Politics

N’Central APC Members Protest Muslim-Muslim Ticket, Reject Lalong

Published

4 years ago

August 9, 2022

A coalition of Christians under the aegis of North Central Youths and Women Forum, in their number on Tuesday, took to the streets in Abuja to protest against the Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, as the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council.

The protesters, who are members of the APC from the six North-Central States and the Federal Capital Territory, also marched to the Presidential Villa to submit a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari over the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by the APC despite the national outcry.

They carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘Lalong is a Judas, Lalong is a betrayal, Lalong is on his own,’ ‘We say No to DGship, give us our VP slot’, ‘On North Central Christian vice-presidential candidate we stand,” and ‘Dear Asiwaju…keep your DG, give us a Christian VP, all Christians in the APC say no to DGship.’

The leader of the group, Dauda Yakubu, said various indices at play so far within the APC did not suggest that the Christians from northern Nigeria were considered in the party’s affairs.

While describing the appointment of Lalong as an insult to the North-Central region, the stakeholders said they would only accept the position of the Vice President.

He noted that the party had neglected advice from concerned stakeholders by nominating a northern Muslim as the party’s vice-presidential candidate.

According to him, stakeholders in the APC, especially northern Christians, felt humiliated by the actions of the party’s leadership in recent times, which, he said, did not demonstrate ethnic and religious inclusion.

He called on Buhari to clear his role and make his position known on the party’s same faith ticket.

Yakubu said, “We feel the appointment of Governor Lalong as the Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council is an insult to our collective sensibilities as a devoted party faithful in the North-Central.

“Mr. President may wish to remember that in the affairs of the party, the North-Central zone has demonstrated an unalloyed commitment to the growth and development of the party. But what has the North-central received in return?

“We came from far and near to witness first-hand, the news making the rounds that you indeed, sanctioned the Muslim-Muslim ticket of our party. There have also been insinuations that the vice-presidential ticket was not given to a northern Christian because you supported it.

“We know you to be an advocate of unity, ethnic and religious inclusion. But again, we are short of words with the news making the rounds, hence, this open letter in a protest march to hear from you that you were indeed in support of a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“This is on the heels that as stakeholders of our party, we have consistently advocated for Governor Lalong as the party’s vice-presidential candidate because he possesses all the necessary qualities. But to our dismay, he was appointed as the DG of the Presidential Campaign Council.

“So many questions are left unanswered in our minds regarding the position of the party in the interest of northern Christians. We beg to ask the question that, if a northern Christian is good enough to lead the Presidential Campaign Council, why then is a northern Christian not good enough to be nominated as the vice presidential-candidate of our party?

“It is our considered position that the lines are not connecting for us as stakeholders of the party in the North-Central zone of the country. And consequently, we demand explanations as to why our interests have been jettisoned using a yardstick that defeats common sense.”

Yakubu said the APC was the only party that did not consider the country’s religious sensitivity in the composition of its presidential team, adding that it was not on the strength of a lack of qualified and credible candidates.

While insisting that there was something fundamentally wrong, Yakubu said the forum was convinced beyond doubt that the President could not sanction such a move, going by his antecedents as a unifier and an advocate of peace.

“Your fatherly disposition to all, regardless of ethnic or religious affiliations, has never been in doubt. You have been a great source of strength and support to all, and it is on record that you have treated all in the same manner since you assumed leadership of our great country.

“We know that you can’t be a part of religious exclusion under any circumstances; hence, our presence here in Abuja through this peaceful protest, to hear from you if you support the Muslim-Muslim ticket of our party.

“At this stage, we cannot rely on rumours and hearsay because we know your pedigree as a father and mentor to all party members across the country. Mr President, it is our earnest desire that you, in your fatherly manner,” he stated.

Yakubu asked the APC leadership to convoke an emergency meeting to reflect the wishes and interests of northern Christians in the composition of the presidential team of the party for the 2023 presidential election.

PUNCH

Politics

PDP Loses Five Reps, APC Two In Fresh Defections

Published

20 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Editor

A fresh wave of defections swept through the House of Representatives on Tuesday as lawmakers realigned across party lines in what appears to be early positioning for the 2027 general elections.

At the resumption of plenary after the Easter break, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, read out a series of defection letters, reflecting a growing fluidity within Nigeria’s political space.

He dismissed concerns that the trend signalled an attempt to edge the country toward a one-party system, insisting instead that it underscores democratic freedom.

“This is to show the country that no party is stiffled. People are leaving the majority party to the minority parties and the minority parties to the majority party. This is the beauty of democracy,” Kalu said.

One of the notable movements came from Lagos, where Thaddeus Attah, representing Eti-Osa Federal Constituency, dumped the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress.

In his letter, Attah attributed his decision to “the protracted crisis in the leadership of the LP,” which he said has hampered effective representation of his constituents in recent months.

The Peoples Democratic Party emerged as the biggest casualty of the latest round of defections, losing five members.

Among them, Abubakar Abdul from Niger State defected to the All Progressives Congress, while Yakubu Noma (Kebbi) joined the ADC and Ibrahim Mohammed (also from Kebbi) moved to the APC.

In Osun State, two lawmakers—Mudashiru Alani (Ayedire/Iwo/Ola-Oluwa) and Adetunji Olusoji (Odo-Otin/Ifelodun/Boripe)—left the PDP for the Accord Party.

However, the APC also recorded losses. David Fuoh (Taraba) defected to the PDP, while Bashir Zubair (Kaduna) joined the ADC, highlighting the two-way nature of the shifting alliances.

Defections are not new in Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly as election cycles approach. With less than two years to the 2027 polls, lawmakers are increasingly recalibrating their positions in response to internal party disputes, electoral calculations, and evolving regional dynamics.

The current wave is partly driven by lingering leadership crises within parties—most notably in the PDP and LP—as both major and smaller parties intensify efforts to strengthen their ranks ahead of primaries.

For many legislators, party affiliation is often influenced by prospects for re-election, access to party structures, and alignment with influential political blocs at the state and national levels.

Since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in 2023, the APC has maintained a numerical advantage in the House, but opposition parties have continued to jostle for relevance through strategic defections and coalition-building.

The emergence of parties like the ADC as beneficiaries of defections suggests a gradual diversification of the political space beyond the traditional dominance of the APC and PDP.

Analysts say the trend may intensify in the coming months as parties finalise their internal structures and aspirants begin to test their popularity ahead of primaries.

For now, Tuesday’s developments reinforce a familiar pattern: in Nigeria’s legislature, party loyalty often remains fluid, especially when electoral stakes are high.

The House adjourned plenary to Wednesday in honour of Kano lawmaker Hassan Danjuma, who died on April 10, 2026, at the age of 66.

Politics

Delta North Youths Reject Okowa’s Senatorial Ambition

Published

3 days ago

April 19, 2026

Editor

A coalition of youths from the nine local government areas of Delta North has rejected the reported senatorial ambition of former Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, ahead of the 2027 elections.

The position was made known at a press conference in Agbor, where the group’s spokesman, Benjamin Atagana Ofochi, accused Okowa of dominating the zone’s political space for decades.

The development comes days after political figures within the All Progressives Congress (APC) reportedly urged the former governor to contest for the Delta North senatorial seat in 2027.

The youth group argued that Okowa should step aside to allow other aspirants to emerge, citing what it described as long-standing control of political offices in the state since 1991.

They also referenced allegations of financial misconduct currently being handled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), urging him to focus on addressing those issues.

The coalition further raised concerns over what it described as an attempt to concentrate political power within one family, alleging that Okowa’s daughter is also seeking elective office.

According to the group, such developments could limit opportunities for broader participation in governance within the district.

The youths called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC leadership, and party delegates to ensure a transparent primary process for selecting candidates in Delta North.

They warned that they would mobilise against any perceived imposition of candidates, insisting on what they described as inclusive and competitive politics in the district.

Politics

VIDEO: I Will Beat Tinubu Flat In Free, Fair Election — Dino Melaye Boasts

Published

3 days ago

April 19, 2026

Editor

Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has stated that he would defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a free and fair election.

Melaye made the declaration during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Mic On, where he criticised the current administration and expressed confidence in his chances if given a level playing field.

He argued that any presidential aspirant under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) would perform better than President Tinubu.

“Anybody among those interested in the presidency in ADC would do one million times better than Tinubu. They can never be a worse president than Tinubu. They can never be.”

Expressing confidence in his own chances, he stated, “Me? Dino Melaye. Let’s go. Let’s go on a free and fair election.”

Melaye further described the president as unpopular among Nigerians, adding, “Today, Bola Tinubu is the most unpopular politician in Nigeria.”

He insisted he would secure a decisive victory in an election against Tinubu if the process is credible.

The former lawmaker also called for an open electoral process, warning against any attempt to undermine democracy.

“Let him allow a free and fair contest. And if he doesn’t allow it, we will make him conduct our election because he doesn’t want election. He wants to be Kabiyesi. He wants to be Igwe. We will not allow that to happen in Nigeria. It will not happen.”

On political alliances in ADC, Melaye dismissed interest in joint ticket arrangements, emphasising his focus on unseating the current administration.

“My brother, I am not interested in any joint ticket or non-joint ticket. My own for now is that we must send Tinubu away.”

He added that he would support any candidate who emerges through ADC processes.