Politics

2023: Tinubu Makes Fresh Push In South-South

Published

1 year ago

December 3, 2022

The ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed are currently making a fresh push into the South-south, a region considered to be the stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In the past couple of weeks, Tinubu and his party have visited the region three times. Two weeks ago, Tinubu held a rally in Asaba, the Delta State capital, only to return a few days back to the creek, Gbaramatu Kingdom. Two days ago, he was back again to Yenagoa for another rally.

Since 1999, the region has consistently voted for the PDP, with five out of six governors being members of the opposition party, PDP. However, with the election now a three horse race, the ruling party now fancy itself getting a piece of the cake in the region.

Because of the tight nature of the presidential race, many are already predicting a possible run-off in a second ballot because they believe none of the candidates will get the required constitutional highest votes cast and the 25% in 24 States as provided by the 1999 constitution.

Mr Tinubu is expected to take the Southwest regions and his running mate, Kashim Shettima is expected to pull strong numbers in the northeast, especially Borno, Yobe and Gombe States.

In the Northcentral, Kwara, Kogi and Niger State are places where the candidate of the APC is expected to perform well. In Nasarawa, the party is counting on the Chairman of the Party, Abdulahi Adamu, former Governor Tanko Almakura and Governor Sule Adbulahi to deliver a good outing. However, Nasarawa has been a difficult State for the ruling party.

The Muslim/Muslim ticket may cause the party to struggle in Plateau State, despite Governor Simon Lalong being the Director-General of the APC campaign council. In Benue State, the party is counting on the ‘Yes Father’ wave and the ongoing crisis in the PDP, as governor Samuel Ortom is a member of the G-5 governors. Despite these, Tinubu is expected to get the 25% requirement in the region.

In the Northwest, Mr Tinubu is counting on the six APC governors to deliver the votes; however, without Buhari on the ballot, the region has become a battleground between him, Rabiu Kwankwaso of New Nigeria Peoples Party, and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP. Despite this, Mr Tinubu is expected to get the required 25% in all the Northwest states.

Going by this analysis, to get the required 25% in 25 States, six in Southwest, six in Northcentral, seven in Northwest plus three in Northeast, that gives 23 States already. There is the possibility of getting the figure in Bauchi, Adamawa and Taraba States, including the FCT.

Tinubu is also counting on APC governors in the Southeast, David Umahi and Hope Uzodinma to give a good outing in their States. In Abia State, Tinubu is also counting on Orji Uzor Kalu, Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and Ben Kalu to pull a good number in Abia North senatorial district.

However, it appears that the ruling Party is not ready to take the gamble, and is now pushing for it.

So far, the strategy has been about leveraging on strong candidates in States. It would be recalled that Babachir Lawal, the leader of the APC Northern Christians had accused Tinubu of not visiting Southeast during the primaries because he considered it a waste of money.

And in the past couple of days, he has been visiting States where they have strong candidates for elections or governors.

“We intend to shock people in the Southsouth. It is a three-horse race between Obi, Atiku and Asiwaju (Tinubu). We are the dark-horse here. In Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa is in a supremacy battle with James Ibori over the governorship ticket. We have a strong governorship candidate, Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege,” Ibrahim Abiodun, a member of Tinubu Grassroots Campaign told DAILY POST.

In Edo State, APC remains popular in Edo North senatorial district- the district where Adams Oshiomhole is running for a senatorial seat. In a three-horse race, Tinubu will be counting on achieving two things, get the 25% of the vote cast, and hope the PDP is unable to get bloc votes because the Obidient movement also fancies itself in the State.

Also, in Delta State, Tinubu appears to be willing to deploy enough resources in the State given the crack in the PDP, particularly the ongoing struggle for the control of the structure of party in Delta State. Okowa is the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, but the fight with Ibori has balkanized the PDP in the State, hence, the ruling party is willing to take advantage of the crack.

In Bayelsa State, the APC is counting on the popularity of David Lyon, who won the last governorship election but was sacked by the Supreme Court over the certificate of his running mate, Degi Eremienyo. Mr Tinubu and his party already held a rally in the State.

Also, there is the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s factor, who is reportedly angry with the PDP over how the party has treated him with disrespect since he left office. According to reports, Mr Jonathan turned down the plea by Atiku for him to intervene in the G-5 governors’ rebellion.

In Cross River, Tinubu is counting on Governor Ben Ayade to give a good outing for him in the State. A 25% of the votes cast could also be possible, more so, in a three-horse race, the party fancy its chances.

Rivers State is another place of hope for Tinubu and the ruling party. Governor Nyesome Wike remains adamant that the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu must go, and he has refused to campaign for Atiku.

Although the APC is in disarray due to an internal crisis, however, it would be recalled that Tinubu and the G-5 governors secretly met in London, the United Kingdom weeks ago. It remains unknown if the party will be able to take advantage of the PDP national crisis.

Except for Akwa-Ibom, Tinubu appears to have a plan to get a good outing in the Southsouth.
DAILY POST

Politics

Atiku Hints On Supporting Obi For 2027 Presidential Race

Published

9 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Editor

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has said that if in 2027, the party decides that it is the South-East’s turn and selects Peter Obi as its candidate, he will readily offer his support.

“I have said repeatedly and I even said it before the 2023 general elections that if the PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it. As long as it’s the decision of the party, I will abide by it. But I contested the 2023 presidential ticket because it was thrown open to all members of the party.

“If the party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him,” Atiku declared in a recent interview with BBC Hausa Service.

He added that a merger between the PDP and Labour Party is possible.

Atiku added that members of the party would decide his fate in the 2027 general elections.

The former Vice President mentioned that his recent meeting with Obi might indicate a possible alliance leading up to the 2027 general elections.

Responding to questions about the meeting with Obi, Atiku said, “It’s just a normal friendly meeting that we often have, particularly among us in the opposition parties. Such meetings are healthy for Nigeria’s democracy and in the country’s interest.”

On whether this will bring about a merger, he said, “Yes, it’s very much possible. We can merge to achieve a common goal. So, it’s possible, and nothing can stop it if we wish to achieve that.”

The former Vice President, who denied that the choice of presidential candidate might frustrate the merger discussion, said, “That’s not true. That challenge will not arise. I can tell you that the choice of who will fly the flag of the party won’t be an issue.”

On why he’s still in active politics, Atiku said, “Yes, we can’t keep quiet and watch things go wrong. People are suffering and we are committed to making Nigeria a better place.

“It means you are not tired of politics of Nigeria? Not at all. I am still in active politics in Nigeria, at least, as long as God permits.

“My age doesn’t stop the young ones from testing their fate. Everybody, irrespective of age, is allowed to aspire to be anybody in the society, politically or otherwise.”

Regarding his 2027 Presidential ambition, the former Vice President said “That would depend on the decision of my party. I can’t make any categorical statement on that. It’s the duty of the party to decide on the way to go in the next election.

“Until that time comes. Let’s just wait and see how it will turn out.

“It must not be interpreted like that. I must not be eyeing elections to have meetings with political friends and associates. Currently, we are practising democracy in this country which we fought for with our blood.”

Last week, Obi held a private meeting with Atiku and some other PDP leaders in Abuja.

Obi also met separately with former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, sparking speculation about a possible coalition for the 2027 general elections.

Obi was a PDP member until 2022, when he left to pursue his presidential ambitions with the Labour Party.

He finished third behind Atiku in the February 23 presidential election, which was won by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.

Atiku blamed Obi’s departure from the PDP for his loss to Tinubu.

Analysts argued that Atiku’s 6,984,520 votes combined with Obi’s 6,101,533 votes could have secured a win against Tinubu, who received 8,794,726 votes.

Monday’s meeting marked the first public interaction between Obi and Atiku since the election.

Social media and online platforms were flooded with viral photos of Obi’s meetings with the three PDP figures on Monday.

In 2019, Atiku and Obi ran together on the PDP ticket but were defeated by former President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.

However, due to internal conflicts, Obi, who was Atiku’s running mate in 2019, left the PDP and ran as the Labour Party’s candidate in the 2023 presidential election.

Politics

JUST IN: Ex-PDP Deputy National Chair, Oyedokun Defects To APC

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2024

Editor

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, has resigned his membership of the party and announced defection to the All Progressives Congress.

Oyedokun, a notable personality within the political circle in Osun State and beyond, said he decided to dump the PDP after consultation with his loyalists.

He said he would be joining APC, where his experience, efforts, and leadership roles would be valued and appreciated.

His resignation letter addressed to the National Chairman of the PDP through the ward, local government and state chairmen of the party obtained late Thursday further read, “As a functional member and leader of PDP (Ward 13, Jagun/ Osi-Bale Ode, Odo-Otin South Local Government, Osun State,) whose high electoral productivity and value have been credibly and positively acknowledged in my ward, across the local council, state and country-wide for the enhancement of the fortune of the PDP, I have the honour (though with pain) in announcing the renunciation of my membership of the party on principle, having observed that the ideals of we, founding members, had been sorely contaminated.

“In taking this step which is not even without due consultation with my teaming loyalists in the PDP, I have consequently decided to shift my allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC) where I believe my experience, efforts and leadership roles would be valued and appreciated.”

Oyedokun’s defection to the APC is coming at the time the aspirant he supported during the 2022 Osun governorship primary of PDP, Mr Dotun Babayemi is also moving to the national ruling party.

Osun APC said on Wednesday that Babayemi and his supporters would be dumping PDP and joining the party at a rally scheduled to be held in Osogbo on Friday.
PUNCH

Politics

Poll: APC Has No Sellable Candidate, Nothing To Campaign On – Edo Govt

Published

5 days ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

The Edo State Government claimed on Monday that the All Progressives Congress, APC, has no credible candidate for the September 21 governorship election.

This was an assertion made by the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, at a press conference in Benin City.

Nehikhare also alleged that the party is using lies and propaganda as its campaign strategy.

According to him: “The only APC strategy for the governorship election is to resort to lies and propaganda. When a party takes lies and propaganda as an election strategy, it means it has nothing to offer the people. The party lacks people with character, capacity, and intellect.”

The commissioner who took journalists through a screened shot WhatsApp chat said: “What we have here is the official APC WhatsApp platform, their own people screenshot their discussion. One of them who has a conscience asks, is this the only thing we have?”

Nehikhare, who said APC is ashamed to campaign for its candidate, noted that, as of today, nobody had heard of what the party has for the state.

“All we heard is how they are going to help their paymaster, lies and propaganda that will not help the state,” he added.

He opined that lies and propaganda are not strategies the opposition party, like APC, can use to win the September 21 governorship election.

The commissioner, who warned against misinformation and fake news ahead of the governorship election, urged media practitioners to be neutral in matters concerning lies and propaganda.

He, however, noted that Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration has a lot of achievements to market and sell its candidate for the election.