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Tag: Oshiomhole

  • Oshiomhole talks tough on primaries

    •Party chair talks tough on primaries

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) will enforce popular participation of its members in the process of picking candidates for the general election, its Natinal Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, said yesterday.

    He said no amount of intimidation would force the leadership of the party to waiver in its determination in this regard.

    Oshiomhole spoke with reporters after a prolonged meeting with governors and other leaders, who were at the sectretariat to complain about how the primaries were conducted in their states.

    The chairman expressed regret that the governorship primary was hijacked and electoral materials taken in some states.

    He also spoke on the primaries in Imo, Ogun and Adamawa State, stressing that results were to be announced by the returning officers and not by state party chairmen or Secretary.

    The governors in attendance at the meeting are Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Mohammed Sani Bello (Niger), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo).

    The Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari was also part of the meeting of the governors with the National Working Committee.

    Oshiomhole also expressed regret that some party members who seek to hijack the electoral process in the FCT chose to sponsor people to protest at the party secretariat instead of engaging the people and participating in the direct primary in the selection of their candidates.

    He said the NWC had asked the panel sent to conduct the primary election in the FCT to go back and conduct the exercise through the direct primary mode.

    “FCT will have to do direct primary. I have told the committee to go back, call the stakeholders and by tomorrow morning, they will have to conduct free, fair and transparent direct primary in the FCT. This is not negotiable,” he said.

    He added: “We met with various leaders, whoever has challenges. This is like the political clinic. We are in a situation room and it is normal that when you are carrying out a democratic exercise across the 36 states and the FCT, you are bound to have some challenges.

    “Those aspirants who are looking for short cut should know that there is no short cut to the democratic process. If you cannot withstand the rigour of Communication, persuading and earning the trust and respect of the ordinary member of the APC in the FCT, maybe APC should not be your party because we are committed to popular participation.”

    Oshiomhole also spoke on the Zamfara notched election, saying reports available to them suggested that the process was “botched, materials were snatched and results taken to unauthorised places. The panel we sent there has come to explain in unison what transpired.

    “It is unfortunate that many people choose to opt for violence. But I am happy that the panel refused to compromise and stood their ground even in the face of intimidation.

    “We are going to conduct free, fair primary in Zamfara. This process has to be done according to the rules and regulations of the APC and that means it will be done by the Electoral body and not by the state government or agents of the state government.

    “Every member of the party in Zamfara State has a right and that right must be respected by the NWC to vote for any aspirant of their own choice. No amount of blackmail will make us to abandon that. That is the right thing to do.

    “My mandate as Chairman of the APC is to be faithful to our constitution. I swore an oath of office to be just to every member of the APC. For me, this oath of office is meant to be obeyed. We are going to set up a new committee that will conduct the election in Zamfara.”

    He said that the NWC will be sending a new panel to Imo to conduct a transparent primary, stressing that “to me and the NWC, what matters is not who win, but the integrity of the process. Once the integrity of the process can be guaranteed, whoever win, wins.

  • Court restrains APC, Oshiomhole, others over Shehu Sani’s senatorial ticket

    A KADUNA High Court has restrained the All Progressives Congress (APC) from conducting the  senatorial primary for Kaduna Central, which is being occupied by Shehu Sani.

    Following the disqualification of four other aspirants by APC, the incumbent Sani had emerged on Tuesday as the APC’s  automatic candidate.

    Those disqualified are Ibrahim Usman (Sardauna Badarawa); Shamsu Shehu Giwa; Gen. Mohammed Sani Saleh; and Uba Sani, who is the special adviser (Political) to Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

    But Sani  filed an ex-parte motion before Justice M. I. Bello of a Kaduna High Court of Justice.

    He asked the court to restrain the APC, the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole,  the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and Shehu Sani from taking further steps to elect a candidate for Kaduna Central.

    The court order was served on APC National Secretariat and made available to reporters in Abuja yesterday.

    In his application, El-Rufai’s adviser asked the court for an “order of interim injunction to restrain the defendants, their agents, privies, or anyone else by whatever name called from taking further steps towards conducting primary elections to elect candidate of the APC for Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone(Zone 2) of Kaduna State pending the hearing and the determination of the Motion on Notice.

    “Alternatively,  an order  directing the parties herein to maintain the status quo prior October 2, 2018 materially to the conduct of primary elections to elect candidate of the 1st Defendant(APC) for the Kaduna Central Senatorial District(Zone 2) of Kaduna State pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed”.

    The  motion was filed pursuant to Order 15(1) and Order 36 of the High Court Civil Procedure Rules of Kaduna State, the court granted leave to issue and serve the writ of summons on the defendants.

    Uba Sani’s lawyer, Sule Shuaibu Esq., explained that his client headed for court to protect his democratic rights after exhausting the internal party grievance-redress processes.

    The counsel said: “Upon becoming aware of his unlawful exclusion, Uba Sani wrote and submitted a letter of complaint to the national chairman, urging him to reverse the decision.

    “He followed up with a letter to the Appeal Committee,  where he claimed that having fulfilled all the conditions for contesting the primary election, his unlawful exclusion should be set aside and he be allowed to contest the primary election.

    “Given the imminence of the INEC deadline for the conclusion of primaries, Uba Sani cannot sit on his right and allow the effluxion of time to extinguish his cause of action.”

    Ruling on the  ex-parte motion,  the court ordered the APC, its chairman Adams Oshiomhole, INEC and Shehu Sani to maintain the status-quo prior to October 2, 2018, when the APC unlawfully excluded Uba Sani and other aspirants from the contest.

    In his ruling, the Acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice M.L. Bello, said: “Leave is hereby granted to the plaintiff/applicant to issue and serve the Writ of Summons in this suit out of Kaduna State and on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants in FCT.

    “Parties are hereby ordered to maintain the status quo prior to  October 2 2018 materially to the conduct of primary elections to elect candidate of the 1st Defendant(APC) for the Kaduna Central Senatorial District(Zone 2) of Kaduna State pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed.

    “Case adjourned to 15/10/ 2018 for the Motion on Notice.”

     

    President, Akeredolu, El-Rufai meet in Aso Villa

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met behind closed doors with two All Progressives Congress (APC) governors –  Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo).

    The governors arrived at the Presidential Villa together around 3.15p.m.

    Though details of the meeting were not disclosed as they did not speak to reporters and no official statement was issued, it was believed that their visit might not be unconnected with the political developments in their states.

    For Kaduna State, the relationship between el-Rufai and the Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has not been cordial.

    It has led to creation of different factions of the party in the state.

    Despite stiff opposition from the governor’s camp, the senator emerged as the sole candidate from his senatorial zone.

    In Ondo State, Senator Ajayi Borrofice was to be returned unopposed in Ondo North on the platform of the ruling party. But, the governor was alleged to be planning to dislodge him through a primary.

     

     

  • Lagos APC primary fine, Oshiomhole tells Buhari

    •Chair overrules panel

    •Party: Sanwo-Olu won

    •Tinubu hails primary

    All Progresives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole has dismissed fears that yesterday’s governorship primary in Lagos State was controversial.

    He said the party leadership was in control of the shadow election.

    Speaking at the Presidential Villa after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, the former Edo State Governor said: “I told the President that the primaries held as planned and everything is being done to ensure there is no violence because democracy doesn’t flourish with violence.

    “Nigerians must begin to learn how to differ in opinion and in choice without fighting; this is something people have to acquire over time.

    “For me, I’m excited that if we can do it in Lagos, it can be done anywhere.

    “Everything that is being done is done under the control, supervision and direction of the NWC.’’

    In Lagos, the Clement Ebri Election Committee said the exercise did not receive its blessing because the conditions prescribed were not followed.

    Party Chairman Tunde Balogun rejected the Committee’s verdict, saying the election was free and fair.

    Leaders of the party, including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Deputy Governor Idiat Adebule, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, commissioners, aspirant Babajide Sanwo-Olu and party members who turned out in large numbers, participated in the election.

    But Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who was in his hometown Epe for the primary, remained indoors.

    Reporteers who accompanied him to Epe were asked to leave for Lagos shortly before 11a.m.

    Ebri said at about 4.30 pm when he addressed the media was just ready for the primary.

    He said he had contacted the APC national secretariat for further directives.

    “We are ready to give the state the most credible election. It is not our fault that this exercise took this long. In some states, primary has been moved to Thursday.

    “We were waiting for the (Lagos State) party chairman to provide certain information that will enable us post people to the wards. We have two aspirants and we needed to be fair to both parties. The information we demanded for came in about an hour ago. And we had to struggle this period to balance the equation,” Ebri said, adding:

    “We have five persons from the local organising committee and four for each ward. They will all go out to ensure the primary is conducted. We all understand the terrain in the state, especially as it concerns the traffic situation. So, the materials are available now and ready for deployment.

    “The national secretariat advised us to use ballot papers and we came into Lagos with thousands of them. But during the stakeholders meeting, it became obvious that the state chapter of the party wasn’t ready for such primary. They claimed that there was no time to educate the members and others. And based on the submission made at the stakeholders meeting, some changes were made.

    “And we were advised to conduct the open ballot in a manner that would be objective to all parties. And that is one of the adjustments we made to accommodate views of the stakeholders.

    “We had a session with representatives of both aspirants here at about 8 am. And we asked that they should bring names of their representatives that would be used for the exercise. But the names didn’t arrive early from both parties.”

    Ebri went on: “Because of the political tension in the state, we decided to be very careful, very methodical and very meticulous in doing it. As party men, peace is very important to us than victory; we want victory that will be celebrated by both parties; we want victory that will be credible; a victory that will be in line with the guidelines and extant rules and laws in this country. We are ready to go to the field and execute this in clinical fashion.

    “Lagos is a flagship of APC and must continue to remain so for years to come and so in conducting anything that has to do with Lagos, we have to do it with a lot of circumspection and objectivity and it should be a showpiece for the rest of the country.

    Displaying the result sheets, the Panel Chairman said it was “in impeccable condition and not one single sheet is missing and it is not possible for this committee to do any other thing than it has been instructed to do”.

    “We have guidelines and we will stick to those guidelines to be sure that we are fair to both parties.”

    Balogun insisted that the primary was devoid of violence and, therefore, credible.

    He said the agents of the two parties were present at the wards where the election took place and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and election observers witnessed the exercise.

    “The election took place simultaneously in all the 245 wards. Some of our members were visible in the local governments. For example our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was at Ikeja, his own ward.

    “He took part in the election and we saw the results. The results have been signed by the agents of the two aspirants.  Those results were credible because the INEC too were there and they all signed. We were all witnesses to the conduct of the election. There were no violence, no chaos; it was free, fair and transparent.”

    Asked whether any member of the NWC panel members was there, he said: ‘’What I know is that I did not go round the wards. The venue I went to, I saw some observers apart from the agents and INEC. They were publicly conducted, constitutionally done and I think we will leave the rest for the people and the press . That is  why we have to wait for the committee charged with the responsibility to announce the results. We are not to announce the results.

    Some women from Shomolu/Bariga who protested at the Ikeja hotel where the panel members addressed the media, complained that they were not allowed to vote in their wards because they are known supporters of Governor Ambode.

     

  • Oshiomhole petitioned over Mercy Johnson’s husband aspiration

    The All Progressives Congress in Ward Five, Esan North East local government, has petitioned National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, over the clearance and nomination of Mercy Johnson’s husband, Prince Odianosen Okojie.

    Odianosen is aspiring to run for the House of Representatives to represent Esan North East/Esan South East Constituency.

    The petition signed by Okpere Christopher said Prince Odianosen did not properly obtain the APC membership form from Ward Five or any other Ward in the locality.

    It said Prince Odianosen joined the APC less than two years ago and has not formally applied for the party’s membership.

    The petition urged the APC NWC not to screen or grant clearance to Prince Odianosen as same would amount to disregarding the party’s constitution.

    According to the petition, “The said Prince Odianosen Okojie has not been granted any waiver by the National Working Committee of the party in line with schedule II of the party’s constitution.

    “It is important to mention that Prince Odianosen parades a membership that was not properly obtained.”

    Prince Odianosen who debunked the allegations gave his APC membership card number as 0174871.

    Read Also: Akeredolu hails Oyetola over victory

    Odianosen said he has been given waiver and possessed the necessary qualification to contest under the APC.

    He said the petition was by his distractors because of his huge followers.

    His words, “I am member of the APC. I joined last year. I was given waiver. I have done my findings. There are waivers to new intake. Whatever academic qualification I have submitted is okay.”

    Mercy Johnson on her part, said her husband was qualified to contest under the APC.

    She said they want the APC to be victorious in next year’s general elections.

    His words, “By the party’s constitution, he is qualified. His interests in politics is different.“

  • Oshiomhole warns APC leaders against adoption of aspirants

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole has warned state chairmen of the party against pronouncements that will undermine the party’s primaries and cause it to lose the general election.

    The ruling party will tomorrow begin its primaries to pick candidates for next year’s elections.

    The presidential primary will hold through direct primary across the wards nationwide.

    On Saturday, it will be time for the governorship primaries while those for the Senate, House of Representatives and the Houses of Aseembly will hold next week.

    In Abuja yesterday, Oshiomhole told the chairmen that recent pronouncements by some state chapters adopting sole candidates was unconstitutional and against the spirit on which the party was founded.

    He warned that such chairmen and their state executives could be removed from office by the National Working Committee (NWC).

    He spoke while handing over party registers to them.

    Oshiomhole said it was their responsibility to create a level-playing ground for all aspirants to vie for offices.

    He told them to learn from the National Working Committee which had not pronounced anybody as the Presidential candidate of the party and not do so until the entire process is concluded, adding that as chairmen, they must not fall to the pressure of their governors, ministers or godfathers.

    Oshiomhole said: “The membership cards are for you to give to members of the party and not for you to keep or give to those that you like or withhold from members that you don’t like. We will hold you individually and collectively responsible as a state executive for mismanagement, misplacement, distortion, ulceration or mutilation of the register.

    “I believe that you are all men and women of integrity and understand your responsibility as provided for in the constitution of APC.

    “The state executive, like the National Working committee, must not only be neutral, but must be seen to be neutral. Of course, as human being, you all have your preferences. Even when you deny it, if you are to vote tomorrow, there is somebody that you will vote for.

    “But as leaders of the party, you must be seen to create a level playing field for all aspirants and not to toe the line of the powerful people in your respective states as some of you have already done.”

  • Oshiomhole warns APC state executives against compromise at primaries

    Adams Oshiomhole, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, has said that any State Executive Committee of the party that takes side against any aspirant, group or individuals in the party’s governorship primary election on Saturday will be dissolved.
    He said this while handing over the party’s membership register to its state chairmen under the APC Forum of State Chairman on Wednesday in Abuja.
    He stressed that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) had the power to disband any state executive that failed to represent the party’s interest without giving reason.
    Oshiomhole explained that the business of the state executives should not be confused with their personal preferences, particularly in states where there were more than one aspirants contesting for a position.
     “If you do that, and it is not going to be secret, we will, without any hesitation disband the entire executive.
    “The NWC has the power without giving reasons to disband any executive which in its opinion, is no longer fit and competent to represent the party in respective states.
    “There is only one party known to law, and that is the APC, so, please, resist any temptation.
    “We have seen embarrassment where people go on television canvassing positions of their governors or declaring one person as the sole candidate.
    “You don’t have those powers, and if you do so, not only can you be dissolved, you can be prosecuted for breach of oath of office and oath of allegiance to the APC,” Oshiomhole said.
    He urged the party’s state chairmen to remain neutral and be seen to be neutral, even when they had their preferences as human beings.
    He added that the state chairmen must create a level playing field for all aspirants and not to allow themselves to be used by political big wigs in their respective states.
    He further added that as state chairmen, they were stewards of the party not its owners, saying that the party belonged to the members.
    Oshiomhole, however, warned the state chairmen not to tamper with the register being handed over to them, or destroy it.
    “If anybody thinks if you destroy what you have, you would have destroyed the evidence, you only would have implicated yourself.
    “Because we have it stored in flash drive and can always reproduce, but then you would have come under sanction.
    “Please know the difference between your responsibilities to the party and your individual inner preferences with regards to any of the offices,including President, Governors, Senators and House of Assembly members,”he said.
    He warned that until an aspirant emerged as the party’s candidate, the state chairmen should not adopt him or associate with him in a manner that would make others feel had no fair chance in the conduct the primaries.
    He further added that the details for conducting both direct and indirect primaries would be worked out, distributed and published and would be strictly adhered to in all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC National Working Committee on Tuesday, banned the party’s Adamawa State Working Committee from participating either as delegates or to superintendent over the governorship primaries in the state.
    According to Mr Yekini Nabena, the APC National Publicity Secretary, the NWC was banned because it was prejudiced in favour of a particular governorship aspirant.
    Oshiomhole had, on Sept. 12, told President Muhammadu Buhari while he was submitting his Presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to contest the presidency in 2019, that the party currently had 15.6 million registered members.
    He said the APC under his leadership, took advantage of modern technology to come up with a new membership data base.(NAN)

  • 2019: Imo APC backs Oshiomhole, Buhari

    …says party is repositioned for victory

     

    As the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), grapples with the challenges of selecting its candidates for the 2019 general elections, the Imo State chapter of the party, has restated its confidence in the National leadership of the party headed by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

    The State Chairman of the party, Hon Daniel Nwafor, who made the position of the SEC known to journalists in Owerri, commended Oshiomhole’s leadership style, which he said has strengthened participatory and internal democracy in the party.

    Describing Oshiomhole as the best thing that has happened to the party, Nwafor, noted that he has successfully navigated the party out of crisis and repositioned it for great exploits within a short period.

    According to the APC Chair, the effect of the ‘Oshiomhole magic’, has already transformed the APC in Imo State, adding that “it is now the party of first choice among other numerous political parties.

    In his words, ” I am highly impressed with the performance of the Chairman of our great party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and this has justified our support for him. In his first few months in office, he has returned the party to the winning ways. From the Ekiti governorship election to Senate bye elections in other states, the party has won convincingly against the predictions of the opposition “.

    Read Also: Flooding: APC UK expresses readiness to assist victims

    He continued that, ” Imo APC under my leadership has implicit and unshakable confidence in the National leadership of our party headed by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and we are ready to sweep the polls as a way of appreciating his astute leadership.

    “The name of Oshiomhole has been giving opposition parties sleepless nights and that is what the APC needed at this time. I make bold to say that it took the strong leadership of Oshiomhole to defeat the intention of those that defected from the APC, which was to destroy the party. So the party is relying on Oshiomhole’s experience, goodwill and strength of character to win the 2019 elections”.

    The party also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his “Sterling achievements”, which they said has endeared the APC to Nigerians.

    Nwafor assured that the President will record landslide victory in the state, adding that, “President Muhammadu Buhari has performed so well with remarkable projects in the Southeast, such that working for his reelection will not pose any challenge and he will have a resounding victory in Imo State in 2019”.

    Meanwhile the Imo state chapter of the APC adopted the indirect primary as the mode for electing its candidates in line with the directives of the party’s NEC

  • Oshiomhole, Lawan, Akpabio, others storm Lagos for Senator Tinubu

    It was commendation galore for the senator representing the Lagos Central District, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts gathered in Lagos yesterday to pour encomium on her for quality representation.

    It was at the 27th town hall meeting of the Lagos Central District organised by her.

    The high-powered delegation was led by the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. Others were the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, former Senate Minority Leader , Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Kashim Imam, Senator John Enoh and  Senator Fatai Buhari, among others.

    Oshiomhole praised the senator for organising the town hall meeting on quarterly basis to brief her constituents on her activities in the National Assembly since she was elected into office in 2011.

    The APC national chairman said what Senator Tinubu is doing is a challenge to other senators in the country.

    The APC Leader recalled that his relationship with the Tinubu family started when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was Lagos State Governor and he as a labour union leader had to visit him on several occasions to discuss labour issues in the state.

    “It was then I knew that Asiwaju was blessed with a woman that was very humble. Any time we visited them, she, as First Lady then, would serve us food and drinks despite the fact there were cooks in the house. Up till now, if I go to Asiwaju’s house, I feel at home”, he said.

    Oshiomhole further said: “Women have a lot to learn from her. Asiwaju is a national leader; he spends most of his time outside the family home. The wife too has to sacrifice the time she is supposed to spend with her husband and the family. A leader needs an extremely patient mother and wife to accommodate all manner of visitors. I want to appreciate Senator Tinubu for what she did for people like us.”

    Senator Lawan described Senator Tinubu as a very hardworking legislator.  According to him, she always does her homework properly before making her presentations.

    “There is no time you will engage her in a discussion that you will not gain something from her. She is a fantastic senator that makes her presentations in robust language. Most of us have to emulate her, particularly on this quarterly meeting with our constituents,” Senator Lawan said.

    On the request by the former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Chief Femi Pedro, that Senator Tinubu should be considered for the position of Senate President in the ninth Senate, Senator Lawan said she would get there and promised her his support.

    But it was moderated later by Oshiomhole who said  Senator Tinubu would go for the office of Senate Leader because of her loyalty to the party.

    Senator John Enoh from Cross River was stunned to hear that Senator Tinubu was holding the 27th town hall meeting in her senatorial district. He said it was marvellous because many senators were not holding such meetings with their constituents on a quarterly basis.

    Enoh said: “I spent three terms in the House of Representatives before being elected into the Senate. The first town hall meeting in Cross River was done by me. It takes a lot of personal commitment to public service to do what Mrs Tinubu is doing in the Lagos Central District. At the Senate, she pursued the same passion to public service. Being the wife of a national leader did not affect her activities in the Senate.  I congratulate the Lagos Central District for having her as their representative in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly”.

    Senator Akpabio, who arrived after the end of the programme, insisted to make a speech. He  commended Mrs Tinubu for showing direction for women in the country. He said: “You have laid a good foundation for women by showing them direction.”

    Other speakers included  the Lagos Central Senatorial Leader, Prince Tajudeen Olusi; Lagos APC Chairman, Alhaji Babatunde Balogun; Senator Muniru Muse; Oba of Igbobi -Sabe, Oba Owolabi Adeniyi; and the representative of Oba of Lagos, the Opeoluwa Onido of Lagos, Chief Lateef Aderibigbe. All of them praised the senator for her empowerment programmes that have lifted many people in her constituency.

    The high point of the event was the launching of a book “Compendium of Service,” a collection of town hall speeches of Senator Tinubu. It was launched by Senator Imam. Senator Akpabio and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Nsima Ekere, also launched the book.

    Present on the occasion were former Minister of Defence, Chief Ademola Seriki; Hon. Oyinlomo Danmole;  one-time Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State, Hon. Wale Edun; Hon. Wasiu Esinlokun; Hon. Hakeem Bamgbala; Lagos  APC  Woman Leader, Mrs Jumoke Okoya-Thomas; Chief Babajide  Damazio;  Hon. Wale Oshun and  Lagos APC Publicity Secretary, Mr Joe Igbokwe.

  • Osinbajo, Oshiomhole, governors, Akande, Tinubu: vote Oyetola

    •Aregbesola canvasses votes for Oyetola

    Osogbo, the Osun State capital, literally stood still yesterday, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) kicked off its campaign for the September 22 governorship election.

    Gboyega Oyetola is the party’s candidate.

    At the event, which was graced by National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, members of the National Campaign Council and chieftains of the party from the Southwest region, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) raised the hand of the party’s candidate, Gboyega Oyetola, and handed over the flag to him.

    The rally, which was held at the Oshogbo Township Stadium, was attended by National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Kano State Governor Ganduje, who chairs the committee; Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi; Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun; their Ondo State counterpart, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and Ekiti State Governor-Elect Kayode Fayemi.

    Former Osun, Ogun and Ekiti governors Bisi Akande, Segun Osoba and Segun Oni were also on the train.

    The APC is one of the leading candidates in the election.

    Also in the race are: Sen. Iyiola Omisore (Social Democratic Party), Ademola Adeleke (Peoples Democratic Party), Moshood Adeoti (African Democratic Party) and Fatai Akinbade (African Democratic Congress).

    The stadium was filled with supporters who also occupied  the spaces outside the stadium.

    Welcoming the crowd, Ganduje said what they saw confirmed the socio-economic development of Osun under the APC in the last eight years. He pointed out that the mammoth crowd also confirmed the love the people have for the party. He urged them to vote for continuity. He also said the APC believes in free and fair elections.

    Urging the electorate to vote for the APC on September 22, Amosun said Osun is a state of the progressives. He said: “Let nothing change. Let’s troop out in large numbers to speak for the APC with our votes. If you love President Buhari, vote for APC.”

    Aregbesola sang a number of songs at the rally and urged the people to vote for Oyetola. Ajimobi described Oyetola’s candidacy as God’s project. Akeredolu said ensuring success for Oyetola requires collective efforts like the broom, which is the party’s logo. For Fayemi, Ekiti has been restored to the progressives circle. He added: “Osun has been in our kitty. So, let’s keep it intact. Oyetola has been a long member of this struggle. He is trustworthy and reliable. Whoever loves Buhari and other APC leaders will support Oyetola. We shall all get to the promised land.”

    Oshiomhole spoke of the need to sustain the good legacies of Aregbesola. He recalled that he was in Osun several years ago to organise workers strikes. He pointed out that the transformation of the state under Aregbesola in the last eight years has been massive.

    The National Chairman reminded them that Aregbesola  took over eight years ago after years of rot.

    His words: “Oyetola is a finance expert who has passion for the development of the state. No one can help you govern if u don’t have the skills. He has worked very hard and was very successful in the private sector. He has the capacity to translate his vision to reality. He worked hard as a loyal Chief of Staff to Aregbesola. We hereby present to you a tested and trusted human being to be the next governor of this state.”

    While presenting Oyetola with the flag of the party, Osinbajo said God brought a blessing to Osun in Oyetola.

    Tinubu described Oyetola as  a reliable transformation agent, who is loyal and capable.

    He said: “Oyetola is God’s promise indeed. He has been our engine room in years past. He is now coming home to serve you. After succeeding in the private sector, it is good to come back home and serve one’s people. The team will help Osun succeed like Lagos. Youths will gain employment under his leadership.  We were surprised when he declared his intention. He is coming to reform the state. Be patient, jobs are coming. He is not a corrupt leader. He is coming to work for you. We held direct primary and the popular candidate emerged. Don’t let anybody deceive you.”

    Osoba said he came to thank God for having been born in Osogbo 79 years ago. He urged residents to vote for Oyetola.

    Akande explained that the party is the supreme house no member should attempt to destroy, because it is bigger than any member. He added: “Let’s support APC to keep it strong.”

    Oyetola thanked God for the day, describing it as special. He said some refer to him as a Lagos boy to discredit him. ” But I’m a true son of Iragbiji. Look at the good works Aregbesola’s APC government has done in the last eight years. Vote for me for sustenance. I have learnt the ropes before coming out to contest. Just do it right on September 22.”

     

     

  • Why APC opted for direct primary, by Oshiomhole

    •Protesters, Ogun senator for direct primary

    •Adamawa chooses indirect primary

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) adopted the direct primary for the selection of its candidates for next year’ elections to boost internal democracy, National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole said yesterday.

    He told The Nation that  the party decided to “liberalise” its shadow polls by making all registered members automatic delegates.

    He said the option will reduce the corruption and manipulation associated with the delegates system, which always generates huge post-primary crises.

    Oshiomhole, however, acknowledged the challenges associated with the direct system, including logistic and security problems, saying they are surmountable.

    Defending the direct system, he said: “Party members are complaining that they have no role to play in the party, except voting during the general elections, like other members of the public.

    “We also note that direct primary is free from the vices associated with the indirect primary. Direct primary cannot be manipulated. It is not prone to corruption.

    “We want to grow democracy. We want the party members to have ownership of the party. We want to give our members a sense of belonging.”

    According to the chieftain, those opposing the direct primary are mainly governors who were the major beneficiaries of the delegates system, which they maximally exploited to personal advantage.

    He noted that while governors are against the system, federal lawmakers are rooting for it.

    He said: “The governors who have commissioners, special advisers, SSAs, and local government chairmen are still afraid of direct primary. But, senators are rooting for it. Some senators are not in the good book of their governors. But, they can win at the direct primary if they are in the good book of their people in the party.”

    However, the chairman said while direct primary will be used for the presidential nomination, it can still be reviewed for other layers of shadow elections at the state and federal levels, in consideration of the peculiarities of the state chapters.

    Also yesterday, a group claiming to be supporters of President Muhammmadu Buhari staged a rally at the APC National Secretariat in support of direct primary.

    The group, which got to the party secretariat at about 1pm, demanded to meet with National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole to submit a petition to him.

    They displayed placards with inscriptions, such as: “We support direct primary” and “Power must go back to the people “.

    Leader of the group Yusuf Musa Ardo said they came to support direct primary because it would help return power to the people.

    Ardo, who was with the group’s chairman Ambassador Hajia Fatimah Goni said: “We are Nigerians and supporters of this party. This is grassroots mobilisation for PMB/Osinbajo and we are not happy with the position of some of the governors and some of the National Working Committee members.

    “We are in support of direct primaries; power must go back to the masses. We are tired of corruption and manipulation. They have been manipulating Nigerians and the masses; we cannot continue to support that idea,” he said.

    Chief of Staff to the National Chairman Abbas Braimoh who received the group on his behalf, said the leadership of the party was responsive to the yearnings of Nigerians and will do everything possible to satisfy their demands.

    “As you know, just like the national chairman has said, politics is a vehicle of development and empowerment and people are the subject and object of that development. So, whatever we do here must be people-centered that is why the new leadership of the party has decided to do whatever is best for the party.

    “Like you said, the party has large followers and the special grace of God, we would win the election because this is not only the largest party in Africa, but the most organised party in Africa and with your support I can tell you the new leadership is ready to engage the Nigerians,” he said.

    He assured the party supporters that the leadership would do the best under the circumstance.

    Senator Lanre Tejuoso, (Ogun Central) lent his voice yesterday to the push for direct primary.

    Dr. Tejuoso, who is seeking reelection in the same constituency with Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who is believed to be keen to return to the senate after his governorship tenure, told reporters that  “Ogun State is known in Nigeria to be the first in most things. It has been established that for democracy to thrive and to catch up with that of the developed nations, direct primary is the answer and since Ogun State is always the first, I am sure my governor will surely support it because he always wants the best for the state.

    “I am sure he will lead and others will follow and we are going to do direct primaries by God’s grace in Ogun State and I am sure my governor will agree.

    “So that everybody in the party can have their say and choose whoever they want. Anybody who offer themself for election, let the people agree that you are competent enough. So let everybody vote.

    “It shouldn’t be a scenario of where few people will just be gathered somewhere and somebody will then tell them what to do. We want a change and that is what our party is preaching.

    “We want direct primaries; we don’t want indirect primaries where some people will be owing some people because they are the ones who helped them achieve the success they have achieved.

    “Some of us are beneficiaries in the past but that shouldn’t continue.

    There must be a change because we can’t leave this for our children.”

    He added that he remained in the APC after initially announcing his defection because he was prevailed upon by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said he had been with President Buhari since their days in the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), adding that they both lost elections three times before finally winning.

    He described the President as a mentor whose integrity nobody can contest.

    He said his initial plan to move was because of a mere misunderstanding between him and the party at the local level, which, he said, had been resolved.

    “I cannot leave the APC. I will only leave if President Buhari leaves,” Tejuoso said.

    In Adamawa State, stakeholders said they had opted for indirect primary.

    In a communique at the end of its stakeholders meeting at the Government House, Yola,  signed by the state Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Abdullahi, Adamawa APC said: “The Constitution of the All Progressives Congress (APC) provides for options of Direct, Indirect or Consensus Elections.

    “To this end, the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at its meeting on Monday 3rd September 2018, having consulted widely to consider the best option for the conduct of the party primaries in Adamawa State, resolved to adopt the INDIRECT primaries for the Governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly primaries towards the 2019 General Elections.”

    The resolution was reached at the end  of the State Executive Committee ‘’s meeting held in Yola and attended by Secretary to the State Government Boss Mustapha and other members of the State Executive Council.

    Moving the motion for the adoption of indirect primaries; a former political adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Ahmed Gulak, said  having listened to all recommendations, Adamawa State “has strongly adopted indirect primaries”.

    The motion was seconded by former Adamawa House of Assembly Speaker and one time Acting Governor James Barka.

    Speaking before the motion was adopted, State Chairman Ibrahim Bilal, who was represented by his deputy, Samaila Tadawus, said the decision to bring together members of the State Executive Committee (SEC) to deliberate on the matter was in line with Article 12.8 of the party’s constitution and in compliance with directive of National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to all states to decide on the mode of conducting their primaries.

    Citing reasons for the adoption of the motion, House of Assembly Speaker Kabiru Minjinyawa said there should be no interference in the running of the party from Abuja.

    He said: “There are more than two million fake membership cards of APC in circulation with fake people claiming to be APC members.”

    Senator Binta Masi (Adamawa North) said: “The motion that was moved and seconded at the NEC meeting was that each state should meet with its SEC members on the mode of primaries that will be conducted, direct primaries would have been better but the crisis we have in the Northeastern part of Nigeria and having tried it in the party congress, we saw what came out of it. The most important thing is that we want to have a free and fair election that will metamorphose into election and we surely believe that APC will still stand in control not only in Adamawa State but the entire country”.