We won’t follow Umahi to APC – Ebonyi lawmakers – Newstrends
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We won’t follow Umahi to APC – Ebonyi lawmakers

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Ebonyi lawmakers in the national assembly have said they do not have intention to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

They were reacting to the defection of the state governor, David Umahi, who formally joined the APC from the PDP.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, senator representing Ebonyi North, Sam Egwu, said no member of the National Assembly from the state would defect to the APC.

All the members of the Ebonyi caucus in the national assembly are members of the PDP. They are three senators and five House of Representatives members

Umahi confirmed his defection to the APC from the PDP on Tuesday.

The governor said he left the PDP because of “injustice”, alleging that the party had refused to zone the 2023 presidency to the South-East.

Egwu, who is a former governor of Ebonyi, said, “Not a single member of the PDP Ebonyi caucus of the National Assembly is defecting to the APC.”

“The three senators and five House of Representatives members remain proud card-carrying members of the PDP, the platform under which we contested and won elections in 2019,” he added.

The senator said the reason Umahi gave for defecting to the APC was “indecent”.

Egwu specifically said, “The major reason given by Chief Umahi for defecting from the PDP to the APC is now in the public domain which is that the PDP has not been fair to the people of South-East on the issue of zoning for the presidency and vice-presidency.

“While we support that it is the turn of the South-East to fly the presidential flag of any of the major political parties come 2023, yet we consider it impolite, indecent and unwise to give ultimatum and conditionality in a bid to secure zoning.

“If there is any Ebonyi person who should remain eternally grateful to the PDP, that individual ought to be the governor, David Umahi, a man who was appointed the Ebonyi State chairman of the PDP, made deputy governor of the PDP administration and was elected on two terms under the banner of the PDP as governor.

“As democrats, we concede Umahi’s rights to join any association of his choice. However, as federal Lawmakers, we are not unaware of the Supreme Court’s decision that candidates are a product of the political parties.

“What it means is that political office holders are not at liberty to migrate from one political platform to another particularly when there is no division in their party.”

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FCT Senator, Ireti Kingibe, dumps LP for ADC

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FCT Senator, Ireti Kingibe, dumps LP for ADC

Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the National Assembly, has officially parted ways with the Labour Party (LP) and aligned herself with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

PlatinumPost reports that ADC now serves as coalition platform for opposition figures gearing up for the 2027 general elections.

Speaking to reporters in Abuja after a strategic meeting, Kingibe confirmed her allegiance to the ADC coalition, stating her commitment to the party’s objectives.

“As a senator, I am fully committed to ADC. However, as the Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, I don’t expect you to just hand me a card,” she said.

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Although she acknowledged not yet having her membership card, Kingibe made it clear that she stands firmly with the coalition’s mission and direction.

Meanwhile, chairpersons of the ADC from all 36 states and the FCT reiterated their support for the party’s interim leadership, currently headed by former Senate President David Mark. The leadership team has been tasked with unifying members, establishing political structures across the country, and overseeing party activities until a permanent leadership is chosen.

The ADC coalition was recently formed through an alliance of opposition parties and political leaders determined to boost their electoral chances in the next general elections.

FCT Senator, Ireti Kingibe, dumps LP for ADC

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Lagos Election: Ex-Deputy gov alleges fraud, demands cancellation

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Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele

Lagos Election: Ex-Deputy gov alleges fraud, demands cancellation

Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, has alleged anomalies in the state’s ongoing local government elections and has urged for their cancellation.

Bucknor-Akerele stated her dissatisfaction with her inability to vote at her voting station in a Saturday interview with Nigeria Info.

“I have been to my own unit; my name is not there,” she said, adding that several units had been moved without prior notice.

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“There are units supposed to be in front of Eko Hotel; they have brought them here to Ajose Adeogun,” she said.

The former deputy governor stated that the relocation of voting stations and the missing names were part of a bigger scheme to rig the election.

“There is a clear effort to rig the election in favour of one party. Many people are not able to vote because they have completely disrupted all the polling units,” she said.

Bucknor-Akerele petitioned the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission to call off the poll, citing disenfranchisement and widespread logistical difficulties.

 

Lagos Election: Ex-Deputy gov alleges fraud, demands cancellation

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Coalition will prevent one-party state, says Gbaja

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Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu

Coalition will prevent one-party state, says Gbaja

Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has described the coalition of opposition leaders into the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a welcome development that would prevent Nigeria from sliding into one-party system.

Gbajabiamila, who stated this shortly after casting his vote at the Lagos state local government election in Surulere on Saturday, however expressed uncertainty about the prospect of the coalition.

Newstrends had reported how Atiku and some opposition politicians unveiled ADC as the platform to use in unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

There had been different reactions to the recent political moves by the opposition lesders, with some viewing it as a formidable force capable of wrestling power from the ruling APC in 2027, while others are doubtful about its chances of success.

Commenting, however, Gbajabiamila, said, “It’s a welcome development with the coalition. It’s not the first time we’re seeing this. It’s a welcome development.

“In every democracy, we must have some level of opposition otherwise we’ll run into a one-party state. But I’m not sure where it would go.”

Speaking on the conduct of the LG election, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, who cast his vote at Lagos PU 014 on Elizabeth Fowler Memorial High School in the Adeniran Ogunsanya area of Surulere, described the election as peaceful.

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He said, “So far, I’ve seen peace, I’ve seen quiet, I’ve seen free and fair election. A little bit disappointed about the turnout which is where we need to work on. There is general low turnout from what I’ve seen.

“Perhaps because people don’t understand fully the importance of local government elections, which is even more important than any other election. We need to sensitise our people. We need to educate them about the importance of grassroot government.

“But so far, it’s peaceful and quiet. It’s free and fair. There are no skirmishes anywhere and that’s what we all want for any election.” he added.

The former national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, had earlier suggested that the party was not opposed to Nigeria becoming a one-party state.

“Leaders worried about a one-party state have no need to fear. A one-party state is not by force; it is by negotiation. It is by other political parties seeing the effect of the positive governance of our party. If they decide to come to our party willingly, I think there is nothing wrong with that,” he said.

He had also claimed that a multi-party system spoils governance, saying, “Today, China is one of the strongest countries in the world and is a one-party system. We are not saying we are working for a one-party system, but if this is the wish of Nigerians, we cannot quarrel with that.

“You know they say too many cooks spoil the soup; too many political parties spoil governance,” Ganduje added.

But President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while addressing a joint session of the National Assembly on the occasion of this year’s democracy day celebration in Abuja, had ruled out the possibility of Nigeria becoming a one-party state under his watch.

“Nigeria will not become a one-party state. A one-party state is not in the offing. But we will be doing political malpractice if we close the doors for those who want to join APC,” he said.

Coalition will prevent one-party state, says Gbaja

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