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Tag: Tony Nwoye

  • Buhari assure youths of appointment as ministers, head of government agencies

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians youths of a ministerial appointment and appointments as heads of government agencies and parastatals if re-elected for a second term.

    Director of Youth Mobilization of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Hon. Tony Nwoye, who disclosure this at a news conference, said that his group has secured the commitment of President Buhari to positively change the involvement of youths in his administration in his second term in office.

    Nwoye however assured the President that his campaign group will mobilize over 20 million Nigerian youths to ensure a landslide victory for the president.

    “Since my recent appointed to head the Youth Mobilization Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, I had embarked on nationwide consultations with the national youth polity to reach, understand the disposition and aspirations of Nigerian youths and students towards Buhari-Osinbajo 2019.

    “During the over one week of non-stop nationwide consultations that l spearheaded, in the company of my able assistant and deputy directors, Comrade Sadiq Abubakar, the APC National Youth Leaders, Ismaeel Ahmed and Jasper Azulatam, I became convinced that while Nigerian youths deeply appreciate the improved regime of youth development and empowerment under President Buhari, from 2015 till date, the polity is ready for Buhari-Osinbajo 2019 if and only if the prestigious good leadership team is ready to take its youth development programme to the ’Next Level’ of higher youth inclusion in leadership and the economy.

    “Upon this all-important realization, I and my assistant and deputies quickly came back to Abuja to consult with Mr. President. This round of consultations happened intensively over a period of two days in which myself, my assistant and deputies were able to extract strong commitments from Mr. President on his readiness to take his youth development programmes to the ’Next Level’ of higher youth inclusion in leadership and the economy through the following:

    “A youth quota in the headship of Ministries, Departments and Agencies that is above the quota of Men, Women and Politicians. The activation of a policy targeted at Nigeria being the largest high-quality factory of the world by 2030 leading to fully legislated and well-funded youth-based programmes in entrepreneurship and industrialization.

    “The activation of another policy targeted at Nigeria being the African global hub of ICT leading to fully legislated and well-funded youth-based programmes in ICT software and hardware development.

    “After extracting these commitments from Mr. President, the Directorate quickly reverted back to the leadership of Nigerian youths and had regional consultations and engagements. Thereupon, the youths and students of Nigeria and the Directorate agreed that Nigerian youths will deliver an Avalanche of over Twenty Million Votes to Buhari-Osinbajo 2019.

    Read Also: Buhari fit for another term, says Osinbajo

    “I am today very pleased to inform you that based on the decision of Nigerian youths to deliver 20-Million votes to Buhari-Osinbajo 2019 in February, the Youth Mobilization Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council is kick-starting a nationwide youth mobilization campaign starting today.

    “It will interest you to know that this nationwide youth mobilization campaign is targeted at convincing Nigerian youths and students that they can trust Buhari-Osinbajo 2019 based on: the positive youth development credentials of Buhari-Osinbajo from 2015 till date. The solid commitments of Mr. President to take youth development to the ‘Next Level’ if voted to continue power come 16th February 2019.

    “The positive infrastructural record of Buhari-Osinbajo from 2015 till date; such as: the reawakening of Nigeria’s national Railway Network; the visible upgrade of Nigerian Airports; and, the revamping of the National Roads and Highways Network.

    “The record of visible and impactful Poverty Alleviation Strategies , such as the Traders’ Money Scheme which has empowered over 350,000 MSMEs across the nation; the National School Feeding Programme; the Anchor Borrowers Programme which has added over three million metric tonnes to our annual food supply having, so far, created over 500,000 jobs for Nigeria youths.

    “The N-Power Volunteers Scheme which has recruited 500,000 graduates; the N-Power Volunteer Corps which has trained over 200,000 youths; the N-Buiid Category which has so far trained over 10,000 non-graduates in vocational skills in 23 states of the Federation; the Special Training Programme of NITDA that has trained several hundreds of young Nigerians with disabilities on ICT skills.

    “Our directorate is fully primed to work with the leadership of Nigerian youth and students to deliver the avalanche of over 20 million votes to Buhari-Osinbajo 2019 in the patriotic interest of Nigerian national development.

    “We hereby call on all Nigerian youths and students to remain steadfast in their resolve and support for Buhari-Osinbajo 2019 despite concerted attempt by some would-be-detractors to blackmail them with share sentiments that has no grounding in our national reality,” he said.

     

  • Okorocha congratulates Obiano over his re-election

    Okorocha congratulates Obiano over his re-election

    Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo has congratulated the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA ) in the Nov. 18 Anambra governorship election, Gov. Willie Obiano, over his re-election.

    in the Nov. 18 Anambra governorship election, Gov. Willie Obiano, over his re-election.

    Okorocha gave the congratulatory message in a statement by  his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sam Onwuemedo, on Monday in Owerri.

    The governor said that Obiano’s victory was too clear to be contested or questioned.

    He, therefore, advised candidates of other political parties who took part in the election to congratulate the winner and avoid going to court to question his victory.

    Okorocha, who is  also the Chairman, All Progressives Congress ( APC ) Governors’ Forum, expressed regret over the loss of his party in the election.

    He attributed the loss to internal wrangling and the lack of genuine commitment on the part of the party’s leadership in the state.

    He, however, expressed the hope that with the election, the future of APC in the South-East was bright.

    He said that before now, nobody would have thought that APC could do better in Anambra.

    The governor urged Nigerians to celebrate President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC led-government “for allowing level playing ground for all candidates.

    “The Anambra election shows that the APC has what it takes to strengthen the nation’s democracy.”

    Okorocha thanked the people of Anambra for the peaceful election and for not yielding to IPOB’s threats or listen to the group’s call for boycott.

    A total of 37 political parties presented candidates in the Nov. 18 Anambra governorship election.

    Some of the candidates were the incumbent, Gov. Willie Obiano, with his Deputy, Nkemakonam Okeke, who contested on the platform of APGA, while Oseloka Obazie of PDP had Chidi Onyemelukwe, a woman as his running mate.

    Tony Nwoye of APC had Dozie Arinze, a woman, as his running mate.

    NAN

  • Bello congratulates Obiano, lauds Buhari for good poll conduct

    Bello congratulates Obiano, lauds Buhari for good poll conduct

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Sunday congratulated Mr Willie Obiano on his re-election as the Governor of Anambra.

    He described Obiano’s re-election  as a ”well-deserved victory”.

    In a congratulatory message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Petra Onyegbule, in Lokoja, Bello commended President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring a level playing ground for all candidates in the election.

    He said that the president’s action was a proof by the APC-led Federal Government to ensure credible, free, fair and peaceful elections and respect for the rule of law under his leadership.

    “On behalf of the Government and good people of Kogi State, I congratulate the Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Mr. Willie Obiano, for a well-deserved victory.

    “I equally congratulate the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, on the peaceful, free and fair election in Anambra State, acceptable to all.

    “Ensuring a peaceful, free and fair election is a testament to the fact that President Buhari embodies and exemplifies the Change Mantra of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “The voice of the people spoke loudly and it has resonated for all to hear. This is the singular most prominent feature of a democracy which allows people to choose their leader out of many contestants,” he said.

    Bello, however, applauded the candidate of APC, Mr Tony Nwoye, for putting up a good fight, and described him as “a winner through whom the APC has become entrenched in Anambra State.

    “As a people, we shall continue to consolidate on the gains we have made over the past 16 years as we break new progressive frontiers.”

    Obiano of APGA won the election with  234, 071 votes ahead of  APC who scored 98, 752 votes and Oseloka Obaze of PDP with 70, 293 votes.

    Thirty-six candidates contested the election.

    NAN

  • Anambra poll: Voting starts in Aguleri, other polling units

    Anambra poll: Voting starts in Aguleri, other polling units

    Voting has started in some polling units in Anambra while accreditation of voters is still ongoing in other places.

    In Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Aarea, the materials arrived at few minutes past 8 a.m.

    At Aguleri Ward I, where the incumbent governor, Chief Willie Obiano, is expected to vote, voting and accreditation of voters commenced on schedule.

    At Nsugbe ward I where, APC governorship hopeful, Dr Tony Nwoye, is expected to vote, the polling officials are yet to arrive.

    But , in Onitsha, electoral officials arrived ahead of the 8 a.m voting schedule, but there was no voter as at 8:30 a.m.

    The presiding Officer, Miss Peace Onah said they slept at the unit.

    She said that unit 005 Metroploitian Secondary school ward 4 in Onitsha North, had three voting points.

    “INEC officials are ready, but no voter has shown up as at 8:30 a.m,” Onah said.

    At Unit 008 and 014 in Ado Girls Secondary School, Inland Town, Onitsha, materials and officials were yet to arrive.

    A voter, Mr Bernet Ezewudo, said he arrived by 8 a.m., but “you can see that every where is still under lock and key”.

    Also, in Awka South, the process had not started and the presiding officer, Mr Richard Ogbuji, told NAN at 8:22 a.m at Real Estate Primary School  II that they were setting up table to start.

    At unit 005 the presiding officer, Mr Jude Anukam, attributed the late starting to transportation difficulties and appealed for patient and understanding,

    Also, the presiding officer, Miss Nkechi Sucuon, at Permanent Site Market 2 corroborated Anukam that the restriction of movement affected them.

    At Oyi Local Government accreditation of voters had started in Umuduru ward 4.

    The presiding officer, Anthonia Ugwunebo, said that the materials arrived at 8:24 a.m, while accreditation and voting began at 9 a.m.

    NAN

  • APC named Ngige, others as Nwoye campaign members

    APC named Ngige, others as Nwoye campaign members

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Anambra on Sunday named Dr Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Productivity as the state chairman of Dr Tony Nwoye 2017 Governorship Campaign Organisation.

    The minister of Labour and Productivity is to be assisted by Chief George Muoghalu as vice chairman.

    More than 50 other persons were named as chairmen and vice chairmen of various directorates of the campaign organisation by the party.

    Mr Emeka Ibe, the Anambra State Chairman of APC, who announced  the membership  before inaugurating the committee, charged them to commit their time and resources to the success of Nwoye governorship project.

    Ibe said that the party has a capable candidate that would  make history in the Nov.18 governorship election in the state.

    NAN reports that all the aspirant of the Anambra governorship race except Sen. Andy Uba were named as members of the campaign organisation.

    Mr Osita Ezenwa, the Director-General of the Nwoye Campaign Organisation commended the composition of the various sub-committees.

    He said that there was a lot of work to be done and added that the party would make the desired change in the governance of Anambra.

    “We must all work hard and together in the task of seeing to the success of our candidate, Dr Tony Nwoye, in the Nov.18 election so that on Nov.19 we all will rejoice that we have finally won’’, he said.

    The National Secretariat of  APC had earlier named Gov Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi  State  as the national chairman of Nwoye Campaign Organisation.

    NAN

  • Anambra governorship: INEC names Obiano, Obaze, Nwoye, 34 other candidates

    Anambra governorship: INEC names Obiano, Obaze, Nwoye, 34 other candidates

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday in Abuja said 37 political parties would be presenting candidates in the Anambra governorship election scheduled for Nov. 18.

    The Commission, in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, released a list of the candidates, with five women vying for the governorship seat.

    The list also have eight others vying for the office of Deputy Governor.

    The candidates included Mr Willie Obiano, the incumbent governor, with his deputy Nkemakonam Okeke, vying under the flag of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Also on the list are Mr Oseloka Obaze of the PDP, with Chidi Onyemelukwe, a woman, as his running mate.

    It also has Mr Tony Nwoye of the APC, with Dozie Arinze, a woman, as his running mate.

    Others on the list are Nwezi Amechi and his running mate Okeke Njideka, a woman, for All Grand Alliance Party (AGAP).

    Oby Okafor and her running mate Onyekwuluje Uzoma as candidate for Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) also made the list.

    Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, is also carrying the flag of United Progressive Party (UPP), with Okeke Ogbonnaya as his running mate.

    The rest of the political parties with candidates on the list include Alliance Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA) and Action Democratic Party (ADP).

    Others are APDA, African People’s Party (APP), Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP), Democratic Alternative (DA), Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC), Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and Kowa Party.

    The Labour Party (LP), as well as Masses Movement Of Nigeria (MMM), Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP), National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP) and United Democratic Party (UDP) also have candidates.

    Candidates of National Conscience Party (NCP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Nigeria Peoples Congress (NPC), National Unity Party (NUP) and People for Democratic Change (PDC) were also successful.

    Also listed as parties with candidates are the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and United Progressive Party (UPP).

    The rest are Young Democratic Party (YDP) and Young Progressive Party (YPP).

    The Commission, in the statement, also disclosed that it had approved the applications of 44 observer groups, comprising 38 domestic and six international groups, to observe the election.

    The international observer groups are the British High Commission, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), American Embassy Abuja, European Union, High Commission of Canada, and African Union Economic Social and Cultural Council.

    The domestic groups include African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, Centre for Credible Leadership, Citizens Awareness, and the Initiative for Promotion of Civic Obligation Sustainable.

    Similarly, the Commission approved the change of name and adjustment of logo of the All Democratic Peoples Movement (ADPM) to AGAP.

    The Commission added that it had also approved the issuance of a Certificate of Registration in the name of AGAP to the party.

    Meanwhile the Commission has fixed Thursday for a meeting of the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and Sept. 29 for the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Electoral Securities (ICCES) meeting.

    Similarly, the Commission would meet with leaders of the political parties on Tuesday and conclude its series of meetings with the media and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Wednesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meetings are normally held to brief all critical stakeholders on key activities of the Commission.(NAN)

  • APC may bow to pressure, void Tony Nwoye’s victory

    APC may bow to pressure, void Tony Nwoye’s victory

    There were indications on Tuesday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) may bow to pressure being brought to bear on it by political heavy weight in Anambra state and cancel its August 26 governorship primary in Anambra state which was won by a member of the House of Representatives, Tony Nwoye.

    It was gathered that some of the aspirants who petitioned the appeals panel are calling for a total cancellation and a repeat of the exercise, alleging that the thugs and members of NANS were brought into the accreditation venue.

    One of those who petitioned the Appeals panel, Senator Andy Uba who came second in the primary with about 931 votes alleged in his petitions the primary election was marred with heavy irregularities, heavy financial inducement and the use of thugs to intimidate delegates and swap their delegate cards.

    But another aspirant, Barrister Nonso Nmadu said the primary was done in a transparent atmosphere and has been described as the best primary, stressing that he is surprised that Senator Uba would disparage the same primary he commended when the process was ongoing with the believe that he would emerge winner.

    The Governorship Primary Appeals panel which submitted its report to the National Organising Secretary, Senator Ostia Izunaso told the party that many petitions were received from the aspirants who contested the governorship primary.

    Submitting the committee report, the Secretary of the Committee, Dr. Nosa Aladesulu said they received many petitions from the aspirants, while many APC stakeholders in the state appeared before the Committee while it got in touch with relevant persons involved in the primaries.

    Aladesulu however told newsmen that her committee actually received a numbers of petitions against Hon. Tony Nwoye’s victory, saying “a number of persons submitted petitions and also a good number representing our party members from Anambra State also made personal appearances. 

    “We also have situations where some group that did not come, submitted affidavit of their understanding of the processes they observed to the committee. What we have in this report was a collection of those complaints and responses. 

    “After reviewing the petitions from our members at the primaries, we also invited persons, officials and other stakeholders indicted by the petitioners and key persons whose responses were key to our reports were also attended to and heard their witnesses.

    “What we have in the report are the analysis of both the petition, our understanding of the witnesses we received and our recommendations to the NWC to decide on the final outcome in their own wisdom.”

    However, Barrister Nonso Nmadu who also contested the primary wants the party to uphold the victory of Nwoye at the primary, stressing that the entire accreditation and voting was done in a transparent manner, accusing Senator Andy Uba of trying to tarnish the exercise..

    Nmadu said Senator Andy Uba does not have the capacity to win the November 18 elections, saying “If Senator Andy Uba’s capacity could not win him the apc primaries, he does not have the capacity to win the november 18th elections in which votes are expected to count. 

    “I urge the most distinguished senator Andy Uba to stop embarrassing himself and work for the party as earlier pledged.  His actions are being seen by Anambra state members as anti-party and our national leadership should not fail to wield the big stick when necessary.”                       

    He describe as untrue allegations that Tony Nwoye brought thugs/NANS members into the accreditation venue to chase away delegates, adding that the accreditation was conducted peacefully while delegates were identified through their Permanent voters card(PVC) National ID card, drivers license or International passport. 

    He said delegates also came with their party membership slip with photograph issued to them by the party during registration, adding that two weeks before the primary, the party made available to all the aspirants the list of delegates.

    According to him, “the allegation that delegated were swapped is simply laughable. After accreditation, delegates were conveyed to the voting center on marked buses with full police escort. Their was no room for any maneuver as the delegates had no physical contacts with outsiders.           

    “The road leading to the voting venue was not even accessible to commutters and other road users, as it was cordoned off by security agencies, making it impossible for any non-accredited person to gain entrance to the venue.                     

    “Most importantly, during voting proper, once a local government is called, the various ward chairmen are called to vote first, then line up in front of the hall to identify delegates from their ward who then proceed to cast votes.    

    “The allegation of presence of thugs at the venue is untrue, except if Senator Andy Uba is now referring to genuine APC members as thugs simply because they did not vote for him.                                                    

    “Senator Andy Uba also alleged that some delegates have gone to court to depose affidavits on what transpired. The party should note that this is their usual tactics of scuttling elections once it doesnt go their way.  It is a PDP tradition which they want to import to our peaceful APC and must be resisted.  

    “Our party leaders should note that this tactics was used in 2013 to scuttle the ambitions of the same Tony Nwoye after he defeated the same people in a primaries televised live on national TV.  The litigation went all the way to the Supreme court and by the time judgment was delivered Dr Tony Nwoye had just 10 days to campaign. Despite the short time left for him to campaign, he still finished 2nd in the General elections.                                           

    “Senator Andy Uba asked to be declared winner of an election he clearly lost. There is a popular saying among party members that with the margin of over 2,000 votes to andy uba’s 900, Tony Nwoye did not just come first, he came second and 3rd while Uba finished 4th.                                      

    “Senator Andy Uba should spare us with the “capacity” statement which he has made a sing- song. He should know that the days of PDP abracadabra are over. He does not have the capacity to  win any election that is free, fair and transparent in which votes are allowed to count hence he couldnt win the APC primaries.”

  • Nwoye: Abuja APC chieftains plot election annulment

    Nwoye: Abuja APC chieftains plot election annulment

    There is a plot in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to annul the Anambra State governorship primary election which House of Representatives member Tony Nwoye won.

    It was learnt that some influential members of the party in Abuja, known as “Abuja Forces”, were unhappy that Nwoye secured the ticket.

    The forces include some members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), some ranking members of the National Assembly and some money-bags who feel that their interest will not be protected by Nwoye, sources said.

    They are mounting pressure on the party’s leadership to drop Nwoye for Sen. Andy Uba.

    But an aide to Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima said the primary election was transparent, free and fair.

    He said the governor would be shocked if the “Abuja Forces” were allowed to cancel it.

    According to sources, the “Abuja Forces”, comprising mostly of stakeholders outside Anambra State, tried to influence Shettima to skew the primaries in favour of their preferred candidate.

    The governor, who resisted the pressure, also refused to get official accommodation from Governor Willie Obiano.

    After the failure to influence the primary, the Abuja Forces came up with “Plan B” to cancel the primaries.

    They succeeded in enlisting some members of the NWC to ensure the cancellation of the primary.

    The NWC members have teamed up with some ranking members of the National Assembly and some money-bags to annul the results.

    It was gathered that the forces prevailed on the NWC not to congratulate Nwoye as the party’s candidate. Besides, they are believed to be behind the petition sent to the party’s Governorship Primaries Appeal Committee sitting in Abuja.

    A source said:  “Their first major plan is to discredit the outcome of the governorship primaries. They have already conscripted an Adviser to the Governor of Borno State to appear before the Appeal Committee to make false claims bordering on padded delegates’ list and rigging.

    “This same Adviser participated in the primaries but the forces are trying to use him to rubbish the primaries conducted by Shettima.

    “Another dummy being sold to the party is that Nwoye cannot win the November 18 poll because he has no resources. They said Uba is more experienced and he has enough resources to secure victory for APC.

    “Also, they have mounted campaign of calumny against Nwoye.

    A source close to the governor, who spoke in confidence, said: “Shettima conducted the governorship primaries in a manner that none of the aspirants or their supporters questioned the integrity of the process before and after the election.

    “The APC primary election was not like that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In PDP, Sen. Stella Oduah and Ifeanyi Ubah protested against the process. No issue was raised against Shettima’s committee.

    “If anybody has any complaint, he should come out openly and say where the process was wrong.”

    Asked what will be the reaction of the governor if the results of the primaries were annulled, the source added: “It will be shocking not only to the governor but to all stakeholders. And the APC will be setting a bad precedent.

    “The planned annulment will have effect on the integrity of the APC. If Nwoye is dropped by APC, it will pave the way for the automatic re-election of Governor Willy Obiano. Aggrieved stakeholders and party members may sway their votes in favour of the governor.

    “This was the same error committed by PDP which made it to lose election in 2015 after defection by its key leaders.”

  • Respect Anambra people’s voice – Nwoye to APC

    Respect Anambra people’s voice – Nwoye to APC

    Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forth coming governorship election in Anambra state, Tony Nwoye on Monday told the national leadership of the party not to tamper with the mandate freely given go him at the party primaries, but to respect the wishes of the people.

    Also the state Chairman of the party, Bartister Emeka Eze ask the party’s Governorship Primary Appeals Panel to respect the wishes of the people as expressed on the field during the primary election which was supervised by Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima.

    Speaking with newsmen in Abuja after appearing before the Appeals Panel, Nwoye dismissed allegations that the primary election was manipulated in his favour and the use of thugs and former members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, adding that what should be uppermost in the mind of every member of the party at this point in time is how to win the forth coming elections in the state.

    Senator Andy Uba had petitioned the the Appeals Panel alleging massive irregularities, use of thugs and members of NANS to intimidate delegates and swap delegate tags and heavy financial inducement of delegates during the primary.

    But Nwoye who described Uba as “my boss” said the Senator remain the only aspirant that has refused to speak to him since the primary was conducted, pointing out that even though he has reached out to him on several occasion, Uba has refused to speak to him.

    He said: “I was invited by the Appeals Panel and it was a friendly discussion. I was told by the panel that there are allegations that former NANS members chased away delegates, snatched their tags, beat them up and voted and I told them that was not true.

    “There was no NANS member, past or present that took part in that election and that the over 4000 delegates that voted were executives of the APC and the statutory delegates who were entitled to vote. This is the primary that has been adjudged as the best in the history of democracy in Nigeria.

    “You know that I have been a party chairman and has conducted party primaries in my state, I have contested four primaries in my life. Different commentators have adjudged this as the best. I made it clear that there was not room for manipulation, nobody was intimidated to vote and there no voter inducement with money.

    “The election was so perfectly organised that the ward chairman from the 326 wards, out 21 local government chairmen and secretaries and state chairman were all mandated to come and identify the delegates. We insisted that we must do re screening to avoid anybody coming to take another person’s tag to vote.”

    On whether he was afraid that his nomination will be voided by the panel, he said “I am not God, but I know that these are party men. I told them that as far as the party ticket of APC is concerned, the people of Anambra has spoken and that mandate should be left sacred for them.

    “It is not about Tony Nwoye, but about the people who labored for this. On the day of the primary, many of them were under the rain for hours and some of them came here to defend the mandate. I strongly believe that the sacred mandate they gave should be left intact. Our major task is how to defeat Governor Obiano and APGA in Anambra.

    “I have reached out to all the aspirants. The only one I have not reached out is Senator Andy Uba. I served him loyally when I was still Chairman of PDP and he was our governorship candidate and I leave the rest to God. He is the only aspirant who refused to talk to me. I called him, sent him SMS and even went to his house, but he did not open the gate for me.

    “I met with all other aspirants and all of them are in the same train and belief that we should all work together to win the election. I must commend them and the entire state executive and other stakeholders. He is the only person who has refused to see me until this moment.

    “There is the Igbo adage that says if you want to share something, you have to give to yourself first. I am contesting for governor ad not supporting somebody against him. It is all about internal democracy. That is why we left PDP. I am a proud former PDP member, a party that give me the opportunity to fly their flag as a candidate irrespective of the betrayal.

    “We joined the APC because we believe that once you are voted by the party, your mandate will be maintained. I have no doubt that it will be maintained. I have told the panel that we should all go and work for the success of the party.

    “It is not about Tony Nwoye’ but for the party to win. We want to make the difference in Anambra and stop the looting in Anambra and impoverishing the people. The poverty level in Anambra has risen so much under my brother, Willie Obiano who has been siphoning local government funds.”

    Speaking further, he said “the attempt to tarnish my image is the handwork of the government in the state. They have called me cultist and all manner of names. I passed through the university of Nigeria and was picked as Student Union President in 1988.

    “I was the one God used to fight cultism to a stand still. Due to the fact that the APGA government f is afraid they have resorted to propaganda, but we will sort it out on the field. The spreading of falsehood will not save them because it is one man, one vote.

    In Anambra state, anybody who will be the governor will be from Anambra.

    “Let Obiano tell us what he has done with our resources from the federations account and the local government fund he has been diverting”

    On legal action, he said let us go for election first. They want to distract me, but they cannot distract me.

    Also speaking Chairman of the party in the state, Barrister Eze, said: “In the interest of the party, the appeals panel should rule in accordance to what happened in the field. Nobody should do anything that will jeopardize our victory because I know that we are going g to Anambra to win the election. The election is ours to win and they should do whatever they want to do according to what happened in the field.

    “I must tell you that I did not receive any official complain from any of the aspirants and that is the read I told them that it is unheard of that people are writing petitions from Anambra to the national body without coping me. I don’t even know what they are alleging or the number of people that petitioned.”

    He dismissed allegations of manipulation of the process saying “all we know was the accreditation was done and there was nothing like fake delegates except in Orumba north where people complained that their names were changed. There was nothing like thugs at the voting Centre and the accreditation Centres were I was present.

    “The issue in Orumba north happened inside the arena and the chairman came and said they were going to use the list they have. I have not heard anything about financial inducement.”

  • Forum drums support for Anambra APC governorship candidate

    Forum drums support for Anambra APC governorship candidate

    Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF), a socio-political group says Dr Tony Nwoye, All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, is the only candidate with the pedigree to transform Anambra to a model state.

    The President of the forum, Mr Augustine Chukwudum, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Saturday that Nwoye had the needed charisma, dynamism and exposure to lead Anambra to the next level.

    Chikwudum, therefore, called on Anambra people to vote en mass for Nwoye for the needed transformation on the Nov. 18 governorship poll.

    He expressed optimism that an APC-led administration with the support of from the Federal Government would fix all existing infrastructure and developmental lapses in the state.

    “Nwoye is the only person who can continue from where the former governor Chris Ngige stopped in terms of building an enduring developmental infrastructure because since Ngige left office, the state has remained stand still.

    “No solid road; no water both in the urban and rural area; no free education; hospital has been overgrown with weeds and no new jobs creation,’’ he said.

    Chukwudum said that other notable areas where the state had been doing well previously had continued to retard behind.

    “While agriculture, tourism and industry, where the state had been faring well in the 80s, 90s and early 20s is nothing to write home about now.

    “To correct all these ills is why Ndigbo Unity Forum endorse Nwoye because he is well equipped to lead Anambra to higher level of development,’’ he said.

    “I therefore call on the good people of Anambra to vote Nwoye, APC governorship candidate come Nov. 18 election.