Tag: Ganduje

The ongoing controversy over the suggestion for Anambra to switch allegiance from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the ruling All Progressives Congress continues.

Chief Oliver Okpala, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment to the National Chairman of APC, has urged Anambra state Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to call to order individuals in the state who attacked Abdullahi Ganduje for advocating the South East’s embrace of the APC.

 Ganduje, speaking at a colloquium organized by the South East chapter of APC, recently encouraged Anambra and the entire region to join the ruling party to end years of exclusion from national politics.

This statement provoked the ire of some APGA supporters, who began attacking the APC leader.

Speaking on the issue, Okpala, described those attacking Ganduje over the comment as uncouth and misguided political misfits who should be called to order.

He advised those bitter over Ganduje’s call to rather appreciate the gesture of the APC leader to help Anambra and indeed the South East to be integrated into the mainstream of national politics.

He said: “There is a need for them to appreciate the gesture of Dr. Ganduje and not see his intervention as negative. His aim is for the economic development and political inclusion of Anambra state to move into the central national politics and nothing sinister as now being portrayed by the overzealous APGA attack dogs”.

Okpala emphasised that every right-thinking Igbo man should be concerned about the age-long political backwardness of the region and seek solutions.

Read Also: I haven’t borrowed any money since my inauguration, says Gov Alia

He argued that Ganduje should not be vilified or insulted as they have now resorted to.

According to him, “Instead he should be praised and commended for his suggestions on how the region can overcome its age-long political backwardness and economic inhibitions.

“For Ganduje, the target should be how Anambra state can experience exponential growth through being integrated into national politics given its enormous resources and not empty, bitter wrangling.

“These criticisms and attacks against him are uncalled for. The issues he has raised do not pitch him against Anambra state but the matter is about the policies of the state government vis a viz their inclusion at the centre to fastrack their progress – principally the economic benefit of the people.

“For those now attacking Dr. Ganduje as a person they should know that the APC national chairman did not attack any Anambrarian, but he only proffered possible solutions to the condition of the state, a move to better the situation of the common man in Anambra.”

• Ubah empowers multitude in Anambra
• Uzodinma: Tinubu has conquered monsters

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, yesterday expressed conviction that Igbo are ready to play main politics in the country.

The former Kano State governor made the remark following the tumultuous the graced the empowerment programme organized by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.

Ganduje, Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodinma among other APC chieftains stormed Anambra state to witness the event held at Ifeanyi Ubah International Stadium, Nnewi.

Before the empowerment, the APC chieftains and other members of other political parties had on Friday gathered at Anaedo Hall, Nnewi, to witness the first Southeast Colloquium by any party, organized by Ubah and APC.

During the empowerment, lots of items were shared to people, including tricycles, motorcycles, different machines, vehicles, wrappers, bags of rice, generating sets among others.

Read Also; NLC, LP battle for supremacy

The APC chairman, while speaking, said the empowerment and the crowd were enough evidence that the APC would win the governorship election in Anambra in 2025.

He said, “never in the history of any political party in the country has an individual so mobilized people for such empowerment benefits.

“The development is a clear indication that the Southeast is ready to join the mainstream politics of Nigeria.

“The Southeast would have produced the president of Nigeria about 37 years ago in Dr Alex Ekwueme, who served as vice president under Alhaji Shehu Shagari, if not for the military intervention in 1983.”

The APC leader was emphatic on the need for Igbo to join the centre by joining the APC and voting in governors from the party in all the five states in the Southeast.

Ganduje said, “You know when your brother, Alex Ekwueme was the vice president to our brother, Shehu Shagari,the body language was there, and if not that the military struck, your son, Alex Ekwueme would have become the president.

“I tell you this story because the road to political freedom is to key into the ruling party, and once you do that, marginalization would be a thing of the past.”

He said from what he had seen at the empowerment rally  and with the mobilisation Ifeanyi Ubah had done, and his acceptance in Anambra, the Southeast was ready to key into mainstream politics.

“We are astonished at the crowd that attended this rally. Our renewed hope agenda is to bring the Southeast into mainstream politics.

“This is not an ordinary rally, but one for empowerment, and we have been informed that everybody here today would go home with at least one item.

“I have seen thousands of motorcycles, tricycles, buses, generators, grinding machines, bags of rice and other food stuff that will be distributed, and we thank Senator Ifeanyi Ubah for this.”

Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma said the party came to encourage Ubah to do more.

He said the current hardship in the country is temporary, adding that President Bola Tinubu had confronted and conquered the monsters that successive governments feared to face for years.

He commended President Tinubu for the removal of fuel subsidy and unification of exchange rate.

“Every government tried and failed, but President Bola Tinubu came and decided to confront them, and the effect is the temporary hunger that you see.

“That is why he decided to empower National Assembly members with palliatives for them to go back and distribute to the people to confront hunger. That is what we are doing here today.”

For Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, Anambra people would not relent in their efforts to join the mainstream politics by electing an APC governor in 2025.

According to some of the APC chieftains, the only thing Ubah needed to conquer Anambra state from Prof Chukwuma Soludo, is the ticket of the party in 2025.

The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje had described the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun as someone whose image towered far above Ibadan which he reigned over and the entire Oyo state. 

He made the remarks when he paid a  condolence visit to the Alarere residence of the late monarch

He said the late Oba Balogun was not only the father of Ibadan or that of Oyo State, but the father of Nigeria. 

Describing the death of the late Olubadan as very sad and shocking, he said, as human beings, there was nothing anybody could do to halt the inevitability of death when it was the appointed time by the Almighty Allah, adding that “what we should do is to continue to pray for the repose of his gentle and peaceful soul”. 

The Nation reports that the APC national chairman, was bestowed with the honourary chieftaincy title of Aare Fiwajoye of Ibadanland alongside his wife who became Yeye Aare Fiwajoye at a colorful ceremony which held in 2022, few months after Oba Balogun came to the throne. 

In his remarks, Ganduje recalled the relationship between the late monarch and the former political leaders in the northern part of the country, especially in Kano and Kaduna states where both the late Alhajis Abubakar Rimi and Balarabe Musa held sway during the second republic which he said had established unbroken bond between Ibadan and Kano. 

The Aare Fiwajoye noted: “Our late father made his marks on the sands of time. He left behind imperishable legacies as a bridge builder, peaceful and loving personality. His nationalistic outlook set him apart from his peers and we would continue to cherish our relationship.”

Responding on behalf of the family, the younger brother of the late monarch and his Baba-Kekere while on the throne, Senator Kola Balogun praised the steadfastness of Dr. Ganduje in his loving relationship with his late brother which he said the visit, less than a week after the sad incident represented. 

Read Also: Tinubu, Ganduje, Uzodinma for Ubah’s rally in Anambra

“Until baba’s death, he was always proud of his relationship with Kano as he would always refer to himself as a Kano man. The enduring relationship the late Oba established with his late friends and leader, Rimi, Musa and Alhaji Aminu Kano got rekindled through the honorary titles of Aare and Yeye Aare Fiwajoye of Ibadanland bestowed on both Your Excellency and wife in 2022. 

“Your Excellency has demonstrated unalloyed loyalty to our late referred father and we can only assure you that this place remains your second home and Ibadan Palace remains your second palace after the palace of Emir of Kano. On behalf of the family, we say a big thank you for this visit with prayers for journey mercies as you return to base.”

President Bola Tinubu has assured loyal and dedicated members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of a good reward system.

National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje disclosed this when he played host to members of the Forum of APC State Chairmen in his office in Abuja.

The 36 States party chairmen on Friday paid a solidarity visit to Tinubu where they made case for a good reward system for members that contributed to the electoral success of the party during the 2023 general elections.

Addressing the party state chieftains, Ganduje expressed the President’s appreciation to them and his readiness as well as promise to address all the requests tabled before him.

Applauding the chairmen for visit to the President, Ganduje said: “This is a very important courtesy call you made to Mr President. He was so happy with it. I want to assure you that visit like this will be a continuous one. 

“I am also happy to inform you the he (President Tinubu) has granted your requests, especially on political appointments. He is doing something about it. He will surely reward hard-working and loyal members of the party accordingly.”

Ganduje also used the meeting to intimate the state chairmen of the proposed electronic registration of party members billed to kick off soon in the 774 local government areas. 

Emphasising the importance of the registration exercise, Ganduje urged the state leaders to own the project, stressing that they will be involved in the recruitment of personnel to undertake the exercise in thier states.

APC Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, also told the state chairmen that the party’s headquarters has concluded plans for a seamless and hitch free exercise, adding that they were only waiting for the flag off date from the President.

Duru also said chapters of the party will in the new week be expected to send two persons for training of the electronic registration adding that the two personnel will be scaling down the training exercise at the state level for officers to conduct the exercise.

Confirming the President’s assurance, the Secretary of the forum and APC Chairman Cross River State Barr. Alphonsus Ogar, while addressing newsmen at the party’s national secretariat after meeting with the Chairman and members of the National Working Committee (NWC), said they and their Governors collated names of committed party faithful for reward.

Read Also: Ganduje seeks synergy among Africa’s ruling parties to deepen democracy

According to Ogar: “We have worked with our various stakeholders to collate names of party faithful. And it was also the mantra of Mr President that ‘monkey dey work, monkey dey chop. Baboon no work baboon no chop.’ In fact, Mr President had told us in one of our meetings that if he catches a baboon that didn’t work coming to eat, he was personally going to arrest that baboon.”

On the electronic registration, Ogar commended the vision of the National Chairman in embarking on the exercise.

Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says it is almost certain that the party will win the Sept. 21 Edo governorship election, going by the qualities of its candidate Sen. Monday Okpebholo.
Ganduje said this on Saturday in Abuja when he presented the certificate of return to Okpebholo, saying that there was a need for other aspirants to work with him to ensure the party’s victory in the state.

He said that direct primaries were held in 192 wards in the state with records and video evidence, adding that Okpebholo was declared winner because he got the highest votes.

“The full cooperation, harmony and unity of all aspirants and members of our party is all we need now to win Edo in the coming election now that the primary is over.

“The party has a product that is refined, well packaged and sellable to the electorate in the person of Okpebholo and is therefore ready to win Edo,” Ganduje said.

He said that other aspirants had since congratulated Okpebholo as the party’s candidate.

Mr Nze Duru, the party’s Deputy National Organising Secretary while presenting the committee’s report to Ganduje, said the primaries was adjudge nationally and internationally to the the most peaceful, fairest and transparent in the state.

Okpebholo in his remarks, called on other aspirants who contested the party’s ticket with him to join forces with him to ensure that the APC win the Sept. 21 governorship election.

Also speaking, Sen. Lucky Imasuen one of the aspirants who contested the party’s ticket with Okpebholo said the National Working Committee (NWC)was hard working, sincere and fair in the handling of the Edo primarily election.

He commended the APC Edo Governorship Primary Election Committee for a job well done, assuring that the other aspirants would work hand in hand with Okpebholo to ensure APC’s victory at the poll.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dennis Idahosa was initially declared the winner of the Edo Governorship Primary Election on Feb. 17, by the Gov. Hope Uzodinma-led Governorship Primary Election Committee.

Read Also: Edo APC primary: Ganduje saves the party from disaster – Lukman

The APC NWC however, upturned Idahosa’s election and declared the election as inconclusive.

The committee slated Feb.21 for a supplementary election and replaced Uzodinma with Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River as chairman.

Otu while declaring Okpebholo as winner of the supplementary primaries, said he got 12,433 votes to defeat 11 other aspirants in the contest.

Okpebholo currently represents Edo Central at the National Assembly.

(NAN)

A former member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Mohd. Lukman has commended the party’s highest administrative organ over the outcome of the Edo State governorship primary election, saying it saved the party from disaster.

He said if the Abdullahi Umar Ganduje-led NWC had not promptly intervened and upturned the February 17 primary election, the exercise would have caused a drift and confirmed APC as an undemocratic party. 

Lukman, the immediate past National Vice Chairman (North West) of the party while reacting to the outcome of the APC Edo State Governorship primary in a statement in Abuja on Saturday said the process of the exercise and outcome were indications that the party was returning to the path of its founding fathers.

He noted that if the party had allowed the outcome of the February 17 to stand, it would have been heading for another electioneering disaster in Edo State.

It will be recalled that the controversial shadow polls held on February 17 under the supervision of the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma as  Chairman of the Primary Election Committee saw the emergence of three candidates — Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Senator Monday Okpebholo and Hon. Anamero Dekeri.

Based on the protests and legal threats against the exercise, the party replaced Uzodinma with the Governor of Cross River state, Bassey Otu who conducted the rescheduled election on Thursday that produced Sen. Monday Okpebholo as the APC gubernatorial candidate for the September 2024 election.

According to Lukman: “The February 17 primary was marred with a series of allegations of malpractices. Everything about the February 17 APC primary election turned out to replay all the old scripts of attempts to manipulate the emergence of a particular aspirant as the Governorship candidate of the APC for the September 2024 Edo elections.”

The former Director General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) said that the exercise was almost exactly the script acted in 2020 that produced Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the APC 2020 Edo State Governorship election, adding that the slight difference was that this time around was that Senator Adams Oshiohmole is not the National Chairman of the APC. 

Lukman noted: “It was quite worrisome that the APC was almost set up for another electoral disaster in Edo State. 

“Without attempting to overlook one of the critical challenges of political party development in Nigeria, which is about instituting a transparently democratic process of candidate selection process within our political parties, it is a source of pride that the APC NWC under the leadership of Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was able to quickly arrest the drift, which would have confirmed the APC as an undemocratic party. 

“It is quite commendable that the leadership of the APC was able to retrace its steps by first re-organising the Primary Election Committee and then allowing a level playing field to guarantee the emergence of a popular candidate based on majority votes. 

“Unlike previous cases whereby the Primary Election Committee practically allocates votes to aspirants and declares an anointed person as the winner, it is also commendable that the reorganised APC Primary Election Committee under the leadership of His Excellency Otu chose the path of honour by allowing fair contest to produce the winner of the primary.”

The party chieftain then predicted that the September 21 governorship election in Edo State would be keenly contested with the array of candidates to fly the flags of their parties.

He said with the emergence of Senator Monday Okpebholo of APC, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP), the governorship election would be keenly contested.

Read Also: Ganduje okays Idahosa’s election, hails Uzodimma committee

He said: “What is very clear is that given the emergence of Mr Asue Ighodalo and Mr Olumide Akpata SAN as PDP and Labour Party candidates for the same elections, it should be expected that the election will be keenly contested. 

“These are two well-accomplished and respected persons. APC needed a popular candidate for the election to contest against these heavyweights. Is Sen. Okpebholo the popular candidate APC needs to win the Edo 2024 Governorship election?”

Lukman however concluded that “the mere fact that he (Okpebholo) could stand out and successfully become the arrowhead against the imposition of a candidate in APC for Edo 2024 election suggests that he enjoys strong support within the APC.”

• Candidate remains APC standard-bearer, says Imuse
• Okpebholo, group caution party’s NWC against recognising Imo governor’s declaration

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has congratulated the winner of the Edo State APC governorship primary election, Mr. Dennis Idahosa.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Ganduje urged the party’s standard-bearer to carry other aspirants along to deliver the party in the September 21 governorship election.

He hailed the Governor Hope Uzodinma Election Committee, noting that its transparency in the conduct of the primaries was commendable.

The national chairman urged aspirants to “put aside their differences now that the primary election is over and support the winner to deliver the party at the election.

Ganduje said: “I congratulate the winner of the Edo State governorship election. I want to equally commend and appreciate Governor Uzodinma’s election committee for their hard work and the transparent manner in which the primary election was conducted.”

Former Chairman of APC in Edo State, Col. David Imuse (rtd.), who was among the 12 screened and cleared governorship aspirants that participated in Saturday’s direct primary election, yesterday insisted that Idahosa remained APC’s standard-bearer for the coming poll.

The youthful representative of Ovia constituency in the House of Representatives, who was commissioner for Investments and Public-Private Partnerships in the administration of former governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, said APC’s choice (Idahosa) had the capacity, experience and maturity to move Edo forward from November 12.

Imuse said: “I wish to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you, Dennis Idahosa, on securing the APC governorship candidacy in Edo State. “The triumph signifies a promising future, not only for our esteemed party, the APC, but also for the well-being of our beloved Edo State.”

The representative of Edo Central Senatorial District, Senator Monday Okpebholo, who was declared winner by Dr. Stanley Ughoaja at a parallel governorship primary election also in Benin, yesterday kicked against the congratulatory message by Ganduje, for Idahosa. 

Read Also: Edo APC primary: Ganduje congratulates Idahosa on victory

He described the message as misleading and an attempt to give credence to Idahosa’s victory.

Okpebholo, through the Director of Media and Publicity of his governorship campaign organisation, Godswill Inegbe, said APC’s national chairman, as the father and respected leader of the party, should not have hurriedly issued a congratulatory message, despite the controversies.

The senator said he had confidence in the state and national leaders of APC to ensure justice.

The crisis rocking the outcome of the Edo APC governorship primary election took a new turn yesterday, as a support group of the party, the APC Stakeholders Forum, asked the National Working Committee (NWC) to disregard the declaration of Idahosa as the winner of the party’s shadow election.

Rather, the group asked Dr. Ganduje to endorse Anamero Dekeri as the authentic candidate of the party.

The group said Idahosa’s declaration by Uzodimma should be declared null and void, noting that the committee lacked power to usurp the duties and responsibilities of local government returning officers in the primary election.

Invalidating Idahosa’s victory at a news conference in Abuja, the Chairman of the Forum, Emmanuel Godwin, said the purported announcement of Idahosa is null and void and should be disregarded in its entirety, adding that Governor Uzodimma lacked the power to usurp the duties and responsibilities of local government returning officers in the primaries.