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APC To Begin Intensive Campaign January

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Adamawa: APC Accepts To Participate In Guber Re-run

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has finalised arrangements to embark on one-month intensive national campaign to woo the electorate for the February 16 presidential election.

Ahead of the campaign, the Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Ndoma Egba, has said the electoral chances of President Muhammed Buhari in Cross River State appears very positive based on the current dynamics of politics in the South-south zone

According to the election time-table released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), parties are expected to end their presidential/National Assembly campaigns on February 14 and governorship campaigns on February 28.

THISDAY gathered that both the party and the presidency have been meeting in the past few days to agree on the strategies for funding and logistics.

A top member of the yet-to-be inaugurated APC Presidential Campaign Council, who confided in THISDAY, revealed that barring any last minute change in his campaign itinerary, President Muhammadu Buhari is most likely to flag-off his campaign for the North-west zone in Kano State.

An APC chieftain who does not want his name mentioned, also said the Presidency has moved in to try and resolve political differences in Kano APC chapter, especially the dispute that led to the defection of former governor, Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso.

On the continued delay in kick-starting presidential campaign, the source said the party is being tactical by waiting to resolve a number of critical issues before rolling out its national campaigns.

He said: “The difference is simple; as you know we are highly experienced in this issue of election and contesting election. We understand what it means to win and lose election,” he said.

The source said the president is particularly interested in making sure that his Northwest political base is intact and is ready to make concessions in order to ensure that the campaign launch in Kano is a resounding success.

According to the source, some level of success is being recorded in the reconciliation efforts between the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and his former boss, which led to last week’s return of key Kwakwanso loyalists to APC fold.

Ongoing reconciliation of aggrieved party faithfuls has been one of the factors said to be affecting the commencement of APC’s campaign, although the leadership has continued to deny the existence of any hindrance to its campaigns.

Also THISDAY learnt that the handlers of the president’s campaign and the party are also weighing the consequences of rolling out national campaigns at a period the public universities and polytechnics are shut down following strike action by industrial unions and another threat of nationwide industrial action by the organised labour still unresolved.

“The Presidency considers it insensitive to embark on the campaign, while all these critical labour sectors are boiling. It feels it will be better to allow some measure of compromise to be achieved and issues resolved with affected unions before President Buhari starts campaigning,” he said.

Meanwhile, former Senate Leader, Senator Ndoma-Egba, has said the delay in commencement of APC presidential campaign will not have any negative effect on the party’s chances in the 2019 general elections.

Ndoma-Egba who spoke during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja at the weekend, explained that there is still enough time for the party to do its campaigns.

“I don’t think it is the length of the campaign that matters, but the intensity. The opposition has been campaigning and we have seen the impact. We still have time for the campaign. Don’t forget that this is the party in government and it will rely largely on its records which are there to speak for us,” he said.

On what to expect from the South-south zone which is regarded as a traditional PDP zone, Ndoma-Egba said the political indices have changed, adding that President Buhari and the APC now stand a good chance of winning elections in the area.

“Yes, it was a traditional PDP area because at a time, we had our son who was contesting the Presidency. There was that underlining sentiment that our son was contesting. But today, we don’t have that situation and we don’t have anybody who is contesting from that zone. The two major candidates are from the same region and from the same religion. So, that sentiment will not be there.

“The sentiments that our son is contesting is no longer there. We are now dealing with verifiable records, which we are going to be dealing with and the records favour the president unequivocally and the APC,” he said.

The NDDC boss who recalled that President Buhari got a paltry 28,000 votes in Cross River State in 2015, said despite the low level of support, the president has done a lot for Cross River State in terms of political appointments and project patronage.

“Cross River State remains the only state that he has visited twice. The state is well represented in government. We have the Chief Justice of Nigeria even though he is not a politician. You can’t run away from the fact that he became Chief Justice under President Buhari, but anything could have happened.

“The Head of Service of the Federation is from Cross River State; the Auditor General of the Federation is from that state; the Minister of the Niger Delta; the Chairman, NDDC, and the Special Adviser on Prosecution are all from that state in addition to Chairmen of boards, all for a paltry 28,000. What was the record under PDP? The best we ever had as a state under the PDP was when we had Kanu Agabi as Minister and Senator Liyel Imoke as Special Adviser,” he said.

Credit: Thisday

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NPA Announces 15% Port Tariff Increase, First in 32 Years

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The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has announced a 15% raise in port tariffs, marking the first hike in 32 years.

This was disclosed by the NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, during a stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos on Thursday.

He stated that the 15% increment will be applied across board, affecting various services and operations within the ports.

According to Dantsoho, represented by Executive Director of Marine and Operations Mr. Olalekan Badmus, the NPA has maintained the same rates for over three decades despite significant economic changes.

Persecondnews reports that the changes include exchange rate fluctuations, rising wages, fuel and lubricant costs, and inflation.

The tariff increase aims to address these economic realities and ensure the sustainability of port operations.

The decision, however, has been greeted with mixed reactions.

While some stakeholders in the shipping and logistics sectors have expressed concerns about the impact of the tariff hike on the cost of doing business in Nigeria, others have acknowledged the necessity of the move in light of the agency’s financial constraints and the broader economic conditions.

The tariff increase is expected to take effect in the coming months, and the NPA has assured stakeholders that it will work closely with port operators, shipping companies, and other stakeholders to minimize any potential disruptions during the transition.

Additionally, the NPA plans to use the additional revenue generated from the increase to fund improvements of port infrastructure, enhance the capacity of terminals, and improve services such as cargo handling, storage, and security.

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Temper justice with mercy, deputy speaker begs Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu

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… says Kanu’s release will end insecurity in S’East

Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to temper justice with mercy and give freedom to the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu from detention.

Kalu made the appeal after the inaugural meeting of the House of Representatives committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC) at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

The deputy speaker commended the President for his support and commitment towards peace, development and stability of the South-East region.


He noted that the President since assuming office has in various ways proven his love for the South-Easterners through his speedy assent to the South East Development Commission Bill which failed in previous assemblies.

Suggesting the adoption of political approach than legal for the release of Kanu, Kalu said that the people of the region will be eternally grateful to the President if that becomes a reality.


Expressing optimism that the President will heed to their appeal, the deputy speaker noted that when Kanu is released insecurity in the region will be reduced and as well spring up development that the SEDC is going to bring.


“We are thankful to Mr President for doing this for the South-East. Insecurity is a major concern in the area, you can’t have development in midst of insecurity. That’s why we started what we call peace in South-East project supported by the parliament. But in doing so we noticed that the insecurity there will be reduced if Nnamdi Kanu is released. We want Nnamdi Kanu to be released because we know it will give our people more security”, he said.

“Those who are using him as excuses to perpetrate all these criminal actions around our area will have no other reason to be on the street. Then the police and security agencies will catch anyone who claims Nnamdi Kanu is the reason for causing harm to the people of South-East. So, we are begging, you can’t coarse the President, he’s the Commander in Chief. All we are saying is use political approach not the legal approach. We are appealing to him to temper justice with mercy and release Nnamdi Kanu to southeast people. It will ensure more security for our people and spring up development that this SEDC is going to bring” Kalu urged.

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I will make it harder for immigrants to get British citizenship – Kemi Badenoch vows

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The United Kingdom Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, has vowed that she will make it more difficult for immigrants to get British citizenship.

While making one of her first policy announcements since she became leader, Badenoch said immigrants would only be able to apply for citizenship after being in the UK for 15 years.

Badenoch also declared that indefinite leave to remain, which paves the way for citizenship, should not be granted to those who have criminal records or who had claimed benefits or social housing.


According to her, citizenship was a privilege, not just a right and should only be for those with a “meaningful connection to the UK”.

Obtaining indefinite leave to remain, ILR gives people the right to live, work and study in the UK.

It is usually possible for a person to apply for ILR if they have worked in the UK for at least five years, although it can be two or three years if they came to the UK on particular visas.

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