Politics

APC Micro-Zoning Collapses As Screening Begins

Published

3 years ago

March 20, 2022

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.

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.

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.

“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.”

DAILY INDEPENDENT

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Politics

ADC Will Take Over Aso Rock, Lagos Govt House In 2027 — Aregbesola

Published

14 hours ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

The National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has vowed that his party will unseat President Bola Tinubu and also take over Lagos state come 2027.

The former governor of Osun State made the pledge on Saturday, at an event where the leader of the Conscience Forum of the Labour Party (LP), Hon. Moshood Salvador, led members of the group to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The event which held in Lagos also marked the 25th anniversary of the Conscience Forum as a political group.

It had in attendance the National Secretary of the African Democratic Party, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, leadership of the ADC in Lagos state, and wards and zonal leaders of the Conscience Forum from the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 LCDAs in the state.

Addressing the new members, Aregbesola commended the leadership, executives and members of the Conscience Forum while tasking them on the need to take over the seat of power in Abuja and Lagos in 2027 general elections.

He pledged that the ADC will produce the next president of the country while charging the new intakes not to relent in their efforts to changing Nigeria for the better.

He said, “I am happy to be a part of this gathering. I am also happy to receive you into the ADC folds. We are the only one that can make it difficult to take over wherever we are if the Conscience Forum, good looking people with highly cultured leadership can organized this kind of event to make a declaration for the ADC and follow the line enunciated by the leader, surely, Alausa is a sure ticket for all of us.

“With our resolve, it won’t be difficult at all to take over the seat of power. It’s a simple strategy of one getting ten and each of the ten will equally get ten. Its operation ten over ten. Once we are able to get this done, that’s the end of it. We will surely meet at the Aso Rock Villa and produce the next president of the country. Once again, I am happy to be here and we must not relax our efforts to change Nigeria.”

Speaking on the move to the ADC, Salvador said the problems confronting the Labour Party has shown that it is not a party for the future.

He said, “Today, we are marking the 25 anniversary of the Conscience Forum and at the same time, for a wise man or people of wisdom, we look back to what you’ve achieved and look forward to what we are aiming to become. Our members were in Labour Party and the problem of the Labour Party has shown that they have lost the future. Its no more a party of the future and that is why, we have to think of where next since we have the new wave and the formation of coalition of political party, for anyone that wants something good of its members, the best is to join the coalition.

“This is not just the ADC. The ADC being the symbol of the coalition and that is why Conscience Forum, being a political group with over 400, 000 members in Lagos will have to showcase our structure including our LGA and Ward officers and so on. This is necessary for them to know the size of the group they are taking in. We chose today being our 25th anniversary to declare for the ADC so that our members will now join the ADC at their various ward levels.”

Politics

2027: Details Of Jonathan, Peter Obi Meeting Emerge

Published

20 hours ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Details have emerged regarding the recent closed-door meeting between former President Goodluck Jonathan and former presidential candidate Peter Obi.

The two leaders are reportedly discussing strategies for a unified front in the 2027 presidential election.

The meeting took place on Thursday, with Obi disclosing insights about the engagement on his Facebook and X accounts.

The meeting was a continuation of previous conversations between the two leaders over strategies for the 2027 race.

The National Coordinator of the OBIdient Movement, Dr Yunusa Tanko, confirmed this in a statement on Friday.

“They (Jonathan and Obi) have been friends for a long time. The meeting was for them to fraternise and discuss how to rescue Nigeria.

“But for us in the OBIdient Movement, it would be great if Jonathan remains the respected statesman he is known for. He has done his best as President, he is respected, and this is the time for him to support his brother,” Tanko told Daily Trust.

Tanko further alleged that some politicians were plotting to use Jonathan against Obi but maintained that the Obidient Movement would not allow such a plan to succeed.

“We are aware of such moves, but we strongly believe they will not succeed.

“Many Nigerians believe the next president should come from the South, and for fairness, the South East should get the chance. Peter Obi is the ideal candidate,” he added.

Politics

Tinubu’s Mandate Accomplished In Rivers — Ibas

Published

1 day ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), has stated that the mandate given to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been “sufficiently achieved” with the restoration of democratic governance at the grassroots.

Ibas made the remark on Friday at Government House, Port Harcourt, during the presentation of the report on the recently concluded local government elections by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

He recalled that Tinubu, on March 18, 2025, directed him to stabilise the state, re-establish its institutions, and return Rivers to full democratic governance following his appointment as sole administrator.

According to him, the successful conduct of the polls and the swearing-in of elected chairmen and councillors across the 23 local government areas marked the fulfilment of that mandate.

“Mr. President’s mandate to me was clear: to stabilise the state, create an enabling environment for the re-establishment of its institutions, and return Rivers State back to full democratic governance. With the successful conduct and swearing-in of local government chairmen and their councils, I believe we have decisively achieved the mandate that we were given,” Ibas stated.

He praised RSIEC for what he described as a credible and transparent election, noting that the exercise was free of harassment and voters freely expressed their choices.

Ibas added that the government would review the RSIEC report and issue a white paper in due course. He also commended his team, security agencies, and state officials for their contributions.

RSIEC Chairman, Dr Mike Odey, who presented the report earlier, described the election as a “historic achievement” for Rivers and the country. He stressed that it was organised, coordinated, and concluded within 30 days — an unprecedented record in Nigerian electoral history.