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Kogi Guber: AA national chair confirms abduction of 3 witnesses at Tribunal venue

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High chief Peter Ameh, Barrister Kenneth Udeze
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***Says, Multiparty democracy is inevitable

**When parties fail to speak up against the ills of governance, dictatorship thrives

The National chairman of the Action Alliance (AA) Barrister Kenneth Udeze has confirmed the abduction of three witnesses that were meant to buttress the party’s petition at the the National Judicial Institute in Abuja, venue of the Kogi State Governorship Petition Tribunal.
Political thugs were alleged to have abducted three witnesses associated with Olayinka Braimoh, the AA governorship candidate in the November 2023 election in Kogi state on February, 26th, 2024

CUPP members with Barrister Kenneth Udeze


The witnesses were allegedly whisked away from the National Judicial Institute in Abuja, venue of the Kogi State Governorship Petition Tribunal.

The three abducted witnesses were identified as Idris Khadijat, Safiyat Muhammed and Abdulmalik Muhammed.
However, a statement signed by the State APC chairman, Abdullahi Bello debunked the rumours that said witnesses were abducted.
Bello in the statement categorically refuted the mischievous allegation that any of its supporters abducted the witnesses of the Action Alliance political Party or even had any altercation with any Witness.
The chairman described the allegation as false, coming from mischief makers bent on tarnishing the image of the party and whip up sentiments with the ulterior motive of prejudicing the mind of the tribunal and the public against the APC.
The statement went further to confirm that the Chairman of the Kogi State Chapter of the party was in Court on the said 26th February 2024 adding that he did not witness any such incidences but was only informed of a fracas which occurred between persons who were outside the tribunal complex.
Speaking on Tuesday at the party’s national Secretariat in Kubwa Abuja when the Coalition of the United Political Parties (CUPP) led by its secretary Chief Peter Ameh paid a solidarity/consultative visit to the party, Udeze said, “It is a very sad and terrible situation. I want to confirm officially that three of Action Alliance witnesses for that Election Petition Tribunal were abducted and as a matter of fact they are still missing till today.
“This is the kind of country we find ourselves. A situation where a governorship candidate sees some loopholes to prove that the election that was conducted in Kogi was not free and fair, and in order not to behave like thugs, he decided to explore the legal means in order to correct the anomaly in the election only for intimidation to be comming from left right and center from the APC government that won the election in Kogi State
“I am using this opportunity to really condemn it in its entirety the threats and intimidation against the candidate of the action Alliance in Kogi State. I am confirming it, it is exactly what happened”
The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, had relocated the Kogi Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal from Lokoja to Abuja.
The relocation was not unconnected with security breaches against members of staff of the tribunal who have been attacked on several occasions in Loloja.
Speaking to issues raised by his guests, the AA chairman said,
“It is our responsibility to make sure that the issues that have to do with governance are well taken care of in this country.
“The situation in the country is terrible, people looting everywhere people looking for where to see food. We have never found it so terrible in this country.”
He called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the body that supervises electoral process to make sure that the issue of multi political party Democracy is being encouraged.
He said, it is not the era for delisting political parties as Nigeria is a great nation that even 200 political parties are not enough
“I don’t see reason why we keep deregistering political parties that have what it takes to rally support for the development of our nascent democracy.
“If you are calling any thing that has to do with constitutional National Conference in this country, you must look for those leaders of political parties who have contributed in one way or the other to get to the level we are in the Nigeria.
He expressed appreciation to the CUPP leadership for the visit to one of its Allies.
“AA today as your ally in the political struggle we are always opened, anything the corps feel we can do as registered political parties to make sure that we move the welfare of the masses forward, the AA is always there to accommodate that.
The CUPP scribe, Chief Ameh, indicated that one thing that allow for dictatorship to take root is when there is gap between citizens participation, citizen’s advocacy and action. “When there is that gap and you allow those in government to continue to work without participation because participation is key I’m making sure that our points, our ideas and believe in the democratic system is pushed to a point where we hold our leaders accountable.
“So for us in the corps and those who are the leaders of the Corps like the national chairman of AA, while their Motto is let the masses live, it is about working for the masses of Nigeria, it is about driving policies and programs that will protect the masses of Nigeria because without the masses there is no nation.
“When governance becomes self centered, and policies start bitting hard to the point where trucks and warehouses are being looted, people go to warehouses to look for food, then there is need for political party leadership to speak up and that is why we are here to pay a courtesy/consultation visit to his office to speak about the issues and the ills of Nigeria, and also issues of Multi Party democratic practice in Nigeria.
“That is why we are talking about the next national Constitutional Reform that is coming up, that political parties must participate, because we need the survival of political parties like AA, ADC, SDP, NRM and all the other parties including APP.
“Our democratic system would be truly enriched and deepened to a point that would allow the son of a man born in Nyanya, the son of a.man, born in Agage, shogunle, Shomolu, fadeyi and the son of a man born in Ogun to compete with those who are born in Ikoyi, Asokoro and Maitama, to have the same level of participatory platform.

“This he said will deliver a country where the right of every citizen is protected, where the rights of those who protect us are also protected to work in the armed forces. So for all these reasons and so many issues that have bedevilled our democratic practice even our economy and the social environment.
“That is why we felt it is very important that voices like these must be encouraged, must be supported given all the background that is needed to push forward because it is about solidarity in practice and defence of our country, Solidarity for ever

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Ondo Governorship Primaries: APC commends Ododo over peaceful conduct

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo for his impressive performance in the just concluded Ondo State Governorship primary election where he served as chairman of the committee.
Special adviser on media to the Governor Ismai Isah in a statement indicated that Governor Ododo received the commendation while presenting the report of the Ondo state APC primary election committee to the party’s national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.

Receiving the committee’s report from Governor Ododo, Dr. Ganduje congratulated the Governor for a job well done and noted that the party is proud of the performance of the Kogi State Governor for the conduct of the Ondo State Governorship primary election which he noted was the first national assignment of the Governor.

The APC national chairman praised the extraordinary leadership skill and impeccable manner the Kogi State Governor managed the Ondo State APC Governorship primary election, adding that the Collation of results from the 203 wards and the 18 Local Government areas of the state that was viewed live on national television was a rare display of transparency and integrity of the entire election process.

Earlier in his presentation, Governor Ododo thanked the APC National Working Committee for finding him and his committee members worthy of the all important national assignment.

The Governor stated that the committee’s report took cognizance of everything that transpired during the primary election and it contains recommendations that will enable the party to deal with the aftermath of the Ondo State Primary election and ensure that the APC goes into the November governorship election as a united party ready to retain power in Ondo State.

Governor Ododo was accompanied to the presentation of the report by the Secretary to the Committee, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Kogi State APC Chairman, Honourable Abdullahi Bello, House of Representative Member Representing Ajaokuta Federal Constituency, Honourable Abdulrahim Egidi and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Deedat Ozigi Salami, and some of his senior aides.

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Ondo 2024: Emami admonishes Aiyedatiwa to Seek support of aggrieved aspirants

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***Says APC stands to win
with genuine reconciliation

Seek for genuine reconciliation with all the aggrieved aspirants who contested the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election Chief Ayirimi Emami, has admonished the Ondo State Governor and winner of the party’s ticket in last weekend governorship primary, Lucky Aiyedatiwa,

In the primary election conducted by a team led by Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, his colleague, Governor Aiyedatiwa was declared winner having polled 48, 569 in the Direct Primary exercise to defeat all the other 15 aspirants.
Some of the aspirants have since kicked against the outcome of the election, alleging that the Governor Ododo team did not follow the party’s guidelines and laid down procedure
The APC chieftain who congratulated Governor Aiyedatiwa, described his victory at the primary as testament of his impactful governance for the few months he has taken over as governor of Ondo state.
He urged him to broker peace with the aggrieved aspirants, accomodate them in the course of his campaigns for the overall interest of the APC and development of the oil producing state.
While he maintained that Governor Aiyedatiwa posture should be a no victor, no vanquished towards the other aspirants on the outcome of the primary, Chief Emami, said the cooperation of other aspirants would make the Party victory seamless and accelerate the developmental strides being witnessed in the state.
He equally appealed to other aspirants that contested the APC governorship primary to sheathe their sword and support the candidacy of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Some of the contenders for the ticket won by Governor Aiyedatiwa included
senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Jimoh Ibrahim; Olusola Oke SAN, former President of Nigerian Medical Association, Prof. Francis Faduyile, a mechanical engineer, Dr Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo and the National Vice Chairman of the APC (South APC (South West), Isaac Kekemeke.

Others were Dr Soji Ehinlanwo, Akinfolarin Samuel, Okunjimi Odimayo, Adewale Akinterinwa, Olugbenga Edema and Brig. Gen. Ohunyeye Olamide (retd), Morayo Lebi, Oladiran Iyatan and Engnr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele.

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Concerned Kano Progressives throw weight behind Ganduje

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***Alerts President Tinubu over Kwankwaso’s scheming to destabilize APC

From Mohammed Abubakar Minjibir

A Kano-based political think-tank, the CONCERNED KANO PROGRESSIVES, {CKP} has vowed to do everything humanly possible to support ongoing efforts of the national Chairman of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to reposition the party and encourage all elected representatives on the platform of the APC to manage the gains of their respective, electoral successes.
Similarly, the KCP, have also vowed to checkmate, what its members, have described as , “the infantile and highly dysfunctional thought-processes being elicited by one-time civilian Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Kwankwaso, in his drift towards political mischief-making against the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “.
These views, were contained in a Media statement issued to newsmen on Sunday, by the National Coordinator of CKP Alhaji Mohammed Z. Abubakar.
The CKP stated that, “Anybody who knows Alhaji Kwankwaso and his conditioned behaviour towards matters of political socialization processes and mentorship, can attest to his high affinity for not only being domineering, high-handed, self-opinionated but abnormally dictatorial in the way and manner he relates with his peers, eminent political leadership figures and sundry loyal party members.”
The statement explained further that, “Alhaji Kwankwaso, is believing that he has the nationwide capacity to swing the sociology of the voter-behaviour of the larger Nigerian voting electorate come 2027, to actualize his animated ambition of becoming the President of Nigeria.”
The CKP, said that Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s self-inflated ego, is what is perhaps, leading him into nursing the faulty impression-formation disposition that, apart from the entire northern electorate, “voting” massively for him under the NNPP, the social and political rating which President Tinubu presently enjoys, is far below his self-proclaimed social and political stratification rating, which, has given him the pseudo courage to embark on his ongoing secret plans to destabilize the All Progressives Congress by using his NNPP political party platform to achieve his ambition of becoming president of Nigeria in 2027.
According to the CKP spokesman, Alhaji Mohammed Z. Abubakar, “Alhaji Kwankwaso’s hope of executing his plan of action is largely reliant and premised on the funding from his political stooge, the current Governor of Kano State, who will never dare defy the directives of Alhaji Kwankwaso, his father in-law and mentor.
Alhaji Kwankwaso, according to the Progressives, “uses the Kano State Executive Governor, Alhaji Abba Yusuf, as a willing instrument to prosecute his current thinly disguised agenda to blackmail and demonise the APC National Chairman, Alhaji Ganduje, and his party in such a way as to destroy the APC brand before the next general elections in 2027.
The Progressives, have therefore humbly advised President Tinubu and APC members nationwide to be on the alert about the scheming of Alhaji Kwankwaso.

The organisation indicated that, “the unfolding pockets of mischief-making ploys, antics and deviant behavioural traits being orchestrated by the former Governor of Kano State, Dr Kwankwaso and the current NNPP government led by Alhaji Abba Yusuf, to tarnish the good image and reputation of both the ruling APC and its National Chairman, Dr. Ganduje, will fail. “We stand resolutely in solidarity with Dr. Ganduje”, the statement concludes.

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