Politics

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

Published

4 years ago

March 16, 2022

Editor

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

Dino Melaye Reacts To Malami’s Arraignment For Money Laundering

Published

1 day ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Ex-Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, has reacted to the arraignment of a former Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami, before an Abuja Federal High Court.

Melaye wished Malami well as he began his trial for corruption.

Posting on X, the former lawmaker recalled how he was prosecuted by Malami over what he described as frivolous cases while he was the AGF.

He wrote: “Reminded me of how I was appearing in different courts when Malami as AGF was prosecuting me over frivolous cases including taking over one of the police cases against me. Wish him.well.”

Malami, his son Abdulaziz, and another individual are facing a 16-count charge of money laundering.

They were arraigned on allegations of unlawful acquisition and concealment of funds.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Politics

What PDP Said About Wike’s Media Parley

Published

2 days ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, of being a constant agent of provocation in the political space, alleging that he creates trouble to mask selfish intentions.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, stated this in a statement issued on Monday in response to Wike’s media parley with selected journalists in Port Harcourt, also held on Monday.

According to the PDP, remarks made by the minister on several occasions are proof that he falls short of being a locus classicus of anti-democratic adventurism.

The party said Wike’s conduct was not new, stressing that he has consistently acted as an agent provocateur in the political arena, stirring controversy to advance personal interests.

The PDP further stated that since Wike assumed office as Governor of Rivers State in 2015, he has remained a recurrent source of trouble within the party’s leadership.

“From the Sheriff era, where he was a forerunner in the Sheriff-for-National Chairman movement and later turned to fight and remove Sheriff; later he championed the Uche Secondus-for-National Chairman movement (in fact, he granted a very combustible interview that polarized the party just before the convention) and then was the same person fighting to remove Secondus.

“The same Wike led the movement to produce Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman against the advice of many party leaders, and so soon thereafter, it was Wike again who led the Ayu-must-go struggle.

“By his end-of-year media chat, Minister Nyesom Wike has reiterated his support for, and in fact declared that he is the ‘number one supporter’ of the presumptive candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 Presidential election, while remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, confirming the basis of his expulsion from the PDP, for anti-party activities,” the statement said.

Politics

JUST IN: INEC Excludes PDP From Ekiti Governorship Election

Published

2 days ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election, Dr Wole Oluyede, and his deputy were conspicuously absent as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, released the provisional list of party candidates ahead of the election.

INEC on Monday posted the list of candidates from 12 political parties vying for the state’s top job at its office on New Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The list shows that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is fielding the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, with Monisade Afuye as his running mate.

Other candidates include Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party, with Omoyemi Olaleye as deputy; Akande Oluwasegun of the African Action Congress, paired with Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe; and Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party, with Itunu Ibitoye as running mate.

Similarly, the African Democratic Congress is presenting Oluwadare Bejide and Paul Olowoyeye, while the Action Peoples Party has Bidemi Awogbemi and Akinyemi Adewumi on its ticket.

The PDP’s absence may not be unconnected with the leadership crisis currently rocking the party at the national level.