    Eyengho who gave this advice during the Delta South fact finding meeting held in Oleh, Isoko North local government area, attributed the crises rocking the Delta APC over the years to those who were not part of the legacy parties but few members of the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP who came with the sole aim of hijacking the party.

    While urging the chairman of the fact-finding committee and also the National Deputy Secretary of the APC, Mr. O.G. Ngofa, to hear from all stakeholders of the party in the state, Eyengho posited that the merger parties that came together to form the All Progressives Congress were ACN, ANPP and CPC, saying there was no time DPP was part of the legacy parties.

  • Emerhor, Delta APC petition INEC over lawyer’s denial of card readers

    Emerhor, Delta APC petition INEC over lawyer’s denial of card readers

    Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the last general elections, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, has said there were moves to subvert the election rules in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    In a petition to the Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs Amina Zakari, the APC flag bearer alleged that INEC’s counsel at the governorship petitions tribunal, D. D. Dodo, denied the documented and publicised directive on the use of the electronic Card Readers for the April 11 elections.

    The Delta APC had built its case around the non-compliance with INEC’s directive that the April 11 polls.

    But in a letter to INEC, through their lawyer, S. M. Egbune, Emerhor and APC alleged that INEC’s lawyer at the tribunal in Asaba, D. D. Dodo, had abandoned the brief and official position of the commission.

    Egbune said Dodo filed responses that denied and contradicted the mandatory use of Card Readers for the elections.

    In his reply to the tribunal, Dodo had said: “The respondents admit that by law and by the third respondent’s (INEC’s) directives and guidelines for the conduct of a free, fair, credible and transparent election, accreditation of voters is a condition precedent to voting by a registered voter on election day, but deny that the third respondent prescribed the mandatory use of electronic Card Readers for the accreditation of voters for the elections of April 11 in each of the polling units in each local government area.

    “The respondents state that the Electoral Act is a comprehensive Act which deals with the conduct of elections in Nigeria. Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides for the only mode of accreditation of voters, which is solely through the Register of voters. Accreditation at an election is regulated by the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

    “The introduction of Card Reader Machine is a mere instruction at the election to facilitate the accreditation process and does not in any way equate with or obliterate the express provisions of the Electoral Act, which are extant for all purposes.

    “From inception it was contemplated that upon failure of the Card Reader Machine, other contingencies will be resorted to in order to ensure that election is duly conducted and that legitimate voters were not disenfranchised.

    “The ultimate mechanism was a resort to the manual accreditation as provided for in the Electoral Act. The Respondents shall contend that with the challenges presented by the Card Reader Machine, the process of accreditation proceeded as was expressly provided for in the Electoral Act. There were no acts of non-compliance which materially affected the result of the election.”

    The petitioners expressed shock that Dodo went against INEC’s official position.

    They recalled that INEC’s former Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega publicly reinstated the commission’s position, confirming the mandatory use of Card Readers.

    They said Dodo was misrepresenting INEC and was acting outside the commission’s directives.

    The petitioners said the lawyer’s action was putting INEC’s reputation, as a fair electoral umpire, at risk.

    They urged Mrs Zakari to look into their complaint against Dodo in order to correct and defend INEC’s official position without let or favour to any of the parties to the election petition.