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Tag: 2023 Election

  • 2023 Election: APC have failed in tackling insecurity – Wike

    2023 Election: APC have failed in tackling insecurity – Wike

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers has stated that the All Progressive Congress (APC) party, has failed in tackling insecurity and economic security.

    He stated this while addressing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) delegates on Monday in Maiduguri.

    Wike, who expressed confidence that the PDP would win the presidency in the next election, said that he will tackle festering insecurity and poverty bedevilling the country, if elected as president of Nigeria in 2023.

    He lamented that people can no longer go to their farmlands or go about their legitimate businesses due to the insecurity.

    “I came here today because there is a problem. And the problem is that Nigeria is dying and we must not allow Nigeria to die. We must rescue this country.

    “So I came as a Nigerian, as a Member of People’s Democratic Party. As a party, I have never left from 1998 till now. As a party I have worked for and I will continue to work for, and I believe that Nigeria has hope. So I want to run for the presidency of this country under the PDP.

    “As a country, we do not have any other country to run to. So I am here to offer myself to solve most of the problems that this APC administration could not solve.

    “Before we are only hearing of insecurity in Borno state, but now is all over the the country. Hunger doesn’t know Muslims or Christians; insecurity does not know North or South.

    “We need somebody who has the courage to fight insecurity in this country and I want to tell you that I have that courage. Every day is one excuse or the other. People can no longer go to their farms and you are talking about investing in agriculture.

    “I want you to give me the ticket so that I can fly the flag of PDP to take over the power from APC,” said Wike.

    Responding, the state PDP Chairman, Alhaji Zanna Gaddama, noted that Wike’s consultative visit to Borno was to actualise his presidential aspiration.

    According to him, Wike challenges the ruling APC on every national issue that affects the people across the country.

    “You should support him to get the PDP presidential ticket,” he urged, adding that Rivers is the most secured state.

  • Delta South Senatorial Zone Deserves Robust Representation- Ejele

    Delta South Senatorial Zone Deserves Robust Representation- Ejele

    The trajectory of his career speaks to the limitless power of vision and focus. He was born with no silver spoon, he did not have multiple options in his determination to become a responsible and successful man. He only had the faith in his dream, the dream that Nigeria is a place of opportunities which have been twisted by the absence of visionary and responsible leadership.

    Hon. Michael Diden, more popularly known as Ejele, is a man that started from ground zero not only as young man but also while growing up.

    From selling timber as a young man, Hon. Diden paid his way through school before venturing into politics, espousing the philosophy that power derives from connecting with the grassroots and advancing their needs. Today, having had successful times as a local government chairman and member of the Delta State House of Assembly as well as numerous other appointments that enabled him actualise his dream of impacting on the standard of living of his people, Ejele has decided to go a step higher by gunning for the upper chamber of the National Assembly, the Senate.

    As a Commissioner representing Itsekiri ethnic nationality on the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) during the administration of former Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and until recently the Chairman of the special intervention agency, Ejele has a first hand knowledge of the peculiar aspirations of his people in the oil-rich Delta South Senatorial Zone. He is also at home with the shortcomings of the development strategies for the zone. “Generally, the plight of the oil and gas producing communities of Delta South is well documented. Despite our best efforts to improve the situation with the limited resources at our disposal, my people have not received corresponding dividends from the exploitation of the God-given resources,” Ejele said of one of the factors that inspired his decision to seek election into the Senate.

    In 2015, Ejele was elected into the Delta State House of Assembly where he served as Deputy Chief Whip. Earlier, he had had his first stint in DESOPADEC as commissioner representing the Itsekiri nation and capped it in 2019 when he became the chairman of the agency’s board. “These are part of the experiences that have prepared me for the job I seek. It is not just about being an Itsekiri man. Whether it is about Ijaw, Isoko or Itsekiri, our destinies, our future and our aspirations are intertwined. We can only make progress together. My start off point is to build an enduring spirit of cooperation and communality among the three ethnic nationalities of Delta South zone and take them to Greater heights,” he said.

    “From my intense tracking of developments in the Senatorial zone, we are immensely deficient in manpower development and infrastructure. Individuals like me have been doing the much we could in terms of empowerment and advocacy. I was a Special Adviser to the previous government on security that midwifed the relative peace still being enjoyed in the state. My tenure as chairman of DESOPADEC has turned the agency around with meaningful projects. One can only expect more when such men are placed in positions to represent the people. I assure our people that they should expect nothing less than a robust representation.”

    Ejele is confident that his unwavering commitment to improving the fortunes of his people puts him in excellent stead to coast to victory. “I have served and I am very qualified to go to the senate, especially when I have the support of my people who believe in me. They want me to come and serve them and they have called on me to run the election,” he stated.

    The sterling qualities of Ejele was never lost on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. In goodwill message to mark Hon. Diden’s 57th birthday, the Governor attested to his people-oriented approach to governance.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba, the governor commended Diden for his tremendous and outstanding efforts in the service of Delta State over the years, and described him as an outstanding man who always spoke truth to power. Okowa stated that Diden commanded a lot of followership across the state, and attributed it to his selfless and humble leadership style.

    The governor recalled that Delta Political Vanguard (DPV) which Diden founded with other illustrious Deltans, contributed immensely to the realisation of his governorship ambition in 2015 as well as his re-election in 2019.

    “Michael Diden’s leadership of DPV no doubt contributed significantly to our success in the 2015 and 2019 elections. He is a man of the people and a truthful politician loved by many for his open-door policy and humane disposition. As Chairman of DESOPADEC, he has stabilised the Commission to focus on its core mandate.

    “DESOPADEC under his leadership has continued to contribute to poverty reduction, economic, social and infrastructure development in the oil-bearing communities of the state, which recently won the commission Independent Newspapers Award for the Outstanding State Agency of the year,” the Governor stated.

    Diden, an evangelist and a man after God’s heart is the founder and General Overseer of Mega Praise Ministry International with headquarters in Sapele.

  • 2023 Election: PDP vows to reclaim Cross River from APC

    2023 Election: PDP vows to reclaim Cross River from APC

    Ex-Cross River governor, Mr Liyel Imoke, said in Calabar on Sunday that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would reclaim the state from the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the 2023 general election.

    He told newsmen at the end of a PDP caucus meeting that the party’s confidence stemmed from the fact that it had never lost election in the state.

    Sitting Gov. Ben Ayade won the governorship seat on the platform of the PDP, but defected to the APC on May 20, 2021.

    Imoke said the caucus meeting was summoned to strategise for the 2023 elections.

    “We have never lost election in Cross River since 1999 when Nigeria returned to democracy; a defection is not a loss.

    “In 2023, we do not intend to lose; that is why the caucus meeting was convened to rub minds, share opinions and strategise towards winning the 2023 general elections.

    “On the issue of zoning, just as at the national level where the issue of zoning is being discussed, we also discussed it at the caucus level.

    “It is not my responsibility to disclose what was discussed on the issue,’’ the former minister of power said.

    He maintained that the PDP in the state was organised, well managed, and had an experienced chairman with a long history of political participation.

    In his remarks, the chairman, Mr Venatius Ikem, said the caucus had robust discussions on varied issues, including zoning and that the public would be informed of decisions taken at the appropriate time.

    Ikem stressed that the party was yet to take a decision on the zoning of power or any other position in the state to the southern senatorial district.

    “On the issue of zoning power to the southern senatorial district, our party will take its decision at the appropriate time.

    “Wherever you hear about the zoning of power or particular positions to the southern senatorial district for now, I am sure the source is not the PDP.

    “All party aspirants are assured of a level playing field pending when we make decisions on all matters before us, including zoning,’’ the chairman said.

    Newsmen reports that the caucus meeting was attended by stalwarts like Mr Donald Duke, former Cross River governor, Sen. Sandy Onor, Amb. Nkoyo Toyo and Prof. Stella Atu, among others.

  • Ekiti APC Chairman, urge members to focus energy on governorship election

    Ekiti APC Chairman, urge members to focus energy on governorship election

    Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti, Mr Paul Omotosho, has appealed to members to campaign solely for the June 18 gubernatorial election in the state rather than jostling for other elective positions.

    Omotosho said that winning the governorship election would serve as the pedestal to winning other elective positions in the state.

    “Mr Biodun Oyebanji is our governorship candidate and we must ensure victory for him at the election. It is important that we all come together and work for him.

    “Any member aspiring for any other elective position must first work for the victory of our flag bearer at the governorship poll since that is the only way the party can attain other heights in Ekiti politics,’’ the chairman said.

    He was addressing a stakeholders’ meeting held in Ado-Ekiti to review the outcome of the March 26 national convention of the party.

    Members from the 16 local government areas of the state attended the meeting where the chairman lauded them for their commitment to party activities.

    His charge was made known on Wednesday at Ado-Ekiti in a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Segun Dipe.

    Omotosho enjoined members to be more determined to ensure that the party emerged victorious at the June 18 election.

    He also charged members, especially political appointees, to return to their wards and be actively involved in the campaign by providing both moral and financial support for canvassers.

    Speaking at the meeting, Gov. Kayode Fayemi observed that members had more than enough issues to campaign with, considering the number of projects executed by his administration.

    Fayemi said that the party’s continuity agenda was sustainable and should be the bedrock of the coming campaign.

    Dipe stated that other matters discussed at the meeting were the flag-off of the governorship campaign, and how to embark on “house-to-house’’ canvassing for votes that would begin soon.

    Sixteen out of the 18 recognised political parties will contest the election according to a list released in March by INEC.

  • Zone presidency to South-East for fairness, national healing, Adeyanju urges Buhari

    Zone presidency to South-East for fairness, national healing, Adeyanju urges Buhari

    Activist Deji Adeyanju has written to President Muhammadu Buhari on the need for the ruling government to zone the 2023 presidency to the South-East region of the country in the spirit of fairness and equity.

    Adeyanju who made the call in an open letter he personally signed and released to newsmen on Wednesday urged Buhari to use his influence in positioning a consensus All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate of Igbo extraction as he did in the case of former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu who emerged the chairman of the party on consensus arrangement.

    He added, “It is inexcusable that the Igbos have been denied a shot at the highest office in the land for so long. Additionally, picking a presidential candidate from the South East will go a long way to disabuse the mind of the citizens of the anti-Igbo perception currently being associated with your name. It can therefore be said that President Buhari did what any of his forebears failed to do!”

    The letter reads: “OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ON THE NEED TO ZONE APC’S PRESIDENTIAL TICKET TO AN IGBO PERSON

    “As a preliminary point, please accept my commendation for your leadership role in the recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries. Considering the almost Siamese relationship between political parties and governance in the country, it was a huge relief to note that the two leading political parties successfully conducted their respective conventions and elected national officers without crisis.

    “As you may be aware, the Independent National Electoral Commission recently released the timetable for electioneering activities towards the 2023 general elections. By the said timetable, all political parties would have picked their presidential candidate not later than 2nd June 2022. Sequel to the above, it is common knowledge that the APC has zoned its presidential candidacy to Southern Nigeria.

    “However, I am using this medium to urge you to leverage on your influence in the party towards zoning the office of the president to a candidate from the Igbo Tribe of Nigeria, whether from the South East or South South of the Nation. I am sure that your highly successful template of electing a consensus APC party chairman can be deployed towards electing a consensus APC presidential candidate of Igbo extraction.

    “There are numerous reasons why a presidential candidate from that part of the country is most ideal at this time of the nation’s development. Since General Aguiyi Ironsi’s unfortunate demise in 1966, no person of South Eastern extraction has governed Nigeria. Sadly, this undeniable and systematic exclusion has created a largely subconscious and increasingly permanent feeling of disenchantment amongst the Igbos. In a country where tribe and ethnicity continue to play important role in our daily affairs, it is inexcusable that the Igbos have been denied a shot at the highest office in the land for so long. Additionally, picking a presidential candidate from the South East will go a long way to disabuse the mind of the citizens on the anti Igbo perception currently being associated with your name. It can therefore be said that President Buhari did what any of his forebears failed to do!

    “Furthermore, the Igbos are known for their business acumen. An Igbo presidential candidate will be able to repair our badly damaged economy and continue the path of restoration that you have started. In addition to the foregoing, our country needs national healing. We cannot heal our fault lines if we continue to deny one region the right to produce a president. Since 1999, the Yorubas have occupied the office of the president and vice president for 15 years. They have also been Speaker of the House of Representatives for 8 years. It will, therefore, amount to a great injustice for a Yoruba candidate to succeed you in office and stay for another 8 years. Indeed, if a Yoruba person were to succeed you in office, that would mean they would have been President for a period even more than the entire northern Nigeria since our return to democratic government.

    I understand that a lot of pressure is being mounted on you, at this time, to pick political convenience over national unity. However, I am optimistic that you will use this opportunity to repair your legacy and retire as a respected elder statesman.”

    Nigeria needs an Igbo president in 2023!

  • I’ll devote my time, energy to make Nigeria great – Anyim

    I’ll devote my time, energy to make Nigeria great – Anyim

    Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has pledged to devout his time and energy to make the country great.

    Anyim, also a former President of the Senate, said this when he received a youth group led by Mr Anthony Chukwuemeka in Abuja.

    He said that he has received tremendous support from Nigerians since he joined the presidential race a few months ago.

    “I pledge that when by the grace of God and the will of all Nigerians I am elected President, I will apply my whole time and energy to make Nigeria work for the good of all.

    “A greater Nigeria is within reach. Today, I witnessed one demonstration of support and solidarity that touched me beyond explanation.

    “A group of young people, who are members of one of my numerous support groups the Pius Anyim National Network (PAN NETWORK) for short, drove into my office complex.

    “They came in a Siena van branded in my campaign logo and pictures,” he said.

    Anyim said that when he finally met with the group, he saw a team of young Nigerians from all parts of the country and they handed him a vehicle.

    This, he said was the group’s contribution to the success of his campaign.

    “What can I say to this kind of selflessness and sacrifice but pledge to work for the good of the country,” he said.

    Speaking, Chukwuemeka, the leader of the group said that the gesture was in recognition of Anyim’s quest to make Nigeria greater.

    He said that the group believed that Anyim when elected President would transform Nigeria into a great country and make life better for the people especially youths.

  • 2023 Election: AA slashes nomination fees for women, youths, PWDs

    2023 Election: AA slashes nomination fees for women, youths, PWDs

    Action Alliance (AA) party has slashed nomination forms by 50 percent for women, youth and People with Disabilities (PWDs) interested in contesting the 2023 general elections.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Kenneth Udeze, the National Chairman, to publicise the sale of Intent and Nomination forms to aspirants in the party.

    Mr James Vernimbe, the party’s National Secretary, made the statement available to newsmen in Abuja on Monday.

    According to Udeze, the party is giving 50 per cent discount on the form for youths and women between 25 years and 35 years of age with verifiable birth certificates or evidence of age declaration.

    Also, PWD aspirants would only pay for the cost of intent form, while the nomination form would be obtained for free.

    “The intent form for Presidential aspirants is N5,000,000, while the nomination form is N10,000,000.

    “The form is sold for N2,000,000 and N4,000,000 for the party’s Governorship aspirants; and for Senatorial aspirants, it is N1,000,000 and N2,000,000 respectively.

    “The House of Representatives go for N500,000 and N1,000,000, while State Houses of Assembly form is N100,000 and N400,000 respectively.

    “All payments are to be made at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja and no refunds of money after payments.

    “Last day for the sales of both intents and nomination forms is May 15, while the last day for the submission of all completed forms is May 16,” he said.

    He said that the mode for the conduct of the party’s primaries would be made known in due course.

    He, however, said a special national convention would be held on June 3, for the presidential primaries when all qualified candidates would be issued certificates of return.

    He said that the criterion for accreditation of delegates for all the party primaries and the national convention was via presentation of a valid party membership card.

    “The screening of state Houses of Assembly aspirants would be on May 17, and appeals made same day at the party’s national headquarters.

    “Screening for National Assembly aspirants to hold May 18, and appeal to hold same day, while screening for all governorship and presidential aspirants would hold on May 19 at the party’s headquarters.

    “The list of all successfully screened and qualified candidates with other accompanying documents would be submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on May 30, as required,” he said.

    Udeze said that state Houses of Assembly primaries would hold across the country at the states’ constituencies’ headquarters on May 28.

    He said primaries for the National Assembly would hold May 29, and May 30, at the house of representative federal constituencies and senatorial district headquarters.

    He added that the governorship primaries would be held nationwide on May 31, at the states’ capitals.

    He said that the party’s National Think Tank Committee (NTTC) would converge to confirm the lists of all party candidates and make final submission to INEC on June 2.

    According to him, only the party’s presidential primaries will hold on June 3, at the national convention.

  • 2023: Don’t re-elect governors opposing LG autonomy – NULGE

    2023: Don’t re-elect governors opposing LG autonomy – NULGE

    Mr Olatunji Ambali, the National President, of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), has called on Nigerians not to vote for those state governors opposing local government autonomy.

    Ambali made the call in an interview with newsmen on the sidelines of the ongoing Conference of Nigeria State of Assembly Speakers at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan.

    “We are appealing to the people that any governor that is against the local government autonomy should be voted out of office, because they are not fit to lead the country,” NULGE president said.

    He said the union leaders were in Ibadan to address the Speakers to enable them to understand that their agitations was nothing, but a patriotic duty.

    Ambali said that they had contacted strategic stakeholders, such as paramount rulers, opinion leaders and other well-meaning Nigerians on the need for autonomy of the council in the country.

    He, however, disagreed with Gov. Seyi Makinde’s position in his keynote address at the conference, that local governments would not be sustainable, if allowed to gain autonomy.

    The president urged the governor to show interest in Nigeria and should not allow himself to be pushed by self-interest.

    “We have realised that those making side comments are doing it as self-serving and not in the patriotic interest of their people,” he said.

    Ambali said that allocation from the Federal Government was enough to sustain local governments without adding the internally generated revenue.

    He said they were aware that workers in Oyo State were less than 10,000, while workers in Rivers are over 20,000 with salary package for Rivers State to be over N2.5 billion.

    “Despite that, in September 2021 to be precise, the allocation released by FAAC in October, it is on record that Oyo State earned over N5 billion.

    “In this regard, if Rivers State that has more workers than Oyo State got less than N3.5 billion, what happened to the balance?

    “We are not also talking about the burden put on local governments by various state governors that local governments should fully fund primary education, which is supposed to be the statutory role of the state governments,” Ambali said.

    He expressed confidence that local government could pay salary, carry out infrastructure developments, address insecurity and give good governance to the people, if allowed to earn their allocations.

    The union president said that autonomy would allow connection between the government and the people, give hope to youths and women through skills acquisition programme.

    Ambali said that elections in the past were conducted and the process then produced credible leaders that were acceptable to the people.

    “What we are experiencing now is a charade we can’t call election; it could be regarded as coronation, appointment and promotion.

    “While we are having that, the governors want to continue to pilfer local governments’ funds; that’s why they put their cronies that can’t question them in office.

    “If we must get it right at the local government level, we must allow credible elections because it will give room for democratic involvement,” he said.

    The NULGE leader said it was now difficult for local governments to patch and tar roads and meet other obligations as it were in the past.

    “We need to restore Nigeria back to how it used to be; people no longer know the difference between a governor and local government chairman.

    “That’s not the narration; Local Governments should be returned to a service-centre that would be able to provide social services,” he said.

    Ambali said all security challenges were local, adding that local governments should be allowed to provide security and safety in the rural communities.

  • Nigerian witches warn Osinbajo not to contest for presidency

    Nigerian witches warn Osinbajo not to contest for presidency

    Prof.Yemi Osinbajo has been warned by the White Witches Association of Nigeria, WWAN, not to contest the 2023 presidency.

    WWAN said God did not program Osinbajo to become Nigeria’s President in 2023; hence he would not win if he chooses to contest.

    WWAN spokesperson, and ex-board member of Edo state traditional council, Dr Iboi Okhue said God sent Osinbajo for a purpose and that his assignment would be concluded on the 29th of May,2023.

    Okhue disclosed that Osinbajo would conclude the mission God sent him on May 29, 2023.

    He advised Osinbajo to make a return to the pulpit at RCCG where God has a higher assignment for him than trying to contest for 2023 elections.

    “God sent him to deliver a message to Nigerians. He has done that and he should go back to the church. God will use him in a bigger way other than being a head of state,” Okhue told the Independent.

    Although the Vice President has kept mute over his interest to contest for presidency in 2023,there are strong indications that he would eventually show interest.

    It was recently reported that Osinbajo has indicated interest to contest, but his spokesperson, Laolu Akande has dismissed the report, saying it’s not true at the moment.

     

  • It is the turn of Christians to produce the next president of Nigeria in 2023- CAN

    It is the turn of Christians to produce the next president of Nigeria in 2023- CAN

    Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has said it is the turn of Christians to produce the next president of Nigeria in 2023.

     

    The National Chairman of CAN’s Youth Wing, Belusochukwu Enwere, who spoke in Owerri, on Saturday, lambasted MURIC over comments by the Chairman of Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, Bauchi State chapter, Idrees Gambo, against members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, vying for elective position in 2023.

     

    MURIC, in a statement by the Bauchi Chairman, warned that any political party that picks any member of the RCCG would exit the Aso Rock.

     

    Enwere pointed out that MURIC’s statement was an insult to Christians and an abuse of the freedom of the people.

     

    He said, MURIC’s statement shows the low level of the said group and how blind they are in the 21st century.

     

    ”For MURIC to say they are challenging RCCG for having the effrontery to launch a political and good governance wing is an insult to our fathers and the entire Christians in Nigeria, especially the young people.

     

    “MURIC calling another faith-based group that will queue behind any candidate from RCCG a traitor is an abuse of office and their freedom of association as stipulated in the Nigerian constitution, and their warning to Islamic organizations and Muslim communities against supporting RCCG is indirectly telling them not to support a Christian candidate in 2023.

     

    “It is the turn of Christians to produce the next president of the country in 2023. We call on them to join hands with us to preach for peace, oneness and help make Nigeria a better place where both Christians and Muslims will be seen as one and have equal rights in all ramifications.”