Politics
APC Micro-Zoning Collapses As Screening Begins
Published
3 years agoon
By
Editor
The All Progressives Congress (APC) screening exercise for its zonal office aspirants commenced last night at the secretariat and Nicon Luxury Hotels as party activities spiked ahead of its National Convention.
The screening of the chairmanship aspirants and other top party positions will, however, hold Sunday evening even as strong indications emerged that the micro-zoning of offices at the geopolitical level may collapse entirely in a matter of hours in most zones.
Stakeholders of the party appear not to be keen on respecting the micro-zoning arrangement.
Chairmanship aspirant, Alhaji Abdulazeez Yari, former governor of Zamfara State, stands out as one aspirant that has refused to honour the zoning arrangement of the party, insisting on contesting the position zoned to the north central geopolitical zone.
Tijani Kaura, who returned the nomination form on behalf of the former governor, maintained that their camp is not aware that the party has zoned the chairman position to any specific part of the north.
READ ALSO: Buhari Support Group Dumps APC For NNPP In Jigawa
According to him, the much the Yari camp is aware of is that the presidential and the chairmanship positions were rotated between the North and South with the former returning to the North.
“Let me say again that we are all aware that the party has zoned national Chairmanship to the North and presidency to the South but we are not aware that there is specific zoning within the geopolitical zones of either the president of the national chairman of the party.
“Nobody indicated whether it is Southwest, South East or South-South. The party acting Chairman has not come out officially to tell us the chairmanship has been zoned to a particular geopolitical zone. So, that is why we are here,” he said.
Senator Kaura stressed that the former chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum has enough experience to lead the party, having sold his aspiration to all APC governors.
The Micro-Zoning arrangement appears also to have collapsed in the North West where the National Organizing Secretary position was zoned.
That position was micro zoned to Kebbi, however, Barrister Ismael Ahmed, the outgoing National Youth leader in the Caretaker Committee, is poised to snatch the seat in an open Contest.
The situation is not also rosy in the South South geopolitical zone where the Women Leader position said to be reserved for the candidate of Ben Ayade, defected governor of Cross River State, has been seriously challenged by two aspirants.
READ ALSO: APC Crisis: Why Buhari’s Late Intervention May Not Save Party
Mary Ekpere Eta, former DG of the National Centre for Women Development who returned her nomination form on Friday insisted that the purported unity list said to be coming from Cross River State does not have the blessing of the Aspirants.
She warned that any attempt to smuggle anybody or a friend of the governor to take the position of APC women leader would vehemently be resisted.
Aside her aspiration, she said the other aspirant for the position as at the close of nomination on Friday was Barr. Helen Effiong.
Meanwhile, the party’s chairmanship aspirants have intensified their campaigns despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s preference for a consensus candidate.
Among the top contenders who have strengthened their push for the party’s top job is Senator Tanko Al-Makura who said he is motivated to vie for the leadership of the party to foster the unity of the country.
He said it was that need to ensure unity and cohesion of the country that motivated the coming together of the legacy parties to birth the APC in 2013-14, adding that the need for the unity of the nation’s diverse settings have never been greater than it is today.
Addressing journalists and crowd of supporters when he returned his nomination form on Friday at the party’s National Secretariat, the former governor of Nasarawa State said he also has adequate experience to lead the party to success.
“I’m here to show my respect and deference to the leadership of the party, by complying with the regulations and guidelines that will make the process of the emergence of leaders of this party free, fair and credible.”
Similarly, Alhaji Saliu Mustapha, APC Chairmanship aspirant, has begged fellow aspirants and the ruling party to endorsement his aspiration in the interest of the party, promising to bring in innovations that would enrich the party and polity.
He said his desire is to serve and add value to the leadership of the APC and bridge the gap between the younger generation of voters and the old.
The Turaki of Ilorin spoke when he returned his nomination forms to the party’s secretariat in Abuja, adding that his aspiration will unify the young and older members of the party.
“Saliu Mustapha’s aspiration in this contest is to serve. This is not about title, but it is coming to add value, serving the party, and moving the party forward.
“To meet up with the millennium and global challenges of advanced politics. That is why for us in this team, we want to come and do Progressive and smart politics and proactive politics. We want to add value in many areas.
READ ALSO: Electoral Act: Lawyer Gives Reason APC Convention May Be Nullified
“First we want to ensure as leaders of this party we carry everyone along, we want to also make sure we guarantee level playing ground. We guarantee internal democracy because ones you fail to have that in your party that is the beginning of problems for you. We want to ensure every APC card carrying member that we will create a level playing ground.”
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Politics
US Desperate To Remove You, Cleric Warns Tinubu
Published
12 hours agoon
August 23, 2025By
Editor
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu again regarding the vice president, Kashim Shettima, and his 2027 second-term ambition, while also stating that America is “desperate to remove” the president.
Primate Ayodele, in a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, warned Tinubu not to drop Shettima as his running mate, noting that even if the VP offends the president, he should settle it for his own good.
He explained that an attempt to bring another person on board would be a “huge minus” and would “destroy his chances and bring unnecessary enemies to him.”
“Dropping Shettima will cause trouble for you; those who want him out are your enemies who don’t want you to succeed. Anything that Shettima might have done, forget it, and let’s move the country forward,” the cleric advised.
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He continued; “If you remove Shettima, it’s a minus for you; don’t remove him if you still want to maintain your chances. There are things you need to settle between yourself and Shettima, settle with him and let him remain; if not, it will be a serious minus to your government.”
The cleric stated that Shettima is harmless to Tinubu, but that the president will still face challenges in the north, predicting that “the Emirs will gang up against you.”
He urged the president to “do extra work” because the “election won’t come by easily.”
Primate Ayodele further revealed that America won’t support President Tinubu’s second-term ambition and will “do everything to see him removed from power.”
READ ALSO:
He urged the president to avoid “self-inflicted problems by solving the issues of hunger and security.”
“Also, make sure you sort out the issue of international communities, like I said, America isn’t your friend. America is desperate to remove you; they will do everything to see you out of power.”
He stated that there are people who can defeat Tinubu, and although none have openly shown interest yet, with the current situation on the ground, they will defeat the president if they contest.
READ ALSO:
“I am not in support of anyone. If anyone comes out to contest and can defeat you, I will tell you, but I have not seen it yet. However, you need to work very hard because if the person comes out with the situation on the ground, you will have issues.”
He concluded by reiterating that the true problems are not personnel, but the nation’s challenges.
“Shettima isn’t your problem, but hunger in the country and other factors. If you don’t fix them, removing anybody from your government or adding anyone will not do you any good. You should also work on security, you can win terrorists, they are within Nigeria.”
Politics
I’m Not Ready To Go Into The Gutters With Anyone – Makinde
Published
2 days agoon
August 21, 2025By
Editor
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, said he is not ready to “go low with anyone who decides to go into the gutters.”
He made this statement while addressing journalists shortly after the South-West zoning consultative summit of the Peoples Democratic Party, held in Lagos.
He said, “Personally, when people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. Some people are now going into the gutters. We will reach out to them. That is democracy.
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“I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. It should be about what we are giving to Nigerians because they are watching.”
The governor added that despite challenges, recent elections had shown that the PDP remained a formidable force.
“In all our states, they showed last Saturday that PDP is not dead. In most other places of the 12 states, PDP came second. It is an indication to us that if we continue to work hard, we can reclaim the confidence of Nigerians,” he said.
When asked about discussions on zoning of the PDP presidential ticket to the South, Makinde said the party was not yet at that stage.
READ ALSO:2027: Makinde For President Posters Flood Kano
“We haven’t even gotten there. We need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidates. If we don’t have a party, anything you are trying to do will fall flat.
“Our efforts right now are directed towards having a vibrant and united PDP that Nigerians will be proud of and believe in again,” he said.
Dignitaries at the meeting include the Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the party’s National Zoning Committee and Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri; Governors Ademola Adeleke of Osun state, Peter Mba of Enugu State, represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai; former Osun Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Bode George; and Monsurat Sunmonu.
Others were 12 of the 17 PDP National Assembly members and key stakeholders of the party from across the southern states.
Politics
2027 Presidency: Idahosa Reiterates Okpebholo’s Promises Of Delivering Edo To Tinubu
Published
4 days agoon
August 19, 2025By
Editor
Edo State deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa on Tuesday reiterated the promise of Governor Monday Okpebholo of delivering the state to President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
The deputy said that the just concluded by-elections in the state was an affirmation of that promised made by his principal.
Idahosa stated this in a press statement sogned by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo, and made available to newsmen.
He said Okpebholo did not just make the promise of delivery the state to the APC, but that Edo will secure 2.5m votes for the President in 2027.
READ ALSO: Ovia By-election, Litmus Test To APC Success In 2027, Says Edo Deputy Gov
He commended the leadership of the party across Ovia federal constituency for their providing the leadership that made a APC victorious on Saturday.
He, however, noted that there was more room for improvement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, “after the victory, we called the leadership of the Ovia federal constituency to review and evaluate our performance at the poll, to observe areas where we need to work on next time.
“The bye-election was a litmus test for the 2027 presidential election. We are fully ready.”
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Idahosa also used the opportunity to sensitize the people on the ongoing continuous voters registration and revalidation process by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He also reeled out measures in place by the party to get new registered members for the exercise when commenced on Monday.
“We are going to constitute subcommittees to mobilize people who have not yet registered to enable us actualize on the promised votes to the president,” he said.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives member elect, Omosede Igbinedion, promised to deliver on her campaign promises to the people.
READ ALSO:Edo Election: Walter Obaseki Descendants Congratulate Okpebholo, Idahosa On Victory
“Ovia Federal Constituency should expect nothing but the best, in terms of representation and also in terms of developmental strides.
“We will come through, in anything we can do, from the federal level to complement the governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the tremendous work he is doing at the state.
“Ovia is looking very bright. The deputy governor, Dennis Idahosa, has laid a good foundation we will build upon that foundation,” she said.
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