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Crisis looms in APC as calls for National Chairman’s resignation heighten

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Strong indications have emerged that ahead of the zoning of offices of presiding officers for the National Assembly, crisis looms in the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC as calls for the immediate resignation from office by the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu heighten.

A group under the aegis of a of Civil Society Organisations of Conference of Nigeria Civil Rights Activists (CNCRA), has asked the National Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, to as a matter of urgency, obey the calls for his resignation in the interest of equity, fairness and justice, just as it said that his resignation would assuage the feelings of Christians.

The group in a statement signed on Sunday in Abuja by its Convener, Pastor Ifeanyi Odili, and Secretary, Engr. Sina Akadiri said that Adamu’s exit as APC National Chairman would ensure power balancing in the incoming Bola Tinubu ‘s All Progressives Congress-led government.

According to the rights activists, Adamu’s resignation would also be a great opportunity for the All Progressives Congress to assuage the feelings of Christians towards the same faith arrangement of the party in the recently concluded Presidential Election.

CNCRA’s call is coming ahead of the Monday’s meeting of Senators- elect and members of the House of Representatives- elect with the National Working Committee, NWC of the APC at the Banquet Hall, Aso Rock Villa, Abuja at 2pm to brainstorm on which zone gets the President of the Senate, the Speaker, House of Representatives; the Deputy President of the Senate; the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives and the eight principal positions in both the Upper and Lower Chambers.

The group has however hailed the National Vice Chairman, Northwest of APC, Salihu Mohammed Lukman on his call for power balancing in incoming APC-Led Government and his call for the resignation of the party’s National Chairman.

Recall that Lukman had on Friday advocated for the replacement of the party’s National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu with a Christian, as part of measures to balance the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu whose vice is of the same faith as him.

Lukman in a lengthy article titled “APC Internal Dynamics and the Future of Democracy” and dedicated to the National Welfare Secretary of the party, Barr. Friday Nwosu who died on Thursday, equally said the National Secretary, Otunba Iyiola Omisore should be removed as his emergence has caused deep divisions in the Osun state APC.

The CNCRA which further argued that the National Chairman should be quit the stage honourably in a bid to balance the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, said “Adamu should toe the path of honour and statesmanship by tendering his letter of resignation after the Governorship and House Assembly elections.

“His action would be welcomed and commended by the Christians and it will also pave the way for the emergence of a ranking senator from North Central, to become either the President or Deputy President of the Senate in the forthcoming 10th National Assembly.”

The right activists noted that they were elated when they heard about the patriotic call by Lukman urging the former governor of Nasarawa State to sacrifice his position in the interest of peace, unity and harmony.

The CNCRA said it acknowledged the immense contributions of Adamu and the North Central geopolitical zone towards the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.

It noted that the ruling APC should compensate the region by making sure that a dependable, loyal and most ranking senator emerge as either the President or Deputy Senate President in the 10th National Assembly.

The statement read, ” As right activists, we have watched and observed with keen interest, the recent political developments in the country and have decided to add our voice to the raging controversies over the seemingly inbalaces in the polity as it affects the structure of top political offices.

“With the emergence of the president- elect and his vice from the South West and North-East geopolitical zones of Nigeria, it will be fair and just, for the APC to zone the National Assembly’s presiding officers’ positions to the North-Central, North-West, South-East and the South-South geopolitical zones.

“In terms of marginalisation, the popular opinion in Nigeria is that the South-East and the North-Central have not produced either the nation’s president or vice president since the return of democracy in 1999.

“The South-West produced the President between 1999 and 2007 with a North-East man as vice president.

“In 2007, the North West produced the President while a South-South man was made the vice president for a four year tenure, expected to terminate in 2011.

“However, the South-South vice president had to complete the tenure of his principal who died in 2010. He was later elected president from 2011 to 2015.

“The North-West took over power again from 2015 to date with a South-West man as the vice president.

“It is now clear that the race for the position of the Senate Presidency should be between the North Central and the South East which has never produced either the President or vice president.

“We therefore urge the National Chairman of the APC, Senator Adamu Abdullahi, to step aside as a man of honour, and lead the campaign for the emergence of a presiding officer of the Senate from the North Central.

“We also urge members of the National Working Committee of the APC to reciprocate the immense contributions of Adamu to the party’s success so far by supporting the emergence of a presiding officer from his geopolitical zone.

“The CNCRA hope that Senator Abdullahi Adamu will demonstrate statesmanship by offering to resign his appointment in order to maintain his highly respected honour and integrity.

“We have carefully studied all the ranking senators-elect from the North-Central and we have discovered that Senator Sani Musa, from the Niger East Senatorial District, is eminently qualified and should be considered as a Senate presiding officer based on his competence and loyalty to the party.

“The ranking Senator, who is the Chairman Committee on Senate Services, has garnered enough parliamentary leadership experiences having worked closely with the incumbent president of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, in the last four years.

“He has no criminal record hanging on his neck and he is well loved and respected by his colleagues both within the National Assembly and the APC family in general.

“We believe that he would offer the country his best and do everything possible to stabilise the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, through effective parliamentary legislation and oversight that would curb revenue leakages and tackle insecurity among others.”

Politics

Ihedioha resigns from PDP, says party no longer a credible opposition

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Emeka Ihedioha, a former governorship candidate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo, has resigned from the party.

Ihedioha conveyed his resignation from the party in a letter dated April 23 and addressed to the PDP chairman of Mbutu ward, Aboh Mbaise LGA of Imo; and the national chairman.

Ihedioha said the party has failed to offer “credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)”.

The politician said he has contributed his quota to the “development and transformation” of the PDP since 1998.

“All these years, I have taken pride in the fact that the PDP is a party that will always look inward for internal reforms and provide credible leadership for the people, whether in power or outside power.

“I have had the benefit of serving and benefitting from the party at various levels. Regrettably, in recent times, the party has taken on a path that is at variance with my personal beliefs.

“Despite my attempt to offer counsel, the party is, sadly no longer able to carry out internal reforms, enforce its own rules or offer credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“It is in the light of the foregoing, that I am compelled to offer my resignation from the People’s Democratic Party effective immediately.”

Ihedioha said while the decision to leave the party was “difficult to take”, he believes that it is “the right one”.

He said despite his resignation, he will always be available to offer services “towards the deepening of democracy and good governance” in Nigeria.

Ihedioha was elected governor of Imo in March 2019 on the PDP platform.

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Politics

Lucky Aiyedatiwa wins Ondo APC governorship primary election

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Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo state, has clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial ticket for the November 16 election.

Usman Ododo, Kogi state governor and chairman of the election organising committee, declared Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the party’s primary in the early hours of Monday.

Ododo said Aiyedatiwa secured 48,569 votes to defeat his closest challengers — Mayowa Akinfolarin who had 15,343 votes and Olusola Oke who polled 14,915 votes.

Aiyedatiwa won in 16 of the 18 LGAs in the state while Oke won in Ilaje local government area.

The election was cancelled in Ifedore LGA due to issues of violence.

CONTROVERSIAL PRIMARY ELECTION

The APC primary election, which started on Saturday, was marred by allegations of irregularities while there were demands for cancellation by the leading contenders.

Several aspirants alleged that no election took place in most parts of the state.

TheCable reporters who monitored the election in Akure failed to witness voting in several wards in the Ondo state capital.

Olusola Oke, Olugbenga Edema, Wale Akinterinwa, Dayo Faduyile and Jimi Odimayo are among the governorship hopefuls who kicked against the conduct of the exercise.

Folakemi Omogoroye, a female governorship hopeful, described the election as a “complete rape of democracy”.

“I am not going to accept it, and now, I am calling for cancellation and if this is not done, maybe we’ll meet in the court,” Omogoroye said.

Despite the criticism and controversy surrounding the election, the Kogi state governor insisted that the process was transparent.

The primary election took place across 203 wards in the 18 LGAs of the state.

The election was rescheduled in all 13 wards of Okitipupa LGA over the late arrival of materials. The rescheduled election, held on Sunday, recorded a low turnout of voters in some wards.

Members of the party staged a protest in Akure on Sunday evening over the conduct of the governorship election.

Adeniran Oyebade, director-general for Olusola Oke campaign organisation in Ondo central, described the primary as “daylight robbery”.

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Politics

‘You’re not following procedure’ — Drama as Ondo guber hopeful confronts Ododo over APC primary

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Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, and Gbenga Edema, one of the hopefuls for the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial ticket in Ondo, engaged in a heated argument on Saturday over the distribution of election material for the party’s primary.

Ododo is the chairman of the seven-member committee overseeing the Ondo APC governorship primary.

The argument started after some members party gathered at the BON Hotel, Akure, where the election materials were scheduled to be distributed.

From the crowd, Edema confronted Ododo, saying that election materials were to be distributed to several wards in the state.

The aspirant added that Ovie Omo-Agege, secretary of the primary election committee, had announced that “accreditation will start by 10 am, to be completed by 1 pm while voting proper will start by 1 pm and end by 2 pm”.

Edema then accused the committee of breaching the protocols for the exercise.

In response, Ododo said election materials have been sent to wards in the north and south senatorial districts in the state.

“I came in this morning as early as past eight for this national assignment to humanity. You claim that there has never been material issued to any of the 203 wards,” the governor said.

“From the brief I have gotten from the secretary of this APC primary election, that of the north and south have been released since morning. And it remains that of the central, which is what we have been trying to sort out.”

Reacting, Edema said his ward is located in the state’s south senatorial district and “the returning officer who ought to collect materials for my ward, Mahin Ward II in Ilaje local government area, is here and unable to collect any materials”.

“I’m from Ilaje LGA. [Voting material] has not been sent there. How did it arrive there? Through what medium? I have been here by 6:30 am,” the governorship aspirant said.

“I am one of the aspirants. The returning officer who ought to collect material for my ward, Mahin Ward II, in the Ilaje local government area, is here and unable to collect any materials. He has been here since seven o’clock. No material was given to him.”

The confrontation then climaxed into shouts and heated exchanges.

A total of 171,922 accredited members for the APC gubernatorial election in the state. The exercise is scheduled to take place across 203 wards in 18 LGAs.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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