By Abiodun Esan
Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Kwara, has visited members of the party who sustained injuries in Wednesday’s attack by thugs at a stakeholders meeting in Ilorin.

The chairman, who spoke with newsmen on the sidelines of the visit, urged the victims to see their travails as the price to pay in ensuring a thriving democracy.

He said the victims were in an upbeat mood and responding to treatment.

” I led members of the Kwara APC Caretaker Committee to the residences of some of our members who were assaulted by hoodlums at Kwara State Banquet Hall, venue of the APC stakeholders parley organised by the Sen. John Danboyi-led APC Membership Registration/Revalidation Committee.

” Among those visited were Alhaji Dantala Yaro, the State Treasurer and Wahab Adeshina, a member of the board of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).

” Others are Mallam Lai Karatu, a Youth Leader; Alhaja Sidi Gidado, biological mother of our State Women Leader and Mr Salihu Elepo, Ilorin East LGA Secretary.

“These are known and respected stakeholders of the party in Kwara State.

“They were at the event on the formal invitation of the Registration Committee. Unfortunately, all these did not prevent the attacks against them.

“I implored the victims to see their travails as their sacrifices for democracy.

“I charged them to remain law abiding despite the unprovoked attacks. I extended the sympathies of the party to them all,” Bolarinwa said.

He assured the affected party members that their efforts would not be in vain, adding that they should keep hope alive.

Also speaking during the visit to him, Adesina said he was invited to the venue by Danboyi, the chairman of the membership registration committee sent to the state.

He said that on getting to the venue, he and others were not allowed in until the party’s chairman, Bolarinwa, called Danboyi.

On eventually entering the hall, he said a woman confronted Bolarinwa and held his clothes while trying to tear it before he was rescued by some party members.

Adesina said he was also thoroughly beaten and his clothes torn by thugs who accused him of being loyal to the Minister of State for Transportation, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki.

Adesina said he sustained a dislocation on his shoulder bone while his phone and other items were stolen.

Yaro, while narrating his ordeal, said he lost a tooth and sustained bruises during the attack on him.

Karatu, on his part, said he lost three pre-molar teeth as a result of the beating he sustained during the attack.

By Naomi Sharang

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said that the planned establishment of additional polling units across the country would not be treated as constituency projects, an authoritative source in the commission said.

The source, who said this while speaking to news men, in Abuja, on Thursday, noted that the establishment of the units would be based on the need to serve Nigerians and not particular interests.

He said that the creation of the polling units had become necessary because the available ones were inadequate.

“For instance in the whole of Gwarimpa Estate, Abuja, we have just four polling units, how do you expect the mass population in Gwarimpa to vote in just four polling units.

“Even the actual number and exact locations of Polling Units in the country were unknown for a long time. The Jega Commission (2010 – 2015) had to embark on a verification exercise to enumerate and locate the Polling Units.

“In fact, it was only after this verification that the number of Polling Units was established as 119, 973, instead of the round figure of 120, 000 that was assumed for many years.

“Over the years, several challenges have confronted INEC with Polling Units; there is the problem of inadequate number of Polling Units available to voters.

“As a result of population growth, demographic shifts and establishment of new settlements and residential areas, existing Polling Units have become inadequate.”

According to the INEC source, inadequacy of the units implied that many of them were overcrowded during elections, providing a recipe for delays, disruptions, violence and apathy.

While noting previous efforts at establishing the units, the source said: “In 2016 before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils election, in response to the need to create polling units, we established the voting point settlements in the FCT.

“This is because of the new settlements that had emerged, and the increase in population everywhere. In 2018, we tried to create additional polling units and then it was very close to the 2019 elections we didn’t quite succeed,” he said.

The INEC source said that this time around, the commission was ready to engage relevant stakeholders in pushing for the establishment.

“We have issued a statement to say we will start the process of consultation. We are going to start with the political parties, CSOs, media, security; we want to expand the consultation this time around.”

By Douglas Okoro

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it plans to commence its membership registration/revalidation exercise in Ebonyi on Tuesday, Feb 9.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Stanley Okoro-Emegha, the state APC Caretaker Chairman on Thursday in Abakaliki.

According to him, distribution of registration materials across the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state will take place on Monday, Feb. 8, while the actual exercise would begin on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

“The training for LGA committees has been scheduled to hold in Abakaliki at the Ecumenical Centre and will last from Feb. 3 to Feb. 5.

“To ensure compliance with COVID – 19 protocols, the training has been decentralised to avoid crowding.

“The LGAs in Ebonyi South were trained on Wednesday, Feb. 3 while those from Ebonyi Central and Ebonyi North will be trained on Feb. 4 and Feb. 5 respectively,” Okoro-Emegha said.

He urged all members of the party to ensure that they revalidate their membership cards to continue to enjoy rights and privileges accruing to members of the party.

The APC chairman also called on members of the public wishing to join the league of progressives to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the exercise to register saying that the party would open its arms to receive them into its fold.(NAN)

By  Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied wooing former President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2023 presidential race on its platform.

Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and Chairman, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, said this in a statement by Alhaji Mamman Mohammed, his Director-General, Press and Media Affairs on Thursday in Abuja.

“It is diversionary to start discussing 2023 election now; we have a sitting president, who is less than two years in his second term in office.

“We are concentrating on the success of his administration,” Buni said.

He said that the visit of some APC Governors to Jonathan was solely to congratulate him on his birthday and to honour him as a former Nigerian leader.

He added that it was on record that Buhari had in some instances delegated the former president for regional assignments, in spite of their political differences.

Buni said that the focus of the APC Caretaker Committee was to strengthen the party through a bottom-up approach and to carry all members on board.

He said that the committee had succeeded in building confidence among party members by reassuring them of a new hope in the party.

“Aggrieved members of the party have happily rejoined the fold, just as new ones have also joined.

“The caretaker committee has reconciled many aggrieved members and factions across the country, including the Zamfara factions among others,’’ he said.

He added that the committee has also attracted prominent politicians including Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi and many others into the APC.

Buni said that the APC membership registration/revalidation exercise was a constitutional provision which was part of strategies aimed at giving existing and new members a sense of belonging.

He said that the party had not been able to register new members nor update its membership records after the initial membership registration in 2014.

According to him, APC membership registration/revalidation exercise will give new members a sense of belonging and existing ones the opportunity to update their records.

He expressed optimism that the exercise would assist the APC to generate a valid, accurate and up to date data on its membership to enhance and support its planning process. (NAN)

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday, mourned a former Minister of Information and Culture, Chief Tony Momoh, who died on Monday at the age of 81.

The party, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja, described Momoh’s death as a huge loss the country.

He recalled Momoh’s roles in the development of the Nigerian media industry, especially as the editor of Daily Times Newspaper.

Ologbondiyan commiserated with the Momoh family as well as the government and people of Edo.

He prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. (NAN)

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it plans to meet with stakeholders in a few weeks time to address the inadequacies of Polling Units (PUs) in Nigeria.

INEC disclosed this in a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye in Abuja on Tuesday.

Okoye said that the decision was reached at the end of its meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

The stakeholders, according to him include political parties, civil society organisations, religious leaders, traditional institutions, labour unions, socio-cultural organizations, various arms of the federal government, and States Government.

“The Commission met today Feb. 2 and deliberated on a number of issues including the finalised arrangements for the upcoming engagements with stakeholders on expanding voter access to PUs in Nigeria.

“For several weeks, the Commission has been preparing for these national engagements to address the inadequacies of PUs in Nigeria and the challenges they pose to election management.

“Some of these challenges include overcrowding, numerous unserved populations and poor locations, which are potentially disenfranchising millions of Nigerians, and also pose health risks in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is a national problem that calls for national consensus,” he said.

Okoye said that for several years INEC had tried to address this fundamental challenge to democratic consolidation and election administration with minimal success.

This, according to him, has been mainly due to inadequate engagement between the Commission and stakeholders.

“Consequently, he said that INEC resorted to interim measures such as creating Voting Points at Polling Units nationwide and establishing Voting Point Settlements in the Federal Capital Territory.

“These engagements will afford an opportunity for the Commission to consult with stakeholders in order to build a genuine national consensus to address the problem of declining voter access to polling units,” he said.

He appealed to stakeholders in the electoral process and Nigerians at large to work with INEC towards addressing the issue. (NAN)

By Rita Iliya

Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger says the APC membership registration/ revalidation exercise would further strengthen the party at various levels and urged members to adhere to the guidelines.

Bello, represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso said this at APC stakeholders’ meeting in Niger aimed at sensitising members on the guidelines for the exercise on Tuesday in Minna.

He urged the state Registration, Revalidation and Update Committee to synergise to be able to address issues that might arise from the process.

Sen. Domingo Obende, the Chairman of the state Registration, Revalidation and Update Committee, explained that the essence of the exercise was to have an updated name of members of the party.

“This will also include revalidation to know who is a member of the party and who is not, as well as eliminate names of those who have left the party so that only real members will be taken care of,’’Obende said.

He said that the exercise would begin on Feb. 7 and end on Feb. 24, adding that it would be carried out in INEC registration centres across the state.

Obende added that each unit would be given 100 registration forms for a start, assuring that the exercise would be free and fair.

In his address, Alhaji Aliyu Sai’du, the state Caretaker Chairman of APC, assured of a free and fair process.

Sai’du, represented by Suleiman Abdullahi, the state APC caretaker Secretary, urged members of the party to take the exercise seriously. (NAN)

By Emmanuel Acha

Former Enugu State governor, Mr Sullivan Chime says he is proud to have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) and has no plan to leave the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Chime disclosed this on Monday in Enugu during a meeting between APC stalwarts and the Committee on APC Membership Registration and Revalidation Exercise.

The former governor said that he would continue to identify with the APC in spite of speculations that he had left the party.

He expressed joy that the various interests that hitherto contended for the structure of the APC in the state had finally closed ranks, a move which he said had restored peace and unity back to its fold.

“We have come together as one united family and this is the time to encourage our people to join the APC because Enugu State has no reason to be in the opposition,” he said.

Chime said that going forward, the party would work in the same direction of forming the next government in the state.

He said that in due time, the leadership of the party would meet to decide on the zone that would produce the governorship candidate of the party for the 2023 governorship election.

He assured that whoever would be chosen as the flag bearer of the APC for the 2023 governorship election would be supported by all.

He said it was time to redirect the affairs of the state and return it to the path of development and progress.

Chime attributed the success story of his administration as governor to his deliberate policy of social and political inclusion.

“We know how we succeeded in PDP for the eight years when we were in power. Everybody participated in governance and one did not need to have godfather to get something,” he said.

The former governor said that members of the APC in the state were committed to supporting President Muhammadu Buhari in his quest to revamp the economy.

Chime was governor in the state on the platform of the PDP from 2007 to 2015 but defected to the APC few years after his administration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that among party stalwarts who attended the meeting were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama and former President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani.

Others are: the Representative of Enugu State in the Federal Character Commission, Mrs Ginika Tor, former National Vice Chairman of the party (South East), Chief Emma Enukwu, the Chairman of the APC Membership Registration and Revalidation Exercise Committee, Sen. Jonathan Zwingina among others. (NAN)

By Nefishetu Yakubu

Two lawmakers at the Edo House of Assembly have defected to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers included Mr Yekini Idaiye representing Akoko-Edo 1 and Mr Nosayaba Okunbor representing Orhionmwon East Constituency.
Speaker Marcus Onobun read their letters of defection from APC on the floor of the House on Monday.

Onobun, while welcoming them to PDP, commended their desire to work with Gov. Godwin Obaseki in making the state great.

The defection of the two lawmakers has brought the number of PDP lawmakers in the House to nine, leaving the APC with only one lawmaker in the 10-man House.

The House also adopted a business calendar of 65 sitting days for the third quarter with the second session slated from Feb. 1 to April 30. (NAN)

By Amen Gajira
Dr Hadiza Balarabe, Deputy Governor, Kaduna State, has appealed to stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to make financial commitment towards the registration exercise of the party.

Balarabe made the call on Sunday at the Southern Kaduna APC stakeholders’ engagement committee meeting in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area of the state.

She enjoined the stakeholders to make personal monetary contribution, saying that the financial implications of the exercise cannot be left to state government alone.

“I want to call on every stakeholder to make sacrifices financially and otherwise towards the success of this important exercise that we have coming up.

“When you make personal financial commitments to things like that, it gives you a real sense of belonging.

“Government alone cannot be left to cover the cost of this all important assignment, so we must individually do our bit for this party that we love so much,” she added.

According to her, APC is a great party with a great ideology and the registration exercise will reposition it for even greater exploits.

Also speaking, Bala Bantex, the immediate past Deputy Governor of the State, underscored the need for oneness and unity of purpose as the party planned to make inroad into Southern Kaduna.

Bantex implored the leadership of the APC in the state to work out modalities of ensuring that members are fully grounded in the ideology of the party.

In his remarks, the state Chairman of APC, retired Commodore Emmanuel Jekada, disclosed that the registration and revalidation exercise would start on Feb. 9.

Jekada noted that the state office had already taken delivery of all materials to be used for the exercise and called for full participation of members.

Other stakeholders who spoke offered strategic recommendations on the way forward for the APC in the zone and the state.

NAN reports that that the meeting was attended by both past and present elected and appointed government officials from Southern Kaduna.