Politics

Buni reconciles Yari, Marafa APC factions in Zamfara State.

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The crisis rocking the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may be short-lived as the two major actors, former governor, Abdulaziz Yari and former senator Kabiru Marafa were on Monday reconciled.

The leaders of the two main factions accepted to sheath their swords in the interest of the party after a reconciliation meeting which lasted more than two hours facilitated by the National Chairman, APC Caretaker / Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni at the party’s national secretariat, Abuja.

The crisis rocking the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may be short-lived as the two major actors, former governor, Abdulaziz Yari and former senator Kabiru Marafa were on Monday reconciled.

The leaders of the two main factions accepted to sheath their swords in the interest of the party after a reconciliation meeting which lasted more than two hours facilitated by the National Chairman, APC Caretaker / Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni at the party’s national secretariat, Abuja.

Briefing journalists after the parley, Buni described the reconciliation efforts as a milestone in achieving his Committee’s mandate of reconciling and rebuilding the party.

Mai Mala Buni said “as you can see today, we are able to achieve reconciliation of our stakeholders in Zamfara State and by extension is the reconciliation of the entire Zamfara APC as a family.

“With this, we have achieved a milestone as Caretaker Committee of this great party, our primary mandate being reconciliation of our members across the country and rebuilding and repositioning of this party at all levels”.

Assuring party leadership that the rift is over, former governor Abdulaziz Yari said he is genuinely committed to the foregoing past misgivings between himself and Marafa in recent years and look forward to uniting all aggrieved stakeholders with the aim of regaining Zamfara State from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023.

He said “this meeting lasted for not more than two to three hours and alot of things have been discussed but the most important of what is being discussed, understanding our coming together is paramount for any success now and in the future.

“We have built this party from zero level to where we are and Zamfara has ever remain ANPP- APC State and what led to that success is our coming together. So that togetherness is what we’re working to achieve in the future and this is the starting point.

“This is not symbolic, it’s real that we understand all of us are human beings bound to make mistakes and that mistakes can be corrected so that we can come together to achieve a target and go and bring back our party to limelight in the State and also to maintain in the center.

“A lot of things have been said but the most important thing is we are together and this is the begining and what happened in the past will never repeat itself ”.

Senator Kabiru Marfa said he embraced the reconciliatory efforts of the party leadership having realised that reconciliation is an integral part of every human endeavour.

Promising that the over two years crisis will strengthen APC in the state, Marafa said “I hope our own mistake will serve as a source of strength for all of us and for APC itself especially and the country in general.

“Our country is facing very serious challenges. Our party was given an unprecedented support that has never been given any party in Nigeria and we owe the party and Mr President a duty to support them and support Mr President to deliver especially for us coming from Zamfara State and the North West in particular we are facing very serious problems and for that reason I think no amount of effort will be too much.

“I received a call from my my friend and leader, the Governor of Yobe State to come and attend a meeting.

Despite the short notice, I felt anybody that calls you for reconciliation meeting, he or she calls you to goodness and I attended because of that reason and I’m very happy with the robust decisions or discussions rather that we had in the office.

“I want to use this medium to tell Nigerians today we initiated the process, let me put it that way because we are not the only people we have behind us and these people have absolute confidence in all of us.

“So today marks the very beginning in the chapter of APC in Zamfara State and I hope, given the assurances that I heard from various speakers during the meeting that at the end of the tunnel we would see light.

“I thank Nigerians for understanding with all of us especially during the period of crisis and for our supporters back home I want to assure all of them that both of us are committed to their welfare and their progress we sleep with them in our hearts and we wake up with them in our hearts.

“We may not necessarily measure up to their expectations because we are human beings and Zamfara is over 4 million people so there is no way we can please each and every one of them but I want to use this medium to tell them that we will do our utmost best all of us here to make sure that we carry majority of them in whatever decision we are going to take and God is going to see us through”.

The Daily Times recalled that the supremacy battle between the two leaders led to the loss of Zamfara, an APC traditional state to the Governor Bello Matawalle led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) during the last governorship election.

At the peak of the crisis, Marafa ditched the party for the PDP and allegedly worked against the APC at the polls.

Politics

APC will soon take over South-East —Lawmaker

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The member representing Isikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State in the House of Representatives, Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has boasted that her party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), will soon take over the entire South-East region with the ruling party set to begin its nationwide re-registration drive.

Onyejeocha who spoke on Saturday when she hosted a delegation of Ndi Igbo elders from Amaibo Oguduasa community in Isuikwuato local government area, said with the APC in power, the people would see more developments coming their way.

While urging the elders to take the APC message to their different wards and urge their people to register en masse, the lawmaker said:

‘In the APC, we are in a hurry to develop Abia North. We are determined to take over Abia State and the entire South-East, and we are committed to transforming Nigeria.

“You should take this APC message to our people in the villages; they should seize the opportunity of the new registration and re-registration exercise created by APC to become members of our great party so that we can get more dividends of democracy from the central.

“Abian should register en masse in APC because that is where the light for Ndi Igbo is.

“In Abia State, we only have two political parties, the APC and others. We have tested other parties in this country and we have never had it this rosy”, she declared.

Politics

JIGAWA: APC holds by-election primaries February 5

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday fixed February 5 for the by-election primaries in Kafin Hausa Federal Constituency of Jigawa State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will hold the by-election in the constituency on March 6.

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

He said sales of forms for the election will begin at the party’s national secretariat on January 30 and ends on February 1 while the screening of aspirants takes place on February 2.

He said the Expression of Interest and nomination forms for the election would cost N850,000, adding that female aspirants and the physically challenged would pay 50 percent of the prescribed amount.

Medaner said: “The publication of claims and objections takes place on February 3 while the screening begins on February 4.

“Hearing of matters relating to the primary election holds on February 7.”

Politics

Membership registration will improve APC chances in 2023 – Gov Bello

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The Niger State Governor, Sani Bello, said on Wednesday the All Progressives Congress (APC) national membership registration and revalidation exercise would improve the party’s chances in the 2023 general election.

Bello, who is the chairman of the APC national membership registration and revalidation committee, stated this during the inauguration of members of the committee in Abuja.

He said the registration exercise was conceived to expand the party’s membership base ahead of 2023 general election.

The governor recalled that the last membership registration in APC was done in 2014, adding that while some members had died, a few others had left the party.

Bello said: “We believe that when we are done with the exercise, it will increase our membership base and our chances in the coming elections.

“We have very few members that had left the party and many had also joined us. We have young boys and girls that have turned 18 between 2014 and today.

“And we believe they should be given opportunity to register as members of our great party.”

He expressed optimism that the exercise would afford everyone, including those who decamped from other political parties, the opportunity to be fully registered in APC.

Bello assured that the party would ensure that no one is left behind during the exercise.

He, however, warned that the APC national leadership would tolerate the hijack of registration materials by any group or individual.

“We should also know that domination of the registration process by an individual or group will not be accepted.

“I appeal to the chairmen and secretaries of this committee to stand their grounds and ensure that justice and fairness prevailed.

“I pray that Allah protect our party and our leaders, especially President Muhammadu Buhari, all our governors, National Assembly members, Council Chairmen, and all our party members so that we can flourish and excel,” the governor added.

Politics

Confusion as APC dismisses reports on postponement of membership registration

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed as fake and mischievous reports on the purported postponement of its membership registration and revalidation exercise scheduled to commence on Monday.

The reports which quoted an earlier statement claimed APC has postponed the membership registration exercise until further notice.

But in a statement issued late on Saturday night by the Secretary of its Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator James Akpanudoedehe, APC urged members of the public to ignore the reports.

The statement read: “The APC membership registration, revalidation, and update exercise remains on course and commences as scheduled in the attached timetable.

“As earlier announced, the CECPC has approved the constitution of State Membership Registration Committees for the party’s nationwide membership registration, revalidation, and update exercise. This will be followed by a train-the-trainer workshop.”

Meanwhile, the APC has released the timetable and schedule of activities for the exercise.

In the schedule of activities released by APC, the party national leadership would constitute and inaugurate the State Membership Registration Committees between Monday and Wednesday.

Politics

PDP tasks APC leaders to speak out against Buhari’s ‘U-turn’ over promise on restructuring

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to speak out on President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to go back on the party’s campaign promise of implementing an administrative restructuring of Nigeria.

The opposition party also tasked APC leaders to respond to their members in the Senate, who through their spokesperson, Senator Ajibola Basiru, claimed that restructuring as promised by APC was only a ‘slogan’, as well as the revelation that neither the APC nor its leaders had submitted any memorandum for the promised restructuring and devolution of power upon which they rode to power in 2015.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Saturday, the party called out APC leaders including its Caretaker Committee Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni, its National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Nasir el-Rufai, Governor Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed among others, to speak out on Mr. President’s recent declaration on restructuring as well as the position of the Senate.

“Our party holds that the inaction of the APC in the face of the dismissive declaration by the Buhari Presidency that Nigerians, who they had promised restructuring, should now channel their demands to the National Assembly, only goes to further validate the assertions among Nigerians that the APC is a deceptive power-grabbing platform, which is not interested in governance or fulfilling its promises to Nigerians.

“It is very disappointing that almost six years after riding to power on the promise of restructuring, the Buhari Presidency has made no concrete effort towards forwarding an executive bill to the National Assembly on the matter, only to now ask Nigerians to carry their burden to the legislative houses.

“Our party asserts that beside President Buhari, other bigger culprits of the failure on restructuring are the silent leaders of the APC who, despite promising restructuring, are clandestinely supportive of its huge betrayal.

“The APC must therefore take responsibility for on-going challenges to our national unity, having failed to fulfill the promises they made on restructuring such as devolution of power and true federalism,” the state read in part.

Politics

‘Dogara’s name not in our register. He is not a member,’ APC denies ex-speaker in court

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday told the Federal High Court, Abuja, that the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, is not in its membership register and has therefore not defected to the party.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had approached the court to declare Dogara’s seat in the lower legislative chamber vacant following his defection to the APC in July last year.

PDP claimed the ex-speaker illegally defected to the ruling party after he was re-elected on its platform.

The suit was filed by PDP and its chairman in Bauchi State, Hamza Koshe Akuyam.

The Head of APC Legal Department, Dare Oketade, who filed a counter-affidavit on behalf of the party, dismissed the claim by the PDP that Dogara has defected to the ruling party.

The official said he had gone through the APC membership register and did not find Dogara’s name in the register.

Oketade said: “In fact the 5th defendant (the APC) has not received an application for membership from the 1st defendant (Dogara) or any other person acting under the instruction of the 1st defendant; neither the 5th defendant has issued any membership card to the 1st defendant.

“Recording the name of the 1st defendant as member of the 5th defendant in the membership register of the 5th defendant and the subsequent issuance of APC’s membership card to the 1st defendant confers the 1st defendant the membership of the 5th defendant.”

He said the PDP suit was speculative and instituted in bad faith and urged the court to dismiss the application in the interest of justice.

Politics

2023: APC vows to take over Delta

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The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Delta State has declared it’s readiness to win future electons in the state, beginning with the March 6, 2021 local government elections.

The party said it was now poised more than even before to sack the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) from Government House, Asaba in the 2023 general election.

Chairman of the state caretaker committee of the party, Prophet Jones Ode Erue made the declarations while inaugurating the State Non-Working Committee, State Working Committee (SWC) and the 25 local government caretaker committees in Asaba.

Erue said the APC in Delta State is now more united, adding that with the successful inauguration of the party organs, APC has totally reconciled all aggrieved members to work in one accord.

He declared that were no more factions or tendencies that hitherto pursued narrow and selfish in past, which had accounted for the party’s poor electoral fortunes in the past.

“We are all united now to take over the governance of Delta State from the corrupt and decadent hands of the PDP led by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa,” he said.

The chairman tasked the inaugurated caretaker committees for the 25 local governments to take the message of total reconciliation to the grassroots in order to have a more harmonious and cohesive platform to defeat the PDP.

He however admitted that reconciliation was not a tea party, and charged party faithfuls to reach compromises and be ready to shift ground in the interest of APC in Delta State.

Erue urged the local government executives to go back to their various localities and inaugurate caretaker committees for the different wards.

He further tasked the grassroots leaders to ensure that the membership strength of the party is increased by over 100% in the forthcoming national revalidation exercise.

Politics, World News

APC Knocks Trump, Urges Him To Emulate Buhari

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The All Progressive Congress (APC) urged United States President, Donald Trump, to emulate his Nigerian counterpart on how to handle defeat after losing an election.

In a statement by the party’s Secretary of Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, John Akpanudoedehe, titled, ‘The integrity of a leader is as important as strong institutions’, the party condemned the US Capitol Building riot by pro-Trump protesters. 

The APC also faulted Trump’s refusal to concede defeat in the United States 2020 presidential election stressing that President Muhammadu Buhari contested and lost in elections several times but followed due process through to the Supreme Court.

The statement read, “The events of the past 72 hours in the United States of America are to say the least condemnable. Over time, the elections of the US have been used as a touchstone for elections in other democracies.

“It is settled that strong institutions are fundamental to the sustenance of democracies. However, this US election saga strongly underscores the fact that the integrity of the country’s leader essentially complements the workings of institutions.

“President Muhammadu Buhari contested and lost elections a number of times and followed the process through to the Supreme Court on all accounts. This is an outstanding credential of a true democrat.

“Upon ultimately gaining victory in 2015, the APC-led administration has carried out fundamental reforms to strengthen our institutions.

“For instance, non-interference in the functions of the Independent National Electoral Commission. The APC has contested elections; won some, lost some without splitting hairs. In fact, at some point, the APC lost over five states to the Peoples Democratic Party, yet we allowed democracy to prevail. We have remained resolute in our belief that in every electoral contest, popular will must prevail.”

The opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had earlier written to the APC to stop ‘unpatriotic practice of putting narrow partisan interests above the national interest’.

Akpanudoedehe, in the statement, also faulted the position of the PDP, stating that it was merely designed to gain political mileage and reinforce disinformation.

He said, “This is a far-cry from the days of the do-or-die politics of the PDP, where civilians took control of the security apparatus to subvert the people’s will and determine the outcome of elections.

“Electoral reform is a core plank of the programmes of the APC-led administration and a legacy that Mr. President has promised to bequeath to Nigerians.

“Therefore the statements by the PDP are merely designed to gain political mileage and they only reinforce the disinformation on all issues, which the PDP constantly and laboriously pursues at all times. The positions taken by the PDP governors against these institutional reforms are in the public domain.”

Politics

Certificate forgery suit filed by APC against Obaseki begins

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A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, will begin hearing in the certificate forgery case filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, today, Monday, November 16.

The APC had instituted the case in July, 2020, asking the court to quash the nomination of Obaseki by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September governorship poll which the incumbent won, defeating Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the APC.

The APC has engaged the services of a top legal team of five Senior Advocates of Nigeria led by a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Akin Olujimi.

Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed had fixed today after a request by Olujimi and an APC chieftain in Edo State, Edobor Williams, with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, joined in the suit marked FHC/B/CS/74/2020.

The plaintiffs are praying the court for an order disqualifying Obaseki on the grounds that he supplied false information on oath to INEC, an act they say is contrary to Section 31(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

In June, the University of Ibadan had confirmed that Obaseki was a product of the institution while the Registrar of the institution, Olubunmi Faluyi, said the Edo Governor gained admission in 1976 and studied Classics, and graduated in 1979 with a Second Class Honours, Lower Division.

Politics

ASUU: The money APC looted can settle lecturers’ demands – Bamgbose

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Olusegun Bamgbose, Esq, the National Coordinator, Concerned Advocates for Good Governance, CAGG, has alleged that the amount of money embezzled by All Progressives Congress, APC, government was enough to settle all the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

He said that in a matter of days, his team will contact the ASUU Chairman and know the modalities to settle the union’s demands and resolve this issue once and for all.

“We can’t just helplessly watch this administration destroy our hope of better tomorrow overnight,” he said.

Bamgbose, in a chat with DAILY POST on Monday, said it was quite unfortunate that the strike embarked upon by ASUU has lingered than necessary.

The senior lawyer said that it is now very obvious to Nigerians that this government has placed no value on Education, adding that they are insensitive to the plight of students and their parents.

“This government has failed to realize that the biggest infrastructure is not the building of roads, hospitals, etc, but rather, the most important and the biggest infrastructure is education.

“I’ll rather as President, negotiate for foreign loans to fund education than to build roads. This government has not come to terms with the fact that, education can’t be destroyed but roads and other infrastructures can.

“The attitude of this government towards funding education is most regrettable. The type of money embezzled by APC government can settle the lecturers one time.

“However I believe it’s high time we united as citizens of this nation, by ignoring this government and come to the rescue of our frustrated students.

“Virtually, none of their children is in any of these Universities, so they are not in any way bothered. I want to assure our undergraduates not to give up, there is hope.

“If elected as President, there won’t be any ASUU strike throughout my administration, I’ll expect the National Assembly to impeach me if there is any ASUU strike during my tenure as President.

“In the meantime, I’ll expect Nigerians to rise up to the occasion and rescue our students. It’s time to tell the government that Nigerian youths will not only protest when necessary, but also sacrifice to make things work. ”

Politics

2023: Saraki no longer a threat to us – APC boasts

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The Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said declared that Bukola Saraki, former Senate President, does not pose any threat in the state.

APC chairman in the state, Hon Bashir Bolarinwa, made the remark while insisting that the party remains very solid in the state.

APC added the former Senate President Bukola Saraki cannot pose any threat to the party in the state.

He spoke in Ilorin, the state capital at a prayer organized in honour of late Governor Mohammed Lawal.

According to Bolarinwa: “Let me say this for all to hear. We are not disallowing anybody from entering the state.

“We know that Saraki can no longer pose any threat to APC in the state.

“God that was with us yesterday is forever with us. Our members have no reason to entertain any fear.

“Saraki’s domination of Kwara political landscape is gone for good.”

Politics

Amaechi, El-Rufai have not told us about their presidential ambition yet – APC

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The All Progressives Congress, APC, on Wednesday reacted to the presidential campaign posters of Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation.

APC’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena said both Amaechi and El-Rufai have not informed the party about their intentions to contest for presidency in 2023.

The campaign posters also had Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State as Amaechi’s running mate.

Messages on the posters read: “The People’s choice,” “Today may not be the best, but tomorrow will be better”.

The posters were sighted in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and some highways in Abuja.

However, Nabena in a brief chat with DAILY POST said the party needs to find out those behind the campaign posters.

According to Nabena: “We need to find out if they are the ones behind it or people are the ones doing it.

“We need to get those things clear because they have never told the party that they want to run for presidency, so I really don’t know. Until they inform the party, then I will know.”

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