By Hilary Akalugwu

Mr Simeon Eze, Ex-Personal Assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Security and Protocols, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Eze, who is from Echara/Isiagu Ward in Igboeze-South Local Government Area of Enugu State, joined APC on Tuesday at the local government party secretariat, Ibagwa-Aka, where he registered.

Sen. Jonathan Zwingina, the Chairman of APC Registration and Revalidation Committee in Enugu State attended the event.

Sen. Zwingina who supervised the registration of Eze was accompanied by some of his committee members, Mr Ben Nwoye, the Caretaker Committe Chairman of APC in Enugu State, some state executives and party chieftains.

It was also an opportunity for the party to receive some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youths from Unadu Ward of the LGA who defected to APC.

Eze said that he decided to join APC not only because it is the ruling party at the centre but because of good performance of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“I decided to join the ruling party at the centre because President Buhari has done very well especially in his war against corruption.

“I will support APC faithful in the state to change the narrative in Enugu state.

“A situation where PDP wins all the elective positions in the state will nolonger be possible in 2023 general elections,” he said.

The former Obasanjo’ Aide expressed appreciation to all APC members in his ward for admitting him into the great party.

“I am optimistic that my membership in APC will bring lots of benefits to me, my people and to APC in the state.

“I have the capacity to make things happen, with the support of the leadership of the APC, because many people in my ward, LGA and state have benefitted from me,” he said.

Eze, who was PA to former President Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007, said that this was his first time of joining a political party.

In a remark, Zwingina, expressed satisfaction with Eze’s joining of the party as well as the youths of PDP in Unadu defecting to APC which, he said, was good omen for the party.

“My promise to Eze and PDP defectors is that they will be given equal treatment like every other APC member.

“I am happy on the level of enthusiasm being shown by members and stakeholders of the party in the state.

“I call on the people of Enugu state to avail themselves of the opportunity of the ongoing Registration/Revalidation exercise of APC to join the progressive party,” he said.

Also in a remark, Nwoye said that the party was being repositioned to take over Enugu State by 2023.

“Members from PDP joining APC today is a clear indication that people have fully embraced APC and are tired of PDP’s empty promises in Enugu State.

“It is now clear that APC will take over the Lion Building (Enugu State Government House) in 2023,” he said.

The state chairman expressed special appreciation to Chief George Ogara, a Governorship aspirant of APC in Enugu state in 2019 for his many financial donations to APC in the state which had helped in running the party.

Some of those who defected from PDP to APC include: Mr Eze Ayogu, former Executive Assistant to Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Mr Lucky Idoko, former councilor, Unadu ward; and Mr Ikechukwu Ameh former PDP youth leader, Unadu ward.

Speaking on behalf of other defectors, Ayogu said that they decided to join APC because of the failure of the PDP-led government in Enugu state.

“All the promises of Enugu state government to our ward since 2015, none has been fulfilled.

“Ogara’s good works in Unadu as well as his empowerment of youths on skills acquisition inspired us to join his party, APC,” he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of APC in Igboeze-South LGA, Mr Matthias Ugwuanyi, pledged continued support of party members in the area for APC.

Some party chieftains present were: Ogara, a gubernatorial aspirant of the party in the 2019 general elections; Chief Eugene Odo, former speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly; and Chief Okey Ezea, a former APC governorship candidate in Enugu state.(NAN)

By Akeem Abas

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Oyo State chapter, has appealed to residents of Shasha community in Ibadan to remain calm and embrace peaceful coexistence.

This is contained in a statement issued by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Dr AbdulAzeez Olatunde, and made available to newsmen on Monday, in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that crisis had, on Thursday, erupted in the area, resulting in loss of lives and property.

“APC in Oyo State appeals to residents of Shasha community, neighbouring communities, Ibadan and the entire state to eschew anarchy and give peace a chance,” it said.

The party called on Gov. Seyi Makinde to be proactive by ensuring that the perpetrators of the ‘ethnic profiling’ are made to face the wrath of the law.

According to APC, it is Makinde’s constitutional obligation to protect all the citizens in the state.

“Again, it is the duty of the governor, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, to make criminal elements engaging in arson, anarchy, banditry and brigandage for their myopic and selfish agenda, face the law,” it said.

The party urged traditional rulers, religious leaders and opinion moulders in the state to voice out their concerns about the conflagration that the perpetrators intended to foist on residents.

“APC in Oyo State joins the voice of well-intended Nigerians, who are calling on the Ninth National Assembly, to expedite action in its review of Nigeria’s constitution.

“This has become necessary so that we can have a true federal constitution, both in body and spirit, which can effectively solve all the local security challenges threatening our coexistence as a nation,” it said.

The party also warned social media influencers to be cautious of what they post, so as not to ignite Nigeria’s fragile peace.

APC recalled the sad history of the nation’s civil war of between 1967 and 1970, which, it said, started from Ibadan.

According to the party, whatever may be the challenges facing the country’s hard-earned democracy can be solved through the application of the rule of law. (NAN)

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed concerns over ethnic violence and clashes in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, which led to loss of several lives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a misunderstanding between two men of different ethnic extractions at the Shasa market in Akinyele Local Government Area in Ibadan sparked off an ethno religious violence that led to loss of lives and properties even as part of the market was gutted by fire.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, on Monday in Abuja, the party described the clash as disconcerting and called for calm while the authorities unravel the cause of the bloody incident.

Ologbondiyan decried the escalation of ethnic crisis in various parts of the country, urging the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the growing tension in the country.

He advised the government to bring the full weight of the law on anyone or group found to be promoting divisiveness, lawlessness, injustices as well as infractions against federal sensibilities.

Ologbondiyan, however, commended the Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo state for his proactive steps to restore order in the state.

“Our party commiserates with the victims of the clash and call on all people of good faith to rally in ensuring peaceful co-existence in our country by instilling justice, adherence to rule of law as well as respect for our federal sensibilities.” (NAN)

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has congratulated former Minister of Finance for her emergence as the first female and African Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Abubakar in a statement signed by himself said Okonjo-Iweala was well known to him and “not hyperbole” when he said that no one could be more qualified for the job of D-G of WTO than her.

He described her as an apostle of free trade and astute manager of people and resources, adding that the world would be much more prosperous with her recent elevation.

“As the world prepares to emerge from the global pandemic of COVID19, the planet needs a steady hand at the wheel, to drive global trade, and rebuild from the devastation wrought by the virus.

“ We would not need someone who thinks they can pull this off. We would need someone who has actually and serially pulled it off before. And that person has emerged,” he said.

Abubakar said that Africa and Nigeria were proud of Okonjo-Iweala.

He said his family was full of joy at her victory, saying “go to Geneva and make us proud, as we know you will.” (NAN)

By Rotimi Ijikanmi
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has demanded the immediate cancellation of the ongoing APC membership registration exercise in Kwara for non compliance with the party’s regulations and guidelines.

The minister made the demand in his home town in Oro, near Ilorin, after partaking in the party’s national registration and revalidation exercise at his PU006 Oro Ward 2.

Speaking at a media briefing, Mohammed demanded the putting in place of a process to ensure the conduct of a credible and fair exercise that would enjoy the support and confidence of all.

He requested the immediate disbandment of the Sen. John Danboyi-led Membership Registration Committee for Kwara State on the ground that a vast majority of the APC stakeholders in the state had lost confidence in the committee.

The minister urged the constitution of a fresh committee that is truly independent, non-compromised and sensitive to the delicate diverse interests in the party.

He said a thorough investigation should be launched into the botched membership registration exercise by the Danboyi-led committee.

Mohammed noted that the demands were the irreducible minimum requirements for peace and progress in the state chapter of the party.

Justifying his demands, the minister said teams had been deployed ahead of the exercise to monitor the process to ensure compliance with the guidelines stipulated by the party.

He said the reports from the monitoring teams revealed that the whole exercise which started on Feb. 9 did not comply with the stipulated guidelines.

“The guidelines stipulate consultation with all stakeholders by the Registration Officials from Abuja.

“After the botched attempt to have a meeting of stakeholders due to orchestrated violence, the Registration Officials failed to consult with all stakeholders before the commencement of the membership registration exercise.

“They opted instead to work with only one of the four tendencies here in Kwara, the Fagbemi Group, to which the governor belongs.

“They excluded the three other tendencies – The Akogun Group, the Gbemi Saraki Group and the Lai Mohammed Group, without which the ‘O To Ge’ Movement would not have succeeded.

“Ironically, the Fagbemi Group is the weakest of the four tendencies. Out of the 193 wards in the state, the group has only nine ward chairmen and does not have even one local government chairman,” he said.

He said the Fagbemi group had only four members at the State Executive Council level.

The minister also said that the recruitment of officials for the registration exercise had been a one-sided affair.

The minister said contrary to the party’s guidelines, the registration officials from Abuja on getting to Ilorin had handed over the registration materials to an individual not recognised by the provisions of the guidelines.

He said those who were given the materials also decided to hoard them instead of distributing them to the wards.

“The implication is that the registration is being carried out without Party Membership Register, while temporary membership slips, to be signed and detached from the forms after registration, are not being given to those who have purportedly registered.

“According to our findings, since the commencement of the registration, over 80 per cent of the registration units do not have either membership register or membership registration slip.

“In the few places where they are available, they are kept in private apartments of some political office holders,” he said.

To back up his claim, the minister said that in Baruten Local Government, the registration materials were handed over to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly who hailed from the area.

He said in Oyun, the materials were given to one Olayiwola Ojo, a member of the State House of Assembly while in Shao, Kwara North Senatorial District, the registration materials were taken to a police station.

The minister said the DPO of the station presided over membership registration, in contravention of the party’s guidelines.

“It was only when the people mobilised against the use of the police station for registration that the illegality was stopped.

“What happened in Shao is the clearest indication yet that the police and other security agencies may be complicit in the mess being made of the membership registration in Kwara State,” he said.

Mohammed said instead of membership registers, conniving registration officials were using exercise books or foolscap sheets to register members.

He said senior Kwara government officials and State House of Assembly members were made to write their details in the exercise books or foolscap sheets in clear violation of the guidelines.

“We have pictorial and video evidence of this. More worrisome is that members who have purportedly registered are being asked to come back for their registration slips.

“Till date, no such member has been given the registration slip.

“Even senior officials of the state government, including Special Advisers as well as House of Assembly members, have had to register using exercise books/foolscap sheets,” he said.

The minister said due to the shoddy and non-compliant mode of registration using exercise books and foolscap sheets instead of the membership register, many members were unwilling to submit their personal details through such unsecured and illegal process.

According to Mohammed, there is a deliberate policy of exclusion by the Registration Team from Abuja and their collaborators.

“It seems there is a plan to de-register even high-ranking members and stakeholders who have not only paid their dues in the party, but without whose contribution this government would not have been in power.

“For example, at the Registration Unit of Senator Gbemi Saraki, the Honourable Minister of State for Transport, which is PU 005 at Ode-Opobiyi in Ajikobi Ward of Ilorin West LGA, not a single registration official has been sighted at the designated point since the commencement of the exercise, not to talk of registration materials.

“This is the situation in all other places considered to be the stronghold of high-ranking party members,” he said.

The minister said that in Irepodun, his local government, registration officials only showed up once, making it impossible for many members to register.

He said though the registration exercise was supposed to last two weeks, registration officials only showed up in many registration units once.

The minister said the seven-member APC Membership Registration Committee led by Danboyi seemed to have gone underground since it arrived in Kwara from Abuja.

“They have not had any useful interaction with lawful members of the State Executive as well as party leaders and other stakeholders, including local government chairmen and their executives and ward chairmen and their executives.

“These are lawfully-constituted party executives that the registration guidelines stipulate should not only be consulted but carried along during the exercise,” he said.

The minister said the findings indicated clear and deliberate policy to massively disenfranchise and de-register APC members in Kwara, resulting in many members being disillusioned.

By Lizzy Okoji

The Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) has called on Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi to run for the Presidency in 2023, stating that it was time for the youth to take over the country’s leadership.

The forum made the call on Saturday during a courtesy visit on Bello at the Government House, Lokoja.

Mr Onogwu Muhammed, Chief Press Secretary to the Kogi Governor, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

According to the statement, Comrade Gambo Gunjungu, President of the AYF, said the youth were tired of “recycled leaders”.

Gunjungu  said that the group “after thorough research and evidence of the numerous antecedents’’ of Bello decided to call on him to run for President in 2023.

The youth leaders said Bello had made remarkable achievements in the areas of security, infrastructure, youth and women inclusion in governance, as well as his firmness against the politicisation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Like many other young Nigerians wanting to change the narratives of political bandwagon and recycled politicians, we are looking up to him as the hope of the Nigerian youth.

“We are discussing with our patrons and we already have the network it would take to propagate their message all over the nation,” Gunjungu said.

In his response, Gov. Bello called on Nigerians to continuously support the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Bello said that Buhari was doing his best to proffer solutions to the different challenges the country was faced with.

Reacting to the call to run for Presidency in 2023, Bello said the discussions and events ahead of 2023 elections were in the hands of God to decide.

“The recent call on Nigerians, particularly the youth, to revalidate and register as members of the APC was an affirmation of the president’s good intentions,” he said.

The governor said that despite the numerous challenges which his administration faced at inception, it has in five years changed the negative story of the state.

Bello said the story of the state has been changed to that of unity and integration, infrastructural development, enhancing security, institutional reforms and other areas.

He said the achievements were due to honesty, resilience and tenacity of his administration in doing what is right.

He urged the AYF to encourage Nigerian youths to participate in the ongoing registration and revalidation exercise of the APC. (NAN)

By Muhammad Bello

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Sokoto State Chapter, has resolved to boycott the forthcoming local government (LG) election in the state.

The position of the party was made known by the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Isah Achida, at a news conference on Sunday in Sokoto.

According to Achida, the resolution was based on the recent happenings in preparation for the forthcoming LG election in the state.

“It is on record that when the members of the present Sokoto State Independent Electoral Commission were inaugurated, the APC issued a statement expressing its total lack of confidence in the composition of the commission.

“Our position is due to the glaring fact that they are all card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“Indeed, all of them are very close cohorts of the leadership of the government in Sokoto State, who are always dancing to its tunes,” he said.

Achida blamed the party’s decision to pull out of the exercise on what he described as a lack of transparency by the state government

“When the state government announced the belated decision to conduct the local government election, we expected the electoral body to arrange consultative meetings with political parties for the successful conduct of the election.

“This, they refused to do, because we feel that they are working with some selected political parties for their own ulterior motives.

“To our dismay, however, the commission went alone and prepared their own timetable, convenient for them and their paymasters, which was sent to us only for information,” Achida said.

He said that the position was in due consultations with all the stakeholders of the party in the state.

Achida thanked the people of the state for their support to the APC and called on all the party members and supporters not to participate in the election.

By Emmanuel Acha

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Egede, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State says it has engaged canvassers for its ongoing party revalidation and registration of members.

The Special Assistant to the President on Justice Reform Sector and International Relations, Mrs Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu disclosed this on Sunday after revalidating her party membership.

Ibekaku-Nwagwu, who registered in Egede/Umuoka Ward 002, said that the move was to boost the membership of the party in the area.

The special assistant said that by such move, the APC would have more membership in each of the polling units in the area.

“We have canvassers that will be going round every market day to get people to register. We are making our people to understand what the APC stands for,” she said.

She said the party was doing better in terms of getting the attention of the people of the area than it did in 2014.

“The chances of the APC in the state are better because we are now speaking with one voice. Our people are happy with this exercise,” Ibekaku-Nwagwu said.

Also, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of APC in the state, Mr Ben Nwoye commended the smooth running of the exercise in the state.

Nwoye said that the party was positioned for the challenges ahead, adding that residents of the state had shown their willingness to identify with the APC.

News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) reports that the APC Revalidation and Registration of Members Exercise started in Enugu state on Feb. 11, 2021.

By Chimezie Anaso

Mr Valentine Ozigbo, an aspirant in the November governorship election in Anambra, has donated eight vehicles to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to facilities its campaign ahead of the election.

Ozigbo handed over the keys of the Sienna buses to Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, Chairman of the Anambra Chapter of the PDP at the party’s Secretariat in Awka on Sunday.

Speaking at the brief ceremony, witnessed by 21 local government branch chairmen, Ozigbo said the gesture was his own Valentine’s Day gift to the party.

The donor assured party members of his unalloyed support to ensure that PDP emerges victorious in the election.

He said he had confidence in the leadership of the party and expressed confidence that he would emerge the flag bearer of the party, acceptable to all and sundry.

He appealed to the beneficiaries to use the vehicles for the purposes of electioneering campaign.

According to him, “we have to sacrifice our resources and time to ensure that PDP wins.

“I donated these vehicles as part of the love I personally have for PDP and to make the party more popular than other contesting political parties in the state.

“I urge other party supporters who have benefited in one way or the other to emulate this gesture to keep the party moving,” he said.

In his reaction, Nwobu commended Ozigbo for his gesture, calling it a demonstration of love for the party.

Nwobu said the party needed a strong candidate to win the election while assuring that the vehicles will be used wisely to achieve victory in the election. (NAN)

By Akeem Abas

Sen. Teslim Folarin (APC- Oyo Central), has said that the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) membership registration and revalidation exercise would strengthen and boost the party’s chances in 2023 general elections.

Folarin disclosed this to newsmen shortly after he revalidated his membership on Sunday at Ward 5, Idi Ose, Ona Ara Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Folarin, a former Senate leader, is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content.

The exercise had in the last few days witnessed large turnout of youths and women across the state, among whom are old and new members.

According to Folarin, “The exercise has been very successful. I am impressed with the large turnout of both the old and new members, particularly youths and women.

“They have been thronging the polling units across the 351 wards in Oyo State on daily basis,” Folarin said.

The former senate leader said that the exercise was well thought out and had achieved a lot in terms of reconciliation, reengineering and solidifying the party ahead of 2023 general elections.

”It has turned out to be the tonic and boost needed by our party to get stronger, greater, and bigger and I am glad about this,” he stated.

Folarin, who emphasised the importance of having a strong, cohesive and vibrant party, said the exercise had increased his confidence that all APC candidates would win their elections with ease come 2023.

“In Oyo State, APC is obviously the leading party. It is the party to beat. We lost the last gubernatorial election in the state because of the fragmentation in our party.

“And now with the large number of people enthusiastically joining our party, it is obvious even to the blind that APC is the party to belong to for victory,” he said.

He assured that as an experienced politician and victim of fragmented political party, he would spare no efforts in unifying and attracting the best of politicians to the APC.

“I am happy that the party is starting on a fresh note where everybody is equal with equal opportunities and sense of belonging,” he said.

He promised to join other leaders of the party in ensuring that the idea of winners takes all becomes history in APC.

The three-time senator said what was paramount to him presently, was building the APC and making sure Oyo State benefitted maximally from all the good programmes of the Federal Government.

“As a senator and a fecund player in governance and politics at the federal level, I want to ensure that the state benefit from Federal Government’s programs as they affect infrastructure and human capital development,” he said. (NAN)