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APGA Will No Longer Tolerate Vote Buying, Transactional Politics At Primaries, Says Soludo
APGA Will No Longer Tolerate Vote Buying, Transactional Politics At Primaries, Says Soludo
The Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, says the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) primaries will no longer permit monetary inducement or transactional politics.
He spoke on Saturday at the party’s South-East zonal stakeholders’ meeting in Awka.
Mr Soludo linked the party’s slow growth since 2002 to a culture where officials allegedly exploited aspirants during primaries.
He said the practice weakened internal democracy, discouraged credible participation and undermined institutional development.
“The era of marketing party tickets is over. Parties must be driven by values, policies and accountability, not commerce,” he said.
Mr Soludo lamented a system where party funds were allegedly shared immediately, leaving no structure for sustainable financing.
“The party has not grown because past leaderships treated it as a business venture. That must stop,” he added.
He urged stakeholders to reassess direction and rebuild APGA as a transparent, accountable and ideologically driven platform.
“Our tickets are not for sale. We are rebuilding the party into what it should be, not a trading post,” he said.
Mr Soludo said past practices, where aspirants were allegedly misled after financial commitments, eroded trust and discouraged genuine investment.
He warned that “give-and-take” politics in APGA had ended, stressing the party must serve collective interests.
APGA National Chairman, Sylvester Ezeokenwa, announced an 11-point code of conduct for future primaries.
Mr Ezeokenwa said the framework would promote transparency, equity and internal democracy, while addressing disputes in nomination processes.
He said the party would adopt the Option A4 voting system for the 2026 primaries to enhance transparency and accountability.
“In the past, flawed primaries undermined APGA. Clear rules are needed to address these challenges,” he said.
According to him, the code bans officials from wearing campaign materials or accepting gifts and prohibits the distribution of money or items during primaries.
Mr Ezeokenwa added that only expression of interest fees would be paid initially, with nomination fees after successful screening.
He said officials must not attend private endorsement events and should step aside if supporting any aspirant.
Chukwuma Soludo
“Even presenting money as a kola nut or gift-sharing has been banned,” he said.
Earlier, National Vice Chairman (South-East), Chief Augustine Ehiemere, cited inadequate funding as a major challenge.
Mr Ehiemere urged elected and appointed officials to support the party’s platform for financial sustainability.
“Political activities require logistics, mobilisation and administration. Without funding, the party cannot function effectively,” he said.
NNPC Ltd. HSE Chief Sets Tone For Industry-Wide Safety Standards
NNPC Ltd.’s Chief Health, Safety and Environment Officer, Tonye Alagba, has urged Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) personnel across the company to strengthen collaboration and build a unified HSE team.
Alagba, who made the call at the recent First Quarter 2026 HSE Council Meeting held in Abuja from 15th to 17th April, 2026, called for collective responsibility, strict compliance, and proactive prevention of HSE violations across all business units.
NNPC
NNPC Ltd. values strict HSE adherence across all its businesses and operations. The HSE Council Meeting signals the company’s broader intent to raise the bar for safety culture across Nigeria’s energy sector.
NNPC, SNEPCo, NCDMB Donate Geosciences Centre To UNILAG
NNPC Limited, in partnership with Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), and the University of Lagos (UNILAG), commissioned and donated the newly built UNILAG Geosciences Centre of Excellence to the University on Friday.
Purposely built to strengthen geosciences education and research in Nigeria, the Centre was inaugurated by the Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services Ltd. (NUIMS), Olanrewaju Igandan, alongside the Managing Director of SNEPCo, Ronald Adams; Director of Capacity Building (NCDMB), Abayomi Bamidele; Lagos State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule; and the Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Folasade Ogunsola.
The Centre boasts of a 250-seat auditorium, geoscience and instrumentation laboratories, a rock preparation workshop, hydrogeology, mineralogy, environmental geology, sedimentary and palaeoenvironmental sciences laboratories, a seismic interpretation room, a modern library, a digital museum, and collaborative spaces for students and researchers. It is also supported by a 600 kVA transformer, a 40 kVA solar power facility, and a field investigation coaster bus.
SNEPCo, NNPC
By connecting academia, industry, and government under one roof, the Centre provides Nigerian students and researchers with hands-on access to modern energy tools, reduces the oil and gas industry’s reliance on international markets for testing and training, and builds the in-country expertise Nigeria’s energy sector needs.
NNPC Limited remains committed to driving capacity building, supporting national development, and working with partners to secure a stronger energy future for Nigeria.
Advancing Air-To-Ground Integration For Superior Counter-Insurgency Effects
Air-To-Ground Integration. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to leveraging air power as a decisive instrument in ongoing counter-insurgency operations, as exemplified by the recent courtesy visit of the Director General, Air Power Centre of Excellence, Air Vice Marshal PO Obeya, to the Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre (AWDC) on 17 April 2026.
The engagement highlighted ongoing efforts within the Service to deepen doctrinal development, operational effectiveness, and capacity building, critical enablers for sustaining air superiority in complex and asymmetric battle environments. Central to this is the strengthening of Air-to-Ground Integration (AGI), ensuring seamless coordination between air assets and ground forces to deliver precise, timely, and intelligence-driven effects in the battlespace.
During the visit, AVM Obeya and the Commandant of AWDC, Air Vice Marshal GI Jibia, held productive discussions focused on advancing modern air warfare practices, enhancing joint operations, and strengthening strategic planning frameworks. Particular emphasis was placed on refining AGI processes, which remain vital in counter-insurgency campaigns where close air support, surveillance, and rapid response capabilities must be effectively synchronized with ground manoeuvre elements.
The continued investment in professional military education and doctrinal advancement reinforces the Centre’s pivotal role in developing highly skilled air power practitioners equipped to operate in dynamic and evolving threat environments.
NAF
This initiative is a direct reflection of the vision of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, whose leadership continues to drive innovation, integration, and operational excellence in the application of air power. By promoting stronger internal collaboration, advancing AGI capabilities, and fostering continuous learning, the NAF is enhancing its operational readiness and effectiveness in counter-insurgency operations nationwide.
The visit underscores a deliberate and forward-looking approach to consolidating air power capabilities in safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity and reinforcing national security.
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