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APC National Chairmanship : Adamu, six other aspirants return nomination forms as Court vacates order stopping ruling party’s convention, vow to fight on

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Five of the aspirants for the national chairmanship of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may have dropped out of the race, leaving the field for a tight contest by seven top members of the party.

Only the seven met yesterday’s deadline for submission of their nomination forms.

Former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Otunba Iyiola Omisore yesterday submitted his nomination form to contest for national secretary of the party.

Preparations for next weekend’s convention from which a new national executive committee of the party will emerge moved into a higher gear yesterday after a high court in Abuja vacated an order stopping the national convention.

Justice Bello Kawu ruled that a political party could not be sued by a member.

But the bad blood generated by the recent moves against the Chairman of the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Mai Mala Buni, and the Secretary, John Akpanudoedehe, appears not to be over yet.

Akpanudoedehe declared that he remained CECPC Secretary regardless of the vote of no confidence said to have been passed on him on Thursday by a majority of the committee members.
Chairmanship aspirants who beat the deadline for the submission of nomination forms yesterday were the pioneer Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; ex-Governor Umar Tanko Al-Makura; Mallam Saliu Mustapha (Turaki Ilorin); Senator Sani Mohammed Musa; ex-Governor George Akume; another former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Abdulaziz Yari; and the youngest, Mohammed Etsu.

Only Yari is from the North-West. The rest are mostly from the North-Central.

Those that are out of the race include a former Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bawa Bwari; ex-Governor Ali Modu Sheriff; ex-Governor Isa Yuguda; Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi and Sunny Sylvester Monidafe.

While some of the aspirants jettisoned their ambition in deference to the APC zoning formula in favour of the North-Central for chairmanship, others appeared to have lost steam midway.

A reliable party source said: “All the aspirants are jostling to earn the confidence and endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari. What has buoyed their confidence is the discordant tunes from London.

“They believe it is still an open race based on the extent of influence they have wielded through their godfathers, allies and associates. One of the aspirants was even in London for almost a week but he could not see the President.

“In spite of the speculations on Buhari’s alleged mindset on Adamu, it is still difficult to predict the direction he is heading to.

“He has met with his strategists in London and a clear direction he is disposed to is consensus. But we are unclear about who is the consensus aspirant.

“The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Caucus of APC is adamant on producing the National Chairman of the party from among its two nominees, Saliu Mustapha and ex-Governor Umar Tanko Al-Makura.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “Most of the governors have lost steam on the choice of a new national chairman for APC.

“The crisis in their ranks on the fate of the Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni, has made them to tread softly in advising the President.

“A governor, who was in London to have an audience with Buhari was devastated to read the President’s letter to the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Senator Atiku Bagudu.

“He could not understand the dynamics of presidential power play.”

APC under my leadership won’t beg anyone for money – Musa

One of the chairmanship aspirants left in the race, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, said yesterday that if he won the election, the party, under him, would not beg anyone for money to run its affairs.

He said that the APC with a membership strength of 43 million should have no problem raising funds.

He spoke at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja after submitting his nomination and expression of interest forms.

Musa, who currently represents Niger East in the Senate, said he was looking forward to the convention which he said would usher in a new beginning and transitional change in the APC.

He said the party required a leadership that would “bring direction and build consensus between all dividing organs.”

He said: “The executive governors are there to support the party and the party is there to work with the governors.

“We want to see a party that will become an institution in Africa.

“APC is the largest party and all we need to do is to put the structure in place. That is, the political parties need to be very strong.

“We have a democracy in this country that has a very strong foundation, but what we are lacking is the leadership that will be able to transform our party structure to what it should be: a platform to groom leaders. That is what I’m bringing new to APC.

“And APC will not be dependent on anybody to fund it. With 43 million members, we have no business going cap in hand to beg anybody for money. That is what I’m bringing to APC.”

On the purported endorsement of Senator Abdullahi Adamu by President Muhammadu Buhari, Musa wondered why the party sold forms to other people if it had someone already lined up for the job.

“You sold forms to us. And as far as I’m concerned, there’s never been anybody that officially contacted me or any other aspirants. Nobody! And the spokesperson to Mr. President, Femi Adesina, had said that there was no endorsement,” he said.

“The endorsement I want is your endorsement. I want the endorsement of 43 million APC members. That is what I need.

I’ll ensure party supremacy — Mustapha

Another aspirant, Malam Saliu Mustapha, vowed to ensure party supremacy, inclusiveness and discipline if elected as chairman of the APC.

He promised to promote a policy of mentorship where youth and women would be given deputy leader positions at the various committee levels of the party to give them the much-needed training that will prepare them for leadership positions in the country.

On his plan to fund the party, Mustapha said his leadership would leverage on the over 40 million membership strength of the party by introducing a membership levy on every card-carrying member.

Al-Makura has better credentials to lead APC than five other contestants -Group

Arewa Youths in the South South and South East said former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Umar Tanko Al-Makura, is better positioned than anyone else to lead the APC.

Spokesman for the group, Arewa Youths South South and South East, Alhaji Anas Yero, described Al-Makura as the best candidate that can unite the party and lead it to victory in 2023.

“We must know that the emergence of a weak leader might affect the party in 2023,” he said.

He added: “In terms of competence, Al-Makura is unquantifiable due to his political track records.

“His candidature has no match. Hence he is widely accepted across all the six geo-political regions in the country.”

The group maintained that since the formation of the APC, all the legacy political parties that came together had produced the national chairman, noting that this is the time for CPC to also enjoy the seat, and the most suitable person is Senator Al-Makura.

Akpanudoedehe: l remain APC National Secretary

The APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) National Secretary, Dr. John Akpanudoedehe, said yesterday that he remained in office despite the Thursday move by a majority members of the committee to remove him.

Akpanudoedehe, emerging from a meeting with the CECPC chairman Mai Mala Buni in Abuja, said: “Our Chairman (Buni) cannot go against the instruction of the President.

“In his last letter, the President has given the directive that the status quo ante should remain. The Chairman is a very brilliant man. He respects the President and will not go against that.

“I am the National Secretary of APC and the constitution is very clear on that. The INEC has said for you to sack any of us, you need 21-day notice.

“I should be celebrated for standing with the Chairman. We should celebrate loyalty, integrity. Why would I be punished for standing with the chairman? It is a virtue.

“So, nothing has changed in APC. I remain the National Secretary and reconciliation efforts are ongoing. It is one party.”

APC youths protest ‘sack’ of Akpanudoedehe as CECPC scribe

A youth group in the APC known as Progressives Youth Movement (PYM) yesterday kicked over the Thursday vote of no confidence passed on Akpanudoedehe by a majority of the members of the CECPC.

The group, at a press briefing in Abuja, cautioned party leaders not to bring up issues that are capable of causing confusion again before the national convention of the party.

National Coordinator of the group, Prince Mustapha Audu, described the purported sack of the APC scribe as void and a nullity, explaining that the party currently needs unity.

He added: “We have a legal way of removing anybody from a committee, and I think only the NEC has the authority to do that.

“I don’t believe a committee that was set up has the authority to sack a member of that committee that was set up by NEC, especially a member who is superior in position.

“I think that is absolutely impossible but we would leave that for the legal team to look into that.”

Omisore jostles for secretary

A former deputy governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, yesterday emerged a surprise candidate for the position of the party’s national secretary.

He submitted his nomination form for the office at the APC National Secretariat.

Omisore, in a statement, said he looked forward to an “efficient and effective management of the national secretariat for next level prosperity, democracy deliverables for Nigeria and Nigerians in utmost of peace, happiness, safety and plenty.”

He promised to “institutionalise civility by leveraging on technology for efficient party administration and create a people-driven political party that will deepen democratic norms across the board in administration and in capacity building not only to win election but to be bonded as an institution whereby everyone will be recognised and respected for their many roles in aiding growth and development of the party from the grassroots.”

Omisore appealed to APC members in Nigeria to support his ambition for the party by voting for him.

Court vacates order stopping APC convention

An Abuja high court yesterday gave the APC the green light to proceed with its national convention scheduled for March 26, 2022 in Abuja.

Justice Bello Kawu vacated the November 18, 2021 order he granted, suspending the convention indefinitely.

An APC member, Salisu Umoru, had in suit marked FHC/HC/CV/2958/2021, challenged the planned convention.

The now vacated order had threatened the holding of the convention.

Kawu said yesterday that the plaintiff lacked the locus to sustain the restraining order.

According to him, the November interim injunction had been overtaken by a recent ruling of the Supreme Court on a similar matter.

He adjourned hearing in the substantive suit to March 30.

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai had accused Buni and Akpanudoedehe of knowing about the interim injunction but did nothing to get it vacated.

Ex-PGF boss warns against implosion, uncovers alleged imposition plot by CPC bloc

The immediate-past Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) Salihu Lukman, yesterday alleged a plot to impose leaders from the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) on APC at the March 26 National Convention of the party.

Lukman in a statement titled “Consensus Vs Open Contest in APC” in Abuja yesterday said political associates in the defunct CPC should refrain from acts capable of undermining the authority of the President as the leader of the party.

“It was the liberal disposition of the President that allows him to respect positions of party leaders, based on which he subscribes to decisions and delegate implementation to competent structures of the party.

“If the President can respect other party leaders, why should other associates of the President exude any form of disrespect or contempt for other party leaders in whatever way?

“One of the mistakes of the so-called old CPC members, including the ‘CPC London lobbyists’, is to elevate the respect of party leaders for the President to the level of compelling obedience without recognising that it is mutually reciprocal respect.

“Unlike what obtained under the CPC, whereby President Buhari was largely the singular electoral asset of the party, in the case of the APC, President Buhari, although the dominant electoral asset, other party leaders are also electoral assets in varying degrees, which was the added factor responsible for the electoral victory of 2015 and 2019.

“These are old opportunistic arguments, which were self-serving, used by some few vested interests around the President to impose themselves as party leaders and candidates.

“Many instances were leading to the imposition of candidates during elections, which undermined the electoral viabilities of parties associated with the President. From the ANPP in 2003 and 2007 to CPC in 2011, this has been the reality.

“Often, individual politicians with these self-serving agendas have used it to impose themselves on party members as candidates for elections.

“Although there are many instances whereby imposed candidates win elections, there are also many instances when acts of imposition destroyed the electoral advantages of the parties leading to the loss of elections.

“This was partly the reason for the large-scale defeat of the CPC in the 2011 election in Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Katsina and many states.

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2027 Elections: Controversy Rocks Coalition as Bode George Slams Atiku, Obi — “You Can’t Serve Two Masters”

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Formet Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark and other promoters of the coalition under African Democratic Congress (ADC) yesterday came under further attacks for what a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George, called seeking to serve two masters.

George, a former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, accused Atiku and other party members of moving into ADC without resigning from the party.

He said it was bad enough that Atiku and Mark in particular had to abandon the PDP to its fate after precipitating the crisis that has turned the party into a shadow of its former self.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described the anti-Tinubu coalition as a political distraction which is bound to fail.

Chief George, speaking on Channels Television, said: “You can’t serve two masters, as stated in the Holy Book. You either serve A or you serve B. But to say you are in A and B is a fallacy.”

 

He alleged that Mark and Atiku were some of the architects of the crisis rocking the PDP.

 

Continuing, he said: “It is nothing but existential imbecility. Or sometimes what is called existential docility. What is it that they are all going there?

“This is your father’s house. The house made you, brought you into the limelight. You gain every laurel and recognition from this same house. And because there is a little crisis, is leaving the cultural thing to do? No, you sit in there.

 

“If you have a house that is leaking, do you run out? No, you are the landlord.

 

“Do they have a concept? What is the strategy they have? That is a classless strategy.

“When we had the last convention, General Buhari had just finished eight years. Then Atiku Abubakar wanted to compete (but) we said no; a northerner had just finished eight years. We had (Peter) Obi in the South. This was the beginning of the crisis.

 

“David Mark was the chairman of that convention and Iyorchia Ayu was the chairman of the party. Of course, you cannot do things like that and get away with it. I warned against it at that point.”

 

Leave LP now, join Obi in ADC, Abure tells Gov Otti

Abure in a statement yesterday asked Otti to stop deceiving the public that he has not joined the other faction’s Caretaker Committee in the coalition party.

The leadership of the LP, according to him, is in a hurry to recalibrate the party ahead of 2027.

Abure said the LP would not fall for Otti’s deception again.

“How can he be in the Labour Party when recently he conducted the local government election in Abia State with Zenith Labour Party as his party?” he wondered.

He added: “He should not think that every Nigerian is bereft of knowledge. He formed and is funding the illegal caretaker committee that has formally joined the ADC.

 

“The icing on the cake was the Wednesday unveiling of the coalition where every member of the caretaker committee formally joined the ADC.

 

“We are shocked that Otti is paradoxically trying to mislead members of the Labour Party to say that he is still a member of the Labour Party. In any event, we had earlier suspended him indefinitely from the party because of his anti-party activities.

“Labour Party is on the move again. We have the best brand in Nigeria, and we are eager to engage young Nigerians who have the interest of the nation at heart.

 

“We are therefore willing to let go of everyone, no matter how high, whose interest in Nigeria is self-driven, opportunistic politicians who are not principled.

 

“Labour Party is not and cannot be in any coalition because coalitions of political parties are ideologically bereft. It is a marriage of political strange fellows whose only agenda is power-grabbing.

“It is selfish in nature, and no true democrat will agree to such an amalgam. Labour Party is therefore in a hurry to sanitise itself of people without character.”

 

Sanwo-Olu: Anti-Tinubu coalition will fail

 

Governor Sanwo-Olu told a group of journalists and politicians in Lagos Nigerians would support President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the gains of his bold reforms are fully realised.

He described the ADC as nothing but a mere distraction which President Tinubu should ignore.

“Nigerians will never go back to Egypt,” Sanwo-Olu said.

 

“The target is to distract the Commander-in-Chief and derail the social and economic gains that we can see and feel. But President Tinubu knows the game and will never fall for their bait.”

 

In Sanwo-Olu’s view, President Tinubu’s track record, achievements and reform agenda are strong enough to stand above any narrative being crafted to derail his administration or his prospects for re-election.

He cited the stability in the foreign exchange market, students loan scheme, massive infrastructural projects, more revenue for states  after the removal of fuel subsidy, tax reforms, increased oil production and the national minimum wage, among others.

 

“President Tinubu is not only a builder of men but a visionary leader whose impact is evident across the nation,” Sanwo-Olu said.

 

Asked if the President and his All Progressives Congress (APC) were bothered about ADC and its promoters, Sanwo-Olu said: “No one should be concerned or distracted by what ADC or any other group is attempting to orchestrate. The truth is clear, the people can see the difference, and history is on his side.

“They have nothing but bitterness to offer; they are bound together by their illogical resentment against President Tinubu, not by any edifying ideology. They will run out of steam.

Asked what advice he had for the President, the governor said:”Simple. The President should stay the course. Millions of well-meaning Nigerians across party lines and compatriots who understand what it takes to govern the most populous black nation on earth and revive a troubled economy are behind him and trust his leadership.”

“We know how far we’ve come under President Tinubu’s leadership. The focus should remain on delivering results, deepening reforms and building a stronger Nigeria. Any attempt to shake that foundation will be futile.”

Coalition proof Tinubu’s policies ended business as usual, says Lloyd

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Chidi Lloyd, said that the ongoing coalition against President Bola Tinubu is a proof that the President’s policies are working, effective and no longer business as usual.

 

Lloyd, former Emohua Local Government Chairman in Rivers State, said the coalition would only compel many Nigerians to believe in the administration of Tinubu because his policies had displaced established politicians.

 

He said the fact that most individuals, who had held various offices in the country without making significant positive impact, were forced out of their comfort zone for a coalition, was an indication that the country was getting it right.

Describing the coalition as dead on arrival, Lloyd said all members of the group were not foreigners but known old politicians who have been in the corridors of power since 1999.

 

He said Nigerians were wiser now and would not allow same people that foisted a system that never worked on them to return to power.

 

He took a swipe at some individual members of the coalition, saying they lacked moral rectitude to preach to Nigerians about a better country.

Lloyd said: “The coalition is dead on arrival. We didn’t see any foreigner. If the coalition were formed by citizens of America or Britain, we would have been worried. The coalition still has the same faces, the same old faces since 1999.

 

“I agree that what we have is a gathering of displaced politicians. We have a former vice-president; we have someone that was a Senate President for eight years. He was in a position to change Nigeria. His daughter won an election under an opposition party. It means his own political party is not popular in his federal constituency. “

 

 ADA Registration: Northern groups tackle El-Rufai, Amaechi over comments on INEC

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) and the Northern Awareness Network (NAN), yesterday faulted former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of frustrating the registration of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA).

The AYCF in a statement by its President-General, Yerima Shettima, said Nigeria’s electoral process is governed by clear rules and procedures meant to uphold transparency, fairness and accountability, insisting that Amaechi’s claims of deliberate obstruction by INEC were not only baseless but also reflected a poor understanding of the registration framework.

 

“INEC’s requirements, such as submission of office addresses and proper identification of party officers, are standard protocols that all parties must meet to be duly registered,” Shettima noted.

 

“It is critical that all political entities, including the ADA, comply with these guidelines to preserve the integrity of our democracy.”

The AYCF leader described as “disheartening” the resort by Amaechi and El-Rufai to what he termed sensational claims, instead of focusing on addressing the substantive compliance issues facing their new party.

 

“The ADA’s struggles to meet INEC’s clear requirements should not be twisted into tales of bias or conspiracy by the commission,” Shettima stressed.

 

“What we see here is a need for diligent preparation on the part of political actors.”

On his part, Chairman of NAN, Salihu Suleiman, warned that expecting INEC to compromise its standards for ADA would be unrealistic and a dangerous subversion of democratic principles.

 

Suleiman said El-Rufai’s skepticism over INEC’s willingness to register the ADA typified a growing habit among some political leaders to question electoral institutions instead of engaging them constructively. He cautioned that such rhetoric could undermine trust in the electoral process and disenfranchise voters.

 

Both groups urged Amaechi, El-Rufai and other political actors to exercise restraint in their public statements, build trust in democratic institutions and approach their political ambitions within the framework of established laws. They reiterated their commitment to supporting a fair, transparent and credible electoral process in Nigeria

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Breaking : APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, Resigns

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Ganduje, a former Governor of Kano State, cited health reasons for his resignation, stating that he needs to “focus on his well-being.”

Mr. Ganduje’s time as APC chairman has been fraught with controversy and internal challenges.

While his resignation letter attributes his decision to health-related concerns, sources close to the situation suggest that mounting political tensions within the party may have influenced his move to step aside.

There have also been allegations of financial misconduct tied to his leadership, with some party members reportedly protesting against what they described as “excessive financial demands” from his office

 

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BREAKING: At last, Fubara meets with Amaewhule, Rivers lawmakers, as they shared jokes and laughter

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Suspended Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubarahas met with the suspended Speaker of the House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule and other aggrieved state lawmakers.

Multiple sources confirmed on Thursday evening the meeting held and ended with Fubara holding the hands of Amaewhule as they shared jokes and laughter.

It was gathered that the meeting, which was held in Abuja, was the first reconciliatory move between the governor and the state lawmakers.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said Fubara’s engagement with the lawmakers was fruitful but added that an enlarged peace meeting would hold to discuss peace terms.

“The suspended Governor is determined to make peace. He has started the real engagement,” the source said.Fubara was suspended from office on March 19 following a state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu and ratified by the National Assembly to stop the escalating political crisis in the state.

 

The President appointed former Naval Chief, Vice-Admiral lbok Ete-Ibas for the first six months as an administrator for Rivers to allow the warring politicians to reconcile their differences.

 

Though Fubara had met with his estranged benefactor, Nyesom Wike and President Tinubu on the Rivers situation, the Thursday meeting he held with the lawmakers was said to be the most important step towards genuine reconciliation.

Wike had said on different occasions that to actualise genuine reconciliation Fubara must meet with the various stakeholders he offended especially members of the House of Assembly, whom he withheld their salaries and allowances for over two years.

 

It was learnt the Thursday elicited applauses from various stakeholders in the state including the simplified family of Fubara with many of them describing it as a step in the right direction.

 

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