Politics

Ganduje, National Secretary Absent As APC Inaugurates Edo Gov Screening Committee

Published

2 years ago

February 8, 2024

The ruling All Progressives Congress has sworn in a seven-man committee to oversee the screening of the 12 governorship aspirants who bought the N50m nomination forms to participate in the February 17 primary election in Edo State.

The inauguration ceremony, which took place on Thursday at the national headquarters of the APC in Abuja by 12 noon, has members of the National Working Committee in attendance.

The National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje and the National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, were however absent at the oath-taking event administered by by National Organising Secretary of the APC, Suleiman Arugungu.

The newly sworn-in committee is headed by former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, Prof Taoheed Adedoja, as Chairman and Dr Sani Danjuma as secretary.

Others are Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Adeoye Adelakum, Prince Darlington Dick, Lawal Abdullahi Kenken and Margaret Duru.

The officials were required to take an oath together with another five-man screening appeal committee who were also sworn in on the same day.

The appeal committee, which has Senator Ibrahim Danbaba as chairman and Smart Iheazor as secretary, also has Bisi Odewumi, Ngozi Ononiwu and Abu Bakar Sidiq as members.

Addressing journalists on Thursday, Argungu disclosed that screening of aspirants before every primary is in line with the constitution of the party.

The APC national organising secretary also assured that the party can vouch for the integrity of the screening committee members, who he said were carefully selected.

He said, “Screening of our great party’s aspirants for all elections is a requirement of the constitution of our great Party. In the same vein, our party’s Constitution also gives weight to equity and restoration of rights.

“That is why it provides for a screening appeal committee which avails aggrieved aspirants who might have been screened out at the level of the screening committee to seek appellate intervention from the appeal committee.

“Therefore, as I welcome you to this very important occasion, let me use this opportunity to assure the rank and file of our great party in Edo State and across the country that the national chairman in concert with the entire members of the National Working Committee has ensured that the leadership and members nominated into these two committees are individuals of principles and worthy values with political pedigrees that can be showcased with confidence anywhere and at any time.

“As you proceed to engage with the task for which you have been nominated, be rest assured that we have made sure that the exercise will be hitch-free and seamless with the presence of a secretariat support team that will be personally led by my good self.”

The development comes barely 24 hours after the ruling party cleared 12 aspirants for the screening process.

The successful aspirants were immediate past State Chairman of APC, Gideon Ikhine; ex-Minister of State, National Economic Planning, Prince Clem Agba; former Edo Governor, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor; senator representing Edo Central, Monday Okpebholo; erstwhile deputy governor, Lucky Imasuen; former governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and lawmaker representing Etsako Federal Constituency, Anamero Dekeri.

Others are ex-Zonal Organising Secretary for South-South, Blessing Agbohmere; House of Representatives member, Dennis Idahosa, former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe; Col. David Imuse and Major General Charles Airhiavbere (Retd).

Related Topics:#edo poll #Ganduje APC Edo Guber

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Politics

Obasanjo, Atiku, Obi Meet In Abuja

Published

6 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi met in Abuja on Saturday.

The trio were among prominent political figures who attended the Tambuwal Colloquium, titled “Leadership, Service and Statesmanship at 60,” held at the New Event Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, in honour of the 60th birthday of former Sokoto State Governor and Senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

Atiku confirmed his presence at the event in a post on his X handle, stating that he had arrived at the venue for the colloquium organised to mark Tambuwal’s milestone birthday.

The former vice president also shared images of himself, Obasanjo and Obi at the event.

The event attracted political leaders, statesmen and stakeholders from across the country.

Politics

PANDEF Wades Into Rivers Crisis, Sets Up Seven-member Mediation Team

Published

12 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has intervened in the political crisis in Rivers State, calling on all actors to sheathe their swords and embrace peace in the interest of the development of the state and the region in general.

Expressing concern that the political disagreement involving the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly might degenerate to total lawlessness, the Board and National Executive Committee of PANDEF set up a seven-member reconciliation team to resolve the issues.

The team, which is headed by a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, has six other members.

They are Senator Obende Domingo (Vice Chairman); Chief Essien Nduese; Dr Timiebi Koripamo-Agari; Chief Mike Ejiofor; Mrs Nella Rabana-Andem, SAN; and Prince Godwin Okotie, the Deputy National Secretary of PANDEF, who will serve as the secretary of the team.

Politics

Wike: Why Removing Fubara Will Be Difficult – Ex-Commissioner

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

A former Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Austin Tam-George, has said that attempts to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara would be difficult to sustain, citing what he described as the governor’s performance record and the lack of concrete allegations against him.

Tam-George made the remarks on Thursday while speaking on Prime Time on Arise Television, arguing that the impeachment process being initiated against Fubara was to scuttle his chance for a second term.

According to him, Governor Fubara has continued to place the needs of the people at the centre of his administration, with visible interventions in rural development, housing, education and healthcare.

He said this, in his view, has made it difficult for opponents to justify moves to remove the governor from office.

Tam-George also called on the All Progressives Congress, APC, to intervene, arguing that the party should not allow what he described as the humiliation of a sitting governor.

He said: “Well, all I think he needs to do is to do exactly what he’s been doing from the beginning, which is to place the people at the center of gravity of his administration, prioritize the needs of the people, so that the people can see the direct impact of government action in their lives.

“And that’s exactly what he’s doing in terms of rural development, in terms of housing sector transformation, which I mentioned that he is doing the same in education sector and in health.

“So if he continues, if he persists in placing the people’s need at the center of focus of his administration, there is no way they are going to be able to justify this kind of shenanigans.

“Because, if you look very carefully at the so called articles of impeachment, you will see that there is no specificity in terms of any infraction by the governor or his deputy.

“What they are trying to do is to make sure they scuttle the administration so that the governor doesn’t then get to the point where he will be seeking a second term.

“Let me be clear, just two days ago, Nyesom Wike was at one of the local governments, and he made it clear in a moment of epiphany, he made it clear that, look, if Governor Fubara were to get a second term in office, it will amount to his own political burial.

“So all of these things that we are seeing the so called impeachment proceedings they’ve initiated, it’s actually an effort to try to scuttle the prospects of the governor coming for a second term, and I don’t see how they will succeed.

“If you look at the so called articles of impeachment, as I said, they lack specificity in terms of the kind of infraction that they allege that the governor has committed. He has done nothing wrong, and they will see how the process will play out.

“My sense, and in fact, if I were to advise the governor, my sense is that he should just maintain the people, retain the people at the center of gravity of his administration, meet their needs, run a transparent administration as he always done, and then the truth will come out, and he will be able to defend the administration.

“I think the the governing APC should also step in because they can’t possibly allow the governor of the office with probably one of the best performance records in the country to be humiliated by some of these members of the assembly.”