Politics

2023: PDP, SDP Differ On Same-faith Ticket

Published

3 years ago

December 27, 2022

The Spokesperson of the Atiku-Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation, Daniel Bwala, has said that the Christian-Christian presidential ticket that was foreseen by the wife of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Oluremi Tinubu, is not possible in Nigeria, considering how the whole of the Christendom in the North objected to it.

Bwala also said that even the Church that Tinubu attends did not hold the view of having a Christian-Christian presidential ticket in Nigeria.

Bwala who spoke to The PUNCH was reacting to the remarks by the wife of the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, that the future would give a Christian-Christian presidential ticket in Nigeria.

The Senator during the APC South-West women’s presidential rally at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos State, had disclosed that the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the APC would set a new tone in the country’s political landscape after 2023.

However, the spokesperson of the PDP pointed out that the statement by the wife of the APC flag bearer “does not hold water.”

He stated “In Nigeria it’s not possible. How can there be Christian-Christian ticket in a country like ours? Being that to justify the fact that her husband has himself in a predicament of the Muslim-Muslim ticket, which at the beginning they thought only the minority Christians will be complaining about.

“But you can now see when Dogara and certain stakeholders from the North-East, which comprises of highly respected Muslim brothers and Islamic clerics, said that it is not welcomed. It is not just one state saying no, it is something the entire nation is saying.

“So what she is saying does not hold water. Even the Church she works as a pastor even the Redeemed pastor is not in support of Muslim-Muslim ticket.”

He questioned, “What were you expecting her to say? That the ticket is bad, when she is already in it?”

On the contrary, the factional National Secretary of the Social Democratic Party, Alpha Muhammed, observed that there was nothing wrong having a Christian-Christian presidential ticket in Nigeria, having witnessed a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket adding that it is faulted by those who had lost out of the 2023 calculation and who failed to get the vice-presidential slot of the APC.

Muhammed said, “Those against the Muslim-Muslim ticket are politicians who have observed that they are losing the 2023 calculation. They are trying to influence their selfish interest because they expected so much that they will get the VP slot, for themselves and now that they didn’t get it, they believe nobody should get it.

“Nigerians are not bothered about the religion of the president or the vice president and now we have a sitting vice-president what added advantage has he given the Nigerian system to the lives of Nigerian people.

“The Muslim-Muslim ticket we are talking about Tinubu himself has a Christian wife, a pastor. For anybody crying that the Christians are not comfortable under such a leader is just making a comment. If you look at the situation in the country why should a Christian in the first place feel threatened by any Muslim? Most of the people in the current banditry and religious fanatic attacks are Muslims, the whole of Zamfara attacks are on Muslims.”

The factional spokesperson further said “It is unfortunate, unserviceable and of the highest level of hypocrisy for Christians to be shouting. At least there is an attack that is regulated or controlled against Christians in Nigeria, is not so. Muslims are dying in Katsina, Borgu and everywhere, even last week a Mosque was attacked and kidnapping was carried out, it is Nigerians that are victims not Christians anymore.

“Is about Nigeria, for anybody to be whipping up religious sympathy is unfortunate, there is handy-work of politicians who are losing out of 2023 election victory. The only leadership that can bring election confidence is the Muslim-Muslim ticket. There is a possibility that the Christian-Christian ticket is near,” he added.

Politics

2027: Details Of Jonathan, Peter Obi Meeting Emerge

Published

6 hours ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Details have emerged regarding the recent closed-door meeting between former President Goodluck Jonathan and former presidential candidate Peter Obi.

The two leaders are reportedly discussing strategies for a unified front in the 2027 presidential election.

The meeting took place on Thursday, with Obi disclosing insights about the engagement on his Facebook and X accounts.

The meeting was a continuation of previous conversations between the two leaders over strategies for the 2027 race.

The National Coordinator of the OBIdient Movement, Dr Yunusa Tanko, confirmed this in a statement on Friday.

“They (Jonathan and Obi) have been friends for a long time. The meeting was for them to fraternise and discuss how to rescue Nigeria.

“But for us in the OBIdient Movement, it would be great if Jonathan remains the respected statesman he is known for. He has done his best as President, he is respected, and this is the time for him to support his brother,” Tanko told Daily Trust.

Tanko further alleged that some politicians were plotting to use Jonathan against Obi but maintained that the Obidient Movement would not allow such a plan to succeed.

“We are aware of such moves, but we strongly believe they will not succeed.

“Many Nigerians believe the next president should come from the South, and for fairness, the South East should get the chance. Peter Obi is the ideal candidate,” he added.

Politics

Tinubu’s Mandate Accomplished In Rivers — Ibas

Published

14 hours ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), has stated that the mandate given to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been “sufficiently achieved” with the restoration of democratic governance at the grassroots.

Ibas made the remark on Friday at Government House, Port Harcourt, during the presentation of the report on the recently concluded local government elections by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

He recalled that Tinubu, on March 18, 2025, directed him to stabilise the state, re-establish its institutions, and return Rivers to full democratic governance following his appointment as sole administrator.

According to him, the successful conduct of the polls and the swearing-in of elected chairmen and councillors across the 23 local government areas marked the fulfilment of that mandate.

“Mr. President’s mandate to me was clear: to stabilise the state, create an enabling environment for the re-establishment of its institutions, and return Rivers State back to full democratic governance. With the successful conduct and swearing-in of local government chairmen and their councils, I believe we have decisively achieved the mandate that we were given,” Ibas stated.

He praised RSIEC for what he described as a credible and transparent election, noting that the exercise was free of harassment and voters freely expressed their choices.

Ibas added that the government would review the RSIEC report and issue a white paper in due course. He also commended his team, security agencies, and state officials for their contributions.

RSIEC Chairman, Dr Mike Odey, who presented the report earlier, described the election as a “historic achievement” for Rivers and the country. He stressed that it was organised, coordinated, and concluded within 30 days — an unprecedented record in Nigerian electoral history.

Politics

2027: Jonathan, Obi Hold Closed-door Meeting

Published

2 days ago

September 12, 2025

Editor

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, on Thursday, held a closed-door meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.

Obi, who disclosed the visit in a post on his official X handle on Thursday, described Jonathan as his ”elder brother, a statesman, and leader,” adding that they had a fruitful meeting and discussed the state of the nation.

“Today in Abuja, I met with my very dear elder brother, statesman, and leader, former President Goodluck Jonathan. We had a fruitful closed-door meeting and discussed the state of our dear nation,” Obi wrote.

Although details of the meeting were not made public, the development comes amid ongoing conversations about Nigeria’s political direction and the state of governance under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Jonathan, who led Nigeria between 2010 and 2015, has in recent years positioned himself as a mediator in national and continental issues, particularly in conflict resolution and democratic strengthening efforts across Africa.

Obi, on his part, has continued to engage stakeholders following his strong showing in the 2023 elections, where he came third behind Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The meeting is the latest in Obi’s series of consultations with key political figures as discussions around Nigeria’s future political realignments intensify.

Attempts to obtain clarification from Obi’s former campaign spokesman, Dr Yunusa Tanko, and leaders of the Obidient Movement were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.

Thursday’s meeting is the latest in Obi’s string of high-level engagements, signalling what observers believe could be the early stirrings of a new political coalition.

Speculations became rife of Jonathan’s possible return after the Peoples Democratic Party zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.

There have also been reports that the PDP had been wooing Obi to return to the party, as he is seen as major force capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu in 2027.