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Tag: 2023 presidential election

  • 2023 poll: Internal dispute won’t affect PDP – Ologunagba

    2023 poll: Internal dispute won’t affect PDP – Ologunagba

    The National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Debo Ologunagba, says the current internal disputes won’t affect the party’s chances at the 2023 General Elections.

    Ologunagba stated this when he spoke with journalists in Abuja, saying that the misunderstanding would soon be resolved.

    He said that the party was working toward unveiling its national campaign council for 2023 presidential election.
    “The PDP is alive. We are active and we are working hard on our mission statement.

    “We are working on our campaign council, in a couple of days it will be unveiled for the people to see.
    “Irrespective of what we are reading in the newspaper, I can tell you that PDP is firm and ready for the 2023 general elections.

    “We tell our members and Nigerians that the PDP is here and the darkness is going and the countdown has started,” Ologunagba said.

    He said that in spite of the internal wrangling, all party members and leaders were committed to addressing Nigeria’s challenges including that of the economy, security, ASUU and others.

    “The key is this, the entire members of this party, leaders and stakeholders agreed on one issue, that Nigeria is the main issue and that we must rescue the country.

    “We all agreed on this issue, including Gov. Nyesom Wike who we considered as an important member of this party,” he said.

    Ologunagba added that the party respected the views and contributions of all Nigerians in achieving its mission.
    He also said that the mass defection of politicians from other parties to PDP was a pointer to the fact that it was connected to the masses.

    “In the last four months you have witnessed a lot of defection into PDP which shows our connection with the people and you saw the impacts on recent elections.

    “Our membership is growing and people are connecting with us.

    “What this signifies is that the PDP is alive to its responsibilities to Nigerians and we are focused on the mission to rescue Nigeria,” he said.

  • Knocks, indifference in Kogi, Abuja over APC Muslim – Muslim ticket

    Knocks, indifference in Kogi, Abuja over APC Muslim – Muslim ticket

    The raging discussion and controversies among Nigerians about the decision of the ruling APC to field two Muslims as Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates have continued with many respondents interviewed in both Abuja and Kogi stating their dismay, while others remain indifferent to the decision. Few APC loyalists however justified the pairing.

    A political commentator, Samuel Obadiah told TheNewsGuru that the decision was not thought through by the APC, saying it was a dead combination which has isolated the opinion of Christians in the country.

    To him, “What this means is that the APC does not respect how the christians feel. They feel a religious balance would not have any impact on the outcome of the polls in a secular but religiously sensitive environment that we have found ourselves.”

    He said the party should have scanned through the North before arriving at the decision because, “Regional balance is as important as religious balance. I don’t think any right thinking christian would vote for the ruling party, considering their record since they took over power.

    “Are you telling me there are no christian politicians that would help pacify the already tense christian population in the region? Of course there are. It is just an attempt to circumvent them.”

    On her part, Njideka Onwonwu who is a Civil Society Activist said the nation is already teetering towards division and that there was no need to continue to beat the drum of division or emphasizing factors that further set the people against each other.

    According to her, it does not matter if a political party decides to pair two Christians or Muslims, as long as they can sustain the peace and improve the social and economic well being of the people while providing accountable, transparent and corruption – free government.

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    “I have always been interested in who would speak about lack of ability to deliver the democratic goods to the citizens since these whole argument began about Muslim – Muslim and whatnot,” she said.

    “What an average Nigerian needs now is good governance. A government that can create opportunities for citizens to live in peace, have access to quality education, provide infrastructure and make life comfortable.

    “The noise about religion and belief system of candidates is to me, a distraction. Whether they are idol worshippers, atheists, and whatnot, should be of little significance, compared to the task of getting the country working again.

    “Nigeria’s worsening insecurity is not making the people to want evolve a national discuss that would address the issue head-on. It is sad that people have become disillusioned with the situation. In the face of alarming poverty, people are paying through their noses to free their kidnapped loved ones. Some of these things go unreported with, in fact, security agencies not wanting many of the hush payments to come to public knowledge.

    “I think it is the religious leaders feeding fat on the people’s ignorance that are instigating the public to overblow the issue of Muslim – Muslim ticket. It should not be this much of an issue, as far as I am concerned.”

    Joseph Akwu on the other hand, thinks that Nigeria would gain more with the experience sof the APC candidates, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima.

    Mr Akwu noted that the duo have a combined 16 years experience between them as Governors having served eight years each as Lagos and Borno State Governors.

    To that effect, he said Tinubu understands the complexities of the south and that Shettima understands the North very well, hence the belief they are a combination capable of taking the country to a great height.

    Sunday Dada does not care, he said the only thing that would give him joy would be for him to see a leader that would begin to change situation across the country for the better.

    Umar Yahuza, John Usman, Shuaibu Audu, Mohammed Abubakar and others also spoke on the issue and said they would pray for it if that would be best for the country and that they would also pray against it if at the end, it would be a disaster.

    Shuaibu Audu, in particular, told our reporter, “Do you know what the country has been through in the last couple of years? What we need now is prayers for the Almighty God to select the best leader for us, not some issue about the religion they practice.”

  • Orji Kalu speaks in support of Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket

    The Senate Chief Whip Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu has spoken in support of theAll Progressives Congress (APC) Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2023 presidential election.

    According to Kalu, he said there is nothing wrong with if APC decides to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket, arguing that it was not possible for a southern minority Muslim and a northern minority Christian to win a presidential election in Nigeria.

    He told newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday that the paramount issue was for the APC to win the presidential election.

    “Do you want me to speak the truth? If I am Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose wife is a senior pastor at a Pentecostal Church, I will go for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

    “The most important thing is for the party to win. We should stop the issue of whether you put a Christian there or not.

    “After all if we win, the wife is already a pastor. This is my own opinion, and you cannot deny my opinion.

    Kalu also told newsmen that a party could also play a Christian-Christian ticket, depending on the scenario.

    He added that it would be almost difficult for the APC to win the election in 2023 if Tinubu does not play a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

    “I know the Church I go to. There is nothing wrong in a Muslim-Muslim ticket, just as there is nothing wrong with a Christian-Christian ticket.

    “Tinubu is a minority Muslim from the south, and if you pick a Christian from the north, it will be a minority Christian, and you cannot play two minorities; it is difficult.

    He said, however that his submissions were not those of the APC, but those of Orji Kalu.

    “I sit with Tinubu’s wife in the Senate and the wife is a pastor and I have known Tinubu for long and he is a man who can do the work.

    “Tinubu is not a man who preaches Islam or Christianity.

    “He is a man who goes with everybody and can do the work, I know that most Christians will be hurt with what I am saying, but picking a Muslim or a Christian will not make him the best president.

    “It is his conscience which is an open wound that only truth can heal that matters,’’ Kalu said.

    Kalu thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring a level playing ground for all candidates at the APC’s presidential primary election.

    He expressed the belief that his constituency and the Southeast that gave Buhari 68 per cent votes in 2019 election would also extend the same percentage vote to Tinubu come 2023 presidential election.

  • APC Ghana urges Tinubu to pick female as running mate

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), Ghana Chapter, has called on the party’s Presidential Candidate, Bola Tinubu, to pick a female as his running mate.

     

    The Chairman of APC Ghana, Mr Oghenosa Micheletti, who made the appeal in a statement on Friday, recalled that Tinubu, who fielded a female running mate, Mrs Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele ((1999-2003), helped him run a successful government.

     

    Micheletti noted that Tinubu’s choice of a female as deputy led to the emergence of many women as deputy governors in Lagos State.

     

    It was gathered that apart from Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, who was deputy to former Lagos State Governor, Michael Otedola, from 1992 to 1993, the state has enjoyed having female deputy governors through Tinubu’s support.

     

    They include Sarah Sosan (2007-2011) Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (2011-2015) and Dr Oluranti Adebule (2015-2019).

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had given the presidential and governorship candidates of the 18 registered political parties eight days, to pick and submit the lists of their running mates.

     

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, gave the directive on Thursday in Abuja, at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

    APC

     

    Micheletti who is also the Treasurer of APC Diaspora Chairmen Forum, congratulated Tinubu on his emergence as APC Presidential Candidate, adding that the former Lagos State governor’s candidature would usher in a Nigeria that everyone envisaged.

     

    “What this also means is that when Tinubu wins, Nigeria will have its first female vice president that will go down in history.

     

    “Tinubu’s candidature will ensure victory for APC in 2023 and ultimately, the consolidation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s legacies.

     

    “With a female vice presidential candidate, Tinubu will be the first presidential candidate of a ruling party to do so, and it will usher in the gender balance that some of us advocate for.

     

    “Tinubu shall consolidate on infrastructure, confront decisively the insecurity challenges in the country, and address the economy, using a more magnifying Lagos State template for the nation.”

     

    According to him, the APC, through its primaries, has again shown Nigerians that it remains a truly progressive party.

     

    “The landslide victory of our Leader, Tinubu is an indication that our delegates made the right choice; his popularity and acceptance as the only formidable politician that can guarantee victory for our party in the general election is evident in the wide margin of results at the primaries.

     

    “No doubt his track record as a true democrat and impactful leader through the years, is an undeniable factor in his triumph.’

     

    The APC Ghana chairman also applauded the party’s national chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, for organizing a free and fair primary election where the will of the people prevailed.

    APC

     

    “We appreciate our president, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari for his exemplary leadership, particularly for not imposing any candidate on the party.

     

    “We also congratulate all the aspirants for displaying great sportsmanship which has added value to our democratic system.

     

    “It is now time to close ranks and unite the party for the tasks ahead. The party leadership must reach out to all aggrieved members especially the aspirants in the contest and their followers, because we are one family that can only win in 2023 with a united front,” Micheletti added.

     

    He, therefore, pledged the support of members of the party in Ghana for the APC in the 2023 General Elections.

     

    Tinubu won the APC Presidential Primary on Wednesday, beating 13 other aspirants to clinch the party’s ticket.

  • APC CONVENTION: Adamu set up 18 subcommittees

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has inaugurated 18 sub-committees, which kicked off the three-day special convention/presidential primary of the party.

     

    The committees were inaugurated on Sunday at the party’s Abuja national secretariat in Abuja.

     

    Twenty-three aspirants are in the race for the presidential ticket to fly the party’s flag next year.

     

    The primary slated for Eagle Square in Abuja will be attended by the 2,340 elected delegates from 774 local government areas. The delegates will elect the standard-bearer.

     

    Adamu urged members of the committees to put in their best to have a rancour-free convention.

     

    Stressing the uniqueness of the convention to the committee chairmen and their secretaries, the national chairman said: “The convention this year is a bit different from the other conventions. It is different because it is the first transition convention of our great party.

     

    “The forthcoming convention will be expected within our constitution to produce the flag bearer of our great party to contest the presidential slot.

     

    “We are very careful that we chose different persons to be part of the committees that have been enumerated by the national secretary.

     

    “We assigned the committees at the thoughts and discretion of the party. So, it is our prayers and hopes that every person who is allotted a committee will be satisfied to give his or her best to serve in the slot that is given to him or her.”

     

    Kebbi State Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, who chairs the Election Management Committee, assured the APC leadership of the committees’ readiness to ensure a widely acceptable flag bearer.

     

    Speaking for others, Bagidu said members of the various committees will bring their experiences to bear.

     

    Calling for cooperation among all the committees: “At a time like this is for all of us to cooperate given what the chairman says clearly and what is known to us. As he said, it is a convention like no other which is intended by God’s grace to produce a presidential flag bearer.”

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) gathered that there was mild drama when Borno State Governor Prof. Babagana Zulum kicked against the nomination of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as the sole member of the Central Storing Committee for the convention by the National Secretary, Otunba Iyiola Omisore.

     

    The development forced the National Chairman and Secretary to name Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello as co-chair.

     

    The Eagle Square looked set for today’s convention. The pavilion had been decorated and labelled for delegates according to their states. Armed policemen were seen yesterday night at strategic positions in the arena.

     

    Billboards, banners and posters of all the presidential aspirants adorn the arena.

  • Umahi still in presidential race frame – Campaign Group

    The Governor Dave Umahi campaign organisation has debunked reports that he had stepped down from the presidential race.

    The campaign organisation made the clarification in a statement on Sunday.

    The organisation noted that Umahi, who is one of the aspirants seeking the APC presidential ticket remains solid in his aspiration.

    The statement was signed by Ebonyi State’s Commissioner for Information and State Orientation,  Orji Uchenna Orji.

    It noted that the news that Governor Umahi stepped down is fake and the handiwork of desperate and satanic politicians.

    ALSO READ: Ebonyi Governor, Dave Umahi, Tinubu meet in Abuja

     

    The statement read, “The attention of David Umahi Campaign Organisation has been drawn to a piece of circulating fake news propagated in media platforms purporting that the Presidential Hopeful and Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency Engr Chief David Nweze Umahi FNSE FNATE (Akubaraoha) has stepped down his Presidential Aspiration for His Excellency, Senator Ahmad Lawan, Senate President of Nigeria’s National Assembly.

    “Members of the public are enjoined to disregard the fake news as cheap blackmail and absolute falsehood by desperate politicians who are apprehensive of the acceptable political profile of the Governor of Ebonyi State and Presidential hopeful and whose track records have endeared him to the heart of the APC leadership.

    “Umahi never stepped down, but that  His Excellency Ahmad Lawan only returned a consultation visit previously accorded to him by  Governor Umahi and that both of them pledged to support each other in event of any of them emerging as the presidential candidate of APC.”

    TheNewsGuru.con reports that a statement from Ahmad Lawan’s media team, signed by Danladi Bako, had claimed Umahi restated his commitment to support Lawan’s quest to emerge as the APC presidential candidate at the primaries scheduled for tomorrow and Tuesday.

  • Okorocha promises to defeat Atiku as APC presidential candidate

    “If I run for election, in Adamawa State today, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will sweat to defeat me because I can show what I did in Adamawa State.

    “I challenge everyone to show what they have done in other parts of the country outside their region.”

    Former Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha made above assertions while appearing on a Political Programme on Arise Television.

    The APC presidential aspirant boasted that he would defeat the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Atiku Abubakar if given his party’s ticket.

    He noted that APC needed a candidate that could gain substantial votes in the North to win the 2023 presidential election.

    ALSO READ: Drama as Imo traditional ruler engages Rochas Okorocha in near fisticuffs inside plane

    He said he remained the only aspirant with a nationwide acceptance, noting that his popularity and goodwill in northern Nigeria put him at advantage over other aspirants in the APC.

    To him, the APC has smartly waited until the PDP produced its candidate, adding that what should preoccupy the mind of the ruling party is who can defeat the PDP presidential candidate.

    He stressed that Atiku Abubakar is someone that had contested election with President Buhari and was an APC member and he polled substantial votes.

    “What APC needs is the man that can poll similar votes in the North to be able to defeat him, anything outside this that goes with sentiment will mean failure for us.

    “This is what we should know, who is that person among the APC aspirants that can get sufficient votes in the North because that PDP’s only strategy is the Northern votes.

    “We might not have President Buhari on the ballot because most people that won elections on the platform of the APC in previous elections did so because of President Buhari. Now such privilege is no more there, so you have to look for that man that people will look at and vote for and I am that man.

    “I am more acceptable in the North than any of the aspirants. I am the darling of the North. I have a cordial relationship with the North. In the North, I saw their children that were not going to school and I provided free education for them. Some people believe that if I am elected President that power is still in the North because of my close relationship with the North.

    Okorocha added that he will defeat Atiku in his home state, Adamawa, saying he has impacted lives in the state of the PDP’s candidate.

  • Okorocha brags about defeating Atiku in Adamawa

    2023 presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Rochas Okorocha, has boasted that he is so sure he can even defeat the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, in his home state of Adamawa if they go head to head in any election.

     

    According to Okorocha he enjoys wide acceptability in all regions of Nigeria including the north and can pull the votes needed to give APC victory and keep the party in power beyond 2023.

     

    Okorocha made the boast about winning the 2023 presidency on Wednesday when he appeared as a guest on Arise TV interview programme.

     

    “If I run for election in Adamawa State today, former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, will sweat for defeat. I can say that because I know what I have done in Adamawa. I challenge anyone to show me what they have done in the northern part of this country. There is something to sell Rochas Okorocha in the north,” Okorocha boasted.

     

    The incumbent Imo West Senator almost missed his screening schedule with the presidential screening committee of the APC due to a running legal battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

     

    The former Imo governor was arraigned on a 17-count charge of money laundering at a federal high court in Abuja to which he pleaded “not guilty”.

     

    He was granted bail on Tuesday by Justice Inyang Ekwo in the sum of N500 million and a surety in like sum.

     

    Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order while ruling on the bail application filed by Okorocha who currently represents Imo West senatorial district in the National Assembly.

     

    The former governor is being tried on a 17-count charge to the tune of N2.9 billion filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

     

    He was accused of conspiring with others, including a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and five companies to steal from public coffers, although he has since denied any wrongdoing.

     

     

  • Jonathan will win 2023 presidential election, other APC aspirants should step down – Aluko

    Jonathan will win 2023 presidential election, other APC aspirants should step down – Aluko

    An Abuja-based clergyman, Prize Aluko has advised all the presidential aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to step down for former President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the forthcoming primary.

    Aluko, the senior pastor of the Resurrected Assembly, an arm of Glorious Outreach Ministry (GROM), stated this on Monday in Abuja.

    He said with Jonathan as APC presidential candidate, the ruling party would win the 2023 General Elections.

    According to him, going by the divine mandate of God, no matter who emerges as presidential candidate from other political parties, the APC will still maintain its winning streak in 2023 with Jonathan as its presidential candidate.

    The cleric said based on the divine revelation, the former president, with the authoritative will of God, is the best for the party.

    He appealed to other aspirants of the party to withdraw for Jonathan and allow the will of God to be accomplished.

    The APC’s special convention for presidential primary is scheduled to take place between June 6 and June 8.

    Jonathan has said that he would not seek reelection on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform in the 2023 elections.

    Mr Ikechukwu Eze, the former presiden’s spokesman said in a statement on May 10 that the former president who held power under the People’s Democratic Party, between 2010 to 2015 did not authorise the purchase of the nomination forms, a requirement for candidates to take part in primary elections.

    Jonathan rejected the N100 million worth APC presidential nomination forms bought for him by a group known as Association Fulani/Almajir.

    The group had stormed the Abuja International Conference Centre, venue for the sale of APC nomination forms Monday night and obtained the documents for the former president to run for the exalted.

  • Yahaya Bello still in presidential race – Campaign Organisation

    Yahaya Bello still in presidential race – Campaign Organisation

    The Hope ’23 Yahaya Bello Presidential Campaign Organisation has refuted in strong terms, a fake report that Gov. Yahaya Bello has picked an APC form for senate.

    Thenewsguru.com recalls that Bello, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the APC, submitted his completed Expression of Interest and Nomination forms on Thursday in Abuja.

    Dr Yemi Kolapo, the Director, Media and Publicity of the campaign organisation in a statement on Friday, said that Bello would be the last man standing in the presidential race.

    Kolapo said the campaign organisation described the report as a laughable concoction of desperate aspirants, who would do anything to be in the shoes of Bello, the leading contender in the 2023 presidential race.

    She urged the media to always do their checks thoroughly and not play into the hands of those she described as out-paced politicians seeking to pull down serious contenders with fake and utterly mischievous reports.

    “As we stand today in the build-up to the APC primary elections, Yahaya Bello’s popularity among critical stakeholders, party members in general, and Nigerians as a whole is unparalleled.

    “Who among the aspirants has an office address? Let them come and visit the headquarters of the Yahaya Bello presidential campaign office and see that we are ready to move to Aso Rock after our father, President Muhammadu Buhari. Bello bought Senate form? A lie from the pit of hell.

    “Our consultations across all the states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, have shown that the next election will only favour a man of the people.

    “Our highly experienced and noble party leaders know that the only consideration is about winning the election and will field the right candidate that will enable the party to retain power. That candidate is Gov. Bello. ”

    According to Kolapo, the campaign organisation can say conservatively, that more than half of the APC delegates are with Bello and support him.

    She said that people had decided to vote their conscience and were yearning for a loyal leader with the capacity to build on the successes of President Muhammadu Buhari and take Nigeria to the desired destination.

    She said that it was disheartening that some people could still resort to this kind of intellectually deficit strategy to make themselves relevant in an arena where they definitely had no seats.

    “We know the sponsors of this report and urge them with every sense of decency to retrace their steps and work on picking the pieces of their fast crumbling political bricks instead of engaging in petty, outdated “pull them down” gimmicks. ”

    Kolapo assured Nigerians and the teeming supporters of Yahaya Bello, youths, women, people with special needs and indeed all Nigerians, at home and abroad of Bello’s stance in the election.

    “If there will be one individual left in the presidential race, that individual will be Yahaya Bello,” Kolapo said.