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Tag: Yekini Nabena

  • 2019: APC raises alarm over fake registration website

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised concern over a trending fake website, apcregistration.com, which it says is meant to harvest its members ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The party raised the alarm in a statement issued by Mr Yekini Nabena, its National Publicity Secretary on Sunday in Abuja.

    It said that the fake website was a scam sponsored by a “main opposition party,” stressing that it was not authorised by its leadership.

    “We alert our supporters, members, and indeed the general public about a purported membership registration website of the All Progressives Congress (APC) – apcregistration.com.

    “The website which is trending on social media is unauthorised and a scam.

    Read also: FG flags off N22.7bn road rehabilitation project in Adamawa

    “Our internal investigation has revealed that the fake website is sponsored by one of the main opposition political parties in its desperate and criminal plot to harvest APC members ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    “We have deliberately not named the political party and hereby call on relevant security agencies to urgently investigate the website and its sponsors,” the party said.

    It urged its teeming supporters and members to take advantage of the on-going nationwide APC membership registration in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT to register.

    According to the party, the exercise will include both fresh registrations and revalidation of existing membership for the purposes of issuance of its permanent membership cards.

  • 2019: APC disowns publicised timetable for primaries

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that it has not released the timetable for State, National Assembly, Governorship and Presidential primaries, as it is being reported in a section of the media.

    Mr Yekini Nabena, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja while reacting to the development

    Read Also: Support swells for APC in Abia

    “The party is yet to announce its official timetable for the listed primaries,” the APC spokesman said.

    He described the timetable circulating in the social media and published in a particular newspaper as fake, saying that it should be disregarded by the general public.

     

    NAN

  • ‘Don’t entrust Nigeria into the hands of treasury looters again’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned Nigerians against entrusting the Leadership of the country in the hands of those whose sole aim is to loot the nation’s treasury and return the country to the dark ages where impunity and institutionalized corruption was the order of the day.

    Reacting to the statement credited to Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki that he was considering contesting the Presidency, Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena said it was evident that Saraki was out to serve his own interest and not that of the nation.

    While saying that it was not a thing of surprise that the Senate President would indicate his interest in the Presidency of the country, Nabena said Nigerians must open their eyes and vote wisely for those who an pass the integrity test.

    The statement reads: “In a recent interview with the international news organization, Bloomberg, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki unsurprisingly declared his intention to contest the 2019 Presidency under the platform of the People’s  Democratic Party (PDP).

    “Against the backdrop of the litany of corruption allegations trailing the Senate President, Saraki’s declaration, brings to the fore our earlier call to anti-graft agencies to check the use of stolen public funds to finance elections in this country. We reiterate our position that the Nigerian electorate must have the opportunity to choose from candidates that can pass the integrity and anti-corruption test.”

    It said further: “Let us refresh our memory on some of Saraki’s corruption allegations:

    • Allegations of fraud which led to the collapse of the Saraki family-owned Société Générale Bank (Bukola Saraki who was Director of the defunct bank was indicted as over N1bn alleged to have been looted from the bank’s treasury).
    • Misappropriation of Kwara State funds, disregard of government due process and conversion of State government assets into his and cronies when he served as two-term governor of Kwara State.
    • History of betrayals, treachery and sabotage – Family, political party (PDP, APC), Senate, government.
    • Saraki was questioned by the Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit over a N11 billion financial scandal at the defunct Intercontinental Bank.
    • Gluttonous property acquisitions and hidden multi-billion dollar assets spread across the world as disclosed by the Panama Papers revelations.
    • The multi-million dollar white elephant Shonga Agricultural Project in Kwara State when Saraki served as two-term governor.
    • Falsification of Senate standing order
    • Saraki’s link to the N298m armored Range Rover SUV seized by the Nigeria Customs Service.
    • Saraki’s link to $19.5b Paris Club Loan refund scandal
    • Oversaw budget padding in the National Assembly
    • Among other numerous corruption scandals.

    The party said that “Nigerians should be wary of a man whose personal ambition will always supersede the interest of the majority and national interest as currently displayed in the National Assembly.

    Read Also: Tinubu: Saraki, Tambuwal left APC for fear of Buhari

    “While Saraki refuses to reconvene the National Assembly, the 2019 election budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is dangerously delayed, an action deliberately taken to sabotage INEC’s ability to conduct free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2019.

    “While Saraki refuses to step down as Senate President as rightly and severally demanded by the APC-dominated Senate, he is bent on foisting a PDP-minority rule (Senate President and Deputy Senate President) in the Upper Legislative House.

    “The only politics that Bukola Saraki plays is self, himself only and only himself. The interest and welfare of the people of Nigeria do not mean anything to him. Now it is the Presidency Saraki wants.

    “And we ask with what antecedents is he doing this? Conspiracy, blackmail, treachery and vaulting ambition which overleaps itself and falls on the other, as rightly captured by William Shakespeare. Bukola Saraki will rather rule in hell than serve in paradise.

    “Ahead of 2019 elections, Nigerians must ensure that we never again entrust the leadership of this great country to thieves whose sole aim is treasury looting and returning us to the dark ages where impunity and institutionalized corruption was the order of the day.”

  • Rivers by-election: APC hails electorate for defending their votes

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has applauded Rivers State electorate for bravely defending their votes despite the violence and snatching of electoral materials at last Saturday’s by-election.
    The APC in a statement issued by Mr Yekini Nabena, its National Publicity Secretary, on Sunday in Abuja, however, alleged that the violence was perpetrated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
    “Nigerians will recall how the PDP speaking through its national spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan last Tuesday vowed to deploy all means, schemes, shenanigans in all ramification and magnitude to rig all coming election.
    “While we condemn the PDP-sponsored violence and failed attempt to rig the by-election, the APC calls on the Rivers state electorate and indeed all Nigerians to continue to stand their ground,”the statement said.
    It also called on the electorates to resist any attempt to rig elections in the country, saying that votes must count and that people’s will must prevail in all elections.
    The statement called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies to deal anyone involved in rigging in the forthcoming general election.

    Read also:PDP wins Taraba assembly by-election

    The  by-election to fill the vacant positions in the Port Harcourt State Constituency III had been suspended by INEC, following cases of violence and electoral malpractice that characterised the exercise.

    Mr Obo Effanga, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Rivers, who announced the suspension on Saturday night, cited widespread violence as reasons.

    The by-election was conducted by INEC to fill the vacancy left by Victor Ihunwo, now Chairman, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.

    Effanga stated that because the exercise was marred by widespread violence, it was suspended in accordance with Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2010.

    “INEC has decided to suspend the election forthwith,’’ he had said.

  • We must stop funding of 2019 elections with stolen funds – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that Nigerians must take steps to check the use of stolen funds by politicians to finance the 2019 general election which it said is an opportunity for the electorate to choose candidates who can pass the integrity test.

    In a statement signed by the Acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, the party said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and other anti-graft bodies to intensify efforts at investigating and recovering public funds and assets that have been stolen by public officials.

    The statement reads in part: “Fighting corruption is one of the key election promises the Party made to Nigerians and we remain solidly committed and determined to achieve it. Our call to anti-graft agencies is imperative as we prepare for the 2019 general elections.

    “We must check the use of stolen public funds to finance elections in this country. Again, it is important that the Nigerian electorate have the opportunity to choose from candidates that can pass the integrity and corruption test.

    “We must ensure that we never again entrust the leadership of this great country to gang of thieves whose sole aim is treasury looting as brazenly displayed in past People’s Democratic Party (PDP) administrations.

    Read Also: APC to INEC: investigate PDP’s plan to rig elections

    “An example is a current Senate presiding officer facing EFCC investigations. It is difficult to fathom how a federal lawmaker, who before his current position was an Associate Lecturer and Local Government Chairman, owns 22 high-end properties in Nigeria and other exclusive locations across the world.

    “It is our hope that the anti-graft agencies investigating this Senate Presiding officer makes public his and other corruption probe status reports so that Nigerians can know them for who they are.

    “Meanwhile, in line with our promise to combat corruption, the fight against graft has been hugely successful and the gains are clear. The bold effort of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to instill probity in our national life has led to the gradual disappearance of the era of impunity.

    “Commendably, President Buhari in line with his tough anti-corruption stance recently signed into law the Nigerian arm of the global financial intelligence unit – Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). We are confident that the new law will boost ongoing efforts to combat money laundering, terrorism financing and check suspicious transactions, especially as we prepare for the 2019 elections.”

     

     

  • APC to INEC: PDP plans to deploy thugs for Osun guber election

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it has information that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) is planning to deploy thugs and to rig the forthcoming Osun governorship election.

    APC National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, on Wednesday in Abuja also accused the PDP of cloning Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) for use in the election.

    Read Also:Saraki’s action is high treason, says APC

    “The PDP on Tuesday vowed to deploy all means, schemes, shenanigans in all ramification and magnitude to rig all coming elections, starting from the Osun governorship election.

    “The party also directed all its presidential aspirants to move all their political machinery into Osun State within this period.

    “When the APC learnt of the shocking disclosures, we initially doubted its veracity and dismissed it as one of the fake news in circulation,” Nabena said in a statement.

    It stressed that the PDP’s statement on Tuesday was particularly worrisome because it coincided with the situation field report the APC received on its plans for the Osun governorship election.

    It added that the PDP’s new public rigging plans was a red flag that required urgent probe by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies.

    The statement called on well-meaning Nigerians and civil society organisations to speak out and resist the PDP’s retrogressive plan which threatened the country’s democracy.

    It reminded the PDP that the country’s democracy was maturing, and that its crude election rigging methods such as ballot box snatching displayed during last weekend by-election in Kogi was no longer accepted in elections.

    It, however, expressed confidence that the people of Osun would resist the PDP’s deployment to take-over the state by force.

    “The people’s will, the people’s vote is supreme, it must be respected and defended, that is democratic, progressive and the right thing, “the statement said.

    It further reminded the PDP of the new realities that the old Nigeria was slowly but surely disappearing and a new era was rising as captured by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    It added that unlike undemocratic practices under past administrations, elections under the APC administration were increasingly freer and fairer.

    The statement said this was a very significant feat in APC’s march for lasting and representative democracy.

    The Osun governorship election is slated for Sept. 22.

  • DSS intervention saved planned violence in NASS, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the intervention of security operatives prevented what could have led to a planned violence which could have led to possible deaths, injuries and destruction of property in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

    Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena said in a statement that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki mobilized thugs to the National Assembly that would have foment violence in the legislative chamber all in a bid to stop his impeachment.

    Read Also:DSS boss Daura fired

    He said it was curious that only PDP lawmakers were present at the National Assembly as early as 7.00am while those they accused of plotting to impeach the senate President were busy holding their meeting at a different location outside the assembly.

    The statement reads: “Following Tuesday’s incident at the National Assembly, our investigations have now uncovered the sinister plot hatched by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki to foment violence in the legislative chamber all in a bid to stop his impeachment.

    “Our investigations uncovered and noted “the timely intervention of the security operatives forestalled the planned violence which could have led to possible deaths, injuries and destruction of property in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

    “Why did the Senate President mobilise thugs to the National Assembly who almost lynched Hon. E.J. Agbonayinma, the only APC federal lawmaker present but for the timely intervention of security operatives.

    “Why did the Senate President reconvene the National Assembly? Ostensibly as a pre-emptive move to frustrate federal lawmakers move to impeach him. Is it not curious that only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) federal lawmakers were present in their numbers-some as early as 7am, while the majority APC federal lawmakers were elsewhere holding a caucus meeting on the state of the nation.

    “We call on security agencies and relevant bodies to as a matter of urgency probe these findings and take all necessary and legitimate action to stop these illegalities which pose a direct and ominous threat to our democracy.

    “As espoused in our earlier statement, whilst our contention with the leadership of the National Assembly as currently constituted is a matter of public record, we still believe that the legislature as an independent arm of government must be allowed free reign for vibrant contestation of ideas and values amongst its members within the context of their constitutional mandate and for the benefit of the Nigerian people.

    “Finally, we reiterate our call for the Senate President to resign from the position immediately as he no longer has the moral and legitimate ground to occupy that position as a member of the minority PDP. Going by the popular axiom, ‘the majority will have their way, but the minority will have their say”.

  • APC Deputy Spokesman calls for Saraki’s expulsion

    The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini Nabena, on Wednesday, called for an immediate expulsion of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, from APC for anti-party activities.

    Nabena in a statement, a day after 15 senators and some members of the House of Representatives left the APC, accused Saraki of being in cahoots with the defectors.

    He said for “being the ringleader”, there was no justification for APC to continue to tolerate Saraki.

    “He must go now. Or be shown the way out”, Nabena said adding that the party leadership and other members were not surprised by the defections.

    But he said people were rather shocked by Saraki’s utterances and body language, which revealed unconcealed cooperation with the defectors.

    He said: “The news of the about 15 senators who reportedly defected from our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), hardly came as a surprise to anyone. What however, shocked political observers, especially democratic minds, was Senate President Bukola Saraki’s postures and expressions, which clearly communicated his unhidden complicity in the charades against his supposed party.

    “Clearly, Saraki had a big hand in organizing the events that transpired in the National Assembly. He has, therefore, lost the moral justification to remain in APC. The time to expel him from the party is now.

    Read Also: Offa Robbery: Saraki shuns police invitation

    “The public outing by the deserters at the National Assembly was the culmination of months of antiparty activities organised and directed by Saraki. And every scene in that dramatic work of shame revealed his hand.

    “When the senators submitted the letter declaring their intention to leave APC, which was excitedly read by Saraki, the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, attempted to point out what should have been the right procedure if APC had a true party man at the helm.

    “Lawan tried to emphasise the need to allow some time for dialogue, knowing that politics is always a game of negotiation, dialogue, and agreement. Rather than listen to the senate leader and stand down the defections, at least temporarily, to see how the situation could be salvaged, Saraki simply gave in to his own consuming interest in the whole affair and enthusiastically shut down the valid intervention by Lawan.

    “The senate president went on to make a deceitful case for the defectors.

    APC as a democratic institution of democrats understands that “People have the freedom of association.” Saraki did not need to remind us or anyone of that fact.

    “Like we had cause to emphasise in a recent statement, “The APC is not averse to dissenting positions. But we reject deceit in every shade or form.”

    “We have also previously emphasised the fact that the senate president is the major sponsor of the so-called Reformed All Progressives Congress (rAPC), which has pulled out of APC, and whose members in the National Assembly staged the exit that we saw today.

    “Being the ringleader, therefore, there is no justification for APC’s continued toleration of Saraki. He must go