APC Archives - Page 2 of 3

Rivers APC Ready to Work With Fubara, Says Okocha

September 2, 2025 by admin

Ahead of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s reinstatement to office on September 18, the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has declared its readiness to work with him when he is reinstated. The APC said collaborating with the governor will not stop the main opposition in the state from holding Fubara accountable on issues of governance. The state APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, made the declaration during a news briefing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, on Tuesday. Okocha assured all that the APC would continue to consolidate on its membership base while also offering constructive criticism of the Fubara administration after his return. He said, “The governor who was suspended will return to office on September 18. The APC will work with him when he returns. “There are states where the governor and assembly members are in different parties, so we are going to work with him. “However, that will not take away our right to criticise him when he does wrong. But for us, the LG chairmen will work with him, except that we will not agree to vicious policies.” Okocha described the just-concluded local government elections in the state as an introduction to the 2027 general elections, noting that the APC deliberately chose not to field candidates in strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party but concentrated on areas where it had a comparative advantage. “The Rivers State LG election is a prelude to what will happen in 2027. “Whilst we were campaigning, I told our people that there is a need for us to believe in the centre and leave the periphery. “We did not field candidates in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGAs because we do not have the strength in those areas. “It was our own calculated strategy not to field candidates in those LGAs and concentrate only where we have a comparative advantage. Remember that Rivers State was a PDP state,” Okocha explained. He expressed optimism about the party’s growing influence, contrasting its position in the 2023 elections with its current status. “In 2023, APC in Rivers State had no shoes. Now we are wearing psychedelic shoes. “We are going to double and redouble our membership for the President. As far as my party is concerned, we will be fielding him for a second term in 2027,” he said. Okocha took a swipe at the PDP, saying the party was collapsing and its members were defecting in droves to the APC, which he said now calls the shots. He stressed, “PDP is in tatters and people are leaving them in droves for other parties, and we’re privileged to have them. “We’ll continue our pleas for the PDP members, particularly the FCT Minister, to come over to the APC and have peace. The PDP is in tatters.” Recall that Fubara was suspended from office by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, after he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following rising political tensions in the state. Tinubu had based his action on the attack on oil facilities in the state by militants who were allegedly sympathetic to the governor, accusing Fubara of not doing anything to stop the threats to cause mayhem. The President then appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as Administrator of the state for an initial six-month period. Last Saturday, while speaking to newsmen after casting his vote in the just concluded local government elections, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said that with the poll, the ‘coast’ was now clear for Fubara to be reinstated. Punch

BREAKING: APC National Chairman Ganduje Resigns

June 27, 2025 by admin

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, has stepped down from his position. A source within the APC national headquarters, who does not want his name mentioned in print because he is not authorised to speak on the matter, said the National Working Committee will announce an acting chairman soon. As of Friday, details surrounding his resignation remain unclear at press time. However, a reliable source exclusively informed our correspondent that “Yes, Ganduje has resigned, and most of his personal belongings have been moved from the APC national secretariat. “The National Working Committee will soon confirm this and announce an acting replacement.” When our correspondent visited the APC national headquarters in Abuja, several party supporters were seen gathered in clusters, discussing the development and awaiting official confirmation from the NWC. Attempts to reach the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, for confirmation or denial were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls from our correspondent. Meanwhile, a former media aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad posted on his X handle on Friday, said, “The National Chairman of our great party, the All Progressives Congress(APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has resigned from his position, effective immediately, as confirmed by multiple sources. “The former National Chairman of our party would be succeeded in acting capacity by one of the party’s national vice chairmen until a substantive chairman is elected at the national convention scheduled for December 2025.”

LG Polls: Lagos APC Flags Off Campaign, Presents Flags To Candidates

June 17, 2025 by admin

The APC in Lagos State on Tuesday officially presented party flags to its 57 chairmanship and 376 councillorship candidates for the 12 July Local Government Elections. The party also launched its campaign for the council at the event held at the APC State Secretariat, Ogba. Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mrs Abimbola Salu Hundeyin, the Secretary to the State Government, assured the candidates of the government’s support to help them emerge victorious in the election. “The love I have for this party is unquantifiable. I am with all the candidates; this is not just an official flag-off, it symbolises the beginning of hard work and dedication. “We are solidly behind every aspirant, we are in this together, and all will be successful by God’s grace. “As we raise these flags today, we are proud and happy. Let us remember our values and principles; we are known for being a progressive movement. “We are not only here to win an election, we are here to change the lives of our people and continue the legacy of our President. “We must deliver all our promises to the people. Do all you can as party faithful to ensure victory for this party,” Sanwo-Olu said. Speaking, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, the Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), urged the party’s flag bearers to work for the people when elected. “Youths should be on stage now and do the work of the party, because at the moment, you are not yet at the forefront. “This is an opportunity for you to promote the name of our party. It is sad today that those looking for money are many in politics, and not people who really want to serve. “The love of our community and society should be paramount to us. Those who vied for the ticket but could not get it should be patient because there is still time, and tomorrow,” Olusi said. He urged the youth to divide themselves into groups and move into different streets to mobilise support for the party. Olusi said grassroots governance is critical, hence the need for office holders at the local government level to take care of the people and make a positive impact. The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, who noted that everyone must accept the decisions of the party at all times, urged all to support party candidates. “The party is supreme; we must stand by the decision of the party. We must obey the party and support all our candidates. We must not fight amongst ourselves. “The election is a testing ground to return President Bola Tinubu in 2027 with a large majority,” Obasa said. Handing over the flags to candidates alongside other leaders, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, State APC Chairman, applauded party leaders and aspirants for ensuring peace before, during, and after the primaries. Ojelabi, who noted that the party had done a lot to reconcile aggrieved aspirants, urged flag bearers to continue reconciliation and win over those who contested against them. According to him, out of the 475 aspirants who vied for chairmanship tickets, only 57 chairmanship candidates were finally selected. He urged the candidates to strive to meet the needs of the people in education, health, infrastructure development, youth development, and other critical areas if elected. He said that the party would continue to monitor the performance of all its elected officers. “It is a real election. We are going all out in this election. Let us reach out, knock on doors, and solicit support,” Ojelabi said. Speaking, the Chairman of the APC Campaign Committee, Alhaji Babatunde Balogun, who welcomed the candidates, expressed confidence that all the flag bearers would be victorious at the polls. Balogun, who urged the party’s campaign Local Organising Committee (LOC) in each council area to start rigorous mobilisation of voters, however, cautioned that no campaign should exceed the 9 June deadline stipulated in the electoral guidelines. “This election is local and at the grassroots, so we need to campaign vigorously at the ward level. There is no limit to the campaign. Let the LOC work tirelessly to ensure victory in the election,” he said. According to him, the LOC should be co-chaired in each council by the APC LGA chairman and the council chairman. “The LOC must work with various groups, including ethnic nationalities, so that we can achieve great results. Let us move across all the wards and garner votes for the party.” The chairmanship candidates who received party flags included: Azeez Babatunde (Agege); Idowu Akinola (Orile-Agege); Johnson Akinpelu (Alimosho); Adunni Akindele (Mosan Okunola); Lukman Abiodun (Ayobo-Ipaja); Abiodun Ejigbadero (Agbado Oke-Odo); and Idris Balogun (Egbe-Idimu). Ayinde Akinsanya (Ikotun-Igando); Usman Hamzat (Ifako-Ijaiye); Oluyemisi Rosiji (Ojokoro); Akeem Dauda (Ikeja); Moyosore Adebanjo (Onigbongbo); Segun Odunmbaku (Ojodu); Tunbosun Aruwe (Mushin); Seyi Jakande (Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye); Kehinde Oloyede-Almaroof (Oshodi). Others are Adebayo Olasoju (Isolo); Taoreed Taiwo (Ejigbo); Babatunde Hunpe (Badagry Central); Rauf Yemaren (Badagry West); Ajose Kumayon; Azeez Kareem (Oto-Awori); Isa Abiola (Iba); Muhibat Adeyemi (Ojo); Rasak Oloyede (Oriade); Lanre Sanusi (Amuwo-Odofin); Olufemi Okeowo (Ifelodun); and Olalekan Akindipe (Ajeromi). Idowu Senbanjo (Apapa); Jimoh Olawale (Apapa Iganmu); Adeola Adetoro (Eti-Osa); Biliaminu Agunbiade (Eti-Osa East); Kolawole Emilagba (Lagos Mainland); Taiwo Oyekan (Lagos Island); Bola Oladunjoye (Ikoyi-Obalende); Aminat Alabi (Iru Victoria Island); Muibi Folawiyo (Lagos Island East); and Sulaiman Bamidele (Surulere) also received the party’s flag. The party’s flags were also presented to Ogidan Owolabi (Coker Aguda), Odunayo Oluwafemi (Itire-Ikate), Bayo Adefuye (Yaba), Surah Animashaun (Epe), Wale Anomo (Ikosi-Ejinrin), Ismail Akinloye (Eredo), Abdullahi Olowa (Ibeju-Lekki), Rasak Kasali (Lekki), Adedayo Ladega (Ikorodu Central), Ameen Olawale (Ikorodu North), and Sulaiman Kazeem (Ikorodu West). Others who received the party’s flags are Sunday Benson (Imota), Motunrayo Gbadebo-Alogba (Ijede), Hammed Aroyewun (Igbogbo Bayeku), Moyo Ogunlewe (Kosofe), Adetola Abubakar (Agboyi-Ketu), Dammy Bada (Ikosi-Isheri), Lateef Ashimi (Somolu), and Adedeji Omope (Bariga). NAN reports that the party also handed over flags to all the vice-chairmanship and councillorship candidates. The flag-off ceremony was witnessed by party chieftains, elected and appointed officials of the … Read more

Osun APC, PDP Bicker Over Joint Tinubu-Adeleke Campaign Billboard

April 10, 2025 by admin

The Osun State chapters of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday bickered over a campaign billboard seeking support for President Bola Tinubu and the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, erected in Iwo. Osun APC, in reaction to the development, condemned the billboard, describing it as a fraud, the pairing of the picture of President Tinubu with that of Governor Adeleke on a billboard. The billboard bearing the inscription ‘Continuity of Progress’ sponsored by a political body called ‘Osun Leaders of Thought’ was observed in Iwo on Wednesday. The party, in a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, said the billboard was an absurdity, noting that there could not be any acceptable reason for the sponsorship of the billboard “other than a flagrant display of irreverent attitude orchestrated by political Jews with a mission to compare the sky with the ground.” But while reacting, spokesperson for the state governor, Olawale Rasheed, said APC was confused about the support Adeleke was getting across party lines and across local and national audiences. Olawale said members of the public at home and abroad were impressed by the huge delivery of the administration across sectors, noting that the appraisal of performance was coming from federal and non-governmental bodies. “The shock of national and local endorsements creates an identity crisis for Osun APC as it has lost credibility from the Presidency to key national caucuses. The opposition is therefore running amok, ranting over billboards from non-governmental groups, displaying ignorance over the investment drive and wandering over the reality of its unelectability,” Olawale said. Osun APC, however, insisted that the masterminds of the controversial billboard had succeeded in exposing their lack of tact and diplomacy in the art of the use of strategy to achieve their targeted political goal through the misuse of propaganda. The statement read, “We want to tell the whole world that we are vehemently condemning and dissociating our party from the nose and eye sore which exemplified political heresy in the heartland of the core progressive politics in the affected part of the state. “If the rumour milling the round that it was one of those who are currently eating the crumbs from the table of Governor Adeleke by the way of the clinching of a political office who hails from the ancient town of Iwo is the one behind the erection of the controversial billboard is anything to go by, it means that the lingering socio-political challenges of the 34-year-old Osun State appear irredeemable. “How can someone or a group of people without any sense of direction just wake up from the wrong side of their bed and pair a political Lilliputian like Governor Adeleke with the political oracle and giant who has seen it all in all the spheres of politics and politicking? “We want to make it abundantly clear to our esteemed members and numerous supporters that the feigned billboard is a counterfeit whose origin did not emanate from us and therefore, should be discountenanced.” Emphasising that the recent attacks and vituperations by the Osun APC against Adeleke were confirmation of the opposition’s identity crisis, Olawale said the opposition party was faced with weakness within the Presidency and frustrations about increasing breakthroughs of the current administration in the state. “The Osun APC is busy complaining about a successful meeting with the UK Prime Minister’s trade envoy, a meeting with concrete outcomes that the trade envoy hailed as a major breakthrough. The APC is shocked that such a productive investment meeting happened right inside the House of Commons. “The opposition is by now scrambling on what to say to another breakthrough recorded by Mr Governor – the deal on cultural tourism partnership at the British Museum and the linkage between the UK and Osun business through the Nigeria-UK Chamber of Commerce. The public awaits the lies and misinformation from the Osun APC. “The imminent re-election of Governor Adeleke will be the outcome of unwavering people’s support, evidence-based performance in office, eternal vigilance of people to protect their votes and the divine grace of God. A Governor who has done so much for his people and who enjoys so much goodwill among national leaders is unbothered by the rantings of an unelectable opposition,” Olawale said. Punch

BREAKING: Edo Tribunal Dismisses Action Alliance’s Petition Against Okpebholo, APC.

April 2, 2025 by admin

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja has dismissed the petition filed by the Action Alliance and Adekunle Omoaje against the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission. In its judgment on Wednesday, the three-member tribunal struck out the petition, describing it as lacking merit and frivolous. AA and Omoaje had challenged Okpebholo’s victory in the September 21, 2024, governorship election, alleging corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act. They argued that the APC candidate did not secure the majority of lawful votes and that INEC’s declaration of Okpebholo as governor was illegal and unconstitutional. The petitioners also claimed that AA was denied the opportunity to field a governorship candidate, as the nomination form had not been signed by the party’s National Chairman. INEC had declared Okpebholo winner with 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, who polled 247,655 votes. In its judgment, the tribunal ruled that Omoaje lacked the legal standing to challenge the election since he did not participate in the poll. It also held that his claims, which stemmed from his non-recognition as AA’s National Chairman by INEC, had no basis under the Electoral Act 2022. Consequently, the tribunal dismissed the petition in its entirety. Punch

Osun APC Slams Adeleke’s $20m Fraud Claims Against Oyetola As Baseless

March 9, 2025 by admin

The Osun chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Sunday debunked the allegations of misappropriation of a $20m World Bank health grant levelled against the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola in a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by Governor Ademola Adeleke. Adeleke also accused the past governor of money laundering, financial misconduct and violations of the Public Procurement Act in the disbursement of the grant meant for health sector improvements in the state. In the acknowledged copy of the petition dated March 7 obtained by our correspondent last Friday, Oyetola reportedly set up a committee during his tenure as governor that expended $20m on renovating 320 primary health care centres across the state. But Osun government’s lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi claimed the programme tagged ‘Save One Million Lives, was a flagrant violation of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007, adding that Oyetola did not call for bidding as mandatorily required under the PPA, let alone allowing competition which would have afforded the state the best qualified contractors to handle the projects. Olajengbesi noted in the petition that the beneficiaries of the contract allegedly included businesses with no construction experience, such as food vendors, salon operators, supermarket owners, and web designers. Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, Osun APC Media Director, Kola Olabisi, described the petition as a ruse by the governor, who he claimed has been seeking avenues to get even with the APC leaders in the state over his failure to retain his grip on the state local governments. Olabisi also slammed Adeleke and his legal team for trying ‘so hard’ to rubbish the image of his predecessor in the media. He said, “When the attempt to force their ways to the local government council offices failed, they are now resorting to another crude tactics of attempting to tarnish the image of the former governor of the state, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, a man of candour and probity who served the state honourably. “In the recent propaganda escalated to the country’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, chronicling falsehood to soil the name of Oyetola and those who worked in his government, the Adeleke government said the $20m Save-One-Million Lives Programme was stolen and was not used for the purpose it was meant for.” According to the APC chieftain, the fund received by Oyetola’s government was comprehensively monitored by the donor. Midway through his speech, the APC media director brought some documents detailing what he said was where the funds were expended. He stated, “We will share with you details of how the Oyetola government enhanced and scaled up health in Osun through the grant. We invite the media and the public to peruse the document, containing pictures of facilities and programmes executed to verify our claims. “Not only was the fund used to improve health in the state, but the contract awards followed the relevant procurement laws of the state. We make bold to state that no commissioner, adviser or appointee of ex-Governor Oyetola was awarded contracts while serving in government. “We challenge the state government, which is now on a witch-hunting mission, to publish names of contractors and date of contract awards to substantiate their evil narrative. Unlike Oyetola who uploaded 110 contract and procurement details on the government portal in three years, the current government has only published seven contract details in two years, raising eyebrows about his commitment to accountability and transparency.” Punch

JUST IN: APC LG Chairmen, Councillors Resume In 14 Osun Councils

February 19, 2025 by admin

As of 10 a.m. on Wednesday, chairmen and councillors elected in the October 15, 2022, local government election in Osun State had resumed in about 14 LGA Secretariat in the state. Checks by The PUNCH revealed that the chairmen and councillors, accompanied by many APC members, have resumed at Ila, Ede South, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Boripe, Oriade and Obokun local government secretariat. Others where they resumed include Ejigbo, Iwo, Ayedire and Boripe local government secretariat. Commenting, ex-Special Adviser to the governor on education, Jamiu Olawumi, said at about 10am, the chairmen and councillors resumed at 14 local government secretariat. Olawumi also said no incidence of violence has been recorded so far. “We have 14 as of 10 am. They are Ila, Ede South, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Boripe, Oriade and Obokun. “Ejigbo, Iwo, Ayedire and Boripe. Security was top-notch. Members of the police tactical team, an armed squad of civil defence, and DSS are all present around the secretariat. We commend Governor Adeleke, but that is not enough. “They should take away thugs they brought here. They have them in town. If you move around, you will see different faces that you have not seen here. They should not encourage those militants and cultists to kill the Osun people. “It is dawn on them that the judgment is enforceable. The governor should make an attempt to see the President, Chief of Staff to the President or the IGP. He should do that much for us so that the vision of developing Osun within his current tenure will be achieved. “Our chairmen and councillors are ready to work with him, though they are different tiers of government,” Olawumi said. Punch

Opposition Woos Obasa As Removal Divides Lagos APC

February 1, 2025 by admin

The removal of a former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has continued to deepen division within the All Progressives Congress in the state. This was as opposition parties declared readiness to welcome the embattled lawmaker should he consider leaving the ruling party. Since Obasa’s impeachment on January 13, 2025, by a majority of lawmakers over alleged misconduct and financial misappropriation, his removal has sparked conflicting reactions among members of the Governance Advisory Council, the highest decision-making body of the APC in Lagos. The division became evident when two GAC members, Senator Anthony Adefuye and Chief Muraina Taiwo, who opposed Obasa’s removal, were criticised by another member of the group, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who dismissed their comments as “childish and inconsequential.” In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Adefuye had criticised the process that led to Obasa’s removal, while Taiwo, in a brief WhatsApp message, stated, “The lawmakers’ action is illegal. It shows total disregard and clear disrespect for leadership. The GAC is split over the matter, but we will all defer to our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to resolve the crisis.” However, Obanikoro rebuked both men, urging party leaders to refrain from making hasty statements on the issue. The Lagos State House of Assembly has said it expects Obasa to return to the House before determining the next course of action, including a possible probe. However, as of the time of filing this report, it was unclear whether the former Speaker had appeared before the House, as the Assembly’s spokesperson, Olukayode Ogundipe, did not respond to calls on Friday. Meanwhile, opposition parties in the state told our correspondent on Friday that they were open to accommodating the embattled former Speaker should he decide to exit the ruling party amid the ongoing crisis. The Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Benedict Tai, said the party would implement appropriate checks if Obasa eventually joined them. “If we accept him into the party, we will put checks and balances in place because no one can just come in and demand a position. The person must have spent years in the party. We need to be sure he isn’t coming to disrupt the party, as some have done in the past,” he stated. He noted that the PDP welcomed the crisis within the APC and intended to capitalise on it to regain lost ground in the state. “If disunity is an obstacle to their party, then we hope it worsens for them. They are our main challenge. The current situation in Lagos is favourable for the PDP, provided we learn from our mistakes and take advantage of their shortcomings,” Tai added. Similarly, the Labour Party in Lagos expressed its willingness to welcome Obasa should he consider leaving the APC ahead of the 2027 governorship election. The Chairman of the party, Pastor Dayo Ekong, said the LP had no problem integrating Obasa into its ranks as long as his interests aligned with the party’s vision and principles. “If the impeached Speaker chooses to join the Labour Party, he will be welcomed because our party is open to everyone. As a party driven by the right ideals, we don’t want to interfere in APC affairs. However, if Obasa decides to join us, he will be accepted, provided his interests align with what the LP stands for,” Ekong stated. When asked whether Obasa might receive preferential treatment due to his political status and rumoured governorship ambition, Ekong said, “There are no automatic rights anywhere. People were at the party before he came in. What we will do is allow everyone to go through the primaries and test their popularity. It’s not about granting an automatic ticket to anyone. “Don’t forget that the 2023 LP governorship candidate is still in the party. But when we get to that bridge, we will cross it.”

APC Expels Aregbesola Over Anti-Party Activities

January 29, 2025 by admin

The All Progressives Congress has expelled a former Minister of Interior and ex-Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, over alleged anti-party activities. Aregbesola, who led Osun State for two terms, had spearheaded a faction within the APC known as The Osun Progressives which was later rebranded as the Omoluabi Caucus. A letter from the APC leadership seen by newsmen on Wednesday officially confirmed Aregbesola’s expulsion. The letter, titled “Allegations of Anti-Party Activities – Conveyance of State Exco Decision to You,” accused him of breaching Article 21 of the party’s constitution, which outlines disciplinary measures for members. The letter read in part, “At the end of the investigation, the State Executive Committee (SEC) considered the report of the Disciplinary Committee. Having carefully reviewed the findings and recommendations, the SEC resolved to approve your immediate expulsion from the APC. “The decision was predicated on clear evidence of your actions, which undermined the unity and integrity of the party. As a result, you are no longer a member of the APC and must refrain from holding yourself out as one or acting on behalf of the party in any capacity.” The former minister’s expulsion followed a Sunday meeting of the Omoluabi Caucus, presided over by Aregbesola, where the group announced its decision to exit the APC, citing the party’s waning influence in Osun. Punch

Former Ebonyi Commissioner Leaves PDP To Join APC

November 14, 2024 by admin

A former Commissioner in Ebonyi State, Abia Onyike, has left the Peoples Democratic Party and joined the ruling All Progressives Cong ress in the state. Onyike served as the Special Adviser on Media Relations under former Governor Sam Egwu and as Commissioner for Information during the administration of Martin Elechi. Onyike, a former Deputy National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, announced his decision to leave the party that had supported him at a ceremony in Owutu Edda Ward, located in the Edda Local Government Area of the state, on Wednesday. In a statement on Thursday, Onyike said he was joining the APC because of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s perceived restoration of good governance. He said, “My decision to join the APC is because of the need to build a solid alliance of support for Governor Nwifuru, who has taken steps to restore good governance and inclusive politics in Ebonyi State. “Politics is local, and we are driven by our own developmental aspirations in our state. I am joining other progressive forces in the state to sustain and consolidate the current peaceful atmosphere prevalent in the state under Governor Nwifuru.” The Chairman of the APC in Owutu Edda Ward, Mr. Oko Ogbuagu, expressed the party’s happiness in welcoming Onyike to its fold. “Onyike is a tested hand. He is a man of the people, and his entry into our party will enhance its fortunes in future elections,” he said.