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LAGOS -- PROSPECTS of the country's major opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, were shaking, yesterday, ahead of a decisive ruling on the validity of the party's registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Besides, some party members were also apprehensive on the direction of the party following tension among party leaders on account of recent disagreements.

Some party insiders were fearful that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who had been a major rallying point for the opposition party might be losing enthusiasm over what sources claimed as the increasing opposition to him by other major party stakeholders, mainly some governors.

A ruling by a Federal High Court, Abuja, today, was anxiously being expected on a suit instituted by the unregistered African Peoples Congress, APC against the registration of the All Progressives Congress by INEC.

A loss for INEC in the suit in which the All Progressives Congress was refused to be joined in as a party, could be catastrophic for the new political party and put it in possible jeopardy ahead of crucial gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

Tinubu, according to sources was not enthusiastic about the meeting expected to deliberate on outstanding issues flowing from recent congresses across the country. Tinubu, it is alleged, is miffed over the recent turn of events in the party which has seen him at the short end on three sensitive issues to the club of governors in the party.

Tinubu, according to party sources lost out on the venue of the convention, the choice of a chairman of the convention planning committee and on the zoning of the office of national chairman in the next executive.

Following the development, there were fears that Tinubu who had alongside General Muhammadu Buhari been the rallying point in the merger could lose enthusiasm for the new party. Party spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, however, rebuffed insinuations of any tension in the party over the alleged misunderstanding. Party elders are, however, to meet within days to deliberate on outstanding issues affecting the party notably the unresolved congresses, zoning of national party offices and permutations on the presidential candidate of the party.

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Nigeria: APC Under Threat As Court Rules On Acronym, Tinubu, Governors Differ

Supporters of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti clashed on Monday in Ado-Ekiti over alleged failed plan to destroy an electronic bill board.

The bill board, erected near the Ekiti State Government House in Fajuyi Memorial Park, was said to have been attacked by thugs loyal to the PDPs governorship candidate, Mr. Ayo Fayose.

A Hilux patrol vehicle belonging to the Peace Corps was vandalised by the thugs.

Security men quickly arrived at the scene to bring the situation under control but not without resistance from some thugs loyal to the APC.

An eyewitness said a man identified as a member of the PDP was abducted in the presence of the security men to an unknown location.

The eyewitness said, The man was on a motorcycle when he was arrested by the thugs. He kept shouting that he was just returning to Ado-Ekiti to pay his childs school fees but the thugs did not listen to him. He begged them to spare his life but that didnt make them to change their mind.

The only reason they arrested him was because one of the APC boys said he sighted him at Spotless Hotel belonging to Ayo Fayose; they did not even care to verify the claim by the thug.

The fight came two days after supporters of Labour Party and the APC clashed in Ikere-Ekiti when the governorship candidate of the LP, Opeyemi Bamidele, and Ondo Governor, Olusegun Mimiko held a campaign rally.

The Mondays clash took place at the timethe states chairman of the APC, Mr. Jide Awe, was addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti where he accusedthe police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps of complicity in the wave of attacks fast spreading in Ekiti.

He cited the attack on Commissioner of Tourism, Mrs. Ronke Okusanya, by PDP thugs at a police station in Efon-Alaye as an example of police complicity.

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Tension mounts in Ekiti as violence spreads

Supporters of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti clashed on Monday in Ado-Ekiti over alleged failed plan to destroy an electronic billboard.

The billboard erected near the Ekiti State Government House in Fajuyi Memorial Park was said to have been attacked by thugs loyal to the PDPs governorship candidate, Mr. Ayo Fayose.

A Hilux patrol vehicle belonging to the Peace Corps was vandalised by the thugs.

Security men quickly arrived at the scene to bring the situation under control but not without resistance from some thugs loyal to the APC.

An eyewitness said a man identified as a member of the PDP was abducted in the presence of the security men to an unknown location.

The man was on a motorcycle when he was arrested by the thugs. He kept shouting that he was just returning to Ado-Ekiti to pay his childs school fees but the thugs did not listen to him. He begged them to spare his life but that didnt make them to change their mind.

The only reason they arrested him was because one of the APC boys said he sighted him at Spotless Hotel belonging to Ayo Fayose; they did not even care to verify the claim by the thug.

The fight came two days after supporters of Labour Party and the AP clashed in Ikere-Ekiti when the governorship candidate of the LP, Opeyemi Bamidele and Ondo Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, went to campaign in the town.

The Monday clash took place at the time the states chairman of the APC, Mr. Jide Awe, was addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti where he accused the police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps of complicity in the wave of attacks fast spreading in Ekiti.

He cited the attack on the Commissioner for Tourism, Mrs. Ronke Okusanya, by PDP thugs at a police station in Efon-Alaye as an example of police complicity.

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Violence erupts in Ekiti over electronic screen

The All Progressives Congress has asked the Federal Government to negotiate with the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, to secure the release of the kidnapped schoolgirls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

About two weeks ago, Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, had in a video offered to release the girls in exchange for the sects detained members.

The Federal Government rejected the offer, with the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, saying the government would not engage in trade by barter in securing the release of the over 200 schoolgirls who had been held since April 14.

A debate had ensued over the Boko Haram offer, with the Northern Elders Forum, the Nigerian Bar Association and other prominent groups and persons urging the Federal Government to accept the proposal by the insurgents.

However, others, including the United Kingdom, have said the Federal Government should not negotiate with the terrorists.

But the APC, the largest opposition party in the country, has asked the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government to take up the offer.

The spokesman of the APC in the South-East, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, who spoke to our correspondent on Sunday, said the Federal Government should do everything humanly and legally possible, including negotiation, to bring back the schoolgirls.

Okechukwu noted that a military approach could endanger the lives of the schoolgirls.

Asked to state the stand of the APC on the offer, he said, Whatever is humanly, whatever is legally possible should be done to get the girls back, including negotiation and diplomacy.

Whatever could be done to bring the girls back, we are in support of it.

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Chibok: APC asks FG to negotiate with BHaram

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Jonathan-led Federal Government of abdicating its responsibility to Nigerian citizens with the statement attributed to the President that those who are calling for the safe return of the girls should address their protests to the abductors, rather than to the President or the government he leads.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it is now logical to conclude that at this point, there is absolutely no hope for Nigeria and her citizens under this capricious government.

''A government that is unwilling to take any responsibility for anything, and one that is unwilling to recognize that its raison d'etre is to ensure the welfare and security of its citizens has simply abdicated its responsibility, and should not be counted upon to do all that is necessary to rescue the over 200 girls who were abducted under its watch,'' it said.

APC said the insurgents who have inflicted so much pain on the nation would not have succeeded as much as they have if the government had believed - in the first instance - that it had any responsibility to the people, in which case it would have taken its responsibility very seriously instead of engaging in its pastime - blame game!

''If the Jonathan-led government is right, then anytime a country suffers from deadly flooding, for example, the people should rather blame the sea or the sea goddess instead of looking up to their government for succour. If the Jonathan-led government is right, then the US, Britain France, China as well as the UN, which have all been asking the government to do more to secure the homeland, are wrong and do not understand the concept of governance. Certainly, there is a problem somewhere,'' the party said.

Meanwhile, the APC has said it will neither be browbeaten nor blackmailed into abdicating its own responsibility as a virile opposition party by keeping quiet even as the government continues on the dangerous path of running the nation aground.

''There seems to be a grand plot by the Jonathan Administration to silence all criticisms and sweep all ongoing corruption investigations and government incompetence under the carpet under the guise of uniting to fight terrorism.

''This is fraudulent as President Jonathan is only trying to profit from his own corruption and incompetence. While we are ready to partner with the Administration and join all Nigerians in the fight against terrorism, especially in efforts to ensure the safe return the missing girls, we refuse to be cowed or tricked into submission and allow the looting of our resources and the bad governance to continue unchallenged.

''A government that is quick to accuse others of failing to sympathize with the victims of the insurgency that it had allowed to fester has no qualms campaigning aggressively for a second term of office for a President who has made a failure of his first term. A government that rushes to the media to condemn even an INEC-sanctioned rally, rather than the illegal rallies it engages in, has no shame running a daily advert, under the guise of the hitherto unknown Protectors of Nigerian Posterity, thus showing no respect for the mood of the nation.

''If the Jonathan and the PDP want to be taken seriously, they should ask their campaigners to apply the brakes out of respect for the mood of the nation. They should try to make a success of their yet-unfinished term of office before even seeking another.

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APC Release : Jonathan-led FG Has Abdicated Its Responsibility To Nigerians, Can't Silence Us