Politics

2023: PDP, SDP Differ On Same-faith Ticket

Published

3 years ago

December 27, 2022

Editor

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

JUST IN: Former APC National Youth Leader Dumps Party

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Sadiq Abubakar, a former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Leader has announced his decision to dump the ruling party.

Abubakar who disclosed this in an interview with Newsmen in Bauchi on Wednesday, explained that his decision was unconnected with the hardship faced by many Nigerian homes due to difficult policies and programmes by the APC.

According to him, the move was also driven by an objective of securing free and fair victory in future election primaries so as to continue to serve the people with strength and integrity.

He stated that his decision followed a series of consultations with family, friends, political associates and stakeholders saying this was after a careful reflection on recent developments within the party structure and internal arrangements.

“It is high time to adopt a party with a more clear vision and the compassion to help the common man.

“The APC processes are not working, the party is not just and fair. I’m leaving the party because there is no fairness in the electoral processes of the party as well as the consensus.

“And I know that they are not going to be fair in the forthcoming primaries but they will only use the power of incumbency.

“Also, what the party is doing to every family is becoming something else as it’s becoming too hard to put a three square meal on the table,” he said.

The Former APC National Youth Leader however, affirmed that he would soon reveal the new political party of his destination in no distant time.

Politics

Defection: Peter Obi Simply Looking For ‘Food Is Ready’ Party – Wike

Published

8 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe on former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his recent defection.

Speaking during a media parley on Wednesday, Wike said Obi is looking for a ‘food is ready’ political party.

The minister said, “Obi was in APGA, he couldn’t build APGA. He went to Labour, he ran away again from Labour. All he’s looking for is food is ready political party.”

Recall that Obi and Rabi’u Kwankwaso, former presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, on Sunday officially joined the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Politics

2027: Nobody Wants Fubara – Wike

Published

9 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that there is widespread support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to return in 2027.

Speaking during his monthly media parley on Wednesday in Abuja, Wike suggested that Fubara can’t claim to enjoy unanimous backing from the public.

He explained that the political crisis in Rivers State had earlier been addressed through the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, particularly during impeachment proceedings initiated against Fubara.

According to Wike, the President advised all parties to embrace peace, leading to the withdrawal of the impeachment move by the State House of Assembly after agreements were reached.

Wike, however, alleged that the governor failed to fully adhere to the terms agreed during the arbitration process.

Reacting to claims that the people were urging Fubara to seek re-election in 2027, Wike rejected the assertion, insisting that such narratives were misleading.

Wike maintained that appearing before the President for arbitration required respect for the outcome, noting that all parties were expected to uphold their commitments.

He said: “The President, intervened in the impeachment proceeding. I said withdraw, let their be peace. And the governor said, look, I’m ready for peace. Look, I’m no longer interested for this. I will not do this. The Assembly went and withdrew the impeachment.

“Having withdrawn the impeachment, he is now too smart on what you agreed before the President. It’s like when you go on arbitration.”

Wike continued, “This one is what I don’t like. Nobody wants anybody. Please, don’t tell me that. Excuse me.

You can go and tell that to the market people or children. Two years that people say he should come out. Who told you that?

“Which politician will say that I was sleeping they came and woke me? Even if people people come to wake you, can’t you say, no, I won’t do it. I’m not prepared for it.

“That you appeared before a President of the country on arbitration, the two parties on arbitration, and these people respected Mr. President, and have done their own part.”