Politics

2023: Three ‘Critical’ Things I Want From Senators – Tinubu

Published

4 years ago

March 16, 2022

The National leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and the presidential aspirant in the 2023 general election, Ahmed Bola Tinubu on Wednesday said contesting the presidency is a herculean task, saying he needed three critical things from Nigerian Senators.

He stated this while addressing the Senate APC caucus during a consultation visit to the National Assembly, Abuja.

He sought the “Counsel, Partnership and Support” of Senators so that he could be properly guided for a successful February 2023 presidential election which he would be contesting.

According to him, he fought for democracy during the military era to the extent that he was jailed alongside many other freedom fighters, among whom were Senator Abu Ibrahim from Katsina State.

He described the parliament as a strategic component to a thriving democracy, recalling that his being at the National Assembly was like a homecoming having been a Senator in the past.

He stressed further that, though presiding over the nation was his lifetime ambition, the struggle also, was borne out of deep knowledge, vision and experience, which he believed would help him to provide good governance for the country.

He said: “I seek your advice and counsel as stakeholders in this democratic journey. I seek your partnership in my quest to become the Presidential Candidate of our party and to win the general elections in February 2023 for all APC candidates.

“This is not about gaining power. It is about securing good government for the nation. Together, the executive and legislative branches of this democratic tree must strive to cultivate and bring forth good fruit for the welfare of the people.

“I have the experience, knowledge, vision, and resilience to lead the country.”

While commending the ninth National Assembly under Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan’s leadership, Tinubu noted that the executive-legislature harmony which Lawan had ensured has created stability in the polity.

He noted that Senators have matched their works with their words, a development, he opined has put the All Progressives Congress-led government at an advantage ahead of other parties in Nigeria, adding that the APC will win the 2023 general election.

“The essence of representative democracy is the assemblage of the prudent and the wise to pass just laws for the benefit of the people.

“The legislation this body passes shall determine the fate of this nation.

“By what I have seen of your work and words, I can truly say this nation has been in good hands.

“Thank you for advancing democratic good governance and fair elections. Thank you for electoral reforms, particularly the recent Electoral Act amendments, which include the greater use of technology in the electoral process.

“The cordial relationship between the National Assembly and the Executive is something to behold. Democracy does not thrive when both arms are adversarial. More gets accomplished through cooperation than conflict.

“You have passed landmark legislation such as the Petroleum Industry Act that rationalises nearly every aspect of oil and gas production.

“Through your words and actions, you have demonstrated support for advancing democracy through bolstering the structures and processes of political parties, including our own.”

Reacting, the Senate President told the august visitor that Senators on the APC platform remain united more than in readiness to face the general election.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari has achieved a lot since he came to power in 2015 despite taking over governance at a period of deepened insecurity in the name.

Lawan assured Tinubu that APC will win presidency in 2023.

Politics

Crisis Hits APC Govs Forum As 18 Rejects Uzodinma’s Removal

Published

9 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Editor

A serious crisis is currently brewing in the Progressive Governors’ Forum following the sudden removal of the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, as its chairman.

Reports had it earlier that a cross-section of All Progressives Congress, APC, governors removed Uzodinma and installed the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, as its chairman.

Although the Director-General of the forum, Folorunso Aluko, in a statement on Friday, said the reports of Uzodinma’s removal were fake and misleading, sources privy to the matter confirmed to DAILY POST that some governors met on Thursday night and removed Uzodinma.

The meeting, according to reports, was led by the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and was held at the Ogun Government Lodge.

However, in a swift move to counter the decision of the Abiodun-led group, 18 other governors met behind closed doors at the Imo Lodge on Friday and passed a vote of confidence in Uzodinma.

Some of those present at the meeting included the governors of Ondo, Kaduna, Taraba, Sokoto, Ebonyi, Borno, Lagos, Kogi, Kano, Yobe, Kebbi, Benue and Jigawa states, while Nasarawa State was represented by its deputy governor.

Speaking on the unfolding events, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State said: “All of us woke up to that very unfortunate story, which was virtually in all the media in Nigeria. But the truth of the matter is that the APC Progressive Governors’ Forum is very united.

“We are stronger now than at any other time. And, of course, we are all supporting the president for what he has been doing.

“We also want to assure everyone that the APC is united, the governors are united, the forum is united, and there is no problem at all.”

Politics

BREAKING: APC Governors Forum Splits As Uzodimma, Abiodun Lead Rival Factions

Published

10 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Editor

The Progressive Governors Forum, PGF, has been factionalised.

The rival factions emerged after its chairman, Governor Hope Uzodimma, was reportedly removed on Thursday.

While Uzodimma insisted that he remains PGF chairman, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq are leading a separate faction.

Another bloc within the forum has reportedly aligned behind Abiodun and AbdulRazaq.

The development, which comes amid growing political realignments within the ruling party, marks a significant crack within the ranks of APC governors ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to reports by Arise TV, details surrounding the disagreement remain unclear, but sources within the party said tensions had been building over internal leadership control and strategic positioning ahead of the next election season.

DAILY POST reports that, as of the time of filing this report, none of the factions had officially released a detailed statement on the cause of the division.

Politics

2027: Why We Called On Goodluck Jonathan To Run For Presidency – Ohikere

Published

1 day ago

May 7, 2026

Editor

Supporters of former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan have explained why they marched to his office, urging him to run in the 2027 presidential election.

While addressing the Coalition for Jonathan 2027 in Abuja on Thursday, its National President, Tom Ohikere, said the group was motivated by concerns over the state of the country.

Ohikere, on behalf of the coalition, appealed to the former president to “save Nigeria from impending collapse.”

He recalled an earlier visit to Jonathan on April 8, 2026, during which the group first appealed to him to contest the 2027 election.

The coalition noted that it had yet to receive a clear response from the former president and expressed concern that he had not picked up a nomination form from any political party.

According to them, Jonathan should commit to the race, obtain a presidential nomination form from any party of his choice, and contest the election, pledging to mobilise support for him across the country.

“Last month, April 8, 2026, the Coalition for Jonathan 2027 paid a friendly visit to Your Excellency to urge you to run in the 2027 presidential election to save Nigeria from impending collapse. Though we did not meet you in person, we believe that our message was unreservedly passed on to you, as it was to the entire Nigerian people through the media.

“Since then, we have had little information as to whether you have yielded to our clarion call, as you have not yet, to our knowledge, picked up a nomination form for the presidential contest in any registered political party.

“Because of our genuine fear of a possible collapse of Nigeria, as peace and unity are now gradually eluding all of us, we decided to march to your office again today, hoping you will step out to receive us and make a statement that will gladden our hearts and the entire nation.

“We are asking you to hear our cries and contest the 2027 presidential election, sir. This mammoth crowd that came with us here today is a fragment of your supporters nationwide and represents every tribe, tongue, and religious belief in this country. We, young and old, girls and boys, men and women, are all here crying for your voice to say ‘yes’ to our request,” Ohikere said.

Recall that Jonathan had hinted at the possibility of returning to the presidential race in 2027, saying he would “consult widely” following growing calls for him to contest.

Jonathan made the remark while responding to members of the Coalition for Jonathan 2027 who marched to his office to urge him to run for president in the next general election.

“Presidential race is not a computer game, but I heard you, and I will consult widely. But the most important thing is that Nigeria should have young people who will plan for our grandchildren,” Jonathan said.