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APC zones chairmanship seat to North-Central, secretary to South-East

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APC CONVENTION

 

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress may have decided to zone the National Secretary position of the APC to the South-East while the North-Central will get the chairmanship of the party.

The deputy national chairman (South) is expected to go to the South-South, it has been learnt.

A top chieftain of the party who revealed this, also stated that the party would be alternating certain positions.

He said positions that were occupied by northerners in the last National Working Committee would be given to southerners and vice versa.

The chieftain said, “Discussions are ongoing. So far, we have agreed that the North-Central will take the national chairmanship position while the South-South will take the national deputy chairman (South) and then the South-East will get the national secretary position.

“Also, the plan is that all positions that the North occupied in the last NWC will now be occupied by the South. Of course, everyone who wants to contest has the right to do so but this is the plan for now. Other positions will be determined in due course.”

The APC is also expected to set up sub-committees that will handle several aspects of the convention ranging from publicity to budget, security and logistics.

The members of the caretaker committee met in Abuja on Tuesday but had yet to finalise discussions and agreed to meet again on Wednesday.

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Earlier on Tuesday, the Chairman, Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, announced that the APC national convention will hold on February 26, 2022.

Buni, who stated this on Tuesday while delivering his keynote address at the Progressives Women Congress held in Abuja declined stating the venue of the convention.

In his message to delegates, Buni urged women to gun for public offices saying the APC is the most friendly women party in Nigeria.

He said, “You remain the best mobilisers of support to any political party and its candidates. You have always been there in the queue on election days to determine the fate of candidates. With this, we are confident of winning the 2023 general elections with huge success.

“Let me assure you that the party shall not forget this gesture by supporting women and youths for their political aspirations and to realise their political dreams.

“We look forward to having more women contesting in the forthcoming national convention of the party on February 26, 2022, and the general elections.”

He urged women to enlighten their relatives and the larger society that elections are not do or die affair.

“As we approach the convention, and draw closer to the general elections, I wish to remind you of your Progressives roles and supporting progressive minded leaders aspiring for various offices for the betterment of our country.

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“We should promote peaceful elections and service delivery against personal gains. Let me once again assure, that APC will continue to support you and support you generously,” Buni said.

In her remarks, the President’s wife, Aisha Buhari, said as the country welcomes another election year, leaders must go beyond paying lip service to putting women in vital offices within our party and the government.

She said, “Since 2015, I have had the privilege of engaging Nigerian women across the entire country. My conviction is that Nigeria’s future is entirely dependent on actualizing the potentials of our women. It is no mere coincidence that countries that have grown strong, prosperous and influential have prioritized women participation in nation building.

“I therefore wish to call upon the APC to double its efforts promoting women. This I believe should serve as one of the objectives of this Conference. As Nigeria heads towards another election year, we must go beyond paying lip service to putting women in vital offices within our party and the government.

“We must put in place, workable strategies to ensure that this actually happens. Charity must begin at home and so the APC must start by ensuring that women occupy strategic offices within the party and more strategic roles in governance.”

Aisha called upon Nigerian women to continue the struggle by showing greater interest, commitment and unity in the decision making process of this country saying “Our vantage point lies in our sheer numerical strength.”

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Meanwhile, the APC has released its timetable for concurrent legislative by-elections in Cross River, Imo, Ondo, Plateau states in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and the Independent National Electoral Commission’s guidelines.

The APC’s approved timetable/schedule of activities for the concurrent Legislative by-elections was signed by the National Secretary, APC Caretaker Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe.

The by-elections will hold in Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency, Ondo State; Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, Plateau; and Pankshin South State Constituency, Plateau.

Others are Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, Cross River; Akpabuyo State Constituency, Cross River; and Ngor-Okpala State Constituency, Imo.

The notice of election to the state chapters was made on Tuesday. The sale of forms began on the same day while the deadline for submission January 24. The screening of aspirants is January 26 while the publication of claims and objections is January 28.

The primaries are expected to take place on February 1, 2022 while appeals will begin on February 3.

The expression of interest and nomination forms for the House of Representatives positions cost N3, 850, 000. For the State House of Assembly positions, the forms cost N850, 000. Female spirants and physically challenged aspirants 50 per cent of the prescribed fees for each positions.

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Politics

Why Atiku dumped PDP – Wike

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Minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar had no option but to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

On July 14, Abubakar resigned from the PDP, saying the party has strayed from its founding ideals and is bogged down by “irreconcilable differences”.

Speaking on ‘Politics Today’, a Channels Television programme on Monday, Wike said Abubakar’s exit from the opposition party was inevitable because he could not use the PDP for his personal ambition.

“Atiku has no choice but to leave because he wanted to use the PDP, but knowing that I’m there, he cannot get that platform,” the FCT minister said.

He also accused the former vice-president and other defectors of weakening the party.

“Those are people who destroyed the party,” he said, adding, “How many times has he left PDP and returned?”

Wike also took aim at Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, who formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday.

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“Diri has said he has left PDP, and I’m one of the happiest persons today,” he said.

“The same him and Makinde said they would not allow anybody to destroy the PDP and fall to the gutter. Who has entered the gutter today?”

Wike accused Diri of hypocrisy, saying he once branded others “undertakers” trying to bury the PDP but has now joined the APC.

“If I heard what he said, he claimed that some people came into the party as undertakers,” Wike said.

“I didn’t just come into the party; I have been a bona fide member since 1998.”

The minister recounted his political journey, noting that he began his career as a local government chairman and later served as governor of Rivers for eight years.

“When Diri was in PDP, he was one of those who said I was working for APC to destroy PDP,” Wike said.

“He was the chairman of the zoning committee of the party.”

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The former Rivers governor also said Diri should be grateful for his defection.

“If he were to say I am working with APC, Diri should come to me and say, ‘Thank you, master,’” Wike said.

“He should pay me and say, ‘Thank you for opening my eyes to see the light,’ if he were true.”

Wike said his record of loyalty to the PDP remains unquestionable despite the party’s internal wrangling.

“When I was a governor under Buhari, everything was done to kill PDP, but I said no way—I fought,” he said.

“Leadership is key to everything you are doing. Everybody wants to make excuses. The man they claimed is killing PDP is still in the PDP.”

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Interpol arrests 11 leaders of terrorist groups in Nigeria

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The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has arrested 11 suspected “high-level members of several terrorist groups” in Nigeria.

The suspected insurgents were among the 83 persons arrested in six African countries by the international police and AFRIPOL in an operation codenamed ‘Operation Catalyst’.

The six African countries are Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, and South Sudan.

In a statement, Interpol said the two-month operation targeted “terrorism financing and the illegal activity supporting it”, adding that over 15,000 persons of interest and entities were combed.

The Interpol said the operation uncovered $260 million in both fiat and virtual currencies “potentially linked to terrorism-related activities” adding that over $600,000 has been seized.

“Of the 83 arrests, 21 were for terrorism-related crimes, 28 were for financial fraud and money laundering, 16 were linked to cyber-enabled scams and a further 18 were related to the illicit use of virtual assets,” the statement reads.

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“In one significant case from Angola, 25 individuals of multiple nationalities were detained following investigations into informal value transfer systems that were identified as connected to potential terrorist financing and money laundering.

“The operation included the inspection of 30 commercial establishments, where police seized approximately USD 588,000, 100 mobile phones and 40 computers. Sixty bank accounts were also frozen.

“In Kenya, a suspected money laundering operation using a virtual asset service provider was identified as having potential links to terrorism financing.

“The scheme, worth approximately USD 430,000, involved 12 people, two of whom have so far been arrested. In a separate case in Kenya, two individuals were arrested for the online recruitment of young people from East and North Africa into terrorist groups.

“The funds used for the recruitment and radicalization were traced through a cryptocurrency trading platform, back to individuals in Tanzania.

“In Nigeria, the operation led to the arrest of 11 suspected terrorists, including high-level members of several terrorist groups.

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“One notable transnational case involved a massive cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme, which claimed to be a legitimate online trading platform, affected at least 17 countries around the world, including Cameroon, Kenya, and Nigeria.

“The scheme accumulated more than 100,000 victims around the world, with an estimated loss to victims of USD 562 million.

“The investigations related to Operation Catalyst found that several large-valued wallets were potentially linked to terrorism financing activities. The case is still ongoing, with investigations currently in progress.”

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Notable ADC figures to join APC next week — Yilwatda

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The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC),
Nentawe Yilwatda, has disclosed that “notable figures” from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will be joining the ruling party next week.

Yilwatda spoke on Friday during a meeting with APC stakeholders in Jos, the Plateau state capital.

“Next week, I will be receiving some notable figures from the ADC,” he said.

“Some of those who had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) joined the ADC and are now returning to the APC.

“Many of them have completed their medicals and will be officially unveiled next week.

“In another two weeks, we will unveil yet another big figure who just finished his own medicals.

“He tried to unveil himself the day before yesterday, you probably saw it in the news. But officially, we’ll be receiving him soon.

“More people are coming. More senators, governors, and members of the national assembly are joining. The APC is the bride of the moment.

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“The beauty of APC is that it is a party that welcomes people, regardless of when they join.

“You don’t need to have been in APC from the beginning to rise. I am a testimony to this fact; many others are as well.

“If you join APC today, you are a full member with full rights and privileges. That is the spirit and the letter of our party’s constitution.”

The ruling party has witnessed an uptick in the number of politicians joining its fold ahead of the 2027 elections.

The PDP recently lost several members, including governors, to the APC.

Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu, joined the APC this week, with Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, reportedly set to formalise his move to the ruling party sooner. 

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