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APC Micro-Zoning Collapses As Screening Begins

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) screening exercise for its zonal office aspirants commenced last night at the secretariat and Nicon Luxury Hotels as party activities spiked ahead of its National Convention.

The screening of the chairmanship aspirants and other top party positions will, however, hold Sunday evening even as strong indications emerged that the micro-zoning of offices at the geopolitical level may collapse entirely in a matter of hours in most zones.

Stakeholders of the party appear not to be keen on respecting the micro-zoning arrangement.

Chairmanship aspirant, Alhaji Abdulazeez Yari, former governor of Zamfara State, stands out as one aspirant that has refused to honour the zoning arrangement of the party, insisting on contesting the position zoned to the north central geopolitical zone.

Tijani Kaura, who returned the nomination form on behalf of the former governor, maintained that their camp is not aware that the party has zoned the chairman position to any specific part of the north.

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READ ALSO: Buhari Support Group Dumps APC For NNPP In Jigawa

According to him, the much the Yari camp is aware of is that the presidential and the chairmanship positions were rotated between the North and South with the former returning to the North.

Let me say again that we are all aware that the party has zoned national Chairmanship to the North and presidency to the South but we are not aware that there is specific zoning within the geopolitical zones of either the president of the national chairman of the party.

“Nobody indicated whether it is Southwest, South East or South-South. The party acting Chairman has not come out officially to tell us the chairmanship has been zoned to a particular geopolitical zone. So, that is why we are here,” he said.

Senator Kaura stressed that the former chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum has enough experience to lead the party, having sold his aspiration to all APC governors.

The Micro-Zoning arrangement appears also to have collapsed in the North West where the National Organizing Secretary position was zoned.

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That position was micro zoned to Kebbi, however, Barrister Ismael Ahmed, the outgoing National Youth leader in the Caretaker Committee, is poised to snatch the seat in an open Contest.

The situation is not also rosy in the South South geopolitical zone where the Women Leader position said to be reserved for the candidate of Ben Ayade, defected governor of Cross River State, has been seriously challenged by two aspirants.

READ ALSO: APC Crisis: Why Buhari’s Late Intervention May Not Save Party

Mary Ekpere Eta, former DG of the National Centre for Women Development who returned her nomination form on Friday insisted that the purported unity list said to be coming from Cross River State does not have the blessing of the Aspirants.

She warned that any attempt to smuggle anybody or a friend of the governor to take the position of APC women leader would vehemently be resisted.

Aside her aspiration, she said the other aspirant for the position as at the close of nomination on Friday was Barr. Helen Effiong.

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Meanwhile, the party’s chairmanship aspirants have intensified their campaigns despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s preference for a consensus candidate.

Among the top contenders who have strengthened their push for the party’s top job is Senator Tanko Al-Makura who said he is motivated to vie for the leadership of the party to foster the unity of the country.

He said it was that need to ensure unity and cohesion of the country that motivated the coming together of the legacy parties to birth the APC in 2013-14, adding that the need for the unity of the nation’s diverse settings have never been greater than it is today.

Addressing journalists and crowd of supporters when he returned his nomination form on Friday at the party’s National Secretariat, the former governor of Nasarawa State said he also has adequate experience to lead the party to success.

I’m here to show my respect and deference to the leadership of the party, by complying with the regulations and guidelines that will make the process of the emergence of leaders of this party free, fair and credible.”

Similarly, Alhaji Saliu Mustapha, APC Chairmanship aspirant, has begged fellow aspirants and the ruling party to endorsement his aspiration in the interest of the party, promising to bring in innovations that would enrich the party and polity.

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He said his desire is to serve and add value to the leadership of the APC and bridge the gap between the younger generation of voters and the old.

The Turaki of Ilorin spoke when he returned his nomination forms to the party’s secretariat in Abuja, adding that his aspiration will unify the young and older members of the party.

“Saliu Mustapha’s aspiration in this contest is to serve. This is not about title, but it is coming to add value, serving the party, and moving the party forward.

“To meet up with the millennium and global challenges of advanced politics. That is why for us in this team, we want to come and do Progressive and smart politics and proactive politics. We want to add value in many areas.

READ ALSO: Electoral Act: Lawyer Gives Reason APC Convention May Be Nullified

“First we want to ensure as leaders of this party we carry everyone along, we want to also make sure we guarantee level playing ground. We guarantee internal democracy because ones you fail to have that in your party that is the beginning of problems for you. We want to ensure every APC card carrying member that we will create a level playing ground.”

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Labour Party Reserves 2027 Presidential Ticket For Peter Obi

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…Oti Gets automatic ticket for Abia Guber

The Labour Party’s highest decision making body, the National Convention, has announced it has reserved its 2027 ticket for the party’s leader, Mr. Peter Obi.

In the same breath, the party also announced a right of first refusal for the Abia State Governor, Alex Oti, should he decide to seek reelection on the party’s platform.

This decision was contained in a Communique issued after the party’s National Convention, held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Wednesday.

It was signed by the re-elected National Chairman of the party, Comrade Julius Abure, and National Secretary, Umar Faruk Ibrahim.

READ ALSO: Abure Re-elected Labour Party National Chairman; NLC Kicks

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The communique read in part: “The Convention in session based on the antecedents of the Presidential candidate before, during and after the 2023 General Election recommend that the 2027 Presidential ticket of the party be solely reserved for His Excellency, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, the National leader of the party.

“Furthermore, the Convention in session reviewed ongoing development and performance of its Governor in Abia state, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti and pass a vote of confidence on him and recommend the 2027 Abia state Gubernatorial ticket of the party be reserved for His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti.”

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Edo Guber: 17 Parties Beat INEC Deadline For Candidates’ Nomination

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Seventeen out of 18 political parties who conducted primaries for the forthcoming Edo State Governorship Election have beaten the deadline for the nomination of their candidates on the special portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this in a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja.

He said, “Following the conclusion of party primaries, 27 political parties have uploaded their candidates’ nomination forms for the Edo State Governorship Election by the deadline of 6 p.m. on March 24, 2024, when the dedicated portal automatically shut down.”

According to him, the personal particulars of the governorship candidates and their running mates will be published on Saturday, March 30, 2024, a week from the last date for the submission of nominations as provided in Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.

READ ALSO: Edo 2024: Igbinedion Breaks Silence On Obaseki’s Handling Of PDP, Party’s Choice Of Running Mate

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The Commission shall publish the personal particulars by displaying copies of Form EC9 along with all academic credentials and other documents submitted by each candidate at the state headquarters and the 18 local government offices across Edo State.

“We appeal to Nigerians to scrutinise the documents. Any aspirant who participated in his/her party primaries with reasonable grounds to believe that the information provided by the candidate is false can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court as provided in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.

“The Edo State Governorship Election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, September 21, 2024,” he stated.

 

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JUST IN: PDP NWC Meets 36 State Chairmen, Stakeholders In Abuja

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The National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is currently meeting with the 36 State party Chairmen.

The meeting is to discuss the state of the party as well as preparations to tackle the challenges ahead.

Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum is chairing the meeting.

READ ALSO: Man Slumps, Dies During Fight In Kwara

Recall that on the 6th of December 2023, NWC ordered all party members with pending intra-party litigation’s to immediately withdraw their cases.

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National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, after the meeting, explained that the directive was sequel to a thorough review of the state of the party.

Ologunagba said after the review, the NWC “Directed that all pending Intra-Party litigations across the country should be withdrawn forthwith.

READ ALSO: NIN: How To Correct Your Name, Date Of Birth, Others Using NIMC Mobile App

“This decision of the NWC is pursuant to the provision of Section 58 (1)(l) of the Constitution of the PDP as amended in 2017 and in line with the spirit of unity and reconciliation in the party.

“The NWC urges all party leaders, critical stakeholders and members across the country to remain united and continue to promote the values for which the PDP is known as a truly democratic party.

“Also, the NWC considered and approved the report of the Establishment Committee for the appointment of a substantive Director General of the People’s Democratic Institute, PDI”.

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