Politics
Presidential Candidate: APC Governors Meeting Deadlocked After Buhari’s Stance
A meeting the APC governors held Tuesday evening to discuss the stance of President Muhammadu Buhari on the party’s presidential candidate ended in a deadlock, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.
The meeting was held in Abuja, minutes after the APC governors had a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
The governors meeting is to reconvene at 8 p.m., one of them told this newspaper.
At the meeting with the president, Mr Buhari told the governors that he would like to pick his successor and wants the governors to support him to do so.
READ ALSO: 2023: Buhari Lists Conditions APC Presidential Candidate Must Meet
The president left for Spain immediately after his meeting with the governors.
Governors Meeting
At their own meeting, one of the governors told PREMIUM TIMES, members could not agree on how to implement the president’s request.
“We believe the president has not settled for any particular person and that is why some governors felt the best thing to do was to nominate two of us (one each from the north and south) to the president for consideration,” the source said.
The source said many northern governors, however, argued that no southern governor could defeat Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate, in the presidential election; so the north should be given preference.
Some of the southern governors also argued that the nominees do not have to be state governors. This position is believed to have been pushed by governors loyal to some southern presidential candidates such as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and ex-Lagos governor Bola Tinubu.
Since the governors could not agree, they resolved to end the meeting and reconvene at 8 p.m.
Buhari’s Position
PREMIUM TIMES reported how President Muhammadu Buhari told APC governors that he would want to pick his successor and needs the governors to support him to do so.
Mr Buhari said this Tuesday at a meeting with governors elected on the APC platform at the State House, Abuja.
“In keeping with the established internal policies of the Party and as we approach the Convention in a few days, therefore, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the Governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023,” the president said at the meeting which was also attended by the APC national chairman.
Mr Buhari told the governors that he realises the ‘compelling need’ for him to provide ‘stronger leadership to the party under this transition process.’
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Buhari, APC Governors Currently Meeting In Aso Rock
The stronger leadership, Mr Buhari said, is not only to ensure that APCs electoral fortunes improve but also to ensure that the party ‘retains power at the centre’ by winning the presidential election.
The APC holds its presidential primary from June 6 to 8.
At the meeting with the governors, Mr Buhari also stated the factors he would consider in supporting a presidential candidate among the 25 persons seeking to fly the APC flag.
“Our objective must be the victory of our party and our choice of candidate must be someone who would give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence even before the elections,” he said.
Politics
Wike Speaks On Defecting To APC
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, dismissed any possibility of dumping the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Wike, however, disclosed that a lot of PDP leaders will join him if he decides to defect to the APC.
The Minister, who spoke during his media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said: “Today, if I say that I want to go to APC that will be the end of even talking about it.
“You will see other states, joining, leaders in other states joining, I’m not a leader that’s concentrated in the state. No.
READ ALSO:You’re Not 001 – Wike Rubbishes Claims Of Fubara Being APC Leader In Rivers
“If today I say gentlemen, we have had enough of PDP we have to move, watch those who will decamp in Benue, Plateau, Abia, Edo.”
The Minister also declared that he is still a member of the PDP, hence Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is unhappy.
“I’m a member of the PDP, that’s why I’m still there and Seyi is not happy. That’s not correct, that you are a member of the assembly or council Chairman or National Assembly does not mean that there is no other person,” he added.
Politics
Fubara: All Can Never Be Well, Everybody Knows My Position – Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has suggested that the political rivalry between him and Governor Siminalyi Fubara of Rivers State is far from over.
Wike stated that “all can never be well in politics,” noting that a recent comment by Fubara may indicate ongoing tension between them.
The Minister made the remarks on Monday while fielding questions during his monthly media parley in Abuja.
Recall that Fubara, while declaring for the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that some people were still doing “corner, corner” while supporting President Bola Tinubu.
READ ALSO:Fubara Names New Rivers SSG
The governor appeared to be referring to the FCT Minister, who has remained a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite working under the ruling APC.
Responding to questions about the matter, Wike said he was not aware of anyone “following President Tinubu and doing ‘corner, corner’.”
He insisted that his support for Tinubu is open and well known to all Nigerians, denying that he is acting secretly.
Wike said: “I don’t know who is following Tinubu and doing ‘corner, corner.’ How could that be when the whole of Nigeria knows that I have stated openly that this is what I will do? Even when governors of the PDP accused me of working for Tinubu, my position was clear.
READ ALSO:You’re Not 001 – Wike Rubbishes Claims Of Fubara Being APC Leader In Rivers
“If I were doing ‘corner, corner,’ so many people would not have supported Tinubu. The council chairmen wouldn’t have gone.
“I’ve always stated this: why most people don’t trust politicians is that they don’t keep their word, which is very wrong. I don’t want to be that kind of politician. I want to be a politician that, once I say something, you can rely on it. Everybody knows that once I state what I will do, I will do it.
“No, no, it’s not well. It’s not about everything being well; in politics, all can never be well.
“People are always economical with the truth. The governor cannot claim that I have not intervened between him, the speaker, and the leadership of the House. He cannot say I have not engaged with the elders, even when he was present.
“So, regarding this issue of ‘corner, corner’, who? Everybody knows my stand. Everybody knows that my position is not hidden.”
Politics
You’re Not 001 – Wike Rubbishes Claims Of Fubara Being APC Leader In Rivers
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has mocked Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State for declaring himself the “001” of the state.
Stressing that Fubara is not the 001 of the state, Wike downplayed claims that the governor is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.
Fubara had made the declaration after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. During his registration with the APC in Rivers State, he was assigned 001 on his membership.
However, speaking during his end-of-the-year media parley in Port Harcourt, Wike said: “He [Fubara] decamped to APC with who? What is 001? Let me tell you, there’s nothing like 001 in the state.
“You register in your ward and local government, so if you are 001, it’s in your ward.
“There’s nothing like 001. There’s nothing like I have registered in the state as 001. Everybody registered in their own ward. You could be the first person to register, but that’s not your position.”
READ ALSO:Wike Bloc Asks Court To Nullify PDP Convention
On Fubara being the leader of the party in Rivers State, Wike said: “I don’t know about that because if he says so, who is the leader of APC in Lagos State?
“So there are some exceptions to the rule, so let’s not go into other things.
“See, leadership is not because I’m a governor. Leadership is not because I’m a minister. You must have something that makes you a leader.”
News5 days agoJUST IN: Kano Lawmaker, Sarki Aliyu Daneji, Dies Hours After Colleague’s Passing
- Headline3 days ago
JUST IN: US Forces Bomb Terrorists Camps In Nigeria
- News4 days ago
Okpebholo Slams ₦25bn Libel Suit On Edo PDP Chairman
- Headline3 days ago
US Dept Of War Shares Video Of Air Strikes In Nigeria
- Entertainment5 days ago
AFCON 2025: Davido Wins $96,000 After Super Eagles Beat Tanzania
- News5 days ago
Sheikh Gummi Sues Two Over Alleged False Facebook Publication
- News3 days ago
PHOTOS: SGF George Akume Weds Ooni’s Ex-Queen
- Headline5 days ago
Coup: Guinea-Bissau Junta Releases Six Held Opposition Politicians
- Headline5 days ago
7 Territories Still Under Colonial Rule
- Metro5 days ago
Court Jails Two Ex-bankers For Diverting N10.3m Pension Funds In Enugu
