Politics

APC Has No Governorship Candidate In Akwa Ibom, INEC Declares

Published

3 years ago

June 11, 2022

The Independent National Electoral Commission in Akwa Ibom State has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has no governorship candidate for the 2023 general election.

This was contained in a report sent to the INEC headquarters in Abuja by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom, Mike Igini.

The report came less than two weeks after when it was reported that the APC in the state may not produce a governorship candidate for the 2023 general election.

“We wish to report that the APC governorship primary scheduled to hold on Thursday, May 26, 2022, at the Sheergrace Arena, Nsikak Eduok Avenue, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State did not hold at all,” Mr Igini said in a letter to INEC headquarters in Abuja dated May 27.

According to the report, the commission’s monitoring team, led by Mr Igini, in the company of the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Andrew Amiengheme, arrived at the venue of the primary for the third time at 6:45 p.m., without seeing anyone.

The heads of the two federal agencies were informed that the APC election committee members were held up by an angry group of APC members along a major road in Uyo.

The operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) later rescued the APC election officials that night and took them to their (SSS) facility in the city.

This newspaper, last month, reported how supporters of the two APC factions in the Akwa Ibom fought over the control of voting materials meant for the conduct of party primaries in the state.

The Chairman of the Election Committee, Tunde Ajibulu had told Mr Igini on the phone that he was unable to leave the SSS office because he was traumatised and could go ahead with the primary.

Mr Ajibulu reportedly told Mr Igini that Sheergrace Arena was not the venue given to him by the party’s national office in Abuja to conduct the governorship primary and concluded that “all activities be postponed until he gets back at the Commission.

Mr Igini at that point briefed the reporters who were present at the venue. He left the venue at about 10:30 p.m. that day.

The APC faction that is backed by Mr Akpabio later held the governorship primary of the party around midnight at a different venue, where Akan Udofia, a man who was less than a month old in the party, was declared winner of the exercise.

A governorship aspirant and former national secretary of the APC, John Akpanudoedehe, because of frustration over the issue, defected to the New Nigerian Peoples Party where he secured the party’s governorship ticket for the 2023 election in the state.

Before Mr Akpanudoedehe’s exit from the party, the APC in Akwa Ibom had been torn into two factions because of a protracted battle between him and a former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, over the control of the party structure in the state.

Mr Akpabio on Thursday “won” the senatorial primary for the Akwa Ibom North-West District, conducted by a faction loyal to him. But his victory is not recognised by INEC.

PREMIUM TIMES.

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Politics

Anambra guber: Soludo Raises Alarm, Alledges Plot By APC To Manipulate Election

Published

3 hours ago

August 3, 2025

Editor

Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate the forthcoming November 8, 2025, governorship election in Anambra State.

He also warned candidates from Anambra South vying for the governorship seat against destabilizing the state’s political balance.

The governor made the allegation while speaking at a massive All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) rally held at Ekwulobia Urban Stadium on Saturday. He stated that Anambra is “too big for charlatans” and must not be distracted by what he described as impostors and unserious aspirants.

He vowed that “street urchins won’t govern a state that produced Zik, Nwafor Orizu, Ojukwu, Achebe,” as he rallied party faithful in Aguata Local Government Area of the state.

Soludo dismissed as deceitful the promises made by some candidates to serve only one term, insisting that such individuals require “psychiatric evaluation.”

“Anambra doesn’t need street urchins as governor. This is the state that produced the likes of Zik of Africa, Dr. Nwafor Orizu, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and Prof. Chinua Achebe, among others. It is too big for charlatans,” he declared.

He further alleged that some candidates were merely using their campaigns to extort money from unsuspecting businessmen and the public. According to him, the achievements of his administration over the past four years justify his bid for a second term.

In a renewed call for peace, Soludo again offered amnesty to armed groups hiding in the forests, urging them to surrender and embrace rehabilitation or face the full weight of the law.

Visibly impressed by the turnout at the rally, the governor noted that he had not yet officially launched his campaign but was humbled by the support.

He revealed that the rally was entirely organized and funded by party members determined to see him re-elected.

The rally, which took place on August 2, 2025, endorsed Soludo for a second term in office and adopted Chief Emma Nwachukwu as APGA’s candidate for the Anambra South senatorial by-election scheduled for August 16, 2025.

It drew an impressive crowd of party loyalists, traditional rulers, community leaders, and political stakeholders.

Also in attendance were the APGA National Chairman, state and local government executives, and former Deputy Governor, Dame Virgy Etiaba.

In a show of solidarity, APGA stakeholders in Anambra South presented a N100 million donation to support the governor’s campaign. Traditional rulers in the senatorial district also honoured Soludo with the “Olu Atuegwu” chieftaincy title — a title that has already been conferred on him in Anambra North and Central, respectively.

Politics

Edo LG Poll: My Ambition Driven By Commitment To Fast-track Grassroot Development – Aspirant

Published

5 hours ago

August 3, 2025

Editor

As local government election in Edo State draws nearer, a chairmanship position aspirant in Ovia South West Local Government Council, Kelvin Omoruyi, said he’s driven by his commitment to fast-track grassroot development in the area.

Omoruyi, who spoke on his aspiration while fielding questions from journalists in Benin, said governance at the grassroot must be felt, stressing that it remains the closest to the people.

He added that Ovia South West is endowed with agricultural potential that requires the right leadership to harness it for the benefit of the people and the state.

Omoruyi, who is vying on the platform of the All Progress Congress, APC, noted that if given the party’s ticket and eventually won the chairmanship seat, his administration will focus on peoples oriented programmes.

He lauded the developmental trajectory of Governor Monday Okpehbolo and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa in setting the state on the path of progress after many years of bad and retrogressive governance.

The young entrepreneur and grass root mobilizer said his seven points agenda will focus on rehabilitation and grading of rural roads to link wards; installation of solar power, education and youth empowerment, renovation of dilapidated primary and secondary schools, agricultural and local economy, women and grassroot empowerment among others.

He said, “Basically, my mission is improving the overall well-being of our people through purposeful and value driven and people oriented programmes and project.

“Since I understand the yearnings of our people, I deem it fit to come out and offer myself for service of my people and contribute my quota.

“My blue print is to bring governance closer to the people because politics is about the grassroot. Also to make the people understand that governance is about them.

“I understand that politics is very local, and that has been my driving force for vying for the position of the Executive Chairman,” he said.

Politics

Any Politician Promising Single Term Needs Psychiatric Test – Soludo

Published

19 hours ago

August 2, 2025

Editor

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has slammed politicians promising to serve only one term in office.

The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria said any politician pledging to serve only one term in office needs to undergo a psychiatric test.

Soludo stated this on Saturday during a political rally held in Anambra South in support of his second-term ambition.

The governor questioned the logic behind such a promise, insisting that the Nigerian Constitution allows elected public officials to serve two terms, not just one.

“How can anybody with a functioning brain say that? Do you think you’re speaking to fools?

“You come to people and say you will do only one term, any politician who says that must be sent to a psychiatric home because the person must have some mental problem,” Soludo said.

This is coming a month after Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State called for a single-term tenure of six years.

Also, former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, said he is willing to accept a one-term presidency in the spirit of equity and zoning.

He stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on Sunday, July 6.

The former Governor of Anambra State said four years is enough for any serious and sincere leader to make an impact.

He said, “One term is enough to establish that good governance is possible, and if they can impact negatively on us for just two years, why won’t someone achieve a lot in four years?

“It’s also to respect the gentleman’s agreement of zoning, which has been a stabilising factor even though it’s not in our constitution.

“I don’t need a day more than four years. I will show the direction of good governance. In two years, there has been maximum damage.

“Two years can change it in a good direction. People want to get up and see a president who cares and shows compassion.”