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Tag: PDP

  • My heart with Buhari in 2015 polls, Says Akpabio

    Says PDP didn’t do even one kilometre road in Akwa Ibom

     

    The former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio on Monday said that his heart was with President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 election despite being a member of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP).

    He spoke with State House correspondents after leading elders and leaders from his state to visit President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Akpabio, was the Senate Minority leader before his defection to the APC, in August.

    He alleged that throughout the PDP’s 16 years in office at the federal level, there was not even one kilometre road project by the federal government in his state.

    He was optimistic that Akwa Ibom will be the first state from South South that will be won be the APC in the 2019 general elections.

    Read Also: I sacrificed my Presidential ambition for Buhari – Ribadu

    According to him, what remained of the PDP in the state was mere carcass as the body and soul of the party had joined the APC.

    He said that over two hundred and sixty six thousand new members have registered with the APC after him and some other people dumped the PDP.

    He assured President Buhari that no single indigene of South South will vote against President Buhari in 2019, even as he said that there would not be any defection from the APC that will affect the chances of the party in the forthcoming elections.

     

    Details later

     

  • Delta 2019: Impeached speaker defects to APC

    Former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Monday Igbuya, has defected from from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Hon Igbuya, who was impeached in May, 2017, by 22 of his 28 colleagues in the House of Assembly, has also picked his new party’s Nomination and Expression of Interest forms to contest the Sapele/Okpe/Uvwie Federal Constituency seat in next year’s general elections.

    Confirming the defection of the lawmaker, who currently represents the Sapele Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, one of his aides, Wisdom Boyitie, also confirmed that Igbuya had bought and submitted the APC’s forms for the federal constituency contest.

    Read Also: Nigeria is sick, says Lamido

    “Yes, I can confirm to you that the immediate past Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly have yielded to pressure on him to represent the people of Sapele, Okpe and Uvwie in the green chambers.

    “He submitted his form at the APC headquarters, Abuja having met the needed requirements of the party. However, he would be doing that on the platform of the APC and would be making his intention known formally in a couple of days time”, Boyitie confirmed.

  • Nigeria is sick, says Lamido

    *Says governance deteriorating

    *Lamido: Why crime increasing in Nigeria

     

    A Presidential aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, on Monday declared that Nigeria is sick.

    According to him, the culture of governance in the country is deteriorating because of absence of justice.

    Lamido, who was former Jigawa State Governor, spoke in Abuja during his visit to the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum.

    He said “I saw the caliber of people in this assembly, they are our elders in this country, our second 11 generation.

    “For the time great Nigerians that have no interest yet they felt so concerned…It means this country is sick. Like you all know, the culture of governance is deteriorating because of absence of justice which should be the anchor of governance but it is not in Nigeria anymore.

    “That is why you are seeing all these kidnappings, Boko Haram, killings in Taraba, Adamawa, Zamfara, Sokoto and all over Nigeria.

    “This country is not being run under law and order, there is nothing like justice in Nigeria, therefore, Nigerians feel that this country is not good anymore. One single person has held this country hostage.

    “These people (that’s the forum) all believe in Nigeria, they have worked for Nigeria.” he said

    According to him, the present administration is trying to bury the contributions of founding fathers of Nigeria.

    He said “Now, this government is trying to bury the contributions of our founding fathers, integrity and honesty are not new in our vocabulary.

    “Before Buhari there was integrity, there was Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo, Aminu Kano, Azikiwe, these are people of honour and integrity. He has never for once paid tributes to our founding fathers.

    “So, more than anything you see we are going through a period of injustice. In other climes he will be impeached because he said he will work anywhere I got 95 percent and do less where I got five percent.

    “What is happening now is because this country is sick, we are looking for justice. We want a Nigeria where everybody will feel a sense of belonging, not nepotism anymore.” he stated

    Speaking at the occasion, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum leader, Chief Edwin Clark and President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief John Nwodo, disclosed that invitation were extended to all presidential aspirants in other to assess them and know what plans they are bringing on board.

    Nwodo said “We decided to do this because we represent wide siciol-political groups in the country.

    According to him, the group is reluctant on endorsing just any candidate.

    Pointing out that the present structure in the country has been hampering progress in the country, he insisted that the group is committed to the restructuring of the nation.

  • Ekiti Poll: Lawyers allege threat to security

    …URGE TRIBUNAL TO MOVE SITTING TO ABUJA

     

    Lawyers to the parties before the Ekiti State Election Petition Tribunal have expressed concern over their safety.

    At the resumed sitting of the three-member panel on Monday, the lawyers urged the tribunal to shift its father sittings to Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    This was sequel to the alleged intimidating presence of cane-wielding party members outside the Ekiti State High Court complex in Fajuyi area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    This was amidst allegations by some People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members that they were attacked by All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters outside the court complex.

    Two House of Assembly members, Dayo Akinleye and Samuel Omotoso alleged that they were assaulted by people they described as “APC thugs” who massed under the flyover directly opposite the court premises.

    First to lodge complaint at the resumed sitting was Mr. Adebayo Adelodun, counsel to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Prof Kolapo Olusola.

    Adelodun who described the atmosphere outside the court as “scary and alarming” told the panel that the petitioners’ lawyers were held up at the same spot on their way to the court for several minutes.

    Adelodun said they were allowed entry following the intervention of a senior police officer saying the continued presence of the crowd of partisans won’t allow them to do their jobs as freely as possible.

    He, therefore, called for the shift of further tribunal proceedings to Abuja in view of the alleged security threat posed to them.

    Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mr. Charles Edosomwan, said he also observed the rowdiness outside the courtroom saying the petitioners’ observation should be taken note of for the lawyers’ safety.

    He supported the call that the tribunal’s sittings be taken to Abuja.

    Counsel to APC, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi, said he wholeheartedly support the call for the movement of the tribunal venue to a neutral venue suggesting Abuja as an alternative.

    Counsel to Fayemi, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, stressed that “security is not a matter to be trivialised” argued that a change of venue had become inevitable for all of us.”

    Read Also: Ekiti Poll: Tribunal begins sitting, pledges to be fair

    Fagbemi said no matter how prepared counsels and witnesses are, security scare won’t allow them have rest of mind hence the need to grant the request.

    He added: “It has been very, very scary and in order to prevent this atmosphere of lawlessness that may hamper the work of this tribunal, I want to join my colleagues to call for a change of venue of this tribunal.”

    The tribunal rose for one hour with the panel chairman, Justice Suleiman Belgore, saying that ruling will be delivered on the oral application by lawyers to parties when the judges emerge from their chambers.

  • 2019: Time for N/Central zone to produce president, says Saraki

    Dr Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate and presidential aspirant on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform, says the North Central deserves a chance come 2019.

    Saraki made the statement while addressing party faithful and supporters in Jos on Sunday.

    He said that the North Central had worked hard for the country and had remained loyal in spite of the seeming division in the country.

    “This is our time in the North Central; this is our chance.

    “We have worked hard for this country; we have laboured so much even with so much division we remain united and loyal.

    “I believe that all of us in the North Central are one family.

    “The people of Plateau are lucky; they have two presidential aspirants, myself and Baba Jang.

    “I call Plateau my home state because I believe that everything that affects one member of a family affects the other,” he said.

    The aspirant said that it was time to change the narrative in the country and have a government that would include everybody.

    Saraki added that if elected as president, he would ensure that criminals who kill people in the villages in Plateau and all over the country were brought to book.

    He said Nigeria needed youths to take over the mantle of leadership as they remained the only hope Nigeria had to be led in the right direction.

    “Plateau people have gone through so much; so many lives have been lost.

    “With your support if I become president, this will not happen again.

    “I will fight day and night to protect everyone and ensure that any criminal that commits a crime is made to face justice.

    “We need someone who can stand for the masses and not be intimidated because he is standing for what is right, that person is Bukola Saraki,” he said.

    Saraki urged the delegates in Plateau to vote for him during the primary elections, promising to give them a Nigeria that they would all be proud of.

    Responding, the state chairman of the party, Mr Damishi Tango, praised Saraki for being bold and courageous in spite of the challenges he was facing as president of the senate.

    Sango also lauded the aspirant for his courage in defecting from the APC, sayng that the party in the state would support him in his desire to become the number one citizen of the country. (NAN)

  • Cracks in PDP over quest for Northwest candidate

    •As party seeks to break Buhari’s grip on zone
    •Governors kick over Wike’s romance with aspirant
    •Uncomfortable with Port Harcourt as convention venue

    Anxiety is spreading within the top hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as pressure mounts on delegates to the  forthcoming  national convention to pick  the party’s presidential candidate from the Northwest.

    Proponents of a northwest candidate say it is the only way the party can stand a reasonable chance of defeating President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Buhari is from Katsina State, one of the seven states that make up the zone.

    The zone has the largest voting population of about 18 million.

    However, some other PDP members say there should be no micro-zoning the ticket to any zone as doing so will automatically foreclose the aspiration of the likes of Senate President Bukola Saraki (from Northcentral), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (Northeast), Chief David Mark (Northcentral), Senator Jonah Jang (Northcentral) and Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo (Northeast), and generate bad blood ahead of an election they need to contest as a united front.

    Also currently causing unease in the party is the venue of the national convention.

    The Nation   gathered that the convention might come up on Saturday, October 6 in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    Many governors elected on the platform of the PDP see the host governor, Nyesom Wike, as a strong backer of one of the presidential aspirants, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

    They fear that Wike might unduly influence the process of the party’s primaries in favour of Tambuwal.

    Some of the governors met in Abuja during the week and  have been exploring ways of  checkmating  Wike from imposing a presidential candidate on the party.

    The issue of consensus candidate has been discarded all together by the 12 PDP presidential aspirants with all of them fully focused on the primaries.

    The aspirants are Atiku, Saraki, Mark, Jang, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, ex-Minister Tanimu Kabiru Turaki, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, ex governors Sule Lamido and Dalhatu Attahiru Bafarawa.

    A governor elected on the platform of the party admitted that there has been pressure from power brokers in the party, PDP stalwarts and strategists to shop for a candidate from the North-West against Buhari.

    His words:”Without prejudice to other presidential aspirants, there is pressure on PDP governors to zero in on the North-West for our presidential candidate.

    “The argument of those pro-Northwest is the need for PDP to take the battle to the stronghold of Buhari where he commands cult followership.

    “It is taken for granted that the Southsouth, the Southeast and a part of the Northcentral might be controlled by PDP.

    “I must confess to you that most of us in the PDP Governors Forum are buying into the idea because with the exception of Atiku from the Northeast (whose nomination might split the party) no other aspirants could match Buhari in the North.

    “We have a challenge with Atiku, Saraki, Dankwambo and others who are insisting that the primaries should be left open.

    “Before some of these aspirants defected to PDP and even prior to the emergence of the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, our party had commissioned a research  which favoured ceding the presidential ticket to the North with our target on the Northwest.”

    Responding to a question, the governor said: “The danger of not micro-zoning the presidential slot in PDP is that the money-bag aspirants will use their huge cash to buy over delegates which might lead to the emergence if a weak candidate for our party.”

    On the suspicion that Wike has bias for one of the presidential aspirants, the governor said: “We know Wike might want to use his political influence in favour of his preferred aspirant   but we are battle ready to checkmate him.

    “We want the best for PDP, we will not allow imposition by Wike who is showing a suspicious interest in the presidential primaries.”

    On the choice of Port Harcourt, the governor said: “We learnt that Rivers State was the first to indicate interest than others because of the high cost implications.

    “Also, it is a honour for Prince Uche Secondus who is from the state. Some members of the National Working Committee said the PDP cannot hold its convention in Abuja because it will clash with that of APC.”

    Separate sources confirmed that most of the PDP presidential aspirants have lost interest in the idea of a consensus candidate.

    It was gathered that the Board of Trustees (BOT) was unable to convince the aspirants to buy into the idea.

    All the aspirants have insisted that they want delegates to determine their fate.

    When contacted, the Director of Media and Publicity of Tanimu Kabiru Turaki Campaign Organization, Mr. Sola Atere said: “I thought the party has gone beyond that (consensus) because there was no agreement at the last meeting. The BoT chairman is raising a committee

    “For our campaign organization, we have always been loyal, this is why our aspirant never defected.

    “He was one of those who rescued the party from mercenaries. If they say consensus, it is fine with us; if they say primaries, it is well with us.”

    Most of the aspirants have intensified their shuttles to delegates in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Findings also confirmed that some of the aspirants have set up full-fledged campaign structures.

    How the aspirants have fared so far

    SARAKI:

    Saraki has a strong bond with many statutory delegates including members of the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly. By virtue of his position as a former governor, he is also at home with governors and others. The emergence of the President of the Senate as the National Leader of PDP has caused some political quake in the camps of Atiku and Tambuwal who hitherto felt Saraki would work for them. They are yet to recover from the declaration of Saraki for President.

    He has a huge war chest and as a risk taker, he can deploy his fortunes to secure the ticket. Apart from his romance with one of the foreign missions in the country, Saraki is well-connected in the business community such that sponsorship will not be a problem if he gets the PDP ticket.

    He has been going round the country to talk to delegates.

    This is likely  to fetch him goodwill from Northcentral, some parts of the Southeast like Enugu where his political Siamese twin, the Deputy President of the Senate, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu comes from.

    But what might work against him is the allegation that he is over-ambitious, which some PDP governors detest. His candidature might be a liability to PDP’s electoral fortunes in the North where he is regarded more as a Southerner than a Northerner. This same feeling affected the presidential ambition of his late father, Dr. Olusola Saraki in the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the First Republic (1979-1983).

    Contrary to his assumption, PDP bigwigs will not forgive him for making the party lose in 2015. All his recent trips to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and others may amount to nothing.

    Saraki might have noticed the slippery terrain when in his state, nomination for Kwara Central Senatorial District is still left open. He might seek solace in a return to the Senate. He has a subsisting agreement to re-emerge as Senate President if PDP wins the 2019 poll.

    ATIKU ABUBAKAR

    He is a serial presidential aspirant and the most experienced political tactician among the lot although his “magic wand” has always failed him. He is also the oldest presidential aspirant in the PDP having been in the struggle since 1992. Apart from his ambition to lead the nation, Atiku’s main problem is from the elites who do not want him for unknown reasons. If the race is credible and transparent, the ex-VP has enormous resources to outwit all other aspirants. But the conspiracy of the PDP governor may rob him of votes.

    He has what it takes in terms of vision, economic roadmap, commitment to national unity and cosmopolitan outlook to give Buhari a fight but some power brokers like ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo will oppose him. Obasanjo, some weeks ago, said God would not forgive him if he supported   Atiku’s aspiration. But the former VP still enjoys goodwill nationwide.

    TAMBUWAL

    He appeared to be the leading aspirant until the coming of   Abubakar and Saraki. In the past few weeks, the tempo of his activities has been very slow because of the heavyweight presidential aspirants in PDP. The declaration of ex-Governor Attahiru Bafarawa for presidency is also a major setback because the former governor had the control of PDP structure in Sokoto State before Tambuwal defected. He has a big problem at home following the collapse of his alliance with Bafarawa and his campaign reach is limited nationwide. He relies much on Governor Nyesom Wike, his bosom friend, and a prominent traditional ruler in the North to do the magic of delivering the ticket to him. But the Wike factor might also turn out to be Tambuwal’s undoing.

    Sources say  Tambuwal has  a Plan B in the event that he fails to get the presidential ticket: a return to the  Sokoto Government House. The risk appears enormous.

    He has a big acceptability problem with the Jonathan elements in the party.

    ATTAHIRU BAFARAWA

    An astute businessman, Bafarawa’s ambition is causing ripples and nightmare for Tambuwal. Although he has a rich political experience, he does not have the financial wherewithal to prosecute a presidential campaign that can match other moneybags in the race. His lingering case with the EFCC might be a slight problem despite the fact that he recently survived 11-year trial by the same anti-graft agency. The general feeling in PDP is that he might step down for a stronger candidate.

    TANIMU KABIRU TURAKI

    Some see him as  an underdog but his campaign organization has input from the loyalists of Jonathan, strategists of ex-President Ibrahim Babangida and ex-VP Namadi Sambo. He is intellectually deeper than some of the aspirants and his blueprint for economic recovery is outstanding. But he is a rookie presidential aspirant because the highest office he has occupied is that of Minister of Special Duties under Jonathan.

    An aspirant without blemish, Tanimu has had campaign runs nationwide more than any of the aspirants. He has gained mileage in Kebbi, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Cross River, Taraba, Oyo, Bayelsa, Ondo, Osun, Sokoto and Niger. He might split the votes from Kwara and Adamawa at the convention.

    AHMED MAKARFI

    A brilliant chef whose cuisine revived the PDP, Makarfi is intelligent, cool-headed, contented and visionary. His success story in Kaduna State as a governor makes him to fit into the bill of a leader who can address the security and ethnocentric challenges facing the nation. He had an unwritten agreement with PDP governors who have jettisoned the pact. He is on his own with limited resources but exotic ideas. If PDP is a conscientious party, Makarfi should be its candidate. Despite his tortuous campaign nationwide, he is still a laggard.

    SULE LAMIDO

    An experienced politician whose fortress is party management, Lamido left worthy legacies in Jigawa State as a governor. His moral credentials for the presidency have been tainted by his implications in alleged contract scam alongside his children. With the smear, his campaign is dead on arrival despite his closeness to ex-President Obasanjo. The desolate nature of his campaign secretariat in an obscure place Abuja speaks volume of his mileage.

    RABIU KWANKWASO

    Kwankwaso is a political asset no doubt but he has a restricted politically volatile constituency in Kano State. Apart from his stint as a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Minister of Defence, he does not command national appeal compared to some of his co-aspirants. His delivery of Kano State to APC in 2015 remains his reference point. But he was on a self-imposed exile in the last three years culminating in a diminishing return for his political empire. For his loyalty to Obasanjo, he was early in the race regarded as the “anointed” candidate of PDP but political calculations have not favoured him. Despite his presidential aspiration, he has  a senatorial ticket tucked somewhere.

    The recent defection of ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau and his irresolvable differences with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje made his chances very slim. Although he came second during the APC presidential primaries for the 2015 poll, he lacks the resources to repeat the feat now.

     

    He might win sympathy votes from PDP delegates from states in the Northwest during the primaries.

    DAVID MARK

    The erudite but forgotten former President of the Senate, Sen. David Mark, is banking on past military glory and the agitation of the Middle Belt for proper integration to seek PDP presidential ticket. His campaign has a bedroom colour because he is not known to be keen. As a military strategist, PDP leaders are anxious to know what he is up to after being a benchwarmer in the Senate since 2015. He is gifted in all ramifications but his shuttles to states lacked any significant bite.

    DAVID JANG

    Another late comer in the race, ex-Governor Jang’s presidential race is belated because when he had the opportunity, he did not throw his hat into the ring at the right time. He is a Middle Belt emancipation zealot, a disposition which has limited his political horizon. Many PDP leaders and members are of the opinion that Jang’s aspiration is designed to cover up his ongoing trial by the EFCC.

    DATTI BABA-AHMED

    Datti, the owner of the famous Baze University in Abuja, is known for his sustained advertisements on the front page of some newspapers. He is erudite but apart from being a former Senator, his ambition is a matter of the future. He cannot even match Makarfi in Kaduna State much more nationwide.

    IBRAHIM DANKWAMBO

    A suave accountant, Governor Dankwambo has earned much respect with his commitment to grassroots development. A former Accountant-General of the Federation, the governor is noted for prudence. He has vigorously campaigned in all the 36 states but as a neophyte in politics, he has a slim edge of emerging PDP candidate. He has age on his side which qualifies him if PDP wants power to shift to younger generation.

     

     

  • Dogara: APC, PDP in fresh battle for control of House

    •Speaker plots taking 20 APC Reps to rival party
    •Ruling party awaits defectors from Benue, Ekiti

    The battle for the control of the House of Representatives by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  is gathering steam following the  expected formal defection  of Speaker Yakubu Dogara  to the opposition party.

    Dogara who has ceased to identify publicly with the APC for some time now was, on Thursday, presented with PDP’s nomination form by some of his constituents from Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency in Bauchi State.

    The APC remains the majority party in the House with members putting its strength between 181 and 192 and that of the PDP at between 156 and 165.

    APGA and ADC have five members each, SDP has two while UPP and Accord have one each while one seat is vacant.

    Although  the two chambers of the National Assembly are currently on recess, The Nation gathered that key players in the APC and the PDP are doing everything possible to ensure that their party is in control of the House  till  the end of the eighth session of the NASS.

    Sources said about 20 APC Reps who are  loyalists  of the Speaker are willing to switch camps with him once he moves.

    The aim is to make the PDP the majority party in the House so that Dogara can retain his position as Speaker.

    The APC is nothing relenting either.

    Sources said the party is determined to retain its majority in the House and is expecting a sizeable number of  PDP defectors mainly from Ekiti and Benue States.

    Sources close to Dogara believe it will be difficult to remove him in view of the sheer number of votes required to do so.

    Section 50 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended stipulates that two-thirds or 240 votes in the 360-seat House of Representatives are required to remove the Speaker.

    Though, the Leader of the House and of the APC Caucus, Femi Gbajabiamila has maintained silence on the matter, a number of APC lawmakers feel that Dogara should not be sitting on the chair of the Speaker when the House returns from its current recess.

    When asked to express his reaction to Dogara’s defection and the next steps being contemplated, Gbajabiamila only sent a terse text message: “No comment for now.”

     

  • NGA reiterates commitment to gas-led industrial growth

    Nigerian Gas Association (NGA), the nation’s premier professional body promoting natural gas development and utilisation, has reaffirmed its commitment to driving Nigeria’s industrialization, economic diversification, and sustainable growth through a gas-led transformation strategy.

    Representing stakeholders across the entire gas value chain—from upstream exploration and production to midstream processing and downstream utilization—the NGA, a chartered member of the International Gas Union (IGU), continues to position natural gas as a catalyst for national prosperity, industrial growth, and energy transition.

    Speaking at the 15th Annual Conference and Exhibition of the Nigeria Liquefied and Compressed Gases Association (NLCGA), in Lagos, NGA President and IGU African Regional Director, Akachukwu Nwokedi, commended the NLCGA for its leadership in accelerating gas utilisation, market innovation, and supporting Nigeria’s clean energy transition.

    Delivering the NGA’s goodwill message, Nwokedi noted that since its establishment in 1999, the Association has remained steadfast in promoting gas as the foundation of Nigeria’s economic renaissance.

    “Gas remains the bridge between Nigeria’s hydrocarbon heritage and its sustainable, industrialized future,” Nwokedi stated. “This year’s theme—‘Gas: Economic Diversification & Private Sector Growth’—reflects our mission to harness the nation’s vast gas resources for inclusive development, job creation, and enhanced competitiveness.”

    He emphasized the transformative role of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in expanding energy access, fueling transportation, powering industries, and improving living standards across communities.

    READ ALSO: Alleged forgery: Anyanwu signed letter before Govs, Saraki, Aliyu, others – PDP

     “The growth of the LPG and CNG sectors underscores how private-sector innovation and investment can accelerate the objectives of Nigeria’s Decade of Gas and deliver tangible socio-economic benefits,” he added.

    Reinforcing the NGA’s five strategic pillars—Advocacy, Investment Promotion, Standards and Best Practices, Capacity Building, and Industry Resource Excellence—Nwokedi reiterated the Association’s ongoing collaboration with government, regulators, and investors to strengthen policy frameworks and expand capacity across the value chain.

    He also commended the Tinubu Administration for initiatives such as the Presidential CNG Initiative, the Decade of Gas Programme, and the Presidential Directives on Gas, describing them as critical enablers of renewed policy momentum and private-sector participation.

    However, Nwokedi cautioned that realising Nigeria’s full gas potential requires addressing persistent challenges such as infrastructure deficits, financing gaps, non-cost-reflective pricing, and security concerns.

     “Nigeria’s gas opportunity is immense, but its realization demands clarity, consistency, and collaboration. We must now move from policy intent to performance,” he urged.

    As IGU’s African Regional Director, Nwokedi highlighted Nigeria’s leadership role in shaping Africa’s gas narrative and contributing to the global energy transition agenda. He further commended the NLCGA for 15 years of dedicated advocacy and partnership.

     “True diversification will come from reliable energy systems, efficient markets, and an empowered private sector,” Nwokedi concluded. “The NGA remains a steadfast partner in building a gas-based economy that delivers inclusive and sustainable prosperity.”

  • 2019 Election would be tough – Tofa

    A one-time Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, on Friday in Kano, said the 2019 General Elections would be tougher than that of 2015, in view of the current challenges confronting both the ruling party APC and the PDP.

    Tofa, however advised the leadership of the APC to brace up to the challenges, in order to ensure the total victory of the party against the opposition parties, who are also not leaving anything to chance.

    Tofa, who spoke as a Guest of Honour at the official launching of the APC Volunteer group, held at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Friday, said the APC at this time need to take appropriate measures to ensure that it emerges victorious.

    “I am part and parcel of the APC Volunteers and would like to see a situation, whereby the people, who agreed to work in principles and as a matter of personal sacrifice will do so without fear or favour.

    We are desperately in need of an association, like this, which we were unable to get but now we have a group that is all out to change the way things were being done in the past for the better”

    Tofa posited that, if we are divided, the possibility of actualizing this concept would not be achievable in our quest to bring about good governance.

    Earlier, the Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje told the mammoth crowd that gathered at the launching of Volunteers that he is the number one volunteer, who believes in the new innovative ideas brought about by the founders of APC Volunteers, whose main objectives is to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari and the current administration continued with the good work they started.

    ” I am very happy because all of you are happy, because you have seen that we have taken the route to modern democratic system. This occasion is the official launching of APC Volunteers Group, it is a new innovation by our great party in Kano, it is a new idea, in order to sanitize our system and give everybody a sense of belonging by abiding by the doctrine of democracy.

    “We abide by the rules and regulations of our politics, we abide by due process to ensure that this democracy is nourished , we build it so that it can be strong, like any developed democracy.”

    “We thank you very much for forming this association, which will guide the conduct of our primaries, as well as guide the conduct of our elections. And will also instill into our followers that you have value, your worth as a party faithful, it is not the amount of money we have but the amount of integrity that we have. This is what we mean by this important group”

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    “As Volunteers in the APC, we must work assiduously to ensure that there is credible free and fair primary elections in the APC at all levels and should be ready to face whoever is going to disrupt the process of election during the forthcoming general election”

    Ganduje noted that it is mandatory for the Volunteers to also match their words with action by protecting all the electoral boxes from the ward to the local governments levels or State INEC offices and wait till the votes are cast and results announced.

    In his remarks, the Coordinator of the Kano APC Volunteers and Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, informed the gathering that “ours is a voluntary service to the people and an effort to build up strong pillars which our next democratic steps will be based on.

    “Let me use the opportunity to call on you to make good use of this golden opportunity you found your selves by contributing your individual and collective quota in electing people of impeccable character, as we have seen in PMB and His Excellency, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje”

  • Buhari’s candidacy has narrowed APC’s chances, says PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has narrowed its chances of winning the presidential election, with President Muhammadu Buhari as its sole candidate.

    Spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan said yesterday that PDP observed that President Buhari had become unpopular among Nigerians.

    The party predicted defeat for Buhari and the APC in the general election, saying the President and the party avoided competitive primary election with high nomination fees.

    This, according to the PDP, has scared away good candidates in APC for the presidential election.