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APC’ll Employ Federal Might to Defeat Fayose, Fayemi Boasts

Published

8 years ago

April 14, 2018

Eric

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi , has boasted that the All Progressives Congress(APC) will deploy all the governmental advantages it has to wrest power in Ekiti from the Peoples Democratic Party come July 2018

He also threatened that once the PDP was roundly defeated, the governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, would be prosecuted for mismanaging the economy of the state.

Mr. Fayemi, a former governor of the state, spoke on Saturday at a rally in Ado Ekiti, where he declared his ambition to seek the APC ticket for the July 14 governorship election.

He however assured that whoever emerged from the party’s primaries would be supported by other aspirants to ensure victory at the polls.

Mr. Fayemi is the 37th aspirant seeking the APC governorship ticket.

He was governor between October 16, 2010 and October 15, 2014, after he was defeated by Mr. Fayose at the polls.

“They said the June 21, 2014 governorship poll was free, fair and credible, so that of July 14, 2018 too will be free, fair and transparent,” Mr. Fayemi said.

“They will accuse us of so many things. They will accuse us of using federal might, but we will not care.

“We will use local, state and federal powers to take over Ekiti from a rapacious and government being run by a brigand in Ekiti.”

The rally, which was well attended by party supporters, created a traffic snarl that left motorists stranded for several hours.

The minister who used the declaration to highlight his achievements during his tenure as governor, said he would want to bring back the “good days” and ensure the state was rescued from the “misrule” the current government had brought the state to.

He however stressed the need for members of the APC to be united during and after the primaries.

“Let me say this, I am a loyal party man and I am ready to support whoever the party fields as the candidate,” he assured.

“Yes, I am holding an important position in this government through the grace of God and by the magnanimity of our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, and I am satisfied with it if politics that I play is for me and my family alone.

“But there is an unfinished business in our State. We have to complete and bring back those projects we initiated when we were in the saddle.

“Again, politics to me, is not about title but about service and sacrifice”.

On the rising acrimony among the APC aspirants, the Mr. Fayemi urged the
State Working Committee to set out a code of ethics to regulate the conducts of every contestant, describing the tirades against his
person as unacceptable.

“It is absolutely unacceptable for aspirants to indulge in abuses, use intemperate languages against one another. If we do this, we will be damaging the brand the APC is known for,” he said.

“Each contestant should sell his brand to the party delegates who will decide our fates.

“We should be ready to support whoever the party picks as the candidate, provided the process is free, fair and transparent if truly we are loyal party men. I will see whoever fights after the primary as a mole who was sent to destroy our party.”

The APC acting chairman, Kemi Olaleye, said the party would do its best to be transparent in the primary.

“We are in a sensitive time and we need ourselves. No one can win
election alone, so I beg of you to not use your writeups on our platforms to destroy our party,” she said.

“Let us be united and know that we have only one enemy, which is Fayose for us to be able to win.

“Our minister has been supportive of the party. We are proud of him for using his Ministerial position to help Ekiti and APC members.”

Premium Times

Headline

Supreme Court Fixes April 22 for Hearing in ADC Leadership Crisis

Published

2 days ago

April 14, 2026

Eric

The Supreme Court has scheduled hearing for April 22 in the appeal filed by the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, in relation to the leadership dispute in the party.

Mark’s appeal is against the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed his appeal against the September 4, 2025 ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja refusing to grant some injunctive reliefs contained in an ex-parte application filed by a chieftain of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe.

A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba chose the date on Tuesday after granting accelerated hearing in the appeal marked: SC/CV/180/2026.

The court ordered Mark’s lawyer, Jibril Okutepa (SAN) to file the appellant’s brief and serve on Wednesday.

It ordered the respondents to each file and serve on the appellant, a respondent’s brief within three days of being served with the appellant’s brief.

The appellant, according to the court, is to file a reply brief, if needs be, within one day of being served with the respondents’ briefs.

Headline

Amid Denials, ADC Reportedly Secures Rainbow Event Centre As Venue for National Convention

Published

3 days ago

April 13, 2026

Eric

Baring any last minute change, the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as National chairman and National Secretary respectively will hold the party’s National convention at the National Rainbow Event Centre in Garki on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has being denied two venues without any cogent reasons despite early arrangements, according to sources.

First, it was alleged that the Abuja Transcorp Hilton Hotels, which was initially approached, turned down the ADC request to use it’s facility.

The ADC, having sensed sabotage, has kept the Rainbow Event Center under rap as it’s definite venue.

The last National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party was held at the same venue.

Located adjacent the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters, the event centre will host the second NEC meeting of the ADC and it’s forthcoming national convention.

According to The Guardian’ report, the ADC leadership has communicated the venue to state chapters with the caveat not to escalate it.

The ADC is in a battle of survival against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and has approached the Supreme Court for intervention.

The INEC national chairman Prof Joash Amupitan has suspended recognition of the David Mark-led ADC rendering a leadership vacuum in the party.

INEC said it’s decision was on the basis of an Appeal Court pronouncement that ordered statusquo ante-bellum be maintained.

Reports say that why the venue is being quietly decorated moderately for the event, the ADC intends to fully move in the early hours of Tuesday.

The Guardian

Headline

Shettima Lacks Respect, I Won’t Engage Him, Atiku Responds to VP’s Challenge

Published

3 days ago

April 13, 2026

Eric

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has hit back at incumbent Vice President Kashim Shettima over the latter’s poser over achievements in office, saying he won’t take the challenge because Shettima was disrespectful.

Shettima had reportedly challenged Atiku to provide details of eight projects he executed for the development of Northern Nigeria during his tenure as vice president for eight years, as well as name eight individuals he empowered while in office.

But, speaking in an interview with GTA Hausa podcast, Atiku said he would not engage the vice president on the matter.

“I will not respond to Kashim Shettima because he is disrespectful. I am older than him and I have more experience in governance than he does, so I will not respond to him,” he said.

The former vice president further argued that cultural values in Northern Nigeria discourage younger individuals from publicly challenging their elders in such a manner.

“It is not part of our tradition in the North to disrespect elders. You cannot look at someone who is above you in both age and accomplishments and start taunting him. That is not our tradition, so I won’t engage with him,” Atiku emphasised.