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Tag: Labour Party

  • Oyo 2019: Re-alignment against ruling party will end in futility – APC

    Oyo 2019: Re-alignment against ruling party will end in futility – APC

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) Oyo State chapter, says the on-going re-alignment of forces by the opposition political players in the state ahead of the 2019 gubernatorial election would fail.

    This was contained in a statement by Mr Olawale Sadare, the party’s Public Relations Officer in Ibadan on Saturday.

    The leaderships of opposition political parties in the state, including the Accord Party, Social Democratic Party, Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party have initiated a move to regroup against the ruling APC.

    The re-alignment is aimed at dislodging the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in the state in the 2019 elections.

    Prominent among the state political leaders in the move were former Gov. Rasheed Ladoja, former Gov. Adebayo Alao-Akala, Mr Seyi Makinde and Alhaji Sharafadeen Alli.

    “We are a governing party that has distinguished itself as the only vehicle of good governance, peace and wholesome development desired by the majority of the people of Nigeria, including the good citizens of the state.

    “What they are planning is a civilian coup against the electorate but it would not see the light of day for many reasons.

    “Most characters involved in the gang-up have had opportunities in the past to impact positively on the lives of the people but they failed as a result of incurable traits of incompetence, selfishness and cluelessness,’’ it said.

    The party stated that many of the arrow heads of the alignment are ignorant of how government works from the way they criticize government policies and condemn its projects.

    The party stated that Nigerians would not support any alignment, re-alignment or gang-up from the same set of people that plunged the nation into economic mess.

    It counselled the sponsors of alignment and those who intend to benefit from it to realize that the effort would end up in futility.

  • Several other tower blocks have combustible cladding-British PM

    Several other tower blocks have combustible cladding-British PM

    British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Thursday that initial tests on other high-rise buildings after the London fire tragedy have shown that the cladding was combustible.

    May, made this known while citing the results of tests conducted after a fire killed at least 79 people in London.

    Flames spread rapidly up the 24-storey residential tower block on June 17, trapping people inside, in what was Britain’s worst blaze since World War Two.

    Exterior cladding added during a refurbishment may have played a part, residents have said.

    The disaster heaped pressure on Prime Minister May, already fighting for her political survival after a snap election saw her party lose its parliamentary majority.

    It has acted as a focal point for anger at government cuts to local authority funding and drawn accusations of criminal negligence.

    “We should, of course, be careful on speculating what caused this fire, but as a precaution, the government has arranged to test cladding on all relevant tower blocks,” May told parliament.

    “Shortly before I came to the chamber, I was informed that a number of these tests have come back as combustible.”

    She said local authorities and fire services had been informed and were taking steps to make affected buildings safe and to inform residents.

    May has launched a public inquiry into the fire and police have announced a criminal investigation.

    May said tests on the cladding of Grenfell Tower where the fire blazed would be made public in the next 48 hours.

    “This has been a wake-up call for the whole country,” said Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition Labour Party.

    “Residents of tower blocks all over the country are concerned, worried and frightened for their own safety. What we need is a step change in our attitude toward housing in this country.”

    After apologising for a slow state response to the fire, May said it was right that the head of the local council had resigned.

    Nicholas Holgate, chief executive of Kensington and Chelsea council, said he was forced out by the government.

  • Lagos IPAC constitutes committee to strengthen inter-party harmony

    Lagos IPAC constitutes committee to strengthen inter-party harmony

    The Lagos State chapter of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has constituted a committee to strengthen harmony among registered political parties in the state.

    State chairman of the council, Mr. Kola Ajayi, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.

    He said the six -man committee (Technical Committee) was constituted at the council’s general assembly on Friday.

    He said the committee had Chief Adegboyega Adeniji of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) as its Chairman and Mr. Solomon Orji of Citizens Popular Party (CPP) as General Secretary.

    He said other members are, Mr. Biodun Popoola, Labour Party, Prince Adeshina Olayokun, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Mr. Lateef Adegoroye, African People’s Alliance and Mr. Olawale Idowu, Mega Progressive People’s Party.

    Ajayi said that apart from ensuring resolution of disputes among political parties, the committee had the responsibility to monitor the implementation of code of conduct of parties and furnish the council with periodic reports.

    He said the committee would investigate cases of misconduct by political parties and recommend sanctions in accordance with existing IPAC laws.

    “Also, it is the duty of the committee to receive and treat complaints and propose to IPAC’s general assembly the appropriate sanctions” he said.

    Ajay said the committee would start work immediately after inauguration by the end of the week.

    He said IPAC was committed to the harmonious relationship among parties and strict adherence to code of conduct of parties.

    The chairman said the council would do its best to ensure the peaceful conduct of the July 22 council polls, calling on the Lagos State Independent Electoral commission (LASIEC) to constantly engage the council to achieve the objective.

  • Women make historic gains in British election

    Women make historic gains in British election

    Women have entered Britain’s parliament in record numbers after Thursday’s election, winning at least 200 seats in the 650-seat parliament.

    The last parliament had 196 female lawmakers, voted in at the election in 2015 and subsequent by-elections.

    NAN reports that Preet Gill, the first Sikh woman to be elected to the British parliament’s House of Commons, is from the opposition Labour party.

    Britain’s election ended in a hung parliament early Friday, with Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservatives losing their majority.

    With results in 637 constituencies counted, no party was in a position to gain the 326 seats required to gain an absolute majority in the 650-seat parliament.

    The Conservatives had won 311, the opposition Labour party were on 258 and the Scottish National Party were in third position with 34.

    The result is a humiliation for May, who had called the snap election in the hope of boosting her mandate to carry out the country’s Brexit negotiations.

    Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on her to step down, saying she should “go and make way for a government that is truly representative of this country.”

    But May indicated she would seek to remain in office.

    “At this time more than anything else, this country needs a period of stability,” she said after being re-elected in her Maidenhead constituency.

    “And if, as the indications have shown and if this is correct that the Conservative Party has won the most seats and probably the most votes, then it will be incumbent on us to ensure we have that period of stability, and that is exactly what we will do.”

  • Al-Makura urges workers to call off strike

    Al-Makura urges workers to call off strike

    Gov. Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has urged striking workers to call off their strike in the interest of peace and for the socio-economic development of the state.

    Al-Makura made the appeal on Monday in Lafia during a meeting with some stakeholders to commemorate 18 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria.

    “As far as I am concerned, there is no strike in Nasarawa state now and any worker hiding in his bedroom is doing that at his or her own risk,’’ he however warned.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the NLC Chairman in the state, Mr Abdullahi Adeka, had on May 26 announced the suspension of the strike, saying the state government has started implementing their demands.

    However, on May 27, a factional NLC Chairman, Mr Bala Umar, asked workers to continue with the strike, insisting that the government was yet to meet up with their demands.

    The workers are demanding for full payment of their salary arrears, promotion and enhanced condition of service.

    Commenting on the development, the governor said that the meeting was aimed at appreciating, recognising and acknowledging the contributions of those that served and are still serving the state since when he assumed office in 2011.

    Al-Makura said that the strike, which was embarked upon by the organised labour, has a political motive.

    “As a matter of fact, the master minds behind the strike are people completely belonging from opposition political parties.

    “The strike is only to sabotage government efforts; if not why is that children whose parents are APC, PDP, APGA, Labour Party, among others, want to be denied opportunity to studies.

    “We thank the Ministry of Education and the government that make the necessary arrangement to make sure that the students study without hitches,” he said.

    Al-Makura pointed out that his administration in the past six years have recorded landmark achievements in the areas of development in the state capital and with a drive in rural areas through the provision of basic social amenities and infrastructure to curb rural/urban migration.

    He assured the stakeholders and the people of the state on his unalloyed drive for development which, according to him, has resulted to key infrastructural improvement.

    “The contributions of various stakeholders in the state have help in bringing to success the gains of democracy which we all celebrate today,” he added.

    According to him, since the birth of his administration, road network, construction of schools, hospitals and markets, among other key infrastructures, has in no small measure top government programmes.

    The governor renewed the commitment of his administration to continue to create infrastructures that would have direct bearing on the lives of the people of the state.

    NAN also reports that the meeting brought together past and present political office holders who served the state at various levels.

  • No grudges against those behind my impeachment – Ex-Ondo deputy governor

    A former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Mr Ali Olanusi, who was impeached in 2015 under the administration of the immediate past Governor Olusegun Mimiko, said on Saturday that he had no grudges or ill-feelings against those who masterminded his removal.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure on Friday reversed the impeachment of Olanusi as the deputy governor.

    Olanusi was impeached by the state House of Assembly on April 27, 2015, following his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the then state ruling party – Labour Party – on the platform he was elected with Mimiko.

    Mimiko, who also defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), completed his eight-year tenure in February and handed over to the incumbent governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu of APC.

    In an interview with newsmen in Akure, Olanusi, said his vindication was not by his cleverness, but by God.

    “There is no cause for revenge, if God did not want all these to happen, it would not have turned out this way.

    “The injustice has been exposed to the people of Ondo State and may God reward all accordingly,” he said.

    Olanusi also praised the Nigerian judiciary for granting true justice to anyone who sought it.

    He said: “I also thank the people of Ondo State, who stood by me in the period of my travails and did not lose hope.’’

    Also speaking with newsmen, Counsel to Olanusi, Mr Richamond Natha-Alade, noted that the court had done justice because Olanusi was wrongfully impeached under the last administration.

    “The best interest of Nigeria has been served and it is on this ground that the court granted all our requests; everybody is bound by the law.

    “It is a new dawn in Nigeria because the judgment is classical and it touches on every aspect of law that borders on infringement of rights,” Natha-Alade said

     

  • Labour Party crisis deepens

    Labour Party crisis deepens

    The crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) appears to have deepened with party leaders accusing one another of instigating it.
    Senator Ovie Omo-Agegehas absolved himself from the development.
    The suspension and subsequently removal of Alhaji Abubakar Abulkadir Salam from office as the Chairman of the party blew open the simmering crisis in the party.
    Senator Omo-Agege asked those pointing accusing fingers at him as one of those behind the crisis in the party to look elsewhere.
    The Delta Central lawmaker who is also the only LP senator in the Senate was vehement in his denial.
    He noted that the insinuation that he was behind the crisis as claimed by some aggrieved members of the party was false and should be disregarded.
    He insisted that it amounted to playing to the gallery blaming him for the collective decision of over 15 National Executive Council (NEC) members.
    He said, “Sequel to resolutions reached on Monday by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, Comrade Atare Bobo Adou is now the Acting National Chairman of Labour Party, while Barrister Akingbade Oyelekan is the Acting National Secretary. We also know that the NEC suspended/removed Alhaji Abubakar Abulkadir Salam from office as the Chairman of the party.
    “NEC also suspended some other officials of the party. We know too that over 15 (of the about 22) members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party endorsed the said decisions of the NEC. These are facts.”
    “In our opinion, this approach to the serious crisis in the party is grossly irresponsible and diversionary. Blaming Senator Omo-Agege for the collective decisions taken by over 15 NWC adults and tens of other adult NEC members only emphasises Salam’s poor leadership offering in LP.
    “Let it be very clear that Senator Omo-Agege did not instigate the division in LP. It is Alhaji Salam’s very questionable and poor leadership methods that have thrown LP into this factional crisis.”
    “Indeed, Alhaji Salam persistently prevailed on Senator Omo-Agege to dissuade the NEC members from removing him as LP’s National Chairman. However, Senator Omo-Agege could not do that because the NEC members were determined to clean the party, particularly given the allegations against Salam.
    “We note that it was particularly difficult for Senator Omo-Agege to save Alhaji Salam because we believe he (Salam) places his personal interests above party interests. His Chairmanship of LP was characterised by serious injustices to candidates of the Party. LP’s candidate’s elections petitions across the country were arbitrarily withdrawn because they could not afford to give bribes. Indeed, Salam once personally threatened to withdraw Senator Omo-Agege’s election petition from the Election Tribunal in Asaba (after the 2015 general election) because the senator refused to be blackmailed to satisfy Salam’s personal desires.
    “Alhaji Salam ran a party that was always bent on sacrificing the party’s interests on the altar of troubling and greedy demands. These particularly made it rather difficult to stop the NEC’s responsible and bold move to clean the party.
    “Therefore, we make bold to state that Senator Omo-Agege could not help Alhaji Salam to remain because Salam’s leadership of the Party is tainted. A wise leader will show restraint at this time. It is therefore important to advise Salam to face the crisis in LP as an adult.
    “He has to stop crying like a baby with the Senator’s name. On whether his media comments against Senator Omo-Agege are libelous or legally harmful, we have asked our lawyers for advice. That advice will determine our next steps. There are always consequences for irresponsibility. This will not be an exception.”

  • Edo poll: KOWA calls for cancellation of results

    Edo poll: KOWA calls for cancellation of results

    • LP, NNPP objects

    The KOWA Party on Thursday called for the cancellation of the Edo State gubernatorial election results following reports of violence and irregularities in certain areas.

    KOWA’s agent at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Benin City, Thompson Osadolor had raised called for the cancellation  following the commission’s cancellation of results in areas where ballot boxes were snatched or card readers not used for authentication.

    He said that since it was obvious that such issues including the open inducement of voters at polling units occurred at different places, INEC should out rightly cancel the entire results and bar parties found culpable from contesting a new election.

    His submission was however countered by agent of the  New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Joyce Edekere and her Labour Party counterpart.

    According to Edekere, NNPP would not back the call for cancellation because it was unnecessary.

    “We’re not joining the call for a cancellation of the elections because we think there’s no justification for such. The elections were fair and INEC gave direct answers to the questions that were raised about elections.”

    Similarly, Labour Party said the elections were generally peaceful, free and fair, insisting that it was baseless to demand cancellation, considering the resources and time put into achieving the outcome.

    “This election was very peaceful. On as much as there were a few issues in some places, INEC has done the accurate thing by cancelling the results of the places affected. We do not see the need for cancellation and we do not support the call.”
    Of the 18 Local Government Areas result announced, the All Progressives Congress (APC) won 13 leaving the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with five.

    Earlier, both PDP and Action Alliance (AA) agents demanded that the votes for Etsako Central released by INEC be recounted on grounds that it differed from the copy they got at the collation centres.

  • Breaking News: Dariye defects to APC

    Breaking News: Dariye defects to APC

    The Senator representing Plateau Central, Joshua Dariye, on Thursday announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki read the letter of the Senator’s defection on the floor of the Senate.
    Dariye who moved from the PDP to the Labour Party and back to PDP and now APC said that his decision to leave the PDP was informed by the protracted division at the national level of PDP.
    His words: “After due consultation with my constituency, I write to notify you of my intention to cross over from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
    “My decision is informed by the protracted division at the national level of the PDP that led to the massive movement of my supporters to APC. Arising from this, I therefore write to formerly inform you of my decision to go along with my supporters. I thank you for your understanding”
    With the defection of Dariye, APC now has 59 senators, PDP has 43 senators while Labour Party has one.
    Elated Saraki commended Dariye for his action to leave the PDP.
  • 30 political parties to participate in Ondo guber poll

    30 political parties to participate in Ondo guber poll

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Tuesday announced that thirty political parties will participate in the November 26, governorship election in Ondo State.

    It also informed that it has put in another arrangement to ensure smooth accreditation and voting process during the poll.

    This it said would reduce the rigorous process being experienced by the commission during the poll.

    The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Olusegun Agbaje disclosed at a press conference held in Akure, the state capital.

    Agbaje said all parties intended to participate in the contest have concluded their primaries as at on Monday.

    The REC listed the parties as Alliance for Democracy, (AD), Social Democratic Party,( SDP), People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), African People Alliance, (APA), Peoples Redemption Party, (PRP), All Progressives Congress, (APC) and Labour Party,( LP).

    It also include Citizens Popular Party,( CPP), People’s Party of Nigeria, (PPN) ,Democratic People’s Party, (DPP), Democratic People’s Congress, (DPC), New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP), Hope Democratic Party,( HDP), National Unity Party, (NUP), and Better Nigeria Progressive Party,( BNPP).

    Others were: Young Democratic Party, (YDP), Accord Party, (AP), All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA), Progressive Peoples Alliance, (PPA), African Democratic Congress, (ADC), Action Alliance,( AA) , Unity of Nigeria (UPN), KOWA Party, (KP), People for Democratic Change (PDC), Independent Democrats, (ID), Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), National Conscience Party, (NCP, United Democratic Party,(UDP), United Progressive Party,( UPP) and Advanced Congress of Democrats, (ACD).

    Agbaje who appreciated the peaceful conduct of political parties during their primaries, noted that the standard of the conduct exhibited will benefit the deepening of democracy in the state.

    His words: Going by the scheduled election timetable, the party campaigns for the election have taken off and open politicking is gathering momentum.

    “On this note, I wish to appeal to the political parties and politicians/ contestants to exercise restraint in their pronouncements and avoid getting involved in verbal wars and inflammatory comments capable of igniting political tension and provoking rancour that could threaten the peace currently being enjoyed in the state.

    “The current political campaigns should record a significant improvement. It should be violent -free, issue-based, enriching and peaceful. It is my belief that a peaceful campaign exercise is a likely harbinger to the conduct of a peaceful election.”

    Agbaje, however, assured the stakeholders the readiness of the Commission to conduct a peaceful, transparent and credible and conclusive governorship election in the state.