APC woos Bukola Saraki, other opposition Leaders in PDP to join ruling Party

Regional elders and political figures who are currently affiliated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition parties have been urged by the North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum to change their allegiance and join the APC.

The Forum stressed in a statement issued on Monday that the North-Central zone can only really safeguard its interests under the direction of President Bola Tinubu and the APC government.

Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the chairman of the Forum and a member of the APC’s 2023 presidential campaign committee, signed the statement, which detailed the party’s appeal to prominent regional politicians and urged them to join forces under the APC banner.

Among those specifically addressed were prominent North-Central leaders, including former Senate President David Mark, ex-Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, ex-Senate President and former Kwara Governor Bukola Saraki, and former Benue Governors Gabriel Suswam and Samuel Ortom. The Forum also named former PDP National Chairman Professor Iyorchia Ayu as one of the key figures being courted to join the APC fold.

The statement highlighted the stark contrast between the era of neglect and marginalization the region experienced during the PDP’s time in power, and the benefits now being reaped by North-Central residents under President Tinubu’s governance.

The APC Forum pointed to the administration’s inclusive policies and commitment to advancing the region’s interests, urging these influential leaders to align with the ruling party to ensure continued progress.

“We urge them to consider the development of the region before party interest.

“We are advising former Senate Presidents Bukola Saraki and David Mark, former governors Babangida Aliyu, Jonah Jang, Gabriel Suswam, and Samuel Ortom, as well as the former national chairman of the PDP, Professor Iyorchia Ayu, and other elders and leaders of the North-Central to come to the APC because that is the party that loves the people of the region.

“They should consider APC because that is the party that is good to the North-Central. The people of the North-Central are receiving the dividends of democracy under the APC government led by President Bola Tinubu, and that is why we were the first to endorse him for a second term.

“These North-Central elders and political leaders should put party aside and put the interest of the zone first by joining the APC. We urge them to give Mr. President the moral support to continue transforming the fortunes of the zone.”

The APC Forum highlighted that key road networks in the North-Central, which were neglected during the PDP administration, are now receiving significant attention from the Federal Government.

Among the roads being upgraded and repaired are the Jos-Akwanga, Makurdi-Oturkpo-Otukpa, Makurdi-Ankpa, Jos-Saminaka/Kaduna, and Minna-Bida roads. Other critical projects include the Ejule-Otukpa, Ganawuri-Manchok, Lokoja-Abuja, Lapai-Agaie-Bida, Birnin-Gwari-Bokani-Mokwa, and Minna-Zungeru-Tegina-Kontagora roads. These infrastructural developments are seen as part of the APC government’s commitment to improving the region’s connectivity and addressing long-standing infrastructural gaps.

“There were little or no federal projects in the North-Central during the PDP government. Major federal roads across the North-Central were neglected and in a dilapidated state for several years without any intervention by the Federal Government,” the statement noted.

The Forum further emphasised the APC’s suitability for the North-Central by pointing to the recent creation of the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC), made possible by the President’s signing of the enactment bill.

“The President’s action showed that he is a listening President. He listened to the cries of the North-Central APC Forum, which had agitated for the creation of a Development Commission for the region, as had been done for the other geo-political zones—for the sake of equity and justice,” the statement observed, adding that the Commission would ensure the accelerated development of the region.

North-Central APC stakeholders have highlighted the region’s significant representation in the current APC-led Federal Government, with several prominent positions, including key ministerial portfolios, granted to leaders from the area.

The statement outlined the following ministries headed by ministers from the North-Central: the Ministry of Justice, led by Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, from Kwara; the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, headed by Mohammed Idris from Niger State; the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, led by Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda from Plateau; the Ministry of Women Affairs, headed by Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim from Nasarawa; the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, led by Zephaniah Bitrus Jisalo from the Federal Capital Territory; and the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, headed by Prof. Joseph Utsev from Benue.

These appointments, the Forum emphasised, reflect the APC’s commitment to giving the North-Central a central role in shaping national policies.

“Added to these is the high-profile position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), given to the North-Central, with Senator George Akume of Benue State holding the office,” the statement said.

The Forum added that the Tinubu-led APC government has made considerable progress in tackling insecurity in the North-Central.

“The current level of insecurity in the North-Central is less than what was obtainable during previous administrations. Before now, it was difficult for our people, who are mostly farmers, to go to their farms because of insecurity. But now, due to the leadership provided by Mr. President, who has given marching orders to the Armed Forces and other security agencies, the people can now go to their farms to cultivate and harvest their crops,” the Forum said.

The Forum, in its call for North-Central political leaders and elders in the opposition to join the APC, pointed out that the PDP leadership had marginalized the party’s key figures from the region.

“North-Central elders like Saraki, Iyorchia Ayu, David Mark, Jonah Jang, Suswam, Ortom, and Babangida Aliyu have been sidelined by the current leadership of the PDP.

“We are not happy that these eminent personalities of the North-Central are being sidelined in their party, the PDP, and that is another reason why we want them to find a home in the APC.

“They are welcome to join the APC anytime. We assure them that they will feel valued and appreciated in the APC, unlike what they are going through in the PDP, which does not even have a future due to the problems in the party.”

Local Govt election you conducted in Osun State is illegal – Opposition Party tells Adeleke

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the Local Government election conducted last Saturday by Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), labelling it illegal and unconstitutional.

Mr Felix Morka, APC’s National Publicity Secretary, issued the statement on Sunday in Abuja, describing the election as being in defiance of court rulings.

“In blatant disregard for the rule of law and a valid judgment of the Court of Appeal, Gov. Adeleke 0conducted the election on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025,” Morka said.

He recalled that the Court of Appeal ruling of February 10 reinstated Local Government officials dismissed by Adeleke’s executive order, with the decision striking down a Federal High Court ruling from November 2022.

According to Morka, the Court of Appeal’s judgment nullified the previous ruling and reinstated the officials until the end of their term in October 2025.

He further criticised Adeleke’s actions in appointing illegal caretaker committees, violating Section 7(1) of the Constitution, and argued that the APC showed restraint and respect for the court’s decision.

Morka questioned why Adeleke, who swore to uphold the Constitution, failed to abide by a valid court order and termed the election a “sham” that wasted public funds and risked inciting violence.

He stressed that the governor must respect the law and the rights of the Osun people, calling on local government workers to peacefully continue their duties under the judicially reinstated officials.

Morka also urged security agencies to remain vigilant to prevent further unrest and called for the Federal Government to ensure that only democratically elected and judicially certified officials received local government funds in Osun.(NAN)

Girlfriend confirmed dead after alleged beating by Boyfriend

The Police Command in Lagos State has detained a 23-year-old man for prosecution for allegedly beating his girlfriend to death.

The command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Monday in Lagos.

He said that the suspect committed the offence on Friday at about 8:00 p.m. at Ijedodo, Isheri-Osun area of the state.

Hundeyin said that a neighbour reported the incident at Isheri-Osun Police Divisional Station.

“The neighbour said that he saw the suspect beating his girlfriend in his room for a reason yet to be determined.

“He said few minutes later, the suspect screamed for help and getting to his apartment, he met his girlfriend lying unconscious on the bed with visible marks of violence found on her body.

“The girl was immediately rushed to the hospital in Ijegun, where she was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty, ” Hundeyin said.

The spokesperson said detectives were immediately dispatched to the alleged murder scene as well as the hospital where the corpse was inspected and photographed.

The image maker said that the corpse had been deposited at a morgue in Yaba for autopsy while the suspect had been detained for questioning, adding that investigation was in progress. (NAN)