Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said that for the state governors in Nigeria to succeed in providing better grassroots leadership, the local government system in the country must succeed as a tier of government.

The Governor, who spoke during a courtesy visit to his office by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) led by its National President, Hon. Alabi Kolade David.

He equally urged ALGON to understudy the state infrastructure and revenue generation models across the 57 local government and council clusters in the state.

He described the state local government administrative model as inclusive with grace in terms of revenue generation and allocation profile, hence the need to be conscious of not putting them under financial pressure.

According to him, local governments his administration understands the strength and weaknesses of each local government and adopted a peer review mechanism that will enable them to succeed.

He disclosed that local governments and councils chairmen in Lagos State are brought to speed of his leadership and economic template, which forms the fulcrum of his six pillar agenda that are cascaded down to the councils.

He noted that they have copied same with fantastic results as can be seen by the ALGON members, having toured round some of the local governments.

In his response, the ALGON Deputy National President, Hon. Aminu Maifata Muazu thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu on behalf of the Association and praised him for his leadership qualities that has positively impacted on all diversities in the country.

He also commended the state governor for demonstrating confidence in the leadership qualities of the ALGON national President, Hon. Alabi, who is the chairman of Bariga Local Council Development Area and have meritoriously excelled in service delivery to his constituents.

The courtesy call by the ALGON National Executive Council (NEC) was on the sideline of the just concluded NEC meeting and retreat in the state.

Part of the ALGON delegations were over 30 state reps and 30 state secretaries, who are all chairmen of councils. Also in attendance during the visit were Board of Trustees (BOT) members, the Director General of ALGON, Management and Staff.

…Congratulates Winners, Pleads For More Council Elections Across States

The National President of State Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Hon. Alabi Kolade David has congratulated the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, over the successful conduct of Wednesday’s Nasarawa State local government council’s election.

According to Hno. Alabi Kolade, the results as announced by the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC), Ayuba Wandai in the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state have clearly shown the irrepressible stand of the people who have expressed their civic responsibility and rights to elect leaders of their choice in the councils.

He specifically congratulated the ALGON leader in the State and the National Treasurer of ALGON, Hon. Maifata Muazu who emerged as the Chairman of Lafia Local Government Area for second term in office,

The ALGON National President urged them to keep to their campaign promises through service delivery, inclusive leadership and promote the gains of democracy through every available resources.

Said he, “I also wish to use this opportunity to welcome all of you to ALGON and together we shall succeed, most importantly now having seen the several challenges in the rural areas, the antidote to solving them is through democratic governance where at the bottom, power resides with the people and we shall not hesitate to complement the efforts of the States and Federal Governments respectively.”

He then urged councillors in the 147 electoral wards to cooperate with their Chairmen and their constituents for increased dividend of democracy at the grassroots.

In line with preparations for the forthcoming governorship elections in Anambra State, the APC Support Group For Andy Uba has continued its ward-to-ward tour in Onitsha North Local Government Area, saying that for Ndigbo to realise their desire to produce the president of Nigeria in 2023, APC has to win the governorship election in November.

Addressing members of the group in ward 2, GRA Onitsha, the local government coordinator of the group, Hon Victor Mba reiterated their campaign strategies of “Operation-Win-Your-Polling-Booth”, adding that all hands must be on deck towards achieving victory for Senator Andy Uba.

Hon Victor Mba assured members of the group that campaign logistics would soon be equitably and transparently distributed to them, stressing that loyal party members who won their polling booths would be adequately compensated.

He charged the members to redouble their efforts in canvassing and mobilising prospective voters at their various polling units and wards to vote for APC during the November 6 Governorship Elections.

He also used the occasion to debunk the propaganda that APC was a Hausa party, pointing out that Senator Andy Uba is an Igbo man, not a Hausa man.

The APC Support Group Coordinator in Onitsha North further admonished members of the group to shun financial inducement from opposition parties and charged them to enlighten eligible voters who are yet to obtain their voters cards to avail themselves of the CVR exercise to enable them discharge their franchise during the elections. He urged the member to endeavour to contribute their opinions and suggestions on the way forward.

Also speaking, a former Governorship candidate of ACPN in the 2017 elections in Anambra State, Comrade Akunwata Ejoh Ojiba expressed confidence on the victory of Andy Uba in the forthcoming Nov 6 elections, adding that current political development is an indication of the victory of APC at the polls.

Comrade Akunwata Ojiba who is the zonal coordinator of APC ward-to-ward ambassadors (WWA) observed that APC had no serious challengers or contenders in the present political dispensation, stressing that members should close ranks and work assiduously with unity of purpose to ensure a landslide victory for the party.

In his contribution, a member of the APC National Campaign Committee for Anambra Governorship Election and former 2-time member, House of Representatives, Onitsha Federal Constituency, Hon Gozie Agbakoba reiterated the need for members of the Support Group to imbibe the mantra of “Operation-Win-Your-Polling-Booth” campaign strategies.

He extolled the sterling leadership qualities of Senator Andy Uba, adding that he was the most experienced candidate with a mission and vision to rescue Anambra from total collapse of infrastructural facilities. He also disclosed that efforts were being made to obtain comprehensive data of the voting pattern in the various polling units.

Hon Jude Oniah in his speech stated that the time has come for APC to take over governance in Anambra state. Hon Oniah was a former CAN House of Assembly candidate described Senator Andy Uba as an experienced politician with pedigree, track records, impeccable character and political will and zeal to rescue Anambra from collapse.

He observed that current opinion polls favoured Andy Uba, adding that members of the group should rise to the moment by intensifying their efforts towards canvassing and mobilising at least 30 prospective voters each at their various polling units through door-to-door, family-by-family, neighbourhood campaign strategies.

The ward coordinator, Hon. Emmanuel Naza expressed gratitude for the tour and the massive turn out of residents of the ward for the interactive session and pledged that the ward would be delivered during the elections.

…As Bishop Nwakpa Says Andy Uba is Anointed Candidate For Anambra Governorship Seat

Ahead of the November 6, 2021 Governorship election in Anambra State, Bishop Emeka Nwakpa, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who is an Onitsha based clergy, has predicted the victory for Senator Andy Uba at the poll.

Making the prediction during a recent tour to ward 12 in Onitsha North Local Government Area, by the APC Ward-To-Ward Ambassadors, an Andy Uba Support group, he said that Senator Andy Uba would emerge as the next Governor of the state.

According to him, judging by the rate many frontline politicians at both national and state levels were decamping from their various parties to identify with the Andy Uba for governor project, his victory is imminent.

Bishop Nwakpa described the grassroots campaign strategies of the APC Ward-To-Ward Ambassadors as a right step in the right direction, adding that attention should be focused more on the polling unit levels, to ensure a landslide victory.

Addressing the party faithfuls at ward 12, a member of the national campaign committee for the Anambra State governorship election and former two-term member Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Gozie Agbakoba, challenged party members to redouble their efforts in convincing and mobilising the electorates to cast their votes for Senator Andy Uba in order to rescue Ndi Anambra from the various collapsed infrastructures occasioned by the present lackluster and visionless leadership.

He called on the party men and women to show more dedication, loyalty and commitment to the Andy Uba for Governor Project, urging them to shun financial inducement from opposition parties.  

He stressed that they should focus on the bigger picture instead of instant gratification.

On his part, former Governorship candidate of ACPN, Comrade Akunwata Ejoh Ojiba, who is the South East zonal chairman of APC Ward-To-Ward Ambassadors, tasked members of the ward to endeavour to mobilise at least 10 prospective voters each during the election through the group’s ‘Operation Door-To-Door Campaign’.

In his contribution, the coordinator APC Support Group for Andy Uba, Hon Victor Mba, admonished the members not to relent in their efforts, stressing that members would be adequately equipped with campaign materials and logistics to ensure victory for the party during the elections.

He maintained that only those who won their polling booths would be adequately rewarded.

In his speech, an APC stakeholder, Hon. Nnabuenyi Jude Oniah expressed satisfaction with the massive turnout of APC supporters at the ward 12 session and commended the coordinator of the ward, Hon. Uzochukwu Nwanonye, fondly called Bestman, for his mobilisation efforts.

He noted with delight the presence of notable and noteworthy political stalwarts such as Hon. Gozie Agbakoba, Comrade Akunwata Ejoh Ojiba, Bishop Emeka Nwakpa, and Earnest Anyaduba, among other party chieftains.  

He stated that an APC government in Anambra state would pave way for Igbo Presidency in 2023 and enjoined the party faithfuls to monitor and defend their votes at the various polling booths by conscientiously embarking on the group’s neighbourhood ‘door-to-door’ and ‘family-to-family’ campaign and mobilisation to ensure a landslide victory at the polls.

The group had visited ward 2 a week earlier, where many party stakeholders expressed their commitment and support for the Andy Uba for Governor Project.

Katsina State Deputy Governor, Mannir Yakubu and other party stakeholders have expressed satisfaction with the conduct of All Progressives Congress (APC) congresses in Katsina Local Government (LGA).

The deputy, who attended the Congress, said the peaceful conduct with which party carried out the Congress was a testimony to the strength and unity of the party in the state.

The Congress was conducted through consensus with the support of the party members and all other stakeholders alongside inec officials who were there to monitor the conduct of the election.

The chairman of the Local Government Congress, Alhaji Yakubu Sulaiman applauded the maturity displayed by the party faithful that led to the successful conduct of the Congress.

He appreciated the eldders of the party for their own unanimous support and understanding.

Also the outgoing chairman of APC in katsina local government, Alhaji Babangida Shinkafi, appreciated the support giving to him when he was the chairman and called on them to maintain the tempo to the incoming chairman.

In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Mamman Saulawa, pledged to work tirelessly for continued progress of the party in Katsina Local Government and the state.

He expressed appreciation over the support given to him and promised to work hard.

In his remarks, the member representing Katsina Local Government in the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Abubbkar Albaba, expressed confidence in the newly elected party officials in Katsina Local Government.

Similarly,  the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the State Governor on Restoration, Alhaji Sabo Musa, said the party will continued to progress with the new leader elected.

Ahead of the November 6, 2021 governorship elections in Anambra State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) support group for Andy Uba has repositioned itself for a more intensive door-to-door mobilisation campaign.

The essence, the group noted, is to ensure victory for Senator Dr Andy Uba at the polls.

While addressing members of the group in Ward II, Onitsha North Local Government Area as part of its Ward Tour Programme, the coordinator, Andy Uba 4 Governor Support Group, Onitsha North, Hon. Victor Mba commended the coordinator of Ward II, Hon Magnus Nwoke for mobilising an appreciable crowd that cuts across party affiliations.

The audience were part of an interactive session.

Hon. Victor Mba charged members of the group to roll up their sleeves for the task ahead, stressing that the time had come for APC to take over leadership and reposition Anambra State.

He disclosed that the group was very organised, focused, firm, bold, resolute, dogged and undaunted towards actualising the mission of APC taking over governance in Anambra State.

Hon. Mba stressed the importance of holding down their respective polling units, adding that adequate campaign materials and logistics would be distributed to them at the wards and polling unit levels.

The APC support group’s coordinator maintained that those who delivered at any of the polling booths would be adequately rewarded.

He added that they should pull resources together and work assiduously for the success of the Andy Uba for Governor Project.

Hon. Victor Mba also admonished members of the group to shun any financial distractions from opposition parties.

He charged them to enlighten eligible voters who are yet to obtain their PVC to avail themselves of the opportunity of the ongoing online continuous voter’s registration exercise to enable them cast their votes during the election.

Also speaking, the zonal coordinator, APC Ward-To-Ward Ambassadors, South East Zone, Comrade Akunwata Ejor Ojiba congratulated Senator Andy Uba for the formal affirmation of his candidacy as the party’s flag bearer by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Comrade Ojiba who was the gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) in the 2017 governorship election in the state also urged the electorate to discountenance the mischievous propaganda making rounds that APC was a north-oriented party.

He maintained that since unfolding events had shown that an APC Igbo President was feasible and imminent.

He said, it has become imperative that Anambra becomes an APC state to enable Ndi-Anambra join the mainstream of Nigerian politics.

He also charged members of the group to remain steadfast and committed to the campaign programmes of the Andy Uba 4 Governor project by working assiduously to ensure victory for the party at all the polling booths in the local government area.

He noted that it has become expedient for a positive change from the present lackluster leadership of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in order to rescue the state.

Comrade Ojiba further disclosed that the operational slogan of the WWA group is ‘Operation Ward-To-Ward, Polling Unit-By-Polling Unit Mobilisation and Monitoring System.’

In his contribution, a member of the APC National campaign committee for Anambra Governorship Election and former two-term member House of Representatives, Hon Gozie Agbakoba reiterated the need for the group to imbibe the polling unit-by-polling unit strategies.

He equally congratulated Senator Andy Uba for successfully receiving the party’s flag from President Muhammadu Buhari.

Hon. Agbakoba then extolled the leadership qualities of Senator Andy Uba, adding that he was the most capable candidate with a mission to rescue Anambra from imminent collapse.

He described Senator Andy Uba as an experienced politician with pedigree, track record, impeccable character, humanness and political will to rescue the state from collapse.

The National campaign committee member who is also a member of Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Ward-To-Ward Ambassadors (WWA) Anambra Chapter, charged members of the group to rise to the moment by intensifying their efforts towards mobilising at least 30 potential voters each at their various polling units.

He, therefore, expressed satisfaction at the massive turn-out of party faithfuls during the ward tour.