Politics

ANALYSIS: #EkitiDecides2022: Why PDP, SDP returned empty-handed

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The candidate of the ruling APC won in15 of the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State with huge margins.

The routing of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship election in Ekiti State will remain on the lips of analysts and commentators in weeks to come.

The APC performed beyond expectations. It only fell a little short of the famed Ayo Fayose’s 16-0 feat in which the former governor won in all the local government areas in the 2014 governorship election. Mr Fayose’s main opponent then was the incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi of the APC.

The ruling party on Saturday won in15 of the 16 local government areas of the state with huge margins. Interestingly, the winner’s closest rival, SDP’s Segun Oni, did not win in any of the local government areas. He even lost his own Ido-Osi to the APC.

Only the PDP’s Bisi Kolawole managed to secure his own Efon Local Government Area to prevent a clean sweep by the APC. The noise of the people prior to the actual election seemed to have misled many analysts who predicted the fall of the APC and a possible victory for the SDP.

What the figures say

At the final tally, Mr Oyebanji recorded 187,057 votes, while Mr Oni polled 82,211 votes. Although he won in his local government area, Mr Kolawole of the PDP came third with 67,457 votes.

The figures show that in all the local government areas won by the APC, it polled over 50 per cent of the valid votes cast,. which means that it polled higher votes than the PDP and SDP votes put together. This was replicated in the final tally, as the combined votes of the two parties amounted to 149,668 votes.

The APC also showed its dominance in the areas supposedly controlled by the opposition, especially in Ekiti North and Ekiti Central. While the SDP candidate managed to win his PU 006, in Ward 04, Ifaki, in Ido-Osi LGA, convincingly, he failed to replicate that wide margin in nearly all the wards in the area, except in Ifaki II, which is his home.

The PDP candidate was on a high ground in Efon, beating the rest neatly to come tops in the local government area. Besides Efon, he simply trailed the other two parties.

Set back for opposition

The election on Saturday showed how the opposition had fallen far behind, and failed to rework its structures to be able to win elections.

For example, the APC’s margin of victory in 2018 was not so wide, as it defeated the PDP, which was then the ruling party, with about 19,000 votes. Mr Fayemi had won the election with 197,459 votes to defeat the PDP which had 178,121 votes. In Saturday’s election, however, the two main opposition parties did not receive up to the number of the votes garnered by PDP alone in 2018.

Despite the hype of improvements in the electoral process, the turn out also fell far below what obtained in the 2018 governorship election.

In 2018, the total registered voters was 909,585, out of which 405,861 voters were accredited on election day. But on Saturday, despite an increased voter registration which totalled 989,224, only 365,438 voters were accredited.

PDP’s internal crisis eclipsed SDP

The signs became obvious at the start of the campaigns. Not many crowd pullers were seen either in the PDP or the SDP campaigns. Many sympathisers believe they would have done better working together.

The setting of that calamity was the struggle for the control of the party, begining with the aspirations for the governorship ticket of the party.

A chieftain of the PDP, Ayo Fadaka, said the problem began with the faulty primaries over which Mr Oni left the party to the SDP.

“The signs of failure began with the party primaries when Segun Oni left for the SDP with a good number of members of the party,” he said.

“Some key members of the party also quietly left the party for the APC before the election.”

Mr Fadaka said the PDP needed to rediscover itself and must ensure that it does not weave its structures around a single personality, if it wants to be strong as a party again.

However, the National Secretary of the SDP, Olu Agunloye, said the loss of his party was due mainly to irregularities in the election. The irregularities, according to him, bordered on voter inducement by the two leading political parties.

Mr Agunloye said it was on record that voters were coerced to vote against their conscience by being offered as much as N15,000 to vote for a particular candidate.

He said with such development, it was not possible to have a free and fair election.

“Those who voted for us voted with their conscience and without inducements,” he said.

The APC candidate had earlier said those who voted for him did so in expression of their wishes, and thanked them for entrusting him with the mandate of administering the state for the next four years.

Taiwo Olatunbosun, the spokesperson for the Biodun Oyebanji Campaign Organisation, described the APC landslide victory as “remarkable, iconic and unprecedented in the annals of the state.”

He said the icing on the cake for the governor-elect was breaking the jinx of ruling parties never recording back-to-back victory in the state.

He also said the victory at the poll was an endorsement of the good works of the administration of Governor Fayemi in which Mr Oyebanji served as the SSG.

APC’s post primary recovery

The deep cut inflicted by the shenanigans of the governorship primaries that sprouted Mr Oyebanji has not healed. However, insiders said that the decision of the agreived parties to work together was informed by a common self-interest.

Most of those adversely affected by the outcome of the primaries were in the pro-Tinubu group associated with the South West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA). There were fears that they would ruin the game for the party. But after Bola Tinubu became the presidential candidate of the APC, he went to join the campaign and said an APC victory in Ekiti was necessary to boost his presidential ambition.

That was enough to make his supporters close ranks with the others and work together. The conflicts are now kept in abbeyance until the agenda is fully realised.

Moses Agbaje, a resident of Ado Ekiti, is convinced that singular interest suspended the fight which earlier threatened the party.

Some have reasoned that the effect of vote buying was a mere incident in the current election, and the APC could have won squarely even without it.

Oluwole Kolawole, a civil servant, argued that in Ekiti, the voters who truly are in support of the SDP could not be swayed with money, noting that the people are yet to get the enlightenment on the implications of selling their votes.

“We are in such a big trouble in this country,” he said. “But one thing I know is that although there was so much noise about Segun Oni, the people were not really serious about voting him into office, otherwise, no amount of vote buying will result in such a huge gap in the results.”

He said although Mr Oni was popular, he needed to match the APC and PDP with money to emerge as governor. “That is another sad story about our situation,” he lamented. “Our road to prosperity is still far away so long as we are collecting money from politicians before we cast our votes. There is no hope.”

Saturday’s governorship election, however, posted an excellent result with regards to security of the ballots and election violence. Although isolated cases of disruptions were recorded in Ilawe and Ikere, there was no widespread occurence.

There is an outcry against vote buying, yet some observers have noted that the act was drastically reduced compared to what obtained in the last governorship election.

What was disappointing in the exercise was INEC’s failure to design the voting area to discourage the act. Most of the cubicles were still open to view by anyone seeking to perpetrate vote buying.

Police officers, as usual, turned a blind eye, while the inducers continued their trade close to the polling units.

Opposition parties’ agents at the state collation centre expressed their grievances over the phenomenon, saying it took away the credibility of the election.

“What we had yesterday were vote-buying centres and not polling units,” one of the agents said. Although they indirectly accused the ruling party of perpetrating the act, election observers asserted that all the leading parties were involved in the malpractice.

There is no let up in the corruption that bedevils the nation’s electoral process. Even with the EFCC’s intervention during the election, there is no sign of the political will to stamp out the malaise. As Mr Kolawole said, only the people themselves can change the narrative.

Politics, World News

Bola Tinubu Stated What He Did When He Perceived A Gang – Up Against His Presidential Bid.

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The Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has revealed that he turned to God in prayers, when he perceived that there was a gang-up against him and his ambition to be president (Vanguard news).

The APC National Leader who made this revelation during his homecoming visit to the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, recently, noted that the battle to secure the APC ticket was hard.

According to Tinubu: “When I was almost fed up, I resorted to prayers. I also poured out my mind when I felt there was a gang-up against my person.” The APC candidate who also alluded to the fact that Lagos indigenes have never had the opportunity to become president, noted that he took up the fight to change the narrative. 

Nevertheless, Tinubu acknowledged that the major challenge ahead, was now to get Nigerians to vote him as president in the 2023 general elections.

Politics, World News

“If I become president, I will be transparent and will empower youths who are into internet fraud”.- Rev Chris Okotie.

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A Nigerian televangelist, senior pastor and the founder of Household of God Church International Ministries, Christopher Oghenebrorie Okotie known as Rev. Chris Okotie has asked other aspirants to step down for him, that it his turn to Succeed president Muhammadu Buhari.

Addressing journalists at his Church in Oregun, Ikeja while celebrating his 63rd birthday anniversary, Okotie said he is the right person to correct the wrongs in the country.

Okotie appealed to all presidential candidates to withdraw from the race and allow him to come in as the interim president. He asked Bola Ahmed Tinubu to support his government for the betterment of the country.

He told Peter Obi that the system that introduced him cannot take him anywhere, because he cannot operate in the system we have now.

Okotie said if he becomes president, his government will be a transparent one and he will empower youths who are into internet fraud. He said he will provide funds to youths who are technology inclined. Okotie said his government will be that of National Reconciliation and Reconstruction.

He finally appealed to all the presidential candidates to support him to succeed President Buhari as the interim president.

Politics, World News

My VP Nominee Is Not A Placeholder, And If He Decides To Step Down, It Wouldn’t Be A Breach.-Tinubu.

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The Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has disclosed that Masari Kabiru was nominated as his running mate after due consultations were made contrary to the speculations that he was picked as a placeholder. He also mentioned that if Kabiru decides to step down within the time frame, it wouldn’t be a breach of any kind.

Tinubu made the statement while reacting to speculations making rounds that the presidential candidates picked the names of their running mates as placeholders to bit the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC‘s June 17th deadline.

Tinubu also stated that consultations were still ongoing and should his running mate, Kaburu decides to step down within the speculated time frame allowed by the law, it wouldn’t be a breach of the law at all.

However, INEC has issued a statement saying the idea of the placeholder is a Nigerian factor that doesn’t have a place or recognition within the law.

Politics

Reality of impending crisis over growing impunity within APC 

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ABOUT eight months to the general elections, the All Progressives Congress, APC, seems to be waltzing into another wave of crises that may hinder its electoral chances in many constituencies across the country.

The arbitrary replacement of duly nominated candidates by officials at the National Headquarters of the party with those that did not even participate in the primaries is generating disillusionment within the party and creating legal loopholes that could be exploited by the opposition as in the case of Zamfara State.

In Yobe North Senatorial District, Bashir Machina who was duly nominated unopposed as the senatorial candidate has been replaced by Ahmed Lawan, the Senate president, who did not even participate in the primary. Lawan, we recall, was only interested in the presidential ticket of the party and not the Senate seat which he had occupied for three terms now. In Idah/Igalamela/Ibaji/Ofu federal constituency of Kogi State, the duly nominated candidate, David Zachariah, has been arbitrarily replaced by Mustapha Mona, who did not even participate the primary.

In Akwa Ibom State, the replacement is large scale in scope. All the three senatorial candidates that emerged from duly conducted and INEC-monitored primaries have been replaced by a new set that did not even participate in the monitored primaries. Among the new nominees is Senator Godswill Akpabio who had featured prominently in his party’s presidential nomination process.

Along with Akpabio, Dr. Emaeyak Ukpong and Mr. Martin Udo-Inyang have also been forwarded to INEC as senatorial nominees to replace persons earlier nominated in an INEC-monitored primaries. I understand that federal constituency nominees are also being replaced. In the case of Akpabio, a new primary was conducted, but INEC is insisting that it did not monitor it and the former minister ought not to be a candidate since he did not participate in the first one.

These are just a few of the constituencies where APC officials in Abuja have succumbed to pressures to replace duly nominated candidates, thus violating the 2022 Electoral Act.

Just as the affected candidates are threatening court action to protect their mandates, I urge INEC to stamp its feet down and protect the sanctity of our electoral process. If we allow powerful men to keep trampling on the rights of the average citizens, especially in a manner that flagrantly subjugates the electoral process, we would be putting our democracy in a danger. We should not continue to behave as if Nigeria is the impunity capital of the world!

At the core of this abuse is the inability of party officials to appreciate the difference between the 2010 Electoral Act and the new 2022 Electoral Act, especially in relations to substitution of names. By Section 33 of the 2022 Act, a political party cannot change or substitute a candidate unless by reason of death or voluntary withdrawal.

Where a candidate has voluntarily and properly withdrawn his candidacy according to the law, the candidate is required to directly inform INEC in writing within 14 days and the party must conduct a fresh primary to produce a new candidate.

Only those who participated in the first primary would be allowed to participate in the rerun primary. This is different from the 2010 Act which allowed political parties to replace candidates if they had reasons to, even if the replaced candidates were not in support of their replacement. The 2022 Act in Section 29(1) further provides that candidates to be submitted by political parties “must have emerged from valid primaries conducted by political parties”.

Now here is where INEC derives its power(s). Section 84(13) of the 2022 Electoral Act states that… “Where a political party fails to comply with the provisions of this Act in the conduct of its primaries, its candidate for election shall not be included in the election for the particular position”. Compliance with the Act entails, among others, having INEC monitor all primaries.

So, it is clear that Ahmed Lawan cannot be a senatorial candidate in the 2023 election because he did not emerge from “a valid primary”. In fact, he did not emerge from any primary at all. The same applies for many other cases of replacements across the country, some of which I have listed above.

I am, therefore, surprised that Lawan, a ranking senator who presided over the Senate when this law was passed, is leading the onslaught against the law. Lawan ran for presidency and failed. He now wants to contest for the Senate even though he did not participate in the senatorial primary. It is notable that Bashir Machina is threatening court action to protect his mandate.

Lawan is not alone. The problem exists in both APC and PDP. Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto and Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi are just a few examples of those who are caught up by Section 33 because they had initially participated in the presidential primaries of their parties and are now seeking to go to the Senate (in the case of Umahi and Tambuwal) and return to the State House as governor (in the case of Bala Mohammed).

It is also for this reason that Adams Oshiomhole refused to participate in the APC presidential primary despite his initial declaration. He foresaw the danger and today, he is a duly nominated senatorial candidate for Edo North District.

To save our democracy, INEC must live up to its name as an independent electoral umpire and reject any candidate that did not emerge through a legitimate process. APC would be thrown into another round of crises if we allow this impunity to stand.

Politics, World News

British PM Boris Johnson undergoes sinus surgery.

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UK prime minister Boris Johnson underwent a scheduled operation on his sinuses on Monday morning, June 20, Downing Street has said.


It was described as a “very minor routine operation” under general anesthetic at a London hospital.


Mr. Johnson, who turned 58 on Sunday, is resting at home and is planning to chair Tuesday morning’s Cabinet meeting and travel to a gathering of Commonwealth leaders in Rwanda later this week.


“He went to hospital around 6am and the operation was carried out first thing this morning,” the prime minister’s official spokesman said. “He was back in Downing Street shortly after 10am.”

Asked how Mr. Johnson was feeling, the spokesman said he had not spoken to him since his return to his official residence but that he was resting there.


The timing of Mr. Johnson’s return to work would depend on how he feels, said the spokesman.


Asked who was in charge of the UK nuclear accounts during the procedure, the spokesman said Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case were aware in advance and that Mr. Johnson was under for a “relatively brief time”.

Procedures were in place so that any significant decisions could be deferred to Mr. Raab before Mr. Johnson resumed duties, the spokesman said.

The operation was by the UK’s state-funded National Health Service and was scheduled “for a while”, he said, without specifying at which hospital it took place.


Mr. Johnson’s sinus issue was not said to be related to his Covid illness two years ago.


The prime minister spent several days in hospital intensive care in April 2020 after contracting Covid, calling it “a tough old moment” that “could have gone either way”.

Politics, World News

Court halts INEC’s plan to stop voter registration on June 30.

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Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission from ending voter registration on June 30, 2022.

She gave the order of interim injunction following the hearing of an argument on motion exparte by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project. SERAP and 185 concerned Nigerians had earlier in the month filed the lawsuit against INEC asking the court to “declare unconstitutional, illegal, and incompatible with international standards the failure of the electoral body to extend the deadline for voter registration to allow eligible Nigerians to exercise their rights.”

In the suit, SERAP had asked the court for “an order restraining INEC, its agents, privies, assigns, or any other person(s) claiming through it from discontinuing the continuous voters’ registration exercise from the 30th June 2022 or any other date pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

The suit is adjourned to 29th June, 2022 for the hearing of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.

The suit followed the decision by INEC to extend the deadline for the conduct of primaries by political parties by six days, from June 3 to June 9. But the commission failed to also extend the online pre-registration which ended May 30 2022 and the Continuous Voter Registration ending June 30, 2022.

In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1034/2022 filed at the Federal High Court, Lagos, and transferred to Abuja, SERAP said

“Voters are also critical stakeholders in the electoral process. Treating all eligible Nigerian voters fairly would advance the people’s right to vote and to participate in their own government. INEC must not only be independent and impartial in the exercise of its constitutional and statutory responsibilities, but must also be seen to be independent and impartial.

Extending the voter registration exercise would also bolster voter confidence in the electoral process. One of the people’s most sacred rights is the right to vote. The commission has a constitutional and statutory responsibility to ensure the effective exercise of the right of all eligible voters to participate in their own government.

Extending the deadline for party primaries without providing adequate time and opportunity for eligible voters to register and participate in the 2023 general elections would amount to an unfair and discriminatory treatment of Nigerian voters, and violate other human rights.

Extending the voter registration deadline would provide more time for eligible voters, including young people, the elderly, people living with disability, as well as those resident in states facing security challenges and living in IDP camps to participate in the 2023 elections.

Extending the deadline for voter registration would be entirely consistent with constitutional and international standards, and the Electoral Act. Any such extension would also not impact negatively on INEC’s election calendar and activities.

The public perception of the independence and impartiality of INEC is essential for building public confidence in the electoral process, and ensuring the credibility and legitimacy of the 2023 elections.

Where Nigerians have doubts about the independence and impartiality of INEC, they are more likely to have less confidence in the electoral process thereby undermining democracy.

Extending the deadline for voter registration would also be justified, given reports of challenges in the voter registration exercise, especially for young people, the elderly, persons living with disabilities, and those resident in states facing security challenges and living in internally displaced persons camps.”

Politics

Tinubu’s karma and Osinbajo’s ingratitude (2)

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Until a combination of punches breaks the jaw and smashes the face into a massive mess, the fleet-footed boxer shuffles on confidence and charisma.

Like the hyped June 27, 1988 heavyweight superfight in which Iron Mike Tyson demolished Michael Spinks in just 91 seconds, the hyped June 7, 2022 All Progressives Congress presidential primary in Abuja, similarly ended in a humiliating defeat for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Before I proceed any further, I must apologise to my readers for not concluding this two-part article last Monday due to unforeseen circumstances. Gladly, the one-week hiatus has provided me with the opportunity to view the APC delegate primary election through a multidimensional prism of insight, foresight and hindsight.

Armed with the benefit of hindsight, saddened by the failed outcome of the presidential primary, and faced with a gloomy political future, I’m almost certain the vice president would today wish for three things: to turn back the hands of time, remain unblemished and not to have contested against Tinubu.

Uncle Yemi lulé

At the end of hostilities, Osinbajo, despite an eloquent political speech and the trademark Awo cap on his silvern head, scored a scanty 235 votes against the staggering 1, 271 votes polled by his former boss and godfather, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, whose symbolic cap, since 1999, bears broken chains signifying freedom whereas governance in Lagos, nay Nigeria remains perpetually shackled with unbroken chains.

Shockingly, the erudite vice president also fell face-down yakata at the feet of a former Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, who got 316 votes just as Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, got 152 votes, trailing Osinbajo with 83 votes.

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity, says Roman philosopher, Lucius Annaeus Seneca. Verily, the APC presidential primary has come and gone, but long-lasting scars, suspicion and regrets persist.

Shortly after the vice president contested and crashed at the primary, Dolapo, his wife, tried to assuage the pain of defeat in an Instagram post to her husband, calling him, “Oluyemi, Oluleke, Omoluabi, Omo oko, Oninu re, Oniwa pele, Oniwa tutu, Ologbon, Olododo, Alaanu,” and added, “I’m proud of you.” I’m very proud of ‘Deputy Olule’, too.

The law professor wasn’t only roundly beaten, the senior pastor stands the risk of his name going down in the book of political oblivion for committing the commonest ‘sin’ in Nigerian politics – challenging a godfather, and being politically naive not to throw in the towel when a dirge was being sung for the failed ‘palace coup’.

And every man is the architect of his own fortune. During my undergraduate days in the late 1980s, I returned home from school one day and quickly headed to a friend’s house nearby. Busola Akintunde is the name of my friend. He’s currently a lawyer based in Lagos.

Back in the day, the Akintundes’ three-bedroomed flat along the Old Ota Road, Orile Agege, Lagos State, was a rendezvous for boys in the hood to engage in mischievous things when Lanre’s hard-working parent, the late Alhaja Wosilat, a single mother, was away to work.

On that particular day at the Akintundes’ ever bubbly house, I met some friends who were yet to gain admission into tertiary schools. They began to talk in low tones as soon as I walked in, indicative that they were keeping a secret. I left the house soon afterwards and never inquired to know the secret. But I had a hunch the whispers were about the ongoing school certificate examination.

A few weeks later, the bubble burst and the dam broke. So, they came to my house to tell me what Messiah did. One of them, Laja, (not real name) narrated their ordeal: “A white-garment church prophet in Oko Oba area of Agege has swindled us, Tunde. The prophet, popularly called Messiah, promised us resounding success in our WAEC. He said we didn’t need to read, that we were going to see a hand, which would be invisible to others, writing correct answers on the chalkboard. He gave us white handkerchiefs to wipe our faces during the exams. He also gave us spiritual pens.

“He said if we didn’t see the invisible hand writing on the chalkboard because of our sins, angels would go and fetch our answer scripts from WAEC and write correct answers for us.”

The narrator, who is a multimillionaire today, scored ‘F9 parallel’ in the exam. ‘F9 parallel’ was a jocular term for undiluted failure when the student couldn’t record an ordinary pass, let alone a credit. Incidentally, however, all the victims of Messiah are today successful family men.

The fate that befell my friends was similar to the fate that befell the vice president, who waited in vain for Buhari to favourably deal his mighty hand in battle, and make the sun stand still at the Eagle Square, but night fell and darkness engulfed Osinbajo, his popcorn and ice cream while victory song broke out in Tinubu’s camp.

While serious students burnt the midnight oil, my friends didn’t. While Tinubu held his destiny in his hands and strategised, Osinbajo, the purported anointed candidate of Buhari, expected the President to announce him as consensus candidate. Even God helps those who help themselves.

For Osinbajo, the unending human traffic to his office would soon dwindle, calls to his ever-busy lines would reduce, and the charm that power imbues would fade off gradually like the moon disappearing behind the clouds on its way back to the East at dawn. Sadly, Osinbajo’s name, not his backers’, would be mentioned whenever a lesson in godfather-godson tussle is taught in Nigeria. It is what it is.

As the value of Osinbajo’s stocks depreciates in the dusk of Buhari’s administration, those of Tinubu would appreciate as the APC prepares for the 2023 general election. The lionet will take backstage for the lion to roar on centrestage.

Profiting from the power of insight and foresight, I wouldn’t contest the APC presidential ticket with Tinubu, if I were Osinbajo, for the simple reasons that he brought me from classroom to stateroom, from relative obscurity to stardom, from middle class to upper class.

During the build-up to the primary, Tinubu was called greedy, very well; but I’m yet to see any Nigerian politician whose bank deposit, after their tenure, remained the same it was when they assumed public office. There’s a Tinubu in every Nigerian politician. A certain Baptist politician who allegedly had less than N20,000 in his account before assuming power, retired into a life of opulence.

Osinbajo supporters vehemently pinned corruption on Tinubu, but the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. If someone’s been eating from Tinubu’s largesse in the past 23 years, and never complained about his excesses, you must be unhinged to suddenly wake up and accuse him of corruption because the biggest cake in the land is up for grabs, and you have a stake in it.

I believe Tinubu never helped those he ever helped for altruistic reasons, but for his own selfish political reasons. That’s not good. However, it’s also sickening for latter-day turncoats of Tinubu empire, who cheered while Jagaban dispensed positions and favours their way, to now cry foul when the Landlord of Lagos decides to spread his prebendal favours elsewhere.

Since the owner of bullion vans, Tinubu, who lives in Bourdillon, laid the issue of who nominated Osinbajo as vice president to rest, nobody has come forward to contradict him. I had wondered how anyone in their right senses would say Osinbajo was picked as vice president without the knowledge of Tinubu.

I also heard the argument that Osinbajo added value to Tinubu, and I agree. But Osinbajo wasn’t the best graduating law student in his undergraduate set, neither was he the professor with the highest ResearchGate score or citation in UNILAG before Tinubu handpicked him in 1999. When Tinubu nominated him above Yemi Cardoso and Wale Edun as vice president, it was for self-preservation, and not to come and topple the applecart.

Birds of a feather, they say, flock together.

Politics

NSCDC, group seek criminalisation of vote-trading

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A non-governmental organisation, Stop-Violence Against Women in Politics, has called for the amendment of the Electoral Act to criminalise vote selling the same way vote-buying is criminalised.

The Executive Director of Stop-VAWIP, Tumininu Adedeji, said this at the post-election press briefing in Ado Ekiti on Sunday.

The group in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps said doing that would sanitise the nation’s electoral system the more.

She said some women were coerced to be agents of vote buying during the governorship election held in Ekiti State on Saturday, saying such an act could discourage many women from participating in politics.

Adedeji said, “Priority voting is not given to pregnant women and nursing mothers in all polling units.

“The Electoral Act 2022 does not empower the security agencies to expressly arrest and prosecute electoral offences.

“Women were coerced as both agents of vote-buying and selling with few cases tracked and reported.

“There is a need to step up the orientation and sensitisation programme to discourage voters from vote trading.

“NSCDC should conduct more public enlightenment on the availability and use of the N-alert application. Agencies should promote increased inter-agency synergy to curb vote-trading, including a service directory for election administrators and security agencies.

“There is a need to amend the Amendment of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended) to fully criminalise vote trading (vote selling and buying).”

The Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Ekiti State Command, Tolulope Adedeji, said the N-alert application, the alert system devised to facilitate response to incidents of violence, was used in Ekiti State.

He said the device would also be deployed in the Osun State governorship election to be held on July 16.

Politics

APC, PDP members in Imo North collapse structures for Obi, LP

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Members of the two majority parties in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress in Imo North Senatorial District of Imo State on Sunday collapsed their structures into the Labour Party and pledged their loyalty and support to its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

No fewer than two thousand people joined the LP at a ceremony at Umuaro community in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state.

A former Deputy Chief of Staff to a former governor of the state, Chikwem Onuoha, said that the decision was reached after an investigation revealed that Obi was the best presidential material among other presidential candidates.

Onuoha, said that APC and PDP had misruled Nigeria for the past 23 years, adding that it was time Nigerians voted Obi to rescue the country.

The APC chieftain said, “Today, APC and PDP are dead in Okigwe zone. We have resolved to collapse our structures in the zone into the Labour Party and to work for the victory of Peter Obi. Peter Obi symbolises the hope of the ordinary people of Nigeria.

“Peter Obi is tested and trusted and he has the support of the people who vote during the election. Apart from Obi, we will vote LP all through. The Labour Party is for a mass movement. We are wiser and we want to take back our country.”

The President General of the Okigwe North Youth Progressives Forum, Chidinma Onyenagubo, said that his group was mobilising people to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards to vote for LP In 2023.

Politics

#EkitiDecides2022: The real winners, losers of Ekiti governorship election

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A two-term governor of the state, Ayo Fayose is believed in some quarters to be the biggest loser of the Ekiti governorship election.

Although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Abiodun Oyebanji, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the Ekiti governorship election held on Saturday, the contest has also thrown up a number of winners besides the governor-elect, as well as a number of losers.

According to INEC’s Chief Returning Officer in the election, Kayode Adebowale, Mr Oyebanji polled the highest valid votes cast – 187,057 – in the election to defeat his closest rival, Segun Oni, of the Social Democratic Party, who bagged 82, 211 votes.

Bisi Kolawole, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, came third, though he won in Efon Alaaye LGA, while Mr Oyebanji won in the rest of the 15 local government areas of the state.

With his election, Mr Oyebanji, the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, is the fifth democratically elected governor of the state. Ekiti State was created in 1996 by the military administration of the late head of state, Sani Abacha, an army general.

The winners

Niyi Adebayo: He is considered a major winner in the election because he is the first political godfather to the governor-elect, Mr Oyebanji.

Mr Adebayo, governor of Ekiti State between 1999 and 2003 on the platform of the defunct AD, was the first person to appoint Mr Oyebanji into a political position.

He appointed Mr Oyebanji first as his Special Assistant on Parliamentary Affairs before elevating his status to that of a Special Adviser. Mr Oyebanji later served out the administration as the Chief of Staff to Mr Adebayo who failed to win his reelection in 2003.

Mr Adebayo is believed to have recommended Mr Oyebanji to Kayode Fayemi when the latter retrieved his mandate as the duly elected governor of Ekiti State in 2010 on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Now that his political godson is the governor-elect of the state, Mr Adebayo, the current minister of trade and investment, could be said to be back in power.

APC

The APC, the ruling party in Ekiti State, has, by the new victory, extended its tenancy in the Ekiti State Government House, Oke Ayoba, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, beyond 2022.

Despite the schisms in the party as a result of the primaries that produced Mr Oyebanji as the party’s gubernatorial candidate and the fallout of the recent primaries held for various elective seats, the party still went to the poll as a formidable unit.

The visit of Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the party, to the state to canvass support for the party’s candidate, according to local observers, also boosted the chances of the party in the election.

According to INEC, the APC won in 15 of the 16 local government areas in the state thereby making the victory a massive one.

The party had also become the first political party to win back-to-back gubernatorial elections in the state in – 2018 and now 2022.

Kayode Fayemi

The outgoing governor of the state, Kayode Fayemi, would have received the biggest blame had the APC lost the 2022 gubernatorial election.

The governor-elect, Mr Oyebanji, is believed to have been unilaterally imposed on the party as its gubernatorial candidate to the chagrin of some stakeholders who felt the governor as the leader of the party should have provided a level-playing field for all the aspirants.

Mr Oyebanji has been with Mr Fayemi since 2010 serving as a commissioner in some ministries before being appointed as SSG in 2018, a position he held until December 2021 when he resigned to vie for the governorship ticket of the APC.

By the latest development, Mr Fayemi, whose tenure is about to end, is the first governor to have successfully installed a successor in the history of the state.

Although he might have stepped down for Mr Tinubu in the APC’s presidential primary election, the latest victory of the APC is an indication that Mr Fayemi remains firmly rooted in the politics of the state.

Bisi Fayemi

The First Lady of the state, Bisi Fayemi, is also a major winner of the election as the governor-elect is believed to be very close to her.

She canvassed support for the election of Mr Oyebanji, rallying the women folk in the state and the elderly to see the election of the APC candidate as her own personal project.

Some political analysts in the state say Mrs Fayemi prevailed on her husband to make Mr Oyebanji the governorship candidate of the APC.

Abiodun Oyebanji

The governor-elect is described as a proper ‘home boy’ having lived virtually all his life in the state as a lecturer, banker, farmer and politician serving in various ministries up till when he was appointed the SSG in 2018.

He is believed to have a grounded understanding of the issues and challenges of governance and government in the state.

It is, however, too early in the day to predict how his administration will pan out eventually.

The losers

Ayo Fayose

A two-term governor of the state, Ayo Fayose is believed in some quarters to be the biggest loser of the Ekiti governorship election.

He failed to install a successor in 2018 at the conclusion of his own second term tenure in office even as an incumbent governor and has also failed to make Bisi Kolawole governor, the man he single-handedly imposed as the governorship candidate of the PDP, despite protests within the party in the 2022 elections.

Although Mr Fayose still retains his firm grip on the leadership of the party in the state, with the fallout of the just-concluded election and the way the recent primaries of the party were conducted, there may be a serious challenge to his leadership from within and without.

Already, the senator representing Ekiti South, Biodun Olujimi, is squaring up to Mr Fayose by leading a faction of the party in the state.

Also, a former deputy governor of the state, Kolapo Eleka, whom Mr Fayose tried to make his successor in 2018, has begun to challenge Mr Fayose’s leadership of the party in the state.

The PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party has now lost back-to-back governorship election in the state; thus leaving the party in the lurch gasping for breath.

Since the winner of the election was declared in the early hours of Sunday by the electoral umpire, many supporters of the party have continued to bemoan their fate and the fate of the party in the state.

A handful of the supporters on their social media handles, especially Facebook, have blamed Mr Fayose as the cause of the party’s heavy loss, saying he should not have imposed Mr Kolawole on the party as its governorship candidate.

It is yet to be seen how the party will recover from its recent loss and brace ahead for the 2023 general elections.

Bisi Kolawole

Mr Kolawole, the candidate of the PDP in the just-concluded election, came third in the election.

He is believed to have been imposed on the party by Mr Fayose who preferred him to other aspirants who vied for the governorship ticket of the party.

Mr Kolawole, a former state chairman of the party and strong supporter of Mr Fayose, is perceived to be an unpopular candidate, which observers believe contributed significantly to the relatively poor performance of the party in the elections.

He has reacted to his loss by thanking his supporters and essentially accepting defeat.

Segun Oni

A veteran gubernatorial candidate, Mr Oni may have had his last attempt at being the governor of the state having been judicially removed from power in 2010.

Mr Oni, in the events leading to the 2022 governorship election, left the PDP for the SDP where he emerged as the governorship candidate of the party which made the election a three-horse race.

Before his second missionary journey to the PDP, he had pitched his tent with the APC in 2014 and even served as the party’s chairman for the south before he dumped the party in 2018 to rejoin the PDP. He claimed he and his supporters were maltreated by the party hence his reason for dumping the party.

While he has a lot of local supporters, some also blame him for moving from one political party to the other once he fails to secure the governorship ticket of the party.

Of the three dominant contestants in the just concluded election, Mr Oni was the oldest at 67. He will be 68 by September. It is unclear at the moment whether he will vie for the governorship seat in 2026.

Politics

Why Atiku rejected Wike as running mate

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Atiku on Thursday presented Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his vice presidential pick, 18 days after winning the PDP presidential primary

More facts have emerged on why the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, rejected the recommendation of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, as his running mate for the 2023 election.

Mr Atiku on Thursday presented Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his vice presidential pick, 18 days after the former vice president won the presidential primary of the party in Abuja, for the second consecutive time.

Mr Wike, who came second in the primary, was one of three governors recommended by an ad hoc committee of the PDP to Mr Atiku for his consideration as his running mate. The others were Mr Okowa and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel.

However, Mr Atiku told senior party leaders that he could not work with Mr Wike. Aside from describing him as a direct opponent, the candidate said Mr Wike does not like him, citing how he almost thwarted his nomination in 2018 at the party’s National Convention in Port Harcourt.

Mr Wike at that time had supported Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who eventually returned second at the primary on that occasion.

Ironically, Mr Tambuwal’s withdrawal and endorsement of Mr Atiku just before voting started at the Abuja convention of the party on May 29 were pivotal to Mr Atiku defeating Mr Wike with 371 to 237.

After the convention, Mr Atiku paid a visit to Mr Wike in his residence in Abuja, during which the governor promised the candidate and the PDP his full support for the general elections.

According to a party insider, “Atiku was horrified after Wike returned to Port Harcourt and was publicly attacking his colleague governors for supporting Atiku at the primary.”

Mr Atiku also believes that Mr Wike’s fallout with the former National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, who was subsequently removed from the position last year, was due to the governor’s perception that Mr Secondus had become close to him (Atiku).

According to the source, many party elders and leaders feared that picking Mr Wike would tear the party apart instead of unifying it, saying many of his colleague governors in the South-south and South-east do not like his ways.

“Our leaders acknowledge the role Wike played in ensuring the survival of the party during its trying moments, but they do not like his boastful ways and the way he always threatened the party and party leaders to have his way every time.

“They believe that such a combative and garrulous person cannot be suitable for the role of vice president and that is the reason many party leaders were against Wike,” the source said.

Following the strong run of Mr Wike in the primary in which he drew the support of delegates from across the country, his supporters and many party leaders urged Mr Atiku to pick him as his running mate to unify the party for the February 25, 202,3 presidential election.

Mr Atiku was said to have promised to consider Mr Okowa for nomination as his running mate to get the votes of Delta State’s delegates in the primary.

However, after the campaign for Mr Wike to be included on the ticket began to grow in the party, Mr Atiku offered the Rivers governor or his nominee the petroleum ministry portfolio if he wins the election, but the governor rejected the offer.

To avert a repeat of the accusation that he unilaterally picked Peter Obi as his running mate for the 2019 election, Mr Atiku decided to involve the party’s leadership in the nomination.

After consultations between the candidate and the party’s National Working Committee, Board of Trustees and state governors, the party set up a 17-member committee to recommend candidates for the slot.

Although there were reports between Tuesday and Wednesday that the committee overwhelmingly voted to recommend Mr Wike, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that it only recommended the three governors for the slot.

Mr Atiku had arranged to meet Mr Wike Thursday morning to personally inform him of his decision, but apparently, on realising that Mr Okowa was the choice, the Rivers governor flew out of Abuja on the eve of the meeting.

It is not known whether Atiku and Mr Wike have spoken with each other since then but the governor has not made a public statement on the nomination of the running mate by his party’s presidential candidate.

Politics, Videos, World News

It feels good to be back home, Tinubu says as he arrives in Lagos.

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The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has arrived in Lagos following his victory at the primary election of the APC.

The candidate, who landed in Lagos on Sunday, was welcomed by an excited crowd from the airport.

On his Instagram story, Tinubu noted that it felt good to be back home, as he was seen waving at ecstatic supporters who hailed him.

The supporters who were waving brooms, which is an APC symbol, were chanting “Emilokan” as they followed his entourage.

Tinubu, who was also waving back a broom, captioned the video, “Feels good to be back home.”

Several videos available on the Internet showed that Tinubu was received by the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, upon his arrival.

APC United Kingdom on Facebook wrote, “Aṣíwájú Bọ́lá Ahmed Tinubu arrives Lagos after weeks of absence.

“He left Lagos as a presidential aspirant, but came back as a presidential candidate. It could only be God!”

Tinubu scored 1,271 votes to defeat his closest contenders, Rotimi Amaechi and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, two weeks ago.

Amaechi obtained 316 votes while Osinbajo polled 235.

He contested against 13 other aspirants – Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Mr Ahmed Rufai, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Mr Jack Rich, Governor Ben Ayade, Governor David Umahi, Senator Ahmed Yarima, Dr Ahmed Lawan, Osinbajo, Amaechi, Governor Yahaya Bello and Mr Ogbonnaya Onu.

Watch below the arrival of Tinubu in Lagos…

Politics, World News

Biden takes spill on morning bike ride.

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President Biden fell off of his bike during a morning ride in Rehoboth Beach, Del., on Saturday, according to a White House pool report.

The president, an avid bike rider, said he felt fine after falling off his bicycle while stopping to greet a crowd.

Biden fell off the bike during a morning ride at 9:40 a.m., and Secret Service agents quickly surrounded him as the president stood up, according to the pool report. He then proceeded to speak to the crowd. 

“I’m good,” Biden said when asked if was alright after the fall. 

He said he had trouble taking his biking shoes out of the pedal. Biden was out for a morning of activity near his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach.  

He took a few questions before riding away, saying he planned to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping “soon” and is in the process of considering lifting Chinese tariffs as inflation continues to rise.

He added that he is ready to sign a bill to curb gun violence, the framework of which has been agreed upon by a bipartisan group of senators.

The framework would provide funding to states to implement laws to keep guns out of the hands of people deemed dangerous to themselves and others.

Woman charged with hate crimes after allegedly using pepper spray, making anti-Asian remarksKinzinger says ‘leadership crisis’ has spread from DC to daily lives, churches

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday said that he would likely support gun legislation that reflects this framework.

Following the news of his fall, a White House spokesperson said that no medical attention was needed for the president.

“As the President said, his foot got caught on the pedal while dismounting and he is fine. No medical attention is needed. The President looks forward to spending the rest of the day with his family.”

Politics, World News

NAFDAC, PCN to get offices in Anambra drug market –Soludo.

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Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, on Friday, inaugurated the construction of the Coordinated Wholesale Centre for Pharmaceutical and Allied Products in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Soludo, at the ceremony, said that all open drugs markets in the state would relocate to Oba when the centre is completed.

According to him, the construction of the centre is in accordance with the National Drug Distribution Guidelines.

“This project is in line with the plan to build a liveable and prosperous homeland in Anambra State. The Oba international drug market will be revived to help form the ecosystem for a new technology driven smart city in Oba.

Politics, World News

#Ekiti Decides: Security Operatives Seize Money Meant For Vote-buying In Ikere Local Government.

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Security operatives have reportedly seized a huge parcel of money which was meant to buy votes at polling Unit nine Ward 10, Ikere local government area of Ekiti State in the ongoing governorship.
This led to disruption of the voting process for about 39minutes at the polling unit.


The Nation reports that voters who had hoped to collect money were said to have been disappointed with the action of the security agents.
It was gathered that the officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were on routine patrol when they stormed the polling unit.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that vote buying was taking place Inside a house located behind Oisa Alada Hall,  where people were seen rushing in and out with their PVC to receive N7,000 payment from APC people’ for their votes at  PU: 009, Ward: 02,  Ikere LGA

Politics

2023 presidency: Southern, Middle belt leaders reject Gov. Okowa

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The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum ( SMBLF) has rejected the presidential running mate to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for accepting his nomination to run for the 2023 general elections.

A statement issued by leaders of SMBLF, Chief Edwin Clark, for the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Afenifere, Dr. Dru Bitrus, the President-General, Middle Belt Forum and Prof. George Obiozor, the President-General, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide described Governor Okowa as “a betrayal of the highest order” for accepting the vice president slot.

The statement noted that the 17 governors of the Southern States, both of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), under the Chairmanship of the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, met in Asaba, the capital of Delta State on May 11, 2021, and took far-reaching decisions, that based on the principles of fairness, equity and justice, the presidency should rotate to the South at the end of the statutory eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.

It stated that the Southern governors later met again in Lagos, on July 5, where they reaffirmed their decision, and again in Enugu, on September 16, to restate the call that the presidency should rotate to the South in 2023.

According to the statement, “It is unspeakable and quite disappointing that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who is currently Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, and a native of Owa-Alero in Ika North-East Local Government Area (one of the Igbo-speaking areas) of Delta State, would exhibit such barefaced unreliability.”

The statement lamented that it was most unfortunate that Okowa, who should know better, accepted his appointment as running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The forum noted that it had nothing personal against Ifeanyi Okowa, but described his action as “treacherous and tantamount to a despicable pawning of the political future of the people of Southern Nigeria.”

Governor Okowa has, according to the statement, by his action, betrayed the trust reposed on him by his colleagues, the southern governors, the entire good people of southern Nigeria and all well-meaning Nigerians.

It stated that he has made himself persona non grata, not only with SMBLF but all citizens who treasure their oneness and yearn for a more united and peaceful Nigeria.

The statement opined that it is not a matter of loyalty to one’s political party but rather a greedy, parochial and unpatriotic action committed against the general interest of his State, Delta State, the Niger Delta region and Southern Nigeria.

Politics

How rift with Ibori nearly cost Okowa VP ticket

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•We’re proud of you, Ohanaeze tells Delta gov

Indications have emerged that the cold war between the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and his political godfather, James Ibori, almost denied the governor the chance of emerging as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that Ibori, an ally of Atiku, initially kicked against the choice of Okowa, owing to the disagreement between them over the PDP governorship primary in the state. In the primary, Ibori’s candidate, David Edevbie, scored 113 votes and lost to Okowa’s candidate, Sheriff Oborevwori, who scored 590 votes. Oborevwori is the Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

The development was said to have angered Ibori, who felt betrayed by Okowa’s opposition to his preferred choice as his successor. The former governor had while in the prison in the United Kingdom directed his supporters to ensure Okowa emerged as the party’s candidate and that he won the main election. He won the election, defeating Tony Obuh, the choice of then governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Findings showed that Ibori felt slighted with the way Okowa behaved and was of the opinion that the governor, whom he helped to power, was out to humiliate him.

How Ayu, others helped Okowa’s emergence

A member of the party’s Board of Trustees, who spoke on condition of anonymity, however told Saturday PUNCH that indeed Ibori was opposed to Okowa becoming the running mate and could leverage his relationship with Atiku to frustrate his emergence, especially when there were other options he could choose from.

The BoT member said it took the intervention of some party chieftains who spoke to Ibori to let go, paving the way for Okowa to emerge.

“It was against that backdrop that the likes of the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu; a former National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, and some members of the party stepped in and spoke with Ibori.

“A former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, and some members of the BoT and National Executive Committee were involved in the process.”

Another source noted that the names of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and Okowa were presented by the party’s advisory committee to the screening party but Atiku chose Okowa as his choice.

The source said on Friday, “I can confirm to you that Okowa was recommended by the chairman (Ayu), Sule Lamido and Babangida Aliyu. Well, you can’t say that the candidate himself did not have his choice even before telling the party stakeholders to choose for him but the truth is that the chairman and those two stakeholders also recommended governor Okowa.”

An aide to Umar Damagum, the chairman of the advisory committee, also confided in our correspondent, “The advisory committee submitted three names to the presidential candidate to choose from, and in his own capacity as the candidate of the party he chose Okowa, not because he is more qualified than others on the list, but that was his choice.”

Meanwhile, asked what Ibori and Okowa said concerning the cause of their rift, one of the sources privy to the meeting said, “Okowa said Ibori did not call him to inform him about his candidate and Ibori said the same thing. I think it was a communication gap between them.”

It was learnt that the emergence of Ibori’s daughter, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, as the party’s candidate for the Ethiope Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, was a way of pacifying the former governor.

Wike’ll work for PDP’s victory – Atiku’s aide

Speaking on the outcome of the selection process, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, told one of our correspondents in an interview that Okowa was chosen because he shared similar goals and vision with the candidate. “Okowa complements and shares with the candidate the vision of a united Nigeria,” he added.

Reacting to how Wike lost out, he said, “Wike himself has not complained. He is a strong party man who will match his desire with commitment to ensure that PDP wins the election. The candidate is still reaching out to ensure that there is a united front so that everybody will be brought on board. All of them will work together to ensure the success of the party.”

Okowa in an interview on Arise TV on Friday night also said he was reaching out to his colleagues (governors) on the need for them to work together for the party’s victory.

Group warns against using Delta funds for campaign

The campaign organisation of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Delta State, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has warned Okowa not to use state funds to fund Atiku’s campaign.

A statement on Friday by the organisation’s Director of Communications and Media Strategy, Ima Niboro, read in part, “It is sad that on a day the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, approved immediate payment of outstanding gratuities, pension arrears and death benefits for retirees of Rivers State Public Service, the Delta State House of Assembly approved N25bn loan for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa allegedly to plant palm trees.

“We have sufficient grounds to suspect that these loans are being taken to prosecute Atiku’s presidential campaign. We will not stand by and watch Okowa impoverish our people in order to enthrone a man who has nothing to offer Deltans in particular and Nigerians in general.”

Ohanaeze eulogises Okowa

The apex Igbo Socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has congratulated Okowa over his emergence.

A statement on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, titled ‘Ohanaeze Ndigbo congratulates Okowa as vice-presidential candidate’, partly read, “The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide heartily congratulates an Igbo prodigy, an astute administrator, sagacious politician, brilliant physician, creative visionary, prudent resource manager, detribalised patriot, purveyor of morals, a quintessential gentleman and a poster personality, His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State, as he secures the highly coveted vice-presidential candidacy of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“The life of Okowa is a veritable tribute to humility, sincerity, simplicity, hard work, perseverance and centrality of morals in the dynamics of power. As a governor, Okowa had a clear vision which he pursued with passion, valour, candour, honour and unassailable accomplishments.

“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, led by Prof George Obiozor, is very proud of you. We are optimistic that your candidacy will add enormous electoral value to your political party, the PDP.”

‘Okowa’ll work in consonance with Atiku’s goals’

The Atiku Support Organisation has said the choice of Okowa as Atiku’s running mate was because they were convinced he (Okowa) would work in consonance with Atiku’s goals, mission and vision.

The group in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Victor Moses, said, “The choice of Governor Okowa is in recognition of his immense ability to work in consonance with the goals, mission and visions of His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, to salvage Nigeria from the administration of the Buhari-led government of the APC.”

Also, the Lagos State chapter of the PDP has applauded the choice of Okowa as Atiku’s running mate.

The News Agency of Nigeria on Friday quoted the state chairman of the party, Mr Philips Aivoji, as saying the party was sure to triumph with Atiku Abubakar/Ifeanyi Okowa ticket.

He said, “We have got a good vice-presidential candidate, a man of integrity and honour. He is a trusted and tested party leader. Some people trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord, we will triumph.”

Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Debo Ologunagba, told one of our correspondents on Friday that the party’s presidential candidate and his running mate were experienced hands ready to move the country forward.

He added, “The team is well experienced, has the strength and the record of performance to also unify the country.”

Politics

Rep Shina Peller dumps APC after losing primary election

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Shine Peller claimed that the primary election in his constituency was rigged against him and alleged assassination attempt on his life.

Shina Peller, a member of the House of Representatives, has resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmaker, who represents lseyin/ltesiwaju/ Kajola/lwajowa federal constituency of Oyo State, announced his resignation on Friday via Twitter.

Mr Peller contested Oyo North Senatorial District primary election against Fatai Buhari but lost.

He polled five votes against Mr Buhari who garnered 570 votes.

The lawmaker claimed that the primary election was rigged against him and alleged assassination attempt
on his life.

He promised to announce a new political party on Wednesday.

“I have tried my best for APC, the party style of democracy in Oyo State kills my conscience and I have to put my people’s interest first.

“I have realised that the youths and the people will continue to be at the mercy of few at the top. I’ll announce my new political party on 21|06| 22,” he said.

The last primaries created an upset in the National Assembly as several members lost their bid to return to the legislature.

It is believed that the exclusion of statutory delegates by the current Eectoral Act is responsible for the rate of defeat.

The lawmakers erroneously excluded statutory delegates from Section 84(8) of the Electoral Act. Both chambers later amended the section but the president has yet to sign or decline assent to the bill.

On Tuesday, House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila lamented the poor outing of lawmakers in primaries.

Similarly, the House has resolved to consider a motion to veto the decision of the president on the bill. However, no action has been taken so far.

Politics

#EkitiDecides2022: Oni, Oyebanji, Kolawole, 13 others battle for governorship (LIVE UPDATES)

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A total of 989,202 registered voters are expected troop out to the polls to make their choice from a list of 16 governorship candidates.

Residents of Ekiti State will today elect a new governor who will steer the affairs of the state for the next four years.

A total of 989,202 registered voters are expected to troop out to the polls to make their choice from a list of 16 governorship candidates.

The candidates are Reuben Famuyibo of the Accord Party; Ajagunigbale Olajide of AAC; Oluwole Oluyede, ADC; Kemi Elebute-Halle, ADP; Abiodun Oyebanji, APC; Benjamin Abidoyin, APGA; Fagbemo Adegbenro, APM; Christiana Olatawura, APP; and Daramola Olugbenga, LP.

Others are Fatomilola Oladosu, NNPP; Iyaniwura Ifedayo, NRM; Olabisi Kolawole, PDP; Ben Agboola, PRP; former Governor Olusegun Oni, SDP; Adebowale Ajayi, YPP and Adeola Akinyemi, ZLP.

Although all the candidates campaigned and canvassed votes, three of them, Messrs Oyebanji, Oni and Kolawole of the APC, SDP and PDP respectively, are considered the frontrunners with one of them most likely to win the election. Whoever wins today’s election, will replace the outgoing governor, Kayode Fayemi, in October.

The leading candidates have their strength in all the 16 local government areas with a total of 177 wards or registration areas and a cumulative number of 2,445 polling units.

The people have been sensitised. INEC has assured of its readiness to conduct a successful poll. The police and other security agencies have been mobilised and deployed to protect the voters and the ballots

PREMIUM TIMES reporters are on ground to bring you the live updates of the election. This newspaper will also be ready with timely results as they are announced at the polling units.

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