Politics

AMBODE: GAC SET UP COMMITTEE ON GUBER CONTEST

Published

6 years ago

September 24, 2018

After an inconclusive meeting on whether Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode should be allowed to seek re-election unopposed on Saturday or not, the state’s highest advisory political organ, Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) has constituted a committee to consider the feasibility of conducting primary election.

The GAC has also adjourned its meeting till Wednesday to consider the report of the committee it set up to look into the possibility of holding governorship primary election in the state and take a final decision between giving Ambode the privilege of first refusal and allowing all aspirants face primary contest.

Multiple sources disclosed the resolutions of the GAC meeting to THISDAY in confidence yesterday, acknowledging that Ambode’s push for automatic ticket polarised the last meeting of the GAC into two distinct groups with a section supporting Ambode and the section calling for governorship primary contest.

Ambode’s political future has been uncertain after the Managing Director of Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat declared intention to challenge Ambode in a primary contest.

Consequently, the Mandate Movement, a powerful political machine of the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, had endorsed Sanwo-Olu for the governorship contest, thus heating up the state’s political climate ahead of the primary election slated for September 29.

Ambode’s travail had attracted the intervention of the presidency, former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) and the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), pleading for reprieve for Ambode.

On the GAC resolution, an APC source acknowledged that the advisory council reconvened last Saturday, noting that the status of each governorship aspirant was reviewed with a section of the meeting supporting Ambode’s push for automatic ticket while the other section opposed the proposal.

He noted that a section of GAC leaders “believes Ambode should be given the right of first refusal. For them, it is a standard practice in advanced democracy that a first-term governor or president be allowed to seek re-election unopposed.”

The APC source equally noted that the pro-Ambode group warned against rubbishing the office of Lagos State Governor as an institution, citing different campaigns of calumny against the person of the governor on the social media.

The APC source acknowledged the position of the other section of GAC leaders, which according to him, opposed giving automatic tickets to Ambode while warning against encouraging the sense of entitlement in the rank of first-term governors.

Rather, the source maintained a position that all governorship aspirants “should test their popularity in the primary contest as scheduled. Whoever wins at the contest becomes the governorship candidate. For them, the party should not encourage the incumbent to continue with a sense of entitlement.”

After considering the two positions, the source said the GAC agreed that all aspirants should face primary election, and went ahead to “set up a committee to consider the feasibility of primary election or other options within the APC Constitution and the 1999 Constitution.”

He, therefore, disclosed that the GAC leaders would reconvene either on Wednesday or Thursday “to deliberate the report of the committee and take a final position. But with Osun election result at the weekend, a lot of things can still change because the APC cannot afford to lose Lagos State,” the source explained.

Beyond the resolutions of the GAC meeting, a cabinet source last night confirmed that the Southern Governors Forum (SGF) “has already sent a collective message to President Buhari and Senator Bola Tinubu. Ambode is the Chairman of the SGF. “The SGF simply wants the APC leaders to becareful with Lagos State. Aside, the Forum believes Ambode has performed well in the three and half years and should be allowed to complete the programmes his administration initiated.”

With the performance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Osun governorship election, THISDAY checks revealed that the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) had initiated another peace effort aimed at avoiding the repeat of Osun’s scenario in Lagos State in 2019.

Under the leadership of Imo State Governor, Mr. Rochas Okorocha, the source confirmed that PGF “is still speaking with Buhari. The Forum has again sent a message to Tinubu to prevail him to resolve issues around Ambode’s re-election.

“With what happened in Osun State, we hope reason will eventually prevail. But failure to reason may lead to the repeat of what happened in Osun election. That is why the APC leader should handle Ambode’s re-election with wisdom if he does not want people to revolt during the 2019 general election.”

Politics

Go out and vote, it’s your right – Ogun APC charges electorate

Published

2 days ago

November 14, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Go out and vote, it’s your right – Ogun APC charges electorate

As the party campaigns for the 2024 Local Government election in Ogun State draws to a close midnight of today (Thursday), the All Progressives Congress, APC, has charged registered voters in Ogun State to go out and exercise their fundamentals rights on Saturday “without any fear whatsoever”.

Addressing the grand finale of APC in Odogbolu Local Government, the Publicity Secretary of the party in Ogun State, Tunde Oladunjoye said, “APC has done very well under the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun, and we are poised to win the chairmanship and councilorship elections overwhelmingly come Saturday”.

Oladunjoye, who is also Senior Media Consultant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Media, thanked the Odogbolu people for showing massive support to the APC in the local government.

“With what I have seen here, victory is sure. I want to thank you on behalf of the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON and the Chairman of APC in Ogun State, Chief Yemi Sanusi. “Come out and vote peacefully on Saturday. It is your constitutional duty and obligation.”

Oladunjoye added that people should learn from the chairmanship candidate of the party in Odogbolu local government, Dr. Babatunde Oyetola Diya, who vied for the office about three and half years ago and did not get it, but remained faithful in the party and continued to reach out to people with his humanitarian efforts.”

Politics

Anthony Ojo congratulates Gov Okpebholo, confirms Edo Central Senate aspiration

Published

2 days ago

November 14, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Anthony Ojo congratulates Gov Okpebholo, confirms Edo Central Senate aspiration

Influential Edo State politician, Anthony Ojo has congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo after being sworn-in as the new Governor of the State.

In his congratulatory message, Ojo expressed confidence in the abilities of Gov Okpebholo to bring the dividends of democracy close to the people of Edo State.

“The people of Edo State have total trust in your five-point agenda, capacity as a leader, and this is evident with their immense show of love. We have no single doubt that under you, this state will progress to the promised land,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, Anthony Ojo has confirmed his aspiration to contest the Edo Central senatorial seat under the flagship of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a position previously held by Senator Okpebholo before he was elected governor.

He cited that sharing the same leadership ideologies with Governor Okpebholo, and the keen desire for transformative human and capacity developments in Edo State are the reasons behind his ambition.

He promised to work closely with the Governor to provide succour to Edo citizens.

Politics

Appeal Court Further Affirms Udeze-led NEC Of Action Alliance As Valid, Authentic

Published

3 days ago

November 13, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Appeal Court Further Affirms Udeze-led NEC Of Action Alliance As Valid, Authentic

ABUJA – The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has further affirmed Chief Barr. Kenneth Udeze-led National Executive Committee (NEC) of Action Alliance (AA) elected on 14th March 2021 National Convention of the party as valid and authentic.

Action Alliance, in a statement by its National Secretary, Vernimbe A James said, “the court of appeal Abuja Division today in Appeal Number; CA/ABJ/CV/1163/2024 in a lead Judgement delivered by Hon.Justics Abba Mohammed which was concord by the other two Justices dismissed the appeal filed by Adekunle Omoaje faction through one Miller C.Orgwu ( on behalf of himself and all NEC Members Elected at Action Alliance Elective National Convention of 7th of October,2023, held at OOPL Abeokuta, Ogun State ) against 1, INEC, 2, Kenneth Udeze,3, James Vernimbe, 4, Akinuli Fred Omolere.

“The Court also awarded N400,000 cost against the appellants in favor of the Respondents.

The appeal was about the validity of the powers of Action Alliance NEC under Chief Kenneth Udeze led executive to conduct the party Governorship primary in Ondo State for the upcoming Saturday 16th November 2024, Governorship Election.

“The Federal High Court Abuja Division had earlier In Suit Number; FHC/ABJ/ CS/626/2024 Between Miller Orgwu and others (Omoaje faction) claiming to be authentic NEC of the party against 1, INEC, 2, KENNETH UDEZE,3, JAMES VERNIMBE, 4, AKINULI FRED OMOLERE presided by HON. JUSTICE JOYCE O.ABDULMALIK on 24th, September 2024 dismissed their Claim and validated the Ondo State Governorship Primary Election Conducted by Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance NEC as valid and authentic, thereby Confirming the Ondo State Governorship Candidate of the party AKINULI FRED OMOLERE as the valid Candidate of the party for the 16th, November 2024 Governorship Election in Ondo State.”

The statement further said: “On 28 March 2022, the FCT High Court Abuja had affirmed and validated the Action Alliance National Convention held on 14th, March 2021 wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led NEC of the party were elected.

“Dissatisfied with the said Judgement, one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others were granted leave of the court of appeal to appeal same Judgement.

“On the 26th, January 2024, the Court of Appeal Abuja Division in Appeal Number; CA/ ABJ/ CV/ 955/22 Between Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others and Chief Uzewuru Nwachukwu and others further Affirmed the FCT High Court Judgement that earlier validated the Action Alliance National Convention of 14th March,2021 wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance (AA) NEC of the party was elected.

“Dissatisfied with the appeal court Judgement one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others have appealed the Judgement to the Supreme Court of Nigeria in appeal Number: SC/ CV/162/2024 Between Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others and Chief Uzewuru Nwachukwu and others, the matter is still pending at the Supreme Court of Nigeria which he has abandoned but desperately looking for how to come through the back door to claim the leadership of Action Alliance.”

The statement also explained that “INEC has since Complied with the Judgements validating the 14th, March 2021 National Convention of the party wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance NEC of the party was elected and uploaded on its website the Name of Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze- National Chairman, Vernimbe A James -National Secretary and other Elected NEC of the party as authentic.

“There is no court ruling or Judgement that Affirmed or validated any other National Convention of Action Alliance (AA) held on any other date apart from the 14th, March 2021 National Convention of the party which Courts have already and variously validated.”

Ezenwa Ibegbunam, who is the Counsel to Chief Fred Omolere, the governorship candidate of the party affirmed by the Court, noted that the judgment has further restated the correct position of the law and a vindication of the previous decision of the Court of Appeal which had earlier affirmed Chief Udeze led executive as the authentic leadership of the Action Alliance.

On his part, Chief Kenneth Udeze has praised the Court of Appeal as a citadel of justice and urged the party members across the country to remain focused.

He further noted that the Judgment has cleared the way for the victory of the party in the Ondo State gubernatorial election.

Source: Daily Independent