Tag: 2023 General Elections

BREAKING: INEC releases schedule of activities for 2023 General Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the schedule of activities for the 2023 general elections.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports INEC released the schedule of activities for the 2023 general elections on Saturday.

INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu released the schedule of activities for the 2023 general elections during a press conference held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

FULL-TEXT OF THE INEC CHAIRMAN, PROF MAHMOOD YAKUBU’S STATEMENT AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE RELEASE OF THE TIMETABLE & SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE 2023 GENERAL ELECTION, HELD ON SATURDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2023 AT THE COMMISSION’S HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press.

1. As you are aware, yesterday, Friday 25th February 2022, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria signed the Electoral Bill 2022 into law. This is historic being the fourth time since the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in May 1999 that the Electoral Act was repealed and re-enacted. The 1998 – 1999 elections were administered by transitional decrees until the 2001 Electoral Act was passed into law. Then, the Act was repealed and re-enacted as the Electoral Act 2002 which was in turn repealed and re-enacted in 2006, 2010 and now we have the 2022 Electoral Act.

2. You may recall that in 2017, the Commission decided to establish fixed dates for General Elections in Nigeria. This decision was based on our determination to create certainty in the electoral calendar and to enable all stakeholders in the electoral process (the electoral commission, political parties and candidates, security agencies, observers, the media etc.) to prepare adequately for elections. By that decision, Presidential and National Assembly elections shall hold on the third Saturday of the month of February of each General Election year, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections shall follow two weeks later. Consequently, the 2023 General Election was scheduled to commence on 18th February 2023 with the Presidential and National Assembly elections, followed by the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on the 4th of March 2023. However, the Commission could not release the detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election, as it normally would, because of the pending enactment of the Electoral Act 2022. The Bill has now been signed into law.

3. Therefore, the Electoral Act 2022, together with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), form the legal basis for conducting all elections in Nigeria. In particular, the Electoral Act provides strict timelines for the implementation of electoral activities based on the date of the General Election. One of the significant timelines is the publication of Notice of Election not later than 360 days before the day appointed for holding an election which has now lapsed for the 2023 General Election.

4. Consequently, the Commission has decided to adjust the dates of the 2023 General Election to ensure compliance with the provisions of the new law. Accordingly, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday 25th February 2023 while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold two weeks later on Saturday 11th March 2023. With this adjustment, the 2023 General Election is now 363 days away.

5. Under the law, there are critical timebound activities from the publication of Notice of Election to the Conduct of Polls which form the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for elections. Some of the critical activities and their dates of implementation are as follows:

i. Publication of Notice of Election – Monday 28th February 2022.

ii. Conduct of party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from them – Monday 4th April 2022 to Friday 3rd June 2022.

iii. Submission of nomination forms to INEC via the online portal for Presidential and National Assembly election – 9.00am on Friday 10th June 2022 to 6.00pm on Friday 17th June 2022.

iv. Submission of nomination forms to INEC via the online nomination portal for Governorship and State Assembly elections – 9.00am on Friday 1st July 2022 to 6.00pm on Friday 15th July 2022.

v. Commencement of Campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly election – Wednesday 28th September 2022.

vi. Commencement of Campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections – Wednesday 12th October 2022.

vii. Last day of campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly elections – midnight on Thursday 23rd February 2023.

viii. Last day of campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections – midnight on Thursday 9th March 2023.

6. The detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election will be circulated to the media at the end of this briefing. Soft copies will also be uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms immediately. In addition, the Notice of Election will be published in our offices in all the States of the Federation as required by law on Monday 28th February 2022.

7. With the coming into force of the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission will work assiduously to conclude and publish new Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections that are consistent with the Act. These Regulations and Guidelines as well as Manuals issued by the Commission are all part of the legal regulatory framework for elections. Their timely publication will enable all stakeholders in the electoral process to become conversant with their provisions as they prepare for the 2023 General Election.

8. On this note, I wish to remind stakeholders, especially the political parties, of their responsibility to adhere strictly to the timelines in this Timetable and Schedule of Activities, as well as all other timelines established by the Commission. It is necessary that all political parties comply with the extant legal framework, ensure proper organisation and management of party primaries and the nomination of qualified candidates in order to prevent unnecessary litigations and rancour.

9. I thank you for attending this conference and God bless.

February 26, 2022
President Buhari’s aide endorses Tinubu’s candidacy

One of president Buhari’s aides has openly endorsed the candidacy of Senaroe Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Tinubu, who made his presidential ambition public during a visit to Aso Rock last month, has been soliciting support across the country.

Some traditional rulers, politicians and different groups have assured the former Lagos governor of their support.

On Wednesday, Bashir Ahmad, one of the personal aides of Buhari, joined the league of those open to a Tinubu presidency.

Bashir made his support for Tinubu known while responding to a question posed by a Twitter user.

Tweeting via @slywhite0012, one Sylva White, had asked, “Bashir, I want to ask you a question and same time with a honest reply without being biased. Btw Tinubu and GEJ, who would you prefer to take over from your boss? You also want the best for us too.”

Responding, the presidential aide said, “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu!”Unlike his aide, Buhari has made it clear that he does not care about who succeeds him.

During a television interview he granted earlier in the year, Buhari had said, “2023 is not my problem, I don’t care who succeeds me, let the person come, whoever the person is. All important things I make sure I put them on record. Nobody should ask me to come and give any evidence in court, otherwise, whoever it is will be in trouble.

“I don’t have a favourite for 2023 in my party, I wouldn’t because he will be eliminated before I mention, it is better I keep it a secret.”

February 23, 2022
Elections: Why we requested N305bn – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday said that the N305 billion required to conduct the 2023 elections would be used majorly to meet the commission’s technological needs to better serve the country.

Speaking on a monitored Channels Television programme, INEC’s National Commission, Festus Okoye, disclosed that part of the money will be used to conduct elections in some states where the gubernatorial polls fall outside the regular schedule.

In defending the request for the funds as made by INEC’s Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the commission’s spokesman noted that all that has been asked for is the best interest of the Nigerian people.

Explaining in detail, Mr Okoye said, “the issue is very clear. The first was that there was a provision of N140 billion to the appropriations committee, from the Executive.

“Out of this, N40bn was for our regular budget which decreases on a yearly basis. So the first N100 billion we classified it as the first tranche for our 2023 general election,” the commissioner stated

He added: “Now as you are aware, we are going to conduct the Ekiti and Osun governorship election in June and July and so from that N100 billion we are going to take some money to conduct the elections in these two states.

“Secondly, as you are aware, the commission is introducing a new technology in the electoral process and it is a multi-functional tech that will take care of voter registration issues, accreditation of voters, and issues of uploading and transmission of electoral results.”

While noting that the smartcard readers have been retired for not serving INEC perfectly anymore, Mr Okoye said this new technology has to be acquired, noting that the advancement is quite expensive but worth it.

According to him, the commission’s projection is that since Nigeria now has a total of 176,846 polling units, then at least 200,000 beavers (the new tech) will serve the purpose of the upcoming elections.

He stressed that there is a need for the equipment to be purchased early enough, adding that while the purchase might be very expensive, they help cut off every worry with regards to registrations, accreditation, and transmission of election results

Okoye assured Nigerians that this modern tech will be a one-off thing that could serve the country for two electoral cycles before the advent of more modern tech.

Speaking about President Buhari’s decline to assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, Okoye, who is also INEC Chairman for Information and Voter Education, said it is unfortunate that the direct primaries have overshadowed the entire bill.

He said the bill is a very progressive one that contains provisions that would make the electoral process more free and fair.

Okoye expressed hope that whatever challenges or provisions are holding the assent of the bill will be resolved quickly.

December 22, 2021
Only PDP can decide its fate to win or lose in 2023 general elections – Hon Shawulu

Hon Rima Shawulu Kwewum, a ranking member of the House of Representatives on Friday said it’s only the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP that can decide its fate, and decide to win or lose the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.

Shawulu Kwewum who made this assertion in a chat with TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) barely 24hours to the party’s convention on Saturday noted that:

“If PDP wants to remain relevant it needs to refocus and embrace talents within the party to renergise it and position itself for victory in 2023 general elections.

Hear him: “There is a future for PDP and the future for PDP depends on what PDP leaders and members want to do.

“The fact of the matter is that the times that we are in now, the current situation we have in the country, the nature of the economy downturn, the large scale insecurity that we have in the country, the fact that most government institutions are not working, all lend to the need for a change of government.

“Now if you look, all indices of human development, have become lower, giving the impression that we have been regressing, as a matter of fact, not just impression; the reality is that we have regressed and we are still regressing.

“If you look at the mood of the public, the public is looking for change, in almost every part of the country the public is no longer interested in what the government is saying because the gap between what the current government says it wants to do and what has happened is widening; and as at today there is no magic that the government can do to be able to get out of the situation that it has found itself.

“And so this election that is coming is a choice for PDP to lose or to win; PDP can decide to win, or decide to lose and that is why for me it is important that the convention that is coming up now goes smoothly, the new leaders that will emerge and the new leaders that are emerging pay attention to, reconciling aggrieved party members, warring party members and give the party the focus it has lacked since 2019.

“It appears to me that as regrettable as the loss of election in 2015 was, the party took steps to redeem itself.

“In the National Assembly the party took over the Senate and the House of Representatives and at the administrative level, the party decided to put pressure on the Chairman who led the party to defeat, that is Adamu Muazu, to resign and that was how Uche Secondus came in as acting Chairman and later became the National Chairman.

“The mistake the party made was that after Secondus led the party to a disastrous outing in 2019, it should have prevailed on him to resign from his position so that the party will reorganize.

“Be that as it may be, it is better late than never. Now that the convention has come, it is important that those that are interested in the leadership of the party refocus the party because so far, since 2019, PDP has not been behaving as an opposition party. It has been complacent and still behaves as if it is in power.

“And that is why if you look at various state chapters, if you look at some of the organs of the party, they have been more or less sleeping; power has been ceded to certain forums and the power is not residing within the party itself.

“So if the party refocuses itself, gives every party member a chance, creates the room for talents to emerge, for talents to shine within the party, we may have a chance to take over government and perhaps stop Nigeria from going down the brink, the way it has been predicted over the years.

Asked whether what he is implying is PDP has to decide its own fate, Shawulu said” Yes, as far as the mood of the public is concerned, the only way PDP can lose election will be for PDP leaders, the new party officials decide to behave the way the previous leadership of the party has behaved.

“Three things are important; first the challenge of reconciliation, the challenge of inclusiveness, the challenge of internal democracy and the challenge of having a focus on what to do.

“For instance, my opinion is that the power and the face of any political party in a democratic party system is the presence of the party in the National Assembly or parliament.

“You will notice very clearly that from 2019 till date, the party appears in reality or in perception to be absent in the National Assembly.

“So if the party and its cadre and members of the National Assembly are not canvassing alternative opinions within and outside the chambers, in committee meetings and in press conferences, if they are not charting a new course for people to follow, telling alternative stories and giving people alternative pathways then the people have nothing to look up to.

“And that is why party leadership all over the world don’t take what happens in the parliament carelessly. In the United Kingdom some members of the conservative party went against their party position, all of them were thrown out of the party.

And if you recall that, when the APC had a challenge in 2015 in the National Assembly, it did not forgive the party members who went against it.

“The leadership of the APC in the senate was not recognized and was not invited for any APC meetings till the leadership was changed, that is how seriously party take what happens in the National Assembly.

“It is unfortunate that in Nigeria, from the time that Tambuwal was the speaker of the House of Representatives and in 2019 the persons who rebelled against the party were tolerated by the party and that is one of the reasons why PDP lost the 2015 general elections and has been struggling since then.

“The flagrant disobedience to party instructions in 2019 has had a devastating impact on the persons of the party in the perception of Nigerians.

“So I think what the new leadership needs to do is to work seriously on the issue on reconciliation so that the party can function well.

“You will notice that not much is happening in the National Assembly for the PDP, compared to what, for instance, Femi Gbajabiamila did when he was a minority leader in the House of Representatives.

October 29, 2021
2023: We are working to present a unified force – PDP Governors

Governors elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) say they are working together for the party to present a unified force in the 2023 general elections.

Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, disclosed this on Wednesday night while briefing newsmen after the forum meeting held in Abuja.

Tambuwal said that the closed door meeting on the party’s forthcoming national convention which started around 3p.m., was very fruitful.

“We have been meeting since 3p.m., meeting for about 7hours. Very fruitful deliberation.

“You must have seen that we received leaders of our party in various other states where we don’t have governors.

“We had robust discussion with them on how to move the party forward, bringing all the leaders together, not only working towards a best national convention, but even beyond that.

“So that we can continue to sustain the goodwill that PDP is enjoying in Nigeria.

“And send the right signal to Nigerians that we are truly prepared and working together as a family to ensure that, by the grace of God, come 2023, we present a very united force that will rescue Nigeria from the mis-governance of APC.”

Tambuwal stated that the governors discussed about the party’s elective national convention scheduled for Oct. 30 in Abuja.

“You will hear from National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting tomorrow (Thursday) what the position is going to be.”

The party’s NEC is scheduled to meet on Thursday to ratify the issues of zoning the party’s national elective positions ahead of the Oct. 30 national convention.

The forum Chairman said that the governors and the party leaders also discussed the PDP preparations for Anambra governorship election.

He said that the governors were united in working for the victory of the party’s candidate in Anambra governorship election, Mr Vincent Ozigbo.

“We also had in our meeting, our candidate in Anambra governorship election, where we received briefing from him on how prepared our party is in Anambra, and to confirm to you and Nigerians that all of us are united in supporting our party in Anambra.

“By the grace of God we shall work assiduously towards winning Anambra election,” he said.

The meeting was attended by PDP governors of Bauchi, Rivers, Adamawa, Benue, Oyo, Enugu, Edo, Delta, Taraba and Bayelsa states.

Former governors who attended the meeting included Ahmed Makarfi of Kaduna, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina, Idris Ibrahim of Kogi, Ibrahim Dankwambo of Kebbi, Liyel Imoke of Cross River.

Others were Emeka Ihedioha of Imo and Babangida Aliyu of Niger.

Other stakeholders present were, Tanimu Turaki, Sen. Ayim Pius Ayim, Sen. Uche Ekwunife, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, and Sen. David Mark.

September 9, 2021
INEC says attacks on facilities may affect future polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says recent attacks on its facilities, if remained unchecked, may affect future polls.

The commission expressed concern, particularly with the ongoing conversion of voting points to polling units, voter registration and the conduct of future elections.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, while confirming fire attack on the commission’s office in Akwa Ibom.

Okoye said that the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom, Mike Igini, reported that INEC office in Essien Udim Local Government Area was set ablaze at the early hours of Sunday morning.

He said that the security guard on duty escaped unhurt but the destruction to the building and properties therein was extensive.

“Items destroyed include 345 ballot boxes, 135 voting cubicles, megaphones, water tanks and office furniture.

“The police, which have also been battling with attacks on its facilities and personnel in the area, are aware of the incident and have commenced investigation,” Okoye said.

The national commissioner recalled that on the eve of the 2019 General Election, INEC newly constructed prototype LGA office in Ibesikpo Asutan was burnt down while two more offices in Mkpat Enin and Eastern Obolo LGAs were bombed.

“The recent attack on our facility after we have just concluded the inventory of electoral materials nationwide in readiness for the 2023 General Election is worrisome.

“If unchecked, these attacks may constitute a setback on the Commission’s preparations, including the ongoing conversion of Voting Points to Polling Units, the forthcoming Continuous Registration of Voters (CRV) and the conduct of polls,” he said.

He said that, nevertheless, the Commission wished to assure Nigerians that it would leave no stone unturned to recover from the incident in Akwa Ibom as it continued to prepare for all electoral activities.

May 2, 2021
Aside general elections: Here are some major events to happen on 18 Feb 2023
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday reaffirmed 18 February 2023 as the date to hold general elections in Nigeria, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu reaffirmed the date at a one-day public hearing on the National Electoral Offences Commission (Establishment) Bill 2021.

The public hearing, which was held at the Senate Conference room 022 of the new Senate building, was organized by the Senate Committee on INEC.

However, aside from the general elections to be held on 18 Feb 2023, barring any unforeseen circumstances, as announced by the INEC Chairman, other known events also fell on that day.

First off, 18 Feb 2023 is the third Saturday of February 2023. It is exactly one year, nine months, two weeks and six days or 660 days from today.

That Saturday is Drink Wine Day and also Eat Ice Cream For Breakfast Day. 18 February 2023 is also Battery Day and Pluto Day.

February 18, 2023 is the 49th day of the year and 7th Saturday of 2023. There are then 316 days left in 2023.

Anyone born on February 18th, 2023, will have the star sign Aquarius and anyone born during the month of February will have the birthstone Amethyst.

While Yoko Ono (John Lennon’s widow) will turn 90 on this day in 2023, John Travolta (Actor) will turn 69 on this day in 2023, and Dr. Dre (Rapper) will turn 58 on this day in 2023.

If your baby is due on February 18th, 2023, then the date of conception was probably around the 11th of May, 2022.

A baby that is conceived on February 18th, 2023, will be due around the 28th of November, 2023.

Here are some fun facts about 18 Feb 2023
- 661 days will pass between now and then.
- 57,114,000 seconds will pass between now and February 18th, 2023.
- Between now and then, your heart will beat 66,633,000 times.
- Between now and February 18th, 2023, earth will travel approximately 29,470,824,000 miles through space.
- Between now and then, your eyes will blink 9,519,000 times.
- Between now and then, you will take 4,911,804 steps. That’s about 2,183 miles!
- 685,368 meteors will enter the earth’s atmosphere between now and then!
Below is the calendar of February 2023:
April 28, 2021
INEC reaffirms date for 2023 general elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed the date for the 2023 general elections to hold in the country.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu reaffirmed the date on Wednesday.

He made the reaffirmation at a one-day public hearing on the National Electoral Offences Commission (Establishment) Bill 2021.

TNG reports the public hearing, which was held at the Senate Conference room 022 of the new Senate building, was organized by the Senate Committee on INEC.

The INEC Chairman in address reaffirmed that the general elections will hold on 18th February 2023, exactly one year, nine months, two weeks and six days or 660 days from today.

TNG recalls that INEC first announced the date to hold the 2023 general elections in October 2020.

The INEC Chairman, who made the announcement on October 15, 2020, was speaking at the inauguration of the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review.

Reaffirming the date for the 2023 general elections, Yakubu thanked the leadership of the National Assembly and the Senate Committee on INEC for the giant step of organising this public hearing on the National Electoral Offences Commission (Establishment) Bill 2021.

He stated that since the 2015 General Election, 124 cases of electoral offences were filed in various courts out of which 60 convictions have been secured so far, including the most recent one in Akwa Ibom State.

He further stated that the Commission would like to see more successful prosecution of offenders, not just of ballot box snatchers and falsifiers of election results but most importantly their sponsors, adding that the work of the proposed Commission will help in this regard

The INEC Chairman’s address reads: “On behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I would like to thank the leadership of the National Assembly and of the Senate Committee on INEC for the giant step of organising this public hearing.

“Similarly, I would like to thank the distinguished “trio of Sen. Abubakar Kyari (Borno North), Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central) and Senator Kabiru Gaya (Kano South) for sponsoring the Bill.

“I recall that Sen. Kyari, in particular, has been working on this Bill since 2016 when he was Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC in the 8th Assembly.

“At last, we are here today for public input into the Bill for the establishment of the Electoral Offences Commission 13 years after the recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais Committee on Electoral Reform (2008) echoed by the Sheikh Ahmed Lemu Committee on the 2011 post-election violence (2011) and, most recently, the Senator Ken Ugwu Nnamani Committee on Constitution and Electoral Reform (2017).

“In addition, there issues that reinforce the recommendations of the Uwais Committee arising from the reports of police investigation, INEC administrative enquiries, court judgements, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and several accredited election observers.

“No doubt, INEC is saddled with so many responsibilities ranging from the registration and regulation of political parties, registration of voters, delineation of constituencies, conduct of elections/bye-elections/referendum/recall and prosecution of electoral offences, among others. The tasks are Herculean.

“Of the numerous responsibilities carried out by the Commission, the prosecution of electoral offenders has been one of the most challenging.

“For instance, since the 2015 General Election, 124 cases of electoral offences were filed in various courts out of which 60 convictions have been secured so far, including the most recent one in Akwa Ibom State.

“The Commission would like to see more successful prosecution of offenders, not just of ballot box snatchers and falsifiers of election results but most importantly their sponsors.

“We look forward to the day when highly placed sponsors of thuggery, including party chieftains and candidates that seek to benefit from violations of the law, are apprehended.

“We believe that the work of the proposed Commission will help in this regard. The Commission will submit a detailed clause-by-clause comment on the Bill to the Senate Committee on INEC ahead of the commencement of the Committee’s technical work.

“However, while we are excited by today’s public hearing, I would like to reiterate our appeal to the National Assembly for the expeditious passage of the Electoral Offences Commission (Establishment) Bill 2021 and the pending review of the electoral legal framework generally.

“We are confident that the National Assembly will expedite legislative action and conclude work on the legal framework in earnest. The Commission is anxious to know the legal framework to govern the conduct of the 2023 General Election.

“By the principle established by the Commission, the next General Election will hold on Saturday 18th February 2023 which is exactly one year, nine months, two weeks and six days or 660 days from today.

“We hope to release the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election immediately after the Anambra Governorship election scheduled to hold on 6th November 2021.

“In order to do so, there should be clarity and certainty about the electoral legal framework that will govern the election. We are confident that the National Assembly will do the needful soonest.

“Finally, I wish to restate the Commission’s support for this Bill and we commend the initiative of its sponsors and the commitment of the leadership as well as the membership of the National Assembly to its actualisation”.

April 28, 2021
APC needs reawakening towards 2023 General Elections – APC S/Africa

The All Progressive Congress (APC), South Africa Chapter, on Sunday said that the ruling party needs reawakening towards the 2023 General Elections.

The National Chairman of APC, South Africa, Mr Bola Babarinde, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos, titled “Towards 2023, APC needs Reawakening”.

Bolarinde said that the emergence of the APC in 2013 was necessitated by the need to counter the dominance of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria.

According to him, from 1999, the PDP had remained the ruling party, dominating Nigeria’s political terrain and making it difficult for other parties to ascend the presidency.

He said that it was in order to break this dominance that saw the coming together of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the new PDP – a faction of the then ruling PDP, to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The APC became a strong force and coupled with the fact that Nigerians had become disenchanted with the PDP, the APC coasted home to victor.

“However, cracks have started to appear in the unity of the APC as over time, selfish agendas, polarisation and factions have started to appear in the party.

“It has become glaring that many of those drawn into the APC do not share the aspirations to save Nigeria or to positively rebrand the country’s image globally.

“The leadership of the party has become polarized, with people aligning back to their initial PDP, CPC and ACN caucuses,” Bolarinde said.

He said the development has caused a conflict of interest, as the APC has taken the backstage.

According to him, the APC has become an orphan begging for attention, while those who are supposed to tend to its growth are more concerned with their inner caucus agendas.

He said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s famous expression, “I am for everyone and for nobody” did not also help in any way to calm troubled waters.

Babarinde added: “His speech set the tone for how he intended to handle party related affairs.

“This attitude cost him four years of pain during his first tenure, when the “gangsters” from the PDP caucus in the APC hijacked the legislature and became opposition within the party itself.

“This caused a very uneasy working relationship with the Senate as budgets were passed late; sometimes the budgets were increased arbitrarily to favour their uncontrollable appetite to the detriment of ordinary Nigerians.

“Many of us within the party became outsiders, the Diaspora was neglected despite their unflinching loyalty to the party and their readiness to serve and contribute.”

He said that party loyalists were disenfranchised while those that were in opposition became the new brides of the powers that be.

Babarinde said: “Although, the APC has been lucky to have been given a second chance at governing Nigeria, no lessons were learned from the mistake of the first four years.

“Dedicated party members who had worked diligently towards the actualisation of the second term of office were again sidelined especially those in the Diaspora.

“The government has consistently failed to allow those in Diaspora contribute their quota towards the growth of the Nation.

“Even the most basic of requests by the Diaspora community for an enabling law that would allow them vote during national elections in Nigeria has become a subject of negative politicking till date.

“What does it take to pass such a positive legislation into law? – as doing this will give Nigerians outside the country a great sense of belonging.”

He added: “The nation is currently crawling on its promises to the people. We are too slow in implementing policies that will make life meaningful in our nation.

“All over the country, the story is the same – one of neglect and highest degree of insensitivity from the leadership. Basic things like hygienic water, good healthcare system and quality education are still difficult to achieve.

“Yes, we know Nigeria has been subjected to many years of neglect, and the rot in the system may not be easy to correct but our approach to correcting the rot is very slow.

“Things need to change in Nigeria and at a fast pace too. We propose that our leaders should take a ‘salary holiday’ as a sacrifice to move our nation forward.”

Babarinde urged party representatives across all levels to reduce their salaries and allowances “so the Nigerian populace will at least know our leaders are ready to sacrifice”.

He added that the current system of government is too expensive and unreasonable, saying nothing is wrong in a minister making use of his or her predecessor’s cars and office furniture?

The diaspora chairman said that Nigerian youths should be encouraged and assured of a better future by making them believe they are loved and there is concern about their future.

According to him, the political leaders should work towards benefiting the citizens, otherwise the poor and hassled citizens of the country may use their own methods to force the political class to change.

November 1, 2020