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Tag: Oyegun

  • Osinbajo, Tinubu, governors to voters: stop PDP

    •Defections hit PDP as Fayemi intensifies campaign

    All is now set for the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag off mega rally in Ekiti State ahead of the July 14 governorship election.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other key party figures are expected at the rally scheduled for Oluyemi Kayode Stadium.

    Members of the APC National Campaign Council headed by Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu, National Working Committee, governors and ministers are also expected at the rally.

    Security has been beefed up at the venue with riot policemen stationed within the vicinity of the arena. The stadium was being decorated ahead of the rally.

    Osinbajo is expected to hand the party’s flag to the governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his running mate, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi.

    Fayemi took his campaign to communities in Ekiti West and Ijero Local Government Areas on Monday, urging the people to reject the continuity agenda of Governor Ayo Fayose, which he said was aimed at keeping them perpetually in poverty.

    Communities visited include Aramoko, Erio, Ido-Ile, Okemesi, Ikoro, Ijero, Ijurin, Iloro, where more leaders and members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the APC.

    The defectors promised to ensure victory for Fayemi in their various localities, saying they were rejecting the PDP in protest against Fayose’s alleged “deceit, wickedness, lies and greed”.

    In Aramoko, a stronghold of the PDP where the visits kicked off, no fewer than 30 of its top leaders led hundreds of supporters to defect to the APC, while in Ido-Ile, residents said they would vote for Fayemi for the water project, roads, schools rehabilitation and social security for the elderly people he provided in his first term.

    Fayemi expressed delight that it was mainly those giving the APC headaches that defected to the party in Aramoko and assured them of equal treatment in their new party.

    He listed his achievements in agriculture, schools and hospital rehabilitation, social security, appointments, education, roads and electricity, among others, in Aramoko to the thunderous applause of supporters.

    Fayemi regretted that nothing had been added to what he did in the town, except for Fayose to introduce payment of tax by school pupils, while workers are unpaid for between six and 10 months.

    He urged the people to dismiss Fayose’s lies on debts, saying though he borrowed N25b to implement projects that are verifiable, including completing projects started by Segun Oni’s administration.

    The APC candidate revealed that he paid back N14.5b of the loan before leaving office, while Fayose had so far borrowed N56b but did nothing with it, except a bridge built at over-bloated cost.

    Fayemi said the road he awarded but abandoned by Fayose would be completed, including new projects that the community might request for in his budget.

    He urged the people to reject continuity of sufferings, unpaid salaries and lies that Fayose wanted to sustain by working to install Prof Eleka as his successor.

    In Erio, the hometown of Fayose’s wife, residents regretted that though Fayose is their son-in-law, they had not seen any development assistance from neither Fayose nor his wife in the last three years.

    The community presented a copy of the Holy Bible to Fayemi, declaring that the APC candidate represented a soldier of Christ who will always win his battles. They said victory is sure for Fayemi on July 14.

    Fayemi expressed shock that the road he initiated leading to Erio worship centre was abandoned by Fayose. He promised to complete the project and implement other ones they choose in his pre-budget meetings with the people.

    He also promised to continue his pro-people schemes, including social security, free education and helping students to pay for public examinations and scholarships.

    The rally at Okemesi was dramatic, as residents in the town openly rained abuses on one of her sons in Fayose’s administration who early in the morning allegedly led thugs in knife battle to create sense of insecurity to disrupt APC rally.

    The Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji, in his palace praised Fayemi for appointing indigenes, including Adewale Fapohunda, into his government, while Kayode Fasakin was a member of the House of Assembly. The monarch said they were the best to represent the town in government.

    He said the town had the best of times while Fayemi was governor, even as he praised Fayemi for constructing the abandoned road to the town’s hospital. The monarch assured Fayemi of total support of the community.

    At Ikoro, country home of the third runner-up in APC primary, Kayode Ojo, the former aspirant, who described Egbeyemi as his father’s friend, urged the people to vote for Fayemi, reminding the people that Fayemi’s years as governor was an evergreen experience in the development process of the town.

    Another party chief from the town, Dr. Femi Thomas, regretted Fayose’s neglect of the town despite support for him in 2014.

    He described Fayemi as a man of honour who can be trusted with his words while another former aspirant, Dr Bayo Orire, spoke in the same vein, urging residents to vote for Fayemi.

  • Our case against Oyegun, by Abia APC faction

    A faction of the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has threatened to serve the out going national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun court contempt papers if he fails to recognise the Dr Emmanuel Ndukwe led executive council in the state.

    The faction’s publicity secretary, Mike Ozoemena, told reporters  in Umuahia that the out going national chairman was trying to bring the party to disrepute before leaving office this month.

    Ozoemena said the country was not a banana republic where anything goes.

    He said: We the Exco and the entire membership of Abia APC wants to use this medium to salute the courage and determination of President Buhari in recognising Chief M.K.O. Abiola’s election which was regarded as a free, fair and peaceful election in the history of our country.

    “We commend President Buhari’s bold move aimed at healing the wounds of injustice that the annulment of the June 12 election inflicted in the minds of the Chief M.K.O Abiola’s family and Nigerians in general.

    “The declaration of June 12 as a public holiday by Mr. President is not only a sign that he is a true democrat but that our Party the APC stands for justice and peace while deepening the tenets of democracy and rule of law in our society.

    “The journey of our labour for true democracy cannot be complete without the recognition of the key players in the struggle and President Buhari by this declaration has officially completed that democratic journey started since 1993.”

    He said President Buhari had by this singular virtue deepened the roots of democracy and rule of law.

    He said: “And we hereby call on the convention committee of the APC to follow the footsteps of Mr. President by not recognising the Donatus Nwankpa led illegal Exco during the forth coming APC national convention due to be held on the 23rd of June 2018.

    “We should rather in the interest of peace and fairness deal with the legally recognised Abia Exco that was put in place through a well-organised, recognised and supervised convention that produced Dr. Emmanuel Ndukwe as the Chairman of Abia APC.”

    But, Donatus Nwankpa, who was swore in as the party’s chairman by Oyegun,  said his executives are authentic.

    Nwankpa said  there was no faction in the party in Abia State, saying there was only a family problem which would be resolved.

    He said he had set up a reconciliatory committee that would bring peace to the party. The committee is led by Godfrey Onyemaobi and would be helped by a former chief judge of the state, Justice Sunday Imo and Senator Chris Adighije.

    On the allegation of being pocketed or sponsored by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Nwankpa described it as totally false.

    He wondered how people should expect him to be an enemy of the governor or any of his aides simply because they belong to different political parties.

  • Osinbajo, Tinubu, Oyegun, others storm Ekiti

    All is now set for the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag off mega rally in Ekiti State ahead of the July 14 governorship election.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other key party figures are expected at the rally scheduled for Oluyemi Kayode Stadium.

    Members of the APC National Campaign Council headed by Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu, National Working Committee, governors and ministers are also expected at the rally.

    Security has been beefed up at the venue with riot policemen stationed within the vicinity of the arena. The stadium was being decorated ahead of the rally.

    Osinbajo is expected to hand the party’s flag to the governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his running mate, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi.

    Fayemi took his campaign to communities in Ekiti West and Ijero Local Government Areas yesterday, urging the people to reject the continuity agenda of Governor Ayo Fayose, which he said was aimed at keeping them perpetually in poverty.

    Communities visited include Aramoko, Erio, Ido-Ile, Okemesi, Ikoro, Ijero, Ijurin, Iloro, where more leaders and members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the APC.

    The defectors promised to ensure victory for Fayemi in their various localities, saying they were rejecting the PDP in protest against Fayose’s alleged “deceit, wickedness, lies and greed”.

    In Aramoko, a stronghold of the PDP where the visits kicked off, no fewer than 30 of its top leaders led hundreds of supporters to defect to the APC, while in Ido-Ile, residents said they would vote for Fayemi for the water project, roads, schools rehabilitation and social security for the elderly people he provided in his first term.

    Fayemi expressed delight that it was mainly those giving the APC headaches that defected to the party in Aramoko and assured them of equal treatment in their new party.

    He listed his achievements in agriculture, schools and hospital rehabilitation, social security, appointments, education, roads and electricity, among others, in Aramoko to the thunderous applause of supporters.

    Fayemi regretted that nothing had been added to what he did in the town, except for Fayose to introduce payment of tax by school pupils, while workers are unpaid for between six and 10 months.

    He urged the people to dismiss Fayose’s lies on debts, saying though he borrowed N25b to implement projects that are verifiable, including completing projects started by Segun Oni’s administration.

    The APC candidate revealed that he paid back N14.5b of the loan before leaving office, while Fayose had so far borrowed N56b but did nothing with it, except a bridge built at over-bloated cost.

    Fayemi said the road he awarded but abandoned by Fayose would be completed, including new projects that the community might request for in his budget.

    He urged the people to reject continuity of sufferings, unpaid salaries and lies that Fayose wanted to sustain by working to install Prof Eleka as his successor.

    In Erio, the hometown of Fayose’s wife, residents regretted that though Fayose is their son-in-law, they had not seen any development assistance from neither Fayose nor his wife in the last three years.

    The community presented a copy of the Holy Bible to Fayemi, declaring that the APC candidate represented a soldier of Christ who will always win his battles. They said victory is sure for Fayemi on July 14.

    Fayemi expressed shock that the road he initiated leading to Erio worship centre was abandoned by Fayose. He promised to complete the project and implement other ones they choose in his pre-budget meetings with the people.

    He also promised to continue his pro-people schemes, including social security, free education and helping students to pay for public examinations and scholarships.

    The rally at Okemesi was dramatic, as residents in the town openly rained abuses on one of her sons in Fayose’s administration who early in the morning allegedly led thugs in knife battle to create sense of insecurity to disrupt APC rally.

    The Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji, in his palace praised Fayemi for appointing indigenes, including Adewale Fapohunda, into his government, while Kayode Fasakin was a member of the House of Assembly. The monarch said they were the best to represent the town in government.

    He said the town had the best of times while Fayemi was governor, even as he praised Fayemi for constructing the abandoned road to the town’s hospital. The monarch assured Fayemi of total support of the community.

    At Ikoro, country home of the third runner-up in APC primary, Kayode Ojo, the former aspirant, who described Egbeyemi as his father’s friend, urged the people to vote for Fayemi, reminding the people that Fayemi’s years as governor was an evergreen experience in the development process of the town.

    Another party chief from the town, Dr. Femi Thomas, regretted Fayose’s neglect of the town despite support for him in 2014.

    He described Fayemi as a man of honour who can be trusted with his words while another former aspirant, Dr Bayo Orire, spoke in the same vein, urging residents to vote for Fayemi.

  • Okorocha to Oyegun: you’ve taken APC backward

    IMO State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun of reversing the fortunes and goodwill of the party, since he took over from the pioneer chairman, Chief Bisi Akande.

    The governor noted that the manner Oyegun piloted the party’s affairs since he took over as the national chairman proved that he was obviously overrated by the APC leaders to have been entrusted with such position.

    Okorocha, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, maintained that “Chief Oyegun has taken the party backward by several kilometres to the extent that today, there is no state that the party does not have crisis or faction”.

    The governor expressed dismay over the way Oyegun went about the issue of the tenure elongation, which was truncated by the party.

    He said: “Again, the way Chief Oyegun has pursued the issue of elongation also showed how selfish and greedy he is. He is not interested in the wellbeing or future of the party but only interested in staying put as the National Chairman. And that is why he is after anybody who opposed the tenure elongation.

    “The worst thing that would have happened to APC is to allow Chief Oyegun to continue as the national chairman. It would have been worst for the party. Chief Akande never tried to destroy the party because he was leaving as the pioneer chairman. But Oyegun wants to destroy the party because he is leaving. He is not patriotic”.

    The statement added: “In the case of Imo State, Oyegun disobeyed two court orders with regard to the congresses in the state and the inauguration of strange elements as the state officials of the party just to get at Governor Okorocha because of the issue of tenure elongation. And we have no option now than to ask our lawyers to press for his imprisonment and that of the National Organising Secretary, Osita Izunaso, and all those who were involved in the lawlessness.

    “The only thing Chief Oyegun has achieved in his anger against Governor Okorocha is encouraging elements with no electoral value like Osita Okechukwu and those from Imo State to be insulting the governor. And these are people who cannot win their booths in an election.

    “The same elements came together during the Anambra State governorship election. The governor stayed away and at the end of the day, they could not justify their noise-making. They have also started again. And these are people who have been running election since 2007 and have not won any.

    “Chief Oyegun was also quoted to have said in an interview that the Southeast or Imo APC stakeholders are united against Governor Okorocha. Let them hold Southeast rally or Imo rally at a venue and let Rochas hold his own at another location and let’s see the outcome.

    “Governor Okorocha won his election in 2011 without any of these media created politicians and also won in 2015 without them and will also make the party win in 2019 without them. They are noise-makers.

    “In case Chief Oyegun does not know, Imo APC members won’t allow any faction. The APC in Imo and even in the Southeast is Governor Okorocha’s making. And it will be foolish of anybody to think that he would build the party and allow cowards to take it over. If they have the political strength, let them go and pick a party and present a candidate, and it will be very interesting.

    “And if Rochas Okorocha is no more the political figure to watch in Imo, why then are they bothered about the ambition of Uche Nwosu. Why is the issue of Uche Nwosu giving them unprecedented headache? They are bothered because they feel that with the governor behind Uche Nwosu, he would win. And they are right.”

     

  • I wasn’t intimidated out of APC race, says Oyegun

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has argued that the interest and future of the party, rather than personal gains informed his decision not to recontest for the post.

    He dismissed speculations that he might have been intimidated out of the race, saying he believed that it was in the party’s interest not to add to its existing problems.

    Oyegun dismissed speculations making the round that members of the newPeoples Democratic Party (nPDP) were plotting to leave the party.

    He said the nPDP might have chosen this period in the nation’s polity to present their complaints  to get a good bargain and not necessarily because they want to leave the party.

    The APC chairman, who spoke on the two issues for the first time at an interactive session with reporters at his home, said those fronting former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the position may have been doing so based on the resolution of the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) to retain the present zoning formula in the party.

    Oyegun said: “I wasn’t intimidated out. I took into consideration and I was influenced by my own consideration of what is in the best interest of the party. I have relatively been stubborn and I have been through intense pressure. You are in the media and you know how intense it was that Oyegun must go. I held to the point of principle.

    “What makes me so glad today is that in all the virility of the attacks and the intensity of the attacks, it was easy to locate it. It was easy to see that by and large, the top leadership of the party were on my side. That is the thing that gave me the most intense satisfaction.

    “So, I wasn’t intimidated out. I just felt we should let somebody else bring some different air into the system. That was all. It is in the interest of the party that I do not become the problem or the major part of the problem for the party to solve.

    “As for anybody coming in, the contest is open. The man you mentioned has indicated his interest and it is left to the party. There is nothing to dialogue about. You offer yourself for service because you think you have fresh ideas or a new sense of direction or whatever is legitimate. It doesn’t matter where you come from.

    “Again, if you go back to the NEC decision, it said, to the greatest extent possible, the existing zoning should be maintained. What that meant is that since the chairmanship is located in Edo State, the high possibility is that they will also be looking for somebody to replace him from Edo State.”

    Oyegun also said he did not feel betrayed by the fact that the APC governors, who initially stood behind him, suddenly dumped him and jumped into the Oshiomhole project.

    He said: “As a matter of fact, the reality is that I felt very proud that most of the structures of the party had lined up behind me. But when the reality changed, it is only legitimate that people should make fresh assessment of the new development, decide and act accordingly.

    “For me, if I didn’t make a fresh assessment, I probably would not he saying the things that I am saying right now. It is only normal that in a situation of change, things should change, especially when you are faced with new realities. In that situation, the governors and myself, the affected party had to do a fresh rethink.

    On the crisis in the party at various levels as a result of congresses already conducted, he said “Maybe the so called tenure elongation would not have been such a bad thing after all. Let us face it. We have finished the congresses and now going for the convention.

    “At the end of the convention, we are also going to have a series of contests in terms of primaries, terminating with the presidential. It is not an ideal situation to confront an election.”

     

     

     

  • Edo: Oyegun, Speaker shun state congress

    National Chairman of the All Progressive Party, Chief John Oyegun, and the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Alhaji Kabiru Adjoto, were yesterday absent at the party’s state congress.

    The peaceful congress, which held at the Imaguero College Hall, was well attended by delegates from the 18 local government areas.

    All the party executives were elected through affirmation by the delegates after a consensus arrangement.

    Checks showed that 70 percent of the former state executives were returned while the former State Woman Leader, Aisosa Amadasun was named the Organising Secretary.

    Chairmen of the Edo State Congress Committee, Prof. Okey Onyejekwe, said it was remarkable that the party leaders in Edo opted for consensus arrangement.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki called on other states to emulate the Edo example in the conduct of party congresses.

     

  • Oyegun, Edo Speaker shun Edo APC Congress

    The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun and the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Alhaji Kabiru Adjoto, were absent at the party’s state Congress held on Saturday.

    The Congress took place at the Imaguero College Hall and was attended by delegates from the 18 local government areas of the state.

    All the party executive members were elected through affirmation by the delegates after a consensus arrangement.

    Checks revealed that 70 per cent of the incumbent state executive members were returned while the former Woman Leader in the state, Aisosa Amadasun, was named the Organising Secretary.

    Those elected through affirmation were – Barr. Anselm Ojezua (Chairman), Pastor Kenneth Asekhame (Deputy Chairman), Lawrence Okah (Secretary), Anthony Ikhuenobo (Assistant Secretary), while the State Vice Chairman (South) is Benson Edosomwan.

    Others were – Chief Sunny Okomanyi (Vice Chairman, North) Ohiomwan George (Legal Adviser), Salihu Momoh (Treasurer), Prince Osazuwa (Assistant Treasurer), Chris Azebamwan (Publicity Secretary), Timothy Osadolor (Auditor), Betty Patricia Okoebor (Woman Leader) and Valentine Asuen (Youth Leader).

    The Chairman of the Edo State Congress Committee, Prof. Okey Onyejekwe, said it was remarkable that the party leaders in Edo opted for consensus arrangement.

  • APC congresses: Dogara, nine others drag Oyegun to court

    THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and nine others have sued the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, over the conduct of ward and local government congresses of the party in Bauchi State.

    The plaintiffs claimed that the conduct of the congresses was in breach of the APC Constitution and congress guidelines.

    They asked the court to halt today’s state congress in their state on account of the pending suit.

    It was learnt that the action might be the last battle Dogara will fight in APC before defecting to the People’s Democratic Party.

    In the suit filed by A.U. Mustapha, SAN from A.U. Mustapha, SAN & Co, the Speaker alleged that the results of ward and local government congresses in the state were “cooked up.”

    The defendants are APC, Oyegun, National Secretary of APC, State Chairman of APC, Dr. Tony Macfoy and Mr. Sam Para.

    Apart from Dogara, other plaintiffs are Senators Sulaiman Nazif, Isa Hammah Misau and Muhammad Muhammad; Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame; Hon. Ibrahim Zailani; Amb. Yusuf M. Tuggar and Captain Mohammed Bala Jibrin.

    The 10 aggrieved stalwarts sought the following reliefs from the Federal High Court, Abuja:

    An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants by themselves or through their agents, assigns, privies staff or any other person or persons acting through them from recognising, ratifying or according legitimacy to the ward and local government congresses of the All Progressives Congress conducted in Bauchi State on the 5th and 12th day of May respectively, pending the determination of the motion on notice.

    An order of interim injunction restraining the Defendants, their agents, cohorts, privies or any other persons deriving authority from recognising the purported ward and local government congresses conducted in Bauchi on 5th and 12th days of May, 2018 respectively.

    A declaration that the purported ward and local government congresses of the All Progressives Congress purportedly conducted in Bauchi State on the 5th and 12th days of May 2018 respectively are illegal, invalid, null and void and of no  effect whatsoever.

    A declaration that the results declared by the 5th Respondent pursuant to the purported ward and local government congresses are  illegal, invalid, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

    An order restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants from recognising the purported ward and local government congresses of the All Progressives Congress conducted in Bauchi State on the 5th and 12th days of May, 2018 respectively.

    An order directing the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Defendants to immediately conduct fresh wards and local government congresses in Bauchi State.

    An order restraining the persons who were declared as winners at the purported wards and local government congresses purportedly held on the 5th and 12th days of May, 2018 respectively from parading themselves as executive officers/delegates of the 1st Defendant’s wards and local government Areas of Bauchi State.

    An order stopping them from conducting or taking any step to conduct the state congress of the All Progressives Congress or any other congress in Bauchi State pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.

    While suit  FHC/ABJ/CS/521/2018 has not been assigned by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdu Kafarati, the Speaker wrote a letter to  Oyegun (through his counsel) requesting the party to stay action on the state congress today in view of the pending action.

    The letter said in part: “The above subject matter refers. We are counsel to the Plaintiffs (hereinafter referred to as “Our Clients”)  in the above named suit instituted by the Plaintiffs challenging the legality of the conduct of the Ward and Local Government Congresses purportedly held on the 5th and 12th days of May, 2018 in Bauchi State on whose firm instruction we write.

    “We wish to notify your esteemed self of the pendency of the above named suit which we instituted on behalf of our clients to challenge the conduct of the Ward and Local Government Congresses purportedly held on the 5th and 12th days of May, 2018.

    “In the said suit, our clients are praying the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for declaratory and injunctive reliefs against the All Progressives Congress, the Principal Officers of the Party and the Committees constituted for the conduct of the said congresses.

    “Furthermore, in the pending suit, we also seek Interim and Interlocutory injunctions restraining the Defendants from proceeding with the conduct of the State Congress scheduled to hold in Bauchi State on Saturday the 19th day of May, 2018.

    “Please find attached copies of the court’s processes in respect of the pending Suit for your information and proper guidance.

    “Take notice therefore, that the planned or forthcoming state congress slated for Saturday, the 19th day of May, 2018, must not hold in view of the long settled principle of law that when a suit is pending in court, parties are not allowed to take steps that will have nugatory effect on the outcome of the suit or foist on the court a fait accompli.

    “Further take notice that any attempt to proceed with the planned or forthcoming state congress in Bauchi State on Saturday the 19th May, 2018, would be an affront on the judiciary as same is now subjudice.

    “Consequently, we request that you use your good offices to ensure that APC, the ruling party, conforms with the tenets of the rule of law by ensuring that the forthcoming APC state congress in Bauchi State is suspended forthwith pending the determination of the above captioned suit.”

    In an affidavit by Hon. Maryam Garba Bagel (Dass Constituency, Bauchi State House of Assembly), she said:  “That I know as a fact that the purported Ward and Local Government Congresses of the 1st Defendant purportedly conducted in Bauchi State on 5th and 12th May 2018 were fraught with widespread irregularities from the initial preparations to the eventual conduct of the purported conduct of the congresses.

    “That the Party Constitution and Congress guidelines were observed in breach during the conduct of the purported congresses thereby disenfranchising many aspirants and members of the party from participation.

    “That I know as a fact that members of the party in my constituency were gathered at the venue for the ward congress but were dispersed by security operatives at the instance of the State Government.

    “That agent of the State Government thereafter cooked up results of the purported elections at the various wards and forwarded same to the Ward Congress Committee.

    “That the Ward Congress is the root upon which the conduct of Local and State Government Congresses is predicated, and as same has turned out to be a total fiasco, there is the need by this Honourable Court to nullify same.”

  • Oyegun: Fayose lacks decorum

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief  John Odigie-Oyegun said yesterday that the party was working hard to redeem Ekiti State from what he described as a very abusive government.

    Oyegun, who spoke when he received the report of the state Primary Election Committee from the committee chairman, Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura, described Governor Ayodele Fayose as very abusive and lacking  in decorum.

    He hailed the aspirants for their spirit of sportsmanship, adding that the disrupted primary gave the party an opportunity to organise a perfect one.

    The chairman added that the committee, aspirants and the delegates deserved a gold medal.

    He said the party leadership had started work to consolidate on the victory recorded at the primary.

    Oyegun said: “We are working to ensure that the victory you have started is carried through , come July 14, this year at the governorship election.”

    Presenting the report, Al-Makura attributed the success of last Saturday’s primary to the maturity exhibited by aspirants, delegates and party members.

    He said the exercise was successful because of the cooperation, passion and commitment of party members, delegates and the aspirants.

    The governor added: “More than anything else, it’s the conduct of the delegates at the primary; they were very matured and orderly.”

    He added that in spite of the rains, the delegates carried themselves in a matured way and even embraced after the results were announced.

    He said the party’s leadership should use the platform of solidarity exhibited at the primary to ensure coercion among its member in the state.

    Al-Makura, however, blamed the disrupted May 5 primary to the activities of hoodlums, whom he said took advantage of security lapses to cause crisis.

  • Oni writes Oyegun, NWC, says system compromised

    Ekiti State governorship aspirant Chief Segun Oni has petitioned All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman  Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and members of the National Working Committee(NWC) on the “flawed governorship primary election”.

    He said the system was compromised and accused an unnamed aspirant of hijacking the process.

    He said it was direct evidence of corruption and lack of regard for due process by the party’s  top echelon.

    He asked the party to jettison delegate election system for direct primary system.

    Oni, who made his views known in a letter to the NWC, said he felt ashamed for the party.

    The petition said: “I greet you all as you search for a way out on the aborted May 5, 2018 governorship primary in Ekiti State. Please allow me to avail you of some of my observations and feelings after a very careful and serious consideration.

    “I am making my comments, believing that I am a member of the family who only recently left and who will continue to wish the NWC well as a friend and former colleague.

    “The conduct of the Primary election by the Al-Makura led committee was so fundamentally flawed that it became a major embarrassment to Ekiti State and to our dear Party. It was obvious that one of the aspirants chose or had very strong input into the choice of the umpires, a situation that is against all known rules of natural justice.”

    Oni said the primary election was marred by corruption and neglect of due process.

    He alleged that an unnamed aspirant of ???????

    He added: “Many people saw this as a direct evidence of corruption and lack of regard for due process by the Party top echelon. Personally, I feel ashamed for the Party, that I am a part of the charade that took place on Saturday in which contestants were so blatantly taken for a ride.

    “It was observed that this particular aspirant had scores of his aides allowed into the voting venue as “observers”, “press” and “officials”, a strange privilege that they exploited to make a complete mess of the processs, sparking off the consequential violence that led to the abortion of the whole exercise.

    “Frankly, the NWC owes the people of Ekiti State and Nigeria as a whole an unreserved apology for this embarrassing conduct of the primary. How can we be carrying out a very vital exercise of this nature that we all know will be very crucial to our success in Ekiti and subsequent elections and we allowed the process to be so compromised? Is it that as a Party, we are now unable to assure and deploy a non-porous, above board security to cover such a vital event?

    “Honestly, we owe Nigerians an explanation and an apology on this. If we are serious about fighting corruption, the earlier the Party recognises it has a vital role to play, the better it will be for us all, the Party and the nation.”

    He asked the NWC to abandon the delegate election system for direct primary.

    The ex-governor, who is the former Deputy National Chairman of the party, said: “In view of what transpired on Saturday and after a very careful re?ection on the manipulation and the corruption that manifestly go with delegate election system, I cannot but agree that our Party must no longer touch it even with a long pole.

    “The system as clearly demonstrated is fundamentally ?awed and prone to too much abuse. This was amply demonstrated by an individual who was able to hold the entire process to ransom.

    “We must move immediately to the direct primary system to save us from this type of embarrassment in future primary elections.

    “We clearly have an emergency on our hands as far as our integrity is concerned and we need to move fast to redeem our image and preserve the Party against any further erosion of confidence.

    “Please note that even I am an aspirant, I am making these observations in good faith, as one of you who will not shy away from telling the truth.

    “Meanwhile, please be assured of my continuing high regard and esteem.”