The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress(APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, says the party is encouraging internal democracy to reduce factionalisation in its fold.
Ganduje said the measure was also aimed at reducing tension in the ruling party.
He said this while receiving members of the Correspondents Chapel of Kano State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) lead by the Chairman Alhaji Aminu Garko in his office in Abuja on Thursday.
“We always encourage internal democracy so that we reduce tension, factionalisation of the Party.
“Though you may have incidences here and there but at the same when we have internal democracy.
“There is more understanding and there is more hope, especially when you are facing an election,” he said.
He said there was the need for synergy between party officials and political office holders.
“That is if you are talking of the governors, they have a close relationship between them and the party’s structure in the state level and the same thing at the national level.
“So, we normally invite our officials from the state level and give them some information; educate them on issues like internal democracy,” Ganduje.
The former governor of Kano State said that APC had established a Progressives Institute as an intellectual Wing of the party.
“On the issue of having an intellectual wing for the party, we established what we call the Progressives Institute.
“It is to analyse national issues so that they can get the attention of the government to become an agenda for the government,” he said.
Ganduje observed that political parties in developing countries like Nigeria were only normally active during electioneering campaigns, adding that it should be so.
This, he said, informed the decision of the APC to change the narrative and be active all-year-round.
“When we came in we said we must change the narrative. In our political party, the APC, as an institution, we want to be active throughout the year that is why we directed our offices and chapters at ward level to ensure that all our offices are renovated so as to be habitable and also become operational.
“That is only possible when they create activities that will be taking place at the party offices right from ward level to the Local Government level up to the state level,” he said. (NAN)
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has officially recognized Monday Okpebholo as the legitimate governor of Edo State.
In a series of three judgments, the tribunal rejected petitions submitted by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Action Alliance, and Accord Party.
The tribunal determined that the PDP did not present any witnesses to substantiate its claims of overvoting.
Specifically, the PDP failed to bring forth polling unit agents from the locations where they alleged electoral discrepancies occurred.
Furthermore, the tribunal noted that among the 19 witnesses presented by the petitioners, 14 were ward and local government agents, while the primary witness, who claimed to be a director of strategy for the PDP, had no involvement in the election’s execution.
Additionally, the tribunal remarked that the BVAS evidence submitted by the petitioners was inadequately presented.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State has condemned the ban on political rallies and convoys imposed by the state government.
State Chairman of SDP, Mr Ahmed Attah, issued the condemnation in a statement signed by the SDP Press Secretary, Isaiah Ijele, on Tuesday in Lokoja.
The party described the ban as an attack on democratic principles and a blatant attempt to silence opposition voices.
Attah urged Gov. Ahmed Ododo to learn from the past and avoid repeating old, harmful practices that have hindered the state’s progress.
“The party views this action as an attempt to suppress the freedom of association and movement enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Attah insisted that the state is not at war and urged the government to focus on development instead of engaging in political manoeuver.
He warned that Kogi must not return to the dark days of repression, particularly against the opposition. (NAN)
The Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 general election, Chief Martin Onovo, has said the only unity and emergence of a strong candidate could secure victory for the coalition of opposition leaders in 2027.
Onovo, an activist and Head of Policy Positions, Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
He was reacting to the recent announcement of an opposition coalition to challenge the All progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential election.
Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 general election, Chief Martin Onovo,
“The coalition of opposition leaders needs a candidate that is vigorous; a strong candidate to brighten its chances in 2027. The coalition needs somebody with a clear agenda and a clear vision.
“The opposition needs a candidate with a strong background of integrity. Nobody is perfect, but you need a strong background of integrity.
“The opposition needs somebody who is morally and mentally competent, and physically fit. The opposition does not need the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or any old person if it wants to win.
“The opposition doesn’t need any old person now. It is time to use the energy of the young.
“They must present a strong candidate, who is strong morally, mentally, and physically, with a clear patriotic agenda to move the country forward, ” Onovo said.
He added that the coalition had a lot that could work to its advantage in 2027 and urged members to work with unity of purpose to achieve convincing victory.
Also speaking on chances of the ruling party in 2027, the politician said APC could remain in power if the challenges arising from subsidy removal and other economic issues were addressed by the present administration.
He also said President Bola Tinubu still had the opportunity to address the security challenges in the country to win in 2027 ,and remain in power ,if interested
Onovo, who noted that he was not part of the organisers of the mega coalition, said that he had always been part of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) since 2019 elections.
He called on all Nigerians to unite for the development of the country, ensuring leadership that would fulfill the country’s aspirations.
NAN recalls that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had recently announced the formation of a coalition, aimed at unseating Tinubu in 2027.
Atiku made the declaration during a press conference in Abuja, attended by several opposition politicians, including former APC members.
Among those present at the even were the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, represented by Dr Yunusa Tanko; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai. (NAN)
