POLITICS
2023: APC Says it’s Focused on Delivering Mandate, Next Level Agenda
The All Progressives Congress(APC) says its focus is on delivering its popular mandate and multi facet Next Level Agenda to Nigerians ahead of 2023 general elections.
The party said this in a statement by Sen. John Akpanudoedehe,
National Secretary of its Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), on Tuesday in Abuja.
Akpanudoedehe said that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was implementing one of the world’s largest and wide ranging social investment programmes which was benefitting the vulnerable and had taken many Nigerians out of poverty.
“Commendably, we are well on course to delivering other aspects of the Next Level agenda,” he said.
According to Akpanudoedehe, under President Buhari, every state of the federation has an ongoing federal road, infrastructure project.
He added that the APC, therefore, had no intention to trade words with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its governors and leaders on the propriety of infrastructure projects undertaken by the current administration and which state deserved a federal project.
Akpanudoedehe said from previously abandoned to new projects under Buhari-led APC administration, every state of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had an ongoing and major Federal road.
This, he said, was in addition to other critical infrastructure project, adding that this was a fact that could be verified.
“Following the gale of defections that has hit the PDP since the advent of the Gov. Mai Mala Buni-led APC CECPC, we hear the PDP is doing all it can and begging its members and leaders to remain in the party.
“We wish the PDP good luck in its futile attempts: the PDP is apparently deluding itself that its cravings to return to power at the centre amounts to the wishes of Nigerians.
“This is incredibly delusional, it is important to remind the PDP that in a democracy and progressive politics, power is not taken but given through a popular mandate by the people,” he said.
Akpanudoedehe added that the current state of the PDP did not show that it was anywhere close to earning such mandate from the electorate come 2023.(NAN)
POLITICS
Nigeria not Ripe for Diaspora Voting – NBA Official
Mr Auta Nyada, the Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Legal Education Committee, says Nigeria is not ripe enough for Diaspora voting.
Nyada said this at the Multi-stakeholders’ Forum on Youth Electoral Reform Priorities on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that although the idea of Diaspora voting had been raised by many groups in recent times, the electoral system was not matured enough to accommodate it.
Nyada advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to concentrate on addressing the loopholes observed in the 2023 general election and the other off-cycle elections rather than delve into Diaspora voting.
“Diaspora voting is actually a good idea, but for me, I don’t think that Nigeria has reached the stage for Diaspora voting, introducing Diaspora voting will require a lot to be successful.
“Nigeria is still struggling with the operation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and people are talking about Diaspora voting.
“We are witnesses to the malfunctioning of the BVAS in the 2023 general election, I think we should work toward rectifying the problem, instead of talking about Diaspora voting, ” he said.
Nyada said that Nigeria must put in a watertight technology before thinking about Diaspora voting.
“So many foreigners are getting the National Identification Number (NIN) in spite of the stringent regulations by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
“If you introduce Diaspora voting today in Nigeria, all black people in the world could decide to vote as Nigerians.
“We don’t have a watertight security system to identify genuine Nigerians from others, I think Diaspora voting is for future and not now, ” he said.
Nyada also called for the amendment of the Electoral Act to ensure that all election matters were terminated before elected officials were sworn in.
“You can’t expect me to have a control over the state power apparatus and still expect me to lose an election case in court, it is really impossible, ” he said. (NAN)
POLITICS
PDP NWC passes Vote of Confidence on Damagum
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has passed a Vote of Confidence on the party’s Acting National Chairman, Mr Umar Damagum.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said the vote of confidence was passed at the NWC’s 584th meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.
Ologunagba said the decision was based on Damagum’s efforts aimed at repositioning the PDP as the main opposition party in Nigeria.
The National Executive Council meeting of the party had be slated for Thursday to either affirm Damagum as the Chairman or appoint a replacement.
Damagum was appointed as the Acting Chairman following the suspension of the former chairman,
Chief Iyorcha Ayu in 2023.
POLITICS
We Shall Return to Aso Villa in 2027 – PDP Reps Caucus Says
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Represebtatives says it must regain the presidency it lost in 2015, as the seat of power had “become our party’s birth right”.
Rep. Chinda Kingsley, the leader of the minority caucus in the House, said this while briefing newsmen after the third meeting of PDP lawmakers in Abuja, on Tuesday.
“We are going back, as we resume the session to commence a strong, virile and purpose-driven opposition to give the people a voice in the parliament,” the Caucus said.
The lawmakers issued a three-months ultimatum to the Federal Government to normalise the security situation in the country.
According to him, government must immediately take steps to ensure that the security situation in the country is normalised.
“We x-rayed the security situation in our country and we resolved that we can no longer take this situation where Nigeria is today almost tagged as ‘one life, one minute silence’.
“After three-months, the caucus will take further steps to sensitise and mobilise Nigerians to take their security into their hands,” the legislators said.
He said the caucus also agreed to call on all party caucuses, the board of trustees, national executive committee and the national working committee of the party to embark on reconciliatory measures.
This, according to him, is with the view to resolve all litigations that are pending and have hindered the party’s quest for a substantive national Chairman.
He called on leaders of the PDP to continue to demonstrate unconditional loyalty to the party and ensure that the party is placed where she enjoyed the position of the largest party in Africa.
He said that PDP members in the House of Reps were united, indivisible, committed and out to perform their duty as the watchdog on behalf of the Nigerian people.(NAN)