Category: National

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Tinubu pledges more infrastructure spending, defends legacy projects

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday said his administration will commit more funds to infrastructure development and urged governors to collaborate with the Federal Government to align building approvals.

Tinubu said proper approval alignment between the subnational and Federal Governments will facilitate the construction of major roads and bridges across the country.

“I have directed the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and the Surveyor General of the federation to work more closely with the governors,” Tinubu said when he commissioned the Lekki Deep Sea Port Access Road at the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Plant in Lagos.

Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, revealed excerpts of the engagement in a statement he signed Thursday titled ‘President Tinubu Assures of More Spending on Enduring Infrastructure.’

Tinubu said aligning state approvals with the federal government will reduce the burden of compensation and delays in actualising people-oriented projects.

“Please, my dear governors, let’s work together. Don’t give planning approvals without collaboration with the Surveyor General and the Ministry of Works. I am appealing to you to realise the same development goal.

“Let me emphasise the ban by the Federal Government of Nigeria on any dredging within a 10km radius of all our Bridges nationwide.

“I appeal to all governors, relevant agencies, and security agencies to implement this ban immediately,” Tinubu said.

The ceremony came five days after the President commissioned Phase 1 of Section One of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, also in Lagos.

Tinubu commended the Federal Ministry of Works, Messrs Hitech Construction Company Limited, Messrs Dangote Industries Limited, BUA and all contractors involved in the country’s road development. He said his administration is committed to building enduring infrastructure nationwide.

He dismissed critics of the government’s legacy projects for being ignorant about how the government awarded the legacy roads to contractors.

“It is necessary to note that the Federal Executive Council approved our Legacy Projects to be procured, awarded and constructed in sections.

“The completed 30 km segment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is part of the 47.7 km, six-lane Section I contract, not a wholesale 750 km contract, as some have suggested. No contractor has been awarded the entire corridor.

“Our approach has been systematic, transparent, and section-based. The Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, envisioned 47 years ago under the Shagari administration, is another legacy project we have revived. This corridor – spanning Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos -holds immense potential for agriculture, trade, and industrialization,” said Tinubu.

He explained that it connects over 58 dams, vast arable farmlands, and trade routes to our West African neighbours and offers great promise for windmill energy generation. Construction is well underway.

In Kebbi, he said the administration has completed over 10 km of the 258 km three-lane carriageway, adding “and today we flag off the second carriageway. This section is the longest in all our Legacy Projects.”

He noted that work has begun in Sokoto on the 120 km single-carriageway with three lanes from Illela.

“I understand that over 10km of this project is already completed. Today, we shall be flagging off the second carriageway of 120km with three lanes. Work is also at an advanced stage in this section. More sections are being designed for procurement and award along the whole length of the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.

“On my way here, I witnessed significant progress at Section II of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, with over 10 km of the 55 km stretch already completed.

“I am also pleased to report ongoing works in the Cross River and Akwa Ibom sections and have directed that more segments be designed and procured. The Trans-Sahara Trade Route, another visionary project, is advancing steadily. It will connect Calabar to Abuja via Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa,” he said.

Tinubu said he had directed accelerated design on the 4th Legacy Project of the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi and Gombe corridor to enable procurement to start.

“Let me assure you that with God on our side, we shall complete these projects and deploy them for the economic benefit of our nation,” he emphasised.

Other projects commissioned by the President include Yakasai to Zalli Road, Kano State, Shendam Bridge, Plateau State (Triacta), Kwanar-Hadejia Section II (82km), Kano/Jigawa State, Jimeta Bridge, Adamawa State (Triacta), Ilobu-Erinle Road, Kwara/Osun States and Cham-Numan Bridge, Adamawa State. (Punch)

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Supreme Court nullifies Jokolo’s reinstatement as Emir of Gwandu

The Supreme Court on Wednesday nullified the decision of the Kebbi State High Court that reinstated Al-Mustapha Jokolo as the 19th Emir of Gwandu, ruling that the case was filed without first exhausting the mandatory domestic resolution mechanisms prescribed by law.

In a split decision of three to two, the apex court held that the deposed Emir, Jokolo, failed to follow due legal process in instituting the suit.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Emmanuel Agim stated that while aggrieved persons may seek judicial intervention, they must first comply with Section 5(4) of the Kebbi State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, which requires a formal complaint to be submitted to the governor before litigation can proceed.

Jokolo was deposed in 2005 under controversial circumstances and subsequently approached the Kebbi State High Court seeking reinstatement.

The trial court ruled in his favour in 2014, a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division, in 2016. Both courts ordered his reinstatement.

However, the Kebbi State Government and the current Emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Ilyasu-Bashar, challenged these rulings at the Supreme Court.

Originally scheduled for June 6, the Supreme Court brought forward the judgment to 4 June due to the Eid-el-Kabir holidays.

The Supreme Court held that Jokolo did not serve a pre-action notice on the Governor of Kebbi State, a mandatory step before initiating the suit.

Agreeing with the appellants, the Court ruled that failure to seek resolution through administrative channels rendered the suit incompetent.

This procedural lapse deprived the lower courts of jurisdiction, leading to the setting aside of the entire proceedings and judgments of both the trial court and the Court of Appeal.

Justice Agim remarked, “This suit was filed prematurely without first presenting a complaint to the governor as stipulated by law. The trial court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter, and its decision is therefore null and void.

“Section 4(3) of the law applies to both appointment and deposition matters. The governor must first be notified.”

He further stated that the High Court judge “deprived the court of jurisdiction” by proceeding without adherence to this requirement.

The Supreme Court set aside the rulings of both lower courts and made no order as to costs.

In a dissenting minority judgment, Justice Ibrahim Salami dismissed the cross-appeals and affirmed the decisions of the lower courts, arguing that the executive governor must act in accordance with the law and due process.

The Supreme Court consolidated four appeals and two cross-appeals into a single judgment, with all parties agreeing that the outcome of the principal appeal would bind the others. (Punch)

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Let’s sustain legacies of ECOWAS’s founding fathers – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has called on West African leaders to uphold and pass on the vision of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ‘s founding fathers as the regional bloc marks its 50th anniversary.

In a keynote address on Wednesday in Lagos, the President urged leaders to look beyond the artificial borders created by colonialists and embrace one another as a family, Mr Bayo Onanuga, his spokesman, said in a statement.

Tinubu, the Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, noted that the founding fathers foresaw a more united, harmonious, and purpose-driven regional bloc that would benefit many generations.

“Today, we celebrate not only five decades of history but the enduring spirit of unity, resilience, and shared destiny that defines our community.

“In 1975, our founding leaders envisioned a West Africa where borders unite rather than divide – a region of free movement, thriving trade, and peaceful coexistence. That vision is still alive,” said Tinubu.

The President said the regional bloc had lived up to the founders’ expectations in many respects, including peacekeeping, trade liberalisation, free movement of citizens, and working together to tackle security issues and global pandemics.

“ECOWAS is a beacon of African unity. In overcoming colonial legacies, we brought together Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone nations under one vision —an achievement of global significance.

“Our region has pioneered free movement, expanded intra-regional trade, and deepened integration through instruments like the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and Joint Border Posts.

“These measures have facilitated business, cultural exchange, and mobility across West Africa,” Tinubu stated.

On peace and security, he said ECOWAS had acted decisively to restore constitutional order and counter instability.

“Our regional cooperation on counterterrorism and financial crime, including through GIABA, reflects our shared commitment to peace and safety.

“In governance, ECOWAS has upheld democratic norms through election observation, mediation, and institutions such as the ECOWAS Parliament and Court of Justice — cementing accountability, rule of law, and people-centred governance,” the President stated.

President Tinubu pointed to progress in agriculture, infrastructure, and digital innovation, singling out the ECOWAS Infrastructure Master Plan (2020–2045) and new platforms advancing regional growth and gender equality.

However, he emphasised the need for more vigorous policy implementation and urged member states to ensure citizens felt the tangible benefits of integration.

“Our young people and women – who form the majority – must be at the heart of ECOWAS development. We must invest deliberately in their education, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and leadership. Their success is the key to our future stability and prosperity.

“For nearly 40 years, Nigeria has supported regional capacity building through the Technical Aid Corps. We remain committed to deploying skilled professionals to ECOWAS countries and will continue to honour every eligible request,” the President added.

He urged leaders to close their ranks and work together to ensure the success of the economic bloc.

“As we look to the next fifty years, let us renew our compact with one another – with courage, clarity, and conviction.

“The work of integration is never done. Each generation must carry the flame forward, lighting the path of unity and shared progress for those who come after.

“Let us imagine a West Africa where our borders are zones of cooperation, not conflict; where our economies thrive through joint effort; and where our people, diverse yet bound by destiny, walk together toward peace, prosperity, and justice,” he said. (Vanguard)

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Delta Assembly speaker, 21 PDP lawmakers defect to APC

The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Dennis Guwor, and 21 other Peoples Democratic Party, on Tuesday, defected to the All Progressives Congress.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that the defection of the 22 lawmakers was a sequel to the significant shift in the state’s political landscape.

The defection means that the assembly has been turned into a one-party legislature, as the remaining seven members are from the APC.

Guwor, while announcing the defection on Tuesday during the resumption of plenary after the Easter break, noted that the decision was the result of extensive consultations with their constituents and political leaders across the state.

The move, he said, aligned with Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

According to him, the political shift toward APC was in response to the realignment of stakeholders and the desire to align with the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.

“The mass defection of members of the Peoples Democratic Party, led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to the APC, was made in the overall interest of the people of the state,” he said.

Guwor explained that the decision followed extensive consultations held on April 23 which culminated in the April 28 official reception at the Government House and the Cenotaph, respectively.

“We are fully committed to partnering with the federal government to deliver greater development to the people of Delta.

“On behalf of the house, I commend the courage and visionary leadership of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori in making this strategic and timely decision.

“As a legislative body, we stand with His Excellency in this endeavour.

”This renewed partnership between the state and the federal government must be supported and allowed to flourish so that we can begin to enjoy its benefits in the shortest possible time,” he stated.Related News

Guwor also announced that he had received 22 letters, including his own, notifying him of the change of party affiliation from PDP to APC.

He said the defection was driven by instability within the PDP national leadership and divisions within the South-South Zonal Executive Committee, leading to internal conflicts and disunity.

The speaker affirmed the constitutional basis for the defection, citing Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

“With this action, the Delta House of Assembly is now composed entirely of members from the All Progressives Congress. We thank our constituents for endorsing this progressive course of action,” he said.

The speaker, who appreciated members for their contributions so far, urged them to ensure the completion of all pending bills as the second legislative session nears its end.

After the development, the Majority Leader, Mr Emeka Nwaobi, moved a motion for the adoption of the letters of change in the political party.

The motion, which was unanimously adopted by the assembly when put to a voice vote by the speaker, was seconded by Mr Ferguson Onwo (APC-Isoko South II).

Addressing newsmen shortly after the plenary, the majority leader said that the defection was prompted by the crisis within PDP.

“Our decision was based on the instability at the national level and the factionalisation at the South-South level.

”Consequently, we chose to move to the ruling All Progressives Congress, in accordance with Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended,” he said. (Punch)

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Five injured as burial convoy crashes in Lagos

There was commotion on Wednesday after a mini commercial bus conveying a corpse for burial was involved in an accident at Idimu in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that about five people sustained varying degrees of injuries in the incident, which occurred around 10 am.

These include three females and two males.

It was gathered that the mourners were transporting the corpse from Ejigbo to the Ikotun area of the community in a convoy of three minibuses and one Toyota space bus.

On getting to the Idimu bus stop area, the bus on which the corpse was, developed a faulty brake, thereby causing the driver to ram into the bus ahead of it.

An eyewitness, who identified himself simply as Foluke, said the drivers of both buses were also injured in the accident.

She said, “Some buses were picking up passengers on the layby when a minibus suddenly crashed into another one. The impact caused some of them to fall off the vehicle, and they got injured.

“At first, we thought it was an accident between two buses that had passengers inside them.

It was when we moved close that we discovered that they were heading for burial when we saw a corpse inside one of them. The occupants were also seriously injured.”

The bus driver conveying the corpse, while narrating how the accident occurred, said the vehicle had initially developed a fault midway before they later proceeded on the journey.

Reeling in pain, he said, “On our way coming from Ejigbo, the bus developed a fault midway and started moving slowly.  It later started working normally again, and while we approached Idimu to connect to Ikotun, I discovered that the brake was no longer responding. That was how I lost control and crashed the bus ahead of me. I wasn’t expecting this terrible incident today.”

The scene of the incident was already crowded when our correspondent visited the spot.

Some of the injured persons were also seen sitting on the bare floor, as some residents administered first aid to them.

During a closer look, a female occupant was seen holding onto the corpse in the bus with injuries on her leg.

A food vendor close to the spot where the accident happened, but declined to mention her name, said that about three of the victims had broken legs.

“About three people had broken legs in the accident. It took the intervention of the people around who rescued them because their legs were trapped in the seat of the bus. The one who got flung out of the bus waiting to pick up a passenger was among them,” she disclosed.

It was, however, gathered that some mourners who were ahead of the bus in the convoy had driven some distances away before they realised what had happened.

One of the mourners who alighted from the vehicles ahead and rushed down to the spot where the incident occurred said, “We were ahead of them and we had almost reached the Council bus stop when we noticed that they were no longer behind us. It was when we put a call through that we realised that there was an accident.

Our correspondent observed that the injured victims were taken away from the spot and transported to a nearby hospital for medical attention, while the corpse was moved into another vehicle.

PUNCH Metro reported that no fewer than six people lost their lives, while several others sustained various degrees of injuries in a fatal accident involving an 18-seater commercial bus along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Saturday, April 5.

The crash caused a major gridlock, leaving commuters stranded for hours as emergency responders worked to clear the wreckage and rescue victims. (Punch)

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Multiple accidents cause gridlock on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway

A multiple-vehicle accident involving a container-laden truck that fell on its side and seven other vehicles occurred at the Cele Bus Stop axis of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

According to a statement by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority via its X account on Saturday, emergency responders are already on the ground, and efforts are underway to address the situation.

The statement read, “A multiple accident has occurred at Cele on the Apapa-Oshodi Express, involving a container-laden truck that fell on its side and seven (7) other vehicles.

“Emergency responders are on the ground and en route, and casualties are being taken care of while our men are on the ground managing the traffic emanating from this.”

LASTMA also highlighted that the accident has caused significant traffic delays, with the backlog extending to Ijesha and spilling over to other areas.

“Traffic backlog is at Ijesha and spilling”, the traffic management agency added. (Punch)

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Okpebholo threatens to terminate projects of non-performing contractors

The governor of Edo State, Sen. Monday Okpebholo on Wednesday threatened to revoke the projects of non-performing contractors, urging them to step up and work according to specifications and meet agreed deadlines of projects or risk termination of their contracts. 

Okpebholo stated this while on an inspection tour of some roads and drainage projects in the State where he expressed his dissatisfaction on the rate of work in some areas particularly frowning at the slow pace of work at Orior-Ozolua Community, where residents also complained that the contractor was seldom on site.

The governor who personally inspected the thickness of the drainage in the community said he was not pleased at the specifications of the drain instructing the contractor to do the right thing or his contract would be revoked.

“Why did you reduce the width of the drain? You reduced it on both sides. Look at my face, if you are not doing the right thing and not working according to specifications, I can revoke the contract any moment without fear or favour. I need you to do a quality job, it is the people’s resources and must be utilized effectively and efficiently”.

A resident in the community, Slyvester Igbinovia who was among the jubilant crowd that welcomed the governor, complained about the slow pace of work by the contractor handling the road and drainage projects.

“Mr. Gov this contractor is just too slow on this job, they close before 2 pm when they are on site but most times they are not on site. They are here today your excellency, I am sure they know that you are coming that’s why they are here today”.

The governor and his entourage also inspected ongoing roads and drainage projects at, Orior Uteh palace road, New Uteh road Ekiuwa Quarters, Upper Ekheuan open drain by Nigerian Army Cantonment amongst others areas.

A jubilant crowd who received the governor and his entourage in all the areas visited thanked him for remembering them as they said previous administrations have forgotten that these areas existed and they prayed for the success of the governor and his administration in the State. (Vanguard)

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Lagos Lawmakers weep as Meranda steps down for Obasa

Lawmakers and staff of the Lagos State House of Assembly wept in the full glare of those present on Monday when the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, tendered her resignation letter to allow the previously impeached speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, to return to his position.

LEADERSHIP reports that the House had been engulfed in crisis since January 13 when Hon Mudashiru Obasa was removed as Speaker.

Most of the lawmakers and Assembly staff who spoke without inhibition applauded Meranda over how she led the House within the 49 days she was the speaker of the House, saying reversing the situation was a return to a reign of tyranny in the Assembly.

Before her resignation, Meranda who was the first female speaker of the state, and Obasa had earlier held a meeting with lawmakers, with Lawal Pedro, the Lagos State attorney general, and Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, in their midst.

Meranda was reappointed as the Deputy Speaker, while Mudashiru Obasa took the oath of Office as the Speaker. Also, Hon Sanni Okanlawon resigned as the Deputy Chief Whip, while Hon Setonji David resigned as the Chief Whip.

In the meantime, Hon. David was reelected as the Deputy Chief after being nominated by Hon. Kehinde Joseph. Hon. Richard Kasunmu returned as the Deputy Majority Leader, while Hon. Adewale Temitope retained the position.

Similarly, Deputy Speaker Mojeed Fatai resigned and was elected as the Chief Whip. Meranda returned as the new deputy speaker.

With this development, Meranda served as the Speaker for 49 days before bowing to the All Progressives Congress (APC) party supremacy principle.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the development was decided at the strategic meeting of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) with members of the House on Sunday. (Leadership)

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Adeleke unveils scholarship for Osun best SSCE students

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has unveiled the ‘Imole Statewide public and private schools students Senior Secondary Certificate Examination Scholarship .

Adeleke said the initiative was to reward the best-performing students in the SSCE across the state.

A statement signed by the state Commissioner for Education, Dipo Eluwole, obtained in Osogbo on Tuesday said the scholarship supported by Electronic Collections Group was designed to recognise and support outstanding students from both public and private schools in all 30 local government areas and the area office of Osun State.

Eluwole stated, “The initiative will award a ₦1,000,000 (One Million Naira) scholarship to the overall best student in the state. Additionally, each of the best students in both public and private schools per local government will receive a ₦100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) scholarship award.

“Beyond individual student awards, the best-performing public and private schools will also be granted a ₦500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) educational support fund to enhance their academic programs.

“Furthermore, to recognize the role of educators in shaping academic excellence, teachers of the best students from both public and private schools in each local government area will be rewarded with exciting gift items.”

He emphasised the government’s commitment to improving education standards and fostering intellectual growth among Osun students.

He urged teachers and school administrators to prepare their students adequately for the 2025 SSCE, to ensure they perform exceptionally well to qualify for the scholarship awards. (Punch)

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Supreme Court reserves ruling on appeal seeking to nullify Rivers LG polls

The Supreme Court, yesterday, reserved judgment in the appeal the All Progressives Congress, APC, filed to nullify the outcome of the Local Government elections that held in Rivers State on October 5, 2024.

A five-member panel of the apex court, headed by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, okayed the matter for judgment, after parties adopted their final briefs of argument.

The court had earlier in the day dismissed an appeal Governor Siminialayi Fubara filed to challenge another judgment that sought to compel him to re-present the 2024 budget of the state before the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State Assembly, which he argued had been overtaken by event.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Coalition has clarified that no Supreme Court judgment was issued against Fubara, despite speculations to the contrary, adding that Oko Jumbo remains the legitimate Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

While the APC, through its team of lawyers, led by Mr. J. Daudu, urged the Supreme Court to set-aside the November 21, 2024, judgment of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, which declined to invalidate the election, Mr. Yusuf Ali, who announced appearance for Fubara, as well as Chris Uche, who represented the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, sought the dismissal of the appeal.

Recall that the appellate court vacated the judgment that barred the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from releasing voters register to the RSIEC for the conduct of the LG polls.

The Justice Onyekachi Otisi-led panel, in a unanimous decision, held that the high court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain suit against the Rivers State LG elections.

According to the appellate court, section 28 of the Electoral Act does not cover elections conducted by states but only Federal elections, governorship and Area Council Elections in the Federal Capital Territory.

Meantime, the Supreme Court adjourned the case for judgment on a day it dismissed an appeal Fubara filed to challenge another judgment that sought to compel him to re-present the 2024 budget of the state before Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State Assembly.

When the appeal was called up for hearing, yesterday, Fubara’s lawyer applied to withdraw it, saying it had been overtaken by events.

Neither Wole Olanipekun, who stood for the Amaewhule-led Rivers State lawmakers, nor Mr. Daudu, who represented the 3rd to 12th defendants, challenged the withdrawal, though they persuaded the apex court to award N2million cost to each of them.

The respondents further convinced the Justice Abba-Aji-led panel to dismiss the matter instead of striking it out, noting that they have already exchanged processes with the Appellant.

Maintaining that Fubara’s loss was “self-inflicted,” the appelate court held that since his counter-affidavit was withdrawn, “the appellant is deemed to have admitted the rather weighty facts that were presented by the respondents.”

The Supreme Court, yesterday, also reserved its verdict on seven consolidated appeals that are trailing the Appeal Court judgment that vacated the order that initially stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, from releasing monthly statutory allocations to Rivers State.

Factional members of the Rivers State Assembly loyal to the immediate past governor of the state and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike, had insisted that all federal monthly allocations meant for Rivers state, should be withheld.

On his part, governor Fubara argued that the Amaewhule-led group had since ceased to be lawmakers in the state, having decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which sponsored their election, to the All Progressives Congress, APC. (Vanguard)