Bamanga Tukur’s Wife Registers For APC

Wife of the sacked People’s Democratic Party’s Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Hajiya Asiya Mohammed Bello yesterday registered as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Gabasawa Ward in Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna North Local Government area of Kaduna State with registration card number 0623374.

Our correspondent, who monitored the ongoing APC registration in Kaduna yesterday confirmed that she had registered before he arrived but however got details of her registration from the registration officer.

Efforts  to speak with Asiya Bello when our correspondent visited Tukur’s residence at Gwari Crescent in Unguwan Rimi as to why she choose to go with the APC and not the PDP, her husband’s party was not successful. She was said to be fasting and ready to pray after the break of the fast and will not be available to speak.

The house is a duplex with several boys quarters located at a sharp bend on a large expanse of land at the Gwari Crescent GRA of Unguwan Rimi.

According to Malam Yahaya Gambo, who claimed to be Asiya Bello’s driver, “It is true that Hajiya Asiya registered today with of the APC” while showing her registration card which was still in his possession. He, however, said, “You will not be able to speak with her because she fasted today and she is preparing to break the fast and pray, you may wish to come and see her at about 9 or 10am tomorrow (Today)”.

Also confirming her registration, the supervising officer for the registration of the APC in Kaduna north in Kaduna State, Shaibu Lilly, said, “It is true that our registration officer registered Tukur’s wife and issued her a registration card. This is one of the developments of democracy in Nigeria where you see an immediate past PDP chairman’s wife registering for APC”.

“As far as I am concerned, they might be united as husband and wife but may have different opinions as the far as the political scenario is concerned, it is to show you that it is a falling period for the PDP”.

He said the crisis in the party in Kaduna State which was due to different opinions of the members has not in any way affected the registration exercise as many party members trooped out to register, describing the registration exercise as very successful.

Asked whether Hajiya Asiya was sponsored by PDP or her husband to register in APC for ulterior motives, Lilly said, that is not true but simply democracy at work.

A close family source to the Bamangas, who craved for anonymity confirmed to FRIDAY LEADERSHIP that Asiya is still Bamaga Tukur’s wife and that the house also belong to him.

When contacted, an APC chieftain in Kaduna State, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed said he cannot confirm her registration as he was in Abuja for an official engagement.

He however said, “I do know that Bamagar’s wife has been a supporter of the APC. She has been a progressive person.”

When the Kaduna State PDP Chairman, Chief Abubakar Gaiya Haruna was contacted on the development, he simply said he was not in Kaduna and was not aware of the matter, as such could not speak on it.

He said, “well, I am not aware of that, am presently not in Kaduna and cannot speak on the matter.”

When asked whether or not he knows any of  Bamanga Tukur’s wives in Kaduna, he said “Bamanga Tukur is a Muslim and may have more than one wife, I have been to his house several times here in Kaduna and Abuja but I have not seen any of his wives, so I cannot point at any of his wife because I have never met any of them”.

APC Targets 1m Members In Imo As Okorocha Declares Registration Open

FROM LEFT: FORMER GOVERNOR OF ANAMBRA, SEN. CHRIS NGIGE; GOV. ROCHAS OKOROCHA OF IMO; FORMER PDP SENATOR REPRESENTING ORLU WEST, SEN. OSITA IZUNASO; FORMER NATIONAL SECRETARY, ALL NIGERIA PEOPLES PARTY (ANPP), CHIEF GEORGE MOGHALU AND OTHERS AT THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) REGISTRATION IN ORLU 

Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo has said that he was targeting over one million people to register in the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) membership registration in the state.

Okorocha expressed the hope while kick starting the APC membership registration exercise at the Ahiajioku Convention Centre, Owerri, on Thursday.

He said that the exercise had commenced in full in all the polling units and called on Imo residents to identify with the party.

“Identifying with APC will ensure continuity of free education with 305 modern primary schools, massive road construction and rehabilitation, improved healthcare delivery, youth and women empowerment and adequate security to lives and property.

“APC as a party is free and fair in all its dealings especially in the selection of candidates for elections”, he said.

He expressed optimism that over one million members would be registered in the state but warned against double registration.

The governor also charged officials handling the registration to guard against manipulation in the discharge of their duties

Contributing, the Chairman, APC Registration Committee in the State, Dr. Alex Ibe explained that the members would be provided with temporary identity cards before the state congress scheduled for March.

He said that only card-carrying members would participate in the party’s congress and convention and expressed the hope that the exercise would be a huge success. (NAN)

Former Sokoto Gov Bafarawa Dumps APC For PDP

Former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, has formally made a switch from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The defection of Bafarawa was made public in Sokoto by his media advisor, Yusuf Dingyadi, who said the former governor made the “collective and unanimous decision” on the basis of a consensus reached by his associates and supporters from the 23 local governments of the state.

According to him, Bafarawa and his associates no longer believed they will get justice and a sense of belonging in the APC.

Dingyadi, also the state Publicity Secretary of the Bafarawa’s faction of APC, said that the decision was taken on Saturday after a meeting with Bafarawa and former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau.

Dingyadi said the meeting was also attended by the supporters of Bafarawa in the three parties, who merged to form the APC.

According to Dingyadi, the leaders of the former governor’s faction of the APC had been asked to go back to the 23 local government areas in the state for further consultation.

In his reaction, State Secretary of Gov. Aliyu Wamakko’s faction of the APC, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, told NAN that it was a welcome development.

“It is a good omen for the APC in Sokoto state and at the national level. APC will now be stronger and united.

“Bafarawa is afraid of Wamakko. He had since been working for PDP. Only his body was in APC, but his heart was already in the PDP,” said Aliyu, who is also the health commissioner, said.

Wamakko had defected to the APC from the PDP, although his deputy, Alhaji Mukhtari Shagari, refused to defect to the APC.

The APC in the state had since been factionalised into two, with two separate state headquarters and different interim state caretaker leaderships.

B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G News!!! APC FUNDING OF CHANNELS TV EXPOSED.

**Party threatens to Cancel N480 million
Contract contract with Channels, over
Station
Allowing Opponents to Appear on
Channels..
Senator Kaka's Interview with Channels TV
have angered the leadership of APC and
Ogun state Governor Ibikunle Amosun
blasts
John Momoh the Chairman of the TV
station.
The Governor is now threatening to Cancel
the N480m Retainer-ship Deal with
Channels
TV.
If feelers coming from Oke-Mosan,
Abeokuta
is anything to go by, it appears all is not
well
between the CEO of Channels Television,
Mr.
John Momoh and Ogun State Governor,
Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
It was gathered that Governor Ibikunle
Amosun, in the spirit of reading riot acts to
all his opponents, was said to have called
the
Channel's boss to give him tongue lashing
over his approval to allow Senator Kaka
appear on the television station inspite the
multi-million naira deal between the Ogun
State government.
Visibly angry Amosun, it was gathered had
threatened John Momoh that he might have
to cancel the N480 million deal being paid
to
the television station in instalments of N20
million every month to do hatchet job for
his
administration.
According to the source, although they
could
not tell the reaction of the Channel's boss,
but from the way the governor sounded, it
appear that Mr. Momoh was humbled by
the
call, with a promise not to repeat such in
the
future.
Amosun was also quoted to have called the
man an ingrate who does not appreciate all
the assistance he has been rendering to the
station including the tarring of the road
that
led to the company premises.
The source further said Amosun threatened
that other stations have equally sought his
assistance in similar deal but have chosen
Channels out compassion for the MD.
His words, "I pay other stations far less to
what I am paying you with the belief that
you will publicise our activities and black
out
any of our opponents. Believe you me,
when
such happens again, I will cut off this deal
which I believe your station badly needs at
this time.
How much did Fayemi pay you in Ekiti? Just
N20m to bring your programme to his
state.
And I pay you N20m every month, yet you
give space to my enemies to come and start
speaking rubbish against all the good works
we have been doing in the state." -

CSNAC Calls On EFCC To Prosecute Lagos State Council Chairman Tajudeen Ajide

Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the Surulere Local Government of Lagos State and to prosecute its chairman, Tajudeen Ajide, citing various newspaper reports as well as documentary evidence at the disposal of the Network.

In a petition dated December 17, CSNAC recalled that following the failure of Mr. Ajide to address several complaints by the legislative arm of the council bordering on corruption and abuse of office, the legislative council on 14 March 2013 resolved to commence suspension proceedings against him for misappropriation of public funds and contravention/disregard for the Public Finance Management Law of Lagos State.
The group noted that on the basis of the Legislative Council committee's findings and following its resolution dated 19th November 2012, a vote of no confidence was passed on Mr. Ajide and a number of allegations “overwhelmingly” sustained against him.
It listed them to include:
    •    Aiding and abetting through criminal conspiracy by awarding contracts to his allies and conies through which Local Government funds were siphoned;
    •    Collection of various sums of Money both in Naira and Foreign currencies in form of salaries and purchase of official car for office of the wife of chairman which does not exist.
    •    Obtaining Bank loans and overdrafts at various times between October 2012 and February 2013 without the knowledge and approval of the Legislative council;
    •     Award of over-inflated and questionable contracts; and
    •    Purchase of a N17m vehicle for the office of the Chairman without delivery of same to the Council.
“A petition, chronicling these atrocities, was addressed by the Council Legislative House to Lagos State House of Assembly, demanding an urgent intervention in the matter and appropriate sanction against Mr. Ajide,” CSNAC said.  “Though, Mr. Ajide was summoned by Clerk of the Assembly on the strength of the petition, in a curious twist, the indicted Council Chairman has continued in corruptly enriching himself and cronies at the expense of developing the council area. “Following these unresolved allegations against Mr. Ajide and failure of the Lagos State House of Assembly to discharge its constitutional duties on this matter, we here demanding an urgent investigation and necessary action of your Commission on this matter.”
Forward the relevant documents to the EFCC and citing the failure of the Lagos State House of Assembly to discharge its constitutional duties on the matter, CSNAC demanded urgent investigation and necessary action

Battle For 2015 Commences In The APC

The All Progressives Congress, APC has started experiencing what big political parties usually experience, and what has wreaked havoc on the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as a silent but potent war to become the APC’s flag bearer for the 2015 presidential election may have begun in the party.

Involved in the silent battle, according to sources are former Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who is yet to formally join the APC, but will from all indications join if he’d be assured of a presidential ticket.

Having brought together people from different parties, sources say the APC would probably throw the race wide open so as to ensure no one is left aggrieved at the end.

After achieving most of its goals thus far, the opposition party is said to be planning to organise its first national convention to elect a substantive leadership by March.

Buhari has not declared an ambition yet, but many believe he still craves a chance at the Aso Rock Villa.

Former EFCC chairman Ribadu is also yet to openly declare for the race but he is said to be bidding his time as well.

Kwankwaso is one of the five aggrieved PDP governors who recently defected to APC.

He has a huge support of northerners, especially those who defected from the PDP.

Atiku’s name is also making the rounds as a likely presidential aspirant in the party.

The leaders of the APC had extended a hand of friendship to him, and he told them he would consult with his associates and give the APC leaders a feedback.

The party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, who spoke with Thisday yesterday on telephone, maintained that the party had not officially taken any step to narrow its choice of flagbearer.

“At the moment, the party has not considered the issue of who its presidential candidate would be. Until we get to that stage, we will not bar anyone from expressing interest or aspiring for the presidential candidacy. The party is not going to stop anyone from expressing his views, especially when it has to do with legitimate ambition.

“All I say is that everything will be done according to the rules, there will be party primaries to elect candidates for elective offices in the land, from the local, states to the national levels,” he said.

Mohammed said for now the matter had not been officially tabled at the party’s top hierarchy as a major priority because the APC was busy with its national recruitment drive.

Despite the official position of APC, analysts say with President Jonathan obvious to be planning to run for re-election in 2015, it would be in the party’s best interest to field a worthy opposition, as a candidate not widely accepted in the country will be tantamount to the failure of APC in 2015.

PRESS RELEASE: Ngige, Ubah, Nwoye Want Anambra Guber Poll Cancelled

Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah of the Labour Party (LP) and Mr.

By APC Publicity Unit

The Anambra State Governorship Election may have lost any iota of credibility as three of the four major political parties that participated in the election have called for the cancellation of the election.

Senator Chris Ngige (OON) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah of the Labour Party (LP) and Mr. Tony Nwoye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have called for outright cancellation of the governorship election, saying it was marred with serious irregularities.
In a joint statement, the governorship candidates said: ““We are of the candid view that the sham election does not reflect the wishes and aspirations of Anambra voters. Our call for the cancellation of this election is reinforced by the public admission by Professor Attahiru Jega, the INEC Chairman that some INEC staffs sabotaged the conduct of the election. This call for the cancellation of the election would have been unnecessary if INEC had postponed the conduct of the election after becoming aware of the sabotage of the election by INEC officials.”
In an earlier world press conference, Senator Ngige complained that there were grave irregularities that marred many aspects of the election in at least four local councils considered by all as his strongholds, adding that there was a pre-determined plot to disenfranchise his supporters and ensure that he did not win the election.

Specifically, Ngige named Idemili North Local Government Area, Idemili South Local Government Area, Awka South Local Government Area and Ihiala Local Government Area as the areas worst hit by the electoral malfeasance. These areas have 377, 875 registered voters of the total 1, 784, 536 registered voters. He said the election in some wards in Ihiala Local Government Area was riddled with fraudulent malpractices, calling for its cancellation.

Ngige pointed out that the manipulation that characterized the Maurice Iwu led INEC has resurfaced in Jega’s era.

Ubah in an interview with AIT said that while the election in the Nnewi area was free and fair, the poll was plagued by irregularities in most parts of the state. He accused Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) of massive corruption of the electoral process with state resources, saying the recently approved N36 billion supplementary budget was deployed to induce voters and electoral officials.

On his part, Nwoye who was visibly angry while speaking on AIT, described the election as the worst he had witnessed in his lifetime. Nwoye has every reason to be embittered; even as a candidate being voted for, he was unable to vote for himself. But he was only one of the many voters whose names were not in on the voters’ register. Also affected was PDP stalwart, Chief Arthur Eze.

Nwoye said the election was a pre-meditated plot to throw up the APGA candidate, Chief Willie Obiano, adding that the APGA leadership deployed the security agencies to protect riggers and closed their eyes to mindless inducement of voters.

There were strong indications of a systematic plot to disenfranchise voters sympathetic to Ngige, as election materials meant for areas where he has strong support base were not delivered or got to the polling stations late. In other areas, result sheets meant for polling units were deliberately mixed up or were not delivered at all. It took the personal intervention of Ngige and his team for materials to be delivered to his Alor town around 11 a.m.

INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega admitted that his staff compromised the process especially in Idemili North Local Government Area but declined to order re-run in the entire local council, leading APC, Labour and PDP among others to pull out of today’s rescheduled election in Obosi comprising 65 polling units.

In also calling for total cancellation of the election, APC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the call supersedes the party’s early call for a rerun in four local government areas. The APC said INEC inexplicably used a voters’ register totally different from the one it gave to political parties ahead of the election, adding that the new register did not contain the names of most of the registered voters in the state.

His words: “After consultations with our agents as well as with local and foreign observers, we have discovered that what we earlier complained about was a child’s play, compared to the widespread disenfranchisement that was orchestrated by the same body given the responsibility of ensuring a free, fair and creditable election on Saturday.

“We discovered that INEC has set up a multi-layer arrangement to ensure that most voters in the state were disenfranchised, apparently acting out a script to manipulate the result of the election in favour of a certain candidate. Where voting materials were supplied, the commission provided wrong voters’ register.”

The APC said that “coming after the charade in Delta, this is a serious development that raises questions about the ability of INEC to conduct free, fair and transparent elections anywhere in Nigeria. It is particularly serious because if people who registered to vote are not able to do so, and even the votes of those who managed to cast them do not count, then anarchy is looming.”

The party called for a probe of INEC “to determine why it has taken it upon itself to sabotage its own elections, even when people are determined to endure the orchestrated inconveniences and shun all acts of violence, as was witnessed in Anambra on Saturday when people waited patiently and peacefully, only to go home in total disappointment.”

“This is a new low for INEC,” APC observed, warning that “unless something is done urgently, the electoral commission may plunge Nigeria into a crisis from which it may not recover,” APC warned.