Politics
North Central APC condemns Gov Sule for endorsing Ganduje
North Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has condemned the endorsement of the National Chairman of the party Abdullahi Ganduje by the Chairman of the North Central Governors’ Forum and Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule.
Speaking with reporters at the forum’s headquarters in Jos the Plateau State capital, the Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, said the courtesy visit Sule paid to the party secretariat in Abuja on Friday to pledge his support for Ganduje was for selfish and personal interest and not the interest of the North Central region, the APC or the President Bola Tinubu led administration.
The chairman said such endorsement by Governor Sule which is coming when the party stakeholders from the region are pushing for the return of the National Chairmanship position to the North Central is not only insensitive and mischievous, but also an act of betrayal of the entire region.
Zazzaga who was also a member of the Presidential Campaign Council in the last election, pointed out that governor Sule knows well that the National Chairmanship position according to the party arrangement and zoning ought to be for the North Central after the resignation of Abdullahi Adamu who is not only from the North Central region but also from Governor Sule’s own state of Nasarawa.
He said for Governor Sule to openly come out and betray his state and the entire region shows that he is someone who is not after the progress of his own state, the North Central region, and he is not a man of equity and justice.
“Governor Sule is not a founding member of the APC because he came in along the line, and so he does not understand the progressive ideology and drive of the party.
“That is why he is doing things contrary to the concept of the party stakeholders, chieftains, bigwigs and members, as well as supporters.
“Besides we all know that in the 2023 election, the APC in Nasarawa State didn’t perform satisfactorily under governor Sule; this is obvious in the number of the legislators won by the party as well as the ones the opposition parties clinched.
“It is also a known fact that Governor Sule didn’t do well also at the 2023 polls, and if not for the judiciary which upheld his election, anything could have happened and APC would have lost the state.
“By and large, what has been Governor Sule’s contribution to the progress of the APC since he joined the party? Again, what has been his development indices and strides in Nasarawa State? With the increase in allocation gotten by the states today, what has Nasarawa State been able to do or has to show under Governor Sule?
“And time and again, we have had grumblings in many quarters about the leadership style of Governor Sule in the state which many frown upon.
Politics
Ihedioha’s Ex-CoS, Others Dump PDP For APC
A former Chief of Staff to ex-governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State, Chris Okewulonu, alongside Ihedioha’s former deputy governorship candidate, Chuma Nnaji, have defected to the All Progressives Congress.
The duo, alongside their supporters, defected on Friday.
At the APC secretariat in Owerri, the state capital, Okewulonu addressed party members.
He said “You will recall that a few months ago, I tendered my resignations, both as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, and as a member of its Board of Trustees,” Okewulonu stated.
“My decision to leave that party was taken after deep introspection, coupled with lengthy consultations with members of my family, my political colleagues, and my well-wishers.
“My decision was equally rooted in my conviction that the qualities which formed the essence of the PDP as a political party, and which ab initio informed my attraction to it, had been continuously eroded, totally degraded, and finally and irretrievably lost,” he said.
Okewulonu explained that his break from political activity allowed him to observe Imo’s political landscape critically.
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“In the light of the protracted disagreements and schisms in both of the parties which should, and were actually looked upon to constitute the frontline opposition parties in Nigeria, I found myself questioning whether, as a veritable statesman in the polity of Imo State and even Nigeria at large, I could afford to continue paying lip service to being a member of an ineffective, nearly non-existent opposition, whereas I could position myself to actively contribute towards improving the lives of my people,” he added.
He acknowledged Governor Hope Uzodimma’s leadership and his achievements.
“Five years down the road, I have come to the inescapable conviction that the 3R administration of Senator Hope Uzodimma has meant well for the people of Imo State, and has been doing its utmost to effectively and efficiently deliver the dividends of good governance to them.
“The humongous roads and other infrastructural interventions, and the human capacity building initiatives undertaken by the Senator Hope Uzodimma administration are eloquent testimonials to my belief and assertion,” Okewulonu said.
Uzodimma welcomed the defectors, emphasising the significance of their decision.
“APC was seen as a foreign party because of the unfortunate outing in the past. We became victims of mistaken identity. Today, the only party that meant well for Imo citizens is APC,” Uzodimma said.
He described the defection as a testament to APC’s growing influence in the state.
“Genuine members of the political class who want Imo to move forward are joining the winning party. The real state owners are coming back to the party. If we don’t solve the problem of our people, history will not forgive us,” the governor added.
Uzodimma praised Okewulonu and Nnaji’s decision to join APC, likening the development to recruiting elite players in sports.
“Conscience is an open wound that only truth can heal. I thank Okewulonu and Chuma Nnaji for joining our party. We have the Ronaldos and Lionel Messis in our party now,” he remarked.
Politics
Ganduje declares Tony Okocha APC leader in Rivers
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, has affirmed that Chief Tony Okocha is the leader of the party in Rivers State.
According to Ganduje, the executive committee headed by Okocha, an ally of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, minister, Nyesom Wike, is the Rivers State APC leadership structure recognized by the national secretariat of the party.
Ganduje made this declaration on Saturday in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of the newly elected state executive committee of the party.
The APC national chairman congratulated the newly elected members and explained the party’s decision to hold the inauguration in Rivers State instead of at the APC National Headquarters in Abuja.
Ganduje said, “I’d like to congratulate the newly elected members of our state executive.
“Traditionally in APC the inauguration of a state chapter is usually done at the state headquarters of the APC in Abuja.
“But as part of the change that we are introducing, we decided to inaugurate these elected executive members here in Rivers so that our party is rooted to the grassroots; so that there is no dichotomy between the national executive and the state exco.
“We are all working together and we don’t feel reluctant even to go to the ward level and undertake our function that is for APC.
He emphasized that the move signifies the party’s effort to strengthen ties between the national and state leadership, ensuring there is no division between the two structures.
Ganduje charged the state executive committee to prioritize internal democracy, highlighting it as a cornerstone of their responsibilities.
He also underscored the importance of fostering unity and inclusiveness within the party at the state level.
Ganduje added, “Therefore the state is our constituency. We need to embrace the state. We need to be in contact with the state. We need to be in harmony with the state.
“We need to synergise with the state and we need to be in love with the state. That is why we are here.
“As members and leaders of our party in the state, you know your basic responsibilities, your functions as spelt out by the constitution of our great party.
“You have to ensure that there is internal democracy. You’re to ensure that you look for new entrants into the party and look for members into the party.
“Use your political dexterity to ensure that our party moves forward. Strengthen the party in your constituencies. It is absolutely necessary. It is your responsibility to ensure that there is peace and you must ensure an effective conflict resolution mechanism. As leaders of the party, I believe you are equal to the task.”
Commenting on APC’s performance in the South-South geopolitical zone, traditionally dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ganduje noted that the APC has made significant progress, citing its control of Cross River and Edo states.
He further stated that Rivers State is the party’s next strategic target as it continues its expansion efforts in the region.
“You are from the South-South geo-political zone where the zone was dominated by the PDP.
“But you are fully aware that during the Buhari administration, we were able to take one state, Cross River, from the PDP.
“And in present President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration, we were able to win squarely in Edo State. Out of six states in the zone, we have recovered two.
“Rivers State is our target. Rivers, we are here for you. Rivers, you are on the way.”
Politics
Ganduje boasts, says we’re ready to capture Rivers State in 2027
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has boasted that the party’s target is to wrestle Rivers state from the grip of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) come 2027.
Ganduje made this known in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of the state working committee on Saturday. He was accompanied by top officials of the party who expressed their support for the new Exco in the state.
In his address, the party’s national South-South vice chairman, Victor Giadom, said the party is gearing up to take over the state.
This inauguration was held despite question marks around the legality of the process.
The national legal adviser administers the oath of office to the Exco.
In his vote of thanks, the leader of the Exco praises his team, saying they’ve done well,
For the national chairman, however, the aim is to bring Rivers into the fold and increase APC’s states in the zone to three.
Though the party’s NWC recognizes the Tony Okocha-led Exco, there is a court judgement recognizing Emeka Beke as the party’s chairman in the state which is yet to be vacated and it’s still unclear how that will affect the party going into 2025.
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