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2023: Lobby, Pressure As Atiku, Tinubu Search For Running Mates Thickens

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Following the deadline issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to all political parties to send names of presidential candidates and running mates for the forthcoming general elections, parties have intensified search for credible running mates.

Recall that the INEC, on Thursday, gave Friday June 17, 2022, as a deadline for political parties to submit the names of their Presidential candidates and running mates or face disqualification.

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While the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is in search for a Christian Southerner, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu may be combing for a Northern Christian.

READ ALSO: 2023: Tinubu Speaks On His Running Mate After Meeting Buhari 

DAILY POST gathered that while most Southern governors elected under the platform of the PDP are scheming to be picked, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State has openly said that the person must not be a sitting governor.

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Tambuwal has suggested that a former governor or a current member of the National Assembly will also be a good pick.

According to reports, Tambuwa is currently lobbying for the immediate past Governor of Imo State, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who is also a former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives to emerge as Atiku’s running mate.

It was gathered that a number of governors including Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Samuel Otorm of Benue State are supporting and lobbying for Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike to emerge as Atiku’s running mate.

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Reports also emerged that Governor Nyesom Wike has declared that if it is not him, it should be his Enugu State counterpart, Governor Ugwuanyi.

The ruling APC is not left out in the struggle as sitting governors are battling for the running mate of the former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu.

While party members are kicking against Muslim-Muslim ticket, some governors including Abdulahi Ganduje of Kano State, and his Kaduna State counterpart, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai are reportedly lobbying for the number two position.

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But there are strong indications that the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, who is a Christian, may emerge as the running mate of Asiwaju.

Meanwhile, other stakeholders in the party are pushing for Boss Mustapha, the current Secretary to the Government of the Federation who is from Adamawa State as credible VP candidate.

But an APC chieftain, Femi Adebanjo, who spoke with DAILY POST in Abuja, argued that Boss Mustapha would be a wrong choice, citing the fact that Atiku also hails from Adamawa and is capable of getting all votes from the State.

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He said, “will Adamawa people abandon their son Atiku who is a presidential candidate to vote for a Vice Presidential candidate? I don’t think so.”

He revealed that Governor Zulum of Borno State declined to be Vice President, but has recommended former governor, Kashim Shettima as Asiwaju’s running mate.

“But if any of these governors or Shettima is chosen, it means that the APC and Tinubu will be presenting a Muslim-Muslim ticket, the first of its kind since Abiola Kingibe in 1993”, he added.

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Another respondent, who is a strong member of the opposition party, Mr John Adaji, faulted the quest by some governors to be picked as running mates of Atiku and Tinubu.

READ ALSO: PDP BOT In Closed-door Meeting With Atiku Over Running Mate

Adaji told DAILY POST that “there are many who are not governors but fit for the job”.

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According to him, the incumbent Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo “is one of the best VP the country has produced in terms of loyalty to the president and his party.

“But was Osinbajo a governor when he was picked in 2015? No! But you can see that he didn’t do badly. We all know that the government of Buhari has done so well but Osinbajo has been a loyal servant”.

DAILY POST.

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Politics

We May Not Have A Country If APC Retains Power In 2027 – El-Rufa’i Warns

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Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has issued a warning about Nigeria’s future, declaring that the country’s survival is at risk if the All Progressives Congress (APC) wins the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on Saturday, August 2, in Sokoto at a grassroots mobilisation rally for the opposition coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), El-Rufai made clear his intention to campaign vigorously against the ruling party.

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“I’m not in politics to get anything for myself. I’m in politics to serve,” he stated.

“When the government does not serve the people, it is my duty as a senior citizen to come out and condemn it and take steps to reverse the situation.

READ ALSO:How Atiku, El-Rufai, Amaechi Can Learn From Tinubu’s School Of Politics

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“That is why we come together as people opposed to the policies of this government to form the coalition, which has resulted in the adoption of ADC,” he explained.

El-Rufai, a former key member of the APC, said he is committed to rallying Nigerians across the country to unseat the party, describing it as “incompetent.”

We are in Sokoto to begin the process of mobilising Nigerians against the APC government anywhere and the federal government in Abuja,” he said.

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READ ALSO:Atiku, El-Rufai Coalition Seeks INEC Registration For New Party

“I believe that if we allow this party and the government to continue for a second term in office, what remains of Nigeria’s social capital will be destroyed, and we may not have a country at all. This is a fight for our lives.”

El-Rufai was once a founding figure of the APC but left the party in March 2025 to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) following the Senate’s refusal to confirm his ministerial nomination, reportedly due to security concerns.

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However, his time in the SDP was short-lived. The party expelled him and imposed a 30-year ban, citing alleged forgery of membership documents, among other accusations.

Now a leading figure in the opposition ADC, El-Rufa’i joins other prominent politicians in working against the APC ahead of the 2023 polls.

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Opposition Will Collapse In Edo Before 2027, Says Okpebholo

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Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Saturday, said there will be a total collapse of the opposition in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He stated this during the flag-off of the campaign for the August 16th Senatorial by-election in Edo Central Senatorial District in Uromi.

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He urged the candidates of the opposition parties to decamp to the ruling All Progressive Congress and join him in developing the State.

The governor was accompanied by the chairman of APC, Jarrett Tenebe, to receive decampees at the event. He expressed happiness that members of all other political parties are joining APC to ensure that development continues.

READ ALSO:Okpebholo Must Apologise For Threatening Peter Obi – Rights Group

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The decampees from PDP include Alhaji Esiwele Musa, Abraham Osazuwa, Sunny Ejie, and Robert Okoneme, amongst other PDP leaders across the 51 wards.

He said, “This is a test for 2027. I can tell you that 2027 is sure. Before 2027, there will be no opposition in Edo State anymore as all will join the APC because of the developmental achievements in the state.

“Hon. Joseph Ikpea will take over from me in the Senate. In this election, we will win five local governments out of five. We must win the entire 51 wards in the five local governments that make up the Senatorial District.

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“I understand that it is only the candidates in the other parties that have not decamped to our party, the APC. I advise them not to waste their money but to join our party. If they give you money, take it and vote for the APC. The money is our money.

READ ALSO: APC Now Mourns Buhari After Blaming Him For Failures—ADC

We promised to give the President 2.5 million votes, and we are ready to deliver on our promises. We will not talk much because the election is a done deal. This is the first test for us as we do not have any opposition in the State anymore,” he said.

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In his remarks, the Deputy Governor of the state, Dennis Idahosa, urged Esan people to support Okpebholo as he has brought development to the state due to his relationship with President Bola Tinubu.

He noted that the election is the first step to appreciate the president.

He said, “The President sees our Governor as his son, and the State enjoys the dividends of democracy. This is the first step to appreciate the governor and the president. We would not accept anything less than 90 per cent victory in the election.”

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The APC party Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, who presented the party’s flag to the party’s candidate in the Senatorial by-election, Hon. Joseph Ikpe,a encouraged him to ensure he continues from where the Governor stopped in the Senate.

READ ALSO:Okpebholo Inaugurates Boundary Dispute Committee In Edo

He noted that the governor, as a Senator, brought development to the Senatorial District.

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Presenting the party’s symbol, which is the broom, to decampees at the event, Jarrett Tenebe thanked the governor for duly informing the Chairman of Esan North East Local Government Area about the flag off of the day, saying that it was the right thing to do.

He urged the decampees to join and support the party, and the Governor to ensure the developmental strides continue in Edo State.

The Director General of the Edo Senatorial by-election and former Speaker Edo State House of Assembly, Victor Edoror, commended the people for coming out en masse. He urged them to make sure they keep the spirit of the door-to-door campaign for the candidate of party and the election to ensure victory.

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The APC candidate in the Senatorial by-election, Joseph Ikpea, thanked the party for the trust and promised to continue with the developmental strides the Governor brought to the Senatorial District as a Senator.

The APC Edo Central Senatorial leader, Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe (rtd); APC Edo South leader, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu; Deputy State Chairman of APC, Sylvester Aigboboh; and other leaders, urged the people to all come out en masse to vote for the APC candidate in the by-election.

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Anambra guber: Soludo Raises Alarm, Alledges Plot By APC To Manipulate Election

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Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate the forthcoming November 8, 2025, governorship election in Anambra State.

He also warned candidates from Anambra South vying for the governorship seat against destabilizing the state’s political balance.

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The governor made the allegation while speaking at a massive All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) rally held at Ekwulobia Urban Stadium on Saturday. He stated that Anambra is “too big for charlatans” and must not be distracted by what he described as impostors and unserious aspirants.

He vowed that “street urchins won’t govern a state that produced Zik, Nwafor Orizu, Ojukwu, Achebe,” as he rallied party faithful in Aguata Local Government Area of the state.

READ ALSO:IPOB Faults Soludo For Linking Igbo Youths To Kidnapping

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Soludo dismissed as deceitful the promises made by some candidates to serve only one term, insisting that such individuals require “psychiatric evaluation.”

Anambra doesn’t need street urchins as governor. This is the state that produced the likes of Zik of Africa, Dr. Nwafor Orizu, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and Prof. Chinua Achebe, among others. It is too big for charlatans,” he declared.

He further alleged that some candidates were merely using their campaigns to extort money from unsuspecting businessmen and the public. According to him, the achievements of his administration over the past four years justify his bid for a second term.

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In a renewed call for peace, Soludo again offered amnesty to armed groups hiding in the forests, urging them to surrender and embrace rehabilitation or face the full weight of the law.

READ ALSO:Any Politician Promising Single Term Needs Psychiatric Test – Soludo

Visibly impressed by the turnout at the rally, the governor noted that he had not yet officially launched his campaign but was humbled by the support.

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He revealed that the rally was entirely organized and funded by party members determined to see him re-elected.

The rally, which took place on August 2, 2025, endorsed Soludo for a second term in office and adopted Chief Emma Nwachukwu as APGA’s candidate for the Anambra South senatorial by-election scheduled for August 16, 2025.

READ ALSO:Soludo Wins ‘Governor of the Year’ For Transformation of Anambra

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It drew an impressive crowd of party loyalists, traditional rulers, community leaders, and political stakeholders.

Also in attendance were the APGA National Chairman, state and local government executives, and former Deputy Governor, Dame Virgy Etiaba.

In a show of solidarity, APGA stakeholders in Anambra South presented a N100 million donation to support the governor’s campaign. Traditional rulers in the senatorial district also honoured Soludo with the “Olu Atuegwu” chieftaincy title — a title that has already been conferred on him in Anambra North and Central, respectively.

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