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Why internal democracy is paramount in APC—Ganduje

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7 months ago

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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.

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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)

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Politics

Abure urges “Obidient” family to register with Labour Party

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21 hours ago

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March 29, 2025

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The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr Julius Abure has urged members of the “Obidient “ family to register with the party and participate in the National Congress of the party holding in June.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Obiora Ifoh, made this known on Friday in a statement issued in Abuja.

Ifoh said that Abure made the call while speaking at a town hall meeting organised by the Lagos State chapter of the party.

According to him, Obidient Family members should work towards owning the party by registering with the party and be qualified for the coming congresses in June and July 2025.

“We are willing and ready to absorb all the Obidients into the Labour Party. All you need to do is to go to your ward as Obidient and register. The party has only one structure, all other ones are counterfeit.

Ahure frowned against instigation of parallel structures by some party leaders, warning that such anti party activities must surely attract grave consequences.

The national chairman also revealed that elected members of the Labour Party have not lived up to their financial obligations to the party since assumption of office nearly two years ago.

“A party cannot have two conflicting structures, a party can only have one structure and I advice, if you do not want to be left out of the scheme of things, find your way into the main structure.

“Those who are doing parallel structure, candidate structure will lose out at the end of the day.”

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The national chairman speaking on the relationship between elected members and the party, said, “it is a fact that they don’t respect the party, it is a fact that they don’t make contributions to the party.

“As I speak with you today, we have not received one kobo at the national, from those we elected to the national Assembly.

“The responsibility of running this party is still with the leadership of the party. As at today, we have six senators, about 30 Rep members and numerous House of Assembly members.

“Unfortunately none of these lawmakers have contributed a dime to the party since their election in 2023. Let them go and ask other parties, it is those elected under their platform that fund the party.

“Today, most of them want to have control over their local government and for us to hand over their constituencies to them, yet they are not ready to work or partner with the party. Is it fair?.”

Abure also promised to look into the grievances within the Lagos State party faithful.

He said, “I want to appeal to our members in Lagos State who may have one grievances or the other, arising from the imperfection witnessed in 2023 general elections to keep their grievances aside. We cannot continue to dwell in the past.

“Those who did not get the party ticket in 2023 election may have the opportunity to do so in 2027.

“Some of you who have special cases, I plead with you to come and present the matter to the leadership of the party, instead of fighting ourselves in the social media.

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“As long as I am the National Chairman, those with genuine cases will be given special attention in the 2027 general election,” he said.

The town hall meeting which witnessed defection of top political personalities in the state into the Labour Party.

In attendance were stakeholders including national and state lawmakers, Ward, Local Government and state executives, some members of the National Working Committee and governorship candidate in the 2023 governorship election, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour. (NAN)

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El-Rufai Not Yet Our Member – Kaduna SDP

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1 day ago

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March 29, 2025

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Barely three weeks after the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the North-West zone of the party said El-Rufai is not their member.

The North West Assistant Secretary, Idris Inuwa, who asserted in a statement in Kaduna, said the ward and state chapter of SDP has no membership record of El-Rufai.

“It has come to our notice that certain individuals, including Nasir El-Rufai, are being rumoured to have joined the SDP. However, neither the chairman of Kaduna North Local Government in Kaduna State nor the leadership of Unguwar Sarki ward has any record of these memberships,” he stated.

Inuwa, therefore, urged El-Rufai and other prospective members to adhere to the proper membership process of joining the SDP.

“We advise him and any other interested individuals to follow the proper procedures if they wish to officially become members of the party.

The North-West Zonal Assistant Secretary also kicked against the dissolution of the Kaduna State working committee of the SDP by the party’s National working committee.

“While we recognize the growing interest of individuals and groups in joining the SDP, we emphasise that there are well-defined guidelines and constitutional provisions governing membership admission. Kaduna State chapter of SDP remains open and welcomes all prospective members who adhere to established procedures.”

It would be recalled that El-Rufai had on March 10, 2025, resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress and defected to the Social Democratic Party.

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In a statement to announce his resignation from the APC, El-Rufai said he raised several concerns about the ‘ capricious trajectory ‘ in the ruling party, but the leadership allegedly failed to address them.

Announcing his decision, El-Rufai said he raised several concerns about the “capricious trajectory” in the party but the leadership allegedly failed to address them.

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‘Jaji Is Nothing Without Matawalle, Yari’— Zamfara APC Slams ‘Serial Betrayer’

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2 days ago

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March 28, 2025

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Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State have launched a scathing attack on Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji, the lawmaker representing Birnin Magaji/Kaura Namoda Federal Constituency, accusing him of disloyalty and political betrayal.

The group, speaking through its spokesperson, Abdulkadir Suleiman Zurmi, claimed that Jaji owes his political rise to former Zamfara governor and current Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, as well as Senator Abdullaziz Yari.

They alleged that despite benefiting from their support, Jaji has turned against them.

Zurmi likened Jaji’s actions to “biting the fingers that fed him”, arguing that Matawalle had helped resurrect his political career after the 2023 election.

“Nigerians, especially the people of Zamfara, should note that Jaji holds no significant influence in the state’s political landscape.

“Now that Matawalle and Yari have helped him, he is turning against them. Jaji cannot even win an election on his own if left to handle it independently.”

“There is no way a leopard can change its skin.”

The group also questioned Jaji’s claims of spending 25 billion naira (approximately $27 million) during the 2023 presidential election, challenging him to disclose the source of such a vast sum.

They suggested that his statements reflect “a clear malfunction of the brain” and argued that he lacks any legitimate business that could generate such funds.

Jaji, who was recently suspended from the APC, has also accused of working against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Furthermore, they criticized Jaji for allegedly favoring Governor Dauda Lawal of the PDP while sidelining APC leaders. The group cited 2024 political event in Birnin Magaji, where Jaji reportedly invited Lawal but failed to acknowledge key APC figures.

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The APC members urged Jaji to realign himself with the party, respect senior politicians, and cease what they described as “double-dealing.”

The statement warned that continued attacks on President Tinubu and party leaders could harm his political career.

The group accused Hon. Jaji of undermining President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s interests, despite his associates securing key appointments in the administration.

“Despite two of his close associates, Mansur Khalifa and Dan Maigoro, directly benefiting from presidential appointments, he continues to work against the president due to his strong ties with the PDP and Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal Dare. His actions within his zone openly demonstrate his support for the PDP, revealing where his true loyalties lie”

“During the 2023 presidential election, Jaji was reportedly involved in efforts to block Tinubu’s emergence, though APC leaders like Abdulaziz Yari and Bello Matawalle ensured the party’s victory.

“Additionally, Governor Dauda Lawal suspended All Progressive Congress members in the Zamfara State House of Assembly, except two APC members jaji’s loyalist as a reward for Jaji’s role in sabotaging the party’s success in the state in favor of the PDP.

Jaji’s unsuccessful bid for Speaker of the House, allegedly against Tinubu’s wishes, has fueled speculation about his political opposition to the president.

“Despite his fallout with the presidency, his associates continue to benefit from government appointments, raising concerns that these positions are being used to undermine Tinubu.

“Jaji is forging an alliance with the opposition to strengthen Dauda’s influence in Zamfara, an act seen as a betrayal of the APC.”

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Zurmi said Matawalle has served as a commissioner, a member of the House of Representatives for 12 years, a one-term governor, and is currently the Minister of State for Defence.

Similarly, Senator Abdul Aziz Yari is a former governor of Zamfara State, a former member of the House of Representatives, and is now serving as a senator.

“Therefore, the position of a House of Representatives member should not inflate one’s ego or lead to misconduct, as it does not compare to their political stature.

You shamelessly betrayed Abdulaziz Yari, despite owing your rise and status to him. Instead of loyalty, you repaid Yari with insults, accusations, and slander. Your manipulative nature drives conflicts and stirs divisions for personal gain, pretending to protect interests while proving yourself untrustworthy. The hypocrisy is clear— you criticizes Yari yet use his name when convenient. The world has seen through you and this isn’t going to work.”

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