No fewer than 1,500 members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Alapa/Onire/Odegiwa Ward, Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State, have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The decampees announced their decision to join the APC on Sunday during a ward meeting attended by the Chairman of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, Abdullateef Alakawa; a member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Shittu Motunrayo; and other party executives and supporters.

The new APC members said they left the PDP, led in the state by former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, due to what they described as mistreatment of members, imposition of candidates and poor reward for loyalty.

They also said they were attracted to the APC by what they described as the party’s visible achievements and opportunities for members, particularly youths.

Addressing the decampees, Alakawa welcomed them to the APC, assuring them that they would be treated as members of the same political family.

He said, “Today, we are receiving no fewer than 1,500 members of the PDP from Alapa/Onire/Odegiwa Ward into the APC. Their decision to join us is a clear indication of their confidence in the APC and its programmes.

“There is no newcomer in the APC. Everyone is one, and we are all working towards a common goal. Those who perform well and occupy political positions are also leaders of the party.”

The LNRBDA chairman urged the new members to remain committed to the party and contribute to its growth at the grassroots.

Alakawa also commended the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for what he described as his performance in Asa Local Government Area.

“Governor AbdulRazaq has done well for the people of Asa, and the best way to reward his efforts is to support and vote for him in the forthcoming Kwara Central Senatorial District election,” he stated.

The lawmaker representing the area, Shittu, also joined other party leaders in welcoming the defectors into the APC and urged them to work with existing members for the development of the party.

The reception for the decampees underscored the APC’s efforts to expand its grassroots structure in the local government, as more members of the opposition party continue to announce their defection to the ruling party.

The latest defection comes ahead of the 2027 general elections and adds to the political realignment taking place across Kwara State as the major political parties intensify efforts to consolidate their grassroots support.

Source: punchng.com

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Stakeholders in Abia North, under the aegis of the Alliance for Good Governance, at the weekend, converged at the Isieke Civic Centre, Ugwueke, in Bende Local Government Area, where they reiterated their resolve to support, protect and sustain the good governance model of Governor Alex Otti beyond 2031.

Presenting the communique issued at the end of the meeting, which drew eminent sons and daughters of Abia North, the secretary and spokesperson of the group and former Vice-Chancellor, Abia State University, Uturu, Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa, said, “The purpose of this meeting is to reiterate that Abia has never found it so good in terms of good governance and that this good governance must be sustained at all costs.”

He said the interest of the group was to ensure continuation of good governance in the state, adding that it was the resolve of the stakeholders that the good governance transcended beyond 2031.

They called for all hands to be on deck to actualise the second-term bid of Otti and others, through voter education, especially those at the grassroots.

“We are non-partisan, we are the elders of Abia North, and we are the lone voice crying in the wilderness, calling on all and sundry not to allow this singular opportunity that we have prayed for over the years, which God has graciously granted us, in giving us a person like Governor Alex Otti, to slip through our fingers.

“It was also agreed that it is not enough to merely wish that Governor Alex Otti will remain in office beyond 2027. All hands must be on deck to actualise it.

“We resolved to embark on massive voter education, particularly at the grassroots and among the less literate. We also agreed to mobilise our youths not to succumb to pressure or inducement from other parties and not to sell their votes.

“If anyone offers them money, they should collect it, but at the right time, vote for Alex Otti and all candidates in his lineup.

“In the past, we fretted, we trembled, we were afraid and intimidated to be identified as Abians. But today, we can raise our shoulders high and say proudly, we are Abians. Continue breaking new ground in the remaining months of your first term and into your second term,” Prof Mkpa said.

A former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr Uchechukwu Ogah, and a renowned economist, banker and former Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings, Elder Urum Eke, said the stakeholders were mobilising their structures ahead of the general elections, adding that Abians would no longer allow mediocre to occupy positions of trust.

The convener of the Alliance for Good Governance, Chief Ebueme Ezikpe, and the meeting host, Sir Johnson Chukwu, described the Alliance for Good Governance as a structure that brings together opinion leaders and people with some level of influence to shape the direction of governance in the state, noting that Otti’s achievements have, among other things, introduced sanity into governance.

Source: punchng.com

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The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, on Sunday, urged politicians in Oyo State to make their campaigns issue-based and stop attacking, abusing or calling one another names ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The council also urged political parties and their candidates to focus their campaigns on policies, programmes and ideas capable of addressing the challenges confronting the people of the state and Nigeria at large.

The CCII President-General, Chief Ajeniyi Ajewole, made this call in a statement issued by the council’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Olomide, in Ibadan, the state capital.

Ajewole said political campaigns should provide an opportunity for candidates to explain their vision and plans to the electorate rather than becoming platforms for personal attacks and name-calling.

He said, “Our politicians should make their campaigns issue-based. They should stop attacking one another, abusing themselves and calling each other names.

“Politics should not be about abusing or pulling down your opponents. It should be about telling the people what you intend to do for them if allowed to serve,” he said.

The CCII President-General urged candidates seeking elective positions in 2027 to clearly explain their programmes and policies to the electorate, particularly how they intend to address the challenges facing the state and the country.

“The people want to know what you will do differently. Tell them your plans for Oyo. Tell them what you will do to improve education, healthcare, security, infrastructure, employment and the economy.

“Those seeking national offices should also tell Nigerians what they will do to move the country forward. Let the people hear your ideas and compare your programmes instead of listening to attacks and name-calling,” he added.

Ajewole stressed that political differences should not be allowed to destroy the bonds of unity and peaceful coexistence among the people of Oyo.

He said candidates and their supporters should exercise restraint in their public statements, warning that inflammatory rhetoric could create unnecessary tension and distract the electorate from issues that directly affect their lives.

“We must remember that after the elections, we will remain brothers and sisters, and we will continue to live together. Political disagreements should not make us enemies.

“We, therefore, appeal to all our politicians to conduct their campaigns with maturity, decorum and respect for one another. Let the campaign be about ideas, programmes, policies and what each candidate can offer the people.

“Politicians should caution their handlers, especially their media aides, social media handlers and bloggers, against attacking perceived political opponents. Political differences are normal, particularly as we approach the 2027 elections, but such differences should not degenerate into personal attacks, insults, character assassination or the spread of inflammatory content.

“I urge politicians to prevail on their media teams and supporters to focus on issues, policies and constructive engagement, rather than using the media and social media to attack or ridicule their opponents. This will promote healthy political discourse and help preserve peace and unity in Oyo,” he stated.

The CCII President-General said voters deserved the opportunity to make informed decisions based on the records, programmes and vision of candidates, rather than on insults and personal attacks.

Ajewole further called on political parties, campaign organisations and supporters to place the interests of Oyo and Nigeria above personal and partisan considerations, urging them to promote peaceful and issue-based political engagement throughout the electioneering period.

Source: punchng.com

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