JUST IN: Mass defection of LP, PDP, APGA members to APC in Abia – Newstrends
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JUST IN: Mass defection of LP, PDP, APGA members to APC in Abia

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5 months ago

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JUST IN: Mass defection of LP, PDP, APGA members to APC in Abia

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has welcomed approximately 600 defectors from four political parties into the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia state.

The new members, previously affiliated with the ruling Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Young Progressive Party (YPP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), were officially received during Kalu’s tour of electoral wards in his Bende Federal Constituency.

The Deputy Speaker who represents the constituency in the House of Representatives is currently on a thank you and mobilisation tour of the 13 electoral wards to show gratitude and also ascertain more of their immediate needs.

The chief press secretary to the deputy speaker, Levinus Nwabughiogu said in a statement that the Deputy Speaker has visited 5 wards covering Item Ward A, B, C; Ugwueke/Ezeukwu and Itumbauzo Wards and received several defectors into the APC.

Amongst those who defected were former PDP councillors from Alayi Ward A, Hon. Enoch Elekwa and Hon. Chukwu Udensi, former LP ward chairman, Hon. Jonah Chukwu; YPP ward vice chairman, Ekeoma Sylvester Eze and former APGA local government chairman, Ndubuisi Sunday Agu.

Speaking during the tour, a former Commissioner and Bende local government chairman who handed over to Kalu as a council chairman 22 years ago, Paul Chikezie Mba said the performance of the Deputy Speaker as a parliamentarian has attracted them to APC.

Mba also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill into law, while commending Kalu for attracting many projects to the ward.

He said: “I have looked at the efforts you’ve made. Within one year, you’ve overwhelmed Bende, Abia State, and beyond. I have been a commissioner of education, lands, and survey in Abia State.

“Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu overwhelmed my imagination. I know he is very intelligent. He has attracted so many roads, solar-powered energy for light, boreholes, rehabilitation and building of schools, health centres and so on. So many people have gained employment through him.

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“He sent people abroad to learn one trade or another. He has exceeded my expectations. I tell him, what he’s doing is right and I want to support him.

“I handed over to him as local government chairman. From day one, he looked so vibrant. I have never had any doubt about him.

“Over a hundred people registered for APC in this ward on Friday. Another batch came out today. You can see the tumultuous crowd.

“The things you’ve done well. You’re a tough man, we are praying for you. May God bless you. I came to you and told you I will join you because of your performance. God is going to use you to clean up our community. We are just scratching the surface.

“We will sweep Umuhu Ezechi for you soon. I see the great sons of our land that accompanied you to Umuhu. The former speakers of the State House of Assembly and so on.

“We are returning more votes for you. You’re a man of strength and character. You started by talking about the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P) and move ahead with the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill. May God bless you, your colleagues in the National Assembly, and our President.”

Receiving the decampees, the Deputy Speaker said he was in Umuhu Ezechi to show gratitude to the people for voting for him in the 2023 general election.

He urged the people to continue to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who graciously signed the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill recently.

Kalu added that the commission will create employment for the people and also meet the infrastructural needs of the people.

The Deputy Speaker who was welcomed by the people with traditional dances later distributed bags of rice, fertilizers, and cash donations to the youth, women, and men’s groups in the area.

Also during his visit to the Ozuitem ward, over 100 persons from LP, PDP, APGA, and YPP defected to APC and were received by the deputy speaker who handed them a bunch of brooms as APC’s symbol.

Notable amongst them were Arc. (Chief) John Ihueze and Sunday Kalu Iroham who were hitherto chieftains of PDP; Adighije Okoronkwo from APGA and others from YPP.

Welcomed earlier by different dancing groups of youth and women, Kalu who told the crowd he was in Ozuitem to appreciate the people for their support in the last general election also distributed bags of rice and fertilizers with cash gifts to support them in agriculture.

He urged the people to continue supporting President Tinubu and the APC government, assuring them of more dividends of democracy.

JUST IN: Mass defection of LP, PDP, APGA members to APC in Abia

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Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara

Published

18 hours ago

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December 28, 2024

By

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike

Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has shed light on his role in the removal of Uche Secondus as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking at a PDP gathering in Rivers State, Wike explained that his decision was fueled by Secondus’ opposition to Siminalayi Fubara’s governorship ambition in 2023.

According to Wike, Secondus had pushed for his cousin, Tele Ikuru, to secure the PDP ticket for the governorship position, a move Wike said he could not support. This, he revealed, was the primary reason he championed Secondus’ ouster from the party’s leadership.

Reflecting on the ongoing tensions between himself and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Wike accused Secondus and former Rivers Governor Celestine Omehia of hypocrisy. He alleged that the duo only began backing Fubara after benefiting personally from the relationship.

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Wike, who was once a close ally of Fubara, claimed that Secondus and Omehia were the true enemies of the governor, not him. He criticized their actions, arguing that their newfound loyalty to Fubara was insincere.

“I heard Secondus recently in Bori, saying I awarded the Bori Internal Road as governor. I paid 50% with the hope that we had a governor we all supported to continue the projects,” Wike said.

He continued, “Secondus claimed his enemies are the governor’s enemies. But who are the enemies of the governor? Secondus, who initially opposed him becoming governor and wanted his cousin, Tele Ikuru, to get the position?

“I orchestrated Secondus’ removal as PDP National Chairman when he tried to impose his cousin as governor. Now he calls himself the governor’s friend while labeling me the enemy. To God be the glory,” Wike declared.

 

Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara

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APC reacts to Kwankwaso’s statement to reduce party’s votes in 2027

Published

2 days ago

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December 27, 2024

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APC reacts to Kwankwaso’s statement to reduce party’s votes in 2027

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano state has dismissed claims by former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) will significantly reduce APC’s votes in Kano State during the 2027 elections.

Reacting in a statement on Thursday, Abdullahi Abass, chairman of the state chapter of the party said Kwankwaso’s assertion is laughable and nothing but a mere daydream. Abass called on Kwankwaso to focus on reclaiming his membership in the NNPP rather than making unfounded claims.

The APC described Kwankwaso as a political refugee clinging to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in a futile attempt to regain relevance. They warned Kwankwaso that the APC would not allow a repeat of the alleged vote manipulation and allocation that created the impression of NNPP’s influence in Kano State during the 2023 general election.

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“Our teeming supporters in the APC have no cause to worry about Kwankwaso, who has been booted out of the NNPP due to his cluelessness and self-centredness. We expect Kwankwaso to keep wondering why he has become a wanderer in the political terrain,” the party chair said.

“He ran away from APC because he couldn’t fit into our progressive ideals. His overbloated ego and domineering posture forced him to abandon the PDP, and he has now become a political refugee because the NNPP refused to accommodate him.”

Kwankwaso had on Wednesday received some political decampees at his residence. During the event, he claimed that the NNPP was now formidable enough to diminish APC’s influence in the state.

“If the PDP could struggle to receive 15, 000 votes in the 2023 Presidential elections in Kano, APC would not only receive below expectations but would receive the most embarrassing votes in the 2027 elections in Kano,” he stated

“NNPP achieved tremendous success in the presidential and governorship elections despite being a new political platform with a late start to its campaign. APC will be diminished in Kano in 2027,” he added.

 

APC reacts to Kwankwaso’s statement to reduce party’s votes in 2027

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Kwankwaso: APC will struggle to get 15,000 votes in Kano

Published

2 days ago

on

December 27, 2024

By

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

Kwankwaso: APC will struggle to get 15,000 votes in Kano

Ahead of the 2027 general election, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso said his party would work tirelessly to ensure that the ruling party, All Progressive Congress, APC, struggle to secure less than 15,000 votes in Kano State.

The APC, has, meanwhile, asked Kwankwaso to channel his energies towards reclaiming his membership in the NNPP not day dreaming over claims to relegate the APC in the state.

Kwankwaso while receiving delegates of the NNPP from the Kano North senatorial district at his Miller Road Mansion in Kano, acknowledged the hard work of the party during the 2023 elections, which resulted in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, struggling to secure only 15,000 votes in Kano.

He said: “Now, it’s turn to diminish APC’s influence. We will work tirelessly to ensure their votes are reduced to less than 15,000 in Kano by 2027.”

He encouraged his supporters to remain focused on delivering results that would secure the party’s success in future elections.

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The leader of the delegates, Abdul Bichi, told journalists that the visit was to renew their loyalty to the national leader of the NNPP, Kwankwaso and to distance themselves from former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr. Abdullahi Bichi.

Abdul said they had parted ways with Bichi since his removal from office.

“It is true we are supporters of the former SSG, and we are from the same constituency as Dr. Bichi, but we have decided to distance ourselves from him since he is no longer with the government.

“We have come here to see our national leader and founder of Kwankwaso in solidarity and to renew our total loyalty to him. We have come to say we are not leaving our party. We are not going with the SSG,” Abdul said.

Channel your energies towards reclaiming your NNPP membership, Kano APC slams Kwankwaso
Meanwhile, Chairman, Kano State chapter of Abdullahi Abass, has hit back at Kwankwaso, urging him to channel his energies towards reclaiming his membership in the NNPP not day dreaming over claims to relegate the APC in the state.

Abass in a statement yesterday, said: “Our teeming supporters in the APC have no cause to worry about Kwankwaso who has been booted out of NNPP due to his cluelessness and self-centeredness. We expect Kwankwaso to keep wondering why he has become a wanderer in the political terrain.

“He ran away from APC because he couldn’t fit into our progressive ideals. His over-bloated ego and domineering posture forced him to abandon the PDP and he has now become a political refugee because the NNPP refused to accommodate him.”

Abass ssured that the APC was already waiting in the wing to not only reclaim Kano State but save the people of the state from the undue influence of Kwankwaso from his Miller Road castle.

Kwankwaso: APC will struggle to get 15,000 votes in Kano

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