Politics

2023: APC Woos Aggrieved Opposition, New Members, Offers Waivers

Published

4 years ago

February 20, 2022

Ahead of the 2023 presidential elections, the All Progressives Congress has proposed an amendment to its constitution, giving waivers to aspirants who will not qualify to contest in a primary.

Also, a person who is not a member of the party will also have the luxury of participating in the primary and registering afterwards.

Some persons who are currently not members of the APC are said to be considering whether to contest for the Presidency or not as a member of the APC.

Chief among such persons include former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

It is also expected that aggrieved members of the opposition who are denied tickets may abandon their political parties and pitch tent with the APC.

A member of the APC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said “we have to plan for the defection of members of opposition political parties who are likely going to be denied tickets by their political parties. We know that is bound to happen.

“We also know some of our members would leave for another political party after primaries. The PDP for example, gives waivers to new members who want to contest any political office.”

The current APC constitution states that no person shall be eligible to contest for any party position or office or be nominated by the party to be its candidate at any election, if the person is not a member of the party.

It adds that any party office holder interested in contesting for an elective office (whether party office or office in a general election) shall resign and leave office 30 days prior to the date of the party primary.

The proposed constitutional amendment, however, states that the party’s National Executive Committee and its National Working Committee are free to grant a waiver to anyone who doesn’t meet these criteria if it is convinced that granting such a waiver would be in the best interest of the party.

The proposed clause 31.3 titled ‘waiver’, reads in part, “Subject to the approval of the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee may, in special circumstances, grant a waiver to a person seeking a national party office, who is otherwise not qualified under this constitution if, in its opinion, such a waiver is in the best interest of the party.

“Subject to the approval of the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee may, in special circumstances, grant a waiver to a person seeking the office of President, Vice President, Governor, Deputy Governor, Senator, member of the House Representatives, who is otherwise not qualified under this constitution if, in its opinion, such a waiver is in the best interest of the party.”

The PUNCH reports that both Emefiele and Jonathan have in recent times been touted as possible preferred candidates of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.). While Jonathan is not currently registered as an APC member, he has not publicly identified with the Peoples Democratic Party for some time.

He was also absent from the party’s national convention last November. Former Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, said recently that it was unlikely that Jonathan was still a member of the PDP as he had not been identifying with the party. Several groups have been mobilising support for Jonathan who led Nigeria between 2010 and 2015. His posters are expected to flood the streets of Abuja this week.

For CBN Governor, Emefiele, his supporters, donning APC shirts, have begun a nationwide campaign for him. Earlier in the week, he received some supporters in his office and told them that Buhari would be the one to determine his successor. Emefiele, however, refused to confirm or deny his interest in the Presidency.

Related Topics:APC Godwin Emefiele Goodluck Jonathan

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Politics

Dino Melaye Reacts To Malami’s Arraignment For Money Laundering

Published

4 days ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Ex-Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, has reacted to the arraignment of a former Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami, before an Abuja Federal High Court.

Melaye wished Malami well as he began his trial for corruption.

Posting on X, the former lawmaker recalled how he was prosecuted by Malami over what he described as frivolous cases while he was the AGF.

He wrote: “Reminded me of how I was appearing in different courts when Malami as AGF was prosecuting me over frivolous cases including taking over one of the police cases against me. Wish him.well.”

Malami, his son Abdulaziz, and another individual are facing a 16-count charge of money laundering.

They were arraigned on allegations of unlawful acquisition and concealment of funds.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Politics

What PDP Said About Wike’s Media Parley

Published

4 days ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, of being a constant agent of provocation in the political space, alleging that he creates trouble to mask selfish intentions.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, stated this in a statement issued on Monday in response to Wike’s media parley with selected journalists in Port Harcourt, also held on Monday.

According to the PDP, remarks made by the minister on several occasions are proof that he falls short of being a locus classicus of anti-democratic adventurism.

The party said Wike’s conduct was not new, stressing that he has consistently acted as an agent provocateur in the political arena, stirring controversy to advance personal interests.

The PDP further stated that since Wike assumed office as Governor of Rivers State in 2015, he has remained a recurrent source of trouble within the party’s leadership.

“From the Sheriff era, where he was a forerunner in the Sheriff-for-National Chairman movement and later turned to fight and remove Sheriff; later he championed the Uche Secondus-for-National Chairman movement (in fact, he granted a very combustible interview that polarized the party just before the convention) and then was the same person fighting to remove Secondus.

“The same Wike led the movement to produce Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman against the advice of many party leaders, and so soon thereafter, it was Wike again who led the Ayu-must-go struggle.

“By his end-of-year media chat, Minister Nyesom Wike has reiterated his support for, and in fact declared that he is the ‘number one supporter’ of the presumptive candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 Presidential election, while remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, confirming the basis of his expulsion from the PDP, for anti-party activities,” the statement said.

Politics

JUST IN: INEC Excludes PDP From Ekiti Governorship Election

Published

5 days ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election, Dr Wole Oluyede, and his deputy were conspicuously absent as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, released the provisional list of party candidates ahead of the election.

INEC on Monday posted the list of candidates from 12 political parties vying for the state’s top job at its office on New Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The list shows that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is fielding the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, with Monisade Afuye as his running mate.

Other candidates include Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party, with Omoyemi Olaleye as deputy; Akande Oluwasegun of the African Action Congress, paired with Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe; and Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party, with Itunu Ibitoye as running mate.

Similarly, the African Democratic Congress is presenting Oluwadare Bejide and Paul Olowoyeye, while the Action Peoples Party has Bidemi Awogbemi and Akinyemi Adewumi on its ticket.

The PDP’s absence may not be unconnected with the leadership crisis currently rocking the party at the national level.