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Tag: Campaign

  • APC not exempted from ban on use of Ebonyi schools for campaigns – Commissioner

    APC not exempted from ban on use of Ebonyi schools for campaigns – Commissioner

    Ebonyi says the Oct. 31 order by Gov. David Umahi banning political rallies from holding in public schools in the state, does not preclude the ruling All Progressives Congress.

    The ban took effect on Nov.1

    The order elicited diverse reactions from the public with some political stakeholders wondering if the APC would be affected by its provisions.

    Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Uchenna Orji dismissed such apprehensions on Saturday at Abakaliki when he spoke with newsmen.

    He said all political parties were bound by the provisions of the order designed to protect pupils, students and staff that use the schools.

    “The apprehensions should be allayed because even in civilised societies, there are conditions attached to political parties holding rallies in public facilities.

    “We should correct the earlier insinuations that the order banned political parties from ever holding rallies in these facilities.

    “All political parties, including the ruling APC must secure approval from relevant authorities to use the schools and other public facilities,’’ he said.

    The commissioner noted that securing the lives and property of the people was paramount to the government and that should override all personal interests.

    “Holding political rallies in schools ordinarily puts the security of pupils and students at risk because they are vulnerable.

    “Since parents are not with the pupils and students while in school, anything can happen.

    “We have security reports that gunmen may attack schools during campaigns, so the order was a proactive step to forestall such incidents,’’ he said.

    Orji reiterated that the N5 million required of political parties to campaign in schools premises was refundable as the overall interest was to protect the people.

    “People also pay to use the stadium for various activities, so the provisions of the order are not new.

    “The media should assist government in propagating the ideals of the order as insecurity is a menace affecting everyone,’’ the commissioner stressed.

  • 2023: Atiku, team land in United States for Campaigns, meetings

    2023: Atiku, team land in United States for Campaigns, meetings

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  for the 2023  elections, Atiku Abubakar, has arrived  the United States of America for campaign purpose.

    Atiku stormed  Washington D.C. in America with his entourage for consultations and meetings ahead of the 2023 election in the country.

    He flew to the U.S, alongside the Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign, Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

    Others are ex-Imo Governor Emeka Ihedioha, and business mogul, Raymond Dokpesi, both key members of the campaign team.

    The former vice president and his team are  also expected to meet with top Nigerian business leaders in the U.S., and the nation’s young professionals in the diaspora.

    They were received by ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Minority leader, Ndudi Elumelu, ex-lawmaker Dino Melaye, Atiku’s Special Assistant Phrank Shuaibu, among others.

    Atiku’s engagements include a meeting with Nigerians in diaspora, as well as with PDP members in North America.

    Recall that there were speculations that the Waziri of Adamawa has been banned from entering the United States before the 2019 elections in the country.

    Atiku has now traveled to United States on a few occasions since then.

    The trip was then condemned by the APC through its campaign spokesperson, Festus Keyamo. The Minister of State for Labour is serving in the same role ahead of the polls.

    Atiku is expected to return to the country next week Monday and the next point of call for the continuation of his campaign is  Ekiti state  in the South west of Nigeria.

  • 2023: Atiku to meet Nigerians in Diaspora, as he takes campaign to US

    2023: Atiku to meet Nigerians in Diaspora, as he takes campaign to US

    Alhaji Atiku Abubakar the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for the 2023 Election, has reportedly left Nigeria for the United States of America (USA).

    He is expected to meet with Nigerians in Diaspora as part of a weeklong electioneering campaign and with the PDP members in North America.

    He would also meet with top Nigerian business leaders, based in the US and later meet with young Nigerian professionals in the diaspora, among other meetings with some business community.

    Atiku had three weeks ago commenced his electioneering campaign in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. It was followed with the Kaduna campaign, and last Saturday, had another campaign in Benin, the Edo State capital.

    Atiku is expected back to the country on Monday and by Tuesday, November 1, 2022, it would be the turn of Ekiti State, while the campaign rally in Ondo State would hold on Wednesday November 2.

  • Tinubu support group to begin door-to-door campaign in Plateau

    Tinubu support group to begin door-to-door campaign in Plateau

    The Jagaban National Coalition, a support group have begun door-to-door campaign for the All Progressives Congress (APC)presidential candidate Bola Tinubu.

    The Plateau Coordinator of group, Mr Zakariyau Adigun, made this known in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Jos.

    Adigun said the target of the coalition is to let every one in state know about Tinubu’s achievements and good plans for the country.

    “We have taken our campaign door-to-door selling our candidate to the electorate.
    “Tinubu transformed Lagos and set a standard no state in the country is able to match.

    “He has the capacity to also bring out the giant in Nigeria and make it the most developed country in Africa.
    “We are convinced that he has the capacity to solve the economic challenges the country is grappling with,” he said.

    The coordinator stated that the APC presidential candidate would tackle the security challenges to enable Nigerians go about the businesses without hindrance or let.

    ”On the completion of the door-to-door campaign, the group will embark on neighbourhood-to- neighborhood campaigns.

    “We’ve been telling the people about Tinubu/Shettima, Nentawe/Bot-Man, APC senatorial candidates, House Reps candidates as well as House of Assembly candidates,” he said.
    The coordinator commended the Plateau APC Chairman, Chief Rufus Bature for his tireless efforts to ensure that the party emerge victorious in 2023.

  • 2023 Election: APC bigwigs disclose state to kick off campaign

    2023 Election: APC bigwigs disclose state to kick off campaign

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has disclosed the state to officially kick off presidential campaign.

    According to party bigwigs (name withheld) on Friday, the party chose Ilorin, Kwara state capital as the official port to launch its campaign.

    The source, one of Tinubu’s loyalists, told newsmen that the presidential candidate and the stakeholders agreed on the North Central in general and Ilorin specifically.

    The closed-door meeting, held for about three hours at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, witnessed heavy traffic and security presence.

    In attendance were National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led NWC; Tinubu’s running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima; Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Atiku Bagudu; Deputy Director General of the PCC, Adams Oshimhole; Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje; Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila among others.

    Though a spokesperson for the Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, told journalists after the meeting that a ‘region’ had been selected for the campaign launch, he was unwilling to divulge it.

    He said, “We have agreed on the region to begin the campaign but I am not going to say that now. We have also addressed all the basic issues because we want to carry the leaders of the party along. For now, no date has been chosen (for PCC inauguration). But we will announce that sooner than you think.”

    Asked why the APC stakeholders and the candidate had yet to reach a decision on an appropriate date for both the campaign and PCC inauguration, Keyamo admitted that a definite date had not been agreed upon.

    According to him, political campaign has to involve a conscious and calculative strategy to ensure no stone is left unturned.

    But the source, one of Tinubu’s loyalists, told our correspondent that the lot fell on Kwara State after careful permutation.

    He said, “The candidate and the stakeholders deliberated consciously on the issue, considered the odds before they finally agreed for the choice of North Central in general and Ilorin specifically.

    “It will be the starting point for our campaign before we spread into other areas. But the date has not been agreed on.”

    When contacted on Friday to reconfirm if the campaign is truly launching from Ilorin, both Keyamo and the PCC Director of Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, were hesitant on revealing details.

    They neither confirmed nor debunked the report.

    Keyamo said, “We cannot confirm anything now. Though it is not a disclaimer, there is no official release on that.”

    Onanuga’s position on the issue was also not different.

    “Why don’t you wait? The party will announce it. I cannot confirm anything to you on this. You guys (media) should wait for us to unveil the manifesto and the PCC this week. That’s what we plan to do first,” he stated.

  • PDP appoints directors for the National Campaign Management Committee

    PDP appoints directors for the National Campaign Management Committee

    The Presidential Campaign Organisation (PCO) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has appointed Directors and Deputy Directors for the National Campaign Management Committee (NCMC) of the party.

    The Director-General of the organisation and Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State stated this in a statement in Abuja.

    Tambuwal said that those appointed included Dele Momodu, as Director of Training, Austin Opara and Director, Strategic Communications, Umar Bature, Director, Field Operations, Umar Bature and Abdullahi Hussaini, Director, Finance.

    He said that others were retired Brig-Gen. Koko Essien, Director, Security & Intelligence, Mrs Baraka Sani, Director, Support Group, Alhaji Ibrahim Bashir, Director, Admin, Kamaldeen Ajibade, Director, Legal Affairs and Taoheed Ademola, Director, Technical among others.

    He urged the appointees to contact the DDG, Administration, Prof. Adewale Oladipo for further details.

    “It is believed that your commitment to the overall success of the campaign will justify the confidence reposed in you by the leadership of our party,” Tambuwal said.

  • 2023: Movement, celebrities unveil ‘Fund40Million Ballots Donation Campaign’ for Obi

    2023: Movement, celebrities unveil ‘Fund40Million Ballots Donation Campaign’ for Obi

    A political group, 40Million Ballots Movement on Monday unveiled ‘Fund40MB Donation Campaign’, to support the Labour Party (LP) presidential hopeful and his running mate.

    The campaign is a donor fundraising for the LP Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and his running mate, Sen. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    Newsmen reports that the movement officially kick-started the political donor fundraising in collaboration with Celebrities for Peter Obi (CEPO) in Lagos.

    The event, which had in attendance many Nollywood actors, actresses, singers, comedians and other celebrities in entertainment industry, also featured several support groups for the presidential ambition of Obi.

    The Convener of the group, Mr Kennedy Iyere, described the initiative as a youth-driven 2023 ballot revolution.

    He said it was meant to raise fund for the actualisation of the presidential bid of Obi.

    Iyere noted that the fundraising was to sustain the momentum and mobilise campaigns in support of Obi in the forthcoming general elections.

    The convener said: “We don’t want money to be an issue. The determination is in young people to take back their country and rescue Nigeria from the precipice.

    “This is what Fund40MB is all about. An account has been created for the donation for campaigns to raise money worldwide for the various support groups of Peter Obi to carry out rural sensitisation, door to door campaigns and other programmes.

    “This is independent of Peter Obi and the Labour Party. We are financing every interest group that will work for democracy and a democratic transition in favour of Peter Obi.

    “The funds we are also going to raise through this medium shall be used to fight rigging, violence and all forms of malpractice. That’s why the FUND40MB Donation Campaign has been kicked started today.”

    He said that the fundraising was to confront politicians who might want to use money as strength, to fight the will of God’s purpose.which would not work.

    According to him, the step has become imperative for the survival of the nation, as the youth are now risen from their sleep to take back their nation in 2023.

    He said that political elites had weaponised poverty to remain relevant and perpetuate their continuous stay in power.

    “When youths have risen up, anything is possible. The youth are ready to take back their nation. The time for Nigeria’s political redemption is now.

    “Nigeria has just one upward option, and that is the youth revolution. Peter Obi is no longer himself, he has become a global phenomenon.

    “2023 is going to be a very peculiar election with two players-masses against the elites, and the masses must win the game,” he said.

    According to him, Nigerians and non-Nigerians would contribute for the funding of Obi campaigns, saying the former Anambra governor deserved assistance for his campaign to be the most celebrated.

    Also, an actress and singer, Patience Ozokwor, said that if Nigeria had got leadership right, her material resources and endowment would have made the country stand out in the comity of nations.

    Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama G, said that celebrities were solidly behind Obi to provide right leadership for the nation.

    She said that any donation for his campaign remained an investment Nigerian children and unborn children would later reap.

    “We want anybody that loves Nigeria and wants everything good for Nigeria to please donate no matter how small. Children, youths and God want Obi.

    “We have seen that Obi as a former governor is prudent with public fund and used same judiciously. He has credibility. We want him to come and change things and mend things.”

    The President, Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ejezie Rollas, also spoke in his personal capacity and not for the AGN.

    He said that many celebrities had stood aloof for long, unconcerned about politics.

    Rollas said that this had led to many challenges facing the industry and complaints by practitioners.

    He threw his weight behind Obi’s presidential ambition, and said that celebrities must be interested in making the nation work well for all and sundry.

    Newsmen reports celebrities in attendance include Klint De Drunk, John Okafor (Mr Ibu), Jerry Williams, Paul Obazele, Rita Arum, Joyce Kalu, Bishop Ime and Alex Osifo.

    The Obi support groups in attendance include Like Minds for Peter Obi, Peter Obi Movement, and Peter Obi Support Network.

  • Campaign: INEC urges candidates to shun vulger language

    Campaign: INEC urges candidates to shun vulger language

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Gombe State, has cautioned political parties and their candidates against use of vulger language that could threaten peace during electioneering campaign.

    The Head of Voter Education and Publicity of the Commission in the state, Nuhu Ibrahim gave the charge in a statement on Tuesday in Gombe.

    He said electioneering campaign would start on Wednesday, Sept. 28, in accordance with the electoral calendar, stressing that it was important for political parties and their candidates to comply with the rules towards ensuring peaceful and rancour-free campaigns.

    “Political parties and candidates are to ensure that campaigns are not “tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings.

    “The use of slanderous language likely to provoke violent reaction or emotions, attack on opposition parties/candidates or their programmes, employment and equipping of armed groups and violent activities of any kind during campaigns are prohibited,” he said.

    The INEC official advised political parties and candidates to comply with the limits on election expenses as contained in Section 88 of the Electoral Act 2022.

    According to him, the Commission will deploy technologies and trained personnel to fast track effective tracking of campaign financing by parties and candidates.

    He advised residents of the state who registered for Permanent Voter Card (PVC) between June 2021 and Jan. 14, 2022, to visit INEC’s offices to collect their PVCs to exercise their franchise.

  • 2023: APC postpones inauguration of Presidential Campaign Council

    2023: APC postpones inauguration of Presidential Campaign Council

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has shifted the inauguration of its 422- member Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), earlier scheduled for Monday, Sept. 26, to Wednesday, Sept. 28.

    Mr Bayo Onanuga, Director, Media and Publicity, APC PC, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday night in Abuja.

    “The APC Presidential Campaign Council wishes to inform all members nominated to serve in the various directorates to report at the campaign headquarters on Wednesday Sept. 28, 2022 at 8 a.m.

    “Nominated members are expected to participate in the special prayer sessions marking the commencement of the 2023 presidential election campaigns,” Onanuga said.

    He said that there would be a peace walk immediately after the prayers, saying that all nominees would be issued their letters of appointment on the same day.

    He congratulated members of the campaign council, saying it was a call to serve the party with total commitment and sacrifice.

    “We know this is a call to serve our great party that will demand total commitment and sacrifice from all of us.

    “It is the council’s strong belief that all members will work hard to deliver a resounding victory for our great party in the 2023 presidential election.

    “We also want to use this medium to express our profound gratitude to all support groups registered with the campaign council.

    “We are aware you have been working assiduously to promote our candidates and the party across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),” he said.

    He said that the APC and the candidates acknowledged their hard work and great financial and human resources that had been voluntarily expended.

    Onanuga urged the support groups to continue their good work, adding that the PCC would work with the support groups as it moved along into the campaign season.

    He encouraged other groups yet to formally register with the PCC to do so immediately for proper harmonisation.

    According to reports, President Muhammadu Buhari will head the list of members of the council earlier released by the party.

    Sen. Bola Tinubu, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate and Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, the party National Chairman, are to serve as Deputy Chairmen of the council.

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau is the Director-General with James Faleke as Secretary to the council.

    Sen. Kashim Shettima, the party’s Vice-Presidential candidate is the vice chairman of the council and Adams Oshiomhole, former APC National Chairman is the deputy Director-General (Operations) while Hadiza Usman is the Deputy Director-General (Administration)

  • PDP reveals campaign strategy for 2023

    PDP reveals campaign strategy for 2023

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has adopted a grassroots approach for its electioneering campaign for the 2023 general election.

    The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba said this at the end of the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party in Abuja.

    Ologunagba said that the party also approved a unified campaign structure for its campaign across the country, for the general election.

    He said that the NWC at its 97th meeting deliberated on issues of urgent national importance as well as the preparations for the 2023 general election.

    “NEC also approved the structure for campaign councils at the states, local government, ward and unit levels, while it unanimously empower the NWC to modify and adjust the structures of the campaign councils as and when the need arises.

    “NEC received and approved the proposed structure for Zonal Reconciliation Committees to be set up to ensure that our party presents a common front ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    “NEC also received and approved the composition of the Manifesto Review Committee to review the manifesto of the PDP ahead of the 2023 general election,” he said.

    The national publicity secretary said that NEC also charged the party faithful to remain united in rallying toward the success of the PDP at the 2023 general election.

    He said that NEC also decried the current state of the nation’s economy and the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) among others.

    Ologunagba added that the NEC unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the party National Working Committee (NWC) led by Sen.  Iyorchia Ayu for effectively managing the affairs of the party.

    He said that NEC also endorsed the resignation of the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Sen. Walid Jibrin and accepted the nomination of Sen. Adolphus Wabara, the Secretary of the BoT, as the acting Chairman.

    “NEC thanked Jibrin for his loyalty and commitment toward the unity, stability and success of the Party at all times and urged him not to relent in his service to the Party and the Nation at large,”he said.

    Ologunagba said that NEC congratulated the party as well as the Osun Governor-Elect, Sen. Ademola Adeleke for PDP victory at the July 16 governorship election.

    “NEC unanimously ratified the list of candidates of the party as submitted to the INEC by the NWC,” he said.