The South-East zone of the All Progressives Congress has set its sight on the positions of Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation if the presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, wins the 2023 general elections.
The development was disclosed by a top party chieftain in the South-East, who craved anonymity.
The source disclosed that a delegation was scheduled to meet with Tinubu with their demands when he returned to the country.
“If the South-West has the presidency while both the North-West and North-East are still negotiating for running mate, it is only fair to allow the South-East take the senate presidency and SGF,” he said.
When contacted, Deputy National Chairman (South) and former South-East chairman of the party, Emmanuel Enekwu, denied having knowledge of any agitation for senate presidency or SGF from his region.
He said, “I have no knowledge of such demands. The APC has not started allocating offices to any region or persons. Our interest is how to win elections because you can’t share offices without winning elections.
“We have a presidential candidate that demands that all hands must be on deck. Nobody enjoys any booty or loot before the war. That can only happen after the hostility ends.
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But when reminded that sources have confirmed that negotiations were ongoing by top APC chieftains from the South-East region, Enekwu said such a move could not be ruled out.
The South-East APC chairman, Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, also said, “I cannot say I am unaware the zone desires some inclusiveness in the incoming administration. However, I have not been consulted on the exact position they are looking at. I believe that the incoming president will be fair enough to consider the zone for some arrangements but we have not asked for the specific positions.”
On whether Tinubu had met with South-East leaders and stakeholders lately, the South-East chairman said he met with the zonal caucus of the party.
He added, “That was shortly after the primary. He met with the South-East caucus, ably led by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State. He (Tinubu) consulted with us and pleaded for our support at the 2023 general elections.
“We assured him that he will receive our maximum support in our zone. We had a very robust conversation with him. But we didn’t go as far as asking for any specific positions. I believe he knows the right thing to do.”
When asked on APC chances of pulling votes from the South East, he said the party had a firm support base in the zone.
“We cannot also rule out the fact that (Peter) Obi (of the Labour Party) is making a lot of publicity. Our chances are bright and will further be enhanced once Obi split the PDP votes. It won’t diminish our votes,” he added.
The Publicity Secretary of the APC in Anambra State, Mr Okelo Madukaife, said the South-East caucus of the party had scheduled a meeting where a decision would be taken on what should come to the zone.
Madukaife did not state when the meeting would take place. He added, “The South-East caucus will decide on that. But the question should not be what position South East needs, not necessarily what position, but strategy.
“Regarding other positions, yes senate presidency is there and so is Speaker of the House of Representatives in the elective category. But first senators and members of House of Representatives have to emerge from the South-East and they should add to the majority.
“So, Ndigbo needs to vote for the APC to satisfy the first condition and join others in other zones to meet the second.”
‘Tinubu’ll accommodate Ndigbo’
The Imo State chapter of the APC has said Tinubu will accommodate the people of South-East if elected the president.
The Publicity Secretary of APC in Imo State, Cajetan Duke, told one of our correspondents in an interview, “There are many good and juicy positions Ndigbo and Imo State will get if by the grace of God APC wins the presidential election. But we must be fully integrated. We have to work to ensure that APC wins all the states in the South-East. We have to use what we have to get what we want.”
He said that the South East would not be demanding for any position until the party wins the presidential election and majority seats in the senate.
‘Can’t share positions’
The Zonal Secretary of the APC in the zone, Chief Augustine Onyedebelu, has said the party is not after sharing of office until the presidential election is won.
Onyedebelu said, “Until you win an election you have nothing to share. I want to believe that when the election is won, a very good position will be given to the people of the South-East to ensure that we are truly part of the system and part of the leadership.”
‘APC must bargain’
Also speaking, the spokesperson for the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, said it would be in the best interest of all major political parties to bargain with the South-East region.
He said, “Although it is not in the position of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to begin permutations at this time, it would be in the best interest of all political gladiators to begin to bargain for the best for the South-East region. All the gladiators from all major political parties have a duty to bargain for what will be best for the South-East region. At the proper time, we will have a meeting with the South-East elders and chieftains and decide on the most favourable equation for the region.”
PUNCH
Court reinstates members of dissolved Benue APC executive
A Makurdi High Court has ordered the reinstatement of Austin Agada and other elected executives of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Benue chapter, whose tenures were terminated by the party’s national working committee.
The presiding judge, Justice Tertsegha Kume, gave the order on Thursday in his verdict in a suit filed by Agada and eight others against APC.
Mr Agada and the eight others challenged the abrupt termination of their tenure in office as Benue executives of the party.
They dragged the party to court to determine whether it was right to terminate their tenures midway without giving them a fair hearing.
The plaintiff’s counsel, M. T. Alyebo, told the court that the party’s NWC was wrong to disregard the provisions of Articles 12(11), 17(i), and 21.1 of the Constitution of the APC 2022 (as amended).
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Mr Alyebo argued that the NWC decision was also in contravention of Section 223(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) by not giving them a fair hearing before unlawfully terminating their tenures.
He therefore urged the court to make an order reinstating his clients until the expiration of their tenures on February 2, 2026.
However, counsel for APC, Matthew Burkaa, urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the court had no jurisdiction over the matter as it was an internal affairs of the party.
The presiding judge, however, dismissed the argument of the respondents’ counsel and granted the reliefs sought by the applicants.
He declared that the tenure of office of Agada and other elected executives of the APC in Benue is still valid and subsisting till the completion of four years.
PDP suspends lawmaker over alleged insubordination
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State has suspended Habibu Umar, the lawmaker representing Kirfi Constituency in the State House of Assembly, for alleged insubordination.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, PDP State Chairman Samaila Burga confirmed Umar’s suspension, barring him from all party activities until further notice.
The decision was based on findings that Umar violated sections 58 (9) (1) and (f) of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended).
According to the letter, Umar was issued a query on November 5, 2024, following accusations of misconduct. A disciplinary committee was subsequently established on November 11 to investigate the matter.
After a thorough review, the committee found Umar guilty and recommended his immediate suspension under sections 59 (4) and (5) of the party’s constitution.
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The suspension, which was signed by members of the Beni Ward EXCO, highlights the party’s commitment to enforcing discipline and upholding its internal regulations.
“Effective from today, November 25, 2024, Hon. Habibu Umar is barred from participating in any party activities until further notice,” the chairman stated.
In another development, a former member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Adamu Bello, has officially rejoined the PDP after leaving the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Bello, a founding member of the APC in Bauchi State and a key figure in the Bauchi North Senatorial District, served as the Sole Administrator of Giade Local Government Area.
The former APC leader, who played a crucial role in securing a victory for the APC in Giade LGA during the last general elections, cited the ongoing support of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, for his people as the primary reason for his decision to return to the PDP.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Adamu Bello explained that his constituents urged him to join the PDP in order to better advocate for the community’s interests.
“I have always been a voice for my people, and they have asked me to take this step so that we can continue to progress,” Bello remarked.
Breaking: Supreme Court affirms Sly Ezeokenwa as APGA National Chairman
The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, affirmed Mr. Sly Ezeokenwa as the authentic National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.
A five-member panel of the apex court, in two unanimous judgements, invalidated Chief Edozie Njoku’s claim to the national leadership position in the party.
It held that its earlier verdict on the appeal marked: SC/CV/687/2021, delivered on October 14, 2021 and corrected on March 24, 2023, which Chief Njoku purportedly relied on to lay claim to APGA Chairmanship, did not confer any enforceable rights on him.
In the lead decision that was read by Justice Stephen Adah, the apex court stressed that the reliefs it granted on the protracted APGA leadership tussle, in 2021, were only declaratory and not executory.
The court noted that it particularly held that that issue of leadership or who becomes the Chairman of a political party, was an internal matter that is not justiciable.
Justice Adah held that it was wrong for Njoku to have gone before the lower court to enforce a judgement that had nothing to be enforced as no executory relief was granted to him.
He faulted the lower courts for wrongly relying on the previous decision of the Supreme Court to declare Njoku as the National Chairman of APGA.
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Consequently, Justice Adah vacated the judgement the Court of Appeal in Abuja delivered on June 28, 2024, which upheld the verdict of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory that declared Njoku as the National Chairman of APGA.
Besides, the Supreme Court awarded a fine of N20million each, against two members of the Njoku-led faction of APGA that were listed as 1st and 2nd respondents in the matter.
The court held that a third appeal relating to the APGA leadership tussle, would abide by its decision in the matter.
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