The Nation Newspaper

Tag: governorship aspirants

  • Imo APC denies other governorship aspirants

    •Party disowns Uzodinma

    Chairman of the Imo State All Progressives Congress (APC) Daniel Nwafor has said the party is not “officially” aware of other aspirants who have bought their governorship nomination forms except Chief of Staff to the Governor, Uche Nwosu.

    Nwafor, who addressed reporters at the party’s secretariat in Owerri, said though some of the aspirants may have obtained their nomination forms in Abuja, they have, however, not notified the party of their intention.

    The chairman restated that the State Executive Committee has adopted the indirect primary to choose its candidates for the elective positions, including the governorship.

    He said: “The SEC is only aware of one person who has obtained his governorship nomination form, and that is Uche Nwosu. We are not aware of any other aspirant. We have not been officially communicated by any other person, though they will attend primaries.”

    The APC chair, however, assured the aspirants that the party is committed to conducting free and fair primaries which will give them a level playing ground.

    The party has disowned Senator Hope Uzodinma (Imo West), saying he is not a member of the party.

    Nwafor told reporters that Uzodinma, who runs a parallel APC office, has not registered with the party both at his ward and local government.

    He cautioned Uzodinma against using President Muhammadu Buhairi’s and National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomole’s names for selfish pursuits.

    “In the last few days our party has been inundated with calls over the activities of some persons who are posing to be members of the APC. Our party is particularly disturbed that this people are headed by Senator Hope Uzodinma, who has been misleading the public on certain issues concerning our party.

    “Our attention was drawn to a kangaroo meeting supposedly held by a faction led by Uzodinma. We say boldly that Senator Uzodinma is not a member of the APC, his Omuma Ward Chairman has not informed the party that Uzodinma has joined the party.

    “Senator Uzodinma has not declared on the floor of the Senate that he has joined the APC, the State Executive Council (SEC) is not aware that he is a member of this party. There has been a lot of statements credited to him, inferring that President Muhammadu Buhari and Comrade Adams Oshiomole has empowered him to determine delegates and aspirants, as well as run this party.

    “We want to inform our party’s National Executive Committee that, to the best of our knowledge, Senator Hope Uzodinma is not a member of APC. If there are waivers for him, we have not been communicated formerly…”

  • Osun PDP screens 11 governorship aspirants

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday started the screening of 11 aspirants who obtained its form for the September 22 governorship election in Osun State.

    The aspirants are: Senator Akanbi Abdulrasheed, Dr Oyewumi Olaler, Mr Nathaniel Oke, Senator Ogunwale Felix and Alhaji Fatai Akinbade.

    Others are: Dr Ezekiel Adeniji, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, Dr Ayoade Adewepo, Rafiu Bello, Senator Nurudeen Adeleke and Prof. Adeolu Durotoye.

    The Chairman of the Screening Committee, Mr Austin Opara, addressed the aspirants at Wadata Plaza national secretariat of the party in Abuja.

    He assured them that the exercise would be free, fair and transparent.

    Opara said the committee would be guided by the party’s guidelines, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and the PDP Constitution.

    He added: “One thing we want to let you know is that our party is reformed and we have a repositioned party, a party that is coming back stronger and willing to take over governance of this country.

    “It is a process and it is clear in all that the party is doing, including the screening that is taking place today.

    “It is going to be very transparent because we want the best for the party; of course, the best for the party is the best for the country.

    “We will be transparent and fair to all concerned. At the end, we want the best for our nation.”

    Opara said the PDP would present the best candidate who will revamp Osun State.

  • Nasarawa governorship aspirants to choose consensus candidate

    Ten governorship aspirants from the three major political parties in Nasarawa State have met to agree on a consensus candidate irrespective of political affiliations.

    They include aspirants of the All Progressive Congress (APC); Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), from Eggon.

    At a meeting of Eggon Council of Elders convened by the Paramount Ruler, Dr. Bala Angbazo, the aspirants vowed to abide by the pledge.

    Attendees at the meeting include Labaran Maku  (APGA); Solomon Ewuga (PDP); Godiya Akwashiki  (APC); Patricia Akwashiki (PDP); James Angbazu  (APC), Adamu Adogi (APC); Inusa Mohammed (APC); Danladi Envuluanza (APC); Dauda Kigbu (APC) and Mathew Ombugaku (Rebuild Party).

    Chairman of the Eggon Council of Elders Jato Anga, who spoke after the meeting, said they are on a collective mission to ensure that an Eggon man becomes the next governor.

    He lamented that Eggon people constitute over 60 per cent of the total population yet have not governed the state since it was created in 1996.

    “If you want to defeat an enemy, you sit and plan; and that is exactly what we have done. This time around, we have all agreed to come together irrespective of party affiliations, to ensure that an Eggon man becomes the next governor, and they have all agreed to work together.”

  • We’ll work for Fayemi’s victory- Guber aspirants

    Two All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants, Mr. Kayode Ojo and Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, have promised to work assiduously for the victory of the flag bearer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, at the July 14 governorship poll.

    Ojo and Bamidele, who spoke at separate news conference in Ado-Ekiti and Iyin-Ekiti respectively on Monday, said the election meant so much to the party in its bid to bring Ekiti into the progressives fold.

    The duo urged other aspirants who lost to Fayemi at the Saturday’s primary to join hands with him and win Ekiti for APC for the people of the state to enjoy good governance.

    Ojo, who came third at the primary with 281 votes, disclosed that he was visited by Fayemi at home on Sunday and he has accepted to work with the candidate wholeheartedly in the interest of the party

    He said: “Dr Fayemi had visited me and I have accepted wholeheartedly to work with him in the interest of our party. I believe the APC is supreme to all of us and we must not do those things that will sabotage our efforts in this coming election.

    “Though, I did not win the primary, but I have no regret contesting because members of APC in Ekiti are great people. I am seeing a bright future for Ekiti APC going by the spirit of sportsmanship our people have displayed.

    “I have gone round and saw that our people lacked basic amenities for development. Virtually every aspect of our lives needed interventions and it is only the APC that can bring this desired change.

    Bamidele said the coming election is not about Fayemi, but about afflicted people of the state, who were being deceived by the present government and the party, APC.

    He said: “The APC is set to give Ekiti people a new lease of life through prioritization of time-tested policies capable of transforming the economy and provision of opportunities for wealth creation, social welfare, healthy living and food security.

    “Dr Fayemi in the full glare of everybody had apologized to the teachers, civil servants, artisans and those who might be affected by his policies as a governor, I beg our people to accept his apologies.

    “We are resolved to align Ekiti State and her good people with the progressive transformation being championed by the APC-led government of President Buhari and no stoned shall be left unturned in ensuring that this dream is achieved.”

    Read Also: Buhari congratulates Fayemi for winning APC Guber ticket

  • Ondo poll: APC warns governorship aspirants against violence

    Ondo poll: APC warns governorship aspirants against violence

    The Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday read the riot acts to its aspirants in the forthcominggubernatorial election.

    Its Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, who spoke at a news conference at the party’s secretariat in Akure, said the party’s leadership has resolved to conduct a free and fair primary election for the governorship aspirants.

    He called for their co-operation.

    Kekemeke, who spoke against the backdrop of violence before the party’s primary, said any aspirant involved in violence before and during the  election risks being disqualified.

    He said the party would go into the November 26 poll as a united family.

    The chairman emphasised that no matter the propaganda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the citizenry have decided to send the ruling party packing.

    The legal practitioner said the APC was set to take over the mantle of leadership from the PDP’s government.

    Highlighting the rules for the primary election campaign, Kekemeke urged the aspirants to promote unity and peace among themselves.

    According to him, the race to become the APC standard-bearer must be a family affair and not do-or-die.

    The chairman used the occasion to release the rules of conduct for the primary election campaign, noting that multiple aspirants would not tear the party apart.

    He announced that each of the male governorship aspirants would pay N2 million for development levy. Female aspirants would pay N1m.

    Kekemeke noted that the money was different from the nomination fee, which all aspirants will pay before the primary.

    Headded that the payment of the development levy was aimed at strengthening the party financially, saying: “This is a way of generating money to finance the party in the state.”

    The chairman urged the governorship aspirants to see themselves as members of the same family and work together for the overall success of the party in the governorship poll.

    Besides, he urged the aspirants to make their campaigns issue and programme-based, devoid of mudslinging, attack and acrimony.

    He warned against the use of ammunition and weapons by supporters of the aspirants during campaigns.

    Kekemeke said: “Thuggery and any form of violence by supporters of the governorship aspirants are not allowed in the course of campaigns and as such aspirants shall be held responsible for the misconduct, unruly acts and any form of untoward activities of their supporters during campaigns.

    Reacting on behalf of other aspirants, Senator Ajayi Boroffice assured the state exco of total compliance with the rules and regulations guiding both the primary and general elections.

  • Ibadan PDP governorship aspirants to pick consensus candidate

    Ibadan PDP governorship aspirants to pick consensus candidate

    •Akala: they’re not my match

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant of Ibadan origin agreed yesterday to  present a consensus candidate.

    They met in Ibadan, the state capital at the residence of Elder Wole Oyelese.

    At the meeting were Oyelese, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, Prof.  Taoheed Adedoja, Prof. Soji Adejumo, Sen. Teslim Folarin, Seyi Makinde and Dr. Azeez Adeduntan.

    A statement by the aspirants reads: “ We deliberated on the political situation in Oyo State, especially as it relates to our great party, the PDP and resolved as follows:

    “That we unanimously agreed to work together as a team to ensure victory for our party in 2015 elections and deliver Oyo State for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s reelection.

    “That given the political reality on ground, the PDP candidate, who by the grace of Almighty God will be the next governor of Oyo State, must come from Ibadan land.

    “That the body takes cognizance of the importance and political interest of other zones and resolved to work assiduously with them to achieve victory for our great party at all levels.

    “That we appreciate the patience of our teeming and loyal supporters and indeed the good people of Oyo state for enduring all the inhuman treatments inflicted on them by the current APC administration and we assure them of a responsible and responsive government as from May 29 2015

    “That we appeal to our teeming and loyal supporters of the party to work together and for those who have defected from the party to return into the fold for a collective victory.”

    Ibadan votes accounted for the majority of votes in previous elections.

    The decision, said analysts, would affect the chances of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, who is seeking to return to power.

    Alao-Akala said he would defeat the Ibadan aspirants at the primaries.

    He added that Alao-Akala said  Ibadan is only one of the towns in Oyo State, pointing out that every indigene has the right to contest for any position.

    According to him, Ibadan has  11  of the state’s 33 local government areas. He said candidates would need votes across all the councils to win.

    “I don’t care. Let all of them choose a candidate that will face me in the primaries. I have been governor before and I will be again,” Alao-Akala said.