Politics

Three PDP senators formally announce move to join APC

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Three senators on Wednesday formally announced that they had dumped the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The senators who had their letter read at plenary on Wednesday were the Minority Whip, Sahabi Ya’u (Zamfara North); Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta North); and Lawal Anka (Zamfara West).

This was made public by Senate President Ahmad Lawan who read their letters of defection during plenary on Wednesday.

Amongst the reasons given by the lawmakers for their resignation was an internal crisis, tyranny, and leadership failure within the PDP.

The defection letter by the Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Sahabi Ya’u (Zamfara West) reads: “I hereby inform Your Excellency and my Distinguished Colleagues of my decision to move from the Peoples’ Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress Party.”

The decision is necessitated by the endemic crisis that engulfed the Zamfara State Chapter of the PDP, which led the national body to dissolve the State Exco of the party.

This has negatively impacted effective representation of my constituents. Being a representative of my people, and having consulted widely with them, I decided to defect from the crises-ridden party to a more formidable and peaceful party, the APC.”

Deputy Chairman, Committee on Senate Services, Lawali Hassan Anka (Zamfara West), on his part, said his defection was informed by the crises in the Zamfara state chapter of the PDP.

Chairman of the Committee on Niger Delta, Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta North) said his decision to resign from the PDP was due to the implosion within the party.

The lawmaker accused the leadership of the party of fostering tyranny, arbitrariness, and intolerance.

World News

Gov Matawalle to join APC Tuesday – Aide

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The Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, will complete his switch to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, his aide said.

The governor’s Director-General, Media, Yusuf Idris, disclosed this to journalists in Gusau on Sunday.

He said: “All is now set for our governor to move from the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) to the APC.

“All the committees that are charged with responsibility for a smooth transition of the governor have reported from their various committees that things have taken shape for the event which is scheduled to hold at a grand reception in Gusau on Tuesday, June 29.”

Idris said the governor’s defection to APC would further strengthen the party in the state.

The aide added: “Let me emphasise to you that Zamfara politicians have always been a single family and even as a PDP governor, my principal, Governor Bello Matawalle has always related very well with those in the opposition parties.

Many people from high and low have followed the governor into the PDP in order to offer their positive advice for the growth and development of the state. Some of such persons were given top government positions and responsibilities which they held very well too.

“Under this new development which will be witnessed by 18 APC governors, the governor will come along with all the National and State Assembly members as well as the PDP executives from all levels of the state.”

According to him, Governor Matawalle will be received by the Chairman of the APC National Caretaker Committee, Mai Mala Buni.

Politics

CONGRESS: APC begins sales of forms July 1

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) will begin sales of forms for its congresses on July 1.

The APC Director of Organisation, Prof. Al-Mustapha Medaner, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Medaner said the decision followed the approval of activities by the party’s Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).

He said the purchase of forms for ward congresses would take place from July 1 to July 7 while the inauguration of the ward and local government congresses screening and appeals committee would hold on July 10.

The APC chieftain also announced the timetable and schedule of activities for the conduct of congresses across wards, local government areas, and states for the election of party officials.

Medaner said: “The screening of aspirants for the ward positions would take place from July 12 to July 16 while the inauguration of the ward and local government appeals committee would hold on July 19 and ward congresses on July 24.

“The appeals arising from ward congresses would be entertained from July 26 to July 29.

Purchase of forms for the local government positions will be from July 26 to July 30 and screening of aspirants for party positions at the local government level will be from July 19 to July 26.

The appeals arising from local government congresses would be entertained from August 16 to August 20.

“The sales of forms for executive positions at the state level would take place from August 23 to August 27 while the inauguration of screening and appeals committee for state congresses would hold on Aug. 30.

“Screening of aspirants for state executive positions will be from September 6 to September 8 and appeals arising from screening for state executives will hold from September 12 to September 15.

“State congresses will hold on September 18 and appeals arising from state congresses will hold from September 19 to September 21.

By this notice, aspirants will purchase forms as follows: ward chairman – N10, 000; ward vice-chairman, secretary, and treasurer – N5,000, other offices – N 2,000.

“Local government chairman – N25, 000, local government vice-chairman, secretary and treasurer – N15,000.00; other offices – N10,000.”

Medaner said female and physically challenged aspirants would pay 50 percent of the prescribed fees for each position.

Politics

#TwitterBan: Don’t access social media via VPN – APC warns Nigerians

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned Nigerians against the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to access social media.

Following the federal government’s ban on Twitter and subsequent disconnection by network providers last week, many Nigerians turned to VPN to access the microblogging platform.

But National secretary of the APC caretaker committee, John Akpanudoedehe warns that hackers could steal data and money from bank accounts through the use of VPN.

In a statement released on Tuesday, he said; “The APC alerts Nigerians of the many risks involved in accessing contents, especially social media using the Virtual Private Network (VPN) which is vulnerable to the heinous activities of criminal hackers who can steal data and money in bank accounts.

“The APC warns legitimate private and public entities operating in the country to avoid the many dangers of exposing themselves to cybercrimes through the use of VPN which is not adequately secured.

“This advisory is necessary because despite the massive compliance by Nigerians to the federal government’s suspension of Twitter operations in the country, some individuals in the country have resorted to VPN to assess Twitter whose unwholesome activities were detrimental to peace and public order in the country.”

“The APC emphasises that VPN users expose their devices to vulnerabilities, because the network allows third parties access to personal data and changes user location to another country which compromises data integrity.

Your record can be traced to another country that is not yours, with all the risks that entails. Many individuals and organisations using VPN have lost their investments after compromising the security of their devices.

The APC strongly advises that Nigerians should avoid installing or using VPN to access social networking sites in order to protect their privacy and security online.

“This is in our individual and collective interest.”

Politics

Governor Ayade dumps PDP for APC

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Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade has decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ayade made this known on Thursday morning after a closed-door meeting with six APC governors and some members of the National Assembly who visited him at the Government House.

The governors who visited Ayade include Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State; Hope Uzodinma of Imo State; Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State who is also the APC caretaker Chairman; Simon Lalong of Plateau State; Mohammed Abubakar of Jigawa State, and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.

He was elected as the governor of Cross Rivers State under the platform of the PDP in 2015.

Ayade was reelected in 2019 under the platform of the same political party.

Ayade is the second sitting governor to have move to the ruling APC in recent months.

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State also left the PDP Six months back.

Politics

APC threatens to report Fr. Mbaka to Pope Francis for ”threatening” Buhari

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The All Progressives Congress (APC), says Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, spiritual director of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, is threatening the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Yekini Nabena, deputy national publicity secretary, said this in reaction to comments credited to the Catholic priest.

In a sermon on Wednesday, Mbaka asked Buhari to resign over the worsening insecurity in the country.

But in a statement on Friday, the APC spokesman said if the priest continues to “cause disaffection” for the government, he will report him to Pope Francis, leader of the Catholic Church.

Nabena said Mbaka is supposed to use “all known spiritual means of averting crisis but rather threatening a democratically elected government for his own personal benefit while pretending to be speaking for the people”.

The statement read; “One will wonder whom Father Mbaka is emulating because the Lord Jesus Christ did not threaten to bring down the government during his own time, in fact, Jesus Christ obeyed and honoured constituted authority.

“That’s why he paid his tax. We are calling on Father Mbaka to concentrate on his spiritual calling and stop speaking like politicians who it is obvious he (Mbaka) has been dining and wining with.

“If Mbaka has found another political ally, it is better to leave a political message for politicians.

Calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to either resign or be impeached because of the current challenges is ungodly.

“Father Mbaka should not, however, take his luck too far because there is a lot to tell the Vatican and the Pope about his person and his sources of inspiration.”

He asked the priest to emulate Pastor EA Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) who “prays and fasts” to avert crisis in the country.

Politics

Buhari will soon deal with criminals, sponsors —APC

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The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has said criminals and their sponsors who are causing insecurity in the country will soon be dealt with by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee, John Akpanudeodehe, in a statement on the state of insecurity in the country on Monday in Abuja, said the APC will not play politics with the lives of Nigerians in the face of the current security challenges.

In the statement titled, ‘We must unite against insecurity,’ the APC said Buhari is resolved more than ever before to bring perpetrators of violence to book.

“The issue of insecurity in the country has found expression in terrorist and criminal activities of Boko Haram, bandits, kidnappers, rustlers and recently the highly condemnable attacks on security formations in some states,” the statement reads.

“These are current realities and the APC will not play politics with matters of life and our collective wellbeing as a nation.

As a progressive party in government, we are fully focused on identifying and bringing to book the perpetrators and sponsors of this hydra-headed insecurity monster and consolidating on our visible development strides.

“Only in safety can we enjoy the current infrastructure revolution that has witnessed the rehabilitation, construction and reconstruction of over 13,000 kilometers of critical federal roads, construction of thousands of affordable and acceptable housing and of course, the ongoing national railway projects gainfully connecting cities and towns across the country.

The party equally condemns the wanton attacks on police personnel and formations in Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and Anambra States as well as Rivers State.

“We stand with the Nigeria Police Force and families of the victims in this difficult time as we mourn the deaths of innocent and dedicated security personnel simply carrying out their duty of protecting life and property.

“In Imo State, the attack on the Governor’s residence is an attack on democracy and constituted authority serving the interest of the good people of Imo.”

Politics

Rivers APC threatens to sanction Amaechi, Abe

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ahoada Local Government Area of Rivers State has issued a three-month ultimatum to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; and Senator Magnus Abe to resolve their differences or face sanctions.

This was contained in a statement issued on Monday, by the leader of the APC Chapter, Ibiso Nwuche after an extra-ordinary meeting of the party held in Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state.

Nwuche said the ultimatum was due to the failure of the APC leadership in the state to resolve the crisis rocking the party.

Having not had any benefit from the party due to failed leadership from the state and the grassroots levels in Ahoada East, we resolved and gave them (Amaechi and Abe), till July this year to reconcile themselves at the top and move the party forward before we take next action,” Nwuche said.

A statement by Amaechi directing the riverine part of the state to prepare and produce the APC governorship candidate to take over power in 2023 was his personal opinion, the APC leader also explained.

He urged the minister to allow internal democracy thrive as only delegates of the party can decide who will fly the party’s flag.

Politics

APC extends membership registration by three weeks

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has extended its membership registration and revalidation exercise by three weeks.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Secretary of APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, said the extension became necessary given the number of people that are willing to join the party.

The statement read: “The audit of the reports received from the National Membership Registration, Revalidation and Update Committee; the States’ Registration Committees; and that of our Situation Room indicate as follows:

Most states for varied reasons started late, and require additional time to conclude the exercise.

An avalanche of applications from critical stakeholders (including all States Caretaker Chairmen) for an extension of time to capture Nigerians who are still desirous of joining the fold of the progressives.

“The Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) under the leadership of His Excellency, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, had done everything possible to keep to the earlier timeline, however, it has become imperative to extend the duration of this very important party activity.

Consequently, the CECPC has approved the recommendation of the National Committee for the Membership Registration, Revalidation, and Update to extend the duration of the exercise for three weeks.”

Politics

Omo-Agege warns APC against repeating PDP’s mistakes

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Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy President of the Senate, has cautioned the All Progressives Congress(APC) against past mistakes of the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Omo-Agege, gave the charge in an address at the APC South-South Town Hall Meeting for Constitution Review in Asaba, on Sunday, March 28.

He said that the move to review the APC constitution was to make it a peoples oriented party that created equal opportunities for all members.

He noted that the decision of the national leadership of the party to review the party’s constitution was born out of the imperative of receiving contributions at the grassroots levels to make a working document that would provide equal opportunities for all.

To this end, the Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), ably led by Gov. Mai Mala Buni has underlined the sacrosanct need for reviewing the party constitution to meet the current realities of nation’s political space and increase the need for intraparty relationship and efficiency.

History beacons on our great party. It is the first ever opposition party to unseat an incumbent party in the life of our nation, Nigeria.

“Fellow party men, remember that the PDP had confidently said that it would be in power for 60 years. It took the resolve and determination of a strong-willed nation and its people to upstage that confidence.

“Now there is a lesson that we must bear in our subconscious and which should give centrality to our thoughts and deeds,” he said.

Omo-Agege added:”Nigeria has shown that it has come of age in terms of political maturity; politicians and political parties must deliver on their mandates and their promises or face removal, just as it happened in 2015.

Yet, politicians must be given the enablement to so perform. This is why we must provide a working manual (Constitution) that is fully integrative not only of the obligation and responsibilities of party men and women but also of their rights and privileges.”

He added that the party should be guided at all times by a people-oriented constitution.

“Such that as we work, the APC would be so positioned to provide an irresistible appeal to all persons desirous of inclusive and purposeful political participation,” he said.

He charged the Constitution Review Committee, to consider all areas that had been contentious in the exiting party constitution.

The first, by no order of importance is the need to strengthen the organs of the party with clear cut and non-overlapping duties amongst the organs.

“Another is that of power devolution down the grassroots. Our party today has 12 million Nigerians strong and growing, the review needs to give specific functions to the zonal structures of the party such that power trickles down to the ward levels,” he said.

Politics

APC constitutes strategy committee ahead of 2023 election

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee has set up a 61-member Contact and Strategy Committee for the party.

The National Secretary of the committee, John Akpanudoehede, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

He said the constitution of the committee was part of efforts by the committee to rebuild and reposition the party ahead of the 2023 general election.

According to him, the committee will be inaugurated by the Chairman of the committee, Mai Mala-Buni, at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

The committee is headed by the Jigawa State Governor, Mohammed Badaru while Dr. Ikechi Emenike will serve as the secretary.

Other members of the committee are the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, Governors Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Aminu Masari (Katsina), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), David Umahi (Ebonyi) and Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano).

Politics

Zoning APC presidential ticket to north tantamount to third term —Sen Ndume

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The Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, has said that any attempt to zone the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) presidential ticket to the north would be tantamount to a third term after President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in office.

While addressing journalists at a roundtable organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigerian Union of Journalists, FCT Council, on Saturday, the lawmaker representing Borno South in the Senate, said it would be against the party’s constitution for the north to produce the next presidential candidate.

Senator Ndume said in the spirit of fairness, justice and equity, any part of the country’s south should produce the next presidential candidate for the APC.

He said: “I’m against APC producing its presidential candidate from the north. The APC presidential candidate should come from the south. I have said it before and will still say it again that if we have a northerner as APC presidential candidate, to me, it is tantamount to third-term and it is not constitutional.

“The (APC) constitution says the president shall serve two terms and we said then that the north should serve two terms. If you say the North should produce the presidential candidate again, it means you are going for third-term, which is not fair and I believe in fairness, justice and equality.

Let candidate from the south, and that means, south-south, southeast and south-west, clinch the ticket. For the south-east, let me say, for example, you want to be the head of this house and you are calling for the division of the house, will it work?

“And I think the southeast needs to think about it. That is what is creating the rumour for the northerners to even say they want to be the president again. If you want to be president of Nigeria, you must believe in the unity of Nigeria. I support the candidate to come anywhere from the south.”

On the ravaging insecurity, Senator Ndume lamented that troops at war front are ill-equipped to tackle the challenges, and stressed the need for the federal government to ensure that the armed forces have what it takes to fight insecurity, which included the security agencies being well funded.

Also, the lawmaker agreed that there was nothing wrong with the Federal Government hiring mercenaries and Special Forces from foreign countries to help combat insecurity.

“I don’t see what is wrong in asking for help when you are overwhelmed,” he added.

Politics

Two APC House of Assembly members defect to PDP in Bauchi

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Two All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly have defected to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

The members are Hon. Yusuf Muhammad Bako, representing Pali Constituency from Alkaleri LGA, and Hon. Umar Yakubu, representing Udubo Constituency.

This disclosure was made by the Spokesperson for the Speaker of the Assembly, Abdul Burra, after the plenary held late Wednesday and made available to journalists.

According to Burra, Yakubu and Bako made their intentions known in a letter dated March 2, 2021.

He said, “Yakubu’s decision to quit APC was based on the issues arising in the party at both state and national levels.

“He pledged his continued commitment toward salvaging the plight of the citizen and contribute to the developmental goals of the present administration in Bauchi State.

“Bako said his defection came after series of consultations with his constituents in which they decided that he should join political forces with PDP to ensure the success of the present administration considering the developments being brought to the state.

“According to him, there is need for him to have a clear political direction in line with the demands of his people hence the reason of his movement to PDP.”

With the development, the PDP now has 11 members in the state assembly while the APC has 19.

Politics

APC will use seen, unseen forces to capture Anambra –-Ngige

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Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, says the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), will employ seen and unseen forces to capture Anambra State in the upcoming governorship election slated for the state by November.

Ngige made this declaration on Saturday shortly after revalidating his APC membership at Alor Ward 1, Idemili South local government area of the state.

The Minister who has been at logger heads with Governor Willie Obiano added that the registration and revalidation exercise of the party was designed to strengthen and fortify the party in the country and called on Anambra people to key into the vision of the party at the center.

Ngige said the party was seriously deploying all the necessary forces to take over government in the state by November by any means possible.

“The APC is going to use both seen and unseen forces to capture Anambra State by November. By this registration and revalidation, we are trying to fortify the party in the state.

“The seen forces are human beings while the unseen force is God, who is behind the APC,” he said.

Politics

Abiodun, Akeredolu, three others receive Daniel into APC

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The former Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel, on Tuesday officially completed his switch to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, just two years after quitting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Daniel, who was the Director-General of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation for the 2019 presidential election, resigned from PDP in March same year.

He also openly supported the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, during the 2019 governorship election in the state.

He was received into APC at his Asoludero residence in Sagamu, Ogun State, by Governor Abiodun and four other governors elected on the party’s platform.

The governors are – Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano) and Abubakar Bello (Niger).

Bello, who is Chairman of APC Registration and Revalidation Committee, presented broom, a symbol of APC, to Daniel to formally welcome him into the party.

He said the National Chairman of APC Caretaker Committee, Mai Mala Buni, and Bagudu, would formally present the former governor to President Muhammadu Buhari in a few days.

Bagudu, who is the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, described Daniel as a colossus with outstanding political ideology.

He said APC has grown bigger and better with his defection, adding that the party was happy to receive the ex-PDP chieftain.

Akeredolu described Daniel’s switch to APC as homecoming and urged leaders of the party in the state to come together and make the party stronger.

In his response, Daniel said the decision to join APC was well-considered and thought out.

He stressed that Nigeria needed leaders to come together and speak with one voice in order to tackle challenges.

In Ogun, no better time because we have a working governor who needs the support of all,” he said.

Governor Abiodun described Daniel’s defection to APC as historic, saying he supported his governorship ambition in 2019.

“Daniel will add a lot of value to our party. We are a party, not a social club. Before he joined us today (Tuesday), his advanced party has joined us. We expected more people to join us before the end of the registration and revalidation exercise,” he concluded.

Politics

Revalidation exercise will help APC in 2023 – Bamidele

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The Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Opeyemi Bamidele, said on Friday the ongoing membership revalidation and registration exercise in the All Progressives Congress (APC) would boost the party’s chances in 2023.

Bamidele, who stated this after he revalidated his membership of the APC at Iyin Ekiti Ward B, Irepodun/Ifelodun local government area of Ekiti State, added that the initiative of the party’s national caretaker committee would also give ordinary Nigerians an opportunity to join the party.

He said: “The issue of registration or revalidation does not call for controversy.

“Some leaders who spoke against it based on certain criteria that bordered on the credibility of the process and cost still participated in the exercise.

I believe that the ultimate reason for the exercise is to allow new members to come into the APC.

“Some Nigerians just clocked 18. If we are still running a participatory democracy, then they have to be given the right of belonging to a party.

“This is necessary, because not all party members joined us at inception in 2013.

“For me, I believe the exercise is in order.”

He, however, noted that the main problem confronting the nation was more than revalidation or registration of party membership.

The senators urged Nigerian leaders to address the problems of poverty, youth unemployment, and insecurity in the country.

“To be able to address this menace, we must be able to warm ourselves into the hearts of Nigeria as leaders of APC.

“I believe that we have a better tomorrow if we are all patriotic and do the right thing,” Bamidele added.

Politics

PGF DG, Lukmon, warns APC against admitting Fani-Kayode

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The Director-General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Salihu Lukman, has warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to be wary of the ‘clandestine’ attempts by former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, to infiltrate into its camp, saying doing so will be ‘rewarding scandalous behavior.’

Lukman was reacting to stories making the rounds on Monday that Fani-Kayode was consulting with some leaders of the APC with a view to perfecting his defection to the ruling party.

In the evening of Monday, pictures had emerged of the former Minister with the Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the APC, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Borno State and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi States who is the Chairman of the APC Membership Mobilization drive.

However, Fani-Kayode has come out to clear the air on the meeting with the APC leaders, saying his meeting with them was to discuss the “state of the nation, national issues, party politics and the way forward.”

“Yesterday, I had the honour and privilege of having a very productive and important meeting with the Nat. Chairman of the APC, Gov Mai Buni of Yobe state and Gov Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. We discussed the state of the nation, national issues, party politics & the way forward,” Fani-Kayode posted on his Twitter handle on Tuesday morning.

But the PGF DG would not take such explanation as he came out with a statement on Tuesday titled “APC: Reminder about Our Values,” Lukman kicking against any attempt to admit Fani-Kayode who is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), into its fold as he will bring in division into the ranks of the ruling party.

Lukman added that the APC should not be for someone like Fani-Kayode, asking whether the party leadership would also “contemplate admitting secessionist agitator, Nnamdi Kanu or Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau into its fold.

The statement reads in part:

“For our leaders to associate themselves with Mr Fani-Kayode, is simply rewarding scandalous behaviour. Mr Fani-Kayode has fabricated stories, distorted, insulted and damaged information about our party and our leaders.

“The elementary rule of decency would require some good distance between our leaders and such a person. Not even the ward leaders where he is located should be associated with him except for reasons of family ties.

The elementary rule of decency would require some good distance between our leaders and such a person. Not even the ward leaders where he is located should be associated with him except for reasons of family ties.

“By the way, the Caretaker Committee of our party should avoid a situation whereby it takes a decision on issues that are very weighty without consultations. On no account should anyone with the kind of baggage of Mr Fani-Kayode be invited to join the party without clearance from a statutory structure of the party.

“In this particular instance, the National Caucus should be the clearing house.

That our leaders will be meeting with Mr Fani-Kayode in such a compromising way, suggesting that he may be on his way to joining our party, clearly indicates that either those of us saddled with the responsibility of advising them have failed or we have been completely cut off.

“How can a person, who just a few days, if not a few hours ago, wrote to one of our leaders and derogatorily and condescendingly condemned his political prospects of emerging as the Presidential candidate of our party, be given such a high-level reception?

Assuming the open letter to our National Leader, which is all over our media at the time of such reception, wasn’t offensive, what of the open letter he wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari last year?

“Besides the open letters, what abusive language has he not used against our party and our leaders? Most of these are unprintable. A typical example of the kind of abuses he spat on our leaders and our party can be demonstrated with his response to a tweet by Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to President Buhari on Information, last May 2020.

Mr Adesina argued that President Buhari’s emergence as President saved the country. Responding, Mr Fani-Kayode said: ‘Not so my friend. The emergence of Buhari in 2015 annihilated Nigeria and plunged her into darkness, death and destruction. He came to steal, kill and destroy and for the last disastrous 5 years that is all he has done.’

“Compared to most of Mr Fani-Kayode’s barrages of insults on APC and its leaders, this would appear to be very civil. Most Nigerians, both APC members and non-APC members, would appear to be in agreement that any association between APC and its leadership with Mr Fani-Kayode is indicative of the problem of values.

Without being academic in any way, the issue of values is basically about the qualities of people and the vision they hold. What kind of people are we aspiring to attract into our party?

“Do we want to reduce our party into one in which everybody is welcome? Can we, for instance, in any way or form contemplate having a Nnamdi Kanu or Abubakar Shekau as a member? If that were to be the case, why don’t we just have INEC register IPOB and Boko Haram as political parties and allow them to field candidates for elections?

We may be tempted to argue that Mr Fani-Kayode is not Nnamdi Kanu or Abubakar Shekau. It is however difficult to fathom what qualifies him to be associated with our leaders at that high level?

“At this rate, one day, Nigerians will just wake and see some of our leaders presenting Mr Fani-Kayode to President Buhari as a new member of our party. Although we can confidently argue that President Buhari will not approve such deranged possibility, it is important to caution that such consideration will be stretching the trust of party members beyond acceptable limits.”

Politics

Fani-Kayode Set To ‘Dump PDP For APC’.

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A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, is reportedly set to rejoin the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) six years after he left for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This was after meeting with the Chairman, Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, and Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello at a Guest House in Abuja.

Chief Femi Fani-Kayode

The closed-door meeting, which lasted for about an hour, may not be unconnected with the alleged plans for the return of the former Minister to APC.

Politics

Gbajabiamila urges Nigerians to join APC, revalidates party membership

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The Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Saturday revalidated his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos.

Gbajabiamila, who undertook the exercise at his Surulere Constituency in Lagos, urged Nigerians to take advantage of the exercise to join the party.

According to him, APC is the only party committed to the delivery of democratic dividends to the citizens.

The speaker also implored the existing members of the party to participate and take advantage of the exercise to bring more people into the party.

He said: “I want to urge Nigerians to use the opportunity of the registration/re-validation exercise to join the party; APC is the number one party, APC is the party of progressives.

“I also urge all our party members to participate in the exercise to update their membership and take ownership of the party.

“You need to take ownership of the party, and until you have registered or have been revalidated, you are obviously not yet an authentic member of the APC.

“It was when members updated their membership of the party that they could make complaints and contribute their quotas to the progress of the party.”

Politics

Nigerians Will Vote Out APC In 2023 – Wike.

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Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has said that the inability of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to tackle insurgency, banditry and corruption will compel Nigerians to vote out the party in 2023.

Wike noted that with the current economic woes and escalating banditry, it was obvious that Nigerians had realised they made a terrible mistake to have voted for the APC.

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike

A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, quoted Wike as saying this on Thursday shortly after inspecting the Greater Interchange and Underpass being constructed by Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri in Yola.

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