Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has disowned comments by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Saidu that he (El-Rufai) will not recontest the governorship seat in 2019.
Governor El-Rufai said the Chief of Staff’s statements was a misrepresentation of his (El-Rufai) position and that of his government.
The Governor in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Sunday also said what Saidu said was his personal opinion, as he (El-Rufai) will not communicate his decision to run for a second term in 2019 through surrogates, but directly to the people of Kaduna State.
Governor El-Rufai in the statement he titled ‘I will inform the public on second term when I am ready’, said “My attention has been drawn to statements credited to our Chief of Staff which clearly misrepresented his good intentions aimed at encouraging youths in politics and governance of our dear state.”
“What was reported was that I had no plans to run for another term of office, and will be succeeded by someone below the age of 50. Both statements are misrepresentations of my position and the government. It has become imperative that these wrong impressions thereby created be corrected.
“In 2014, when I complied with the directive of our leader President Muhammadu Buhari to run for the office of Governor of Kaduna State, I made the announcement in person. I did not employ surrogates to engage the public on this important decision. What I did not do as an aspirant for office, I will not do as incumbent Governor. I will not communicate my decision to run for a second term in 2019 through surrogates, but directly to the people of Kaduna State.
“Regarding the views ascribed to the Chief of Staff, they are perhaps his personal opinion. I do not wish to be associated with such sentiments. I am of the firm opinion that nobody, no matter the position they hold, can dictate to other citizens what they can or cannot aspire to. No individual can introduce into the electoral process conditions that are not embedded in the laws of our country and the norms of electoral competition.
“The Constitution of Nigeria, the Electoral Act and the APC constitution have no provisions imposing maximum age limits for those aspiring to elective office. I am a strict law-abiding citizen and loyal party member, and will not countenance anyone even hinting at circumscribing constitutional rights. While our administration believes strongly in encouraging youths, evidenced by the number of young people we have appointed into key government positions, we believe that it is the combination of the wisdom of the elderly and the energy of the youth that leads to societal progress.
“While our government will continue to train these young persons in leadership responsibilities, and prepare them for the future, we do not believe that decreeing a generational shift is either lawful or pragmatic. Choice is the prerogative of the voting public which decides at each moment who and what platform they believe best represents their needs.
“Any artificial intrusion into this process can only yield unwanted distortions. And we have already suffered that distortion in Nigeria. When a military government decided to elevate those it called newbreed politicians by curtailing the rights of experienced politicians who were banned from seeking office, it did not improve the quality of our politics. Rather, it monetized the electoral process and left our polity without regard for issue-based platforms.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the choice of who governs Kaduna will depend, not on the age of the person, but his or her acceptability by the leaders of our party first, and ultimately the voters of Kaduna State. At the right time, these choices will be made and not earlier.
“The mid-point of an administration is not the time for politics. We were elected to work for four years. And that is what every appointee of this government must do. I have therefore directed all government appointees aspiring to future political or elective positions to stop putting up posters and billboards in violation of the Electoral Act. KASUPDA is further directed to take down all these as the whistle has not been blown for either national or local government elections campaign or politicking to start yet. KASUPDA is expected to impose the applicable sanctions on any violators.
“Any appointee of our administration that immerses himself or herself into ambitions for 2019, at the expense of the vital public assignments entrusted them will be deemed to have constructively vacated office, and will be relieved of his position. I appeal to all our colleagues in government to comply with this and continue to exercise prudence and commitment in the implementation of our reform and restoration programme,” El-Rufai stated.
Tag: governorship
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I will speak on second term bid when am ready – El-Rufai
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Ekiti governorship aspirant decries youth unemployment
An All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Mr. Yinka Akerele, has advised political office holders to address the growing youth unemployment in the country, before it gets out of hand.
Akerele made the remark while speaking with reporters after visiting the APC office in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, to declare his intention.
The aspirant said the number of graduates, artisans and skilled workers out of job is alarming. He also suggested the inclusion of youths in leadership at all levels of government.
Akerele said: “The youth needs to be more actively involved in the decision-making process; we should always get them engaged in lofty causes. I implore the privileged in society to concentrate on finding ways of creating employment opportunities for the army of the unemployed youths. This could be done by tapping our entrepreneurial skills, and creating business opportunities. This will save the country from an impending danger of the unemployment time bomb.”
He advised co-contestants to shun acts that can cause animosity among them, adding that what should be paramount in their minds is victory for the party. He said whoever wins still remains a member of the party and it is victory for all.
Akerele said: “I appeal to my co-aspirants to do everything humanly possible to avoid divisive tendencies preparatory to the primary. Our commitment towards the party’s goal should remain sacrosanct; the mission of wrestling power from the usurpers must dwarf other negative tendencies. Therefore, we must work in unison and remain united until we wrest power from the present government.”
Akerele spoke about his intention to use the available human and economic resources to develop the state. He stressed the need to return the state to the path of glory. He added: “My priority is returning our dear Ekiti State to the path of glory; the pride of being an Ekiti indigene is being known for righteousness, academic excellence, high moral standard and the other good virtues.”
The APC chieftain said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government, led by Governor Ayodele Fayose, has run the state aground in the last three years and assaulted the very sanctity of what the state stands for. As a result, he said the people are ready for change.
He added: “This is time for new beginning in Ekiti; the highest dream of the founding fathers of Ekiti State is to occupy the land with character and ensure it remains a place for the breeding of the virtuous that are exemplary in characters and in deeds.”
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On Ekiti South governorship agenda
The Ekiti governorship election comes up in 2018. There is a lot of agitation from the South Senatorial District that it is now their turn to produce the next governor. This reminds me of similar agitation in 2014. While crossing from PDP to APC then, following Fayose’s bullish emergence as PDP candidate for the 2014 election, I wrote as follows:
There was the clamour for a Southern Senatorial candidacy which I fully endorsed. To recall, following Fayose’s impeachment in 2006, there was a Pan-Ekiti conference in D’Rovans Hotel in Ibadan. The conference was co-chaired by the late Professor Aluko and the Chief Afe Babalola SAN. Professor Akin Oyebode and I were the Rapporteurs at the conference.
One of the decisions reached at the conference was that the governorship candidate of all political parties should come from the North Senatorial District while the Deputy Governorship slot should come specifically from Ado Local Government Area. For balance, it was agreed that the Speaker of the House of Assembly would then come from the South. After the North might have exhausted its tenure, the governorship was to move to the South Senatorial District after which zoning as an idea would be jettisoned. It was for this reason that the PDP and the AC candidates both came from the North Senatorial District (Engr. Segun Oni and Dr. Kayode Fayemi) while the two Deputy Governorship candidates came from Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Sikiru Tae Lawal and Late Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka.
The agitation has now been renewed more virulently. I share some understanding with the Ekiti South Senatorial District on their agitation for the governorship slot. I supported the campaign in 2014 as indicated above based on the D’Rovans 2006 agreement. However, the feeling and sentiment is not the same today as it was then in 2014 for reasons I shall now proceed to state as clearly as I can.
In the context of the two dominant parties in Ekiti, only PDP had the moral burden of a shift to the South in 2014. APC was on first term and could legitimately claim and indeed claimed the right to second term. Most progressives within the PDP enthusiastically endorsed South Senatorial candidacy. However, given the Jonathan-Fayose abracadabra then and the hurried endorsement of that rigged Fayose outcome by the erstwhile candidates from the South, the South lost that claim and the moral argument. Many of us proclaimed then that we have seen the end of zoning of the top post in Ekiti. Indeed, considering that a South Senatorial person took up the deputy slot and many South Senatorial people actively collaborated and supported the stabilization and subsequent emergence of the Fayose governorship, there is no longer any fundamental basis for continuing with this claim. I sincerely believe that privilege is forfeited. But PDP is free to decide its preferences.
As for APC, zoning is not recognized in the party constitution. The general position even at the national level is to throw the No.1 positions – President and Governors – open to all, while positions below them are then zoned to ensure balance in representation and governance. Competence is not held subordinate to any parochial or primordial considerations.
Interestingly, in all parties, aspirants for the top offices have always emerged from all areas without much consideration for zoning. In effect, what is emerging and becoming very clear is that zoning is more of a strategic tool for making a choice within and by the respective parties and not an imposition on all that requires uncritical acquiescence. In truth, the more advanced we become on the human evolution order, the less we will place emphasis on narrow parochial consideration. More emphasis will be on the broad interest and competence as is the case with the USA if we discount the Trumpian error that has just occurred.
The case for Ekiti is even more unique. We are a homogeneous people. Homogeneity is a very important virtue that binds Ekiti people together. It is our unique characteristics and heritage. It should help us move in the direction of broad common interest away from the narrower sectional interest. Even within the South-west, we do not have the kind of ethnic cleavages prevalent in some states. Ekiti does not have the Ondo/Owo/Akoko type cleavage; nothing like Ibadan/Oyo/Ogbomosho relational nuances; no Egba/Ijebu dichotomy, and so on. This unique attribute of ours must always be allowed to supersede senatorial interest and not be watered down. Ekiti does not need any form of fragmentation into narrow interest that can undermine or erode the benefits of our homogeneity.
As alluded to earlier, there have always been governorship aspirants from the South Senatorial District, from all parties, in all elections. This should continue to be so being in the greater interest of Ekiti as a homogeneous entity that places a lot of premium on competence and intellect.
There is a small observation to be made though. No former governor has had the privilege of second term in Ekiti State. May be that jinx is designed by God to be broken by a governor from Ekiti South Senatorial District when one eventually emerges! Several black folks ran for President of the United States in the past but Barack Obama was the one destined by God to be the first and he successfully served eight years! That jinx breaker from the South Senatorial District will eventually emerge. But we should note that it is God that elevates (wo)men to positions. No matter the opposition, if God says yes, so shall it be. In the same vein, no matter the support, if God says no, so shall it be also!
For me personally, there is another very important reason I am supporting the return of Engr. Segun Oni as Ekiti State governor apart from his very outstanding performance and personal integrity in governance first time around. The reason would likely appear to many as sentimental, but it contains some cold reality. We could wait till judgment day when the truth can finally be revealed. But as human beings, we have been sufficiently endowed to be capable of rational decisions.
There was an unfortunate self-inflicted crisis and a consequent split within the ranks of the elites in Ekiti State. The period of April 2007 to February 2014 was very agonizing and heartbreaking for the elites and progressives in Ekiti State. When Oni switched camp and declared for APC in 2014 following the emergence of Fayose as the PDP flag bearer, a major burden was lifted off the head of the progressives and the elites. Much of the elites were visibly relieved. Oni’s total and very active support for Fayemi’s re-election bid wiped out the doubt in some quarters that Oni might be insincere. Ever since, Oni and Fayemi with the active embracement of the Omoluabi par excellence of Ekiti, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, have been collaborating with each other to collectively stabilize the party in Ekiti and rescue the state from the impetuous, highly value corrosive governance of Fayose. Indeed, Ekiti people deserve good governance.
Now in the eyes of the law, as a direct consequence of the self-inflicted injury of the elites, Oni’s claim to governorship is technically invalid before the law. Of course he served as a governor and his achievements during his tenure are tangible and there for all to see. However, no thanks to Salami, that tenure within the legal circle is said to be ultra vires. If that remains the status quo, there may never be real closure to that dark period in Ekiti history. Yet we need to bring closure, one that finally puts to rest the fratricidal feud among the progressives and elites in the state; one that also rekindle the trust the progressives and the elites have in each other. Segun Oni deserves to have his legitimacy restored in the interest of all. This is one more reason why the South Senatorial District needs to show understanding and just present their candidates without the pressure of group advocacy for a south senatorial governorship.
All told and irrespective of how things play out, we all need to eschew violence, threats and coercion as we position ourselves for the 2018 race. Ekiti politics and politicians can set the pace in constructive, rational, intellectual political engagement devoid of violence and intimidation. Above all, we must give our people a chance to make their rational, free decision as to who can and should govern them. The ascendancy of Fayose to the governorship in Ekiti was fraught with so much deceit, brigandage and a host of anti-democratic conducts. This should not be allowed to continue in Ekiti. We really need a reset.
- Otunba Oguntuase writes from Lagos.
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Anambra poll: 15 battle for governorship in APC
No fewer than 15 chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are warming up for the governorship primary in Anambra State. EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the battle for the ticket.
Politics is in the air in Anambra State. Ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary, aspirants are intensifying their consultations with stakeholders in their bid to secure the ticket.
Governor Willie Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is serving his first tenure.But, there are indications that he will be seeking another term.
APC aspirants include Dr. Tony Nwoye; the 2010 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, former PDP governorship aspirant Dr. Obinna Uzor, former governor and two time senator on the platform of the PDP, Andy Uba, Chief George Moghalu, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, Chief Chike Obidigbo; Barth Nwibe; Obinna Onunkwo; Chief Ralph Okeke; Paul Chukwuma and Prince Donatus Okonkwo.
The chairman of APC, Emeka Ibe described, them as eminently qualified and capable of wresting power from Obiano in the November poll.
Both new and old members of the APC, Ibe added, have equal opportunities and chances of flying the party’s flag, going by the APC constitution.
“The APC constitution is silent on new members, on whether they should be given waiver or not, but the national leadership of the party gives guidelines on the primaries. So, both new and old members have equal status in the party,” he said, adding that the party would not adopt zoning to pick its flagbearer.
The development has led to serious campaigns in the APC. But, not many of the gladiators have the chance of picking the ticket.Moghalu
The National Auditor of the ruling APC, according to media reports, joined the race following pressure from his associates.
They urged him to join the governorship race to bring to bear his wealth of experience in the governance of the state.
Many groups cited what they see as outstanding qualities in the APC chieftain to include his consistency and commitment in party politics that have endeared him to many since the return of democracy in 1999.
They admire the fact that he stayed within the opposition, which saw him sticking to All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), until metamorphosis into the APC.
The Anambra Upfront Alliance spokesman, Ekeh Charles, said Moghalu contributed to the building of the APC from the scratch to its present status.
“We know him to be a tested technocrat of the first order,well cultured and coolheaded to lead Anambra State in discovering her abundant potentials”, he said.
Muoghalu was the All Peoples’ Party, (APP) governorship candidate in 2003. The poll was won by the PDP and later, APGA at the Election Tribunal.Uba
He represented Anambra South Senatorial zone on the platform of the PDP for two terms. He announced his defection to the APC at a news briefing February 1, in his home country, Uga, Aguata Local Government Area.
He said he joined the APC at the ongoing registration of party members, adding that APC has ideology and focus which he needed to provide quality representation to his constituents. Other personalities in the party with sound ideas and whom he looks up to in politics also motivated his decision to join the APC. These include the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, and Muoghalu. He urged other Igbo politicians to join the bandwagon.
Analysts argue that Ubahas left clear and positive prints on the sands of time and the paths, which led to his many accomplishments, are uncomplicated and straightforward.
Apart from his welfare programmes which he has personally sponsored as senator, the aspirant has the experience to serve as governor, having been there before.
As a two-time senator, Uba attracted a lot of goodwill from the federal government to the state. He employed the instrument of regular interaction with his constituents to identify their needs and worked towards achieving them.
Born December 14, 1958, Uba was elected Senator for the Anambra Southin April 2011. He was running on the PDP platform. He defected to the APC weeks back.The leadership crises engulfing the PDP motivated.
In 2007, Uba competed successfully in the PDP primary and he was elected. However, the former governor, Peter Obi, challenged the election, saying that because the courts had only accepted that Obi had won the April 2003 elections on March 15, 2006, he still had his four-year term to serve.
The odds favour him to pick the APC ticket.Nwoye
Born a twin in Onitsha, September 13, 1974, Nwoye hails from Offianta Nsugbe in Anambra East Local Government Area. No doubt, he has arise to the top echelon of the national politics and he has served in various capacities. He was a member, Presidential committee against Illegal arms and violent crimes, National Political Reform Conference, Federal committee on 2006 Census, Leader of the Nigerian delegation to the World Youth Summit in Venezuela and Non – Executive Director, Hadejia-Jamaare River Basin, Kano
He is into construction, building and engineering endeavours and trustee of many NGOs.
Beyond that, not much will be working in his favour as per experience in governance and rallying the politically enlightened people of Anambra state for governance.
“He still needs to be tested and proven capable to administer the affairs of the statebecause as a wholly sophisticated people. You need to be well bred in our peculiar politics to venture to lead us,” said a top APC member.Uzoh
Uzoh is Chairman of CUZ Group Limited. He was born March 17, 1963. He is a philanthropist.
Uzoh has not devoted his time to business alone. He also found time to acquire academic laurels. He obtained B.Sc (Business Administration), University of Lagos; M.Sc (Marketing), University of Lagos; LLB, University of Lagos; B.L., Nigeria Law School and PhD (Economics), Lagos State University.
An apostle of “politics without bitterness” and politics of consultation and accommodation, his campaign slogan is: Restoration, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Anambra State.
However, Uzoh, a former PDP member, who has made attempts in the past to get the ticket, has not been really tested in the murky waters of politics and his aspiration may not appeal to the APC and Anambra electorate at large.Soludo
The eminent economist has clarified that he is not a member of the APC.
Born July 28, 1960, Soludo is a professor of Economics and former Governor and Chairman of the board of directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He was named Governor on May 29, 2004. He is also a member of the British Department for International Development’s International Advisory Group.
In September 2009, Soludo announced his aspiration for the 2010 governorship.
On October 9, 2009, the PDP chose Soludo as its consensus candidate among the 47 candidates, after repeated attempts to hold elective primary were stalled by court injunctions. However, his nomination was contested by 23 of the 47 aspirants, citing lack of transparency in the process. After the initial rancour, 36 aspirants and other top shots, affirmed their support for Soludo.
However, Soludo lost to Peter Obi in an election which was largely considered free and fair, according to major election observers.
However, with the perceived solid performance of Soludo as the CBN Governor, he remains a respected economic policy authority in Nigeria.
On July17, 2013, Soludo resigned from the PDP after a letter to then National Chairman of the party, Alhaji BamangaTukur. He later joined the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in preparation for the November 2013 governorship race.Others
From Chike Obidigbo through Barth Nwibe and Obinna Onunkwo to Chief Ralph Okeke; Paul Chukwuma and Ifeanyi Uba, a common string runs through their individual aspiration: not well tested in the unique politics of the APC, Anambra and the larger national picture.
If the truth must be told, among the 13 aspirants, Soludo and Uba stand tall. But given his experience as senator, governor and politicking across the country, Uba could be the man the APC needs to fly its flag in the election. -
Omisore’s rumoured goodbye to governorship ambition
Few names are as big as that of Iyiola Omisore in the politics of Osun State. He has been deputy governor and senator. He has long nursed the ambition to become the governor of the state. But like the biblical Moses, it now looks like he will have to content himself only with a glimpse of the promised land.
If whispers are to be believed, Senator Omisore may call it quits next year with his ambition to become Osun State governor. Omisore, no doubt, is a formidable force in the politics of Osun State and the entire South West region; he has built an armada of political connections which would have been enough to land him the governorship seat but for intra-party fighting in the PDP.
Ahead of the next governorship election in the state, expectations were that Omisore would once again throw his hat in the ring. However, his observable lack of interest has caused others with governorship ambition in the state to start flocking around him in the hope that he would endorse their candidacy like Moses did Joshua.
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Politicians warming up for Anambra governorship race
The Anambra State governorship election is scheduled to take place in November. Owing to the fact that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to fix a date for the contest, many politicians are still playing the waiting game. Correspondent NWANOSIKE ONU looks at how the various political parties are preparing for the poll.
Less than 10 months from now, the people of Anambra State will go to the polls to elect their governor. Governor Willie Obiano’s first term will elapse early next year.
The governor has already indicated interest to seek for second term. Interestingly, one of his aides, Dr. Elo Aforka, has also indicated that he would vie for the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Thus, the governor and his aide will complete for the APGA ticket.
Aforka’s posters have adorned the streets of Awka, including the newly- constructed flyover at Aroma roundabout; a major transit corridor in the capital. It is not yet clear why he chose to challenge his boss, but some political observers believe that he is being used by some aggrieved APGA chieftains to extort money from Obiano through settlement.
Aforka is not the only one eying the governor’s seat, which will be vacant in March 17, 2018. Legions of aspirants from various political parties have equally indicated their interest to run. Former secretary to the government under Peter Obi’s administration, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, is one of such aspirants. Obaze is running on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Obaze is not alone in (PDP). Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, is also in the race. The former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has been talking tough.
Philanthropist and industrialist, Mr Godwin Ezeemo, has also indicate interest to run once again on the platform of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA). Ezeemo was the governorship candidate of the PPA in 2013.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has the largest number of aspirants. This makes the APC the beautiful bride in Anambra politics this time around. The APC was like a political orphan during the 2013 election, because it was called unprintable names. In spite of the popularity of its candidate in 2013, Dr. Chris Ngige, who is currently the Minister of Labour and Productivity, it was derided as a ‘foreign’ party.
Those aspiring to run on the APC platform include its National Auditor, Chief George Muoghalu; the lawmaker representing Anambra East and West Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Tony Nwoye; as well as business mogul, Dr. Obinna Uzor. Others eying Obiano’s seat in the APC are: Barth Nwibe; and former governorship contestant on APGA’s ticket, Dr. Chike Obidigbo.
Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, is yet to make up his mind this time around. Other aspirants are: Obinna Onunkwo, Donatus Okonkwo and Ifeanyi Ubah.
From all indications, whoever that gets the APC is likely to give Obiano a run for his money; considering the number of heavyweights that have joined the party in recent times. Though some of them have not officially declared for the APC, but their body language suggests that they already have sympathy for the party.
Only the oil magnate, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, has officially declared. Others like Senator Andy Uba still have one leg in the party with the other leg still in the PDP. Another aspirant is Donatus Okonkwo, who happens to be Senator Annie Okonkwo’s brother. He is the brain behind Tetrazzini fast foods across the country.
A good number of the aspirants are however using the governorship race to position themselves for other juicy positions in the APC. Some of them are looking for the party’s ticket for the Senate or the House of Representatives.
Other political heavyweights like former Governor Peter Obi are still holding clandestine meetings for the proposed mega party with some eggheads in the country.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been keeping mum. As a result, most politicians are still playing the waiting game. Apart from Aforka, who is a political adviser to Obiano, and Ezeemo, no other aspirant has his posters on the streets.
Like the 2013 election, which was a two-horse race between the ruling party and the APC, this year’s contest is expected to be very fierce. Governor Obiano is believed to have sacrificed the goodwill he enjoyed initially, even though he is adjudged to have done well under the current difficult economic circumstances in the country.
Obiano’s difficulty may not be unconnected with the fact that he has stepped on toes of many party chieftains who helped him to win in 2013. Many of such chieftains have vowed to make things difficult for him this time around.
Despite the state’s dwindling resources, Obiano has recorded some reasonable achievements, including building three flyovers in a swoop, putting up street lights in major roads in the capital and elsewhere and making agriculture a top priority for his administration.
In spite of his good showing, members of his party are not happy; they accused his wife of unduly interfering in his government. The opposition parties have even refused to acknowledge that he has recorded any achievement.
His open disagreement with former Governor Obi, who almost singlehandedly made him governor, in the face of a stiff opposition from other party chieftains, appears to be a big obstacle in his second term bid. Many APGA members have continued to accuse Obi of being behind the governor’s travails.
The word making the rounds in the state is that Obiano is making frantic efforts to defect to the APC and fly the party’s ticket during the election. Though the allegation has been refuted by one of the governor’s aides, the rumour has refused to go away.
This development has not gone down well with many governorship aspirants on the APC platform, who see Obiano as an opportunist.
Observers believe that it is too early to direction the pendulum would swing. The only thing certain for now is that the Anambra governorship election will be held in November this year.
Though Ngige has declined to join the race, he appears to be the one man who is in a position to influence the outcome of the APC primary. As a result, whoever curries his favour stands the chance of grabbing the ticket.
Ngige is regarded as a political oracle in Anambra. The minister must be pleased with the growing popularity of the APC in the state. He is one man who laboured to build the party in Anambra.
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APC to INEC: Ignore PDP’s call for postponement of Ondo election
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) to ignore the call by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the postponement of the Ondo State’s November 26 governorship election on account of the party’s internal crisis.
National Secretary of the APC, Hon. Mai Mala Buni in a statement on Sunday said the party does not support any scheme to subvert justice and undermine the very progressive and participatory democracy which the APC fiercely stands for.
The APC called on INEC to concentrate on delivering a free, fair, credible and transparent ballot on election day.
“ The Ondo electorate are wise and will vote for the candidate with a proven track record of performance on election day. A vote for the tested, trusted and credible APC governorship candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN will bring about massive multi-faceted development which has eluded the state,” APC stated
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INEC to obey court order on Ondo State governorship candidate
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it will obey court orders in determining governorship candidates submitted by political parties for the Ondo State Nov. 26 governorship election.
Mr Oluwole Osazie-Uzzi, INEC`s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, stated this at the “CSOs Roundtable on Emerging Issues of Nov. 26 Ondo State Governorship Election,“ held on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said while political parties had already submitted the lists of their candidates for the election; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presented two candidates.
Osazie-Uzzi said that although the commission was currently facing the challenge of conflicting different orders from competent courts of the same jurisdiction, INEC would base its decision on available court orders.
“ It doesn’t matter whether a court order was right or wrong, as the commission has no power to question any of such order but to obey.
“Just like the leadership crisis in PDP, very often we are faced with conflicting orders.“Court order A says do this, court order B says I restrain you from doing that.
“ We are at a very dangerous position where litigants are being allowed to choose between what court order to obey and which to disregard, which is a very dangerous situation,’’ Osazie-Uzzi said.He said that it would have been easier for INEC to make its decision on which order to obey if the courts involved were of different levels in terms of their hierarchy.
Osaze-Uzzi also said that the commission was doing its best to ensure that the votes of the people determine an election.
“Election should not be determined elsewhere either in the offices of INEC or in the court room.“That is not desirable and not the way it was designed; that is an aberration.
“It is only where the due process has not been followed that the court should come in,“ he said.
On the Ondo State governorship election, Osaze-Uzzi said that arrangements were in top gear to ensure that the election was free, fair and successful.
The director disclosed that the commission had recruited and trained more than 16, 700 ad-hoc personnel for the election. (NAN) -
PDP zones governorship to Niger North
Niger State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has zoned the governorship to the Niger North Senatorial Zone, ahead of the 2019 elections.
The chairman of PDP, Mr. Tanko Beji, told leaders of the party from the senatorial zone, who visited him. The delegation was led by the Zonal Vice Chairman, Alhaji Yahaya Ability.
According to Beji, the decision to zone the governorship seat to the zone was in the “interest of fairness, equity and justice”.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello is from the zone.
Beji assured the people from the zone that the PDP will not impose any candidate on them, urging them to put their house in order.
He said: “Put your house in order so that we will not have a repeat of what happened in the past. We will not impose any candidate on the party the people will be allowed to freely make a choice of who they want to lead them, even at the councillorship level”.
The state chairman explained that he would work towards ensuring the governorship candidate emerged from the area.
Responding on behalf of the delegation, Ability said the PDP in the zone had been reformed and would reclaim the political leadership of the area come 2019.
In the delegation were former governorship aspirants, ministers and ambassadors and local government chairmen.
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PDP warns against agitating for deputy governorship slot
The Ahmed Makarfi’s faction of the Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged groups on its platform to stop agitations for the deputy governorship slot .
It reminded the supporters that it has concluded the governorship primary election, which produced Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) as its flagbearer.
The faction said the party was now putting machinery in place to ensure that the PDP win the November 26 poll.
The factional PDP Chairman, Clement Faboyede, has directed that all support groups candidate stand dissolved.
A statement by its Publicity Secretary, Banji Okunomo, said: “Such individual supporters and support groups are hereby directed to return to their various units, wards and local government councils to enhance well-coordinated campaign activities.
“Within the next one week, the party will unveil its programmes and activities preceding the governorship election in a calendared format.”
The party stressing that at the appropriate time, it would do what is fair, just and politically strategic to guarantee the party’s overwhelming success at the poll.