Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: politics

  • APC: DG, Progressives Governors calls for constitution amendment

    APC: DG, Progressives Governors calls for constitution amendment

    Less than four months to the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention, there has been a call for an amendment of the party’s constitution.

    The Director-General of Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), Dr Salihu Lukman, made this call in a statement, suggesting that the amendment of the 2014 constitution of the party before the convention will check what he described as perceived excesses of some party officials at the state and federal levels.

    Lukman also advocated for a credible membership register ahead of the party’s national convention billed to hold in November this year.

    READ ALSO:

    NDDC Scandal: PDP Reps insist independent panel probe allegations against lawmakers

     

    The PGF DG warned that only a credible membership register can hand over the party to the people and save its structures from being hijacked at the states and federal levels.

    He further urged Yobe State Governor Mai Buni-led Caretaker and National Convention Planning Committee of the party to ensure that those who emerge as leaders of the party are not cronies of 2023 aspirants.

    READ ALSO: Invasion of Edo Assembly: Obaseki Speaks; HURIWA Describes Action as Attempted…

    According to him, party supremacy will only be guaranteed if wards and states congresses are conducted based on credible register of members which will humble any 2023 aspirants.

  • Jegede clinches Ondo PDP ticket, to battle Akeredolu in Oct poll

    Jegede clinches Ondo PDP ticket, to battle Akeredolu in Oct poll

    A former Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Eyitayo Jegede, has won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in the state.

    With this victory, Jegede is expected to slug it out with the incumbent Ondo State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, at the October 10 governorship election in the state.

    Announcing the result of the primary election, Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who’s also the Chairman of the Electoral Committee and Returning Officer, said “the exercise was peaceful, free and fair, and was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of PDP.”

    He said: “By the powers conferred on me as the Chairman of the Electoral Committee and Returning Officer for this exercise, I announce that Jegede Eyitayo Olayinka, having scored the highest votes cast and met all the requirements of our party’s guidelines for the conduct of this election, is hereby declared winner of the PDP Governorship Primary Election in Ondo State, and is returned elected.”

    In a keenly contested primary in Akure on Wednesday, Jegede defeated other contestants, polling 888 votes, while Ondo State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, got 657 votes; and PDP National Vice Chairman, Eddy Olafeso, came third with 175 votes.

    Other aspirants include: Bode Ayorinde (95 votes); Banji Okunomo (90); Boluwaji Kunlere (33); Sola Ebiseni (29); and Godday Erewa (14).

    While appreciating the aspirants and delegates for their comportment and commitment to the success of the exercise, Ugwuanyi urged all the aspirants to close ranks and work for the victory of PDP in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

    In his acceptance speech, Jegede thanked the people of Ondo State, his fellow aspirants and party delegates, for the victory.

    He also commended members of PDP Electoral Committee led for “a very transparent exercise.”

  • Ondo Politics: Assembly suspends Deputy Speaker, one Other

    Ondo Politics: Assembly suspends Deputy Speaker, one Other

    The Ondo State House of Assembly has suspended the Deputy Speaker, Iroju Ogundeji, and another member, Adewale Williams.

    The two lawmakers were suspended over an alleged unruly behaviour.

    Meanwhile, the Majority Leader of the House, Jamiu Maito has resigned his appointment.

    READ ALSO: Updated: Ondo assembly divides over impeachment, Deputy Governor goes to court

    The resignation letter was read on the floor of the house on Wednesday by the Clerk of the House, Bode Adeyelu.

    The three lawmakers were part of the nine members of the House that are opposed to the impeachment notice served on the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi yesterday.

    14 members of the House signed the impeachment notice served on the deputy governor, including the Speaker, Bamidele Oleyeloogun.

  • APC: There is no fight to reconcile – Tinubu tells Buni

    APC: There is no fight to reconcile – Tinubu tells Buni

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Thursday night declared that there were no differences to be sorted out in the party.

    This declaration was made shortly after a closed door meeting with Gov. Mai Mala Buni, Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee, who led other committee members to Tinubu’s Bourdillon Residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The former Governor of Lagos State, who recently reacted to the decisions of President Buhari-led meeting of the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) by affirming his relationship with the President said: ”We have no differences to be sorted out in the APC, we just had consultation and it is how our party, the APC, would continue to be a progressive party,” he said.

    According to him, the committee is a consultation and not reconciliation committee since nobody is fighting anybody.

    “There is no crisis in the party, hence, no fight to reconcile.

    ”There are instances when you disagree, but it doesn’t mean that you cannot discuss it over and be a good example in leadership and politics,” Tinubu said.

    The former Lagos State governor also said that politics without seeming media crisis would be less interesting.

    ”But the question is, are we committed to building this party and Nigeria? That is what we are all about.

    ”We are steering the ship of our nation and our party in the right direction,” Tinubu said.

    He said that the party leadership had trust and respect for the chairman of the caretaker committee and would support him to succeed for the party to continue in its progressive governance of the country.

    The committee chairman, who led other members to the meeting, said that the meeting was part of ongoing consultations.

    ”You know the task before us is daunting, and we need guidance, experience and prayers from our leaders,” Buni said.

    The host Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, expressed his pleasure to have his colleagues in the state.

    ”It’s been a very fruitful discussion we have had here this evening,” Sanwo-Olu said.

    Other members of the committee in attendance included the Chairman of Progressive Governor’s Forum, Gov. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Secretary of Caretaker Committee, APC, Sen. James Akpan Udo-Edehe and Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Bello.

    Photos:

  • Edo Guber: Ganduje leads 49-member APC National Campaign Council

    Edo Guber: Ganduje leads 49-member APC National Campaign Council

    Ahead of the September 19 Governorship election in Edo state, the Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has been appointed head of a newly created 49-member APC National Campaign Council that is expected to lead the party to victory at the polls.

    The campaign council, which will be inaugurated on Monday, 6th July 2020 by the Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee of the APC, has four state governors, the Deputy Senate President and two former National Chairmen of the party among others as members and Hon. Abbas Braimoh to serve as Secretary.

    APC’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena in a statement in Abuja on Thursday said the appointment of the council followed the approval of the National Chairman of the party’s Caretaker Committee, Mai Mala Buni.

  • APC Crisis: My relationship with Tinubu remains as strong as ever – Buhari

    APC Crisis: My relationship with Tinubu remains as strong as ever – Buhari

    Idowu Sowunmi

    Hours after the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commented officially on the crisis rocking the ruling party, President Muhammadu Buhari said he’s in touch with the former Lagos State governor.

    The President, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, explained that he has a wonderful relationship with Tinubu and there’s no cause for alarm.

    The statement titled: “President Buhari and Tinubu Still Together, Analysts Need to Get Their Facts Right,” struggled to put paid to the seemingly disagreements between the two personalities.

    “The very essence of the requests put to the Emergency National Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by President Muhammadu Buhari, which were unanimously approved aim to pull back the party, faced with an existential crisis from the brink of collapse, follow the constitution and take everyone along.

    “While this action has been widely accepted with great relief by lovers of democracy and the rank and file of the membership, we are concerned that political vulturism masquerading as ‘smart analysis’ is selling the commentary that this is a Buhari-Tinubu ‘showdown.’ Nothing can be farther from the truth.

    “To put the records straight: In the formation of this great party and giving it leadership, President Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who are reckoned as the founding fathers of the APC are both inspired by democratic norms, national interest and not at all by partisan motivations. These are the qualities that have made them move past cynical distractions.

    “They are in touch with one another. Their relationship remains as strong as ever and between the two of them, only they know how they manage their enviable relationship.

    “Try as hard as they could, the opposition parties have used all their intellectuals and their supporters in the media to break this relationship and have failed. And they won’t.

    “For President Buhari who has received much of the cynical commentary, Nigerians know him as someone who will not do anything with bad intentions. Neither will he do anything out of partisan motivations or for himself.

    “This whole exercise, that should lead to massive reform and overhaul of the leadership of the party, as he said in that brilliant speech, was ‘to save the APC from the imminent self-destruction. We have to move ahead. We have to take everyone with us and ensure that the party is run in accordance with democratic norms and with consensus. We have to work for the benefit of the country.’

    “The leaders of the party, who have received two successive massive mandates to govern the country and a majority of the states should be judged by how this exercise turns out in achieving these objectives, not cursed at the mere commencement of the process,” the statement said.

  • PDP Primary: National Chairman presents Certificate-of-Return to Gov. Obaseki – Pictures

    PDP Primary: National Chairman presents Certificate-of-Return to Gov. Obaseki – Pictures

    Ahead of the September 19 governorship election in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki has received his Certificate of Return from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The certificate was issued on Saturday by the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    This was confirmed on the party’s Twitter handle.

    READ ALSO: Just In: Suspended APC chair, Oshiomhole accepts buhari backed NEC’s decisions

    Secondus also presented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination form to the governor.

    PDP National Chariman, Uche Secondus presents the Certificate of Return to Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki on June 27, 2020. Credit: PDP
    PDP National Chariman, Uche Secondus presents the Certificate of Return to Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki on June 27, 2020. Credit: PDP
    PDP National Chariman, Uche Secondus presents the Certificate of Return to Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki on June 27, 2020. Credit: PDP
  • Video: Progressive Governors visit Buhari as Oshiomhole NWC jettisons court action

    Video: Progressive Governors visit Buhari as Oshiomhole NWC jettisons court action

    The Progressives Governors Forum, PGF and the new Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Caretaker/Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni, on Friday, paid a ‘thank you’ visit to President Muhammadu on a successful Extraordinary virtual National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the party.

    See below video by Vanguard:

    The former NWC members have jettisoned their initial threat to go to court and have now resolved to work for the rebuilding of the party, the immediate past National Secretary of the party, Mallam Waziri Bulama, said yesterday.

    He attributed the crisis to  the ambitions of some leaders .

    READ ALSO: Nigerian Air Force strikes scores of Boko Haram terrorists tear-down base

    He also said the failure of all organs of the party to function effectively affected the party.

    But he was optimistic that the APC would  not break up despite the crisis at hand.

    Also on Friday, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum  (PGF), Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, declared that alleged threats by some  members of the dissolved National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to challenge the dissolution in court were created by the media.

    The chairman of the Caretaker/Convention committee of the party, Governor  Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, is understood  to  have commenced efforts to reach out to stakeholders of the party to bury their hatchets and rally round his committee to rebuild the party.

    Reviewing the events of the last few days including the NWC dissolution  and  reactions  of some party members,  Bulama said the sacked NWC  has already accepted the  Thursday decisions of the National Executive Committee, would  not go to court and would defer to Buhari.

    Bulama spoke to some media in Abuja.

    He said: “Following consultations with our leaders all the stakeholders, we have accepted the decision of the President on the dissolution of NWC and the setting up of a Caretaker Committee headed by Governor Mai Mala Buni.

  • Just in: Suspended APC Chair, Oshiomhole, accepts Buhari-backed NEC’s decisions

    Just in: Suspended APC Chair, Oshiomhole, accepts Buhari-backed NEC’s decisions

    Idowu Sowunmi

    A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, who was recently sacked by a Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, Saturday accepted all decisions of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) taken at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to him, “I have accepted the decision of the NEC to dissolve the NWC.

    Former national Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole at a media conference in Abuja, Saturday, June 27, 2020.

    “Two years ago, President Muhammadu Buhari invited me to come and reposition the APC and that since the president in his wisdom has also agreed to the dissolution of the NWC, I am bound to obey him as the leader of the party.”

    While commending himself for his two-year achievements as the APC national chairman, Oshiomhole assured of his loyalty to the ruling party and the President.

    He said: “Loyalty is put to test when the going becomes very tough.”

    Thus, he has signified his intention to withdraw his litigation against the party for peace to reign.

    More to follow…

  • APC was hanging on a cliff but for Buhari – says former spokesman

    APC was hanging on a cliff but for Buhari – says former spokesman

    A former National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu has advised warring members of the party to accept the actions of President Muhammadu Buhari and other executives at Thursday’s controversial National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

    The former spokesman of the party in a personal statement stated he has declared support for President Buhari after a reflection of events happening in the APC.

    “I have reflected on the events of the past few days and the outcome of Thursday’s NEC meeting and as a party man, I declare my support for the actions taken by Mr. President.

    “Like the President said, the party was ominously hanging on a cliff and as expected, something had to give way because the APC could not have continued along that obvious path of destruction”, Onilu said.

    He therefore called on other member of the APC to rally round the Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) led by Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni and other eminent members of that committee.

    READ ALSO: APC Crisis: Oshiomhole camp fights back, dismisses NEC meeting as PDP mocks Buhari

    In his appeal for cooperation, Onilu, who described Buni as an experienced party administrator, adding that other members of the caretaker committee are compatriots noted reiterated that party members should consider collective interest and lend support “as they embark on the process of rebuilding our party to the height we all desire”.

    He said: “Ours must be a party that is strong and truly progressive; one that can provide our government the support it requires to deliver more dividends of democracy.

    “We all have the obligation to subordinate our individual interests to the collective interests of our government and country.

    “The task of preserving President Muhammadu Buhari’s unprecedented legacies is not negotiable”, he added.