Politics

2023 Polls: Atiku Abubakar Will Garner 64% From Three Zones In North – New Report

Published

1 month ago

February 13, 2023

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is projected to win the Nigerian 2023 election scheduled for February 25, 2023. The interim report from nine months study led by Dr. Oludare Ogunlana of June Group Research and Council for African Security Affairs (CASA) with other Intelligence practitioners in the United States, Europe, and Nigeria pointed to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria as a potential winner. Atiku was rated higher than other candidates from All Progressive Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP), using four key variables: political geography, Religion, Resources, and Class.

According to the group, “The study’s scope is limited to observing political actors and interviews with stakeholders in organizations from across six zones of Nigeria and the Nigerians in the Diaspora: political leaders, women groups, religious organizations, civil societies, trade unions, and youth organizations. In each interview, we focused on five areas: the personality of the candidates, ethnic influence, religion, power of incumbency, voters’ behavior, emotions’ role, political socialization, and tolerance of diversity of political views. The study that started in May 2022 accurately predicted the outcome of the PDP and APC primaries and the emergence of Alh Atiku Abubakar and Senator Bola Tinubu as candidates for their respective parties.

“We identified where the political influencers, religious leaders, organizations, and Nigerians in the Diaspora stood with voting President in February 2023 and how it aligned to victory for each candidate. In addition, we gathered data from facilitated workshops and interactive survey sessions with Nigerian political thought leaders, which include lawyers, political activists, and former and current serving political office holders.

“While we respect various polls that have put a particular candidate as the preferred candidate to win the election, we state that data alone does not speak for itself significantly when such data is based on manipulation and sectional polling. The result of every data must be put into context, including understanding the people, culture, pattern, geographical spread of the platform, and historical antecedents.

“In conclusion, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is expected to garner 64% from the three zones in the North, rake 45% from the South-South region where his running mates come from, acquire 37 % from the South-East with 27% from the South-West, which is the stronghold of the APC candidate.”

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Politics

Just In: Court Restrains Ayu From Acting As PDP Chairman

Published

25 mins ago

March 27, 2023

Editor

A high court in Benue State has restrained Iyorchia Ayu from parading himself as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Chairman.

The Makurdi High Court issued an interim injunction restrainng Dr. Ayu from “parading himself as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.”

Details coming.

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Politics

Global Terrorism Index Retracts IPOB As Terrorist Organisation

Published

1 hour ago

March 27, 2023

Editor

The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) has retracted its earlier announcement of ranking the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as the 10th deadliest terror group in the world.

GTI report published annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), had ranked the Nnamdi Kanu-led IPOB as the 10th deadliest terror group in the world in 2022.

In a statement on its website on Monday, GTI referred to IPOB as a pro-Biafra secessionist movement and not a terrorist group.

The statement was titled: “Statement regarding Indigenous People of the Biafra (IPOB) and the Global Terrorism Index.”

It read, “The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is a pro-Biafra secessionist movement based in Southeast Nigeria that aims to establish an independent state of Biafra.

“IPOB was proscribed as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government in 2017. In recent years, IPOB has been linked to several attacks, which have been attributed to its paramilitary wing, the Eastern Security Network (IPOB-ESN). The group has not claimed responsibility for any of these attacks.

“It is important therefore to differentiate between the peaceful activities of the group and its alleged involvement in violent activity.

“We have today updated the Global Terrorism Index 2023 to reflect this necessary clarification.

“Institute for Economics and Peace.”

Reacting to the latest report, Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor said different protests and criticisms by people for labelling IPOB as a terrorist group by Institute for Economics and Peace affected the change.

“The publications caused widespread stir and condemnation from many, including my humble self, whereby I had made a viral tweet stating that the ranking was “false,” Ejikamor said.

According to a statement he released, Kanu’s lawyer said, “Many other persons known to me, especially in America, including particularly the American Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), which is blessed in America collaborated with me in formally protesting the alleged ranking to GTI branch office in New York, USA.

“What we sought was simply a clarification to the effect that there was no such ranking or that the GTI Report was misleading.”

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Politics

PDP Nat’l Chair, Ayu Reacts To Purported Suspension

Published

1 hour ago

March 27, 2023

Editor

The embattled National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, has described his purported suspension by executive members of his ward, Igyorov Ward of Gboko Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state, as an exercise in futility.

Ayu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Simon Imobo-Tswam, in Abuja on Monday, said he had not been suspended.

Ayu said his attention had been drawn to rumours that he had been suspended by the Executive Committee of his Ward.

“We wish to state categorically and with all emphasis at our disposal thus, that “The PDP National Chairman, Ayu, has not been suspended by his Ward. Some members of the Exco are only being teleguided by political gamblers to cause mischief and nothing more.

“For starters, Article 57(7) of the PDP Constitution as Amended in 2017, expressly prohibits any organ of the party or executive committee of the party at the Ward or State Level from taking any disciplinary measure against any member of the party’s National Executive Committee.

“The purported suspension is, therefore, an exercise in futility as it derives its strength majorly from gross illiteracy, ignorance, gambling and desperation. It has only mischief, drama and propaganda value.”

Ayu alleged that the so-called suspension letter was written by an illiterate, and only given to the coerced members to sign somewhere in Makurdi.

“This is why the original date is tipexed and 24 March imposed on it.

“From what we know, the document itself is fraudulent as the signatures of the Ward Executives were forged or obtained under duress.

“The chairman, his deputy and legal adviser didn’t sign the letter. The 14th person on the list didn’t sign too. “In fact, the same applies for Nos. 5, 8 and 16.

“At the time they were supposed to be in Makurdi, the others coerced, intimidated and induced members of the Exco, they were actually in their villages, going about their normal businesses.”