The Lumine News

Tag: #APC

  • PDP Rejects Enang Aboli’s Suspension, Says Abi PDP Should Not Be Pushed Too Hard

    The People’s Democratic Party PDP in Abi Local Government Council has condemned and rejected the purported indefinite suspension of Hon Enang Aboli and the relieved of Hon Smart Isogon of his position as Deputy Majority Leader.

    The two councillors refused to refused to join the APC and have continued to advocate for the PDP.

    In a release sighted by TheLumineNews and signed the Abi Local Government Chapter Chairman, Mr Victor Bassey, indicates that Abi is not a sole proprietorship of the APC.

    The release reads in full:

    Press Release

    The attention of the people’s Democratic Party (PDP) Abi Chapter has been drawn to the purpoted indefinite suspension of Hon. Enang Aboli and the relieved of Hon. Smart Isogon of his position as deputy majority leader
    During a plenary session held at the legislative chamber and was presided by the Deputy Leader of Legislature Hon. Princewill Kanu representing Usumutong/Abeugo today.

    The Abi PDP Chapter condemn and reject this devilish sponsored act and is unacceptable by the Party. We call on those behind this sponsored decision to immediately reverse it and allow peace reign in our Local Government.

    Abi LGA is not a sole proprietorship nor a sole property of APC. Let Abi PDP not be pushed too hard.

    Our warmest regards

    Sign:……🖊️

    Victor Bassey
    PDP Chapter Chairman
    Abi LGA

  • Abi Legislative Council Suspends Hon Enang Aboli Indefinitely

    By Evans Bassey

    The ABI Local Government Legislature has suspended indefinitely the Councillor representing Igbo Imabana Ward 1, Hon. Enang Aboli.

    During a plenary session held at the legislative chamber and presided over by the Deputy Leader of Legislature Hon. Princewill Nkanu representing Usumutong/Abeugo Ward, Hon. Enang Aboli was suspended following his violation of Section 34 sub 1&2 of the Local Government Law.

    In a motion moved by the majority leader of the house Hon. Sunday Ukata representing Afafanyi/Igonigoni Ward and supported by Hon. Efem Sunday representing Imabana Ward 2, both legislators established that Hon. Aboli Enang had persistently allowed his personal interest to override his official conducts.

    Similarly, Hon. Isogon Smart Okon representing Itigidi Council Ward and the Deputy Majority Leader of the House was relieved of his position as Deputy Majority Leader on the grounds he belongs to the opposition minority party in the State the PDP.

    The motion to relieve Hon. Smart was moved by Hon. Happy Ejom representing Ediba/Anong Ward and was supported by Hon. Monday Ubah of Ebom/Ebijakara Ward.

    Both Councillors were absent during the sitting were this resolutions were reached.

    A total of seven out the ten Councillors that make up the house were present at the plenary.

  • Peter Odey Splashes 5M, 500 Bags Of Rice And 500 Wrappers On Constituents For Christmas

    By Elijah Ugani

    The member representing Ogoja State Constituency and Leader of the 9th Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Peter Odey has today doled out 5M, 500 bags of rice and 500 wrappers to his constituents drawn from the ten political wards of Ogoja Local Government Area.

    Distributing the items and cash at the Ogoja council hall, the Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Mr Uko Inakwu, commended the gesture of the member of Parliament for recognizing the role of women and for the benevolent spirit to reach out the women, and noted that this is the first of it kind in the history of Ogoja.

    On his part, Mr Odey thanked the Governor, Sen Ben Ayade for providing the fulcrum that has demystified leadership in Cross River State within the last six years.

    He used the opportunity to assure his constituents of effective representation as he wished them a happy Christmas and a prosperous new year in advance “It has been my desire to give you the representation that we all desire and this I have done within the past six years. Today, I have decided to single you out to say thank you for all your support.

    “Let me use this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year in advance. May the love that God had shown us through the birth of Jesus Christ, find a place in our hearts as we share with those in need especially during this Christmas season”

    Most of the beneficiaries who spoke to TheLumineNews expressed joy and satisfaction with the items they received and prayed for the lawmaker and wished him the best even as he completes his stay in office.

    Mrs. Agbo Ogar of Ogoja Urban Ward ii described Mr Odey as God sent as majority of those who benefited from his benevolence had lost hope of what to eat during the Christmas considering the high cost of food stuff in the market.
    She asked God to grant his heart desires.

    Mr Odey had earlier in the month distributed 20 motorcycles to APC ward Chairmen and party stalwart across the ten wards of Ogoja to ease mobilization of party faithfuls.

  • Peter Odey Distributes Motorcycles To Constituents To Aid C’River APC Aggressive Evangelism

    By Elijah Ugani

    The member representing Ogoja State Constituency and Majority Leader of the 9th Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon Peter Odey has distributed 20 motorcycles to party faithfuls as part of his support for the statewide APC Aggressive Evangelism.

    Speaking during the distribution of the motorcycles at Ogoja Local Government Secretariat, Hon Peter Odey maintained that “I have decided to support the advocacy and membership drive of the Cross River State APC by providing these motorcycles to enable you go into the nooks and crannies of Ogoja. We ordered for 40 motorcycles, 20 have been delivered, others are on the way”

    Odey warned that the motorcycles were not meant for commercial cyclist purpose, urged beneficiaries to ensure that there are used for the purpose it is meant. The motorcycles were distributed to the ten ward Chairmen and one other member from each ward.

    He disclosed that women will get their own share of the support on the 24th December, 2021.

    Presenting the motorcycles to the ward Chairmen, the State Party Chairman Elect, Alphonsus Eba Esq, thanked the Chairman of Ogoja LGA, Hon Emmanuel Ishabor and congratulated the Leader of Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon Peter Odinga for his benevolence and magnanimity to aid the aggressive evangelism by the APC.

    Eba maintained that “It is indeed a happy moment of for us. There is no local government area in northern senatorial district with the brand like Ogoja.
    We are here to do an evangelism. We christened our executive a ‘Digital Executive’. Our ward Chairmen needs to carry these bikes to the nooks and crannies of the state.

    “It was at this venue that we gathered and decided that senator Barr Stephen Odey should be our senator.

    “Some criminals gathered and connived with the governor of another state who has no value for money and armtwisted the Judiciary, which I am a part of, and stole our mandate through the backdoor, and this has caused us another pain of going through a bye election.

    “For us, we will not fight them. We have to go for a revenge through the ballot in the forth coming Ogoja/Yala federal constituency bye election. We will retire them. We will go into the election as a united family”

    Referring to the opposition PDP, Eba stated that “Tell them that what they are referring to as empowerment, it is APC federal government project, they are bringing it back to our people, let them not give it back to the people and claim that it is their empowerment.
    That is what they ought to do. Hon Peter Odey is taking from the much God has blessed him to come and do this for our people. It is not awarded by SDGs. This is what we call empowerment, if they don’t know the dictionary meaning of empowerment, tell them to come let me teach them the way I have been teaching them.

    “My dear people of Ogoja, we are gathered and we must be united. That is why we are in the field to show that when we are united, nobody can break us. This is the strength in unity and this is the message we have come to pass.

    “Today we have five persons at every polling unit, the money you collect constantly, #30,000.00 per month across the 196 wards, across the 3221 polling units in Cross River State runs into about one billion naira per month. That is the action of governor Ayade intellectual creativity in conjunction with local government Chairmen. Today, over 27,000 persons have been taken off the road.

    “They gave us food on the table, we are proud of the food on the table. They behave like touts, they go to eat from the scrums from the Port Harcourt table. They want to colonize us and we are saying no. It must be Cross River State first. We do not have any other leader in Cross River State other than Sen Prof Ben Ayade. You must stand behind me, we must stand with him.

    “APC is the new order, we have socketed to the center, this is the only language you want to hear. This is the party that has for the first time as a ruling party given Ogoja and Yala son a state Chairman.

    “Please and please retire them in the bye election by going to the field, vote for the candidate that will come up from this party. We will sit down as a family and take that decision. We will go to the field as a united force”

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Chairman, Ogoja Urban Ward 1, Mr Paul Agbeje thanked Hon Peter Odey for the initiative to aid the APC Aggressive Evangelism mantra and promised to put to good use the motorcycle for the benefit not the party. He used the opportunity to thank Hon Peter Odey and wished him success in all his political endeavors.

  • Defection Hits C/River APC As Ex-Deputy Governorship Candidate, Thousand Of Others Dumps Party For PDP

    Culled from the Sun online, By Judex Okoro – Calabar

    The battle ahead of 2023 in Cross River Cross River is gathering momentum as the former PDP state chairman and APC former deputy governorship candidate, Ntufam Ekpo Okon, and thousands of supporters, especially in the southern senatorial district, have dumped the party for rival PDP.

    Others to join the exodus include the former deputy speaker, Hon. Dominic Edem, Hon. Wilson Ekpeyong, representing Bakassi and Odukpani state constituencies respectively and Bassey O. Bassey, Esq.

    The trio of Okon, Edem and Ekpenyong were all staunch members of PDP and they defected to APC between 2015 and 2019.

    Sources close to APC secretariat disclosed that Ntufam Ekpo and others are said to have already tendered their resignation letters at ward, chapter and state levels. The source added that they might have left the party as most of them were allegedly not carried along in the just-concluded ward, local government and state congresses.

    Their defection is coming barely a month after some APC stalwarts in the northern senatorial district defected to PDP during the thanksgiving ceremony of Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe held at Ogoja and at a time the state executive committee–elect of APC is still embarking on a reconciliatory meeting with some party big-wigs across the state.

    The source further said that APC should expect more defections early next year as most old members are so dissatisfied at the way the new defectors from PDP shoved them aside and took over the party structure from ward to state levels.

    Confirming the return to PDP, a member of executive in Akamkpa ward in Odukpani local government area where Ntufam Ekpo Okon belongs, Chief Bassey Ekpo Bassey, 49, said: ”It is true that our leader, Ntufam Okon has returned to PDP where he was one of the founding members but left because of irreconcilable differences.

    “Today, he has returned home to his roots and we welcome him with open arms. I can tell you that with his return you should expect mass movement because Ntufam Ekpo knows how to mobilise us to victory. So, we are very happy and thank the leadership for really reaching out to old members. As I am talking with you, our Oga Ekpo is already working with PDP leaders on the next move. ”

    Another party chieftain from Bakassi local government area, Elder Emmanuel Inyang, 56, confirmed that Hon Dominic Aqua is also back to PDP after several sojourn in Labour Party and APC, adding that PDP is still the party to beat in Bakassi.

    “We know that APC is trying to manage their internal crisis resulting from the crisis emanating from the party congress. We expect more defectors and we shall all work as a team to reclaim the state from APC. Even at the ward, we have been mobilising and reaching out to our brothers with like minds to come back. Just watch out for a mass exodus from APC to PDP soon,” he stated.

    At the state PDP secretariat located at Mary Slessor Avenue, Calabar, a top party official, who doesn’t want to be quoted, admitted that some wards and chapter executive committee members from Odukpani, Akpabuyo and Bakassi have notified them about the defection of some APC top shots, but are yet to be briefed with regards to the number of people joining the party.

    He further said the party is in high spirit as it has continued to get the support of some APC members who are willing to defect to PDP following the alleged hijack of the party structures by Governor Ben Ayade loyalists and their subsequent alleged marginalisation.

    He disclosed that by Tuesday, December 7, 2021, the party may receive thousands of defectors while moves are on to embark on some ward tour by some party chieftains aimed at sensitising the populace and keeping them abreast of ideals of the new PDP in the state.

    Hailing the party leadership for reaching out to their old members and lobbying them to come back, a PDP stalwart from Obanliku, Chief Chris Agba, said they are working round the clock to reposition the party by reaching out to those who left the party for one reason or the other.

    Agba revealed that more heavyweights from APC would soon defect to PDP, adding that they are still consulting with the likes of Hon Alex Egbona, representing Yakurr/Abi federal constituency, some serving commissioners and former APC executive committee members on the need to return.

  • C’River PDP Describes The Invasion Of Its Secretariat By The APC As A Tragedy Of Lawlessness

    By Admin

    The Cross River State chapter of the People Democratic Party PDP has described the invasion of its secretariat by the ruling All Progressive Congress APC as a tragedy of lawlessness.

    In a release made available to The Lumine News and signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Prince Mike Ojisi calls on the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 6, Calabar and  heads of all Security Agencies in Cross River State to expeditiously intervene and help restore the rule of law in the face of this brazen and evasive rape of the law by the APC.

    The release reads in full:

    “APC’s Invasion Of Our Party Secretariat: Tragedy of Lawlessness.

    “On Wednesday, 10th November 2021, the peace-loving People of Cross River State were once again greeted by another reckless act of lawlessness orchestrated by the unproductive All Progressive Congress in Cross River State.

    “The Peoples Democratic Party Cross River State received with grave concern the news of the unlawful invasion of our Party’s Secretariat at Murtala Mohammed Highway Calabar, by the yet-to-be inaugurated handpicked State Working Committee of the APC led by the factional Chairman, Barr. Alphonsus Eba. To this end, it has become absolutely imperative and instructive that we address this issue and make it clear that the lawless APC lacks the locus standi to invade the said party Secretariat which is still under contention. It’s also worthy of note to stress that, following the instructions of the AIG Zone 6 for both parties to stall administrative duties in the Secretariat until investigation into the matter is properly concluded, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party was shocked to witness the forceful invasion of the Secretariat which has been under lock and key.

    “As law-abiding citizens, we hereby, without any form of equivocation call on the AIG Zone 6, Commissioner of Police, Civil Defence and heads of all Security Agencies in Cross River State to expeditiously intervene and help restore the rule of law in the face of this brazen and evasive rape of the law by the APC. We hereby demand an explanation into this unlawful invasion of our Secretariat by the overzealous SWC of the APC.

    “As a party, we are very much aware of the APC’s incurable craze and penchant for lawlessness both at the National and State Level, an obvious tragedy all rational Cross Riverian nay Nigerian, must speak against. We call on the APC to respect the rule of law and redeem her image in the eyes of the people, at least for once.

    “As a party with the inalienable right to freedom of association as enshrined in our nation’s constitution, we shall continue to resist any attempt by the APC to gag, victimize or subjugate members of our great party.

    “We also call on our teeming supporters and members of our great party to remain calm and law-abiding as we explore all legal and legitimate means towards reclaiming our party Secretariat”

    God Bless Cross River State.

    Signed
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • DG BORDERCOM Felicitates Alphonsus Eba, Others

     

    The Director General Cross River State Border Communities Development Commission, Mr. Noel Ugbong congratulates the newly elected APC State Chairman, Bar. Alphonsus Eba Ogar and other State EXCO Members on their successful election.

    He described Bar. Alphonsus as a polished, witty and sagacious young man with a humongous propensity to giving back to humanity.

    In a statement, made available to TheLumineNews, the DG commended the Leader of the party in the State, Sir Ben Ayade for leading the party through a successful State Congress.

    He further praised the team-spirit and great sense of brotherliness showcased by the principal stakeholders of the party in ensuring a hitch free Congress.

    He enthused that such spirit of oneness is a clear indication that the APC in Cross River State is positioned to have an uninterrupted reign in the Government House beyond 2023.

    He enjoined other Party faithfuls to rally round the newly elected Officials in cementing the reign of the Party in the State and beyond.

  • I Am A Young Person, But Not A Small Boy, I will Get To The End Of This Struggle – Koko Dan

    A front line contender for the CRS APC Chairmanship position, Koko Dan Esq, has maintained that he will get to the end of his struggle to serve the state chapter of the party as its chief servant.

    Koko made this known to theluminenews on a telephone chat when contacted to state his position on the harmonization and adoption of a consensus candidate.

    He averred that “I have never been invited to any meeting, I’m not aware of any consensus. In fact I’m preparing for the state Congress that will produce the executive of the party”

    Many unanswered questions continue to trail the process as some wondered where is the internal democracy in CRS APC when the man who has put in so much to build, galvanize support and sustained the party in Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku federal constituency, Koko Dan is not been consulted in the ongoing harmonization for a consensus candidate.

    Koko Dan is said to have enjoyed the support of young people across the state, but vibrant young people who claimed to advocate youth inclusiveness in the polity of our state have buried their conscience in the bizarre appointment.

    On what is his next step, Koko maintained that “I am a young person, but not a small boy, I’m a businessman, I will get to the end of this struggle.

    “I have invested so much in the party, I singlehandedly paid one hundred thousand naira (#100,000.00) to both INEC and adhoc staff during the ward congress harmonization exercise. I gave all party supporters from both our ward and other wards who came in solidarity, five thousand naira (#5,000.00) each as transport on same day, apart from the assorted drinks, wine and palm wine.

    “It might interest you to know that even when my name was forwarded as a delegate for the state Congress, Hon Patrick Achu and Mr Ebe Idagwu connived and removed my name. What an embarrassment to behold. Is this what I should be paid for all the sacrifices I have made to keep this party alive?” He asked rhetorically.

    Some of the things he offered party supporters include, Champagne, Glenfiddich 18 years, Glenmorangie, 50 cartoons of beer, 150 litters of palm wine, two goats, assorted food, rice, pounded yam, egusi soup, vegetable, and pepper soup.

    Koko deals on those champagne and whisk and he always like to share it with his supporters.

    As at the time of filing this report, calls to Hon Patrick Achu was not responded to and that of Mr Ebe Idagu did not connect.

  • C’River APC In Disarray As Party Bigwigs Threatens Defection To The PDP

    Culled From The Daily News

    There are serious indications that all is not well with the ruling All Progressives Congress in Cross River State as there’s a grave revelation that top party men are said to be at the verge of leaving the party. The Daily News learnt.
    A source close to the story has it that the stakeholders are not happy with the choice of zoning the party’s state chairmanship position to Yala Local Government Area as it became obvious that the governor was bent on making his hatchet man, Alphonsus Eba a Party State Chairman at all cost. The zoning of the Chairmanship slot to Yala is against the popular opinion of Ogoja.
    It was revealed that stakeholders had unanimously agreed that the office be zoned to Ogoja for obvious reasons of power and political balance since Yala who shares the same Federal Constituency with Ogoja has more government presence than Ogoja in terms of human capacity (appointment and elective offices). “House of Representatives may likely go to Yala, Chairman of SUBEB is also from Yala, the state Auditor General and even the
    VC of  UNICROSS are all from Yala.” Our source informed.
    “The person who has been prepared for that office since 2020, in fact it was one of the conditions for his defection, he is the current Senior Special Adviser, Political Affairs, Chief Peter Ojie. He has been the longest serving party official in Nigeria, he has been Deputy Chairman of PDP in Cross River State for 12 years and acting Chairman at a point before he was finally made a Commissioner by Sen. Liyel Imoke.
    He has experience, very organized, composed, he was able to mange the recent ward and chapter congresses with minimal crisis.

    Everything was set to ensure he is made the party Chairman. All the elite in the likes of Eyo Etim Nyong, Alex Egbona, Victor Ndoma-Egba, Ita-Giwa, Maurice Effiwat said they are all comfortable with him due to his capacity.” The source continued

    But to the surprise and dismay of everybody the governor turned his back on stakeholders to chat a new course alien to stakeholders.
    This development has brought in a serious crack in the APC as party bigwigs in the likes of Owan Enoh, Alex Egbona, Usani Usani, Eyo Etim Nyong, Victor Ndoma-Egba, Ita-Giwa, Maurice Effiwat etc are at the verge of leaving the party. An insider gist has it that they have given the governor an ultimatum of 5 days to reverse his decision or they abandon the party for him.
    According to the story, “…Stakeholders had agreed to give the governor the freehand to nominate the party’s Chairman while the remaining state officers will be shared amongst stakeholders, but they never in their wildest dream believed Ayade will think of bringing in Alphonsus Eba, not after all that happened in PDP with the same Eba….
    …Remember it was because of this same Eba that Ayade left PDP, he scattered everything for Ayade and now that APC wants to help stabilise him, Okadigbo don go touch that stone again and over night, Ayade changed his mind towards his direction.
    …they are some things we can’t report, but truth is that many people have left the party, as I speak to you now Ogoja is empty. Alex is seriously being begged to stay in the party, imagine the governor handing over the party’s structure in Abi to Betta Edu as against Alex Egbona. Who is Betta compared to Alex? If John Gaul couldn’t win Alex is it Betta that will win him? This man is putting us all in a mess.” The source concluded.
    In a recent development, the leadership of the party in the state had issued a statement disassociating itself from the micro zoning of offices to LGA. According to the statement signed by the acting Publicity Secretary, Pastor Bassey Ita, the state chairman, Matthew Mbu Jr didn’t authorize the micro zoning as such stakeholders should remain calm and disregard the said proposed zoning.
    The letter reads in part: “In the light of the development,the State Caretaker Committee wishes to dissociate from the exercise.
    “The report of the Zoning Committee recently submitted to the party is still being reviewed by the leadership and will soon come up with a ratified arrangement on the exercise.
    “The leadership has a well intended plan to sustain the existing stable climate within the party by involving all interests in the party administration and will therefore not compromise this position.
    “Stakeholders are to therefore disregard whatever is done in the guise of zoning to local government chapters which is without due authorization by the leadership.”

  • My Ambition As APC State Chairman Is Still Alive & Running – James Alicha 

    By Solomon Island

    Distinguish Party Faithfuls & Supporters,
    Sequel to the Press Statement issued by the APC State Publicity Secretary disregarding the micro zoning arrangements earlier published by some high ranking members of the party in the 3 senatorial districts, I want to say that I am still in the race for the Cross River State APC Chairmanship.

    I want to use this opportunity to tell all party stakeholders, particularly, my teeming supporters that my ambition to vie for the position of the State Chairman of our party received the blessings and endorsement of His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade. The Governor, to extent I know him, cannot endorse any arrangement that will be inimical to the party’s future and successes. The Governor, having consistently advocated for inclusion of all party stakeholders in decision making processes, cannot do otherwise when decision of micro zoning arises.

    The party cannot attempt to exclude other members from it fold by micro zoning sensitive positions, especially that, majority of persons vying for positions, had earlier purchased nomination forms of the party.

    To then micro zone position without recourse to engaging these persons is to exclude them from the party. That in itself will erase the confidence of most party followers and well-wishers. Non- inclusive micro zoning is not a suitable option because it will lead to exclusion, and will kill cohesion and internal democracy.

    Therefore, I am in alignment with the State Leadership of the Party in disregarding the micro zoning, until stakeholders are comprehensively carried along.

    ✓✓∆Mr. James Alicha Okpuma is an APC Chairmanship aspirant , Cross River State