| Source | Date | Story Title | Summary of Reports | Subject/Category | Page No/Weblink | No |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 24, 2018 | No basis for declaring Osun polls inconclusive — Saraki | Senate President Bukola Saraki said there was no basis whatsoever for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the Saturday governorship election in Osun State inconclusive. Saraki, who is the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ýCampaign Council for the Osun governorship election, said in a statement he personally signed that INEC erred in its decision as there was a clear winner in the elections with geographical spread across all the local governments. Saraki also called on the supporters of PDP to be calm even as he commended the PDP candidate, Sen Ademola Adeleke, and other contestants for their resilience. “In my lay man’s opinion, the INEC was wrong in declaring the election as inconclusive because the votes in certain polling units were cancelled. The decision of INEC to cancel the election in those areas after voting had taken place means INEC had already excluded the votes in these areas from the election process and therefore those units should have no place in the overall results. “My opinion would have been different if the election in the affected units did not take place at all, may be as a result of malfunctioning of the card reader machine or unavailability of the electoral materials. Since the voting took place and was cancelled, only the courts could reverse the initial decision by INEC to cancel the votes in these areas. “That is why I call on our party and its candidate to seek further legal interpretation on this decision by the electoral body. One cannot but wonder whether if the places were reversed and the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is the one leading in the election; the INEC will take the same decision it has taken now. “At this point, it is necessary to also call on INEC to display courage, boldness, independence, neutrality and patriotism so as to send signals to the world at large that Nigerian electoral system has come of age and that our democracy has matured. The electoral body needs to re-assure all and sundry that the 2019 election and other elections will be free of manipulations and undue interference,” he said. | 2018 Osun State Governorship Election, Saraki on Rerun polls | View | 9 |
| The Guardian.ng | Monday, September 24, 2018 | Eminent Nigerians say decision of voters must prevail | Former vice president and presidential aspirant of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, cautioned INEC against tampering with the results. Using his verified twitter handle @atiku, he said the people of Osun had made their choice. To former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, the result is a clear indication that the PDP is alive. In his account, @realFFK he said: “One thing that is clear from the Osun State results no matter which way it finally goes is that @OfficialPDPNig is alive and well in the state and Nigeria. We will field a formidable candidate for the February 2019 election who will be elected as the next president of Nigeria. | Osun State 2018 Governorship elections, Eminent Nigerians speak on inconclusive poll | View | 9 |
| The Guardian.ng | Monday, September 24, 2018 | ‘INEC erred, Ademola Adeleke ought to be returned’ | A legal practitioner, Boye Williams, has averred that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) erred by not declaring Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner. Williams of Divine Chambers argued that having polled 254, 698 of the lawful votes against his closest rival, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the PDP’s Adeleke ought to be returned as winner. He cited section 69 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended to buttress his assertion, saying the Act stipulates that “In an election to the office of the President or Governor whether or not contested and in any contested election to the other elective office, the result shall be ascertained by counting the votes cast by each candidate and subject to the provisions of sections 133, 134 and 179 of the Constitution, the candidate that receives the highest number of votes shall be declared elected by the appropriate Returning Officer.” The legal practitioner dismissed INEC’s contention that the cancelled votes, which is 3,498, is more than the difference between the candidate that polled the highest number of votes and the closest rival, which is 353, arguing that Section 179 of the 1999 Constitution is applicable to the Osun poll. He argued that the PDP candidate satisfied the provision of 25 per cent of all votes cast in each of at least 2/3 of all the local government councils of the state, stressing that INEC’s decision to declare the election inconclusive is not grounded in law. | Osun State 2018 Governorship Election, Law on inconclusive poll | View | 9 |
| The Guardian.ng | Monday, September 24, 2018 | Makarfi faults inconclusive results, hopeful of PDP's victory | A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, has said that the party is sure of victory despite the re-run elections declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to him, the technicalities deployed by the commission should be seen as part of the plan to allegedly rob the PDP of victory in the governorship election. Makarfi, who commended the people for the orderly and peaceful manner they conducted themselves during the election, also praised the doggedness of the PDP candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, and party supporters as well as other Nigerians over the “success of the party at the poll.” In a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Mukthar Sirajo, Makarfi, who is a former PDP caretaker committee chairman, commended the national leadership of the party under Prince Uche Secondus for guiding PDP to the path of victory in the election. “The long suffering people of Osun State, who have had to endure a harrowing more than seven years in the hands of the current All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, more than three of which were spent with either half salary or no salary by the workforce until the recent deceitful election-period bailout, have grown wiser and will rally round to ensure that such horrible experience is consigned to the dustbin of history by successfully completing the task they started on Saturday.” | Osun State 2018 Governorship Election, Makarfi speaks on inconclusive poll | View | 9 |
| The Guardian.ng | Monday, September 24, 2018 | Declare Adeleke Osun poll winner, PDP tells INEC | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare its Osun standard-bearer Senator Ademola Adeleke as the winner of last Saturday’s governorship election in the state. At a press conference, the party insisted the process was conclusive, saying its candidate met the requirements of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan, who addressed the press, said Section 179 (2) (a)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, (as amended), is clear in spelling out the conditions for returning a candidate to the office of governor of a state. “This section states inter-alia, ‘a candidate for an election to the office of governor of a state shall be deemed to have been duly elected where, there being two or more candidates – (a) he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and (b) he has not less than one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the local government areas in the state’,” he quoted. Describing the verdict as a robbery of the people’s franchise, the PDP said: “It is obvious that having failed in their schemes to alter the final results, due to the resistance of the people, the APC had to bear pressure on INEC to declare the election inconclusive, to pave way for the perfection of their manipulative schemes, which the people of Osun State have firmly resisted so far. “Instead of yielding to the evil machination of the APC, INEC should have summoned the patriotic courage to immune itself and end this needless controversy by returning the PDP and declaring our candidate as the winner. “It is instructive to state that the PDP will no longer accept inconclusive elections as subterfuge by the APC to attain its dubious electoral manipulative schemes in our nation.” | Osun State 2018 Governorship Election, PDP speaks on inconcluusive poll | View | 9 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 24, 2018 | Youths decry imposition in Delta | The Arewa Youths for Peace and Security (AYPS) has called on the leadership of the APC and the presidency to intervene in the choice of the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Delta State. In a petition signed by the National President and Secretary of AYPC, Malam Suleiman Musa and Comrade Balarabe Musa, the youths specifically claimed that the APC was planning to impose Mr. Great Ogboru as candidate. The petition argued that Ogboru was not fit to be the APC flag-bearer, explaining that he was the anointed candidate of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), an organisation allegedly opposing the Buhari-led government. They therefore called for an enabling environment for all aspirants to test their popularity. | 2019 Delta State Governorship Election, APC candidate imposition | View | 9 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 24, 2018 | APC queries BOT member, Kwande, for attending Atiku’s rally | The Plateau chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has queried Amb. Yahaya Kwande, elder statesman and member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT), over alleged anti-party activities. Mr Latep Dabang, the party’s state chairman, who signed the query, asked Kwande to explain why he attended a political rally organised by the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Jos, on Sept. 18. The letter, dated Sept. 21, declared that Kwande’s action constituted “disloyalty and serious embarrassment to the APC family”. “It is bad that as a BOT member of our party, you attended a rally of the PDP and even addressed the public. “To make matters worse, you told the PDP supporters that they should not be surprised if you bring Gov. Simon Lalong to the party, knowing fully well that he is the leader of the APC in the state.” The APC boss ordered Kwande to, within 24 hours, explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for such crime. | 2019 general elections, anti-party activities in APC | View | 9 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 24, 2018 | Yobe: More groups support Buni | At least 135 affiliate groups under the United Marketers Association in Yobe South senatorial have unanimously adopted Alhaji Maimala Buni as the gubernatorial candidate of the APC ahead of the party’s primary election. The zonal chairman of the association, Alhaji Isa Adamu, who spoke to newsmen after the association’s meeting in Potiskum, said they resolved to support Buni because of his personal credentials and unquestionable loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Ibrahim Gaidam. “The 135 groups of various trades in Potiskum, Fika, Fune and Nangere local government areas want continuity and we believe the people of Yobe South Senatorial Zone have unanimously endorsed Maimala Buni as the candidate for the governorship of the state.” | 2019 Yobe State Governorship election | View | 9 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 24, 2018 | Zorro petitions Oshiomhole, wants direct primaries | A member of the House of Representatives, Sani Zorro (APC, Jigawa) has petitioned the National chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole urging him to conduct direct primaries in his (Zorro) constituency. In a letter dated September 17, 2018, Zorro said contrary to the directives by the party national headquarters, the APC chairman in Jigawa in cahoots with Governor Muhammadu Badaru, had refused to call a meeting for various stakeholders to adopt the type of the primaries they wanted for various offices. He said in clear breach, the party chairman Alhaji Ado Sani Kiri and Gov. Abubakar had taken turns in various radio stations claiming that indirect, as opposed to direct primaries had been adopted. | 2019 general elections , APC direct primaries | View | 9 |
| The Guardian.ng | Monday, September 24, 2018 | Atiku, Tambuwal preach unity, restructuring, restate confidence in PDP | A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Aminu Tambuwal at the weekend said Nigeria needs a president who is committed to the country’s unity, irrespective of tribe and religion. He made the assertion, while addressing delegates of the Edo State Chapter of the PDP in Benin City, where he lamented the pathetic state of affairs in the country under President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Tambuwal, who is also governor of Sokoto State, insisted that the next president should be a leader who understands the nation’s complexity, noting that the country was drifting aimlessly and has become more polarised than ever, as a result of the present government’s wrongheaded policies. His words: “The ship of state is drifting. We are losing our unity as the country is highly polarised. We need a leader who is a unifier and who understands the complexity of our country. “We need a leader who can take Nigeria out of the woods. No investor will invest in a country where the leadership tag the judiciary as corrupt.” | 2019 general elections, Atiku and Tambuwal | Viewhttps://guardian.ng/politics/atiku-tambuwal-preach-unity-restructuring-restate-confidence-in-pdp/ | 9 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 24, 2018 | Nasarawa: Gov’s anointed candidate set to battle 16 aspirants | The battle for the governorship primaries in Nasarawa State will focus on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which has 11 aspirants. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has five and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) one hopeful. The drama is more pronounced in APC as Governor Tanko Al-Makura has drawn a battle line with former Governor Abdullahi Adamu. Eleven aspirants have picked APC nomination forms ahead of the September 29 primary election. | 2019 Nasarawa State Governorship election | View | 9 |
| The Guardian.ng | Monday, September 24, 2018 | Omisore, Omoworare may determine winner of rerun poll | The battle for the governorship seat has been shifted to four local government areas following the rerun election fixed for Thursday September 27. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had cancelled elections in seven polling units because of technical hitches and ad hoc staff that absconded with election materials. The 3, 498 voters that will eventually determine the winner are located in Osogbo, Orolu, Ife South and Ife North councils. The candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore and the Senator representing Ife Central, Babajide Omoworare are being seen as the candidates to determine who wins about 60 per cent of the votes from the rerun. In Ife South where towns like Ifetedo and Garage Olode will also determine where the rerun will swing, APC won with 7,223, SDP 6,151 while had PDP 4,872. Though Omisore is believed to have a good control of the unit where rerun will hold, votes for his party will be inconsequential. In the only polling unit in Osogbo where 884 registered voters will participate in the rerun, APC had been winning and the party may repeat the feat. There were speculations yesterday evening that some PDP stalwarts from outside the state were already wooing Omisore to forgive the party and support its candidate, Adeleke, in the rerun. Omisore’s influence in Ife and environment cannot be underestimated. | Osun State 2018 Governorship Election, Deciders of inconclusive poll | View | 9 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 24, 2018 | 75 aspirants in C/River bought forms through wrong source — APC | The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State has said in Calabar that all the aspirants for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly positions bought their expression of interest forms through the wrong officials. Mr Francis Ekpenyong, who said he is the “authentic and legal” state secretary of the party as declared by the Abuja High Court, recently, said all the aspirants may have such forms invalidated except they all came forward and clarified from their leadership before the arrival of the screening committee which would have to get clearance from them. Ekpenyong said the Abuja High Court had nullified every action and decision taken by the rival Dr. Matthew Achigbe-led exco and also sacked them from office. He warned that those parading themselves as chairmen and secretaries should desist else they would be arrested. Also addressing journalists at the party secretariat, Dr. Matthew Achigbe said inasmuch as they respected court supremacy, he wondered why the case was handled by a court outside Cross River State. “In any case, our esteemed population has no cause for anxiety. There is no case in the whole issue as there will be no effect on our leadership.” He maintained that the rival exco led by Mr. Godwin John Etim had no grounds to make claims. | 2019 general elections, APC Cross River Governorship Aspirants | View | 9 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 24, 2018 | Presidency: ‘Nigeria should adopt 6-yr single term’ | A retired Permanent Secretary, Chief Robert Audu has called for the adoption of a 6-yr single tenure, starting with President Muhammadu Buhari. Chief Audu, who had served in several ministries, including Perm-Sec (Political) The Presidency, was also a member of the 2005 and 2014 political conferences. “My reason is that we waste a lot of money on elections every four years. The expenditure on election is too much. For instance, we hear the president is asking for about N400 billion to conduct the 2019 elections. This is apart from all the support INEC receives from international organisations. This is a waste of resources. If we have six years of single term, in eight years, we would have saved the cost of conducting one election. The balance will be used for developmental projects,” he said. Asked if he felt Nigerians could accept his proposal, he said, “I’m even advocating that the 6-year single term should start with Buhari. He should be given a two-year extension, and subsequently we go for 6-year single term.” And on who he felt could be the greatest beneficiary, he said, “Buhari may be the first to benefit from it, but it is not meant for him. We had proposed this even in the 2005 conference, in which Obasanjo would have benefitted, but it failed because Obasanjo would have had an additional two years over the eight years of two four-year terms recognised by the constitution. “But if this is accepted, Buhari is actually losing two years, not gaining two years because he expects to win the 2019 election that will give him another 4-year mandate. Therefore, if we have 6-year single term, he would actually lose two years.” | Presidential 6-year single term | View | 9 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 24, 2018 | PDP screens North East aspirants in Bauchi | Governor Darius Ishaku of Gombe State, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed and 28 other gubernatorial aspirants on the platform of PDP drawn from the six states in the North East have been screened in Bauchi. The exercise which was conducted at the party’s North East zonal secretariat had 30 aspirants screened, 29 scaled through while one was disqualified. The aspirants were from Adamawa, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe, Yobe and Borno states. Thirteen aspirants went for the screening from Gombe; followed by Adamawa with seven, Bauchi four, Yobe three, and Borno two while Taraba had Governor Ishaku who is rounding up his first term as the only person that showed interest in the PDP ticket. Speaking after his screening, Governor Ishaku said he was optimistic the PDP would capture more states in the 2019 general elections. He warned the ruling APC and other parties to stay clear of Gombe and Taraba states, saying they could not be snatched from the PDP by any other political party. Those slugging it for the ticket in Bauchi included Senator Mohammed, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, Senator Adamu Gumba and Auwal Jatau. | 2019 general elections, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Northeast aspirants | View | 9 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 24, 2018 | 2019: No to ethnic sentiments – Bayelsa youths | A youths’ group in Bayelsa State says it will not allow ethnic sentiments to influence its choice of leadership at any level in the country during the 2019 elections. The group, Outstanding Youths for Good Governance, told newsmen yesterday in Yenagoa that no matter what tribe an aspirant comes from, if he is found credible and possesses qualities of a good leader, it would support such a person. The coordinator of the group, Karibokiri Yague and its secretary,Manawa Uda, said this while reacting to the claim that a senatorial aspirant in Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Barr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, is not from Ijaw ethnic group and does not deserved to have aspired for an elective position in the district. They said: “Credibility should and must not be sacrificed for the ethnic sentiment, Barr Ewhrudjakpo has served as a commissioner in the Bayelsa State and performed creditably well, he is a bona-fide Ijaw son and should benefitted from anything due to an Ijaw person, besides, he is one of the best brains we should send to the National Assembly to give us effective representationwhich we have been yearning for a long time”. They urged the people of the state to support candidates based on their credentials and abilities to offer them the needed effective representation. According to them, the Niger Delta region is suffering because of ineffective representation at the National Assembly. They said their resolve to support the best and credible persons for elective positions was not limited to the National Assembly alone, but all elective positions in the state for the betterment of the future generations. | 2019 general elections, Bayelsa youths | View | 9 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 24, 2018 | Governance is about integrity, not lies — Emmanuel | Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has called on the people of the state not to subject themselves to lies, saying that governance is about character and integrity. He said the era of playing on the gullibility of the people was over, adding that the people deserved a fair deal in governance. Speaking yesterday in Uyo at the 31st anniversary of the state, the governor said the people had a choice to choose between lies or physical development. He said his administration was laying a great and sustainable foundation for the economic prosperity of all the people of the state. “Governance is not about lies and propaganda, governance is about character, integrity, transparency and doing the job of the people. Governance is not about giving people fraudulent contract papers for road construction. Akwa Ibom people deserve better, they deserve to be told the truth. “The era of taking our people for granted, playing on their perceived gullibility is over. Our people deserve a fair deal from those who wish to lead them and not a raw deal. That is the choice you have my fellow Akwaibomites. “We are not playing politics with development. For over three years now, we have been engaged with the sole task of providing quality leadership with tangible results; we have devoted ourselves to moving Akwa Ibom State forward, challenging our people to dakkadaand claim that faith of greatness. “Mine, is not about applause or playing to the gallery. Mine is not about lying to you to score cheap political points; mine is not to go on the social media and indulge in propaganda, mine, is about ensuring development for our people that is both immediate and sustainable,” he said. | Governor Emmanuel on good governance | View | 9 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 24, 2018 | CSOs express worry over INEC’s delay in result collation | A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs), called the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, has expressed worry over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) delay in collating the Osun governorship election result. The Convener of the Situation Room, Mr Clement Nwankwo in a statement on Sunday said there was need for INEC to change the trend on collation of results and use of electronic method. Nwankwo also expressed concern that the result collation took place mostly at night. It would be recalled that INEC had declared the Saturday election inconclusive following the low margin between the leading political party in the poll and the runner’s up. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had scored 254, 698 to lead the All Progressive Congress (APC) which polled 254, 345. “On collation of results, Situation Room is concerned that the process of collation is delayed and appears to happen mostly at night. “This is when the political parties, candidates, observers and other election stakeholders may have depleted away from observation of the process, especially with fears of insecurity.” (NAN) | Civil Societies on collation of results by INEC | View | 9 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 24, 2018 | N/Assembly postpones resumption to October 9 | The National Assembly has postponed its resumption earlier slated for Tuesday, Sept 25 to October 9. In a statement last night in Abuja, the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Mohammed Sani-Omolori, said the postponement was due to the activities of political parties. “This is to inform all Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members that the resumption of plenary earlier scheduled for Tuesday, September 25 has been postponed to Tuesday 9th October due to the activities of the primaries of the political parties. “All Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members are expected to resume plenary session by 10.am on the 9th of October, please,” the statement said. Daily Trust had last week reported that the National Assembly would not reconvene this week as earlier slated. | National Assembly resumption | View | 9 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 24, 2018 | CDD calls for calm in Osun | With the declaration of the Osun State Governorship election as inconclusive by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has urged electorate and all political camps to maintain calm. The CDD Director, Idayat Hassan, in a statement Sunday commended the voting public in Osun State for their peaceful conduct before and during the election. “We call on the Osun electorate to continue with its calm and orderly disposition, as INEC works to ensure the electoral process is concluded in line with extant laws and guidelines governing the process. CDD, therefore, calls on all partisan camps to refrain from any form of rhetoric, claims or counter-claims capable of disturbing the peace or undermining public order,” Hassan said. | Osun State 2018 Governorship Election, inconclusive poll | View | 9 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 24, 2018 | Osun election rerun holds Thursday | A rerun of the Osun State governorship election will hold on Thursday, September 27, 2018, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said yesterday. The Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof. Joseph Fuwape, disclosed this after declaring the election inconclusive. Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 254,698 votes, while Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 254, 345 votes. Senator Iyiola Omisore of Social Democratic Party (SDP) followed with 128,049. But a total of 3,498 votes were cancelled across seven polling units, which is more than the 353 votes that gave Adeleke an edge over Oyetola. The affected polling units where the rerun election will take place are: one in Ife North; two in Ife South; three in Orolu; and one in Osogbo. Prof Fuwape said “Based on the results collated by the Returning Officer, the margin between the two leading candidates is 353 which is lower than the number of registered voters in the affected areas. Extant law and INEC Guidelines and Regulations provide that where such a situation occurs, a declaration may not be made.” | 2018 Osun State Governorship Election, INEC and Rerun polls | View | 9 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 24, 2018 | Why I will beat other aspirants for presidency — Makarfi | One of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirants and former national chairman of the party, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, said at the weekend that he would beat other aspirants in the primaries to pick the PDP presidential election ticket because none of them possessed what he has. While addressing party members in Birnin Kebbi, during his visit to the state, the former Kaduna State governor noted the other presidential aspirants were of course qualified to be the party candidates but he was more qualified. He said: “What I know is that I am more qualified. Some of them have the experience but there is one experience I have that many of them don’t have. That experience of managing the PDP successfully in a democracy under an extreme political difficulty. That is why we are where we are today.” He told the gathering of political supporters in Kebbi that he had worked with many of the governorship aspirants in the state at both party and Senate levels, noting that he was in Kebbi State to familiarize himself with the PDP supporters and not to campaign. Makarfi, who was also in Sokoto, said it was possible to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari in a free and fair contest. He said the National Working Committee and BOT of the PDP were working diligently to ensure the primaries of the party held without any rancour. | 2019 general elections, Makarfi on other PDP aspirants | View | 9 |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | 2019: I contemplated stepping aside – Dogara | "Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara said he has accepted a request from his constituents to recontest for the seat of Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State. Addressing supporters who paid him a solidarity visit at his Abuja residence yesterday, the Speaker said he was already contemplating stepping aside, having represented the constituency for almost 12 years. The three-term lawmaker, however, said he was overwhelmed by the unalloyed support and solidarity by his people who travelled from Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa Balewa Local Governments in Bauchi State to Abuja to impress upon him to recontest. “Some people said they will retire us from politics, but we want to inform them that only God and the electorate can retire us,” he said. He also made it clear that only the electorate have the power to determine whoever would emerge as their leaders, adding that nobody would impose leadership on them. The Speaker also promised to continue to attract infrastructural facilities and other developmental projects to his constituency. “I want to assure you that whatever you want us to do is what we will do. For those who said they will retire us from politics, I want to tell them that we have just begun,” he said." | 2019 general elections, Dogara. | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2019-i-contemplated-stepping-aside-dogara.html | 8 |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | Buhari slams NASS as panel recovers N769bn stolen funds | "President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday slammed the National Assembly for delaying the passage of Proceeds of Crimes Bill presently before it. Buhari, who spoke during the submission of the report of the Presidential Committee set up to audit recovered funds, said a key tool that would revolutionize the country’s asset recovery and management architecture is the Proceeds of Crimes Bill. “Once the Bill is passed and assented, many of the challenges facing our asset recovery and management practice will be adequately taken care of as the Bill addresses most of the challenges facing effective asset recovery and management in Nigeria,” he said. He therefore urged the National Assembly to take necessary steps to pass the Bill. He assured Nigerians that his administration would continue to keep faith with the promise to fight corruption, adding that, “we shall remain committed until Nigeria triumphs over the evil of corruption, attain a prosperous economic status and surmounts all her security challenges.” He said that the findings and recommendations of the Committee would be carefully examined and given due consideration with a view to implementing the recommendations. “Our asset recovery and management system will in future be transparently, effectively and efficiently managed, and we will set-out a fresh template of public accountability in the country,” he said. The President said corruption constituted a threat to the well-being, national security, and economy of Nigeria. He further added that: “I have made it clear that this government will not allow the wanton diversion and embezzlement of public funds into private pockets. Thus, we intend to continue taking all necessary measures to deprive looters of public assets of the fruits of their crimes. “It is in keeping with the Anti-corruption Policy of this Government, and in line with global best practices that this Committee was set-up to review our asset recovery and management practices in order to evolve a proper management, transparency and accountability culture in the management of recovered assets. “Given our history of impunity, much of Nigeria’s wealth has historically been squandered or stolen; leaving us with inadequate infrastructure for our growing population and economy. Asset Recovery is thus one of the essential tools for fighting corruption and we must therefore take issues of managing such recovered assets very seriously.”" | President Buhari, National Assembly | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-slams-nass-as-panel-recovers-n769bn-stolen-funds.html | 8 |
| ThisDaylive Newspaper | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | ADC gives 118 lawmakers automatic tickets | "The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has given 118 serving lawmakers at the federal and state levels automatic tickets ahead of the 2019 general elections. The National Chairman of ADC, Chief Ralphs Nwosu, announced the party’s decision at its 61st National Executive Committee meeting, in Abuja. He said the lawmakers, who recently defected to the party from the ruling the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other parties, were rewarded for coming out boldly to identify with the ADC at a crucial time in the history of the country’s democracy. Out of the total number of legislators, 95 are serving state House of Assembly members, 18 are members of the House of Representatives; and five are Senators. Nwosu said, “We need to honour and appreciate them because they abandoned the ruling and bigger parties for a party that is just gathering momentum. The development can be attributed to the fact that the lawmakers and Nigerians at large have agreed that an end must come to anarchy, insecurity, lack of focus and terrorism in Nigeria. And the best platform, right now, is ADC. They are from Adamawa, Ondo, Osun, Imo, Ebonyi, Ogun and Oyo states, among others.” On the party’s preparedness for the 2019 elections, the ADC chairman disclosed that the primaries for aspirants contesting for the House of Assembly elections would hold on September 29, while governorship primaries would hold on October 2. For the National Assembly, primaries would hold on October 4 and presidential, October 6. “Aspirants have been coming to take forms for the presidential primaries. We will unveil our aspirants very soon,” he said. The chairman added that ADC had launched a campaign against vote buying and electoral corruption under the name: Coalition for Electoral Integrity. “We invite the media and the general public to join the party in enlightening the Nigerian electorate that trading their votes for money means mortgaging a very bright future and we must stop that,” he said." | 2019 general elections, African Democratic Congress (ADC) | Page 19 | 8 |
| The Guardian.ng | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | APC deserters corrupt, weak, selfish, says Buhari | "President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday declared that all who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to other political parties were selfish, weak and corrupt people that could not align with the vision of his administration. He made the remarks while accepting the expression of interest and nomination form donated by a group, the Nigerian Consolidation Ambassadors Network (NCAN), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. “I am honoured today to receive youths from all over the country contributing to buy the form for me,” Buhari said, as he received the N45 million document. “The corrupt, the selfish have left APC. Today, I am pleased to say the weakest among us, those whose selfish expectations did not align with our patriotic zeal, have exited out party. We are now a party of strong and patriotic individuals who are ready, willing and able to continue on this journey of building a secure, self-sufficient and corruption-free Nigeria,” he added. It will be recalled that last month, the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, also referred to “Buhari’s critics” as “saboteurs and thieves.”" | 2019 general elections, All Progressives Congress(APC) | https://guardian.ng/politics/apc-deserters-corrupt-weak-selfish-says-buhari/ | 8 |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | Gov’ship: Borno APC chair commends Shettima on aspirants | "The chairman of the APC in Borno State, Ali Bukar Dalori, yesterday, commended Governor Kashim Shettima for allowing all those wishing to succeed him to buy nomination forms. Dalori commended Shettima for “creating an atmosphere of democratic freedom in which aspirants under the APC were given their rights to obtain forms for the governorship and other seats as against previous practices of dictatorship.” About 15 people are in the contest for the Borno governorship under the platform of the APC; and most of them had obtained the forms. The party chair said this was a departure from the past when party members were denied freedom to aspire for positions. Dalori said it was the first time since 1999 that aspirants under a ruling party in Borno State where given such freedom. In a statement emailed to journalists on Tuesday, the chairman said the governor resisted offers to immediately anoint a successor, opting for an open and liberal democratic process where persons with aspiration were not only allowed but even encouraged to obtain forms for expression of interest. “The APC in Borno State is happy with its growing number of aspirants especially for the governorship because the development has charged the political atmosphere in favour of the APC and in positive and peaceful manner,” he said." | 2019 Borno State Governorship election, APC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/govship-borno-apc-chair-commends-shettima-on-aspirants.html | 8 |
| ThisDaylive Newspaper | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | ADP Assures Fairness to Aspirants | "The Action Democratic Party (ADP), Ogun State chapter, has pledged to ensure a level-playing ground and also accord equal opportunities to all aspirants seeking elective offices on its platform at the party primaries. State Chairman of the party, Chief Wale Egunleti, at the inauguration of local government and ward executive members of Abeokuta South Local Government Area where about 3,000 party members thronged the occasion held at Ake, Abeokuta described ADP as a credible alternative that would rescue the people of Ogun State from bad governance. Egunleti, a former Commissioner in the state, emphasised that the party would comply strictly with ‘direct primaries’, as the mode of selecting candidates. “In the ADP, the wish of the people will always prevail. We are democratic in principle and in action, and to that extent, we will provide equal-level playing field to all aspirants, in accordance with the constitution of our party. The provision for ‘direct primaries’ in Article 43.1.5 states, ‘In order to enhance internal democracy, transparency, cost effectiveness, the party shall adopt direct primary using open secret ballot for all its internal elections’. Democracy is a game of number. Our aspirants will test their popularity and whoever emerges winner will bear the flag of our party. As the credible alternative, we want the people of this state to clearly see the difference between us and others,” he said ." | 2019 general elections, Action Democracy Party (ADP) | Page 19 | 8 |
| ThisDaylive Newspaper | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | Group Plans Religious Conference Ahead 2019 Elections | "A Non-Governmental Organisation, the Legacy Initiative International (LII), has concluded plans to hold a religious leaders’ conference in December to deliberate on issues relating to religion and ethnicity ahead of the 2019 general elections. As part of this move, a Christian religious leaders meeting will hold in Lagos, while a similar summit for Muslim leaders will hold in Kano. A joint convention of both bodies is slated for Abuja in December. The leader and grand patron of the LII, Dr. Kenny Martins told journalists in Lagos that the initiative will prevent anarchy as the nation moves towards the general elections, adding that religion has been identified as a solution for peace in the country. According to Martins, “we want the Christians and the Muslims brothers to sit face-to-face and discuss the issues. The common thread tying both the Christian and the Muslim communities together is good governance. We want them to discuss this frankly between themselves.” He also said that religious leaders should play a more dynamic role in the selection of political office holders, saying that the spiritual factor was necessary to aid the Nigerian voters enthrone good governance by electing only persons that have been duly vetted into political offices. Martins, who was flanked by other patrons of the group including Bishop Bayo Babalola, Bishop Oscar Ossai, Prince Chudi Chukwuani and the group’s national secretary, Chief Johnny Ucheagha at the media parley, also explained the roles played by the group in stabilising the country’s democracy. He, however, lamented that despite the abundance of churches and mosques in the country, the God-factor had been totally removed from governance. “Let the Christian and Muslim leaders sit together formulate a template for solution and play the power game together, interrogate the candidates and when you have found them worthy you preach about them from the pulpit and from the mosques. “We are canvassing now for PVCs and people are getting aware, the Adeboyes, the Oyedepos are doing so, but when they have gotten these PVCs, what do they do with it? It is inappropriate for Christians not to bring their first eleven in moral quotient to governance, same with Muslims. Let the first eleven from the religious leaders take over the government so that our country can move forward,” Martins said." | 2019 general elections, Legal Initiative International (LII) | Page 19 | 8 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | PDP Announces New Dates for Primaries | "The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Tuesday announced new dates for State House of Assembly, National Assembly and governorship primaries of the party ahead of the 2019 general elections. The main opposition party in the new time table revealed that the last day for the purchase of submission of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms that was supposed to end yesterday, September 11 has now been extended to September 18. The new dates according to a party source may not be unconnected with the huge patronage the party continues to receive for expression of interest on the various elective offices up for grabs in the 2019 elections. According to a notice signed by the National Organising Secretary of PDP, Col. Austin Akobondu (rtd) and made available to journalists yesterday in Abuja, the party has fixed September 20 for screening the National Assembly, governorship and presidential aspirants. The party said on September 15, it would elect candidates will vie for seats in the States’ Houses of Assembly, while appeals arising from the exercise earlier fixed for September 17, will now hold on October 4, 2018. The party also said that Senatorial congresses and appeals will hold on September 28 and September 29, respectively, while governorship primaries will hold on September 26 with appeals slated for September 28. The notice added that the congresses into the National Assembly will hold on September 30 as against the earlier date of September 28. According to the party, the appeals on these congresses hold on October 2 in the new timetable." | 2019 general elections, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/12/pdp-announces-new-dates-for-primaries/ | 8 |
| The Guardian.ng | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | Kaduna traders dissociate selves from purchase of form for El-Rufai | "Members of the Kaduna Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) have dissociated themselves from the purchase of All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship form for Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s second term bid. Besides, contrary to reports that some groups jointly purchased the 2019 governorship form for him, the Kaduna Market Traders Association (KMTA) also yesterday dissociated themselves from endorsing El-Rufai for a second term in office." | 2019 Kaduna State governorship election, El-Rufai | https://guardian.ng/news/kaduna-traders-dissociate-selves-from-purchase-of-form-for-el-rufai/ | 8 |
| The Guardian.ng | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | Atiku berates APC for polarising Nigerians, insists on devolution of power | "Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday berated the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration for polarising and causing disaffection among Nigerians. Atiku, who was speaking in Katsina State when he met with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegates, said the disunity between the South and North of the country became unprecedented under APC’s rule. He said the APC came to power with a “very narrow perspective of national representation,” and that the party is overseeing the “highest level of disunity in the country.” He said unemployment reached its peak under the party’s watch with over 12 million youths unemployed, while insecurity and economic indices have left Nigerians yearning for PDP days in government. Atiku said rather than continue with what the PDP had built from 1999 to 2015, the APC plunged the country into intractable problems, which the country is still suffering from, adding that the best thing was for Nigerians to return PDP to power. Speaking during the event, a gubernatorial aspirant and former deputy governor of the state, Garba Faskari said what the country needs was quality leadership and not empty chanting of the Change mantra. Faskari said the APC-led government promised Nigerians so much but delivered so little, adding that what PDP had done while in office was evidence of its quality leadership style." | All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku | https://guardian.ng/news/atiku-berates-apc-for-polarising-nigerians-insists-on-devolution-of-power/ | 8 |
| The Guardian.ng | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | Why Buhari is afraid of signing Electoral Act – Wike | "Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has alerted that President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sign the amended Electoral Act is a grand plot to rig the 2019 general elections. Wike, who made the declaration in Port Harcourt, pleaded with the international community to revoke visas of Federal Government officials who destroy democracy and rule of law in the country. In a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, he asserted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was determined to manipulate the electoral process against the wishes of Nigerians and damn the consequences. “Why has the President not signed the Electoral Act? What is his fear? What do you mean by mistakes and errors they didn’t see in one month? Is it possible for there to be errors for the first, second and third time? Does it not tell Nigerians that they are not prepared for election? He queried. He alleged that the presidency was prepared to write the results of the elections and damn the consequences, adding that some government officials who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) confirmed the plot. “I can confidently tell you that these people are not prepared for the election. All they want to do is write the results and let the Heavens fall,” he said." | President Buhari, Electoral Act and Wike | https://guardian.ng/news/why-buhari-is-afraid-of-signing-electoral-act-wike/ | 8 |
| The Guardian.ng | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | Adeoti to review policy on contract award, others | "From the Action Democratic Party (ADP) came yesterday a promise to use agricultural revolution and aggressive development of small and medium scale industries to revitalise Osun State economy if elected. Besides, the party promised to review the current administration’s policy on award of contracts with a view to favouring local contractors, as a measure to boost economy and check capital flight. Candidate of the party, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, who addressed a rally at Ikirun in Ifelodun Local Government Area, said ADP would run an inclusive administration that would engender rapid development of the state and spread the democratic dividends. On his party, he said his administration would run a democratized system that would not alienate members but bring both the party leadership and the government together to achieve ADP’s objectives. Adeoti urged the citizens to collect their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), saying without it the people would not be able to effect the true changes expected to bring a new dawn in Osun on the day of the election. He charged party supporters to sell the manifestoes of ADP to the citizens and to refrain from unlawful activities capable of tarnishing the image of the party. According to him, the attack launched against supporters of the party while returning from a rally in Ilesa last week was aimed at discouraging people from embracing the good programmes the ADP has in stock for them. A chieftain of the party and prominent leader in Osogbo, Senator Bayo Salami, said the people were tired of the current administration due to alleged misplaced priorities that had brought huge financial deficit to the state. He described Akinbade as credible and had the capacity to turn Osun around. A former Commissioner for Information, Sunday Akere, urged the citizens to use their electoral power to bail out the state from “oppression and recklessness.”" | Osun State 2018 Governorship elections, Action Democratic Party (ADP) | https://guardian.ng/news/adeoti-to-review-policy-on-contract-award-others/ | 8 |
| The Guardian.ng | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | Rescue Osun from total collapse, Oyinlola urges electorate | "Former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has admonished the people to use their votes at the September 22 governorship election to rescue the state from what he described as total collapse. He said the advice had become imperative in view of the precarious situation the state has found itself. Oyinlola spoke at Inisa, Odo-Otin Local Government area during the meeting of the state Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) led by its Chairman, Revd Michael Okodua. “The situation in our dear state, Osun, today, calls for serious concern. It is near total collapse. Our people can rescue this situation with their votes at the coming governorship election scheduled for September 22,” he said. Oyinlola, who is a national leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), called on the electorate in the state to vote massively for the party and its candidate, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade and his deputy, Justice Olamide Oloyede (rtd). Through them, the former governor promised, Osun would be turned around for the common good of the people through enduring agricultural and industrial programmes that would lead to employment generation and sustainable development. Earlier, Akinbade said with his experience and background, it would not be difficult for him to fix the problems confronting the people. The ADC candidate, who expressed optimism that he would win the election, urged stakeholders not to see the contest as a do-or-die affair." | Osun State 2018 Governorship Election, Oyinlola | https://guardian.ng/news/rescue-osun-from-total-collapse-oyinlola-urges-electorate/ | 8 |
| The Guardian.ng | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | Aregbesola’s wife, others campaign for Oyetola at markets | "Wife of the governor, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, is leading women to canvass support for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, at various markets across the state. The campaign has been taken to major markets in Osogbo, Olorunda, Irepodun and Orolu Federal Constituency where Mrs. Aregbesola assured the traders that Oyetola would run an inclusive administration that would ensure equity and fair play, and would give women appointment, if elected. The governor’s wife urged the market men and women to vote for APC and avail themselves of the opportunity to continue to enjoy the outgoing Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s legacies. She expressed worry that the foundation laid by Governor Aregbesola’s administration would be destroyed if any of the opposition parties is allowed to take over power from the ruling APC. A member of the House of Representatives, representing Ayedade/Ayedire/Isokan Federal Constituency, Ayo Omidiran, appealed to the market women who were yet to collect their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVCs) to urgently do so to qualify to vote. She commended the traders for the roles they played in ensuring the re-election of Aregbesola in 2014, urging them to go out enmasse and do the same for Oyetola on September 22. Omidiran, who also recalled the support of the APC-led Federal Government for the market women, stated that the ongoing distribution of N10,000 to 30,000 through Trader Moni programme to petty traders in the state was a promise kept by President Muhammadu Buhari. She reminded them that Governor Aregbesola had abundantly supported market women through promotion of small scale businesses and entrepreneurs. Omidiran told the women that time had come for them to reciprocate the governments gestures by voting for APC to be able to access more dividends of democracy." | Osun State 2018 Governorship elections, All Progressives Congress (APC) | https://guardian.ng/news/aregbesolas-wife-others-campaign-for-oyetola-at-markets/ | 8 |
| The Guardian.ng | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | Adeleke promises to develop rural communities, revive economy | "Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has promised to lift rural communities with massive infrastructure if elected. He specifically promised to bring succour to the people of Iwo and neighbouring communities by reconstructing the Iwo-Osogbo road that has allegedly suffered neglect by past and current administration. Besides, he promised to commence the reconstruction of the road to Ile-Ogbo, the home town of his strongest opponent in the primary election, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, within the first six months in office. The head of Media and Public Communication Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organisation, Bamidele Salami, said yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, that the flag bearer made the promise in Iwo while receiving scores of defectors from the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) and other political parties into the PDP. He said Adeleke expressed concern that in spite of the massive support previously enjoyed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Iwo and its environs, the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration allegedly failed to meet any of the major needs and aspirations of the people in the area. Adeleke promised to revitalise the economy of Osun State through the implementation of well-thought out programmes. The state chairman of the PDP, Soji Adagunodo, said the party was set to stem capital flight through promotion of local content in all sectors of the economy. According to him, one of the reasons for the huge indebtedness of the state and incidents of abandoned projects is Aregbesola administration’s alleged penchant for awarding contracts at inflated costs to non-indigenous contractors." | Osun State 2018 Governorship Election, Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP). | https://guardian.ng/news/adeleke-promises-to-develop-rural-communities-revive-economy/ | 8 |
| The Guardian.ng | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | Nigerians should be happy Buhari did not sign PIGB, says Enang | "Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (Senate) to the President, Ita Enang, has said rather than express displeasure, Nigerians should be grateful that President Muhammadu Buhari did not sign the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) into law. Enang stated this when he featured on News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja yesterday, insisting that if the President had signed the bill, it would have made some agencies so rich that funds they would be collecting from the industry monthly would exceed what would accrue to six states monthly. He said Buhari felt that the PIGB in its current form would have created another ‘masquerade’ that would be a liability and minus to other tiers of government. By masquerade, Enang was referring to the provision of the bill that allows the Petroleum Industry Regulatory Commission (PIRC) to retain as much as 10 per cent of monthly revenues generated in the oil industry. He said that the President’s position was that in addition to other sources of funding available to the commission, it would be collecting billions of Naira monthly that would equal federal allocation to about seven states. “The president also said that the PIGB provided for the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) to take five per cent of the value of petroleum products consumed by Nigerians every month,” he said." | Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), President Buhari and National Assembly | https://guardian.ng/news/nigerians-should-be-happy-buhari-did-not-sign-pigb-says-enang/ | 8 |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | 2019: Okupe heads Saraki’s media campaign team | A former presidential spokesman, Doyin Okupe, has been appointed as the Chairman of the Media Council for Senate President Bukola Saraki's campaign organisation. The Director General of the Saraki Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mohammed Wakil, announced Okupe's appointment in a statement yesterday. Okupe has served as "Director of Communications of the Presidential campaigns of two former presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan and later served as senior special assistant on Media and Public Affairs to both presidents" | 2019 general elections, Saraki. | Page 12 | 8 |
| ThisDaylive Newspaper | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | Imo UPP Holds Congress, Repositions for Guber Election | "As part of its strategy to capture power in 2019 at all levels and reposition for the titanic electoral battle ahead in Imo State, the United Progressive Party, (UPP) has conducted its state congress at the party secretariat in Owerri. Members elected a new state executive with Hon. Innocent Njoku emerging as Chairman. Mr. Benjamin Ehirim was elected the secretary. No fewer than 13 other officers were elected to fill various positions in the State Working Committee that will lead the party to the 2019 polls in Imo State. The exercise was peaceful and devoid of rancour as party chieftains and members expressed their determination to energise the party and take over the reins of governance in the State. Addressing the members, Njoku said the UPP has what it takes to contend with other political parties elective positions in 2019. “UPP will deliver and we need to work as a team to ensure victory. The peaceful congress is a manifestation of our determination to succeed compared to what we saw when some political parties held their own congresses In his remarks, the UPP 2015 Imo governorship candidate and fiery critic, Prof. Protus Nathan Uzoma said with the successful conduct of the congress, the UPP has become the party to beat in the state in 2019. “Without unity and love, one cannot achieve anything in life.Both of them are interwoven and we need to inculcate such values if we must succeed,” Uzoma said amidst thunderous cheers from party members. He called on members of the UPP to speak the language of the party, imploring the state Chairman and his executives to constitute a reconciliation committee to address any differences that may arise after the congress." | 2019 general elections, United Progressive Party (UPP) | Page 19 | 8 |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | …No plan to impeach Ambode — Lagos speaker | "The Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has refuted claims that the state assembly was planning to impeach Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Obasa who was responding to Daily Trust enquiries through his Chief Press Secretary, Musibau Razak, said there was no iota of truth in the speculation trending on social media and some online news websites that the speaker had written to Governor Ambode telling him to buy APC form to seek a second term under the APC." | Alleged planned impeachment of Lagos State Governor Ambode, Speaker Obasa | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/no-plan-to-impeach-ambode-lagos-speaker-2.html | 8 |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | Why I refused to follow Shekarau to APC — Takai | "A long-time political ally of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and 2015 gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Kano State, Malam Salihu Sagir Takai, has given reasons as to why he did not follow the former governor to APC. According to Takai, “After extensive consultations with my supporters, admirers, well-wishers, party faithful at different levels including aspirants for various elective offices, it was clear that majority want us to remain in PDP. “And as a democrat, I have no option than to heed to the opinion of the majority by remaining in the PDP,” he said. Takai said it took him more than four days consulting with his supporters on the state of affairs in the PDP in Kano since the dissolution of the state executives by the national working committee of the party; and the subsequent defection of some members led by Shekarau." | Kano state politics, Takai | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/why-i-refused-to-follow-shekarau-to-apc-takai.html | 8 |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | PDP presidential candidate to emerge Oct. 6 | "The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has slated October 5 and 6, 2018, for presidential primaries where the party’s candidate for the 2019 general elections would emerge. The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement last night said the party’s governorship primaries across the states of the federation would hold on September 26, 2018. “Our presidential primary and National Convention still hold on Friday, October 5 to Saturday, October 6, 2018, as earlier scheduled. “This will be preceded by senatorial primary on Friday, September 28, while House of Representatives primary will hold on Sunday, September 30, 2018. The party has also approved Tuesday, October 2, 2018, for House of Assembly primaries across the states of the federation. “This clarification is sequel to enquiries from the public and vast majority of Nigerians who are now rallying on the platform of our repositioned PDP to vote out the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) and return our nation to the path of national cohesion and economic prosperity, come 2019,” the party said." | 2019 general elections, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-presidential-candidate-to-emerge-oct-6.html | 8 |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | Freedom party has cheapest nomination forms — Chair | "Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) has fixed October 2, 4 and 7 for its governorship and state houses of assembly, National Assembly and presidential primaries across the country. The decision was taken during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party which also fixed the money payable for the forms for various elective offices. The national chairman of the party, Dr. Breakforth Onwubuya, who briefed newsmen at the end of the meeting, said the party leadership and members fixed the cheapest prices for its nomination forms to enable Nigerians contest for electable positions, including President Muhammadu Buhari who had complained of the “exorbitant fees” fixed by the APC. He said the fee for the presidential contest is N5m; governorship, N2.5m; Senate, N1m; House of Representatives, N500,000; and state houses of assembly, N250,000. “The state executives of the party would determine how much to charge for forms for those contesting as local government chairmen and councillor,” he also said." | 2019 general elections, Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) of Nigeria | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/freedom-party-has-cheapest-nomination-forms-chair.html | 8 |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | ‘Mama Taraba’ lost out in APC | "There were mixed reactions among APC members in Taraba State over the swearing in of new chairman and other executive members of the party for the state by the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, in Abuja, yesterday. Oshiomhole had on Monday swore in Hon. Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi as Taraba State APC chairman and tasked him to ensure participation of members and stakeholders to work for the success of the party. EL-Sudi replaced Abdulmumini Vaki, who emerged chairman of the party in June, with active support of the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Aisha Jummai Alhassan. Malam Garba Dauda, a member of the party and close associate of Mrs. Alhassan, said the action of the national secretariat of the APC would bring more confusion in the party in Taraba. He said it was wrong to swear in another person as chairman while another person who was duly elected was occupying the same position. But Mr Aaron Artimas, the new public relations officer of the party, who was sworn in alongside the new executive members, told Daily Trust in a telephone interview, that they had the support of over 80 per cent of members of the party in the state. He said the new exco has between 13 and 14 governorship aspirants as well as key stakeholders of Taraba politics while the former exco led by Vaki controlled only about 20 per cent of membership. “Politics is a game of number and the new exco has the support of majority. There was celebration by members of APC in Jalingo and in all the local government areas of the state,” Aaron said. Both Maman Taraba and the ousted chairman of the party could not be reached for comment as they were said to be in Abuja holding meetings." | 2019 general elections, Taraba State. | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/mama-taraba-lost-out-in-apc.html | 8 |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | 98 PDP aspirants jostle for Gombe assembly | "No fewer than 98 aspirants on the platform of the PDP have declared interest and purchased the nomination forms to contest for the 24 seats in Gombe State House of Assembly. The Organising Secretary of PDP in the state, Mrs. Hannatu Maina Wakili, disclosed this while speaking to newsmen yesterday in Gombe. She, however, expressed reservations that only eight women had shown interest to contest for the seats, despite being asked to pay only for the expression of interest form of N100,000." | 2019 general elections, Gombe State. | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/98-pdp-aspirants-jostle-for-gombe-assembly.html | 8 |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | Rivers monarch blesses Tonye Cole | "An industrialist and frontline APC governorship aspirant in Rivers State, Arch. Tonye Dele Cole, has received the royal blessing of a prominent Kalabari traditional ruler, Professor T.J.T. Princewill, ahead of the 2019 governorship election in the state. Tonye Cole, the Managing Director of Sahara Energy, was in Buguma and Abonnema, his community to seek the support of his kinsmen on his 2019 governorship bid in the state. Professor Princewill said the Kalabari ethnic nationality was waiting for an opportunity for any of their kinsmen to occupy prominent political position in the state. He said, “What I have been praying for is the unity of the Kalabari people. I don’t have any doubt that the mountain will be surmounted.”" | 2019 Rivers State Governorship election, APC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/rivers-monarch-blesses-tonye-cole.html | 8 |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | APC releases conditions for consensus candidature | "The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) said on Tuesday that consensus will apply when no other aspirant signifies interest through the purchase of nomination forms for any position in question. The APC acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yekini Nabena, said since the party’s attention had been drawn to announcements of consensus candidates for elective positions in some states, it was pertinent to make some clarifications to enlighten party faithful on the procedure for nominating candidates. “While consensus is provided for by the party’s Constitution, the option is conditional. “Consensus does not foreclose Direct or Indirect Primaries for all elective positions as contained in the resolution of the 6th meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC),” Nabena also said." | 2019 general elections, All Progressives Congress(APC) | Page 14 | 8 |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | 23 PDP Reps set to defect to APC | "About 23 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the House of Representatives are set to dump the main opposition party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Daily Trust learnt yesterday. The prospective defectors, it was gathered, were uncomfortable with alleged manipulations by their state governors to “anoint new candidates” in their place. And in states not controlled by the PDP, it was gathered certain forces were working against the re-election bid of the legislators. States said to be affected by the planned defection included Gombe, Benue, Kogi, Enugu, Ekiti, Anambra, Cross River, among others. A source privy to the planned mass defection said it showed all was not well within the PDP. It was gathered that meetings of committees saddled with the responsibility of ensuring a smooth consensus primary election across the states were deadlocked last week. The source further disclosed that APC was already dangling automatic tickets to lure the aggrieved lawmakers into their fold, should they perfect their plans to cross over to the ruling party. “We want to leave not because it is our wish but the governors have pushed us to the wall. “We have fought to defend the PDP and democracy; despite our commitment to the party, see what the governors are doing to us,” the source said." | Planned defection, PDP to APC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/23-pdp-reps-set-to-defect-to-apc-2.html | 8 |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | PDP wants Tinubu probed | "The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe a former governor of Lagos State and APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over allegations of N160bn tax fraud. The party said failure of the EFCC to invite and question the ex-governor would prove that the corruption agency had been compromised. “Nigerians can now see how the same Ibrahim Magu-led EFCC, which rushes to pounce on, arrest and lock up innocent Nigerians, particularly, perceived political opponents of President Buhari, without investigation, has practically gone frozen and toothless because a member of the APC cabal is involved,” the PDP said." | Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), EFCC and Tinubu | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-wants-tinubu-probed.html | 8 |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | Disquiet in Lagos APC as Ambode’s aide joins gov’ship race | "The suspicion in the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) heightened yesterday when news filtered in that the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State Property Development Council (LSDPC), Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had purchased form to challenge his principal, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. The LSDPC led by Sanwo-Olu is one of the agencies of the Lagos State Government and his entry into the race had altered political permutations, with sources saying Senator Bola Tinubu who had allegedly parted ways with Ambode, was behind his aspiration. Sanwo-Olu was said to have been supported by the Mandate Group, one of the two powerful caucuses within the Lagos State APC, the other being Justice Forum. The Mandate Group is anchored by Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, another Tinubu loyalist. At a reception held within Watercress Hotel, Ikeja, on Monday evening, Sanwo-Olu was surrounded by prominent party stalwarts and members of the Mandate Group, including Chief James Odunmbaku, a former deputy chairman of the party in the state. Regarded as a public sector expert in human resources and policy formation, Sanwo-Olu had at different times served as Special Adviser to former governor Tinubu and ex-deputy governor Femi Pedro. He equally served as Commissioner for Commerce and Industry; Budget and Planning as well as Establishments and Training, all under former governor Babatunde Raji Fashola. Governor Ambode had on Monday obtained his forms at the APC headquarters Abuja, before coming to officially declare his interest at an open ground in Alausa, Ikeja. The event was held at a rain-soaked venue attended by thousands of party faithful. However, some political pundits had raised eyebrows as to why no member of the state executive was at the reception. During his speech, Ambode said he had fulfilled his promises to Lagos State residents and therefore urged them to join him in his quest to run for second term. “I thank all members of our great party, the APC political leaders and most especially our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for giving me the platform to contribute to the growth and development of our state,” he said." | 2019 Lagos State Governorship election, Ambode | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/disquiet-in-lagos-apc-as-ambodes-aide-joins-govship-race.html | 8 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Monday, September 10, 2018 | APC Challenges Wike to Name Sponsored Presidential Aspirants | "The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the Governor of Rivers State , Mr. Nyesom Wike, to name any presidential candidate that the ruling party has sponsored in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This is coming as a faction of the ruling party in Imo State led by Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume, which has been at loggerhead with the party executive loyal to the state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has defected to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). APC said in a statement issued by its acting National Secretary, Yekini Nabene, yesterday that it is understandable that the PDP in its despair over its failed 2019 election bid for the presidency has resorted to comical conspiracies. “Instead of putting its house in order, it is laughable that Governor Wike and his PDP cohorts are clutching on straws in its desperate bid to remain in public reckoning in the face of imminent 2019 defeat,” it said. APC said it is challenging Governor Wike to be brave enough and name the APC-sponsored aspirants among the crowd that have signified interest to run for the presidency under the PDP. “We urge the PDP to quickly wake up to the reality that the 2019 presidential elections have been won and lost. “The PDP is a dead party and we urge its members who share our progressive ideals to leave the sinking and rudderless ship and come over to the APC which is rebuilding and repositioning the country in all facets,” it said." | 2019 general elections | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/10/apc-challenges-wike-to-name-sponsored-presidential-aspirants/ | 7 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Monday, September 10, 2018 | Fighting Back Criticisms, Presidency Urges N’Assembly to Reconvene, Reconsider Electoral Act Amendment Bill | "The presidency yesterday appealed to the National Assembly to cut short its recess to reconsider the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018 that was vetoed for the third time last month by President Muhammadu Buhari. The president had returned the bill unsigned in a letter dated August 30, 2018, citing unresolved drafting issues and uncorrected clerical errors, according to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang. The bill had been passed by the federal legislature on July 24, the day it adjourned for its long vacation, and transmitted it to the presidency on August 3. It reconvene on September 25. The president’s veto has put in jeopardy the use of card reader and electronic transmission of results, two of the 14 main features of the alteration proposals aimed at delivering cleaner elections in the country. Responding to persistent criticism of the veto as intended to block the use of card reader, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement yesterday denied this insinuation and appealed to the National Assembly to reconvene and reconsider the bill in line with the president’s observations. Shehu rejected the allegations that Buhari deliberately withheld his assent because he was uncomfortable with the incorporation of card readers and electronic voting in the bill. “The card reader is not in danger of being discarded. It is a sine qua non for credible elections. We appeal to the National Assembly to reconvene as soon as possible to consider and approve the necessary corrections to the amended electoral act,” he said. According to him, the incorporation of e-voting and use of card readers into the bill was never part of the issues raised by the president on the bill. He also said the earlier adoption of e-voting as enshrined in the 2015 amendment act by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) already made the use of card reader a settled matter, insisting that the “president’s recent decision to decline assent to the bill has no effect whatsoever on INEC’s use of card readers.”" | President Buhari, Electoral Act | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/10/fighting-back-criticisms-presidency-urges-nassembly-to-reconvene-reconsider-electoral-act-amendment-bill/ | 7 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 10, 2018 | Plot to doctor delegates’ list in Nasarawa | "There is a plot to doctor and undermine the list of APC delegates in Nasarawa State, some of the party’s stakeholders have alleged. The stakeholders claimed that the plot was aimed at giving undue advantage to an aspirant during the party’s governorship primaries slated to hold later this month. One of the stakeholders told our correspondent yesterday that the plot was being orchestrated by some vested interests that claim to be close to the state governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura. Part of the plot, the source said, was to tamper with the delegates’ list that has already been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which would automatically leave other aspirants in the dark as to who the real delegates were." | APC, Nasarawa State | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/plot-to-doctor-delegates-list-in-nasarawa.html | 7 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 10, 2018 | Indirect primaries saved Borno – Yerima | "Indirect primaries adopted by APC stakeholders in Borno State has saved the state from imminent security breach and chaos, a former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Haruna Yerima, has said. He said the activities of some Abuja-based politicians in the state recently indicated that they would use the direct primaries to cause chaos in the state. “A prominent politician in Abuja has been ‘registering’ new APC members across the state with a view to cause confusion and chaos during the primaries. He was latching on direct primaries to achieve his mischievous aim. Thankfully, that was avoided,” Yerima alleged." | 2019 general elections, All Progressives Congress(APC), Borno State. | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/indirect-primaries-saved-borno-yerima.html | 7 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 10, 2018 | Oyetola offers free medical services in Osun | "Hundreds of residents trooped out in Osogbo yesterday for treatment in the free medical mission organised by the APC gubernatorial candidate in the state, Gboyega Oyetola. The medical mission started in Ejigbo on Saturday and would be taken to eight other towns – Iwo Ila, Orangun, Ede, Ikirun, Ilobu, Ilesa, Ife and Ikire. Residents were given instant treatment for eye, teeth, hernia and general examination free of charge and drugs were also given to them." | Osun State 2018 Governorship elections, All Progressives Congress (APC) | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/oyetola-offers-free-medical-services-in-osun.html | 7 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 10, 2018 | Emenike declares in Abia | "An aspirant of the APC for the 2019 governorship election in Abia State, Chief Ikechi Emenike, has collected his nomination form at the party’s headquarters in Abuja. The governorship aspirant promised to transform the state and provide a new lease of life for the people. He said the state needed a new approach with a clear vision, adding that unless fresh and tested solutions were applied, development would elude the state. Emenike said he was ready to complement President Muhammadu Buhari’s giant strides by changing the narrative in Abia State if elected." | Abia State 2019 Governorship election, APC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/emenike-declares-in-abia.html | 7 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 10, 2018 | PDP leader joins APC in A/Ibom | "Dr. Francis Udoikpong, a chieftain of the PDP in Akwa Ibom State on Saturday defected to the APC. Dr Udoikpong, a PDP State Caucus member and former State Commissioner for Health defected with about 5,000 others including Sir Godwin Idungafa among others. The defection of the Ika Local Government Area PDP leader came barely a month after Deputy Inspector-General of Police Udom Ekpoudom (rtd) and Obong Otu Robert Akpan, his counterparts in Etim Ekpo and Ini local government areas, respectively, joined the APC together with Senator Godswill Akpabio, the former Senate Minority leader." | Political parties defection, Akwa Ibom | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-leader-joins-apc-in-a-ibom.html | 7 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 10, 2018 | Tajudeen Audu declares for Kwara gov’ship | "Alhaji Tajudeen Abdulkadir Audu, Makaman Lafiagi, has declared his intention to contest in the gubernatorial election in Kwara State on the platform of the APC. Alh. Audu, who has already expressed his interest by obtaining his nomination form last Friday, said youths from his constituency of Kwara North, contributed financially to purchase the form on his behalf, and therefore thanked them for the support." | Kwara State 2019 Governorship election, APC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/tajudeen-audu-declares-for-kwara-govship.html | 7 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Monday, September 10, 2018 | Anambra APC Rejects Direct, Indirect Primaries, Adopts Consensus Method | "The Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has adopted the consensus method of primary election for all elective positions in the state. This coming as a faction of APC in Enugu State at the weekend adopted direct primary for the election of its governorship, National and State Assemblies’ candidates for the forthcoming 2019 elections. The Anambra State Chairman of the party, Mr. Emeka Ibe who briefed journalists on the outcome of a stakeholders meeting held on Saturday night, said the party favoured the consensus method as a way of avoiding rancour in the party. He said, “We have adopted consensus mode of primary election, we will use it in all our elections in the state, except presidential election, which would be direct primary. “The party has already set up a seven-man committee that will go and conduct further meetings with diverse stakeholders and come up with recommendations as to how we can use this consensus method. “The committee is led by Mr. Ifeanyi Osegbo, and Mr Cyprian Udenwa is the secretary. By Wednesday, it is expected that the committee should have done the job.”" | 2019 general elections, Anambra State. | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/10/anambra-apc-rejects-direct-indirect-primaries-adopts-consensus-method/ | 7 |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, September 10, 2018 | No one erred in donating forms to Buhari - Pwajok | The member representing Jos South/Jos East Federal constituency of Plateau State in the House of Representatives and aspirant for Plateau North Senatorial Zone, Edward Gyang Pwajok (SAN) has said that purchasing the APC presidential form for President Muhammadu Buhari by a youth group to enable him contest the 2019 election is not illegal. Pwajok who disclosed this while briefing journalists in Jos, at the weekend, said President Buhari was still a presidential aspirant of the APC and until he was presented to INEC as candidate of the party, he could not be questioned for accepting a nomination form purchased and presented to him by a group. | 2019 general elections, All Progressives Congress(APC) | 7 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Monday, September 10, 2018 | Oshiomhole inaugurates APC caucus in Cross River | "National chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has inaugurated a 46-man caucus for the Cross River State chapter of the party. The caucus, led by the state chairman of the party, Dr. Matthew Achigbe, has former governor, Chief Clement Ebri; Niger Delta minister, Dr. Usani Usani; national vice chairman, South South, Ntufam Eta; ex-senate leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba; Senator John Enoh representing Cross River Central and others as members. Inaugurating the caucus in Calabar on Saturday, Oshiomhole, who was represented by Eta, said the committee, which is to serve for four years, would act as the conscience of the party in the state. Charging the members to work in unity to ensure that the party wins the next general elections in the state, he said: “The people we are inaugurating today are great minds that will stabilise APC in the state. We want them to work together with other organs of the party to ensure massive victory for APC.” Achigbe remarked that although their responsibility is enormous, “with unity of purpose, the caucus will work with other organs of the party to defeat PDP in 2019 in the state.”" | All Progressives Congress (APC), Cross River State | https://guardian.ng/news/oshiomhole-inaugurates-apc-caucus-in-cross-river/ | 7 |
| The Guardian.ng | Monday, September 10, 2018 | APC chieftain, cleric laud Enugu gov, Ugwuanyi, on peace, progress | "The South-East National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Emma Eneukwu, and Pastor of Dunamis Int’l Gospel Centre, Enugu, Timothy Benedict, have commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for his exemplary leadership style, which they said, has brought peace and unity among politicians in the state irrespective of political affiliations. The duo, who spoke separately during the dedication of Eneukwu’s son, Chukwubuikem, at the church, appreciated Ugwuanyi for creating an enabling environment for politics to thrive in Enugu State without bitterness. Eneukwu, who described the governor as a true father to all politicians in the state irrespective of their political leanings, said his inclusive leadership style and bi-partisan approach to governance had brought enduring peace and unity among political leaders in the state, as well as development. Benedict, while expressing delight with Ugwuanyi’s presence at the event in solidarity with a member of the opposition political party in the state, called on other states in the country to “come and learn the template on how to play politics,” saying: “This is politics without bitterness, politics without struggle.” The APC National Vice Chairman said the presence of other politicians from different political parties, such as Senator Andy Ubah, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama; Senator Jim Nwobodo, Senator Ken Nnamani, Senator Ayogu Eze, Gbazuagu Nweke Gbazuagu, among others, showed that Ugwuanyi is “a father to all”. He, therefore, stressed the need for people to always pray and encourage those in power, saying: “God gives power to people, and when He gives someone power, you should allow the person and pray for him.” The cleric, who commended the governor for entrenching peace and good governance in Enugu State, urged him to continue to maintain peace for the progress of the state, adding: “I am excited to see that our brother (Eneukwu) is of the opposition party in the state, and the governor, who is from the ruling party in the state, is here. And when you look by the side, you will see people from different political affiliations all coming together to celebrate God.” “This shows that Enugu State is blessed. This is what we have been praying for, and we will continue to pray for that.”" | Enugu State politics, Governor Ugwuanyi | https://guardian.ng/news/apc-chieftain-cleric-laud-enugu-gov-ugwuanyi-on-peace-progress/ | 7 |
| The Guardian.ng | Monday, September 10, 2018 | Osun decides: Aregbesola pledges more employment for youth, seeks vote for Oyetola | "Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said Osun State has the lowest index of unemployment in Nigeria because of the youth engagement programmes he initiated, urging the youth, therefore, to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Aregbesola made the comment while speaking with newsmen in Osogbo, after the fitness walk organised for the newly absorbed 20,000 youths into the Youths Empowerment Scheme (O-YES). “What you are witnessing today, the O-YES scheme, started in 2010/11, 100 days after our inauguration and we are still running it. “Because we are not just a conventional administration like the previous governments, we have designed and empowered our young ones to cater for the needs of the people. “It is clear that no government has the capacity to employ all youths, but we have, through the O-YES scheme, created opportunities that will engage and take the youths out of vices. Two-thirds of youths in the O-YES are either in one employment or the other or self-employed. “This explains the results of all surveys, political, social, undertaken nationwide which throw up the fact that Osun has the highest index of happiness, lowest unemployment rate in Nigeria, as well as being the 7th largest economy in the country,” the governor said. Aregbesola, who boasted that no any family, regardless of party affiliation, had not benefited from O-YES programme, said Osun had set a pace for others, especially in the area of youth empowerment. According to him, success of the OYES programme attracted the attention of the World Bank, which studied it and certified it to be a viable and sustainable solution to the problem of youth unemployment in Nigeria. Aregbesola, therefore, enjoined the youths to canvass vote for the APC, and to vote for the party’s candidate, Gboyega Oyetola, come September 22, 2018. Oyetola, who joined the governor for the fitness walk, said the O-YES was a laudable scheme which he intended to keep and improve upon if elected governor. “The scheme has taken, cumulatively, 80,000 youths off the streets and provided them with a platform to do something productive. “The state is very peaceful because the youths are engaged and because they have something to do, they are not vulnerable. The government is encouraging the youths through the scheme to embrace hardwork, shun vices and also remove vulnerability.” Oyetola assured the people of the state, that the programme would be sustained." | Osun State 2018 Governorship elections, All Progressives Congress (APC) | https://guardian.ng/news/osun-decides-aregbesola-pledges-more-employment-for-youth-seeks-vote-for-oyetola/ | 7 |
| The Guardian.ng | Monday, September 10, 2018 | Osun decides: I will end irregular payment of salaries, says Adeoti | "The Action Democratic Party (ADP), at the weekend, kicked off its campaign for the September 22 election, promising to change the political narrative in Osun State. The event, which was held at Ilesa, the home town of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, witnessed massive turn out of party faithful, especially many defectors from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The candidate of the party, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, who was, until recently, the Secretary to the Osun State Government, said there was the urgent need to correct what he described as “socio-economic anomalies” in the state. He decried the irregular payment of workers’ salaries, promising that one of the first major steps his government would take, if elected, is to stop the situation. “My government will be an all-inclusive government that takes care of all without preference, including royal institution. “I will change the orientation of the youths towards nation-building through development of sports activities. “If elected, our government, will embark on total review of Aregbesola’s policies to make it pro-masses and make everybody represented in the scheme of things. “We indeed need your supports to make this aspiration a reality and change the fortunes of our state for better,” Adeoti said." | Osun State 2018 Governorship elections, Action Democratic Party (ADP) | https://guardian.ng/news/osun-decides-i-will-end-irregular-payment-of-salaries-says-adeoti/ | 7 |
| The Guardian.ng | Monday, September 10, 2018 | I moved motion for Ogun consensus gov candidate under threat, Oladunjoye alleges | "A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tunde Oladunjoye, who moved the motion for the adoption of Abdulkadiri Abiodun Akinlade as consensus candidate for the 2019 governorship election, yesterday said he did so under duress. He alleged that APC leaders in the state threatened him to either move the motion or suffer dire consequences before and after the 2019 polls. Oladunjoye also claimed that state Chairman of the Party Chairman, Derin Adebiyi asked him to, as a matter of necessity, praise Governor Ibikunle Amosun and move a motion for Akinlade’s endorsement or suffer dire consequences. But in a swift reaction, the party described Oladunjoye as an unreliable person who has “a legendary habit of telling lies, insisting that his allegation was false." | 2019 Ogun State Governorship elections, APC | https://guardian.ng/news/i-moved-motion-for-ogun-consensus-gov-candidate-under-threat-oladunjoye-alleges/ | 7 |
| The Guardian.ng | Monday, September 10, 2018 | I will adopt Aper Aku’s development blueprint for Benue, says Iorapuu | "A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Benue State, Professor Tor Iorapuu, has assured that he would adopt the development blueprint of former Governor Aper Aku to take the state to greater heights. Iorapuu, who made this disclosure at the weekend while speaking with journalists in Makurdi, maintained that Benue has more than enough human and material resources to experience greater development. His words: “In terms of development, the state has more than enough human capital and material resources. If you replicate Aper Aku’s development plan, there is enough to be done and you don’t need to add anything to take the state to enviable heights. “One of the reasons why Benue has remained underdeveloped is the fact that a few individuals in successive governments held the state captive and ran it as their personal estates.” “But if given the opportunity next year, I will not tamper with funds accruing to local councils. Local councils will be there to do their job. I will demystify governance by allowing them to utilize the money to attract meaningful development at the grassroots level.”" | Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Benue State. | https://guardian.ng/news/i-will-adopt-aper-akus-development-blueprint-for-benue-says-iorapuu/ | 7 |
| ThisDaylive | Monday, September 10, 2018 | Tinubu: Why I'm Backing Oyetola | The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the weekend in Osogbo, Osun State capital, solicited support for the party's candidate in the September 22, 2018 governorship election in the state, Alhaji Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola, saying his impeccable credentials, competence and the sterling perfromance of the outgoing Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the APC flagbearer is the best an for the job and the one to beat in the race. This is coming as hundreds of residents trooped out in Osogbo in Osun State yesterday for treatment in the free medical mission organised by Oyetola. | Osun State 2018 Governorship elections, All Progressives Congress (APC) | page 51 | 7 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Monday, September 10, 2018 | APC Backs Osinbajo, Says Nigeria Needs Good Governance More than Restructuring | "The All Progressives Congress (APC) has joined the renewed debate on restructuring, aligning with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s position that Nigeria needs good and accountable governance, more than the rhetoric of restructuring. The party said as part of its practical approach to implementing restructuring, its committee’s report on restructuring is being considered by the federal government. Against the background of renewed debate on restructuring particularly between Osinbajo and the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the ruling party said the calls for restructuring by many politicians are often time a populist and opportunistic ploy to latch on and politically exploit simplistic public narratives on the panacea to Nigeria’s problems and not necessarily for its realism and practicability. In a statement by its acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yekini Nabene, APC said the country will never succumb to ethnic champions who promote campaigns to break up the country into tiny bits or other unrealistic and unpatriotic proposals in the name of restructuring. “Prof. Osinbajo in his well-articulated response to Atiku submitted that what Nigeria requires now is not geographic restructuring but good governance, honest management of public resources, deeper fiscal Federalism and a clear vision for development. APC cannot agree more with Prof. Osinbajo,” the party said. APC said that past administrations had splashed billions of public funds to convene several national conferences, subsequently left conference reports to gather dust and achieved nothing. It held that bad governance, corruption, bigotry and other ills remain the limiting factors that continue to hold the country back. While reacting to Atiku’s campaign on restructuring, the party noted that the former vice president had the opportunity as Chairman of the National Economic Council throughout the eight years of the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration to bring about the desired order but failed to do so. Similarly, APC said that former Senate President, David Mark, superintended over the federal legislature for eight years but never sponsored a single bill on restructuring. APC added, “How did he use his office to correct the imbalance in our federation he expresses today? Senator David Mark was Senate president for eight years and never sponsored a motion on restructuring. Today he is promising to restructure the country. “We must be wary of latter-day converts to the matter of restructuring, exploiting the issue for populist political campaigns.” APC said, “Just as Osinbajo submitted, good governance involves transparency and prudence in public finance, it involves social justice, investing in the poor and providing jobs and opportunities for the people, particularly young people. “This remains the focus of the current administration as seen by the several social intervention programmes currently being implemented.”" | Restructuring, good governance and APC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/10/apc-backs-osinbajo-says-nigeria-needs-good-governance-more-than-restructuring/ | 7 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Monday, September 10, 2018 | Anambra PDP Members Accuse Leaders of Holding Illegal Delegates Congress | "Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State have raised the alarm over attempt by leaders of the party in the state to select their cronies as ward delegates in what it described as an illegal delegates congress. The members who spoke to journalists said some party stalwarts have gone underground to conduct the 3-man Ad hoc delegate congress for the state without recourse to members of the party who had bought forms to contest for the positions. Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved members, a member of the state executive committee, Mr. Obinna Okafor, alleged that the delegates’ congress was held on Saturday, saying that it would reject any list that emanates from the congress, which he described as kangaroo. They accused the state chairman of the party, Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu and members of his executives of holding the congress in collaboration with some members of national assembly from the state. He said, “Let me remind you that the state congress for the 3-man ad hoc delegates’ congress in Anambra State has been shifted to September 13 2018 by the PDP National Headquarters Abuja. So why did they now hold this one on 8th September? “This exercise is not in good faith and cannot help the reconciliation process for peace to reign in the state chapter of the PDP,” Okafor lamented. Efforts to reach the state Caretaker Committee chairman, Ndubuisi Nwobu, proved abortive as his line was not connecting." | 2019 general elections, Anambra State. | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/10/anambra-pdp-members-accuse-leaders-of-holding-illegal-delegates-congress/ | 7 |
| The Guardian.ng | Monday, September 10, 2018 | Tracking gladiators in PDP’s presidential primary | "The forthcoming presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could be the party’s last trial and temptation on its path to rediscovery, rejuvenation and stability. But from the look of things, it appears the aggregation of multiple interests has made the party oblivious of how it passed through the valley of shadow of death. Most lovers of democracy, particularly proponents of two strong parties, heaved a sigh of relief when the mainline PDP was announced triumphant in the life-threatening litigation over its leadership. It was in the euphoria of that legal reprieve that the hiccups over the December 9 and 10 convention held and returned a substantive national chairman in the person of Prince Uche Secondus, from the South-south geopolitical zone. Many a PDP faithful glossed over the sophisticated argument about the morality or otherwise of denying the Southwest the benefit of micro zoning of the position. All those calculations petered out on the political arithmetic of having the chairmanship in a zone predominated by governors from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). As the major opposition party prepares to organize a crucial presidential primary to choose its presidential standard-bearer, it is possible that those ancient demons that harassed the party in the recent past could come back to test the intellectual cum political sagacity of its leaders. All the same, the return of former playmakers of the party and other high net-worth politicians, some of who have declared their intentions to contest the presidential seat on its platform, combine to form the new excitement for PDP. Former Cross River State governor, Mr. Donald Duke, has sauntered off into the Social Democratic Party (SDP) where he hopes to continue his presidential aspiration. He has not disclosed in detail what he saw in PDP that either frightened or convinced him that it is not the place for him to chart a path for his political future. Duke’s counterpart from Kano, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, citing what he called an unfair deal in the sharing of political positions between his supporters and those of the Senator representing Kano Central in the Senate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has also retreated to the APC. Many PDP stakeholders said the former Kano State governor was never fully settled in the party, stressing that even the manner in which he declared his intention to contest the presidential ticket left gaps that suggested superficial interest. Prior to his largely anticipated exit, Shekarau had while commiserating with Bayelsa State governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, dismissed fears that the unwieldy number of presidential aspirants on the PDP platform could spark some hostilities. He said what mattered was how the process would be managed" | 2019 general elections , Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) | https://guardian.ng/politics/tracking-gladiators-in-pdps-presidential-primary/ | 7 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Monday, September 10, 2018 | 2019: South, Middle Belt Leaders to Interface with Buhari, Other Presidential Aspirants | "The Forum of South and Middle Belt Leaders has resolved to dialogue with President Muhammadu Buhari and presidential aspirants of all political parties ahead of the 2019 general elections. Already, the Forum, headed by elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday held the maiden edition of the interactive session with former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in Abuja. Clark, who spoke while answering a journalist’s question at the end of a close-door meeting the Forum held at his Asokoro residence with Atiku, said the Forum leaders would interface in the next few days with President Buhari and other presidential aspirants “with a view to knowing what they have for all ethnic nationalities that make up our great country.” He said the doors of the Forum are open to the president and all other aspirants across party lines, “and it’s now left for them to honour our invite and showcase what they have for Nigerians.” Briefing journalists earlier on the executive session the Forum had with Atiku, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo, said the leaders had an exciting and fruitful deliberations with the former vice president on the state of the country. According to him, the two parties had frank discussions on the current state of Nigeria as well as the resources, economy and security. According to Nwodo, “The former vice president brought his wealth of experience to bear on what he told us about his conviction about the Nigerian project and where he wants to take Nigeria to if elected president “We have recorded him, and should providence shine upon him and his ambition becomes a reality, we will be able to remind him of all what he told us about how he wants to go about governance.”" | 2019 general elections, Middle Belt Leaders | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/10/2019-south-middle-belt-leaders-to-interface-with-buhari-other-presidential-aspirants/ | 7 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Monday, September 10, 2018 | Saraki: We Must Get Rid of Inept Leadership | "Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has hinted that the time has come to free Nigerians from “trial and error leadership” and build a brand new country where every citizen would have a sense of belonging irrespective of ethnic origin, religious or political inclinations He made the clarion call at the weekend in Umuahia, Abia State, where he went to seek the support of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a presidential candidate in the forthcoming presidential primary. Saraki, whose entourage included four Senators-Theodore Orji (Abia Central), Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia North), Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) and Dino Melaye (Kogi West)-stated that having spent many years fighting for justice and democracy “I have an idea of the type of Nigeria we want. “It’s a Nigeria where everybody has a sense of belonging,” he said, adding that in the envisioned new Nigeria, everybody would have equal stake and would sit on the same table to discuss and find solutions to national problems without any section of the country lording over others. According to him, every component part of Nigeria must have a space to develop at its own pace, noting that “the trouble with Nigeria is when one part is working and the other is not working.” He assured Nigerians that he would ensure that “there is equity in Nigeria and will restructure the country,” so that states could grow at their own pace and resources devoid of the overbearing federal government. “We need a leader with a vision; we need a leader who is energetic. We need a leader who when he stands with other world leaders, we will be proud of him,” he said. The presidential aspirant regretted that Nigeria has been unfortunate to be saddled with a leader who has no clear idea of how the country could move forward and take its proper place in the comity of nations with buoyant economy and democratic culture." | 2019 general elections | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/10/saraki-we-must-get-rid-of-inept-leadership/ | 7 |
| The Guardian.ng | Friday, September 7, 2018 | ADC gives 118 lawmakers automatic tickets | "African Democratic Congress (ADC) has given 118 serving lawmakers at the federal and state levels automatic tickets ahead of the 2019 general elections. The National Chairman of ADC, Chief Ralphs Nwosu, announced the party’s decision at its 61st National Executive Committee meeting, in Abuja on Thursday. He said the lawmakers, who recently defected to the party from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and other parties, were rewarded for their boldness to identify with the party at a crucial time in the history of the country’s democracy. Out of the total number of legislators, 95 are serving state House of Assembly members, 18 are members of the House of Representatives and five senators. Nwosu said it is necessary to honour and appreciate the lawmakers for their boldness to leave the ruling and bigger parties for ADC that is just gathering momentum. “The development can be attributed to the fact that the lawmakers and Nigerians at large have agreed that an end must come to anarchy, insecurity, lack of focus and terrorism in Nigeria. And the best platform, right now, is ADC. They are from Adamawa, Ondo, Osun, Imo, Ebonyi, Ogun and Oyo states, among others,” he said." | 2019 general elections | https://guardian.ng/politics/adc-gives-118-lawmakers-automatic-tickets/ | 6 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Friday, September 7, 2018 | Court to Hear Suits against Change of Senate Leadership Sept 19 | "A Federal High Court in Abuja thursday fixed September 19 to hear the about six suits seeking to stop the planned removal of Bukola Saraki as Senate President. All the suits want the court to declare as unlawful Saraki’s removal from office via means other than that provided in Section 50(2)(c) of the Constitution. Section 50(2) provides: “The President or Deputy President of the Senate or the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall vacate his office…. (c) if he is removed from office by a resolution of the Senate or of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of the members of that House.” The September 19 hearing date was chosen yesterday by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba to enable parties file all necessary papers and prepare adequately. The suits include: United Peoples Congress (UPC) vs. Attorney General of the Federation & four others (FHC/ABJ/CS/944/2018); Okpako Grant vs. All Progressives Congress & others (FHC/ABJ/CS/948/2018) and Senator Rafiu Adebayo & one other vs. The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria & others (FHC/ABJ/CS/872/2018). Others are: Hon. Benjamin Tivfa vs. IGP & others (FHC/ABJ/CS/822/2018); The Incorporated Trustees of C.S.O.C.L.O. vs. Senator Bukola Saraki and others (FHC/ABJ/CS/936/2018); and Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere & another vs. The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria & others (FHC/ABJ/CS/890/2018). UPC, in the suit filed by its lawyer, Chief M. A. Igwe, stated that there was need for a formal court’s pronouncement on the proper interpretation of the provision of the Constitution on the proper mode of changing the leadership of a federal legislative house. In a supporting affidavit deposed to by its National Chairman, Kenneth Ibe-Kalu, the plaintiff claimed that the determination of the suit would guide persons seeking election on its platform into the National Assembly as to their rights when elected as legislators as well as the rights of their party. The UPC said it is already planning a retreat, which will be regular, for all its candidates for the 2019 elections, to let the candidates understand their rights and powers, including their rights and powers as sought to be declared by the court. It added that: “As a registered political party, the plaintiff has a right to know the true position of the law as provided by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), as the provisions of the Constitution are not self-executory. “That it is only a court set up under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as this Honourable Court that has the power to interpret the Constitution.”" | National Assembly | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/07/court-to-hear-suits-against-change-of-senate-leadership-sept-19/ | 6 |
| The Guardian.ng | Friday, September 7, 2018 | Presidential aspirant canvasses N300,000 as minimum wage | "A presidential aspirant and founder of the Nigeria Democratic Congress Party (NDCP), Dr. Johnson A. Edosomwan, has said that the nation should be able to pay its workers a minimum wage of N300,000 to eliminate acute poverty and improve the quality of life. Edosomwan, who spoke during a political roundtable in Abuja, said all wages and pay levels should be reviewed and restructured to create a competitive business environment that is driven by quality service delivery and a reward system for those that achieve the highest level of excellence. According to him, there is a need to create a minimum wage structure with index factors for inflation and economic growth that would improve the quality of life and provide competitiveness because the bedrock of any nation’s economy is the financial system and a security system that can protect the assets of individuals, businesses and institutions. He promised that if elected president in 2019, he would work to bring about a restructured Nigeria, especially in the areas of good governance and the fight against corruption, investment capital and taxes, infrastructure, electricity and water supply, technology and innovation and trade opportunities." | 2019 general elections | https://guardian.ng/news/presidential-aspirant-canvasses-n300000-as-minimum-wage/ | 6 |
| The Guardian.ng | Friday, September 7, 2018 | Worries over Buhari’s decline to sign electoral bill | "Opposition parties have expressed the fear that that the coming 2019 general elections may not be free, fair and credible as expected due to the persistent refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018. In separate reactions yesterday, national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Ralph Nwosu and National Conscience Party (NCP), Dr. Tanko Yususf said the adamant position of the president over not assenting to the bill could create problems for the election. While ADC tasked the National Assembly to be more proactive and do everything possible to educate Nigerians about the bill, NCP alleged that the development was deliberate by the ruling party to frustrate free, fair and credible polls in 2019. According to Nwosu, “I want to task the National Assembly members to realise that it is the legislative arm that makes law and the onus is on it to ensure that Nigerians are well educated on the bill and to also say in clear terms why the presidency has declined to assent it. “I would have expected our lawmakers to go back to their various constituencies across the country and enlighten their people instead of staying in Abuja or traveling abroad as some of them are currently doing.” Nwosu said the legislative arm of government has been subjected to the most vicious suppression under the Buhari-led government. NCP said Buhari’s position on the mater was a trait of dictatorship and also indicated desperation to retain power at all costs next year. According Yusuf, “We are just an inch away from dictatorship if the electoral bill is truncated for usage in the coming general polls.”" | President Buhari, Electoral bill | 6 | |
| The Guardian.ng | Friday, September 7, 2018 | Falae restates call for restructuring, says it is inevitable | "Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae, has said that the clamour for restructuring is inevitable if nation is to make meaningful progress. He said the re-ordering, which is long overdue, could only become reality under a Social Democratic Party (SDP)-led government. False, who is the National Chairman of SDP, stated this yesterday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, while speaking at a mega rally organised to sell the party’s manifestoes to the people. The former SGF, who noted that restructuring of Nigeria is overdue, said until something was done in that direction, peace and development might continue to elude the society. " | Osun State 2018 Governorship elections, Social Democratic Party (SDP) | https://guardian.ng/news/falae-restates-call-for-restructuring-says-it-is-inevitable/ | 6 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Friday, September 7, 2018 | Ebonyi APC, Delta Faction Adopt Direct Primary Election | "The Ebonyi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has adopted the use of direct primary for all elective offices in the 2019 general elections. Also, a faction of the party in Delta State led by the party’s 2015 governorship candidate, Olorogun Otega Emerhor, and party chieftain, Chief Hyacinth Enuha, has expressed support for the adoption of direct primary in Delta State. The party noted that with the controversies surrounding the just concluded wards, local government and state congresses across the country, it was expedient to use direct primary to avoid litigations. In a statement issued yesterday, the state chairman of the party, Dr. Sylvester Nwambe disclosed that the decision was reached after the meeting of the state executive committee, stakeholders and aspirants to various offices held at the APC Secretariat in Abakaliki. The chairman said that it was in line with the party’s directives that primary elections into all elective offices shall be by direct primary or otherwise agreed by stakeholders in each state, that Ebonyi State has decided in view of prevailing circumstances, to adopt the mode of direct primary in the state. He added that the motion for the use of the direct primary was moved by the House of Representatives aspirant for Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo federal constituency, Mazi Ogbonnaya Onu and seconded by former member House of Representatives and aspirant for Ishielu/Ezza North Federal constituency, Hon. Jonathan Eze. He said that the state executive committee and stakeholders of the party in the state unanimously agreed to adopt the use of direct primaries into all elective offices in Ebonyi state so as to promote all-inclusive participation, fairness, level playing ground, and eliminate corrupt tendencies usually associated with the indirect system of primary elections. In a related development, the leaders and elders of APC in Delta State led by the party’s 2015 governorship candidate, Olorogun Otega Emerhor and party chieftain, Chief Hyacinth Enuha, has expressed support for the adoption of direct primary in the state." | All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/07/ebonyi-apc-delta-faction-adopt-direct-primary-election/ | 6 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Friday, September 7, 2018 | Bauchi, Katsina APC Opt for Indirect Primary Election | "The Bauchi and Katsina States chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have opted to use delegate system or direct primary at the forthcoming primary election of the party. The Bauchi State chapter made the resolution thursday during stakeholders’ meeting held at Zaranda Hotel, Bauchi. During the meeting, a member representing Giade Local Government Area (LGA) in the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Hon. Adamu Bello Giade, moved the motion for the adoption of indirect primary in the state, insisting that it would be more orderly and rancor-free. The motion, which was seconded by the member representing Ganjuwa East in the state assembly, Hon. Umar Nabayi, was also supported by the majority of the participants at the meeting. In his remarks, the state APC Chairman, Uba Ahmed Nana, explained that the meeting was convened to give members opportunity to make choice on which method to adopt for the upcoming primary elections of the party in the state. Some of the attendants of the meeting include the Deputy Governor of the State Audu Sule Katagum, party executives and heavy weight politicians. Also the Katsina State chapter of APC thursday “unanimously” adopted indirect primary. This is even as the party endorsed the second term bid of President Muhammadu Buhari and the state Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, ahead of 2019 general polls, saying the duo remain the credible candidates. Announcing the resolution of the party, the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Shitu Shitu, said as a follow-up to the NEC meeting, “states were given three options of direct voting, indirect (delegate) system and consensus voting." | All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries | 6 | |
| ThisDaylive Online | Friday, September 7, 2018 | Over 10 Imo Governorship Aspirants Pick APGA Nomination Form | "Additional 10 governorship aspirants have so far obtained nomination forms to vie for the ticket of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2019 general elections. Some of the governorship aspirants who came to collect their nomination forms in the last two days include, former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Sam Amadi; Okey Eze; Daniel Kanu; Bright Nwanne and Uche Onyeaguche. Kanu, who picked his nomination form yesterday, said elections have already been won and lost in Imo state. He said Rochas Okorocha wants to remain in government through a proxy. He vowed to work with people of like minds and end Okorocha’s political dynasty in Imo state. “The election has already conducted itself because I believe that our people are very democratically-driven. “The current governor was elected in 2011 and he defeated a sitting governor then under the PDP and it was done through APGA and we the people made it happen,” he said. Also addressing journalists after obtaining his nomination form from the headquarters of APGA, a governorship aspirant in Imo State, and former NERC chairman, Sam Amadi, said a process to end the legacy of deceit, corruption and audacious immorality in Imo State has begun. Amadi who boasted that he is the most qualified to fly the flag of APGA, said since the end of Sam Mbakwe’s era in the state, “418 operatives have hijacked political power. They have carried out unbridled stealing of public wealth and criminality. “Those who invaded political leadership in Imo state and built this infrastructure of poverty and misery have consolidated their political power in the state through continuous impoverishment of the citizens.”" | Imo State governorship election. | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/07/over-10-imo-governorship-aspirants-pick-apga-nomination-form/ | 6 |
| The Guardian.ng | Friday, September 7, 2018 | Group urges Wike to support Ezekiel-Hart for Rivers West senatorial seat | "Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has been asked by the people of the Rivers West Senatorial Zone to back a senatorial aspirant, Mr. Allen Ezekiel-Hart for the senate in the 2019 general election. The people, under the auspices of the New Rivers West Alliance (NRWA) urged Wike to support their candidate, Ezekiel-Hart to replace Senator Osy Ideazu who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and has also indicated interest not to return to the National Assembly in 2019. Speaking with journalists in Lagos, Dr. Eric Jumbo and Dr. Nimi Micah claimed Ezekiel-Hart is the best candidate to replace Senator Ideazu and should get the full backing of the governor and the people of the zone. The group maintained that Ezekiel-Hart, an outstanding businessman, represents the voiceless minorities and stands for one of the wealthiest local governments in the country but yet without a commensurate presence of the Federal Government. “Ezekiel-Hart will bring a robust and resounding voice of reasoning and push for a socio-economic and entrepreneurial vibrancy in Rivers West Senatorial Zone and Rivers State in general,” the group further explained. Also speaking, Ezekiel-Hart, the aspirant appealed to the people of the Rivers West Senatorial Zone to consider him as the fresh and timely choice to oust the perpetual dominance of all the minorities within the zone, and the good choice to replace continuity of self-serving money bags. “I will be a voice to secure the interest of the youths. I know first hand the challenges and difficult choice they face on a daily basis, I understand their language, high and low points. In the red chamber, I will speak for their specific needs,” he said." | 6 | ||
| ThisDaylive Online | Friday, September 7, 2018 | Osun 2018:Osinbajo Presents APC’s Guber Candidate | "The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo thursday presented Gboyega Oyetola as the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Osun State at a mega rally held in Osogbo, the state capital. Also the Chairman, Campaign Committee for Osun Election , Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje yesterday contended that the APC in Osun State needs continuity for sustainable development of the state. Speaking at the rally, Ganduje who is the Governor of Kano State, stressed that development is needed at this time when Governor Rauf Aregbesola had laid solid foundation. He urged voters in the state to come out en-mass and vote for APC candidate in the coming election in the state. Also Speaking the APC’s National Chairman, Adams Oshomhole noted that nobody can help anybody to govern any state if the candidate does not have the required skills, saying Oyetola possessed the skills. He said as a former Chief of Staff to Governor Aregbesola, Oyetola would continue with the development of the state in all ramifications." | Osun State 2018 Governorship elections, All Progressives Congress (APC) | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/07/osun-2018osinbajo-presents-apcs-guber-candidate/ | 6 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Friday, September 7, 2018 | Again, Atiku Questions Buhari’s Integrity | "Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has again thursday questioned President Muhammadu Buhari’s integrity, and wondered why he condones rots in his government. Atiku had last Tuesday said Buhari was “very uncompromising, power drunk (and) will not be ready to leave power without a fight.” But President Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, said his principal is uncompromising in the quest to restore probity and accountability to public office. “He is uncompromising in cleaning the rot Nigeria was consigned into pre -2015; thus the war against corruption is being fought without fear or favour,” Adesina said. In his response yesterday, Atiku through his spokesman, Paul Ibe, said it was curious that President Buhari is deemed uncompromising while the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, accused of certificate forgery, remains in office Adeosun has been accused by an online news medium of forging her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate. In a statement, Ibe questioned the presidency for doing nothing when the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, secured a court order to stop the Senate from probing the reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina who is accused of a multi-billion pension scam. “If President Buhari is ‘uncompromising in cleaning the rot Nigeria was consigned into pre -2015’ then how come the latest Corruption Perception Index by Transparency International reveals that Nigeria is more corrupt today than she was in 2015, having moved 12 steps backwards in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, moving from 136 in 2014 under the PDP to 148 today?,” the statement read. “Again, we ask how uncompromising a president can be when he allows a minister accused of forgery to remain at her job? “It appears that the president is surrounded by people who have become his echo chamber and are telling him what he wants to hear, otherwise no one in his right mind would call an administration that increased the price of petrol while at the same time paying more subsidy on the product than the previous government which it accused of ‘subsidy scam’, uncompromising against corruption. “It is only common sense that if the price of petrol increased by 68 per cent from 87 per litre to 145, then the cost of fuel subsidy should also reduce, especially as the price of crude oil also reduced. “However, by some strange mathematics, the Buhari administration pays a whopping 1.4 trillion on subsidy per annum according to the minister of state for petroleum. This amount is almost twice what the Jonathan administration paid and yet President Buhari accused that administration of scamming the nation. “Where is the transparency in that? No wonder the minister of state for petroleum resources revealed in a leaked memo that $25 billion worth of contracts was awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)under the watch of the supervising minister of petroleum, President Buhari. “More than a year after the probe panel which probed the fantastically corrupt Ikoyi apartment billions affair, nobody knows who owned the money and how $43 million in cash was housed in a government linked flat. So much for an uncompromising attitude to corruption,” the statement reads." | 2019 general elections | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/07/again-atiku-questions-buharis-integrity/ | 6 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Friday, September 7, 2018 | I Have No Plan to Defect to APC, Says Orji | "The Senator representing Abia Central at the National Assembly, Theodore Orji, has said he has no plan of defecting to All Progressives Congress (APC). A statement made available to THISDAY by his media adviser and legislative aide, Eddie Onuzuruike, said there was no reason for Senator Orji to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “In fact, there is no reason for that. The PDP, our great party, gave him the platform for the governorship and the Senate. The same platform is ready for a second tenure. When the PDP was engulfed in crises he was strongly with the party and was instrumental in resolving the crises so why should he leave a peaceful house to Abia APC populated by his detractors?” He asked. The statement further said: “Senator Orji is an ardent believer in discipline and loyalty. Jumping from one party to another is not in his character. In truth, such actions do not convey seriousness and steadfastness, factors that he considers as sound attributes. “He has emphatically debunked this news and clearly stated that there are no reasons whatsoever to jump ship or dump his beloved PDP.”" | Party defection, Orji | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/07/i-have-no-plan-to-defect-to-apc-says-orji/ | 6 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Friday, September 7, 2018 | Saraki: I’ll Run Inclusive Govt If Elected President | "Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who is a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has promised to run an inclusive government if elected president in February 2019. The Senate president, who last week threw his hat in the ring for the country’s number one seat, yesterday continued his consultation with governors and leaders of the PDP in the South-east zone. The Director General of Saraki for President Campaign Organisation, Hon. Mohammed Wakil, in a statement quoted Saraki as making the pledge while flagging off his nationwide ‘Meet The Delegates’ Campaign Tour in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, yesterday. The presidential aspirant stated that upon his election as president he would operate an inclusive cabinet with a view to ensuring equity and fairness. Saraki had told party loyalists and supporters, including Governor Dave Umahi and serving Senators, at a reception in his honour that Nigerians deserves a president with proven capacity and capability in 2019. He further told his audience that Nigeria is at a major cross-roads in its developmental history adding that at a “critical period such as this, the President Nigeria deserves must be the very best available with proven capacity, knowledge and capability.”" | 2019 general elections , Saraki. | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/07/saraki-ill-run-inclusive-govt-if-elected-president/ | 6 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Friday, September 7, 2018 | INEC Registers 14.5m New Voters, Says Preparation for Osun Poll on Course | "The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that it has registered over 14.5 million new voters ahead of the 2019 general election. The electoral body has also affirmed that preparations ahead of September 22, 2018, governorship poll in Osun State are on course. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this thursday in Abuja at a regular meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), where he revealed that the commission was working on a multi-faceted approach to curb vote-buying and other malpractices during the election. “On the preparation for the Osun State governorship election, all processes and activities are going according to our timetable and schedule of activities released almost a year ago. “The last major activity was the presentation of the voters’ register to each of the 48 political parties fielding candidates in the election, giving detailed information of the distribution of the 1.6 million registered voters by local government areas, wards and polling units. “We are working on a multi-faceted approach to the menace of vote-buying and other sundry electoral malpractices. We will introduce changes to the election-day administration of our polling units, in addition to the electronic tracking of our sensitive materials.” The INE chairman stressed further that the commission had concluded the current phase of the nationwide CVR exercise last week, which lasted for 16 months, from April 27, 2017 to August 31, 2018. Yakubu added “at the end of the exercise, a total of 14,551,482 new voters were registered. If this figure is added to the existing register of 69,720,350 voters, it means that the nation now has a voter population of 84,271,832. “Although the figure may drop slightly after we run the Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), the current figure represents about 21% increase on the existing register. On this note, let me also appeal to Nigerians to seize the opportunity of the ongoing nationwide display of the particulars of new voters for claims and objections as required by law. “By doing so, citizens will be helping the commission to further clean up the register and purge it of all ineligible registrants as required by Section 12 of the Electoral Act.”" | 2019 general elections, Osun governorship election | 6 | |
| ThisDaylive Online | Friday, September 7, 2018 | Stampede As Atiku Submits Forms | "Policemen attached to the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were yesterday forced to fire multiple gun shots to scare away thugs, who had invaded the party secretariat, and clashed with supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The supporters of Atiku, one of the presidential aspirants in the PDP, were seen around the secretariat as early as 9a.m. carrying banners and posters with Atiku’s pictures and the banners of the PDP. Though, the former vice president later arrived at the party secretariat around 12 noon and was cheerfully welcomed by hundreds of his supporters. Atiku, while receiving his expression of interest and nomination forms last week, had urged his supporters to overwhelm the party secretariat while submitting his forms until they are forced to give him the PDP ticket. Trouble, however, started when some thugs with APC posters invaded the Atiku supporters on the Michael Okpara Street, opposite the party secretariat. According to an eyewitness who does not want his name in print, “The APC supporters started singing songs against the supporters of the former vice president. After which the supporters of Atiku retaliated, a fight broke out.”" | 2019 general elections , Peoples , Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/07/stampede-as-atiku-submits-forms/ | 6 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Friday, September 7, 2018 | Afenifere, Others Ask Buhari to Reject Nomination Forms from Shadowy Group | "Civil society groups and opposition parties were united thursday in asking President Muhammadu Buhari to reject the N45.5million All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential nomination forms bought for him by a shadowy group, Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network (NCAN), on Wednesday. The groups, including Centre for Transparency Advocacy, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and Afenifere as well as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC), said the NCAN gesture was a violation of S91(9) of Electoral Act 2010 as amended and asked the president to reject it. The presidency, however, refused to take issues with the critics yesterday, asking THISDAY to approach the president’s campaign for comments. “The president’s campaign organisation is the most appropriate body to react to this type of matter,” Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, told THISDAY last night. The Director of Strategic Communication of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), could not be reached as his personal assistant told THISDAY last night that he had travelled out of the country. The National Coordinator of NCAN, Mr. Sanusi Musa, had on Wednesday presented a cheque of N45.5million at the APC national secretariat for the purchase of expression of interest (N5million) and nomination (N40million) forms on behalf of Buhari. He said they did it to assist the president, who had earlier complained that the forms were too exorbitant for him to buy as they were way above his salary. But the gesture has been widely criticised as unlawful with many critics asking the president to turn down the offer. The PDP, for instance, said if Buhari proceeds to accept the offer, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should apply the sanction stipulated in S91 (10) (a) of the electoral law. " | 2019 general elections | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/07/afenifere-others-ask-buhari-to-reject-nomination-forms-from-shadowy-group/ | 6 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Friday, September 7, 2018 | 2019 Polls: Army Reads Riot Act to Mischief Makers | "The Nigerian Army thursday read the riot act to mischief makers plotting against the peaceful conduct of the 2019 general election, saying it is prepared to take decisive steps against some undesirable elements and politicians adept at deploying thugs and those engaged in kidnapping during the elections. This is coming as it embarked on a major reorganisation of North-east operations, tagged: ‘Operation Lafia Dole’ in Borno State, where it denied the loss of 46 soldiers and equipment to terrorist group, Boko Haram. Speaking at a meeting with principal officers, General Officers Commanding (GOCs), field commanders and operations officers at the Army Headquarters in Abuja, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, said the army was prepared to ensure effective security before, during and after the elections. “We remain apolitical and we are committed to safeguarding the constitution. The unity of the country cannot be compromised. “On the 2019 elections, we are prepared to ensure effective security before, during and after elections. We have told our officers to be professional and we shall be decisive where necessary”, he said. He maintained that “political thugs, kidnappers and criminal elements identified with arms would be dealt with decisively. We shall adhere to international standards of operations." | 2019 general elections, Nigerian Army | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/07/2019-polls-army-reads-riot-act-to-mischief-makers/ | 6 |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | APC governors defy party, opt for indirect primaries | "One after the other, state chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday announced their decision not to comply with the directive of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC). The NEC, last week, had declared: “We wish to make the following clarifications on resolutions on mode of primary election. Primary elections into all elective offices shall be by direct primaries. ]NEC resolved to adopt direct primaries for the nomination of the presidential candidate and all other primaries.” But as the time of going to press, the chapters in Nasarawa, Plateau, Ogun, Borno, Kogi, Ondo, Kebbi, Bauchi and Kaduna had all indicated preference for the ‘direct’ opposite. This was as the spokesman of the party, Yekini Nabena, insisted the decision of the NEC still subsists. " | 2019 general elections | https://guardian.ng/politics/apc-governors-defy-party-opt-for-indirect-primaries/ | 5 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | PDP: Six APC Governors, 27 N’Assembly Members Talking to Us | "The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may soon be thrown into another turmoil as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Wednesday claimed that it is concluding discussions with six state governors and 27 members of the National Assembly elected on the platform of APC ahead of their defection to the party. The opposition party revealed that discussions on control of party structures in the affected states and senatorial zones had also reached advanced stage and would be completed in a couple of weeks after which the governors and lawmakers would announce their defection to the PDP. The National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, made this known in a statement yesterday in Abuja. He stressed that in line with decisions reached at the discussions, the members of the National Assembly defecting to the PDP would cross-carpet at the reconvening of session in the two chambers, which will increase the PDP’s numbers in both chambers. He said, “PDP has already concluded discussions with six APC governors and 27 APC members in the National Assembly, who have also drawn their consultations and secured the mandates of their constituents to move to the PDP ahead of the 2019 general election. “The party assures that all grey areas of the agreement, including issues of waivers and accommodation for participation in primaries, are being smoothened out by the former governor Liyel Imoke-led PDP Contact and Integration Committee, which has been galvanizing our alliances among stakeholders across other parties, including those from the APC. “These interests and movements from the APC to the PDP are indicators of the consensus by Nigerians to rally on the platform of the PDP to end the economic hardship, bloodletting, violence and infrastructural decay that have become the hallmark of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration, and return our nation to the path of unity, national cohesion and economic prosperity, which the PDP is known for.” | 2019 general elections | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/06/pdp-six-apc-governors-27-nassembly-members-talking-to-us/ | 5 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | PDP begins membership registration in Sokoto | "The PDP has begun membership registration in Sokoto State with 100,000 cards distributed to the council areas. Speaking during the distribution of the cards to local government areas, the state chairman of the party, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma, said local governments with 10 wards would receive 4,000 and those with 11 wards and 4,400 cards." | 2019 general elections , Peoples , Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-begins-membership-registration-in-sokoto.html | 5 |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | PDP leaders seek shortlist of presidential aspirants | "In a bid to avert post-nomination rancour likely to trail the choice of its presidential candidate in the scheduled October 6 primary election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has begun the process of reducing the number of aspirants for the nation’s top job on its platform. The party has zoned the ticket to the northern states comprising the three geo-political zones but with the on-going consultations that are gathering momentum, as the selection process gets nearer, there are indications that just three aspirants would emerge, one from each zone to slug it out among themselves. It was gathered that the Northwest geo-political zone has begun the process of narrowing down the number of aspirants in its fold to only one but that the matter is being bogged down mainly by issues involving the candidacy of Sokoto governor, Aminu Tambuwal and former Kano governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. The duo recently dumped the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the PDP to realize their ambitions. Only yesterday, a meeting comprising major stakeholders in the PDP from the North Central zone that comprises the six states of Nasarawa, Kwara, Niger, Benue, Plateau, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), rose from a meeting where it was agreed that only one aspirant would be presented from the zone." | 2019 general elections | https://guardian.ng/politics/pdp-leaders-seek-shortlist-of-presidential-aspirants/ | 5 |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | Seven PDP governors back Saraki’s presidential ambition | "As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fixes October 6, 2018 for the primary to pick its standard-bearer in next year’s presidential election, there are strong indications that seven serving governors have thrown their weight behind the candidacy of Senate President Bukola Saraki. The former Kwara State governor, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has already purchased the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms few days after his public declaration in Abuja last week. Inside sources said since his defection, which many associates described as a homecoming, Saraki has been consolidating on his strength to secure the ticket by renewing friendships in and outside the political circle. However, the APC has claimed that the senate president lacks the capacity to administer the country. In a statement by its national publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena, the party alleged that Saraki was an “abysmal failure and is totally incompetent to offer himself as a candidate for the leadership of Nigeria.”" | 2019 general elections, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) | https://guardian.ng/politics/seven-pdp-governors-back-sarakis-presidential-ambition/ | 5 |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | I’m still in presidential race, Ideh insists | "A former presidential aspirant under the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Dr. Elishama Ideh, yesterday insisted that she was still in the race. This is coming in spite of the decision of Presidential Aspirants Coming Together (PACT), which produced Fela Durotoye as the party’s consensus candidate. Ideh, who disclosed this at a media briefing in Lagos, said she was undeterred in her determination to provide transformational leadership, reduce poverty, promote security and achieve meaningful women and youth inclusion in governance. PACT comprises new aspirants in the Nigerian political space who are willing to work together to drive a new narrative and build a formidable front that would increase their chances of success in the 2019 presidential election." | 2019 general elections,Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) | https://guardian.ng/politics/im-still-in-presidential-race-ideh-insists/ | 5 |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | APGA’s rebound, Obiano’s Southeast game plan | "Indications have emerged that the All Progressives Grand Alliance’s (APGA) decision to field a presidential candidate in next year’s general election is upsetting calculations for the exercise, particularly the political dynamics in Southeast geopolitical zone. The APGA leadership had shortly after the November 2017 Anambra State gubernatorial poll was won and lost, ruled out the possibility of fielding a presidential candidate hinting that the National Executive Committee (NEC) would meet to decide which party’s candidate it would support. However, that off the cuff announcement by the national chairman of the party, Sir Victor Oye, was said to have ruffled some feathers in the party hierarchy. Oye was said to have been reprimanded, not only for going public before the NEC met, but also because coming shortly after the Anambra poll, which most observers believe APGA won through a deal with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), it was giving credence to the perception. Perhaps, on account of that perceived collaboration, none of the rival gubernatorial candidates in Anambra challenged the outcome of the poll, which delivered 21-0 (euphemism for winning the entire 21 local councils of the state) in favour of APGA. It was therefore against that curious background that the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) recently met in Awka and impressed it upon Governor Obiano that going into the 2019 poll without a presidential candidate would permanently damage whatever remains of public goodwill for the party." | 2019 general elections ,All Progressives Grand Alliance’s (APGA) | https://guardian.ng/politics/apgas-rebound-obianos-southeast-game-plan/ | 5 |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | Saraki unites PDP’s Adeleke, Ogunbiyi for election | "Political calculations ahead of the September 22, 2018 governorship election in Osun State recorded a twist yesterday as the two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rivals, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke and Akin Ogunbiyi, got reconciled in Abuja. At a crowded reconciliatory meeting convened by President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, who is also the chairman of Osun governorship campaign committee, Adeleke and Ogunbiyi signed an agreement to work together for the success of the party in the election. Saraki told journalists after the meeting that the reconciliation was important for the PDP. He expressed happiness that the PDP’s two foremost leaders in Osun who struggled against each other to secure the ticket of the party for the election had become united. “What just happened is the signing of agreement between not just the two aspirants of the Osun gubernatorial primaries of PDP, but between all the PDP stakeholders in the state. A lot of people had thought they could not come together. Today what you are seeing is the unity of the PDP in Osun State. The two aspirants who contested in an intensive primary are now together in one finally, so that we will be able to present a united party for the forthcoming election,” Saraki said. Ogunbiyi said he was very “delighted that things got to this point”, adding that it was in the interest of the Osun people and Nigeria at Large. “We believe Osun must be taken, for us to be able to wrestle power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) come 2019. We are going to work together for the party’s victory in the gubernatorial election,” Ogunbiyi said. To Adeleke, God has answered PDP’s prayer. “For us, the PDP victory is assured. By the grace of God, we are going to win the gubernatorial election. We thank the leadership of the PDP, especially the senate president, who is the chairman of our national campaign committee, and all our party leaders to have organized this. “The electorate are waiting for us, I believe that they want us and this is what they have been waiting for. After primary, there should be reconciliation. And with this reconciliation, everybody is happy, the electorate are waiting for us and sure victory is ours.”" | Osun State 2018 Governorship Election, Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP). | https://guardian.ng/politics/saraki-unites-pdps-adeleke-ogunbiyi-for-election/ | 5 |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | Oyinlola seeks support for ADC candidate, Fatai Akinbade | "Former governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has admonished the people of Osun State not to mortgage their future through the choice of a wrong governor in the forthcoming election. To this end, Oyinlola specifically implored the electorate to support Alhaji Fatai Akinbade of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He gave the charge in Osogbo while speaking with a group of professionals over the gubernatorial ambition of Akinbade. “People should not be deceived by the antics of some politicians in our midst. For the future of generations after us not to be in a disarray, we must get it right at the coming election. “As far as I am concerned, Fatai Akinbade is the best among those currently vying for the governorship seat that can navigate the state out of its present logjam. I challenge anybody that says otherwise to give me a better candidate. This informs why we are rolling all the support for him on the platform of ADC.” According to Oyinlola, none of those contending with the one-time secretary to Osun State has records of achievements in governance that could be compared to those of Akinbade. “I know the ex-SSG well because we have worked together. I can say that among them all, Fatai has the experience." | Osun State 2018 Governorship elections. | https://guardian.ng/news/oyinlola-seeks-support-for-adc-candidate-fatai-akinbade/ | 5 |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | Ooni tasks APC candidate on Rauf Aregbesola’s legacies | "The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, to consolidate the good legacies the Rauf Aregbesola’s administration has recorded in office. He also said the Governor Aregbesola administration had demonstrated a high sense of commitment to the advancement of traditional institutions in the state. The monarch spoke when the governor led the campaign train of APC, which was kicked off in Ile Ife, to the Ooni’s palace for his blessing. “The present administration has in no doubt bequeathed a worthy legacy in traditional institution as manifested in the process that led to my enthronement as Ooni. “I can say this repeatedly that Governor Aregbesola did not interfere in the process that led to my selection and enthronement as Ooni as the state played a neutral role to ensure that the people’s will manifests,” Ooni added." | Osun State 2018 Governorship elections, All Progressives Congress (APC) | https://guardian.ng/news/ooni-tasks-apc-candidate-on-rauf-aregbesolas-legacies/ | 5 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | Contrary to Electoral Act, Group Buys N45m Nomination Forms for Buhari | "Contrary to the provision of Electoral Act 2010 as amended, which pegs individual and group contributions to election expenses of a candidate to N1million, a group, yesterday, bought the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential nomination forms for President Muhammadu Buhari for a hefty N45.5 million. The group, Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network, led by its National Coordinator, Mr. Sanusi Musa, presented a symbolic cheque for the huge sum to the National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja and picked up the forms on behalf of the president. The group’s gesture, which was an apparent response to the president’s complaint that the forms were too expensive for him to purchase with his salary, may, however, turn sour as acceptance of the goodwill may land Buhari in trouble, THISDAY learnt last night. According to lawyers THISDAY contacted, the group’s gesture offends S91 (9) of the Electoral Act which states, “No individual or other entity shall donate more than one million naira (1,000,000) to any candidate.” By this provision, the lawyers said, the group is in contravention of the electoral law, warning that if the president accepts the forms he would be liable to the punishment stipulated in S91 (10) (a) of the Act. It states, “A candidate who knowingly acts in contravention of this section commits an offence and on convictions shall be liable – (a) in case of presidential election to a maximum fine of N1,000,000.00 or imprisonment of 12 months or both.” Buhari was said to have complained loudly that the expression of interest (N5million) and nomination (N40million) fees for the party’s presidential ticket for the 2019 general election, were too high for him, stating that his salary could not sustain the burden. Speaking at the form purchasing ceremony wednesday, Musa said he and his colleagues decided to raise the money to support the president and exhibit the enormous goodwill Buhari has with the people. With the group’s purchase of the form, the president becomes the first aspirant in the party to obtain the ruling party’s presidential nomination form." | 2019 general elections, All Progressives Congress(APC) | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/06/contrary-to-electoral-act-group-buys-n45m-nomination-forms-for-buhari/ | 5 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | THISDAY Editors Urge President to Reject Forms | "President Muhammadu Buhari must reject the N45.5 million All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential nomination forms bought for him yesterday by a shadowy group called Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network. When the president was sworn in on May 29, 2015, he was obligated not only to defend and protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic, but also to avoid any conflict between his personal and official interests. The Electoral Act 2010 as amended, being a creation of the Constitution, provides in S91(9) that no individual or other entity shall contribute more that N1million to the election expenses of a candidate, stipulating a fine of N1million or 12 months imprisonment for any candidate, who knowingly violates this provision. By the guidelines of the APC on its nomination procedure, the president, being the aspirant, is the one required to purchase the forms. In his characteristic Spartan approach to life, he had openly protested the exorbitant nomination fees, saying as a salary earner, he could not afford it. It would be cynical to argue that the group’s intervention is a goodwill gesture meant to bail out an indigent president. However, the hefty sum of N45.5m used to purchase the forms amount to nothing but a contribution to the president’s election expenses, which abundantly infringes on the law that pegs individual and group contribution to N1million. Law apart, the development threatens to smear the moral credential of the president as the exhibited profile of members of the group cast a large shadow of doubt on their capacity to raise the huge amount in question. Certainly, none of them is known to be of any visible business or vocation, giving credence to the speculation that they might be fronting for a lousy North-central governor, who had earlier proposed to purchase the forms for the president. Should our president, who has spent the last three years and more, expressing his disapproval of graft, be associated with this kind of doubtful transaction? We think not. being a pre-election exercise is intended to be covered by the law on election expenses. But we hold that our anti-corruption president ought not to be within the vicinity of any doubtful act that could in the fullness of time be found to be unlawful. Besides, accepting a gift of N45.5million forms would gravely offend the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, which restrains public officials from accepting gifts which exceed certain limit that is capable of compromising the performance of their official responsibilities. This point is significant, because in his presentation, the group’s National Coordinator, Mr. Sanusi Musa, said they put the money together to assist the president in appreciation of his good works. This, no doubt, amounts to gratification, an act the code seriously frowns upon and prescribes stern punishment for." | 2019 general elections | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/06/thisday-editors-urge-president-to-reject-forms/ | 5 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | Teargas at senator’s declaration for C/River gov’ship | "There was stampede, yesterday, when Senator John Owan-Enoh who represents Cross River Central senatorial district in the Senate, formally declared his intention to participate in the governorship race next year. The event was held at the Government Secondary School premises in Ikom, in the central part of the state where there was huge attendance of supporters, political bigwigs and enthusiasts. It was not immediately known who were responsible for the tear gassing but it succeeded in causing stampede and fear, leading to many officials, supporters and others scampering for safety. It was suspected that armed thugs from political opponents were responsible, heightening fears of reprisal. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Hafiz Inuwa, had dissociated his men from the assault and said the perpetrators would be arrested. Addressing the huge crowd, Senator Owan-Enoh appealed for calm amongst his supporters and cautioned against violence. He said his intention to vie for the governorship was to reposition the state industrially, economically and enhance the wellbeing of the people." | 2019 general elections | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/teargas-at-senators-declaration-for-c-river-govship.html | 5 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | Enugu APC Vows to Stop Ekweremadu’s Fifth Term Senate Bid | "Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) wednesday boasted that it has capable aspirants that would defeat the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in his bid to return to the Senate for the fifth term. The party also dismissed as cheap blackmail the statement credited to Ekweremadu to the effect that he gave APC N5million during its membership registration in 2014. Chairman of the party in Enugu State, Dr. Ben Nwoye, who addressed journalists at the APC secretariat in the state, challenged the senator to name the person he gave the money. Nwoye said the party at the moment has three credible aspirants that are jostling for the party’s ticket to contest for Ekweremadu’s Enugu West senatorial seat. According to him, “Today, we have Mr. P.C Eze, Chief Gbazuagu Nweke Gbazuagu, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagu, which are all formidable forces prepared to take over from him. Any of these persons is more than capable to win him whenever the votes are cast in 2019.” Nwoye said the party received “with total dismay, the report that Ekweremadu gave N5million to facilitate APC membership registration. That is the biggest political blackmail of the century.” “I was elected chairman of APC in April 2014; I have never as a chairman met with Ekweremadu one on one other than meeting him in public place, in church, where we exchange pleasantries, and by 2014, Ekweremadu was and is still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) so one wonders why a member of the PDP will be funding registration of members in APC. “The report attributed to him indicated that he was doing so to help foster democracy; the unfortunate thing is that he never made mention of who he gave the money or where the money exchanged hands; instead, he refers to a minister, who at that time, was a senator. Dr. Chris Ngige. As a democrat and a patriotic citizen, we respect the deputy Senate president, he is a statesman, and he knows that his comments will be taken seriously and those comments, if made, are capable of destroying the democracy we all worked for.”" | 2019 general elections | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/06/enugu-apc-vows-to-stop-ekweremadus-fifth-term-senate-bid/ | 5 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | 2019: APC Has No Business Presenting Governorship Candidate in Rivers, Says Wike | "Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to even contemplate presenting a governorship candidate for the 2019 election in the state shows that something is fundamentally wrong with the party. Speaking in an interview at the Government House, Port Harcourt, wednesday, Wike stated that aside the plot to rig, the APC has no platform to campaign upon in Rivers State. “For the APC to even think of bringing up anybody against me in this state to challenge whether, I have done something or not, then you know that something is fundamentally wrong. “What has the Federal Government done for the APC in Rivers State? What has Rivers APC achieved? Mention one thing. Is it in terms of the roads, the airport or seaports? Tell me,” he queried. He expressed regret that the APC does not believe in credible polls, noting that rigging and fraud is in the DNA of the party. “All their meetings, all their gatherings at the Federal Level, whether by hook or crook, they must have Rivers State. They want to use soldiers, SARS, DSS. All cries by the international community do not matter. Just take Rivers State first”, he said. Wike said as a Minister of State for Education, his contributions to the development of the State are scattered across the state. He wondered why the current Minister of Transportation has, in his words, failed the people of Rivers State by refusing to attract a single project to the state." | 2019 general elections | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/06/2019-apc-has-no-business-presenting-governorship-candidate-in-rivers-says-wike/ | 5 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | Ameh emerges Chairman as IPAC elects new national officers | "The Wednesday’s tension soaked election of new officers of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has ended with the emergence of nine newly elected national officials. The highlight of the election held in Abuja, was the emergence of the National Chairman of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA), Chief Peter Ameh who defeated the National Chairman of the United People Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie with 51 to 28 votes. Other winners are Hon. Geff Ojinika who defeated Chief Benson Garshon to emerge Deputy Chair, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere of the APP, who defeated Yusuf Ibrahim and Yakubu Shendam to emerge National Publicity Secretary. Also is Mrs. Dakpokpo Georgina who defeated Alhaji Gani Galadima to emerge National Secretary, Eunice Atuejide who defeated Abubakar Sokoto to emerge Deputy National Secretary, Okey Chikwendu who defeated Umar Kumshe to emerge National Treasurer, Rev. Olusegun Peters who defeated Kenneth Kalu to emerge National Financial Secretary, Mallam Hamisu Santuraki who defeated Rabia Cengiz to emerge National Organising Secretary and Barriater Kenneth Udeze who defeated Suleiman Akasawua to emerge Legal Adviser. A total 82 political parties participated in the election." | Inter-party politics | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ameh-emerges-chairman-as-ipac-elects-new-national-officers.html | 5 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | BREAKING: Governor Amosun picks Rep Akinlade as successor | "Outgoing Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has picked a member representing Egbado South and Ipokia Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade as his preferred candidate to fly the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for 2019 governorship election the state. Amosun had promised Ogun indigenes a ‘whiz kid’ and Muslim candidate as his successor. The 48-year old Akinlade had served as the Senior Special Assistant on Taxation and Revenue to Amosun between 2011 and 2014 before he was elected into the lower chamber of the National Assembly in 2015. He hails from Ogun West Senatorial District, popularly known as Yewa/Awori District, the region which has not produced governor since creation of Ogun State in 1976. The governor had promised to make public his candidate today if all aspirants fail to agree on a consensus candidate. Among those jostling for the ticket from Ogun West are, Amosun’s Chief of Staff, Tolu Odebiyi, Speaker of Ogun Assembly, Suraj Adekunbi and some commissioners in the State Executive Council. Other Senatorial Districts have aspirants battling for APC ticket, but the governor had openly declared his support for Yewa/Awori District." | All Progressives Congress (APC) Micro-Zoning | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/breaking-governor-amosun-picks-rep-akinlade-as-successor.html | 5 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | Ortom, Turaki submit nomination forms to PDP | "Mr. Taminu Turaki, one of the numerous presidential aspirants of the opposition PDP, and Benue Governor Samuel Ortom have submitted their nomination and expression of interest forms for the general elections. Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, who submitted the completed forms on Wednesday explained that all the aspirants agreed to support whoever emerges as the party’s candidate in 2019 presidential election. He said that the aspirants were motivated by the assurances of the party leaders to conduct credible primaries. Turaki, represented by the spokesman of his campaign organisation, Mr. Sola Atere, said he would not step down for anybody but would support anyone that emerges as PDP candidate. He also dismissed insinuation that Turaki was fronting for somebody and noted that he would not do such a thing given his pedigree. “It is just impossible for Turaki to step down. He is a man of honour once he has set out for a task he accomplishes it. “The question of fronting for anybody does not arise, if he is fronting for anybody the person would be paying the bills. He cannot change from his good ways. “We have been to 32 states and the reception has been very good and excellent.” The Special Adviser to the Benue State governor on Special Duties, Mr Abraham Kwanghngu, who also submitted forms for Governor Samuel Ortom, said that the governor was ready to go into the party’s primary. Kwanghngu said that the PDP Constitution did not give room for automatic ticket. He added that though the Ortom, as a sitting governor, has the first right of refusal, he was ready to go into contest with any other person that wants to go in. “We are going to participate in the primaries and I can assure you that the governor will be sure of victory. So we are not even thinking that we shall get automatic ticket. “The party belongs to all, it doesn’t belong to anybody or any group of individuals that can stop somebody from entering the party. “The doors of the party are always wide open and decisions to enter the party are taken by individuals. “The governor decided, after full consultations with people of Benue state and the leadership of PDP, both at the state level and at the national level, agreed that he comes back to PDP,” Kwanghngu " | 2019 general elections , Peoples , Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ortom-turaki-submit-nomination-forms-to-pdp.html | 5 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | Nigeria will export marijuana if I become president, says Sowore | "The publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, says Nigeria will export marijuana if he gets elected as president of the country. He said people are making billions from the plant while Nigeria lags behind. The presidential aspirant for the 2019 election said this while speaking at an event organised by Centre for Social Justice on Wednesday. “We have to start taking care of our weed (Igbo), such that we can also contribute to the GDP of the world,” he said. “Some of the best weeds in the world are grown in Ekiti state. I’m very serious. People are making billions out of that particular plant that is very potent in Nigeria. We should be focusing on it. “Our NDLEA should get the notice, memo in advance that Nigeria will be exporting weed to cure cancer in other parts of the world. Sowore said he knows the subject of marijuana is controversial but he’s ready to further discuss it if the need arises. “That’s my last word and I know this one is controversial. If you want to hear more from me about it, I will discuss it,” he added." | 2019 general elections | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nigeria-will-export-marijuana-if-i-become-president-says-sowore.html | 5 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | Reps consider bills for 9 new tertiary institutions | "The House of Representatives Committee on Tertiary Education and Services is considering bills for the establishment of nine new tertiary institutions across the country, even as it moves to amend the Acts establishing six existing ones.Chairman of the committee, Rep Suleiman Aminu (APC, Kano), disclosed this at a public hearing in Abuja yesterday. He listed the proposed tertiary institutions as Federal Polytechnic, Dukku (Gombe); Federal Polytechnic, Shendam (Plateau); Federal Polytechnic, Abriba (Abia); Federal University, Birnin-Kebbi (Kebbi). Others include Federal University of Agriculture, Jalingo (Taraba); Federal College of Education, Akwette (Abia); Federal University of Technology, Kaduna (Kaduna); Federal College of Education, Monguno (Borno); and National Institute for Education Planning and Administration (Nigeria). The universities whose Acts are billed for amendment are Usman Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto; University of Lagos, Akoka; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Maiduguri; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; and National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). “We deemed it expedient to subject these bills to public scrutiny and elicit inputs from the general public. You will agree with me that easy access to quality tertiary education is not only desirable but also inevitable. “However, the tertiary institutions in the country cannot adequately accommodate the quests for admissions by Nigerians, which calls for more to address the protracted problem,” the chairman said. In his submission, President of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU), represented by Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, said “My heart is heavy that we want to establish new universities when nothing is being done about the existing ones. The Federal Government is considering the imposition of tuition fees when most Nigerians cannot afford three meals a day, and you are talking of new universities.”" | National Assembly | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/reps-consider-bills-for-9-new-tertiary-institutions.html | 5 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, September 6, 2018 | Delegates system puts Nigeria in mess’ | "A governorship aspirant from Ebonyi State, Prof. Ifeanyichukwu Benard Odo, has observed that the adoption of indirect primaries otherwise known as delegates system puts Nigeria in a mess. Prof Odo, who spoke yesterday at the APC national secretariat in Abuja after purchasing his expression of interest and nomination forms, said the delegates system had been abused by money-bag politicians who had been in the corridors of power for several years. He hailed the National Executive Committee (NEC) for endorsing direct primaries that allowed all card carrying members of the party to participate in the process of electing candidates for the 2019 general elections. He said the direct mode of election would save the party in Ebonyi State from having parallel delegates after the emergence of separate executives at the recent congresses." | 2019 general elections | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/delegates-system-puts-nigeria-in-mess.html | 5 |