By Admin
The Local Government Collation Agent of the All Progressive Congress APC, Mr. Valentine Undeshi was caught on camera sleeping while collation is ongoing.
Undeshi may have been frustrated by the result that was turned in by the various in Obudu, resorted to sleep while collation was going on.
Seven wards had turned in result as the People’s Democratic Party PDP is leading with a very wide margin.
By Admin
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has alleged that another Governor, elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is on his way to the ruling All Progressive Party (APC).
Wike disclosed this when he spoke as a guest Channels television programme ‘Politics Today’, while reacting to the defection of the Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. Dave Umahi who defected from PDP to the APC.
Wike, however, maintained that the PDP remains undaunted and is prepared for the 2023 elections. He however failed to disclose the identity of the governor he referred to.
Culled from Thisdaylive
The Niger State National Assembly Election Tribunal has nullified the election of Alhaji Kasim Danjuma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Magama/Rijau federal constituency by-election held in the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Danjuma winner of the by-election held on March 27, 2020.
However, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the by-election, Mr. Emma Alamu, had approached the tribunal, accusing Danjuma of submitting forged documents to INEC thereby making him ineligible to contest the by-election.
According to the petitioner, Danjuma presented fake primary school certificate and forged declaration of age certificate to INEC for the clearance.
The counsel to the petitioner, Mohammed Ndayako, therefore asked the tribunal to quash the victory of the APC candidate and declare the PDP candidate the winner.
In its judgment on Monday, the three-man tribunal headed by Justice B. F. Zubairu, in a unanimous judgment, upheld the petition and declared the victory of Danjuma null and void.
The tribunal said the petitioner proved beyond reasonable doubt that the first respondent presented forged documents to INEC which enabled him to contest the election.
The tribunal therefore annulled the election and directed INEC to conduct fresh election in the constituency within the next 90 days.
It also ruled that Danjuma and his party, the APC, will not be eligible to contest in the by-election.
The APC had recently lost three local government chairmen seats to the PDP on similar grounds.
September 18, 2020
Press Statement
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) protests the clampdown on its governors by security agents in Benin City, Edo state capital, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The national leadership of the party, in a press conference addressed by the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, alerted the nation and the international community of the security siege on PDP governors in their lodging in Benin City.
The party expressed shock that security agents were detailed to surround the lodging of our governors to harass and intimidate them, whereas APC governors, including the governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje, his Imo state counterpart, Hope Uzodimma as well as the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, are left free in the comfort of the residence of the sacked national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole in GRA, Benin City.
Our party considers this siege as provocative and completely unacceptable as there cannot be two sets of laws for the citizens of our nation. In as much as the APC governors are given the liberty to stay in Benin City, our governors must not be harassed or stampeded to leave the state.
At any rate, we are confident that our governors will not allow themselves to be stampeded.
The PDP calls on all stakeholders in the Edo governorship election, particularly the security agencies, to work towards a peaceful, credible, transparent, free and fair election on Saturday.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary
One of the major challenges facing political parties in Nigeria is complete absence of internal democracy. The country’s democracy is still at its infant stage and it’s evolving, however, in the anti-democratic tendency of always subverting or attempting to subvert the wishes of the people by a conservative few called “stakeholders” has become a serious cankerworm that has eaten deep into the heart of political parties and politicians in the country.
This terrible and injurious tendency is usually highlighted mostly during primaries for the nomination of candidates. It is almost becoming a tradition in our politics that the wishes of the people in selecting candidates don’t count and this trend is seen in almost all the parties even though it’s increasingly becoming worst in APC, especially the Cross River State chapter.
As a foundation member of APC from 2013 when it was formed, I can say that one of the things that endeared the party to so many Nigerians in 2015 was the promise of internal democracy which was displayed across the country during primaries for the selection of candidates.
The 2014 APC Presidential primaries was adjudged the best in the country by political watchers and this gave more credibility to the party as Nigerians saw a classical departure from the trend in PDP where candidates were always imposed.
While the party is trying to sustain the 2014 legacy in some states, in others like Cross River, the situation has been messy and a direct opposite of it. APC primaries in the state is a myth and a mere show to fulfill all righteousness as candidates emerge through other undemocratic ways like imposition.
This pitiable situation has always plagued the party into crisis but it seems the people don’t learn. When everybody was expecting that APC was finally ready to challenge the PDP dominance in the state after the leader of the party and Honourable Minister of State, Power, Prince Goddy Jedy Agba ended the over three years leadership tussle, the first major assignment undertaken by the party is threatening to tear it apart again and it’s not for any reason but the same old story of imposition.
When would the Cross River APC learn that as an opposition, it’s more profitable to go with the wishes of the majority than those of the minority which is mostly driven by personal interest?
The Cross River North APC senatorial primary has shown clearly that the party doesn’t learn and it’s not ready to be taken seriously in the state. If this is not the case, how can one explain the wisdom in repeating one thing over and over again that has not worked yet expecting different results? Primary is a test of one’s strength, popularity and acceptability and not a sort of a joke where a few people just want to impose their opinions on everybody.
As usual, after hurting people’s emotions, they stay in Abuja and talk of reconciliation. What is reconciliation in the face of injustice? You rob a man and all the people only to turn back to call for reconciliation? You abuse the people’s sensitivity and only to turnaround to ask them to sheath their sword in the interest of peace? What’s peace when impunity holds sway?
I find the call for reconciliation in a APC as deliberate trivialization and mischaracterization of an important issue of injustice and stealing of one’s mandate as bizarre and spurious. Reconciliation and justice are two inseparable variables. World over, forgiveness and reconciliation are not achieved where injustice is served in place of justice.
If truly the leaders of the party want reconciliation, they should start by admitting that they have made mistakes by giving the Cross River North APC ticket to the person that won it and stop the pretense. You can’t deliberately kill a man’s joy simply because you think you can always ask for forgiveness.
An anonymous APC leader said that “the call for reconciliation has mostly come from the Joe Agi proponents, ostensibly to firm up the purported candidature of their Principal but while their prayers are yet to approach the efficacy line,they have yet to admit their ‘sin’ or fault of subverting the process of our ‘holy’ democracy believed by all to be better than a military command tactic same as they invented and propagated in the recent primary elections”.
More and more members are now aware that the only thing of interest to most Cross River APC leaders is federal appointment and nothing more. The common man on the street would work for the party at the end, the leaders would go to Abuja to struggle for appointments that don’t have direct benefits to the average party members. All they do is to stop the party from winning elections and if APC don’t win election, how would the people who have played opposition all their lives benefit?
A stitch in time saves nine. It’s either the APC show commitment for sincere reconciliation by allowing the wishes of the people to stand to safe it from the impending doom or continue to deceive themselves and joke over a fallacious reconciliation that’s built on injustice and abuse.
I know some people who have never supported the APC beyond the social media would come after me but let me remind everybody that in 2019, I was a lone voice crying for the soul of APC but nobody listened and in the end, the party suffered embarrassing defeats in all the elections except Abi/Yakur federal constituency. Except something is done, the bye-election is as good as over for the APC.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are strictly that of Inyali Peter and does not represent The Lumine News.
By Elijah Ugani – Calabar
A frontline contender for the ticket of the All Progressive Congress APC, for Cross River Northern senatorial district bye election comes 31stOctober, 2020, Prof. Zana Akpagu has called on his teeming supporters to remain resolute despite the sighting of the photocopy of a document that have a semblance with the independent National Electoral Commission INEC nomination form.
Prof. Akpagu maintained that they will not hasitate to take legal action to reclaim their mandate should the document turn out to be true.
In release made available to The Lumine News and signed by Mr. Peter Inyali, for Prof. Zana Akpagu Campaign Organization, calls on all supporters to remain calm as they are yet to ascertain the authenticity of the said document considering the fact that the document beared 9th September, when the Appeal Panel sat for the first time on the 8th September, 2020.
The release reads in parts “Truth Can Only Be Delayed, Not Denied.
“The attention of Prof. Zana Akpagu Campaign Organization has been drawn to a photocopy of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Senatorial Nomination form bearing the name of one Joe Agi, SAN as candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Cross River North Senatorial district bye-election circulating online.
“We want to urge all our supporters to remain calm as we are yet to confirm the authenticity of the said document. This is necessary because the said document beared September 9th yet the primary appeal panel sat for the first time on 8th and the aspirant whose name appeared on the form was attended to on the 9th.
“The panel report was possibly sent to the National working Committee on the 10th for a decision to be taken on the 11th when they met. We believe that the INEC nomination form could not have been given to anybody when aspirants who appeared before the panel are still awaiting the decision of the national leadership of the party.
“The victory of Prof. Zana Akpagu at the poll was too clear that cannot be subverted. During the panel, the aspirant (Akpagu) presented reports backed with ward and chapter results from INEC, Police, DSS, Observers/Civil Society Organizations that certify his victory.
“With the glaring evidences, we are confident that the leadership of our great party would not fall to the antics of those who are so scared of competition within the party but think they can always use the back door to get the ticket to chicken out in the main election like in the primary to give the PDP a smooth ride.
“Not withstanding, we want to state unequivocally clear that in the event that the document turns out to be true, we won’t hesitate to take the necessary legal action to reclaim our mandate.
“This is democracy hence, the wishes of the people should be allowed to prevail and not the selfish wishes of a privileged few.
“Inyali Peter
For Prof. Zana Akpagu Campaign Organization”
PRESS RELEASE
No Cause For Alarm, Akpagu Remains C’River North APC Favourite
Greetings to all members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the good people of Cross River Northern Senatorial District and very special new yam felicitation to the good people of Yala and Obanliku.
It has become very pertinent that we issue this statement to address some information making the rounds in the social media about the forthcoming APC primary scheduled for September 3rd, 2020.
On Thursday August 26th, 2020, Prof. Zana Akpagu along with other aspirants vying for the Cross River North APC Senatorial ticket attended screening exercises at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. Although the panel is yet to formally speak on the outcome of the exercise, his (Prof. Akpagu) impressive performance during the screening clearly point to the fact that his name would be the first on the list.
As a grassroot mobilizer, after the screening exercise, he set his mind on returning home to meet with his people in his usual tradition of not staying too far from them and was actually on his way when he received a call to return to Abuja for Cross River North APC stakeholders meeting. As a man who is so passionate about building a strong political party to challenge PDP dominance in the state, he didn’t hesitate to honour the call.
The meeting held yesterday, August 30th at Bela Nova Hotel, Abuja. From what transpired, it was clear that the single agenda of the meeting was to coerce stakeholders to take decisions that would only return the party to the ugly path it’s trying to come out from. But thank God, men of conscience who attended showed that they love the party more than the selfish interest of a minority few who feel that the only time they can be relevant is when there’s crisis in the party.
It is important to state emphatically that majority of the aspirants have unanimously agreed to test their popularity in the poll in a free, credible fair and friendly primary as such, any attempt by anybody or group of people to foist a candidate on the party would be seriously resisted.
The party constitution is clear on how to elect a candidate in any election. It recommends direct/indirect primary or consensus. In the case of consensus, the party is clear that it can only be adopted when all parties involved elect to use it but in this case, majority of the aspirants and stakeholders are saying that they wants primary.
Thus, any attempt to subvert the wishes of the people would push the party back to the ugly days of unending crisis. All lovers of APC should avoid this in order not to portray the state chapter of the party as undermining the directives of the leader of the party and our dear President, Muhammadu Buhari to end all the crisis rocking the party at all levels.
At every point, the leaders of the party should understand that APC would be running the election as an opposition in the state therefore instead of engaging in activities that will polarize the party or sow seed of discord among the contestants, there should be a level playing ground for a candidate to emerge so that people can still work together to deliver the election for the party after the primary. At the end of the day, whoever emerges candidate would need the support of others to win the main election hence, the need for the coup planners to desist from any action that would undermine others.
To all the overwhelming supporters of Prof. Zana Akapgu, remain calm and resolute, there’s no course for alarm. Prof. Zana is still the leading and the most popular candidate (aspirant) going into the primary. He will not only win the primary landslide, he’ll deliver the entire Senatorial district to the APC in the main election.
Baring any last minute change by the National Caretaker Committee to the time table, for now, the primary is still holding on the 3rd of September. And Prof. Akpagu is going into the race as favourites in both the primary and main election.
All his supporters are advised to continue their mobilization and go on with their normal activities as law abiding members of the party.
Thank you and God bless.
Inyali Peter
For Team Zana
By Admin
The recent announcement by INEC on the date for the conduct of the senatorial election has inspired progressives across the senatorial district to run for office. It’s incredibly exciting, but also requires a well thought out plan. Launching a campaign is a huge decision and the Joe Agi SAN campaign organization is prepared to ensure our campaign has a strong start indeed a strong foundation.
Recall that upon the death of our “ beloveth late most distinguished Senator Rose Oko” (may her soul Rest In Peace) we had indicated interest to inspire an endearing and enduring perspective to legislation while pursuing the agenda of attracting development to our district. We had embarked upon consultations and consciously created an awareness about the promises of assured development that Joe Agi SAN can attract to our district. We examined the prospect and indicated the possibility of utilizing such realistic capability to make CR-Northern District great again.
We concluded that Joe Agi SAN, by all standards, is a valuable asset to the people of the Northern Senatorial District and should so be appreciated. He is a man with enviable track records, ranging from his selflessness towards protecting the vulnerable assets of the state, at a time when others refused to do so; to his unbelievable leadership exploits in his professional career as a lawyer, who rose up to the enviable status of “Senior Advocate of Nigeria”, up to and inclusive of his strides into politics and the pursuit of liberation for our people.
Joe Agi SAN has shown compassionate leadership and empathetic disposition towards humanity in all that he has done. His desire to grow young lawyers through mentoring is a reflection of an unquestionable generosity of intent to improve this generation. What about the avalanche of scholarships and sponsorship of lawyers, most of whom were unable to pay for their law school? I can go on and on, but the idea before us, that makes us to constantly classify him as the ideal candidate, is the fact that Joe Agi SAN is the next best thing for CRS-Northern District. He possesses an impressive resume particularly on legal jurisprudence and constitutional matters.
An evaluation of his personality is a reflection of his strength. We know Joe Agi SAN as an influential personage and respected across both aisle within the Nigerian conclave. His capacity is reflected on his legal background. He is a strong lobbyist and a strong negotiator. Joe is an erudite legal luminary who knows the law and the law knows him. The senate is a familiar territory and I must say Joe will be the eye of both APC, Cross River Northern District and indeed Nigeria. I dare to say that, in the current political dispensation, Joe Agi SAN, when elected Senator shall be the only SAN in the red chambers. How else can I explain the difference between him and other senators . He shall be a reference point and indeed a converging platform for law making and interpretation for other people within the Senate. Let’s not allow sentimental judgements detrimental to our growth to mislead us.
The dice has been cast, the announcement for the election has been made by INEC. This heralds the beginning of intensive campaign ahead. While we shall strategize to boost our capacity to convince you to get inspired to join this victory train, let me state that we know about your excitement, that at last we have a good hand to lead us to the promised land. We know you are going to get involved. The right time is now. Don’t hesitate, don’t salivate, get involved, get serious and move the train with us. We come to you because you have a greater stake in this project. We trust you, know that we desire the best and that’s Joe Agi SAN.
There’s a brand identity for “Joe Agi SAN”. Reality check has proven that the brand is the ideal one whose time has come. Do you want to be left out? I don’t think so, because we are all in this same page. We need the future that’s assured for our kids. Only Joe Agi SAN is the man with the Midas touch. Join him to make CR-North great. Vote him as the APC Candidate in the ensuing election. Let your conscience lead you.
Joe Agi Media Team.
By Admin
Professor Zana Akpagu a highly revered technocrat, seasoned administrator, refined academician, astute politician and a community mobilizer front lining worthy causes that are pro people in stints as a public servant .
Possessing an intimidating profile, credentials and score card are the most sought after qualities by the electorate as such, Zana Akpagu can’t lose sleep over pockets of blackmail on social media to score cheap political points.
We are indeed charged with the new spirit of heightened political atmosphere which is assuming a different dimension daily. The citizenry appears to be more politically enlightened with the resultant ownership of our electoral processes than smear campaign.
In the light of emerging trends which seek performance and people oriented representation, there seem to be a classical departure from the mundane and usual way of imposition of candidates on the electorates.
With this, the build up to the bye- election in Cross River North Senatorial District has further strengthened our political machinations which has remarkably engineered the power and strength of “Operation Show Your Score Card”
As activities geared towards clinching the APC ticket for the forthcoming bye-election, Prof. Zana Akpagu having served at different strata of leadership meritoriously.
Presents electorate with the ability to align with a core progressive with verifiable achievements that evinced every achievements of all the aspirants across political parties in the hunt for the vacant senate seat is indeed causing ripples amongst some persons obviously scared of the towering credentials of professor Akpagu.
Having felt the echoes of unparalleled developmental strides that has become household chants in Cross River North, across the state and country.
Some aspirants seeking to fly the APC kite in the forthcoming Senate poll in a quicksand tactics that is dead on arrival are already jittery and disillusioned having lost a sense of direction.
This is a manifestation of a tactless blue print, in the face of little or near absence of tract records to convince the electorates hinged on selfish gains.
In spite of this insipid approach, Prof. Zana Akpagu and his supporters will continue to run issue based campaign and engagements without recourse to joining issues with any aspirants, group of aspirants or their supporters to malign any person(s), aspirant(s).
We call on our teaming supporters to remain calm in the face of this brazen campaign of calumny targeting at the huge political following so far experienced with the deceptive intent to dent the goodwill of the most celebrated aspirant of the All Progressives Congress.
The fear and the intimidation associated with the breeze that is blowing across the 54 wards has traumatized some aspirants who now resort to tales in anticipation of the party’s ticket.
The speculation that the party’s stakeholders have resolved to unanimously hand over the ticket to Joe Agi (SAN) as written by a certain purveyor of Fake news “Iwara Ofem Iwara” published on his Facebook wall remains a figment of the writer’s imagination and does not in any way represent the interest of our collective resolved to chat a new narrative for Northern Senatorial District.
We insist and call on any person with a contrary view to challenge us with facts that Prof. Zana Akpagu is the sole aspirant in the APC that can win the bye election for the party.
Z – Media
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are strictly that of Z – Media and does not represent TheLumineNews.
By Concerned APC faithfuls
Concerned faithfuls of the ruling All Progressive Congress in Northern senatorial district of Cross River State have reacted to the committee of friends meeting conveyed by Gen. Anthony UKpo Rtd. and claimed that it was a northern stakeholders meeting, and call on all well meaning constituents of the district to disregard such hallucinations and held that such resolutions was a figment of the imagination of the committee of friends.
Find full text of the release by the concerned APC faithfuls who pledged anonymity.
“Some PDP leaders from the north allegedly met on the 8th of July to chat over some bottles of wine and today, people are circulating a release allegedly issued by them as resolutions concerning the forthcoming Cross River North bye-election. In all honesty, even they themselves know that the resolutions would be obeyed only in the breach.
“The shocking but inconsequential
document reportedly retained the Senate seat in Ogoja/Yala federal constituency. And in 2023, they zoned the Senate seat again to Ogoja which is still part of the federal constituency.
“Our highly respected elders contradicted themselves when they used federal constituency to zone the bye-election but used local government to zone that of 2023.
“How can you tell other local government to hands off the bye-election for 0goja/Yala federal constituency but in another resolution say Ogoja which is part of the same constituency should get the seat in 2023?
“Besides, the convener of the forum Gen. Anthony Ukpo and the Secretary, Leonard Anyogo are from Yala. In fact, out of the seven persons that allegedly met to take the non-implementable decision, three are from Yala. This explains why the resolutions were purely a Yala and Ogoja thing and nothing more.
“To be modest, what they’ve done is nothing but complete abuse on the collective sensibilities of the entire Northern senatorial district and should be disregarded in its entirety. This is because some people are obviously taking the entire zone for granted otherwise, how can you explain the decision to call a meeting that favours only one federal constituency in two separate Democratic tenures?
“In any case, they made a grievous mistake by calling Gen. UKpo PDP committee of friends meeting a Northern Elders’ Forum Meeting. We don’t need a soothsayer to tell us that even in PDP, this document cannot hold sway, not to talk of other political parties.
“Nobody should misconstrue a meeting of friends skewed to favour a particular local government and federal constituency to a meeting of the North. If they are interested in peacefully resolving the issues surrounding the bye-election, then the set up of the forum should be all inclusive. Leaders of all parties and youths organizations should be involved and not just a few friends.
