Politics

I’m Not Going Back To APC, Says Governor Ortom

Published

5 years ago

August 5, 2020

AS PDP MOCKS GEMADE, OTHER DEFECTORS

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has refuted claims in some quarters that he plans to dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The Governor gave the clarification in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase.

According to him, it became necessary owing to a recent statement credited to the Benue State Chairman of APC, Comrade Abba Yaro in which he insinuated that the Governor will soon be returning to the party.

“It is pertinent to state categorically that Governor Ortom is not contemplating leaving PDP for whatever reason.

“Ortom believes that the political, economic and security challenges currently facing the country cannot merely be solved by people decamping from one political party to another. He says what is most important at this point is for Nigerians of all walks of life to join hands and surmount the challenges confronting the nation,” he said.

The Governor, therefore, reiterated that he is comfortably leading the PDP in Benue State to achieve development milestones for the people and he remains focused on the mandate of providing good governance to all parts of the state.

…Gemade,Others Are Political Nomads – Benue PDP

The Benue State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) of Senator Barnabas Gemade, Terngu Shawon and others.

Gemade

Gemade, a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, announced his defection from the Social Democratic Party, SDP, to the APC on Saturday.

The PDP said it views the decision with amusement, describing it as irrelevant.

In a statement by Bemgba Iortyom, the state’s Publicity Secretary of PDP, the party said ordinarily it should not concern itself with an exercise which it described as a mere charade by well known perennial political nomads.

It, however, said its attention was drawn to a statement by Senator Gemade where he was quoted as saying that his move to APC has sent jitters down the spines of PDP and other political parties in the state.

Responding to the former lawmaker’s comments, the PDP said “underscoring the irrelevance of this charade of a decamping is the loud question; As a former National Chairman of a ruling party, former Minister and former Senator, why was the Benue State Leader of the APC, Senator George Akume, conspicuously absent at the decamping ceremony yesterday?

“Was Senator Gemades’s diminishing political value not highlighted by his abysmally poor performance in his Senatorial re-election bid in 2019 on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), where he lost even in his native Mbawar and placed third in the race behind a political greenhorn like Mimi Orubibi, after he had junketed from APC to PDP and then to SDP all in the space of a few months?

“Senator Gemade needs to be reminded that his party SDP has not won even a single councilorship seat in all elections since he joined the party in 2019. It lost in all the polls he actively participated in last year.

“He ought to also remember that PDP won the governorship election, 3 senatorial seats out of 3, 7 House of Representatives seats of 11 and 23 Benue State House of Assembly seats out of 30.

Politics

Anambra Guber: Soludo Clinches APGA Ticket, Picks Ibezim as Running Mate

Published

1 month ago

April 6, 2025

Sunrise

Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has emerged as the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for the upcoming Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025.

The APGA primary election was held on Saturday at the Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, where Soludo stood as the sole contestant.

Announcing the results, the Chief Returning Officer, Uche Nwegbo, declared:

“Out of 3,260 delegates, 3,175 were accredited. A total of 3,172 votes were cast, with four votes declared invalid. Governor Soludo polled 3,168 ‘yes’ votes and no ‘no’ votes.”

“In line with INEC guidelines, I hereby declare Prof. Chukwuma Soludo as the duly elected candidate of APGA for the 2025 governorship election.”

In his acceptance speech, Soludo expressed gratitude and confidence in the party’s support, saying:

“I am humbled by this historic show of solidarity. Anambra is APGA, and APGA is Anambra. We are just getting started—Anambra has not seen anything yet.”

Highlighting his administration’s achievements, the governor noted that his government has been delivering results without borrowing funds and promised even more development in the next term.

Soludo also used the occasion to announce his running mate, re-nominating Dr. Onyeka Ibezim, his current deputy.

“If it’s not broken, why mend it?” Soludo said, reinforcing confidence in their current partnership.

He concluded by thanking supporters, party members, INEC observers, and donors—especially market women and grassroots groups—who continue to back his second-term bid.ren, Ughelli South LGA, Delta State.

Politics

Soludo Appoints Law Mefor as Anambra Commissioner for Information

Published

8 months ago

September 18, 2024

Nats Odaudu

By Elizabeth Okwe

The governor of Anambra state, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has appointed renowned media consultant and Forensic Psychologist Dr Law Mefor as the state’s commissioner for information.

In a statement on Tuesday by Christian Aburime, the chief press secretary (CPS) to the governor, Soludo expressed confidence in Mefor’s ability to foster a robust information environment in the state.

The governor also commended Nwosu for his contributions as commissioner for information during his time and wished him the best in his future endeavours.

“The governor of Anambra state, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, has approved the appointment of Dr. Law Mefor, who has been sworn in as the new commissioner for information in Anambra state,” the statement reads.

“Dr. Mefor replaces Sir Paul Nwosu, who has moved on after over ten years of meritorious service to the Anambra state government.

“Dr. Law Mefor, a distinguished academic and public intellectual, brings a wealth of experience to his new position.

“With an impressive academic portfolio, he holds a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, alongside degrees in General and Applied Psychology from the University of Jos, Forensic Psychology from Nasarawa State University, a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Calabar, and a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the International Institute of Journalism, Abuja.

“Over the years, Dr. Mefor has established himself as an educator and media consultant, lecturing for over a decade at the International Institute of Journalism, Abuja.

“He has also made significant contributions as a syndicated columnist, publishing thought-provoking articles in TheCable and various online and mainstream newspapers.

“Wishing him success as he assumes his new role, Governor Soludo expressed confidence in Dr. Mefor’s ability and extensive experience to strengthen the communication machinery of the state and foster a more vibrant information environment for the government’s developmental strides.

“Also, the governor commended Sir Paul Nwosu for his dedication and contributions during his tenure as Commissioner for Information, wishing him the very best in his future endeavours.”

A perfect choice

Meanwhile, the choice of Dr Law Mefor as the state’s commissioner for information by Governor Soludo has been described as a fit-to-type one which will raise the bar in the state’s information management.

According to Public Affairs Consultant and Chief Executive Officer of Sunrise Media Limited, publishers of SunriseNigeria magazine and sunrisengr.com, Dr James Odaudu, Dr Mefor is not only a consumate academician but also a thoroughbred media professional with a wide reach who will definitely deploy his wealth of experience and professional expertise to make a difference.

In a congratulatory message to the new commissioner, Odaudu expressed the hope that he will continue in his well-documented trajectory of devoted service to his people which has been his hallmark even as a private practitioner.

The SunriseNigeria publisher assured the Commissioner of his organisation’s readiness to partner with the Anambra state government to achieve its desired goals in information dissemination and public engagement.

International

Some Top Republicans Secretly Pray for Kamala Harris Massive Win

Published

8 months ago

September 5, 2024

Nats Odaudu

By Dan Ladden-Hall

It seems it’s not just Democrats who are hoping that Donald Trump will be dealt a devastating defeat in November.

Several notable Republican figures also want the former president to lose to Kamala Harris but aren’t saying so publicly, according to Politico. Some GOP lawmakers see the possibility of a new Trump term as bad news for the party, the outlet reports.

Among those concerned are proponents of free market economic policies who are concerned by Trump’s proposed import tariffs, while abortion rights opponents are also skeptical of his inconsistent messaging on that issue, according to Politico.

They’re also reportedly concerned that Trump winning in 2024 could hurt the GOP’s electoral chances in the future.

“There’s a lot of anxiety about what Trump does to Republican ability to win in 2028—and what he also may do to the party in terms of policy long term,” one anonymous conservative leader told Politico. “There is just this concern that like, ‘OK, if the party just goes in that direction, then what kind of party is it going forward? And can conservatives, then, have a home going forward?’”

The outlet also claims concerned Republicans hope Trump’s loss is by a wide margin in order to help stifle any attempts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of his hypothetical defeat.

In a separate column, Politico’s columnist Jonathan Martin claimed the best outcome for the future of the Republican Party is for Trump to “lose soundly” in November.

“For most Republicans who’ve not converted to the Church of MAGA, this scenario is barely even provocative,” Martin writes. “In fact, asking around with Republicans last week, the most fervent private debate I came across in the party was how best to accelerate Trump’s exit to the 19th Hole.”

In a statement, Trump spokesperson Brian Hughes told the outlet that Trump has “unified the GOP like never before” and “expanded his coalition of support across partisan lines to Democrats and Independents.”

“Our campaign and down-ballot Republicans are poised for a great result in November, despite a few hand-wringing, anonymous sources who are not bold enough to attach their names to this drivel,” Hughes added.

* Reuters