Politics
Kogi guber: APC is the only option in Kogi, Ganduje boasts
The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Saturday told the people of Kogi State that the party remains the only option for the state in the November 11, State Governorship Election.
He made the announcement at the inauguration of Prince Dapo Abiodun-led Kogi State National Gubernatorial Campaign Council in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.
He also gave the campaign council the marching orders to deliver the party’s candidate in the Governorship election.
According to the chairman, “The APC remains the only option for development, the only alternative for good governance and the only political vehicle to convey the people of Kogi State, and indeed, Nigeria, to the place of our collective aspiration of prosperity and development.”
The Chairman also called on all party members and stakeholders in the state to rally around the party’s governorship candidate to succeed in the forthcoming election in Kogi state.
Ganduje said: “I would like to therefore call on all our party members and stakeholders to rally around our candidate so that our party will succeed. By so doing, all the legacy projects would be sustained and there will be continuation in governance. As a party, we are committed to working hard individually and collectively to realise these goals and objectives.”
Unveiling his plan for the party, the National Chairman said as a political party with a progressivism ideology, he would deploy this ideology to improve the lives of millions of Nigerians and improve society through appropriate political action and social reform based on advancement in science, technology, economic development and social organisation.
He also said that efforts will be made to make the party grassroots based with all organs of the party functioning to capacity.
“It is pertinent to also note that we have initiated and concluded plans to structure our party into a truly grassroots progressive party by opening full-fledged and functional offices in all 8,813 wards in Nigeria.
“This is to enable our members across the country to have both a symbolic representation of our party in their neighbourhood and, a place for active interaction between and among members on one hand, and members and leadership at different tiers of government on the other hand.
“In addition, our vision is to institutionalise the progressive ideology in the body politic of our country. We indeed believe that progressivism as a political ideology can be deployed to improve the lives of millions of our compatriots and improve our society through appropriate political action and social reform based on advancement in Science, Technology, Economic Development and Social Organisation. To crystalise this vision, we are at the concluding stage of establishing a National Institute of Progressive Study.
“This Institute, going forward, will facilitate the channelling and integrating the nation’s progressive-minded politicians into the substance, orientation and practice of progressive ideology and political best practices. This will certainly amplify our difference from other political parties that are only interested in capturing power.
“We will ensure that with the kind of graduates our National Institute will be producing from time to time, the Nigerian political space will be populated by truly progressive-minded politicians.”
The former Kano state governor then called on all Nigerians “to remain patient and continue to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his effort and determination to address the economic challenges facing our dear country. In no distance time, by the special grace of God, such policies and programmes would eventually yield positive results.”
Inaugurating the campaign council, Ganduje expressed confidence in the capacity of the Chairman and the Co-Chairmen as well as the committee members to deliver and ensure the victory of the party.
“It is also my belief that the innovations the Campaign Council will initiate during the campaign period will convince the electorate that the APC remains the only option for development, the only alternative for good governance and the only political vehicle to convey the people of Kogi State, and indeed, Nigeria, to the place of our collective aspiration of prosperity and development.
APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said the Council team comprises individuals who have demonstrated an impeccable and unwavering dedication to the cause, and the ability to lead APC to victory.
According to him, “We need the support and engagement of each member of our party, and indeed, every Kogites who yearns for positive change. We also appeal to those who participated in the primary to put it behind them and work for the victory of the party. This is where their commitment to the party can get rewarded both with good government and patronage.
“Our campaign, as customary, will be issue-based. We will engage in constructive dialogue, listen to the concerns of Kogites, and work tirelessly to address their needs and aspirations.”
In his address, Governor Yahaya Bello thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and expressed confidence and assurance that the party will ride to a landslide victory in the November 11 election.
Bello said: “If you see these cream-de-la-cream that have come to support us in this coming election. I you that victory is ours. Nobody is contesting against us.
“We have Hon Usman Ododo who is coming to consolidate our achievements.
“This election is a landslide victory. Nobody tries GYB with violence and goes scot-free. Go out and cast your vote. This election shall be a landslide victory for our party.”
Responding after the inauguration, the Chairman of the Campaign Council and Ogun state governor, Dapo Abiodun, thanked the leadership of the party and assured that his team would not fail to deliver as expected.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by six governors of Kogi State, Ogun State, Lagos State, Niger State, Benue and Kwara State respectively.
Also in attendance were former governors, Senators and many other party stalwarts across the country.
The immediate past deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Rivers State, Dr Emana Ambrose Amawhe has resigned her membership of the party with immediate effect.
In a letter dated 28th March, 2025 addressed to the Chairman of Edem Odo Ward in Akpabuyo Local Government Council of Cross River State, she said, her resignation was with immediate effect.
She pointed out in the letter that her resignation should not be taken lightly, while she reaffirmed her commitment to and readiness to serve the government of Cross River and Nigeria in general in any capacities.
She said, “I am writing to formally resign my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.
”I sincerely appreciate the opportunity given to me over time to contribute my quota to the growth of the party and the chance to serve as the Deputy Governorship Candidate in the last general elections.
”It was a privilege to be part of the PDP’s vision and engage with our people in meaningful ways. However, after much reflection in light of the current state of affairs within the party, I believe it is time for me to move on.
“This decision was not made lightly, but I remain committed to serving my community and contributing to the progress of our state and nation in other capacities.”
Ambrose-Amawhe was the running mate to Senator Sandy Onor in the 2023 governorship election in Cross River.
She had also contested for the House of Representatives seat for the Bakassi/Akpabuyo/Calabar South Federal Constituency under the PDP.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Rivers State Chapter, Chief Tony Okocha, has defended the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu in the state, citing escalating security threats.
According to Chief Okocha, Rivers State was on the brink of anarchy due to increasing security concerns in various parts of the state.
Okocha made this statement while addressing journalists at the APC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Justifying the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the declaration of a state of emergency, Okocha commended the President for his “timely” intervention and criticized those opposing the decision.
“The state of emergency called by Mr. President saved Rivers State from anarchy. When you see non-state actors brandishing guns and making statements that promote lawlessness, then you should know there is a problem.
“I see some people jumping onto television platforms to cast aspersions on Mr. President and condemn what they do not understand. Mr. President knows more than they do.
“The truth of the matter is that Rivers State was headed towards anarchy. We all know Rivers is one of the states that sustain this country. Some of the same people criticizing the President now would have also condemned him if he had done nothing.”
Chief Okocha also questioned the silence of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) when the Rivers State House of Assembly complex was demolished under Governor Fubara’s administration.
“Thank God, President Goodluck Jonathan has been president, General Obasanjo has been president, and they know that every day on their table, they receive security reports.
“I hear the NBA saying the suspension is an affront to democracy. But when the assembly complex was burned and the next day, eleven pieces of equipment were deployed to demolish it, the NBA was silent. They were alive, yet we didn’t hear anything from them”, he said.
Reacting to criticism over why the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, was not sanctioned despite allegations that he contributed to the unrest, Okocha argued that Wike was not involved in the crisis.
He said, “For those asking why the Governor and members of the State House of Assembly were suspended but not the Minister of the FCT—was he in the frame? The answer is no”
Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 general election, Adewole Adebayo said, God has told him that the party will produce the next president in 2027 general election.
Speaking over the weekend in Abeokua when he met the members and executive who were led by the State Chairman, Yinka Ola-Williams, said he could confirm that a President of SDP will mount Aso Rock villa in 2027.
“One thing that God is telling me is that there will be an SDP president in the villa in 2027.
“For the first time in a long time, we will have people who care for the people. Let’s remain focused. The problems of Nigeria are our problems, not individuals.
“We are not against Tinubu as a person but we are against hunger, inflation, poverty, insecurity, unemployment. That’s what we are against,” he said.
Buttressing Adebayo’s position on modalities of joining the party, the SDP Chairman in Ogun State, Mr. Yinka Ola-Williams, disowned 30,000 membership cards and registers allegedly being flaunted by one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants in the 2023 governorship election in the State.
Ola-Williams said the party’s door is widely opened to anybody who wants to join, but such a person or group, no matter how highly placed, must follow the procedure as laid down in the party’s constitution.
He emphatically stated that the party had nothing to do with the membership cards and registers claimed by the aspirant, who said he got them from the party’s National Secretariat.
“We want people to join us, and we want to work together to provide a better government than what we have now that will remove poverty, provide a better healthcare system for people, improve education and all.
“But not that they come to the party, hijack the party and take the structure away. That’s what we will not agree,” Ola-Williams said.
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