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Tag: 2023 Election

  • Revealed: More reasons Tinubu campaign chief dumped APC emerge

    Revealed: More reasons Tinubu campaign chief dumped APC emerge

    More reasons Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s campaign chief, Abdulmumin Jibrin, surprisingly dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), have emerged.

     

    A credible source close to the Director-General of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Support Groups Management Council (ABATSGMC), on Saturday explained that Jibrin wants to return to the House of Representatives but the Kano APC does not want to give him the ticket.

     

    “He has to go where he might get the ticket to contest,” the source said,

     

    Jibrin belongs to the Shekarau faction of APC that lost out at the Supreme Court yesterday to Gov Ganduje’s faction.

     

    He announced his withdrawal from the APC on his official social media accounts, noting that, he will disclose his next political move within 24 hours.

     

    The former House of Representatives member said, “I have done my best for APC. It is time to move on. I will announce my new political party within the next 24 hours Insha Allah. I will make a formal statement in due course,” he said, signing off with his name.”

  • CBN Governor deflates report on his interest for 2023 presidency

    CBN Governor deflates report on his interest for 2023 presidency

    Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has debunked the allegation that he picked the All Progressives Congress (APC) N100 million expression of interest and presidential nomination forms.

     

    According to him, he has not decided yet to run for the 2023 presidency.

     

    He spoke barely 24 hours after reports that a group of a committee of friends picked the APC N100 million expression of interest and presidential nomination forms for him.

     

    After the news went viral, many social media users demanded his immediate resignation, saying his dabble into politics is in contravention of the CBN Act of 2007.

     

    But Emefiele, on his official Twitter handle on Saturday, said he was yet to decide whether to run for the presidency.

     

    He said: “I am humbled by the growing interest of those asking that I run for the Office of President in the 2023 general elections: I have not come to that decision. I note and salute the sacrifices of those farmers and patriots going as far as raising personal funds.

     

    “And offering me Presidential Nomination Forms: I thank them most profusely. However, Should I answer their calls and decide to seek presidential nomination, I will use my own hard-earned savings from over 35 years of banking leadership to buy my own Nomination Forms.

     

    “Without proxies in an open and transparent manner in full compliance with the laws and Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria. And should I not run for elected office.

     

    “I will continue to serve and sacrifice for the good people of Nigeria under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. This is a serious decision that requires God’s Divine intervention: in the next few days The Almighty will so direct.”

  • 2023: Plateau APC stakeholders endorse Lalong for senate

    2023: Plateau APC stakeholders endorse Lalong for senate

    Plateau South All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders have endorsed the state governor, Simon Lalong, as candidate in next year’s senatorial election.

    This is on the against the backdrop of purchase of forms and public endorsements by the Plateau South APC and the Patty’s Legacy Group the constituency’s senatorial seat, ahead of the 2023 elections.

    The APC stakeholders from the three local government areas of Quan-Pan, Shendam, Mikang, met with Laong on Tuesday in Jos, and asked the governor to accede to the peoples’ demand and stand as the party’s candidate in the next general elections.

    Also Read:Plateau PDP takes swipe at Gov Lalong over alleged non performance

    Chairman of the stakeholders forum, Joseph Ari, while expressing the position of the meeting, held that the entire stakeholders, including youth and women groups and other members of the party, were well pleased with the sterling performance of the governor in the state.
    Ari as saying, “Gov Lalong has impacted positively on the lives of our people and we call on all lovers of peace to support him irrespective of party affiliation in order to benefit from his wealth of experience and varied contacts.”
    The motion was seconded by the Majority Leader of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Naanlong Daniel.
    Ari, who is the current Director General of the Industrial Training Fund also extended an invitation to all supporters and well wishers of the governor, to grace the formal presentation of the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to Lalong in Shendam, headquarters of Plateau South Senatorial Zone.

    Also Read:Governor Lalong reveals those behind crisis in Plateau

    Meanwhile, the Plateau Legacy Group had earlier obtained the N20 Million APC senatorial nomination form for Governor Lalong to lure him into the 2023 senatorial contest for Plateau South Senatorial District.
    The group, chaired by the member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, with the state Accountant General, Cyril Tsenyil, as Secretary, has the 17 Local Government Council Chairmen in Plateau state as members, as well as commissioners and other apppntees of the governor.
    Other members of the group include some state and national assembly members of the APC and other party stakeholders who share in the beliefs and aspirations of the Lalong administration and working in harmony towards a smooth APC succession in Plateau state in the 2023 general elections.
    Presenting the Senatorial nomination form to Chairman of the group, on behalf of the governor, National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Mohammed Argungu, commended the group for the love shown to their governor which made them the first to obtain the APC senatorial nomination form with serial number senate 001.

  • 2023: Tinubu ‘ll change Nigeria’s story for good— Lagos lawmaker

    2023: Tinubu ‘ll change Nigeria’s story for good— Lagos lawmaker

    A Lagos lawmaker, Mr Setonji David, says if APC and Nigerians give Sen. Bola Tinubu the opportunity to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, he will change Nigeria’s story for good.

    David, the Chairman, of Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Information, Publicity, Strategy and Security made these remarks in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos.

    According to him, the type of president Nigeria needs in 2023 is in Tinubu, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the APC.

    David, representing Badagry Constituency II in the assembly, said: “He (Tinubu) is the man that can deliver this country. He is in best position to help us move forward.

    “He has done a lot in Lagos state as a former governor and this is quite visible to everybody to see and that is why we are praying that if given the opportunity, he will replicate it at the Federal level.

    “So, the best material as at today is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We believe that this country will give him the opportunity and he will change our story for good,” he said.

    According to him, if the party is using consensus arrangement to pick its presidential candidate, Tinubu should be the consensus candidate of APC.

    “We should all concede to Asiwaju to be President. I plead with my party leaders to concede the presidency ticket of APC to Tinubu.

    “If we go to the field for primaries, I plead with delegates that we all vote for Tinubu.

    “Obviously, Tinubu has the solution to some of the challenges facing this nation,” he said.

    David said that Tinubu, who revamped the Lagos state economy when he was governor, could re-jig the nation’s economy.

    “If he gets to the federal level, the man (TInubu) has ideas that can help this country, he has done a lot for us in Lagos,” David added.

    Newsmen reports that Tinubu is among many presidential aspirants jostling for the ruling APC ticket for the 2023 presidential election.

  • Open letter to APC delegates by Seun Bisuga

    Open letter to APC delegates by Seun Bisuga

    Dear APC Delegates,

    The year 2023 is almost upon us and the future of Nigeria hangs in the balance. It is true that the voters will determine who becomes President but long before that, the party delegates would have predetermined who becomes President.
    This letter is a plea to all APC delegates as the party prepares for its presidential primaries on May 31.

    I am writing you to ask that you put country first and consider the future of over 200 million Nigerians, many of whom will be grateful for the wise decisions you will make on that historic night. I will now table before you issues that I consider important leading into 2023.

    1. The first issue I think you might want to consider is Tolerance. Many people say that Nigeria needs a unifier, someone that can make all citizens know that they have an equal stake in the country. A leader, not a ruler, someone who speaks the language that everyone understands and who will connect with all tribes, gender, ethnicity and beliefs. Since declaration for 2023 begun, we have found that some aspirants are intolerant. They simply cannot accept the decisions or actions of others and many Nigerians believe this is a wrong signal. If some persons cannot agree with other contestants who in total are less than 20, how will they behave when 100 million people disagree with them? Even the delegates will be impacted by this intolerance if they do not make a careful, well-thought decision today.

    2. In a message, Pastor Paul Adefarasin mentioned three things the incoming Nigerian President must be able to do/deliver. I agree with him to some extent. First he spoke about the Rule of Law. It is often argued that it takes a man who understands ‘the law’ to be able to ensure adherence to the rule of law. I think we can look back carefully at each candidate’s past to determine who will uphold the rule of law and who wouldn’t.

    3. Mr Adefarasin also spoke about of presidential candidate who can attract foreign direct investment. He reasoned that the country needed someone that investors can listen to and believe. Someone who had experience attracting big tech, oil companies, human capital development and other investors to Nigeria.

    4. And lastly, Mr Adefarasin valued a candidate that can speak English. We need a presidential candidate that can stand shoulder to shoulder with any foreign leader. He used the words eloquent, yes, a leader who is eloquent and who you know will make Nigeria proud always on the global stage.

    5. I will delve into the recommendations of a former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida. Even though I do not think age is a big factor, the army general does. He narrowed down his presidential candidate to not more than mid-60s. He reckoned that this person ought to be physically and mentally fit to take on the huge task ahead. For me, however, I will harp on health. Delegates please consider the health of the candidate. I understand that NDLEA wants to put them to drug tests, it is a welcomed development but beyond that we need to be sure that the candidate can withstand the physical, mental and psychological rigours the office demands.

    6. The former head of state then spoke about ‘good leadership’. To quote him, “If you get a good leadership that links with the people and tries to talk with the people; not talking on top of the people, then we would be okay. I have started visualizing a good Nigerian leader. That is, a person who travels across the country and has a friend virtually everywhere he travels to and knows at least one person that he can communicate with.” Like the general, many Nigerians want a leader that mirrors them, one they can talk to, a leader they can relate to.

    7. At this point, let us talk Security. This is perhaps the biggest heart-wrenching problem that most Nigerians face today. They want insecurity eradicated and culprits punished. They want a leader that has shown competence at this level and who has an insight into how things work at the federal level. A leader that will hit the ground running, not one that will have to learn on the job.

    8. Then there is the Economy. We know that there are too many components of the economy and only a leader who has seen firsthand how to make these components work together can help Nigeria get to where it should be rather quickly. I agree that most of the aspirants are qualified but I ask the delegates to vote the very best.

    9. Education: This is a major issue that must be given topmost consideration in voting a presidential candidate within the APC. It is common knowledge that the Buhari administration made giant strides in the regard but even more need to be done. We need a leader that know what it means to reduce out-of-school-children and bring them back to school. What about ASUU strikes? We need a leader with tact, who listens and who ca shift ground where and when necessary. We also need a leader that can help improve the standard of living and who has a plan to ensure access to healthcare.

    10. Electricity, Climate Change and Job Creation is a big problem. With the poverty figures going off the roof we need a leader that can use the social safety net to reach more Nigerians and lift them out of poverty. A leader that can create jobs not handout money to Nigerians, a leader to can improve human capital development and enhance capacity.
    (ii) Electricity is one of the drivers of Nigeria’s economy, if we can tap into Nigeria’s capacity to use solar power and also increase infrastructure in this sector. MSMEs rely on basic infrastructure to thrive and only a leader who has close ties and understanding of how MSMEs work can relate. Generally speaking, Nigerians, all Nigerians both urban and rural need electricity.
    (iii)Climate Change might not be a big talking point but its already happening. Last year, we witnessed rain falling out of season and we barely witnessed Harmattan, these are pointers to what is to come. What about clean energy? What about transitional fuel?

    To all delegates across Nigeria, we want a leader and not a politician. We do not want a leader that wants to influence every local government, state and national assembly election. We want someone that will lead not rule, we want someone that will be tolerant.

    On our behalf, please do make the best decision, again the future of Nigeria in your hands.

    Thank you

    Seun Bisuga is a public analyst and journalist. Writes from Lagos

  • 2023 Election: Former chairman NIDOA joins presidential race

    2023 Election: Former chairman NIDOA joins presidential race

    The former Chairman, Board of Directors, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Americas (NIDOA) Patience Key, has joined the presidential race by purchasing the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) expression of interest and nomination forms.

    Key, who was speaking to newsmen shortly after obtaining her nomination forms at the party national secretariat on Thursday in Abuja, said that she would prioritise tackling insecurity, poverty and injustice.

    She was accompanied to the party secretariat by her supporters from different states.

    Key said that the three agenda were in line with PRP’s constitution and programmes.

    “Number one is peace. Why I say peace is because with the chaotic situation we see ourselves, security is basic. To be able to gain peace, we need to look at the root causes of this problem.

    “We need to put together structures to be able to tackle and erase poverty in our country through education, healthcare and building structures.”

    Key, who was the first to obtain the party’s presidential nomination form, also pledged to address inequality in the country, especially gender bias facing women and marginalisation causing some parties in the country to be demanding for secession.

    “The third one is wealth creation. A nation that does not produce anything cannot grow.

    “Yes, we are the giant of Africa in terms of our population; the population alone is not going to make us what we need to be if we don’t produce; if we are not industrialised, if we don’t build capacity.

    “I believe that the number one thing is wealth creation, building the potential because Nigerian has talents.

    “We have great population and with our population, we do not need other country to survive. We just need to do the right thing and so on.”

    Key said that she decided to contest on the platform of PRP because the party had ideology and structures in the 36 states, the FCT and 777 local governments needed to win elections.

    “Also the way Nigerians are looking at the next election, it is no more just about party. They are looking at individuals. They are looking at what this person or group has for us.

    “And for the 18 political parties that we have, you see that PRP has the oldest ideology and the best identity. We have stayed on course, since inception, we have not shifted.

    She said that these and many other characteristics were presently attracting many great Nigerians to the party.

    Key commended Nigerians both within the country and those in the Diaspora for contributing toward the purchase of her nomination forms, said such gesture had energised her to join the race, adding “nothing can stop me’’.

    The Party National Secretary, Babatunde Ali assured all the aspirants of free, fair and credible primaries from where the party’s presidential candidate would emerge.

    “Our circular is already out. Our guideline is already out and it is going to be by indirect voting. Delegates are going to vote and whoever wins, I can guarantee you, PRP will give it to that person.

    “In our party, the first principle is value and quality of human beings. It does not matter if she is a woman. If she wins she will have it.”

    Ali advised aspirants running on the platform of the party not to run manifestoes that were not in line with the party’s documents.

    The documents, according to him include its constitution, programmes and principles, “which are always together’’.

    He also advised the aspirants that the party supremacy must also be honoured at all times.

    “In the Constitution of PRP, the president, the governors, elected officials and others are members of the National Working Committee and the chairman of the party is the leader,” he said.

  • 2023 Presidency: Sen. Amosun makes intention known to Senate

    2023 Presidency: Sen. Amosun makes intention known to Senate

    Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Ibikunle Amosun, has formally notified the Senate of his intention to run for the 2023 presidency.

    Amosun, a former Governor of Ogun, made this known in a letter to the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, and read during Wednesday’s plenary.

    The letter is titled “Notification and invitation to the formal declaration of contest for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the All Progressives Congress APC.”

    It reads: “It is with greatest respect I write to notify you and my distinguished colleagues of my intention to contest for the office of the President of our dear country, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and to respectfully invite you and my distinguished colleagues to the formal declaration ceremony.

    “I have been blessed by God to serve as senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between 2003 and 2007 and as a two-term Governor of Ogun between 2011 and 2019.

    “I have also had the privilege to be elected a second time to the Senate of the Federal Republic in 2019 where I currently serve the good people of Ogun Central Senatorial District.

    “My varied experience in private and public life has given me the requisite insights, experiences and network of relationships adequate to provide a leadership that will galvanise our dear country to achieve its manifest destiny as leader in Africa and of the black race.

    “I will be honoured with your esteemed presence and that of my distinguished colleagues at the declaration event,” slated for Thursday, May 5, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, at 11.00 a.m.

  • 2023: INEC trains staff on election management in Ebonyi

    2023: INEC trains staff on election management in Ebonyi

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has embarked on a two-day skills development training aimed at boosting capacity of 60 members of staff of the commission in Ebony

    The training was aimed at enhancing service delivery by members of staff of the commission ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    Dr Joseph Chukwuemeka, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ebonyi while declaring the workshop open on Tuesday in Abakaliki, said the exercise was part of conscious efforts by the commission to enhance the operational efficiency of members of its staff.

    According to him, the training will equip the officers with new skills and knowledge to cope with the new technologies in use by the commission for the conduct of modern elections.

    He further noted that the skills development training would also enhance communication abilities and staff approach to work-related engagements.

    He said: ‘Administratively, our staff should be competent in the management of men and materials as electoral umpires.

    “Movement of files, communications amongst one another will be highly enhanced if the necessary capacity is built and people learn every day as they grow in an organisation.

    “Failure to learn will keep a worker redundant, unproductive and unuseful in the organisation; and to avoid redundancy you need constant training and retraining to remain relevant in the job.

    “Today, we have moved into a technologically-driven election in the history of Nigeria, though, not that our elections have not been technologically-driven but, there is an advance in our application of technology in the electoral process.

    “So, when we got a letter from the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Abakaliki office for the training to inculcate in us performance in communication strategies, human relations management and in skills development, I considered it eminently necessary.

    “I did because the training will help the staff manage materials and men involved in the entire electoral process.”

    The REC noted that capacity building training would enable participants add more value to themselves.

    Chukwuemeka charged participants to pay rapt attention to the teachings and every other activity incorporated in the training.

    He said the state and Nigerians were looking up to the commission to conduct transparent, credible, free and fair elections in 2023, adding that the commission would not disappoint the people.

    Earlier, Mr Amadi Onyekwere, INEC training officer in Ebonyi said that the two-day workshop was designed to train Electoral Officers (EOs), Assistant Electoral Officers (AEOs), Heads of Units and other relevant staff.

    He said that more than 60 officials of the commission were taking part in the exercise slated to hold on April 26 and 27 at the commission’s state headquarters in Ebonyi.

    “This training intends to improve professionalism among staff and build their capacity.

    “The training content has been designed to help the staff of the commission improve in the activities we all carry out,” Onyekwere said.

  • CVR: Fresh registration hits 8.56m – INEC

    CVR: Fresh registration hits 8.56m – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says fresh registration in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) has hit 8,564,512, as at 7am, Monday April 25.

    The commission disclosed this in an CVR Update on quarter four, week two, released in Abuja on Monday night.

    The commission also disclosed that 5,111,899 registrants had completed their registrations with 2,228,913 via online and 2,882,986 through physical registration.

    According to the commission, the gender breakdown of the registrants that have completed their registration comprised 2,537,932 male and 2,573,967 female.

    Newsmen reports that the released statistics also indicated that 3,534,837 of the figure are youths, while 43,153 are Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

    The update also revealed that as at the 7am of Monday, INEC had received 15,071,668 applications for voter transfer, requests for replacement of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), update of voter information record, etc.

    It added that 7,957,756 of the applications were received from male and 7,113,912 from female, of which 4,120,254 of the applications were from students and 142,807 from PWDs.

  • INEC pledges commitment to support PWDs during electoral process

    INEC pledges commitment to support PWDs during electoral process

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given its commitment to providing strong support to Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) ahead of the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

    Prof. Kunle Ajayi, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Outreach and Partnership Committee (OPC), gave the commitment at the opening of training for INEC Disability Desk Officers on Monday in Lagos.

    Newsmen reports that the five-day training — BRIDGE: is a Modular Training on Access and Participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Electoral Process for INEC Disability Desk Officers.

    It is organised for the desk officers in the commission from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT in partnership with the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES)

    Ajayi said: “The non-negotiable minimum of a credible, and democratic electioneering process is its inclusivity- ability of all stakeholders to access, and participate in the electoral space on the basis of equality.

    “Section 54 (2) of the Electoral Act 2022, and other legal instruments empower the commission to take reasonable steps to ensure that PWDs, special needs, and vulnerable persons are given support at the polling place by the provision of assistive devices.

    “The commission also has, as one of its core values, the creation of a level playing field for all stakeholders to participate in, especially the marginalised groups, including the PWDs.”

    According to him, the training was part of the commission’s Strategic Plan of Action (SPA) designed to sharpen, and enrich the working knowledge of INEC’s new desk officers.

    He said that the training was meant to refresh the memories of other officers with long experience at the disability desk of their responsibilities as frontline implementers of the commission’s PWDs policies.

    Ajayi urged the staff to appreciate various innovations and the changing dynamics on PWD electoral issues.

    He said that the commission was counting on their expertise as foot soldiers on PWDs responsive policies for effective coordination, and implementation of INEC disability focal programmes.

    Reiterating the unwavering commitment of the commission to PWDs’ sensitive actions, Ajayi said INEC had a Framework on Access and Participation of PWDs in the Electoral Process and had almost completed work on Disability Inclusive Guide.

    “This is a tool for reference in mainstreaming disability issues in the electoral process, which will further firm up the commission’s resolve on electoral inclusivity to serve PWDs community better,” the INEC boss said.

    In his opening remarks, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos State, said that the training sought to raise the level of staff professionalism in election administration.

    Agbaje described the training as another demonstration of INEC’s resolve not to leave any stone unturned in achieving the conduct of flawless elections.

    “In the bid to ensure that no segment of the society is excluded from the electoral process, the Independent National Electoral Commission consistently pursues the principle of inclusiveness with uncanny vigour,” Agbaje said.

    He said that INEC had put some measures in place to make the electoral process friendlier to the PWDs.

    The measures, he said include the creation of regular interactive platforms, provision of Braille ballots, magnifying glasses, sign language interpreters, redesigning of voter registration centres, and Polling Units (PUs) for easy access to PWDs.

    Speaking, Mr Hamza Fassi-Fihri, the ECES Country Representative, said that the training was organised within the European Union-funded Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria programme (EU-SDGN).

    Fassi-Fihri said that it was to familiarise INEC officials with the International, regional, and national PWD inclusion policies as well as INEC Special Voting Rights tools.

    He said that the training was to equip them with strategies that would ensure the safety of these special groups of persons before, during, and after elections as well as ensure increased inclusion, and participation of PWDs in the electoral processes.

    “Indeed, ensuring their right to vote and be voted for is one of the most visible gains in any thriving democracy.

    “Promoting these rights and freedom to equally participate in elections is provided in both local and international declarations, protocols, and instruments, as endorsed by the United Nations, African Union, and the Economic Community of West African States among others.

    “It’s also ratified by the Nigerian State. A truly representative electoral outcome is one that is totally inclusive,” Fassi-Fihri said.

    According to him, since the constitution does not alienate Persons With Disabilities from voting and contesting, it, therefore, becomes critical to put in place measures that will minimise or eliminate discriminatory practices.

    “We are in a society where PWDs face several obstacles around key processes within the electoral, and political process which tends to subtract their contributions towards the development of the electoral and political landscape.

    “While INEC has put in place a disability framework towards providing a level playing field for the PWD community, other stakeholders including from government, political parties, security agencies among others, have important contributions to make towards the actualisation of a truly inclusive society.

    “This is also in line with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and envisions an inclusive and non-discriminatory planet by 2030,” he added.