Politics
Bayelsa Guber: Why Lyon Wasn’t Given Automatic Ticket – APC
Published
2 years agoon
By
Editor
The All Progressives Congress, APC, has explained why it did not give its candidate in the last governorship election in the state, David Lyon an automatic ticket to contest the coming November 11th state governorship poll.
The ruling APC said the party decided to make its governorship primary in Bayelsa state, scheduled to hold on Friday, to be open for all aspirants to contest for sake of fairness and in adherence to the Electoral Act 2022.
The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka stated this in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday.
He said though the party leaders have sympathy for David Lyon over the loss of his mandate in 2020, “you cannot use sympathy to upstage legality and due process”.
READ ALSO: Bayelsa Guber: APC Members Call For Sylva’s Disqualification
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is expected to conduct off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states, respectively on November 11, 2023.
Recall that Lyon, who was the APC candidate in the 2019 Bayelsa State Governorship Election, had been declared Governor-Elect by INEC.
However, in February 2020, the Supreme Court sacked the Lyon, and his Deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo and affirmed Duoye Diri and Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo as Bayelsa governor and deputy governor respectively
Lyon’s election was nullified after his deputy was accused of submitting forged certificates to INEC.
Lyon has bought the party’s N50m governorship ticket to contest Friday’s primary. Amongst some of his co-contenders is a former governor of the state and an ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.
READ ALSO: Guber Election: PDP Constitutes Screening Panels For Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi States [FULL LIST]
Why APC adopts direct primaries
The APC said it will adopt the direct mode for Friday’s governorship primaries in the three states, which involves all card-carrying members or registered members of the party in each of the wards of the three states to elect the aspirants of their choice as the party’s candidates.
Morka said Hope Uzodimma of Imo State is the sole aspirant of the party but the primary will hold in accordance with the Electoral Act 2022.
“Governor Hope Uzodimma is the sole aspirant for that position for our party in Imo. Even though he is the sole aspirant, the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 must be fulfilled, hence the conduct of the primary on Friday,” he said.
About six aspirants are vying for the ticket in Bayelsa including Lyon and Sylva.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: APC Releases Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa Gov Primary Elections Timetable
The APC National Publicity Secretary said, “He (David Lyon) contested election and he won and the majority votes that he scored was never challenged or disputed.
“So, the fact that he was not inaugurated as governor was not because there was any question mark on his victory. He won the election free and clear but unfortunately some technical issues with the fellow who ran with him warranted some court order and deprived him of the fruit of that success.”
He said many Nigerians cast their votes for him for years ago and they should vote him if he is still their preferred choice.
“They spoke loud and clear and now that a time has come for that election, we’re hoping that as citizens, they’re free to go to the primaries, for those of them who are members of the party to support him if that is their preference still or support any of the other aspirants in the race,” he said.
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Politics
US Desperate To Remove You, Cleric Warns Tinubu
Published
6 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.
READ ALSO:
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.
READ ALSO:Makinde, Wife Installed As Aare Omoluabi, Yeye Aare Omoluabi Of Akure Kingdom
“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.”
READ ALSO: FULL LIST: FG Approves Nine New Private Varsities
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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