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Tag: Segun Abraham

  • Ondo APC Primary Court Ruling: Democracy at work – Abraham

    Ondo APC Primary Court Ruling: Democracy at work – Abraham

    The first runner-up in the last governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Segun Abraham, Monday hailed the ruling of the Appeal Court that dismissed the application for stay of court’s proceedings filed by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had on Monday dismissed the application for stay of court’s proceedings filed by the governor against his candidature in the last governorship primaries of the party in the state.

    Abraham in a statement in Akure,the state capital signed by the Director General, Abraham Support Group(ASG) Kunle Eko-Davies described the ruling as a “quit notice” to the governor and his supporters.

    It noted that the ruling was a clear sign that democracy is strengthening and more people oriented, stressing that “the ruling is a victory for all members of APC locally and in diaspora most especially the “disenfranchised members in the state.

    According to the statement, “The events leading to the 2015 Ondo state APC primaries is still fresh in our memories. The unilateral act of our party National Chairman to submit the name of Akeredolu as the candidate of the party contrary to the decision of the party’s Appeal Committee and National Working Committee is also fresh in our memories.

    “This is a quit notice to Governor Akeredolu and his members to vacate the state house that was acquired illegally.”

    It however appealed to all members of the ruling party and supporters alike to remain calm and be prayerful, saying it is a family issue that would soon be resolved by courts.

  • New jostling for Deputy Governorship ticket in Ondo

    Ahead of the November 26 governorship poll in Ondo state, some political parties among the 28 participants in the poll are in the process of selecting their deputy governorship candidates.

    Among the parties, only the Alliance for Democracy (AD) with, Chief Olusola Oke as its candidate have picked its running mate in person of the former lawmaker representing Akoko Northeast/Northwest Federal Constituency, Ganny Dauda.

    Dauda is a former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) like Oke, the duo dumped the party following the post-primary crisis.

    The former President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) was declared the winner of the primary election which was rejected by three frontline aspirants including Segun Abraham, Olusola Oke and Ajayi Boroffice.

    The Election Appeal Committee had earlier recommended the cancellation of the shadow election because of alleged malpractices,while majority members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC ratified the decision of the Appeal Committee to conduct fresh primaries, but the National Chairman of the party overruled it and submitted Akeredolu’s name as the APC candidate.

    Since then, peace has eluded the progressive party in Ondo state. Aggrieved aspirants such as Oke had dumped the party, Abraham is now seeking redress in court to reclaim what he called his ‘Stolen Mandate’.

    Akeredolu’s name has been submitted with that of former PDP lawmaker representing Ilaje/Ese-Odo,Agboola Ajayi as his running mate.

    The one-time National Assembly Member who is from Southern District and a particular community where the mother of the candidate,Akeredolu hails from,political analysts believed must be a surrogate used by the APC flag bearer to meet the INEC’s deadline.

    Truly as being contended,the APC in the state has set up a five-man committee saddled with the responsibility of screening the Deputy Governorship aspirants to become the running mate to Akeredolu.

    The Committee is chaired by the only female governorship aspirant of the party, Mrs Jumoke Anifowose.

    Three governorship aspirants of the  September 3,shadow election including Tunji Abayomi, Victor Olabimtan and Ayo Akinyelure are also members with Bankole Oluwajana, Dr A.Shaba and Wale Akinterinwa.

    They are to screen the aspirants and shortlist the best among them to run with Akeredolu (SAN).

    Those interested in the position apart from that of Agboola Ajayi are mostly from the Southern and Central District.

    The aspirants are 19 in number out of which 13 are from the South while the rest six are from the Central.

    The APC candidate,Akeredolu is from Owo in the Northern district.

    Prominent among the aspirants are the United Kingdom (UK) based lawyer, Bolaji Odidi, Lucky Ayedatiwa, Sam Aderoboye, APC spokesman, Omo’ba  Abayomi Adesanya, Boye Adegbemisoye, a former Chairman of Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government and Commissioner for Public Utilities.

    Also on the screening list are,Ifedayo Abegunde, former House of Representatives representing Akure South/ North Federal Constituency and Ade Adetimehin, the incumbent APC Deputy state Chairman among others

    For Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)its candidate,Eyitayo Jegede has not picked his governorship candidate,but he may emerge from the Northern District.

    Other political parties have sent the names of their deputy governorship candidates to to INEC,but most of the names are still are unknown politicians.

    The names of the Deputy Governorship candidates for Social Democratic Party(SDP)is John Owoso,Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)which will soon be replaced is Olumide Ogunje, African Peoples Alliance (APA) Owoeye Jonathan, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) Paul Oluwasesan, All Progressives Congress (APC) Agboola Ajayi (tentative) Labour Party (LP) Akinbamire Benson,Citizen Popular Party (CPP) Owolabi Yusuf and Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) Onisemo Oladapo.

    Others are Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC) Emilere Akinlose,Democratic People Party (DPP)Lawrence Festus,New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Dr Babafemi Famakinwa,Hope Democratic Party (HDP) Oladutire Ronke,National Unity Party (NUP) Ojo Oladapo, Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP) Olajobi Olalekan, Young Democratic Party(YDP)Egbeola Martins and Accord Party(A).

    The rest are All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Yaya Olasehinde, Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Oladele Bamitale,African Democratic Congress (ADC) Aganmayo Iseoluwa, Action Alliance (AA), Biola Ojo, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) Omopekun John, Independent Democrats (ID) Famuagun Moses, Kowa Party (KP) Alhaja Fausat Aliu, Peoples For Democratic Change (PDC) Olatunji Segun, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) Ikusika Olanike, United Democratic Party(UDP) Olasupo Wasiu and National Conscience Party (NCP), Owolabi Stephen.

    It is observed that most of the names are unknown in the politics of the sunshine state,they are mostly surrogates to fill the list.

    But the real running mates would emerge latest October 19 when INEC must have released the final list of the candidates and their running mates.

    Meanwhile,the Alliance for Democracy(AD)has appointed the former Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state,Hon Bola Ilori as Director General,Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation,while the former Speaker,Victor Olabimtan who is a governorship aspirant is appointed the Director General to Rotimi Akeredolu Campaign Organisation of the APC.

    Meanwhile, Political Campaigns for all parties are commencing this week around the state.

  • Ondo: Abraham, Oke, Boroffice insist on fresh primaries

    Ondo: Abraham, Oke, Boroffice insist on fresh primaries

    ‎Three aggrieved leading governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State yesterday rejected the decision of the party National Working Committee (NWC) to uphold the primary result, which favoured Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

    The trio, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Olusola Oke and Segun Abraham at a press conference held in Akure, the state capital, expressed shock over the action of the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

    At the event, which was also attended by their teeming supporters, Abraham was avoidably absent but sent his apology.

    Speaking on behalf of other aspirants, Boroffice particularly described the decision of the  Oyegun to uphold the result, despite the majority of the committee members kicked against it as very undemocratic.

    He said they were consulting and would soon make public the next line of action on their political careers.

    Boroffice said: “as enumerated in our petitions, which we submitted to the Appeal committee that was duly constituted by the NEC with the approval of the NWC of APC and as contained in the primary election guidelines of APC, the followining are the planks upon which our appeals are based:
    “Fraudulent injection of 383 names into the delegates list that was used to conduct the primary election.

    “Issuance of delegate tag to non-delegates and allowing the non-delegates to vote in the primary election.

    “On investigation, 300 delegates tags were indiscriminately issued to non-delegates, two designated buses were provided to convey known non-delegates to the voting centre and voted to give undue advantage to one of the aspirants. “These among others, were discovered after the charade called credible election.

    “It is important to bring into the public domain that on September 2, a new copy of the compromised delegates list was made available to all the aspirants by the election committee of APC around 10.30pm.

    “On the receipt of the purported new delegate list, we all made a written protest letter, including Akeredolu transmitted our letters to the primary election committee chairman informing him of our rejection of the substituted delegates list.

    “As democrats, having discovered the fraud in the process, we submitted ourselves to the process of redress as stipulated in the primary election guidelines of APC, believing that we are safe in the hands of supposed democrats.

    “The Appeal Committee, within the mandate of their authority, having regards to the preponderance of evidence laid before it recommended that the election be nullified and another election be conducted.

    “In line with the electoral guideline of APC, the report of the Appeal Committee was submitted the NWC for final ratification.

    “Considering our strength in the APC and a total votes of 1,617 in the primary election, as the Apex authority in the administration of APC in Nigeria, we have always assumed sanity and reasonableness on the part of the members of the NWC. “We hope the members of the committee will uphold justice and exorcised corruption from the process.

    “On September 22, the NWC considered the report of the Appeal committee and puts its decision on the recommendations of the Appeal committee to vote. The majority of the members of the NWC voted that recommendations of the Appeal committee be upheld.

    “To our dismay and in a manner at variance with democratic norms, the national chairman overruled the majority of the NWC. He rejected the path of truth and upheld the primary election that its process was chacterised with corruption.

    “We are determined to liberate our people and no undemocratic decision of a party and its leadership will be allowed to misdirect our attention from the goal.

    “Therefore, we hereby condemned in absolute terms the undemocratic decision of the NWC. Since the party and the official leaders of the party have found pleasure in covering fraud, we owe the people of ondo state a sacred duty of liberation”.

    On his part, Oke said he is still consulting and he would soon make his next line of action known.

    He noted that “Whatever you might have since on the social media that I am moving to Action Alliance (AA), APGA, is the desire of my supporters.

    “As at today, I have not moved from APC and if I want to move I will inform you people about my next line of action.

  • Abraham rejects Ondo APC primaries, heads for appeal committee

    Abraham rejects Ondo APC primaries, heads for appeal committee

    A Governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Segun Abraham has rejected the outcome of the last Saturday’s governorship primary election of the party.

    Abraham who came second in the election with a total votes of 635 had earlier congratulated the winner, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), but later said his decision was hinged on alleged irregularities that marred the poll conducted by a committee headed by the Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Abubarka.

    The Ikare-Akoko born politician has appealed against the outcome of the election through a petition forwarded to the tribunal set up by the APC national secretariat.

    According to a statement titled “that our democracy may endure” signed by the Director-General of his campaign organization, Prince Olu Adegboro, Abraham noted that the outcome of the election was unacceptable to him, because of ‘anomalies’ that characterised the exercise.

    The statement read further “It is no longer news that as a true democrat, imbued with the best spirit of sportmanship, I congratulated Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, who purportedly emerged as the candidate of the APC in the September 3, Gubernatorial Primary election in Ondo State in the face of palpable disbelief and surprise on the outcome of the Primary election by my numerous supporters.

    “The news however is that, sordid and staggering facts have since emerged on how the process leading to the primary election was manipulated and compromised. It is now beyond doubt that the delegate list used on the day of the primary election was doctored and strangely injected with a mind bogging number of delegates who are neither executive members of our party nor statutory delegates.

    “To say the least, the manipulation of the delegate list, highly skewed accreditation process and the entire processes leading to the conduct of the primary election has cast the darkest stain on the result of the primary election held on the 3rd September, 2016.

    “Against this background, coupled with the change and integrity that our party preaches and practices, and having widely consulted with my numerous supporters, I have reached the hour of decision to fall back on the internal mechanism of our great party to seek redress so that the end of justice will be served and more importantly, our democracy may endure.

    “To this end, the outcome of the September 3, APC Governorship primaries in Ondo State is unacceptable and I hereby appeal against same.

    “The allegations that have sadly pelted the supposedly free and fair Saturday exercise, where 24 aspirants battled to nick the party’s ticket, include but not limited to, delegates list tampering, fake delegates incursion, disenfranchising of rightful delegates, smuggling of illegal ballot papers into ballot boxes.”

    Abraham said the official petition would soon be forwarded to the Electoral Appeal Committee to back up the appeal.

  • Groups rally for Segun Abraham as APC flagbearer

    Groups rally for Segun Abraham as APC flagbearer

    •Aspirant to Ondo
    indigenes: support
    the wind of change

    TWO non-governmental organisations, comprising the professionals from Ondo State local governments as well as the Ondo State Redemption Group have thrown their weight behind Dr. Segun Abraham as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the November governorship election.

    The groups observed that Abraham has contributed immensely to the physical growth and youth empowerment through his different programmes, especially the scholarship scheme which he instituted 25 years ago.

    President of the professionals’ group, Mr. Bisi Ade-Ademuwagun, a legal luminary and former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch, Lagos, spoke at an occasion in which Abraham handed over some equipment to unemployed youth as part of his empowerment programme.

    Ademuwagun maintained that Ondo State has suffered so much mismanagement under the current regime despite the enormous internally generated revenue and the huge allocation from the Federation Account as an oil producing state.

    But, Abraham called on the youth to support the wind of change and give him maximum supports, which, he added, will make him do more when he becomes governor in November 2016.

    The frontline aspirant maintained that youth are the future leaders of tomorrow and all efforts would be geared towards supporting them to a greater height by his administration.

    The aspirant added that he had carried out such gesture for decades till date even at a time when he had no political ambition.

    The Ondo State Redemption Group said it is the turn of Ikare to produce the next governor.

    It called on all Ondo State sons and daughters to rally round Abraham for his gubernatorial ambition.

    Its chairman, Alhaji Remi Akinola, a veteran security expert reviewed the power sharing since the creation of the State in 1976.

    “It is on record that Navy Capt. Bamidele Akin Otiko is from Akure and ruled the State under the military; Chief Adekunle Ajasin from Owo also ruled as the first civilian governor; Chief Adebayo Adefarati from Akungba (Akoko South) ruled the state; Dr. Olusegun Agagu from the Okitipupa area also ruled for six years and currently an Ondo man, Dr. Rahman Olusegun Mimiko, will complete his eight years rule as the longest serving governor by November 2016.

    “There is no doubt, Akure as the state capital has witnessed tremendous infrastructural development than any town in the state, which we are proud of.

    “From the above analysis, Ikare as one of the oldest Divisional Headquarters in our provincial days is yet to produce a governor or senator or a minister.  In fairness, it is our turn to rule Ondo State, as Akoko constitutes the largest division in the Ondo State. We are solidly behind the candidacy of Dr. Segun Abraham,” Akinola said.

     

  • Ondo APC denies imposition of candidate

    Ondo APC denies imposition of candidate

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has denied the imposition of one of the Aspirants as candidate for the November 26 gubernatorial poll.

    There was an allegation that an entrepreneur, Segun Abraham is being picked by the National Leadership of the APC as the candidate.

    The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya said the opposition party would conduct a transparent primary election for the twenty-five aspirants that have shown interest in the party’s ticket.

    He stressed that over 3,000 delegates among the party leaders would participate in the conduct of the election where the party’s main flag-bearer would emerge.

    According to him, “The people of Ondo State should have patience with us, as this could be the handwork of our opposition in the State.

    “The leaders of the All Progressives Congress have not imposed anybody on the party and there is definitely no room for such because everybody is preparing for the primary election.

    “Just as the leaders have reiterated, we [APC] in Ondo State are going to conduct a credible primary election where our candidate would emerge and its process shall be transparent and credible,”

    He urged the party supporters to remain united in order to wrest power from the present Mimiko’s which he accused of low performance.